Reindeers-a-plenty

'Eat Drink Chic' is an amazing blog dreamt up by Australian designer Amy Moss. Each year Amy creates Christmassy tags for her readers to download for free. This year, her printables focus on reindeers! So pretty!

http://www.eatdrinkchic.com

Xmas in Paris

The latest issue of 'Maeve' magazine has just come out & it's all about Christmas! How charming are these photos from 'Little Brown Pen' documenting the streets of Paris during the festive season? Pop over to Little Brown Pen's Etsy store to purchase their prints.

http://www.maevemagazine.com

Northern Exposure?

Every time I see a moose I instantly think of Christmas & also of my favourite TV show from years back - Northern Exposure. I loved the moose that used to trudge up the Canadian street where the show was filmed in the opening credits. How awesome is this US artwork discovered by the lovely girls at 'We Heart Books'? (http://weheartbooks.com) Lou & Katie have impeccable taste & chance across the nicest things wouldn't you agree?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/tinyfawn?ref=seller_info

1970's Christmas

I recently found out about the Geffrye Museum in London. Set in a stately Victorian manor, each December the museum pays homage to Christmas traditions in English homes over the past 400 years! Staff decorate each of it's 11 rooms in a style resplendent of that era. Here's their take on the 1970's.

http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk/

Christmas Photoshoot #2

Here are some more photos I styled for a Christmas-themed photoshoot. The shots will be appearing in 'Take 5' magazine this December. I really enjoyed the day as I had the chance to work with my favourite photographer Mark Roper again!

http://www.markroperphotography.com/

Place Vendome Paris

How interesting & cool are these mod Christmas trees displayed in Paris (Place Vendome) in 2010? They're made from white plastic tubing & fairy lights. These photos are courtesy of Lonely Planet's travel blog.

Marks & Spencer - London

LOVE the way London department store Marks & Spencer decorated their store last Christmas - very cool! Wish stores in Australia went to the same lengths to spread some Christmas cheer!

Carluccio's Christmas

Antonio Carluccio is an Italian-born UK chef who has made a quite a name for himself in London. He established a restaurant there called 'Carluccio's' many, many years ago but sold it for a tidy sum nearly a decade ago. The single restaurant has now been made into a restaurant & food-store chain and is still going strong. Carluccio's recently released their Christmas food range. There's some terrific things on offer including Italian nougat bon-bons!

She & Him Christmas Album

Some of you may know Zooey Deschanel from her successful Hollywood acting career. Others might know she's part of an amazing singing duo called 'She & Him'. They've just released an outstanding, jazzy Christmas album that is well worth a listen!

http://www.sheandhim.com

Christmas Magazine Photoshoot 1

I've been lucky enough to be asked to style a few magazine & newspaper photoshoots over the past year. Here's the latest one I did for the 'Herald Sun' HOME magazine. The HS feature will be appearing in print Dec 3rd. Some of my other styling work will also feature in: 'Sumptuous', 'Take 5' & 'The Guardian'. Thanks to one of my besties Mariquita for allowing her unbelievably cute munchkins to be my helpers!

Cute for Christmas!

Lark is an amazing online store full of gorgeous offerings. It's lovely owners Allison & Paul have exquisite taste! How adorable are these tins & wrapping papers that they stocked in the lead-up to Christmas?

http://www.larkmade.com.au

White House Christmas 2010

I really admire Michelle Obama. From everything I've read, she works just as tirelessly as her husband, US president Barack Obama. She started the 'Let's Move' initiative in the US a few years back. Her program encourages children to eat healthier & exercise more by embracing the great outdoors. She's an inspiration!

http://www.letsmove.gov

Party Time!

What a cute Christmas party invitation this is! It's from Kate Spade New York's 2009 holiday collection if I remember correctly. Happily still available from Kate's Paperie in NYC - a steal at only $7.50 per boxed set!

http://www.katespaperie.com

1950's Vintage find!

Now & again I stumble across a stand-out Christmas decorating item. How's this Raylite Church (manufactured in New York in the 1950's) that I snapped up for $9.60! The first time I saw one was was years ago, but it was hideously expensive. I've always hoped I'd find a cheaper one, and for under $10 I couldn't say no. It stands at around 40cm tall.

Papaya Christmas 2011

Here's some lovely festive offerings from Papaya (Australian homewares brand). Every year they design & retail a porcelain Christmas collection. The range is simple & understated. It would suit a large variety of homes & holiday "looks".

http://www.papaya.com.au

Magnolia Square Christmas Market 2011

It's on again! One of my all-time favourite Christmas markets has just launched it's 2011 Melbourne dates!

