My Christmas wish list, part one

Home edition
So much fun is giving, I thought it only charitable to give others (you know who you are) the chance to gift me some lovelies. There I said it, give me gifts I dig (again, you know who you are). The list is pretty endless do to finding a new love everyday, but here a couple of good examples to work from.

The Balsabox Personal from Nomess would be perfect for doing my make-up. I have a make-up mirror and a larger mirror but due to the table where they're located I can not sit down to apply said make-up. This way everything is neat, orderly, beautiful and can be used when and where desired. More of the collection and brand is available at Designdelicatessen. 

The Arbour cake stand in XXL and in mini from Y'a Pas Le Feu Au Lac's would be perfect for the baked goodies I love making. Even the uncutest homemade treat gets bumped into the cute category when presented on these. Available at A+R store; the stands and many other great products from Y'a Pas Le Feu Au Lac's.

Rocking lamps from Mineheart. Keeping in theme these are super cute minimalism meets pretty. I have a Miffy lamp bringing a bit of whimsy to the living room. Cute for my daughter who likes giving her a kiss and cute for me to look at. Maybe the little one on the windowsill or next to the reading nook in Mika's room? Mineheart is known for their cool wallpaper, but I really like their lighting and the magic magnetic feathers are so old-school modern righteous. 

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Far East, continued

So a week ago I wrote about the smaller, more unique shops in Singapore. This follow-up is about the larger brands. My go-to, must stop by every single outlet I pass even if only five minutes or five steps have passed since the last one..

Charles & Keith blue suede shoes (my latest addiction as this is pair 2 of 3)

M)phosis snakeskin clutch/make-up bag and waterfall waistcoat

I have actually already worn these pieces! For me a big deal as it usually takes me ages to get around to wearing my new stuff (hoarder much). The waistcoat folds and falls beautifully and looks great on a maxi or any other dress that needs to be taken a bit less seriously. The clutch is just wide enough to hold my iPhone, cardholder and a lip gloss and therefore perfect for my constant switching of bags as I inevitably misplace something and have to call search and rescue.

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Margiela by H&M

No longer available via the store, but definitely still worth the mention. I am not normally a fan of high-end brands and definitely not of their collaborations with chain stores. However when I saw the ads for Maison Martin Margiela with H&M I started salivating at the beauties on display. A collection of select re-editioned pieces from various seasons.

I was online at 8.00 am eagerly awaiting the 09.00 o'clock launch! However I could not get on till a good 15 minutes after the fact and missed out on one of three items I was most interested in. Don't get me wrong I love almost all of the collection and in comparison to the original brand prices probably considered a steal, but my growing conscious demanding a bit of curbing. The one article I lusted over but did not get (sold out in five minutes) was a pair of ginormous light-colored jeans.

As you can see I got the candy wrapper clutch in silver. How stinking sweet is the bar code and weight engraving! The plexi-glassed heeled ankle boots are wicked. In the background my duvet cover from Snurk with digital print of a white shirt. (Their new Geogami duvet line is awesome). I guess that is part of the reason why I love the H&M Margiela collection so much; digital prints drive me wicked wild! I might keep on eye out for the silver sequin print dress and of course ...the jeans.

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Deck the halls

If you know me, you know I love Christmas. Despite having a bit of a Grinch for a husband, each year sees me decorating our home and stuffing my own, my husband's and our kids faces (our son's first Christmas, yea!) with holiday food. Think eggnog, sugar cookies and turkey.

I adore the selecting, hauling (pine needles in the car for weeks, double yea) and decorating of the tree while listening to Christmas tunes much to my husband's dismay at the/my level of campiness. The buying, wrapping and unwrapping of gifts. The setting of the table, the late and long breakfast, jam crusted mouths and sticky fingers. I frigging Love the holidays. Hope you love them too. Enjoy!



1. An alternative to pine needles ending up in the darnedest of places from Studioboon. 2. A stylish, non-green plastic tree holder for if you must have the scent of pine at Christmas, via Fab. 3. A simple tree ornament with a twist, or in this case a twig from Reiko Kaneko. 4. Form meets function in the breakfast express, also from Reiko Kaneko. 5. The sound of sweet music from Designimdorf. 

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Far East

Well I could not go to Singapore and not talk about the goodies scored, could I? A treasure haven, a shopper's paradise; longer shopping hours, open every day of the week and tons and of stores, shops and malls. It seems you can not go to two steps without encountering a beckoning window. Ah, ...I look forward to the shopping (and food) each time we visit and am never disappointed.

As much as I love shopping online and have periodically tried and failed to find Singaporean labels available via the internet, much less with delivery to the Netherlands, I really enjoy doing shopping old-school style. The uniqueness and unavailability just seems to add to the charm. For that reason as much as I love chain stores like Charles & Keith (international shipping) and M)phosis, I get most excited about all the little individual shops like the ones in Far East Plaza or the little boutiques on Haji Lane.

Sometimes so obscure are these shops that they can not be found even a few hours later, much less on my next trip out. So it happened that I could not find the store, in the maze that is Far East Plaza, where I purchased the headband (and a super tulle top that just would not photograph well) shown above. With no name on the receipt or on the bag and varying opening hours, I just could not find it when I went back later that day. A bit of a bummer as I fell deeply for a gigantic statement necklace I decided I absolutely needed in my arsenal. Oh well, better for the bank account.

This post has few photo's of some my scores. From clothes to shoes but mostly accessories on this trip. I really like Lacquär (above bracelets, ring and a huge leopard shawl). They have a facebook page with an order form? Don't know how that works but might give it a try as their stuff rocks. Below a lovely pair of studded loafers. Much like the Studly shoe from Steven Madden, which I tried on but rejected. More affordable and wearable.

And check out these rocking shoes. They remind of delicate little birds nests, but in electric blue velvet. A bit hesitant to wear them in the wet Autumn setting that is November as they are so delicate they have no actual sole. But for now they look good clearing up the other shoes in my closet.

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Home by Novogratz, the book

My last purchase while on vacation was the latest book from the Novogratz's. Design books are tricky and or either a hit or a miss. This one is definitely a hit! Kids (they have 7), hip, young and urban. I am so there. I love their use of color, the quirky often vintage pieces and above all the art. 



How stinking cute is this room for three! From the bunk beds to long desk with photo wallpaper and ginormous lighting feature, everything is kawaii.

The blow-up of the brooch and the the melted wax look of the lamp are amazing.

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