Pretty Please: Birthday Edition 2

I am loving this new Glass Photo Pendant from Amy Cornwell, which can be personalized with a teeny tiny photo of your choice. I love Amy, but if she keeps coming out with such great new stuff, I'm going to go broke. So someone please save me from the poor house and send me this pretty for my birthday, mmmkay?

Pretty Please: Birthday Edition

{link here}

Because who doesn't love toasty warm feet?

My feet are always freezing. I wear socks and slipper Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. It can be 90 degrees outside and I still need socks on my feet. I don't wear them to bed, so in the time it takes me to put my socks in the hamper and crawl into bed, my feet are little blocks of ice again.

Although these are probably a bit like wearing cement blocks on your feet. Hopefully there's never an emergency while lounging around in these babies. Or at least if there is, I'll die with very warm feet.

Is it Spring yet?

It's still definitely winter in Indy (snow flurries this morning!) which is why I was shocked the other day when a friend said it was only two weeks until Spring. Um, wait, what?! How did that happen? I'm usually itching for Spring. Dying for shorts. Staring longingly at my sleeveless dresses. Painting my toenails in February in anticipation of open-toed shoes in April.

This year? Notsomuch. It just totally snuck up on me. But now that I've been made aware? I'm in total Spring Preparation mode. And what better place to start than spring cleaning with a new Spring dress? I am loving pretty much every single thing in Ann Taylor Loft's new spring line. I'll take one of everything.

Please and Thank You.

Cozy

It figures. I've been eyeing new bedding for months and couldn't find a single thing I liked enough to make the change. And then the minute I buy art to match our current bedding, I find this:

{Image via The Company Store}

With some dark grey walls?

Love.

And we were afraid it was completely over...

{image found here}

Do you know what this is?!

LOST: The Complete Collection - and it comes out TODAY!

Six glorious seasons of the best.show.ever. Plus two hours of never-before-seen content, including a 12 minute mini-epilogue about Hurley and Ben's time as keepers of the island.

I want it. I want it bad.

But as Nate so helpfully pointed out - I've already seen it all. I know how it ends.

Well, yes, this is technically true. But I don't have cast and creator interviews, a mini replica of the island, a box that comes complete with black-light hidden secrets or my own personal Senet game. And did I mention the 12 minute mini-epilogue? I need to know what happened, man!

If you need to know what to get me for Christmas - this is it. Just don't expect to see me for at least 96 hours afterwards.

It's not a mid-life crisis until someone gets a tattoo

{image found here}

Well, hello there. I'm back.

Miss me?

I'd like to say I'm back and better than ever, after my longer-than-expected technological hiatus. But that wouldn't be quite true. Is there a such thing as a third-of-life crisis? Because I'm pretty sure I'm having one.

You know how when men have a mid-life crisis, they dye their hair, or get a random tattoo, or run out and buy a convertible?

Yeah, that's totally happening to me.

Suddenly, everywhere I look, there are sassy, sporty, suh-weet convertibles - and I want one.

• I see myself zipping downtown to work each day in black Nissan 370Z.
  

• I dream of Saturday afternoon shopping trips with a girlfriend in my red Mini Cooper.

• I envision sexy summer date nights with Nate in my slate gray Infiniti G37.

Who cares that it's only top-down weather like three months out of the year? Never mind that I'd be terrified to be on a snowy interstate in a Mini Cooper what basically amounts to a tin Campbell's soup can. Room for a baby seat, groceries, suitcases? Who needs 'em?

Five years ago when I could have had any car I wanted, I chose the biggest mid-sized family car I could find. It never even crossed my 24-year-old mind to get a sporty two-door, let alone a convertible. But now that I'm a grown-up, responsible, almost thirty-year-old, trying to procreate woman?

I WANT A CONVERTIBLE AND I WANT ONE BAD.

Practicality be damned.

Imagine the possibilities!

The ultimate shopping fantasy....



....maybe some day!

Cocktail attire required acquired

{image via the limited)

Dear Friends,

Will someone please throw a cocktail party so I can wear my fabulous new party dress? I promise to bring a good hostess gift.

love,
Sara

The Time Traveler's Wife

{image via reelmovienews}

Has anyone read The Time Traveler's Wife? I've heard great things about the book and plan to see the movie when it comes out in two weeks (Rachel McAdams is a personal favorite!), but I really wanted to read the book first. Sadly, I'm still number 39 on the waiting list at the library. At two weeks per person, I should get the book sometime in December 2010.

So if you've read it, is it worth $19.95 to buy it? Or if you own it, could we work out a little book swap? Pretty please?

Do you know the muffin ice cream man?

Don't you love the sound of the ice cream man coming down your street? Every time I hear that happy little song, it takes me back to childhood summers when you'd play all day in the hot sun, three shiny quarters burning deep in your pocket, waiting anxiously for the chiming of that funny white truck.

So far I have resisted the siren call of the ice cream man, but that hasn't stopped me from dreaming of all the yummy treats I would eat, if I wasn't being a good girl.

