Christmas Tag

And by that I mean meme...

Dr. Monkey tagged me to tell you a few things about the Xmas me:

1. When do you know it's the holidays? When the trees start to go up. The spirit kicks in around early / mid November.

2. What do you want for Christmas this year? World peace. And a Mac.

3. Do you go all out with decorations? No. I would do more, but that would take too much effort. :-)

4. What are you doing Christmas Eve? Eating wild mushroom brie fondue with lots of green and red veggies (and baguette) followed by a moist struesel crumb cake and berries. I can smell it baking now and it's driving me crazy!!

5. What are you doing Christmas Day? Opening gifts and eating.

6. It's Christmas time. What are you reading? Blogs and mags. And maybe Santa will bring me the Alexandria Quartet - which I haven't read in 20 years, but which has been calling to me lately.

7. Favorite movie to watch during the holidays? Family Man with Tea Leoni and Nicholas Cage.

8. Favorite Christmas song? Oh that is a tough call. White Christmas (jazz version)? Santa Baby? I like the jazz standards a lot.

9. Favorite holiday drink? Red wine, same as always.

10. How is your Christmas shopping going? Done, done, done.

11. If you could spend Christmas Day anywhere else, where would you spend it? Quebec City

12. Any holiday traditions? We argue when to put up the tree, where to spend Xmas, what to eat...

13. Favorite thing about the holidays? It's a break from the regular routine and the misery of early winter. And Xmas trees are pretty. And the food is good. And it's a time to reflect at the end of the year. I like that people are in a good mood.

I am too stuffed with food and drink to choose who else should do this - but I urge you to take on the challenge. And let me know - I want to read up!

Totally Fun Tag

Mardel tagged me to show my 6th blog photo, which (till I went searching) I could not have remembered for money.

Here it is (M, my daughter, aged almost 8):


Seriously, isn't this kid a total cutie?? She's so little here - with bangs.

I'm terrible at passing along these tags - please do it if it appeals to you. It's fun and nostalgic!

K Q/A

Oooh, here I am, once again responding to the last tag in - not that the others aren't totally on my appreciation and respond radar screen. But ya gotta love questions... (And it's a great Friday kind of thing.) Thank you From the Right Bank to the Left Coast, for tagging me - and for your lovely interiors blog.

Here are the guidelines:

1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own.

2. Tag eight other un-tagged people.

What is your current obsession? Blogging

Good fika place? (That would be coffee to us non-Swedes) Pantry or Ella's Uncle

Do you nap a lot? Are you joking?

Who was the last person you hugged? My daughter

What’s for dinner? Hate to admit it was Amy's Macaroni and Cheese (organic counts, right?)

What was the last thing you bought? An apricot peanut bar for M's after-school snack

What are you listening to right now? My husband, mouth breathing (he has a cold)

What is your favourite weather? Oh, I love sunny and 20 degrees celsius

What’s on your bedside table? A lamp and some books I should be reading

Say something to the person/s who tagged you. Hey Right Bank, you seem to be living a very exciting, stylish life!

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? This question is ridiculous impossible. I'll go with NYC.

Favourite vacation spot? Montreal or Quebec City - but this question is pretty impossible too

Name the things you can’t live without. I'm not including people, natch: coffee, beautiful food, wine, music, sun glasses, regular glasses, hand cream, purse, matching lingerie that fits perfectly, damn the cost, my laptop - there are so many things!!!

What would you like to have in your hands right now? An Eames chair with cowhide upholstery, for example, or a macaroon from Laudree

What is your favourite tea flavour? Not so fussed about any flavour

What would you like to get rid of? All the unnecessary clutter in my environment, my tendency to worry

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? An hour isn't really long enough :-) Probably Paris

What did you want to become as a child? A wealthy matron (a chic one who throws perfect parties)

What do you like better, e-mail or telephone calls? Each has its benefits but I love the phone in the day and email the rest of the time

What are you currently reading? Who reads books, really?!

What's your favourite brand of jeans? I can go in many directions, but right now my Superfines

What designer piece of clothing would you most like to own (new or vintage)? Why did I make up this question, I totally cannot decide. Maybe a Claire McCardell day dress?

I tag Sal, Miss C, WendyB, Tessa, Bel, Maegan, Tanya, Yulanda. And of course, anyone else who'd like to chime in...

Finally, A Tag I'm Responding To...

Of course, it's the last one in (but it's easy), which is why it's getting the fast attention.

I should mention, at this point, that I LOVE being tagged and I appreciate it tremendously and I am hideously remiss in not responding to the many I've received over the last couple of months. It is not because I don't value the concept or the gesture. It's because, right now, I seem to suck at responsiveness. Please bear with me...

So, Sal gifted me with the fascinating "Show me your Blogspot" tag:

The rules:
1. Once you are tagged, post a picture of where you blog.
2. Feel free to tell us a little about your space, or explain certain items in more detail. Or not.
3. Link back Daddy Likey's original post.
4. Tag five other bloggers to show their blog spots.
5. If you are tagged and do not participate, you will become allergic to cabbage.

