Xmas Wish List 2016 ★

It's that time of year again, so i'm carrying on the tradition of the annual extravagant Xmas wish list post! I know what you're thinking, "what ridiculous list of materialistic tripe has Jade put together this year?!" well all I can say is read on dear reader, read on.

I actually ended up getting 3 of the items off last year's wish list, but I bought them all for myself so I'm not sure if they count. Despite the mega hints I drop, I never seem to get any of the things off my wish lists. I mean, it's not like I ask for anything unreasonable or anything *laughs nervously*. So now I just buy stuff like that for myself. You gotta treat yo self right? Of course you do.

As per usual, this year's wish list includes a mix of reasonable (aka more affordable) gifts along with some more unattainable (aka super expensive) ones because it's Christmas and I'm allowed to dream! Although I'll be honest, some of the things here are definitely NOT that affordable, but I can't help it if all the things I really like are expensive! I clearly have good taste ^_^

Anyway, on with the 2016 wish list. So Santa if you're reading this grab a pen and write these down because this year I would like...

1. A Dionysus top handle bag in blue stripe from Gucci - £2,020

Go BIG or go home right? Well, what better way to kick off this year's wish list than with something I'll definitely NEVER get! I've been a Gucci fan for years but this year they really blew me away with their 2016 collections. I've lost count of the winter clothes/bags/shoes I've seen on the high street that were clearly inspired by Gucci. If you've bought anything on the high street with ruffles on this Autumn/Winter, then you have Gucci to thank for it.

I make it no secret that I love luxury fashion, unfortunately my bank balance doesn't agree, otherwise I'd have a Gucci bag for every day of the week. Anyway, this year I've been lusting after this one in particular. I'm not even sure why, I just really, really love it okay?! Maybe it's the bamboo handle or the military inspired star and stripes or even the fact that it's named after Dionysus from Greek Mythology. Whatever it is, I adore this bag.

Available to buy HERE (please Santa, pleeeeeeaaaaasssssseeeee!!!! I mean, obviously i'll settle for ANY Gucci bag, but i'd really like this one. please)

2. A 'Don't Panic' necklace from Snikt and Bamf - £35

I love acrylic jewellery and I love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, so it makes sense that I'd also love this brilliant necklace from British brand Snikt and Bamf. But then what's not to love? It's red and sparkly and shows off my love for Douglas Adams iconic books. I'm not afraid to declare my geekiness to the world (see THIS post for proof. Yes, it's the one where I'm dressed as a Ghostbuster, in public.) and apart from this being a super cute necklace, I also think it would match my red lipstick really well. Just saying.

Do I even need to justify it? No, not really. This is a wish list and I wish for this necklace. That's really all that matters.

Available to all hoopy froods HERE

3. A Harry Potter themed Book Print Skirt from Pick n Mix on Etsy - £35

Do I even need to explain this one?! Come on people, if you're here reading this then you probably already know about my lifelong book addiction. Why wouldn't I want a twirly skirt covered in spell books? Trick question because obviously I NEED a magical book print skirt ASAP.

I might not be a librarian anymore but that doesn't mean I still couldn't rock a book themed skirt. Plus, just think how well it would go with my book themed necklace and brooch.

Ooh and I could wear my time turner necklace with it as well! And my Ravenclaw badge. And my wand.

Wait, what do you mean why do I have a wand?! I don't have to explain myself to muggles.

Available to order HERE, Owl delivery not guaranteed


4. A Frida brooch from Baccurelli - £41

I did say I love acrylic jewellery didn't I! Well i've been a fan of Baccurelli designs for a few years now and while I'd be happy with any of her lovely brooches or accessories, I particularly like the Frida brooch. Maybe it's the artist in me, or the mix of red and black (my favourite colours), but this would go with soooo many outfits. I can see it already!

Plus it goes without saying that Frida Kahlo (who the brooch is based on) was a total badass and a truly amazing woman. So who wouldn't want to wear a little brooch of her likeness!

Available HERE along with dozens of other gorgeous brooches and accessories

5. A pair of 'Marvel' lace-up leather boots from Ted & Muffy - £225

October to March you will find me pretty much living in winter boots. Boots are the BEST. But every year I usually end up buying a cheap high street pair of knee boots from somewhere like Asda or New Look but unsurprisingly a year later they look wrecked. I'd love to invest (or be gifted...) a high quality pair of leather boots that will last for years.

