Cheat Sheet

This is great!  Download this awesome cheat sheet for your Christmas shopping (or slip it to your husband/boyfriend/significant other with your info...it includes ring sizes!)  Find it here for free by Made in England.

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Christmas gift guides

Since this year I really don't have any Christmas shopping to do (our family trip to NY is our gift to each other), I'm going to blog about all the gifts I would love to buy for my husband/sisters/mom/dad/brother-in-laws/nephews/friends/babies/pets. 

Here is part ONE of my gift guide.  Enjoy.

grains of starlight

elevation boots

diana camera

owl candle

wash & sew soap kit

dog dishtowel

eternal candle ornament

Can you feel it?

I got my camera last night!  It is so awesome.  I can't wait to go home and play with it more.  Below are pictures I took last night.  And these were taken just on the basic camera settings.  I haven't even started figuring out shutter speed and all that fun stuff!

If you click on the pictures you can see them bigger and clearer!

My new favorite subjects - you're going to see alot of them

Our Christmas Tree

New Stockings

My books

View from my apartment (and reflection of me in my bathrobe)

Confession

I confess.  I did not take pictures of my Christmas decorations last night....because Santa Claus came early and I'm getting my new camera tonight!  Thanks, Mom & Dad!!!

I'm so excited.  I almost called in sick today just to get my camera, instead I settled with skipping boot camp!

(I posted this picture b/c maybe I'll be the next Annie Leibovitz.)

Deck the halls

Dear Diary,

--Omar and I had a wonderful Thanskgiving this year with Omar's family in Austin.  We ate a lot of pie, cake, and queso!  (However, I worked out while I was there and did not gain any weight!)

--Looking for a new vampire book?  Check out the House of Light series.  Omar's mom lent them to me, and they are pretty good.  Think Harry Potter but for vampires....kind of.  Oh, also the Vampire Diaries are pretty good!

 -- My Christmas cards came in last weekend!  Love!  Omar and I are going to start addressing them soon. 

--I found super cute stockings at Cost Plus World Market (plus a bride & groom ornament and champagne for the Christmas party).

--Omar and I got our Christmas tree on Sunday!

--Yesterday was the 1st day of our Advent calendar.  I was so tired after boot camp (it was the coldest night so far) that all I could muster was a rousing rendition of Winter Wonderland.  Tonight we don't have boot camp so Omar and I going to do some Christmas shopping after work and a little more decorating around the house.  I have three extra strands of light that I want to use - either on the Christmas tree or somewhere around the house.  I'm going for a Griswald Christmas this year!

--This weekend is going to be a busy one.  I need to buy all the wine and food for our Christmas party.  And on Saturday I have a baby shower and our first holiday party!

--Like my new shoes?  I hope they come in before my Christmas party!

 

And yes, I've been super bad lately about taking pictures. I am making it my goal tonight to take pictures of everything and upload them here tomorrow!

Kate Spade

Check out Kate Spade's 20 way to merry-make.  Fun and super cute!

$5 Real Simple

You better hurry for this deal! A one-year subscription to Real Simple for only $5 (regularly $54) at Amazon.com.

Little Letters

Dear Omar, I made it to Tuesday!  Here in a few short hours I will be boarding a plane to meet up with you and your family.  I.Cannot.Wait. 

Dear Gypsy, I miss you, and I hated leaving you on Sunday.  Have fun with the Lightning’s and don't eat too much turkey!

Dear Lightning's,  Thank you for taking care of Gypsy while we are gone.  B, have a wonderful birthday!  I will miss our annual Turkey Day and birthday tradition with you and Rat.

Dear Family,  Happy Turkey Day!  I will see you in a New York minute!
 

Dear Queso, We shall meet in the very near future!  I plan on working out every day in Austin just so hopefully I can counteract a little of the damage I plan to do in Texas!

Dear Aggies, Beat the hell out of UT!

Dear 2009 Christmas tree, I have moved furniture around in preparation of your arrival this Sunday.  You will be our 3rd tree to have and decorate in San Francisco.  I can't wait to meet you!

New Shoes

As mentioned before, I'm in desperate need of a new pair of gold flats.  Have my prayers been answered?

I might hold off - I'm not a big internet shopper.  I like to try things on first.  But, these are really cute!

Sewing

I really wish I knew how to sew.  There are so many cute simple things out there that I have to buy, just because I can't use a sewing machine.  For example, check out this cute onesie ($15) and dish towels ($10).  I really don't know much about sewing, but I'm pretty sure these aren't too difficult  to make. 

Or, if I knew how to sew then I could open up my own Etsy shop!

Blueprint Bliss

I guess it's never too late to learn...