Stuff I like

HSN: the new C&B?

2009-05-19T21:10:00.001-07:00

When I think Home Shopping Network, visions of gaudy semi-precious jewelry, overpriced skincare products or old lady clothes come to mind, but the Colin Cowie line might just turn me into a HSN shopper.

The pieces are simple and versatile (if not a tad on the pricey side.) The Glass Beverage Server (pictured above) looks like the perfect modern alternative to an infusion jar. Makes me want to host an outdoor soiree!

The Double-Wall Highball Glasses and Pitcher Set also caught my eye. (I wonder if this set took its cues from Bodum's double wall glassware?)

hmm, since Husband Extraordinare bought me the succulent ball last week (thanks, Mau!), perhaps I should redirect funds towards these pieces...hmmmmm....!

so cute and so unnecessary

2009-05-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

I really want this, but lucky for me it's out of stock because who really needs a date stamp that shaped like a mushroom? (I do! I do!)

Hopefully, my buddies who are relocating to San Francisco will stop by doe and pick one up for me just because they miss me and because no one deserves cute, useless stuff like I do. {*ahem* huphtur, klaus and charolls :) }

obsessed!

2009-05-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

I've wanted one of these since I first laid eyes on one a few years back at the OC Fair. I wish I would have purchased one then, but at least now I know I can go to Smith & Hawken for their Succulent Kissing Ball (though I prefer the term pomander myself.) So far, the only thing that's stopped me from purchasing is the $110 pricetag, but isn't it a thing beauty?

anthropomorphic umbrellas

2009-04-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

I doubt we'll receive much more rain here in sunny Southern California, but if I were to buy a new umbrella, it would be one of these.

No designer specified, but apparently they were designed in France, so they're naturally chic by origin alone (j/k).

One for me, s’il vous plait!

crosshatch and chambray

2009-04-27T23:08:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy crosshatch patterns applied to all mediums. The pattern evokes a vintage, mid-century feel in everything it touches, but still manages to look modern and current at the same time.

Some of my favorite examples:

Orla Kiely for Target placemat

Two pieces by Wayne Pate [via grainedit.com]

And, a close cousin of crosshatch in the realm of textiles: chambray fabric. Seen here in a dress by Current/Elliot.

Just lovely!

lovely calendars

2009-03-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

Even though I rely primarily on digital calendars (mobile phone, iCal, calendar widget, etc.) to figure out my positioning in the time-space continuum, I have a great appreciation for a well designed calendar. [sidebar: I know a calendar-themed post is probably more appropriate in the beginning of the year as opposed to a quarter of the way through, but oh well, just deal :) ] anyhoo...

Pictured above are two beautifully illustrated/designed calendars that are both free on the interwebs. The first is from a series by Lisa Rupp, who creates a new design each month and makes it available via Flickr.

Second, a snippet from a free pdf download from UK-based lighting and home furnishing designer, Mibo. You can sign up at 2Jane to get the file. Even though it's sized for A4 paper, a good friend printed out a copy for me on half sheets of letter-sized paper and it came out really nice. Just a tip in case you have a penchant for 8.5" x 5.5" like I do.

Public Radio

2009-03-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

I am a news junkie and rely on NPR as my primary news source for objective and in-depth coverage, but where do you turn when you need objective and in-depth coverage about your objective and in-depth news source? I think Fast Company's write-up on NPR did an excellent job explaining the underpinnings of the public radio model. Now, the Mauhaus is a divided household, being a KCRW person myself, and Eph being a KPCC person, but it's interesting to get the lowdown on the interplay (and, sometimes, conflict) between NPR and its member stations. Knowing this, I'm going to try to not be so annoyed when stations go on 15-20 minute pledge drive rants since the point has been driven home that member contributions really are the source that keeps public radio alive.

I'm going to answer the question that Fast Company poses in the article's title: Will NPR save the news? Why yes, yes it will. ...at least I hope it will.

May I Please Borrow $2800?

2008-08-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

My dream dining table by Hans Olsen for Frem Rojle. An embodiment of Danish Modern design, this dining set demonstrates the marriage of form and function in one beautiful, compact, thoughtful design. The flush design of the chair backs with the table's edge and the three-legged chairs are definitely as stylish today as they were when the set debuted in the 1960s.

...now who's going to lend me $2800 so I can purchase this one off eBay? :)

"illusion, michael, illusion."

