GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAFY

We are huge fans of the design blog Absolutely Beautiful Things, and recently entered their Christmas competition...and we Won!
Just to get everyone up-to-speed, Absolutely Beautiful Things is a blog hosted by interior designer and Black & Spiro boutique owner Anna Spiro (we have posted about her blog before!). Anna came up with the idea of hosting a Christmas competition in which anyone could submit pictures and a short story detailing what Christmas means to them. Some people posted pictures of the holiday festivities in their home town, some people submitted pictures of loved-ones, and many entered pictures of their homes and Christmas decorations.
My mom and I took pictures of our house just after we finished decorating for Christmas, and the next day sent the photos over to Anna (who is based in Brisbane, Australia). For the month of December readers voted on their favorite entries, and before long we were finalists, and just today we learned that we won!
Take a look at our entry, as well as the other pretty entries that were submitted as well! We were certainly in some great company.
Thank you so much to our friends, family, customers and supporters who voted!!!

My very first {and only} gingerbread house, made a million years ago and alongside one of my dearest friends, who would later admit that mine turned out better than hers, and this thought would bring up the memory of a project we did in school, where mine was showcased in front of the class, and she would then confess that she was "always a little jealous about that project" and we would laugh . . .

The Christmas baking is finished {although I wonder where the shortbread cookies have gone?}
{wooden spoons by live wire farm}



The shopping is done and the gifts are wrapped . . .
{gift wrap via thompson family life}




Three pre-Christmas parties in the past three days, officially on holiday and excited and looking forward to Christmas day . . .
Merry, Merry Christmas everyone!

May your Holidays be filled with food, family, friends and a few stolen moments under the mistletoe . . .

We received our latest shipment from The Lake & Stars, and this group included the long-awaited Opportunity Trench coats! Actually, they came just in time for the rainy weather in here Los Angeles. We love the idea of the trench with sexy lingerie underneath.
We also received the "We're on Break" collection, which we hear may show up in the "Sex & the City" movie. It is so cute! This group features pieces made from a gray cotton/modal with silk charmeuse ribbon strips layered across the front.

a friend of ours recently purchased a holiday home in Miami, so we'll be heading there sometime in the Spring, but if we didn't already have a great place to stay, we would definitely be checking in to the citrus-y bright, elegantly cheerful suites of The Tides. My favourite places to stay are the ones that look invitingly unhotel-like and feel like a home away from home.

{click images to enlarge}

Ask anyone, and they will tell you that Paris will always be my favourite. P, on the other hand, while British by birth, is a New Yorker by heart, and every time we're here, can see why he's so drawn to Manhattan.

Our little trip was a whirlwind, as all spontaneous weekends away should be, full of wonderful sites and sounds, old haunts and new favourites, great food, good wine, shopping, and all with the best company, which makes all the difference.

Always forget how cold Manhattan can be in autumn, with the wind whipping off the water, so our first stop was to Madison Avenue to pick up a warmer jacket than the lightweight trench I had packed. And then we were off to find adventure . . .


One of our very favourite things about New York is the wide selection of amazing restaurants, and we had the chance to visit some of the best, including Maze by Gordon Ramsey at The London, designed by the highly esteemed David Collins, who keeps the restaurant and hotel industry looking their best. Every last detail was looked after, from the silver tableware to the complimentary after-dinner peanut brittle and caramel truffles. Out of all the wonderful places we dined, P. liked this one best.





They also serve high tea, of course!



Another great place to check out is Lupa, at 170 Thompson Street (between Houston Street and Bleecker Street), co-owned by Mario Batali. Fresh Italian with a very relaxed, inviting ambiance, and the Apician Spiced Dates & Mascarpone for dessert is incredible!

{photography by Michael Piazza}





oysters at Grand Central




Another great place to check out is The Spotted Pig, a favourite with locals, and 3 Michelin Stars can't be wrong. We loved the vibrant atmosphere, although it can get quite crowded on weekends.




window at Anthropologie

sadly, the Sophie Conran for Portmeirion Pestle & Mortar did not make it back in one piece . . .



a little SoHo retail therapy

And of course, a trip to the Met to check out the latest exhibit, including the breathtaking Gates of Paridise {above}.






. . . and to P., thank you for a perfect time, although must confess that pretty much anything I do with you is the best time ever . . .

The lingerie experts at Knickersblog have created this beautiful, 100% silk travel bag for your delicates. And really, who better to make the perfect lingerie accessory than the ladies who know all of the ins & outs of the lingerie world!
The bag is best summarized by its designers (Danae Shell and Alison) as "gorgeous, silky, practical, and above all, a worthy home for all your gorgeous knickers."
What a perfect gift for the holidays!
You can purchase the travel bags at:
http://knickers.myshopify.com/