BP's Stocking Stuffer Wishlist!

My favorite thing to open Christmas morning is my STOCKING! 

Lovelovelovelovelove... 

If I could have anything in my stocking this year here's what I'd pick.

1. Kate Spade Blackberry Pouch in Pink: $25

2. Fifth Avenue, 5A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and The Dawn of The Modern Woman by Sam Wasson: $14.65

3. Gold lace monogram necklace: $100-$350 depending on store/type of gold

4. Starbucks Red Cup Ornament: $4.95 (To commemorate where PB and I met!!)

5. Vineyard Vines Cut-Out Whale Belt in Dock: $98.50

And last but not least... No stocking for BP would be complete without one of these two:

OR

What are you hoping to find in YOUR stocking?!

New Year's Eve Recap... About a month late!

I finally synced my Blackberry this morning and was able to get my pics off of my phone! I can finally give a NYE recap as well as tell you about our trip to Geneva. Those on twitter saw a lot of these pics already, but alas. Here they are!

PB booked us a black tie dinner & dance at this stately home near our house in Basingstoke. I tried to document us all gussied up in our unpacked mirror (PB- get on getting that thing hung up!), but alas, the BB flash proved to be a problem.

We then re-took in the bathroom. Which is sort of awkward, but what can you do.

We were the first to arrive and they seated us in the library. PB always has to be early to everything so of course we were the first. Clearly he needs to be schooled in the art of fashionable lateness. It did, however, give me time to take pics!

We had one glass of champagne in the library but PB was sweet and got us another to take into dinner with us. If you all don't know, Champagne is my JAM. I rarely have it so we decided to "splash out" as PB says. 

Perhaps two glasses of champagne went to PBs head. He was having far too much fun with the party goodies they gave us to play with at midnight!

So I forgot to take a picture of our starters because we ate them so fast. I had the venison carpaccio with a blueberry sauce. It was to die for! PB was jelly. 

Then we had a bellini sorbet to cleanse our palate. It was refreshing and tasty!

(Also, perhaps I should have moved my spoon.)

I ordered the duck. It was really tasty but was a little too rich for my Weight Watcher's tummy. It made me really sick later in the evening. The dauphinoise potatoes were the best part, in my opinion; Creamy and perfectly seasoned.

For dessert we had a pecan pie and a sage panna cotta. I have to admit, I was not a fan of either of them. The pecan pie was a sad rendition, but it is what I would expect from Brits. They needed Miss Paula's recipe! The panna cotta made me gag. I am NOT a fan.

Then, if we weren't already stuffed, they brought us a cheese plate. This was possibly my favorite part of the night! All the cheeses were made locally and they were perfect! We literally ate everything on the plate. The homemade chutney was the best I've ever had. 

They even gave us a cute parting gift of truffles. 

Then we danced the night away! It was SO.MUCH.FUN. I mean I think we were some of the youngest people there, but everyone was up boogying! There was an 85 year old woman who was totally breaking it down to the Black Eyed Peas. 

We danced and danced and danced and danced.

I loooovvveee British peeps. I'm convinced they dance more than Americans.

We ended the night with a fantastic fireworks display on the grounds of the Hall. It was a surprisingly good! 

On our way back in after midnight they gave us "Bucks Fizz" (aka mimosas) and smoked salmon on bagels. Due to my upset tummy I only had one mimosa and had to pass us the bagels. I'm still heartbroken about that because they looked amazing!

We had a fantastic time. This was a moderately priced dinner/dance option and we were both impressed with the value for money we got. Next year we might try one of the really pricey options to compare. If you are in England next New Year's Eve you should definitely check out a dinner/dance at a stately hotel. (Check for "Handpicked Hotels" for some gorgeous hotels.) We had a blast!

I know it is a month late, but how did you all ring in 2011?

{style inspiration: pale & pretty neutrals}

. . . not quite december yet, and already things are beginning to move along at an even more dizzying pace than usual, with upcoming soirées, dinner parties and gift exchanges, boxes tied with ribbon and a feeling of magic in the air, and in the midst of all the running around, have been practically living in luxuriously soft cashmere cardigans, belted, and perfectly paired with cozy scarves and festive gold fingernails . . .

{images: photography by janis nicolay for country living; patterson maker}

{holiday inspiration: silver & gold}

. . . while may not have had a chance to get together holiday decorations this past weekend {perhaps & hopefully this week}, have been dreaming up elegant colour palettes for the season, and while the last may have been inspired by tiffany's blue, this year, quite smitten with the idea of simple and classic silver and gold, perhaps hints of pearl and opalescence, gilded garlands and glittering sequins, and perhaps, just the faintest glimmer of palest lilac . . .

