All I can say is wow. There were so many lovely smells, I couldn’t choose a favorite. I was also impressed by the way the samples were presented, and especially how fresh the incense papers smell. The papers, which even come with matches, are a truly unique way to scent a room. The scent of our sample was Aqua Universalis – The idea of water that crosses between skin and fabric, between sheets and air. With notes of Bergamon and Lemon from Sicily, White Bouquet, Light and Musky Wood. It’s a scent that is light, but also strong, and very good for a shared bedroom, as it’s niether too feminine or too masculine.

Francis has done some exciting and creative things in the world of fragrance. He created a scent for the fountains of Versailles, recreated the perfume of Marie-Antoinette and even created a dessert based on scent for Plaza Athenee restaurant. The electric experiences have inspired the unique offerings in the collection including: liquid detergent, incense papers, bubbles and a scented leather bracelet along with fine fragrances. I thought the bubbles were an especially fun and unique idea.

The home collection has four key items: candles, interior scents, incense papers and perfuming laundry wash with matching fabric softener. Available for order online via Maison Francis Kurkdjian. There is even an option of having a personal perfume created just for you. If that isn’t wish list worthy, I don’t know what is.

I had seen these bookshelves before on a lot of home design websites and always thought they looked so cool. I also really wondered how they worked, since you don’t see the bookshelf at all. I got to see the small version, which was perfect for keeping smaller books near my office desk. It’s a very cool way to store books, and very useful too, making good use of vertical space in a house which can sometimes be wasted. Very simple to install, just one screw (provided), and of course add books that are already in your collection and you are ready to go! I won’t give away the secret of how it looks like it’s hovering, that’s something you will have to discover for yourself (and impress your guests with).

The pizza cutter, also called a pizza saw, is quiet unique, with a design that makes slicing very fast. The blade is very sharp, made of a laser etched stainless steel blade, and cuts easily. The first time we tried it we used it on a rising crust pizza, and the toppings got caught on the shield. Luckily the shield can be removed for cleaning, and also cutting (though it is there to protect your fingers, so maybe a thinner crust would be a good idea). It’s still a very cool way to cut, with smooth and easy motion.

Useful Things offers items for the office, home, and even travel. They have tons of great gadgets, and we were impressed with how fast they shipped, and that they do all of the work from their office in Oregon! Shipping charges start as low as $3.99, depending on the package of course, and they ship to most countries as well. Be sure to check out their website if you are looking for unique gift ideas for loved ones or to buy a treat or two for yourself! We found many things to add to our wish list!

It was easy to apply, and came in parts that were a bit like a puzzle. There were great instructions inside, including numbered pieces and a detail showing which pieces go where. Starting from the top down, I was able to add style to our home less than 10 mins! Be sure you have a tape measure handy, and I would recommend that if you have one, use a level to make sure that you are getting the decals on straight, otherwise you might end up like us and have a bit of a lean. The good news is the decals are removable, and reusable! They do come off without hurting the wall, and if you do decide to change decor (or even if you move house), you can restick them.

They do work best on a smooth surface, but we have “orange peel” on our walls and the decals still stick. I did wipe down our wall first as well, which helps the decals stick too. Wall decals are such a fun and easy way to add a little something extra to a room, and they are affordable as well (the Eiffel Tower is just $19.95).

Be sure to visit Graphique de France to see all of their wall decal options.

We hope you had a great holiday too! Stay tuned.

Well, Tatutina offers a great alternative to this problem with the hand painted menu box! We got one to review, and just love it! It’s well made, and does it’s job like a dream. Now we don’t have to search through our kitchen drawers trying to find a menu. All we have to do is open our box, and they are all inside, neat and tidy!

Tatutina offers a lot of fun, hand painted gifts! From treat holders for your favorite pooch, to recipe boxes and bookends, there is something for everyone on your gift list. And, since they are hand painted, no two will ever be exactly alike! Something we really love.

They are a mother-daughter team based in Massachusetts, who love to design and make fun, functional items. Another great thing to note is that Tatutina items are designed and tested to meet the requirements of the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM). All of our products use certified non-toxic, lead free paints. So, not only are you going to get a fun product, but a safe one as well.

We really love our menu box, and now that we have it, we don’t know how we lived without it for so long! If you, or someone you know loves to get take out, then this is one item that should be on the wish list for sure! You can order them online, and they come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Visit the Tatutina website to learn more, and to see all the fun products and designs they offer.