Do These Go?

I'm going to the beach after Christmas and will be packing this J. Crew final sale swimsuit*.

I wonder if I should buy the matching shoes**.

* This top has like, no coverage. I have to be verrry careful. I usually don't have this problem.

** I'm kidding. But how funny would I be?

Shopping Guilt

I had put myself on a No Shopping Spree of sorts over that past several months. Not that I did a ton of shopping to begin with, but in reviewing monthly spending reports I could see I spent $150 one month, $200 the next, etc., without really remembering what I even spent it on.

Don't get me wrong, I've bought clothing for myself recently. When I went to Boston, I made not only one, but two shopping trips to H&M. (How could you not? We don't have H&M in Texas. Plus, one of the visits was to load up on hats and scarves because I was freezing my butt off.)

So with the holiday season upon and us and DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! everywhere, I've checked out the sales but have abstained from getting myself anything for the most part. What I've learned is that there will always be another sale, and if I just remove the item from my shopping cart, I will most likely forget about it later. (I did miss out on this one fabulous pair of boots though. But there will always be another amazing sale! Plus, I've been telling myself that it will be even better after Christmas.)

I saw a mention today that figleaves.com is having a 90% off sale, so I checked it out. And found DEALS! DEALS! STEALS! We are talking $30 underwear reduced to $1. (I really wished I had seen this earlier, as a lot of good stuff/sizes are sold out.) So what did I do? I ordered $70 worth of bras and underwear. It was so hard to pass up - one bra was slightly off my normal size, but it was $1. How could I not get it? I could donate it to Goodwill if it's not right.

I tried for a while to get my order amount down. I could use a few new bras, but did I need FIVE more right now? Why do I feel so guilty about spending? I added it all up, and it was $400 worth of merch for $70. I saved $330! (Oops, it's not savings unless you save it.) I easily have an extra $70 to spend. And it's not like underwear is a want and not a need. (At least not for me.)

I think it's because I chose to focus on shopping and reducing the amount of things that come into my life. Dining out is an even bigger budget buster, but I've only halfheartedly been trying to reduce that expense because it's easy to get sucked into eating out for lunch to get out of the office or wanting to meet up with friends for dinner and drunks. I could easily save that $70 by cutting out a few dinners AND having my new unmentionables.

I've been reviewing my 2008 financial situation lately and trying to make some goals for 2009 and set a better budget. I almost think I need to add a special budget category of money that I can and should spend, guilt-free.

Do I Know How to Pick "Symbolic Colors of the Future" Or What?

Pantone has announced 'Mimosa' as 2009's influential color. (See MSNBC article - this is big news!)

And what was the color of the year in 2008? Blue Steel Iris.

Am I just totally with it, or what?

The Best Man Will Never Live This Down

V. funny video. I hope I could laugh about this, but I'd be pretty mortified.

I Asked My Husband for Hangers for Christmas

Seriously! I decided around 11:30 last night when putting away some laundry to clean out and organize my closet. (I know, I'm crazy like that. My mind revs up at night when I should be getting my beauty sleep, which explains why I'm always so tired. It's a vicious cycle.)

When I got married, I inherited DH's lovely mix of non-matching, mostly wire, hangers. (Now, I have some of these buggers too, but the majority of mine were of the matching, white plastic variety.) I feel like they are taking over our closets. So unsightly. So I spent last night hanging up the huge pile of my clothes that had made their way to the backs of chairs (funny how they like to migrate there) with the remaining white hangers I could shore up. In a fit of passion, I ran into our bedroom, where DH was dozing with a movie on and yelled "All I want for Christmas are MORE WHITE HANGERS!"

And I'm serious. I asked for no gifts this year. But I will make an exception here. James, I will not put you in the doghouse if you get them for me, like in this funny video:

I put back my tops in color order* and noticed that I have absolutely no purple in my wardrobe, other than the lone purple dress I bought for engagement photos. I've never really liked purple unless it's more blue than purple, but it's grown on me lately. Since it's such prevalent color this fall, I've made it my goal to add some plum and aubergine** to add some diversity to my closet.

* Any tips on the best way to organize your closet? I have such a hard time! Some clothes are reserved strictly for work, some I wear both at working and going out/weekends, some are going out only, etc. Color seemed best to me because if I think of something specific I want to wear I can at least find it.

** Are these the same shade? I am very unversed in this hue.

So Sweet

If I ever have a baby girl, she's wearing this hat:

I really want something made out of this pattern - I love it!

