Footwear Gallery: Kirsten Dunst

Friday; happy day! This weekend calls for all sorts of Christmas preparations; 'feeding' brandy to the Christmas cake we made, sourcing and decorating the tree, searching for those presents that have so far alluded me. The tree is a BIG deal for me - it's got to be real, it's got to have that unmistakable fresh nordic pine smell, it's got to feature all the years of decorations and baubles from the time my husband and I first lived together, to now.

This week I saw my daughter sing in her school choir in a Cathedral; it was just spine-tinglingly lovely. But as the weeks wear on, I am ready now for them to finish school and try to ease into the Christmas 'proper'.

For me it's been a reflective week as I ask myself yet again - what's it all for? I mean this in a good way...but it's telling to me that this question arises in my mind so much. I find myself thinking a lot about the past. I understand that this preoccupation with the past and with nostalgic thoughts is prevalent in my generation as we struggle to reconcile the massive changes in everyday life since we were young. Before mobile phones and home computing and when on winter's evenings my friends and I would ride our bikes around the neighbourhood, breathing in that cold air as we peddled. It all seemed so simple then! But no matter how much I look back, I have to say, I would rather be here than there...so time to embrace the future - with whatever it holds.

Rachel Weisz

This would be my kind of Christmas decorating - simple, traditional and to be done in front of a roaring fire.

Lovely, contemplative image of Kirsten Dunst...

Emerson Made

There are those Eames chairs again...what a beautiful, simple, white setting. Love this.

Elie Saab

The very lucky Diane Kruger...

Santa Claus - if you wouldn't mind, these would be very welcome underneath the Christmas tree... ;-)


via the bottom of the ironing basket

I unexpectedly won a Vogue subscription this week from The Bottom of the Ironing Basket! Thank you!! In the words of Carrie:

"When I first moved to New York and I was totally broke, sometimes I bought Vogue instead of dinner. I found it fed me more."

More simple decorations...here from Country Living.

Twinkly lights; they are magical...wherever this is (the corner of nowhere?); it's got that special Christmas feel.

Picture the scene: it's 1983, I am 9, I get roller skates for Christmas! This image brought that all back! Oh the excitement of that first roll!

via crush cul de sac

Here's to a wonderful, excitment-building weekend!

I wake to another cloudy, rainy day here...did I miss something or did October arrive without me noticing? Seriously. To go from the arid heat of Portugal to this? My suntan is well and truly under wraps. I know I am weather-obsessed but really - can you sense my disappointment? I think I must embrace it; think Sunday roasts and Ugg boots and windfall from our apples trees (which by the way are literally aching under the weight of apples this year).

Post holiday blues? Ummm not me...well, not completely. Missing that light and breeziness. I came home and was so relaxed I forgot all of my work-related passwords. Really. So I can't get into my laptop, let alone work. It's strangely liberating ;-)

I am sensing the kids need to go back to school soon; that feral element is setting in! We have a quiet weekend planned; it's a bank holiday so that means family time...

Meanwhile some prettiness...there is after all, so much of it in the world.

Really must try my hardest to hang on to this sentiment!

Whenever I get into post-holiday planning mood, my thoughts turn to Florida, which still represents my ideal family holiday, having spent so much time there as a child. Seashell love...