New year, new life! I’ve finally moved into my new home sweet home! The Christmas holidays just flew by amongst packages, carrying heavy boxes up the stairs (I’ve got a case of sciatic nerve!) and my bright new colorful home accessories!
I almost missed our annual Mandarina Duck party, organized by ourselves, due to my graphics course that went until 10 pm.

I spent Christmas Day in Porretta with my family having lunch and opening presents. Despite all my subliminal suggestions on the blog (which I doubt my family had read a word of), I received many useful presents: an espresso machine, a water vacuum cleaner and a pre-paid Ikea card.
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The time for gathering round the tree is coming soon and I haven’t had any time to think about gifts yet.

Apart from the usual safe purchases I do every year at the Mandarina shop (it’s a pity I can no longer take advantage of a 10% discount for my first online purchase!), I think I’ll try the traditional method of real shopping. It will certainly help relieve the stress of my moving!

Well, before I go shopping, I’ll get ideas for my list on the Web, perhaps by using a personal shopping website. That should shorten my shopping time.

My (hopefully well focused) shopping list:

For friends who are super-anxious or in crisis? A self-shaping chair by Droog Design. It could take my place in helping them to vent.

I’ve found a cute, feathered hair band, which could be cool for a New Year’s Eve party or as a message to a charming friend. At least she won’t have to get dressed up like a Christmas tree…
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Who doesn’t know about those famous, colorful building blocks?
Lego is turning 50!
Well, I know that time is rushing by but I never realized just how long ago it’s been since I fought (gently, of course) over Lego blocks with my brother.

Lego  has broken the Guinness World Record for the tallest building block tower, which has been constructed by children and adults in Vienna. Modern Peter Pans will now have much to dabble in!

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Would putting a forest in our homes be enough to make us eco-logical?
Well, Naruse Inokuma has designed a room containing only biocompatible materials. It would add a touch of nature to my plastic Ikea plants!

Of course, it wouldn’t be enough. Now, I’m not suggesting that we go back to old-fashioned wood-burning stoves but to start living better, we only need to take a few eco-actions:

1. Drink tap water: use the now famous Brita “water pitcher” with replaceable filters for fast and easy drinking water!

2. Generate energy: if you have no place for solar panels, then try the “Energy Tree” created by Beghelli that uses both solar and geothermal energy. The yard of my apartment building needs a new look and in summertime the temperature reaches 50°C there. So, I’ll definitely propose this at our next tenant meeting!

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I was just about to schedule an appointment for two months from now, when I realized that I couldn’t put it into my desk calendar because the year is almost up!

The year 2008 has just flown by so fast. Perhaps it is because life has been so intense and the cold has only just arrived that I only realized now I need to find a new calendar for 2009.

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We’ve known that chocolate is healthy since the time of the ancient Mayas.

What’s really incredible is that it’s now used as a beauty treatment thanks to its slimming, draining and anti-stress properties.
You are wrapped with warm chocolate and pampered. Who could resist? Well, I have my doubts about its slimming properties because I don’t see how I could stop my tongue from satisfying my passion for chocolate!

Well, I think I have a solution: choco-design.
If chocolate bars are lamps, carpets, chairs or iPhone holders, then, of course, there are no counter-indications! And no risk of exceeding calorie counts or dirtying ourselves with melted chocolate!
The only problem is to control excessive watering mouth.

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Hey, guys! It’s amazing to be in New York just during the elections day!
I cannot cover up my enthusiasm for the American political campaign, maybe it’s because I feel quite involved as I’ve got there some emigrant relatives and friends of mine!
Creativity blows up, from coffee mugs to the sweeties boxes… everything talked about elections.
As soon as the fitting day ended - for the shooting of the new catalogue for travel and woman lines - I went in front of the Tv. Ready for the marathon. After some initial uncertainty, things seemed clear.
We just went out on the streets: Union Square enlivened, even if the tunes were understated as if people didn’t want to party beforeheand. A huge American flag hide some small groups and  playing music and singing the praise of Obama (never to say).

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“Nourish the inner aspect” is the motto of Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow’s website dedicated to lifestyle.
Simple recipes, places to visit, green things to do. The project tries to raise awareness on eastern philosophy: nourish the spirit while rediscovering the little things of everyday life. Very zen!

Perhaps, I’ve found a good reason to go to the gym: you can generate electric energy while riding a bike! It’s so cool to control both the calories you burn and the watts you produce. Twenty minutes of hard pedaling and you can recharge your iPod! Too bad,  there are only eco-gyms in Oregon and Hong Kong.

Anyway, there are plenty of choices for eco-sustainable workouts in Italy!
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If you’re in Milan until 16 November, you could catch sight of cascading, enchanted princesses in the window of the Coin department store. Don’t be alarmed. It’s all part of the (con)Temporary Art show taking place in Milan’s Tortona district. This unique event is a contemporary art festival being hosted in coffee shops, bars, stores and hotels.

Bonbons, sinuous shapes and a romantic atmosphere are the theme of “100% Pure Love”, the exhibition in the new Nhow Art Design Hotel, the first ever museum-hotel in Italy.

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Have you just bought a new home or feel like redecorating your current one?
Firstly, you can go to the Get decorating.com website,  which is the best place to find interior design and decorating ideas. You can find inspiration browsing through its numerous articles on and photos of actual home plans! Once you get into the gallery, you can choose the category you are interested in and view all the decorating details you might need.
Along with the many cool insights offered by architects and designers, at Architectural Digest you can take a tour of celebrity homes. Even just out of curiosity!

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