Until last year I still wore a lovely pair of brown leather lace-up pirate boots that I'd had since I was 16, so I know that good quality boots can last for ages. But unfortunately they finally gave up the ghost, so now I'd like a new pair of lace-up boots to live in each winter. Why lace-up ones? Well for starters I have quite chunky calves but very narrow ankles so I usually struggle to find high street boots that will fit me properly. Lace-up boots make it easy to customize the fit AND they look really nice. I think so anyway.

These are really rather lovely though and I would very much like a pair. Available HERE

6. A colour changing Unicorn mug from Firebox - £12.99

That's right people. Not only is it a mug shaped like a Unicorn, IT CHANGES COLOUR!!!

This would make my afternoon cup of green tea soooo much better. I don't even have words for this, It's amazing and I need it. That's all.

I'm not even kidding, if I don't wake up to this mug on Christmas morning I'm gonna flip. Or go online and order one myself. Whatever.

Available for all magical unicorn lovers HERE

7. A Fatale black embroidered dress from The Pretty Dress Company - £315

I know, I know... why can't I just pick a dress that's affordable. Mainly because most affordable dresses aren't as heavenly as this one! LOOK AT IT.

all those embroidered roses! It's too much perfection. 

Since this dress was launched, I must have visited the site 3 dozen times, just to look at it and imagine twirling in it. Not only was in designed in collaboration with burlesque goddess Immodesty Blaize, it looks so damn good on everyone! It's a veryflattering dress and I've yet to see a photo of it being worn where it doesn't look gorgeous, no matter the body type.

also LOOK HOW PRETTY!

Available to buy HERE

8. A Rouge Louboutin Lipstick from Christian Louboutin - £65

If you just projectile spat tea across the room and screeched "£65 for a LIPSTICK" please allow me to explain/justify myself. Also, look at it, this ain't your standard lipstick!

Ok so I LOVE shoes, especially those designed by Christian Louboutin. Unfortunately I inherited my dad's rubbish feet so I am the reluctant owner of a pair of bunions and generally quite wide feet. This means that buying shoes is a miserable experience for me, because 'wide fit' shoes usually do NOT look like the kinds of things available in the Louboutin shoe room at Brown Thomas.

So probably the only way I'm ever going to get some Louboutin red on myself, is as a nail varnish (which I already own) or this lipstick (that looks like a piece of art).

plus I think we can all agree that while unnecessarily hedonistic, £65 for a lipstick is a lot more affordable than £650 for a pair of shoes.

Get it HERE


9. A Bathurst 'all over stickers' handbag from Anya Hindmarch - £1,395

It seemed only fair that I begin and end this year's wish list with a handbag. If you thought I was gushing about the Gucci one, you ain't seen nothing yet. This bag... how to describe it. It's as if I had a dream where I designed my PERFECT handbag and then I woke up and it existed for real!

Luxury polished leather CHECK, a top handle + optional shoulder strap CHECK, absolutely covered in wacky sticker designs CHECK CHECK CHECK

This bag is what dreams are made of. My dreams anyway. I'm all about statement pieces and this bag certainly makes a statement. It says, nay... it screams "THIS BAG IS PERFECT FOR JADE, SEE HOW WELL IT MATCHES HER LIPSTICK AND COAT!"


Available HERE (come on Santa, this one, I really deserve it!)


And that's it for this year. See, I don't ask for much do I?

No, that's a lie. I ask for a LOT. But somehow I don't think I'll be waking up to fancy lipstick and designer handbags this year. I'm sure whatever I get will be brilliant though, I'm already excited about a gift my mum got me (spoiler: it's a RED record player!!!)

So it's gonna be a great day no matter what :)

What's at the top of your Christmas wish list this year? Leave me a comment below or let me know on one of my social media profiles.

And whatever you're up to this holiday season, I hope that you have a lovely time with your friends and family or by yourself if that's how you roll.

