Brand new favorite things !!

Don't you hate it when you go out to get something you need...and then end up buying things you really don't ? --and you never do get what you were looking for in the first place o_O

Yup, that's what happened today. I was going to look for a small, elegant and modern table for our newly renovated bathroom, but I got distracted by all the wonderful Christmas displays !

And this is what I ended up getting:


I LOVE this mug !!!! The colors drew me instantly and the funkiness and the feel. I don't like small mugs, give me something that holds lots of hot chocolate/tea/coffee, something I can wrap my hands around from thumb to pinky :)
This was found at one of my fav. stores in Sidney B.C. called DRAGON HORSE "a candy store for the spirit"
Lots of fabulous items for the soul, from Feng Shui goodies to salt lamps, cards to crystals, candles and more.
The mug is one of several from a line called Britto by Romero Britto. Love it !


Have you ever walked in a forest, brushed against a fir tree and were suddenly wrapped with the smell from the fir ?
This candle smells just like that. It also makes me think of freshly cut Christmas trees surrounded by soft white lights.
Very aromatic, the candle is called Frasier Fir and it's by Thymes I purchased the candle at another lovely store in Sidney called The House Dressing Company Inc. They sell lots of fab. decor items for the home, big mirrors, couches, chairs, lots of blacks, browns and silvers.


Of course I had to get two of my fav. magazines. Alas, I was really wanting the latest Somerset Studio, but they were out ( gasp ! ). So these two were the next best thing. I'm so happy Victoria magazine came back, it is such a lovely and relaxing read with gorgeous photos abound.

Well that was my bit of unexpected fun in Sidney B.C. Now off to read while enjoying some tea in new mug and inhaling the fir......ahhhhhhh :)

More of my favorite things....

Somerset Studio, Victorian Papers and Victoria are 3 of my favorite magazines. Victoria magazine stopped publishing a couple of years ago but then they brought it back, yay ! But I have yet to buy any new copies yet, perhaps after our move.

Victoria Magazine

Victorian Papers came from the Victorian Trading Co. that sells all things Victorian. Lovely romantic bits, bobs, trinkets, papers and clothing...ooh la la. Here's the link to check out their treasures and you can order a free magazine too ! ( and yes, I do use some of the images in my art ):

Victoria Trading Co.

And of course there's Somerset Studio. I splurged and also got their Somerset Life, such delights to delight everyone's eyes. Lots of wonderful altered art treasures and they even include free art papers for you to try in your own creations.

Somerset Studio

I couldn't resist showing off my collection of crystal perfume bottles my dear husband brought back from his navy excursion to the Gulf a few years ago. He went to many ports so I can't remember exactly where he got them from (!) --I'll ask him when he gets home from work. I'm going to guess that they came from Dubai where he visited several 'Souks' ( arabic markets ). One souk sold only gold, gold everywhere ! Shops and their windows lined with gold jewelry, from rings right up to exotic jewelry for elephants. He said the shine from the gold was very brilliant. Then he visited a silver souk and a spice souk ( brought home bags of wonderful rich spices --cinnamon, clove, tea masala (what would be used in chai tea, my fav.) ).
The shop where he got the perfume bottles was a place to buy scented oils, and then they would supply you with the bottles if you wanted them. Not seen in the photo are 6 other much smaller and plainer bottles with simple golden caps, each with a faux colored jewel embedded in the lid.
My most favored bottles are the pink ones and the blue one. The silver bottle had a minaret on top with a little crescent moon, but alas it broke off :( I still consider it another favorite bottle.
The oils inside each bottle are really lovely, from fruity to famous scents ( one smells like Chanel No.5 ). There's also one with a soft vanilla scent.

I love these treasures from afar. For now the bottles are kept in a dark place so the oil won't spoil. Once empty I plan to line them up in a sunny window.

The big bottle behind belonged to my mom. I believe she had it before I was born, don't you love that vintage label ? And yes the soaps are original but their scents have long gone. I could empty it and replace with something prettier...not ready to do that just yet.