#dormernatali

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

I’m especially grateful for each and every one of you this year - old friends and new - and I hope you have a happy, healthy and celebratory holiday with your families this year. Thank you for welcoming me back with open arms, and including me in your families of choice. Stay cozied up and warm with this hot chocolate kit, and use it to help wash down some homemade cozonac bread - a Romanian specialty - and the blame for my expanding Christmas waistline. 

Though a lot of things have changed over the years, and I may have been MIA for a few of them - some things stay the same. I wasn’t raised with much, and feel that we all have so much... I hope you all enjoy my preferred version of Christmas giving - something homemade and from the heart, and something to put good out into the world for those who aren’t as breathtakingly lucky as the rest of us. 

Lots of love,

Sebastian

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For my new mate, @charliehmn, helping five male refugees not only receive job and skills prep to join the workforce in their new homes, but vital supplies to get them through the first few weeks so they can provide for their families

For my moonbeam kid sister, @shaiwoodleybv​ and the woman who can - and maybe should - kick my ass on the reg, @scarlettjohansssn​, the gift of each of you sending ten girls to school for an entire year in areas like Afghanistan, the Congo and Lebanon

For the couples that not only redefine what successful, supportive marriages look like - @bjamesjr​ and @apopple​, @xolively​ and @vancityryan​, and @residentgoober​ and @stefigerm​ - but you all make very cute kids to boot, a vitally important baby incubator donated in each of your names to under-resourced hospitals in Africa and Asia. Each incubator on average will save hundreds of premature babies’ lives in these areas for loving parents like you all.

For the unofficial Mayor of Bayview, and the guy who always has a plan, or at least fakes it like nobody’s business @butlergerry​, a water distribution and sanitation station for rural tribes who cannot source it themselves - needless to say, a vital part of the rebuilding and vitality efforts and something we take for granted. As someone who does a lot for those around them on their own, I wanted to shine that light a little brighter where I could. 

For the strongest and most inspiriting woman around, @deltslea​, there isn’t a way to bottle up your special magic, but providing small business training for five women in places like Liberia, where market-savvy women are often natural entrepreneurs who generate income for their families and lift the fortunes of entire communities. Sort of like the way you lift up the rest of us, doll.

For the fiercest and defacto-everyone’s mom, @dormernatali​, as someone who has brought their own family together to create something beautiful, my favorite gift this year of reuniting five refugee families who have been separated during a crisis, migration or other natural disaster across Africa and the Middle East. Because of you, five families are going to find each other in this crazy world to begin healing and thriving. 

For my brother, @roerigz​. A lot has changed, for us as men on our own, and between the two of us as friends. Family again someday, hopefully. Though I have some regrets, coming back home and, admittedly not easy, but having the chance to work on things together - metaphorically, but also kind of literally soon enough - will never be one of them. I wanted to get you a few goofy things, because, you know, Christmas - like this shirt - but the wood brand is something I thought you might like to design for yourself to sign your work. It’s beautiful, and deserves to bear the Roerig name, or Windsong’s, if you wanted. Your affinity for fat, happy, healthy babies is something I’ve learned to start appreciating over the years too, but one that I started learning from yours. In light of that, your real gift of four mobile clinics - Gracie’s Clinic, Jason’s Clinic, Harper’s Clinic and Ryan’s Clinic - which will serve across southeastern Asia and Africa, to have there be more fat, happy babies in the world because of you all. 

For @butlergerry & Gaelyn

Ger, 

It’s finally here, it’s Christmas! I can’t say that when I arrived in Bayview I had any idea how this year was going to turn out but it turns out that my rash and impulsive decision was the best one I’ve made in quite sometime and that’s thanks in large part to you (and Gaelyn, of course!). So obviously there was no way I could let Christmas pass without a little spoiling so you both knew how grateful I am that the two of you have come into our lives. 

From me: I think the socks are pretty self explanatory (although, surprisingly, the only coffee related item), but just in case - as someone who can’t drink coffee, I need a reminder so I don’t let your cup get empty! Plus, cozy toes is a good thing this time of year. As for the tie, I just figured you should probably get used to wearing this color scheme! The rest, your mother is probably going to side eye me for, but I’m hoping I can charm her by pretending to love haggis! Anyway, first is a collection of motorcycle maps - I have no idea how these differ from regular maps but apparently they were made by motorcyclists, for motorcyclists. Included is a small token to remind you to make you sure you come home safe (okay, you mother might approve of this one). The last one is a bit selfish, and completely presumptuous, but I figure wifedom allows me some leeway here - it’s a motorcycle Bluetooth intercom system that fits into most helmets so you don’t have to yell over the engine all the time. Yes, this is my way of suggesting a road trip at some point (or when we need an escape plan from certain little people...?). 

From the girls: Olive made you the dish - it’s paper mache so don’t try to use it as an ashtray! She intended it for keys and such because she ‘feels bad for boys who don’t carry purses’! Frankie decorated the coasters for you so you always have somewhere to put your coffee! 

For Gaelyn: Olive & Frankie got Wonder Woman and Supergirl pajamas from Santa and so we wanted to make sure Gaelyn was a part of their superhero gang (in sticking with the matching, also). The matching roll out beds were the girls’ idea - I think this is their way of insisting on sleepovers, and while they outnumber me and I couldn’t say no, I can’t say I don’t like the idea!

 I don’t want to get too mushy here and risk tarnishing your reputation, but I do want you to know that the time we’ve spent together has been some of the best I’ve had, so thank you for being a friend, for making me laugh and supporting my bad parenting. And for hot cocoa, obviously. I hope the memories made so far are just the start and that 2018 holds a whole lot more for us. Mostly, I hope you and Gaelyn have the wonderful, happy Christmas you both deserve so much (and Mama Butler, too!). 

xo Drew, Olive & Frankie

For @zaynsalamb, @krispinot, @dormernatali, @yelyahnichole, @bayviewlara, @sxphietxrner , @deltslea, @keshababyy & @reinlili

I just wanted to give you all a little something to celebrate the season and to thank you for your friendship, the laughs and, in at least one case, the babysitting. The cookies are sadly, not homemade (who has time for that) but absolutely delicious so please enjoy with your families! The wine is my own blend ad I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do! Lastly, both the card and the coffee are of the ‘give back’ variety. The card supports animal welfare charities (Thanks to Hooray for the Underdog) and features animals that have been given a new lease on life and a forever home. Grounds and Hounds is an amazing company that supports nearby animal rescues, which would be enough to convince me, but they reportedly also make a delicious cuppa!

From my family to yours, I hope you have a beautiful Christmas and that 2018 is filled with love, laughter and joy for all of you! Merry Christmas!