Tree magnets

$10 Forest for your fridge

How cute are these little magnets?
They are made of exotic wood slices and little fake trees.
I think they would make a great hostess gift if someone has you over for a nice dinner party, or just a good any time gift to give me for existing.

You can get the trees in dark or light green, I like the dark better. More realistic and such.
I especially like the ones with layers of different wood. The description says the woods will vary but I hope they put at least one of those cool layered ones in each box of 3.

Signs that I am gardening too much...

I've been on all sorts of gardening and plant websites recently, hoping that the huge amount of rain we've been getting will lead to spectacular growth for my plants and seedlings. 
And I have come across something I had no idea existed. 

BEHOLD, THE MELON CRADLE! 

$10 for 6 melon cradles

Yeah, it's a piece of plastic that you can put your melon on as it grows to protect the bottom from the ground.

I love my plants, but I am not sure I would buy bras for them.

Supposedly, they help keep the melon from rotting or, god forbid, being kinda flat on one side like the head of a baby who only sleeps on its back.

MILLION DOLLAR IDEA:
Melon cradles but for your "melon up top," aka your head.
Pitch: Do you deform your child's skull and have him look weird in profile photos just to keep him from suffocating while sleeping? Well now you can not kill your kid AND have his head look nice and round with Rebecca's patented Baby Melon Cradle.

Who is underwriting my new business?
Thank you.

The new plant I am obsessed with: Aeonium "zwartkop" aka Black Rose

As many of you know, I've become totally into succulents recently.
I've been propagating my own from leaves, and buying them at little plant stores at an alarming rate.
Our dining room table is almost fully covered with plant experiments of mine.

BUT! I am not done. I want another!
When I first saw the aeonium arboreum zwartkop in person, I thought it must be dyed because it was so dark.
Also the stem is so thick and the roots are so tiny and dinky that I still don't understand how it lives.

It has really dark purple, almost black leaves on a thick woody stem. The leaves form rosettes that look like flowers but they aren't! In effect, it looks like it is always blooming weird dark flowers on bare stems. Very goth.
There are yellow flowers that do appear and make the plant look even more bizarre to me.

I can't seem to find one in my local plant stores, though I am sure if I went back to the flower district on 28th st and 6th ave I could find one.
So I took to the internet and it seems like Etsy and Ebay are the places to buy. Unfortunately, there really isn't much selection on Amazon which sucks because I love Amazon and I get to shop free there with my AmEx points.

Here are some listings I have been looking at:

 

$5 + $6 shipping

Etsy option that looks more purple than black but it seems healthy. You get a rooted plant.

$7 +$6 Shipping

A blacker, more rose-like version that I really like. It might be my favorite. You get a rooted cutting.

$29 + $10 Shipping

This guy on Etsy has a bunch of plants and can customize your order, it seems. I am tempted by these larger plants with well established roots.

 

$2.50 + $6 shipping from FL

This one is from Ebay and looks like the pot comes with a 3" plant. I am not sure if that means it is a cutting or if it is rooted.

$9 + $7 shipping from San Diego

Another Ebay option, and you get a 6" stem cutting from this plant that is not rooted.

 

$14 + $12 Shipping

Finally, this group from Amazon includes 4 plants in little pots. Cute!

Separately, I also love this weirdo plant:

$8.50 + $6 Shipping

These look like little birds in a nest opening their mouths, don't they?

The best hot sauce is Yellowbird from Austin, TX

Recently, I was down in Texas for SXSW Edu (no, not the fun music one), and I had the chance to eat many many breakfast tacos.

The little gourmet grocery store near the downtown convention center, called Royal Blue, was excellent and had the coconut water I love and also migas breakfast tacos all wrapped in foil and ready to go.
They also had a hot sauce bar where you could add things before you left, and that is where I discovered Yellowbird.

The sauce is made of habaneros, so it is definitely spicy, but it has a great fruity flavor and a thick texture like Sriracha. I loved it!
They sold it at Royal Blue for $10 but I didn't want to have to check a bag on the way home so I passed.

My last morning there, I knew it would be a while until I got the hot sauce again so I really loaded up my taco. I wrapped it back up and took it to my first session, where I sat in back and bit in.
Holy crap, I almost died. Turns out, you can't really make up for lost time by having all your hot sauce at once.

Despite that, I still loved it and when I got home I ordered some online.
The shipping costs more than the bottle of hot sauce itself, which makes me a little crazy, but it is worth it.


$8 Yellowbird Sauce

One of the best things about it is the squeeze bottle, but on their website it says they are moving to a glass bottle next month for preservation purposes. So get one now!

