The best thing I've bought 2013

This is our alarm clock. 
I got a whole load of business from B for buying this expensive little spotlight.
It starts a "sunrise" a half an hour before our oh-so-early wake-up time of 8:00. 
But now instead of tearing ourselves out of our warm cocoon after 5 snoozes, it's just light.  No noise, I just open my eyes to the light of day. 
 
Best. Buy. of the Year.

And since my neck smells like old people...

This is my my new perfume and the LOVELY little package they wrapped for me.  How can you not love them for putting in the pretty corresponding paper and spraying it with perfume, then closing it all up and wrapping it in a perfect bow.  You can't, I tell you.

And then the tulips were just, well it was gray outside and I was feeling particularly puffed with my new perfume.  

Anyway, I really needed a new perfume for my stinky neck. And tulips, because everyone needs tulips.

Going downstairs

 

Going downstairs after another 3 hour dinner. 

no elevator

6 floors.

So fresh and so clean, clean...

 

Laundry/Shower Room

And in Frantasyland we have super clean clothes because our "normal" wash cycle takes 83 minutes. 
And our apartments always smell fresh because we clothesline dry in our magical Room of Requirement (the 2 1/2 square ft of undedicated space in between the dresser and our bed). 

apparently my neck smells like old

I put on my scarf yesterday, and I noticed it smelled. 
I tried airing it out, and then washing it, but low and behold the source of the smell is me.

Better make use of this French perfume...

It smells like old people.
Well, apparently I smell like old people.
My neck smells like old people.
The rest of me smells like roses (not a joke, I use a rose perfumed soap)
but I am at a loss for my neck.

Sooo... watch out for my neck.

Through 4 windows: Minnesota Edition

-24°F at 8pm

All hail the Polar Vortex...and the news reporters creating dramatic names for weather

It was really fun in the beginning - the novelty of ridiculously cold weather while we staying inside and making Swedish Pancakes and playing board games.  

But then came the moment when I had no option, I had to go outside. 

I was officially in the cold for 3 minutes - the time to get out of the car, put money in a meter and cross the street.  I didn't make it across the street. 

I stepped out of the car, with coins from the car, but they were so cold the metal was "burning" my fingers.  I desperately looked around for the building on my note but couldn't see it. The the wind kicked up, blowing through my hat (I clearly forgot to SEAL it directly to my head).  And then my face and fingers started hurting so bad I thought I might cry.  CRY, I said.  It was so cold I was ready to bawl.  

So I ran in the closest door.

Not funny anymore.  

AND the trick of exploding boiling water by throwing it out into the Polar Vortex on the porch didn't work.  Thumbs down Polar Vortex.  Thumbs down to you.

Overheard

"It feels warm!" my nephew from Minnesota says.

Really?  Does it?