Merry Christmas to you all!

see you on the other side (of Christmas)

★ Seasons Greetings ★

so, another year, another Xmas been and gone! did you all have a nice day??? i hope you had fun with your family/friends/loved ones and that Santa brought you all some nice goodies :)

i spent the day cooped up at home with my parents at Chateau Boylan, although i've not been very well so i actually spent most of the day in bed feeling poorly!

never mind though, it was still a nice quiet Christmas

i usually post on Xmas eve or Xmas day but this year i decided to take a few days out of it all so i vanished offline for a bit which was great, think i'll do it again next year!

anyway, i thought since it's Xmas time and it seems tradition that bloggers post about gifts and what not, that i'd share a few of the lovely presents i received this year from my family and friends!

i think most exciting of all was the book my dad got me...

it's the new Christian Louboutin monograph, published to celebrate 20 years of his work within the world of shoe and accessory design

it is absolutely chock full of the most gorgeous photos, sketches and written excerpts from Monsieur Louboutin himself mapping his journey over the past 20 years. 

and to think, he began professionally designing shoes the year i was born!

one of my favourite things about the book is the pop-out pages hidden under the cover!

speaking of books, i got a nice stack of them on Xmas day!

among them was this absolutely fabulous book by Vintage lovely, Angel Adoree! a truly fabulous gift from my best friend Courtney

the book is so divine! full of darling illustrations, photos, recipes and tips on how to host the perfect vintage tea party + how to do vintage hair/make-up to go with it!

it also has loads of gorgeous illustrations to accompany the recipes and DIY projects

as well as all the lovely books, i also got a very funky Marc Jacobs laptop cover

so that my macbook can be transported in style at all times!

and a gift that i expect a lot of Manx people woke up to on Xmas day, the very special 'Isle of Man' edition of the boardgame Monopoly

i've also been making lots of cute little fabric badges/buttons using the kit my mum got me

and i now have a cute place to store my earrings thanks to my big sister Simone who sent me this adorable little trinket box featuring artwork by the very awesome Myka Jelina

obviously i got lots of other lovely stuff as well but these were some of my fave things so i just wanted to share them with you all...

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in other news, how are we liking the blog colours? sort of back to normal now only with a new banner for the top, it actually matches my new Facebook Timeline

yes i know i only changed it the other day but i fear this may be a regular occurrence, me changing the 'cover' photo every week or so!

not long now though until the New Year so i suppose i should get my head down and get on with some college work! saying that though i have a smashing Creative Café feature to run over the next few days so be sure to keep an eye out for that!

so until next time, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX

★ Jade's Wish List - 2011 ★

It's getting to be that time of year again, the time when you can't leave the house without a scarf, hat and gloves, when winter boots and multiple pairs of socks are the only thing that will keep your toes warm, the time when shops begin to fill with fancy gifts and sparkly lights and festive tunes start to fill the air, in my opinion it's THE best time of year, i'm talking, of course about the Wintery weather and the thought of Christmas, just around the corner!

Winter has always been my favourite season and when people ask me why i'm never really able to give them much of a proper reason! 

There's just something about it that I love. I look forward to it in fact + the chance to wear winter coats, boots, gloves and hats, and getting to mooch around town shopping for fabulous presents for my friends and family. 

Pretty wrapping paper, ribbons and tags, boxes stacked up waiting to be opened, it's all so much fun + it's amazing waking up and opening the curtains to see fresh snow covering everything like a layer of pristine icing, glittering ever so slightly. 

I love the darker nights and the cold weather when all you want to do is curl up in a big blanket and sip sweet tea while reading a really good book or watching old Xmas movies. It's all heaven to me!

right i've rambled on for long enough I think, maybe...

anyway, since Christmas is coming I thought now might be the time to draw up a little Xmas Wish List just in case Father Christmas is reading this! I mean, i'm sure he reads my blog anyway... right?!

So here it is, my Dream Wish List for 2011 + reasons as to why i want/need each item 

and yes, I am serious and no, I don't expect to wake up on Christmas morning to find all of these goodies waiting underneath the tree but hey, a girl can dream...

Jade's Dream Christmas Wish List 2011 - the TOP 10 (aka 'things Santa will never bring her, not in a million years no matter how nice and well behaved she is')

1. my name spelt out in these very cute tote shoppers from the fabulous Alphabet Bags (because, well look at them... do i really need to give a proper reason! they're brilliant)

2. a red papercut of 'I Miss Being a Small Girl' by the very awesome Rob Ryan (because i am a HUGE fan of his work and this is probably my favourite piece he's ever done!)

3. a gorgeous little Origami Crane necklace from Botica (because i like to fold paper cranes when i'm thinking and this necklace is just too lovely) 

4. a 'Miss Lanvin' doll figurine from Lanvin (because i am a sucker for anything 'Lanvin' and i just adore these fabulous little Lanvin dolls!) 

5. the full set of 'Clothbound Classics' Hardback Books from Penguin Books (because they are all so darn beautiful i can't pick just one + imagine how great it would be to have them all to pick from and read whenever/wherever!) 

