Cobbling Wish List

Ok team. I'm obsessed. With pretty much every shoe I stumble across.

Having brought a very limited selection of apparel, foot and body, with me on this trip to California has instilled me with a, likely false, sense of need. So many outfits I have would be so much better if I only had a classic black pump. Or better yet, a chunky black motorcycle boot. Or a pair of Clark's Desert Boots to make every casual, lying around outfit a bit more edgy. Or nude flats, to elongate my legs! And so the list goes on.

So here I have for you a display of my absolute wet dream footwear.

To begin with, in my most lofty of dreams, the perfect black pump:

Christian Louboutin | Bianca 140 mm | $795 USD

Spot the red sole? Be still my heart. My dream in life is to own a pair of Christian Louboutin heels. Another dream pair, should Holts be out of Louboutins?

Sergio Rossi | Black Leather Colby Platform Pump |  $630 USD

I actually own a pair of Sergio Rossi shoes, a most generous gift from my Dad, and they are the most amazing, comfortable heels in the world. They give my Stuart Weitzman Alex wedges and run for their money (pun totally intended). But seeing as both pumps come in at more than a month's worth of rent, I think they will stay put in my faraway fantasies. For now.

Alternatively, you may recall that I have been thirsting for some kickass chunky boots. I had in mind originally, and more reasonably, some Doc Martens. Either;

Dr. Marten's | 1460 Women's | $120 USD

 Or

Dr. Marten's | Blake | $125 USD

But then I wandered into the completely newfound (for me, anyhow) AllSaints store in Santa Monica and began an [unrequited?] love affair with these badboys;

AllSaints | Damisi Boot |  $315 USD

I fondled them lovingly for a while, and toyed with the idea of trying them on, but in a true test of will power, walked away (I was alone, and had no parental authority to tell me no, which could lead to a dangerous family quarrel when I walked in with secret new, sexy boots...)

Others on the wish list? Well ever since I read on Lucy Lacht's blog that nude ballet flats are a staple for any girl who can't walk around in heels all day but wants to make her legs look longer, I have been keeping my eye out for some. Sitting right next to my adored Sam Edelman Lorissa pumps, were the Ionias;
 

Sam Edelman | Ionia | $110 USD

 I actually had these on my foot and everything, but it was my mum who had grabbed them to try on (we just, luckily, have the same shoe size) but they didn't fit her as well as they fit me, but I didn't have the heart to go in and snag them from her. I tried to sell the "matching mother daughter shoes!" angle again (which worked magnificently with the Weitzman espadrills) but it was for naught.

The most likely shoe on my horizon though? Once I let slip to my dad that I had been looking for Clark's Desert Boots, he has made it his mission to make sure they are mine. He has a somewhat similar attitude towards Berkinstocks, which I revealed I would be interested in acquiring, particularly after the tragic desintigration of my favourite thick leather Fry sandals. Any footwear he can sympathize with he seems to think must be necessary. Which is why, last week, my mum, dad and I all walked out of the Sperry store with our own pair of topsiders!

cute, right?

Adieu, Santa Monica

So I am back in the Palm Dessert. Sigh. My parents are excited - "It's much more laid back and casual here!" "...and easier to drive!" - but I'm forlorn: I think I could live quite happily in [parts] of L.A.. I can't imagine I would be able to ever afford to live in Santa Monica or Venice, but a girl can dream. And dream I will.

But, for now, reality. I promised you gazpatcho and gazpatcho I shall deliver.

I stumbled across the recipe on Pink Parsley, a favourite blog of the PBRunner, and, with the help of my uncle and my mother's amazing Vitamix blender (but, as she would say, you can't describe it as a blender - it's a class of its own. Seriously, if I kept the thing running longer, it would cook the gazpatcho into tomato soup...).

The recipe was followed exactly, save the addition of cilantro, which my uncle insisted upon.

 So after letting it sit for a day - to better let the flavours mingle - we had it for lunch with some beautiful sandwiches.