2008-08-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

Gob Bluth would approve of this one. Still images that move--trippy, but fun!

If you'd like to read how to create your own, you can get the full (pdf) download here courtesy of a research team from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. Warning: there are equations and scary math symbols involved.

[via proteinOS]

MakeMakeMake <3<3<3

2008-07-18T23:19:00.000-07:00

Found my new internet boyfriend/idol via another great post from swissmiss. Graphic designer/illustration artist Frank Chimero is an uber talented individual with a mid-century flavor to his aesthetic and a great sense of humor.

I especially love his typography choices for "mailing list" and well-crafted, quirky subscribe disclosure statement:

Check out his Flickr and Web site for more. Love it/him!

all the birds sing words and the flowers croon

2008-06-24T23:50:00.000-07:00

...in the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room!

I'm so sad I missed the 45th anniversary event this past Sunday, but I am hoping I can track down some of the commemorative art by Amanda Visell (now a close second to Seonna Hong as my favorite pop/lowbrow artist). The Mary Blair influence in her work is so apparent. I love it! I was pretty sad when I realized on our last D-land trip that most all of the signature Mary Blair pieces (It's A Small World, Tommorowland murals) were either closed for "renovation"--I'm scared to see what this means for IASW)--or just completely gone. I know they've been this way for awhile, but I still have fond childhood memories of summertime trips to the park, riding IASW to cool down and admiring the murals *sigh* Sign of the times I suppose...

On a more positive note, check out a couple of my favorite Amanda Visell pieces for the Tiki Room anniversary.

Corian loves Missoni and I love them both

2008-06-12T23:03:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of Corian as an alternative to granite since the first time I saw samples of the material at Ikea...when we'll be using Corian in our dream kitchen God only knows, but I digress...

I also love Missoni. There's just something about the bold colors, patterns and original zigzag weave that make Missoni a timeless, yet very au courant, house of fashion. Today, I happened upon information on a collaborative project called Corian loves MISSONI, a project though which "Iconic design material meets world-class master in colour and style." And boy, does it ever! Who knew Corian could be used in so many applications! I was especially impressed by the typographic chandelier/mobile as well as the applications showcasing laser cut outs and etching.

The images are phenomenal. It's definitely something I wish I could experience in person. The exhibit is on display in Milan until July 31. Check out more photos here.

Tom Sachs

2008-06-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

My sister went to New York a few weeks ago and while wandering around Fifth Avenue, stumbled upon what she described to me as a BIG ASS HELLO KITTY at a building that she thought I "would like." Well, after doing a quick Google search, it seems sculptor Tom Sachs, who is (in)famous for his art acting as satirical commentary on consumerism, has an installation at the Lever House. The Lever House plaza is now home to two Hello Kitties, a Miffy and a My Melody along with other works in bronze, all of which are part of the Bronze Collection.

To top it all off, the Lever House, a hallmark example of modernist architecture built in 1951, is across the street from Mies Van Der Rohe's Seagram Building. I'm going to have to find some time next week to see these marvels during my brief trip next week.

Check out Wallpaper Magazine's piece on the installation, which includes a link to their interview with the artist.

Interestingly enough, New York Magazine noted this interesting tidbit of information. Not surprising that Sachs didn't consult with Sanrio first, but kudos to Sanrio for appreciating the works as art and not just a form of copyright infringement.

Tom Sachs, I heart you.

la ganadora!

2008-05-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

I was so good at Astro Blasters last night that I became one with my gun, thus invoking my uncanny ability to become invisible.

We love Disneyland! Thanks to Catherine for hooking it up with Club 33 for the second time. Photos to come because I really really do like that place.

rummage sales

2008-05-12T21:37:00.001-07:00

Thank you, El Dorado Park Senior Center for these wonderful finds at Saturday's rummage sale. In addition to the pristine 1957 Yahtzee and 1967 hors d'oeuvres book, we also came away with a fairly new copy of Catch 22, and well-loved copies of The Screwtape Letters and Angela's Ashes. All this was had for the bargain price of $1! I definitely like that.

So fresh and so clean clean

2008-05-07T17:04:00.001-07:00

I like empty inboxes.

