Christmas Gift Guide for Your Best Girlfriend

Back with a gift guide for your seriously fabulous best girlfriend!

Sisters - Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen, White Christmas

Before I get into the details of the gift guide, I would just like to say I'm excited to be back! There's been a few changes: new look, new official name, new social media icons, an organized blog roll, and new resolve!

And now, gift ideas to go with that adorable Papyrus Two Cats with Face Masks card best given to your best girlfriend!

Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah!

Happy Holidays - Bing Crosby (Beef Wellington Remix)

What a December it has been! I just finished my last project yesterday (phew!) and did my last minute Christmas shopping today and now we are busy prepping our house for a big Christmas Eve celebration. It's going to be so delicious! Turkey, stuffing, salmon wellington, winter veggies, brussel sprouts with chestnuts and bacon, carrot cake... there's still more!

Wishing all a very wonderful holiday season!

After Christmas I'll be back with delectable tales of dinner, snowy alpine skiing adventures and theatrical experiences of White Christmas in Vancouver! Cheers! Salut!

Jam Jar Snow Globes

Ella Fitzgerald - Frosty the Snowman

Just one more exam to go! I'm looking forward to a more relaxing holiday. Speaking of the holiday, I saw a lovely snow globe in Anthropologie while I was Christmas shopping: the Mason Jar Snow Globe. It's adorable and looks like a fun d.i.y. project. All you need is a jam jar, some fake snow or glitter, and a mini tree (I've seen these things at craft stores) and you've got yourself a unique snow globe! Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

Hello, hello! Felicidades!

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Thank you for following or visiting my blog! I enjoy reading all your comments and visiting your blogs as well. Here is my very humble little gift to you: Bing Crosby singing White Christmas will be a perfect topper to all the festivities and Christmas merry-making.

Have a happy Christmas!

~Ana Patrícia

Gift Guide for the Boys

I met my favourite hockey player today! He is a Swedish player that became one of the greatest Vancouver Canucks in team history and had his jersey number retired. The mayor of Vancouver even named Dec. 11, "Markus Naslund Day" and he was kind enough to chat and sign a jersey that I bought for my dad as a 50th birthday present. That got me thinking and I decided to brainstorm some good gift ideas (other than sports jerseys) for the boys in our lives: fathers, brothers, significant others... I hope these help!

For the golfer: GolfTool from Victorinox Swiss ArmyFor the athlete: Alex 32 oz. water bottle with Clean Seam TechnologyFor the entertainer: A vintage cocktail bookFor his feet: H by Hudson Angus Tan Washed Lace Up Boot from Urban OutfittersFor the city boy: Navy Bicycles Skinny Tie from Thomas PinkFor the country cowboy: Calgary Stampede limited ed. belt buckleFor the photographer: Roberu Compact Camera StrapFor the artist/writer: Moleskine notebooksFor the musician: Vinyl Music from Urban OutfittersFor the traveller: Kikkerland Travel Luggage Scale

Cashmere Hand Warmers

Okay, now that it is officially November (I know, only day two, but still), I can talk about gift ideas without sounding overeager for Christmas! It's good to get the shopping done early though, right?!

These cashmere hand warmers from Restoration Hardware would be a nice and toasty gift to keep all ten digits comfy and warm! Wrapped in ultra soft cable knit cashmere, they would be nice to have around when the snow starts falling.Honestly, I don't know how practical they are but they are incredibly cute and luxurious and, I think, a lovely gift. Don't you think?

Candied Apples and Nutcrackers and Songs! Oh My!

With Christmas coming up so fast and cousins in town and last minute Christmas gift shopping to be done, its been extremely busy to say the least. In fact I think I'm to allot myself a mini bloggy vacation for the next two days. I'm sure I wont be missed what with all the fantastic Christmas festivities you must be partaking in!
But here are some fantastic things that would be great to do or eat during this holiday:

What better way to enjoy an evening this Christmas than by watching the Nutcracker Ballet?Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory anyone? I couldn't resist taking photographs of their mouthwatering Candied Apples while walking along the beautiful Robson Street!
Go Christmas caroling!!! Here's a good plan for a night of singing.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Snow Flakes and Fuzz

The season's first little snow flakes fell today. It was lovely! I love this kind of weather! But it would have been nice to have one of these on my head! Hats not your cup of tea? I wouldn't mind having a pair of these for my ears either...Christmas gift ideas? I think so! Go on and click on the pictures to find out more about these furry accessories!

Too Marvelous for Words!

Hello Christmas Vacation. How I've missed you! I've looked forward to this evening for quite some time, enduring long nights of typing pages and pages about theses I never really understood clearly and hours of trying to absorb details I have already let slip away! But oh!! Christmas Vacation! You are just much too marvelous for words! I think I'm going to curl up on the couch with some tea and let Frankie tell you how wonderful you are...

Sinterklaas and Ginger Snaps!

So it is December 6th and it is the feast of St. Nicholas. This reminds me of when I was in grade three. One of my best friends was Dutch and in Holland, Sinterklaas was a very important fellow. His feast day has become a very important Dutch tradition and young and old alike celebrate by making gifts and writing teasing poems and hiding them for the recipients to find. It is also a day for eating traditional Dutch goodies!

In grade three we celebrated at school and I remember finding ginger snaps in my shoes and around the class room. So celebrate the day of Sinterklaas! Sing some Dutch rhymes about the bishop and do-gooder with the long white beard and eat some of these ginger snaps! Just click on the picture of the one you like best to find out where these delectable snaps are! Curious about ol' St. Nick? Go ahead! Click on his picture.

Pretty Greeting Cards

I am loving this winter weather! Cold and sunny with the possibility of snow feels like the perfect way to welcome the Christmas cheer. And with Christmas coming, it's to be expected that gifts will be given, carols will be sung, and cards will be written! Check out these cards made and designed by Jackie Bassett available at her Etsy shop Studio Flower Power.

Stockings!

 Yes. Right now I am very much in the Christmas mood! Have a fireplace? Have Christmas stockings? Here's is an easy and stylish new way to hang them!

You can even get them engraved. Brilliant.

*sniff sniff*

Another rainy West Coast day and I love it! I love the cold. With cold weather comes the wonderful fall fashions: boots, scarves, jackets-- three of my favorite fashion accessories! Well...not just boots: shoes in general. Today I wore my wonderfully hand-made riding boots and was complimented on them in one of my favorite stores. Oh yes! I cant forget that with the cold autumn weather comes some of the greatest holidays: Thanksgiving, Halloween, Remembrance Day, and, the greatest one of all, Christmas!

Back to that favorite store: Pottery Barn

As I was browsing through the store, feeling quite pleased and stylish after the compliments on my boots, I found candles and scented oil that smelt like the holidays. My nose couldn't get enough!