Holiday pop-up shop

The ever-amazing Kate Spade brand set up an Igloo pop-up shop at Bryant Park in NYC this December! (How cool is that?) The shop closed Dec 16th, however, hopefully it'll be back again next holiday season. These images are © 2010 Bryant Park Corporation's great blog...

blog.bryantpark.org

Xmas Sales

Post-Xmas sale now on at Kate Spade NYC! Lots of cute, Christmas-themed goodies up for grabs....

www.katespade.com

Retro Christmas

In upholding our annual holiday tradition, I went to Melbourne's Crown Casino yesterday evening to see their 'Christmas Spectacular' show. While I was there, I saw that the casino is giving away a sweet, retro Kombi van this holiday season as part of a festive giveaway. More details can be found online...

www.crowncasino.com.au

Retrospective Xmas Eve 2010

We have an annual family holiday tradition, where we get together with a couple of our awesome chef friends each Christmas Eve. Each year, we share a meal & watch the Christmas carols on TV. Here's some pics from this year's gathering - I made Baci biscuits & Pistachio eclairs, amongst other things.

Christmas in Europe 2010

Happy Christmas everyone! My uncle & cousin (who live in Europe) just sent me these photos from their trip to the Christmas holiday markets in Dresden, Germany. Despite the cold, it looks so beautiful over there at the moment - looking forward to being over there one year in person!

Christmas Eve

Tonight, we celebrate Chritmas Eve here in Melbourne. I'll be preparing my nativity scene this morning - I have clay figurines that my mum used to lay out at home as a girl in Italy over 50 years ago. They're so precious & amongst my favourite Christmas decorations.

A Christmas Carol

Check out this beautifully presented edition of Charles Dickens' legendary seasonal tale 'A Christmas Carol'. It's available for $20 (USD) from one of my all-time favourite stores 'Anthropologie'. Formerly of New York City, Anthropolgie has also just opened up a store in London! They also ship world-wide via their great online shop!

www.anthropologie.com

Myer Christmas Windows 2010

A few weeks ago, I excitedly ventured into Melbourne's CBD for the annual Christmas-tree lighting ceremony & concert. As tradition dictates, I also went to see the famous Myer Christmas windows that same evening. The windows depicted 'The Nutcracker' (ballet) story - needless to say, this years windows have been my favourite to date!

This year's windows can be viewed via this great YouTube clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I67mvTn-_PU&feature=related

Christmas Carols - Melbourne

Whilst there are lots of carol services happening all across Melbourne this year, I thought these carols on tonight (Tuesday 21 December, 2010 | 7 - 9pm) sounded unique.

Historic La Trobe’s Cottage in Melbourne’s Domain will play host to this event. The internationally renowned Choir of Trinity College (The University of Melbourne) will be performing Christmas Carols, and visitors will get to see the cottage illuminated and decorated in the traditional European style. Refreshments with a festive flavour will also be on offering. No bookings required!

http://www.trinity.unimelb.edu.au/campus_life/choir

Jamie's Family Christmas

I'm really enjoying Ch 10's airing of 'Jamie's Family Christmas' here in Australia this week. It's on for half an hour each night in the lead-up to the big day. It's on par with last-years 'Jamie's Christmas' episodes which were equally as entertaining & helpful.

www.youtube.com/show/jamiesfamilychristmas

Home-made Nativity

Last year, a friend of mine & her 4 year old daughter Diana created an impromptu nativity scene using toys around their home. This image captures what Christmas is really about for me - creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Christmas - Italian Style

My favourite Pandoro is made by a company called Perbellini. Pandoro translates as “golden bread” and is the traditional Christmas cake of Verona. Baked in a star shape, it is light and buttery and covered with a light dusting of icing sugar. The Perbellini version costs a bomb but gee is it worth every cent. I've only had the pleasure of eating this brand's particular Pandoro once - it was an experience I will never forget! I still have the exquisite packaging it was encased in...

www.perbellini.com

Rockerfeller Plaza Tree

When you're in the thick of it, watching the tree lighting ceremony in New York, you don't notice that there are a LOT of buildings surrounding Rockerfeller Plaza......What an awesome shot!

Instant Christmas

I really like these simple but effective wall decals from 'Vinyl Wall Design'. They're an Australian company who ship Internationally at no extra charge - gotta love that. The decals can be applied to windows, doors and walls in under 10 minutes, transforming your home into a Winter Wonderland in no time!

www.vinylwalldesign.com

Elf

After a full day of Christmas shopping, this evening I'm watching my favourite holiday movie 'Elf'. Released in 2003, this comedy stars Will Ferrell & Zooey Deschanel. Not only is it hilarious, but it has one the best movie soundtracks around.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(film)

E Bay - I Love You

If a movie we're to be made about me I think it should be called 'E Bay - I Love You' following in the same vein as the already-released movies 'Paris Je T'aime' & 'New York I Love You'.

I'm forever trawling online auctions; oohing & ahhing at all the pretty things on offer. Here's a few cute things I've spied recently. Apparently, the Santa Claus ornament is from circa 1900!

www.ebay.com

Christmas Shadow Puppets

These seasonal shadow puppets & Christmas garlands (made by Little Salon) are super adorable! They just went on sale a little over a week ago.

www.littlesalon.com.au

Martha Stewart Holiday Sale

Last Saturday (Dec 4th) in NYC Martha Stewart held her annual Crafting Holiday Sale. Now in it's second year, this market retails amazing hand-made pieces that many of Martha's staff create themselves!

www.marthastewart.com/article/holiday-craft-sale

Santa Steam Train

Today famous Melbourne-based steam train 'Puffing Billy' embarked on a great Christmas journey...The 'Santa Special' is a seasonal service that runs 6 times from the end of November until mid-December each year. The tinsel-clad train departs Belgrave & winds it's way around the Dandenong Ranges. In between, you stop to have drinks & seasonal treats plus each child receives a gift from Santa! I recommend booking early - this year all the services were sold-out by the start of September.

www.puffingbilly.com.au/?id=santaspecial

Scandinavian Christmas Bazaar

Yesterday I visited the Scandinavian Christmas Bazaar in Toorak, Melbourne. A friend recommended it to me about 7 years ago, but I'd never gotten around to attending until now. It had such a great market atmosphere & really nice sesonal products on sale. It's on again today (Sunday Dec 5th) from 11.30am - 4pm. Address details can be found in the link below!

http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/melbourne/english.html

Little Kitchen Christmas Cards

Here are the super-cute Christmas cards I had made for my children's cookery business 'Little Kitchen'. I've just launched a NEW website for my business & to celebrate am offering FREE standard AUS postage on all orders in the lead-up to Christmas!

www.littlekitchen.com.au

It's Christmas Giveaway Time!

The lovely girls at 'The Cupcake Wrapper Co' have offered us 2 packs of their adorable Christmas-themed cupcake wrappers & a pack of Christmas Cupcake toppers to one of our lucky readers! To enter, email us your favourite Christmas memory growing up (info@littlekitchen.com.au). Competition closes 5pm (AEST), December 17, 2010. Winner notified via email. Good luck & don't forget to check out the link below!

http://thecupcakewrappercompany.blogspot.com

Christmas Presents 2010 - Part 1

I could barely contain my excitement when I received this amazing Christmas present from the very lovely folks at 'Herald Sun' HOME magazine this afternoon! A vintage-inspired Christmas card AND toadstool salt and pepper shakers! Unreal....The fact the gift was so beautifully wrapped by 'Little Salon' was another bonus. Thank-you Meisha & Jo! Happy Christmas! xxx

www.littlesalon.com.au