Growing up, for every occasion I thought that I should be receiving a gift, I would make a detailed list and distribute it accordingly. This habit started when I was really little and noticed that the Toys’R’Us catalog was included in the Sunday paper. As my parents would read the paper I would scour the catalog, circle everything I wanted, write a summary list and even include tax at the bottom to calculate a grand total of the items I was expecting! Then when the internet age rolled in and online shopping was introduced I would make Santa a word document with links to the exact items I wanted from sites all over the internet to make Santa’s job a little easier. I was always disappointed when I received something that wasn’t on the list or not to the exact specifications that I outlined. I mean I went through all the trouble to tell you exactly what I wanted, how hard is it to comply? My poor mom.

When I started dating Luke I attempted to employ the same process and he was not having it. My thought process was that if I outlined exactly what I want and he stuck to the outline, then we avoid me being disappointed. He, however, is the king of surprises whether you want them or not. He didn’t have many serious relationships before me so it was like he had 10 years of surprises built up just for me and it really stressed me out! But he loved it. I would send him links to things I liked and 100% of the time I would not receive them. One day I asked him why he never got me anything I actually wanted and he replied, “You do realize I am never going to get you something you tell me you want, I’m going to find something you never realized you wanted until I give it to you!” I was blown away, this entire time I had been sabotaging myself…and I also found it kind of romantic that he put that much thought into anything. In the end, though, I took his response as a challenge and have been playing mind ninja ever since to plant ideas in his head and make them think they are his own so that I still get what I want. That my friends is the key to marriage!

So it pains me to put a list out there of things I want for my birthday because I know Luke will read this and then I won’t get anything on the list…or will I?

1: Tom Ford Sunglasses: I’m turning 30, so I think it’s about time I get a little Tom Ford in my life. I’ve been dying for a pair of his sunglasses for quite some time now but haven’t been able to pull the trigger.

4: Urban Outfitters Vanity: I have the perfect space in our master bedroom for this vanity. Our furniture is white and I was thinking I would have to go white for a vanity but I am loving this goldish-bronzy color and am thinking I might need to find a bedside table in the same finish for the hubby boo’s side of the bed.

3 Madewell Slides: It’s about that time folks. The time where I cannot bend over to secure any straps on sandals and my feet are getting squishy. I need a pair of slides that I can wear to work and slip on without the assistance of the husband. I’d like these in black!

2: Kate Spade Tote: This is perfect for summer! It has pool / beach / outside all day written all over it and I think I could carry one of the twins around in there if I had to.

**see what I did there with the numbering? Actually, I just couldn’t copy / paste into the correct order without losing the hyperlink (you know in case someone actually followed my direct links to things I want).

The good news is that there’s still a month and a day left until my birthday so there is plenty of time for you to buy me something and plenty of time for me to mind ninja Luke!