Happy Friday!

Before I announce the two winners of the Taylor Swift CDs, I want to let you know about some great music I heard last night.

My dad and I went to see Gordon Lightfoot live at Massey Hall. It was a wonderful evening ... the company (when was the last time I went out with my dad?), the venue (I think Massey Hall is my favourite place in Toronto) and, of course, the music were all just superb. I still love Lightfoot's oldies the most and it was magical to hear him sing The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald and If You Could Read My Mind live.

I read in the house programme that Lightfoot is embarking on a country-wide tour in spring 2010 so watch for him in your town.

And now for the winners (drum roll please ...)

Congratuations to Alison (I, too, love Loreena McKennitt's To Drive the Cold Winter Away) and to Josie.

Thanks to everyone for all the great song suggestions. I have two favourite holiday tunes: The Huron Carol (especially when sung by my kids' school choir) and the original Band Aid's Feed the World - Do They Know It's Christmas Time?

Have a great weekend everyone. Watch out for another contest next week. Kathryn

Let's talk Christmas. Huh? Yup, that's right, Christmas.

All day long for the last few weeks, that's all I've had on my mind.

You see, in the magazine world, editors, art directors and writers toil away on issues long before our readers ever see them. Guess which issue I have been working on lately? Right! December ... and that means the holidays.

The offices of Canadian Living are filled with the scrumptious smells of shortbread and gingerbread wafting out from our fabulous test kitchen, which just happens to be about four feet away from my office door — oh the agony.

And every time I check my email, there's at least one new message from a public relations company offering an invite to come to their 'Christmas in July' or 'Christmas in August' event, at which they preview new products that they hope will make it on your wish list. No wonder, I'm surprised it hasn't started to snow just yet.

One trend I'm noticing this year is the desire to put the 'giving' back in present exchanges and the holidays in general. It seems the recession has given us the chance to pause and think a little bit about what we really want to accomplish when we give a gift.

I know for most of you, the holidays mean hitting the beach and enjoying backyard bbqs. And if you're like me you won't start your shopping until Dec 1.

Still, I want to know ... Has the economy made you think twice about gifts you purchase, and do you think it will do so this Christmas season? If so, tell me how.

Until next time, Kathryn