I was supposed to win the lotto today

2008-05-07T15:59:00.000-07:00

At least that's what I thought after being convinced by my mom that having two lizards scare the bajeezus out of me in one week equates to good luck. I was already gearing up to spend my newfound millions thanks to my daily dose of spam from DWR (= Design Within Reach = should be called Design Out of Reach For Most, but that's not a pretty acronym), which informed me that there's a new upholstery weave available for the Saarinen Tulip Chair. If money were no object, I would buy four--no wait, maybe six--of these, easy. They are an iconic symbol of mid-century modern design and are even more appealing with the éclat weave (pronounced a-clat) upholstery, which was designed by weaver and printmaker Anni Albers in 1974. Even with the Knoll Space Sale prices, I'd still need to come up with $4,612.99 to make this dream a reality. Alms for the poor who love modern design, anyone?

i want to be your third wheel

2008-05-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

I was blog hopping this morning and found etsyweddings.blogspot.com, which led me to JunkMail Greetings' Etsy store (now favorited on Etsy), which then led me to check out their blog. Not only do these folks have some ultra cool cards, rife with references to early 90s hiphop lyrics and vernacular, but man, do I ever want to be their friend solely based on my concocted idea of who they are from what I gather on their blog posts.

Ya'll (as Lil Mama says on ABDC) had me at :{WORD UP}:. I heart JunkMail / HateMail.

Check out their stuff. Caution: hilarity will ensue shortly thereafter.

Dr. McNinja

2008-05-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

I'm not a big comic book / graphic novel reader, but my homa, Nicole, linked me to this great online store with stuff by the guys who write and create Dr. McNinja. These t-shirts are HIGH-larious. No other words to describe.

Both designs available for purchase at TopatoCo.com.

OMG

2008-04-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

I was checking out the ever-fun My Style-Ish Wedding blog by the lovely bride-to-be, Tiffany, and happened upon her post about Polyvore.com. The concept is like fashion-meets-fantasy sports leagues + paper dolls. The result is something fantastic that could inflict some serious damage to my productivity and wallet, since there are more than 100 pages in each category and most items are linked to the actual site where you can purchase them. ¡PELIGRO! ¡PELIGRO!

Here is my first creation. I chose to create three looks using a Forever21 dress I actually own and mixed it up with uber expensivo accessories. So fun and yet so out of reach! Que lastima.

hominoidea hysteria

2008-04-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

[image from LATimes.com. Photo credit: Arnold Turner/Wireimage]

A Bathing Ape has landed in Los Angeles.

Btw, is there anything greater than Takashi Murakami's outfit in the photo above? I think not. It makes me happy.

me encanta la biblioteca

2008-04-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

I have fond memories from my childhood of going to the library and checking out books -- and not-so-fond memories of my mom getting upset when the books were past due. One of the coolest parts of borrowing library books was watching the librarian stamp the bookplate with the due date and then do that weird thing where they take your stack of books and push it underneath the counter, which then caused a strange clicking noise from below (anyone remember that?). I never quite figured that ritual out, so I just drew my own conclusion that it was to let the book gods know that I was indeed an authorized borrower and not some heathen trying to steal precious tomes of literature. My selections at the time ranged from Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books to works by Roald Dahl.

In any case, since Eph and I are pretty regular readers, I think it’s high time we start keeping track of our books properly. And what better way to take ownership of one’s reading material than with bookplates! The ones pictured above and below are some of my favs found at OneGoodBumbleBee, a neat site with crafty finds.

analogies

2008-04-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

A good analogy is like... never mind, I'll leave it to a pro to tell you. Visit copywriter Justin Feinstein's Blank is Like Blank. My favorite one up there so far:

Starbucks is like that crazy ex-girlfriend you still get together with:
You hate yourself for going back, but the familiarity makes it convenient, and until you find something better, it’s all you’ve got.

eco-kitty

2008-04-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

My Hello Kitty obsession has recently been renewed (as if you couldn't already tell from my previous posts), mostly because of the huge variety of licensed products available that fit the needs of 20-something aficionados like myself. While perusing Delight.com -- a great shop, I might add-- I came upon this HK SIGG water bottle. SIGGs are all the rage in the green movement and have arguably become the iconic symbol of a hip, eco-conscious lifestyle, which is great, though I assure you I made the purchase purely on the basis of Hello Kitty's presence. I am proud to say that my future water consumption will be a little more eco-friendly. And, if Hello Kitty ain't your thing, check out MySigg.com, which has more than 100 bottle styles and interchangeable lids/caps.

me gusta diana

2008-04-09T11:44:00.001-07:00

Aside from being completely adorable in its aesthetics, the photos produced from the Diana camera are so incredibly cool. (Although I'm sure this has as much to do with the person behind the camera as the camera itself). Dating back to the early 1960s, the all-plastic Diana camera is a cult legend famous for its its dreamy, radiant, and lo-fi images. Me gusta mucho.