And, lovely as this soup may look, it was fated for the garbarator. The red onion I had used, which I vaguely recall my mother exclaiming upon purchase "God that's a big red onion - you probably don't want to use all of that..." was overpowering. And red onion is a taste I have very gradually warmed up to, so having strong and acidic red onion flavour dominating was truly disappointing. Hopefully Chopper didn't make my mistake...
 
On a more inquisitive and excitingly sartorial note, I'd love some feedback for a look I rocked my last night out in L.A., to the very posh Boa Steakhouse on the Santa Monica waterfront.

Jean Jacket Colin's | Top Free People | Skort Free People | Purse George Gina & Lucy | Belt Wilfred

 The top and shorts were L.A. acquisitions, and when we bought them, my mum assured the girl at the register "Don't worry, she's not going to wear them together." Oh - but she did. Not my dream way of rocking the skort - I am thinking some bad ass boots or rock-n-roll heels, like these from Sam Edelman (drooldrooldrool), plus a white sleeveless dress shirt in a drapey, transparent fabric, with either a leather vest or a structured overlong blazer. That said, is this really too much animal print?? How would you rock those shorts, and should I be afraid to show my face at boa on our return trip next week?

Let us not say good bye, but, as the French have it, Adieu, Santa Monica

Crossing the Picket Line

There is some weird, unspoken rule in the world of blogging that no one blogs on Saturday. I was left out on the meeting where everyone who blogs was corralled and told that no one, under punishment of death (read: total internet anonymity), is to blog on Saturdays. So I'm going to do it.

Blogging isn't work - it's respite from work! This nonwork-ethic is probably evident in the haphazard nature of most of my posts (exception being my recent, painstakingly composed post on Dirty Dancing). Apologies - the more I inundate myself into the world of blogging the more lovingly do I plan to craft my posts. But, furthermore, Saturdays are probably full of bustling excitement for most people who blog themselves: you lucky ducks - I have no such bustle.

This is not to say that I haven't had a lovely Saturday. I have. Complete with productive errands, yoga, froyo and another 2 hour chat with Papa B. Today is the first hint of summer in Montreal. I had been thirsting for spring, but my shoes-without-socks blisters and slightly pink decolletage tell me that it has come and gone and summer is, instead, on my doorstep. Sweet. Spring is overrated anyways - we only like it so much because it isn't winter, that frigid bitch. So here are some of my favourite summer things of the moment:

My new orange manicure. I have really decided to invest the time (and this time, the money) into making my tips look tops, and taking the opportunity to play around with some fun colours. My darling Yule and I did mani pedis yesterday after brunch, during which we contemplated potential colours:
"I have no idea what I want!" - Yule
"Me neither - I want something new..." me
"Yeah. Me too. Just nothing orange though..."

c'est inspiration!

 Also holding a special place in my heart are all the adorable flats which I have been coveting for seasons. I remember last spring, lusting vocally, but fruitlessly, over a pair of grey oxfords while I was on vacation in Turkey with my parents ("Oh mom! LOOK at those shoes! Oh they are just so precious. Think of those with shorts, or a little skirt, or jeans, knee high socks - they are just so perfect!"    "You're not getting anymore damn shoes." sigh)

I am a footwearphile, it's true. But my closet haphazardly strewn apartment floor boasts very few cute summer flats. Sandals, sure. Even a couple of pairs of espadrille wedges and some varyingly well maintained sneakers from my days of Puma and Lacoste obsession (thank God I never parted with those babies after two seasons of highschool neglect!). But slip ons? I have an adorable pair of patent yellow Arnold Churgins, but I can only wear them so many days in a row before the absence of any give in the patent plastic inflicts truly ruinous injury to my toes.

Long story short, I felt completely and totally justified in purchasing the following two pairs yesterday.  Maribou moccasins and (my first ever!) Ked's saddle shoes.

