Kindle FIYAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I've been having a hard time coming up with a Christmas list for myself. You know, the list your mom always asks for right around Thanksgiving? Yeah, that one. I don't know why this year was harder than others have been. I guess because I've bought myself so many of the things I wanted, and the things I want now are a bit more intangible - airplane tickets, trips, things like that. And Lord knows I HATE asking for money. So, I came up with a list but realized that several of the things on it were pretty 'big ticket' items, including a Kindle Fire. I called my mom to basically ask her if that was something they wanted to get me or if I should just get it myself, and without missing a beat my mom told me to buy it for myself.

So, I did.



And then I added a Kindle Fire case to my Christmas list, because the one I am using now is only barely cutting it.



I want one like this. I bet I could make it myself if I tried. I bet my mom could make it for me, too. We'll see what happens come Christmas morning!

What is on your Christmas list this year? Mine also includes a tripod, a Dutch oven, sparkly shoes, skinny jeans, and a Wii remote charger. I think that list pretty much sums up everything you could ever possibly need to know about me, too.

PS - I'm still trying to figure out the best way to use my precious Kindle, but you can expect a post in the near future about exactly how to upload/download books, music & photos to your Kindle. I don't know if I'm the only one that found this really difficult, but maybe

Dumb Dog

This is my sister's dog, Bailey.

One year ago, my dear family embarked on the roadtrip of a lifetime - Atlanta to Springfield, IL to Des Moines, IA to Minneapolis, MN to Mora, MN to Rochester, MN to Atlanta, GA over the course of 10 days. Did I mention this was in December? Like, the winter? In the midwest? DRIVING through the midwest?

Did I also mention that on top of 4 people, we also brought along 2 dogs? We did.

That picture was taken outside my aunt & uncle's house where we stayed on our last leg of our journey. Originally we were only going to stay from 7pm-7am, but we got up the next morning and our family thought we were staying the whole day. So we did. C'est la vie. We played in the snow and sledded and built snowmen and snow angels and fires and s'mores and did every stereotypical winter snowday thing you are supposed to do that is totally lame when you actually get snow every day for 3 months straight. But we did it all, and I'm 100% positive we all had a BLAST. Plus, my aunt & uncle & cousins are major dog people, so our dogs were right at home. Literally.

 

Their dog had a toy that they affectionately referred to as "Ellie." It was a stuffed elephant that I think used to belong to one of my cousins. As we all must learn at some point, dogs > kids, so Maggie got to keep the elephant. Sucks. The dog toted that elephant EVERYWHERE with her. "Maggie! Go get ellie!" "Maggie, come inside and play with ellie!" "Maggie, where's your ellie?"

Then Bailey showed up. And straight up STOLE ELLIE right from under Maggie's little nose. My mom made Bailey give ellie back, but as soon as they got back to Florida, my mom instantly started scouring the $1 bins for replacement ellies. And now, Bailey carries ellie with him wherever he goes.

When you come home, not only does Bailey greet you at the door, but ellie does too. And when you go to the grocery store, not only do the two dogs come along, but ellie too. And when you snuggle up on the couch with wine and a pup, you also get to snuggle up with a wet, chewed, ripped up elephant.

Maybe they're good luck? For the sake of all kids out there with toys being stolen by pets, I hope so.

Just Because

Because I am exercising my right to a mental health day today, and because I'm feeling indulgent, and well.. just because, here are some things on my wishlist.

1. This giant screen to put on my balcony and ward off the dust that the trains that drive right by my house stir up. That way, I can sit and enjoy my balcony without hacking up a lung. Unfortch, because this isn't my house, and because who knows where I will end up next, this badboy will remain on my wishlist until who knows when.

Bamboo Folding Screen can be found HERE

2. Nikon D3000 DSLR camera. I am not 100% sold that this is the exact version of a DSLR that I want, but I'm pretty confident that I want to go with a Nikon, and based on the reviews I have read, this is the best model for a beginner (i.e. me). This is the item on this list I am most seriously considering purchasing because I think it will get the most use and I will enjoy it the most. I am resident picture taker amongst my friends, always have been, so why not upgrade?

3. These cowboy boots. I bought my previous pair of cowboy boots at Aldo following a particularly fabulous night at my favorite fraternity house in college with Peanut and her cronies. I have literally worn those boots out, to the point that once on my feet, they don't really come off that well, as evidenced by the night that I slept with 1 boot on. Although I'll never get rid of them, I really need a new pair. And, have no fear, my feet shall never go cowboy-boot-less. I bought them last weekend!

4. (A little hint at a post I have coming up later this week!) I am looking for new sewing projects! I am now on sewing machine #2 because apparently my curtain-making was a little too much for sewing machine #1. But, all is well, and I am seeking out new projects. It's a little early to start my Christmas sewing, even for me. But that doesn't mean I haven't already purchased presents for half my family...

What are on your wishlists? Are they practical, absurd, necessary, or just your wants?

On that note, I'm going to enjoy the 2 hours I have left of my mental health day. I forgot that I agreed to run carpool & after-school pickup today for the kids I babysit for, so my mental health day is being cut short. Not the end of the world, really... I could stand to make a little money today! Happy Tuesday!

Christmas... in March

Ever since my parents have re-located to Florida, my sister & I have made it our personal mission to never spend a Christmas in Florida. Somehow, for the last 4 years, we have managed to accomplish this. 2006&2007 were spent in Atlanta, 2008 was spent on a cruise ship, and 2009 was spent in 24" of snow in Minnesota. Needless to say, Mission: Spend Christmas Not In Florida 2010 has commenced. So where would you go at Christmas, if the world was your oyster?

I've been informed that we are going on a 6day/7night Western Caribbean cruise. Bear with me while I complain about my first-world problems: I've already been there. I've done that cruise before. Over Christmas. In 2003. And sorry, but there are far more interesting places I can think of spending my Christmas than Cozumel, Mexico and Grand Cayman. I want to see more of South America. I want go to back to Colombia and Panama and really explore. I have a feeling this Christmas vacation isn't really up to me at all, but if it were, that's what I would choose. Or a ski trip in Colorado. Or maybe, just a nice, leisurely Christmas spent in Florida with the people I love most in the world.