Thank you, Urban Outfitters, for retailer spam that produces good online fodder!

Be part of the engaged citizenry

2008-04-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

..make yourself a candidate at foldUScandidate and hold your very own finger debate! You can even put McCain on your right hand and Barack and Hillary on your left (har har har)

I haven't made one yet, but these are almost as good as the birds we made a few months ago at work.

[found via swissmiss]

oh-oh-OH-oh-OH!

2008-03-31T20:27:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, amidst rumors of a comeback/reunion, I signed up for news and updates from NKOTB.com. Well, this morning, I got an email-- subject line "ARE YOU READY!?"-- that made me want to bust out my biker shorts and a black vest completely covered in oversized fan buttons, while sporting bangs of a height unseen since 1988. Oh yes yes ya'll, NKOTB is back!! ...well, at least that's what it seems. They'll be on the Today Show this Friday. Details were scarce in the email about exactly what they'll be doing on the show, but you better believe I'm getting up early to catch it at 7 a.m. on my day off (damn the Mauhaus for not having TiVo)

The boys from Boston are also sporting a new logo:

I like it - clean, sans serif font; very updated and modern, but something in me longs for the days of different sized letters and that crazy "O" in the word "block."

So excited for Friday!

Fantastic plastic

2008-03-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Faithful readers and good friends already recognize my undying love for Hello Kitty. When we went to Japan in 2003, I saw her omnipresence extended to financial institutions as well and I wanted a Hello Kitty credit card. Bad.

Well, thanks to good ol' B of A, I'll have my very own Hello Kitty Visa Check Card in just 7-10 business days. Yay!

EDIT 3-28-08: I don't think I was clear in the entry-- I am a longtime B of A customer, so I didn't open a new account/credit card. That, my friends, would have just been fiscally irresponsible and homie don't play that. I simply swapped out the oogly blue/silver one for the super cute HK version. Still very excited!

[Shoutout to Michelle and her friend Mikey who was OG with it]

ENTJ

2008-03-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

According to this personality test based on Jung/Myers-Brigg typology, that's what I am. The acronym stands for Extraverted Intuitive Thinking Judging, and I have to say, based on the analysis, it's pretty dead on:

ENTJs are decisive. They see what needs to be done, and frequently assign roles to their fellows. Few other types can equal their ability to remain resolute in conflict, sending the valiant (and often leading the charge) into the mouth of hell. When challenged, the ENTJ may by reflex become argumentative. Alternatively (s)he may unleash an icy gaze that serves notice: the ENTJ is not one to be trifled with.

So, what are you? Are you my dichotomous nemesis or complement? One of the most interesting pieces of information from the analysis was the list of well-known ENTJs. Some examples included Richard Nixon (boo), Steve Jobs (yay) and my favorite, the only name listed under fictional ENTJs ...

Geordi LaForge

Thanks to sister who posted this first on her blog!

I like us

2008-03-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

...and I hope you do too. To show us you care, vote for the Maniago's in The Knot - Real Wedding Awards! I want to win the safari, but a feature in the magazine or online would be pretty neat too. You do have to register to vote, but c'mon, be like Nike and just do it. Click here to vote!

K-I-T-T-Y

2008-03-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love the original superflat and the unmistakable, enigmatic, expressionless-expression of her face. It's Kitty...Kitty, Kitty!

I need to get me a red bow and some blue overalls just like hers. I think it would up my cuteness factor tenfold.

...y para mis amigos que se hablan español...es kitty, kitty kitty!

Emergencia

2008-03-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

Another oldie, but goodie - see the description below "Alarm Pull Station." It's copywriting genius and also the title to my forthcoming #1 single for the hip hop charts.

And of course, when I think desastre or see a message preceded by "!" in my inbox, I always think back to this old favorite:

Chop chop

2008-03-11T16:13:00.000-07:00

These cutting boards are so cool and are fittingly available through the MoMA Store. Designed by Damian Adams, the boards avoid cross-contamination of various food types: red/raw meat, white/cooked foods, blue/fish, green/vegetables and are stored in an ABS plastic horizontal filing unit with a non-slip rubber bottom.