Just Like the Apothecary Storage Units of Yore

Haverty's makes a card-catalog look-alike. I feel like Phoebe in "The One With the Apothecary Table".

Why My Husband Thinks I'm Addicted to the Internets

Addicted to (Pretty)Porn: One Woman's Story

I'm a recovering wedding photography addict (seriously, it's amazing), but now I've moved on to interior design blogs (must build a beautiful nest!), personal finance blogs (must build a good nest egg!), and the personal blogs of others who seem as addicted as me.

Google Reader, I curse you for feeding my addiction.

"My, this is a refreshing way to get loaded"

Happy (belated) Repeal Day! In honor of this, I wanted to share my new favorite cocktail: the Stoli Doli. Introduced to me during my trip to Boston, I had to wonder where it's been all of my adult-drinking life.

It tasted just like fresh pineapple (my favorite fruit, btw), albeit a nice, loosening-up, happy, let's-dance-on-the-bar pineapple. Vodka with pineapple juice will never be the same; I've been ruined forever.

The ingredients are simple:
1 fresh pineapple, cut into pieces
1 (750 milliliter) bottle good quality vodka (I'll try Stoli first for authenticity)

The directions are simple:
Place the pineapple pieces into a large container, and pour the vodka over them. Cover, and refrigerate for 5 to 7 days. Strain out pineapple, and serve vodka over ice with a pineapple garnish.

Oh, yum! I need a cute container like this:

Z Gallerie, on sale for $35

Dear Santa: Please bring me one of these so mama can infuse her vodka in style.


Apparently the Capital Grille has made the drink famous, so we will be hitting it up for an upscale happy hour one evening so I can get my fix.

Winner of the Dallas Observer's Best Cocktail:

Understand something: The best cocktail isn't necessarily the one we drink
every night. Then the winner in this category would be "Whatever alcohol is
brown, in our cupboard and you can pour over ice." No, this category is reserved
for the sort of drink that men and women can consume and say to themselves, "My,
this is a refreshing way to get loaded." With that being the criterion, the
winner is clearly the Stoli Doli at C-Grille. On the bar you will see a huge
container filled with "jet-fresh" (meaning they're flown in the day they're
picked, or somesuch) Dole pineapples, to which is added many, many fluid ounces
of Stoli vodka. This marinates for five to seven days. The resulting nectar is
served chilled in a cocktail glass or, if you prefer (as we do), in a tumbler on
the rocks. Especially in the summer, but at all times of the year, this is a
killer cocktail.

Coveting: Passport Covers

I've been wanting something pretty to cover that passport that I use all the time pretty infrequently. Imagine my surprise whilst browsing Neiman Marcus's "Gift Ideas Under $100" when I see this:

NM, $26

What? Do these go together? I'm all for aspiring to the matching bra-and-panties thing, but I didn't know I needed to match my thong to my passport as well.

And it even comes in black! Weird or what?

What I'd *really* like is NM's monogrammed passport cover, $35 but not currently available

J. Crew's $17 option

Now, I know I post about a lot of things I covet, but I am trying not to buy a lot of things I don't actually need. Think of posting pretty pictures of things as a release, if you will. After posting about this pretty satin clutch, my friend Megan surprised me by picking it up for me at Ann Taylor Loft on Black Friday for like $12. But here's the thing: I don't need it. I really don't. I know it's a small amount of money we're talking about, but I've been taking a long look at all of my little purchases and seeing how they add up to a lot. Plus, I already have a lot of clutches that I don't even use. (Although no pretty, pretty pink satin one.)

I also know that small little indulgences are good for the soul. So maybe I should put a monogrammed passport cover on my Official Wish List*.

* Official Wish List: A categorization above "coveting" of pretty things that I really, really want and would love to be surprised with at any time.

Since We Got the Interweb These Hardly Get Used

Private Library Kit, $17 at Restoration Hardware
(available from several different sources as well)

As a girl who used to think it would be fun to be a librarian (and who now has an obsession with card catalogs), I would have loved this! It even comes with a rolly-date stamp, which I have always wanted to play with.

Am I a complete nerd or just kind-of?

