The Wish List Is Here!

It's tradition: time for the annual wish list. And since my birthday and Christmas are coming, I've made sure it's a substantial one. I'm thoughtful like that. (You're welcome!) Here it is:Anthropologie gift card. Every December 26th I head to my favorite Anthro store in L.A. and hit the sales. Help my shopping endeavors? Bedhead After Party. This product makes your hair smooth, shiny and smell delicious. Like candy, seriously. It's kind of magical. I'm just saying. Find it at Target for about $20.

In the past, my wish lists have consisted almost exclusively of books. But I actually have so many books now that I don't have room for many more! I want this book though--Common Sense by Thomas Paine. I've never read it, have wanted to for a long time, and don't own it. Paperback, please.

J'adore by Dior. I love perfume and wear it every day. But I have fickle olfactory issues and don't usually stick to one scent for very long. However, this is the one perfume that I have consistently adored (get it?) for the longest time. I get so many compliments when I wear it. I'm out and need another bottle. Find it at department stores.Is this not the cutest ornament you've ever seen?! I found this on my friend Erin's list and definitely had to add it to mine. (We are both macaron connoisseurs.) Find it online at Sur la Table for $9.95. (Pink, please.)

Oh, goodness. Isn't this Marc by Marc Jacobs bag beautiful? I try not to rub my face on it when I see it at Nordstrom. It's the Classic Q--Natasha Crossbody Flap Bag in faded aluminum. Oh, and it's $368. (Womp, womp...)

This is Lancome Hypnose Doll Lash Mascara. I'm obsessed with mascara and unlike every other makeup product, I retain no loyalty to mascara and am always trying new ones. This looks great. Find it at Nordstrom or Sephora for $25.Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night moisturizer. Okay, don't laugh at me. I'm almost 30, and while the impending threat of wrinkles is real, I actually read that this product reduces redness and splotchiness, which is why I really want it. My bare skin is not cute. I ran into a friend at Target once and she asked me if I was sick. No, no, I was not. I just was not wearing makeup. Find it at Target or Neutrogena's website for about $20.Starbucks gift cards...because those nonfat 2-pump vanilla lattes don't pay for themselves, do they?

Tiffany & Co. silver anchor necklace. How cute would this go with a striped top and the Sperrys I'm supposed to not know that Nathan is getting me for Christmas?! Find it at Tiffany's for $200.

There you have it! What do you want for Christmas?

Five Days

Things to do before I leave Monday:

Call my credit card company and tell them I’m traveling so they don’t cancel my stupid card like they did in London when I was trying to buy a Rosetta Stone shaped backpack at the British Museum and my card was declined and I still, to this day, do not own a Rosetta Stone backpack.

Go to the bank.

Update iTunes playlists.

See Midnight in Paris.

Clean bathroom.

Clean room.

Finish up work stuff.

Will my back to stop hurting.

Go to AT&T store and ask about international calls.

Get a mani/pedi.

Go to Target to buy little travel things.

Narrow down my book selections to two. Eh...three.

PACK.

30 Things to Do Before I Turn 30

I’m going to be thirty in exactly a year and a half. Instead of doing what my instincts and flair for the dramatic would want (cringe, assume the fetal position, and commence mid-life crisis), I thought I’d embrace the romance and adventure that aging brings and “with mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come.” --Shakespeare

My friend Allison, whose affinity for lists rivals mine (and whose creativity definitely trumps mine), made a list of things to do before she turns thirty, a marvelous idea that I have now blatantly copied. I must say, making a list of affordable, non-gimmicky, realistic things to do with limited means and time is challenging. I mean, I’d love to “travel the world” and “read a thousand books,” but it’s not going to happen. And daredevil-ish stuff like “sky dive” or “bungee jump,” or overcoming a fear like “hold a tarantula” or “go clubbing” are just as unrealistic, not to mention entirely undesirable.

