RATE IT! Paperchase London Collection

Blame Paperchase. My affection for all things London is heightened once again. The UK retailer of fun, sassy greeting cards, decorations and gifts has a somewhat new collection of items all with a London motif. 


Choose from notebooks, magnets, mugs... there's a little bit of London for all tastes. I'm partial to the laptop case. And the bunting. Oh, and the pencil cases are cute too. I currently use a Paperchase pencil case to hold all my iPhone accessories - the charger, earphones, etc. Hmm.. maybe it's time for an update. 

RATE IT! Sprinkles

Last month when I wasn't following in Ferris Bueller's footsteps in Chicago, I was swooning over a new crush. 


Sprinkles. Where have you been all my life?


Sprinkles is an American cupcake powerhouse. Who knew that such delights awaited me in Chicagoland? I feel like I'm the last person on earth to discover this yummy indulgence. So much time wasted. So many cupcakes not eaten...


Candace Nelson created Sprinkles a few years ago in California and now her delicious enterprise has shops in several U.S. cities including New York City, Beverly Hills, Washington D.C., Dallas and of course, Chicago. Their cupcakes are moist, mouthwatering bundles of joy made fresh on the premises. I kid you not. Sprinkles take cupcakes seriously - and their dedication is palatable (literally!). 


Here's just a sampling of their flavours: dark chocolate, peanut butter chocolate, red velvet, lemon coconut, black and white, cinnamon sugar, carrot...to name but a few. And if you want to attempt to recreate the Sprinkles experience at home, you can purchase cupcake mixes in store. Genius!


The Sprinkles shops are all immaculate, uncluttered and simple in design - IT WORKS! The focus is on the cupcakes and let me tell you, it is love at first sight! Each cake is perfectly formed, not sloppy -- so unlike my first (and only!) visit to the famous Magnolia Bakery (yes, the very cupcake place featured in Sex and the City) in Manhattan. Sprinkles easily trumps Magnolia. There, I said it. 


For now, my crush will have to be an unrequited one. My memories - so vivid that I could almost taste them - will have to carry me through until I can be reunited with my love. Sprinkles has yet to open shop in Canada. They hope to bring their sweet offerings here soon and possibly to other cities... Boston, London! When they do arrive in Toronto, I will be first in line waiting to place my order for a vanilla milk chocolate, peanut butter chip and chocolate marshmallow!


(photos by: Jackie Middleton - cupcakes shown: chocolate marshmallow, vanilla milk chocolate)

RATE IT! Happy Wedding Day, Will & Kate

Don't you just love a good wedding? 


Obviously Canada Post does! Today they're releasing not one, but TWO special stamps featuring the happy couple. One version is for domestic mail. The other, more expensive one is for international letters. Both Queen Elizabeth, and Prince William approved the Canadian-made designs. I hope that Kate got to see them too! 


I am so happy that Canada, as a proud member of the Commonwealth, decided to produce these stamps. To the happy couple!

RATE IT! Cockney Rhyming Slang Print

My London love affair continues! 


This funny print from Rockett St. George serves up a little Cockney rhyming slang in alphabet form. Of course, true Cockneys won't recognize much of what's on offer here... but the intent is good natured, and very silly!

RATE IT! Action

With my adoration of all things London, it's barely surprising how much I regard one of its finest pop bands, Saint Etienne. 


The group is famous for its affinity for the city. Just listen to 'London Belongs to Me' and you'll catch my drift!


To celebrate more London fabulousness, here's a video from an album or two back. The track is called 'Action' and we certainly get our fair share from this video. Nice to see lead singer, Sarah Cracknell going walkabout too!

RATE IT! Faded London

It's hard to contain my enthusiasm! Soon I will be returning to one of my favourite destinations on the planet: London, England. 


From my backyard, it's more than 6,000 miles away but despite the distance, the jet lag, and oft-rainy weather, I've always felt at home there. With trips in the double digits, it's easy to say that my money could have been put to better use had I stayed put. But seriously....wouldn't you rather have suitcases stuffed full of memories, photos and stories than a bank full of unused cash? Yeah, me too! 


To celebrate my infinite love for this city, I'm serving up several London-centric posts.


First up, I'd like to share a website that caters to lovers of London, history buffs, and curiosity seekers alike. Faded London is a glorious find that explores all the wonderful hints of a by-gone era: ghost signs, unique street 'furniture' and even shop facades. London is so rich in history that every block boasts secrets from another time - even the metal coal grates on the ground have a tale to tell. 


While all these artifacts aren't exclusive to London -- most big cities have ghost signs adorning the outer walls of old buildings -- they do speak of the city's past in a manner that is pretty much forgotten these days. London may still proudly display a multitude of old streets, signs, buildings and attractions, but progress has removed and erased just as many. The Faded London website is a celebration of where London's been and where it's going. 

RATE IT! London Loves

Pedlars does it again! 


A gorgeous London print with all the areas squeezed into a bouncy heart. 


London loves! I LOVE!

RATE IT! Nifty Wedding Souvenir

The wedding of the year hasn't happened yet and already the souvenir sellers are in overdrive.


Most keepsakes commemorating the nuptials of Prince William & Kate Middleton are tacky, and embarrassing but this one takes the cake for being subtle and quite lovely.


It's a tea towel marking the April 29 festivities. Just when you were ready to wash your hands of all the hoopla, this sweet little towel comes calling. The retro tree-carved initials of W & K complete this beautiful item.


