Peace, love and reindeer hugs

Happy Christmas dear readers. I hope you are spending the holiday with those you love.

We usually go to church on Christmas morning but there is something magical about midnight mass.

Here's the story behind this beautiful picture: In a long-exposure photo, the interior of Salisbury Cathedral is illuminated by trails of candles carried by choristers during the annual "darkness to light" advent procession in Salisbury, England, on November 25, 2011. The service - which begins with the medieval cathedral in total darkness and silence before the Advent Candle is lit at the West End -is one of the most popular services of the liturgical year. The annual advent service, which takes place over three nights, is a mix of music and readings during which two great candlelit processions move around the different spaces in the 750-year-old building which, by the end, is illuminated by almost 1,300 candles and is a spectacular start to the Christmas season. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) 

I'll also take this chance to wish you all the best for 2012 - I hope the new year brings good thing for you. Bury & Discover is going on holiday and although there may be a few posts in between I will be back on January 9 with daily posts. 

Look after yourselves!

xoxo

How to tie the perfect bow

Today is a pretty good day - it is not only a Friday but also the day before Christmas eve. I am sure most of you are on holiday and have already started your Christmas celebrations. Because most of you are also probably still wrapping your presents, here are instructions on how to tie the perfect bow.

Here are some Christmas links from around the web:

Beautiful ideas for wrapping presents 

Hamburger wrapping paper will stand out under the tree

I wouldn't mind what's inside if my gift looked like this

What lovely ornaments for the tree

A cool Christmas wish lists for geeks 

A Christmas tree made out of 40,000 plastic bottles

The best holiday windows in New York

Joy to the world Christmas cards

Mini wreath Christmas labels

These tags are cute too

Some more gorgeous Christmas stationery

Get into the festive spirit with Christmas-inspired nail art

An infographic of the top 50 toys of the last 100 years (wonder what the next 100 will bring!)

Things to wear wishlist

And we have come to the final wish list for this Christmas - clothing, bags and shoes. Oh my! Hope you get exactly what you wish for this Christmas!

xoxo

Black dot bow tie from here via here

Jeffery Campbell shoes via here

Baggy O Booty Shopper by South African designer Missibaba

Miu Miu glitter booties via here

Cambridge Satchel via here

 Zebra Umbrella from here via here

 Cute underwear from here 

 Lemlem scarf via here

Vintage Chanel via here

 We Are Handsome bodysuit via here

 J'aime ma ville T-shirt from here

Weekend bag from here

 Steve Alan market bag from here

Steve Alan boyfriend shirt from here

See B&D's other Christmas wish lists:

Sparkle

Kitchen

Bedroom

 Man
Baby
Summer
Fun
Stationery

Wishlist stationery

Good stationery is one of those things you can never have enough of and hence it makes a great gift for guys and girls alike. From gorgeous notebooks to cute pencils, city guides and name tags, I would love to find any of these in my stocking.

Louis Vuitton City Guides via here

 One year of white pages from here via here

 

Heart sticky notes from here via here

 Me and you pencils from here via here 

 Optimistic notecards from here

 Origami cube tutorial from here

 Origami sticky notepad via here

Amazing idea notebook from here

Beautifully simple notebook via here

 Garland name tags via here

See B&D's other wishlists:

Sparkle

Kitchen

Bedroom

 Man
Baby
Summer
Fun

Fun stuff wishlist

Because we are all kids at heart, here are some gift ideas to put a smile on your face and bring out your inner spirit of fun.

Carolina Herrera Paddleboard set via here

Fuji Instax instant film camera from here

A snowball for your desk from here via here: "feels just like a packed snowball and crunches in your hand, like the real thing"

 Gravitation dice and dominoes via here

 Retro headphones from here via here

Lanvin playing cards via here

"What do 2 polar bears in the snow look like" puzzle by the Toronto Zoo via here

See the other wish lists here:
Sparkle
Kitchen
Bedroom
Man
Baby
Summer

Christmas Give Away

I am so excited to tell you about Bury & Discover's first give away and just in time for Christmas. This one is for chocolate lovers - a Christmas stocking filled with Toblerone (because chocolate some how just tastes better in triangles!) Who wouldn't want this delicious addition to their celebrations?

To win this Toblerone Christmas stocking filled with an assortment of Toblerone 50g, 100g and 200g chocolates valued at R500 simply comment on this blog post. Please include your email address so I can contact you. The winner will be randomly selected from the comments below. (Only open to South Africans)

Toblerone, Swiss Milk Chocolate

Toblerone is a Swiss chocolate bar made with honey and almond nougat. Instantly recognized by its unique shape, Toblerone is a token of genuine originality and perfect for any gift. For over 100 years it’s delivered quality chocolate to people all around the globe. 

Summer wish list

Can you believe there are only six days until Christmas? Today's wish list has been inspired by the beautiful weather we are having - any of these items will make you want to be outside, maximising the sunshine.

 Guy Wolff French herb kit from Restoration Hardware via here

Cabana striped beach towel via here

 A baby blue wheelbarrow via here

 A postcarden (garden in a postcard!) via here

Gorgeous swimming costumes (my faves are the bikini in the bottom left and the full-length panther print swim suit) via here

 A miniature indoor garden-in-a-can via here

The ultimate summer reading spot - a nestrest via here

Take a look at our other wishlists:

Sparkle

Kitchen

Bedroom

Man

Babe

Honor Elizabeth Turns 1

Happy first birthday to our beautiful baby niece. I remember this time last year so clearly but now cannot imagine a life without our little favourite. A huge congratulations to her wonderful parents - and thank-you.

Summer long weekend

For those of us in South Africa we are lucky that today is a public holiday, making this a long weekend. Just what we need with the weather this good and people this happy as we look forward to the summer holidays, Christmas and the new year.

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What are your plans this weekend? We are going to watch The Beginners tonight, celebrate the sister's boyfriend's birthday tomorrow and celebrate our niece's first birthday on Sunday. Lot's of December babies in our family.

Here are some links from around the web:

I would love to find this beautiful book of timeless interiors in my Christmas stocking

And pretty much anything from the Kate Spade flagship in NY

These prints would be a fun gift for a loved one

Still haven't found a gift for the man in your life? This gift list will give you some great ideas

This watch is a fun idea for the constant traveller

And this cake bunting will make the perfect addition to any Christmas dessert

May you have fun wherever you are and whatever you're doing :)

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad

Today is my parents' 33rd wedding anniversary. Anniversaries have certainly taken on a deeper meaning now that I am married. It is pretty incredible (and inspiring!) to think that two people can be together for so long and still have so much love for each other.

My parents on their wedding day, 16 December 1978

My mom sent me a quote this  morning by Louis de Bernieres in Captain Corelli's Mandolin. And perhaps herein lies the secret:

 "Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."