love: christmas holidays + pretty eco-friendly packaging

yes, yes, i know...
i have been in so MIA over the past few days/weeks...

i spent the holidays:
making eco-friendly paper ornaments, sewing paper garlands, and stringing popcorn for our tree,
wrapping gifts in beautiful, simple packaging also using eco-friendly, recycled, and
brown kraft paper,
cooking a big meal for Christmas eve dinner
(i got most of the recipes from Jamie Oliver, and the meal turned out awesome!),
shopping and getting thoughtful gifts for my loved ones,
becoming a tea addict (thanks to all the wonderful teas at David's tea),
seeing friends (from near and far) and spending time with family over holiday get-togethers...
and most importantly, reflecting on all the wonderful events
and the great people that have made my 2009 a year to be grateful for.

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i made my girlfriends little holiday loots
using handmade twine, recycled polka dot tissue, brown paper bags, brown paper tags...
they contained:
packets of hot cocoa (from second cup!), chocolates, & stila lipgloss!








this gift was for my friend Jess,
I was her Secret Santa!

this year, we had a theme...
aside from the main gift, we thought it would be cool to give
the person something that reminds us of them.
it turned out to be a really fun time as this was amongst us girlfriends from highschool!
my girlfriend Tanya who was my Secret Santa got me an Ariel tee -
i sang and played a lot of music in high school (and yes, i was in band...) and i loooove mermaids!



anyway, i hope you had a beautiful and warm holidays...
all the best in 2010!

xo,
kay

holiday gift guide: for your mom who has a green thumb and loves sewing, pretty cardigans, & you!

decorative tea bag selection from fortnum and mason
cath kidston's sew
gardening rubber clogs from cath kidston
framed vintage botanical prints
gardener's hand cream from crabtree & evelyn
lilac cardigan from jcrew
coin purse from longchamp

holiday gift guide: for the 20-something preppy rockstar brother

mustache ornament from UO
sabatino blazer from opening ceremony
fred perry sneakers
american apparel 3 pack jersey scarf
eric clapton: the autobiography
guitar & amp pillowcase set from UO

see: where the wild things are...

and let the wild rumpus start! :)

hear: say hello

let's say hello to september.

summer came and went so fast.
and since my last post:
i've assembled a bedframe,
gone to the zoo
(i got to pet stingrays!)
attended a beautiful, and oh so glamorous wedding
(complete with a photobooth!),
as well as a surprise engagement party,
where we also found out that our
girlfriend who tied the knot last year
is now a mommy-to-be at three months!

it was a lovely season.
and though gone are the sun-drenched days
that seem to go on forever
and the sun now sleeps earlier and earlier,
i hope the fall promises things that are just as lovely.
i kick it off in london, then the big apple
so really, how can it not be lovely?

and now, for some rosie thomas and sufjan stevens cover
(the most adorable of them all!) ...



would he hold me
and never let me go...
would he let me borrow his old winter coat...

hear: james taylor

his songs remind me of my parents
because as far as i can remember
my father always sang and played them on the guitar
for my mother who only swoons in secret.

& before there was iron and wine
or schuyler fisk and joshua radin,
there was james taylor and carly simon:


i always sing along when my dad plays this song:


lastly, a personal favourite
and a song my brother has patiently
learned to play on his guitar so i can sing
my own little rendition:

taste: a summery weekend (finally!)

it finally feels like summer here!
weekend weather was superbly hot
and on friday we had a lovely soiree
at a friend-slash-colleague's
quaint 2nd floor balcony
in the heart of kensington market.
and can i please tell you about the food:
pesto & spinach sausages, veal burgers with goat cheese
and sundried tomatoes, washed down with lots
and lots of beer, and sweet yellow mangoes for dessert.

saturday came and the summer heat
decided to stay a little while more.
so my parents threw an impromptu family bbq.
i made grilled vegetable antipasti:
zucchini, yellow, green and red peppers,
and onions all primly blackened and
caramelized, sliced and tossed in garlic
flavoured olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt
& pepper.i also made a fresh summer salad:
cucumbers, red onion, avocado, lots of dill,
chunks of brie, and a touch of lime juice and coarse salt.
the humid night wore on as we ate
ice cream and watermelon.

then, i had the most wonderful sunday evening.
the boy's parents and grandparents threw me
a little surprise birthday dinner.
we had: shrimp har gow, spring rolls, and
chicken corn soup to start. then, ginger and garlic lobster
with traditional chinese sweet dough bread, and
chicken in szechuan peanut sauce.
his parents know how much i love his
maternal grandparents and truly consider
them as my own. they are among the most
wonderful and extraordinary people i know,
and i could not have asked for a better
early birthday and end to the summery weekend.

---
images from martha stewart