Remember these?



Orange push-ups - these things are genius! Ice cream that you push through a tube so it doesn't melt all over your hand? Must have been invented by a woman.



Snow cones - Three flavors in one, plus they dye your lips and tongue. Refreshing and entertaining!


Strawberry shortcake eskimo pies - Oh so good! Always eat it over the wrapper so you don't waste a single falling crumb!

But my personal favorite is the Screwball. Strawberry gelato with a gumball at the bottom? Yes, please!


Just looking at that Screwball, my will power is quickly failing. Don't be surprised if you see me 'playing' outside tomorrow afternoon, jingling the quarters in my pocket and glancing anxiously down the street! Feel free to join me. You know you want to!

My tastebuds thank you

{image via Godiva}

Dear Godiva Chocolates,

Thank you for creating the milk chocolate cheesecake truffle. It is a little bite of heaven wrapped in chocolate. I thank you even more for having the presence of mind to sell it only four weeks out of the year, so that I do not blow up like a Macy's Thanksgiving Parade float.

Blissfully yours,
Sara

Hey, hey, it's my birthday....

Speaking of birthdays.....wait, what? We weren't speaking of birthdays? Well, it's my blog, so we are now.

Happy first day of April and welcome to the month-long celebration of my birth. The way I see it, your birthday is the perfect excuse to get away with bad behavior live it up, so why limit yourself to just one day?

Let's say I just happen to find myself wandering through the mall when I come upon a pair of fabulous purple heels. But I am unemployed, so I should save my moolah and keep moving, right? Unless...it happens to be my birthday, then I could buy them as a birthday gift to myself, right? But this only works on a single day each year. Hence, the birthday month. Instead of a single day, I get 30 whole days to use the birthday excuse. Genius!

Note: The birthday month excuse also works well for indulging in cake (Well, it is my birthday!), getting out of cleaning the house (But, honey, it's my birthday!) and other impulsive behaviors for which you need an excuse (What can I say, it's my birthday!).

__________________________________________

A few of the items on my birthday wish list. Oh, don't pretend like you don't have one too!


1. A subscription to Netflix. I am totally obsessed with Netflix lately. It's only $8.99 a month for unlimited rentals. Um, hello?! You can't rent two movies at Blockbuster for that price. This will happen, I'm just giving Nate the opportunity to call it a birthday gift.



2. I've been stalking this dress from Victoria's Secret since last spring, but it absolutely refuses to go on sale. I don't need it, so I can't bring myself to spend $75 on it. But that's kind of what birthdays are for, right? I feel a birthday month excuse coming on....

{image via sincerely, kristin}

3. A month of Bootcamp. Because trying on my bathing suits the other day was a rude awakening. Enough said.

{image via google images}

4. A giraffe print purse. Love it. Sigh.



5. A Tempur-Pedic Pillow. My sister has one and I am insanely jealous every time I see it. I would just steal it, but she will know immediately that it was me. Wonder if the birthday excuse would get me out of that one?

I can haz shooz?

{image via lolcats.com}

I am in shoe lust. These are completely out of character for me but I am digging them big time. A little too much for Easter Sunday though, right?

{image via VictoriasSecret.com}

Because he's smooth like that....

Last weekend on the way to the airport, I told Nate he wouldn't have to bring me a souvenir from his trip if he'd just bring me a Starbucks espresso brownie from the airport. I am crazy for those things and they can only be found in airport Starbucks. I am only slightly ashamed to admit that I will take great pains to fly through Atlanta or Chicago just because I know I can my grubby little paws on one (or half a dozen, but who's counting?).

Nate does not understand my obsession and tries his best not to encourage my manic Starbucks habit so I had no illusions that I would actually get one.

We hadn't been home five minutes when I was already eyeing the gift bag he'd been carrying. I oh-so-casually asked if he'd brought me anything and could it perhaps be in that bag right there?

To which he grinned slyly and pulled out this...

WTH?

And then it hit me what it was....


Kinder Eggs! The world's (well, at least Germany's) greatest chocolate! When we traveled through Europe in college, I practically lived on Kinder Eggs, Twix and Sprite. The eggs are milk chocolate on the outside, white chocolate on the inside and when you break them open, there's a cute little toy inside. I had totally forgotten about these things, but Nate had remembered how much I loved them. Aw!

It was almost enough to make me forget about the espresso brownie that I didn't get....until he reached into his other bag and....TADA!!! One little square of chocolate and espresso heaven, just for me, all the way from Chicago.


Because he loves me like that....

Someone please hold me back!

Guess what just popped up in my inbox? Good Lord, please save me from myself.



Their new spring collection is in and I was in L.O.V.E when I was there last weekend but I knew Nate was right outside, so I showed incredible restraint and just walked away with two sale items. However today, Nate is half a world away and I have an entire Saturday to myself...when the husband's away, the wife will pay.....

