135 // Festive Friday Finds - Anthropologie

Anthropologie is one of those magically mysterious places whose name I've seen frequently dotted across blogs and other such sites but haven't - until now - thought about visiting. Why, though, I don't know - craziness on my part I'd say - because when I first hopped on-board the charming express, first stop - Anthropologie-ville, I instantly fell in lust. It's a really beautiful site - especially it's Christmas page - and it feels as though each and every piece displayed and sold is done so for a reason. What that is beyond making it's visitors incredibly happy I'm not entirely sure but, boy, am I not complaining. Everything is beautifully designed, original and quirky, so I'm more than willing to hop on that train and take the one-way express. Anthropologie? More like ain't-no-apology (I'm terrible!)

There's currently a '20% off each and every item you wish' (applied at checkout, as read in the small notes!) between today, November 29th, and Monday. You can thank me later ;)

Clockwise from top left to bottom left

1 // Grace

2 // Radical Rags

3 // Vintage Fashion & Couture

4 // Paris Street Style

5 // Fashion Jewelry 

I'm kicking things off with books. All of the above are perfect for the fashion-lover in your life; the first is Grace Coddington's memoir dedicated to her journey towards becoming American Vogue's Creative Director (if you haven't, I suggest watching 'The September Issue' dedicated to the putting together of American Vogue's, well, September Issue, in which Grace is featured). Radical Rags is 60s-fied (from what I can tell this is the only copy on the site and was originally published in 1990). Vintage Fashion & Couture tells the story of fashion through the centuries, 'focusing on key designers and icons......from Grace Kelly in the 1950s to McQueen at the turn of the Millennium'. Paris Street Style - if you can't beat 'em (and you just won't, Parisians do style like no other) you may as well try your best to join them, and this book offers you a guide to doing just that! Lastly we have Fashion Jewelry: The Collection of Barbara Berger. If you haven't heard of her, go look her up - from what I've read, Barbara's collection stands at 4000 pieces. That's some dedication! 

1 // Secret Garden 

2 // A Christmas Carol

3 // A Map of the World

4 // Doodle London

This Secret Garden book could easily be mistaken for Burnett's classic but, instead of a jolly good read, you're in for a colouring book treat with this one; 96 pages of illustrations for you to decorate as you choose. Oh, and a treasure hunt! Jennifer Adam's 'Babylit' collection includes this A Christmas Carol number, as well as others such as Anna Karenina (how she made that baby friendly I'm not sure!) and Alice in Wonderland. A Map of the World offers travel-lovers a 'collection of maps and atlas imagery from around the world, including classic cartography (I may need to look that one up!) from traditional mapmakers to creative illustrations by contemporary designers'. To round out the collection, I included this Doodle London, (I'm coming over all I-want-to-be-creative in my old age!) an interactive book that offers readers the chance to re-imagine and re-create London landmarks. 

1 // Scarf 

2 // Socks

3 // Mittens

4 // Cowl

As ever, FF wouldn't be complete without a collection of winter warmers - this 'Junellia' scarf features autumnal blooms, proving florals don't need to be kept hidden until spring! I know what you're thinking, more socks? But hey, these are called 'Jazzy Bed Socks', so I couldn't really leave them out, could I?! Another pair of mittens, this time these 'Fireside Tales' (perfect!), handmade by a mother-and-daughter duo who divide their time between Peru and New York (very swish!). And this cowl (I'd call it a snood?) - almost monochrome and not-to-glittery - is a sure-fire hit for day-to-night outfits. 

1 // Hand in Hand Soap

2 // Towel

3 // Mistral Soap

4 // Barr-Co. Soap

Right, onto the household, starting with the bathroom! Soaps. You can never have too many (or, in my case, you never have one!). Nowadays there's a tendency for the  'push-top' types but I love the idea of a bowl full of colourfully-packaged soaps (even if they only get so far as being bathroom decorations!). I have to admit these soaps appealed to me because of their packaging and, although I still have no idea what their scents are, I do know they all come in multiple colours and smells (Hand in Hand - 3 scents, Mistral - 4 scents and Barr-Co. - 4 scents)! And this towel? It reminds me of Art Deco, New York-ean design. And there ain't ever gonna be anything wrong with that (and, ok, the claw-footed tub its casually draped over may also have had something to do with it!).

