miss b's quote

'I haven't been everywhere yet but it's on my list' Susan Sontag

Wednesday 20 February 2013

miss b loves.......Red Herrings and White Elephants


On Valentine's Day I prefer small, thoughtful and quirky gifts rather than grand gestures and when I opened this first little package I was instantly impressed with the cute double-sided gift wrap and the book cover!



Thoughtful and quirky.......you see, a couple of weeks ago, I had been saying that I wondered where the strange sayings we use daily actually come from. Well...they are all explained in this little book.......'raining cats and dogs'...'as sure as eggs is eggs'.....'no great shakes'......'to spill the beans'....even the origin of 'OK'....and 'to propose a toast'.....



So....an example.....to be 'given the sack' meaning to lose your job, dates back to the time when craftsmen travelled from place to place carrying their tools in a sack (long before toolboxes!) The sack was given to the employer for safe keeping and returned when their services were no longer needed. 'Fired' was when someone was caught breaking the rules or stealing and the tools were burned so that the worker would be unable to work again!!

So....if like me you are interested in the English language and all its odd idioms....then you too will enjoy it! In fact, it's really quite addictive..... and unbelievable just how many of these phrases we use without thinking about their origins.

My second little gift....cute travel-themed bookmarks......



The little magnets grip the page......what a clever idea.....


This one is perfect for the book I'm currently reading...........


.......this one is appropriate too as the Taj Mahal is on my travel wish list........


and finally .......chocolates are always a good idea especially from Hotel Chocolat! 


67 comments:

  1. i totally agree with you...
    small gifts and toughtful!
    i really love your presents

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  2. What great presents, love the travel theme. I enjoyed the Taj Mahal, it was great being there but there were others places around India that I loved so much more :)

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  3. Nice book indeed, on my wish list, thank you very much!

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  4. Someone at work just gave me similar bookmarks but they are all of MINI Coopers because she knows I have one. They are adorable. xo

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  5. Looks like a fun book to read. The bookmarks are so inspiring. Like a Bucket List reminder. I hope the chocolates are delicious. Have a great week.

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  6. These are wonderful gifts. That book sound great, I am always researching and trying to find the origin of good phrases .. my parents have so many I can hardly keep up. I knew about the sack bit. Those bookmarks are nice as well! xx/Madison

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  7. I've got a similar book but in Spanish and I love it so much that I probably will buy the one you got for Valentine's day!!
    xoxo
    Patricia

    http://misstoptenimage.blogspot.com

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  8. I totally agree- small and thoughtful is best :)

    XO
    Pearls & Paws

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  9. This is a very interesting post! And these are not the clichè presents for Vday, you give me ideas!
    Kisses

    www.wallofstyleblog.blogspot.com

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  10. Loving chocolates from Hotel Chocolat and your post reminds me that I really do need to go on holiday, although would prefer to go 'travelling'.

    http://forcailini.blogspot.com

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  11. Wow, you did well for Valentines!
    I agree, small and thoughtful much preferable to the grand gesture.
    Hope you have a lovely day,
    Liz x

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  12. Great book. Growing up with English and Irish parents, I used to hear the oddest sayings. My email address is one of them...psnqs...which is actually an old pub call. Means 'Mind your pints and quarts' because it's closing time!

    So funny, some of them.

    April

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  13. These are awesome treats! The Red Herrings and White Elephants Book is very very interesting and those magnet bookmarks are so cute and functional. :)

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  14. interesting book.
    I'll be happy if you check out my blog too=)

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  15. I need to get this book! Thank you for telling me about it. x

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  16. I am totally with you, love to know the history of our language. Hopefully I can pick that up in Canada....otherwise will have to wait until I am in your "neck of the woods" again;) I wonder where that one came from? Have a great day Miss b:)

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    1. Apparently it's from Amazon - I'm sure you will really enjoy it.

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  17. Je collectionne les magnets aussi de chaque pays que j'ai visité :)

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  18. Hi dear! It is always delightful to come here. Your posts are lovely. I loved this book because I love to read and learn the origins of things. Loved so much! God bless you, darling! Lots of kisses, Marie

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  19. I'm right there with you when you say you like quirky gifts. I got a BIG vase filled with jelly beans as my Valentine's Day gift. I was so excited! Great post!
    Catherine xo

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  20. Thoughtful gifts are the best!! Xx

    mac lippy giveaway :: 1stepclosereveryday.blogspot.co.uk

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  21. Magnets showing places round the world, chocolates...What more can I ask?
    Best Regards
    Miss Margaret Cruzemark
    http://margaretcruzemark.blogspot.com/

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  22. Very nice gifts! I would love to read the Red Herrings book. It sounds very interesting. The bookmarks are very cute and useful too. Enjoy the chocolates! xo

    LUXESSED

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  23. These are such wonderful and thoughtful gifts, I would love to receive books over flowers. The Red Herrings book sounds so cute, I would love to have a copy (must search on Amazon), The travel bookmarks are the perfect inspiration to dream of faraway places. Thanks for your visit sweety

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  24. That is so cute though. I need a better bookmark, mine is my old metrocard. xD

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  25. Small is elegant and classy...Love books, bookmarks as presents...perhaps book-ends too?

