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Oct 24
Love0

JUAN GAMBINA, TENOR & AMATEUR DINNER PARTY HOST

By Entertaining, Life & Style No Comments

Juan Gambina is a Maltese tenor who has dazzled the world with his impeccable voice time and time again. Fun fact: he’s also quite the dinner party host! Today, though, he’s sitting down with us to talk about his favourite We Are Not A Shop picks.

Juan, thank you for joining us! Let’s jump right in. Could you tell us what inspired your We Are Not A Shop selections today?

Certainly. First off, I picked this Richard England print because Richard and I actually go back quite a long way. Both our families have strong roots in architecture and a love of opera– he is quite the tenor enthusiast. I already own a few of his pieces, so this will be a pleasant addition to the collection.

Then I just had to pick Miriam Margolyes’ book – she’s fantastic, what can I say? She’s a great artist and an even better storyteller – naughty but nice. I mean, have you seen her interviews on Graham Norton? They’re incredibly entertaining. She’d definitely be my dream dinner-party guest.

Speaking of dinner, I love cooking and entertaining, which is why I went for this Nigella Lawson classic. When you host as much as I do, you want recipes that have been tried and tested and are guaranteed to work, which is why I’m always on the lookout for new cookbooks. These recipes in particular are super fun and can be quite a conversation starter – the lemon and lime pavlova is my favourite!

This gorgeous Royal Worcester commemorative coffee set is the perfect collector’s item. As a descendant of Gio Batta Delia, I couldn’t possibly pass it by.

Then, I picked this white jasmine candle because, frankly, I’m slightly obsessed with candles. I think I may have one in every room of my house – I really enjoy moving between rooms and being greeted by different scents. They also create a great atmosphere, so the more the merrier.

You also can’t go wrong with a classic game, which is why this backgammon piece stood out to me. I can’t wait to use this vintage set the next time I have friends over. Afternoon tea and a game of backgammon, anyone?

Then, I thought that this perfume traveling case was so unique and timeless that I couldn’t not take it. I’m admittedly a bit of a perfume buff and I just love the combination of leather and quality perfume. If only I could pop this into my travel bag…

I also happen to own the most adorable Frenchie and this dog tag would look great on him – and be a bit of an icebreaker too, perhaps?

Finally, the colour and design of this cashmere scarf instantly caught my eye, so I grabbed it without a second thought.

Those are some great picks, Juan. Now, what would you say was your most surprising selection?

Probably the champagne wine cooler. I’ll be getting a lot of use out of it now that summer’s approaching.

Do you have a favourite section of the website?

I wouldn’t say I have a favourite section, no. There are hidden gems everywhere. It’s a bit of a treasure hunt really; you know you’re always going to find something wherever you look.

What do you like about the We Are Not A Shop concept?

Well, the fact that you can purchase lovely pieces and know that all the proceeds are going to such a noble charity is fantastic – it makes you happy to spend the money.

How would you describe We Are Not A Shop to someone who doesn’t know about it?

I’d probably let the items speak for themselves at my next dinner party.

Will we be seeing you again?

 On your website, for sure!

Sep 24
Love0

POPULAR WEDDING TRADITIONS & THEIR ORIGINS

By Entertaining, Life & Style, Occasions No Comments

Is there any other dream more romantic than the idea of walking down the aisle towards true love? For some, getting married to the person you care about most in the world is a milestone achievement. 

While the institution of marriage, a concept that dates back by about 23,000 years to the first hunter-gatherers, was, until very recently, a contractual agreement in Western society, its original concept and strict gender roles are thankfully heading out the door, allowing for more freedom, and a focus on the simple desire to create a life with an individual you cherish. 

The thought of weddings makes us quite giddy, so let’s talk about some well-known wedding traditions and how they came about.

OLD EXPRESSIONS

We’ve all heard the phrase: “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue…and a silver sixpence in her shoe!” This cute Old English rhyme asks that the bride be given five objects for good luck on her special day. 

