I love wrapping gifts. Seriously. Good things come in well-wrapped packages, as they say. Anything you don't want to wrap, send my way via express Christmas elves, and I'll get them back to you by Christmas Eve. 

My gift-wrapping obsession starting way back in high school while working one of my first jobs at the neighborhood toy store. They offered the service for free, and while my co-workers would pretend to be super busy stocking the already full shelves when there was a customer waiting at the gift-wrapping table, I eagerly bounded over, excited to meticulously wrap each purchase up into a tidy little package. I once wrapped a hula hoop. Not kidding.

To be honest - I was a little intimidated by the cash register (still am, just ask my accountant!) So what did I do? Hid behind the creative "making" part of my job, which came naturally to me. I guess I was decorating gifts? Not only did the art of wrapping come easily to me, it was also therapeutic and made the hours fly. 

It also helped me to learn some real life lessons, such as how to patiently and graciously deal with rude customers who demanded that I fix corners that weren't perfect or to hurry up because they were going to be late to Billy's bowling party. Once someone even told me I was using too much tape. (Seriously dude? You're getting this beautiful gift wrap for free. And I'm not talking like the cheap stuff that rips when you look at it. I'm talking the good stuff - that nice, thick, quality wrapping paper. There were also about 10 different adorable pattern options, complete with curling ribbon and logo stickers). 

Anyways, I digress - but I think I learned a lot at that gift-wrapping station. Perhaps it was even a metaphor for what I do today. Wrap people's homes up in nice, neat tidy little packages and deliver them the best and most efficient way that I can. There's something so satisfying in taking a normal old box (aka almost every NYC apt) and turning it into a personalized, beautiful gift with a bow on top. It's therapeutic to anticipate the happiness that it will (hopefully!) deliver.

And gifts, like homes and clients, come in all different shapes and sizes. No two recipients are the same. Each one will choose a different wrapping paper. Each equally beautiful. Some might even tell me to fix the corners. It's all part of the job!

So, here's a roundup of some beautiful #inspo to get you excited as I am to wrap this holiday season up. 

And that's a wrap! Happy Holidays from my wrapping station to yours!

~L.S.

P.S. - Don't forget to recycle and re-use your gift wrap whenever possible!