Satisfying Calendar

Now here's a calendar where I'd be sure to mark off each day:

Bubble Wrap Calendar, $30

On the 5th of December, I Like You Too

On my recent trip to Boston* to visit a friend, we ducked into the MFA store to escape the cold (we did a lot of ducking into stores bars to escape the cold that weekend), and I picked up this book and started leafing through it:

It has the cutest illustrations, and you can see some of them here. (I didn't know Google had a Book Search. But of course. Google has everything.)

I'm at this point in the book when my friend comes over to see what I'm looking at:

Me: Look! This is so cute! It has the Fifth of July in it - my
WEDDING DATE!
Friend: Yeah, or my BIRTHDAY. [Friend, thanks again for sharing your birthday.]
Me: Yes! AND my WEDDING DATE! I MUST get this!

Today, DH and I have made it 6 5** months. Time has flown by, and hopefully this chunk of time will be a very smally percentage of our married life.



** Um, apparently I can't count. For some reason I was thinking 6 the whole time as I created this post. 5 months is so not as big of a deal as 6 months...and 6 months isn't a big deal either really, unless you're under the age of 10 and say that you're "7 and 1/2, NOT 7!". (Now I am clinging to "26! NOT 27! NOT 26 and 11/12!")

Without further ado, DH, this is why I like you:

I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg

I like you and I know why.
I like you because you are a good person to like.
I like you because when I tell you something special, you know it's
special
And you remember it a long, long time.
You say,
Remember when you told me something special
And both of us remember

When I think something is important
you think it's important too
We have good ideas
When I say something funny, you laugh
I think I'm funny and you think I'm funny too
Hah-hah!

I like you because you know where I'm ticklish
And you don't tickle me there except just a little tiny bit sometimes
But if you do, then I know where to tickle you too
You know how to be silly
That's why I like you
Boy are you ever silly
I never met anybody sillier than me till I met you
I like you because you know when it's time to stop being silly
Maybe day after tomorrow
Maybe never
Too late, it's a quarter past silly

Sometimes we don't say a word
We snurkle under fences
We spy secret places
If I am a goofus on the roofus hollering my head off
You are one too
If I pretend I am drowning, you pretend you are saving me
If I am getting ready to pop a paper bag,then you are getting ready to jump
HOORAY

That's because you really like me
You really like me, don't you
And I really like you back
And you like me back and I like you back
And that's the way we keep on going every day

If you go away, then I go away too
or if I stay home, you send me a postcard
You don't just say
Well see you around sometime, bye
I like you a lot because of that
If I go away, I send you a postcard too

And I like you because if we go away together
And if we are in Grand Central Station
And if I get lost**
Then you are the one that is yelling for me

And I like you because when I am feeling sad
You don't always cheer me up right away
Sometimes it is better to be sad
You can't stand the others being so googly and gaggly every single minute
You want to think about things
It takes time

I like you because if I am mad at you
Then you are mad at me too
It's awful when the other person isn't
They are so nice and hoo-hoo you could just about punch them in the nose

I like you because if I think I am going to throw up
then you are really sorry
You don't just pretend you are busy looking at the birdies and all that
You say, maybe it was something you ate
You say, the same thing happened to me one time
And the same thing did

If you find two four-leaf clovers, you give me one
If I find four, I give you two
If we only find three, we keep on looking

Sometimes we have good luck, and sometimes we don't
If I break my arm, and if you break your arm too
Then it's fun to have a broken arm
I tell you about mine, you tell me about yours
We are both sorry
We write our names and draw pictures
We show everybody and they wish they had a broken arm too

I like you because I don't know why but
Everything that happens is nicer with you
I can't remember when I didn't like you
It must have been lonesome then

I like you because because because
I forget why I like you but I do
So many reasons

On the 4th of July I like you because it's the 4th of July
On the fifth of July, I like you too
If you and I had some drums and some horns and some horses
If we had some hats and some flags and some fire engines
We could be a HOLIDAY
We could be a CELEBRATION
We could be a WHOLE PARADE

See what I mean?
Even if it was the 999th of July
Even if it was August
Even if it was way down at the bottom of November
Even if it was no place particular in January

I would go on choosing you
And you would go on choosing me
Over and over again
That's how it would happen every time
I don't know why
I guess I don't know why I really like you

Why do I like you
I guess I just like you
I guess I just like
you because I like you.

On a side note, I Googled this book to find the text to share, and discovered that this has been used this as a wedding reading. We had a Catholic wedding ceremony, so we had very limited choices in our readings, but this would have been perfect for a sweet, simple ceremony. There were so many poems and stories I found during the course of wedding planning that I couldn't use, but I saved them anyway with the idea of using them in a wedding album. This is definitely going in there!