Clarks Women Desert Boots Oakwood | $119.99CAD

 In my shoe future? Fingers crossed for a pair of cute suede ankle booties: either these Clark's or the Dolce Vita Scholin ($110CAD) would be right up my alley - adorable with my hot pink J Crew shorts!

I'm also desperately thirsting for these topsiders. Blue, grey and pink dock shoes? This is the love child of my hightop obsession and my desire for
adorable slip ons. I even have a coupon for 40$ off at the store which brought these darlings to my attention.

Seriously. You may need to get me to a self help group of some sort: my dad was talking to me about an article he read about how to be a millionaire when you retire, and about how much easier it was if you started when you were in your 20s, and all I could think was "but there are too many cute things to spend money on!"

Sorry Dad.


Also on the docket for summer is copious amounts of Yeh frozen yogourt (a serve yourself frozen yogourt sundae bar. Four minutes from my house. So. Dangerous) and patio sangria. Maybe some colour blocking.

Online Overload

An ironic title? I mean, there have been no posts! What the fuck, right?

My apologies. As they so often are, my energies have been divided. I have been exploring other internet exploits.

Namely, the hilarious, if not alarming, world of plentyoffish.com.

I admit it to you, because you must know all.

It was a move motivated more by curiosity more than anything else. What can I say – those “meet sexy singles NOW!” ads that have been popping up alongside my illicit Law & Order episodes finally piqued my interest. And I know people who have used the site, so I figured I would see what it was all about.

This was something which I clearly did not think through in any sort of detail, of course. Do I want to ever actually meet up with strangers from the internet? Absolutely not. Do I even really want to talk to people from the internet who are going to hit on me without knowing me? That one turns out to be especially disheartening.  I had someone message me saying "You seem like a smart, funny girl, who shares my values." His values? "only interested in white women who only date white men. Those are just my values." Nice of you to use a display picture without your white hood in it - it really wouldn't show off those pretty blue eyes to your best advantage, I guess.

Ugh.

It is a sort of creepy world (read: my first contact was with a 44-year-old management professor, who I hope to God I never meet), one which I am not the least bit suited for. Because, despite what you may know about me, I try to be a nice person. Or, perhaps the more significant factor here is, I was never hit on a lot growing up. I only had two boyfriends in high school, and not a whole lot in between. I have never known how to handle myself under male attention. Especially unwanted attention. Usually, in bars, for instance, I just ignore people. But, on pletnyoffish, I mean, that’s the point, right? So how do you tell someone that they sound nice and all, but you really don’t want to meet lonely 30-year-old gingers in the real world?

But it does provide a nice ego boost. It’s horrible. I simultaneously feel awesome, receiving all these messages from strangers saying how awesome I seem (my word portrait was exquisite, to be fair) and yet so intensely superficial: “Ha, what were you thinking, 40-year-old finance guy?” “No picture? NO WAY!” “Come on, be serious now my unibrowed friend.” Yes, my inner dialogue is that inauthentic at times. But only when the internet is making me into a bad person.

I am going to have to part ways with it immediately.  Sorry world of internet dating – I am truly not ready for you.

Joe Jeans | Cigarette Cut | Lauren Wash | $174.00 CAD

On the less free and self-confidence boosting side of things, I did make my first ever internet clothing purchase! This world is probably more dangerous in the, my parents are going to get a 350.00$ bill for jeans I never tried on, but it feels all so much more satisfying. I am excited. Two pairs of Joe Jeans, cigarette cut, in both the Lauren and Tessa washes. Expensive? Yes. Worth it to avoid the excruciating experience of jean shopping? God I hope so. 

These babies are internet strangers I cannot wait to welcome into my home.

Maybe a real shopping trip soon though...

The 11th Day, so Let's Lie Low; a Movie Perhaps?

Ok - I had a really hard time shopping for my brother this year. I stressed and stressed over it. My parents literally bought him everything on his list (yes - my mother still asks for Christmas lists), and their budget is larger than mine.

