The Ladies of the L'Auberge know how to roll em'

Daddy got a gamblin' problem?

Well, then move on. This gift ain't for him.

The L'Auberge Du Lac Casino Resort is revealing their 20Ten Ladies of L'Auberge Calendar, featuring "sexy employees."

With just a few days till Christ's birthday, you've still got time to get your hands on this "sizzling" find just in time for Christmas giving. According to the Lake Chuck casino, "getting into print isn't easy."

"Employees must audition for a highly coveted spot in the glossy calendar."

Wonder what that audition is like?
I bet it goes something like this:

Big Boss: "Darla Jane. Instead of wearing your gift shop uniform on Friday, we're gonna need you to come on in to work in that maid costume you wore to the company Halloween party."

Darla Jane: "Sure thing. But, do I have to sit in your lap like last time?"

Oh, I am only kidding. I am sure the whole affair is really classy.

To find out how the process really goes, log on to HERE"for a behind-the-scenes video diary of the calendar shoot, additional photos and biographies for each Lady of L’Auberge. Additionally, you can watch video interviews of each calendar girl and purchase a calendar."

Calendars are $12.99 and are sure to keep you all hot and bothered through 20Eleven.

Bell ringers giving the gift of laziness?

Salvation Army red kettles signify the start of Christmas for me, perhaps even more than holiday lights.

I love dropping loose change and some bills into each kettle in my path, knowing I will help a family in my community have a nice holiday. I also enjoy the enthusiasm of bell ringers, the joy they seem to get from visiting with folks coming and going on their various Christmas errands.

Sadly, I have lost the spark for red kettles this year. Not because I don't want to give. Rather, I find myself dissatisfied with the bell ringers.

I know this is not their job, and many bell ringers are volunteers. But, on two occasions yesterday I merrily dug in my purse for money to drop in kettles in front of Macy's at Parkdale Mall and Market Basket in Port Neches. To my disappointment, both bell ringers were absent from their kettles.

At Macy's, a woman sat inside the store's entryway texting - both on my way in and out of the store. I understand bell ringers get breaks, but it was the lunch hour and a busy shopping day. Last night at Market Basket, the bell ringer sat 5 feet away from his kettle, quietly reading a newspaper. A friend told me he saw a bell ringer at Walgreen's this week lazily leaning on his kettle, content to not speak to anyone.

I will always give to the Salvation Army, but I am disenchanted with the process this year. If bell ringers can't be troubled to do their job, I bet a lot of potential donors will not be troubled to give this year. And that is just sad.

Easy peasy Christmas card holder

Christmas cards are flying in and I am running out of room to display them.

Here's another great tip from Melina Gerosa Bellows' "The Fun Book for Christmas:"

Collect tree branches and put them in a large glass vace. Attach Christmas cards with bits of ribbon.

Sounds fun and festive!

Do you have other ideas for how to display Christmas cards?

Give a Christmas gift to your least favorite body part

I just wracked up the savings at Macy's One-Day Sale.

Almost everything is 50 percent off or seriously reduced in price. On top of that, I saved $15 off my purchases with Wow Passes I got from several recent Enterprise papers. Grab some of your back issues and get going!

While you're there, don't forget to pick up a little something for yourself. This week, I read a great tip in Melina Gerosa Bellows' "The Fun Book for Christmas." Bellows writes: Give a Christmas gift to your least favorite body part.

Hmmm, that means some slimming jeans for me!

What are you getting yourself?

He Went to Jared! But what do I get him?

"He went to Jared!" "Every kiss begins with Kay."

I’ve heard these jewelry store slogans more than a few times recently. It seems like every holiday commercial right now is slanted towards a female audience. Yes, you read correctly.

These jewelry commercials are not to give men independent ideas. No, sir.

They are designed to make women dream the man in their life is going to present them with an engagement ring, heart-shaped necklace or diamond earrings while ice skating on a frozen pond to the sweet sounds of some Maxwell love ballad.

Instead, many of you female readers will be presented with a new microwave or vacuum cleaner come Christmas day.

The reason? Men do not watch jewelry commercials and dream of experiencing those fuzzy moments.

Marketing companies, instead, are dependent on women seeing these commercials and putting a bug in their men’s ears — subtly or not — that they want jewelry.

Honestly, I am jealous of men during Christmas. I have no idea of what to give my boyfriend.
There are no commercials that end with "She went to Gamestop!" or "Every catch begins with Academy."

Nope. I have to rely on details in past conversations with him or piggy-back off what my girlfriends are picking up for their boyfriends or husbands.

So, I ask you readers: What are you getting your significant other for Christmas? Tell me by commenting on this post.

Next Saturday, I will reveal your recommendations in The Beaumont Enterprise

Starbucks offering sweet holiday treats

I've got some news to warm your heart (perhaps, more like your gut if you are a stickler for details).

Starbucks will begin offering holiday drinks in their signature "Red Cup" Tuesday. Flavors include Gingerbread Latte, Peppermint Mocha and Eggnog Latte.

I am generally a scrooge about early Christmas marketing campaigns, but this one is too tasty to hate.