Last year I put together a list of gift ideas as well as a ‘how to’ shop guide, I think it’s worth a read if you are stuck on what to get a certain someone for Christmas – you can read the post here: Christmas Gift Shopping 101.

I don’t want to repeat myself this year, so here are some ideas that might hopefully help with your holiday shopping! If you do it online, just make sure you double check the shipping cut-off dates, postal service gets massively bogged down towards the end of the year and you want to get your stuff on time :)

#1 For the Fashionista
1. Dannijo Frances II Bracelet 2. DL & Co Naughty / Nice Journal 3. Diana Vreeland The Eye has to Travel 4. Day Birger et Mikkelsen Acapulco bangles 5. Carine Riotfeld: Irreverent 6. Alexander McQueen Elaphe and brass wrap bracelet 7. Alexander Wang Kirsten Satchel 8. See by Chloe Nutter squirrel key fob 9. Cire Trudon Nazareth scented candle 10. Zara City bag

#2 For the home
1. Future Perfect Shell round plates 2. Kate Spade Live Colorfully gift set 3. Wool and the Gang Snood Dogg DIY wool scarf kit 4. Missoni Home Kew embroidered cushion 5. Future Perfect DIY Coil Lamp kit 6. Modcloth delectable duo tiffin box 7. Future Perfect Mad Hatter set 8. Jil Sander Square leather cosmetics case 9. Design*Sponge at Home 10. Custom Cover Cook’s Books Set (includes - The Essential New York Times Cookbook: Classic Recipes for a New Century by Amanda Hesser; James Beard’s American Cookery; The Joy of Cooking, 75th Anniversary Edition; La Cuisine: Everyday French Home Cooking Everyday French Home Cooking by Francoise Bernard; French Feasts: 299 Traditional Recipes for Family Meals and Gatherings by Stephane Reynaud)

#3 For the tech savvy
1. Postalco Document Case 2. Lytro Camera 3. Alaia Perforated leather cell phone case 4. Arnsdorf SS11 Crystal Pattern iPhone Case 5. Helmut Newton Polaroids 6. Geneva Lab Sound System XS 7. Kenton Sorenson iPad Portfolio 8. Photo Fabric light-sensitive dye kit 9. Nikon 1 Camera 10. Marc by Marc Jacobs Supersonic python-print iPhone case

Happy shopping!

I thought it would be interesting to revisit an old post from 6 years ago and see how much my favorite fifty foods, originally here, has changed..

While going through it I’ve realised that it is a lot harder to answer these now because my palate has changed quite immensely and that I don’t gravitate toward a particular type of food anymore. There are a few things that are still the same, like I wouldn’t pass up the chance to order a great medium rare steak or go past salmon sashimi, but overall spending the last few years exploring culinary boundaries, being aware of local and seasonal (and sustainable) produce, learning about new types of food and cooking techniques has definitely made a difference in the way I eat. As recent as three years ago I would not voluntarily eat a mushroom, and these days I load my mushroom risotto with so many different types of mushrooms that it’s almost black..

Neither would I have made anything like this for dinner at home a few years back:

This was from Friday night :) I think Sydney’s wide variety of produce and stellar array of restaurants has a lot to do with this change as well!

How would you say your habits have changed over the years?

1. favourite main:
a good medium rare steak

2. favourite salad:
greek salads, anything light and fresh with walnuts, pinenuts, watermelon, fetta, a good ceasar still doesn’t go astray

3. favourite soup:
pumpkin, leek and potato, minestrone, anything hearty

4. favourite appetizer:
oysters, most seafood-based – tuna tartare, kingfish sashimi, miang kum (thai betel leaf wrap), stuffed zucchini flowers

5. favourite dessert:
creme brulee, panna cotta, macarons, mille feuille-style stacks, gelato

6. favourite fruit:
melons, berries, citrus – slightly chilled

7. favourite vegetable:
asparagus, brocolli, cauliflowers, leeks, zucchinis

8. favourite sashimi:
salmon, tuna, kingfish, prawn, lobster

9. favourite sushi roll:
freshly made prawn tempura rolls, spicy salmon rolls, anything with raw salmon actually

10. favourite soda beverage:
indian tonic, lift

11. favourite non-alcoholic beverage:
green tea, lemongrass ice tea, fresh apple, watermelon, orange juices

12. favourite alcoholic shot:
patron cafe xo, lemon drops (my evergreen), b52

13. favourite alcoholic drink:
a hendricks gin and tonic, jack daniel’s and coke, vodka and fresh apple, wine and champagne

14. favourite cake:
not really a fan of cakes anymore but i reckon a strong coffee tiramisu would still hit the spot

15. favourite pie:
shepard’s pie – i make a really good one based on a gordon ramsay recipe!

