Friday, March 30, 2012

Etsy Find of the Day: Pussy Willow Earrings

$20 pussy willow and bead earrings

It's nice to have something soft to pet when you're at work and can't bring your real animals with you.
Don't these look like tiny rabbit's feet?

How to make a broom from 2 soda bottles

How awesome is this idea?
My friend Tom linked to it and I think it's great.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Word to the Wise: Miha Sample Sale

On Monday April 2 through Wednesday April 4, Miha will be having a sample sale with up to 85% off their Spring line.

I've been to this sale in the past and it is awesome: dresses, leather jackets, lots of cool stuff.

Where:
Miha
330 w38th street
suite 1202
btwn 8th and 9th ave
When :
Apr 2-4 10am-6:30pm

Check out some of the Spring 2012 collection:

Miha dresses like the one directly above retail for about $375 and blouses about $300, so with the 85% discount, you could be looking at that same dress for about $57.

Etsy Find of the Day: Sea Urchin necklace

$40 Sea Urchin spike necklace
This necklace is made from a real sea urchin and a silver plated spike.
It comes with the chain, too!

Isn't it crazy that these are real animals? They look so made-up.

Jewelry Storage from the Container Store

$19.99 (was $29.99) Expandable bamboo cutlery tray
Yeah, so I know this is for silverware, but I think it would also be great to hold bracelets and necklaces and oversized earrings or rings or hair things.

$4.49- $9.99 Stacking jewelry trays
This is a modular system that you can build yourself.
When I first saw it, I was like "$5 for a tiny tray?! No way!" but now when I see it again I realize that you can really customize a whole jewelry box for yourself exactly the way you need it for under $50, and that might be worth it after all.

I would get:
2 of the $7.49 18 hole trays for earrings
2 of the $7.49 9 hole trays for bracelets
2 of the $7.49 5 hole trays for necklaces and watches and larger things

which totals $44.94
Not too bad! And you can keep adding to it

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Barefoot running shoes that won't embarrass your friends

Ok, so this whole barefoot running movement has taken off and in principle, I support people using their natural muscles and not screwing up their gait and getting injured, but in actuality, I cannot STAND those terrible finger toe shoes.

Don't be an embarrassment to your family. Wear some of these instead and pass for human.
Thank you.

$97 Dash RunAmoc lite
These look like sneakers but are thin and have perforated leather that lets your feet breathe (read: sweat freely).

$97 Dash RunAmoc range and turquoise suede
You can still be a little funky if you want and draw some attention to your shoes so people can ask about them and then you can spout off for 30 min about the barefoot movement. These would be perfect for that purpose.

$112 Customized SoftStar barefoot shoes
You can choose your colors, whether you want leather, suede, or perforated leather, and the whole style of the shoe. Make them just as terrible as you want. They will still not be as awful as those fingerfeet.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Etsy Find of the Day: Animal Alphabet poster

$35 Animal Alphabet print

The print is 12.5" x 16.25"

This might be meant for a nursery, but I wouldn't mind having it for me!
The animals are cute and each one has a little personality.
I wonder what the Xx thing is. Does it look like a fish?
Do you think it is an X-ray fish?

Broken hearted over broken glasses

One of my favorite things is my set of glasses from the MOMA design store that show a reproduction of the image  Average Day at the Museum (1940), which was originally created by MOMA staff for an in-house report.

Here is what they look like:
If I remember correctly, they were $10 each or something.

And here is the original artwork:

So over the weekend, E broke 2 of my 6 glasses by putting cold water in them right after they came out of the hot dishwasher. One shattered and the other has huge cracks in it (which made me grab it out of my sister's hands and put it on the floor in case it exploded).

I'm so sad!!!!!!!!

The MOMA design store doesn't sell these anymore online or in person (yes, we went) and they don't seem to be on Etsy or Ebay.
If anyone can track them down for me, I would be very grateful.

I am one of those people (are you?) who has a thing about a special glass or item that I always like to have, and these are my special glasses. If E is getting the two of us water, he knows that mine should be in these glasses.
We also segregate our forks in different spaces in the silverware holder because I only like my shape of fork.

Anyway, I am sad, E feels guilty, and I miss the glasses.

Let me know if you have any leads.

PS- point of interest, Christoph Niemann went back in 2009 and made a contemporary version of the image:

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Daniel Vosovic from Project Runway's F/W 2012 Collection is Great

Remember Daniel Vosovic from PR Season? Remember how talented and super cute he was?

Well, turns out both are still true.
His new collection looks edgy and fresh but still comfortable and wearable. How awesome are the pants below?

I like seeing pieces like these that could be high fashion or dressed down and incorporated into an everyday wardrobe.
This dress is awesome too:

See a Refinery29 slideshow here or see the whole collection at Daniel's website here

Etsy Find of the Day: Gold lace cookies

$72 for a dozen Gold Thread orange vanilla spice cookies

Wow, these are so pretty.
Look at how the design is slightly raised and then dusted with gold.
Each one comes wrapped separately so they would be great as party favors.

