The Desert???

It is a fact .... without this

And this....

the Coachella Valley would just be desert! But Palm Springs, CA is one of our favourite places to visit this time of year. We stayed at the Indian Wells Renaissance Esmeralda surrounded by beautiful pools, palm trees, and golf courses.

Everyday I woke up excited to put on my mini-iPod, downloaded with my favourite walking songs and head for the mountains. The streets are wide with manicured sidewalks and the sun was usually warm on my face, sometimes I had to dodge the continuous water sprinklers.

This year we had a special invitation to attend a cocktail party at the former estate of Mr. Frank Sinatra. Twin Palms, named appropriately, was so Hollywood 50's Glam!

The home stretched out to surround the famous piano shaped pool (which wasn't actually built to resemble a piano at all, but when the light fell through the pergola walkway, the shadows cast across the water looked just like piano keys, a little trivia I couldn't resist sharing!)  

We were entertained with a selection of Sinatra songs on a grand piano next to the original recording system Frank had installed to cut records while he vacationed.

And, in case you are interested, the estate is available to rent for an event or a private vacation of your own! Did I mention that while we sipped our Coppola wine, Francis Ford Coppola, film director, producer, screen writer, and wine maker, was there to entertain us with stories about The Godfather. It was a fantastic evening in the desert!

Spirit of Christmas Fair

Can you smell the dried orange and apple, cloves and cinnamon sticks?
 Of course YOU CAN'T  .... we have not even celebrated Thanksgiving or the always anticipated Auburn VS Alabama football game (we know they are going to kill us this year!) I attended the Spirit of Christmas Fair in Olympia, London this week and maybe, just maybe, some of these goodies will get you in the SPIRIT early!















How about a pair of these gloves by Alexski....
Exquisite English leather and Possum fur! The very same ones that Kate wears!

I bought a leather belt at 'From The Hip' - cute name for a belt company.  We also looked at scarves and discussed the whole color dilemma - "what do I already have in my closet?"  

Do you know anyone who plays chess? How about a pair of these clever wooden salt and pepper mills? Or if you are a supporter of the "other team" you might be tempted by one of these houndstooth puppies.

I thought this was very cute and something my artsy-crafty friends might want to see/copy ... it is an Advent calendar. Small burlap mittens are numbered 1-25 and hung on a clothes line with tiny wooden clothes pins. Each mitten could hold a special treat for the little ones as Christmas day approaches.

I have to admit I found a special something for myself - from the Cashmere & Cotton stall.  I just loved the whole look with the white blouse and boots with leggings.  I bought the taupe but this orange is calling my name!  

So much for Christmas shopping!!! Just one more thing......

Have you bought your poppy today?