Is it still a Christmas Party if it's in January?

Last week we finally had our staff Christmas party and let me tell you, we seriously let loose! December is one of, if not the, busiest months of the year for us so we simply can't have our party before the holiday itself. Still, it was quite lovely to be able to get together and celebrate knowing that the chaotic nuttiness of the season was well behind us! 

We were taken to blue water cafe in Yaletown, where we feasted on their unbelievable sushi, oysters, prawns and sashimi, not to mention three additional courses. Did I mention there was an open bar?! I won't go into the details but suffice it to say I have a new resolution for 2010~ no more unlimited cocktails for me! I am lucky enough to work with some amazing people, including three of my best friends and two incredible bosses, so it is always (mostly always) a joy to go there. In fact, after 5 days off already after my knee surgery I'm more than ready to go back! Here are a few candid shots from our fantastic evening...

My BFF, Leah, and I got ready together and started the evening with a few Cosmos! 

Leah shows off her stunning Birks engagement ring! Greg did GOOD! Nah, he did great! 

All ready in our party gear! My dress is BCBG, my pale pink heels a steal from Aldo. 

The blissful, newly engaged couple! 

Girl time in the ladies room, of course! Leah, Jenny, Nic and myself. 

Smooching time at dinner! 

The boys hanging at the (open!) bar! 

Bestie time! 

Hamming it up for the camera! It was such a fun night! 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful and happy holiday

love Ally Redhead and Lulu

Holiday Brunch

A lovely moment of relaxation amidst the chaos of the holiday season~ my lovely friend and co-worker Jennifer had myself and Nicole (the third of our work trio) over for an incredible Christmas brunch this past Saturday. We literally feasted (and I do mean feasted) on both cinnamon chocolate chip or rum and egg nog pancakes (or both!!), goat cheese frittata and bacon off of Jen's Vera Wang wedding china and drank sparkling rose wine out of crystal flutes. It was amazing and I ate until I could eat no more! On top of Jen's amazing skills in the kitchen~ she hand made the gorgeous beaded initial Christmas ornaments (above), inspired by the goddess of Christmas herself, 

Martha Stewart of course. 

It was a wonderful day and one I hope to repeat many times in the future~ both for the fantastic feast and, mostly, the friendship.

6 Shopping Days Left!

The holidays are so busy for everyone~ myself included! As energy runs low and the To Do list finally starts to dwindle, blogging time also shrinks. I miss overflowing with inspiration for this love of mine... but please stay tuned for fun posts next week. In the meantime, here are a few beautiful images to take you into the last weekend before Christmas! 

Happy shopping and celebrating everyone! 

 

Best Friend Christmas Day

enjoying girl's day 

with our festive head gear and Lulu in front of the tree!

embracing our tiny first fall of snow! 

my beautiful best friends

Little Notes

Dear snow,

Please come. You were here by now last year and you were so beautiful and festive. I can't wait to pull on my boots and troop around in you. Please, please come! 

Dear vendor on Robson Street selling roasted chestnuts,

You are wonderful, filling the air with scented deliciousness. One of the many lovely aromas of Christmas, including cookies baking in the oven and mulled apple cider, simmering on the stove!

Dear Christmas list,

Why are you not shrinking? I keep shopping and wrapping, but you seem only to grow.

ps- Why oh why is everyone on my list so hard to buy for? I need to find those perfect gifts and it is seeming impossible! Sigh. 

Dear incredibly nice people who come into work,

Thank you for continually maintaining my faith in the human race. Nice people rock. 

(Dear meanies, Cheer up.)

Dear Death Cab for Cutie,

Your latest single, Meet Me at the Equinox, is off the charts outstanding. I am slightly grossed out that it's on the New Moon soundtrack, but I will overlook that, as it's so amazing. Every line is perfection. What can I say? I love music that makes me cry and think at the same time and this definitely does that. 

Dear Kate and Pat's bun in the oven,

What are you, little one? A boy or a girl? I can't wait until your mommy tells me. It's really hard to find super cute, unisex baby wear. 

Dear Christmas, 

I love you but you're a lot of pressure! Still. I love you. See you in two weeks. xo

Christmas at Home

Here are a few images of Christmas around my home~ as you can tell, I get a little overexcited and every surface has to be decorated! I realize it's a little "much" but I adore it for one month of the year. Every time I come home to the pretty tree, the smell of cinnamon scented pine cones and the cheerful decorations I feel warm and fuzzy inside. It truly is a magical time of year! 

Now... if only it would snow! 

Smelling Delicious~ One of the Perks of Being a Girl!

Smelling delicious is a hugely important thing for a girl. The same goes for silky soft skin and a sweetly scented home. Bath & Body Works is a mecca for all these things and, until now, was my go-to location for indulgent treats only when visiting the States. Well, now I don't need to dig out my passport and line up at the border to pick up the most heavenly of body lotions and bubble baths (thank goodness, my passport is actually expired)! 

