You wanted a zeppelin, but the astronomical helium bills and parking space issues put you off. You were about to settle for a Zeppelin, the iPod dock from studio loudspeaker company Bowers & Wilkins, but its finely delivered sound could still be the aural equivalent of the Hindenburg: explosive. Then this arrived: a kinder, gentler -- and smaller -- Zeppelin Mini.

If you like, you can dive into the jargon and babble -- paragraphs about "slotted cones" and "long-throw motors" and "Flowport enclosure architecture." But none of that will speak to your ears the way the Zeppelin Mini's sound can: beautifully, and from various sources. The Mini will receive your iPod and iPhone, a mini-USB port will welcome your other MP3 player or PC, and an AUX input will bring your "older, legacy sources" in from the analog cold (looking at you, lovers of vinyl...).

Final flourishes include the Zeppelin Mini's docking arm swinging vertically or horizontally, you can sync your iPhone or iPod Touch while it's docked, and the Mini charges the two while it plays. And because it's smaller, you can fit it into more places -- including, when you finally get around to it, your airship zeppelin. The Mini can be acquired through Apple and other retailers for $399.00.

Beautifully decorated Christmas Trees are a longstanding tradition in the White House. The first known decorated, indoor Christmas Tree was displayed in the Yellow Oval Room during the Benjamin Harrison administration.

Jacqueline Kennedy launched the tradition of thematic Christmases in the White House in which the First Family chooses a motif in which to highlight. In 1961, First Lady Kennedy chose to decorate the White House Christmas Tree with a "Nutcracker" theme derived from the Tchaikovsky ballet. The tree was decorated with toys, birds and angels (see gallery).

Themes for White House Christmas Trees throughout the years have ranged from the Regan's theme of Mother Goose theme in 1986 to "Home for the Holidays", which was the Bush theme in 2001 (see above).

This year, the Obama's Official White House Christmas Tree is a beautiful Douglas Fir from Shepardston, West Virginia (see gallery). According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the Blue Room Christmas Tree was officially presented to First Lady Michelle Obama by Christmas Tree growers Eric and Gloria Sundback. The Sundbacks earned this honor by winning the National Christmas Tree Association's (NCTA) national Christmas Tree contest held in August 2009 in Chattanooga, Tenn., and becoming Grand Champions.

While there are typically several Christmas Trees on display throughout the White House during the holiday season, the one located in the Blue Room is traditionally the "official" tree. Members of the National Christmas Tree Association have presented the official White House Christmas Tree for display in the Blue Room since 1966. Click here for Christmas tree decorating tips.

The first written record of a decorated Christmas tree was in 1510 in Riga, Latvia when men representing the local merchants' guild decorated a tree with artificial roses, danced around it in the marketplace and then set fire to it. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, roses were used for many years and are considered to be a symbol for the Virgin Mary.

During the 17th century, apples were commonly used in Germany to decorate Christmas trees, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. This practice was a holdover from the 14th and 15th centuries when evergreen boughs hung with apples were the only prop used in the "miracle plays" that were performed at the churches on the day before Christmas. December 24th was known as "Adam & Eve's Day" in the early Christian calendar, and the plays were used as ways of teaching the Bible to a largely illiterate population.

During the 18th century, edible ornaments were so commonly used on Christmas trees that they were often called "sugar trees." During this time, lighted candles started being used as decorations in France.

German settlers introduced the Christmas tree to the United States during the 19th century and they rapidly grew in popularity. At first, Christmas trees were tabletop in size before the floor-to-ceiling-sizes became more commonly used, according to the association.

Do you want to make your Christmas tree a striking one this year? Here are a few tips to help you:

1. Choose a theme and color scheme
Begin by choosing a theme and color scheme for your tree. Such is the tradition in the White House, where First Families have selected a theme for the White House Christmas Tree each year, beginning with the Kennedy family in 1961. There's no need to throw out old ornaments that don't fit into your current theme, as they might be work with themes selected in the future. This year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York decorated its 20 ft. tall blue spruce (above) with a collection of 18th-century Neapolitan angels and cherubs among its boughs. Flanking the tree's base are groups of realistic crèche figures flanking the Nativity scene at its base. The tree is currently on display in the Museum's Medieval Sculpture Hall.

2. Work from the inside out
Once you have figured out what your theme is, work from the inside out. Be sure to string your lights before hanging the garland and ornaments. Metallic-colored ribbon works well as garland.

3. Hang your "filler" ornaments
Decorate the backdrop of your tree with your filler ornaments (solid colors or simply decorated) before hanging the thematic ones. Wire or ribbon works best for hanging ornaments, as they will provide more stability. While many ornaments come with hooks attached, these tend to fall off the branches easily.

4. Hang large ornaments low and small ones high
Larger ornaments often work best on the lower branches of the tree; use the smaller ones for the higher branches. Metallic ornaments and garland are a great choice, as they will reflect the light emitted from your Christmas lights.

For a peak at some of the most beautiful Christmas trees in the world, click on the slide show below. Here you will see a range from traditional Christmas trees to those that are futuristic.

