Everything's Magic

Note to self:

Next time you want to start a 782 page book, do it after you're settled into a home not before.

I really feel like I missed out on the "feeling" of this book because I had to read it in stolen moments of quietude. (Which is not something that has happened very often in the past few months.)

I loved the story and would recommend this as a perfect book to get anyone into the mood for next October. It's not particularly Halloweenish, but the cover is reminiscent of Poe's raven and the story is entirely about magic, a topic I find to be perfect for the beginning of fall.

Susanna Clarke has cleverly underwritten the story with footnotes and asides that make up an entire English history for magic. I was very impressed with her attention to detail as well as her commitment to her subject.

Don't let the size discourage you, it's an easy book to get into and a truly fascinating read.

Grown Up Christmas List

I promised Elijah a wish list. He hates wish lists, but after ten years of being married to a control freak, he desperately needs one. He used to buy me the most amazing presents. I remember our first Christmas together, before we were married, he bought me an Easy Bake Oven (and baked cakes with me) because he remembered that I'd never received one as a little girl. Now he says that the best present I could get him is to just buy my presents myself. I think he just needs a little nudge in order to be reminded of how thoughtful he truly can be.

Sweetheart, this list is merely meant to point you in the right direction.

Monogrammed Mugs from Anthropologie - I want enough to spell out our last name along with little hooks to hang them by the coffee maker.

A place to hang my running medals - I want it customized to say "Run Like A Girl"

Next year's reading list is going to include books recommended by NPR, I'd love you to pick out a few that you think I'd enjoy. So far I'm interested in the following:

The Boy: A Holocaust Story
Unbroken
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
When They Come For Us, We'll Be Gone: The Epic Struggle to Save Soviet Jewry

Carrying on a tradition that meant so much to me would be wonderfully thoughtful.

I'm running low on pajama pants. I know you think it's lame, but I LOVE wearing pajamas (and am pretty much always in them) so a few new pairs are in order. I prefer the flannel pants with t-shirts to the flannel sets.

I'm due for some new cookbooks. This one is on my wishlist, but you can look for some other ones and surprise me if you'd like.

Still at a loss and feel like splurging?

This should give you a pretty good idea of what I'd like to have under the tree. Surprises are also nice so dig deep and look back at all the things I've lusted after over the past year - I know you hang on every word I say!

The Happiest Christmas Tree

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was filled with good friends, great food, and a lot of late night laughter. It was nice to have our very first set of holiday guests. Plus, I always prefer to have the food filled holidays at home; that way I get to eat all the leftovers!

As soon as our friends left, I was ready to jump into Christmas. Saturday we picked out the tree and set it up so we could decorate Sunday. We also worked on the outside lights but we still have so much more to do since we're in a bigger house now.

Yesterday was tree trimming complete with Chex Mix and my annual freak out about everyone ruining the Hallmark boxes so we won't be able to put the ornaments back after New Year's. All in all, it was a perfectly lovely evening.

Amelia's first candy cane tasting went over rather well.

Money Spending Woman

In our family we have a saying.

"You can't afford NOT to buy that!"

And we really take it to heart. It means that it doesn't matter that we already have two perfectly good working refrigerators, when the one you've had your eye on (ish) gets cut by $700 and can be financed for 18 months at 0% - you can't afford not to buy it.

Oh and throw in a new dishwasher since it was $200 cheaper as well.

Merry Christmas to me!


I'm seriously bummed that the oven we'd wanted wasn't just a smidge cheaper so I could get the whole set in one fell swoop! Oh well, I'll keep my eye out for another deal too good to pass up.

Picture Perfect

Elijah is an extremely talented photographer.

For example:







So why is it impossible for him to take a good picture of me? Ever?

For example:












Sure, as I was looking through our photo library I found a few good shots of me. But mostly, my photos look similar to the ones shown above. I can't help but wonder how I look in real life to people if this is how I'm captured on film. My poor friends and family seem to endure a terrible affront to their visual senses on a daily basis. And I don't even have a nice personality to counteract the unfortunate looks.

Today, I'm grateful for the people who are willing to spend time with me in spite of what the above pictures show!