I could have gone with my iPhone or my Macbook.  I could wax rhapsodic about either device.  The phone has become almost an extension of my soul, I use it for so much.  And, the elegance and utility of both devices certainly gives lift to my desire to break out of my corporate “box” and  strike out on my own.

However, I think the gift that has given me the most this year is not something tangible.  My gift that has kept on giving is to live my life simply.  To make do with less and to live in a smaller space.  This life style change won’t happen all at once.  It will take some time to implement.  But, my goal is to have a smaller home and fewer possessions.  The goal is to free up time for what is important to me.

So, on this day of giving, celebrate with family and friends.

Enjoy and be thankful for what you have.

May you all be blessed with good friends, good family, good health and good cheer!!!

Peace to you all.

For the best packaging for 2009, the winner, in my book, is Apple Computer. They have mastered the art of packaging such that they use less material and design the packaging to be both elegant and functional. In fact, they reduced the size of their computer boxes so that they can ship the same number units using a smaller space, thereby reducing, if even by a little, their carbon footprint for shipping.

This year, I purchased an iPhone, a Macbook and an iPod Nano. In each case, the packaging was surprisingly small and elegant. The size of the packaging was inversely proportional to the size/quality of the product inside. The various parts of the packaging nestled together neatly with neat little tabs designed so that pulling each “layer” out of the box was quite easy.

There were no bulky styrofoam inserts that often make it difficult to remove the device from the box. Plastic coverings and wrappers were there but minimized. And, all accessories and printed documentation were designed to fit snugly in their own separate layers and compartments. There is little or no wasted space inside the packaging.Another reason I love Apple packaging is that it fits my new penchant for a minimalist living experience. I have come to understand that size does NOT always matter. Their packages perform the perfect combination of product protection and product presentation.