...I'd book a flight on the Virgin Galactic Spaceship...

Okay, so this one could possibly be a colossal joke by Sir Richard Branson. But I'm just going to go ahead and assume that it's not.

Who doesn't want to go into space? Astronauts, cosmonauts, elementary school kids, Lance Bass and that really rich old man all do. Why wouldn't I? Pretty much my theory in life is: If it's good enough for elementary school kids and Lance Bass, it's good enough for me.

In the past (and as of now) only astronauts, cosmonauts and their equivalents from other countries could venture to space (oh, and Denis Tito). But within in the next few years that will all change thanks to the man who brought us solo albums from former Spice Girls, Gerri Halliwell and Victoria Beckham. Sir Richard Branson, The Rebel Billionaire.

I'm sure you have heard of, and maybe even flown, Sir Branson's airlines: Virgin Atlantic and Virgin America. Well, now the Virgin enterprise has a new member: Virgin Galactic. Virgin Galactic is a new deal. This time around they are offering flights for the "average" person to outer space. While it is not yet up and running for public use, the spaceships are being designed, built and tested as we speak in the Mohave Desert. Which is also where the first official, public flights will depart from. There is no official deadline for launch as they are trying to ensure that the spaceships are as safe as possible.

When the Virgin Galactic fleet finally does launch it will entail a 3 day information and training period before take-off and will send passengers off into space for a short period of time. Giving them the ability to experience zero gravity, the opportunity to finally see the earth from the outside. Oh and passengers will also get humongous bragging rights after.

After reading all of the above, give me one good reason why I wouldn't want to take a trip into outer space with Virgin Galactic! Oh? I didn't give you all the information? I left out the price, that's right. Well there's a minimum deposit of $20,000.00 and then tickets cost a mere $200,000.00.

So again, I ask you: why shouldn't I book my flight to space?

And you know what? If I wasn't so poor I would book a flight on the Virgin Galactic Spaceship!

I'd be fancy and have a box spring and frame for my mattress...

The above photo is of my pretentious roommate, Julie's, new mattress set--complete with mattress, box spring and bed frame. Okay, so, granted, until last week Julie had been sleeping on an old pull-out-couch mattress for two months. Actually, that was before she slept on two Tibetan floor mats surrounded by throw pillows (but that was only for like 2 weeks--big deal).

Alright, I might be a little bitter about Julie's new bed. But that's only because after nearly 3 months I am still sleeping on a mattress on the floor. Why? Well, because, as you might have guessed--I'm poor. Fortunately, my former roommate gave me her old mattress or I'd be in real trouble deep.

Okay, so I do have money in my account to buy a box spring and bed frame, it's just that they're usually so expensive that I am not willing to spend a months rent on them. Also, I'm having a hard time finding just a box spring. Places like Mancini's Sleep World and Mattress Giant may provide free frames, but only seem to sell singular mattresses or mattress sets. Not box springs alone. And I'm definitely not going to buy a whole mattress set when I already have a perfectly adequate mattress.

I'm also incredibly lazy. I could easily go on craigslist and get a cheap used one (I'm not above putting my mattress on top of a mysterious box spring) but, like I said, I'm incredibly lazy. Even for a $15 box spring and an equally cheap basic, metal frame, I put up a fuss about going and picking them up. I'm a terrible, problematic person, I know.

What I'm really looking for is for someone to find (and pay for if each item is over 50 bucks), pick-up and deliver to me a twin box spring and frame.

So basically the title of this post should be: "I'd be fancy and have a new box spring and frame for my mattress..." Because it's pretty much just my laziness that's preventing me from being fancy and getting a box spring and frame to go with my mattress.

The photo below is of my mattress. You should also know that I do not have a dresser either...I keep my clothing on top, in and around a large suitcase. I need to get my act together.

I'd get the Neiman Marcus Cupcake Car...

Neiman Marcus

It's that time of year again. The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is out and filled with all the gifts and wonders that only Neiman Marcus could offer. Included in this big book of opportunity is a $1,795 Donna Karan dress, a $250 pair of Ralph Lauren Rain Boots, and a $12,000 Michelle Brand Sustainable Design Art Chandelier. But none of those items are what we are here to discuss. The most fantastic item available this year is the $25,000 Customized Cupcake Car.

