2015 Holiday Gift Guide - Happy Shopping!!

Looking for the perfect gift for the stylish spiritualista, cook, writer and book lover, week-end lounger, or gardener on your list? Pop on over to Resilientista for unique, budget and splurge worthy suggestions.
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4 Unique Boutiques to help you with Gift Giving

December has arrived and before we know it Christmas will be here. 

Have you started your gift shopping?

If you are looking for a special gift for family, friends, co-workers or YOURSELF, I would like to suggest checking out these fabulous on-line boutiques. These boutique owners are also BlogFriends and over my 4 years of blogging I have not only been inspired by what they share on their blogs but, by their entrepreneurial spirit and creative talents. 

images Via Dolce Dreams

Nathalie is the skilled hands behind Dolce Dreams boutique, creating custom hand-embroidered treasures since 2007. The selection, quality of the fabric and attention to detail have made her personalized baby quilts and baby loveys my gift of choice for the new bundles of joy in our family (my brother's 3 children all have one). 
No babies in your family or social circle, no worries pamper someone you love (including yourself) with a lavender eye pillow - perfect for aiding in relaxing, especially during the holiday season. lavender sachets are wonderful for keeping drawers lightly scented or for tucking in your pillow for good night's sleep (lavender is calming and helps with sleep). You can also find inspiration at Nathalie's Dolce Dreams blog.

Images Via Mariette's Back to Basics

Mariette is the curator of Mariette's Back To Basics boutique, where you will find unique gifts for the entertaining hostess and the connoisseur of treasures from a simpler time. When you visit the boutique: Limoges, Baccarat, Christolfe, and Giovanni Raspini are just a few among some of the collections you will discover. When friends visit me for tea, there is often a treasure that I acquired from Mariette's boutique, in the table-setting.
Mariette shares beautiful photos of her gardens and world travels on her blog if you have not yet discovered it pop on over and be inspired at Mariette's Back to Basics Blog.

Images Via Mummy Loves Shoes

I was introduced to the talented illustrator Clare Groves when I won her book  My Mummy Loves Shoes, on dear friend Susan's blog Ava Grace's Closet  (visit Susan's blog for fashion inspiration and wonderful discoveries). And I have become a fan of this wonderfully talented artist. Along with her beautifully written and illustrated book, which is a must have for fashionistas even if they don't have children; Clare has illustrated a collection of cards that are sure to be a hit with any fashionista on your Christmas list. Visit Clare's website here.

Images Via Luxuria

Luxuria inspires us with thought provoking writing by its founder Vanessa, and its boutique is a visual candy shop of unique jewelry pieces. Elegant, sophisticated, fun are some of the adjectives I would use to describe the pieces. Each piece is handcrafted and offered in limited availability, so when you gift a treasure from Luxuria Jewellery Boutique, to a special someone (or yourself) you are giving a work-of-art. I treated myself to a pair of earrings earlier this year and they became my summer earring of choice.

(from Luxuria's website) Collections within the Luxuria Jewellery Boutique are not mass-produced, allowing you the pleasure of owning your own pieces and standing out from the crowd in a very inexpensive fashion. All in-house designs are made by the same workshop that makes for Harry Winston (so that will give you some idea of the quality of our pieces).

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What is December to You?

To me December is about family, extended family, friends, counting our blessings and giving to those less fortunate.  Sometimes distance (location), weather (road conditions), illness and finances can make it difficult for all the family to gathered at the same time in one place - but sending a hand written card is priceless and the phone, face-time, or skype make it possible to be together (even if for a few minutes) when you can't be.

Here is a little reminder of why we celebrate in December...
CHRISTMAS

The word Christmas comes from the old English "Cristes maesse" meaning Christ's Mass. The Holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The actual birthday of Jesus is not known; therefore, the early Church Fathers in the 4th century fixed the day around the old Roman Saturnalia festival (17 - 21 December), a traditional pagan festivity. The first mention of the birthday of Jesus is from the year 354 AD. Gradually all Christian churches,  accepted the date of December 25th. 
In American/English tradition, Christmas Day itself is the day for opening gifts brought by jolly old St. Nick. Many of our current American ideals about the way Christmas ought to be, derive from the English Victorian Christmas, such as that described in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." 

The custom of gift-giving on Christmas goes back to Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Kalends. The very first gifts were simple items such as twigs from a sacred grove as good luck emblems. Soon that escalated to food, small items of jewelry, candles, and statues of gods. To the early Church, gift-giving at this time was a pagan holdover and therefore severely frowned upon. However, people would not part with it, and some justification was found in the original gift giving of the Magi, and from figures such as St. Nicholas. By the middle ages gift giving was accepted. Before then it was more common to exchange gifts on New Year's Day or Twelfth Night.

