Christmas is only 15 days away! I can't believe it and I'm not prepared at all. I've started baking, but I am definitely behind schedule and this whole real life/working full time thing is cramping my style. Whereas in the past I have had four to six weeks of free time to do nothing but bake and think of great gift ideas, now I'm lucky if I have four or six hours a week!

Another problem this year is that I am lacking gift giving inspiration. I just can't seem to think of any good gift ideas for my friends and family. But in the meantime, I've found plenty of stuff that I would like! Typical, of course. Here's a look at some of the things I'm longing for this Christmas season:

A Perpetual Produce Calendar ($26) - A reusable letterpress calendar that lets you know what fruits and veggies are in season for eating and planing. Even better, the calendars are are tailored to specific regions of the US.


A Chemex Brewer ($40) and coffee from Intelligentsia or Metropolis (my two favorite Chicago roasters) to enjoy on a lazy Saturday morning while reading...

the New York Times (digital or home delivery subscriptions), so I can stay up to date on the latest news (and do the crosswords).

A good book. Maybe Diane Keaton's new memoir ($14) or Portraits of a Marriage by Sandor Marai ($15)


Brightly colored leather and brass bracelets ($42 each). They're simple and go with everything. Why not?

And now that I've exhausted my list, it's time to get serious about finding great gifts for all of the wonderful people in my life. I hope you're having better luck than I am!