US meets UK

I travel a fair amount for work and my kindle is my constant companion. In addition to work travel, I also use the metro for my daily commute and can usually get about 30-40 minutes of reading done in a day. So I’m always on the lookout for fun kindelicious content.

The top 100 free in the kindle store isn’t a bad place to start.. but sadly many of the books are either smutty or religious. Why? I have no idea. Either way you end up what you think is just a novel and WHAM someone is turning to God or turning into bed.

My recent purchases?

Blackjack $0.00

NYT crosswords $1.99

Unbearable Lightness $12.99

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo $5.20

How to Drink $0.00

Any other kindle lovers out there? What are your current recommendations?

Apparently I lack patience. I kinda knew this already.. but my lack of patience has now been confirmed.  I’ve always had an issue with surprises and I typically ruin them. I’m just so excited to share I can’t help myself (clearly I am four years old)!

As a kid, our presents were never under the tree till Christmas morning. Stockings remained empty, the tree skirt stayed bare. Silly me, I thought this whole time we were pretending it was because OF COURSE the presents wouldn’t show up till Santa came. Because we all know Santa doesn’t come till Christmas Eve.

(source)

At Sunday dinner I learned the true reason – my mother didn’t trust me to wait to open them. Turns out, my husband shouldn’t trust me either.  We met up with his mother and sister in New York a few weeks ago and it has been torture to not open the presents they gave us. Our apartment is on the tiny side so these presents are staring me down at all times. The only safe place to be out of the line of present sight is the bathroom.

In the future… I think Nick will have to hide them from me – perhaps at my parent’s house since I can’t handle waiting and being an adult.

Are you able to wait? Do you ruin surprises too?

I recently saw this post from GenYwealth on 20 financial milestones to reach in your 20′s and realized I only have a few years left of my 20′s. Though I’m only about halfway finished this list I GUESS at 26 that would mean I’m relatively on pace… but I feel behind anyway. I’m an overachiever. So I’m making 2011 the year of sound financial decisions.

that this was my puppy

but it isn’t. This is Darwin!

Despite winning Smartphone vs Dog… we aren’t getting smartphones or a dog! I decided on a gym membership instead (shock, horror!).

The reality is, that I travel too much for a dog, and that our apartment would be on the verge of bursting at the seams if we added a dog to our two human/two cat household.  The two cats will have to suffice and if you know anyone in DC/MD/VA who needs their dog watched.. please send them my way!

ETA: Anyone want to watch two very sweet cats the week between xmas and new years? We’re having our bathroom floor replaced and apparently this is unsafe for cats. I’ll trade you a pet sit!

Coat A from VS?

or Coat B from Ruche?

What say you?

These are boots I like… but that would probably look better on folks with longer and skinnier legs than mine.

For example, these “over the knee” boots would actually be up to the crotch boots for moi.

Or, if you have skinnier legs and would like to wear any of the below with skinny jeans – go for it!

Rebels

Penny loves Kenny traffic boot

I have a pair of brown boots that I LOVE, but am sadly missing a similar black pair. Of course, I could buy the brown pair IN black, but for some reason that seems silly. What am I looking for in a boot? I’d like them to hit around the knee, perhaps have a buckle near the ankle and have a low heel. Something I can wear with dresses, skinny jeans/leggings and under a few pairs of jeans.

These are the boots I already own:

The boots I truly covet? Frye’s Veronica Slouch – but guess who doesn’t have >$300 to spend on boots? This girl.

Blowfish Jasper (I could gray or black for this one)

Cianci at Aldo

Have you seen any boots similar to the Veronica Slouches lately?

My mom sent me an email and told me that I should add more things to my christmas wishlist. I guess clay pots, immersion blenders and a variety of cookbooks aren’t exciting. She asked me if I was sure there weren’t any bags, dresses, coats, or sweaters I wanted. Well… if I HAVE TO LOOK..okay!

Belted Cardi from Ruche

Broad Ripple Satchel (via the Look for Less)

Winter Wonderland Cardi

Meeting before dark dress

Earmuffs

What are you adding to your wishlist this year?

I’m “friends” on facebook with my alma matter and when they posted about the Dance Department’s upcoming Fall showcase, of course I “liked” it. But when I clicked through, I got a bit of a surprise!

oh hello 20 year old self! How is it going?

(Though the paper credits UMBC for the photos, I’m 99% sure that Enoch Chan took them)

Nick and I have been enjoying our temporary break from USCIS paperwork over the past 12 months (with the exception of filling out a painless change of address form). However, since I am an obsessive planner type.. I sometimes like to check in and see how everything fits together. So to date, we’ve already spent about $2,000 on immigration (USCIS fees, plus all the traveling to London and extra costs for the fiancé visa medical, etc) and we’ll have to set aside another $1270 for the next 2 years.

$590 in October for the restrictions on Nick’s conditional permanent resident card to be lifted (after you marry you are granted a 2 year card, but you have to apply 90 days prior to it’s expiration). Then $680 for Nick to apply to be a citizen in January 2013.

Then for the UK, we’ll need to set aside £750 (about $1,181 at this moment in time). The process is easier, and less expensive, if we’ve been married for four years prior to moving to England, so August 2013 will mark four years for Nick and I. Otherwise we move there and received a two year provisional stay, and pay again in two years.

I don’t even know how much it will cost me to apply for citizenship there.. because at the moment my brain is fried from immigration/ £/$/citizenship research. We will pay it though, because once we’re citizens of both countries we’ll be able to move back and forth more easily, and for myself I receive all the EU benefits (let’s move somewhere warm!).

The most bonkers part of this (to me at least) is that in 2013 I’ll be 29, and celebrating my 30th birthday in England. WHERE WILL WE HAVE BABIES ?!!?!? {cue irrational freak out}