“Something old” represents the couples’ past lives, while “Something new” symbolises their happy future. “Something borrowed” refers to an object belonging to an already happily married couple, in the hopes that their good fortune will rub off. For fidelity and love, you would give the bride “Something blue”, qualities represented by that colour. Finally, the father of the bride would slip a silver sixpence in his daughter’s shoe for good luck and prosperity.

EVIL SPIRITS

It’s quite fascinating just how many wedding traditions stem from one intent: the conviction to protect the couple from any evil spirits determined to ruin their big day. A bride’s veil would disguise her from any spirits envious of her beauty and happiness. The same goes for the tradition of bridesmaids wearing the same dress, the intention of which was to have them act as the bride’s decoys to confuse the pesky spirits.

While Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert in 1840 made it fashionable to carry a bouquet of one’s favourite flowers (in her case, snowdrops), in ancient Greece and Rome, this bridal bouquet would have actually consisted of aromatic herbs such as garlic and dill to once again – you guessed it! – ward off evil spirits.

SPEAKING OF BOUQUETS…

Why does the bride (and every single person at the wedding for that matter) take such a keen interest when the bouquet is tossed? In 1700s England, single women would attempt to touch the bride’s dress for luck, and in some cases, would even try to tear a piece off of it. As a diversion, the bride would toss the bouquet! Nowadays, it’s all in good fun, but wedding-goers often hope they’ll be next in line.

WHY WHITE?

The go-to colour for wedding gowns is white, a colour representing the bride’s virginity and purity. However, believe it or not, white wedding gowns only became fashionable in the Victorian era after Queen Victoria wore white to her own wedding. Before that, women simply wore the best dress they had. 

While colours still retain their own meanings, this doesn’t apply to all cultures. For example, to most Westerners, wearing a red wedding gown wouldn’t be seen as ideal. Red represents many positive qualities, such as warmth and love, but also danger, leading many to believe it would bring bad luck. On the other hand, red wedding dresses have always been a popular choice in China. Often referred to as phoenix dresses, this opulent colour represents wealth and good fortune. 

PRESERVING FOR POSTERITY

Antique aficionados amongst you might have taken an interest in the image at the beginning of this post. A curious piece known as a globe de mariée (marriage dome), which were popular in the late 19th century, this was traditionally given to a French bride and groom to commemorate their wedding day. 

It would consist of many individual pieces, including a velvet or silk cushion surrounded by all manner of symbolic additions, including birds, leaves, and mirrors, each having their own meaning. As a highly personalised display representing the couple’s journey, keepsakes would be added along the way, including photographs, locks of their children’s hair, and jewellery. All of this would then be covered by a delicate glass dome. Think of it as a high-class scrapbook! 

OF FINGERS, HANDS & RICE

Did you ever wonder why we were wedding rings on the fourth finger of our left hand? Romans believed this contained the “vein of love”, which was directly connected to the heart. And how about the expression “Tying the knot”? Celtic wedding ceremonies called this “handfasting”, where the couple’s hands were literally joined together to represent their commitment and new bond. In Hindu weddings, we can still see this happen, in a ceremony called hastmelap.

If you’ve ever gotten hit with a faceful of rice at a wedding, consider yourself lucky! Rice represents prosperity and fertility, essentially showering the couple with good fortune. A lot of people still adhere to this tradition, though it’s not uncommon to find alternatives in the form of biodegradable confetti and pieces clipped from leaves.

Jun 26
Love0

INDOOR SUMMER ENTERTAINING DONE RIGHT

By Entertaining, Food for thought, Home Comforts No Comments

“I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer – its dust and lowering skies.” – Toni Morrison

Is it just us, or did this winter feel particularly long? We’re grateful for the occasional breeze coming through our windows, longer days, and blissful siestas, especially before moving into some essential swimming and late-night parties in the middle of our Mediterranean summer.

Are you getting ready to start hosting for the summer? If you don’t have the opportunity to lounge in a shady garden, or look at the stars on a cool rooftop with some friends, indoor dining can be just as relaxing. Take a look at what we recommend.