I was thinking of ordering a whole case now so I could have a lot of squeeze bottles, but E reminded me that I wouldn't be able to go through them very quickly and by that time the perishability which necessitates them moving to the glass might come into play.


Here are the ingredients, and why it has so much flavor:

• Carrots
• Onions
• Habanero Peppers
• Distilled Vinegar
• Tangerines
• Limes
• Garlic
• Kosher Salt
• Organic Evaporated Cane Juice (also known as organic sugar)

A few of my favorite things: Discontinued MAC Slimshine Lipstick in Scant

I am always on the hunt for a great almost-bare share of lipstick, and my current favorite for the last 6 months has been MAC Slimshine Lipstick in Scant.

It's a narrow tube, and it goes on very smoothly and easily and feels slick and oily (but in a good way). Despite this, the tube actually lasts a long time and doesn't get worn down as quickly as a lip butter or tinted gloss stick.

Scant seems to be a little bit darker than my natural lip color but not very different, and I think it makes me look polished and put together but not super makeup-y.
I was introduced to it by my friend Becca who is a makeup artist and owns a makeup salon downtown called Rouge (check it out!).We were figuring out looks for my wedding and I liked a lot of the lipsticks we tried, but we decided that for the natural but rosy effect we were going for that Scant was the winner.
It's described as a light berry mauve pink.

And I've been wearing it a lot ever since!

It is shiny and smooth but not glossy or sticky.

Now I just went to the MAC website to get a pic and pricing, and it looks like they don't make it anymore.
BOOOOOOooooooo

But I think the line of Slimshine lipsticks became Sheen Supreme lipstick and I think the Fashion City or Impressive colors look  closest.

$17 MAC Sheen Supreme lipstick in Fashion City
Here is what they say about it:
"Combining the colour impact of a Lipstick with the shine sheen of a Lipglass, Sheen Supreme creates the perfect hybrid - with no compromise. Lightweight, non-sticky, slick to apply and comfortable to wear. This is a must-have for all those who have craved this kind of fusion."


This review says the Sheen Supremes have more pigment than the Slimshines so maybe they aren't going to be a dupe.

Looks like I can get a tube of discontinued Scant here for $13.50 and I might, just to have another for when mine runs out.

Which Revlon Lip Butters DO and Don't Have Shimmer

I like the Revlon colorburst lip butters that I bought, but I vastly prefer the texture and look of the one that does not have shimmer.

I've done some research to keep from buying the wrong shade in the future and thought it might help you too:

No Shimmer BUY:
-Sugar Plum (neutral darker pink)
-Sweet Tart (medium pink)
-Candy Apple (sheer bright red)
-Creamsicle (sheer orange)
-Fig jam (warm brown)
-Wild Watermelon (hot pink)
-Tutti Frutti (sheer coral)
-Sorbet (orangey red pink)
-Pink Truffle (brownish pink)
-Juicy Papaya (orangey pink)


No Shimmer not for me (DON'T BUY unless looking for lipstick):
-Raspberry Pie (magenta)
-Red Velvet (rich red)
-Strawberry Shortcake (barbie light pink)
-pPink Lemonade (light milky pink)


Shimmer (DON'T BUY):
-Sugar Frosting
-Creme Brulee
-Lollipop
-Cotton Candy
-Peach Parfait
-Cupcake
-Berry Smoothie
-Gumdrop (lilac)
-Macaroon

Word to the Wise: The Limited $5 sample sale is back on Wednesday!

Info from SampleSally: For one day, The Limited is hosting a sample sale where pricing starts at $5, select jackets/blazers, shoes and handbags are $10. Sizes available will be S, M, 0, 2, and 8. Plus sizes ranging from 12-26 from our Eloquii line will also be available. Checks or cash only. Must show picture ID to enter the building. No children under 12 allowed. No bathrooms available. Where/When: 400 Lafayette Street (at East 4th Street), 3rd Floor, NY, NY; Sept 25 Only (8am-7pm).

I have gotten some good things at this sale in years past! If you need a brand new work wardrobe for Fall, go check it out.
Be prepared to wait on line to get in. If it seems like there is not much stock left, make sure to follow people around for their discards near the registers.

$50 Ikat border print maxi dress (was $98)
On sale at The Limited now!

Pretty apartment plants that also smell pretty?

Remember when I talked before about houseplants?

I am still obsessing over them.

For our wedding, I took apart all my aloe plants and babies and repotted each in its own container. We gave them to our guests to take home as gifts, and I was happy to see them going to good homes. The events director at the place we got married was skeptical, btw. He said that he liked the idea but that usually no one takes them and that he would collect them for us at the end of the night so we could bring the leftovers home.

