Silly Me

I should have bought this Ann Taylor LOFT sweater in every color....

It is cold here and angora keeps you warm. That is all.

A Few More Things...

Well since the first list was apparently not adequate enough- here are a few more items that have been ruminating in my brain.


This book is by my favorite author. I have been reading this series since I was in the 9th grade and I needed a book to do a report on. I scoured my dad's bookshelf and came up with a signed copy of Postmortem. I really liked it so I kept reading the series. I eventually caught up. Lately, she has been putting out a book a year. It takes me a couple hours to read them. I think she needs to write faster.


I have also quickly discovered that it gets really cold here. Mother Nature was teasing us with a few weeks of 55 and a beautiful weekend. She then decided to smack us in the face with a high of 19 on Monday. Her snarkiness necessitates the procurement of warm weather gear. I really need some new leather gloves. The ones I have are about 5 years old and the Thinsulate has worn out. The ones I have are from Target. Target no longer has them. Nordstroms has some fabulous, cashmere liined ones. They are expensive. These are from Ann Taylor LOFT. Again, not too picky about where they come from but they need to be normal glove length, black, and lined with no weird designs, flowers, bedazels, or metal. I am not trying to channel my inner Jacko. They also need to be real leather. Pleather annoys me. I don't care if a cow has to die.

I also need a pink scarf. I have a purple one but sometimes you just need to shake things up a bit. The first one is from Old Navy. It is sweaterweave. The second is from Ann Taylor LOFT. It is cashmere. I already have the first one in purple. The second one is soft.

This is also a fun little gadget. It frothes up milk so you can make lattes and other coffeehouse-esque drinks. I think you could probably also use it to make small amounts of whipped cream or other such things that need to be whipped. The first one is from Bed, Bath, and Beyond and the second is from Restoration Hardware. The one from Restoration Hardware is cheaper (Go Figure!). The one from BB&B is rechargeable.

This little breathalyzer looks like it could be fun at parties- however, it is only accurate to .14%. It is also from Restoration Hardware. The supposedly have them with better accuracy at Bed, Bath, and Beyond in key chain form but I could not find it on the website. It is considered subversive in Utah I am sure.

So there you have a few more Christmas list things. I still hate Christmas lists.

Do I really have to...

Making Christmas lists irks me. Seriously, if you pay enough attention to me then you know what types of things I want for Christmas. The concept of writing everything I have seen within the past year that I need in my possession just doesn't appeal to me. Until last year, I hadn't made a Christmas list since I was probably 12 when my sister and I would go through the Sears Toy Book and circle everything we wanted. I honestly don't remember getting anything from those Toy Books ever- well, the Rock Tumbler may have come from there but either way, it did not fulfill its promise of taking the nasty rocks it came with and turning them into perfectly polished pieces of jewelry- so I can't blame my hatred of Christmas lists on always getting what I wanted.

I just don't like Christmas lists. The whole concept negates the surprise on Christmas morning. I have unsuccessfully made this argument for the past several years- well, the past 10 years at least. You write a list, you get exactly what is on the list- where is the surprise. Last year, I gave in under duress. Kevin's mom- we shall call her Diane from here on out since that is her name- so anyway, Diane practically forced me to sit at the table the day after Thanksgiving and write down everything in the Black Friday ads that I saw that I wanted. Duct tape may or may not have been involved. After perusing ad after ad advertising cheap electronics and even cheaper DVDs for over an hour, I came up with a list of about 5 things that Dr. HokieKev and I would like (yes, I put things Dr. HokieKev would like on my Christmas list). That was the best I could do.

This year I tried to force myself to once again look at Black Friday ads- this time online and not under duress- but I just couldn't commit to it. However, people keep asking what I want for Christmas so I guess I should make an at least feeble attempt to placate the masses by posting several "wants" that are floating in my head right now. I guess I am pretty picky and I guess this makes it easier... so here goes.

In the realm of too hard to find because they were on Oprah's favorite things show last year are the Classic Cardy Ugg Boots in Gray- they are not a want but a need. And they need me just as much as I need them. They are too beautiful to sit in a box on a shelf in some warehouse. Too bad Oprah ruined it all. Size 8 please.


We all know that I want either of these three bedding ensembles. We all also know that they cost a whole lot of money. Hmmm...maybe if I start collecting Restoration Hardware gift cards now, I will have enough to buy the bedding sometime decade. I think I like the middle one best- but that changes daily. The third one is from Macy's.

In the realm of entirely too expensive and completely unnecessary are these champagne flutes. I have been in love with them since the second my friend Nilu showed them to me shortly before she got married. Whenever we pass a Swavorski store, I make Dr. HokieKev covet them with me. I do realize, however, that $340 a pair is entirely too expensive to spend on champagne flutes that would seriously never be used. But they are SOOOOO pretty...and sparkly!

Moving into the realm of entirely too expensive for their function but nevertheless would feel amazing on my freshly cleaned skin are the Turkish Towels from Restoration Hardware. SOOOOOO soft! We do need new towels- preferably 4 towels and 4 large bath sheets- but, even on sale, the Restoration Hardware price is over $200 bucks. The softy, soft towels at Bed, Bath, and Beyond would also fit the bill, however they are only available at the stores. Then again, towels don't really say "Wrap me up for under the tree!" they kinda say "Buy me, its Tuesday!" Either way, I like the color Midnight and I am guessing Dr. HokieKev likes midnight too.

Our house is also in need of an ottoman tray. I didn't really think these would be that expensive- I was wrong. I have been scoping out TJMaxx and Downeast for one to no avail. Anyway, here are some samples. The first is Pottery Barn, second is Restoration Hardware, and third is Crate and Barrel (I think). I am not too picky on this one...just need dark wood- not that pressed and veneer junk as I am slowly trying to rid my home of all things pressed and veneered.