Here’s the list:

1. Read fifty books…starting now.
2. Eat a lobster.
3. Memorize the Gettysburg Address.
4. Go to the Grand Canyon.
5. Learn to drive a stick shift.
6. Take the train to San Diego for a day.
7. Learn to skateboard.
8. Ride the Giant Wheel at the Spectrum.
9. Try out for JEOPARDY!
10. Climb Saddleback Mountain.
11. Walk across Hoover Dam.
12. Purchase an iPhone.
13. Rent beach cruisers in Venice Beach and bike to the Santa Monica Pier.
14. Cook a meal from scratch and host a themed dinner party.
15. Read the entire Bible.
16. Learn the Hoedown Throwdown dance from the Hannah Montana movie.
17. Have a really great, cinematic kiss in the pouring rain.
18. Buy dinner for a family behind me in a drive-thru.
19. Take a tour of Warner Brothers Studios in L.A.
20. Do something unexpected with my hair.
21. Grab an in-theater dinner at The Regency San Juan Capistrano Theater.
22. Finish my master’s degree.
23. Visit the Long Beach Aquarium.
24. Lead a small group of college-age girls.
25. Stay at the Montage.
26. Visit Salvation Mountain.
27. Attend a movie premiere in L.A.
28. Do a photo shoot with Nicole Leever.
29. See a symphony concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
30. Have a really, really great 30th birthday.

What else should I do before I turn thirty?

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." --C. S. Lewis

Another Christmas List

My Christmas wish list wasn't really for the purpose of you buying me gifts; I hope you got that. Those things are fun, but I’d just be temporarily entertained by them. And I would smell really good...

I actually thought about what I really want over the weekend…you know, the good stuff that can’t be bought.

Here's what you can't get me for Christmas:

Self-awareness. What an awesome thing to have. Sometimes our oblivion causes us to unknowingly hurt others with our tone, words, actions, and even negligence. We’re also unaware of God’s voice in our lives and don’t see the areas we need to grow in. Self-awareness is a powerful thing that I’d say most of us don’t have a firm grasp on.

Kindness. I want the ability to love people to be less of a choice and more of an automatic reaction. I can definitely improve with showing people how much I love and appreciate them.

To be myself and like it. I’ve underestimated myself my entire life, and I often say self-deprecating comments or make fun of my interests before anyone else has the chance to, just to show that I’m aware of my nerdy tendencies. But that nonsense needs to stop. I really, really do like myself. I just still need to learn to be unapologetic about it.

I don’t ever want to be in a place where I don’t feel I’m learning, growing, and changing for the better. I want to be God’s best. And with his transforming power, I have no doubt that I will grow in these gifts...

Shotgun Rules in the Corolla...Can You Handle It?

1. Under no circumstance will you attempt to usurp power over the radio. The “do not touch” policy will be strictly enforced (usually with a slap), unless you have explicit verbal instruction to alter the music situation.

2. My purse does not get demoted to the backseat just because you’re riding shotgun. Please make room for it…preferably on your lap, but I suppose it would be fine at your feet, too.

3. Please keep hands clean at all times. This is not only for basic purposes of hygiene and self-respect, but also because when I need a piece of gum to improve my coffee breath, you’ll need to not only unwrap it, but feed it to me.

4. Speaking of coffee…frequent Starbucks stops are a given on any type of road trip or travel adventure. No need to even bother suggesting we stop at a Coffee Bean, Peet’s, or other sub-par coffee establishment.

5. I don’t read maps and am severely geographically challenged. Therefore, if we are venturing beyond the outskirts of Orange County, you’ll need to perform all navigational duties and will basically be responsible for reaching our destination. I’m just the driver.

It's not like I'm asking much here...

Five

Oh, hey there. Please forgive my dearth of blogging this month. I’ve been busy. And by “busy,” I mean I’ve been watching stupid (read: so entertaining!) time- and life-sucking TV on DVD—Grey’s Anatomy and Gossip Girl. I’m not necessarily proud of all of those counterproductive hours of TV viewing. But dang, it’s been fun.

Some things on my mind:

1. I hate computers and will forever shun technology when possible. Yes, I blog, facebook, text, and twitter, but I will always have a tough time and be annoyed at having to do anything beyond the basics. Uploading the newest version of iTunes? Installing FlashPlayer? What? Tech products are pricey, everything is out-of-date in ten seconds, and computer stuff is over my head. I want a typewriter. I don’t need an iPhone.

