WANDERLIST

BIONIC EAR & EYE

2009-06-25T09:15:00.007-04:00

As a "healthy" internet addict, I am willing to try any new thing when it comes to searching. Tell me it is smarter, then of course, table for one please. But the usual return on my online sampling is the equivalent of multi-grain over wheat bread... hard to feel that drastic difference. That said, I have been testing out a different type of search site recently. I will categorize it as a cracker to my wheat bread, as it is same family, but different purpose (unless you are really hungry). It is called collecta. I guess it categorizes itself (surprisingly not as a carb), but as a "real-time" search site. I am sure I should have known that, but bygones.

What I like is that it pulls topically from all over the web - blog posts, twitter, comments, flickr, news feeds etc. And you can filter for these things as well. So here I searched Wimbledon, and filtered for only photos. This is the result from the last 3 minutes...

The reason I happened upon it was the Washington DC metro crash. I was looking for any information right after the crash and the first place I realized how bad it was, was from a comment. Now that I have done some more digging on these type of sites (actually by searching collecta on collecta), I have found there are quite a few, or at least of handful (Venturebeat does a nice summary here). What collecta doesn't seem to have is any type of filtering for quality of posts (which others do), but I really liked that it had sources beyond twitter e.g. newsfeed and photos for more well-rounded experience.

TO YOUR TASTES

2009-05-29T14:28:00.000-04:00

As I think I may have said before I am trying to move myself beyond my freshman year at the Sheehan cooking school. So I am always looking for new ways to up my game, that are also fun (I know I said school, but think more adult learning guitar vs algebra). This site "cookthink" qualifies. What makes it different from my well worn Epicurious or Food Network is that one that this have a interesting search mechanism that allows you to find recipes the way you think, so for instance you can search by cravings like "gratifying" or "starchy", and two it allows you to couple that with what you have in the fridge like fish, parsley and onion. So when I searched "fish" + "parsley" + "satisfying cookthink's recommendation from that "Baked Snapper In Lemon-Garlic Sauce". Their back-ups were "Seattle Shellfish Stew with Kale and Guanciale" followed by "Oven-Roasted Halibut", you get the point.

I also searched "southwest" + "finger-lickin" and got "Beef, Bean And Chipotle Chili" then "Black Bean, Carrot And Red Bell Pepper Burritos" etc.

Another reason I like the site is its handy reference section that tells you things like "What is sriracha?" and "Cannellini beans vs. Great Northern beans vs. Navy beans" and "How to trim an artichoke"

They also have a blog (of course who doesn't) that is a range of articles, recipes, how tos, tasty pizza...

I think I will go make something to eat now.

MUSICAL BREADBASKET

2009-03-28T22:22:00.000-04:00

I like NPR for many reasons, but if NPR was a person, I would have put him/her (let's say him) in the highly intellectual, slightly geeky want to borrow his homework / his take on global politics, maybe not his iPod sort of a friend. It turns out my pre-conceived notions are false. NPR has a taken their inexhaustible pursuit for knowledge and details to the music scene with their beta site www.npr.org/music/. This site is great, especially for people like me who love music, but not enough to do a lot of digging on it. They have so many neat things to discover e.g. Top 10 unknown artists of 2007, top hip hop, world cafe, studio sessions, song of the day, live sessions etc. I have already found Bon Iver and The Avett Brothers. Who knew.

WEARING YOUR PATRONAGE

2009-02-25T18:52:00.000-05:00

There are two reasons I love the store bio. First because it was started by An Vu who quit her corporate career in pharmaceuticals in December 2003 to follow her passion and open a clothing store (dream come true). Second, because her store is all about bringing forth up and coming fashion designers. Unlike big labels who have those people working behind the scenes An Vu tells the tale of the artist behind the clothes (hence "bio") through biographical hang tags which gives you the feeling of wearing a hand crafted piece of art versus just an outfit. bio has both on and offline presence. The store is on Prince Street in NYC and her online outpost can be found at bio-nyc.com. Here were a few of my favorites from her site.
12th Street Brown Pleat Dress $155

12th Street Sheer Sweater $60

Chan Luu Silk Satin Coat $230

Flavio Olivera CamelFrida Bag $287

Tom K Nguyen Embroidered Tank $85

Casch Sweater Tunic with Pockets $305

Taryn by Taryn Rose Dizzy Ankle Boot $220

Laila Azhar Gathered Dress $198

Nave Armory Coat $240

Nave Plaid Lady Dress $200

Taryn by Taryn Rose Ryder Boot $316

HOME CANDY

2009-02-24T16:37:00.000-05:00

Casa Cachagua, Cachagua, Chile. Built: 2006-2007

Ever since Lincoln Log cabins, Webster hanging out in clock cloaked Victorian inspired secret passages and Ricky Schroder riding a train around "his" mansion I have been pondering my own dream home. Obviously I am far from alone nor am I lacking in personal castle propaganda, and realize you are not either... but I still thought the Materialicious blog is worth posting about. Materialicious, is the type of home inspiration spot that leave you finding yourself saying "how cool" a lot. Here are some of my favorite homes from the site. They also have much beyond houses, plenty to spend some serious time pouring over.

It is edited by Justin Anthony (a residential restoration specialist for 25 years) and concentrates on residential architecture, design, craftsmanship, materials and products.
Staffan Strindberg’s modern interpretation of the Swedish “Red Stuga”

Sheila Narusawa Architects

Riva Lofts, architect Claudio Nardi

Villa in the Swedish Archipelago by Arkitektstudio Widjedal Racki Bergerhoff

Judith Mountain Cabin by Jeff Sheldon, located on 113 acres in Alpine Gulch in the Judith Mountains of Central Montana.

Whitney Sander's Tree House

HEIDI by Matteo Thun + Partners

TIME CAPSULE

2009-01-23T21:19:00.000-05:00

When you live in DC you unfortunately or fortunately (depending on your personal leanings) sacrifice trends for history. You will not light the world with your innovative dining scene, but you will have the richest relics of our history found in the US. The Library of Congress is one of these repositories of the past that though not as glitzy as the Air & Space Museum has so much to offer. They house thousands upon thousands of digital images, documents movies etc of the past, but though there is so much there, their site is not good (to say the least). Navigation is terrible, you have no clear idea of where you are going or how you got there. So I was buoyed when they launched a photo pilot with Flickr to give broader awareness (and to potentially get more information) of their images. Here are a scant few of the thousands that I liked.
Young "Cy" Young between seasons 1909

Theo. Roosevelt at Polo Match

Labor union parade, NY., May 1, 1911

Elphinstone winning Washington marathon

N.Y. Library on Opening Day

Managers Bobby Wallace, St. Louis AL & Hal Chase, New York AL

"The Teaser", Coney Island in Luna Park

Harvard varsity

RAYS OF SUNSHINE FOR GRAY DAYS

2009-01-17T21:59:00.000-05:00

I came across Alicia Bock on Etsy. I think her photographs are amazing. They give me that summer cottage stillness sort of feeling. Where somehow your surroundings seem more beautiful and peaceful, or perhaps you are just stopping to notice. Her prints are $35 and her cards are $5, she will also send you prints framed (if you are like me and somehow that is a large hurdle to actually getting them up on your wall.) She also has a blog which I found equally as eye fixing.
"Lightness"

"Incomplete"

"These Trees"

"Delicate Balance"

"Teasle"

"Blue Summer"

"Dandelion Dream"

"Fence with Bike" (I am such a sucker for anything with a bike)

"Love Birds"

Here is what she writes about herself - "My photography is the search of light and shadows, pretty things in pink, the feeling of the ocean, and a blue moon. I strive to create photographs that evoke memories of our favorite days."

RE-ANTIOX MYSELF

2009-01-15T18:37:00.000-05:00

I am sticking to my do gooding theme for another post, but turning the focus outside in. As is usual in January, I start feeling sort of pale, (OK not sort of, translucent) sluggish and full of well sugar, butter and salty snacks. In order to push myself towards the teeter totter side with Jennifer Aniston sipping Glaceau on it and away from Winona Ryder circa Reality Bites I usually start a winterly search for indoor health. My recent finds on this path to rosier cheeks and a cookie reduced frame are two fold. The first is this cool site called Local Harvest which helps you find sources for organic and sustainable food in your area.

For instance when I type in our zip code all local farmers markets, restaurants that use organic foods, services such as a company that delivers locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables to your house, and one that helps restaurants recycle their food waste through composting all pop up with information and location. I appreciate the help and the antioxidants.

The second is work out DVDs from the New York City Ballet. Now I might be biased in thinking this would be an incentive to exercise as I am still a 6 year old in a tutu agog at ballet dancers, but I think it both sounds unique from the monotonous treadmill and cool to know more about ballet moves. The DVDs are supposed to have famous (to some people at least) NYC ballerinas demonstrating the exercises, talking about their lives etc.

Now I just have to put it all into practice...

