It's that time of year again!  The most wonderful time of the year (cue the music).  I have been a busy bee: advent calendar making, christmas card addressing, tree trimming and even present wrapping!  I've also had visions of gifts dancing in my head.  So without further ado, my gift guide for Christmas 2014.

I am so smitten with these whimsical bottle-brush trees in unexpected colours.....plunk them on a mantle or side table and the living room will instantly feel more festive.

The Gap has hit a home run with this colourful wool fair isle sweater.  You can even get scarves, toques and slippers to match!

Cast from delicate hydrangea blooms, this necklace is a bit of a splurge at $350 but would liven up any outfit for years to come.

Madewell makes the most luscious leather bags for reasonable prices.  This tote would make a great everyday carry-all.  Add a monogram to personalize it.

Ringing in at only $26 (plus shipping) these earrings from Etsy seller, Jenny & Jude, would suit just about anybody!

This serene print by Kara Rosenlund is available in two sizes.  Hang the large one across from your bed for an instant ocean view every morning.

You can never have too many scarves.  This one, from another Etsy seller, is hand block printed on cotton using natural dyes. 

Another splurge at $575 this gold handwoven wall hanging is stunning and would add interest and movement to any space.

Technically this cloth bin is meant for toys in a kid's room but I would fill it with goodies for those hosting Christmas dinner.

And for wrapping all those presents a very sturdy pair of gold handled scissors would be much appreciated.

Happiest of holidays to you and yours!

After visiting friends in Fernwood today we stopped at The Local General Store on Haultain Street.  In addition to buying the best strawberries I've ever had, I picked up the Lolita tin cup in cream and blue made by a company called Nkuku. This enamelware is lined in stainless steel and is food safe.  The designs are hand painted by artisans in Kashmir.  I hope to add more pieces from this collection to my cupboard!

I am especially enamored with the tiffin box!  Handy and gorgeous.

I also purchased a reusable fabric snack bag made by Colibri that will be perfect for lunches.

I recently returned from a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate my friend's 50th birthday.  While there we were lucky enough to get an appointment to view the 'Akhob' exhibit at the Louis Vuitton store in the Crystals mall.  This is an amazing installation by James Turrell, an artist known for his work with light and its interaction with space. Entering Akhob, one experiences the Ganzfeld effect ("a mild form of sensory deprivation, it is caused by exposure to an unstructured, uniform stimulus - in this case, a field of colored light").   The light changes in color, slowly, and the full experience lasts about 24 minutes.  It was beautiful and very moving.

Another highlight of the trip was a visit to Thomas Keller's restaurant, Bouchon.  Thomas Keller is a renowned chef, restaurateur and cookbook author known for his landmark Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry.  Bouchon Bistro is located in The Venetian and is beautifully decorated. I especially loved the patterned tile on the floor....it was the only thing I took a picture of all night! 

Below is a sample from the menu (which is printed on kraft paper and folded into a square at each place setting):

*Steak Frites

pan-seared 9 oz. flat iron, caramelized shallots & maître d’hôtel butter, served with French fries $37.00

*Steak Bouchon

grilled 9oz. eye of the rib & sauce béarnaise, served with French fries $59.00

Poulet Rôti

roasted chicken with braised kale, Tokyo turnips & natural chicken jus $29.75

*Gigot d’Agneau

roasted leg of lamb with flageolet beans, garlic confît & thyme-scented lamb jus $35.00

Boudin Blanc

white sausage with potato purée & dried French plums $27.50

*Loup de Mer en Barigoule

pan-seared sea bass with globe artichokes, sweet carrots, pearl onions & barigoule emulsion $36.00

*Truite Amandine

sautéed Idaho rainbow trout with haricots verts, toasted almonds & beurre noisette $28.00

Moules au Safran

Maine bouchot mussels steamed with white wine, Dijon mustard & saffron, served with French fries $28.50

Gnocchi à la Parisienne

sautéed gnocchi with a fricassée of garden vegetables $26.75

*Croque Madame

grilled ham & cheese sandwich on brioche with a fried egg & sauce Mornay, served with French fries $18.95

Bouchon also has several bakeries in The Venetian with yummy looking treats!

Here's a litte roundup of my favourites for Valentine's Day this year....

A neon pink tassel necklace from Nest Pretty Things Shop on Etsy.

These beauties.

 Gorgeous print  with a lovely sentiment.

Heart bowls from West Elm.

A subtle scent wrapped in divine packaging.

Rifle Paper Co notebooks paired with heart pencils.

Emily Mcdowell's perfect card.

A little bit of bubbly in a Kate Spade wine tote.

A hand painted rock would also be a lovely gift for your sweetheart!

Happy love day.

I have long been an admirer of picture book maker, Oliver Jeffers.  I first discovered him when Emma was about three and we were browsing through Bolen Books and happened upon 'The Incredible Book Eating Boy.'  I was immediately captivated by the amazing artwork.  Oliver Jeffers has written many books for children but is also an accomplished painter.  

I love his series of dipped paintings, especially the one with my favourite aqua blue colour.

His disaster paintings are also a favourite of mine.

And Dictators with hair!

More of my favourites from his website....

I heart Oliver Jeffers.

xoxo

Yesterday I bought new Christmas paper from Rifle Paper Co.  I have mentioned this company on my blog before but felt they deserved a full post.  Anna Bond is the talented founder and designer behind the Rifle brand. Most of the designs are hand painted and hand lettered by her.  

The holiday paper I bought...

I covet this recipe box even though I rarely cook :).

Gorgeous pocket notebooks.

Prints to pretty up the walls.

And iphone cases.

Lovely!  I'll take one of each please.

Halloween is right around the corner and I am desperately trying to find a costume!  My first thought was to put temporary tattoos all over my arms and neck and go as a sideshow freak, the tattooed lady.  I was browsing online to try and find temporary tattoos and came across a company called Tattly.  They make designy temporary tattoos that are more original than the ones you see in the drugstore.  Many illustrators that I admire (Marc Johns, Oliver Jeffers, Julia Rothman and Fiona Richards) even do drawings for Tattly that are then turned into tattoos! Very cool.  

Atelier Banquet also makes some designy temporary tattoos that I recently purchased.

Alas, my dream of becoming the tattooed lady has been kiboshed by my hubby.  He thinks it would be gross and silly to attempt this endeavor.  Plus buying a whole kit from Tattly would cost over $250!  But look at the results....

Amazing, right?!