2. I miss Europe. I love Europe. I’m starving for art and history and antiquity in a country that is culturally bankrupt. (See: Kanye West, Lady Gaga’s wardrobe, Grey’s Anatomy, Gossip Girl. Joking on those last two…) I can’t wait to make my friend take thirty-four pictures of me crossing Abbey Road again, say hello to Mona Lisa and ask if she remembers me (oh, yes, audibly), and rub the dirt of the Coliseum floor between my hands…someday soon, I hope...

3. Fall is creeping up on us. At church this weekend, my friend David asked, “Are you excited about fall? You look like a fall person.” YES, yes David, I am. I wear sweater vests, jeans, and scarves in summer. Clearly, I am a fall person. Pumpkin spice at Starbucks and cool nights are already here, restoring my soul from a brutally long, hot summer. I can’t wait for colder weather, hot chai, award-season films, and the holidays.

4. Speaking of holidays, I’m torn over what to be for Halloween. Something literary, for sure: I’m just debating between a pretty Gatsby flapper or Alex from A Clockwork Orange. I think the latter would be cooler and I would be able to pull it off, but don’t know if people would “get” it. Suggestions?

5. I’m excited to see a bunch of musicals before the end of the year: Rent, Spring Awakening, Mary Poppins, Spamalot, A Christmas Carol, and Xanadu, which is a musical I know nothing about except that a roller disco is involved—it can’t not be great, right? By the way, have you noticed that musicals and musical theater have been making a comeback this year? (Hugh Jackman hosting the Oscars, Glee, Fame the movie…) I’m down.

I’ve lacked inspiration to write anything of substance this month…so far. It must be all of that mind-rotting TV. But more posts are coming soon!

Pack, Man...

A few friends from Fuel, who are leaving for the Dominican Republic on the 18^th, asked me about packing for their Peace trip. Here are my tips!

THINGS YOU’LL NEED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

1. Bug spray with Deet. If I could only bring one thing to the D.R., it would be bug spray. I sprayed it all over myself, day and night, and even sprayed it on my bed, and still had up to 20 bites at once…big bites, little bites, blistery bites. Yikes!
2. Anti-itch cream. This will save you a lot of discomfort from bites! And people on your team will thank you for bringing it as well.
3. Aluminum water bottle. Our team filled up bottles from a large jug of water every morning at our hotel; we did not have individual water bottles. I got a cute product (RED) bottle at Starbucks. Make sure you bring it with you everywhere. It’s really hot in the D.R. and you need to drink water all day long.
4. Umbrella. It rains. Hard. A lot. Randomly.
5. Wet Wipes/anti-bacterial gel. I have come to learn that while traveling, soap cannot be found when you need it most! Anti-bac gel is the next best thing, and Wet Wipes are great to wipe all the mid-day sweat and grime off your face.
6. A watch. I always use my cell phone at home, and it drove me nuts having to ask people what time it was. Get a cheap watch before you leave.
7. A flashlight. Blackouts are common in the Dominican Republic. I’d say they happened about once a day. But don’t worry…they don’t last long!
8. SNACKS. This was the #1 thing our entire team wished we had brought more of. The next time I go to the Dominican Republic, I’m bringing a whole bag of snacks onto the plane with me, including Oreos, peanut butter, Teddy Grahams, and Snickers bars.
9. Don’t forget things like nail clippers, tweezers, bed sheets, and towels (for the shower and beach).
10. An iPod charger is a must! (People on your team will forget theirs!)

THINGS YOU WON’T NEED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

1. Hair straightener. Ladies, seriously. I have the frizziest hair on the planet. I was told not to bring one, and brought one anyway. And I used it ZERO times. The Dominican Republic is 100% humid and extremely hot. Just go with the frizz…if it didn’t kill me, it won’t kill you.
2. Sweatshirt. It’s hot. Did I mention that? You don’t need any warm clothes for one second.
3. Acrylic nails. Girls…get them taken off before you leave. Seriously. You’ll regret having them while you’re there. I have the shortest nails on the planet and dirt managed to find their way beneath them.
4. Makeup. Unless you want to try to put makeup on while your face is sweating, just forget about it. You really don’t need makeup in the Dominican Republic. Give your skin a rest and put sunscreen on instead!

