TODAY'S FAVOURITE THINGS...

I had an irresistible craving for some Le Pain Quotidien praline spread today which is just about my favourite thing in the world and I haven't had it for ages, not having been in Paris for a while. I suppose it's my Starbucks, I know I'll always get a good coffee there - which makes it nothing like Starbucks but you know what I mean. I've actually been quite disappointed by the LPQ branches in London so far. The one in Marylebone is really noisy and always full of botoxed eurotrashy ladies who lunch. The one under the arches at Waterloo would be nice if it weren't for the trains thundering overhead and the water dripping from the ceiling. I haven't been to the one in Kensington because I have absolutely no reason to go to Kensington ever. I hadn't tried the one in Great Marlborough Street, almost opposite Liberty and the entrance to Carnaby Street, which has been open now for a month or so. It's big and in a modern building which usually makes the whole rustic styling thing a bit hard to swallow, but somehow it works. Their coffee is fairtrade and organic and they have free wi-fi so I totally forgive them for being a chain. Anyway I had a lovely time there, me and my big bowl of coffee and a basket of bread with ALL the chocolate spreads to choose from. I felt like I was in Paris. (I know LPQ is Belgian but I always go there when I'm in Paris.) Then afterwards the shop I wanted to go to was unexpectedly shut at 2pm on a Thursday and I really did feel just like I was in Paris.

But Beyond the Valley was open. It's such a nice little shop because not everything is super expensive, they have quirky bits and pieces too, all very well chosen. I love the little matchbooks with "call me" written on perforated squares of paper and the mini books by Lucy May Schofield. And they had the Donna Wilson knitted doughnut that I just really, really needed to buy for someone.

And they also had the necklace by Kyo Hashimoto I've been lusting after but felt sure I wouldn't find anywhere.

The black and white one, ain't it purty? I'd love to have it but at about half the price they're selling it for in the shop.

And then of course I ended up in Selfridges where the Benefit girls got me again. They see me coming a mile off, all haggard and dehydrated; weighed down with shopping bags (of Christmas cards but they don't know that). They entice me to their stools with silky tones inviting me to take the weight off, let us make you feel better, and then you know the rest. I am wearing more products on my face than I have all year and I look suspiciously healthy. I also have another eye cream but two new products in one year isn't that bad really is it, when they're able to work that glowy light reflecting magic on me.