FINE ART FLICKERING

2008-02-26T17:01:00.002-05:00

When I am feeling a little culture and style starved, New York Times online is a great fruit basket of juicy goodness. One particular area I have been sampling lately is their short form films housed in "the moment" section. The shorts primarily live in the land of art, food and fashion, though are seemingly just random neat bits. I really like the music and technique for this Chloe Sevigny piece.

Here is Natalie Portman's which was also posted on youtube.

Art Basel Miami Beach

Tour of the new Museum of Contemporary Art in NYC's Bowery District

ECONOMY OF WORDS

2008-02-25T10:51:00.001-05:00

This book, "Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs By Famous and Obscure Writers" embraces the idea I like to let rule my dessert consumption, one deep, rich spoonful satisfies. The idea for this book stems from the literary legend that Ernest Hemingway was once asked to write a story in six words. His response: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." Smith Magazine (the commissioners of the book) were taken enough by the legend to challenge writers to craft their own six-word memoirs. The output of which is really interesting. NPR summed it up well when they said the results "cross between a personal ad and a haiku..." Some are funny, some trite and some deeply moving. You can get a sampling on the Smith site (which incidentally is a diverse garden of opportunities for aspiring writers to plant literary seeds) - see a few below.
"Shy Jersey kid, overcompensating ever since." --Ariel Kaminer
"Couldn't cope so I wrote songs." --Aimee Mann

MEMORIES

2008-02-23T14:45:00.003-05:00

Remember when Britney wasn't crazy? When people wanted to be her... I know brush of the cranium cobwebs.

UNCOMMON GOODS

2008-02-21T13:35:00.004-05:00

This French company Domestic takes home accessories seriously. They elevate the mundane and bring uniqueness to what can be a vanilla and usual Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel suspect driven market. The company is European, but even with the mark-up and shipping the prices are not outrageous. I particularly love the vinyl pieces and mirrors.
Corbeille / waste paper basket - 60 euro

Butterfly Vinyl- 74 euro

Spline Mirror - 89 euro

Nicolaus red Vinyl - 61 euro

Adrien Rovero shelf - 40 euro

I love me mirror - available in april

Electricwig - Interior garden

Mini pop flower gold - 53 euro

Ich&Kar - 53 euro

Maison Georgette - 53 euro

Kuntzel+Deygas - 53 euro

Landscape mirror - 60 euro

Jungle Pink vinyl - 74 euro

BLURBS BUFFET

2008-02-20T21:56:00.001-05:00

I could spend all day making my way down and around the never ending rabbit hole which is the internet, but the number of things I want to keep up on matched with the time I have to devote just doesn't make a positive equation. Sadly my days of being rich and well staffed Katie Holmes style are not yet upon me so I try to find short cuts to sponging. One such helper is Netvibes. Basically it is an aggregator that easily pulls websites, blogs, email accounts, social networks etc all together in one sort of igoogleish dashboard with better options. Here is mine (though still a work in progress).

I took my well worn sites and blogs (though it won't work for some of my smaller fav blogs) and it made smaller sites or feeds with their most recent content so I can drink from my personally customized fire hose. You can also add these "widgets" called universes. They are pre-selected dashboards centered around one theme. So for instance here is one called showbuzz which focuses on entertainment happenings, gossip, releases etc.

Here is one called catster which I am sure you can quickly see why I couldn't resist.

There are many others related to business, tech etc, but you get the point.

HIDEYOURWAY

2008-02-19T21:20:00.001-05:00

So many reasons to love Ikea... their inexpensive without always looking it products, the fun shopping experience (not to be confused with the not at all fun trekking to the shopping experience), and their marketing. This latest example "Quiet Space" is really fun to go through. Each vignette starts with frenetic part of what could be anyone's day...

Then moves to the haven that is your bedroom - serene and slow action style... The girl falling into bed is my favorite. What a great affect, you feel like the bed must be full of fluffy marshmallows...

If only I found blow drying this cheering versus chore like.

I have been watching them over and over, changing the angles, if you stay on them they keep moving in new ways.

FASHION GARBAGE SALAD

2008-02-18T19:19:00.004-05:00

I don't know if it is just me, but only a quarter of why I pick up Us magazine while I am in line at the grocery is gossip, three quarters is for celebrity garb. So I found this site / blog stylescoop.net which I think is better than grocery gaping. I liken it to a combination of InStyle and Us without the weight. Here were my favorite parts...
First they have the standard random celebrity in trendy togs. I really liked Lindsay's necklace here.

and Hilary's Marc Jacobs dress.

Second, they take it a step further and have some of the celeb threads tagged to buy. So for instance I really liked Jessica's scarf here. It turns out it is available on Singer22 (another cool site dedicated to selling things celebrities are pictured with).

Third, they have a blog (that can be linked to from the site) that is more about straight fashion. So, for instance they do trend round-ups (e.g. gladiator sandals below) and they tell you where to get and how much the shoes pictured are plus where you can get similar shoes for much less.

They have been doing recent bite sized round-ups of the NYC fashion shows. Here is Charlotte Ronson, love that brown dress.

BCBG which I really liked minus the girls claiming coffee and carrots as a nutrition rich diet. I mean they are walking on spindly twigs.

Marc by Marc Jacobs

They also did a call out for designers to sketch Jenna's Bush dress for her May wedding. My favorite was the Amsale #5.

Oh and last, but certainly not the least they follow Project Runway. I don't know if that is high fashion, but it is highly entertaining. Their designs from fashion week.

From left to right: Jillian Lewis, Chris March, Christian Siriano, Sweet P, Rami Kashou.

LUCKY ME

2008-02-15T22:10:00.001-05:00

Really like this band "Nada Surf", their latest album just came out. Two of my favorites of their songs are below.

"Inside of Love"

"Always Love"

LOST IN THE SHUFFLE

2008-02-14T21:05:00.002-05:00

Sometime I fancy myself pretty tech savvy and then things come along and I feel like I am on level one of Pac Man just so excited to have gotten a strawberry and some ghosts. So my level one self is so tickled that Lifehacker introduced me to iTunes Smart Playlists. I never knew these existed and yet they are so great. Basically they allow you to create playlists with filters and keywords instead of manually. To give you a taste... my favorite smart playlist I will term "In the back of the closet". This playlist overcomes the annoying issue that the iPod shuffle seems to love "Gettin Jiggy Wit it", but never plays "Beast of Burden" by overuling silly shuffle and elevating the songs with 0 playcount. Click here and Lifehacker gives you their top 10 iTunes Smart Playlists. It also gets you familiar enough with the system to create your own.

TAKING A FEW DAYS OFF FOR MY BIRTHDAY

2008-02-12T09:38:00.002-05:00

See you on Thursday!

PEEP SHOW

2008-02-11T21:17:00.000-05:00

Just found this show the other day. Best sort of dry British comedy. Here is Wikipedia's quick description -

"Peep Show follows the often sexually-frustrated lives of two men in their late twenties, Mark (Mitchell) and Jeremy (Webb). Having met while at the fictional Dartmouth University together (they occasionally refer to themselves as 'The El Dude Brothers' in reference to their student days), they now share a flat in Croydon, south London". Mark is a loan manager and the more financially successful of the two, but is extremely uncomfortable socially and pessimistic about nearly everything. Jeremy, who at the start of the first episode has recently split up with his girlfriend 'Big Suze', now rents Mark's spare room. He usually has a much more optimistic and energetic outlook on the world than Mark, yet his talent as a musician is yet to be recognized, and he is not as socially popular or sexually attractive as he would like to think."

You can watch the full versions on Google Video UK (click here), but in case you don't want to start with a full episode here is a compilation of funny clips.

WHAT HAPPENED TO A FRILLY SHOEBOX & AND A SNOOPY CARD?

2008-02-08T15:19:00.000-05:00

Gifts for guys are just not that easy anymore. I feel I am searching for matching black socks in a dark closet, trying to find something that is unique, thoughtful and well... something they would like. I have been doing much research on the subject for this Valentine's Day so I thought (in case you also need inspiration and you are down to the wire) I would share.
Clocky Alarm Clock - $50

Clocky gives you one chance to turn off your alarm, and if you are "bones" and go for the snooze, well Clocky doesn't let you get a way with it. Clocky will jump off your nightstand (up to 3ft) and wheel around your room, your bed looking for a place to hide like a misbehaving toddler, while it beeps away.
Singgih Kartono's Magno Wooden Radio - $275
I love this retro looking wooden radio. Great design for the unique minded. It is also made using sustainable harvested wood, and local labor, even the packaging is recycled and made for re-use.