I’m excited for the Fuel team to leave on their adventure, and for my team to have a reunion…the Dominican Republic was amazing!

I Missed You...

Things I missed while I was in the Dominican Republic:

Text messaging. I'm so slow...it's like I'm re-learning.
Twitters (especially John Mayer's).
Air conditioning. Possibly the best invention ever.
Deadliest Catch. Yes. I missed Captain Sig.
Crave. Oh Crave, I prayed for you and missed you on Thursdays.
Grey's Anatomy. Just finished season 1. I can't believe you, McDreamy.
Having straight hair. It's a beautiful thing.
Starbucks outrageous oatmeal cookies. Oh, and everything else at Starbucks.
My family and friends, of course.

Things I did NOT miss while I was in the Dominican Republic:

Michael Jackson custody case news. Ugh.

...and the living is easy...

I’ve really enjoyed these things this summer:

Gray jeans. Gray is so comfortable, cool, and an easy color to wear. I love gray jeans. Love. Them.

Reading a book, falling asleep, waking up, reading a book, falling asleep, waking up…

My Michael Jackson Pandora station. Just type his name in and you’ll get the best mix of songs. Ever.

Iced tuxedo mochas from Starbucks. Could I drink one every day for the rest of my life? Only one way to find out…

Navy—my new favorite neutral. It’s softer than black and flatters every skin tone/eye color/hair color. Navy…it’s the new black, people.

Being pale. The beautiful sun-kissed 20-somethings that make up the office I work in remind me daily of how German-Irish I am. But I’m embracing the white skin look this summer, and hoping that aristocratic pallor will be making a comeback.

Travel Tips Part II

Last year after my London trip, I posted some travel tips. I feel like I learn new things after every trip. I just got back from Alaska and Seattle (post coming soon) and thought I might share some more of my learnings...these are a few more logistical sort of things to think about if you're planning on a trip this summer. You don't want to be what the French call les incompetents, do you?

1. Packing--bring the good stuff. I love dressing up on my vacations. Obviously, your wardrobe will be determined by what type of trip you are taking and you need to pack what's appropriate. But, listen...I have pictures in Pisa wearing a Green Day shirt and Birkenstocks. And I have pictures in front of Buckingham Palace in a pretty dress. Bring nice stuff! Trust me...that T-shirt with the hippo on it that says "hip" shouldn't be worn in front of the Eiffel Tower. (I would know.)

2. Mentally prepare yourself now for Starbucks stores in airports, and remember that not only are the prices jacked up, but your Gold Card is not accepted. It's such a shame, I know. I was very disconcerted at LAX when I was forced to pay full price for my latte. It's not even about saving the thirty-five cents...it's the rejection of the belonging to the establishment that is kind of spirit-crushing. So, just be ready for that in advance so you won't be as crestfallen when purchasing your delicious beverages in airports.

3. Footwear--the white exercise sneaker look is unecessary while traveling, unless you're planning on running a marathon or something. I know when you're packing, you think, "I need comfortable shoes...I'll be walking a lot." This is true; however, "comfortable" and "not ugly" are not mutually exclusive concepts. Also, Tevas are only appropriate when climbing rocks; don't wear them in airports (You're outdoorsy. You have a North Face backpack and a Nalgene. I get it.). Lastly, Crocs are not okay. Anywhere.

4. Toiletries--There are so many incredible products that come in travel sizes! Check out Target--they have travel tissues, mouth rinse, deodorant, hairspray, medicine, shave gel, toothpaste, even mini lint rollers. And everything's a buck. I love buying new toiletries and lotions for trips. So treat yourself to some new products and save some packing space.

5. Don't buy crap on your vacation. Of course you want souvenirs, but don't buy lame stuff that loses its cool as soon as you leave the place of purchase. My pal Hayley comes from a family of serious cribbage players (a game I will never understand), and she bought a wooden cribbage board in Alaska. I collect books from museums and Starbucks mugs, so I look for them when I travel. Buy souvenirs that are things you like or use at home. And remember...it's nicer to have one or two pricier but higher quality souvenirs than a bunch of cheap junk that you won't even have in a year.