16. favourite ice cream:
fruit-based gelato

17. favourite milkshake:
vanilla, malt

18. favourite cut of beef:
sirloin, porterhouse, eye fillet, rump

19. favourite cuisine:
japanese, if i had to only eat one for the rest of my life. but french, italian, thai, vietnamese, malaysian and indian are right up there!

20. favourite part of chicken: (leg, wing, thigh, breast)
sitll partial to chicken thighs! mainly because of texture but it really depends on what i’m making

21. favourite fried food:
zucchini flowers stuffed with goats cheese, tempura batter-fried, a good batch of shoestring fries with rosemary and rock salt, prawn tempura, fish and chips with a light beer batter

22. favourite cookie:
butter cookies, still. shortbread. plain and simple

23. favourite indian curry:
butter makhani, a good lentil dahl

24. favourite gum:
haven’t had any for a loooong time! don’t have a preference

25. favourite candy:
sour coke bottles? have stopped eating candy as well..

26. favourite crepe:
french-style, savoury over sweet. preferred toppings – swiss gruyere, mushrooms, eggs. proscuitto, fresh/grilled goats cheese, chives, ricotta, pine nuts

27. favourite sandwich:
traditional style egg mayo. ham and cheese. a good roast beef

28. favourite pizza:
margherita

29. favourite mexican dish:
tacos!

30. favourite vietnamese dish:
a good, hearty pho.

31. favourite korean dish:
korean bbq – beef ribs

32. favourite chinese dish:
chicken rice wine noodles – i grew up on this stuff!

33. favourite filipino dish:
none in particular (i don’t know the cuisine well)

34. favourite southern food:
ditto

35. favourite instant noodles brand:
indomie goreng is my guilty pleasure

36. favourite juice:
fresh squeezed OJ, doesn’t get any better than this

37. favourite snack food:
no snacks either! am i eating healthier?!

38. favourite fish:
atlantic salmon, barramundi, swordfish, mackerel

39. favourite cereal:
weetbix.. with bananas, sugar and milk

40. favourite pho:
traditional beef pho

41. favourite breakfast food:
scrambled eggs, pan friend bacon, grilled tomatoes, sourdough

42. favourite french food:
steak tartare, bouillabaisse, beef bourguignon, most pastries.. love french food

43. favourite mcdonalds food:
double quarter pounder and cheese!

44. favourite pasta dish:
veal or duck ragu, with fresh pappardelle or fettucine

45. favourite bread:
sourdough

46. favourite tea:
earl gray with honey, lemongrass, peppermint, green tea

47. favourite 7-11 slurpee flavor:
i don’t think i’ve had one in the last ten years..

48. favourite hershey’s kiss:
haven’t had any in ages, maybe cookies and cream

49. favourite flavor of m&m’s:
regular

50. favourite candy bar:
snickers

Pretty vast difference – going through the list I’ve also noticed that these days snacking is a bowl of watermelon pieces instead of Doritos..

Also, this isn’t really my 50 ‘all time’ favourite foods.. the questions are quite generic!

Can you believe how fast the holiday season has crept up on us? Christmas is just over a month away and I’m already working on putting January issues to bed. The end of the year is usually the busiest period for me and while I try my best to sort out most of my Christmas shopping by October, this year I’ve left it a little late. By late I mean 2-3 weeks before the cut-off date for international shipping (approx. 2 weeks) as I do most of my shopping online.

I love shopping for other people – my gift giving philosophy is this: never give anyone something that I wouldn’t be caught dead with myself. Although some prefer the ease of gift vouchers, to me it’s just nicer way of saying “I couldn’t be bothered taking time to pick something for you” – it’s really not all that hard to shop if you…

1 – Plan ahead
Most people will have a rough idea when it comes to the people who are close to us, but it’s hard to shop for someone you don’t know all that well. So plan early if you know you’re going to need more time to find the perfect present – you can usually smell a last minute gift a mile away.

2 – Choose quality over quantity
Something functional and well-made will last a long time. While it doesn’t have to be expensive, remember that poorly-made dollar store gifts will most likely be casted aside after a while.

3 – Know your giftee
If you don’t know your giftee all that well – ask someone who does. If he or she is on Facebook, has a blog or subscribes to any other form of social media it’s usually pretty easy to get an idea of their interests and things they like. Photo albums are great place to take note of their personal style.

4 – Think practical
Don’t try to reinvent the wheel when it come to the obvious – if your giftee likes golf you have a theme to work with. Just stay away from items that weigh heavy on personal preference (ie. clubs) that people usually buy for themselves, unless of course you know they’ve been wanting a particular thing for ages!

5 – Inject your own personality
Are you always the fun and quirky one? or practical? Think about how your gift will represent you. I often try to buy gifts that I think would fit into my friend’s lifestyles while not compromising on the fact that I like unique and beautifully designed things.

