Dear, Santa

I love to read. Most of my time during the school year is taken up reading what is required of me, which, trust me, is a lot of reading. I try to read a chapter a night of a book just for pleasure, but when I go home for breaks I go book crazy. My favorite genre is non-fiction. I love essays like David Sedaris, and every Christmas I re-read his Holidays on Ice, with the literally side-splitting tale of his time spent as an elf at Macy's. I have read everything by him, and have already purchased his newest book: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk. I also love non-fiction books about very specific topics, like The Hot Zone by Richard Preston - all about the Ebola virus. But my favorite right now is Stiff by Mary Roach, an investigation into cadavers and what physically happens to our bodies after we die (especially if we donate our bodies to science), which was the starting point for my Christmas list of books - hence two of her other books making the list.

1. Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace: the namesake essay of this book is about whether or not lobsters feel pain as they are dunked into boiling water. The other essays range from his experience attending "The Academy Awards of pornographic film" to a scathing review of Tracy Austin's autobiography.

2. Spook by Mary Roach: two of the six books on this list are by Mary Roach - I truly love her writing. This book, in contrast to Stiff, tackles the spiritual elements of death. Roach asks doctors to sheep ranchers to try and discover what happens to us after we die, and whether or not there is an afterlife.

3. Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin: as I've shared in previous posts, I love to cook. And this book, by Laurie Colwin, is a collection of essays about cooking and food. The book is filled with her own experiences of tasting an ingredient for the first time, foods she likes and dislikes, and how to prepare her favorites.

4.You Lost Me There by Rosecrans Baldwin: Yes, this book is fiction. But it sounds so beautiful. It is the story of a young widower, Victor Aaron, coming to terms with his wife's death. He discovers note cards in his deceased wife's room, filled with memories of their relationship - often angry and bitter. And Victor is forced to realize that his preserved memories may be inaccurate. 

5. The Privileges by Jonathan Dee: this book sounds like Gossip Girl and Less Than Zero were put on a collision course with each other. Think Upper East Siders with serious moral bankruptcy.

6. Bonk by Mary Roach: here, Roach explores the intersection of science and sex - as the title states. On the larger scale, she seeks answers as to how understanding anatomy, physiology and psychology of sexual response can help us pursue greater marital happiness. But on the smaller scale, in her very own hilarious voice, she investigates some of the most bizarre things I have ever heard - which probably should not be mentioned here. You'll just have to read it!

Dear, Santa

I love to cook and I love to entertain. I am responsible for cooking everything for Thanksgiving dinner, and my plan as an only child is to marry a boy with a huge extended family that I can entertain for every holiday and occasion. I am always looking for great books about entertaining and the perfect food to make for entertaining. I currently own these two wonderful books: Williams-Sonoma Holiday Entertaining, and Fandango. But this Christmas, two of Martha Stewart's entertaining books are topping my list as well as a mini encyclopedia of toasts and quotes.

1. Good Things for Easy Entertaining
2. Great Parties: The Best of Martha Stewart Living
3. Little Giant Encyclopedia: Toasts and Quotes

Dear, Santa

Yep, that's my desk! Not. I wish. 

I think I am constrained by the fact that I live in a college dorm and my desk is made of formica. I try to brighten up the space, however, with a ceramic horse head which I keep my pencils, pens, and scissors in, a shallow, white ceramic dish to keep odds and ends like bobby pins, and I've covered the provided bulletin board with photos, postcards, and my favorite quotations and fortune cookie fortunes. And currently I have a pop-up Christmas tree from MoMA by Robert Sabuda to celebrate the season.

So in my journey to keep my desk bright and lovely, I have included these products on my Christmas list:

1. Jonathan Adler Aztec Diamond Laptop Case: Currently, my laptop case is black and boring (and it has some holes in it from where my cat chewed it in high school) so I love this one from Jonathan Adler.

2. Banderole Pom Pom Pencil Set: These pencils with streamers coming off the end are the cutest things I have ever seen. I use pens more than pencils usually, but these just may convert me.

