Twelve Days of Christmas Wishes: Weight Loss Gift Ideas

Okay, not necessarily weight loss, but more gym-ish.

Workout Pants
This is one of the few pairs I've managed to find that doesn't suction attack the areas between your midriff and your knees, yet still has a decent waistband. And it doesn't cost a million bucks. They are simple, and streamlined, but they are not baggy and balloonish. Incidentally, if you can't tell, I really don't care for the boyfriend pants look. These are simple and feminine. oh, and as an added bonus for my phone, they have pockets. You can see the pants here.

Sweatshirt
Ah, yes, Doctor Who strikes again. A long, long time ago (on August 9th, to be precise), I posted a TARDIS hoodie that I quite liked. It is, of course, TARDIS blue, and has the usual text on it, plus a variety of phrases that can go on the sleeve. The nice thing is, this etsy seller, Geekiana, is a "made to order" person. I like sellers like that, because it pretty much guarantees I won't run into anyone else who is wearing the same thing. What would make this perfect would be to have "Hello, Sweetie" on the sleeve. You can see the sweatshirt here.

Twelve Days of Christmas Wishes: Tech Gift Ideas

We all have our little electronic gadgets--indeed, how could we live without them?--but all of these need more than just a little TLC. They need a lot of TLC, as well as an electrical outlet.

I tend to have bad luck with chargers. Thus, while it would be so awesome to get an Apple or something else wonderful and elite-ish, I'll stick with the basics. And since chargers are boring utilitarian things, no pictures today.

HP Pavilion Charger
This spring, my computer got knocked just enough to slide eight inches to the floor. That really shouldn't have damaged it, but it happened to hit the power supply at just the right angle, and it broke. The papers due and finals looming, I got the only replacement I could find. That replacement is evil and is set out to make me lose every paper I work on. Currently, to get my laptop to charge, I have to shove my phone under the plug to keep it forced into my computer at the right angle for it think about charging. Obviously, I need a new one. After painstakingly researching it, I've found one that the kind people who review things on Amazon after they've bought it say works. You can see it here.

iPhone Charger
My phone charger works just fine, except the plastic stripped away from the wire on both ends. If I was smart, I would have gotten some electrical tape and fixed it right away, and it wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, I didn't do that, and now the actual wire has started to fray. Plus, all the other really old chargers have bit the dust. You can see the charger here.

Twelve Days of Christmas Wishes: Accessory Gift Ideas

Who doesn't like a few accessories? Some are just necessary, others are fun. As a bonus today, since it is cyber monday, I'm posting two and a half gift ideas. Why? Well, keep reading, and you'll figure it out!

Clock Pendant
Yes, the Mad Hatter is still on my mind, and time is clicking away. For a while now, I've thought that different watches peeking out from various pockets or collars or belts or whatever would be a nice touch, especially if they are all set at different times, with some running and some stopped. This little alarm clock caught my eye when I was meandering through JCP, and reminded me of that. Although, pretty much every play on a pocket watch that I've found reminds me of that, and makes me think about the mad hatter. You can see the clock here.

Doctor Who iPhone Case
This one pretty much comes out of necessity. I managed to crack my iPhone case last spring, and it slowly disintegrated. The latch finally broke completely in the early fall. I kept promising myself that I would get a replacement, buuut I never got around to it.

Well, this is around to it. I knew I wanted to get a nice case the second time around, specifically one without a little snap latch. I also was pretty positive that I wanted one from Doctor Who, and I really wanted one that said "Hello, I'm the Doctor. Basically, run." buuut I figured I'd better stick with pictures. The problem is, I like two. River Song is a definite favorite of mine, but then I really like the promo pictures where the Doctor is wearing a hat. So, double feature! Here's two iPhone cases, one River Song iPhone Case and DW Season 6 iPhone Case.

Twelve Days of Christmas Wishes: Household Gift Ideas

There are those things that are just slightly handy to have around the house, and I've never managed to get around to buying them for myself. I'm sure I'm not the only person who does that, but, here are two house-y items that it would be nice to have.

Cake Stencils

I love baking, which should be a wee bit obvious, since I really love food, too. When I was littler, my mum had me take a cake decorating class, and I loved it. I still have all my tips and like that, but I don't use them often enough. I feel like I have to relearn all of the decorations every time I make a cake, since I only make three or four a year. On the other hand, I want my cakes to look nice. These stencils make cakes look nice without a lot of fuss, and I'm in love with them. You can see the book here.

Brentwood Brushed Twil Bedrest in Chocolate

That is definitely a mouthful to say. The beauty of these is, it makes propping up in bed or on the floor a bit more comfortable, since you have something to lean on, without having to pile pillows every which way. This is especially nice in my bedroom, where my wall happens to slant in right over the bed, sooo I'm already battling to be able to sit up without smacking my head against the wall. You can see the bedrest here.