* I will post photos at some point****. I swear.

*** I've gotten lost twice on our trips together. And you went to Rome and back to Castiglion Fiorentino to look for me.

**** Could be months. I am lazy.

ideeli Balenciaga Giveaway

Ooh, don't you want one? Enter here!

Oh Hot D@#&, This is My (Christmas) Jam

I am loving the song on this cute video. It shall be my Christmas Jam for 2008. (I have a new one each year.) A Google search on the lyrics brings up a singer named Lenka.

The sweet printable calendars and cards showcased in the video are a great way to give a nice, pretty gift for not a lot of moolah. And not to take away from this seller, but I just came across a link to download this 2009 calendar for free. You have to sign up for their newsletter, but you could a) always unsubscribe, or b) use your "junk" email account (if you don't have one, I highly recommend it). I'm going to print it out!

Advent Calendar

Check out this modern, mirrored advent calendar from Target! Do I fill each drawer with candy? I could keep this out every month and uh, have candy every day up until the 25th.

Should I get it? I really need to put up my tree and other Christmas decorations before buying anything else. I'm pretty excited to do this; all of my Christmas stuff remained in storage last Christmas since I was a nomad.

Christmas Cards

Some Christmas card goodness:

from Manta Ray Designs

from letterpress

from Sycamore Street Press



from Chick Print



from Darling Shoppe



from Nastee Notes



from a favorite design

Not a card, but super cute:

from The Craft Pantry

This year I plan to do a photo card for the first time with a photo from the wedding. (I figure this is the last time we'll do this until we have a kid, and then we'll probably be like everyone else and only produce cards exhibiting how cute our offspring are.) I was too lazy to order when there were some sweet deals going on (of course) and I'll be running out of time soon, so one of my goals tomorrow is to pick out the picture and order them. MIL is dead-set on one, although I don't think it's the one I want to use since it's of us and the church and you would barely be able to see us when it's printed on a small card. She also suggested doing a collage, but I think that would be huge overkill - I already feel a little weird sending out a card with a picture of us. Maybe I'll post my choices tomorrow if I need help.

Wii and Wii Fit Giveaway at La Petite Chic

I probably shouldn't be sharing since you're going to reduce my chances, but La Petite Chic is hosting a giveaway for a Wii AND a Wii Fit! How sweet would that be to win?

I Want to Dance All Over the World

I want to go on a trip!

Oh, Consumerism

Wal-Mart Employee Trampled to Death - In the crush to get their stupid electronic crap, they run over a human being.

“When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling, ‘I’ve been on line since yesterday morning,’ ” Ms. Cribbs told The Associated Press. “They kept shopping.”

Perusing the paper today, I saw this full-page De Beers ad:

FEWER, BETTER THINGS.

Our lives are full of things. Disposable distractions,
stuff you buy but do not cherish, own yet never love.
Thrown away in weeks rather than passed down for generations.

Perhaps things will be different now. Wiser choices made with greater care.
After all, if the fewer things you own always excite you, would you
really miss the many that never could?


A DIAMOND IS FOREVER

I really dislike the marketing in the diamond industry, and I had forgotten how much we get inundated with jewelry ads once the holiday season rolls around. (I'm a huge hypocrite, as I looked through the Black Friday ads and noticed that without fail, someone is always offering diamond studs at like half price - what's the true markup here, people? - and thought to myself that someday I'd like to upgrade mine.) However, those De Beers ad guys are pretty clever in playing to my desire to get stop acquiring of all of the Things in Life that are quickly Forgotten, to focus on only the Things that I Love and Cherish. Of course, their diamonds are what fit the bill! I am simultaneously annoyed and impressed with this ad. (Here's another commentary on this ad.)

I now have 8 nieces and nephews, which is going to be a lot to buy for this year. Ask them what they want for Christmas, and you will probably hear some plastic, non-inexpensive toys that they will quickly forget about amongst everything else. I remember all that I got as a child, and it was all just too much. I'm trying to think instead of some experience gifts for them. Last year for the youngest niece's birthday, we took her and her sisters to Disney on Ice - I think they enjoyed it, and it gave us (another) reason to all do something together. Any ideas for other things we could do?