After stressing over what to buy a 21-year-old boy who likes nothing more than a cold beer, it dawned on me - the perfect cop-out gift! No, not a gift certificate to the liquor store - though I did seriously consider it (and am kind of regretting not grabbing one as a stocking stuffer).

Who does not appreciate having their movie collection improved? 

And I have great taste in movies.

A couple of DVDs can cost you just over 20$, as much as a nice bottle of wine, but with much more longevity. I personally pride myself on my movie collection, so I appreciate almost all additions to my movie collection.

Almost all. Here are my guidelines for buying movies as gifts:
          Unless the gift receiver has indicated a deep personal love of such movies, avoid cartoons and claymation. These movies usually reflect a childhood memory which the person whom you're giving the movie to may not share. Don't give someone Bambi if you don't know if a) they've seen it and b) loved it enough to watch again. And let's be real, Bambi isn't one of those movies.
          The AFI Top 100 and Oscar Aware Nominees are safe bets. Not everyone shares the Academy's taste, certainly, but they are "important" movies, so no one will really begrudge owning Taxi or Schindler's List. What kind of person is going to say "oh...award winning films aren't really my thing..."? They may think it - but they wont say it.
          Avoid recent releases unless you're quite sure it is something the gift recipient will appreciate. This is all about judgement; for instance, while I loved The Kids are Alright, I opted not to get it for my younger brother.
          Don't give movies you haven't seen. The nice thing about receiving a movie as a gift is that you can assume the giver thought about you and your tastes and carefully chose a film they thought or knew you would enjoy. So if you give someone a movie you've never seen, it kind of indicates that you don't give a shit.
          I do not give chick flicks. This is just a personal thing. I like to give movies that I think are enduring, and chick flicks just really are not. Classics may be the exception -  Pretty Woman and Ghost, for instance (both of which happen to be Oscar nominated, with Whoopi winning Best Supporting Actress!).

I will grant that there are people who don't love movies. My parents, for instance. I gave my dad 12 Angry Men last Christmas, had to bully he and my mum into watching it, and found it had been put in my room for me to take back to school with me afterwards. This is why my dad will be receiving a bottle of wine.

On the 9th and 10th days of Christmas, may I recommend to you some fabulous baked goods?

Alright - I quite obviously did not budget my time well and have managed to run low on days of Christmas. I'll work on that in the New Year. This feels especially shameful in light of my morning, spent baking and watching Julie & Julia. Even it made fun of the narcissism of blogging.

However, I think that, as of late, I have been conflating narcissism and materialism. I am both, no doubt, but they should remain distinct. This is why I will share with you two of my favourite Christmas recipes, which my mum and I always distribute as gifts. Inexpensive and delicious!

Bacon Cheddar Cheese Muffins
Ok - I realize that many people will shudder at the idea of bacon in a muffin. Muffins are supposed to be sweet and delicious. Well that is just ridiculous. These savoury and fattening delicious muffins are truly irresistable. They are also rather labour intensive, which is why my mum only makes them once a year. But they are a Black family tradition and my mum has perfected this recipe over the years.

Ingredients

2 cups of flour

1 tablespoon of sugar

1 tablespoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of shredded orange cheddar

1 cup of shredded white cheddar

1 cup of cubed orange cheddar

1/2 cup of cubed white cheddar

18 thick slices of bacon

1 egg

1 cup of milk

1/4 cup of bacon drippings/oil

Directions

1. Dice your bacon while raw, cutting into approximately .5 centimetre pieces and cook carefully. You want the bacon to be cooked through, but remain soft since it is going to go into the oven to bake. Cook for approximately 10 minutes over medium heat. You may want to separate this into a couple rounds of frying to make sure each piece gets properly cooked. 

2. When you're done cooking your bacon, save the drippings! It is a great and flavourful substitute for oil!

3. Grate and cube your cheeses. This could take a while. My mum and I like to do these steps the night before.

4. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. 

