Gift Guide 2008

I don’t know about ya’ll but I am freaking out a bit that Christmas is just around the corner! I am having a hard time getting in the Christmas Spirit this year. It doesn’t help that we are broke and the economy sucks. And I know that buying presents is not what the Season is all about, however, it is something I really enjoy doing each year.

I love to buy presents for people. I come from a family that doesn’t exchange presents except for a few times a year (birthday and Christmas). And friend-wise we are not in the habit of that either. Maybe now and then, but on a regular basis – no. So, you see, that is part of the fun of this Season for me. I like to really think about the gifts. Spend some time looking (on the internet) for unusual things that I think match the recipient well. I am not one of those women who likes to wander around the mall for hours at a time. You can’t do that in your pajamas right? Ugh I like to know what I want; go in and get it (or order it online.ha).

Anyway, I am always looking for gift guides with cool ideas so I thought I’d make my own this year. Kind of like a poor man’s “Oprah” list. ☺ Let me know what you think AND if you have any other ideas – post them. The more the merrier!

Girly Gifts

• Personalized Pocket Mirror ($14) - nice, simple gift. Who doesn't need a mirror for your purse?
  
• Shea Butter Lotion Sticks ($7.50) - I think these are just cool.
  
• Monogrammed Sticky Notes ($14) - Stationery is awesome. so are sticky notes. Can't go wrong with these babies. Check to see if you have a store in your area because it looks like several letters are sold out on the website.
  
• Scented Stationery ($16.50) - Anyone who loves stationery has to love these. I mean look at the boxes! They alone are worth buying! You can find them on other websites but this one also donates to causes. Look around the site - lots of things to see. A gift that gives!

Techy Gifts

• Flash Drives ($24.95) - I love these drives, they make me laugh.
  
• iTurbo iPod charger ($19.99) - I bought these for S. & I last Christmas. They work! and also come in a Razr charger, if you have one of those cell phones.
  
• Mini Doc Amplifier ($3.99) - how freaking cool are these?? AND they look like legos.
  
• Screwdriver Set ($7.99) - can't have too many of these sets. not only for glasses but also computer tweaker types.
  

Food Gifts (some may also qualify as girly.ha)

• Vosges Haut chocolate bar set ($25) - This website is overflowing with nice gifts. It was hard for me to select just one. Check out the travel guide/chocolate set. yoga and choc. wine and choc. ohhh too many to count. plus its delicious.
• Joe Kelly Truffle Fudge ($13) - This is the best fudge I have ever eaten. and I've eaten my share of fudge. You can order it online or if you live in a town with a Central Market, they have it too.
  
• Effin Sauces ($5) - ok so this is more Texas-y. But the name itself is a keeper. That's really their family name. HA just spreading some Texas culture ya'll.
  
• Tea Pots/Sets ($24.95) - You can probably find some cheaper pots but I love these glass ones. Then you put one of those flowery, bloomy tea things in it - tasty and pretty.
  
• Smoked Turkeys - Yummy smoked turkeys out of East Texas. We get one almost every year and they are delicious. Was also on Oprah's Favorite things list one year. Sure makes dinner easy.

Miscellaneous

• Table Topics ($29.95) - this game may not be new but I've just discovered it. Thought provoking "break the ice" questions. Perfect for that couple who has everything.
  
• Phaidon City Guides ($9.95) - If you have a traveler to buy for who has an upcoming trip - just pick their city and your done. I love these guides. the clean modern look and the contents. They also have other cool books so look around.
  
• Cool Mouse Pads, etc. ($6.95) - If you are anything like me, you LOVE office supplies. This website has so many fun things, I almost just posted the link. check out those cool paper clips, and journals, and staplers! whew I need to stop, I can go to town on office supplies, especially if they are cute!
• Funny kitchen timers ($8.95) - These are just fun. would totally complete that nice gourmet gift basket you're working on.
• Alessi - ahh Alessi. again, too many things to chose. Being Italian and therefore very stylish, many are priced higher than my budget can handle. but I love the wine stoppers and bar equipment. We have several pieces collected over the years and I always want to add more. Those that know modern style will definitely appreciate these things.
  
• Pocket Pad ($3.99) - just because I am ALWAYS looking for paper in my purse. aren't you? and its cute.
  
• Document Envelope ($7.99) - another for the traveler. All your necessary info in one place. makes it easier to go thru check-in and security. A must have.
  
• Movies. Here are a few that I think are cool for men and women. Also, if you have a movie buff to buy for, any movies in the Criterion Collection are classic must haves (or so my nerdy, movie loving husband says).