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  26. I love those little sayings and their history! What cute gifts! And you're right... chocolate is always a good idea! (Mine have already been devoured - it has been a week already after all!) :)x

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  27. That book of idiom explanations sounds fascinating - and full of good laughs, too :) Growing up bilingual, one of the things you really miss learning in both languages is idioms and expressions, so I could probably learn a few things, too! Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day :)
    xox,
    Cee

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  28. I Love books like that! I think I might get one for me and one as a gift...thanks for the recommend.

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  29. That's so sweet and how incredibly gorgeous is the gift wrap!?

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  30. I love the bookmarks!! I want them!! :D

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  31. Miss B, you have been spoiled! Such adorable gitfs! The book seems so interesing and I like the bookmarks:) Yum for the choco boxes! Kisses dear! xo

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  32. These are such nice gifts. I like the bookmarks, especially the Eifell Tower. And chocolates, oh yes, one of my favorite things in the world. I hope your Valentines Day was lovely.
    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

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  33. What an interesting (and helpful) little book! Love it!

    -Ashley
    http://lestylorouge.com

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  34. miss b, you received some great gifts. i am LOVING that 1st book. i have got to purchase it. i love explanations of things and in this case sayings. how unique!!! thanks for sharing this. love you doll!
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  35. Thanks for all the enlightenment here. I always wondered why the British used the word sacked when talking about someone getting 'canned' and how it came about. The explaination for fired is interesting too . . . .

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  36. this looks really nice, i will definitely check it out :)


    http://fashion-gourmet.blogspot.com/

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  37. I definitely agree...thoughtful, quirky, and unexpected. Those are the best kinds of gifts:)!

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  38. these are all lovely gifts! I myself love getting and giving chocolate... for a sweeter life... ;)

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  39. Beautiful and useful gifts! Taj Mahal is on my wish list too!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    xoxo MM

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  40. that's an interesting book ;-) ill find that in the bookstore when Ill have a chance.


    then,i love that travel theme bookmarks ;-)



    www.phioxee.com

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  41. Sweet thoughtful gifts like this are always so much more meaningful and enjoyable. That book sounds fascinating.

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  42. Now these are truly wonderful gifts! I am fascinated to know that ‘getting the sack’ is an old saying, I always thought it was modern!

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  43. I was just wondering the other day where something I had just said (can't even remember what it was now) had originated and here's a book that probably could have told me! How difficult it must be for someone learning our language to figure out what we mean by all of these phrases lol! A lovely Valentine's gift for sure! Thanks for stopping by for Wednesday's post, sweet .. xox ~S

    SANDY M Illustration
    http://oohlafroufrou.blogspot.com

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  44. I'm sure the book could have told you! There are so many phrases explained and as I was reading them all I was also thinking how confusing it must be for someone trying to learn English!

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  45. I so agree great gifts and I firmly believe a bunch of flowers on a day when life is a little tough is much more meaningful.

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  46. Great gifts. Very interesting!!!
    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Besos, desde España, Marcela♥

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  47. Amazing pics! Have a nice weekend:)

    http://theprintedsea.blogspot.de

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  48. These are such beautiful and thoughtful gifts; the book looks so lovely and so do those chocolates! xx

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  49. I'm not a big fan of valentines day but these gifts are perfect. love the little book marks.
    Kayleigh http://www.thewayiwanderlust.blogspot.com.au

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  50. Awww, these cards are so cute!! Hope you had a lovely Vday !!

    Love
    Svenja

    Happybluebird

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  51. great post, have a nice week
    http://aprettylife13.blogspot.hu/

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  52. What a funny idea with the book! Useful! xo Caroline

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  53. what a great book!! I would love to learn more about these expressions. What a perfect gift.

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  54. I've never heard of this book but I should give it a try and see if I like it!

    -Vogue&Heels
    vogueandheels.wordpress.com

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  55. Such a great history to learn about getting sacked. Great post!

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  56. Have a good week!

    Besos, desde España, Marcela♥

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  57. miss doodles likes miss b's blog :>

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  58. Je ne connais pas ce livre mais il a l'air vraiment chouette :) merci d'être passée par mon blog!
    xoxo
    parisian-fairytale.blogspot.fr

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  59. hey! everything is sooo cute, love the little magnets!


    www.letiziabarcelona.com

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  60. Just wanted to drop by again to say thanks for your sweet compliment and for dropping by Friday, sweet. Hope you have a wonderful new week! xo ~S

    SANDY M Illustration
    http://oohlafroufrou.blogspot.com

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  61. I'm with you,
    little thoughtful gifts are more meaningful
    especially when self-made by the giver.

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  62. Thank you for stopping by chez moi today, miss b. I am glad you mentioned this post. I did enjoy it tremendously and might try to get my hands on this charming little idiom book. A bientôt, Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

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  63. These are such sweet gifts. I liked those bookmarks very much and I also want to receive heart shaped chocolates : )

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Thank you for taking the time to write a comment on my blog. I really do appreciate it. miss b

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