3. Lilly Pulitzer White Zin iPhone 3 Case: I am always torn as to whether or not I want a cute print or a plain color for my iPhone case, and I've alternated between the two. I currently have a solid red one, but this big bright flower print is definitely going to mean it's time to switch!

4. Kate Spade Dot Cosmetic Case: I use cosmetic cases as pencil cases, and these ones from Kate Spade are the perfect size for me as I put pencils, pens, highlighters, chapstick, lip gloss, and Orbit gum in my case. They are also coated in plastic so they take the wear and tear of being thrown around in my school bag like pros.

5. Kate Spade 2011 Desk Calendar: It's kind of become tradition that next year's Kate Spade desk calendar is in my stocking. I eternally look forward to which design approach they will take each year and this year it looks no different - it will be adorable as always.

6. Leave Your Mark Monogram Sticky Notes: Whenever something I need to do pops into my head I have to write it down immediately. I always have Post-It notes on my desk - so I always have something to write my to-dos down on. I then put up the note on my mirror so I remind myself of it as I do my make-up in the morning. Currently I just use neon Post-Its, but I would love to use these far cuter monogram ones.

Dear, Santa

I love America. But really, I do. I love learning about it - one of my favorite books is State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America - and I am an American Studies major here at college. One of the best gifts I have received is the original artwork from the inside cover of State by State. I love my home state and city - San Francisco, California. I brag about it as much as possible (way to go Giants) as I truly believe it is the best state in the Union. I plan to partake in the 2010 Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Try Before You Die and I hope to be able to do The Big To-Do San Francisco: 250 Things To Do Before You Die. So this love of America notably bleeds into how I dress. I love Americana classic, and so this Christmas some of my gifts certainly channel that love.

I love this striped dress with its long sleeves pushed up - such effortless cool. I would definitely wear the dress with these nude strappy wedges. A simple stone pendant or a brightly colored chain link necklace over a striped tee, jeans, and flats is my view of a perfect outfit. I also love those nude strappy wedges with a red mini and a black and white striped boxy tee with a black blazer thrown on. I will wear all these pieces as separates from fall to summer and back again. Classic, timeless, American.

Day Dresses by MinkPink

Dear, Santa

My birthday is November 30th. Therefore, this is about the time I make my birthday list, and since I have presents on the mind, I blow right through my birthday and work on my Christmas list as well.

Christmas is absolutely my favorite time of year. I have to fight the urge to listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, and the minute December 1st rolls around I set my radio to the two local stations that play nonstop Christmas music. The day after Thanksgiving we buy our tree, and my father and I always put the lights on. Now this is not an average light decorating that my father and I take on. I believe there are about 1,000 bulbs on the tree once we get done - yes, we wrap the trunk twice and each branch individually with light. We fill our home with holiday candles, ornaments and lights. I can't wait.

I will be blogging my Christmas list in several segments, and explaining how I plan to wear the things I hope that Santa will bring me. Perhaps you will add some things to your list too!

Not only do I enjoy stalking the fashion shows, celebrities' and models' styles, and ten or so shopping websites I look at on a day-to-day basis, but I love to read about fashion. Specifically about personal style. 

Personal style is such an interesting term. It means you have style, but it is somehow individualized. I think most of us girls are in the search for our perfect personal style. Mine has evolved many times over the years. In high school, I was your classic Blair Waldorf prepster, but I soon found that too stuffy and I now define my style as mainly classic Americana with a touch of feminine and edginess thrown in when the right trend comes along - picture more of a Lauren Conrad or Rachel Bilson. I would spend days pouring over these books, and return to them over and over: The Ellements of Style, Harper's Bazaar Fashion: Your Guide to Personal Style, and Street View: The New Nylon Guide Book of Global Style, which is why these personal style books top my Christmas list.

One of the books is not about personal style: the one in the top left, 100 Years of Fashion Illustration. It looks so beautiful I want to rip all the pages out for my inspiration board. The book not only features gorgeous illustrations, but also plenty of fashion history and suggestions for further reading.

Are you reading Santa?