Complete with a matching hat, these sweet (yes, that pun was intended) vehicles were designed by East Bay resident, Lisa Pongrace and her design firm Pomegrante Gardens. They debuted at Burning Man in 2004 and are now available to all via Neiman Marcus. This gift from God (and by "God" I mean "Neiman Marcus") is electrically powered and can zoom down the sidewalk at a tremendous 7mph.

Now I know, I could get a number of other cars for $25,000 or less; for example, I could get a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid for $23,650 or a 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited for $23,065--less than one of those delicious Cupcake Cars but where's the fun in those. Sure, I could take those "real" cars on the road and carry passengers and packages, but they don't come with matching hats. Their prices also don't include the opportunity to customize their exteriors as my favorite cupcake flavor.

If I wasn't so poor I wouldn't buy myself a useless car that goes over 10mph, I'd buy myself one of those yummy Cupcake Cars from Neiman Marcus.

If you're interested, call 1.877.9NM.GIFT for details!

Note: I haven't decided what flavor I'd get yet. This is an important decision, don't rush me! I'll let you know when I make my decision.

I'd buy more stuff at the Renaissance Faire...

So, several weeks ago four friends and I made a trip to the Northern California Renaissance Faire (from here on out we shall simply refer to it as "the Ren Faire,"simply because I have a hard time spelling "renaissance") in Hollister for a day of pageantry, revelry and romance. Now this was not my first venture to the Ren Faire (we're keeping the "e" at the end of "faire" to preserve the old-timey experience). When I was little my mom took me annually, but I hadn't been in quite a few years.

Because I had only been to the Ren Faire once since my time of mooching off my mom as a child, I had not realized just how costly the 1500's were. As a kid my mom had bought me a little dried flower tiara and treated herself to a couple of fancy feather hair clips (which I have since lifted from her to wear in my own hair). When I went a few years ago I had only purchased some food and a soda and my ticket was free so I was still pretty much in the dark as far as prices went.

I really should have anticipated some of the prices that I would encounter once I saw the ticket prices. Now, $25.00 for an adult ticket may not seem all that steep, but keep in mind that despite that fancy "e" at the end of it, the Ren Faire is still just a fair. Granted it does have a bunch of people dressed up in period garb, speaking in clever, Shakespearian style double-entendres, jousting, fencing and performing a variety of shows. Oh, they also have those turkey legs.

Regardless of the above (yes, even the turkey legs), the ticket price is probably a bit much for a fair, (even one with an "e" at the end) I really shouldn't have had such sticker shock.

The price gouging didn't hit me until we went into the first stand. This vendor was selling a variety of things from period accurate clothing to home and garden decorations. It was a dispute between my friends and I trying to decide if this decorative corset (on the left) on display was just that, for display or as I contended--for wearing, that brought the price tags to light. Now I never saw the actual price of that garment because I saw the price of the smaller (this one clearly for decorative purposes only) one (on the right)--$255.00. I was too scared to see the other price after that. Okay, so these are clearly works of art that deserve to have prices that reflect that. This post isn't really about disputing whether or not the items for sale deserve their prices--it's about the fact that the Ren Faire is packed with things way out of my price range, especially for a fair(e). And although I put up quite a fuss about wanting to wear the purple one, looking at the picture now, I might concede defeat by admitting that maybe, it too, is decorative--But that's not really that important.

The corsets weren't the only expensive things. I wanted to get my mom a piece of jewelery...too bad all of the decent pieces were over 50 bucks. Oh! And there were Harry Potter magic wands! But those were pretty pricey too.

Okay, so I did cave, I bought a fantastic feather hair clip for $12.00, which normally I would never do...but whatever, don't judge me. I wear it a lot.

So all-in-all we had a great time, but none of us bought much more than food and drink because everything was far too expensive. So if I wasn't so poor I'd buy more stuff from the Ren Faire...starting with that fantastic corset.

Copyright: Zoe Landis

My friends and I after our day of pageantry, revelry and romance.

Note: Corset photos, copyright: Rhiannion Barbour.