I’ve never been a doll kind of girl – not even as a child. But when I saw Jess Brown’s rag dolls in Anthropologie I became a smitten kitten. And today I saw the most perfect one that just had to come home with me.

These aren’t any dolls – they’re one of a kind, hand made, rag dolls. They remind me of the old fashioned ones Laura Ingalls might have if that little town on the prairie had access to black tea dipped reminents and pretty linens.

What I love is how soft and pliable these dolls are; they truly feel like a rag doll. The clothes, the dresses are all made with care (and are unique to each doll). The face and hair also lends to each dolls character and my girl is certainly charming. We are fast becoming BFF.

If you’re looking to give a special gift to a girl of any age, consider one of these dolls. Jess Brown does custom designs so I’m sure she could make something special for you. And since she re-uses materials and dyes with tea and not chemicals, you’re giving something safe, beautiful and handmade all at once.

BUY AT: Jess Brown Design

It was a stressful time when I first moved to Los Angeles and it showed on my face; it was blotchy, red, terribly dry with not so nice pimples here and there. So I booked myself a spa package at the Ole Henriksen Spa for an afternoon of relaxation and pampering. I knew that a massage and scrub would help but had my suspicions about the facial since most facials always made my sensitive skin worse, not better.

But other spas did not have Maki.

In one hour she literally transformed my skin from blah to wow. Not only did she make my skin wonderful from the outside, but gave me so many tips about how to keep myself and skin healthy from the inside with vitamins and relaxation ideas. With her help, my skin has never looked better and that’s why I’ve been a devoted client for over three years.

So when she told me she was working on her own skincare line, Mambino Organics, I was thrilled; her passion for natural, organic, simple skincare was finally coming to fruition. And for me, it came at the perfect time.

Dry skin has always plagued me and, when I began to spend a lot of time in air conditioning, I couldn’t find anything that would help. Most body moisturizers were thick, goopy and greasy. They always seemed to have harsh, fake scents added that I just didn’t like. However, her Moisture Me After Shower Body Oil, with it’s amazing smell of orange and lavender, quickly absorbed into my skin leaving it super soft without being greasy or shiny looking. Just natural and hydrated.

Continue reading »

I love pretty things, I love simple things, I love holiday things. Put that together and what have you got? More than just bibbitybobbityboo – you’ve got the Santa Lucia Ornaments by Roost.

These beautiful, intricately carved birch veneer snowflakes come in a set of 12 (if you buy the small) in a pretty little wooden box with four panels inside. The box alone is pretty (perfect for holiday gift giving) but the snowflakes really do steal the show.

With burnt edges to define the shape and golden thread in which to hang, these ornaments would look lovely on any tree – simple or not – or even as a fall mobile hanging overhead.

BUY AT: Velocity Design

I survive on tea and must always have a cup on hand. It can sometimes take me a fair bit to get through a cup so that when I go for my second (or third!), the tea in the pot has usually cooled off. I’ve searched for years for the perfect tea cosy but since I didn’t want one that had cats, pom poms or was crocheted I seemed to out of luck.

Whilst browsing on Etsy I came across the Lily Crowned Tea Cosy which suited my aesthetics’s and tea warming purposes perfectly!

Lined with an insulating layer of batting and decorated with a vintage image on French vintage linen sheets and stamped on image, these hand made cosy’s are not only pretty but practical. I loved tea before but having this to put on makes it even better (Tip: I put warm water in the tea pot whilst brewing water and put the tea cosy on top so that the pot stays extra warm).

The cosy’s come in a couple of sizes so check the measurements and buy the one that’ll fit your pot the best.

BUY AT: Gloaming Designs Etsy Shop

One of my favourite things to give is mixed tapes (I am from olden times so I still refer to them as “mixed tapes”). The only thing, however, is that they’ve never really been the prettiest gift to give. Those label printing products never really turned out right on my computer and the CD cases were always ugly and the paper never really fit. Despite putting together fun, fitting music, the packaging of it often left me frustrated and wanting something more.

Luckily, this pretty little CD Packaging Kit from Chronicle Books makes packaging your CD’s as quick & simple as making them! And pretty? With 25 CD decorated labels in 5 different charming patterns, 25 CD sleeves in two designs, 3 pages of stickers to help put it all together, let’s just say you and your friends will be playing and petting them.

Now I must make my next CD “Shake That Ass Volume 1″ and put it in the pretty white bird with heart sleeve. That seems to match, no?

BUY AT: Amazon

I’m actually not one to celebrate Valentines Day but when I saw this book I thought that perhaps this year I’ll get myself a Valentine if only to give them this book.First of all, The Color of Love is a wonderfully large hardcover book that’s tucked into a beautiful hard case. It’s also an extraordinarily beautiful book because of the warm, colourful pages that were once hand made and silk-screened. The poems (from writers such as Porter, Shakespeare and Rumi) are handwritten and range from sonnets to odes to haiku’s.

Not only is the book beautiful, but also it’s unique which is what I think a Valentine ought to be.

BUY AT: Amazon & Anthropologie

BUY AT: Ex Libris Anonymous

What do you do with old 50′s style hard cover books? If you’re Jasmine Deatherage you turn them into journals! Using the front and back cover of various old-school books along with very weighty, acid free blank paper (perfect for journaling/collaging), Jasmine create a wonderfully unique, personal (and often cheeky) hand bound spiral journal book that’s the perfect gift for the person who has everything.

My favourite bits about the books are the found objects and notes on pages from the original book that are included randomly throughout the newly created journal (you with me on following that?) Basically, pages from the original book that might have things such as library cards, inscriptions, doodles, and funny pictures are incorporated into the new blank journal, creating a place for new pages whilst retaining some of the old.

And I can’t think of a better way to make something old new again.

Anthropologie

It’s passe to bring wine and flowers as a hostess gift (learned after hearing “I’m a recovering alcoholic one too many times or “i have allergies”) so instead, bring something useful, beautiful and unique – and this wonderful hand washing and cream seems to be perfect.

Using a moisturising infusion of olive oil, both the cleansing liquid and cream leave the hands both clean and moisturised. And I should add well scented. My favourite? The ginger because it’s just the right amount of scent without being overpowering. And it works well in both the kitchen and washroom.

So next time you need a little gift, think of this – even if it’s for yourself.

Buy at Amazon

I met Jenny a couple of years ago when and was blown away by her fabulously cool stitching projects. I have to confess, however, that her work intimidated me. First, was I cool enough to have patterned tea towels and secondly could I stitch them? I’m not a crafty girl at all so I was thrilled when I received a copy of her new kit. The how-to guide is not only informative, but entertaining (Jenny has a wicked way with words and humour). The patterns? So perfect! It’s the cutest little kit, coming packaged perfectly. Yes, even I can do this now. Finally!

This candle is my all-time favourite (very seldom do I repurchase the same candle). It’s a sexy, soothing, subtle scent that both men and women seem to love.

The large, glass candle is both attractive and useful; helping to keep the scent going longer and really filling up your home. Light it and your home will glow and smell good. Plus, it’s just beautiful and makes a really wonderful gift!

BUY at: Anthropologie