Friday, December 31, 2010

Darling Heart Sale!


I've updated the vintage shop with some new goodies, priced to sell! And as it's time to ring in the New Year, you can enter 'NYE2010' to get a further 25% off everything in stock. Have at it!

Proper reflective and resolution-y New Years post to come, promise.

xo

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

In between.


I've discovered that I really love this week in between Christmas and New Years, it's so perfect for recovering from the holidays, thinking about resolutions, getting excited for the change of a new year, pottering about the house and indulging in being a bit lazy. Up until today, things have been dark and gloomy around these parts (I love how early it gets dark), lots of rain and lots of reason to hole up indoors. 

I just read this great post over at Jane's place and I can totally relate with her feelings of Christmas having to live up to the expectations of this perfect, sparkly day and the reality of how rarely that actually happens. Don't get me wrong, I actually really love Christmas, but the past couple of years I've found myself trying to make up for the fact that it's just the two of us by over compensating ever so slightly on the preparations. Christmas has always been a big celebration for my family, lots of traditions, lots of food, lots of decorations, and I love it. But with just the two of us, there's really no need for the amount of food I hauled home from the supermarket on Christmas Eve when I was freaking out that we had nothing special in the house. This year our tree was a branch we grabbed from the sidewalk outside our apartment with silver baubles strung on it and I didn't finish cooking our main meal until late at night (because of course I was also baking cookies, roasting a nut mix and making peppermint bark at the same time). When I sat (slumped) down to eat I honestly had to wonder why on earth I'd gone to all that trouble. In the end, I secretly love the fact that Christmas is just the two of us and that we can stay in our pajamas all day until we go out into the quiet streets and see a movie. 

In the end, our holiday has been a great one. This past in between week where neither of us have had to work has been so nice and relaxing. I've been knitting and reading for the first time in ages, and am completely unworried that we have someone coming to view our house tomorrow despite my lack of tidying. The sun made a glorious appearance today, and it looks like it will be sticking around to ring in the New Year. I (quietly) can't wait! 

How have your holidays been?


Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry and Bright.


Merry Christmas and happy holidays, friends. I hope your weekends are filled with loved ones, laughter, treats and plenty of time to relax. Thank you so much for all your love and support this past year, see you back here soon! xo

Monday, December 20, 2010

Nocturnal Magic


I was looking through the old encyclopedia we use to find our bookmark images awhile ago for a custom order, when I came across this beautiful aurora borealis image. I scanned it in because I have a feeling it would look great printed up nice and big, something I have in mind to try out in the new year. With tonight's nocturnal happenings, and ushering in the Winter Solstice it seemed like the perfect time to share it. I love how the etched lines look alive and sparkling, and even though it isn't a Christmas image it feels to sum up this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere so perfectly for me. Sitting here, sipping a winter ale in our finally clean house, when it has been dark since around 4pm, it's so hard to believe that next Christmas will be spent at the beach during daylight savings! 

Like most of you I'm sure, I can't quite believe that it is Christmas this weekend. This weekend! These last few months have flown by, and now that all our markets are finished, orders are posted and the shop is closed up for a little while I've got that post school exam feeling of not being able to sit still or know what to do with myself. Really though, I'm sure the sitting still part will come quickly and as for what to do with myself I'm hoping to spend as much of these dark winter months with pals as possible. Aside from seeing this everyday, there are a few lovely people who are what I will miss most about this rainy city so I plan on squeezing as much QT in as I can. I'm also so looking forward to getting some reading (both blog and print, a comfy couch is calling my name) in, starting on the Christmas baking tonight, stringing some sort of twinkling lights and taste testing the various festive drinks on offer. I might even blog! Imagine it. 

For now I'm off to light some candles, put on a record and embrace the hippy vibes. What are your plans for the holiday season? 

Friday, December 10, 2010

a very little christmas


I recently heard about a few friends of mine back home being involved in making a Christmas album, and as I have a not so secret love of Christmas music I was pretty excited for it to be released. While there is a very special place in my heart for cheesy holiday music (some might argue that this is the only way to do it), many carols are so pretty that when they're done right (see Sufjan Stevens 'O Holy Night'), it doesn't get much better. Anyway, 'a very little christmas' is up for download now and I'm really liking it! There's a few traditional tracks, and some fun ones, lots of lo-fi and acoustic-y goodness. It's free, and it helps get the name of some really excellent kiwi acts out there so I'd recommend taking a listen!

Sorry it's been so quiet around here lately, we've been swamped with the holiday rush and I've also just had one of those patches where there isn't really anything I can think of to write about. Have you ever had that? I don't want to post just for the sake of posting, but perhaps after this weekend my head will be a little clearer and I'll have thoughts outside the realm of shipping dates and finding more bubble wrap, ha! 

If you're in Vancouver, we're going to be at the Gypsy Market happening this Sunday at the Biltmore and we'd love for you to stop by and say hello! Richard will be selling records, I'll have a few Bliss in a Teacup goodies and other vintage trinkets. Plus, there's bands, booze and Budgies Burritos. What more could you want?