Twelve Days of Christmas Wishes: Sweater Gift Ideas

Let's face it, it gets cold in the winter. In past years, I've taken care of this with hoodies, better suits, or extra layers. This year, hoodies ain't cuttin it. Thus, two sweaters that would work nicely with layering and look cute to boot.

Thistle Do The Trick Sweater 
This sweater is quite pretty, even though it reportedly runs a size too large. It has a warm, cinnamon-and-pumpkin-pie color to it, and has a stylish flair to it. Even looking at it, I think I'm smelling pie and gingerbread men. I suppose it is technically more fall-ish than Christmas-y, but the problem with asking for Christmasy things for Christmas is, well, once you get them, Christmas is over. The sweater (obviously) needs to be worn as a layer, but I think it would look wonderful with a dark brown or black shell underneath. You can see the sweater here.

It Moss Be Love Tunic
Technically, this is a dress, but the measurements only qualify as a dress for a handful of women. I do, however, love long sweaters, especially when I can wear a slightly wispy long skirt beneath and feel like the outfit is both flattering and streamlined while be soft and floaty. This dress has that same sort of feel. Unfortunately, it is currently out of stock, as the blaring orange "Notify Me On Restock!" button proudly declares. You can see the sweater here.

Twelve Days of Christmas Wishes: Or, Great Gift Ideas

Its that time of year where the nagging thought of "what on earth should I buy so-and-so for Christmas?" arrives. I found out about a week ago that my mother is one of the many suffering from said nag, and I happen to be the so-and-so connected that that. The problem here is, I pretty much don't know what I want. Its not that I don't want stuff, its just that I really really hate buying stuff that I don't need and won't use. The other day, I put on a dress that I had bought nearly a year ago, and I had never cut the tags off it. I actually felt guilty putting it on, because I figured that I wouldn't use it again for a very very long time. My first (translate, only) formal dress that I ever bought was like that. its still in my closet, and I've maybe worn in a grand total of three times? Of course, it doesn't help that I have a sort of "meh" feeling about it, so I'm not going to go out of my way to wear it--in fact, it had better be a really fancy shmancy thing for me to even consider it.

Thus, I feel slightly awkward blogging a wish list, especially considering I don't think I've ever written one out before, but then I thought "I'm already always writing about myself and things I want! Why not just be blunt about it?" Besides, someone wants to know what I want for Christmas. Thus, I have created the "Twelve Days of Christmas Wishes." This is twelve days (duh) of posts, each post having a specific category with two items that I would like, want or might even need. But probably not the last one.

Day One: Music

Blackmore's Night: Ghost Of A Rose 

My absolute favorite band, Blackmore's Night was co-founded by Richie Blackmore and his wife, Candice Night. If you don't know much about them, take a listen to this amazing Renaissance-inspired music. I've talked about them before, somewhat extensively. Ghost Of A Rose has many of my favorite tracks, including Loreley, Way To Mandalay, and 3 Black Crows. You can find the album here. 

Doctor Who Season Five Soundtrack

Yes, the Time Lords strike again. And no, I do not have this soundtrack yet. This is a great album for writing, both school writing and personal entertainment writing. The music is full and orchestral, the type that either makes you want to stand up and save the world or sit down and cry. Either way, I'd much prefer to have it on my iTunes than having to hunt for it on YouTube. You can find the album here.

Veteran's Day and Remembrance Day 2011

To all those that I love, or, in some cases, that I've never met, who have served their country bravely. I love you all. 

Heroes

By Jared Jenkins

For every life, there is a soul

For every soul, there is a life

For those who have died, we show great appreciation and remembrance

For those who live, along with them live the horrific memories of battle

Some, memories of defeat

Some, memories of victory

Our veterans were more than soldiers

They were, and still are heroes

Kenneth Flowers

F. X. Stevens

R. Nierstheimer, Air Force

 Control their minds with instinct fit 

What time, adventuring, they quit 

The firm security of land; 

Grant steadfast eye and skilful hand 

 Aloft in solitudes of space, 

Uphold them with Thy saving grace. 

O God, protect the men who fly 

Thru lonely ways beneath the sky.

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly 

Through the great spaces of the sky; 

Be with them traversing the air 

 In darkening storms or sunshine fair 

 Thou who dost keep with tender might 

The balanced birds in all their flight 

Thou of the tempered winds be near 

That, having thee, they know no fear 

D. Bevans

For the Fallen

by Laurence Binyon

They went with songs to the battle, they were young, 

 Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. 

 They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

 They fell with their faces to the foe. 

 They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 

 Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. 

 At the going down of the sun and in the morning 

 We will remember them.

Will You Stop For The One?

Heidi Baker works with Iris Ministries, especially with the Stop For The One child sponsorship program. One of my friends, activist Claire Johnston, has been working with this ministry during her Miss California campaigns. You can visit www.irismin.org for more information on Stop For The One.