JB gave me an adorable little Canon ELPH camera for Christmas, which was something I’d been wanting for a while. It’s not exactly in the same ballpark as my D70 in terms of picture quality but it has the highly redeeming feature of being small and light and easy to keep in my purse. Plus, it captures movies, which I feel is a handy function to have at the ready, because what if I had one of those alien-abduction experiences and there was no way to accurately document the process of being anally probed? I’d just be another questionable source raving about little green men, instead of a credible journalist sporting irrefutable proof, including length AND girth of the probing materials. Maybe they use special rods, maybe they use giant Oh Boy! Oberto Sausage Sticks — really, there’s no way to know by photos alone, you really want video for this sort of in-depth information.

Anyway, while I remain vigilant for any close encounters, it’s been nice to be able to grab an image or two of whatever we’re out doing. Like dorking around at the library:

librarymedylan.jpg

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Watching the kids riding the various coin-operated vehicles at the mall:

dylanrileytrain_mall.jpg

dylanrileycar_mall.jpg

dylanrileycopter_mall.jpg

Whiling away time as I wait in the car with the kids:

mirrorpictruckdylan.jpg

And driving by a couple of Seattle’s more colorful businesses:

eroticbakerysign.jpg

highmaintenancesign.jpg

Really, I kind of love this camera. It’s a nice way to detach from my normal fiddly process of trying for the Best Picture Possible and just aiming and hitting the button to create a memory. Very cool present, and one that’s going to get used a lot this year.

Tell me, what was one of your favorite holiday gifts?

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samantha jo campen
15 years ago

While I covet a Nikon D-anything, I do love our Elf for all the reasons you mentioned. Plus you’re more discreet in places like the library for photo ops. Glad you’re having fun with it!

One of my favorite gifts this year was a sizeable Visa gift card. I got a lot of great stuff from Amazon and J. Crew and while I had big plans for the remainder of the balance, we needed new brakes and put the rest towards that. Not fun or sexy but I’m still very greatful.

Chiara
15 years ago

Awwwwwww, the Erotic Bakery! Good times, girl, good times.

(MAN that was a long time ago. Sigh.)

Connie
Connie
15 years ago

Okay– is it me or is Dylan the “woo hoo, let’s have a good time” kid while Riley is the “oh man– that looks weird, don’t touch” kid.

The Gori Wife
15 years ago

No favorite holiday gift to share – I’m just here to drool enviously at your new camera. I have a stupid Kodak in-betweener. Not small enough to be handy and not nice enough to take good pictures. Just right to suck in every way possible. I’m checking out the Elph, stat!

kirida
15 years ago

Oh the erotic bakery. Where else can I get a layered wang cake in the middle of the week? Or wind-up monkeys that wank it?

And my favorite xmas present was a gift certificate to Habitude in Ballard, my favorite spa (probably because it’s the only one I’ve ever been to).

Heather C
Heather C
15 years ago

My favourite thing so far is the Wii. We spent the day at a friend’s place, and we brought the Wii with us and hooked it up to his 65-inch flat screen plasma TV. We played bowling and Star Wars, and just about everyone there was keen to take a turn. It was so much fun.

Also, my brother bought us Lightsabres that fit the Wii remote, and there is nothing so fun as kicking Jedi ass with your own red Lightsabre.

OmegaMom
15 years ago

My fave was the bright red lip-shaped beanbag chair for my office from my dotter.

Can I just say I want to be a “High Maintenance Bitch”? And what, pray tell, does HMB sell?

OmegaMom
15 years ago

Oh, yeah, and I totally agree with Connie: Dylan looks like he’s have a total ball.

honeybecke
honeybecke
15 years ago

I love my ipod touch. It was a big surprise, I didn’t think I’d actually GET one since my husband and I are going Hawaii in 3 days(sans kids!)to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.
So, I’ve been geeking out with it and feeling very much the same as I did when I was seven and got my first honking huge walkman.

I also love my small purse camera. My husband does not like how much hard drive space I burn through because of it though.

Georgia
15 years ago

I got a tiny little camera, too! It was a gift from my New Boyfriend, and I dropped it and broke it not one hour after he gave it to me. I rock. He also got me a George Foreman grill which I have been using frequently. That thing is awesome.

Cali911Gal
Cali911Gal
15 years ago

Me too me too on the pocket-purse camera. Instead of toting the D80 everywhere, I got a Coolpix S550.

jonniker
15 years ago

My baby girl got an entire WARDROBE of pink, which was cute and fun.

But really, I’m mostly here to ask: are you lining your upper eyelid? I’ve always wondered, as it looks great, and I like the effect on you (and use it myself), but are you using a liquid, cream or what? It’s subtle, but effective, and the one I’m using (Clinique cream eyeliner) is great, but tough to just breeze on. It’s a PROCESS, and for a quick line-job, it gets tiring every day.

Twenty Four At Heart
15 years ago

Briefcase got me an Elph a year ago and I LOVE it … because I always have it with me. I have a top of the line Canon but I don’t always want to carry it around. The elph is just so damn convenient!