Loved that a unicorn is a rhinos's Giselle.
Runnin' Rhino by Allan Faustino $25

Give the gift of a leg up...?
Snowballer - $9

Oh and if you are wondering about the opening graphic, it comes from Lim Heng Swee and is part of a Threadless t-shirt design you can find at their. I wanted to put it as an gift choice, but Brendan informed me this was my tendency to be better with girl gift giving than guy sneaking out, so it is just an intro piece ; )

LYING IN SHREDS

2008-02-07T18:29:00.000-05:00

I may have been living under a rock here, but I had never come across gofugyourself until today and I was holding my stomach laughing. In case you have been hiding in dark holes with me, a little background. Gofugyourself is a blog that basically rips apart the unfortunate choices in celebrity wardrobing. No one appears to be immune. Like all girls who love E!, Us and all things LA (except maybe living there) these girls obviously have favored and hostile celebrity "relationships", but if you happen to be caught on camera with an ill suited outfit, you will find yourself flogged by the fuggers no matter your friend or foe status. Their posts are so wonderfully dry, many of my favorites were with Posh (of course, easy pickins) and in the Olsen's private stash, here is a sample...
Titled - "Full Fug"
Pop Quiz:
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are:

A) pixie-sized vampires, carrying cut-glass vials of human blood in their bags, which they mix with vodka to approximate cosmopolitans at parties.
b) pixie-sized zombies, wearing long skirts and sleeves to conceal their rigor-mortis-ravaged limbs.
c) pixie-sized superfans of The Cure!
d) screwing with us.
Here was a good one for Kirsten Dunst
Titled - "Spiderfug 3"

Sure, on first glance, it looks like Kirsten Dunst stood still while Cinderella's crack team of rodent tailors draped this fabric around her with imprecise cheese-fueled zeal. But, hey, it doesn't make her look saggy, and the color is actually very pretty, as is her makeup. So close. Then we realized why she might have chosen this strange, fussy, flowy cut.

Kiki is merely being practical. Like any sensible woman, she is making sure she's dressed correctly in the event that she abruptly becomes six months pregnant with twins. And you know what they say: an ounce of preparedness is worth 40 pounds of figure-unfriendly fabric. Right?
Last one, and then you just have to go to the blog.
Titled - "Fug The Cover: GQ"
Just to be clear, I am not saying Rachel Bilson or her figure are fugly, or that dudes won't see the cover of this magazine, proclaim her the perfect woman, and buy two copies to stash around the house.

It's just odd to me. Rachel has been doing so well with clothes ON lately. And then GQ sticks her in a bikini like it's July 4 and Uncle Sam is offering up a patriotic beach-party showcase on The Price Is Right -- with Rachel curled up on the prow of a really small powerboat while the contestant jumps up and down screaming and then overbids by $4000 -- and suddenly she seems totally plastic and out-of-proportion. Maybe the designers were too busy crafting the cover lines about squirrel rampages to notice. I mean, obviously, yes, Rachel Bilson is naturally tiny; it's not like I expected her to put on a bikini and suddenly be my size. But I'm not sure why this photo of a lovely, genetically tiny person still called for so much airbrushing that Rachel has turned into a crazy pageant-zombie bobblehead with one leg that looks weirdly small compared to the other. Her face looks frozen in place and as if it's been Photoshopped onto someone else's body.

Also, I hope nobody misinterprets the cover and shows up at work in this bikini, thinking Rachel is saluting this as "The Modern Business Suit." Although it might help you ace a job interview.

RARE RECEPTION

2008-02-06T20:20:00.000-05:00

I really like foyers, OK I really like the foyers on TV and in magazines. They always have beautiful doors, big mirrors and people tramping their boots as they embrace the change from cold to cozy. I do hope to flee condo living one day very soon and actually have a foyer, but in the meantime I will just plot for what may... should be there when the time comes. I just found three such things today.
#1 Certain to set your foyer apart - Very unique Deer Hat Hanger $160

#2 Adorable Dot Print Coat from Milly also bound to set your spring self apart and ready to hang on your new deer ear $530

#3 Atelier LZC Weekend / Travel Bag $130 to hang or perhaps better to sit below your coat and deer

HEAD BOB, IN A GOOD WAY

2008-02-05T20:10:00.000-05:00

I just got an email about this band "Vampire Weekend" and love them. They describe themselves as "specialists in the following styles: "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa", "Upper West Side Soweto", "Campus", and "Oxford Comma Riddim." I have no idea whether I am normal or naive to have no idea what that means, bygones. They were recently set afloat on to the music scene (their first album came out on the 29th of January). I was (of course) curious on their moniker, upon some digging I found they derived it from their lead singer's amateur film of the same name. I applaud the multiple pursuits in the fine arts, but from what I can tell from the trailer, I think music should stay their muse (for the moment at least). Here are two of their videos and one live session. The full album is on iTunes.
A-Punk

"Mansard Roof"

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (Live)

SPRAY IT DON'T JUST SAY IT

2008-02-04T22:05:00.000-05:00

In case my earlier post on cards didn't strike your fancy... you wanted something a little higher hanging on the love-o-gram tree, then I saw something on Josh Spear that might suit. The basic idea is... you write your words of affection (or not, this could work as an Alanis style nasty gram as well, no discriminating), you pay 30 euro, and "Send a Message" will spray paint your sentiment on the West-Bank Barrier take 3 pictures and email the digital proof to you and the recipient of your emotions.

Not only is this a very unique way to get your word out, it is also a good cause. It began from a collaboration between Dutch advertising professionals and creative Palestinian youth, each message bought and posted helps the Palestinians trapped inside the Wall feel connected to the outside world. I am assuming... feel normal.

"SACRIFICE"

2008-02-04T13:09:00.000-05:00

NYTimes idea of "tightening the belt", if only this was all that was required...

Thought this was a kick - from the article "With stock markets around the world falling last week, New Yorkers cut back on the essentials, like dry-cleaning their sheets".

PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT

2008-02-01T17:20:00.000-05:00

With cupid brandishing his arrows right around the corner, I thought I would do a post on neat "Valentines" for your Valentine. Here is a smattering of ways to show your affection...
Lucky Tarzan Monkey - $4.50 each

Dogwood - $3.50 each

Chewing the cud - "I Wheelie Like You", "Smokin' Hot", "Sew in Love" $10 for 3, $4.50 for 1

Chicken Tango - $3.50 each

Smooch - $4.50 each

Love flowers - $3.50 each

Hug Me - $3.50 each

Hottie - Ribbon Card $5.50

Charmer - Ribbon Card $5.50 each

Cutie Pie - $3.50 each

Apples and Oranges - $2.50 each

Anturious love you - $6.00 each

Night Rider

2008-01-31T18:57:00.000-05:00

As many of you who know me know, I really like bikes. You may also know that I have had a few near tangles with cars / buses on the bike. This seems to be a more frequent problem on summer evenings when the weather was right for biking, but the lighting was not. A head / rear lamp alone just doesn't always cut it. It appears the people working on Puma's Urban Mobility line (who brought us the 8 speed fold-up bike) may have also had a miss (or maybe sadly a hit) as they are releasing the Glow Rider for the spring. The night glow comes from the paint used on the bike frame which collects sunrays during the day, and gives them off at dark as a glow. I think they must be like those star stickers you used to (or maybe still put) on your bedroom ceiling.

HANDLED WITH CARE

2008-01-30T18:55:00.000-05:00

I have been working on many "green" projects lately making me highly aware of all of the more and less genuine pushes toward "greendom". What is heartening across the board is the shift from this being environmentalist's issue to it being everyone's issue and as result the countless fairly easy opportunities for us to alter our habits. I have been blogging about quite a few "green" oriented initiatives and products just because I am buoyed by the prospects. My latest find in this camp is Viva Terra. I had seen their site months ago, but then my friend Rachel sent us a present from them which was so cool it pushed me from on-looker to poster. They have all sorts of products from furniture to home goods, to clothes. I have tried to give you a feel for their smattering below. All in all, I think their product mix is great and sustainable, perfect combo.
Twisty Stool - Carved from a single piece of sustainable, monkey pod wood $195

Root Of The Earth Bowl - Hand-carved from discarded root balls of Chinese fir trees $35 to $150 (this is what Rachel gave us, it is wonderfully unique in person and now sits in the middle of our dining room table)

Wine Barrel Stave Chairs - Made from recycled oak wine barrel staves $189

Lotus Flower Chandelier - Hand-cut capiz shells, edged in metal $329-$649

Verdigris Mini Taper Holder - Recycled glass base with hammered metal branches $58

Love Nest - Made from antiqued brass coils of recycled, hand-shaped wire $42

Organic Cotton Rabbit Bag - Hand-embroidered by the women of San Pueblito Mexico $239

Gingko Leaf Night Light - Etched through a thin layer of black porcelain $39

Slit-Sleeve Kimono Robe - Made from modal, an eco-fabric first created in Austria from beech wood $218

Tree of Life Plaque - Made from heads of oil drums from Haiti

SNACK SIZED BAG OF FASHION

2008-01-29T21:55:00.000-05:00

I found "The Countdown" the other day clicking around Refinery 29 and really liked it. It is primarily short form video on indie designers' build up to NYC fashion week (sort of Project Runway goes documentary take away the immediate boxing ring like competition, and the pre-scripted dialog then add people who would have won Nina Garcia's highest praise). You get glimpses of the personalities behind the people, their studio, their designs, their worries etc. The "films" are around 3 to 5 minutes. Good barely cracked window into their lives. You need to go to their site to view the newest episodes, but I found one from a previous season on youtube.