Black Friday

I'm not a Black Friday shopper (too many crazies), and especially not this year, as I'd love to have a non-stressful, gift-free Christmas where the holiday can actually be celebrated for what it is. (Plus, cash flow is tight, y'all.) However, I've been keeping an eye out for deals on a new TV (I curse you, broken 3 year-old $$$ Samsung TV), so I scoured all of the Black Friday ads today. I can definitely see the benefit of scooping up some merchandise provided that it's something you know you need or want to get for someone, but for the most part, I can see how people get caught up in the frenzy and buy unnecessarily. I found a couple of things that could be good gifts for some of the people I know I need to buy for, but I don't think I'm going to buy anything this weekend. (Hopefully I won't be kicking myself later when I end up deciding to get something that was on special earlier.)


My friend Megan came over to watch the first half of the Texas game tonight and we got to talking about how we are avoiding those J. Crew, et al, email sales in our inboxes. I usually used to go check it out and see if there's anything I had to have (and almost all of the time, it didn't result in a purchase), but lately I've just been deleting them - why be tempted? It's a delicate balance of not buying things you don't truly need and getting a fantastic deal on something you don't truly need (you do, after all, have lots of clothes in your closet already) but would definitely use. Megan had just bought a jacket at Ann Taylor Loft, and it's now on sale and they're having an additional 30% off as well (Megan, I don't see 40%), so she's going tomorrow to get a price adjustment (good girl). Tempted, I went online to check it out.

This corduroy skirt would be $14 after the 30% off
I have actually been wanting a khaki skirt like this ever since I constantly borrowed a sorority sister's Gap khaki skirt back during senior year. Since this was 4 years ago, I think it's safe to say that this would be no impulse buy. Luckily, they don't have my size (although invariably I'd probably buy the wrong size anyway), and corduroy's not my first choice.

This satin clutch would be $14 after the discount as well. I already have a few holiday-festive clutches, so this is definitely not a keeper, but I just wanted to post the pretty picture of it. I'm really liking this shade of pink with a cute LBD.

This embossed croco handheld is now $21 down from $49. Don't need it at all, but I think it's cute.

By the way, I didn't figure anything out on the TV front. I have enough trouble as it is choosing between features and such, and TVs are an enigma to me. We'll see -- I have a feeling prices can only get better in this economy. Let me know if you see something great on an LCD, maybe 40-42", reputable brand/model, 720 over 1080p is fine blah blah blah.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The original Thanksgiving post I put together yesterday ended up being rather lengthy, as well as somewhat sappy and depressing, so I decided to delete it and just leave it at this:

Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving, filled with loved ones and good food.

photo from Sarah's Fab Day

Big Purse Stops Bullet from Hitting Woman

Man: Why do you need to carry around such a huge bag? You look like a carpetbagger.

Woman: It could save my life.

Lady Who Lunches

Since my 401k balance is tragic and I'm caught up in the economic doom and gloom, I've started bringing my lunch to work. (Although I'm 0 for 2 this week. Need to revise plan.) I have been bringing it in an ugly plastic bag that I then throw away, so I need cute lunch tote. What do you think about this one?

Cosmopolitan Lunch Tote at Wrapables, $11

Here's hoping I continue to have a job to bring my lunch to.

More Monograms

If I actually owned all of this monogrammed stuff, you'd think I love the letter K a little too much.

Monogram Crystal Stemware, $135 a stem
Seriously, what will they think of next?

Pottery Barn, $19
You see, this is my cocktail shaker. It has my initial on it. It must mean this drink is just for moi.

Hmm, $603,000 or $1?

Deal or No Deal: Biggest Bonehead Move @ Yahoo! Video

This guy had 3 cases left: one $1, and 2 $1,000,000 cases. He had a 1 in 3 chance in getting $1 by not taking the $603,000 offer. I'm telling you, there is NO WAY I would turn down $600k for the *chance* of a million. Greed or stupidity?

I Still Want One

If you live in the Columbus, OH, I command you to bid on this. Bidding is currently at $10.50! You'll thank me later.

Someone, please post one of these for sale in Texas. Thanks.

Or actually, don't. This looks extremely heavy. Much heavier than the dining room table top we lugged up the stairs today.

Owner of the next house we buy, please have one of these. I'll work out a deal with you.