SANTA CLAUS

Santa Claus is known by British children as Father Christmas. Father Christmas, these days, is quite similar to the American Santa, but his direct ancestor is a certain pagan spirit who regularly appeared in medieval mummer's plays. The old-fashioned Father Christmas was depicted wearing long robes with sprigs of holly in his long white hair. Children write letters to Father Christmas detailing their requests, but instead of dropping them in the mailbox, the letters are tossed into the fireplace. The draft carries the letters up the chimney, and theoretically, Father Christmas reads the smoke. Gifts are opened Christmas afternoon. 
From the English we get a story to explain the custom of hanging stockings from the mantelpiece. Father Christmas once dropped some gold coins while coming down the chimney. The coins would have fallen through the ash grate and been lost if they hadn't landed in a stocking that had been hung out to dry. Since that time children have continued to hang out stockings in hopes of finding them filled with gifts. 

Greenery and Christmas Tree

The hanging of greens, such as holly and ivy, is a British winter tradition with origins far before the Christian era. Greenery was probably used to lift sagging winter spirits and remind the people that spring was not far away. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe is descended from ancient Druid rites. 

The decorating of Christmas trees, though primarily a German custom, has been widely popular in England since 1841 when Prince Albert had a Christmas tree set up in Windsor Castle for his wife Queen Victoria, and their children. 

As I googled and read, refreshing my mind about all the various elements which together fill the month of December with celebrations ~ it was interesting to note all of these elements come together (originated) from different parts of the world. Perhaps in a simple way - December is a time when knowing or unknowingly we all come together - no matter our background, religious or non-religious beliefs. 

Yes, opening a wonderfully wrapped box from a loved one is magical (and watching the excitement of small children as they tear into the wrapping is priceless), we do exchange gifts at the High Heeled Life home. But we are also remembering there is much more than opening gifts, in celebrating this time of year. One way we are trying to do this is - the children in our lives, along with their Christmas present from us - will be getting a special gift, inside will be a note with details on what was given to someone in need, instead of buying them (the child) another gift.

This year try not caving into the pressures of the media/society about more and bigger. Instead of emptying your wallet or swiping that plastic card, buy ONE gift with meaning. Spend time with family, loved ones and friends creating memories. Give a helping hand to those who truly need (shelter, food, clothing, friendship).

What ways do you help little ones understand why we celebrate Christmas, and that it's not just about getting/opening gifts?

Package in the mail - Blog Friends

Ah... Wednesday- started out pretty good - the weather was great, not too hot or cool- I was feeling a bit tired but determined to get some work done on the Angel garden when Rehab Girl (she is really helpful at making sure I don't over do it and pace myself) arrived. So as we were going through what the "plan" is for today - the mail man arrived with a package for moi.

As I opened the package I recalled the cards I had ordered from  French Bleu Vintage  Shop. Adrienne's  blog  French Bleu Vintage, had been featured on Frenchy's blog Le Chateau des fleurs , which I read daily. I couldn't wait to open the box and see my beautiful cards. When I opened the box inside nicely packaged and protected were my cards.

I'm quite certain, by her facial expression Rehab Girl - thought I was having a "moment", taking pictures. I quickly explained I had to; "look how carefully and beautifully everything was packaged" -  It was like receiving a gift!!!

But there was more ... inside the box...

Tucked inside was a beautiful gift tag (which I'm going to use for my writing desk) and a token of merci from Adrienne; all held together creatively with beautifully hand embellished in white with silver accents a  Paris theme clip .

                                    

All this beauty and we had yet to reach the prize ... my Cards.

                                       

Recently we brought my writing desk from our city home. Much to hubby's dismay - since as some of you may know, we are under some major renovations and space to set things up is bascially non-existent. But I missed my writing desk terribly and of course the only place to set it up, offering me a great view of the gardens - ok I digress, I'll save the desk for another post. But I couldn't resist taking the cards over and placing them on the desk. These will be the cards I use for the next note-card I need to write.

If you have not had an opportunity to visit  French Bleu Vintage or  Le Chateau des fleurs - I do suggest you added them to your "need to check it out" list. These ladies elevate the word creative to a completely new level. After all, we can all use a little creative inspiration.

We did make it out to the Angel garden and my excitement about my wonderful cards, gave me a little energy boost, the garden is almost ready. I need to write a Thank you card and also acknowledge their birthday... I can't wait to sit at my writing desk and use my new cards! 

P.S. Thank you Blog Friends - who share great finds. Had it not been for Frenchy I may not have come across French Bleu Vintage - Merci mon ami Frenchy XO.