(Here they are, all lined up to go)


In his face, though! Bam. My friends (even the ones who were taking planes home!) took all the plants :)
One was left at brunch, probably by accident, but none were unwanted.

Anyway, now I just have the big mama aloe plant and that one forgotten baby. And I am used to having so many more!

We live close to the Union Square farmer's market, and I love walking through there and looking at all the plants. It is hard not to come home with any.
So far I've bought a mint, a rosemary, and a string of pearls (so cute).
I am glad to finally have my string of pearls plant, I've been wanting one for too long. I hope it grows quickly and makes tons of new strands!

Here is what a grown up one looks like:

Mine is still a little baby and its strings aren't hanging over the edges of the small pot I bought it in yet.
It looks more like this:


I still have my fuzzy purple friend Gynura Aurantiaca, called purple passion or purple velvet.
That looks like this:


or at least it used to. Now it looks much more vine-like and stringy and woody. It still has fuzzy purple leaves, but they are few and far between.
I was just reading about them and it is because they need to be cut way back in the winter and the cuttings can be replanted as new vines.
I cut the longest vine just above where a leaf was, and shoved the cut end of the loose part back into the soil. I am hoping it propagates like that and I don't have to do anything else for it. I have tried that once before with this plant and it worked. I guess I just have to be more aggressive about cutting and re-rooting it.

I also have a christmas cactus and a snake plant and a zz plant.
But I want moooooooorrrrrre.

Especially now that I have a balcony!
I am looking for fragrant plants that can make my apartment smell pretty. And flowers! I don't have anything that regularly makes flowers (I guess except the xmas cactus).

A lavender plant would be nice:

$8.95 Lavender 4"
Very fragrant with silvery purple flowers


$14.95 Chinese perfume plant (Aglaia odorata)
This plant has little yellow flowers that bloom on and off all year and are supposed to smell great. I am not sure how it would be indoors- it is meant to be in a very warm Florida-like places, but maybe in a very sunny window it could work. Also it grows to 3-4 feet tall so that might be a very tall house plant soon!



$14.95 Collection of Maypop Passionfruit plants
You get a 2.5" pot of the rare white ones and a 4" pot of the purple one. They produce fragrant flowers and fruit and the purple one can withstand colder temperatures. I might want to buy a more mature one that I know I won't kill as easily.


$18.95 Corkscrew flower (vigna caracalla)
I've never seen this before! Isn't it cool?
It is a climbing vine and the flowers bloom late summer to early fall, perfect right now, and are supposed to smell good and look like snails.


$10.95 Cinnamon scented wax plant (hoya lacunosa)
This plant grows in a hanging basket and releases scent at night. Wouldn't it be nice to come home to a cinnamonny house? The site says it is an easy grower and likes to be neglected, so it might be perfect for my friend Alex who is great at neglecting plants.


$12.95 Willow-leaf Acacia (acacia retinodes)
This acacia grows up to 8 feet tall in a container and when it hits 4 feet tall, it starts flowering these yellow fragrant puffballs. Cute!


$18.95 Night blooming Mark Twain cereus (epiphyllum oxypetalum)
These plants have large flowers that bloom after the sun sets.
The species was found at Mark Twain's house in Hartford, CT.


$39.95 Candy Stripe Plumeria (plumeria rubra)
So pretty! They look like they are painted. These would die outside in NYC but maybe I could keep them alive by bringing them inside in the winter?


$8.95 Winter Jasmine
Speaking of winter, this one blooms in fall and winter which sounds great to me! That is just when you need flowers the most. It likes to live in containers or baskets in sunny cool windows (so not on your radiator).

(Lavandula x intermedia)

This is the famed azure blossomed lavender developed in the perfume fields of southern France and cherished for its intense scent and floriferous grayish-silver spikes.

Hardy to Zone 5 and higher for outdoors.

Full sun, grows to 12-20" in container, minimum temperature indoors 35°, blooms in spring.

Fragrant! - See more at: http://www.logees.com/Lavender-Provence/productinfo/H8063%2D4/#sthash.zC9rYwZp.dpuf

This is the famed azure blossomed lavender developed in the perfume fields of southern France and cherished for its intense scent and floriferous grayish-silver spikes.

Hardy to Zone 5 and higher for outdoors.

Full sun, grows to 12-20" in container, minimum temperature indoors 35°, blooms in spring.

Fragrant! - See more at: http://www.logees.com/Lavender-Provence/productinfo/H8063%2D4/#sthash.zC9rYwZp.dpuf

This is the famed azure blossomed lavender developed in the perfume fields of southern France and cherished for its intense scent and floriferous grayish-silver spikes.

