It's not over until the fat lady sings

I just ordered my first ever opera tickets. They're a birthday present for my mother.

My beautiful Mummy, aged about 21, in her nurse's outfit and rocking the bowl-cut.

(Excuse the quality of the picture; it's a photo of a photo)

I also got her some silver jewellery and a pretty scarf, but her main present was our tickets to see Cosi fan Tutte at the Paris Opera in July.

I've never been to the opera before so I'm super-excited about choosing what to wear; I'll keep you posted on that. It will also mark my first return to Paris since living there. 


We'll be travelling there by Eurostar and I'm currently looking for good deals on nice boutique hotels.


And of course, the Palais Garnier (where we're seeing the opera) is absolutely stunning.

Here's a few pictures I've been scrolling through for hours in my state of ridiculous excitement; they're a bit tiny so click here for a virtual tour.

     

    

Images from www.operadeparis.fr

Ciao for now,

Charlotte

Paper Hearts and Ticking Clocks

The 27th of December is my anniversary. Not my wedding anniversary; please, I'm only 20. But today my mister and I have been together a whole year.

Eugh, please forgive me for this,
 readers.

I'm a hopeless romantic, but I'm not really the mushy type - I like to keep that stuff private. I'm already cringing about including that picture.

Anyway, this made me think about how, traditionally, your first wedding anniversary is your paper anniversary, whilst the modern rules dictate that it's a clock anniversary (?!).

Here are some great gift ideas along these themes:

A photo album or scrap-book of special moments, or waiting to be filled up in the future (if you're the optimistic type). 

A more original take on the
traditional photo album
£7 (was £12)
Urban Outfitters
Image from urbanoutfitters.co.uk

A book - either a novel that means something to you and that you want your other half to share with you, or that you know was a childhood favourite of theirs. Or, if you're super into romance, poetry. For me (in case you hadn't guessed), it has to be e.e. cummings everytime. Or, of course, the Bard. 
But here's a poetry book I really liked recently:

"I love all films that start with rain:
rain, braiding a windowpane
or darkening a hung-out dress
or streaming down her upturned face"
Image from internetwritingjournal.com

A signed picture... of whomsoever your sweetheart admires. My boyfriend was given a signed picture of a football player (Frank Lampard, if you're interested - my boyfriend is a Chelsea fan. Sigh.) for his last birthday and was so chuffed with it, so I guess it makes a good present.

Personally, I'd prefer this.
Image from autographmagazine.com

Tickets... what for depends on the depth of your love, the clearness of your diary and the size of your wallet. Tickets for the theatre, stand-up comedy, a gig or the opera are a great gift, depending on both your interests. At lastminute.com you can get tickets for various 'experiences' from wine-tasting to meals to bungee jumping and spa days for a range of prices. Or, buy a pair of plane tickets. Wow.

Why not?
Image from hunternuttall.com

Believe it or not, I've reached this minor relationship milestone before and when I did, I gave my then-boyfriend a jar full of paper cranes that a childhood friend made me before she went back to Japan. Origami is a beautiful art and makes a really thoughtful, inexpensive gift.

The children's monument in Hiroshima, Japan.
For the truly touching true story of Sadako Sasaki,
the girl in the monument, follow this link.
Image from galenfrysinger.com

And then, of course, some form of time-piece. 

For her, I love this:

ASOS Vintage Style Skinny Twisted
Metal Watch
£24
ASOS
Image from asos.com

And for him, this is so retro cool it deserves its own decade, or something:

ASOS Retro Style Digital Watch on
Expander Strap
£20
ASOS
Image from asos.com

Anniversary Ideas also informs me that the gemstone to earmark your first year is the freshwater pearl (a personal favourite!!) and the flower representing it is the pansy - which, naturally, gave me a few more ideas:

A chanel costume jewellery pearl necklace. These have been my ultimate fashion crush since forever, and I'm lucky enough to have found a second-hand one at an affordable price and now own a little piece of fashion heaven.

Chanel pearls. Who wouldn't?
Image from fashionfigurines.com

Of course, there are some more affordable options in terms of pearls at many online vendors. Another option is German charm-smith Thomas Sabo. I've had a Sabo charm bracelet for about a year and a half now and I'm slowly adding to it as I go. They have both pearl charms and pearl charm-holders with which to start building a new, unique and meaningful jewellery project.

They also have these beautiful, classic pearl
studs
£32.95
Thomas Sabo
Image from shop.thomassabo.com

As pansies go, you could buy an actual pansy (and a pot-plant also kind of fits the 'paper' theme too), or a pansy print item of clothing. Florals aren't going anywhere any time soon, and watercolours are my current favourite update on the trend, something which pansies lend themselves to perfectly.

Oasis Pansy Print Bubble Dress
£37 (was £75)
ASOS
Image from asos.com

For your man, why not a pansy-print tie or shirt? As long as you don't make him look like an actual pansy, the poor thing.

