My Christmas Wishlist

Me at Christmas around 1994. This photo was taken at my Grandmama/Grandpapa's house on Jackson Avenue in Lexington, VA. LOVE my skirt! ha!


In my family, as there are so many of us, we have to write a list every year. It gets given to the significant other and the parents are both CC:d on the email. Basically, this list is done so there is no possible duplication of gifts. I was surprised to learn as I grew up that I had many friends who never did a list! Imagine my surprise! Wow!

Anyway, I am one of those people who always asks for books. I think books are the one amendment to the rule on not re-gifting. You can re-gift a book, or give a used book, and it is just as good as a brand new one. You are being good to the Earth, and what if the book is something perfect for a friend or family member. Obviously, I normally own up to it being "used" or whatever, and give another gift to even things out a bit, but I never see why that is wrong, right? [Although if the book smells like cigarettes, or you are giving a book to a germaphobe, then things may want to be adjusted on a case-by-case basis! ha!]

The following items are some of the many things on my wish list this year. These are normally guidelines for family who just don't know what to get me, so these are normally a list of want/needs:

The Cricut Expression. It is an expensive item, but I know with my jewelry-making, scrap-booking and other heart-friendly activities that I would use the heck out of this item. It looks like something way more entertaining and time-saving in comparison to my current trace-and-cut methods for items! Plus, I see it as ideal for things like designing attractive boxes for presentation (i.e. a pair of earrings I designed, etc.).



The Conair I-series Ionic hair dryer. Yes, it is a pink hairdryer! However, it is an ionic hairdryer which is way more forgiving on my thin, baby-fine hair. It can take my hair 5 hours to air dry, literally. This hair dryer should help me figure out how to style my hair now that it is to my belly-button. I am running out of ideas and I really don't want to chop it off, yet!



One of the most controversial films of its time (the glove strip-tease scene), Gilda is an American film classic. I love this movie and the music, the dancing and Rita Hayworth! I have been compared to her (hello, super compliment) and I just love her as such a vivacious character in this film!



Trailer for Gilda, a Columbia Pictures film:



From Williams-Sonoma, I asked for the long stainless steel All-Clad ladle. I make lots of stocks from scratch in a big tall stock pot, as well as making lots of soups and stews in the winter, so I would get a lot of wear out of this kitchen piece.



I love a specific product from Origins, called Clear Improvement. It is a fantastic mask that I can rely on to completely resurface my face and neck to baby-soft cleanliness. It uses charcoal, white Chinese clay and other ingredients to completely clear my pores out. Love. Love. Love!



As I began my entry, I mentioned books. I asked for several this year for Christmas, but here are a few of my favorites:

The 1982 edition of Martha Stewart's Entertaining:


The Woman's Guide to Law School by Linda Hirshman:


and, the book Pinstripes and Pearls: The Women of the Harvard Law Class of 1964 by Judith Hope:



What did you ask for for Christmas?

Apparently I am Kreativ!

I was tagged by Park Avenue Princess for the Kreativ Blogger Award :)

The award rules are as follows:

List 7 things that you love, and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you love!
Be sure to tag them and let them know that they have won.
You can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sidebar letting the whole world know... you are Kreativ!

1. I love my Coach purse.

It is kind-of like this one – the Coach Zoe, but mine has a braided black leather handle… It really is wonderful as I can stick all I need in it and it looks incredibly nice with my suits and work stilettos – while easy to dress down for going out with PBF or with my ladies!! [picture source: Coach.com]



2. I love my Coca-Cola!

I am a huge fan of soda, regardless of the fact that it is incredibly bad for me and my heart, but I really monitor my sugar input daily just so I can enjoy this wonderful delicious syrup full of bad awful things!!! I think it all traces back to being in boarding school and the fact that in the basement of one of the dorms, they still had a glass-bottle Coca-Cola dispenser!!
[picture source: http://jyte.com/profile/wonko.com]



3. I love my Pearls!

[picture from: Finksjewelers.com]
I was the only girl throughout my boarding school years that didn't have pearls... I was the only one in my class (of the preppier girls at least) during graduation who it seemed like was without. I had my Tiffany and Co. Elsa Peretti jewelry but not my pearls - which I felt looked so much better with our white dresses we had to wear for Lantern Ceremony anyway. I had grown up with a gorgeous pearl bracelet - but I had outgrown it and never asked for a replacement. And I wanted a set – but because of the unanticipated expense of my education (asking to get out of my hellish public school and be in boarding school like my brother - an unplanned expense for me), I never EVER asked for a set, so I wore my mother's own set that she entrusted to me. Well, when I graduated, on graduation day, right before the ceremony, she handed me a box from Finks. Inside, was my own set of 7.5 mm pearls! She and my Aunt had handpicked each pearl to be strung on my necklace – made with love from my Mom with my Aunt's blessing! (my Aunt used to work at a Finks store).
Here is a picture of my sister and me after the ceremony – she wore a gold silk shift in honor of my "team" (purple versus gold) at school. Fabulous!:




4. I love my hometown – Lex Vegas.
It is so beautiful and I loved the area I grew up in. I couldn't have done without a lot of the people there but I really had a wonderful, blessed childhood with all of the comforts a parent would love to provide. We had a big farm and I had lots of fun parties at the Country Club or at home. Most of my family lived nearby and my Mom was really strong when it came to the significance of God being in our lives. Here are some favorite images of home:

