Twenty-five days of Christmas: Day #8

Moleskine Planner

I can’t remember when I discovered Moleskin notebooks, but they have been my go-to for all of my papery needs ever since [that fateful day]. Made by Modo & Modo Spa, a small paper company based in Milan, Moleskine notebooks as we know them now carry on the tradition of great intellectuals and artists such as Picasso, Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. (Owning one makes you feel 25% more literate and artistic!)

The product range is now very big — from lined or unlined soft or hardcover notebooks, to sketchbooks, to A3 and A4 folios. Every year I treat myself to their day planner. In years gone by I always bought the large hardcover model, but this year I might consider getting the red version... I don’t know, sometimes I’m wacky that way (and my friend Gabrielle bought a red one last year and I was quite jealous). 

What I really love about the Moleskine Planner is that every day gets its own page, and if you keep buying (or giving and/or receiving) the same one year after year, eventually you’ll have a little accidental library, especially if you’re like me and doodle and write down thoughts and inspiration alongside your appointments and daily reminders. Of course, the smaller version is easier to transport, but I've found I usually keep my planner at the office on my desk. 

Other bonus features of the planner are the address book, the pocket on the back page (perfect for storing receipts and business cards) and the price. This is a very thoughtful gift for under $30. Actually, the entire Moleskine range is very well priced. 

www.moleskine.com

Twenty-five days of Christmas: Day #7

Movies

For some reason, the holiday season and watching movies goes hand-in-hand. Must be our urge to nest when the weather outside is frightful. 

Before I get to the movies, my snack of choice at movie time is popcorn, but sometimes a little extra is needed, especially when you’re not counting calories (nobody counts calories during the holidays, right?). Here’s my recipe for be-spoken—approved caramel popcorn:

1 cup unpopped Orville Redinbocker popcorn, popped in two batches

2 cups dark brown sugar

1 cup corn syrup (I have been known to use regular pancake syrup to splendid results)

1 cup unsalted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

Pop the popcorn on the stove in two batches (you could air pop the corn, but doing it on the stove is wayyyyy better). Separate popped corn into two large heatproof mixing bowls and remove any unpopped kernels. In a medium saucepan, bring the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Boil mixture without stirring for exactly five minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla and baking soda (make sure you remove the caramel from the heat before you add the baking soda — trust me). Mix well. When the mixture begins to froth up, pour over the popcorn, stirring well. 

And there you’ve got it. You could go onto baking the caramel popcorn to crisp it up, but I never do this step. It’s SO GOOD gooey and chewy. This stuff is crazily addictive, so please don’t get mad at me if you need to borrow Santa’s pants for lounging in Christmas morning. It’s worth it!

Now that you’ve made my amazing caramel corn, perhaps consider a few of my recommendations for essential Christmas movie viewing:

The Wizard of Oz

I guess this isn’t a Christmas-themed movie, even though there is a great snow scene in it, but it just seems like the perfect movie to watch around Christmas. Whenever I watch The Wizard of Oz I think, “how did they make this in the 1930s?” It seems so advanced. I swear I feel like it’s all real life. Like when Dorothy sees all those trippy people out the window when her house is being hurled to the land of Oz, or when the Wicked Witch of the West disappears in a cloud of smoke. How did they dream all that up? Well, I know the actress who played the Witch did suffer from burns after filming those scenes, so I guess the technology wasn’t too advanced, but still! This might go down in the books as being my most-watched film of all time. And Somewhere Over the Rainbow is one of my all-time favorite songs.

It’s a Wonderful Life

I watched this movie during every Christmas break for several years. It just filled my heart with holiday cheer. Ohhh Jimmy Stewart, oh Donna Reed, you two are movie magic. Here’s another example of picture-perfect story telling from the golden era of film. They really don’t make them like this anymore; could you imagine Elf being considered a film classic in 50 years? I guess you never know. Apparently It’s a Wonderful Life was released to mixed reviews and only came in 26th int he yearend box office totals for 1946 (Song of the South came in first). The tide has turned for this film, though, and it’s now considered one of the best films of all time. I don’t care about numbers and critical reception, though. I learned a very important thing from this movie. Did you know that every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings? It’s true.

