In the land of coffee known as Yaletown, a teashop emerges.

Teaja, the neighborhood’s littlest gem, is a slick, contemporary tea boutique, carrying its own loose-leaf tea infusions. Options are plentiful and so eloquently presented on the “tasting wall” encased in elegant glass jars. Among the flavours are the irresistibly aromatic Genmaicha Grace, the luxurious Double Cream Earl Grey, and the heavenly peony concoction Bai Mu Dan. This teashop does have a small sitting counter, ideal for people watching. Too busy? Take a cup of tea ($3.00) to go. — Anya Georgijevic

Teaja, 1072 Mainland St., Vancouver, 604-558-3252, www.teaja.com

A visit to any department store in Sweden is frustrating: Unless you are traveling with 18 suitcases, there is never enough room to properly stock up on their gorgeous homewares.

But now you won’t have to go to Sweden to stock up on beautiful Scandinavian kitchen accessories. Lu Prints is a Pemberton-based print company whose soft textiles and serving platters are inspired by the founder’s Swedish heritage and her Canadian surroundings. We love the Napanee print. It looks very Scandinavian, but features moose, snowshoes, and bears. We suggest you serve Swedish meatballs and a side of poutine. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Napanee napkins ($36 for four), coasters ($22 for four), placemats ($36 for four) and teatowels ($16) are made in Canada and available on the Lu Prints webstore, www.luprints.bigcartel.com

‘Tis the party season, and planning a good one is a lot of work, so let’s make sure our hosts’ efforts are well acknowledged.

Emily Post would, of course, agree that one should never show up at a party empty handed. Whether it’s something salty or something sweet, we found the perfect one-stop shop for all our host gifting needs, Grenadine & Co. For the epicurean, a set of 14 essential Indian spices by Epices de Cru ($36); for the mixologist, Fee Brothers’ selection of classic cocktail bitters ($8.49 each); and for the sweet tooth, a pack of three delicious Mrs. Bridges Preserves ($15.29). Yummy gifts will undoubtedly guarantee a future invite. —Anya Georgijevic

Grenadine & Co, 3028 W. Broadway, Vancouver, 604-737-8010, www.facebook.com/grenadineandco

Normally we hate folding. Laundry, napkins, poker—you name it, we’d rather not.

But these folded ceramic platters from Vancouver company Butter & Fly caught our eye. Available in two sizes (medium, $89 and large, $109), they’re modern and so very delicate-looking. We’re envisioning them on our coffee table as we entertain our guests pre-dinner party or on our dinner table as we serve dessert. In other words, they’re beautiful and versatile.

So we have a reason to get bent out of shape. —Kelsey Dundon

www.butterandfly.weebly.com

Our recent trip to Whistler's Cornucopia was a perfect time to draw up our holiday shopping lists. While the wise women of House Wine counsel never to save bubbly for special occasions, we've paired some of their top picks with the perfect excuses to open them:

Date Night: We chose Blue Mountain Brut ($30) for our wedding, and seven years later still pop a bottle regularly. Made using the Methode Traditionelle of real Champagne and the classic mix of pinot noir and chardonnay, it tastes like the real thing.

Lunch with the Ladies: Mionetto Posecco ($20) was our favourite discovery of the seminar. Crisp, fresh, and frothy, the Procecco grape is known to stimulate your appetite. Bon Apetito.

Sushi Night: The perfectly pick Oyster Bay Cuvée Rosé ($23), made with sauvignon blanc, has a herbaceous finish that pairs well with raw fish.

Christmas Morning: Newly available in Canada, the Henriot Blanc Souverain French Champagne ($77.75) has a toasty brioche characteristic that would compliment your breakfast pastries.

Boxing Day Brunch: Fresita sparkling wine ($14.49) from Chile is finished with the wild strawberries from the Patagonia region and almost qualifies as a breakfast smoothie. Almost. 

—Sarah Bancroft

All recommendations courtesy House Wine consultants at Whistlercornucopia.com

We shed a few tears when El Bulli announced it was closing its impossible-to-get-through doors.

But now Ferran Adrià, its chef and a molecular gastronomy pioneer, gives us a glimpse into his domestic side with his new cookbook The Family Meal: Home Cooking With Ferran Adrià. Unlike El Bulli, the food here doesn’t resemble Frank Gehry’s buildings. It’s a rather simple affair, intricately illustrated and organized into 31 three-course meals, each with its own time and portion chart. Easy peasy!

As for our dreams of El Bulli? We’ll happily consider this our consolation prize.  —Anya Georgijevic

$23.10 at www.amazon.ca

If you're a huge El Bulli fan you won't want to miss El Bulli: Cooking in Progress at the Vancity Theatre playing from December 2 to December 8.

Much too lovely for laundry, we first spied industrial-style canvas storage baskets displaying French baguette at an East Vancouver bakery. Next we discovered one in a photography studio bathroom in Toronto holding artfully arranged toilet paper rolls.

Now, we’ve found a local source in new-to-Vancouver design outpost Style Garage which stocks the original 1921 version. Sturdy enough for firewood, handy for kids toys, all we know the only place they won’t be hiding is the laundry room. —Sarah Bancroft

From $95 at Style Garage, 125 W Hastings St., Vancouver, 604-558-4343 and 938 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-534-4343, www.stylegarage.com

The title quote is probably one of Yves Saint Laurent’s most recognizable sayings, and now we can mount his words on our wall.

Fashionotes.com has just launched a series of posters called Fashionable Faces, featuring the illustrated face of some of the world’s most recognizable fashion designers, paired with one of their quotes. Some of them are very positive, like Diane Von Furstenberg’s saying about being happy with yourself, others a bit crazy, like Valentino’s rant against short evening gowns. And some sum up the designer very, very well, like this one from Karl Lagerfeld: “I’m very down to earth. I’m just not from this earth.” —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Fashionable Faces posters, $30 plus shipping, at Fashionotes, www.fashionotes.com

Finally! The day has come when we can blast the Ghostbusters theme song on repeat! But that’s not the only frightfully good tune we’ll be listening to as we scarf down hand out candy tonight…

"This is Halloween" from the Nightmare Before Christmas

"Monster Mash" by Bobby “Boris” Pickett

"Somebody’s Watching Me" by Rockwell

"A Nightmare on My Street" DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

"Twilight Zone" by Manhattan Transfer

"I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow

"Addams Groove" by MC Hammer

"Thriller" by Michael Jackson

"X-Files Theme" by Mark Ayres

"I Put a Spell on You" by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 

—Kelsey Dundon

Six-thousand-square-foot loft. Features brick walls, exposed beams and tons of natural light.

No, it’s not our place. It’s Montauk Sofa’s brand new Gastown digs. The Canadian company (each piece is made in Montreal) is much lauded for its aesthetic, which manages to be sleek and inviting at the same time. It’s that warm, modern look that makes the new space so open and airy. And it’s outfitted with impeccably designed furniture, to boot.

So, ahh… when can we move in? —Kelsey Dundon

Montauk Sofa, 228 Abbott St., Vancouver, 604-331-2363, www.montauksofa.com