There’s three kinds of Christmas wish lists.
The first kind is the kind you make when you’re a kid…it’s everything you can think of that you really want and the purpose of making this list is that you can give it out to everyone you know, eliminating any chance that you’ll receive bad toys and ugly sweaters. I used to think that everyone stopped making these lists when they reached the 6th grade, but apparently it’s not something you necessarily age out of. Case in point: my husband keeps his Christmas list up and running all year, so when the holiday season finally comes around he’s ready to recite the 50 things he’d love to find under the tree. (Oddly enough, the list itself doesn’t even seem to get older…lots of action figures, video games, and cartoons…)
The second kind of Christmas list is the kind that you make when you’re feeling like a responsible adult. It’s used as a reference for people (like, say, your husband) who are still likely to buy you bad toys and ugly sweaters. However, unlike the first type of Christmas list, the second type of Christmas list takes into account financial limitations, shopping availability, and what you’ll probably have to buy yourself if you don’t get it as a gift. This is the list that includes things like inexpensive kitchen gadgets, reasonably-priced home accents, and a sensible winter hat.
Now, don’t misunderstand…these are not things that you secretly don’t want. You do want everything that ends up on this list. In fact, finding four pairs of socks and a can opener to replace the one you broke last month will not only please you, it will make you feel triumphant in the face of adult life. Now you don’t have to spend your hard earned money on these essentials, so really you’ve come out of Christmas ahead, marinating in the joy of not having received something bizarre and impractical that needs batteries and a cubic foot of closet storage space. This is the kind of Christmas list that I default to.
I do admit, however, to indulging myself in the third kind of Christmas wish list, which is a type that has become very popular with bloggers. This is the fantasy Christmas wish list…mostly compiled of things that you’ve seen on TV or on the internet and entirely made up of things that would make you immediately cry out, “Oh, you shouldn’t have! It’s way too much!” My sense of anxiety around gifting means that I can’t truly enjoy receiving these overpriced items, but my sense of sheer awesomeness means that I still have fantasies about Santa Clause jumping down the chimney and dropping them off with big gift tags that say, “For Carly, who shoudn’t feel bad about the expense because the elves took care of it.” As I mentioned, I’ve seen many of these lists on other blogs recently and today, since it’s Saturday and since we’re in bed feeling indulgent and since I just sighed wistfully at someone else’s Christmas list, I’m sharing mine with you:
1.
Fuji Instax Instant Camera
This instant camera takes film, has low picture resolution, and only prints out business size photos, making it one of the most impractical and yet wonderful things that I’ve seen this year. I’ve been eyeing this baby for weeks, waiting for it to drop from $90 to $20 or so. (No luck yet…)
2. Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer in Pink
Similar to the instant camera above, this little powerhouse of a printer only prints 2 x 3 pictures, but the pinkness and smallness and instantness and the fact that you can print from either your digital camera or your cell phone makes this thing very, very cool.
3. A Blazer from Topshop
There are a couple of things that I just can’t get enough of in the world of fashion: boots, chain necklaces, knit tights, the overuse of velvet, etc. My number one thing, though, is blazers. I adore blazers and would wear them all the time if they were cheaper. One of my top wishlist sites for blazers is the ever-too-cool-for-school Topshop, but the prices keep me from becoming a frequent shopper. Therefore, practical as it may seem, I’m adding a long, black, Topshop blazer to my wishlist.
4. Little House on the Prairie: The Complete Television Series
I know that this show is cheesier than cheese, but I love it and it gives me warm fuzzies and I’ve definitely watched dumber things on television. Unfortunately, my husband doesn’t share my enthusiasm. He seems to think that because he indulges me when I want to buy seasons of Full House, our household has met its cheesiness quota. So, when I wanted to spend all of our wedding gift cards buying this little covered wagon set, I was cruelly shot down. Because he’s a mean, mean husband.
5. Time Capsule
This device backs up everything on your Mac automatically on a regular basis and there are people who say that you should never even buy a Mac unless you buy a Time Capsule to go with it. I live in constant fear of computer crashes because, although I have great faith in my Mac, I would lose a pretty big chunk of my life if my computer bit the dust. I’m terrible about backing up iTunes purchases, videos, or photos on my own, so this little baby would definitely save me a world of trouble. Unfortunately, until I’m ready to commit to the $300 investment, it will just have to stay on my wishlist.
6. Garmin GPS
Salt Lake City is built on a grid system, with the numbers of our streets getting higher as you go more North, South, East, or West from the center of the city. However, that did not stop me from getting lost completely when learning to drive and I often spent an hour or so longer on the road than I needed to. Once, while trying to drive to Youngstown, Ohio, I drove to Pennsylvania, back to Cleveland, and then back to Pennsylvania. Later, when trying to leave Youngstown, Ohio, I again drove to Pennsylvania instead of driving down to Akron. If I-80 didn’t directly connect Salt Lake City with Columbus, it’s very possible that I would have never gone to law school. I think that this little item is going to have to jump off my wishlist pretty soon…
7. Bearington Baby Collection Giraffe Couture Coat
I don’t have a baby. I also think that spending a lot of money on designer clothing for babies is ridiculous because they can’t appreciate it and they grow out of it before you know it. But this little coat? I can’t help myself. It’s going on the wishlist. It’s actually a little amazing that it isn’t number one…
8. Calphalon Unison Slide Nonstick 10″ Fry Pan with Poacher Insert
I’m practical about most things, but I admit that I’m somewhat of a snob when it comes to cookware. I sort of like cooking and I’ve found that it’s simply impossible to create great meals when you’re using crap cookware. Nothing is more frustrating than spending a lot of time and money on your food, only to have it stick to the bottom of that frying pan your roommate didn’t want when she moved out so you kept it because what the hell. This particuar pan is something that I’ve been drooling over because I have a real penchant for poached eggs. Just imagine all the speedy huevos rancheros and eggs benedict that would happen if this joined my kitchen…
9. Tiffany Metro Ring
I adore my wedding ring, which is a Paloma Picasso ring from Tiffany and Co. One of these days, I want to get another thin band in white gold to set it off and until Paloma Picasso puts out a band like that, my heart is set on the Tiffany Metro Ring in white diamonds. It’s just thin and flat enough to not be annoying and to not overpower my wedding ring. Yes, I know I could get a thin band of diamonds in white gold at jewlery stores across the country, but what can I say? It has to be Tiffany’s!
10. Ultimate WALL-E Remote Control Robot
You didn’t really think that I’d make it all the way through this list without anything Disney, did you? I love this little guy, both for the attention to detail and for the fact that he’ll dance, chat, and explore with you. At $300, this little guy is probably not meant for your average preschooler, so it only makes sense that he should come to live with two grown-up, Disney-lovin’ children.
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There's three kinds of Christmas wish lists.The first kind is
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