5. Mix together your dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking powder and salt, in case you forgot. Then add your cheese and bacon. Stir in well. Then add your oil, milk and beaten egg. My mum adds the beaten egg to the milk beforehand, and keeps both at room temperature - the oil needs to be liquid but not so hot as to cook the egg! A careful balance.

6. Distribute into muffin tins, filling so that they are just level (theoretically - the dough is quite thick, so there should be chunks and peaks and such - character!) 

7. Cook for 20-25 minutes.

8. Devour.

Sydney's Own Neiman Marcus Cookies

So you have probably heard the urban legend about the $250.00 Nieman Marcus cookie recipe. If not, the gist is that a woman asked to purchase the cookie recipe from the Nieman Marcus cafe, and the waitress told her she was authorized to sell the recipe for "two fifty," and the woman signed her bill without realizing the cost was two hundred and fifty dollars, rather than two dollars and fifty cents. So, motivated by a vindictive sense of justice, she shares the recipe around the world. A whole lot of bullshit, but a good story and a great cookie. I have tweaked the traditional recipe (which, honestly, comes in a wide variety, my favourite not being the one actually provided on the Nieman Marcus website) and here is the one I throw together.

Ingredients

1 cup of butter

1 cup of white sugar

1 cup of brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon of vanilla

2 cups of flour

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 1/4 cup of blended oatmeal

1 1/4 of quick cooking oatmeal

1 teaspoon of salt

4 oz of shaved dark chocolate

1 cup of chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups of chopped nuts (I recommend pecans and brazil nuts - I adore brazil nuts)

1/2 cup of espresso or mint flavoured chocolate (I usually split my batch in half and add both

Directions

1. Shave chocolate. It takes forever. Blend oatmeal. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and add to wet mixture. You know - the shit you do when you make any cookies.I am not pulling any punched here - the shaved chocolate and the blended oatmeal are what make these cookies special. That and my flavoured chocolate chunks. So add those about now.

3. Put spoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Watch them though, because if they over cook, they're not great.

See - perfect gift. I win.

 

 

Skip the Maids a Milking - On the 8th Day give Yoga Gear

I have decided that yoga gear is an appropriate gift for anyone who may like to escape the life of fastening pants. Seriously. What a drag.

I know there are many articles from Lululemon that I have on my wish list. I actually do yoga though, so that isn't surprising. Sports bras and short shorts and crop pants, oh my! But I think the value of yoga wear extends beyond yogis. It is good general athletic wear, and even better lounge wear. And it was with this logic that motivated me to pick up yoga pants for papa Black.

Papa Black is going to love 'em!

For the 7th Day of Christmas, try a fun Moleskine journal

I have recently joined the cult of Moleskine. And how could I not - they were the journals of Oscar Wilde, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway and Henri Matisse! And I would totally hope to be as brilliant as at least one of those dudes.

But, giving someone a blank notebook? Boring.

So Moleskine created what they call their Passions line of journals. They are specialized journals for a variety of interests: Music, Film, Books, Wine, Recipes and Wellness. I would personally love the film, recipe and wellness journals. I always find that I watch so many movies that I forget about!


I bought the Wine journal for my dad and the Recipe journal for my mum.

Recipe Journal |  $25.00 CAD

Wine Journal | $25.00 CAD

I Missed the Fifth Day of Christmas! Wash My Mouth Out!

Ok - I know washing one's mouth out is the sadistically poetic punishment for cursing, not forgetting things. Believe me - I have endured this punishment. But it is my awkward segue (or Segway, perhaps?) into my 5th/6th/missing Christmas list item.

Dr Bronner's Peppermint Soap. I discovered this soap at my Moksha yoga studio in Halifax. It is the soap they provide in their showers, and it is magic. The peppermint smell is invigorating, and it leaves you feelings tingly clean. I know these sound like the cliches of innumerable body wash ad campaigns. Fuck them - they are liars. I have sampled a variety of soap and body wash products in my 23 (ok, realistically only 17 years...) of washing myself, and I have never used a soap that literally made my skin feel like it was tingling, like I was a Junior Mint. And I love Junior Mints.

