Oh someday I will have a fabulous home with fabulous French doors with my fabulous future hubby. *Sigh*

When I saw this Monogrammed Palais Plaque from Ballard Designs, voila! My vision became complete. This beautifully handcrafted wrought iron plaque would look good over any mantle or doorframe. It could even grace a barren wall.

Complete with a natural rust finish and antique gold monogram...J'aime!

It drives me up the wall that we have the camera charging on the floor in the living room, the iPhone charging on the kitchen table, my Blackberry charging on the dresser in the bedroom, the bluetooth headset charging wherever we have room, and then there are the iPods...

One thing's for certain, we're not getting rid of any of these, but it would be oh-so-nice to have them all in one spot! Pottery Barn answers my desperate call for gadget reorganization with the Bedford Smart Recharge Station. Alas, no more tangled cords and trying to figure out which charger goes with which item!

The Recharge Station comes with a six-plug powerstrip and has four holes that allow cords to come in through the back. You can order the Station in white, black, or espresso to match your kitchen, den, living room, or bedroom decor.

Okay now time to charge my CC!

If you’re not much of a cook (like me), but you don’t want to come empty-handed to the Thanksgiving dinner your friend/aunt/mom so graciously hosts this year, don’t fret.  Despite what you think, you have several non-food-related options. Here’s some great, inexpensive items you can bring to the Thanksgiving party or just give to the hostess as a “thank you” for laboring over a hot stove for more than six hours in the kitchen.

1. Just because you’re shying away from the foods, doesn’t mean you should shy away from the drinks. While you may not know your way around the kitchen, you may be quite the expert in spirits. Bevmo has a great selection of wines for any occasion. My pick for this Thanksgiving: Falesco Vitiano ’05 blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cab. It’s delicious, highly rated (89 points given by Cellar master Wilfred Wong), and ONLY $9.99!
2. Think about bringing a holiday classic movie to watch after dinner/before coffee and dessert. Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving, which you can purchase on Amazon for $14.99, is a classic both young and old can enjoy. Plus, it's just long enough for people to take a brake from eating and not fall asleep (as what tends to happen when you gorge on turkey and such). If you're looking for something more interactive, think about bringing a board game. Pictionary, Monopoly, and Clue are all great options.
3. The hostess truly gets the short end of the stick (i.e., having to wake up at 6am to get the turkey in the oven and slaving away in the kitchen most of the day). She deserves recognition and thanks on this day when we're supposed to do just that. One gift that any hostess would love and that's appropriate for the season is the Slatkin & Co. Leaves box-filled candle. This elegant candle, designed by Harry Slatkin, has the most incredible aroma of cinnamon, red berry, and apple cider; and at $16.50 it's a bargain. You can find a nice selection of Slatkin candles at your local Bath and Body Works.