If it can be personalized, I must love it

On sale at Pottery Barn, $9-$25

Playing Doctor with My Husband

No, not like that...Student Doctor Hubby had a "patient focus exam" today and needed to practice on me last night. First, let me say that I am the absolute worst fake patient in that I make up strange maladies and ask lots of inane questions, both of which distract him from the task at hand, which is to get through all of the history and examination objectives in 14 minutes. He got off to a slow start in initially greeting me: "Hello, Ms. G---I mean Mrs. K, how are you today?" My own husband forgets that I'm his Mrs!

(In his defense, he often calls me a shortened version of my maiden name, and I've been unsuccessful at getting him to call me by our newly shared last name. Must train DH to use proper name.)

Working on my apres-ski attire

How great would I look skiing in this?

I love the doxie!

Both found here

Where were these when we were registering?

From West Elm

At only $24 each for the decanter and ice bucket, with an additional $6 for the personalization, these are great! I'd have to see them in person to see how heavy they felt though.

We already received a very nice ice bucket and a decanter as wedding presents, but I'm really wanting these! I'm such a sucker for monogramming.

Almost as good as having one!

I was doing a lot of scanning of petfinder.com last month looking at potential puppies. And I found a really, really, really (really!) cute King Charles Spaniel mix puppies. There were 7 of them, so they were each named after one of the Seven Dwarves, and let me tell you, I fell in love with Sleepy. (Or was it Sneezy? They were both cute.)

I also realized that we're probably not ready to handle a puppy right now. But I've got the next best thing - a Puppy Cam! These guys are seriously adorable. I have it open in another window right now, and I just heard some puppy whining, so I clicked over to see one trying to burrow beneath some of the others. Sure, I can't cuddle with them, but I also don't have to take them out!

In Search of the Great Handbag

It was a while ago that I told myself I could buy The Bag. I didn't know which Bag I wanted, but I knew it would be expensive. I told myself that since I'm such a good Saver, I would let myself get something if I fell in love with it, since it would be something timeless that I would (hopefully) carry forever. I still haven't found The Bag that I'd want above all others, and even if I did, I most likely wouldn't be buying it since it's a frivoulous purchase compared to other things I should and need to do with the money. (Obviously, I also argue with myself that's it's a frivolous purchase no matter what. At lunch today we were talking about LV's, and a guy asked if it holds your things better than a regular-priced bag. Of course not. Must...fight...rampant...consumerism.)


Anyway, I saw this at an ideeli final sale today. While not The Bag, look at this Gryson Laura Saddle. Originally $725, it was on sale for $180. AND it has a metal "Laura" hangtag. How perfect would that have been (for me)? Lucky for my wallet, it was sold out, because I may would have bought that baby.

Check out this Ostich Embossed Clutch from Jalda for a mere $25, marked down from $235! I need another cute clutch like I need my car to be rear-ended again (oh wait, did I not tell you that the other week I got hit for the 3rd time in a year? I'm quite the lucky gal.), but these would make great Christmas presents. "Oh, I know I shouldn't have splurged on such a luxurious item for you, but you're sooo worth it!"

Expert Italian craftsman, stop taunting me. The hunt continues...

If you'd like an invite to ideeli, Gilt Groupe, or The Top Secret, let me know!

Sucker for all things Italian

I saw this Prosciutto tee in an Outblush email and thought it was so cute I had to email it to the hubs. I mean, we totally fell in love with Prosciutto e Melone when we went to Italy 3 years ago. (Picture us, sitting all romantic at an Italian restautant and feeding it to each other. Okay, just kidding, don't picture it. We didn't actually do that.)

But is it too Jessica Simpson?

A shirt I do regret not buying when we were there was the ubiquitous "Ciao Bella" tee. I bought one for my sister from a vendor on the Rialto in Venice for around 5 euro. (I still remember the vendor making some comment in Italian about getting a smaller size so it would fit tight...oh, Italian men.) I did not buy one for myself, probably because I had already gotten something for me, and I didn't think I *needed* it. Of course, as soon as I was home I really wanted one. And 3 years later, I've got one! My friend Jacque brought me back one from her recent trip to Italy, and I can't wait to see it!

I also just started reading Eat, Pray, Love. She's currently on the Italy leg of her year's journey, and I'm loving the book so far.

Hope

Regardless of who you voted for, you can't deny how historic last night was. I definitely cried watching the crowds at Grant Park and then watching Obama's acceptance speech. (I wonder what kind of puppy they're going to get?) I wish his grandmother had been able to see this, but I know all of them were watching from above.

I read a lot of articles today (since when am I such a political junkie?), and this one really got to me.

I

images from here and here