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Dear Diary

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There may not be a single special boy (or partner for that matter) in my life this holiday season, but I still can’t help but love shopping for all things handsome man. I am powerless not to spoil the imaginary man of my dreams, and if you have a real live one by your side I encourage you to spoil on my behalf.

Whether this gift is to help you with a father, son, boyfriend or just friend, I like to think we’ve included a great selection of items that would impress just about anyone you’re shopping for, especially a deserving prince! Though after the year we have had it’s entirely possible A LOT of men will be receiving coal…

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1. Baxter of California White Wood #3 Candle / 2. Le Labo Hinoki Shower Gel & Body Lotion / 3. Woodlot Cinder Soap Bar / 4. Cinnamon Projects Insense / 5. Baxter of California Comb / 6. Sugarfina Pale Ale Pints / 7. Milk and Honey – Rupi Kaur / 8. Baxter of California Hard Cream Pomade / 9. Gaston Luga Backpack / 10. Grimm Artisan Ales / 11. Richer Poorer socks / 12. Aesop Hand Balm

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Dear Diary

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It’s really easy to fill your house with meaningless items, lining every shelf with bits and bobs. For my entire life I’ve been a maximalist, collecting pretty little things everywhere I go, but as I get older I feel more weighed down by all the items I have attached to my life. My taste has shifted from just “cute things” to timeless items that are built to last – investment pieces that both improve my life and can be easily carried from home to home until i finally settle.

As a reflection, this year’s home guide is a bit different than those that came before on my site. Though still pretty, these items are all about investing in your home and your happiness both through innovative tech bits that I have grown to love n 2017 and artisan wares that will stand the test of time. Happy shopping!

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1. Studio Arhoj’s Chug Mug / 2. Matcha Whisk / 3. Philips Hue Smart Bulbs / 4. Woodlot Essential Oils / 5. Linnea’s Lights / 6. The Laundress x Le Labo Santal 33 Detergent / 7. Lucky Iron Fish / 8. Nest Thermostat / 9. Google Home / 10. Saje Aroma Gem Diffuser / 11. House of Matcha – matcha powder / 12. Matcha: A Lifestyle Guide / 13. Smeg Kettle in Pink / 14. Maison Tess Sheet Set / 15. Woodlot Cinder Candle Not shown in graphic: Saje Safe Air Cleansing Room Spray

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Sips, Sweets & Snacks

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Coffee is great and tea is even better, but I think we can all agree that when December rolls around there’s a hot beverage that smokes all the other competition – ’tis the season for hot cocoa!

Personally I’m a fan of anything chocolate all year round, so the influx of creamy sweet drinks topped with whipped cream leading up to Christmas is welcome in my books. This year we wanted to come up with something a little bit extra to sweeten our cocoa creation – a mix of all of our favourite beverages in one! What does that mean? Matcha, coffee, sugar and cocoa all meet to form the most perfect holiday beverage, finished with a touch of peppermint to up the festive flavour!

Scroll down for the full recipe!

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What you’ll need //

1/3 cup coffee beans
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons Matcha Ninja 100% Raw Organic Matcha
3-4 tablespoons cane sugar (or sweetener of your choice)
2-3 drops organic mint extract (our favourite is from The Spice Trader)
1 cup non-dairy milk
Coconut whipped cream
Sprinkles for garnish (we used Edible Gold Stars)

Recipe //
Makes 2 mugs

Grind the coffee beans into a coarse grind and boil water. We used this Turkish Handmade Coffee Grinder it’s perfect for just 1-2 cups!

In a small dish mix equal parts cocoa powder, matcha powder, sweetener and hot water, whisk with a Bamboo Matcha Whisk until it resembles a thin paste or syrup. Add 2-3 drops mint extract.

Heat up the milk in a small pot on the stove or use a frother, (add a bit of sugar to the milk for an extra indulgent treat).