1 // Glass Jar Candle

2 // Lip Balm

3 // Holiday Candle

4 // Mini Perfume

I'm not one for smellies myself but I do think they make wonderful presents - this Capri Blue Mercury Glass Jar Candle would look perfect on anyone's dressing table, kitchen worktop, or fireplace mantle (do I think we're living in the 1900s?!). This Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm looks and sounds good enough to eat and would be a lovely stocking stuffer! The second candle in my finds, this one is a Holiday Candle available in three different scents, all, as the name suggests, perfectly catered towards the holiday season. I'm not a perfume wearer myself but I adore the pretty bottle and packaging that belongs to this Tocca scent (of which there are 5 to chose from).

1 // Measuring Spoons

2 // Chalkboard Jar

3 // Glasses

4 // Cookie Stamp

A few kitchen oddities here - I love the idea of measuring spoons though all I have are some cheap cups! I don't own a tbsp so this collection would solve that problem rather nicely! I like the idea of a chalkboard jar - inevitably it'll probably be more mess and fuss that it's worth, but I think it'd be a sweet kitchen treat for kiddies to store their own bits and bobs in, and then label as they wish! I think these Etched Fern Stemware glasses would be perfect for all manner of liquid holding - wine, vodka, water. You name it, I'd slosh it in them! For the cookie-baking-fiend, these little cookie stamps would add a super-personal touch to every batch!

1 // Mug

2 // Mixing Bowls

3 // Bowl

4 // Canape Plate

More one-off kitchenware pieces. I do love a good mug, and this patterned piece - Kebaya Mug - looks all kinds of grown-up and would make a great coffee-or-tea vestibule for all! These Dulcie mixing bowls look like they'd withstand any heavy-handed batter-whisking that may come their way. This Vezda Bowl is another one of those 'I must just have it' pieces; I love the colour. A canapé plate this may be, but I think it'd equally make a lovely wall hanging or jewellery dish and it can be personalised thanks to it coming in designs featuring all letters of the alphabet. 

1 // Timer

2 // Pie Dish

3 // Brownie Pan

4 // Rolling Pin

I could not resist this collection of poppy-patterned kitchen goodies. Yes, I love me a cottage kitchen, but I'm now thinking pale blue walls, lots of bare wood and matching kitchen accessories! This timer, although not part of the same collection, would sit perfectly on any fridge and would offer me (and those who normally avoid 'cooking to time') the chance to get on top of their cooking timings! I don't have my own collection of pretty pieces so, at some point in my life, I'd love just that! These three poppy-decorated darlings would do just nicely. And who knows, maybe I'd make a pie and bake some brownies of an evening to try them all out!

1 // The Fashionable Cocktail

2 // Smashing Plates

3 // The French Market Cookbook

4 // Love Bake Nourish

I'm not much of a cookbook collector myself but I was drawn to the beautiful photographs and illustrations these books offered. If you're a whiz in the kitchen, or know someone who is, I think every one of these would be a fantastic addition to yours, or their, collection! A bit of a fun never hurt anyone and the kitchen (although safety first, people!) shouldn't be any different! Hosting a party or having the girls over? The Fashionable Cocktail book will have you showing of your skills in no time! Smashing Plates (love that name - to the point!) is a book of Greek Cuisine but with a contemporary twist, inspired by a Cypriot summer. The French Market Cookbook is a vegetarian book with a difference, offering recipes full of fresh flavours, laden with vegetables but without the heavy additions you sometimes find cluttering up a vegetarian's kitchen (cheese and pasta, I'm looking at you!). Love Bake Nourish would be a perfect present for the baker in your life whose looking to have a go at something different - all the cakes and puddings featured use seasonal ingredients and natural honey in the place of artificial sugars.

Edit: I was all ready to post when I realised the Baby-lit books, the Paris Street Style and the lip balm are no longer available on the Anthropologie website (blame it on the 20% off!). I'd suggest a search online if they caught your eye!

Happy Friday everyone!!