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My July obsessions are the plush Erica Tanov Turkish Towels and bath sheets. I am so obsessed that I had to write about them in my blog too so no one would miss out. One of these high-end textiles will make your bathroom feel like a 5-star beach resort on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. Why wouldn’t you dish out the $32 per towel (or $48 for the bath sheet for that matter) to make yourself feel a little luxurious every morning? I absolutely love these and am ordering a set of four for our master bathroom as we speak. Check out the bath sheets used as chic poolside bed covers in boutique-owner Carina Schott’s home. Now if I only had a pool in my backyard…

Photos: Domino, Erica Tanov

It’s time for my June Obsessions - I didn’t want to miss this month with all of the great products bringing us ever closer to those hazy summer days ahead. The first item creates a fun nighttime vibe in your backyard and is good for the environment. Hang these festive, solar-powered Soji Lanterns from the lowest branches of your trees or string them along a fence for a warm glow. I am thinking about investing in the white and pink ones to hang from the underside of my grapevine to inspire a magical atmosphere for midnight margaritas. My other must-have this month is what I call ‘beach-head’. Sounds kind of nappy but on the contrary, my best hair moments occur after spending a day in the sand and surf - get the same effect with john masters’ organics sea mist salt spray. It even contains lavender to protect your hair from the drying effects of sea salt with the bonus of making your hair smell like the French countryside. Yippee, it’s summer.

Once again, the month of April escaped me but I am back on the ball and I bring you my May Obsessions. The first is this organic cotton Fishnet Pillow by Ortolan NYC. I featured it already in my review of Nimli.com. It is so crisp looking for something so earth-friendly but quirky enough to really add interest to your sofa or boudoir. Want it. Need it. My other obsession this month is yellow denim. Yes, I will still religiously wear my indigo skinny and trouser jeans but summer requires a little bit of sunshine and these are it. I really like the Vivid Crop Jean by Rich & Skinny on Shopbop. Wear them with something sleeveless, prim-looking and white like the Treasure Trove Blouse or printed and tunic-y like the Square of Words Blouse, both at Anthropologie.

You may have noticed that I skipped the entire month of February and that my blog posts have become few and far between. I have an excuse. The arrival of my twin boys, Aidan (left) and Camden (right), on February 1st, 2008. The past month has felt like 5 long nights but other than the sleep deprivation, life has been amazing with these two snuggly little guys. They are, without question, my March obsession and it might just spill over into many months to come. We are really looking forward to Spring and all of its fashion possibilities, being bumpless and all…

January is here along with my newest obsessions for 2008. The first item that keeps haunting me is the index finger ring, specifically the gorgeous cocktail rings crafted by jewelry designer Lori Leavitt. Lori’s creations are both modern and romantic and are perfect for such a prominent and noticeable position on your hand. Black and faceted or patterned are very popular in cocktail rings this season but the mixed metal Metallic Masquerade Ring (also seen in the Jan 08 issue of Lucky Magazine) has a great vintage vibe that can work both casually and professionally.

My other obsession this month is Kiss Me Mascara by Blinc. Although it is $30 per tube (pretty pricey when you are used to buying the $9 Great Lash at the drug store) it does deliver everything that it states: no smearing or smudging, gentle on eyes, a snap to remove. I personally never had a big problem with smudging but the removal part always annoyed me because you could never really get it off and my face towels were always marked with black stripes after face-washing. Recently I have actually been avoiding wearing it at all for that reason. So when I heard about Kiss Me I had to try it. I even gave it as gifts at Christmas when I discovered how great it really was since I knew that many of my friends also avoided wearing mascara. In any case, try it. You will like it. And you might just be able to justify the continuous purchase at $30 per tube for the sake of beauty. Find it online at www.goneshopping.ca and www.spaboutique.ca.

December is here and I know I have mentioned them before, maybe a few times. However, that is what constitutes an obsession - something you just can’t shake. And I can’t shake Ashley G’s Bearded Guys. They are just so darn cool that I want a whole collection to stare at. Her newest in the series is Richmond wearing a trendier knit cap and brown textured sweater. I was definitely on the side of the ‘no beards’ camp but the more Bearded Guys I see, the more I am coming around to their appeal. Yes, they are just illustrations, so, no, I wouldn’t be happy if my husband grew one himself. I wonder where Ashley found inspiration in beards? Wherever it came from, it works.

My other December obsession is with Ouno Design’s Fur-Trimmed Wool Christmas Stockings. Have you ever tried to find nice and simple but classic stockings? It’s tough. I went on a hunt last year without much luck and this year actually decided to skip stockings since I always end up doing most of the work for everyone when I don’t really need that job this year. Plus I am not sure my family would miss them that much. Seeing these adorable fur-trimmed stockings have almost changed my mind, I am still deciding. They are made with recycled European wool and soft vintage fur or sheepskin coats so you can be assured that you are purchasing responsibly. Also, these are the kind of stockings that you will keep forever. As Ouno puts it, instant heirlooms. I completely agree.

I can’t believe it’s November already. It makes you realize that holiday shopping starts soon if you plan on doing it online; which I must say, is the only way to go. You can sleep in and leisurely read the paper on Saturday mornings in December instead of crushing into a mall somewhere buying things that your friends and family don’t need…I digress. My first obsession this month is the Red Plaid Military Tab Parka by L.A.M.B. Frankly, it doesn’t look warm enough to get you through a Canadian winter but if you live in the milder cities this could get a lot of wear. I am not usually a supporter of pattern on such a large purchase but in this case it works and I think it will be able to span a few winter seasons without looking ’so last year’. Get it at www.iloveshop.com.

My other obsession this month is the Suki Pure Cream Stain for Lip & Cheek in Opal. This line of natural and organic skin and body products has a great selection of facial skincare but their cosmetics line is growing and adding some really nice dual-purpose products that even smell good. This stain can be used on cheeks and lips and I really like the Opal because it has a shimmer and I need a little pick-me-up now that winter and my white pallor is setting in. The pinkish-peach colour will compliment most skin tones - it looks great with a dramatic eye. You can get it at www.lilou-organics.com.

My other obsession this month is the 60s fashion icon and Andy Warhol muse, Edie Sedgwick. Have you seen Factory Girl with Sienna Miller? Excellent movie. I certainly don’t support her drug-using, cigarette-smoking lifestyle but her style was off-the-hook and we are seeing it influence many runway and celebrity fashion and beauty looks this season. I just wish I had a place to wear her customary black leotard + black tights + black tall boots + huge dangly earrings + striped tunic combo. People probably wouldn’t get it and think that I forgot to put on my pants. I wish I had known more about her when I had short hair - she would have made an easy Halloween costume.

I have written about Bev Hisey before but I just can’t shake the desire for her hand-tufted Moroccan-inspired floor cushions and rugs. The bold geometric shapes and colours are just amazing and I want them in my house…immediately. I noticed the other day that her studio is only a 10 minute walk from my house. I might plaster myself to the window next week and beg for a tour.