{p.s.} also lovely: one & two; & how was your weekend? dying to know what holiday colour palettes you've been dreaming up?

{also:} a few things you may have missed:
* weekend: a few lovely links
* at the shops: andrea bonelli, san francisco
* for the holidays: advertising

{& one last thing:}
* now that we finally have a winner for the philippe starck louis ghost armchair, it's on to the next glamorous give-away {perfect for the holidays!} a little later today -- check back if you like . . . xo

{images: photography by virginia macdonald for style at home}

{snow & mistletoe}

. . . at this moment, red lipstick and a long sweep of silk taffeta, and excitement uncontained for a few days away . . . and there will be lingering soirées and champagne, laughter by firelight and snow and mistletoe . . . but first, hello & farewell and thank you so very much for reading all this time, for wonderfully thoughtful comments and beautifully written emails {& all the lovely holiday cards!} and for spending a part of your mornings & days caught up in the thoughts & musings here . . . wishing you holidays enveloped in warmth & laughter, family & friends, and most of all, love, love, love and arms to hold you tight on these late december nights . . .

a very merry christmas to you & the most happiest of holidays,
~ roséline xo

{images: thesteward; sofia; alina gozin'a via desire to inspire; kurt geiger shoes via selina lake; kate spade via inside the loop; thesteward, photo-editing by this is glamorous}

{holiday inspiration: tinseltown}

. . . and as a perfect foil for all the glittering & glamorous gold recently: shimmering silver pine cones and sparkling numbered votives, and for good measure, a bit of silver tinsel atop a pair of peeptoes for nights merry & bright . . .




{images: 1 - scan by this is glamorous, olivia morris shoes, photography by hugh stewart for british vogue december 2003; 2 - photography by sandra aslaksen; 2 - numbered glass votives by cox & cox via bliss}

{holiday inspiration: the spirit of giving}

. . . ever since their crystal & gold tray was featured here last autumn, many have been smitten with the stunningly lovely things found at rablabs, and since it's the season for giving, few things are lovelier than an utterly beautiful gift that also supports a great cause -- and this year -- rablabs has teamed up with tri-state bird rescue, an organization working to manage the rehabilitation of oiled wildlife in the gulf coast, to offer a new line of coasters inspired by the enchanted dreams of the ocean . . .




. . . made from natural rocks found in the heart of brazil, the exquisitely elegant ocean coasters are formed from the unique tides and eddies of mineral-rich water flowing through ancient lava streams, their deep blue-green hues reflecting the intensely saturated color and mystery of the ocean . . .

founded in response to mass wildlife destruction resulting from oil spills, tri state bird rescue & research has been rehabilitating birds since 1976; with this new collaboration with rablabs, 20% of the proceeds from these brazilian agate coasters in the special edition oceano range will be donated to this wonderful cause

. . . and so, if still searching for that last perfect gift . . . here

{p.s.} happy, happy monday! hope your week is off to a beautiful start,

~ roséline xo

{images: 1 - vt interiors; 2 - anne vvalitsyna by mark segal for louis vuitton cruise 2011}

{the stars were brightly shining}

. . . and while we're on the topic of spending the holidays in warm places, quite adore the idea of decorating an elegant evergreen wreath with seaside inspired starfish, even as the icicles glisten in the late-december light and a soft blanket of freshly fallen snow beautifully envelopes a perfect winter's afternoon . . .

{image: country living via lovely influence}

{holiday inspiration: glittering gold}

. . . may have played with the notion of winter white, or pale & pretty neutrals, bits of silver, or warm slate & evergreen, and perhaps even crimson, but in the end, knew it would always be glittering gold . . .

kartell gold lamp | 1stdibs gilt metal starburst chandelier | j.crew teenie glitter leather belt | victoria beckham sunglasses | louis vuitton shimmering slim evening clutch | aspinal of london metallic gold leather ipad case | zara home hans jug




{p.s.} absolutely and completely in love with this gold velvet dress by erin fetherston for juicy couture capsule collection








cubes of gold custom ring designed by imogen belfield | yves saint laurent rouge volupté pearl lipstick | kate spade twirl margie handbag | badgley mischka peep toes | kelly wearstler brass kaleidoscopes | talullah tu bow ring | bodum chambord gold french press | merchant archive london 70s gold trolly | mepra due ice oro flatware

{p.s.} a few things:
* last day for the crystal necklace holiday give-away
* guest posting here today xo


{juicy loves glamour girls by erin fetherston image, scan by this is glamorous, photography by francisco garcia for nylon magazine, january 2011; fireplace via the green room interiors, gold sequins & red lipstick via bela adler & salvador fresneda not just a label discovered via felicity -- thank you! xo}