Picturing New York opens Wednesday 25th November in the Irish Museum of Modern Art

Fancy a game of cards?


This year appears to be all about the make and do when it comes to Christmas gifts. Only 25 December will reveal whether we're all going to be the recipients of homemade chutney and hand crocheted blankets but one easy, thrifty thing to do is to make your own Christmas cards. If you want to be truly economic (and green) about it you should just be sending seasonal emails but we do love getting cards and this card making kit from Aldi (€3.99) is great value. It has embellishments and stickers, along with five blank cards and envelopes in five different themes.


Start spreading the news


There's something about New York city that captures people's imaginations like nowhere else. Picturing New York which opens this Wednesday in the Irish Museum of Modern Art is a fascinating collection of 145 masterworks from the photographic collection of MoMA in NY. From street-dwellers to party-goers and skyscrapers to tenements, this is a celebration of people and architecture from the 1880s to the present day captured by some 40 photographers, including Diane Arbus and Cindy Sherman. Admission is €5 (free for the under 18s and those in full-time education and free for all on Fridays). Visit www.imma.ie.


Christmas cracker


The perfect party dress. In theory it shouldn't be too hard to find but the reality, as we know, is much different. Do you join the sequinned brigade? Go for the Studio 54 look? Classic black or a vibrant jewel shade? Embellishment? Lace? Your head could melt, but fear not because we're here to gently guide you. This studded one-sleeved piece from Warehouse has much to recommend it. It's flattering and festive and requires little in the way of accessories apart from some red-hot ankleboots and a glamorous cover-up. €130.


Shoe in


These suede peep toe slingbacks remind us of a pair available on net-a-porter by the amazing Spanish designer, Pedro Garcia. There are some small differences. The Garcia versions are purple, a little bit chunkier and €264. These are teal, have an elegant cut out detail and are €15 from F+F at Tesco. If your choices are to a) buy the Garcias and sit at home alone admiring them because you now can't afford to go out, or b) get the F+F pair and dance your socks off on at least five nights out on the town, it's a no brainer, really.


The Shopping Audit


* We're buying Cookbook rests - Most of our cookbooks are destroyed from trying to read a recipe while simultaneously dropping the ingredients all over the page. But no more thanks to this holder, from Clerys, €30


* We're not sure about French Connection's kids party dresses - Do you really want her mistaken for a Christmas tree bauble? The price is also painful – €190


* We're lusting after Whitney Port's collection - The City star can actually design. The dresses are a little expensive (€325+) but we're tempted by satin covered leather bow belts, €75 each. Available at Alila, 41 Drury St, Dublin 2


* We're stocking up on Cute hotties - Remember, this month is all about the nesting and wrapping yourself in a duvet on the couch. But you can still keep it stylish with this striped owl hot water bottle? €18, TopShop