Christmas Gifts Part 1

I'm finally here with my Christmas Gift tips! I'm always in for some cosy family time, candlelight and presents! People often ask me tips on what to buy for presents, well here are some ideas:

Vespa is pretty for the ladies and cool for the lads! Makes waking up a whole lot easier...
Club

Manhattan nailpolish. Especially this shade (L59). I bought this last Spring and the colour was ugly. I tried wearing it again in the Autumn and it looks amazing! I've been using it ever since, it looks retro and it makes a nice change from always having bright red nails. I get so many compliments when I use this colour, so I buy it all the time to give to someone. A real hit, but do put on 2 coats to let the warm brown colour come through.
Kruidvat

Ok ok, this I also bought for myself, but it would make an original present. I love these knitted sweaters. They're knitted from original 1940's patterns. A design I just can't find in regular shops...must buy online!
Rocket Originals

Through the Looking Glass-Diary 2011. I saw this in a shop and have been thinking about it ever since. This diary is so cute, it has pictures in it from the original Alice in Wonderland. A perfect little gift.
Teneues or Club



Ginger. Love it or hate it. People in my family can't live without it. Why not make a ginger surprise package? A porcelain Ginger grater, some fresh ginger and my lovely Ginger Tea recipe:
Squeeze the juice of a tangerine into a teacup. Grate some ginger and let it cook in boiling water for a couple of minutes depending on how strong you want it to taste (ginger can get spicy hot). Add the ginger tea to the tangerine juice together with some fresh mint leaves and a couple of drops of honey. Delicious!
White Porcelain Ginger Grater or in most health food stores

Happy Lights. Big light strings of cotton balls. They are available in lovely colours and they really set the mood. I got a purple and green one for my birthday. You can hang them, put them in a bowl, drape them over the coffee table, whatever you feel like.
Happy Lights

 

 Stick around for part 2...



Tattoo Convention - last weekend

Last weekend we worked at the Brussels tattoo convention. The theme was fifties/rockabilly, how perfect is that? I had the best time, while the boyfriend was working, hehe! Not only were there about a hundred tattoo artists, there was also a little market for me to stroll around in for two days and some awesome rock'n roll bands to go see. I love the moment just before the doors open, everything is quiet, everyone is ready and we usually take a walk to say hello to old and new friends. And then thousands of people come in... Here are some pics:

Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

Cake Mascara - retro eyelashes

Maybelline ad for cake mascara

I wear mascara. I wear it everyday, no exceptions, oh no! If I don't wear it, people ask if I'm either tired or sick... Mascara makes me look awake. I have an extensive collection, all black ones. My favorites are MAC zoom lash, Max Factor False Lash Effect, Bourjois Liner Effect and ArtDeco All in One. All of these give your eyelashes a bit of a retro look. I never use one at a time though, I usually use two of them togheter. I love using MAC togheter with Max Factor for example, Mac gives me the black pigment I want and Max factor just gives the lashes a cleaner, neat look.

MAC Zoom Lash



Max Factor False Lash Effect



Artdeco All in One

Bourjois Liner Effect

But what I really want to try out is Cake Mascara: mascara from the pre-wand and tube era, this was put on the market in the fifties. You apply it by using a seperate brush and dissolving some water into the pigment. I read some wonderful reviews about cake mascara on the net. And  before I order it in the USA I would still like to try to find it closer to home somewhere in Europe. So if you have any idea where to find it, please go ahead en reveal your secret! I would love to give it a try!

Lola Cosmetics - Cake Mascara

Paris was perfect

La tour Eiffel

metro station

Paris was lovely! The weather was absolutely fantastic, we were so lucky. I didn't have time to stop by Ladurée for macarons, instead I bought them at a little patisserie and they were delicious! We were only staying for 1.5 days, because we were there for a surprise visit for my friend. But I loved soaking up the atmosphere. Paris is such a lovely combination of old and new, history is always around the corner. 

Moulin Rouge

Paris has a lot of little shops with just one sort of item for sale, I wish we had more of those around here. For example I found shops that just sold angel statues, all sorts and sizes and a vintage perfume bottle shop.

Vintage perfume bottle shop

The most memorable part for a shopaholic like me was the visit to the flea market of St.Ouen, Les Puces de Saint-Ouen . We came by train so buying some awesome chairs wasn't an option.



These would have looked so good in our living room



need some beads?



I'm definitely coming back here to stroll around.

Arc de Triomphe

And get some more macarons!

I also wanted to let you I'm working on a new webshop post, where to shop for your holiday shopping (and mine, hehe!).