Stacy
15 years ago

Ditto. I got the same camera. LOVE IT!

Cara
15 years ago

Funny, my favorite present was money that’s going towards buying myself a digital SLR! I already have a little point and shoot although it’s not as tiny as an elph, it’ll do. Now I just get to start researching which DSLR to get!

Michelle
15 years ago

Beautiful shots as always…

Catherine
Catherine
15 years ago

I got a Harvey’s Seatbelt bag, which is awesome because a) I have been coveting them online for over a year now and b) the bag that I bought on sale at a Coach outlet weighs a ton (empty) and I was sad about what to do instead. Mostly I was surprised though, as it turns out my husband has very good taste in handbags.

I love the purse sized camera, that’s what keeps me from having a DSLR. It hadn’t really occurred to me that I could have *both*

Elizabeth
15 years ago

My favorite gift was a new pair of earrings that my husband got me. He also got me a necklace from moppetsclosets on etsy – very similar to the one you linked on SundryBuzz. Her work is awesome!

I saw your tweet about Flotsam. My third graders LOVE it! Check out Tuesday which is also wordless by the same author.

biscuit
biscuit
15 years ago

My favorite gift is the one I have yet to receive, it’s back ordered:

50mm f 1.8 lens for my Nikon D80.

The things I’m gonna do with that baby, rawr.

Of the gifts that came on time, I’d have to say it’s a tie between my 1 1/2 karat diamond earrings and my North Face coat.

HEY I WAS GOOD THIS YEAR! ;)

Blythe
15 years ago

Apparently I was naughty this year because all I got was a lousy egg timer. Seriously. But tis better to give than receive, right? I keep telling myself that.

I did buy myself a new purse cam on Black Friday, so I’m my own Santa Claus. :)

Jacqueline
15 years ago

I got the Oregon 300 GPSr. Paperless geocaching has never been more fun!

Ms. Hodge
15 years ago

Heh. I love that Dylan’s hands are a constant motion blur.

My favorite gift has to be the fabulous pair of F-Me Pumps that my gay friend bought me (no doubt in an attempt to get me laid so I stop whining to him). They’re red and peep toe and amazing.

Meg
Meg
15 years ago

GAH I’ve always wanted an Elph for the very reasons you describe!!! So jealous. Also, I love Riley’s eyes and Dylan’s SMILE, holy cow. Such awesomely cute boys. And you parents are pretty smokin’ hot, so no wonder the kids are beautiful. I’ll stop now, I was just like, wow, what a pretty family!

Anyway! We aimed for no gifts this year, but some people still snuck in a few. I love my new Wii Fit. It’s actually super fun, and I hope to play it a lot and get better at all the games and challenges!

Kathy
15 years ago

I’m new to your blog and I have to say that you are the coolest blogger I’ve come across in ages!

My favorite gift this Christmas is a sweater from my mom–totally not something I’d have purchased for myself, but it’s a flattering fit, cozy, and I even like the pattern! (It could use some pockets, though…)

Carol
15 years ago

Too funny — I have written posts on both the Erotic Bakery (http://northwestladybug.blogspot.com/2008/06/unique-seattle-scavenger-hunt.html) and High Maintenance Bitch… where I met John Curly(http://northwestladybug.blogspot.com/2007/03/john-curley-n-me.html).

Do you live in Wallingford?

Carol

JMH
JMH
15 years ago

My favorite gift was my Wii Fit. I LOVE it. And since it weighs you when you step on it, hopefully it will keep me accountable with my wight loss / fitness goals. I plan to use it with the 30 Day Shred in January to kick off the new year!

Abby
15 years ago

My fave is an official NFL Player bobblehead of Peyton Manning. The floor in my cubicle shakes whenever someone walks by, and I foresee hours of amusement watching Peyton either nod in approval or shake his head in disgust each time someone happens by.

Karen
15 years ago

My favorite gift is a rayon apron with penguins on it that my son got at the dollar store. It’s my favorite because my boy picked it himself.

Jenny
Jenny
15 years ago

Best present: a new vacuum. My mom got me the Dyson DC25, and it’s basically the shit. I vacuumed with our old Hoover, then used the Dyson. It was appalling (and thrilling!) how much crap the Dyson got that the Hoover’d left behind.

warcrygirl
15 years ago

My best present this year would have to be the Seasons 1-4 box set of House. I’ve got a Kodak EasyShare and while it won’t fit into my back pocket it does allow me to document the idiots in the school parking lot without getting my ass kicked.

ashley
15 years ago

I got a cake from the Erotic Bakery once and let’s just say I was shocked when I opened it. It was so very, very, very dirty. Dirty. Porn cake.

My favorite gift was a doohickey that allows me to listen to my iPod via my car speakers. My car is a 2000 and I don’t believe iPods were even invented back then, but hey, it is paid for.