Honestly, I'm already allergic to cabbage - at least in as much as I won't touch the stuff. But I am nonetheless compelled to present you with the (rather unassuming) blog space:


Yes, that is an Ikea chair. But the table is handmade, awesome story, and I bought it at the Trinity Bellwoods art sale a few summers ago (bargaining the price down to $500.00 including delivery). When the delivery guys - also the creators of this beautiful design - put it in the living room, everybody sighed audibly with delight. It was the perfect table in the perfect spot. What I particularly love about it is the warm and cold juxtaposition. The recovered pine rectangles are 6 inches thick and affixed to a modern, steel frame. It matches everything and nothing at the same time. And my legs sit on it at just the right height.

So, I not-so-secretly wanna see the blog spots of:

Tanya Espanya
Monkey
Songy
Bel - I don't think you've done it, have you??
Girl Japan

Tag, You're It

It seems, no sooner did I invoke the term "Premio Award" that I was tagged with it! How fantastic. Thank you so much, most excellent kpriss of Stylefrizz, for passing this along to me.

So here are the guidelines (I'm so over calling them rules!):

1) Link to the blogger you received it from.

2) Give it to 7 blogs.

3) Link to those 7 blogs.

4) Leave those seven bloggers a comment about receiving the award.

As so many blogs have received this already, I've opted to highlight some sites that I'm still getting to know. Apologies for any duplication - but, I say you, can't be tagged too many times with an award acknowledging your great site...

No Signposts in the Sea
Lady Melbourne
The Vintage Society

And here are a couple of perennial faves:

Curella Says
Godammit, I'm Mad!
little thoughts.

I'll leave the 7th spot available to any brilliant new blogger who's looking for some love. Just let me know...

In a Perfect World: What I would Wear Today

Thank you, lovely and creative Cordelia, for tagging me to do this fun game.

The Rules:

1. Choose runway pictures from ANY season you like and choose 3 outfits for Day, Evening & Party.
2. Briefly explain why and state the name of the designer & which season the outfit is from.
3. Tag 3 other bloggers once you are done and let them know by posting a comment on their blog.

Pls. note: I choose to interpret C's guidelines in a perfect world scenario i.e., one in which I have no particular practical wardrobe requirements. In fact, on the day on which I would choose to wear these items, I'd be on high-style holiday in New York!

Day Look

For shopping at Barney's and Henri Bendel, I will need to seem as if I can afford all they have to offer! So I would wear this gorgeous Dior tulip day dress. (Regrettably, I can't remember what season this is from...)

(Early) Evening Look

For evening, at some fabulous NY restaurant recommended by WendyB, I would wear this Celine (Resort 2008) dress. It's slick but tasteful. Like I could be the wife or the girlfriend:

Now to Party, I would change into something like this:

Outfit Credits (seasons unknown, sorry): Jacket - Night by Day Birger et Mikkelsen, Shoes - Top Shop, Bag - Alloy, Jeans - Abercrombie and Fitch, Erin Skinny, Top - Rick Owens Lilies Cap Sleeve

I'm a casual party-goer. I want to wander the streets and see what grabs me. One of my many fantasies concerns me walking into a house party and pretending I'm friends of a friend when I actually don't know a living soul. Idea is to see if I can fly by my wits. This is my brand of adventure. And girl's gotta be able to run, under those circumstances!

(PS - Sorry for the crappy Polyvore design. This is my first time attempting it and there's more to it than you might imagine...)

Tags

I think everyone should take a stab at this game. It's fun, fashionable and FREE!

Specifically, I have to tag my go-to fave Enc of observationmode. Spend money mentally, E.

I'd also like to see what Tavi, the sassiest, coolest Style Rookie ever (sorry if this word isn't in vogue anymore, Tavi!) to show us what she likes.

(Not so) secretly, I'd be blown away to see what Queen Michelle at Kingdom of Style would choose to wear. Sure, she's superblogsuperstar with mega street cred, but it can't hurt to tag.

I've Got Some Fun Things I'm Working On

So, I won a contest and Super Kawaii Mama (I like to call her SKM), the most glamourous of bloggers - she reminds me of Dita Von Teese - is going to make me over for an occasion of my choice. I'm so nervily entrenched in my own style that I'm very intrigued to see how she will do me up. You should totally check out her blog because it's great and when you observe how insanely gorgeous and, let's just call it like it is, buff this woman is, you will not believe she has a kid that isn't even one yet.

Then, Cordelia - we go way back - from Curella Says tagged me for a great meme she came up with called "What would you Wear Today". I have a feeling it's going to be popular!

Finally, the lovely people at Nicole Bridger sent me their presser and some interesting info about this fairly new Canadian line which I intend to share with you.

Oh, and on the advice of Miss Cavendish, I will post about my fave brands of readily available - and reasonably priced - Tshirts.

All will be coming up shortly...