Loving everything Japanese

Is there such a thing as a Japanesophile, a lover of everything Japanese? If there were such a thing, my friend Karin would qualify. Not only has she been to Japanese more times than I can count, but she truly delights in Japanese art. On one of her trips, she took a class in Japanese pottery making, she's always bringing back exquisite Japanese paper and other little treats. So, when I found this set of rings (each only $16!) on Carrot Box, I knew that I'd found her the perfect gift. Ichi Ban!

Whimsical fabrics that would make for great pillows

I'm a bit of a pillow fiend. See, we have a white couch... I know, who in their right mind has both a white couch and a dog. Well, let's just say that there's a dog bed on one side of the couch and a dog blanket on the other. Our little Jack Russel Terrier spends more time on that couch than we do. Anyway, with a white couch, you definitely need a few accent pillows I'm always looking at fabrics with an eye towards making my own (so far, I've made one). Trouble is, when I go to the fabric store, I end up agonizing over my decisions to the point that I go from having a basket full of hundreds of dollars of fabric to putting it all back and walking out empty handed. Today I was perusing Architectural Digest and they had a little feature on the Spring 2008 collection by Clarence House. These fabrics are so cute! The perfect combination of vibrant colors and whimsical design. Now, if Joanne Fabrics carried this, I might not be able to help myself. Enjoy!

Making Bath Time Fun Again

Remember when you were a kid and you used to have so much fun in the bath? My sister and I would stay in the tub until our fingers and toes turned pruney and the water got cold. Then of course it was kicking and crying to bed, but that's another story! The point is, bath time was fun time. There were bubbles and toys and you did crazy things with your sudsy hair and then in the end you got wrapped up tight in a big fluffy towel that smelled of clean laundry.
Now, it's up and a quick dash to the shower. There is no crazy sudsy hair play, no crayons that write on the shower walls, you're in, you're out, you're on your way.
Thank goodness The Bubble Roome has decided to bless us with their latest line of suds. Clean invigorating scents like Spearmint and Eucalyptus combined with old-school packaging reminds us to slow down and take a minute for ourselves. So, maybe it's not play time anymore, but who says we can't start our day off with a little aromatherapy!

Save My Shoes!

I can't tell you how many times I've busted one of my heels in the NYC sewer grates. It's to the point now that I only carry my shoes in my bag and wear sneakers or flops when I'm walking around. I'm serious! However, now I don't have to - enter Smart Heel heel protectors. Founder Stacie Urbach came up with a gem of a product - for $11.95, your Jimmy Choos, Manolos or in my case, my super cute peep toe velvet red suede Guess stilettos (which to date have hardly left the closet) are safe - at least from the streets!

Great gift for Father's Day

Father's Day is a week away for those of you who are as bad as I am keeping track of my calendar. I find it difficult to shop for my Father as it is. Yes, he likes to grill, but frankly if he sees another batch of mesquite chips or smoking planks, he's likely to knock me over the head with them. And, he likes to work-out, but it's not like I'm going to get Dad a pair of dumbbells or something for Father's Day. Besides, he likes to go to Spin class and Yoga, so where's the fun in that? I did however, today find the coolest new thing - it's a belt made out of a bike tire. How awesome it that? Since being featured on Etsy, these $20 belts are flying off the shelves, so if you're interested, contact Julien directly!

Soft vintage-y tees

Whenever I go to Target, I end up dropping at least $100. Today, I ended up spending only $40 which was great, especially because that purchase also included this fabulous looking tee. It's soft, slightly faded, tissue thin and with it's Miss Firecracker Contest Finalist reminds one of a 4th of July fair in the middle of Texas.