TRULY PLAYING HARD TO GET

2008-01-22T21:21:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day... lurking right around the corner. I have always had a hard place in my heart for the 14th. My birthday is the 12th and the double whammy has scared off more than a few frogs previously purporting to be princes. But now having a real live prince (nothing webbed as far as I can tell) I am trying to re-embrace the holiday with unique tokens of my affection. This is not an easy task for such a heart and candified occassion, but I found something recently I thought could break the rose mold with this personalized video game / card. Basically you have your sweetie solve up to 20 levels of a maze to get to your message. You choose the 5 pictorial themes, you write the message, you pay $7, and you have something far beyond a traditional ecard or chocolates.

If you are skeptical of trading the paper version for the wired, you can also test drive the game first at Yo Yo Games.

MODUS VIVENDI

2008-01-21T21:31:00.000-05:00

Sadly I now live in a city where... well politely put fashion is not revered in the way I might like. Not to say that bad style is blanketing, just that a forward approach is difficult to find. So, in this absence of live inspiration I have been keeping my eye to the magazine and web pages. Of course as magazines are monthly, once I devour them, I come wanting for more and have found that New York magazine (nymag.com) proves to be a rich fashion hub. They have lots to explore, but one area that caught my attention over the weekend was their "100 Most Fabulous Looks" from Spring Ready to Wear. Not that they are all truly "wearable" in my mind (largely due to cost and lack of occasion), but great for re-creating in your own way. Here were a few of my favorites from the 100.
Gwen Stefani for L.A.M.B.

Andrew Gn

Alice + Olivia

Milly

Lacoste

Phillip Lim

Nicole Miller

Narcisco Rodriguez

Bottega Veneta

AF Vandevorst

Celine

Valentino

NANCY DREW, THE RESTAURANT SERIES

2008-01-18T21:23:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you the secrets of how spam manages to keep from being evicted from its grocery store home, or how "Dancing with the Stars" has become a legitimate viewing ritual, or even how Martha Stewart's staff never run dry on ideas, but... I can tell you the recipe for In and Out Burgers, for Starbuck's Gingerbread Latte, for Thin Mints and on... The bean spiller is this site called Top Secret Recipes. I feel like there have been sites like this before... but usually based on "uncovering" the calorie content of restaurant treats not making them yourself.

The rub is that only some of the recipes are free. For instance I was tickled when I saw Auntie Anne's (a secret mall and airport treat of mine), but "Top Secret" wanted .79 cents to let the pretzel out of the bag. Obviously not a exorbitant amount, but annoying in a "so do I pull out my credit card for less than a dollar, or just let the recipe pass?" Regardless I shouldn't be so lazy, many recipes are free, and someone who loves all things new and different should really should invest in the entrepreneur. Happy cooking.

LIGHT OF HEART, HEAVY OF MOOD

2008-01-16T19:03:00.000-05:00

I found these products too funny not to post about (great gifts). They come from Grumpy Girl. They all appear to be manifestations of ill mood, or things than can induce it. As a girl who can be known to get in a funk, I like the ability to own the moment.
Dessert Stomach T-Shirt - $34 (I love their write-up so including it here)
"We ever so unscientifically estimate that about 99% of women have it, yet you'll never see it in any anatomy book. The dessert stomach. It's there, trust us.
C'mon now. You've gone out to dinner and felt completely stuffed after your entree, yet when the waiter comes around and asks if you want to see the dessert menu, your face lights up and you exclaim, "Sure!" It doesn't matter how full your stomach is. The dessert stomach is distinctly separate."

Auto Bird Turd Emergency Kit $32

Fighting Makes Me Grumpy T-shirt $30 (in case it is hard to see, grumpy girl is on the front and "fighting makes me grumpy" is on the back. No kidding there.

It's Not Couture, It's A T-Shirt - $16
Amen, I don't want to offend, but those juicy clothes drive me nuts. Sweatpants with a slogan on your hiney are the exact opposite of couture.

Peace Dove T-Shirt - $14, I love that the dove is carrying a fan to "cool everyone off"

IMPOSSIBLE YES, COMPELLING...?

2008-01-16T11:04:00.000-05:00

As an advertising person, I just thought this Addidas ad for the Beijing Olympics was cool. They are one of the official sponsors, so you are starting to see them swinging the golden rings everywhere.

MONEY FOR THE MOTIVATED

2008-01-14T21:51:00.000-05:00

Kiva.org is a site I stumbled upon and I think it is such a great concept I had to pass it along. In a nutshell, the site allows you to personally lend money directly to aspiring low income entrepreneurs in developing countries. For instance you can lend $25 (this is the maximum they take per giver) to Patricia to expand her seamstress business in Nigeria or to Dovi in Togo who is looking for $300 total to buy palm nuts in order to produce and sell palm oil.

Instead of giving a donation to a large organization where you don't know where it goes or how it is used, Kiva's let's you be a no interest lender to these entrepreneurs. Just as though you are a corporate level lending institution Kiva allows you to track your recipient's progress and payback (according to Kiva you are paid your money back (on average) in 6 to 12 months).

The initiative drew the attention of former President Bill Clinton, who included Kiva in his latest book, "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World".

ATHLETIC SHOE OSCARS

2008-01-10T11:45:00.000-05:00

Though a girly girl in many ways, when it comes to shoes, I just can't hang with many of my heel loving counterparts. I wear flat shoes (often), small heels (if necessary) and sneakers (if I could most of the time). I embraced the shift from athletic shoes being for well... athletics, to acceptable style pieces for an outfit with a whole heart. I like to keep up on tennies and as a marketer of course tennies companies, but I am a mere novice at trainers trend tracking in comparison to so many people out there, first and foremost, the people at Sneaker Freaker. I find their knowledge is vast and fascinating, so I had to share their wrap up on best sneakers of 2007. I will say if I were paid for such things as shoe sleuthing, I think my list might have been a little different, but who knows. Anyway, here are my favorites from theirs and if you want to see the whole wrap-up, go to sneakerfreaker.com.

Nike Airmax 95 x360 Hybrid

Nike Vandal

KSwiss Ladner

Nike X Sophnet Free Trail

NB x 1500 Toothpaste

Air Force One

Adidas Campus

HOW LOVELY

2008-01-09T15:18:00.000-05:00

I just recently found out about this online magazine called "Lovely" on allthatanda. And I found its title to be fitting. I think the best way to describe it is - a hedge between what was Blueprint magazine (as it has handy hints and cool ideas)and what is Elle (as it appears to have a halo of Euro fashionability), but with a hipper aesthetic than Blueprint and a more realistic bent than Elle. It is not long which I appreciated, it is free which I also appreciated and there is no paper which the trees raised a branch for. The interactive navigation makes it cool to piece through and the visuals are vibrant unlike other internet mags which can have that grainy beat up cereal box in the back of a pantry feel. So i signed up for a subscription, we'll see how it goes...

BUGS BUZZY

2008-01-08T20:54:00.000-05:00

R2D2, Johnny 5, Kitt all have sealed my love of robots even with the onslaught of Matrix movies, but the promise of my wired companion has not appeared close at hand ... until now that is. OK this is not C3-PO come to be my house elf, but it is an adorable WiFi enabled rabbit robot called Nabaztag (Armenian for rabbit).

Nabaztag can send and receive MP3s and messages that are read out loud as well as perform the following (by either speaking the information out loud or using indicative lights): weather forecast, news headlines, alarm clock, e-mail, texts, RSS feeds. He can read you posts from your favorite blogs and he gets smarter about you as you hang with him. He is not too expensive, from $150 to $200 (depending on where you buy).

The last thing I will tell you (and then you should check out the site because it is really fun, is that they can marry. You can have a rodent robot relationship, so you and your squeeze can talk back and forth, mirror commands, etc... All very Jetsons meets those Hallmark kissing bears. Here is a wedding video of one "couple" : )

HANDSOME BAGS

2008-01-07T18:24:00.000-05:00

The transfer from lights, trees, carols and all things festive, to cold winds, dry skin and the knowledge that scarves and shivers are here for months to come requires a little patience and a little shopping for yourself. I always think a purse is a good personal perk. Here are a few I have been eyeing recently.
Classic good wear with anything purse...SHARON ELAINE Hobo $182

Great for stuffing... Amici Accessories, - The Utilitarian Tote $38

TANO, Betty Trubble Beaujolais $112

I just couldn't resist the purple saddle bag style... JULIE K., Marley Big Flap Bag Purple $422

This site is full of cheap treasures, worth a peek... Ballyhoo Vintage 1970s Leather Handbag $17

This comes in a few eye popper colors, feels like a spring bulb on your arm...JCrew, Panama bag in suede $98

MATT & NAT, Jorja Fox Small Red $62

Marc by Marc Jacobs, Leather Messenger Bag $298

Mirror Mirror,The Kiss Lock Tote $48

I mean for $38...Mellow Yellow Buckle Messenger Bag $38

Marc by Marc Jacobs, Lovely Luz Messenger Bag $398

I know I am pushing the season on this one, bygones...Hable Construction, Pumpkin cosmos el hombre $165

Pia Wallen's Leather & Felt Handbag $280

Ballyhoo Vintage, 1970s Butterscotch Tan Leather Handbag $22

JCrew, Borge Teddy Clutch $135

TANO Electroplate Green$212

ROBED

2008-01-04T21:34:00.000-05:00

Don't be naked is the mantra of the boutique the naked ape. Well OK, i can't disagree with the sentiment outside of one's home, especially right after the holidays (no one's needs an unnecessary fright), but it does beg the question... what are you serving up as an alternative? In this case it is the cutest socks (I mention these first as they were my favorite on the site) and many other hip wearables. Both good and bad these clothes loving monkeys are in the UK, so the fashions are good, but the prices are bad.
Socks by Rakel

Jackets and "dresses"

Neat, but why must your dress double as gloves?