Anne of Green Gables

I will gladly watch any one of the Anne of Green Gables movies during the holidays, but nothing beats the original. I really do think this is a nearly perfect movie. Definitely the best Canadian film ever made. Show me a person who doesn’t burst out in tears when Matthew buys Anne the blue dress with puffy sleeves for the Christmas dance and I’ll show you a monster who hates joy. Absolute perFECTion. Warning: stay away from the recent prequel. It had to be one of the weirdest movies I’ve ever seen. Very strange, and the girl who played Anne can’t compare to Meagen Follows.

There are so many more movies that I love to watch at Christmas — Little Women, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (not the live-action version... yikes!), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Meet Me in St. Louis, and the list goes on. What movies do you love to watch? What’s your snack of choice?

Twenty-five days of Christmas: Day #6 (late edition)

Dehydrated Citrus Fruit

I really love the look of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Through the years I’ve created a few doozies to varying degrees of success. The best tree I ever created, though, was made with only three elements: white lights (a must for me, unless you’re doing a retro 50s-style tree, in that case coloured lights look great), silver ball ornaments and dried citrus fruit. Yes, citrus fruit.

I don’t know how I came up with this idea, but I think it looked amazing. (I know I didn’t reinvent the wheel with this one — I’m sure it’s been done a million times before). You can use any combination of fruit, but I think the trick is to find relatively thick-fleshed varieties. Limes, lemons, oranges and grapefruit word very well. The white lights illuminate the transparent flesh of the fruit and gently heat them up, giving off a wonderful pine and citrus smell.

To make the ornaments, simply cut the fruit into 1/4 inch thick slices and lay them flat on a parchment paper-lined cookie trays. Bake them at your oven’s lowest temperature leaving the oven door slightly ajar. This will take several hours. Flip the slices periodically to ensure even dehydration. Be careful not to brown the slices — when they are rubbery and dryish, they are done. Remove them from the oven and let cool completely. While they are still warm, though, pierce the fruit with metal hooks (I used the green ones) and, if you want, sprinkle them with a little dusting of glitter. I think it’s pretty to use the corresponding colour of the fruit — green glitter for limes, pink for grapefruit, orange for oranges and yellow for lemons. Don’t use too much though, or else you’ll ruin the beautiful illuminating effect the ornaments have when hung among the white lights.

Don’t be stingy with this decoration. More is definitely more (I secretly hate under-decorated trees). I like to see lots of white lights, lots of silver balls and lots of citrus fruit! The nice thing about these ornaments is if you store them properly, they last for years and years. Cost-saving tip: buy the silver balls at a dollar store. Unless you’re Rockafella’ there is no reason to be buying Swarovski balls — people who insist on buying precious ornaments always have ugly trees because they’re so sparse. Stock up on the cheapest-of-the-cheap variety at a dollar store and load up the tree. Trust me, it will look very chic if you use don’t mix’n’match styles and stick to one colour, gold or silver. I apologize if that sounded like tough love Dr. Phil-style. I just needed to get it off my chest. Happy decorating! Send me pictures of your trees, everyone, and I'll get out my camera and take some shots of the citrus ornaments I dried several years ago.

Twenty-five days of Christmas: Day #5 (late edition)

Ray-Ban Sunglasses

I love sunglasses, and I personally would love to receive a pair for Christmas. (Disclaimer: This isn’t what I really want for Christmas.) So I figure other like-minded people would also like to receive a pair, too. My hands-down, all-time, ultimate favorite sunglasses brand is Ray-Ban.

There is nothing more appealing to me than seeing someone sipping a latte somewhere wearing Ray-Bans — they are the epitome of effortless chic. I instantly think they're famous. If you know someone who loves the classics, or who you think would benefit from the addition of a few classics into their life, what would be better than giving the Ray-Ban holy trinity — the Wayfarer, the Aviator and the Clubmaster?