SET THE SCENE

If you’d rather enjoy the benefits of a fan or air-conditioner, you can always bring the outdoors indoors with some artificial flowers. Faux flowers are currently enjoying a resurgence – if you’re not one for gardening, investing in some high-quality artificial flowers could be the answer to all your problems. No pesky watering or pruning will be necessary with the marvellous colours provided by these large pink and white orchids, complete with ferns and rootballs for added authenticity.

BRING IN THE BEVERAGES

Slake your thirst with some refreshing drinks in style – lemonade or Prosecco, perhaps! These eye-catching vintage goblets in both deep blue and cobalt blue, circa 1970s, will catch the light and make you feel like some sort of Grecian deity, no doubt about it.

CULTIVATE SOME COLOUR

Continue your floral theme by decorating your table with some colourful napkins. These white linen napkins are embellished with vibrant pink peonies, emerald green leaves, and finished with an emerald green border. Now that your table will look like it’s been strewn with real greenery, we really feel like curling up to read A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Care to join?

For more informal dining, bring the brilliance of the sun to the table with these yellow and white checked gingham napkins. They’re fun and provide a less serious picnic-like aesthetic.

CHANGE YOUR CROCKERY

Well, your guests will need to eat off of something, and we’ve got you covered. Here’s a complete vintage stoneware lunch/dinner service set, decorated in blue and white with gold trim. The fact that they’re antique only adds to their quality. In fact, we’d argue that such a set gets better with age by absorbing history. Think of how an item such as this, which can easily become a family heirloom, has brought so many people together to share stories, and will continue to do so well into the future.

Round off the collection with a dainty contemporary butter dome, bringing together a variety of mediums in glass, silver-, and gold-coloured metal.

THE CROWNING GLORY

We’d normally think of a table centrepiece as being something with no functional purpose, such as a bouquet of flowers or an ice sculpture. But who’s to say something can’t be both beautiful and useful? Complete the whole look with a crowning feature: a Mexican silver jug with a green mosaicked malachite parrot handle. To be completely honest with you, we’re still in awe of this piece.

This 2-litre jug is handcrafted from recycled hand-beaten copper and finished in Mexican silver by artisans in central Mexico. The semi-precious malachite bird adorning the jug is truly something to be marvelled at. You’ll certainly get asked a few questions about this addition to your table – a real conversation starter!

Dec 11
Love0

THE HISTORY BEHIND OUR FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS DISHES

By Entertaining, Family, Food for thought, Occasions No Comments

What comes to mind when you think of Christmas? Presents! Decorations! Cosy family time! But let’s not forget the traditional Christmas feast. Regardless of culture, it’s a time everyone enjoys some gluttonous frivolity all around the world. But how did we come to associate certain dishes with these festivities? There’s a story behind each one!

GOOSES! GEESES!

Before turkey became popular, goose was the traditional Christmas meat. Those families who lived off the land had to choose which animals they’d eat on special occasions very carefully. Since hens provided eggs and cows gave milk, geese, which lay eggs only seasonally, were the best option.

TASTY TURKEY

Is there any other form of poultry most associated with Christmas dinner? Even though we usually associate turkey with American Thanksgiving, this bird was actually introduced to England in the 16th century. Despite being poorly adapted to the English climate, as well as typically being a dry, bland meat, turkey quickly became the meat of choice for Christmas. As healthcare improved over the years, large rural families had more mouths to feed, so the traditional goose was no longer enough. Turkeys were relatively cheap to raise and grew to a great size, so it was the perfect choice!

In a way, the turkey tradition began with the working class, as more affluent families opted for game meats to exhibit their status. By the 18th century, and thanks to being immortalised in Charles Dickens’ novella, A Christmas Carol (remember that heartwarming scene with Bob Cratchit?), the turkey became solidified in both British and American cultures.