6. a 'lipstick red' Lips clutch bag by Lulu Guinness (because i LOVE to wear red lipstick and this bag would always match my lipstick to perfection!)

7. a Guccioli 'Oliver' Pug keyring from Gucci (because i think it would look perfect on my black Gucci Indy bag + I just luuuurve Pugs!)

8. a truly brilliant Pashley 'Britannia' bicycle (in red of course!) from Adeline Adeline (because i sold my bike a few years ago and i really miss it! and because i've always wanted a bike JUST like this one)

9. a super duper pretty 'Floating Flock' dress from BHLDN (because let's face it, that is one cute dress!)

10. a pair of truly divine 'Big Stack' pumps with 120mm/5” high heels by Christian Louboutin (aka the God of shoes) i want these because... well other than the fact that they are AMAZING, they would totally match that BHLDN dress AND the Lulu Guinness lips clutch would match the red of the soles... perfect outfit sorted!!!

and there you have it, top 10 wish list for Xmas 2011... DONE!

a dream list of items that i will probably never own... or at least, will never get for Xmas, amassing a collective price tag of just under £3,150 

i think i did rather well with it actually, i could have gone a bit more down the hedonism route but i tried to keep it quite reasonable and realistic, what do you think? will Santa finally pull through this year and leave all of this under my tree?!

probably not...

but it was fun nonetheless! 

Either way I urge you ALL to have a go at one of these dream wish list type things, they are ridiculously fun to draw up even if I did get a bit carried away with mine, it seems to get a little more decadent as the list goes on but oh well! 

like i said, i could have gone a bit crazier with it, i mean i could have asked Santa for a yacht, an Aston Martin V12 Vantage, an apartment in Monaco and a shopping spree around Harrods... but i didn't because i'm sensible... obviously

anyway that's all for now, i'm off to post my list to Santa just to make double sure that he gets it in time for Christmas! i'd hate for him to miss it and send me something else, after all, we wouldn't want that to happen would we...

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i've got a new Creative Café post to pop up tomorrow evening so be sure to look out for that faithful readers!

so until next time, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX

Super Sunday #2 ♥

wow it's been a few days since my last post!

big apologies, i've been stupidly busy with this project i'm working on for a company i'm not allowed to name for an event i'm not allowed to talk about...

oh you're intrigued now i bet! 

well tough... it's remaining a secret until i get permission to reveal it to you all 

(i have got permission, just not yet and i know when the date is but you don't! mwah ha ha ha ha!!! *evil villain laugh*)

anyway, all i am allowed to tell you at this time is that on Friday afternoon during College times i got a call summoning me to the College reception where i took delivery of a massive box of... BRIGHT RED Lego

best delivery ever?! definitely my best college delivery to date (sorry Ash, those flowers i won were truly gorgeous but come on... it's Lego!)

there's no point hiding what was in the box since i've been 'tweeting' and 'facebooking' about it all weekend

however... i can't tell you who sent me the Lego, why they sent me it and... most importantly, what it's for!

what i can tell you is that having it has been SO MUCH FUN!!!!!

i'd forgotten how much i freaking LOVE playing with Lego! LEGO LEGO LEGGGOOOOO

* * *

anyway on with the post! as you may have noticed, it's a Sunday which means...

it's time for another 'Super Sunday' post ♥

you can check out last weeks 'Super Sunday' post here - 

'Super Sunday #1'

* * *

this week after a long hard think about what i should post about i thought... 'come on, it's obvious who i think deserves a 'Super Sunday' dedication' and so i went with that!

so this week, Super Sunday is all about... (drumroll) 

the fabulous, truly genius and quite literally amazing... 

Monsieur Christian Louboutin

that's right... this weeks post goes out to sing the praises of the man who is without a doubt... MY favourite Shoe Designer in the world! 

(this doesn't mean i don't love other shoes designers, it just means he's my favourite. because he totally is ok!) 

but what can i say! since i first spotted that eternally sumptuous red sole on a pair of stilettos years and years and years ago... i've been hooked! 

so why do i adore him + his gorgeous shoes so damn much?!

well there are lots of reasons, let's review them shall we...

1: he uses bright red soles on all his shoes, it's a signature part of all his designs and i don't think i need to remind you all that my favourite colour is indeed red glorious RED!