Top by Devandervar

Big Bear

INTERNET JUKEBOX

2008-01-03T21:33:00.000-05:00

I am continuing my music theme for another day both because I still need a little background music as back-to-life pick me up AND because this site is just worth talking about. It is called Songza. The premise is not difficult, basically search for any song that comes to mind and they stream it for you hence their apt description of themselves as an internet jukebox. Sadly, they don't serve fries or a side of good bar scene to go along with the site, but still fun to waste time on. PS they have a constantly updating list of top songza songs which is a fun way to find out about new music and keep your memory jogged on old loves.

SINGING IN THE NEW YEAR!

2008-01-02T20:58:00.000-05:00

First day back to work after a long holiday with only January in sight is always rough, so I thought a little music might give a much needed energy (and happiness) infusion. Here are a few of my picks for singing in the New Year. Don't ask how I came to these specifically, amazing how the mind wanders around.

First pick. Deep Dish, Flashdance.
Relevance: We have been so homesick with all of our travels, that I wanted to pay tribute to our abode. As we are continually tickled by the fact that Sharam Tayebi (one of the duo djs that make up Deep Dish) is our landlord, his re-mix gets top billing.

Second pick. Fergie clumsy.
Relevance: Only seems appropriate as (for some odd reason) she decided to help host Dick Clark's really Ryan Seacrest's Rockin Eve. This song is a personal pod favorite at the moment.

Third pick. Madonna, Lucky Star.
Relevance: Because old Madonna is almost always fun, because we were watching Snatch over the holidays and there is a funny scene where this song is playing, because of those things I have had it in my head for days and perhaps if I share it will somehow purge it from my own brain.

Fourth pick. Yael Naim, New Soul.
Relevance: I saw this video on a great blog Oh Happy Day and thought it was a fitting song for the start of a New Year.

Fifth pick. Amy Winehouse, Rehab.
Relevance: For those of you who had a tough 2007, she should make you feel a little better. Oh and I really like this song.

TIGHTY WHITEYS

2007-12-28T21:36:00.000-05:00

So you know when your friends or family make fun of you and you want to cry foul, but they have pegged you so well you can't help but laugh with them... that is how I see the site stuffwhitepeoplelike.com. The site pokes at things (as the title says) "white people" - which in the site's case really means urban minded yuppies - hold "dear" like $4 bottled water, expensive sandwiches, the beloved Prius... etc. The site does not mince words, but it is so funny. Brendan's sister Kathleen passed it along today and Brendan and I can not stop passing back and forth the posts. The bicycle post #61 hits especially close to my own home. If you know me you will quickly see why.

The water post #76 is great as well.

The skinny behind the site is that it is actually a white guy who writes it which is not surprising; you would have to know the beast to paint it so adeptly. The LA Times did a piece on him which illuminates the story well. Not every post resonated with me, and I refuse to garage my vintage bike, but I will have to giggle at myself when a daydream about Parisian cafes or English country sides slip into my head as I pedal.

SPOONFED

2007-12-22T18:05:00.000-05:00

Restaurants, like shoes... you can never have too many options. For different moods, occasions, weather, and wallet circumstances there need to be multiple choices. Also like shoes, some options stay consistent, but many come and go with the seasons. You need a few sources to keep you up to speed. I found Urbanspoon to be a good supplement to your existing chowhounds, metromixes, city magazines (insert city appropriate gurus here). It brings together multiple review sources, combines it with local anecdotes, voting etc. The site goes very granular, with easy search into areas, meals, foods, top rated etc. It also lets you save new spots you want to try, ones you loved.

Here are the cities they have. Great that it is not just NYC or Chicago who already have more than their fair share of sites like this.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!

2007-12-21T23:36:00.000-05:00

WINDOW INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

2007-12-21T16:47:00.000-05:00

There are many times during the year I wished I lived in NYC. Spring shopping and fall shopping are up there, but I think Christmas is when I truly have New York envy. All the lights, the bustle, ice skating in Central Park and the store window displays. When I was little my Mom used to take me downtown for Christmas windows and pictures with Santa and I don't think the magic has ever worn off. In DC you do get the national Christmas tree, but you don't get windows. Luckily the people at antique (and really all around design hub) 1STDIBS.com have an online display of their favorite NYC windows of the season to fill the void. Here are a few of my favorites from the gallery.
Saks

Barney's

Bergdorf's

Bloomingdale's

Ralph Lauren

Linda Horn

OK not a window, but of course the Rockefeller Center Tree

2007-12-20T17:20:00.000-05:00

1) Because I am trying to infuse holiday into this last week before Christmas and... 2) Because I was just jealous of the little robot I bought for my cousin and wished I were not too aged for such things I had to post about this Holiday ecard. The short and long is that if you go to Exobotics and there you find an elf workshop style website that allows you to build your own holiday dancing Robot. You kick in arms, legs, a heart etc and you get a John Travolta meets C3PO concoction of dancing silliness. My "creation" is above. He was almost as good a dancer as my husband : )

GUILTY PLEASURES

2007-12-19T19:16:00.000-05:00

I debated doing this post, as it is so trivial, but who am I kidding, my blog is hardly a biscotti to NPR's coffee. So here is my confession... I really like celebrity gossip. I wish I was above it, but alas. In fact I feel about celebrity gossip as I do about chocolate. I can live without it, I don't actually need it to sustain life, and if truth be told, I am probably better off with out it, but... life is petite, why deprive oneself. To that end, I found this site that is the CNN of celebrity gossip. Bubbling up the biggest stories and allowing you to get up to speed on the U.S., sometimes London every now again Australian celebrity tales and trifles. The site is called ShowHype. It uses people and blogs to rank the biggest tidbits and then posts them with videos i.e. Brad Pitt talking about his family plans with Charlie Rose is sitting at the current top spot. You can also sort by movies, tv, music etc in case you have niche gossip tastes. So now you can enjoy watching The Soup fully up to speed.

YOU AS EASEL

2007-12-18T22:33:00.000-05:00

I really like these Threadless guys, hence my second post on them. Two guys from Chicago start their own business in t-shirts, it actually takes off and they now enable artists to have a mobile "canvas" (of sorts) and me to rise above the sea of same Urban Outfitters Ts. My only gripe is that neither wanted to start this dream with me. Alas and bygones. My friend Sara who also has a soft spot for these guys, passed along the news that they are having a great little sale. Unfortunately it only goes till the 19th (sorry as I said, I just found out myself), but the t-shirts are all $10 (perhaps makes up for the need for haste?) Here are a few of my favorites.

Why did I already max out my Christmas budget on Brendan... This would have been perfect.

Is he really holding trophies? Did someone just happen to catch him coming from an intramural sports spaghetti dinner?

Very election season.

SOUTH MOON UNDER

2007-12-17T08:18:00.000-05:00

Perhaps you have already heard of South Moon Under, but just in case I thought I would do a post. I was popping around Clarendon the other day and happened in. They have a great selection from clothes, to shoes, to bags to frames and jewelry. They even have a large selection for guys. I walked in skeptical (they are next to a Chicos) and walked out with three presents.

ENDLESSLY REWARDING ETSY

2007-12-17T07:51:00.000-05:00

I came across Joom the other day Christmas shopping on Etsy. A great middle ground in the home accessory conundrum of - affordable, but ubiquitous in the form of West Elm, Pottery Barn etc or unique and cool, but highway robbery at Dwell and its high end pals. Nothing is over $40 and she also has baby clothes, cards etc.

THE BAG LADY

2007-12-14T21:39:00.000-05:00

I have always been skeptical of the whole "diamonds are a girl's best pal" thing. For one, if that is true I had to spend much of my life estranged from my supposed sidekick, and still I would not call my "diamonds" faithful and true, more fragile and needy. If I were naming inanimate objects pals I would elevate the hand bag and perhaps the coat as second string. Hand bags, just bags, purses whatever are my favorite lifeless companions. The Bag Lady seems to share my opinion as this site has all sorts of info on bags (seasonal favorites, low price, look alikes etc), they do a Q&A on purse issues and short form videos on shoe timely topics i.e. Christmas Party shoes. Origin of the site is the UK (so funny + stylish), but has a US shopping section. The Bag Lady seems to be part of a bigger media group titled Shiny, meaning they have other sites such as catwalk queen and kiss and make-up that take the same format and also have video clips so you can get all your aesthetic fix in one place.
Here is a pic of the site.