Bath & Body Works has opened a huge store in Richmond Centre, only twenty minutes from downtown Vancouver, and is filled to the brim with its yummy products in amazing scents, such as Warm Vanilla Sugar, Wild Honeysuckle, Rainkissed Leaves and Sea Island Cotton. It is nearly impossible to meander through the store without slathering yourself in a dozen different scented potions or sniff every candle on the shelves. It is the perfect place to finish your Christmas shopping for Mom, your kid's teacher or any hard to please girlfriend. 

I can't wait to stock up! 

A Cold Winter's Night

If it were up to me I'd be here today. Instead, I will shortly be heading to work (which is festive and cheerful in its own way...kind of). Still, I wish I were heading to this beautiful outdoor skating rink (it would be a long trip, it's Somerset House in England), followed by spiced rum and egg nog, a fire and a night of Christmas movies. In this ideal world, later some gorgeous man and I would go for a walk while snow fell. 

I can't think of anything better. 

ps- I know it's technically not winter yet. Shhhhh....

My Favourite Christmas Music Ever!

I'm truly a nut about all things Christmas, even when it comes to the music. Come December, I love walking into stores that are blasting the determinedly cheerful tunes. I am that person who, on the 1st, puts my burned holiday compilation in my car and doesn't eject it until January. The same goes for the ring tone on my phone (I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas) and what I press play for on my iPod. I truly don't understand people who insist they hate Christmas music! Okay, some of it may admittedly be rather too cheerful or even downright bad, but there are so many beautiful and stirring choices as well. I have honed down the best list over the years, with both old classics and new loves, and have decided to share with you my absolute favourites. These songs are all available for purchase on iTunes and make the perfect holiday season mix for any party or get together. Or burn a few copies and give them as gifts! 

1. Happy Xmas (War is Over) ~ John Lennon

2. O Holy Night~ Josh Groban

3. Christmastime is Here~ The Vince Guaraldi Trio, Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack

4. Carol of the Bells~ John Williams, Home Alone Soundtrack

5. River~ Robert Downey Jr. and Vonda Shephard, Ally McBeal Soundtrack

6. I Believe in Father Christmas~ Greg Lake or Emerson, Lake and Palmer

7. White Christmas~ Bing Crosby

8. The Winter Song~ Eisley

9. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)~ U2 or Death Cab for Cutie

10. Winter Wonderland~ Dean Martin or Bing Crosby

11. God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman~ Charlotte Church or The Barenaked Ladies

12. Do They Know It's Christmas?~ Band Aid or Band Aid 20

13. Driving Home for Christmas~ Chris Rea

14. A Spaceman Came Travelling~ Chris de Burgh

15. Baby It's Cold Outside~ Lee Ann Womack and Harry Connick Jr. 

16. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas~ Judy Garland

17. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire)~ Nat King Cole

18. Same Old Lang Syne~ Dan Fogelberg

19. Please Come Home For Christmas~ Eagles

20. I'll Be Home For Christmas~ Bing Crosby

I hope you enjoy this compilation as much as I do! And~ If I had to choose only one CD for the duration of the holiday season I would definitely choose White Christmas by Bing Crosby~ it reminds me of putting up the tree as a child and is truly the perfect mix of all the most iconic Christmas songs. Plus, his voice is as smooth and dreamy as it gets! 

Snowy Escape

I want to escape to wherever this is. With a stack of books, a supply of apple cider and gingerbread, cozy socks and Lulu I wouldn't have to emerge until after the holiday madness. Wherever this is, it looks like heaven. My new love affair with minimalism competes here only with my more enduring passion for snow. 

Perfection. 

Dream Gifts

A first edition of Alice in Wonderland. A plane ticket to France. A dog. An old, creased book of poetry with notes in the margin. A coffee table. A love letter. A pair of Wayfarers. A pair of red rubber boots. A piece of art. A cozy blanket. A framed photograph. A song. A beautiful boy in a toggle coat and Chuck Taylors. A slice of truth. 

Something. Something real. Something me. 

Have you ever been given the perfect gift? (I am lucky enough to say yes.) What is your dream gift? Something tangible or something you can't touch? 

ps- I also would like the above branch chandelier, please. 

Happy December!

Happy December! I'm looking forward to holiday cheer, late nights wrapping pretty gifts, stolen afternoons shopping with my girlfriends, festive cocktails, lights going up all over the city, old familiar songs, laughter and most of all, (with much hope) snow. My favourite month of the year is here and I'm determined to have a wonderful one! I hope you and your loved ones do too! Spread some holiday joy today! 

Christmas Gift Inspiration on Etsy

I've been scouring my favourite website, Etsy, for Christmas gift ideas~ both for others and myself (naturally). There is no shortage of amazing, creative gifts and I'm sharing a few on my personal wish list here. As a reminder~ if you order anything online for the holidays be sure to give yourself enough time for delivery! There is nothing like presents for your loved ones not arriving on time (ouch). 

