Best Christmas gift ideas: save time and money

Year after year the same dilemma: what to give to my loved ones? Stop the nightmare before Christmas. Don’t waste you time and beat the crowds. We have chosen some ideas to inspire you and help you to success for less than 50€: pop Corn machine, hanging gardens, illustrations, necklaces, bracelets, scarfs or purse, paper mache bird…

Here’s the full roster of our ideas for Christmas 2013:

FOR DECO & GADGET LOVERS
What? Hanging gardens
These plant pots are made of ceramics or crystal. You can hang on the wall or over a table. They give a very unique effect.
Find it here: La-a shop

FOR FOOD ADDICTS
What? Pop Corn Palomitas Lékué.

A new concept to make popcorn in the microwave. Ideal for film’s weekend days. Cook amazing steaming popcorn at home!
Find it here: Gadgets & Cuina
FOR ARTISTS
What?  tote bags, illustrations, poster of your favourite city
Find it here: miredondemire shop

FOR CREATIVES
What? paper mache bird
Do it yourself: Step 1 (Watch video how to make paper mache paste) + Step 2  make your own bird!

FOR FASHION
What? Necklace, bracelet, scarf or purse
Vintage aesthetic, original, special and unique made with old materials, from the 40s to 80s. Accessories between naive, romantic, casual and modern. Limited edition.
Where? Après Ski

Gracia girl’s shops directory

Walking around the bohemian Gracia neighbourhood you can find many special places and small discoveries. Vintage, cute, handmade accessories, young designers and independent brands can be found in little boutiques all over Gracia. Most nice stores are between Travessera de Gràcia, Torrent de l’olla and Bonavista street.

The ones we particularly like are:

MUSHI MUSHI
Romantic and sophisticated selection of women’s clothing, accessories and jewelry
c/ Bonavista, 12 (Metro: Diagonal and Verdaguer)
www.mushimushicollection.com

COLMILLO DE MORSA
Women’s clothing and accessories. Two young designers are behind Colmillo de Morsa (meaning ‘walrus tusk’) the boutique show their own designs (boutique + atelier) and other catalan fashion designer pieces.
c/ Vic 15 (Metro: Fontana)
www.colmillodemorsa.com

PADAM
Small and charming shop with women’s clothing and accessories.
c/ Ros de Olano 4 (Metro: Fontana)
www.padam.es

LADY LOLITA
Young designers shop. They started as space to find designs of city’s young designers at affordable prices and gradually have incorporated more established brands.
Travessera de Gràcia, 126 (Metro: Fontana)
www.ladyloquita.es

LA VIDA EN VERSO
Women’s clothing store decorated with poems written on the walls of the store.
Travessera de Gràcia, 126 (Metro: Fontana)
www.lavidaenverso.com

DRUIDAS
Women’s clothing, accessories and candels
C/ Torrent de l’olla, 174 (Metro: Verdaguer)
Travessera de Gracia, 12 (Metro: Fontana)
Druidas on Facebook

COQUETA
Store clothing and accessories
Travessera de Gracia, 147 (Metro: Fontana)
Coqueta’s blog

The Shopping Night Barcelona 2013

This year The Shopping Night Barcelona commemorates the 200th anniversary of two icons opera and great composers Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. Therefore, fashion night out will become the opera fashion.

More than 90 stores will remain open  until midnight  offering various events and promotions in Paseo de Gracia.

• The Opening: The Valkyrie

What: Performance. Several riders mounted their horses dressed in costumes of 9 ModaFad emerging designers.

Where: Paseo de Gracia (between Còrcega and Rosselló)

When: 20h , 21:30h and 23h

• The village: La Traviata

What: stands with the most exclusive boutiques, entertainment, make up space, tastings, wine, gifts and opera.

Where: Paseo de Gracia (between Mallorca and Provenza)

When: from 8pm

♥ Stores with the best promotions during The Shopping Night Barcelona in Paseo de Gracia:

• Other Stories: offers makeup tips and a gift with purchase
• Bimba & Lola: show a collage made ​​with Bimba & App and get a gift !
• Brandy & Melville: Dj’s and catering
• H&M: from 20 until 11:59 p.m. 20% discount on purchases
• Oysho: surprises and discount store
• Philipp Plein: Dj’s, catering, photocall and surprises
• Stradivarius: exclusive shopping bag, cocktails, photo booth and Dj’s
• Vinçon: surprises

Event date: 28/November/2013

More info: The Shopping Night Barcelona

Make out the best of the Sunday

Do not let that the first impressions betrays you. Sundays in Barcelona can be very entertaining if proper activities are chosen. Although most stores, shops and supermarkets are closed, there are many plans that can only be done on Sunday.

Seven plans to inspire you and enjoy the next Sunday!

1. Start the day with an amazing brunch at one of my favorite places: Petitbo, Mamma’s Café, Godot café !
2. Go for shopping at Maremagnum, the only shopping center that remains open on Sunday
3. Take a break and have a Vermut or Caña before lunch
4. Join the typical catalan dance Sardana infront the cathedral in the Gothic Quartier from 12pm
5. Have a pic nic with friends in Ciutadella park. You can walk or bike to the park. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun -If you have kids, the Zoo is there too-
6. Visit one of the best flea markets Two Market , Lost & Found, Flea Market Bcn, On the Garage by Two Market
7. Go for a free afternoon museums. Museums listed below are free of charge from 3pm:

– El borne centre cultural– Castell de Montjuïc– CCCB – Centre de cultura contemporanio de Barcelona– MUHBA – Museu d’història de Barcelona– Museu de disseny de Barcelona– Museu Frederic Marès– Museu Marítim de Barcelona– Museu de la Música– Museu Picasso– Natural History Museum– La Virreina – Centre de de imatge