Magnolia Square market is a treasure trove of homespun, crafty & creative homewares, gifts & general all-round gorgeousness. I love shopping for Christmas presents within the confines of Magnolia's creative walls & have happily been doing so for years. A definite 'must-visit' event!

http://www.magnoliasquare.com.au

Christmas Crockery

These gorgeous pieces are by US designer Rosanna Bowles. Rosanna creates several Christmas crockery lines each year & always outdoes herself. How pretty are the vintage-themed designs?

http://www.rosannainc.com

Cool Christmas Pudding

'Jme' is the name of chef Jamie Oliver's signature homeware & foodstuffs collection. I really like the graphic design on his new Xmas pudding box, released a couple of weeks ago. They sadly don't ship to Australia, but do ship to the US & Europe for our readers on the other side of the world!

http://www.jamieoliver.com/jme

Jamie & Hugh's Xmas Cooking Show

UK chefs Jamie Oliver & Hugh Fearneley-Whittingstall are headlining this years 'Taste of Christmas' foodie festival in London in December. What a great line-up! Speaking of Jamie Oliver, here's a hilarious clip from a Christmas episode of Jamie @ Home. There's a very funny part right at the end with Jamie's mentor Gennaro Contaldo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEmqBKbfmfQ&feature=related

Get writing!

I've fallen in love with these retro typewriters from BMT Vintage in Brooklyn. Not only would they make a quirky & interesting Christmas display, but how cool would it be to type up your wish-list to Santa old-school style?

http://www.etsy.com/people/BMTvintage?ref=ls_profile

Drink of choice

I don't know exactly how many bottles of wine exchange hands over the holidays, but I know it's a lot. Here's a cute wine bottle bag from a store I discovered a couple of year's back in NYC. The store's called Kate's Paperie.

http://www.katespaperie.com

Twinkle, twinkle....

For me, there are few things better than twinkling lights & the comforting glow they cast. I guess this would ring even truer for those who celebrate Christmas in the bleak mid-winter of the Northern Hemisphere.

Fun Xmas decorations?

I'm not quite sure what to think of these Christmas decorations I came across the other day. On the one hand, I think they're pretty cool, funny & fun. On the other, I don't know if I like the implied destruction these grenade Christmas decorations issue, especially at a time when peace & love is supposed to abound! What do you think?

Pretty party dress

This new dress by Sass & Bide is gorgeous & perfect to cover the holiday season's numerous parties. This image unfortunately doesn't do it justice - it looks 100% better in real life!

Graceland

I read the other day that Elvis was a huge fan of the holiday season & used to go all-out when decorating Graceland. Gotta love a guy who is into Christmas & decorating!

Drink dispenser

Each Christmas, I make a Rosewater & Cranberry Punch that I think would look so pretty served in a glass drink dispenser such as this. Available from (the very talented) Sharnel Dollar - an Australian event-sylist to Oprah no less!

http://www.sharneldollardesigns.com.au

Nigella talks Christmas

I've been reading about different food authors today & just came upon cook Nigella Lawson speaking about how she celebrates Christmas. I like how, despite being Jewish, she still relishes & enjoys the trappings of the season.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh90QPt8vRg&feature=related

Bake it Pretty this Christmas

How sweet are these free, downloadable gift tags from Bake it Pretty in the US? Perfect for attaching to holiday treats you make for friends and family! Check out the lovely array of Christmas baking goodies on offer from this gorgeous web store.

http://www.bakeitpretty.com

December 23rd Itinerary Stop....

I'm going to add this Tea Salon in Paris (Le Salon de The - Patisserie Des Reves) on my itinerary when I visit Paris for Christmas this year. How cool is the fit-out? Looks nearly as delicious as the cakes on offer.....

http://www.lapatisseriedesreves.com/

Christmas gift idea for foodies!

Chef extraordinaire Philipa Sibley is know as the 'queen of desserts' in Australia (although she's equally as impressive at creating savoury dishes). This November, she's releasing her first solo cookbook entitled PS Desserts. Coincidentally, the book is published by the same publishing house that publishes my cookbooks. Can't wait for this one!

New pretty things for Christmas

How good are these new offerings from fashion brand Kate Spade New York? One is a scarf with a map of Manhattan on it. The other, a purse to celebrate Fashion's Night Out in NYC. Wish these guys shipped to Australia!