I usually never do this, but I am actually counting down the hours until I get to go home. It's drizzly here in Boston today and I am beyond sleepy.

My big weekend plans? Bake, bake, bake (I'm thinking bread, bagels and cookies for gifts), watching The Tudors: Season 1 and folding laundry.

I know we have to go to the post office tomorrow, but other than night I am so looking forward to sitting at home and chilling out with Nathan. He had a business trip this week, I had a huge event at work that I was working early and late for and it'll be so nice to sit, relax and smell baking bread.

Only an hour and a half to go.

I really love my teeny tiny apartment. I do wish I had a larger kitchen and maybe a guest room, but it really is a perfect size for Nathan and I.

Here are some of Barbara Kingsolver's thoughts on small houses that she expressed during Duke's commencement one year:

"The rule of 'success' has traditionally meant having boatloads of money. But we are not really supposed to put it in a boat. A house would (be) the customary thing. Ideally it should be large, with a lot of bathrooms … but no more than four people. If two friends come over during approved visiting hours, the two children have to leave. The bathroom-to-resident ratio should at all times remain greater than one. I'm not making this up; I'm just observing, it's more or less my profession. … Rethink the big, lonely house as a metaphor for success. You are in a perfect position to do that. You've probably spent very little of your recent life in a freestanding unit with a bathroom-to-resident ratio of greater than one. … As you leave here, remember what you loved most in this place. … The way you lived, in close and continuous contact. This is an ancient human social construct that once was common in this land. We called it a community."

This year for Christmas, I'd like some fabric. That's right--fabric. I'd also love more pieces in my china pattern and my Arthur Court pattern, but mostly fabric.

Why?

Well, I'm at a point in my life where if I want some shoes I'll buy them. If I want a sweater I'll buy it. Granted, I will most likely buy it on ebay and will certainly never pay retail, but I'll get it, you know? I don't have to wait for things as gifts.

What was so great about my birthday this year is that I received things I didn't really ask for. My parents got me a gorgeous photo album in my Arthur Court pattern. Bro and Sis-in-Law took me out for a fabulous dinner (and bought me a cute tshirt!) and my Absolute BFF flew up to spend a few days with me. My birthday was experiential and it was fantastic.

The one thing I seem to be incapable of buying for myself is nice crafting supplies. I bought some nice yarn last month to make some winter necessities with. I was proud. Still, I can't bring myself to buy papers or fabrics that I really want. So, this year for Christmas, I'd like fabric. Or gift certificates for nice fabric stores so that I can buy some Sis Boom and Amy Butler fabrics. I miss sewing and I would like to make another quilt. I miss crafty Rachel Ann. Let's bring her back, shall we?

So, parents and Sis-in-Law, take this as my official gift post. I also welcome donations to Heifer Project International, recipe cards from Monogram Chick, and ebay/PayPal gift certificates so I can buy things like:

Arthur Court Trays
Arthur Court Chip and Dip Platters
Kate Spade Teapot
Kate Spade serving bowl
Kate Spade sugar bowl (I have the creamer and could really use the sugar!)
Kate Spade ornaments that match my pattern

Most of all though, I want to spend time with y'all. I miss everyone in NC a lot. I haven't seen my parents since June. It's been almost 6 months! I'm dying, y'all. I can obviously never get enough of those baby girls and I'm pretty much counting down the days until we get to eat tofu burritos with Princess and EC. The gift ideas are only if you want to give me something besides yourselves. I'm going to honest and say that if I've ever said "all I want for Christmas is to be with the people I love" that I was lying. Not that I would've been mad if that's all I received, but I still really wanted some things in all the previous years. I'm actually telling the truth this year. I just want to be with the people I love. I would live a great life without any more Kate Spade china, but I'm not sure how I'd fare without my family.

This sounds so fun!

AGH is hosting a recipe swap. If you sign up, you'll be responsible for sending out your favorite recipe one week. All of the other weeks, you'll receive another blogger's favorite recipe. So great! Head over to her blog and check it out!

I'm so excited to see the recipe cards everyone uses!

I had quite the excellent birthday this weekend. It was super low-key and fun and relaxing.

We scrubbed the apartment this weekend to help clear my mind. I ran errands on Saturday and we took a walk through one of my favorite neighborhoods with some holiday beverages to celebrate the day. It was absurdly beautiful on Saturday. That evening we had dinner with the local family at Antico Forno in the North End and it was delicious. I had a dish of fusilli with squash, eggplant, zucchini, roasted tomato sauce, goat cheese and basil. Mmmm....

Then we headed back to our place for Cheesecake Factory pumpkin cheesecake leftovers from my office birthday party on Friday. Our neighbors were less than pleased with the continuation of our party. Mr. Heckles beat on his ceiling (our floor) to get us to quiet down. Granted, our apartment was a lot noisier on Saturday night with the addition of two wide-open little girls, but it was 8:00 on a Saturday night! Give me a break, Mr. Heckles. It wasn't even late yet!

Yesterday we did typical Sunday stuff and I started a new knitting project, finished a book and spent most of the day with a cat in my lap.

My present my Nathan should be delivered today, so I can at least extend my birthday at least one more day!

Whenever I read about the tackiness of Hollywood movie stars, I always wonder what their parents are thinking when they hear about these shenanigans.

Whenever I read about the Olsen twins, I imagine Bob Saget as their disappointed father.

Am I the only one?

Confession time:

I love alone time. Love it, love it, love it. I love sleeping with the cat or reading or knitting or sipping tea and watching Friends alone. I love shopping alone (especially early mornings in the grocery store or at bookstores). I can spend lots of time by myself and can do most things alone (even go to the movies!).

I cannot, however, clean alone.

I really don't need anyone to help me clean, but rather I need someone to sit and talk to me while I clean. Occasionally, I can get away with watching Friends or The Office while I clean (other shows just don't work), but I usually need to have someone to be there. I've been this way since I was a little girl--I used to beg my parents to sit on my bed and talk to me while I cleaned my room. When I used to clean my room in my college apartment, I would keep the doors open and talk to my roommates. Now, I'm always trying to get Nathan to follow my around and talk to me.

The point of this? Nathan's been working some late nights this week and I've been all alone. This means I haven't been cleaning. My house is a wreck. I begged him this morning to please come home tonight so that our apartment can be sparkling before my birthday.

Are you a grown-up with everything you ever dreamed of when all you want for your birthday is a clean house and dinner with your family? This will be my first birthday ever without my parents and I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't bummed out. They are flying up for Thanksgiving, but it's not quite the same, is it? Still, I'm having dinner with my local family members on Saturday and, hopefully, my house will be clean by then!