6. Pack a few Power bars or Luna bars on your trip. In Europe, I'd eat half a bar almost every mid-day--walking and exploring takes a lot of energy. I've found myself in many places (stuck in the Lincoln Tunnel for three hours, on a train in the middle of nowhere, on buses, etc.) where food wasn't available but I was able to tide myself over with a Luna bar. Plus...I mean, have you had a Luna bar? They're delicious!

7. Things to do before a trip:

Get a manicure and/or pedicure. So, you're going on vacation and stressed out about all the stuff you need to do before you leave, right? Calm down and get your nails done the day before you go. I swim and type all the time, so I love getting a manicure before a vacation because it actually lasts!

Update your iPod. Make playlists for the places you're going and make sure your iPod is charged.

Think of which books to bring. This is always one of the most difficult packing decisions for me. A trip is a chance for me to dive into a book I haven't been able to get to yet. Be bold...pick a big book!

8. Things you should pack but might not think to pack:

Souvenirs from your hometown, to give to friends you make on the trip...something small and simple like postcards or keychains. In Ireland, I made friends with Debbi from Australia and she gave me a stuffed kangaroo that I still have...what a fun idea. In Alaska I gave postcards to our dinner servers thanking them for taking care of us. People will appreciate these!

Phone, iPod, and camera battery chargers. These are kind of "duh" things to pack, but they're easy to forget.

Umbrella. I'm only suggesting this because when I don't pack one, I am caught in a downpour and have to buy one in the street for $5. And when I bring one, I never need it. So bring an umbrella...because then you won't need it.

Extra-strength Tylenol. Throw a few pills inside the inner pocket of every purse/bag you bring; don't worry about the bottle.

9. When packing, put nicer/more delicate clothes (blouses, cardigans, dresses) in freezer bags. They'll protect your clothes and also help keep them wrinkle-free (less friction). I LOVE packing my stuff in plastic bags...the stuff in my suitcase is always clean, compact, and organized.

10. Relax. All this stuff about packing and preparing...it's fun! An important part of trips for me is the anticipating. I love thinking of what to wear and pack, researching where I'm going, and making iPod playlists for museums and airports and cities. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by details, but remember to have fun now, and you will.

Happy vacation....

Things Students Do in a Four Hour Seminary Class

Play poker on facebook...with other people in class
Tetris (and when you're sitting behind someone playing it...it's mesmerizing)
Check the news
Watch a sports game
Work e-mails
Personal e-mails
Texting
Taking pictures on cell phones
Facebook and facebook chat (most popular)
Solitaire, freecell, and writing to-do lists (me)
Kitten Torpedo game
Family Feud online (Oh, Becka...)

Oh yeah...and note taking...sometimes

Ten Things I Love To Do

Get real mail--notes, postcards, letters. And I love writing them. I've been writing to pen pals and relatives for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I loved writing addresses on envelopes and using stickers and stamps. The whole process of mailing and receiving letters fascinated me.

Make people laugh. Especially people who I think are funny. If you can make someone like David Hughes laugh, then your humor has just been validated and you are unquestionably funny.

Wrap presents. Unfortunately, I'm not a stellar gift-giver and usually give gift cards, but I totally love wrapping presents...I'm like the Eminem of wrapping...

Pack for trips. I always type up a list and am super organized when I pack. And I never forget to bring anything on trips!

Write checks. I'm not a fan of paying bills, but I love writing checks, especially writing out the dollar amount. It makes me feel grown-up.

Pick people up from and drop them off at the airport. (Assuming it's John Wayne, of course.) If I really like you, you might even get candy, Starbucks, or a flower...

Get dressed up for something special, like a play. It's fun to feel fancy once in a while.

Go to dinner with just a friend or two. I am not a fan of dinner with huge parties. It's overwhelming, conversation suffers, and I hate splitting checks. But dinner with just a few friends is perfect.

Light a candle when I read. It makes me feel old-fashioned, and kind of classy, too.

Roll change. My parents have a change bucket and I count and roll all of their change when it's full; it's usually around a thousand dollars! I also love paying with exact change, even if it takes me five minutes to fish it out of my coin purse.

Things I Enjoyed This Week...

1. David Letterman's interview with Joaquin Phoenix last night (which originally aired on 2/11). Wow. What happened there? Did anyone else watch this? It's worth a google.