Here is one of their videos I found on YouTube. I could have used this little trick at all my summer weddings, and to think I was pondering how I could put flip flops in Brendan's coat.

While I was on The Bag Lady, I also found another site worth mentioning Hooked On Vintage. It has all sorts of inexpensive, but cool vintage finds. Here were a few that struck me.
Mod 1970's Vintage Criss Cross Leather Shoes $45.00

Cute Vintage 1960's Two Toned Pocket Purse By Celebrity $35.00

Vintage 1960's Brown Velvet Belted Trench Coat $45.00

Vintage 1970's Western Style Leather Boots $70.00

Carmel Boucle Wool 1950's Vintage Coat $58.00

Vintage 1950's Cream Leather Wallet By Lady Buxton $20.00

Mens Vintage 1950's Retro Orange Pajamas By Penneys $35.00

LIGHT BOX

2007-12-13T21:06:00.000-05:00

Last year was the first annual dcist Exposed Photography Show. It looks like it gained such attention that they are up for putting it on again this March. I did not go to the event last year, but from what I can tell it is a forum for introducing people like me to the aspiring photographers of dc. Certainly mark your calendars for the event March 7th through the 15th at the Civilian Arts Projects in Penn Quarter, but in the mean time it looks like you can nominate potential entrants... friends, people's work you have seen on Flickr etc (the details are on the site). Also look at their flickr photo stream, I now see why the event was so popular, these photos are wonderful.
This tree covered path to the Lincoln Memorial is one of my favorite places in dc.

2007-12-12T21:43:00.000-05:00

Much like every American from high school onward, I wish I was a better photographer. I wish that in a traditional way - like not offing people's heads, or making them squint. I also wish it in a more recent way - like manipulating digital images and physically making things. To this end I signed up for Photojojo a while back. I am not sure if you have heard of them, but it is a newsletter / blog on photography. The content is more diy photo than professional tips. The most recent email from them I thought was worth sharing. They show you how to achieve that "fishbowl" effect that I am a fan of (shown here) with your camera...

with just a pair of eyeglasses and some tape.

They also have a number of noteworthy posts like how to make a photo scramble and a doggie cam. All things you can find on their site. I forget to check back though so that is why I signed up for the newsletter.

Another thing they turned me on to is this blog CommandShift3. They say they are "where sites do battle" which basically means you can vote for which sites look better. They do monthly wrap ups for best and worst sites etc. I can't figure out why the people who hatched it did so, but I think it is a cool way to keep yourself up to date on the sites out there as well as up on the latest design looks. Oh and you can suggest a site to be added. I don't have one in mind, but I am thinking.

TINTING YOUR WATER GREEN

2007-12-11T15:51:00.000-05:00

Bottled water appears to be the new SUV. The newest target for green tinted media. As low hanging fruit in the environmental improvement space (water bottle plus your tap, or Aquafina and a simmering earth) it feels like a good villain. I believe the two guys who started "Tappening" agree. "Fed up with the massive waste of fossil fuels and resulting pollution of the Earth caused by the bottled water industry" they produced “Tappening” bottles marked with one of two messages (“What’s Tappening” and “Think Global. Drink Local”) urging people to consume environmentally-friendly tap water. Not that their bottles are really different from a Nalgene, but as someone in marketing I can appreciate that giving people a way to broadcast their do gooding can be compelling to the masses. They are also asking the public to help them literally "send a message" to the bottled water industry by mailing them an empty water bottle with a note inside committing to drink only tap water. The first one million empty water bottles will all be delivered to Neville Isdell, the CEO of Coca Cola. All the messages received will be posted on Tappening.

ENDLESSLY REWARDING ETSY

2007-12-11T06:38:00.000-05:00

For those of you ready to wrap, what a treat these tags are. These from Elle's Studio, roughly around $4 for 8 to 12.

And these from AlignwithDesign all around $3.25 for 10

GRATIFYING

2007-12-11T06:01:00.000-05:00

I feel about Sex In The City as I do about chocolate chip cookies. I never get sick of them, if bored I can tend to indulge too much and both (for better or worse) can cause me to "need" to purchase new jeans. So when my best friend Holly passed along the new movie trailer I couldn't have been more excited (well except for the fact that we have to wait until spring : )

CALLING IN SICK

2007-12-10T09:33:00.000-05:00

Sorry, see you tomorrow.

ELFING

2007-12-07T18:12:00.000-05:00

So this is always the time of year when I start to present panic. People start casually saying "only two weeks left to shop" as though they have been on it for months and I realize, oops I should really start. I tend to under estimate the difficulty of finding a mix of stocking stuffers to the sentimental across price, gender and depth of closeness with the recipient. Keeping those needs in mind here are a few things I have found so far.
Thumb Thing $4 (how great for trying to read while standing on the subway)

Big Bling Black Earrings $12

Collage Inside Tea Light $38 for 2

Cuff links $120 (I know these are a little more, but high on unique and sentimental)

Jonathan Adler's Trios on sale for $24 (good for a couple)

Oversized Green Bag $36 (great for a friend, sister or a pack mule)

Device Charging Holder $10 (good for a boy, which I find so hard to shop for)

Sticky, Messy, Chewy Cookbook $23 (great universal, who doesn't like to bake?)

Extra Long Cable Knit Gloves $30

Paper Calendar $18 (these could be for an office or home bulletin board)

Necktie $30

Currant Necklace $60

Owl Pocket Watch Locket $15 (fun for the long necklace look)

YIKES, DO YOU THINK HE SAW ME LOOKING AT THAT?

2007-12-06T23:23:00.000-05:00

I had to do a post on this as I can't tell you how many times it could have come in handy if I had only seen it long ago. How many people 1) have an office anymore? or 2) have a closed office where they sit with their back to the wall anymore? Feels like few (and if you do lucky one just ignore my post). Enter the computer rear view mirror. It feels like with this little handy dandy gadget you might be able to ward off those unwanted surprise visits from those who might not feel your time spent online shopping is a productive use of your work hours. The write up on said mirror states "the convex mirror gives you a wide-angle view of the scene around you" aka no side sneakers can get in either. My hesitancy is that if you put one of these things on your computer you are sort of admitting, "Yes I do play online games when I should be knee deep in powerpoint.", but perhaps you can get away with it by playing the "somone gave it to me, this is fun card... maybe." On that note, at $14, I thought it was a great little gift.

ONE OF A KIND GEMS?

2007-12-06T21:16:00.000-05:00

I have a few gripes about d.c... non-motivating sports teams (though fingers crossed for the new and improved Nationals), shockingly high taxes especially considering the resident ROI on the expenditure (unless perhaps you live in Georgetown), and perhaps most importantly... the itsy bitsy percentage of independently owned apparel
boutiques. I think DC makes my hometown of St. Louis (yes the one smack middle of country with the Arch and Cardinals as its biggest claims to fame certainly not chicness) look like a springtime budding of fashionable entrepreneurialism. So when I saw this piece in the online Washington Post on independents in DC, Maryland and VA I was so tickled. Many of these spots were hiding in the ruff from me. The article is (very appropriately) on gift giving. Here are a couple of the online outposts of the shops they feature (many more in the article).
Clover

Homebody

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!

2007-12-06T19:40:00.000-05:00

FELTIDERMY

2007-12-05T21:32:00.000-05:00

In all honesty I am not sure what to think of these... adorable felt woodland creatures mounted camouflage and rifle style? strange creation from someone who was scared as a child by a traumatic stuffed animal incident...? Regardless I thought they were too cool (and obviously funny)not to post about. The woman who does these has a little shop on Etsy with other felt friends that have more than their heads. I wonder if one of these would be a good Christmas present for my sister...
Doe $40

Jackalope $40

Reindeer $40

2007-12-05T21:06:00.000-05:00

A little tribute to our first "snow", or dribble, or just because I like the picture... it is the top news story of the day.

2007-12-04T17:17:00.000-05:00

I have found the road from being an accomplished Whole Foods saladist to being a whole cooked meal virtuoso to be fraught with barriers to greatness. So whenever I see a new way of helping myself move closer to Food Network stardom I have to try it. Insert Foodpairing. This is a bit of an odd concept so bear with me, but nutshell the principle is that you can enhance and improve your cooking by combining new foods together matching them based on flavor components, (not just what you think tends to go together) for a very tasty result. The website dissects 250 food products by their “flavor components” and groups them together in an easy-to-read tree with other foods that share the same flavor genetics. This is great, one because it is fun, two because it helps you know how to "whip things up" (as i always long to do) giving you confidence in your mixing and pairing of flavors and foods. At the site (shown below) you can sort by things like banana, or salmon which leads you to a pairings map (also below).

Foodpairing also has a section on interchangeable foods, so if you run out of an ingredient and want to substitute this can guide you in re-creating the flavor.

Last, and maybe the best they have a blog that shows you the technique through recipes from famous restaurant's around the world. This is a picture of Kasteel Withof's (a Michelin stared restaurant in Belgium) Mackerel Rhubarb Apple (the full recipe is on the blog). If you go to foodpairing and chose rhubarb, you will find that you can combine it with fish (e.g. Mackerel), apple. Getting it?