HAMMING IT UP

Whether it’s glazed, baked, or served as cold cuts in sandwiches the day after, pork has been a staple at Christmas tables for ages. During Scandinavian Yule celebrations, a pig would be sacrificed to the Norse god of the sun, harvests, and fertility, Freyr. So too did the Ancient Romans, feasting on boar during Saturnalia.

Before explorer Sebastian Cabot supposedly introduced turkey to 16th-century England, wealthy families opted for peacock or swan to demonstrate their affluence, while everyone else had boar. However, a boar’s head placed at the centre of the table still remained a tradition, most likely a holdover from pagan rituals.

The earliest instance of a boar’s head appearing in a recipe comes from Sabina Welserin’s 1553 German cookbook, which called for the boar’s head to be boiled, placed on a grate, drenched in wine, roasted, and constantly basted with more wine. It was then served with a black sauce made from wine, cherry syrup, sugar, ginger, pepper, cloves, raisins, almonds, and cinnamon. Yummy!

SUGAR, SPICE, AND EVERYTHING NICE

Yes, we’re talking about gingerbread! When the Crusaders returned from the Middle East in the 11th century, they brought spices, sugar, almonds, and citrus fruits back with them. At the time, these ingredients were incredibly expensive and only used on special occasions. They were even used as currency at one point!

The concept of gingerbread men most likely originated from Catholic monks moulding the mixture into decorated figures of saints and religious motifs for saints’ days and festivals. As the prices of these ingredients dropped, they became more popular and were sold at county fairs.

It’s said that Queen Elizabeth I liked to have the likenesses of visiting dignitaries shaped into elaborate gingerbread figures, complete with gold leaf to showcase wealth. Ever since the Victorian era, it’s become a beloved tradition to make edible gingerbread ornaments to hang from one’s Christmas tree. And let’s not forget the classic gingerbread house! We feel like re-reading Hansel & Gretel by firelight now.

PUDDING, ANYONE?

The celebrated Christmas pudding originally began in the early 15th century as plum porridge, a rather unappetising savoury gelatinous mixture that consisted of chopped beef or mutton, vegetables, dried fruit, breadcrumbs, wine, herbs, and spices. By the 16th century, the meat and vegetables started to disappear from the recipe, eventually becoming a rich pudding served on feast days. By the 1670s, it became a Christmas staple. In fact, we still use pretty much the same recipe from the 19th century, though some still choose to add suet as a nod to the original meat concoction.

During the Yule festival, this would have been set alight to symbolise the rebirth of the sun, as well as decorated with a sprig of holly to represent everlasting life in winter. We still do this! A silver coin was also placed inside the mixture for abundance. If you want to stay true to this tradition, try finding an old sixpence!

JUST A SMALL SLICE, PLEASE

The rich Christmas fruitcake also started as plum porridge, but by the 16th century, butter was added, the oatmeal was replaced by flour, and finally eggs to hold it all together. In the Middle Ages, the original plum cake was made to celebrate Twelfth Night (5th January), when the three wise men set out to see the baby Jesus. In fact, the spices are meant to symbolise their gifts to the infant, and a sweet treat with rare almonds and dried fruit was always welcome during the colder months. It was made in advance by those knowledgeable enough not to burn the expensive ingredients in primitive, temperamental ovens, then wrapped up and preserved in alcohol for a year.

Originally, this was a time of feasting, drunkenness, and debauchery. However, in 1870, Queen Victoria banned these festivities, deeming them inappropriate. Eventually, the almonds were replaced with marzipan, and it became fashionable to decorate the cake with a snow-covered landscape. A tradition states that all the family must take turns stirring the mixture in a clockwise motion with their eyes shut while making a wish!

BÛCHE DE NOËL

Oh, you mean the Yule Christmas log? In ancient European homes, a large tree trunk was burned on the hearth for twelve days to symbolise the rebirth of the sun. Now, they’re rich chocolate sponge rolls layered with mousse or buttercream, covered in marzipan, dark brown frosting, holly leaves, red berries, and powdered sugar. The result is a delicious dessert that mimics a tree log!