Hopefully these will still be available when we get around to our kitchen remodel. They would be a nice celebratory "yay-we-have-a-new-kitchen!" gift to ourselves.

[found via swissmiss]

Henry

2008-03-06T13:04:00.000-08:00

Meet Henry, the world's first (known) six-legged octopus! Full article on CNN here.

Newly-learned fact of the day: Octopuses are renowned for having three hearts, blue blood and the ability to alter their skin complexion in the blink of an eye.

Love You

2008-03-05T14:44:00.001-08:00

An old favorite:

Lolcats

2008-03-04T14:36:00.001-08:00

It's not a secret that I <3 cats. Why, just last Friday, I was driving to pick up lunch and my passengers spotted a silly little gato doing something funny in someone's front yard. I, being the stand-up driver that I am, had my eyes on the road and missed it and I was really, truly sad. So much in fact, I contemplated a u-turn to see if the cat was still doing whatever it was he was doing, but I knew that my efforts would be in vain (and my chicken enchiladas were getting colder by the minute). Anyhoooooo,

Lolcats is a great time-waster. Creations range from humorous (see below) to uber-geek with the strange lingua franca that is used in captioning the feline photos. Please enjoy some of my favorites:

Self-motivated

2008-02-27T08:49:00.000-08:00

A great website for making desktop/push pin board fanfare for your coworkers, AutoMotivator allows you to create your very own motivational poster to enlighten and inspire. You know the kind - random stock photography with black border, positive noun in oversized Serif font and haiku-esque one-liner. If memory serves me right, they gained popularity in the 90s and can still be found in the cheeziest of workplace settings or in the stack of overstock poster prints at Big Lots.

Here's mine. A homage to LeVar Burton. (sidebar - did anyone know that's how "Lavar" is spelled??)

[found via Thrillist.com]

Lock Your Body

2008-02-22T18:25:00.000-08:00

A shining example of why I don't just like Justin Timberlake, I LOVE him. If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, go directly to 3:31 to see one of the best performances of "Rock Your Body."

Thanks for sharing, Alpha!

MWLLOL

2008-02-21T12:01:00.000-08:00

men who look like old lesbians.
This is one I probably shared with you fine folks pre-blog, but it's updated constantly, so check out some of the new posts.

Poster board + students = me likey

2008-02-21T09:06:00.000-08:00

Ahh, brings back memories of Mrs. Squires 9th grade history class and my ginormous poster presentation about the Phoenicians...
Seriously. Just visit the photo set.

[found via Thrillist]

Rumplo.com

2008-02-19T15:17:00.000-08:00

I don't get a chance to sport t-shirts nearly as much as I would like due to the limitations of the corporate dress code, but I still enjoy the snarky variety, such as the one pictured below. This little gem came my way courtesy of Rumplo.com, a community-based site where people can submit their favorite t-shirt designs. This particular beauty is available for purchase on seibei.com.

[Rumplo.com found via swissmiss]

Birds

2008-02-16T18:13:00.000-08:00

Most of you know I heart birds. Remember the wedding of the century? It wouldn't have been complete without the glass birds that we special ordered from Matthew Stewart. Anyhoo, today as I was doing some leisurely internet browsing, I came upon these delightful cards. Aside from being downright cute, you get to put the birdie anywhere you want, because the set comes with a stamp. Genius! So far, I can only find them selling on this UK site, but do remember, friends, my birthday is is July :)

[found via cuteable.com]

ZzzZz

2008-02-15T16:04:00.000-08:00

Considering I'm still using my old Nokia 7270 as an alarm clock, I really should just buckle down and buy a proper one. Here are a few I like:

PT design Back in Time Radio Alarm Clock

Tivoli MDASTPE

and one for dear mow who loves sleep more than a fat kid loves cake

Clocky!

Here kitty kitty, here kitty kitty kitty

2008-02-15T14:18:00.000-08:00

One thing I am always happy to find is an amusing picture of a cat doing something out of the ordinary. Today, I salute two of my current favs, the winking cougar and el taco gato.

(PS - artist and song name for this posting's title wins you a prize.)

If you enjoy los gatos as much as I do, check out stuffonmycat.com, proving that just about anything can make you money through the power of the internet.