The INs and OUTs for Dec. 8

Next week is finals week....I'm home for four days because my first of two tests isn't until Wednesday. Trust me, if there were no consequences (i.e. failing life itself) I would consider blowing off school entirely this week in preparation for my trip to New York. There are just so many things to do...hard decisions to make about my wardrobe. I know one thing is for sure, I'm taking the EXTRA LARGE suitcase for my 7 days in the Big Apple. Ahhhhh what I wouldn't give to actually live there.

This opportunity to be in such a fabulous place at the most fabulous time of the year is almost stressing me out. What will I wear? What will I bring? It's time to start digging through mom's closet. The only problem is that my mom is going on vacation too, two days before me. This means war. I have to fight for the shearling boots and the Andrew Marc jacket. I deserve this!

Anyway, this preoccupation with my wardrobe needs also means goodbye to studying oligopolies and Descartes...

Here's my weekend agenda (aka shopping list):

• Olympus stylus 790w. I just got a new camera not too long ago after destroying my last Sony Cybershot somewhere in the Costa Rican rainforest. But my mom has decided to bring our new 12.1 MP Sony to Cambodia with her which leaves me cameraless.
  I can't go to New York without a camera!!!! At 7.1 MP, it may seem like a downgrade but for the waterproof, shockproof, and freezeproof qualities, I think it's a fair trade off. You know....in case I decide to leave behind my shopoholic ways to become some adventure geek, a camera like this will be perfect.
• Tights. I need them because I can't stand wearing jeans anymore. Hopefully Old Navy will have some cute and affordable textured ones made of wool. I would die for some gray tights.
• American Apparel skirts. I was drooling over this pencil skirt that my friend bought during Thanksgiving weekend. I decided that I have to get one for myself.

This blog is turning into more of a journal than a fashion blog, but oh well.

Here's a snippet at what's going on in my head this week....

In

• Mrs. Beasley gift baskets
• The Row by Ashley Olsen
• The Olsens themselves
• Nicole Kidman in The Golden Compass
• Red red nail polish
• McDreamy finally moving on and leaving behind the very annoying Meredith (I'm crossing my fingers for this one)
  
• High waisted skirts
• knee high boots
• Peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks
• Erin Fetherston for Target
• watching the completely useless Sex and the City Movie trailer over and over again
  

OUT

• Lindsay Lohan's post rehab outfit choices
• Brody and Lauren...get together already! You make me sick. I don't know why I watch that show.
• The hype over Gossip Girl clothes. I don't get this either. Some of the things they wear are just UGLY and not chic at all.
• Moms who miss you but pretend not to when you actually come home
• Moms who think they're hot stuff. Ok, EVEN if they really are: Mom can you just shut up about yourself for one second?
• Frozen foods
• Dirty dishes that never get washed because of lazy roommates
• Racist hypocrites
• Juicy Couture anything....
• PDA
• Using the word "fucktard"
  

For some reason I can't remember all the things that I loved to hate as I began writing. More to come!!!
I'm sorry for being so lazy about pictures. I'm the laziest person I know when it comes to.....everything...life. Hey I found a New Year Resolution. Yay for me.

More Holiday Gift Ideas

I think that the best kinds of gifts to give are the ones that are completely indulgent but basically useless. Well it's useful in the sense that the receiver feels absolutely spoiled and loved. I think giving practical gifts defeats the purpose of gift giving. The items that people absolutely need are things they would eventually spend money to buy on their own, meanwhile those special luxury items or quirky knick knacks aren't things that people will hand over the money for without a lot of guilt.

Some personal preferences (aka knickknacks I don't need but would love to have):

Monogrammed Stationary
Having quality note cards or stationary on hand for those special correspondences is a nice luxury. I enjoy sending and receiving handwritten letters and cards. It's much more personal and thoughtful than a text message, email, or any other form of electronic communication. Monogrammed stationary adds the right romantic touch.

Coffee Table Books
I can spend hours in a bookstore just looking at books and matching the book with a person I know who would love it. Those large, hard-covered books with a bunch of photographs are the best kind of books when in the gifting mode. I love looking at the ones about my favorite icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy. I also like the ones that show pictures of cool hotel rooms around the world, castles in Europe, etc. Most recently I came across a book about weird California landmarks that was really interesting and has inspired me to plan a roadtrip with some friends next summer. Anyway, identifying an interest of the person you have in mind will help you find the perfect coffee table book. You really can't go wrong with a book.

Leather-bound Journals
This one is for the writers out there. I am always, always forming sentences in my head. I have to stick a notepad in my purse sometimes for those random thoughts that I know I will forget if I don't write it down. As much as I love technology, some thoughts are meant to be private and what better way to record them than in a beautiful leather journal in jewel tones. I love the ones at jcrew!

Sleepwear
I also have at thing for cute pj's. You've probably noticed since I included some in my Christmas list this year. There's just something very appealing about winter sleepwear. I suppose it's the coziness and the idea of warmth that cute pj's induce. Check out the sets at Victoria's Secret, especially the sweet thermals. Not everyone is willing to spend loads of money on clothes that nobody will see (unless he/she attends a lot of sleepover but I think past a certain age, those kinds of engagements cease to exist), so give a little warmth and fuzziness to that somebody special who deserves it.

Good Old Fashioned Boardgames
I don't know if many of you even play boardgames, but let me tell you , it can be extremely fun. My family and I occasionally spend quality time together over intense games of Jenga and Uno. I know these aren't exactly boardgames but they still are old favorites. I appreciate any kind of activity that doesn't include having your eyes glued to a monitor. I've recently become hooked on Scrabble. I also miss playing Apples to Apples, the Settlers of Catan, Scattegories, and Pictionary. Boardgames are nice to have around on those gray, cold and wet afternoons.

Pets
Don't go out and buy your best friend a dog. It might make them extremely happy, but it might also be a complete burden that they are NOT ready for. But something manageable like a fish would be a nice gift. I personally want a Beta fish in a Martini Glass Fish Bowl (I saw one in the recent Petco ad). I would name my fish Archie or Pea. I haven't decided yet. You can think of it as home decor.

Have fun shopping everyone! You only have about three weeks left. Oh and if all else fails, jewelry is the ultimate luxury.

You know you love me.
Claudia