6 – Don’t get intimidated by ‘the person who has everything’
It’s not really that hard to shop for the person who has everything. Think something on the lines of giving an ‘experience’ or something personalised. A hot air balloon ride or a skydive won’t really go wrong if the person is adventurous, or perhaps a pampering session if they’ve been flat out lately. If you’re still stumped, you can always donate to a charity or sponsor a dolphin or whale under their name.

7 – Know it’s the thought that counts
But if you can’t think, be prepared to spend! :)

8 – Have a plan B
If all else fails, buy a gift voucher.. :P

Here are some ideas!

The boys
Malcolm Fontier’s iMojito Minimalist wallet and iPhone holder, US$36; Kitson Minimergency Kit for Him, US$11.95; Imaginary Foundation Ink Bottle V-Neck, US$30; Personalised BBQ Branding Iron, A$19.50; Stainless Steel Portable Notebook Grill, A$69.95

The girls
Tord Boontje & Artechnica’s Charming Charms, US$16/set of 3; Obsessive Consumption by Kate Bingaman-Burt, US$13.57 (Amazon); Kate Spade New York iPhone 4 Cover, A$44.95; Haoshi’s Animal Necklaces, US$65 each; The little dictionary of Fashion by Christian Dior, US$20

The jetsetter
Lonely Planet’s Cities Hardback, A$39.98 and Travel Book, A$80; Jack Russell Malletier bags, from €150; One year of White Pages, US$39; Duct tape Passport Holder, US$12; Trace Me Luggage Tracker Tags, from £12.50

The party animal
Goody Gram’s Pewter & Glass Animal Shot Glasses, US$32 each; Alexander Purcell & Aprro’s Sake Bomb, US$98; Jimmy Jayne Contour M Massage Stone, US$25; Love my Sole Foldable Ballet Flats, A$45; Commando Matchsticks – Double Stick Tricks for Smart Chicks, US$10

The food lover
Royal VKB Boomerang Wok, A$174.95; Magisso’s Cake Cutter and Server, US$49.50; What to Cook and How to Cook it, S$59.95; Chickenborg Egg Cuber, US$6; Moleskine Passions Recipe Journal, A$22

The eco warrior
Mathieu Lehanneur & David Edwards & Le Laboratoire Paris’ Andrea Living Air Filter, US$150; Keepcup Coffee Cup, from A$12; KOR One Hydration Vessel, US$29.95 (Code KWS-12644 for 15% off); CB I Hate Perfume’s At the Beach 1966, from US$70; Strida Foldable Bike/Personal Transport, A$988

The Kris Kringle
1oz gummy shot glasses, US$12.95/set of 6; Equal Measure Jug, US$12.99; Cordies Cable Organizer, US$12.99; Glasshouse Amalfi Coast Triple-Scented Candle, A$34.95; Joseph Joseph’s Catcher Citrus Reamer, A$13.50

The one who has everything
Geza Schoen & Thiscompany’s Molecule 01, A$210; Miracle Frooties, A$30; The Anthology of Rap by Adam Bradley, $US23.10; Powershovel’s Blackbird, Fly 35mm Twin-Lens Reflex Camera, US$130; Personalised fragrance by Olivier Creed, Creed Perfume, US$20,000

Happy shopping!

I’ve been neglecting this list since I’ve moved to Sydney, amongst other things. What is it about us that we get so unquestioningly complacent, and settle into everyday routines that will quite easily see us to the end of our days? Does life ‘just happen’ or is that an excuse we use later on because we didn’t really do more than dream?

As I was saying in the last post, I live in fear of not being able to do all the things I want to do, and go to all the places I want to go to and while it’s a stretch to even get halfway through this list I’d hate to wake up one day when it’s too late and wonder why the hell I didn’t at least try..

..so here goes, in no particular order:

[All images link to photographer's Flickr page]

1 – Island hop around Greece

2 – Look down the Avenue of the Dead from the top of the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacán, Mexico

3 – Ferry over the great blue hole, off the coast of Belize

4 – Explore the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru

5 – See the Aurora Borealis with my own eyes

6 – Cycle through Provence (and spend a Summer in) France

7 – See the Taj Mahal in India

8 – Walk along the old city port in Dubrovnik, Croatia

9 – Float the Grand Canyon

10 – Stand in the middle of Times Square (then shop 5th Avenue!)

