Dec 22, 2006

dear santa,

this year i've been really good. i haven't broken any laws (i think), i haven't stolen anything, and i haven't intentionally done harm to others. i donated money to charity at least twice, i've done a lot of nice things for friends, i've handed out compliments and homemade goodies with no expectation of anything in return, and i have given the panflute player at my el stop at least $10 over the course of 3 months. in return for being such a good girl in 2006, i have a few items on my wishlist that i'd appreciate it if you would take care of for me.

1. a new camera. i love my little cannon, but i would really love a digital slr. everyone else i know has one so i want one, too.

2. dinner at schwa. please see my previous post. it would be nice if it were a table for two so hubb could join me. but if you can't swing two seats, i understand.

3. can you make me like 2 inches taller? is that possible? if not, i'd like some pants that i don't have to hem, please.

4. the black pair of shoes in the center of the photo below in size 6.5.

5. a light blue eames rocker.

6. an all expenses paid trip to paris or rome or barcelona. i'd be happy with any of the three, i'm not picky.

7. any of these items from etsy.

8. a good wine shop/coffee shop/deli to open around the corner from my house.

9. a day at a spa in the mountins somewhere with a girlfriend or two.

10. a really nice bonus check on my desk at work when i get back from the holidays.

thank you and good luck delivering all those presents next week. if it's easier for you, i can wait until the new year for my gifts.

sincerely,
emily

Dec 20, 2006

lots of blah blah blah-ing, so watch out.

ok, so it's december and it's rainy and i hate it. i want it to be freezing cold and snowy and icy and fireplace-use-worthy. but alas, instead it just sucks. boo chicago. for shame.

we're heading out to virginia to see the family for the holidays, and though i'm excited about seeing lots of family members and friends i rarely get to see, and meet others for the first time (my 2 month old neice and hopefully my pregnant friend's tiny baby filled belly,) i'm less than enthusiastic about the driving. 2300 miles of driving. next week we'll make up for a year's worth of not owning a car.

we're ready for gifting in my house....almost. i've nixed a few crafts and have finished sewing, but i have a bit of baking/chocolating to do. i have a double batch of doublechocolate biscotti to dip in chocolate and almonds tonight, then bag and label for gifts. i'm going to take a break for a while from baking anything that requires two rounds in the oven plus an assembly session. last night i finished the last two teddies for the baby girls in the family. (they have little white button noses, though it's hard to tell from the photo.)

in other news, i am sort of obsessed with the idea of eating at schwa very very soon. does this post not make you drool? hubb and i decided that a dinner there would be one of our anniversary presents to each other this year, but i can not wait until april. someone could make a girl very very happy by taking her to eat a 10-course tasting at schwa in the immediate future. and they better have the sweetbreads on the menu when a visit finally occurs.

since wearing a pair of simple black pumps last weekend that are a tad too high for my little feet, i have lost feeling in two of my toes. this happens to me ocassionally, and i should take the message and stop wearing heels and start buying more cute flats. i like the second part of that remedy, but i really really love my simple black pumps, and the adorable retro red peep-toes, AND the d'orsay heels that i've really only worn once but pull out and look at every now and then. but the health of my feet should come first, and i simply should not venture into the above 2" heel range. i can probably live without most of my taller heels if i had to, with the exception of the simple black pointy pumps. they are a staple in my wardrobe, whether i can walk in them at the end of the night or not. so i've been trolling zappos for a new pair and have come up with three finalists:

the first pair are interesting, but maybe too low for little me and my "long pants" i like to wear. the second are by lumiani, a brand i adore and and a height i can wear with no pain. the third pair have little gel pads on the heel and the foot bed! how cool is that? i'm leaning towards the middle because i have a pair of lumianis that i can wear for days at a time with no problem. that would be a nice attribute for the little black shoe of my dreams.

while looking around i have also remembered my lust for a low or flat red shoe. again, i have three finalists:

so the first are cute and look comfy. the middle are adorable, and i like the orangy-ness. the third are super pointy so may not be so comfy. oh decisions. and self restraint. must save money for mortgage, must save money for mortgage. damned mortgage.

Dec 14, 2006

the christmas spirit has grabbed me today. even though we haven't officially decorated (our christmas boxes are at the bottom of a tightly packed closet awaiting a storage space) my dining room looked perfect this morning, so much so that i had to snap a picture. and also my little christmas tree, complete with a tiny bird topper.

merry thursday, everyone!

Dec 13, 2006

wow, so two weeks go by and i forget all about the internet. i've been busy. very very busy. i have been shopping, baking (yay!), getting over the flu (boo!) and making crafts for christmas. the other night i made an adorable stuffed felt christmas tree, complete with tiny strands of bead lights and glass ornaments. i will take photos tonight. i want to hug it and kiss it, it's so cute.

i'm usually way ahead of the game when it comes to christmastime, but this year i've been seriously slacking. i have most of my shopping done, but i still have two teddies to sew, a few snowman/penguin ornament families to assemble, and lots of biscotti to bake. (yes, i attempted biscotti last weekend and it is, in a word, CRAZYDELICIOUS. recipe to follow at the uneducated chef shortly.) i waited too long to get my tins and bags, and now i can't find cute packaging anywhere, so it will have be unpretentious parchment paper and twine. but that's more than ok by me, actually. i have yet to find anything at all for the hubb. we agreed on no gifts but he's already broken the rule so i have to now, too. what to get? i have not a clue.

i saw sean lennon last night at the park west. it was nice to be able to sit, and have my drinks brought to me, and not choke on cigarette smoke. sean had a cold, so his voice was off and he had to switch harmonies with the guitar player at one point, and he left the stage in a hurry in the middle of the encore, but it was a good show nonetheless. he has a soothing singing voice, even when phlegmy and tired, and it relaxed me. and best of all i was in bed and snoozing by 11pm.

the best news today: my house is finally being finished! workers have been invading my home for the last two days touching up paint, fixing closet doors and shelves, grouting, calking, and making my jacuzzi tub work. it should all be done by the end of the week, and then all we'll have to wait for is the storage space. i'm getting tired of seeing my boxes and bicycles in the hallways corners of my house.

back to the busy-ness. i'll try not to wait so long to update next time.