I'm blessed with another guest contributor. Today's update is courtesy of the talented and lovely DW618. Thank you DW and thank you Kslchen for letting us extend your By A Simple Twist of Fate universe!

Julie Lette
Economic Correspondent
The Evening Standard
Twitter: Lette_Standard
XXX January 2015

The Royal Influence Is Seen In Christmas Sales

As expected for this 2014 Christmas season, the iPhone 6, loom band bracelet kits, and Maze Runner movie merchandise topped the UK's "most desired" gift lists. However, there were a few surprise additions to many wish lists…thanks to the popularity of the Royal Family.

Horses: From t-shirts to play figurines to actual ponies, all things related to horses gained in popularity after the silver medal finish of Princess Persis and the UK team at the World Equestrian Games in August/September.

Rubies: Sales of this often-underappreciated gemstone surged in December after it was revealed that Queen Leslie received several gorgeous ruby jewelry pieces for her 60th birthday in November.

Diamond-inspired brooches and hair ornaments: When Prince Kenneth's girlfriend, Rilla Blythe, was seen at the royal birthday gala in November with a Faberge diamond brooch in the shape of a rose (belonging originally to Empress Alexandra of Russia, nonetheless!) in her hair, interest surged in similar hair ornaments. Whether made with real diamonds or common glittery rhinestones, brooches and hair clips quickly became the "impossible to find" Christmas present this year.

Carrie Grunwerg
Business Editor
Daily Mail
Twitter GrungwegDM
XXX January 2015

The "Rilla Effect" Hits Florists

After the now-famous video appeared of Rilla Blythe effortlessly creating a floral wreath for a young admirer while en route to church in Canada on Christmas morning, local UK florists have been selling fresh floral crowns by the dozens. "A day hasn't gone by since Christmas without getting frequent calls from people looking to buy a 'princess flower crown' for someone," says Josie Smith,(owner of Josie's Posies in Chelsea. "Everyone from little girls to teens…and even some mums and grandmums seem to want to buy a floral crown like the one Rilla made for that little girl. I've always loved seeing flowers in women's hair…I just never assumed I would be making so many wreaths in January! As a florist, I'm grateful that this is trending now while everyone's gardens are still dormant…January is usually a slow season for me."

The Sun
Krissy's Christmas Craft
Twitter: KraftyKrissy
XX January 2015

Instructions: How to make a floral crown with fresh flowers

(double page spread accompanied by pictures of each step)

If you want to make your own floral crown like this one that Rilla Blythe recently made while on her holiday in Canada (see photo of Rilla placing flower crown on a young girl's head), here are some basic instructions:

1. Select flowers with long, flexible stems. Remove most or all of the leaves from the stems.

2. Hold two flowers with their heads near each other and the stem of the second laid across the stem of the first (essentially forming a "plus sign" +).

3. Wrap the second flower's stem around the first flower's stem with the wrapped stem coming between the two flower heads.

4. After completing that wrap, hold the remaining length of the second flower's stem in tandem with the first flower's stem.

5. Take a third flower and hold its head near the second flower's head, laying the third flower's stem in a "plus sign" shape across the other two flowers' stems.

6. Wrap the third flower's stem around both of the first two stems with the wrapped stem coming between the second and third flower heads.

7. After completing that wrap, join the third stem in the bundle together with the first two stems.

8. Continue this process until your chain of flowers becomes long enough to form a wreath.

9. Overlap the ends of the chain of flowers to make a crown of the desired size. Use one or two more flowers to bind the ends together, wrapping the flowers into the chain in the same manner as you have been doing. Weave the stems of these "binding" flowers into the wreath.

10. If desired, add ribbons or dangling flowers to the wreath for greater embellishment.

I challenge readers to make their own floral crowns and send me your pictures!