Typically ever year around this time I buy myself a new winter coat.  With this year's never ending winter, I could have months of wearing it!  However, with my current "unemployed" predicament, I'll be skipping that tradition in order to keep money in the bank.  That doesn't stop me from looking though!

First is this little number from Modcloth.   An adorable website with constantly updated, well priced items.  That collar looks so cozy.  Perfect for nuzzling!

Its not secret that the Northeast is cold, and jackets with hoods are well appreciated.  Even more appreciated are the prices from Overstock and the ongoing $2.95 shipping.

Etsy is a very dangerous website.  Not only can you find amazing original items (seriously, half my Christmas shopping gets done on this site), but I can tell you (shamefully, from experience) that it is very easy to accidentally spend the entire afternoon browsing, only to look up and see its suddenly time for dinner and you're still in pajamas...oops.  But, hey, at least you got to support some independent artist-types.

And lastly, the splurge that I'd never actually be able to get, regardless of my employment status: a Lanvin Trench from Net-A-Porter.  So classy and timeless and ladylike.  I'd undoubtedly spill whatever it is I dared to hold while wearing it all over the front.  But, a girl can dream.

There's always next year.

http://myseriousbusiness.com

Egad!  NYS Unemployment and I haven't been together long, but we're already off to a shaky start.  After a bit of confusion, a sub-par website, and battling with inordinately long wait times/poorly designed phone trees (really, I had to use this website to find out how to speak with someone at this agency), I think my unemployment claim is finally straightened out.  We'll find out for sure on Friday.

I may have an unhealthy obsession with homes.  I can get lost for hours looking at real estate.  Let's check out one of my dream homes, yes?

This one is located in Buffalo on Franklin St, right near our Allentown district.  Priced at a reasonable $199,900 (Well, not reasonable for me in particular, but definitely more than reasonable for some folks),this brick carriage house of joy would be mine tomorrow if I had the chance:

The hardwood floors!  The stainless steel!  The brick! Oh, the brick!  My love and desire for this house could only be expressed in song, unfortunately the title 'Brick House' has already been taken...  I'm sure my little dream home will have no trouble finding a new owner. 

I absolutely love bookstores, and I'm lucky enough to live near one of the best in Buffalo.  So to treat myself after my interview today, I walked on down (easier said than done, the sidewalks were hit and miss as to what was cleared, so it was really more like "dash down the street avoiding cars and brown slush," but I digress..) to Talking Leaves to do some mid afternoon browsing.

I'm always in the market for a new author (suggestions always welcome) and left with a book by Tao Lin called Bed.

I've never been good at math, but I'm pretty sure that Fleece Blankets + New Books x Coffee = Improved Mood.

http://www.cyber-cinema.com/

This unemployment thing is harder than it looks.  Does my increasing self doubt poke through in my interviews?  Sure, we talked for 45 minutes but wait!  She just checked her watch!  What does that mean?  That girl in the lobby waiting to go in after me has a skirt on.  Should I nix the slacks???  Nerves running amok!  Feeling terrible. 

Luckily the internet has plenty of ways to help:

1. Who wouldn't love this surprise from friends?  So sweet and personal.
2.  It would give me a lot to do if I was to plan a party, yes?
3.  Romance doesn't have to be expensive, if its with someone you love.
4.  If all else fails, thankfully Wikihow has step by step instructions on how to cheer up.

So it turns out our blizzard ended up being 3 inches of 40lb slush and a sheet of ice placed annoyingly across sidewalks and car windshields.  This winter does seem never ending and I'm getting tired of watching my neighbors, angry, defeated, and clutching their broken shovels, slosh their way back to their homes.  I'll daydream about summer vacations in the French countryside instead.

http://www.ifood.tv

http://www.la-chouette.fr/en/

http://www.thevacationstation.com/

http://www.houseoffrance.org

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/wine/french-wines.htm

Off to spend the rest of my day imaging the scent of an entire field of lavender.

Job interview Thursday morning!  In the marketing department of a law firm located in downtown's theatre district.  To be childishly honest, I've always loved the thought of being able to take the train to work.  Pool is currently being developed to see how long it would take me to get sick of singing this song to myself while going to work every morning:

(Truthfully, the interview was supposed to be tomorrow morning, however, as the country prepares to be pummeled yet again by our friend winter, adjustments were made.)