Chupa Chups 18+.

Chupa Chups has already been associated with naughty schoolgirls who deserve a spank. So what happens when they requested for Firma, a Moscow based creative firm to come up with 3 designs for Chupa Chups? They decided to up the ante and come up with Chupa Chups 18+, for the kids who not only love their spanks but also their whips, bondage and leather. Should these go into production, would they restrict it to just 18+ is anyone's guess.

The 2009 Ultimate Christmas Wish List.

It's the time of the year. Just thinking if money were no object or someone would want to buy my affections, what should he/she get me?

On the top of my list, is definitely the BMW M3 Convertible in Jerez Black. The car is so sexy; a huge turn on for me. I am in love. I liken it to a Calvin Klein model with a nice bulge but this one has the goods under the hood to boast. It looks fabulous from every angle, top on or off. Best of all, it drives as fierce as it looks.

Next would be the Patek Philippe Nautilus. It is understated and beautiful. Definitely a classic. Being a Patek Philippe, it's handmade from the movement to the casing.

Third on my list, is the Eames La Chaise Lounge. Always loved it. It's abstract in its shape, made of molded plastic but that does not compromise on it's comfort for the user.

A Gold Necklace from Pomellato. I love this one but never really knew it's name. Simple and easy to wear with everything.

The very limited edition Christian Louboutin collaboration with Piper Heidseick. It comes with a glass shoe that you are supposed to sip your champagne out of. I don't have a shoe fetish but I do love champagne and this is definitely a great collectors' piece.

Resistance.

Resistance.

I love you, yet I don't.

Darling pain of my desires,

You bring along with you the obligatory anxiety;

Darling, why do you leave all that could have been beautiful

trapped in the cavity between your heart and soul?

Tiny space.

Tiny space for the magnitude of words, expressions

That are full of resolutions,

Resolutions.

A reality resisted by your will,

Guilt by the sensibilities of the world,

That creates holes in our capsule.

Letting in all the pain,

The pain.

Soft autumn fumes of molasses and leather

which you love so dearly.

They line the velvet of your throat,

nest in you,

become a second skin to your fingers.

In my subconsciousness, i share your breath,

Closing my eyes, closing ours,

We elope to our abode,

Our sojourn.

By Sandra Liao.

283 Bank St, South Melbourne.

Neometro in Victoria, Australia never ceases to delight me with their architectural offerings. 283 Bank St, South Melbourne is no exception. It was auctioned off last Saturday. As this is one of the few townhouse developments by them, I felt the need to feature it.

Their design of the unit invites in a lot of sunlight. On each level, there are many open spaces, like terraces, patios and gardens. I love their installation of solar heaters, rainwater tanks and hydronic heating and air-conditioning. They have also allocated storage spaces that are in the roof. All the rooms feature high ceilings which I adore. It being in South Melbourne, makes this almost too good to be true.

Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh.

When I heard of the opening of the first Hotel Missoni, I was delighted. The family that made famous their wave prints and colours, now to have their very own fashion hotel. How more fabulous can that be? Then I realised that it was to be in Edinburgh, Scotland. I couldn't help but ask why start with Edinburgh? Firstly, it is not exactly the most fashionable place to open such a stylish hotel, then there is the question about it being a tat grey (so unlike the bright colours that the house represents.)

When I was doing my research on the hotel, I stumbled upon the answer to my burning question. The Guardian UK interview the matriarch of the Missoni family, Rosita and she said that in the rain, Scotland can seem cold and dark and terrible, but in the sun she could see its true beauty. She first came here 30 years ago for the festival, and went walking, out through the highlands, and remembered the heather and land - the colours were magnificent. Edinburgh is severe but very stylish and she tried to reflect that in the design of the hotel.

With that in mind, enters a beautiful hotel that embodies life and the beautiful character of the scottish landscape in a colourful, flamboyant way that would make any fashion conscious person delighted. And if Edinburgh isn't quite your cup of tea, you'll be relieved to know that they will be opening a few more hotels in Kuwait City, Oman, Brazil and South Africa.

Urban Cactus.

Urban Cactus is a housing project designed by architects, Ben Huygen and Jasper Jaegers from UCX Architects that is to be located in Vuurplaat Section of Rotterdam. As the name suggests, it is inspired by a cactus as it would be the "green nerve" of the urban landscape. It will house 98 units in it's 19 floors. Every unit would have it's own big outdoor space which creates that overlapping design that gives this development its character. Not having it in a symmetrical block, also gives the units more exposure to natural lighting.

The Sydney Picnic Company.

I will un-bashfully declare this. I absolutely love picnics. Nothing like sitting on a mat in a quiet park when the sun is just about to set, running your fingers through grass, having a meaningful conversation and of course, paired with a beautiful selection of food and drinks.

The Sydney Picnic Company founded by Natalie and Simon, understand how important it is to combine quality food with the element of surprise. Simon has had experience working for Simon Johnson, the famous Australian grocer as well as his family owned wine bar in the UK. Using all that knowledge, he has put together a beautiful line-up of food to sit in the park and savour.

All picnics should have an element of surprise for the other party who is not packing the basket. It's great to discover what you might be having for dinner or to have little details like linen for napkins, nice drinking glasses, a bottle of pink moscato, etc. I suppose that is what makes picnics so much more special and intimate that a dinner in a restaurant. It's like being in a world of your own. Your little escape.

Here's a sneak peep at what they have on offer now. Note that prices are for two.

The Brit Pic. AUD$105

• Tasmanian free range wood smoked ham with tomato chutney
• Quickes cheddar cheese & pickled onions or Cropwell Bishop stilton & toasted walnuts
• Patchett’s pork pie
• Quiche lorraine & green salad
• Sonoma sourdough
• Marinated strawberries & vanilla cream

The Sydney. AUD$145

• Roast almonds, chilli & sea salt
• Black olive tapenade
• Slow roast tomatoes, basil, toasted almonds, marinated Meredith goat’s cheese
• Australian King prawns, kipfler potatoes & watercress with tarragon & lemon dressing
• Sonoma ciabatta
• Valrhona chocolate brownies with organic pecans, sour cherries & vanilla cream

The Italian. AUD$155

• Grissini & marinated Ligurian ‘Taggiasche’ olives
• Slow roast tomatoes, basil, toasted almonds, marinated Meredith goat’s cheese & 20 year balsamic
• Wild onions cooked in thyme & balsamic with parmigiano reggiano
• Italian charcuterie plate including prosciutto di Parma, sopressa & coppa
• Risoni with mozzarella, chargrilled zucchini, asparagus, peas, lemon zest & olive oil
• Sonoma Ciabatta
• Valrhona chocolate pots with Armagnac soaked amaretti biscuit

T

The Spanish. AUD$185

• Ortiz white anchovies with pickled chillies, caperberries & parsley
• Olives marinated in rosemary, chilli & garlic
• Paprika smoked almonds
• Chorizo, manchego & potato tortilla served with garlic aioli
• Roast artichokes stuffed with goat’s cheese, thyme, chilli, lemon zest & toasted breadcrumbs served with Jamon Serrano
• Sonoma sourdough
• Valdeon cheese with sweet olive tortas & quince paste
• Spanish almond & honey nougat

Natalie and Simon.