2: his shoes are quite literally Gods gift to women! made of the most gorgeous materials with beautiful finishes, dazzling embellishments and quite possibly the sexiest looking heels in all of fashion (that flash of red ALWAYS catches peoples attention) his shoes are a thing of sheer beauty on or off a woman's foot...

3: he's also a fantastic illustrator! his shoes themselves are often like works of art but his initial design drawings could easily be hung on the walls of a gallery or sold as prints... i'd buy one! or several...

and he also collaborated with the Paris based, Ladurée bakery (creator of the most delicious and most darling looking macaroons in the world) and created a series of illustrations to adorn their adorable little boxes...  trés génial! c'est incoryable non!

4: he's a fan of Mika and since designing a whole fleet (yes... a fleet) of shoes for the singer's worldwide tour, the two have also become great friends! 

need i say more... we all know that Mika is my favourite singer right?! well... my favourite singer and my favourite Shoe designer are friends, could i honestly ask for more?! plastic toy squirt guns? ... way ahead of you!

5: he hasn't just stopped at creating fabulous Shoes! he also turned his ridiculously creative mind and hands to designing beautiful little evening bags and handbags, much to the rapturous delight of women everywhere! 

and just like his shoes, these bags hold a delicious little flash of that signature red too, the lining is always bright red and the bags often incorporate this darling little clasp made of a pair of super high heels, which if you look verrrry closely, you will notice also have red soles... magic!

6: he even worked on a collaboration with 'Barbie' creating what may just be the most fashion forward and well shod doll in the entire world! 

7: he has an incredibly awesome website! www.christianlouboutin.fr is so jam packed with super duper snaps of shoes and bags + it's always fun to look around since there's lots of flying shoes and interactive glittery bits mixed in with a little bit of animation... genius! 

it also tells you where in the world you are (in case you forget...) but that's not the point, the point is that it shows MY location as the Isle of Man which is a true rarity indeed since most sites i visit tell me in in England! so merci beacoup for that Monsieur Louboutin!

seriously you would not believe how long it took me to get that screencap off his site! the shoes were moving all over the place and it was reaaaaallly tricky! but such is my love for you all (and surprisingly for those shoes) i persevered and got the cap!

and although i could easily carry on numbering reasons why he's so AWESOME, i shan't do any more... promise!

so yes i'm a MASSIVE fan of his shoes and yes i think he's a true design legend but in a way it's kind of sad for me to spout all this stuff about the loveliness of Louboutins!

so why is it sad? well apart from the fact i don't actually own a pair of Louboutin masterpieces... i've never even tried on a pair!!! (collective gasp)

and no it's not because i've never seen them in a store... come on! it's me here! i had to be dragged away from the Louboutin dept in Brown Thomas, Dublin this Summer!

 hell i would LIVE in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols or Harrods if they'd let me and i lost count of how many times i spotted them on sale the last time i was in Las Vegas! 

i mean yes i drooled over them like a silly fangirl and i stood and 'oohed' and 'aahed' at their gorgeousness but i just couldn't bring myself to try on a pair!

why? well it's quite simple... i have this theory that if i ever try on a pair of his shoes i will be so overcome with shoe lust i'll HAVE to buy them no matter what!

and so far i really haven't worked out if i'll be able to overcome 'buyers guilt' for a pair of them so for now... i shall remain Louboutin-less! 

but i can live with that because as long as Monsieur Louboutin continues to make fabulous shoes... i shall continue to lust after them and then you know that one day i'll probably end up with a room full of them or something!

it'll happen... i'll make sure it will!

Merci beaucoup Christian, vous êtes étonnant et merveilleux xX

* * *

in other news...

it was the last F1 race of the season today, the 'biggie' and although the odds seemed to be on Spains Fernando Alonso (driving for Ferrari)  to win the championship... the race didn't go too well for him so instead...

F1 now has it's youngest champion in history because 23-year-old Sebastian Vettel of Germany (driving for red Bull) won the race AND the world championship!!!!!

yaaaaaaaay for Sebastian! 

it was an extra awesome race since Britain's Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button (both driving for McLaren) finished in 2nd and 3rd so as it turned out...

my 3 favourite F1 drivers were all on the podium!

this = good times indeed!

* * *

ok that's another Super Sunday post is in the bag i think, 

i'm all happy from the F1 result so on that note i'm off to make some butter popcorn and pop on a moooovie

have a nice Sunday

that's all folks...

★ ◕‿◕

'Muchas Gracias y Adios'

(that's 'thank you and goodbye' in Spanish on behalf of Spain, thanks for the page views Spain x)