But since we live in New Zealand, this afternoon project became a four month hunting and gathering expedition. After months of searching, we finally tracked down the right foam core. Having scoured gift shops across the lower South Island for weeks, we managed to forage some chic papers. Eventually, the spray adhesive and other bits and pieces fell into place. And then the real fun (cutting curvy pieces out of foam core with craft knives) began.

It's not a project for the faint of heart. And were it not for my studly knight in shining armour, I can guarantee this could have ended in tears, and perhaps a severed finger or two. But thanks to his patience and mad skills with the craft knife, we have a faux trophy to commemorate our real hunt...

Should you wish to embark on such a journey yourself, find the instructions and templates here. Just a note; we improvised and decided to mount the head on a plaque with contrasting paper by drawing a template ourselves and cutting the foam core to size. So feel free to heed the call of the wild and get creative with your...uhm, mounting.

The tufted upholstry and ornate arms allude to days gone by, while the heavy, clean lines of the legs bring it back to the future. Rooted in the past, but fashion forward enough to look dynamite in any room, be it sleek and modern or shabby chic.

And what's even better? There really is a story in this seat- it's upholstered with vintage New Zealand post bags. There's no junkmail here, kids. This is the real deal. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to pen a love letter to the designers at Union, post haste.  Signed, yours truly.....

A favorite client of mine, Paul, sent me a message this week about my gold nameplate necklace. His gorgeous wife admired it,  he thought it might make a nice prezzie for Christmas, wanted to know the provenance of said necklace and furthermore, which color he should get for his Mrs. He picked up a hint, sought advice from a trusted source and acted. Well done, mate. You are a Ninja. You give us hope.

In honor of Paul's brave Kung Fu Christmas moves, I've compiled a short and sweet list with a few suggestions for sure-shot goodies to wrap up for your woman.

1. NAMETAG: We'll start with Paul's pick, a gold nameplate necklace. Carrie Bradshaw made it famous. If you don't know who she is, let's talk. One of the best gifts I've ever received, and one of the most noted and complimented accessories in my arsenal. Go with the gold, it's the classic. And don't be afraid to punctuate any "i"s with a diamond. Another bonus: You'll never accidentally call her by another name.

2. IN THE BAG: This Novella Royale handbag is exquisite. I'm a fan of the classic, structured shape, the slate grey color is positively failsafe and the gold rivets pack a playful punch. She's ladylike and superfoxy all at the same time. And the handbag's not bad either.

3. SNAPSHOT SWOON: Whip up a photo book on iPhoto or Blurb. Upload fab photos of the past year, add a bit of poignant prose on an introductory page and you're in business. A streamlined solution for documenting your days together, a perfectly charming coffee table book and maybe a new holiday tradition in the making? Bonus points for being super sentimental and made by you.

4. A PIECE OF WORK: Buy artwork. Photography and affordable prints are a great way to start. Do you have any artist friends? No? Well, I do. I love this photo taken by my mate Rich Bayley in Cuba. How insane would that be as an oversize print in a white box frame? Or check out this charming (and affordable) The World Is Your Oyster print at Keep Calm Gallery. Complete it with a delicate, ornate frame and it's good to go. And I'd be remiss in not referring you to my own pics on centerpiece gallery. A few that might be nice are this or this or this. Order prints on paper or canvas (no framing necessary!) straight from the site. You don't even have to talk to me. Gotta love the interwebs, boys.

5. DEAR JOHN:This indulgent Essence of John Galliano Diptyque candle is heaven. Sultry, smoky, perfect for the festive season. Probably the closest most of us will come to actually wearing Galliano and we'll take what we can get. Um, did I mention that it is the Essence Of John Galliano?! Yeaaaah. Nuff said.

6. A KIMONO, NO?: I know many of you men are a little shy to buy your girl something sassy, silky or sexy. You don't know what size. You don't know how far to go. White cotton? Lace? Latex? You're a little concerned that if you get it wrong, the gift could provoke a slap in the face or a swift kick in the family jewels. I get it. Here's a piece of advice- start with something safe, like this kimono robe from Agent Provocateur. It's friendly for any body, and understated enough for even the most demure dame. A safe bet that we know you'll love, and she will too.

So there you have it. Six sweet surprises for you to stash under the tree. Now get out your wallet and focus, Grasshopper.

