I recently discovered Redwood Bay in Bath. The owners started the store in 2001 after they were amazed by all the retail choices in NYC (Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Restoration Hardware, which now has a gorgeous children's line by the way). With so much choice, they found themselves stuffing their suitcases with great homewares and they wanted to find another way to bring all these great products to the UK.

The store has lots of New England influences and you can find everything from Williams Sonoma cookbooks to Barefoot Contessa cake mixes and Smith & Wollensky steak sauces. Definitely a good find for Americans who are looking for a taste of home.

Redwood Bay
8 Upper Borough Walls
Bath
BA1 1RG
www.redwoodbay.co.uk

Fashionable, practical and stylish, knee high boots are hot this season. I especially love the flat riding styles, which can be an easy way to pull an outfit together really quickly.

Here's my one gripe about boots: It's so hard to find boots that actually fit around my calves. Take J. Crew for example, in my size, the calf measurement is under 14", which is so small especially if I am also trying to fit my trousers into my boots as well. I know they also have an extended calf range, but how can there be so few options?

Now bring in Duo --a wonderfully fabulous shoe shop on Saville Row. You've heard of custom made jeans, now meet custom made knee high boots, which are available in 21 different calf sizes! There is a nice range of styles and colors which are decently priced with many averaging between £100 - £120. Why isn't this company on every billboard everywhere because people need to know about this?!

DUO LONDON FITTING ROOM
25 Savile Row
London W1S 2ES

Photo Credit: Duo

I went to a charity fundraising event at Links for London one evening last month. I think the everlasting post card was one of the most original items I saw.

Here's how it works: You write your message and Links of London will engrave it for you in your own handwriting. I think it's a cute way to remember special events like engagements, weddings, birthdays etc.






The Watch Over Me Evil Eye items were quite popular. I love topaz but I think the whole "eye" look is not my favorite.









Photo Credit: Links of London

If you love boutiques filled with one of a kind items, then this book might be a handy little reference guide for you.












Photo Credit: Amazon

Since this is quite a girly blog, I probably should not keep this gem of a store to myself although unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've probably already know of Coco Ribbon and love it just as much as I do.

Hands down, it is the prettiest boutique ever. If someone knows of the cuter shop, please let me know because I really don't believe it exists.

I admit that I love quite a few boutiques in London, but this one is far and away my favorite. There is truly no other place like it and I urge you to visit because I know you won't be disappointed.

Whether you are looking for gifts or just need an excuse to spoil yourself, Coco Ribbon really has it all. A little warning: Hold on tight to your credit cards because trust me, it's way too easy to get carried away.

21 Kensington Park Road
London W11 2EU
Tel: 020 7229 4904
www.cocoribbon.com

Iris is one of my favourite boutiques in London. Opened in September 2005 by two friends and local Queen Park residents who came together to create Iris because they wanted an absolutely beautiful place to shop.

What you'll find? Gorgeous coats, beautiful dresses, cute underwear and great looking jeans by a range of designers. Plus, a nice selection of beauty products and jewellery that are perfect for gifts. As you go through the store, you'll find yourself say "Oh, that's so cute!" over and over again. Iris is really a London original and it's definitely worth checking out.

Iris
73 Salusbury Road
London NW6 6NJ
www.irisfashion.co.uk

Photo Credit: Iris

I need some new sheets and The White Company is currently having a sale on sheets and just about everything else in their store.

They have so many great basics for stocking up. I love their Egyptian cotton sheets and it's always good to have a few extra sets of sheets on hand.


In addition to sheets, there are plenty of beautiful towels, a good selection of bath and body products, comfy cashmere socks and waffle slippers, which are great for visitors.

They have a couple of different locations. I usually go to the one in Sloan Square, just behind Peter Jones, but there is also one on Marylebone High Street.

I found an adorable little shop on Upper Street called Oliver Bonas. Even on a dark, rainy day, this store can always cheer me up. From beautiful jewellery and clothing to wonderful little books and unique gifts, this is a favorite spot of mine to buy gifts for hard to shop for people in my life.







Last visit, I picked up these great city walks of London. There are 50 different walks and my husband and I have already done two of them...one in Highbury and the other in Hampstead. It's a wonderful way for us to see parts of the city that we wouldn't on a normal day. The walks are supposed to take about 1-2 hours but it seems to take us much longer, which is great.







I also picked up The London Companion, which is a beautiful hard cover book filled with lots of trivia about places, people and events in London







Oliver Bonas, Islington
147-148 Upper St
London
N1 1RA

I have two pregnant friends in London right now so I am always looking for cute baby things. Chic Shack is one of my favorite boutiques in London for baby shopping. They have gorgeous painted furniture that has been built by exceptionally talented craftsmen.

I love the 18th century French and Swedish inspired designs, which look very stylish and modern, but yet still have a great vintage feel. You can find everything from cots and changing tables to bunk beds and book shelves. I especially LOVE the cots that are drapped with mosquito netting. All I can say is that everything is just as lovely as you would want it to be.

In addition to furniture, there's also a great selection of nursery accessories and baby gifts, cute stationery, bedding, lighting and glassware. If your looking for a great baby gift or a gift for a newly pregnant friend, Chic Shack is a great place to start.

Chic Shack
77 Lower Richmond Road
London SW15 1ET
www.chicshack.net

*Photo credit: Chic Shack