GASTRONOMY

2007-12-03T09:50:00.000-05:00

For so many years I wished to ride the tube to work, refer to my underwear as knickers and use rubbish in place of crap without sideways looks from the people around me. So you can see why I might be known to piece through the Guardian every now and again where I recently found a write-up with "The 50 sexiest places to be fed" in the world. Now how they make these lists, and more importantly who gets to travel the globe with the sole purpose to stuff themselves with delectable fare I would love to know, but in the meantime, I thought this was a good list to have handy if leaping the pond.

TGIF - DESK DANCING

2007-11-30T21:29:00.000-05:00

I had no idea Charlie Brown had such movez...

MOD MARI MATES

2007-11-30T15:51:00.000-05:00

You know when you learn a new word and then the newscaster, the couple in line in front of you at the grocery store and your mom all seem to be magically saying it? That is how I feel about Marimekko. That brand was covered with cobwebs in my mind and then all of a sudden it was dusted off and shiny everywhere. The store in DC, the collection at Crate & Barrel, and now Marimekko is licensing its popular patterns from the 50s, 60s and 70s to H&M's summer 2008 collection (in stores in April). Until spring here are some products I liked from the Crate & Barrel partnership.
Holiday...
Wrapping Paper $7.95

Samovaari Paper Plates & Napkins $2.95-$4.95

All season long...
Himmeli Linens Queen Duvet $100

Shower Curtain $44.95

Guest Towels $3.95

Ruovikko Sheet Sets $90

Umbrellas $20

BEDECKING YOUR OWN HALLS

2007-11-29T16:22:00.000-05:00

It is that time of year again, where we all get to dress our halls and walls with all things holiday. My aspirations of being a craftress are always piqued by the season and undaunted by my many Martha inspired, yet kindergarden craft style outcomes from years gone by. With a handcrafted holiday in mind I have been poking around the infosphere and found a few things I thought were post worthy for encouragement...

Light Bright - I love this idea, it looks like it would take a day and about $150, but I don't think it would have to leave with the season, and a great mood setter.

Button Wreath Ornament - I thought this was both cute and modern and not very difficult for either ornaments or general decorations (I thought I might hang them from a doorway)

I didn't necessarily love this execution, but I did like the idea of draping glass beads, greenery or anything as a way to center a table or bring festivity to a light.

I liked both of these stockings, depending on if you are up for diy or would rather just embrace the ease of a quick purchse
Felt stocking

From Crate & Barrel

Some other fun tabletop ideas...
Votives with Tuxedo Bows

Napkin Bow

Paper Plate Angels

Candy-Cane Place Card

Magnolia Garland - This doesn't go with my home at all, but I love Magnolia trees so was immediately drawn to this idea.

STYLISHLY SNUG

2007-11-28T18:09:00.000-05:00

How many times on winter weekends do you just want to curl up cozily in your house to spend the day? And if you feel the urge to go out you want to take the comfy, cozy with you, but not at the total expense of fashion (especially not with the deluge of cute sweats on the market these days). This company, Alternative Apparel is perfect for delivering on this need. Their clothes are all about stylish comfort, with a hint of hipster. This first t-shirt is just a classic.

but, i thought these looked just as soft, but a touch more dressy.

They also have good boy wear...

And for Mom's... mom's to be... (another versatile, non-versatile piece)

Accessories too (very shy model)

FESTIVE WRITINGS

2007-11-27T17:05:00.000-05:00

Fruit cake as a present, sweaters with stitched Santas, mistletoe forcing unwanted displays of affection... all holiday traditions I am fine to see getting nudged out, but so many Christmas traditions I hope are never displaced by generational divides, haste or technology one of the primary being Christmas cards. Such a fun way to showcase your creativity and care all in one. In that spirit here are a number of cards I found of varying aesthetics and messages all to be found on Velocity Art & Design.
Artecnica: Bloom Pop-Up Card

Egg Press Holiday Cards

Redbean: Holiday Cards

Potion: Holiday Card Set

Rock Scissor Paper: Striped Present Cards

Townsend Sakai: Snowflake Card

DE VINOS

2007-11-26T09:13:00.000-05:00

With weekends full of Christmas merriment now upon us I thought it only appropriate to talk about our favorite wine store. De Vinos is at 18th and U and has the sort of vibe you like in a wine shop, lots of bins, a good, but not overwhelming selection and most importantly some very knowledgeable and very nice person to help you choose what you need. The last time we went we needed bottles that would last 5, 10 and 15 years, we wanted them from different countries and at not too high a price point. Undaunted the gentleman handled our request with ease, I can imagine a bottle of red for a dinner party would be no problem.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2007-11-21T16:16:00.000-05:00

See you on Monday!

DUMP YOUR DUMPSTER

2007-11-21T11:05:00.000-05:00

For better or for worse, we are moving (insert sympathetic sigh here). Of course there are many many annoyances to moving, but the one upside is the forced appraisal of all the "treasures" you seem to be housing refugee style from the trash. Inevitably you find many items you could really live without, but what to do with everything? Trash? Craigslist? eBay? I was unsure what we had was worth anything and didn't really want to take the time to find out so my friend Stephanie told me about this amazing service called "Freecycle". Basically it is an online hub localized to your city / neighborhood to exchange items you either have and don't want or want and don't have, but all for free. I got rid of our antique table in one day. Someone posted saying they needed a table, I replied, that same night they were at our house and poof, it was taken care of. Brilliant.

TURKEY DAY TREAT

2007-11-20T22:12:00.000-05:00

"The Gobbler"

"ART FOR EVERYONE"

2007-11-20T18:04:00.000-05:00

Art is an exaggerated version of wine to me; time consuming to be at all knowledgeable, easy to unmask any teensy bit of "smarts" I think I have and likely that I don't have enough money to be very serious about it. Contrary to my (likely silly) notions, this is not the way Jen Bekman views art collection at all. In fact the opposite, she started a project called 20x200 under the idea that art collectors and artists shouldn't have to be tied to intimidating minimalist galleries, and pieces that cost half a house. Jen goes into the nitty gritty on how her system works, but in a nutshell you can get original works of art by up and coming artists for $20, $200 or $2000. She introduces two new pieces a week: one photo and one work on paper. And you do not have to put on your black and get up the courage to go to an austere gallery to check them out, everything is online.
Here are a few of the pictures that struck me.
"Prospect Park" by Joseph O. Holmes

"Breath Portrait" (favorite colors), by Ann Tarantino

ny.07.#20, by Jennifer Sanchez

JACK FROST HERE AND NIPPING

2007-11-19T14:00:00.000-05:00

Sadly it appears that pesky little Jack F.'s cold hands are not pulling back into his muffler. To try and cope both mentally and physically, my personal feeling is a new coat is the only acceptable perk me up. I have spent a little time trying to put together some toasty and chic options to assuage my winter woes, so I thought I would share my finds.
My personal favorite - Marc Jacobs Heavy Dobby Jacket $678

I am such a sucker for red, I loved these buttons and the ever so slightly puffed sleeve - Juicy Double Breasted $398

I thought the pleat lent a nice touch of girly - Banana Republic Feminine Military Coat - $228

This seems nicely flexible, it could work easily with jeans and sneakers or wool pants - Rebecca Taylor Cocoon Coat - $548

I liked the tweed matched with the modern belt, and of course the price - Target Tweed Coat $50

Could not resist this blue - JCrew Puffer Jacket - $178

I thought this neck took away the LL Beanness I feel these toggles can suffer with - Banana Republic Wool Toggle - $198

Modern Puffer - Theory Dorian Jacket $375

Great color and buttons, love the sleeves, but not certain on practicality - L.A.M.B $425

Love the collar and coordinating sleeves - Susana Monaco Shawl Collar - $425

Good classic cut - Target Skirt Coat $60

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

2007-11-16T16:26:00.000-05:00

AND BEIGE

2007-11-16T15:29:00.000-05:00

When I saw the name for this store before it opened I thought, oh no is this going to be one of the all black and white stores, but for neutrals. Those poor employees are going to wear a uniform of wheat and barley all the time and wonder if they are literally fading into the woodwork. Luckily when it opened it turned out not to be a blah boutique, but instead a very cool home store. And Beige is on Florida just north of U. They sell furniture, home accessories etc. I really like their goods if not their name (which they do have a nicely written reason for in their literature, I just think it makes them seem vanilla wafer though I think they are going for Macadamia nut with white chocolate). They also have an online store (where these pics are from)with amazing pieces, I especially like the various chests. Oh and they do actually have colors.

YOUR PERSONAL WINTER MOAT

2007-11-15T20:16:00.000-05:00

People who have lived in a northern climate know winter requires spending some time finding and fashioning mental amor. There are many tricks to this... re-embracing restaurants with fireplaces, stocking up on red wine, bringing "cozy" back into the daily vernacular, and most importantly the purchase of winter wear. Winter wear consists of a few key pieces - a new coat, some new sweaters (as you wore last year's to death), and very importantly "arctic accessories". The people who own this company "Pip-Squeak" must have lived somewhere cold, because they have a spot on sense of what you need. Check out these wrist warmers- a plug to the air vent that inevitably happens between your coat and gloves.