Alice in Wonderland is my absolute and enduring favourite. I love everything about it and so I adore this print above. It's Alice and the Cheshire Cat, printed on vintage dictionary paper. It would be a unique, interesting addition to my burgeoning gallery wall. 

I love candle light, even when I'm home alone, and there is nothing I love more than music. These sheet music covered tea light holders are so sweet and super affordable. 

I love this adorable print of a young red headed girl, Leonie. She is so sweet and serious looking (and maybe a little sad too?). She would be another fantastic addition to my gallery wall. 

Now if only she had blue eyes...

The most handsome and gorgeously rugged movie star to ever grace the silver screen (in my humble opinion), I love this canvas tote bag emblazoned with the image of Steve McQueen. I could carry this lovely face as an alternative to those other, boring, reusable shopping bags. 

A much better option, I think. 

It's been my dream ever since I was little to be able to paint. I wish so much I had the innate talent for it. Well, I certainly do not and so I love to admire the work of others. This sweet little painting, Beckoning Path, would be perfect on a small wall in the apartment. At only $45 it is shockingly affordable for a work of original art. 

This brushed gold, leaf necklace is so pretty and delicate and would look amazing with a strapless top or dress. Plus, every girl needs a little beautiful something at Christmas time!

Here are a few of my Christmas gift ideas! Etsy is an amazing source for anyone you could possibly have to buy for. 

Visit it today and support handmade! 

Christmas Movie Marathon

Well, it's almost December! When the calendar finally turns to the 1st the nonchalant pretending that I don't care in the last few weeks of November turns into a full on Christmas love fest. Christmas decorating, Christmas baking, Christmas shopping and Christmas music... I adore it all. One of my favourite traditions is my month long marathon of the absolute greatest Christmas movies. Movies dedicated to the holidays always hold wonderful sentiments... family and friends, love, hope, dreams and generosity of spirit. I have a long list that I watch every December, year in year out. I could not do any countdown, because I love them all. However, number one?

1. It's A Wonderful Life~ Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed are magical together and I cry like a child every time. One day I imagine a marriage like theirs for myself. The most beautiful Christmas movie I can imagine.

2. Love Actually~ Not a Christmas movie per se, but it's set during the holiday season and is a wonderful testament to the power of love at this time of year. Plus, many of my girlfriends agree on this~ the cue card love scene between Juliet (Keira Knightley) and Mark is one of the most romantic movie scenes. Ever.

3. Scrooged~ Bill Murray at his finest as the vicious Frank Cross in this modern day (well, 1980's) re-telling of Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol. My first favourite and it still endures for me. I never get tired of it.

4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation~ Chevy Chase? Check. Weird family visiting? Check. Hilarious scenes involving Christmas lights, a squirrel in the tree and Elaine from Seinfeld? Check! A ridiculously funny classic and a must see for
many laughs out loud.

5. The Holiday~ What can I say? Jude Law as a yummy single dad and Kate Winslet in her first romantic comedy role are enchanting. Again, not a veritable "Christmas movie" but set during the holidays, it is wonderful and heart warming. Eli Wallach as Kate's 90 year old neighbour steals the film, to be sure.

6. Home Alone~ Childish, I know. I first saw this in the theatres when I was ten years old and it still resonates with the kid in me. Although Kevin's hijinks when he is left behind are sweet and funny, the true heart of this movie lies within the importance of family, between the McCallisters and the family reunion of Kevin's mysterious next door neighbour.

7. The Family Stone~ Beautiful, touching and sad~ my favourite combination. Diane Keaton as the Stone matriarch is magnificent (with a touch of malice) and the bevy of Stone kids? Dermot Mulroney, Luke Wilson and Rachel McAdams with Sarah Jessica Parker and Claire Danes also in the supporting cast. A big, dysfunctional family Christmas. I love it.

8. The Family Man~ I'm not normally insane about Nicolas Cage but he is lovely and endearing in this role as a man who, while living a purely selfish life, is given a "glimpse" on Christmas Eve of what his life would have looked like had he married his college love. A beautiful, simple movie about family and the things truly worth having in this life (hint: it's not money and success). I watch this on Christmas Eve after all our family has left, in bed, nearing midnight.
I usually fall asleep to it.

9. How The Grinch Stole Christmas~ The 1966 cartoon version of this Dr. Suess tale is the one I love. A magical half hour about how a person (or creature) can truly change through the wonder of this holiday season. Boris Karloff's iconic voice in itself is worth watching the film for. Perfect for Christmas lovers of all ages.

10. A Christmas Carol~ My dad's absolute favourite, this 1951 black and white classic features Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge and is the most famous and enduring tale of this holiday season. This is always on in our house late Christmas Eve and I watch (part) of it with my dad every year while we drink champagne or rum and egg nog. Half an hour into it my adorable daddy is usually snoring happily
and so I retire to bed.

What are your favourite Christmas movies? Is there anything I have missed that are must sees?