In a Gold Bodum French Press combine coffee grinds and 2 cups boiling water (about half the french press) and allow to steep for 5-6 mins. Add the syrup mixture to the bottom of each mug and fill the mug halfway with hot coffee. Top off the mugs with warm milk and coconut whipped cream, garnish with sprinkles and you’re ready to serve!

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Dress Up

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I’m usually the first to get excited for the holidays, but I’ve been moving a bit slower this year and suddenly the season is here! Time for peppermint hot cocoa, baking, gift shopping and my personal favourite, holiday parties with sparkling dress codes!

I’ll take any chance I can get to wear a dress, especially in winter, so the holiday party season really bodes well in my books. This look all started with the perfect copper ruffle wrap dress from TOBI, which inspires me to start mixing metallic tones. My hair is currently a subtle shade of rose gold, and I’ve been piling on jewels in shades of pink and pearl thanks to Mai Lin’s beautiful reminder bracelet collection, so accessorizing from there was easy. Velvet and sequin patterned flats from ALDO were a shoe-in, especially when they pair perfectly with their matching purse counterpart, and my favourite black wool coat from Evernew topped the whole thing off.

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Scroll down to shop the post and my holiday party purse essentials!

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Absurda Bellville Sunglasses – Pink & Gold
Double-sided Clear Lingerie Tape
Charlotte Tilbury Bar of Gold Highlighter
Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick Duo Sour Cherry / Gold
R+Co Travel Size Dry Shampoo
Black Tights
Fleur Musc By Narciso Rodriguez
Makeup Remover Travel Wipes
Benefit Roller Lash Mascara – Mini Travel Size

Shop my look here!
Purse
Shoes (on sale)
Dress (on sale)
Shirt
Lashes
Coat

Get Creative

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Halloween is definitely not high on my list of favourite holidays and generally I don’t put a whole lot of work into my look for the occasion, but this year I had an idea so fun that I couldn’t help but go all-out.

Baby, I’m a firework!

There’s nothing better than a light-up outfit, and though I’m not a DIY queen by any means it struck me that a firework costume wouldn’t be overly complicated with the right supplies. I have a weird obsession with LED Fibre Optics – you know, those stringy lights that you get for parades at Disneyland and such? I was brainstorming ways to work them into my holiday decor this year when the idea to cover a dress in them clicked. A few weeks later and I found my team in front of a sequinned black dress with glitter tights, boots, and enough lights to brighten the night!

Scroll down for instructions to make your own light-up-look!

Supplies //

Women’s Sequin V-Neck Long Sleeve Dress
Glue gun
Glue sticks
Set of 10 LED Fiber Optic Lights
tinsel or foil streamers
Women’s Sparkle Tight
Glitter!

DIY Instructions //

Estimated crafting time – 30 mins
Skill level – Beginner

Start with a simple black sequin dress, we used this Women’s Sequin V-Neck Long Sleeve Dress. We also sourced all kinds of fun fibre optic lights from amazon like these Set of 10 LED Fiber Optic Lights

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Lay the lights out on the front of the dress in an even pattern, with scissors cut small horizontal slits into the dress, just enough to fit the lighting bases through. Using a glue gun, glue the base of the lights to the inside of the dress, allowing the fibre to come through the hole. Make sure to leave the switch free from glue and accessible from the inside We left two lights aside to clip-into my hair.

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You can use any kind of tinsel or foil streamer you’d like, we took apart party blowers! Using the glue gun, glue tinsel behind each light you’ve placed and close up the ‘incision’ with glue. Continue to glue on the steamers all over the front, shoulders, and along the back of the neck. Top your look off with as much rainbow glitter as you’d like and you’re ready to shine bright like a firework!

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Here’s our full list of firework costume supplies:

Women’s Sequin V-Neck Long Sleeve Dress
Set of 10 LED Fiber Optic Lights
Light Up Fibre Optic Headband
Women’s Sparkle Tight
Rainbow Blendable Hair Color Sticks
Rainbow Highlighter Powder