So now let us venture back to reality- since we have moved to Utah, I have been drinking more wine. It is subverssive and all. Anyway, I never have room in the fridge to chill the bottle or I forget to chill the bottle. This lovely device would probably solve that problem. Again, not too picky- just a single bottle rapid chiller. This wine saver could also be cool. Sometimes you just don't want the whole bottle. The pourer cap could also come in handy.

I also need a new blowdryer. The one I have takes forever and is a contributing factor to why I go to work with seriously staticy hair. This one would do. I just want one that uses ions because they dry hair faster and also has a straight difusser thingee (yes, the techinical term) that looks like it belongs on a vaccumm cleaner. Apparently, this straight diffuser thingee will pump up my roots. The spiky diffuser thing would be a plus I suppose- that is, if I could ever figure out how to use it.


I think I also need at least one of these products because it is so dry here. In fact, I probably need these products by the case. Especially given my propensity to leave them in my pockets through the dryer. Anyway, I am VERY picky about my Chapstick. NOTHING flavored or smelly. Plain old Chapstick is the way to go. None of that moisterizing crap in the blue tubes...ick! Black tube-all the way! Bert's Bees is good too...nice and beeswaxy. This particular package provides a nice sampling.

The last thing I can think of that I want for Christmas is the Butter Toffee Peanuts from the Virginia Diner. They are totally delish! I fell in love with them in 10th grade when we sold them to raise money to go to the Bahamas for Show Choir. At the time, they also had Double Dipped Chocolate Butter Toffee Peanuts- those were GREAT! Since then, the store has only been selling regular Butter Toffee Peanuts but they are still wonderful and I like them alot.

We also need new pillows- Dr. HokieKev wants the fancy kind. Maybe he will get lucky one day. They have a ton of really nice choices at Macy's. The only thing is that you can't face test a pillow over the internets. This would require going to the store- the closest one is 2 hours away. And it would also involve Dr. HokieKev agreeing to go shopping- I can't pick out his pillow for him. Besides, if we are going to have most beautemous bedding, then we might as well have fluffified pillows. And perhaps a new, King Size down comforter. The one we have now is more double bed sized. With a bigger one, we can stop waking the other up while fighting for the warmth.

So there all you list pushers have a list. I may add to it later. Who knows. I still hate Christmas lists.

The Quest for Clouds

So Friday night after my burrito and champagne dinner (no, they don't go together and no, I don't care), I vowed to awaken early and start the long drive to Salt Lake City around 9. Yeah, that didn't happen. I was awoken by a phone call at 9:30. It was cold. It was raining. I decided to trek down there anyway, as Dr. HokieKev was in Vegas and I was operating under the premise that at least my stimulation of the economy would lead to tangible goods instead of hours of entertainment dumping money into the casino industry. So off I went...a few hours late. It rained almost the whole way down. It was dark. People were idiots. And then, out of nowhere, a shining beacon of light emerged at the crest of the highway. A beacon so bright that I had to call Dr. Hokiekev, who was by now engrossed in a poker game somewhere, with the news of the wonder that had been brought to Utah. What, you may ask, could illicit such a reaction on this cold, wet, morning afternoon? Well, over the crest of the highway, I saw a billboard for this restaurant.

It was wonderful. If you have never been there- go, fast. They aren't everywhere but there are a TON in VA as the company started in Alexandria or Arlington or one of those other fancy Northern Virginia towns. Seriously, they have the best burgers ever and handcut Idaho fries. The lines are long but it is so totally worth it.

After my fantastic lunch, I set out to find some things to decorate my house. First on the list was a new bed set for the guest bedroom. I bought this in rust.
I also spent the better part of an hour looking at several different bedding options for my own bed. I had a list. I found each item on said list. They all felt scratchy. I already have a scratchy comforter. This is why you can't buy bedding online. So anyway, I bought the guest bedding and went along my merry way. Later in the day, I picked up some fancy brown sheets and a brown decorative pillow to go with the fancy bedding set. It is beautiful. It is also sad that the guest room bedding is much nicer than the bedding in our bedroom. For now anyways.

In an effort to remedy this, I have spent the better part of the morning looking for bedding online. I found this one at Linens and Things. I didn't feel it this weekend. It says it is 300 thread count. It probably isn't. Linens and Things lies. But it is pretty.
I really want this bedding. It is from Restoration Hardware and costs way more than any bedding should. It is from the Italian Framed Satin Collection.

Or this one...also Restoration Hardware. Also equaling the GDP of a small country. This one is from the Italian Tonal Piped Collection. I can't decide which one I like the best and have been coveting both for a very long while but just can't bring myself to spend over $800 on bedding.


I decided that I wasn't ready to stimulate the economy that much quite yet so I kept looking. I found this gem. I can't remember where it was from or what it was called. For this reason, I really, really like it. (edit: I remembered...JCPenny)


Then I hit up the hotel:collection at Macy's. That is the goal. I want my bed to feel like the cloud bed at the Ritz Carleton. I found two. The first is the Glacier bedding. The second is Tri Colorblock. Both are on sale. I think out of all of them, this last one is my favorite. It looks like it could be in a hotel. I tried to reach through the computer screen to feel it but that didn't work. Macy's lies less about their thread counts, so I am trusting it isn't scratchy. Problem is, by the time you add the comforter, the bed skirt, two Euro shams, two quilted king shams, and the neckroll pillow it totals up to over $500 bucks- even at the "Lowest Price of the Season". Once again, the GDP of a small country. But I guess you get what you pay for...

To Keep My Feet Warm...

I must procure these boots.



I honestly don't care how ugly you think they are. I love them and they will keep my feet warm! That is all.