So how about that? :)

More later...

Christmas in November

Do you know what I saw around the first of the month? CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! ON A HOUSE! IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD! It's just weird seeing icicle lights before it's cold.

Have you noticed Christmas comes sooner and sooner each year? Here in Dallas, Christmas music was playing over the radio before Halloween. It seems weird, if not wrong, to have Halloween stuff out along side Christmas ones. Doesn't it? Now, I will admit, I love Christmas decorations. The colors, the music, the shapes and smells. I am absolutely the worst about leaving up my decorations for weeks if not months after Jan 1. :) things looks so plain once they are put away. BUT.... really. It's a bit early to hang lights on your house before Thanksgiving. lol

I know, not everyone in the world celebrates Thanksgiving but hellooo we are in America and culturally it is part of our holiday system. When I was growing up, I could hardly wait to put up the tree and get out the decorations. BUT that was the time-honored tradition of "after Thanksgiving" activities. eat. watch football. get out Christmas decor.

I have carried these traditions on into adulthood. Coerced my Italian into following along. but this year will be different. I threw away our artificial tree this year because it was kind of crappy and many of the light strands no longer worked (it was pre-lit). And S won't be here to hang lights out on the house until closer to Christmas. so is it worth it? should I just set out a few Christmasy things to make the house look festive. What do you think?

Hmm it's a quandry.

More later...

2 Days in a Life…

I’ve been crazy busy the last several weeks! However, as this is a full disclosure blog, I thought I would share with you what the last two days of my life have been like. Here we go…

An afternoon of culture at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA). Sitting around waiting for people to climb into this Hummer. That thing is about as long as an eighteen wheeler. Frankly, you have to bend over to walk to your seat and it has a kind of “porn lounge” feel to it; but I tried not to think about that. HA! As a side note, I am very excited to report that the DMA is one of the few American museums that is on the King Tut exhibit tour. It starts Oct 3 and I can’t wait to see it! WOOHOO.

Next on the agenda – dinner at the 6th Floor Museum. A somber venue dedicated to the assassination of JFK but very interesting. Now located in the legendary Texas Book Depository, the exhibits are fascinating if not a bit morbid. They lay out actual known facts, cover conspiracy theories and currently have a very cool exhibit of home movies sent in from people who were there (with brief bios of the people who shot the footage). That exhibit is only there until mid-Oct so if you are in Dallas, go. I know it seems an odd place for dinner but even Dallas locals fail to visit the museum and it is very, very interesting. I did have to laugh at the poor museum worker who was being cross-examined by a visiting Canadian on whether the French audio tour was in proper French. Like that Texan knew! HA!

End of Day One.

Day Two begins with a classic Dallas pastime. SHOPPING at a very posh store with Dallas roots. May I just say to the man in the lime-green Lamborghini - DUDE, the black shirt with flames along the buttons, open to your navel is NOT a good look. (I know, lime-green, it’s criminal! Sigh) Lovely afternoon sitting under a tree watching the “Haves” shop, until a bird decided to poop on my shoulder. Nice and classy. I am nothing if not classy ☺ Cleaned up and then onward to Ft. Worth (FW).

A perfect Texas evening with a cool breeze on a rooftop terrace bar. Reata is a cool restaurant with a story and almost as locally famous as Joe T. Garcia's. (ohhh Joe T's. makes me want to move to FW just to be close to it) Sorry I digress. They serve delicious food and are located in downtown FW in Sundance Square. Man, I wish I could’ve stayed there all night! But no, alas, I am but a working woman and it was off to meet the star of the evening.

Here he is! This is Gus (short for Augustus) and though he may not look like it - he is 100% real! A really pretty Longhorn and he just stood there patiently while people took their picture with him, or ON him as the case may be. I am totally a city girl and I was AMAZED how huge Gus was. Taller than his handler and wow, he's massive.

Not a bad way to end the evening. How much more Texan can you get? I'm exhausted. hehe

More later y'all...

MIA

Hello? Hello? ::tap tap tap:: hello? If anyone IS still here - I greatly appreciate it though I will say, I sure don't blame you for not.lol I have been a terrible blogger, and for that I am sincerely sorry. I wish I had some interesting excuse like being pregnant or something (seems like that is usually the case with MIA bloggers.lol) but alas, you won't be getting any of those announcements from me!

Nope, the only excuse I have is that I've been MELTING in the hot Texas summer. A month of triple digit temperatures (or 40+C) has me basically shut down. As that only accounts for 1 month away from blogging, my only other excuse is that I am boring and have nothing exciting going on. Let's see what is new....