These are the three most classic designs from the Italian eyewear maker and I assure you they flatter nearly everybody. (Not flatter in a those-suit-you-so-well way, flatter in a those-are-interesting-and-bold-and-slightly-off-kilter way.) I don’t think eyewear should look organic on a person’s face. It should look a little conspicuous. 

I always find it fascinating to see people from all walks of life — from models to seniors — wearing these three designs. Any it seemed like EVERYone in Italy was wearing Ray-Bans when I visited there this spring. Isn’t that reason enough to give them this Christmas? And please, if you’re wise, don’t tell me that you never buy nice sunglasses because you — or the person you give them to would — lose them all the time... To me that’s like saying you never eat good food because you digest it all the time. Who cares? I’d rather lose nice things than wear lots of ugly things any day. I wish everyone would adopt this philosophy.

Here’s a bit of history on these three iconic frames: 

Wayfarer

The Ray-Ban Wayfarer was designed in 1952 and is now considered a design icon. The Wayfarer ushered in a new look (plastic frames rather than metal) and were very successful from the get-go. Almost every celebrity has sported a pair over the decades (who can forget a Wayfarer-clad Tom Cruise sliding around in his underwear in Risky Business, or a fingerless lace-gloved Madonna fondling a pair in the Lucky Star video?) and their popularity is at an all-time high. Don’t let their current spike in popularity discourage you from owning or giving a pair this Christmas, though. They’re classics and will always be classics. The only consideration when buying them is colour and design. In the early 2000s the Wayfarer was redesigned, so buyer beware: you can go classic classic or new classic. There are also a host of colour options, from pink to tortoise shell. (I would go with the original design in black myself, because that’s what I have and I know it’s PERfection.)

Cecile and me (sporting my Wayfarers) at Villa la Massa outside of Florence. I am, in fact, wearing shorts

Clubmaster

Mark my words, the Clubmaster will have a surge of popularity in the next year or two (and it has, in fact, already begun... it usually takes a while longer for trends to make their way to Canada). Reminiscent of the Wayfarer, the Clubmaster is a metal and plastic design that looks preppy and rockabilly at the same time. I admittedly don’t know much about the history of this style, but I think it was introduced in the 1980s as a retro look. (Remember how the 1980s were nostalgic for the 1960s, the 90s for the 70s and now the 2000s are all about the 80s — how oh how will we recapture the spirit of the 90s in the next decade? I guess I’ll have to find some silk shirts and Doc Martins.) I really love my Clubmasters. It took me a while to get used to them, but they go with me everywhere I travel. Wearing them feels a little bit insider and unexpected. I would LOVE to make a pair into eyeglasses one day!

Cecile and me (wearing my Clubmasters) enjoying a leisurely afternoon in Milan

Aviator

This is how it all began, folks. The Ray-Ban Aviator was created originally created for the U.S. military fighter pilots in 1937. I love the thought that the same style of sunglasses that I own now were also worn by men over seventy years ago. The Aviator has since moved beyond its practical use into mainstream fashion. Sure, other amazing eyewear companies have created their version of the Aviator (often for triple or quadruple the price), but make no mistake, the Ray-Ban Aviator is the original. It continues to be the best-looking most authentic among the competition. Tip: the gold finish is classic and in my opinion the one to go with!

Lost in Florence wearing my Aviators. See, I took the Ray-Ban holy trinity to Italy with me!

I’m not pressuring anyone into buying all three pairs for Christmas, I’m just saying it’s a good idea. Ray-Ban sunglasses are surprisingly inexpensive. They’re also unisex (so they’re perfect for anyone), ageless and they can be found virtually anywhere.

www.ray-ban.com

Twenty-five days of Christmas: Day #4

Impractical Practical

I’m quite obsessed with the idea of giving an everyday item made by a luxury brand. My sister-in-law Erin has a Tiffany key ring and I’ve always thought it’s the most elegant touch — a really nice way to touch a piece of luxury every day. Here are my picks:

Return to Tiffany oval tag key ring in sterling silver, $170. Giving a gift from Tiffany&Co. is always a big hit at Christmas. The box alone is worth the purchase, but it’s what inside that counts. This key ring is perfect for a man or a woman, and will last a lifetime. To make it extra special, engrave the tag with a little message or initials.

