[ a mans xmas list ]

im sure we have all seen our fair share of christmas wish lists floating around the interwebs as of late.  and im sure you have seen many gift guides or idea lists to make your shopping a little easier.  i put together a few gift guides awhile back, but thought it would be fun to ask the "men" what they are really asking santa for this year.  sure, we all think we have some kind of idea of what they might like, but you never really know until you ask.  canigetanamen?

so i asked some of my "man" friends what sort of things are on their christmas wish lists and this is what i got.  fyi, i put man in quotes because most of these guys are in the 20's and i have a hard time categorizing them as men, haha.  

"a tv and a new macbook, mine's two years old" - brian, 30, accountant

"a tattoo" - brian, 23, navy corpsman

"workout equipment" - kevin, 21, student

"a new lift for my truck" - mark, 22, sea world presentation assistant

"a new macbook" - aaron, 22, music industry

"superbowl tickets" - eric, 24, brand manage for e&j gallo wineries
"a road bike and some clothes" - kevin c., 21, student

"a nice winter coat, or watch" - brett, 23, unemployed

"a $300 watch.  nixon 40-20 chrono in silver" - jason, 28, restaurant manager
"headphones and cash" - jake, 22, student
"a car. a scion tc if you were wondering" - justin, 32, solar panel sales

"a dslr" - bryan, 23, student & vans sales associate

"a new faceplate for my car stereo & toms movember shoes; they're rad" - drew, 24, grad student
"a hard drive" - nick, 24, student
"if i played video games, i would want the new batman game. & if i read books, i would want a kindle. BUT i do neither so some new work clothes would be nice" - danny, 24, accountant
"workout shoes, or a watch, something useful" - george, 23, personal trainer
"modern warfare 3.  can't go wrong with video game" - kevin b., 21, student
"a car, but that's not going to happen, so shoes, jackets or kitchenware.  something i need" - eddie, 23, chef

so there you have it, girls.  a little insight into what the men are really hoping santa brings them this year.

a bucket list to end the year

Hey guys, happy Monday!  Can you believe September is already half-way over?  I can't.  I feel like summer just started and now it's already fall.  Don't get me wrong, fall is my favorite season and I wish it could last forever, but I just feel like this year is flying by, and that's so not okay.  I want to be able to enjoy the seasons (or what we have of them here in so cal) and really take advantage of everything they have to offer.  So here you go, my "goodbye 2011" bucket list.

1. Read at least one book each month
2. Go to the movies by myself
3. Visit San Diego once a month
4. Find something free to-do in Orange County twice a month
5. Dates with dad once a month 
6. Meet my weight loss goal
7. Get an "A" in my class
8. Purchase a new camera with the money I'm saving
9. Save 80% of every pay check
10. Go snowboarding at least once
11. Buy my grandparents Christmas gifts that are meaningful
12. Take my parents out to dinner for their birthdays
13. Plan a girls' night with old high school friends
14. Spend time with my cousin 
15. Explore a new part of Orange County once a month
16. Drive around looking at Christmas lights
17. Go to the lighting of the Christmas Tree at the Ritz Carlton
18. Watch the sunset from the pier
19. Bake something from scratch
20. Learn photoshop
21. Go wine tasting
22. Visit at least two breweries in Orange County
23. Try a new sushi roll
24. Find a second job
25. Get bangs

I'm excited to start crossing things off the list; wonder where I should start??  Have you thought about what you want to do before the end of the year?  There's only about 3 months left! 

Link up your bucket lists and let's all end the year with some fun!

Update: Summer Bucket List v.2

via

Hey hey hey!  I can't believe it's already half way through September, where has this month gone?  Although technically it is fall, the weather here is still trying to hold on to summer, death grip style.  This summer was a bit of a whirlwind for me and although it was fun, it was stressful and full of to-do lists.  Which got me thinking of my Summer Bucket List and hoping that I was able to complete most of the things I put on there.  Anything I didn't can roll-over to the fall, right?

As of August 1st, I had crossed off 11 out of 30 things on my list.  Now I'm at 20 out of 30 - not too bad for a crazy productive summer I had.  And some of the things weren't even possible, so I don't feel so bad not getting to cross them off.

Plus, I'm starting a new one for the rest of the year.  A "Goodbye 2011 Bucket List" - everything you want to accomplish before the year is over.  Wanna join?  Start thinking of your bucket list this weekend and I'll have a link up ready on Monday!!

My Summer Bucket List (as of 9/15/11)

1. Host a cocktail and hor d'oeuvres night at my apartment for my girl friends.
2. Meet up with a friend at least once a week for lunch. (reunited with old friends when I moved back home, good times)
3. Find a full time job. (6.7.11 - have 3 jobs which equals a full time job!)  (8.1.11 - no job since I moved home) (as of 8.23 i've been working full time - for target!)
4. Take a summer school class. (enrolled in classes for the fall, to me that counts!)
5. Get back into photography. (& currently saving for a new fancy cam!)
6. Go camping.
7. Go to a Padres game and buy the cheap seats & bring dinner.
8. Day trip to LA.
9. Weekend trip to Santa Barbara.
10. Find a class at the gym I love and never miss it.
11. Go for a bike ride on the beach. (my bikes gone, so walking will have to do!)
12. Clean out my room and get rid of things I don't use / need.
13. Go for a picnic in Balboa Park. (picnic @ a park back home, since I'm not in SD!)
14. Explore the San Diego neighborhoods.
15. Have a movie night full of chick flicks.
16. Learn to cook a new favorite meal.
17. Use my crock pot.
18. Buy a blender and make delicious fresh fruit smoothies.
19. Get a tan.
20. Enjoy being single & minglin'.
21. Visit at least one museum in Balboa Park.
22. See a play or musical.
23. Paint my nails every week. (painted them almost every week)
24. Visit my parents twice a month. (moved home so I see them every day!)
25. Explore a new brewery (or two). (didn't go to a new one, but went to one I hadn't been to in a long time, good enough!)
26. Go see a concert. (Doobie Brothers, Young the Giant)
27. Go to the beach and get in the water.
28. Go line dancing at Incahoots.
29. Take a trip to Laguna Beach with my mom and go to the Sawdust Festival.
30. Visit my family in Redlands and Long Beach for a weekend.


Did you cross off everything on your Summer Bucket List?
What kinds of things would you put on your Goodbye 2011 Bucket List?  
Be ready to link-up on Monday!!