2. Zack, Dom, and Josh P. performing "Business Time" at Crave. Our ministry never had a prouder moment.

3. Veronica Mars season 1. (Thank you, Allison.)

4. Another communication card from a Craver requesting that we play Cannons by Phil Wickham. We get one every week. Black felt pen. It's nice to have things you can count on.

5. Water. I'm trying to drink more water and less Diet Coke. So far, so good. H2Oh yeah...

And the Winner Is....

...not me. I only predicted seven correct winners out of eleven categories. That's, like, a D. I suck. However, I picked who should have won, so there you go. And I still have some things to say about the Oscars. Here are some of my Oscar-vations...(that's Oscars + observations...get it?):

1. Why did Milk get so much critical acclaim, and even some Oscars, while Penn's film Into the Wild got the shaft last year? I know that he is a brilliant filmmaker, and although I did not see Milk, I know it can't be better than Into the Wild. That film is one of the most visually stunning movies I have ever seen. Emile Hirsch was haunting and captivating as Chris McCandless...and...no Oscars. Are Penn's awards all because of politics?

2. I loved how 'young' the Oscars were this year. Seeing Miley in that gorgeous dress on the red carpet, Robert Pattinson and Amanda Seyfried presenting, the affable young cast of Slumdog, and Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens singing was so refreshing. They are all talented and beautiful and I loved their presence at the ceremony.

3. Could Hugh Jackman be any more charming and likable? That smile, that accent, that singing. Seriously! I must disagree with you though, Hugh....the musical is not BACK. It never went anywhere! Are people just discovering the musical? Get with it!

4. Oh, Kate...so classy and lovely. I was so happy to see her win for The Reader. Yes, I cried when she won.

5. Speaking of The Reader, was it a rule that Oscar nominees had to be the most depressing movies of all time this year? I mean, Revolutionary Road? (PS Leo totally got snubbed for his incredible performance, by the way.) The Reader? Rachel Getting Married? The Wrestler? I wanted to kill myself after watching these movies. The characters were horrible, selfish, pathetic, or heartbreaking....do you know how much I enjoyed watching Confessions of a Shopaholic last week? It was the first time in weeks I left a movie theater with a smile.

6. Michelangelo's design at the Capitoline in Rome was the influence for the design of the stage floor. Nicely done! Can you really go wrong with Michelangelo? MichelangeNO....

7. Ben Stiller made me very uncomfortable with his super awkward Joaquin Phoenix impression. Having to watch Jennifer Aniston present awards right in front of Angie and Brad also made me cringe a little for her. Awk-ward...

8. Slumdog Millionaire's cast and crew are the most beautiful people ever. I am so glad this movie was honored last night. And I am so very glad that Josh Pease made me see it at 10pm in Irvine after a five hour seminary class waaay before anyone had even heard about it. ("Wait, what's it called?" "Slumdog Millionaire. It's going to win a bunch of Oscars. Trust me." "What's it about?" "I don't know." "Okay, fine.") Trust him.

9. Mickey Rourke was totally robbed of an Oscar. He wore a picture of his recently deceased dog around his neck. How could he have been denied even a sympathy vote? But seriously, his performance was the single most memorable I have seen this Oscar season. Rourke was robbed.

10. I adored the dresses this year. Yes, I endured hours of awkward Ryan Seacrest red carpet interviews ("I can smell you!" he told Evan Rachel Wood. Really, Ryan?) but it was worth it. I don't recall a single over-the-top ensemble, weirdly themed outfit, or swan gown. For the most part, the ladies were so lovely and fun to watch...I loved Kate's and Natalie's dresses. My least favorite? Probably Tilda Swinton's weird beige gown (gown? potato sack?) while she presented.

Best Oscars in a looong time...

Pet Names (literally)

I am not an animal person. At all. But if I ever need to compromise my desire to be petless for my future family, I have thought of some hypothetical pet names. What do you think?

Nero
D'Artagnan
Rudolph
Maurice
Mercutio (Merc, for short)
Figment
Snatch
Tugboat
Zeus
Defoe (Foe, for short)
Ptolemy

Check it Twice

Here is my Christmas wish list...I only need four things (okay, maybe not 'need'). Well, I have a book list, too, but that will come later... A pretty passport holder. I will be using my passport next year and definitely want to travel in style. Note that this one is Tiffany blue, the best color ever.