Customizable Sandals for a Good Cause

The products from 7 Hopes United are all fair trade.

These leather Sseko Sandals are made by women in Uganda who work for a short time as interns and receive University fees in exchange.
So you can buy some shoes and send a young woman to college! Two things I strongly agree with.



These sandals are great because you buy the versatile leather base, and then you can string any ribbon or strap you want through them. They offer a bunch of options on the site, but I also think it would be cool to buy some long leather straps and use those.

The real advantage of these is that not only can you change out the laces, you can also change from day to day the pattern that you lace them in, and use as many or few of the attachment points you want.

$39 Leather sandal base

Then you have a choice of straps (you can get more than one and swap them out based on your outfit).
Straps range from $8-$13 depending on material. Here are some examples:

Gold shimmer


Black cotton
Starboard pinstripe


Acai pattern


Athena pattern


Brambach pattern

Here's a quote about the group that I liked:
"Sseko Designs hires recent secondary school graduates for a nine month period to live and work together, while earning money that will go directly toward their university education. These women will not make sandals forever. They will go on to be doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers and teachers that will bring change and unification to a country divided and ravished by a 22 year-long war."


You can also get some long leather strips to use as laces, like this
$8 Leather strip 120"long, 1/4"thick

$1.50/yard Turquoise suede lacing (you could braid this)

$10.39 Tandy leather 1/2 wide 72" long leather strap (probably more comfortable since it's wider)


 

Monday, March 26, 2012

Excellent items on clearance at Target

$19.99 Digital photo frame 7"
These are usually much more expensive- this one is marked down from $40.
Makes a great gift, too

$119 Room essentials Open and closed bookcase in walnut
This is a great room divider and bookcase, with room to show off your vases or sneakers or whatever you have in those little boxes.

$49.98 Dog or Pig children's chair
These are marked down from $100 and would make such great gifts. A special chair of your own to read in? Excellent.
They also have a monkey one but I think it is weird and scary looking.

$29.98 DwellStudio for Target Magnolia duvet set
Comes with the duvet and 2 shams, it's a great deal! I am thinking of getting it for our pull-out couch so it can be our guest set.

Etsy Find of the Day: Colorful Mughal gem ring

$429 East Indian 1960s Mughal princess ring

Look at how many different colors and stones they were able to wedge into this one ring!

It's 14K gold with sterling bezels (the part that the gems are set in) and plenty of gems:
  Ruby, Citrine, Emerald, Tiger Eye, Amethyst, Iolite, Sapphire, Garnet

I love that the gems are pyramids and spike out from the top, as well.
This ring has a high stance, which means that if you tried to slip your hand into your jeans pocket, it would get caught. I find that these types of rings aren't very practical, but if you don't stick your hands in that many things, go for it!

Flax tunic top

$41.40 Flax Petal top
The shape of this tunic top is very elegant and flattering. It comes in at the waist and then separates and flares at the hip.
This would be great to wear over leggings or skinny jeans.
It says it's $69 but when you get it in your cart, it is discounted 40%.
It also comes in black, pink, and white.

Flax is a great fabric; it's comfortable, cool and airy in the summer, and durable.

Friday, March 23, 2012

What to Buy from the Express 60% off sale

Sequin Surplice top dress
$31.99 was $98
This pretty party dress also comes in royal blue.
The neckline plunges in front and back, so be careful with the bra you choose.

Knit Dolman sleeve dress 
$15.99 was $49.90
A very versatile dress that can take you to the office and out at night.
If it's a little short, pair with with some opaque tights.


Double Weave Columnist Pants
$39.99 was $79
These pants are shaped in a very flattering way, with a slight boot cut and a medium-high waist, which lengthens your legs and still looks neat and tailored.
Have some fun with red pants instead of just black or brown.

Mock Pocket long sleeve shirt
$23.99 was $49.90
Make sure to wear a tank under this sheer shirt, but it is lightweight and elegant for a summer office look.

Colorblock stripe tee shirt
$15.99 was $49
Colorblocking is still "in" and this would be a great easy summer shirt to wear over shorts or jeans.

Striped mesh knit cardigan
$15.99 was $59.90
This would be a great summer topper. Just crumple it up in your purse and have it handy when you get chilly.

Glitter peep toe midi-wedge
$23.99 was $49.90
I have a higher version of these and i love them!
They are comfortable and didn't make my heel bleed like the other Express shoes I tried. Plus they are very sparkly and cute.

Open mesh tights
$7.99 was $22.90
These are neat but not as scandalous as fishnets.

Genuine Suede perforated satchel
$39.20 was $158
It's 12" x 8" x 7" so a good size to hold a fair amount of stuff (wallet, phone, flats, lunch, folded magazine).
You can use it as a shoulder bag or cross body bag with the detachable long strap.
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