Christmas wishlist

V & I attempted to get some shopping done at midnight on Black Friday, at the outlet mall in Vegas. We lasted all of an hour before we gave up and went back to our hotel.

I like shopping but have very little patience for trying things on. I also have a low tolerance for crowds and long lines. So online shopping suits me perfectly.

While shopping for others though, one inevitably finds something for oneself. Here are some things that I'm *wishing* for. Might give you some ideas for what to get for the folks on your list.

Gorillapod

It's hard enough trying to get your digital point-and-shoot to consistently produced decent shots. But throw in low-lighting, a slower shutter speed and unsteady hands and you end up with bad night pictures almost every time. This funky and handy tripod will take care of that. No flat surface? Not a problem. The Gorillapod can wrap its arms/legs on poles, tree branches, and wine bottle necks, among others. Comes in cute colors, and you can opt for an unpackaged unit to cut down on plastic packaging waste. The unpackaged ones are cheaper too ($21.95), so it's good for your wallet and the environment. Comes in different sizes so it can handle anything from a small camera to those massive DSLRs.

Marimekko wall hanging

I'm always looking for ways to counter V's growing collection of military prints. Nothing against them, just not my style at all. And since there are not enough wall space in his office to accommodate all his nicely framed prints, they end up spilling into the rest of the house. Marimekko is an established Finnish textile and clothing design company that makes everything from dresses, to plates and mugs, to bedsheets and tea towels--all with really funky patterns. This Marimekko wall hanging is made of 100 percent cotton, machine washable, and super cool. And it's on sale!

Simply Vera Vera Wang Quilted Faux-Crocodile Flat Tote


I've tried on several pieces from Vera Wang's Simply Vera line, without much success. Her dresses would look cute on the rack, and then really not cute on me. Same with shoes. They look really good in pictures, then you see them in person and wonder if you were even looking at the same thing. But among her handbags are some real winners, at least in my estimation. This is one of them. Comes in black too, and is the perfect size for carrying my MacBook. At $89 though, I thought it was a bit much for something you would get at Kohl's. But now that it's on sale for $53.40, I think I like it even more.

What's on your Christmas wishlist?