11 – Visit all seven continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica

The rest of my original bucket list:

12 – Hike the Cinque Terre in Italy

13 – Float in a banana boat down the Amazon to where Peru, Bolivia and Brazil meet

14 – Light up a joint in Dam Square

15 – Eat a ton of tapas in San Sebastián, Spain

16 – Conquer vertigo in Bangkok from 61 floors up

17 – Bungy down a ravine in Queenstown

18 – Watch the dawn over Bay of Fires, Tasmania

19 – and the sunset over Uluru, NT (Australia)

20 – Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef

21 – Stand on top of the volcano in Mauna Lao, Hawaii

22 – Visit the ‘shire’ in middle-earth

23 – Photograph the Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon

24 – Explore Mulu and Niah caves in Sarawak

25 – Spend a week doing nothing in Maldives, Seychelles, New Caledonia and two weeks doing nothing in the Bahamas

26 – Go nuts at the French Laundry in the Napa Valley

27 – Party at the Carnaval in São Paulo, Brazil

28 – Paragliding Mount BabaDag, Turkey

29 – Ride a Vespa around Rome, Italy

30 – Fall in love (with Paris) on the Eiffel Tower

31 – Float on the Dead Sea, Israel/Jordan – I’ve wanted to go since I first read about it when I was 9!

32 – Marvel at the ancient city of Petra, Jordan

33 – …and the unfinished Gaudi in Barcelona, Spain

34 – Take a bath at Les Bains de Marrakech, Morocco

35 – See how long I can tolerate the stink of ‘sulphur city’ Rotorua

36 – Slide down the Great Wall of China

37 – Travel part of the Silk Road with my father

38 – Make like Lara in Angkor Wat

39 – Visit the Tsukiji Fish Markets in Japan!

40 – Climb the Harbour Bridge here in Sydney

41 – Order a Bellini at the original Harry’s Bar in Venice

42 – Attend Fashion Week in NYC

43 – Drive a convertible Ferrari on the German autobahn

44 – Get lost on the London Underground

45 – Watch the Monaco GP live

46 – Watch the Olympics live

47 – Get lost in the lava tubes on Jeju island, South Korea

48 – Visit the Burj Khalifa in Dubai

49 – Eat Hainan chicken rice in Hainan

50 – Take cheesy pictures with the pyramids in Cairo

It just hit me having lived in Kuala Lumpur most of my life, with so much of South East Asia so easily accessible, I’ve been taking a lot of places for granted! So much that I haven’t even listed any SEA places in my original list.. now that I’m on a different continent I’m starting to wish Bangkok is still only an hour or so away..

What are some of the things on your list? :)

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and I’ve been getting so many emails from various businesses pimping their top picks for the occasion. I can’t speak for everyone but I’m so sick of seeing all these fluffy, frilly pink things – surely this Paris Hilton demographic has been slowly shrinking over the past few years or have I just been living under a rock? Here’s what I would put together if I were to spam your inbox!

In a bid to put an end to lacy, soppy, rose-smelling pink cards, here are some very cool Bloom pop-up greeting cards by Artechnica, A$150 for a pack of 15.

Everyone should have an instant camera. Fuji Instamax Instant Camera, US$130.

Adding this to the list because Leicas are cool, it looks fab in orange and only 200 people in the world will have one. Leica M7 Hermes Edition, price unavailable.

Why are vintage bags so cool? The chances you will bump into someone else with the same bag are halved every year, thus you’ll probably be the only one in your city with this vintage Chanel tassel bag, US$1,865.

Alternatively a huge carryall like this weekender hobo from Marc by Marc Jacobs, US$228, will do the trick. Especially if it comes packed and ready for a surprise weekend trip.

Taking a tip from Seth Green’s infamous line in The Italian Job; though these M-sized Geneva Sound System babies, A$1,999, won’t blow womens clothes off but they look mighty cool in any living room. And if you’re wanting to put that theory to test, it comes in L and XL too.

Quality sound that looks funky.. portable cool! Totally digging these Skullcandy Ti Tokidoki Headphones, A$120.

There are regular steak knives, and there are Legnoart spicy steak knives by Carlo Contin. Unconventional as a V-Day gift, to say the very least. Price unavailable.

1000 Dessous: A history of Lingerie will look fab on any coffee table. From US$60.

Sexy! MAC Lipmix in Red, A$21.

I can has funny? These LOLMagnetz, US$20, are hilarious and a great bang for your buck. Check out the user submitted pictures on Thinkgeek!

For photography buffs, these Re:Vision Camera lense cuffs recycled in South Australia by Craig Arnold also come in sterling silver modeled on the real thing. Each recycled cuff is one-of-a-kind. A$140-250

Thinking of You flat-packed metal cut sheet vase covers from Artechnica hides that cheap vase so your blooms will always look cool. Guaranteed to last longer than the flowers you’ll be paying a bomb for on V-Day. A$55-$65.

Keep your other half up all night with this sexy Nespresso Delonghi Lattissima, $A699.

Riding crops from Lucrezia and De Sade, ahem. From A$25.

Images from respective sites.