Hillary
15 years ago

The husband and I got ourselves a Macbook, and I love love love it. Also, he had a four-pack of my favorite potato chips shipped from my hometown, the only place you can get them. I’ve convinced myself that if I eat them quickly, the calories don’t count. Num, num, num.

StyckyWycket
15 years ago

My favorite gift this year was my State Quarters display frame – I’m such a nerd.

Also, my pocket camera is a Nikon Coolpix, which would be awesome if I wasn’t losing it all over the house all the time.

Sarah
15 years ago

Ooh, a purse camera was on my list! I think my favorite present might be from my mom – she got us a roomba! We just finished putting in wood laminate flooring and the visible cat fur and dog hair and grass (dog door) was driving us mad. Now we just turn on the roomba as we leave for work, it’s docked when we get home and the floor is clean! Now I just have to hope the dog doesn’t decide to kill it someday.

Michelle
Michelle
15 years ago

While opposite of your fav gift, mine was the Canon XSi I bought myself for Christmas. So much exploring left to do with it, but such great pics as a result. Love it.

Eric's Mommy
Eric's Mommy
15 years ago

I got a gun case and a TomTom from my parents.

Our big gift to ourselves is going to be a new TV and entertainment center, which we will probably get next week.

I wish we had an erotic bakery out my way!

Chris
15 years ago

My bestest best present was my shredder. Hands down the best gift I’ve ever gotten.

Bye bye tons of useless mail and sensitive documents!

Sarah
15 years ago

I got slippers!! Yeah, not a high-maintenance chick gift…but we agreed to keep it small this year…and my feets are ALWAYS cold. I LOVE when I get new slippers *lol* So I was very happy.

Lori O
15 years ago

Funny, I could’ve written nearly the exact opposite post. I’ve had a little digital point-and-shoot for awhile now, and finally got the digital SLR I’ve been wanting for Christmas! As soon as I get photos downloaded and edited, I’ll be posting my new, higher quality attempts at the best pictures ever! But I totally agree, having both kinds is the best scenario!

Meagan
15 years ago

The photo of half your face kind of freaked me out… I’ve seen enough photos of you to know I don’t look anything like you, but when I saw that one, for a split second, I thought it was me!

Sleepyita
15 years ago

I also got an ELPH camera – pretty cool and my husband bought it because it would fit in my teeny purse. Smart man that guy.

My favorite most used thing so far is a North Face Apex jacket from my brother in law and the Rowenta Iron from my Husband (I asked for it – he isn’t being a dink). My Mom bought me a new iPod Touch that I love – but with two kids in tow I just don’t have a lot of time to use it.

mixette
mixette
15 years ago

I got an elph (sd750) after my dog chewed up my previous point-n-shoot. Love the movie function too, but as far as I can tell there is no way to *download* them off the camera. So a Flip is now on my wish list…

My favorite gift was a bag full of soft, washed cotton t-shirt rags from my mom. Seriously!

LooLooM
LooLooM
15 years ago

My favorite gift has been my Garmin Forerunner 305. It tracks my mileage, calories, heartrate, altitude and more while I’m running. It is my new piece of motivation on a day like today – rainy cold weather.

Moose
15 years ago

Gift card to the fancy yoga place. Hello, clean floors and cute instructors!

That video function would be handy for some of the more colorful San Francisco establishments. Like the strip club that blasts Beethoven’s ninth onto Market St. Yeah, I don’t understand it either. I imagine a stripper rendition of The Clockwork Orange. I just gave myself a very unfortunate mental picture, so I’m shutting up now.

Happy New Year!

Annie
Annie
15 years ago

Erotic Bakery huh? Do they sell erotic goods *ie: giant vibrating penis shaped cakes* or do they just bake eroticly *ie: in leather with bitches and whatnot*
Wonderful…

My fav gift this year was a big ass wooden playset for the kids. AND… it actually has been assembled. I really expected it to sit in a big moldy pile in the backyard until Spring. A Christmas Miracle Fo’ Sho!

Jamie
15 years ago

In yet another disturbing piece of evidence that I am OFFICIALLY getting old, I received a KitchenAid 9-cup Food Processor from my boyfriend. And I was thrilled. REALLY! I’ve used it three times since then.

Where did my youth go?

Operation Pink Herring
15 years ago

I adore my D80, but it certainly didn’t replace our little point and shoot. You can’t lug an SLR around 24/7! Hooray for your new camera.

veralynn
15 years ago

My guy bought me a gorgeous set of black pearls and matching studs. Soooo beautiful and they have so many tones in them they look great with brown, too. He even managed to avoid making dirty pearl necklace jokes in front of my parents, for extra bonus points.

Kath
15 years ago

I think my favourite holiday gift has to be the vintage red pyrex fridge box which I spotted in an antique store this summer and regretted not buying. Obviously Santa listens very well!

Ilana
15 years ago

Favorite gift would have to be sesame street sing along (no. not for me. though kind of.). It pulls us away from the Bambi movies for at least a few more weeks. How many times can a woman be expected to watch that doe die?