Santa did pretty well this year. I finally unwrapped my new puffer coat. It’s gorgeous and will be put to good use over the next few months. I was also thrilled to receive more things on my wish list, like red wine tumblers, cheese knives, a stout red teapot, a set of dainty bone china tea mugs and a mother of pearl picture frame. Thank you everyone. I adore my gifts!

Extreme weather conditions in this neck of the woods put a sad damper on Seattle retail. Many of us were snowed in, which made last minute Christmas shopping impossible (even for Santa). I’m going to help Santa out by purchasing a few belated Christmas gifts. I hope to score the following in the post Christmas sales frenzy:

• Knitwear, knitwear and more knitwear
• Snow boots
• Another pair of slippers
• Gloves
• A set of good kitchen knives

Based on your wish lists, how would you rate Santa’s performance this year and what’s on your post-Christmas mega-bargain shopping list?

Whether you’re looking out a snowy window or celebrating in the sun, we at YLF wish you a very Merry Christmas. Hope your day is filled with fun festivities, fabulous food and plenty of laughter.

The American tradition of wearing holiday knitwear, pins and neckties seems less popular this season. There isn’t an abundance of these items in department stores, and I’ve seen fewer men and women wearing holiday sweaters and ties on the street and at Christmas functions.

Perhaps the look has taken a retail back seat because the sales weren’t strong last season. Perhaps the current economic climate has put a damper on the Christmas spirit. Or perhaps it’s a Seattle thing. Looking at CNN’s iReport on Christmas sweaters, the tradition appears to be alive and well in some places. Are people wearing holiday apparel and accessories in your neck of the woods?

I’ve found that going up a size in hosiery is often a good idea if you’re regular height or taller. For example, if you usually wear a medium, try a large. Or if you’d normally fall into the “C range”, size up to “D”.

Going up a size reduces the stretch, making colors more even and reducing pattern distortion. It also lowers the risk of laddering and increases the longevity of the hose, which is particularly good if you prefer the better quality, more expensive brands.

Saggy hose is unsightly, so don’t go up more than one size. If you are petite the stretch is already less than average, so you may not need to size up at all.