The Africa I Continental porcelain mug by Hermès, $155. Several years ago a friend gave me a beautiful Denby mug and I’ve used it every day of my life ever since. I think it’s my most-used belonging and I intend to drink my coffee from it forever. If you know someone who loves coffee or tea just as much as they love high stye this is the perfect gift. Chances are the mug will become part of a morning tradition and he or she will think of you fondly with every sip. I love this Hermès mug. It’s exotic and cheerful — a real pick-me-up on those dark winter mornings.

Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite USB Key, $465. Let’s face it, the world has gone high-tech and sometimes it can be hard to look fabulous while fiddling with gadgets and electronics. I have the perfect solution, though. If you know somebody who is constantly flitting around giving powerpoint presentations and transferring files to who knows who, this Louis Vuitton-made USB key is the perfect gift. I like to think of it as having 4 gigabytes of storage and style. I love that it incorporates LV’s iconic Damier Graphite signature — I also love that it features a screw top, so it can be fastened to a purse, bag or briefcase. See? Gadgets can be glam, not geeky.

Smythson of Bond Street ‘Address and Telephone’ Premier Book, £77. If you’re inclined to give a decidedly lower-tech gift than the Louis Vuitton USB key, perhaps an exquisite address book by Smythson of Bond Street is the perfect choice. I like the idea of having a permanent address book on hand. While I still keep an electronic version on my iPhone, there is something special about flipping though these pale blue featherweight pages when you want to send a card or a gift, or call an old friend. How do I know this? I have this exact item and I know for a fact almost anyone would be thrilled to get it. Smythson is one of those subtly luxurious brands that exudes sophistication without screaming it.

I could probably go on and on. Part of the fun of shopping with this theme in mind is going into amazing stores and looking for the unexpected. I think, though, that the bottom line is quality. Look for items that will stand the test of time so the recipient will be able to use them for years to come. Have you ever received or given an impractical practical gift?

For more information about the items I mentioned (or to get inspiration for other gifts) go to:

www.tiffany.ca; 1-800-265-1251

www.hermes.com

www.louisvuitton.com

www.smythson.com

Twenty-five days of Christmas: Day #3

Holt Renfrew

Let me tell you a tale about a twenty-year-old boy who drove a Toyota Tercel. He lived with his hilarious aunt in Winnipeg, Manitoba and worked at Future Shop. He definitely made minimum wage there.

Come Christmas, he didn’t have too much money to play with for gifts and such so he decided to paint pictures for everyone. For his mom he painted an angel playing a harp and for his brother he copied Van Gogh’s Le Café de Nuit. He spent hours painting those pictures using watercolour techniques he learned from his high school art teacher. The pictures turned out nicely and were well-received.

His crafty ways paid off, though, and he found a few dollars left over to buy his new nephew an extra-special present. So, he braved Winnipeg’s cold weather (the coldest year on record, he seems to recall) and ventured forth to his favorite store — Holt Renfrew.

Everything seemed to sparkle and shine at Holt Renfrew — where else could a prairie boy see beautifully made clothing and smell expensive cologne? He browsed around a bit until he found the perfect gift for his nephew: a pair of satin court jester baby boots! What a perfect gift, he though. Not at all practical (babies don’t care about whether or not the shoe fits, perhaps literally in this case) and very whimsical. Bottom line was his nephew didn’t care one stitch about the gift, given his age, but it sure made the twenty year old who gave it feel very special. The end.

Afterward: Without prejudice, a few years later the boy saw the booties in his nephew’s parents’ garage sale for the low, low price of three dollars. Oh well. It was still worth it.

