The Christmas with the nesting

Santa was so very good to me this year. Can anyone else tell how excited I am to be getting back into my own place where I can do things like cook and put up decorations? Here were some of my Christmas presents, which caused much gasping for joy (following by coughing and wheezing) by the tree.





Then with some Christmas money from my grandma (and my own dwindling resources) I bought myself some more presents. I think I'm going through some mad fling of financial recklessness because I know I'm going to have to knuckle down to an unforgiving budget very, very soon. Then I will at least be able to read about lovely foods while eating my ramen noodles.

For starters, these towels are quite possibly the cutest things I've ever seen and we can't be friends if you don't agree. They're part of the Martha Stewart Everyday line at Kmart. Seriously, if you have 10 bucks, go buy yourself some. They're probably not made of cotton woven by the hands of virginal convent dwellers or anything, but I don't care. They're darling. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to let people touch them.

This hardback 1997 copy of The Joy of Cooking was under $10. I realize it's not the newest edition, but I don't care. My eyes have been opened to a wonderful new world made up of hundreds and hundreds of creamy sauces. I say bring on that world.


These amazing-smelling soaps were on sale at Bath & Body Works, so I bought several. A beloved few of you may receive these as birthday gifts throughout the year, if I can bear to part with them.

Other triumphs included a set of kitchen candles good enough to eat (in French Lavendar, Green Tea Wasabi, & Pink Grapefruit) from Williams-Sonoma at 75% off. And 4 beautiful silver snowflake candle holders at Bath & Body Works at 50% off. They look like this, but smaller.

Today I found myself lusting after a 17-piece set of French White Corningware at Costco. That's when I knew it was time to Calm the Heck Down. Because it's not like I'm buying my own place or getting married or anything like that.

So. Now that I have unleashed my Inner Consumer and given her a chance to play, it's time to buckle back down to my usual system of irrational frugality and erratic self-denial.

Good times, good times.