Wednesday, December 26, 2012

On holidays

Hi friends, My family is in town (hooray!) and I'm going to take a little blogging break to spend time with them, eat fruitcake and just enjoy the Christmas spirit. I'll be back in the New Year - hope your days are bright and merry in the meantime!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Lamp crush

After not liking tons of lamps online, I have finally found my lamp crush. The Signal Zig-Zag floor lamp by Jielde is a French industrial lamp, which not only comes in heaps of colours (I love the black the best) but oozes personality and charm. It's happened. It has my heart. And for a cool $600, it could be mine. Over a long period of time when I decide $600 is a reasonable lamp price. Which may take some time.



Wednesday, December 19, 2012

My bed tried to kill me.

Well, that's probably a bit overdramatic. Turns out, I have had a pretty bad allergic reaction to the new bed base I bought from Crate and Barrel. While I'm not asthmatic or otherwise super allergy-inclined, I do have bizarre chemical sensitivities to things like strong household cleaners, fresh house paint, new carpet etc. So when we bought a new bed, likely drenched in flame retardants and other nasties, and I slept on it for 7 or so hours each night, I began waking up with horrible headaches, body aches and general badness. And hey presto, when I began sleeping on the airbed in another room, I was fine.

Flash forward and we've sold the bed (yay and boo - it was beautiful, but lethal) and I'm looking for another base. I'm wondering about a wooden one, untreated (this one is beautiful and untreated) or perhaps a metal one? Anything without fabric. Any suggestions, dear readers? It's not especially heartening to see the metal and wood options out there, so thought I'd ask around...

Gold. Everywhere gold.

I don't quite understand what you'd do with these, but gee they're attractive. Packing a lunch? Keeping some things in a bag on a shelf? Quite alluring.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Crayon Vases

Thought these looked especially fetching when lined up all in a row like this. I'm not sure what flowers would look good in them, but I like the colours.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Perfect flower pot

This flower pot has a built-in squirrel who disappears when the water level is low. Genius.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Nighttime caraffe set

What a charming set - a little jug and glass to keep beside your bed. This would be a perfect Christmas present for my Grandma (who is really the only one I can show off presents for, as she doesn't read my blog!)

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Socks Ahoy

I have been noticing more and more terribly cute sock designs popping up online. As an inveterate cute-sock-buyer, these are incredibly appealing. 

Monday, December 10, 2012

Foxy

I bought this sweater recently (it has since sold out) and I can't tell how you much I am enjoying it. Give me a deer, owl, fox or squirrel and I am pretty content. Woodland animals a-gogo.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Christmas Night Inspiration

These are such charming little decorations - made out of black and white images of old castles and scenery. Such a lovely idea.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Honey pots

Best. Honey. Design. Ever. Feel like I need to buy this immediately even though it's made in Armenia and not at all close by. What a brilliant idea and so beautifully executed.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Daiso Love

Awesome plastic apple-shaped bowls in white and hot pink. These didn't come home with me, but they're pretty amazing.

There is a magical shop called Daiso. In Japan, it is a 100 Yen store, which means that everything is 100 Yen (about $1.20) and there are outlets all around the world - many of which, ahem, I have visited. It's basically a dollar store (although everything is about $1.50 in the US) but the quality is really high and the merchanise is very cute.

It's been super helpful for us as we get set up in a new country/house. Screwdrivers, tea towels, tea mugs, a can opener, coat hangers, drawer organisers, food storage containers, trays, shelf liners, cotton balls, wrapping paper, ribbon, stationery, stickers, dental floss, craft supplies, - basically things you don't want to spend a lot of money on, but want them to be cute and cheap. (Am I alone in wanting cute dental floss? Perhaps. And I'm ok with that.)

There's one in San Francisco, too. Oh, and it's walkable from my house...which is incredibly dangerous. I love visiting and thought I'd show you some of the things that make me giggle and /or purchase.


Teddy bear-shaped jars? And crazy amounts of baking supplies? I may have bought some gingerbread cutters for Christmas and a rolling pin.

I loved LOVED these plates, but decided that they may be slightly too effeminate for The Pal. But aren't they the best? There are also polka-dotted ones you can just make out on the lower shelf. Amazing. I still may go back and get them. A set of 6 would only set me back $9...

And perhaps the  cutest section of  all, the weird household sponges. Microfibre never looked better than as a pink or green apple, and looks at those ridic rabbit dust gloves. Amazing.Anyone else have a weird dollar store stalking obsession? I love seeing what you can get and there can be surprisingly useful trinkets there. Come on, de-lurk and tell me your secrets!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Perfect colourful tray

Why hello geometric, colourful tray! It's made from coated steel, so not suitable for food serving, which is a shame. But it would make such a lovely jewelry organiser or just a feature on a plainer table. 

Monday, December 3, 2012

Side Table

A surprisingly cute side table for quite a reasonable price. I am enjoying its small little feet, especially.