Ecco Boots--I recently purchased my first pair of Eccos, and they are AMAZING. They are stylish and extremely comfortable. I'm definitely a fan...but at the price, they're a splurge.








An iTunesgift card I've been listening to a lot more music this year since I joined the iPod world. I'm always looking to add new tunes to my ever-expanding collection.










A bottle of Pinot Noir from this vineyard...seriously some of the best red wine I've ever had.

















Le Canadienne boots--these just look so cool to me. They seem like they'd be comfy too, and I'm all about comfy these days.










This is something that doesn't exist yet, but if it ever does, I'd love a phone patterned after the Blackberry Pearl with an Apple interface. A girl can dream, right?

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way! Oh, what fun it is to go wish listing today, hey!

I have to admit, at the risk of sounding completely materialistic, I want a lot of things! However, by the time payday rolls around, most of my money is spoken for. That doesn't leave much room for splurging. So, in hopes someone else will feel like splurging on me, I have composed this list and thrown practicality out of the proverbial window.

1. J.Crew cardigan (jcrew.com). I am in love with this sweater! I was instantly hooked, because penguins are one of my favorite things. I like the simplistic cuteness of it. I have developed a collection of interesting cardigans, and I love wearing them because they are so easy to work with. Dress it up with a skirt, or dress it down with a pair of jeans. You can't lose.



2. A magazine subscription to Real Simple (realsimple.com). I can't even count how many times I have discovered a helpful hint while flipping through an issue of Real Simple. Many of my friends are subscribers, and they say it's worth every penny. Not to mention, it's so aesthetically pleasing. I would pay simply for the pretty pictures every month. Their graphic design team deserves a gingerbread latte!




3. Andy Warhol flower watch (urbanoutfitters.com). Checking the time would be the highlight of my day, with this funky watch from Andy Warhol. I don't like pulling my cell phone out every time I want to check the time. So, I always find myself on the quest for a watch that I will actually wear, and that fits my personality. This is the one for me! Too bad the price tag reads a whopping $150. Who knows? Maybe Santa is feeling generous this year.


4. Tom's Shoes (tomsshoes.com). Since my friend introduced me to the lovely land of Tom's Shoes, I have been aching to have a pair for myself! These fun, simple slip-ons are more than just a cute pair of Saturday shoes. They are also part of a cooler-than-cool charity organization. For every pair of Tom's you buy, a pair is given to a child in need on your behalf. Blake Mycoskie (Designer, Chief shoe-giver) modeled Tom's after a traditional Argentine shoe. They are available in lots of patterns and colors. I'd like a red pair.

5. Last, but not least, I'm wishing for a white Christmas. For once in my life, I'd love to bundle up and take a walk on Christmas day with snowflakes falling all around. Even now, I hear a little voice in my head saying "in your dreams!"

So, what? This is a wish list, and dreaming is the point!

I chuckled to myself when F.Seattle mentioned how she asked for things she needed for Christmas. I'm guilty of the same thing now that adulthood has set in. Every time a co-worker or friend asks what I'd like for Christmas, I say a big sack of money. Obviously that won't happen. Future Hubby is getting me a haircut for Christmas. A haircut. Because I asked for it. He offered me the world, but my practicality got in the way. I'll use this post to list the items I would have liked to ask for if I could just be a little more juvenile.

1. iPod auto hookup. Now that I have the Nano, and cannot live without it, I need a better (and legal) way of listening to it in my car. Why not go all out and install this DLO iPod dock? Not only will it give you a place to put the iPod other than the cup holder, and crank your tunes over your boss auto sound system, but it will also charge it for you so that you can keep the music going once you step out. That's a device that does it all.

2. One tall nonfat chai latte per day. Delivered to my office in the morning, so I can wake up with that delicious spiced tea.

3. A red Razr. I admittedly already have the pink one, but so does everyone else on the planet, it seems. So now the new object of my affection (which everyone else will soon obtain, I'm sure) is the red Razr. Not only is it a more stylish color, but it also sends some much-needed money to help respond to the AIDS crisis in Africa. Socially conscious and good looking? I'll take two.

