Let's go shopping

Internet shopping with international shipping is fantastic - you get to shop from places you wouldn't ordinarily get to shop at. But wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to hop on a plane and head off to a fantastic destination for a spot of shopping - in the flesh? My place of choice (today, anyway) would be the Hamptons.

Besides the shopping, there'd be the Hamptons architecture to admire, beautiful gardens, lovely beaches, great restaurants. But the main event would be the shopping! Particularly the Ralph Lauren store in the East Hamptons. I would just love to visit this shop. I've fallen in love with it from the pictures on the Ralph Lauren website.

I adore the white exterior (above) - it looks more like a charming little cottage or a bed and breakfast rather than a store.

You could rest awhile on the front porch, decorated here in blues....

...and decorated here with a touch of pink, with a sailor on the wall to keep you company.

Heading inside... I wouldn't know what to look at first!

Love the cane chairs as well as the white painted round table. But do you think they'd let me purchase the 'fairweather' sign? It could be my holiday memento. Bit tricky getting it past Qantas though.

I think I would have fun in this shop!

On a personal note, I'm feeling very happy today and thought I would share this with you. You see, I had a chat with my son's teacher who told me that he had sat down with the other children in the class and explained that, much like children with autism (which they'd been learning about the week before), my son is a little different, and should be treated with care and understanding, not fear or hostility. He made sure the children understood that they should try to help my son where they can, and he talked to them about diversity. When the teacher told me this, tears sprung to my eyes. After two years at an expensive, exclusive private school, where I was made to feel that my child was a terrible burden and drain on their resources, and where my parenting skills were constantly questioned, here is a teacher and a public school doing their utmost to make my son feel welcome and accepted. I felt grateful and relieved.

Long live public schools and their wonderful teachers!

So that's my happy news. I hope you have had a happy day too.

Best wishes,

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

There are three companies I know of that specialise in selling all things white. The first is London's The White Company - the original and the best. They sell high quality products, all white or pale toned - right up my alley.

Here's what's on my wishlist from the The White Company. First up is crisp white cotton sheets (see above). Great sheets are a true luxury you can enjoy everyday. But I'm also wanting....

......at least three of these simple, ribbed glass votives.....

.....some gorgeous fragrant oils for the bath, so beautifully packaged I probably couldn't bear to open them......

......a mother of pearl bowl, just because I love mother of pearl. This would look great on a small table in a bedroom, filled with a string of freshwater pearls......

....a peony-scented white candle.......

....and finally, some beautifully scented laundry products, to turn the mundane and everyday into a pleasurable ritual.

There are two Australian online companies that have followed The White Company's lead and specialised in all things white and pale. They don't have anywhere near the same breadth of products, but still offer some interesting items. First up is White Home. I'll take this silver platter......

....or perhaps this one instead. Imagine it holding a group of candles of different heights and votives....

....a wickedly indulgent cashmere throw, for when those afternoons reading on the lawn gets a little chilly.....

....and a white butler's tray. Always come in handy.

Last but not least we have Whiteport. Here's what's on my wishlist from this company....

......some soft-toned candlesticks.....

....a grouping of white jugs......

.....and a vintage-style clock.


Now I would be a happy woman if I got any one of these products.

Know of any other companies that specialise in white? If you do then let me know.

A little shopping

Last night I did some 'fantasy shopping' on the internet at a website for a Danish store. http://www.ville-kulla.dk/

I stumbled across this beautiful store when I was looking at the gorgeous blog http://moderncountry.blogspot.com/ This site is well worth a visit if you haven't already peeked.

Here's what I would buy....how about you?

I'll get a string of little hearts for the Christmas tree and....

A vintage camera

The most stylish photo clip I have ever laid eyes on

A set of mugs

A light for my bedroom

Ooh and I'll take three of these to hang over my kitchen counter please

A linen cushion or five for my white couches

A sweet little chair

Some candlesticks, because I've been trying to track down some more silver candlesticks for ages

These cute little baskets and the hooks, to hang bits and bobs in my study

And finally, a mat for the front door that says it all....

That was fun!