Good morning and Merry Christmas, everyone! Is all the shopping done? All the cookies baked? All the stockings stuffed?

No? Don't worry -- mine aren't, either. Today will entail morning writing, and then I have to take time to finish shopping and at least start the baking and wrapping. But, amid it all, there is still blogging. We're trying to add some new twists to the blog for 2008 (and some new members, so stay tuned for news!), and we're planning to do some writer workshops, interviews, and have more amazing guests, but we also want to get to know each other and let you get to know us a little more, and to that end, we're going to post what we're calling "Cigar Shop" posts where all of us answer a question, and then you can post and answer our question as well.

So, the question I asked my blog mates this week was: What's the sexiest Christmas gift you've ever given to someone else?

Shirley says... I bought my husband some really sexy guy underwear one year. He laughed when he opened the box, and handed me a small box, too. He'd apparently been thinking the same thing because there was a little something sexy under the tree for me that year, too. Those were the years...before kids ;-)

Karen Foley says...Okay, here goes...my then-boyfriend (now husband) and I had been dating for about three months and I was ready to move our relationship to the next level, but he was one of those sweet, old-fashioned guys who believed in waiting...and waiting! So for that first Christmas, I put together a basket that contained a gorgeous red teddy, some candles, some romantic music, a bottle of wine with glasses, and some protection...and gave it to him on Christmas Eve. He was a little puzzled, but as he pulled each successive item out of the basket, his smile grew broader. It was a great way to ring in Christmas, though I'm not sure I ever actually got to wear the teddy!

Tawny says...One year I got the sweetest little red velvet nighty with white fluffy trim. Very elfy and sexy. I gave it to my husband, along with a coupon for a night of romance, the kids at their uncles for the night... everything. I thought that was sexiest gift I'd ever given. But my husband would probably tell you the sexiest thing I've ever given him are power tools. Cause, you know, he's just got weird ideas (no, of course my ideas aren't weird... its the men's minds are twisted )

and Karen Kendall says...The sexiest gift I ever gave anyone was a . . . (okay, I'm blushing) very small, red, furry Santa "hat." The hat was for my husband (a joke!) and came with elastic to hold it onto a certain part of the male anatomy. He fished it out of the package and dangled it by one finger, speechless. Then we both burst out laughing. It was never used by us--but the cat thought it was a pretty good toy!

Now, as you can see, Lisa and Sarah escaped our little interview, but maybe they'll join in in comments...

As for me? Weeellll... I realized I never really bought a super sexy Christmas gift for my sweetie. I recently bought him some sexy man underwear that I enjoy -- nice form-fitting, colorful little numbers -- but he more or less just says "hey, new underwear, cool." Like Tawny, I'm thinking Mike would count power tools and toys as sexy -- kayaking and survival supplies, LOL. He's bought *me* some sexy things, and I guess he considered that a gift for himself as well. ; ) But I'm thinking as I finish my shopping today, maybe a little something spicy should end up under the tree... I'll let you know what I find.

Until then, here are a few pictures of how we are humiliating our dogs for Christmas. :)

How about all of you? Any fun stories about sexy gifts? Anything you'd like to buy, but haven't dared?