Now, I know when I put "car" on my Christmas list and leave it for my boyfriend to find, I know I am in for either a big disappointment or a hilarious joke in the form of a toy car wrapped almost to look like jewellery, or maybe that perennial side splitter, an Audi R8 branded key ring, wrapped in a gigantic box, with the message "The car comes next year!"

But, if he's going to take the low cost route to buying me a car he could at least make sure it's made of chocolate. If he manages to take the hint and buy at least one gift that I would truly appreciate it would be the chocolate sports car on sale at a well known high street confectionary outlet.

The sleek bodywork is totally edible, the cocoa coloured upholstery is a sight to behold, and although the white chocolate headlights might not illuminate the road very much, they would certainly give me a high-beam smile!!!

And like all those footballers' WAGs I would want a sleek bit of personalisation to make the car truly my own. Forget embroidered love hearts in the headrest or a number plate saying "8A8E 22", I would want my car personalised with a white chocolate love ditty that came straight from his own imagination. Actually, forget that - he's probably safer just getting my name iced on it.

So, there we have it - one Christmas gift done and dusted. I wonder what he'll make of the next item on the list - "Mulberry bag".


Image © WTL photos, via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

It was very early in November, maybe even still in October, when I heard the first Christmas song on the radio. Played by Scott Mills on Radio 1, it was Mariah Carey singing All I want for Christmas.

Now, don't get me wrong - this particular tune is certainly my favourite Christmas tune, but when it was still 20 degrees outside and I hadn't even dug out my scarf and mittens, it just seemed wrong.

Especially as this particular version is not the best recording out there.

"Ooooh! Controversial", I hear you cry - well in my opinion, Samantha Mumba made a far superior version with excellent kettle drum usage and a far more bouncy feel to it.

And how did I come across the Mumba cover, you may well ask. Well, a couple of years ago I asked my partner to buy me a Christmas music CD, as the old compilation I had on tape did not have the Mariah Carey track on it. So, on a late night shopping expedition, deep in December, he braved the twenty minute queue in HMV (other CD stockists are available) and got me a three CD collection of all the Christmas ditties I could ever wish for - except for the Mariah Carey song.

When I opened the gift on Christmas morning and ran straight to my CD player with the express intent of playing All I want… I searched the track list for Ms Carey's name, but it wasn't there. I searched again and found the track, but, horror of horror, it was sung by Samantha Mumba and I was devastated.

"Didn't you check it?" I said, a bit too melodramatically, as if my world were about to collapse.

"Yeah, but I couldn't remember whose version you wanted," he answered.

And at this moment, the track came on. I listened, we all listened; the entire Christmas day household of mums, dads, children, grandchildren, aunties, uncles, grandparents and the woman from next door to Auntie Win all listened. And thankfully, I liked it and the more I listened to it, the more I liked it.

Now… it is my favourite Christmas song - but I still don't want to hear it in October.

Image © shekay, via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

If getting out of your armchair to pop to the shops is more than you can muster in these cold winter months, why not make a bid for the motorised La-Z-Boy chair that is soon to be put up for auction in America.

Powered by a lawn mower engine, driving this motor is never going to get you in trouble for speeding and means that you can cruise to the shops without leaving the comfort of your chair. And thanks to its nice and sedate speed, you could even bring along your cup of tea without the fear of it spilling.

The chair has been put up for auction by Minnesota police after its original owner was caught driving the chair while drunk.

As it comes complete with a stereo, you can even sing along to a bit of Madonna on your way to the supermarket.

For my husband, stumbling, bleary-eyed into the kitchen at 6am to make coffee in nothing but his boxers is part of who he is. It may even be the foremost reason I love him. He's been doing it for nearly a decade and without my morning coffee, there is a strong chance I would still be enjoying a lie-in that started at the turn of the millennium.

However, there is a now a possibility that divorce could be on the cards after it was revealed that a 29-year-old American man has been arrested for doing the same thing - well, nearly the same thing.

The father-of-one faces up to a year in jail for public indecency after a woman spied him making a break-of-dawn coffee in his own home in nothing but his birthday suit.

The dad told Fox news, "Yes I wasn't wearing any clothes but I was alone, in my own home and just got out of bed. It was dark and I had no idea anyone was outside looking in at me.

"I never had a conversation with anyone, never saw anyone. Didn't cross my mind, came and got coffee. I mean if I stood and seemed comfortable in my kitchen possibly it's natural. It's my kitchen."

And, although my husband always makes his coffee in his boxers, they aren't exactly the acme of high fashion; one pair have been around since before we were married and it's a safe bet that to most eyes they'd be more offensive than his unadorned skin.

I'm not a morning person. Until I drink my morning coffee I look like a wrinkled old elephant. It pains me to open my eyes, let alone open my mouth, before 10am. Desperate times call for desperate measures: I've just ebayed my husband a bathrobe; I fear it's the only thing that can save our marriage.

Image © felix francier via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

Having always dreamed of having a personal shopper to seek out those fashion gems for me, I have to admit that I was more jealous than shocked when I heard of the toddlers that are assigned their own personal shopper and have £8000 splashed out on them for a new wardrobe.

While I was dressed in Mothercare's best or even my brother's hand me downs at times, these tots are wearing the likes of Dior, Juicy Couture and Fendi – labels that I only dream about wearing.

Inspired by mini stars such as Suri Cruise and the Jolie-Pitt clan, designer dress for toddlers has really taken off in the last few years and more and more yummy-mummies are flocking to the likes of Harrods and Selfridges and readily parting with their cash for the chance to bag the latest Carvellis couture for their young ones.

Apparently, even when they are as young as three they have opinions on their style, however, surely this is just to do with the colour of the cloths, and whether they feature their favourite cartoon character rather than if it has a designer label or not.

For the excessively rich and childless, I've heard Juicy Couture do a range for dogs as well...