How long did it take you to figure out that the boy in the story was.... ME! Tricky how I did that, hey? Well I guess I used that little device to illustrate how much I love shopping and how special Holt Renfrew has been to me ever since those days living in that little house on the prairie. It’s always been a tradition of mine to buy special presents there, and this year is no different.

Two nights ago I attended a wonderful little party kicking off the opening of the Holt Renfrew Pop-Up Shop at 560 King Street West in Toronto. The temporary space — which is only open for a few days (details below) — was dreamed up by Barbara Atkin, Vice President of Fashion Direction for Holt Renfrew.  She told my glamorous friend and me that she’s had the idea for about ten years and that her vision was to create a welcoming space stocked with unisex items that anyone would love depending on their own personal taste. It really paid off — I could have dropped a small fortune there that night. But the best thing about the shop, to me, is the range of price points. You could go in and snap up an inexpensive tube of Kiehls lip balm (mango or pear flavoured!) or splurge on an Alexander Wang bag. Love that!

Gabrielle and me at the Pop-Up Party — I look so devious. Of course, Gabrielle looks amazing.

Barbara Atkin, Gabrielle and me — glamourama women always make me look 
and feel better

Go soon because it’s only around until Sunday, Dec. 6. Here are the hours of operation:

Thursday, December 3 — 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday, December 4 — 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 5 — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 6 — 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

To find the Holt Renfrew nearest to you, visit www.holtrenfrew.com

Twenty-five days of Christmas: Day #2

Music

I think December 2nd is a perfect day to pull out your old Christmas CDs and perhaps consider buying a few new ones too. I have a special love of Christmas music — last year my friend Cecile Butt and I made a little recording that we sold to family and friends to benefit two of our most-loved charities, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada and BC Children's Hospital. On the sidebar to the right I've uploaded a song Cecile and I wrote called Wintertime is Here. Enjoy!

My favorite Christmas CD of all time is Amy Grant’s 1983 classic A Christmas Album. It is the right blend of traditional and contemporary. The arrangements are creative and ambitious in a classy 1980s kind of way and Amy Grant’s vocals are really comforting. (I secretly rock out to Emmanuel, the album’s synthesized pop rock cut.)

Another Christmas album that perennially pops up on my playlists this time of year is Jewel’s Joy: A Holiday Collection. She really goes full-out on this album — strings choirs, brass sections and a rousing Christmas version of Hands. Make it be known, I think Christmas music should be over-the-top and dramatic. Apparently Jewel feels the same way too.

I also really love Michael W. Smith’s 1989 album Christmas. It’s really hard to find, but if you can get your hands on it you’ll be very pleased. The production value is very grandiose and top notch (which I love). And there is something really charming about the fact that MWS can’t sing very well, especially when he’s being accompanied by a boy’s choir and symphony orchestra replete with timpani and electric guitars.

Of course every artist makes a Christmas album sooner or later. How do I know this is true? Because this year Tori Amos released Midwinter Graces. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw that she was recording a seasonal album, but I was also very excited to hear the results. I bought the album the day it dropped and it’s been on repeat ever since. It’s beautifully made and very refreshing when compared to more religious fare like Amy Grant or Michael W. Smith. Christmas means something different to everyone, and more than likely it’s a special time of year to most people. Even Tori Amos!

Rounding out my top holiday music must-haves are two of the most spectacular works of classical music, Handel's Messiah and The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky. These two pieces are absolutely magical. And I think the world agrees with me on that one. Need I say more?

Ok, I can’t resist. O Holy Night is my favorite carol of all time. I've posted my version on the sidebar to the right.

What music do you love to listen to during the holidays?

www.jdrf.ca

www.bcchildrens.ca

www.toriamos.com/MidwinterGraces

Buy A Christmas Album by Amy Grant

Buy Christmas by Michael W. Smith

Buy Joy: A Holiday Collection by Jewel