1. I started working for a small event company. I really like it and the staff (all 3 of us). It is alot of fun and interesting to be more on the special event side of things rather than corporate meetings. Here is a picture of one of my coworkers. Isn't she cute. The owner brings her to work some days and I love playing with her. Furry friends are always nice.

The drawbacks are that it is not full time and has no benefits. *sigh* I could totally be happy making a good living as a contract planner but without health care - how can I? *getting on my soapbox* I will be honest - I never really thought much about our healthcare system until I didn't have any insurance through a company. It SUCKS. and is practically impossible to get (or afford) an individual or family policy. I have spent years paying for premiums that I never used and while I am in good health (thankfully) you never know. then where would I be? Stuck with thousands of dollars worth of medical bills I can't afford to pay - that's where. *stepping back down before I really get going*

2. I have spent a lot of time shopping around in various farmer's markets, well when I venture outside anyway. I am in full tomato eating mode here. I mean who wants to cook in this heat anyway? The freaking salmonella-tomato-scare really put the kabosh on early summer tomato eating. And for some reason, my tomato selecting skills have really failed me this year because the yumminess has been a bit spotty so far. However, it has not made too big of difference as I am averaging 1 tomato each day. lol

3. The rest of the time I have either been a) reading or b) playing PacMan World 2 on the PS2. Most books have been of the romance/fun genre as I am not really up to real-world drama or sad stories at the moment. However, I am really excited about this book - my husband is reading it and I have just ordered me a copy. We've never read the same book at the same time before so it should be interesting. It sounds very interesting and timely since it is set in Asia.

4. I am looking forward to the Olympics. Aside from any feelings I have pro/con about China - I love the Olympics. And am dying to see the new Mummy movie set there but have promised my nephew to see it with him when he gets back from vacation. I know it didn't get good reviews but I like those movies, and I am 100% confident it will entertain me.

5. I am slightly jealous of everyone's cool and fun vacations. It's been awhile since I've had an actual vacation. (I don't really consider not working a vacation since I am stressed trying to find an income source) But good news! I am planning a trip to Italy this coming fall/winter. Either over Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday. I am leaning towards Christmas/New Years but airfare prices might rule that out. While I'm there I also plan on a side trip to Paris to see some sights and meet up with my favorite podcasters. So while that seems a long ways off, it will probably be here sooner than we think! At least it will make for some interesting postings. Hopefully, between now and then, these posts won't totally suck. hehe

See - nothing terribly interesting. unless you want a list of romance books I've read or 101 ways to eat tomatoes. lol

More later... (and thanks for coming back)

How does your garden grow?

Location: Sister/Brother-in-law's garden

Time: Arrived later in the morning than planned. DANG HOT and humid

Purpose of visit: Gathering delicious home-grown produce, of which it has just been learned that potatoes are the only things ready to be "picked" and all onions have been pulled. *sigh*

And scene...

City girl, hands on hips and already sweating, surveys the alternating rows of leafy green and ugly dirt brown. picks up the phone and dials...

Sister J. picks up the phone - "hello"

Me - "uhm, which ones are the potatoes?"

J. - explosion of laughter which lasts a good 5 minutes.

end scene.

My Cherokee and farming ancestors would be appalled.lol But hey, I've never had a garden. I had NO IDEA what potato plants looked like. I can identify tomato and squash but other than that - I am hopeless. My father just shakes his head and says "city girl."

hehe however, now I know. AND I know how to harvest potatoes. Can I just say - OUCH! gardening sure does remind you of muscles you did not even know you had. I have found I'm more of a "sit in the dirt and dig" gardener rather than a "bend over and make your legs scream in pain" kind of gardener. lol

But..BUT look what I have to look forward to... can you see it? Barely peaking through are TOMATOES! WOOHOO I wish I had taken a better picture but it was so sunny it was hard to see what I was shooting.lol They have planted a ton of tomatoes, mostly heirloom and I could not be more excited. Can you believe I used to hate tomatoes? This is what happens when you only taste those mealy yucky ones from the grocery store.

I also can look forward to some lovely squash - yellow and zucchini. I have already instructed J. not to get rid of the squash flowers as I am going to try filling them with cheese/ricotta and fry those puppies up. It's something they frequently do in Italy, but I haven't ever had the chance to try them. this time - OH YEAH.

I am already combing the internet for the perfect recipe. I'll let you know how they turn out.

So sorry the posts have been far and few between of late. Life is at it's normal mundane pace and pretty boring in Tx Espresso land. I will try to do better for those of you still checking in. hehe you never know, things could get more interesting soon! =)

More later...