So, Moksha yoga studios across the country offer Dr Bronner's Magic Soaps. If you do visit the Dr Bronner website, you will be greeted by, presumably Dr Emanuel Bronner, who resembles every mad scientist and no environmentally conscious soapmaker (unless you're my dad, for whom much environmental science resembles witchcraft), let alone a soapmaker whose growing appeal the website attributes to his "urgent message to realize our transcendent unity across religious and ethnic divides." Right. He actually looks like he would have been buds with Josef Mendele, with his creepy blackout sunglasses which you can only assume is masking a creepy leer and his high collared white lab coat. This is a resemblance that struck me before I read that the family is actually of German-Jewish descent, Emanuel Bronner being a Zionist, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1929. The website does not mention if the move was motivated by the rise of the Third Reich in Germany or not; perhaps that would be just a little bit to heavy an introduction for a soap company, though if you look at the company's timeline, it does reveal that Dr Bronner's parents did in fact meet their demise in the extermination camps.

My bad.

That said - further investigation revealed to me that, while perhaps Dr Bronner's soap, and most certainly the company's story, is new to me, I am certainly not the first to find Dr Bronner a curious entity. There's a documentary about him! The implication, as you will see, is that this man was bat shit crazy.

Anyhow, my horrific nack for sticking my imaginative and hyperbolic foot in my mouth aside, the soap is incredible and comes from a family with generations in the soap making industry. It is USDA certified organic as well as certified Fair Trade. The peppermint variety is the company's most popular variety, perhaps because of the stimulating affects of the peppermint oil (the amazing tingling I mentioned).

Available in a variety of sizes, from the 2oz bottle for $2.49 - a great stocking stuff perhaps? - to a $52.49 1 gallon jug. I am planning on getting some for my mother, to whom I've raved about the soap, however Moksha Yoga Calgary only had a 1 gallon jug left in stock, which they did kindly offered to sell me. I thought, however, that a gallon jug of soap is a somewhat presumptuous and perhaps insulting gift - especially given that I have already purchased her the Keihls avocado eye cream I already recommended. The implication being that after 52 40 something years, my mother is unable to groom herself. Still, I am hoping it goes over well.

On the 6th Day of XMAS my stalkers should leave on my doorstep Trippen boots

A hiatus from my shopping picks for the holiday season was necessitated by my actual Christmas shopping. The gifts I managed to pick up will likely make their way onto this list - which will be kept better up to date, I promise. My Christmas gift to you.

So what am I particularly jonesing for on this midway point of my Christmas countdown? Trippen boots. I just very recently became acquainted with Trippen, a shoe company out of Germany, while I hunted with my mother for the perfect pair of over-the-knee boots that was a belated-birthday-early-Christmas present, never to be wrapped, and to be worn and assimilated as my own the moment we get home, as has become the status quo with my holiday gifts. The company was first established in Berlin in 2005, and has gone on to open stores in Great Britain, Israel, Taiwan and Japan, and has been nominated for and won a number of international awards for design. Not only are their shoes visually interesting, they focus on using quality materials (a year after launching their first store location they were nominated for the Baden-Württemberg International Design Award, which apparently held Longevity as its theme). Furthermore, Trippen operates under the philosophy that "modern design [should] combine... environmental friendliness, sustainability and social responsibility." So a pretty cool company all in all. The line is available with four shoe retailers in Canada: Asphalt in Kelowna, Kaliyana, Dorfer Shoes in Toronto and, my personal favourite shoestore, Gravitypope.

Here are the pairs which are particularly catching my eye, and which may, in a number of hours, become mine.