The Fine English Company is a recently launched line of luxurious furniture, luggage and lifestyle accessories reminiscent of Britain's colonial past with a contemporary flair. Founded by former financial consultant Benedict Wormald, the company was born out of a desire to trade in his city lifestyle in London and turn a lifelong passion for classic British design and antiquities into a business. The Fine English Company's products combine traditional craftsmanship with its detailing of exotic animal skins, rare and native woods and veneers to create a range of collectible and desirable objects betokening the best of bespoke British luxury,

With 15 years of experience sourcing unusual items and commissioning bespoke products, Benedict worked tirelessly to create the Fine English Company's first collection, a selection of which is now available at Holland & Holland, the famous London gunmaker established in 1835 and holder of the Royal Warrant. The core range includes steamer trunks finished with exquisite detailing and exotic zebra and giraffe skins, for £2,750 - £5,750. Larger furniture pieces include traditional leather armchairs, sofas and footstools, and club-style fireplace fenders upholstered in tweed, zebra and giraffe skin giving them a contemporary flair.

Fine English also has range of smaller items for sporting gentlemen including traditional handmade slippers with leather soles in a range of animal skins, bold tweed, and for the pocket pirate, a skull and crossbones. Also available are a number of iconic humidors for the busy plutocrat with rich wood finishes such as ebony, macassar and walnut, some decorated with the skull and bones (£2,500) or iconic Union Jack. Also a collection of stunning bespoke pocket knives featuring William Morris acanthus engraving, 18k pink gold with gold lipped pearl details, Damascus steel blades and ivory from the woolly mammoth, rivaling creations from the world's finest gun and watch makers.



A well-curated collection of fine antiques is also on offer, drawn from military, architecture, automotive, aeronautical and sporting pursuits and restored to perfection. Of course the company offers a complete bespoke service as well; if you can conceive of it, Wormald promises to make it happen - he claims to have never turned down any client's request. From unique taxidermy - one recent example being the finest Van Ingen Tiger to be seen in Europe - to whole games rooms, gun rooms, dramatic architectural statement pieces and even a mahogany WC seat with the skull and bones motif, Fine English will furnish it to your requirements.

The humble aluminum takeaway container gets a glamorous update in the hands of Lorena Barrezueta. She has a line of brightly colored porcelain pieces in the instantly recognizable shapes of disposable food containers. The line includes a variety of segmented pieces with crinkly sides that recall those ubiquitous dinner trays. There are several collections including the Classic which features these pieces in elegant white with a 22K gold rim. Select pieces are available through ReForm School.

Famous furniture and home goods maker Herman Miller is having a contest operated through their exclusive Herman Miller Select division. The holiday giveaway theme is "what inspires you?" The prize is a set of this year's limited edition Herman Miller Select Eames Inspired Tops that are valued at $199. To enter you need to visit Herman Miller's giveaway page here. You'll be asked to consider "what inspires you" and comment about some toy or playful object you still include in your life as an adult (or whatever you choose to refer to yourself as!), and discuss how it inspires you. This is based on the famous designers Charles and Ray Eames who often used toys like these tops to inspire their world famous designs. Check it out.

This holiday season Ralph Lauren has come out with a number of luxurious offerings rooted in the spirit of 1930's Sun Valley, the famous Idaho ski resort frequented by socialites and celebrities. The designer's Holiday Collection "embodies wintry sophistication with luxe cashmeres, rich tartan plaids, regal velvets and chic yet rustic details, creating gifts with a nod to classic American heritage and modern sensibility." Standout items include a tartan plaid duffel bag made of rich wool with saddle leather trim for $1,500, and the Brabham Vice Box at $4,995 (above), a streamlined case containing handsome crystal barware, sleek coasters and a debonair poker set. As a limited edition of 50, each box bears a numbered plate. Other home items evoke the inviting world of the Adirondacks or a sleek urban environment, with a sophisticated jewel-toned palette executed in sumptuous materials.

[via JustLuxe]

Many private sale sites sell clothing and accessories, One Kings Lane is a site that specializes in home decor. The site, which runs three-day sales, sells furniture, home decor and other items for 50 to 70 percent off their original prices. Unlike some other private sites you don't need an invitation code, anyone can join. The site sells brands including Moleskine, Riedel, Vera Bradley, Rosenthal and more in designated sales. Members also receive decorating tips and hints on combining some of the items up for sale.

The NY Times reports that the new site is already booming, the site membership has grown 50 percent in the past two months. Sales are driven by a certain sense of urgency, knowing that the good deal will only be available for a few days. This time of year especially the site is particularly tempting offering small items that would make great gifts. Currently on the site until December 10, Moleskine notebooks are available for deep discounts, Cunhill silver frames are available for around 50 percent off the regular price and a gold and velvet Bliss Studio pillow which normally sells for $363 can be had for $129.