Most of us have- at least once- dipped a spoon into the peanut butter jar, then the jam jar, then straight down the gullet. No? You haven't? Oh ooookay. It's cool, I won't call you out. You just keep floatin' down that river in Egypt. You know the one? Da Nile?

But if you need a snack for rafting through the rapids, I've got just the thing to satisfy those grown-up PB&J cravings, minus the jar and the spoon. And the shame.

A classic peanut butter cookie with a sweet and tart raspberry jam thumbprint. So sophisticated that you won't have to hide in the pantry with a spoon to get your fix. You're welcome.

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If you're lusting for more than understated romance, beef up your bed with Design Mobel's various integrated accessories.

Like a Bose sound system if you want a little bass in your bassinet. Or, if it's time to turn on the red light (Roxanne), a pendant light with four color settings should do the trick.  And if you want to hide away those unmentionable bedside necessities, an optional drawer stows everything out of sight. 

All these bells and whistles make this four poster prodigy sound more like a flashy automobile than a bed. But hey, if the romance fades away, the fancy features should keep things hot and heavy. 

Sweet dreams.

So this was a first. Steph as hostess, queen bee, chef in chief. And everything was perfectly under control. No services of a sous chef needed. Before heading to work, she'd piled chicken breasts into a slow cooker with a magical mexican mixture of spices and sauces. She then went to the office and closed four deals before returning to the casa in time to shred the slow cooked chicken and serve stellar tacos to her hungry guests. That's just how she rolls. 

Steph dished up the mouthwatering meat with toasty corn tortillas, tangy crumbled Cotija cheese, warm black beans, fresh corn shaved off the cob, and a cool and crunchy homemade avocado and cucumber salsa. Damn straight. I'll say this. Outside of a taco truck in a parking lot in Northern California, these were the most memorable chicken tacos of my life. I looked in awe at Steph and thought, "I can't believe you've been holding out on me."

Ever since that night, I've been trying to recreate the slow cooker magic. I think I've concocted a pretty solid recipe and one so simple that any sous can do. So if the rhythm is right, move to the music, and you can slow cook all night. Or day. When you're at work.

As we came of age and starting partying into the wee hours, pancakes and bacon were there for us on a whole new level. The smell of sizzling bacon, browning butter and sticky maple syrup would drag us out of bed, no matter how severe the aftereffects of a good night out. From bed we'd make it to the kitchen table, then from the table a short mosey over to the couch. Thus began the glorious circuit of the day. Bed, kitchen, couch, kitchen, couch, kitchen, couch, bed. All the while sporting the official uniform of hungover peoples everywhere: pajamas. 

Nonetheless, you don't have to rock a massive hangover (or be Hugh Heffner) to get an invite to the pajama party. It's brilliant for everyone to spend an entire day in pajamas every once in a while. And in my expert opinion, pancakes are an absolutely essential component to this undertaking. 

If there's one thing better than pancakes, it's these fluffy banana pancakes laced with brown sugar, coconut and crunchy pecans. Here's the recipe. If you really want to go wild, crown your pancake stack with an egg fried sunny side up. That's how my honey likes his. 

Ain't no party like a bananas in pajamas party, folks. So slip into your uniform and your pj prom on. 

Essentially, agave nectar is the sap from the core of the agave plant. It's sweet and almost flavorless, meaning you don't need much and it's versatile enough for a multitude of uses. Bonus: This syrupy stuff is naturally packed with enzymes, iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. So yes, as you sip your fourth margarita you can give yourself a little pat on the back for looking after your health so well. Mum would be proud.

AND, since agave nectar has a low glycemic index, you'll feel pretty darn good tomorrow, too. Using this super natural, low glycemic sweetener in place of simple syrup decreases your chances of a beasty hangover since your body isn't reeling from precipitous spikes in blood sugar. In short: Spike your drink but not your blood sugar and you'll feel tops in the morning, folks. (Paging Mocktor Leiweke...)  

Here is my favorite recipe for a damn fine margarita. For most purposes, I prefer the raw variety of agave nectar, which is processed at lower temps, protecting the natural enzymes. You can find agave nectar at any natural foods store, and sometimes in the hippie foodstuffs section of regular grocery stores. Just follow the smell of patchouli. 

Cheers to your health, kids. Life really can be supernaturally sweet.