'Tis

'Tis the holiday season. 'Tis time for shopping and decorating and baking! Twas exactly how I spent my weekend -- hurrah!

'Tis Penny -- All tuckered out from trimming the tree!

Gift ideas for the practical 20-something

I don't want to spoil what gifts I'm giving this year, so instead, I'll share some gift ideas for the practical 20-something girl who leans health conscious, enjoys looking stylish and brings her lunch to work.

Photo collage created using Polyvore

• Colorful tights. Brightening up dreary winter months. (Shown, Hue from Dillards)
  

• Subscription to Consumer Reports. The premier periodical for the savvy shopper. (ConsumerReports.org)
  


• Workout tank tops. For sweatin' it out in style. (Shown, Nike)


• Pastry brush. To baste everything with olive oil. (Shown, Crate and Barrel)


• Glass food storage containers. No BPA here. (Shown, Crate and Barrel)


• Accessories. Statement necklaces and skinny belts to punch up any outfit. (Shown, from Forever 21)


• Cardigans. To extend the life of summer tops in cold weather. (Shown, from Gap)

Oh! Almost forgot to mention, a lot of these practical 20-something girls wear a size medium. Happy holidays!

Homegirl got contacts

My daily routine just got a new step. I've added contacts to the mix! Most people go through this (learning to wear contacts) as a teen. Here I am a decade later -- an old dog learning a new trick (I cannot count how many times I have said that phrase since I got my contacts last Thursday. I am nothing if not wildly clever.).

Look, Ma! No glasses.

Move Over Vamps, Make Room for MBS

I know vampires are so en vogue right now, but allow me to distract your attention for just a moment with this: The Mysterious Benedict Society. This book has some real cult potential. It already meets the first criteria -- written for the 9-13 year old set! And it's a series (criteria #2).

Bonus: The Web site has puzzles that will either help you feel smart or stupid.

No sex-ay vampires, but it does have riddles! And Morse Code! (Image from B&N)

Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yes, they are made with olive oil. No, they do not taste like olive oil.

These cookies are fantastic for two reasons: 1) They are tasty. Really tasty. Really really. 2) Olive oil is good for your heart!

I made 16 cookies last night. There is now exactly one left.

Living on

My brother moved out of my place nearly two months ago, yet a part of him lives on in a small way.

What was once a spare bedroom is now a shrine to Brian. It remains untouched.

:-P

San Francisco

Extended weekend getaway destination = San Francisco! It went a little something like this:

Eating. Yummy food in Chinatown.

Sightseeing. These Painted Ladies are famous in their own right, but they will always mean Full House to me.

Sliding. It was bloggers that led me to these Secret/Seward St./Douglass Park slides.

Posing. That sea gull at Fisherman's Wharf was just dying to take its picture with me.

Chilling. I'm guessing it's common knowledge that sea lions hang out at Pier 39. We had no idea.

Riding. Cable-car style.

Hiking. Amongst the graceful redwoods in Muir Woods.

Welcomed back by a lean lady frog

As I pulled up to my house today, a bit bleary eyed from my extended weekend getaway, I was greeted by this silly site: a lean lady frog blowing in the wind. I LOLed. And then LOLed again.

While this frog is all kinds of redonkulous (and was suspended from my tree by no doing of my own), the laughter she caused was certainly a good welcome home gift.

The frog is courtesy of my brother, natch.

Woot for packing light

Packing light is liberating. Yes, liberating! I'm going on a trip soon and I am pumped about the prospect of fitting everything in just my carry-on.

I plan to stick with one clothing color scheme, wear my heaviest clothes (e.g., boots) on the plane and get by without some of my girly liquids. Woot!

$20 checked baggage fee? I'll pass. Woot!