Being from Boston, I miss the snow. I don’t miss the cold much, but the snow? Oh yes. It just doesn’t feel like winter to me until that first blanket of soft, quiet powder falls.

It doesn’t snow very often or very much in Seattle, but last night we got nearly 3 inches (by my estimation). I was excited to spend the day at home with Gavin. We went outside and together made his very first snow man:

To the surprise of exactly no one, Gavin named our snow man “Thomas.”

Okay, time for an embarrassing confession: I have had the same cheap wallet since I was in eighth grade. (I’m now in my mid-twenties, so hopefully that will give you a sense of how disgusting said wallet is.)

A few weeks ago, I finally decided that it was time to splurge on a new wallet. As impressive as I’m sure my clients find my financial responsibility, something about me pulling out a tattered, canvas wallet with dangling zipper enclosures during business lunches just doesn’t instill the confidence and professionalism they’re after.

Luckily, I found a shop in Seattle that makes handmade, custom wallets. The shop is called Laura Bee Designs and they take orders both in person and online. And they’re cheap, too! I ordered a full-size, custom wallet for $26. The quality is decent, not amazing, but the styles are really cute. They also make handbags, too - depending on how my wallet wears, I may be going back there a lot!

Holy hotness, Batman. My favorite boys of summer are back and they’re better than ever. Of course, I am talking about the U.S. Men’s Olympic Swim Team. Phelps, Lochte, Peirsol. It seems like there is no end to the flowing stream of sheer gorgeousness that happily graces my television, newspaper, and computer each day.

I adored this cadre of cuteness during the 2004 Summer Games and was thrilled to realize that the 2008 Beijing Olympics would bring with it at least one very, very good thing: swimmers in speedos.

I’ve been watching the swimming competition intently these past two days, which has left my ex flabbergasted. “I thought you weren’t interested in the Olympics,” he said. “And I never realized you liked swimming so much!”

Really, with the fine exhibits below, how can you not be interested? I wish technology made it possible to reach through the screen and actually touch what you were looking at.