WE MIGHT HAVE A SWEET TOOTH

There’s an amusing legend to how candy canes were invented. Originally white and straight, it’s said that in 1670, a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany bent them to represent a shepherd’s staff and gave them to his charges to keep them quiet. The classic red-and-white stripes and peppermint flavouring were all added later in the 19th century.

Nov 05
Love0

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

By Entertaining, Family, Food for thought, Occasions No Comments

As colder weather settles in, is anyone else starting to feel a little bit festive?

We know it’s early, but if you, like us, want to get organised for Christmas this year, why not start planning now and have some fun with it?

Make yourself a hot chocolate, put on some cosy socks, and embrace that holiday spirit with our Christmas countdown checklist!

BUDGET

This is a highly personal topic, so tackle it first. Focusing on quantity can be great if you’ve got kids – the stars in their eyes after they see all those presents under the Christmas tree is priceless! However, Christmas can quickly get excessive, so setting a budget can help you feel in better control.

Whatever your preference, as the actor Jim Carrey rightly said: “No holiday should manipulate you to the point where you’re going into debt just to show someone you love them.” Small, thoughtful, tasteful gifts can really make someone’s Christmas, and at least you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank.

Do your research! Some DIY homemade gifts add that extra special personal touch. If the item is store-bought, provide a gift receipt with your present in case they’ll want to change it. If you’re really not certain what someone might appreciate, a gift voucher can go a long way.

PRESENTS

Ordering Christmas gifts online has become a great way to find all sorts of holiday bargains, including Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday sales. These are great ways of stocking up on stocking fillers, too.

When you’d normally have to think ahead about international delivery times, ordering from We Are Not A Shop’s eclectic mix of items makes things so much easier. Not only would you be supporting a small local business, but you’d also get your gifts delivered in no time!

WRAPPING

You’ve bought all your presents, so now it’s time to wrap them to protect the surprise! Practice a bit of frugality by going through all the leftover wrapping supplies from last Christmas, and then stock up on whatever you need, including wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, sticky tape, and those little name cards to attach to the presents.

If a lot of your gifts consist of toys for the kids, it’s also a good idea to stock up on batteries. Nothing kills a child’s innocent wonder like realising they’ll have to wait till Boxing Day to get their new toy working.

DECORATIONS

Of course, what home would be complete without a time-honoured Christmas tree? There are so many shapes, sizes, and colours to choose from nowadays that it can get pretty overwhelming. At the end of the day, choose a tree that really speaks to your soul and that can be incorporated well into your home.

Collecting all of the charming ornaments to adorn the tree with is also part of the fun. Some fairy lights are obviously a must-have. There are some lovely baubles made from all sorts of materials, too.

Decorations don’t have to stop with the tree! Rummage around in the garage, attic, or basement for that welcoming wreath to place on your front door or mantle.

FOOD

It’s time to start thinking about the traditional Christmas feast! This part can be especially daunting to plan. Whether you’re catering or making everything from scratch yourself, you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle if you sit down right now and think up a menu. Following a theme can simplify things a lot.

There are loads of delicious recipes available online that can be prepared months in advance, frozen, and taken out the night before. Perhaps you’re the kind of family where everyone will pitch in their own dishes, which would certainly amp up the community spirit of the holidays.

A successful display of scrumptious goodies will solidify your status as the foremost Christmas day host!

GUESTS

If you’re getting expecting a swarm of family members, carve out some time to give the house a decent clean-up from top to bottom. Air out the guest bedrooms and double-check any travel arrangements. Remember that this is a crazy time and people will be rushing at the very last minute, so if you suffer from anxiety, you’re going to want to be prepared.

Finally, put on some Christmas-themed music to fill the house with some lovely winter jollity, and your ambience is all set!

TRADITIONS

Having your own unique Christmas traditions provides you with something to look forward to for the holiday season. If you have a fireplace, light it up and huddle in front of it with some blankets and hot chocolate. Or else you might want to include a Christmas movie marathon of all your personal favourites.