Everyone knows Moleskine products are the best. I saw a daily planner at the bookstore the other day and it was the perfect size. (Note: black hardcover.)

I am not a big TV watcher, at all. In fact, this really is the only show that I follow, but I haven't seen any of season 4 yet. Once I get this, I will probably disappear from the planet for a few days, watching the entire season in my room, alone and happy. I can't wait to watch this!

Now, I obviously don't want a book embosser with Mike Stevens' name on it. I'd like one with my initials. How cool are these? Seriously! I'd love to have one of these to stamp all my books. Every bibliophile needs one.

So...what do you want for Christmas??

Things that Make Me Feel Stupid

Not knowing how to pronounce a word that I understand and have read a hundred times but have never heard pronounced aloud.

Strategy games, like chess, most card games, and Settlers of Catan.

Almost every computer-related or car-related problem.

Trying to text message with T9. I just don't get it.

Five Songs I Will Never Get Sick Of...

1. Maggie May by Rod Stewart
2. Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
3. No Rain by Blind Melon
4. Hard Sun by Eddie Vedder
5. Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkle

100!

This, my friends, is my 100th blog post! Yay! In honor of this milestone, I thought I'd make a list of 100 people, places, and things I love...

1. Junior Mints at the movies
2. Chips and salsa
3. Alexander Dumas
4. The phrase “shoot the breeze”
5. The Peter Pan ride at Disneyland
6. Red double decker buses in London. Actually, everything about London.
7. Ancient ruins
8. Banana pudding from Lucille’s
9. Rhinos
10. Claddaugh rings
11. James McAvoy
12. Body boarding
13. Tiffany & Co.
14. Orange highlighters
15. Puns!
16. Johnny Damon
17. Andy Warhol’s commercial art
18. Irish pubs
19. Semicolons
20. Postcards
21. Christmastime
22. Good bookstores
23. Smelling perfume at Nordstrom
24. Airplane food
25. Being a girl
26. “Weekend Update” on SNL
27. ee cummings
28. Castles
29. Wicked, Rent, and Phantom (the triumvirate)
30. “Jeopardy!”
31. Cherry Coke
32. Alexander the Great
33. Chicken salad
34. Frank McCourt
35. The Coliseum
36. Gothic architecture
37. Truman Capote
38. Psalms
39. Chocolate chip pancakes
40. Burberry plaid
41. Cobblestone streets
42. Eating lunch at museums
43. “Gilmore Girls”
44. Fresh flowers
45. When Harry Met Sally
46. Fireworks
47. Surprises
48. Flair pens
49. Getting a pedicure
50. Sticklers for proper grammar and punctuation
51. Pine trees
52. Random acts of kindness
53. J.D. Salinger
54. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
55. My birthday
56. Jack Kerouac
57. Ranch dressing
58. Benefit makeup
59. Long hair
60. Dressing up
61. Luke Skywalker
62. The National Anthem
63. Making lists
64. Italian Baroque art and architecture
65. Mint chocolates from the Blue Bayou
66. Moondance by Van Morrison
67. Pretty stationary
68. My amazing small group
69. Naps
70. Going to baseball games
71. Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser
72. Paul Frank
73. Getting real mail
74. Cupcakes
75. Shopping solo
76. A good workout in the pool
77. Post-It notes
78. New York City
79. Pageant of the Masters
80. My feet
81. Hazelnut gelato
82. Riding cable cars in San Francisco
83. http://www.m-w.com/
84. Starbucks
85. Seventeenth-century Dutch art
86. “Eyewitness” travel books
87. Shirley Temple
88. Raspberries
89. Stuffed animals (sad but true…)
90. The Beatles
91. The Seattle skyline
92. Packing for trips
93. Abstract Expressionism
94. Pictures that I actually get developed
95. “What Not to Wear” on TLC
96. Making playlists on iTunes
97. Road trips
98. Tom Sawyer
99. The Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas
100. Typing

Two Additions to the Bucket List

31. Learn how to solve a Rubik's cube.

32. Visit Salvation Mountain. Anyone in?