I love these, heavy and warm without all the wrapping.

A hat that actually works with a pony tail or bun.

And for kids... (it is pip squeak after all), these are so cute...

SLEUTH + SMOOTH = SNOOTH?

2007-11-14T21:35:00.000-05:00

So this is classic me when we are out to dinner. I take the wine list from the hostess with the confidence of someone who knows what they are doing. I peruse the wine list as if I have any idea why I want a wine from Bordeaux versus Burgundy for our meal. I then non-nonchalantly pass the wine list to Brendan and ask him to choose what we are drinking. I subsequently enjoy our wine, promise myself to remember it and then almost as quickly as I make the promise all pertinent information on the wine makes a speedy trip through my brain and then slips out my ear, or maybe my nose... never to reappear in my memory. I am that Momento movie for libations which means I never have any idea what wine to buy for a dinner party, what wine goes with sushi, spaghetti or squid. Enter Snooth here.

This wine site is like the best Sam's Wine employee and his twin times ten - more convenient, quicker and smarter. You can put in white wine, goes with guacamole and all these recommendations pop up. You can then sort, but price, recommendation etc. Then they give you an overview of the flavor, their are reviews and you can archive your finds, so even people like me don't forget.

Oh and you know what white goes "best" with guacamole... San Osvaldo Pinot Grigio Lisón Pramaggiore DOC (of course, duh).

2007-11-13T20:58:00.000-05:00

I am not one for serious posts; I feel there is plenty of weight to be found in real life, but I was so moved by these films I had to post about them. Very appropriate to this Monday, a gentleman named Brian Storm who founded Mediastorm was speaking at Discovery and showed one of their productions on Iraq titled "The Marlboro Marine" (the video is on the LA times site at this link). This is the tale of the soldier from the famous photo above. The mediastorm.org site also has a number of other heart and mind tugging movies about the stories and struggles of many. I hope you find them as worthwhile as I have.

TREASURES ON YOUR CHEST

2007-11-13T20:34:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for classic and long lasting jewelry... look further but, for trendy, with a touch of humor Alex + Chloe's jewelry delivers fun frivolity on a string or a chain, or whatever.
This was my favorite the "Bermuda Triangle"

OK not highly wearable, but great, they call it "Kate (The Only "Moss" In Our Woods)

OUT AND ABOUT - RIVERHOUSE

2007-11-12T12:21:00.000-05:00

I was out running errands this weekend and was reminded that I wanted to do a post on Riverhouse (their site does not do them justice fyi). This is a great antique store up at Macomb and Connecticut right across from 2 Amys. I happened into this store this summer when I was looking for thank you gifts for various people helping me with the wedding. It is a good mix of European country antiques and accessories(furniture to paintings to homey goods) across the spectrum of type and cost. Great way to kill the always counted on 2Amys wait.

SPAIN'S SENSIBILITY

2007-11-11T12:45:00.000-05:00

I don't think Sharon Spain has any attachment to the country her name represents, but the European appreciation for beauty and artisan values are definitely reflected in her products. Her current line are all silk screened by hand some are one-of-a-kind. Her items feel high fashion, yet elegant over trendy and... they are not monstrously overpriced. To me this is rare as I feel attractive throw pillows have somehow banded together in a furniture accessories union and demanded they be paid no less than $100 for their cushy yet decorative services. Oh and she also has paper, purses and t-shirts as well, see below.
Hand screen-printed pillow designs $68 to $108

Hand screen-printed designs stitched onto craft paper gift cards. $6 to $25

Purses have linings of contrasting colors, and lucite handles $72

Boatneck and crewneck tees in a variety of colors $30

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! GO...

2007-11-09T22:42:00.000-05:00

... a little good luck for Brendan : )

MANEATER

2007-11-09T21:55:00.000-05:00

If you are a Jane Austen fan, this is pretty funny. Sadly I have been humming Maneater ever since I watched. Good for the treadmill, not so much for morning meetings.

EVERYSCAPE GRIND ESCAPE

2007-11-09T21:21:00.000-05:00

Google Earth... totally 2005, now there are things like Everyscape. This site (at least for a week or two) is really cool. Part Pole Position, part Travel & Leisure with a hearty helping of Google Earth you can get a three-dimensional, first-person viewpoint of anything in NYC, Aspen, Boston or Miami. Granted, not ubiquitous, but wait until you play. I went on a "walk" in the Maroon Bells where Brendan I hiked two summers ago and then jumped over for a "stroll" in Soho. It is still a beta so calibrate expectations accordingly.

GIFT FOR SELF? OTHERS?

2007-11-09T20:45:00.000-05:00

I have been all over that endless web that they say is world wide on the hunt for a photo album for Holly. Nooks have been poked into, crannies opened up, but still nothing beyond either too young, too silly or just plain. That said... I have found many... many other things... so I thought with Christmas shopping almost upon us, I would continue my "gift for self and others" as a recurring present post. Perhaps it will be a well of Christmas inspiration, a partner in presenting for the endless parade of showers, birthdays and wedding (she says optimistically). Regardless, my second gift post is this adorable baby book I found not surprisingly looking for photo albums. If you are anything like me wedding presents are on the wane and pregnancy pressies are the season's hot item. The site I found this on is called A+R Store and has a lot of products you might like. It is an extension of a couple's independent design store in Calfornia, I was tickled as they call their child area "kidding" (it doesn't take much I know).

BITS AND BLURBS

2007-11-08T21:27:00.000-05:00

A couple of random, but cool things I surfed into. The first is blackle.com; basically a clever response from a "company" called Heap Media to a blog post by Mark Ontkush that calculated how much energy would be saved if Google switched its background color from white to black (don't know the calculation, nor would I understand regardless, but I guess enough for someone to get excited about it).

While on Heap they also have a site called calorifica.com. Beyond liking the name, I thought it might come in quite handy as the holidays approach. It is a quick calorie reference tool to all foods. I didn't say I would actually use it of course.

MARIMENT

2007-11-08T17:26:00.000-05:00

Marimekko concept store in Silver Spring – news? Not too sure, certainly not to the people who work at Discovery (though fun that Silver Spring is home to the largest Marimekko Concept Store outside of Finland), but blog worthy yes (at least I think so) for three main reasons…first they have their own blog not a daily destination, but does let you know about their events... bringing me to the second reason, that they do cool local things like host a weekly play club for moms of little ones, have monthly diy and fashion oriented events in their store etc… (in case you haven't made a trip, here are some store images)...

and third because it is easy to forget what neat products they have. My friend Melissa used their fabrics for her wedding reception and they were outstanding…

the fall clothes are unique, yet practical (not in a durability or warmth sort of a way of course, just that you would actually wear them)

disconcertingly plastic style person or disconcertingly life like mannequin? fence..

check out these bags, their design was hatched in 1971.

also just bought some adorable kids clothes for Stacy’s Lincoln here. Whether in-store or online great finds to be had.

HAND TO HAND COMBAT, YOU VS SUBCONSCIOUS

2007-11-07T13:22:00.000-05:00

I had to post on this. What a great visualization of what goes on in the head on a regular basis. Scott Rench (a.k.a. Yosoh), is the designer of this t-shirt for Threadless. He has titled the design ME VS. ME - "a homage to human regret, a visualization of the little voices inside your head that have you constantly second-guessing the decisions you make as you travel through life". Sing it to me, I love the black felt lined fists taking up arms against a snarling inner visage. Scott lives in Chicago and has his own ad agency, I guess he is also a guru in the world of cutting edge ceramics (supposedly this is not an oxymoron). I definitely covet his life.

LEAF APPRECIATION

2007-11-06T09:54:00.000-05:00

You have probably all heard of the Capital Crescent Trail, but if you haven't ridden from Georgetown to Silver Spring you should try it. Brendan and I did this not too long ago and it made us all "I heart DC". It is pretty flat, so an easy ride. It only gets tricky after you go past downtown Bethesda because the route becomes a little less clear, though with directions you should be fine (for a good write-up bikewashington.org), it is well marked with signs. If you make it to downtown Silver Spring as we did make sure you treat yourself with a Cake Love brownie (it may be heresy, but I like their other sweets much more than their namesake cakes).

I didn't take this picture, but if this is how it looks in fall... I will have to go again.

STYLE EVEN WHEN SWEATING

2007-11-06T09:18:00.000-05:00

"Athleta" is a magazine that one day just came. Who knows who sold my name to whom, but it was a worth the whole 1 cent. They are a little Colorado ski town meets Nike with a sprinkling of Lululemon. With winter wising up and realizing despite our global heat up it is still going to overtake, I am all about cozy clothes. The slippers are my favorite item in the catalog. Perfect with the lounging hoodie...

Ok the poses are a little cheesy... (really no coat when you are out in the snow) and sadly I don't need an outfit for my private plane, but you get the idea.