And now for a teeny-tiny sliver of culture (so that the poetry up there doesn't get lonely), a print by one of my favourite artists (whose work I based my own GCSE final piece on), Georgia O'Keeffe. I don't think there's anywhere you could hang this where it wouldn't look good.

Pansy, 1926 by Georgia O'Keeffe
£22 (was £27)
Art Republic
Image from artrepublic.com

So, if you've got a one-year anniversary coming up, be it with a boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse, your baby's first birthday, or the anniversary of any other special occasion, why not commemorate it with one of these ideas?

Ciao for now,

Charlotte

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

... And I'm back in my house. Yes, I'm back home in London finally, after staying in Leeds for work. Preparations have been in full swing today. There's been last-minute present-buying, a few more decorations thrown up, and the pile of presents under the tree is slowly growing. (Although my parents still do the overnight-Santa thing. Cute, I know.)


I had a whole post lined up about cute, unorthodox Christmas decorations I'd seen at Modcloth (here), Starbucks (here) - seriously, and at Christmas Unwrapped. But I'm super-disorganised lately and now it's way too late so instead I'll share a bit of my Christmas Eve with you. 


Note: We go all-out traditional in my house so it's chestnuts roasting on an open fire, etc. And yes, it's looking like it'll be a white Christmas this year. There's a reason I get referred to as Tiny Tim a lot around this time of year, and it's not just because I'm short. Christmas-cynics amongst you, prepare to feel queasy...


Going home for Christmas...

Leaving Leeds (so many books!)

Leaving Leeds.
Christmas tree in the office district.

Leaving Leeds, sky so pretty and wintery.

Wrapping the presents.

I am the worst present-wrapper in the world; this took me forever.
And yes I know the paper's not very festive but it was all I had!

Some more of my wrapping 'skills'; there are
many more little piles like this one - I go a bit overboard
buying gifts.

The Food...

Love them or hate them, the brussel sprouts are
prepped for tomorrow!

Chestnuts. My absolute favourite.

Clementines... A Christmas staple.

Nuts. Also, for some reason, a Christmas staple.

Ok, it doesn't look like much but once heated
it will be Mull and it will be yummy.

RECIPE: 1 ltr apple juice, 1 cinnamon stick, 2cm strip of fresh ginger, 3tsp demerara sugar, apple slices studded with cloves - and, for a less virgin mull (a slutty mull?), some whisky or brandy. Heat over the stove and voila!

Preparing Christmas Eve Dinner (yes, that's
a thing)... Stubborn Pumpkin.

Table set for Christmas Eve Dinner. Tomorrow's table setting
will be much more festive, honest.

Pretty pathetic attempt at a "centrepiece".
The tealights are John Lewis' Vanilla and Amber.
They smell delicious.

The decorations...

Decorated stairwell.

Decorated Stairwell.

Stairs to the third floor, also decorated.

The beginnings of the 'open fire'.
I'm sure it will be sooo delightful. 

Look the part...

Festive headgear. Because I look so joyous.
(Yes, they're Manchester United reindeer antlers
... I'm so trashy it's not even cool.)

My rather festive slippers.

And finally, of course, the tree...

Merry Christmas!

Hope you're as excited for tomorrow as I am! Have a wonderful day, whatever you celebrate and however you celebrate it.
Merry Christmas Eve!!

Ciao for now,

Charlotte

Going Geldof...

Without meaning to sound too preachy, Christmas is a time for giving as well as receiving - not only to those closest to you, but to those who need help most. It's the ideal time of year to take a moment to realise how lucky you are, and to recognise that not everyone is so fortunate, especially in the light of World AIDS Day yesterday.

So I don't want to get all Geldof on you, maybe they don't know it's Christmas time at all and no, despite global warming's best efforts, there probably won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time (although, once in recorded history, it has snowed in the Sahara desert - random fact), maybe the greatest gift 'they'll' get this year is life - but you can give them something else.

Aside from my own selfish wants and needs (see here), this is what I'll be asking for:

Gifts from Oxfam Unwrapped.

Please please please if you do anything today, follow this link and at least have a look at what as little as £5 can get. You can spend that last fiver of your budget for a family member on buying food for a family or health check-ups for those in need, instead of the obligatory Terry's Chocolate Orange/Toblerone (although I do love those and will cry if I don't get at least one!)

(Images from www.oxfam.com)

Every single one of these gifts is a great idea to ask for or to give, even as a side-gift to something more personal - who doesn't like to know that they've done their bit?

I'm not exactly acknowledged worldwide as a successful philanthropist but it's important to help improve the lives of others. After all, we only have the money we do because we were fortunate enough to born into a situation where we have the opportunity to work and earn like we do in the West. Money is a privilege and we should share it wherever we can to make sure other people have their basic rights and needs met.

So before I get too political (ew), I'll finish with this...

I hope that whatever presents you buy, they put a smile on someone's face. After all, that's the best, best, best part of Christmas! (Well, that and the food...)

Ciao for now,

Charlotte