To hell with “cheap and cheerful”. Pretty much anything I want for Christmas costs minimum $1,500, up to $1.99 million. Here’s my list, Santa, I have been a very very good girl:
- Awesome latte maker. I am a total latte addict, and at present my addiction is costing $4 a day from Shot’s Cafe in Lenox. They make the best in town, and they are super nice, and they get my “no foam” request just right. I appreciate that. However, $4 a day equals $1,460 a year, so it would be a good investment (<– ridiculous statement) to have my own machine. I need to do more research, though, to ensure I get the best. Argh. 5 years ago it was looking for tile and faucets and steel countertop edging. Now, it’s: Who makes the best home latte maker? I am willing to pay, to a point. Above: Andreja Expresso Maker, made in Italy since 1945, may be a candidate. $1,695, from Sweet Maria’s.
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- iPad — I’ll take the 64GB iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G, please. I don’t really know what 3G is, but I know it’s awesome and I want it. I need to be connected to the matrix at every possible waking moment. Yes, I do. $829 from Apple, 3G service sold separately.
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- A complete new wardrobe, I think that $15,000 might be enough. As I have mentioned before, my style is “Escape-from-New-York-meets-yoga-chick”… which my husband also refers to as “bag lady.” I don’t have any desire to change that style. But maybe if I upgraded my designers (nix: Goodwill mash up), that might help elevate the overall effect. My teenage fashionista daughter turned me onto Free People — that’s their all-cotton duster at the right. If they would like to become the official fashion sponsor of the blog and start supplying me with all my clothing, that would be just fine. Link: Free People.
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- Aforementioned teenage daughter now has her driver’s permit. Talk about experiencing true horror: The baby now piloting two tons of steel while struggling to resist the ever-constant vibrating of her goddamn cell phone I am going to take an ice pick to it I swear. Years ago, I promised her that if she stayed in band, she would get a car. So come spring we need a third. She will get the Escape. I want a Fiesta. The lime green looks dandy. $13,320 base MSRP but I’m sure I’ll take it loaded.
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- Three years ago we took a Christmas vacation in Sanibel, Florida. It has phenomenal beaches — there is something about the current that pushes white sand right up to the shore. It is insanely expensive to live there, and in my fantasy “where should be buy” research, I have decided on Gulfside Place. Very retro looking. The condo above sold for something like $1.99 million. 3 bedrooms, direct wrap-around views to the gulf. I have been watching this complex for about 2 years now, and every once in a rare while, a time capsule unit comes up. I want one of those, please. I get Eric Pfeiffer’s newsletter, he sold this Gulfside Place condo.
Karen says
All I want for Christmas is the “Pasadena” doorlite kit from Crestview Doors. And I KNOW I’m getting it because I ordered it myself on Wed. when they offered an additional 50% off clearance items. Yay!
Maureen says
I had to double check to make sure I was on the correct blog!
As for the latte, I would also check out the Miele coffee machine. Apparently it does everything but bark when your coffee is perfect.
denised says
LOL … very much enjoyed this post and I hope all your dreams come true and those wonderful presents are under the tree, or outside the house!
I’m still entranced by the latte you whipped up for me…or maybe it was the company…wink wink
I’d like a pair of arch support slippers…do they exist and have any femininity to them, too? my Stegmann wool clogs are falling apart…and not very feminine. Oh, and a 401a Singer Slant-O-Matic please.
If you haven’t yet, check out Alabama Chanin’s shop…’Free People’ – like clothing with some decorative detail. I like a lot of what they offer.
Hey, now that you’re a stitching wizard, you could whip up some AC style yourself (they do have patterns)
pam kueber says
the Mr. Coffee cappuccino/latte maker finally died, Denise. and I am told from reading the web copy from all the high falutin’ $1,500 machines that such machines made strong coffee – not expresso. ooops, i guess we were duped. 🙂 come again to visit and i’ll take you to shots — oh my, that really truly is bliss! there is a difference, and alas, now i know it.
denised says
It’s a date!
let’s make a plan….well, one that we’ll stick to! LOL
St. Louis shelly says
Pam,
As a long time espresso maker, you want to spend the money on the coffee grinder, not the machine. I use a low end Gaggia because they are easy to fix and since I don’t have the money I use a burr hand grinder. Keeps my arms in good shape;)
And since you make lattes, don’t rule out a Moka pot. They call them stove top espresso makers. It doesn’t make a true espresso but does make a good cup, especially for lattes. Depending on what size you get you’d only be out about $30.
YouTube has lots of demos.
pam kueber says
Thanks for the tip, St. Louis Shelly. I haven’t had more time to do research but in my initial flurry, I was reading that indeed, the grinder matters…. Thanks!