Hardy to Zone 5 and higher for outdoors.

Full sun, grows to 12-20" in container, minimum temperature indoors 35°, blooms in spring.

Fragrant! - See more at: http://www.logees.com/Lavender-Provence/productinfo/H8063%2D4/#sthash.zC9rYwZp.dpuf"

Why you should shop at H&M instead of other fast fashion places

It's a given that fast fashion (big retailers who sell cheap clothes that rotate stock quickly) is not generally a good thing. Buying lots of low quality clothing that you then throw out is not the best way to go about saving the environment.

It's also pretty clear, though, that fast fashion is sticking around and offers many advantages to the buyers who want these clothes (including me).
For trendy things that will be out next season but I want to try now, or crazy colors that I might regret later, I don't want to spend a lot of money and I don't need the garment to stand the test of time. That is why I shop at fast fashion stores.

But some are much better than others, and it seems like H&M is the best of the fast fashion stores, in terms of working conditions for its employees and environmental sustainability.
So my advice is to shop there instead of F21, Mango, Strawberry, etc.

Here is why:
WORKER'S RIGHTS:
H&M was not always very good. In 2007, workers in Manhattan gained the rights to unionize and improve labor practices.
In 2011, H&M had improved enough to join the Fair Labor Association "a non-profit organization that focuses on improving working conditions from a human rights perspective in factories around the world."
After the collapse of the Bangladesh factory in May 2013, H&M signed a worker's rights agreement (also signed by Zara, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Izod) that gives workers a say in their conditions and requires more stringent and frequent safety checks. Notably, many other companies including Walmart did NOT sign this.
Info from H&M on their worker's rights programs.

SUSTAINABILITY:
Bad: In 2010, they were caught dumping brand new unused merchandise into the trash that could have been donated. The good news is that they have made large steps in reforming and becoming more sustainable.
They now have a sustainability department headed by Helena Helmersson and have plans to increase their organic cotton consumption more than 20% and other environmental programs.
H&M also started a recycling program called Don’t Let Fashion Go to Waste to take used clothing from any store and process it into new garments. In exchange for bringing in used items, customers get a coupon for 15% off a new H&M item. This has resulted in more than 3.2 million garments being donated to charitable causes.
The Conscious Collection started in 2011 using recycled and sustainable fabrics, and that is the best to buy if you are looking for guilt-free (or reduced guilt) clothing.
There was a large program to reduce water used in the manufacturing process which has already saved 450 million liters.
"Lofty goals abound at H&M, including plans to source 100 percent of electricity from renewables and zero discharge of hazardous chemicals. This year, H&M hopes to have 95 percent of the waste handled in their warehouses to be recycled."

Many companies like to "greenwash" or seem like they are making improvements and pat themselves on the back, but H&M seems to put their money where there mouth is and actually do something.


Ok, enough about the policies, let's look at some clothes from the current Conscious Collection instead!

$7.95 Basic Jersey Tank Top in organic cotton
I like the blue and white striped version of this, or the gray and pink or plain blue.
The shoulders are wide enough to hide your bra straps, which is nice.

$9.95 pack of 3 briefs in organic cotton
These undies are 95% cotton which is great and comfortable.

$17.95 Men's sport shorts in recycled polyester
Good workout shorts that dry quickly.


One thing I've learned from writing this post is that it is realllllllly hard to shop online at H&M for their Conscious Collection. I will be writing them a letter about how they should add it as one of their filters and overall categories to sort by as well.

Two map print men's shirts from UO

I wandered into Urban Outfitters recently and saw these two men's shirts which I really liked!

Since E has a bunch of shirts already and the move has made us both not want to acquire anything, I didn't get him either. But they are so cute! Maybe you can get them.

Also they are both on sale and under $20, so that is nice.



$14.99 NYC Subway Line Tee (was $28)
Online there is only size S left, but in person in the store on 14th and 6th ave there were plenty of other sizes to be had.
This tee was super super soft to touch.


$14.99 Hawkings McGill Montauk shirt (was $44)
This is a lightweight button down with tiles of a map of Montauk on it.
I like the black and white with little touches of red color scheme.

Cheap outdoor light strands from Target

For our patio, Ethan wanted strings of lights.
I generally think christmas lights are tacky, but I am trying to find some that pass my class test and also are cheap.

