Christmas seems soooooo last year. But there's one more act of holiday kindness that is well worth sharing.

For the past three years, Monica Hartland and John Blaisdell have rounded up their friends and family to guarantee that the women and children seeking shelter at The Mission of Yahweh in northwest Houston have a joyous Christmas.

The 2011 effort began earlier in the month when the couple hosted a cocktail party at Philippe Restaurant + Lounge, during which guests committed to fulfill the Christmas needs (and more) of the mission residents. Monica and John bill the Christmas morning surprise for residents of the homeless shelter as "Christmas on a Mission."

The women and children awakened to find the Mission of Yahweh courtyard filled with snow and brimming with presents while a jolly Santa (Daniel Hartland) and costumed elves (Monty Broughton and Ray Metcalf) wished them all good cheer. The moms each received much-needed suitcases packed with personal care items while the children received toys from their wish lists.

The party included a sugary breakfast of cinnamon rolls baked by Adele Hartland and dancing and snow ball fights to DJ spins.

Among the "Christmas on a Mission" team joining the Christmas morning give-away were Monica and John, Megan Blaisdell, KayKay Blaisdell, Bethany Hartland, Kerem Karaman, Jose Omana and Charlie Hartland (Monica's father). Charlie was on that first mission party three years ago. "I went the first time because she (Monica) asked me. Now, I go because I love it. There is such gratefulness in the eyes of the moms and children."

It's become a serious family affair with eight of Charlie's 14 children joining the party in 2011.

Pushers and shovers

That's just the playful moniker that Cindy Clifford of The Clifford Group gave to partying throng that crowded into her Montrose bungalow for the annual post-Christmas bash that she, her husband David Bray and Jason Fuller hosted.

The party was almost canceled several days out when a police chase ended on the Clifford/Bray front porch, knocking out most of the brick work in the process. But the trio persevered and Jason stepped in to camouflage the damage (cosmetic, no structural problems). He went to Houston Garden Center and picked up a few, at-this-point free, Christmas trees hauled them onto the porch, dressed them in lights and thereby creating a very festive welcome for partygoers.

In the mix of close to 150 were Mayor Annise Parker and Kathy Hubbard, District Attorney Pat Lykos, City Council members-elect (at that time) Ellen Cohen and Andrew Burks, Houston Style Publisher Francis Page Jr. and wife Kristyn, Texas Southern's Dean of Communications James Ward, Fox 26's Carolyn Mungo, U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore, KTRK Ch. 13's Miya Shay with assistant DA Gene Wu, State Rep. Carol Alvarado and the list goes on and on.

Project Runway All-Stars

Tune in on Thursday to see Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing as guest judge of the popular Lifetime Television fashion competition. In fact, Neiman Marcus is sponsoring the show because, according to the Dallas Morning News, "it appeals to younger shoppers."

Thirteen former Project Runway contestants return for the competition that premieres on Jan. 5.

Sight 'ems

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster dining with friends at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House Friday night . . .

More than 60 Northwestern University staff celebrating New Year's Eve, despite their team's loss to Texas A&M in the Meineke Car Care Bowl earlier in the day, in a private party room at Del Frisco's where in the main dining room A&M's interim coach and soon-to-be head coach for the Fresno State Bulldogs Tim Deruyter celebrated the New Year with family and friends.