I've discovered that the Miracle BraÆ is not in fact a juice-filled contraption that makes your chest look all weird and pillowy. It is the Body by Victoria demi shaping bra, which is really all you could ever ask for in a bra: sleek, vaguely sexy and super comfortable. But then realizing how NOT comfortable most bras are only made me sad. You know what I want back? All the days I've ever spent in discomfort due to ill-fitting and/or poorly-made bras and shoes. All the hours spent tugging and shifting, all the time wasted on thoughts about my blistered, bleeding feet, the concentration lost, the adventures missed. If I added it all up, I bet it would be a year at least. I'd like a year of lounging around in my pajamas and slippers, please.

Scientists Make Phone That Turns Into a Sunflower

Every year for the past three years I have taken part in a holiday craft swap through Glitter. I've gotten some cute things in the past, notably a fluffy maroon scarf and some interesting teas. But this year, my Secret Snowflake (whose identity remains concealed until January) sent me some of the most beautiful gifts I have ever received. My favorites are pictured below. I feel so special!

Green glass bead necklace.

Handmade notebook covered in interesting papers.

My very favorite: stained glass square.

The lovely Meg invited me over to her house today for some holiday baking and I had a great time, even while we were madly scanning the grocery store aisles in search of egg white powder, which we never found. (Perhaps we will both die as a result of eating royal icing made with raw egg whites. But I doubt it.) Our favorite man was one that Meg cut out and smooshed slightly, so it baked into the shape of a chubby boy playing soccer. So cute!

We used this recipe and we both highly recommend making the cookies as thick as possible because they get all cakey and yummy.

Email from my architecture professor:

Anjali,

Victor

He has over a million frequent flyer miles because he travels a lot doing consulting work, so he offers a free roundtrip ticket every semester to the person with the highest grade in the class. When he told us that on the first day of class, I thought to myself: that ticket is mine.

And now it is! Where should I go?

I have been living, breathing and dreaming of crafts for the past week. Last night was the first time I didn't have to stay up until midnight, eyes burning, hunched over my self-healing cutting mat, breathing in Mod Podge fumes. I was looking forward to the break. But strangely, while I was watching the first season of Curb Your Enthusiasm on DVD, my hands felt empty and useless and I immediately had to start a new knitting project (turquoise alpaca/wool wristwarmers!). I am a sad case.

Once the holidays have passed and everyone has received their gifts, I will post some pictures of my tiny triumphs. (Above is the card I made for my Secret Snowflake. You can just make out the purse I knitted for her in the background.)