And did you catch the 'I do' in the 'In London' banner? Genius. 

RATE IT!/HATE IT! A Rug with a Stamp of Approval

It was bound to happen! The iconic image of the Queen on the British stamp has now been given the interior design treatment. 


This 100% New Zealand wool rug comes in an assortment of colours, and is guaranteed to spruce up your home lickety split. 


I'd order one for my home in a second... what's not to like? Uh, well... there IS one stumbling block - the price. At just shy of 700 pounds ($1,400+ Canadian), this rug is just a bit too dear for my floors and my bank balance!

RATE IT! Candy Icon

Here's a tasty Christmas treat for the pop culture aficionado on your list.


Selfridges in London is offering this Marilyn Monroe Chocolate Canvas. The famous Warhol print is re-worked completely in chocolate.


The canvas is solid white chocolate, and the colour print in Smarties. 


Enjoy the silverscreen's most popular bombshell and fulfill your sugar rush at the same time!


Also available: chocolate Snakes & Ladders, and Backgammon. Game on!

RATE IT! Wallace & Gromit Get Licked

Ah, to live in the UK at Christmastime! Not only do the Brits do the holidays like no one else, they also know how to create a festive postage stamp.


Beloved characters, Wallace & Gromit get licked this Christmas as the Royal Mail's holiday stamps. Choose from a series of adorable designs featuring the Academy Award winners going about their typical Christmas preparations. My fave: Gromit and the giant pudding.

Shame Canada Post never thinks of something so clever and fun!

RATE IT! Official Photos!

Yes, count me in as one of the many suckers excited for a good royal wedding!


While I won't be holding my breath waiting for my own invite from the Bride's side of the family (sorry, inside joke -- couldn't help myself!), I am thrilled for Kate and William. A wedding regardless of who the Bride and Groom are is a happy occasion in my books. 


Here's one of the official engagement photos taken at the Palace today.


Love Kate's gorgeous blue dress - a hue chosen to compliment the ring (Diana's original engagement ring) perhaps?


(photo: PA)

HATE IT! London's 2012 Olympic Mascots

And to think that people were giving Vancouver aggro this year about their Olympic mascots!

Believe it or not, these weird beings are the official 2012 Olympic mascots for the London-based Games. Meet Mandeville and Wenlock. Yeah, they REALLY sum up Britain, London and the Olympics, don't they?


Kid-friendly? Don't think so. They're ugly and not in a good way. Ugly Dolls can rest safe in the knowledge that kids like creatures with some personality - Mandeville & Wenlock have all the warmth and cuteness of a TV tower.


(photo: Matt Dunham/AP)

RATE IT! London Loves

I want. I need. 


Why, oh why did Accessorize close up shop here a few years back? 


This cute tote would definitely feed my London addiction. If only...

RATE IT! Depeche Mode Cares

It's not everyday that music fans get to spend an evening in the splendor that is the Royal Albert Hall in London.

It's not everyday that Depeche Mode perform in the venerable music hall.

On February 17, 2010, Depeche Mode will step on the Royal Albert Hall stage for the very first time to perform a special charity concert in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

100% of Depeche's profits will be donated to this wonderful charity which helps British teens fighting cancer.

Tickets go on sale TOMORROW at 9am UK time (4am ET). I couldn't think of a more worthwhile reason to get up in the middle of the night! Tickets can be purchased TOMORROW (December 18) here.

RATE IT! Little People

Some people feel that art is too often a snotty medium with no sense of humour. Fear not, for I have found a website that makes art fun and accessible for everyone.

Check out Little People -- A Tiny Street Art Project. The creator, Slinkachu, takes teeny handpainted "people" and drops them into situations on the streets of London as his blog states "to fend for themselves." Installation art with humour!

Wee boaters navigate puddles, women hang laundry across alleyways and super heroes take a respite -- on the lip of a discarded beer can. The little figures are nifty in themselves but where this project really shows its stuff, is in each series of photographs which depict the people up-close and far-away... uncovering the reality of where the little ones are actually located (downspout, bottle cap, trash).

Mr. Superhero (pictured here) is tempted by the "delights" in the red light district -- or is he? Pan out and he's actually at the footprint of a drainpipe in Southwark, London. Fun!

Art for the people - *with* the people!

WANT IT! Pop Art London Tray

As a girl in love with London, I can never ever have enough of the city by the Thames.

LOVE this colourful tray featuring London landmarks available at Rockett St. George.

If you can't travel to London, best to bring it to you!

RATE IT! I Love London

I *really* do.

This pillow would look very comfy on my couch.

If I can't go to London personally, best to bring it home to me...via mail order.

I know, I know. It's not the same as *being* there. Don't rub it in.

RATE IT! An Education

I SO want to see this movie!!!

Early Sixties London suburbs, Nick Hornby's screenplay, a cast to die for (Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson, Dominic Cooper), and a wide-eyed newcomer (Carey Mulligan) portraying innocent Jenny, a teen girl bound for an education like no other -- this movie has all the points covered for top marks. I give it an A+.

And I want Rosamund Pike's wardrobe, thank you very much!

HATE IT! Obama Candles

I'm all for commemorative souvenirs but these candles are just plain creepy!

Candle maker Bougies la Francaise is peddling via Selfridges in London, President Obama in wax.

'nuff said.