4. A maid for a week. That's all I'd really need her for, but you can believe me I'd really work her for that week. She'd do all those little things that keep piling up that I never seem to get around to, like dusting the light fixtures. Hopefully she'd also be able to wrap presents, because I seriously stink at it, and I'll be embarassed on Christmas day, I'm sure.

5. A trip to Midway Island. I know what you're thinking, "Isn't that the island that was strategically important to the Allies in World War II?" Yes, but now there's so much more to offer, and tourism is really starting to pick up there. A beautiful tropical island getway would be great for the FH and I while the maid is hard at work back in New Jersey. Midway Island's best selling point: it's practically unheard of. You can enjoy a true week away from it all, without the tourist crush, and have some romantic, private moments that you will remember for a lifetime.

The difference between a Christmas wish list and a grocery list is reality. While it's nice to dream about owning the following possessions, the reality is that I can survive without them. I'm incredibly blessed and thankful for all that has been provided for me. And like my Granny once said, "wish in one hand and [expletive] in the other---which one do you have more of?" Having said that, I give you my 2006 Christmas wish list:

My circa 2001 Hewlett-Packard desktop PC worked hard over the years to earn my respect. My PC supported me through two years of college, three years of my professional life, and almost one year in the blogging realm. Despite its faithful performance, it's time to retire the antiquated biddy and part with an old friend for a new friend---the latest in notebook technology.

Tennessee doesn't see much snow in the wintertime, but we do see quite a bit of ice. It's always a joy at 7 a.m. to patiently wait for my car windshield to defrost, while simultaneously attempting to "go-go-gadget arm" with an ice scraper. In the interest of preventing a mild case of frostbite in the mornings, I'd like a remote car starter.

Have I mentioned lately, how much I love cosmetics? What about how much I love makeup palettes? Sephora recently introduced this Blockbuster Palette, containing 64 eye shadows, 32 lip colors, seven cheek colors, one translucent shimmer powder, four double-ended shadow applicators, two blush brushes, and two lip brushes. And at $40 a pop, the price tag is surprisingly reasonable.


The year 2007 is less than a month away, and a plethora of potential resolutions are floating around inside my head. In the interest of killing two birds with one stone, I'd like this Splenda-themed cookbook to help me eat healthy and cook homemade meals more often.


A gal always needs filler for her stocking. Sure, the traditional candy canes, chocolate, and fruit are great, but this year, I'd like something different. I enjoy nothing more than a piping mug of hot tea on a cold, winter day, especially if it's a variety from my favorite tea vendor. I recently tried the Honey Ginseng flavor at Panera Bread, and I'm hooked.

I'm one of those annoying people who ask for socks for Christmas because I need them. Or gift cards because I never know what I might need in the future. So making a fanciful wish list is a bit of a stretch for me!

So in the needs category: I am desperate for some new New Balance running shoes. And a far-fetched want: lululemon athletic pants.

This Canadian line has grown increasingly popular in the States because their clothes are made to last a long time (kind of justifies the pricier cost), and they look great on curvy girls. I love lifting weights, but a lot of athletic pants will ride down during lower body exercises. Nothing worse than worrying about your underwear showing while you're doing a heavy set of squats in the power cage! These pants feature a roll-down waistband for adjustable waist height (so you can keep your knickers covered), dry-wick fabric, and chafe-free flat seams.


Another need: cute rain boots. I have been obsessed with these antique print inspired boots for months, but the $200-plus price tag just doesn't do anything for me.

There's nothing like a fresh journal to inspire you to do more writing and dreaming in the new year.



And since I just moved offices (from one with no wall space to one with stark, ample walls), I need a new work-appropriate calendar. Which means I've got to leave the Orlando Bloom one at home,

and put up a more elegant, but fun calendar at work.

Who knows? Maybe this calendar will help me break my latte-a-day habit...