The present I gave and those I received

You might think I gave my better half a so-called *boomerang* present, but it was  a cooking tool he has wanted since our trip to Morocco in 2005: a red flame tagine to prepare meat and veggies stews in the Moroccan manner.

Can you detect a theme here? I got two very funny cat books to add to my collection of illustrated fairy tales.

The two books could not be more different: T.S. Eliot's rhymed stories are narrative poetry and accompanied by old fashioned illustrations; Simon's Cat's black and white illustrations without caption are modern and minimal story-telling which relies on your interpretation - and that's the fun. And yet they both chronicle similar behaviours and habits of the most interesting creatures on earth.

Late Shopping Ideas :: Le Beret

Order and customise your beret at Gina Foster Milliner. My favourite: the oversized beret with flower on the second row.

Late Shopping Ideas: the ubiquitous head band

I really thought head bands were one of my momentary fixations but  they still excite me big time, being it glamorous and sophisticated like Jennifer Behr's or whimsical and sassy as ban.do's. 

 Ban.do Heart Collection, Sequin Starfish $35, Giant Sequin Heart $35, Giant Bow $50

This model exudes an instant feel-good factor. I saw her in a post by La Chica del Solitario and couldn't stop staring at her. She played a kind of spell on me.

Late Shopping Ideas :: Trunki for Globetrotting Toddlers

I presented my friend's baby with one of these Trunkies. I see them in airports  all the time and thought it would be perfect for baby Adriano, an almost one year old baby born in the UK from Italian and Brazilian parents. He is bound to be a travelling trotter, and I really hope he and his mother will make good use of this multi-use trolley which also serves as a tricycle and chair.

Last Minute Shopping Ideas :: Scotch and Soda Pull

Scotch and Soda Pull, now discounted at 39 Euro (plus delivery and taxes)

Last Minute Gift Idea :: Panda Beanie

This fair trade Panda Beanie by deLux is made in Nepal with NZ 100% wool.

Last minute gift ideas :: LOMOs {from £35}

The countdown to Xmas is on: -7. Yesterday it was my niece's 6th birthday, and today my younger cousin turned 19. Two Christmas angels!

Because I am pretty sure that my older niece {who is only 7} won't be browsing my blog, I feel free to post the present we bought her: a Lomo camera. I would be so excited to be getting one and I hope she will equally appreciate this gift, aimed at stimulating her creativity, sense of space, visual sense. I have explained in another post how Lomos are all about framing the subject creatively and let the camera surprise you. The real surprise for her will indeed be the unexpected end-result: 

 

Photo found here

Ice Skating at Xmas Time

The other day I went ice skating in Somerset House. It is such a great setting with such a great company {my colleagues and friends} that I can forgive the over-price, over-crowd and rigid time slot. I will have one more opportunity to polish my skating skills in January when we will go skating again for Amanda's birthday/Befana Day {Epiphany}. This time in Canary Wharf, amongst the skyscrapers.

Somerset House ice Rink 

 

Canary Wharf Ice Rink

Gift Ideas :: For Her {£30 or less}

Marc Jacobs Lola Solid Perfume Ring, £27

 Dyptyque Solid Perfum, £30, as seen on Dallo Spazio

Primrose Hill X-mas Brunch

More Unconventional X-mas Trees

As seen on Design Tag and Mimi & Meg

Gift Ideas :: For Girls {under £20... or £65 : P}

American Apparel EARMUFFS & Fox Chantelle Earmuffs

Gift Ideas :: For Him {under £25}

Christy's Western Shape Trilby

Gift Ideas :: GIFT TAGS

I don't see very much the point of sending Xmas cards on their own, especially with an empty content. A card should be sent with a meaningful message or to accompany a gift. In Liberty I found retro safari-inspired gift tags which make an eco alternative to the booklet format cards - unless of course you have a lot to say or write. Their design sets me in the mood for old-fashioned travel.

Cavallini & Co. San Francisco

Unconventional X-mas Tree

We have decided to be eco and not have a X-mas tree this year. The truth is our tiny house will be full with my parents arriving in a few days time and in 15 days we will be in the Austrian alps sliding down the slopes. We have Xmas lights perennally on and might buy one of these unconventional trees, or even make one DIY.

Muji & Jansen+co

X-mas Outfit Ideas :: Matching Clothes

All Saints Wool Dress and Jumper

 Lazy Oaf X-mas Sweaters

My husband can't stand matching clothes. I would never dress twins in matching clothes as it would be an offence to their identity, but I love the idea of dressing in matching clothes with your partner for fun.

Coraline Goes Partying

Instead of pulling off a glamorous party frock, this year I decided to go to my company's Xmas party dressed as Coraline Jones, i.e. in yellow wellies and a blue wig. It was a way to make  up for the missed Halloween extravaganza.

And here with my button-eyed black cat and a pair of bold spectacles borrowed by Superman. 

It was a fun party, by the way. And my friends were super-cute.