 Here is what I found so far:

$13 Room Essentials globe lights 
25 feet with 25 bulbs
fragile glass bulbs that people say break if you don't remove them before hanging
yellow light
There is also a frosted bulb variation

$24.99 Threshold solar light strings
These are protected by little metal cages so they are more durable, and don't need an outlet to work.
14 feet, 20 glass bulbs

$20 Threshold globe solar string lights
129 feet, 30 bulbs (3 ft apart)
These have plastic bulbs and are really long but get bad reviews.

$22 LED string with timer warm white
10 feet,
Are the lights just little blobs in the string? Not sure if I like that.

The best deals right now at the $15 store

Time for another fifteendollarstore post!

Here are my picks from their current crop of deals:


$15 BB Dakota sequin tank dress (was $89)
"BB Dakota tank dress is constructed of gunmetal sequined jersey with a subtle dye print throughout. Bottom of the dress is finished with a folded hem. Measures approximately 34" long from shoulder to hem. "

I like the loose shape and casualness of this sequin dress. It isn't all in-your-face sexy but it does still demand attention.





$15 Romeo and Juliet Coutoure dress with sequins (was $218)
"Romeo & Juliet Couture sleeveless dress is constructed of a stretch and textured knit fabrication with metallized sheen. The right side is detailed with triangular rays composed of black and bronze-colored sequins. The back secures with a hidden zipper closure. Measures approximately 29' long from neck to hem. Bust is padded and the dress is fully lined."

This is more of a sexy going-out clubbing style dress. It would have been cooler if the sequin starburst continued on to the back, but hey it is $15.



$15 Sequin lurex tank dress (was $145)
"Rampage stretch dress is constructed a knit fabrication with Lurex and has sequins along the front. Perfect for adding glam with ease to your look. Measures approximately 35" long from shoulder to hem. Fully lined."


The sporty tank style is fun, and it comes in either navy or black. I like both, but put a pic of the navy up here.





$15 Tie sash collar animal print dress (was $89)
"Velvet Heart animal print sleeveless dress features an attached tie sash collar and elastic inset at the waist. Slight gathers are seen at the waist and yoke back. Measures approximately 35" from shoulder to hem."


The animal print is very small and subtle, so from afar this dress just reads as gray. It's a classic shape and would be flattering on hourglass women.





$15 Collared Shirt dress with sash tie (was $98)
Velvet Heart low v-neckline dress that has an all-over sheen georgette inspired textured fabrication contains buttons down the front and has a traditional pocket with a tab and button closure at the side bust. There is gathering near the front bodice shoulders and back yoke. The ¾ sleeves contain epaulettes and the option of being long sleeves. There is also a self-tie waistband and elasticized waistband at mid-back. It contains two full side-welt pockets sand a clean finish hem. HPS to hem measures at 34”.

This dress comes in purple or gray, and I like both. Plus it has pockets! The site doesn't say if it is lined, so I would be worried about it being a little sheer. I guess you could wear a slip underneath if so.

 
$15 One lapel black cocktail dress (was $54)
"Twenty-six by ALONA ROSE fully-lined classic black stretch dress that has darts at the bust line and skirt front. This dress features a satin one-sided collar lapel. The back of the dress has a hidden zipper closure. The bottom hem has a blind hem finish. HPS to hem measure approximately 42 inches long."

I like the avant garde look of the asymmetric lapel, it reminds me of someone who has taken half their jacket off.


$15 halter wrap one piece bathing suit (was $89)
"MISSES- Temper open-back one-piece swimsuit that has a low v-neckline wrap around look comes with removable padding for additional support and coverage. This solid-color swimsuit also has some gathers at the shoulder strap and a self-tie at the back of the neck."

This style would look great on women who are trying to downplay their hips or thighs and give them a more hourglass shape. The detail at the waist and the crossover at the top makes you look up there, and not at the legs.


$15 Side cutout one piece bathing suit (was $98)
"Kenneth Cole Reaction solid color swimsuit that has a removable halter strap with removable padding and side boning at the bust line. This fully-lined swimsuit also has side cutouts. "


This style would be best for straight up and down figures who want to look more curvy, since the sides are contoured to give the illusion of a curve and the top is not very supportive.

Just my luck...

 these are sold out:


$6.66 Rabbit tail shorts

I guess that site doesn't know it's my birthday.
OR MAYBE they are sold out because all my friends bought them for me already and they are on their way to me.
Thanks, guys!!

One of the best features of these faux fur shorts is that they have an elastic waist (you thought I was going to say the tail, didn't you?).
That means you can never outgrow them!

But what to wear on top?
It is a hard item to match, for sure.
I think I've got it though:


$9.48 Rabbit print blouse

Business on top, party on the bottom! All rabbit all the time.
Because what matches rabbits? RABBITS.


PS- I would actually wear that shirt.