Celebrity endorsement is a common thing in sports equipment but not quite so common in the world of wine. Master Sommelier and Master of Wine Ronn Wiegand has collaborated on hew line of wine glasses with German line Eisch Glaskultur. The Ronn Wiegand Signature series of Breathable wine glasses were collaboratively designed by Ronn Wiegand and Eisch. In a press release, Wiegand stated that after a year and a half of using Eisch Breathable glasses on a daily basis on hundreds and hundreds of red, white, and rose wines from around the world he was very impressed. He found that they helped wines taste smoother, fruitier, and more forward. The new line is machine-made, lead-free crystal with a pulled stem and is specially designed to show the best in New World wines. Each piece is produced from a single lump of glass, eliminating the seam between the stem and the bowl. The series includes glasses for Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Champagne, and an all-purpose Red Wine glass. The Ronn Wiegand Signature line also includes a Tumbler. Prices range from $239.99 to $324.99 for a set of six glasses.

When I was a child, my favorite plate was my Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit place from Royal Doulton. Today's young diners might fall in love with this bunny plate, part of the Sketchbook Pottery series from Luna Garcia. The Sketchbook series features intricate illustrations drawn in underglaze and then covered with a clear gloss glaze. This plate sells for $48 and can be personalized with a name and birthday under the bunny.

The Blixseth/Yellowstone auction was held on November 21 and the comprehensive sale of the belongings of Edra Blixseth amassed for the Yellowstone Club sold briskly. The Kamelot Auction House in Philadelphia saw its biggest crowd to date as many people came to check out the large collection of vintage furnishings, rugs and other objects. Some objects, such as antique rugs, sold for far over their estimates while other pieces including several antique French sideboards valued at nearly $30,000 each were sold at bargain-basement prices ($12,240 for the pair). A pair of life-size monumental cast bronze elk sold for over $10,000 while a similar pair of life-size bronze horses and riders went for $5,000 dollars. Objects were sold without the limitations of a minimum bid. The sale was estimated to bring in $500,000 to $800,000 and actual sales were about $750,000. A complete catalogue of the Yellowstone Collection including photo galleries and detailed descriptions of every lot is currently available at www.kamelotauctions.com.

A few years ago I was in a home with bamboo floors. They were just beautiful, and with bamboo being sustainable, much less guilt-inducing than non-sustainable floors.

Boston-based EcoModern Design has taken the sustainable floor a step further with one of its newer products -- EcoLux flooring. This is a gold-, silver- or copper-leafed, or imitation gold leaf, Forest Stewardship Council-certified hardwood, bamboo, or engineered maple. It is made with metal gilding using a 2,000-year-old technique. The company's David Sanborn previously was a paintings restorer and now uses the same techniques to produce flooring.

The floors are offered with custom border edges, which can be used as wall panels and veneer wallpaper. EcoLux is sold by the square foot, as a border edge or in repeating border edge patterns.

We've seen a lot of chandeliers using unusual materials over the years. Sunglasses, wine glasses, pearls, rubber and more but none of these will likely provoke the same response as the Hypolux chandelier from Bughouse. The chandelier is made of plexiglass plates, commercial syringes and a ballchain suspension. It sells for $395. Bughouse has also created a variety of rock and roll themed pieces including a table that looks like an old record collection and a lamp embellished with dangerous looking spikes.

Westin Hotels has a booming side business by selling items from their Heavenly line including the Heavenly bed. New for the holidays is the Heavenly Travel Blanket and Heavenly Bath product line. The Heavenly Travel blanket is a versatile item. It is a full size blanket that can also be tucked into hidden pocket so that it can serve as a travel pillow. It sells for $60.

The Westin Heavenly bath line includes calming blend of botanicals and natural ingredients. Products include a soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and body oil. The collection is available in White Tea Aloe, Green Tea Grapefruit, and Chamomile Lavender. Prices range from $12 to $18.

You may know Herman Miller as a chair and furniture maker, but the company also makes items for the home. As people buy less products made in America, I think that Herman Miller takes prides in the fact that it is an American company, and enjoys releasing uniquely American products. Another side of Herman Miller you may not be familiar with is Herman Miller Select. The point of Select is to align with important designers and create one special product at a time. The first Herman Miller Select product was an Eames inspired chair, and now it is a set of toy tops.

The set of three tops was designed by New York city based design firm Klein Reid. If you are familiar with their work, you'll see the similarity in these tops. The design is inspired by famous designers Charles and Ray Eames (think, the Eames chair). The Eameses themselves looked to toys for inspiration in their work. Herman Miller currently produces Eames designed furniture, so it makes sense for them to offer these limited edition tops.

Made of high-quality turned solid Walnut wood, to me the tops each represent different periods of American design aesthetic - from ornate decoration to stark modernism. The tops arrive together as a set and are each between about 4 - 4.75 inches in size. They work too, but you have to use two hands to spin them. The look of wood and soft edges make the tops attractive pieces of decorative art, evoking imagery of toys from a simpler time as well as pure Americana. A good gift idea. Production is limited and will cease forever in April 2010. Price is $199 per set and available at select Herman Miller dealers and retailers. You'll need to locate a Herman Miller dealer or retailer here if you want to get a set.