I've developed kind of a thing for prints lately, which is totally out of the norm for me - I am normally a solids kind of gal. Who could resist this springy poppy skirt, though? And that watercolor flowered dress will be mine before the spring is over; it's not a matter of if but when (and maybe a little bit of how much thrown in).

I need another coat like I need a hole in my head, but how can you resist this adorable trench coat? I am not much for the recent plaid trend, but I am mad for this white and black beauty. And since a return to an office seems to be in the cards for me, I could definitely use a power color like red in my work wardrobe.

See, honey, I need this stuff! It's for the job.

If you need me, I'll be in the kitchen freezing my credit cards in the ice cube trays....

Retail is the best kind of therapy

I was having this 'text' discussion with my little sister, Amy, earlier this week. Retail therapy is the therapy that keeps on giving. Who needs to waste $150 on an hour long session exploring your Freudian issues, when you can blow that dough at the mall and reap the benefits every time you use your new stuff? Where do I sign up?

Alas, since the big layoff looms large on the horizon, I am no longer indulging in my favorite pastime. This weekend's version of retail therapy included a trip to Sam's Club. Woohoo. Good times.

If I were shopping this weekend, though, here's what would be on my Wish List.

I need another pair of shoes like I need a hole in the head, but I would love to add a pair of purple heels to my collection for spring. Not these by Steve Madden in particular, but something deep or bright purple, in a four inch peep toe. Not that I have given it any great thought, of course.


Maybe it's my longing for Spring, or the approach of St Patrick's Day, or the fact that wearing green allows me to pretend my hazel eyes are at least slightly less boring, but I am wanting an emerald green scarf in the worst way. I have had my eyes peeled for weeks, but can't find one anywhere.


Now that I will no longer enjoy the free book hookup at work, I'm going to start wearing my library card out. But when my favorite author cranks out a new one, I hate the idea of being number 124 on the wait list. Unfortunately for me, I hate the idea of shelling out $24 for a book even more, so I will take my place quietly behind number 123 and wait my turn.


And since you can never underestimate the power of pampering, I'd gladly drop a wad on a day at the spa. Massage, facial, and pedi, anyone?

Get you some

Just because there is not an IHOP anywhere within an hour's drive of me, doesn't mean that YOU should be deprived of the rapture that is IHOP Free Pancake Day. Unless of course, you want to boycott in a show of solidarity with me, your pancake-less friend.


Today until 10:00pm, IHOP is giving away a free short stack (three pancakes) to all customers. In exchange, customers are encouraged to donate to the Children's Miracle Network or a charity of their choice. So technically the pancakes are not free-free, but it's still a really cool idea and a great excuse to devour the fluffy, buttery deliciousness that is an IHOP short stack.


So grab a little cash and head on down to your local IHOP and have a pancake for me. And if you do, please don't tell me, because then I will have to hate you.

Thank you, may I have another?

If you are a sucker for a cute puppy, check out the new addition over at The Reality of Happily Ever After. She has the cutest pics of her new puppy, Elly Mae.

Kind of makes me want another one....

I Heart Bangs

I just finished watching last night's episode of The City and I am totally jealous of Erin's fabulous hair. I have been dying for thick, luscious bangs like hers for months. Sadly, my one and only experiment with bangs (circa 1995) was a gigantic flop. I have a big fat cowlick right in the middle of my forehead that makes a big gap in my bangs. No bangs for me, this season or ever again.

So.jealous.Not.fair.


Picture courtesy of MTV.com.

Shh! Don't Tell!

Well, after a total of eight hours Christmas shopping over the last two days, I am happy to say I have found my missing Christmas spirit. Apparently it was at the mall!

I found nearly everything on my list, plus a few things for myself. What's that? It's Christmas and I'm not supposed to be buying things for myself? Well, who made up that silly rule? Who can resist the amazing deals desperate retailers are putting out there, especially when you have coupons on top of the sales?

Like this dress at New York & Company for $6?


And this adorable sleep mask from Bath & Body Works for $4? (Yes, I do wear a sleep mask every night. Don't knock it til you've tried it!)


I also finally found navy blue tights at Old Navy. Well, navy-ish. They're not true navy but they'll work for the dress that I need them for.

Really when you add it all up, I spent maybe $25 on myself today, so that's not so bad. I'm afraid to add up what I spent on others - that number isn't going to be nearly as pretty! But once I finally found my Christmas mojo, I found it hard to stop. I love giving gifts and I love my family, so giving gifts to my family is especially fun!

Now for anyone who might still be shopping for me, here is what I managed NOT to purchase for myself today. (Truth be told, it's only because they didn't have my size!)

After weeks of waiting, these booties are finally on sale.


And while admiring those booties, I ran across these online too. Sigh. Almost makes the snow tolerable if I get to wear these every day.



Okay, enough lusting over my 77th and 78th pair of shoes (it's not a matter of if, but when). I am off to wrap the mountain of gifts waiting upstairs. I don't what is better - buying them, wrapping them or actually giving them? I love all of it!!