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!

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!

Portobello Road, London

I've never been to London. Actually I've never even been to England! I have been to Scotland once. Anyways, if I was making the trip, I'd visit Portobello Road, the world's largest antiques market: vintage silverware, books, old cameras, decorative tassels, the old printing shop, walls of vintage sewing machines, fine china, silverware... it seems like a fun, eclectic and definitely colourful place to visit...Remember this? I loved watching Bedknobs and Broomsticks!

Photo sources (aside from a Google image search): Decorati Access, Oleg Skrinda, and Souvlaki for the Soul.

Summer Wedding: Carolina y Fabrizio

Happy Tuesday! It's been insanely busy (I seem to say that a lot lately) on my end. Basically, I work on the computer all day, commute home, dance classes, family (so many in town this summer), sleep.
Two weeks ago, I attended a small but very beautiful wedding. The bride made her own gown! Enjoy these photos and I promise I'll be back tomorrow!Such a beautiful bride!
Yes. She made that dress! And the whole wedding was planned in about two months!
Los queremos Caro y Fabri!

Pictures courtesy of Fiorella Pinillos Baffigo y Zaira Petruf

French Cooking: Making Macarons

Coeur de Pirate - Berceuse

Okay, who doesn't love these fabulous French treats? Macarons are not only tasty, but they must be the daintiest, prettiest petite pastries ever! My aunt from Paris just arrived, bringing me a lovely cloth book bag, and now I'm on a Paris kick. If you are in the Toronto area, there will be a great "How to Make Macarons" class hosted by the lovely lady behind eat.live.travel.write. this coming September. She has a great post on her adventures of making these finicky pastries, complete with fabulous pictures. She shares some useful tips and techniques to making the perfect macaron and the places where she learned to make macarons in Paris!Her first class is on September 30th at La Dolci in Toronto. How I wish I could go! She's also hosting a giveaway, the prize being a free spot in her class! Check it out!

All pictures from eat.live.travel.write.

Dirty Deeds Handmade Soaps

Ahhh! I finished writing one of my papers and it feels great! I had to do some Etsy browsing after and found a shop all about handmade soaps: Dirty Deeds Soaps (that name is so funny). I love browsing these kinds of shops and always want to try things!

I love the look of handmade soap. What a variety!Not that I need a man's shaving kit but I love it! This would make such a great gift!

Handmade soaps and shaving sets for wedding party favours! Not a bad idea...

Loofah soaps for polished skin...

What classy soap dishes! They know more French than I do!

Baby Chic

Some close friends of ours are awaiting the arrival of Cameron Lucas. This little boy isn't even born and he has a nicer room than I do! Dark, rich wood furniture, pale blue walls, a soft furry carpet, a closet full of the most adorable clothes, and Sophie the Giraffe!A very cute and apparently classy French baby toy especially good for teething babies. Sophie the Giraffe is a handmade, natural rubber teether that squeaks and has been keeping babies happy since 1961! Not a bad gift idea? I'm pretty sure this is his classy crib from Jack and Lola in North Vancouver.We can't wait to meet you baby boy!

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

Baby Decor

Hello! It's been a little busy the past few days. I finished my paper on time and celebrated with a full day of skiing and a trip to Vancouver's German Christmas Market in downtown. I have pictures to share as soon as I get the camera batteries all charged up. Today I'm off to a baby shower and I found a super cute and quaint accessory for a baby boy's room! Made with sustainably harvested beechwood, this wooden Ursa Minor Bear from Areaware would look adorable on top of a shelf or dresser! And when you reach the checkout, part of the cost goes to a charity or foundation of your choosing! What a great idea, right?! Here are a few others I thought were cute from Econscious Market.
Ursa the Bear (a little bigger than Ursa Minor)Hanno the Gorilla Jr.

Birds and Umbrellas

It was snowing a lot this morning. I loved it, even if my drive to school was extra slow. When I got there I realized that I didn't have an umbrella. This clear one from Vancouver's The Cross Decor and Design would have been perfect! Aren't the birds sweet? It would make a lovely gift idea.

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?

Ribbons

My dear friend in Portugal and the fashionista behind the blog, Fleur-De-Lis,
I saw these ribbons in the store the other day and I couldn't resist taking photographs. It reminded me of you!I couldn't take just one photo. Here are some of the other ribbons over at The Cross Decor and Design. I know: day two of blogging about the same place but these are just so pretty and colourful! :P Look closely... Any I love Lucy fans? I love this Fred and Ethel wedding ribbon. I have no idea if that is an I love Lucy reference (although I really think it is) or if it's accurate but what a great idea for a wedding!

Green Cuffs and Rings

Two more days till show time! Lots of last minute rehearsing now.
So, with this oily disaster down south in the Gulf of Mexico in mind, I found some really pretty pieces of jewelry at the Econscious Market that can help the wildlife while making you sparkle! Right now, 100% of the proceeds of these four Alkemie pieces will be donated to the International Bird Rescue Research Centre.