Family photoshoots are also quite popular, as is sending out Christmas cards, whether physical or digital, to share some love with loved ones you won’t be able to spend the day with.

If there are kids in the house, you’ve got to leave out some milk and cookies for Santa Clause. He needs to be rewarded for all his hard work throughout the night, after all!

We recently learned of an Icelandic tradition known as jolabokaflod (“Christmas book flood”), where members of the household gift each other books on Christmas Eve and read together throughout the night. How lovely is that?

So, charge up the video camera and you’re ready to enjoy yet another memorable Christmas day!

What are some Christmas traditions you maintain with your loved ones? Do you have any tips and tricks to making the period leading up to the festivities easier? Let us know in the comments section below!

Sep 17
Love0

CREATING THE PERFECT FAIRY TALE CHILDREN’S TEA PARTY

By Entertaining, Food for thought, Life & Style No Comments

“It’s always tea time.” – The Mad Hatter in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865)

Tea parties can be enjoyed by both children and adults alike. There’s something romantic about them. They’re like little portions of a bygone era that have remained solidified in our consciousness, and that we occasionally enjoy luxuriating in. Nothing says you’ve made an effort like baking your own teacakes for your friends and family to enjoy.

Here are some tips and tricks to creating the perfect fairy tale children’s tea party fit for the Mad Hatter himself. We’ve also included a few items we think will help you on your way to providing an entertainment-filled afternoon for your kids.

Scone, anyone?

FANTASTIC THEMES

Step up the fun by having all the kids follow a particular theme. One great idea is having a fancy dress themed-party, or guests can be asked to bring their own teddy bear or doll to the tea with them.

There’s also holidays and events to consider, like Christmas, Easter, and birthdays, which provide lots of opportunities for these sorts of things. Your only limit is your imagination!

Setting a specific theme will also help you when it comes to preparing refreshments. If you’re particularly creative in the kitchen, you could have so much fun coming up with different ideas for all sorts of sweets and beverages. Classic bite-sized sandwiches always go down well. And while scrolling the net, we even found some adorable-looking biscuits baked in the shape of teabags!

INVITE THE KIDS!

If you’ve settled on a particular theme, imagine how excited the kids will be if they receive a Harry Potter-inspired invitation straight from the hallowed halls of Hogwarts, a message in a bottle concerning deadly pirates and a long forgotten treasure chest, or a scribble on a piece of parchment from a princess trapped in a castle desperately seeking help.

The possibilities are endless!

EXCITING GAMES

The kids are bound to get bored at some point, so shake things up a bit with some fun party games, including storybook reading, sing-alongs, and arts and crafts.

Whip out some paint and paper to get their creative juices flowing. Maybe it’ll even make you rediscover the artist lying dormant inside you. After all, Pablo Picasso once wrote: “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

SETTING THE SCENE

Of course, you’ll want to set the atmosphere for your kids; their active imaginations will do the rest! You won’t want this to be minimal. Place as many colourful things as you can find on the table to make a properly chaotic Alice in Wonderland-inspired table that will overwhelm the senses.

Use lace doilies, place cards, and napkins. Decorate with flowers (artificial ones will do nicely, too), candles (LED candles are great so that no one burns themselves), and balloons. And obviously you can’t forget all the dainty crockery!

If the weather still allows for it, turn the party into an outdoor event and turn the area into a real Secret Garden adventure to make Frances Hodgson Burnett proud. The mystery of an outdoor wilderness provides so much scope for the imagination, or at least that’s what Anne of Green Gables would probably think.

Make sure that the tea you give the kids is decaffeinated!

PARTY FAVOURS

The fun doesn’t have to stop just because the tea party’s over. Send the kids home with goodie bags filled with all sorts of colourful toys, riveting books, and delicious treats for them to enjoy at home and keep reminding them of what a great time they had. Maybe it’ll make them convince their parents to host their own tea party!

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