The Farm where I grew up:


View from my parents' new house (which they built in 2000):


Main Street at Christmas time, with my church all decorated:



5. I love my Golden Retriever, Lovely Lady of Lexington.
She is too cute for words!!




6. I love... The Greenbrier!
The Greenbrier is a bittersweet place to mention as it recently filed for Chapter 11. I have spent a week there every other year for the past SEVERAL years. I cannot remember how many times [This isn't including the day trips that we did when I was small for Easter, etc, when we opted out of going to The Homestead]. Here are some pictures from those amazing trips...
My cousin goofing off in the pink (because of Thanksgiving/Christmas – AND GREEN!!) ballroom:


My cousin and I always share a room. This was our Deluxe corner suite we had on a holiday visit. I LOVE TULIPS!!! (many apologies for the un-made bed):


Some of the family gathered for tea in one of the library rooms off of the Main Lobby level...:


Yes, those of you who have been to the Greenbrier know this is one of the "ladies lounges" – I LOVE this room:

It screams sultry boudoir to me – the vintage Vogue covers, the royal purple velveteen chairs with black tassels, the brushed pink wallpaper and the crystal chandeliers. LOVE IT TO PIECES. I would often grab a flute of champagne and "hang out" in here just to get away from the crowds during post-dinner music receptions, etc.

I'm going to miss this place for a lot of reasons - not be be rude - but I can only imagine how messed up the place will be if it gets bought out by some big hotel conglomerate chain company, which means less pay for the deserving workers in the unions at The Greenbrier, and lower-quality goods, etc.


7. I love lingerie! Now, to those who don't know me well, that seems weird. Lingerie? Why not just fashion? Well, I used to sell lingerie on my year off from school (thank you Nordstrom), and then kept with it when I went back to school – Belk, far less glamorous clientele, but still fun! So I have TONS OF LINGERIE. I hope I can go back to working in lingerie again soon.

From Julianna Rae, the Butterfield silk cami and tap pant set:



From Bergdorf Goodman, the raspberry Florentine Gown & Robe, Long (retails at $410.00):



And what boudoir would be complete without a crystal chandelier (thank you Greenbrier!):

   
And a gorgeous chaise lounge (thank you Ethan Allen!) the Monaco Left-Facing Chaise:

 

I tag:

Zazu Pitts: http://brillionaire.blogspot.com/

Kiss On My List: http://kissonmylist.blogspot.com/

Al.Ex: http://alexploresla.blogspot.com/

Lulu: http://nixonsleeves.blogspot.com/

Randall @: http://happyforthismoment.blogspot.com/

FB: http://fabulouslybrokeinthecity.blogspot.com/

Katie: http://asoutherngirlinthecity.blogspot.com/

Colonel William John "Bill" Stockwell

Colonel William John Stockwell, 56, of Lexington, VA, died unexpectedly Wednesday, February 4, 2009.

Colonel Stockwell is survived by his wife, Jill, daughter, Jaclyn, and sons, Robert and Bredt. He is also survived by his mother Margaret and sister, Martha of Asheville, NC, and his brothers Richard of Manalapan, NJ, and Robert of Atlanta, GA.

He was predeceased by his father, Eugene Stockwell.

Colonel Stockwell began work at Virginia Military Institute January 1, 1975, as an instructor in the Physical Education Department and rose to full professor of physical education, remaining with the department until his promotion to Associate Dean in 1994. He served as Acting Dean of the Faculty for the 2000 - 2001 academic year, and he has served as the Deputy Superintendent for Academics and Dean of the Faculty for the current academic year.

A 1970 graduate of Ridgewood High School, NJ, and a 1974 graduate of Springfield College, Colonel Stockwell earned his doctorate in health education from the University of Virginia in 1984. In 1986 he received VMI's Thomas Jefferson Distinguished Teaching Award.

Colonel Stockwell was active in the community and served as coach for various sports for all of his children. He was an avid sports fan and particularly supported the New York Giants, VMI and University of Virginia athletics. He was a season ticket holder for UVA football.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2009, at Jackson Memorial Hall on the VMI campus at 11 a.m. Reverend Tom Crittenden will be officiating.

The family deeply appreciates the generous outpouring of support from the VMI and Lexington communities.

Gifts in Colonel Stockwell's memory may be sent to the VMI Foundation, P. O. Box 932 Lexington, VA 24450.

Arrangements are being handled by the Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, VA.



VMI News Release
Published: February 5, 2009

A funeral service for Colonel William J. Stockwell has been set for 11 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 7) at Jackson Memorial Hall at Virginia Military Institute.
Colonel Stockwell, Acting Deputy Superintendent and Dean of the Faculty, died Wednesday.
Immediately following the service, a reception will be held at the new Center for Leadership and Ethics behind the Marshall Museum.
Attendees should be aware that parking will be challenging, with a number of events occurring at VMI on Saturday. Signage and attendants will direct visitors to available parking. Parking should be available behind the Marshall Museum and around the Parade Ground. The area in front of the Barracks near Jackson Memorial Hall is set aside for handicapped parking.
Uniformed members of the faculty and staff should wear Class A uniforms; cadets should wear gray blouse.
Gifts in honor of Colonel Stockwell’s memory may be sent to the VMI Foundation, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, Va., 24450.
Persons wishing to send condolences to the Stockwell family can do so my sending an e-mail to condolences@vmi.edu.