Trippen Best bootie | $470.00CAD at Gravitypope

Trippen Bubble boot | $615.00$ CAD at Gravitypope

Trippen Rider boot | $575.00CAD at Gravitypope

Trippen Urban boot | $545.00 CAD at Gravitypope

This last pair, the Urbans, are on hold at Gravitypope's Calgary store for me right now. My grandma's birthday/Christmas cheque will buy me one boot - I am gifting myself the other.

Here are the pair which my mum and I settled on as my "Merry Birthday" gift:

Frye Taylor Over-the-Knee Boot | $548.00 CAD at Gravitypope (though, available much more inexpensively online, apparently...)

Also, I just discovered that in Edmonton and Vancouver, Gravitypope has clothing, or tailored goods, as they say. This is exciting as well as heartbreaking, given the mysterious absence of such an outlet in Calgary. At least I can follow their fashion blog. And, of course, their original shoe blog. Check it out.

If you do not think that the Trippen Urban boots and I should be united in blissful fashion matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.

Merry Christmas to me.

Day Quatro? Get me an accessory based on my adorable nickname, Baby

Ok, These Christmas present suggestions have been both things I want, but mostly things I would suggest for other people - things EVERYONE SHOULD WANT.

And everyone may covet these octopus inspired accessories as much as I do, they are pretty adorable, but virtually days within being born I earned the nickname Syd the Squid. Similar monikers include Squid, Squidney, Squidzilla, and Squidders. I am not fond of that last one. And therefore, if you want to buy me specifically something special and thoughtful (that I told the entire cyber world I would adore...that kind of thoughtful), you would peruse OctopusME Jewlery, available on Etsy.

You don't know anyone with a cephalopod inspired nickname? Well the avid diver, perhaps? Someone with a good sense or irony and a love of calamari? I think they are generally pretty cool looking (though those suckers probably do not appeal to everyone) and I have even included a non-octopus inspired ring. So there. I specifcally love these, for me. Buy me one. I will suggest things for other people tomorrow. Don't pretend you buy thoughtful, heartwarming gifts for 12 people anyways - if you buy 12 gifts for people, I know and you know that at least 4 of them came from the housewares department of Winners. 

This little number was so popular that in the couple days between saving and coveting this Tentacle Pendant, and posting it online, this specific one was sold. HOT ITEMS. However, this similar pendant was valued at $85.00USD

Orange Sapphire Sea Fan Ring | $250.00USD

Nothing says Merry Christmas like sealife you can wear.

For Day 3, my loves should send me: fabulous Christmas cards.

For my birthday, Claire gave me Amy Sedaris' book I Like You: hospitality under the influence. I love it, and it has started me thinking about being a slightly more gracious and hospitable person. So, on that note, I have been perusing the world of stationery for the perfect Christmas cards.

My lovely friend Aly featured the company Positively Green on her blog, and their cards are amazing. Beautiful images with inspired quotations, the company endeavours to leave as small an ecological footprint as possible and donates 10% of their profits to "organizations that protect our environment and fight global warming" (a touch vague). They are understated and fabulous. I almost had mine all chosen out and ready to order when I realized that, by the time I received the cards, I would barely have enough time to get them to their final destinations.

So, since my friends can be assured that, sadly, they will not be receiving a Positively Green Christmas card from me this season, here are some of my favourites - if you do have a stationery store near you which carries the brand, I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't be touched to receive one of these.

Outside reads: "Friendship? Yes Please" - Charles Dickens

Inside reads: Happy holidays, dear friend. 

 

Outside reads: "Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." -Hamilton Wright Mabie

Inside reads: Much love to you. Happy holidays.

Outside reads: "Here's to the season of goodwill, cold weather, and warm hearts!" -Holiday Toast

Inside reads: Here’s to you. Happy holidays.

Outside reads: "Wherever you are, it is your friends who make your world." -William James

Inside reads: You make the world better. Happy holidays.

Outside reads: And now let us welcome the new year--full of things that have never been. -Rainer Maria Rilke

Inside reads: Here’s to the endless possibilities. Happy New Year.

On Day 2 My True Love Best Bestow onto me: Keihl's Creamy Eye Treatment

I wouldn't even be mad at the insinuation that my face is starting to resemble a blood hound's!

This cream is that good.

$25.50 for a .5 fl. oz pot

I received a tester of it after I went and bought the ludicrously priced, sinfully indulgent Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter. The salesgirl asked if there was anything I would like to try, and, somewhat surprised, fetched me a sample of their avocado based eye cream. I do not think there is anything weird about being a (nearly!) 23-year-old woman who uses eye cream. That is the point - I don't care what Olay says, there's no reversing the signs of aging. I have to keep this skin in the immaculate condition it is in now.

What is particularly lovely about this eye cream is that it solves a problem you don't even realize is a problem until you try this. And no, it isn't anything to do with the quality your eyes - a sort of "I never realized how horrific my eyes really looked until I used Kiehl's!" No. If you have ever used eye creams before - I have used Olay's Regenerist Eye as well as their Regenerist Advaned Anti-Aging Roller, and have also tried out another of Kiehl's eye creams, the Abyssine Eye Cream (my kingdom for anyone who can tell me what Abyssine is, because all that comes rushing to my mind are cats) - then you may very well be familiar with the experience of having rich, innovative, anti-aging technology developed in the Swiss Alp/Paris/New York by top dermatologists seep into your eyes. They water. You cry some tears. You wash away most of the cream that is the culprit. This eye cream from Kiehl's, either serendipitously or purposely, I'm not sure, addressed this issue. It is such a viscous formula that is stays put on your eye where you dab it. I realize this may sound unpleasant, like globs of sickly green cream weighing down your lids, but this is not the case. You need to thoroughly dab the cream around your eyes, but it will go on clear, and you barely need any. A little sample envelope last me 2 weeks, morning and night application.

So buy some today for the friend you do not want looking like this:

also for Christmas, you could get me a Bloodhound puppy. So. Cute.

Oh, and before I forget, the use of avocado for skin treatment is as old as bad 90s talk television. If you don't think that it is worth the 25.50 - that is at least one dinner out with friends, or about 5 bags of peanut butter M&Ms - you can just follow the sage advice of Jenny Jones:

Existential Blogging Crisis

The more I peruse the beautiful blogs of my friends Aly and Kathy, the more I realize how inadequate my blog is.

I fail to tantalize you with beautiful pictures - I lost my camera's charger swiftly upon moving, and have never been able to recover it - my posts are essentially rants on a variety of topics, which I certainly do no research or preparation for, and I am embarking on no great adventures to retell.

I voiced this concern to my darling Heather, who, incidentally, had a very short-lived blogging career. She assured me that she likes the blog, mostly because it propagates her internet fame.

"The Narcissist in me loves the Narcissist in you." - Heather.

For my lack of direction and visual aids, I apologize. I can only hope that you will endeavour with following these posts until I reform my ways.


This said, I will be commencing my Christmas countdown with an ennumeration of the beautiful things I would like to be mine this holiday season - or, the less narcissistic way to look at it I suppose, my gift recommendations. My house currently smells like freshly baked gingerbread, and I can't resist plunging somewhat prematurely into the holiday spirit. I even listened to the Channukah Song yesterday.

Starting off this countdown, as I am currently quite chilly and find my sweater collection severely deficient (my mother would kill me for saying so - she doesn't think I need a single additional article of clothing - how wrong one woman could be) , I stumbled across this beautiful sweater. I want it on me. Right. Now.

Michael Kors, studded cotton blend V-neck, 175$

I have been lusting for more studs in my wardrobe (you can read: hot guys in my pants, and sure, but not what I meant in this instance), and this sweater would quench that desire. And without shoulder pads. I can't do this whole shoulder pad look that is out this season. I have lovely broad shoulders as is, and just as I will not work out my traps, I will not wear shoulder pads in my t-shirts and sweaters (for outerwear I will maintain an exception).