Giveaway!!!

Hi everyone! Stop over at Ambar's Thoughts through the 14th,  to enter a giveaway for one of my necklaces, the Miranda Three Nut Necklace, the one in the top right of the ad above. Good luck!

I'm Hung Up On You

Hanger Tea by Soon Mo Kang, via Elephantine

These tea-shirts are a perfect fit for my mug! The top hook can twist to hang on the side of your favorite teacup, and the hangers are color coded for different varieties of tea. Maybe not for the tea-connoisseur who just has to have a loose-leaf, perfectly brewed beverage, but I think they're adorable! Now I need to work in an office building so that I can show them off around the coffee maker.

Talk to the Hand, But It Might Roar Back

 

Animal Hands, by Hector Serrano, at Perpetual Kid $5.99 for set of 8

Shadow puppets are fun, but these are fun on steroids. Tattoos that are applied with water, these animals bring a new level of puppetry awesomeness. There are eight different animals in each set, including a shark, bee, tiger, alligator, and eagle. Serrano also has a set of monster hands featuring creepies such as a lizard creature and mummy. Let's give the toy a hand!

 

Put All Your Eggs in One Pod

foodpod, by fusionbrands, via DivineCaroline $15.00

Large enough to fit a dozen eggs or several heads of broccoli, these silicon pods make boiling, blanching and steaming a breeze. The lid snaps into four holes for easy lowering and raising out of the water, and a hook on the end allows you to attach it onto the edge of the pot for safe retrieval. While it may look like it's from another planet, it will feel right at home in your kitchen. 
PS Check out fusionbrand's silicon egg poacher too, another one on my wishlist!

Sugar Cookie, Sugar?

 

Message-in-a-Cookie Cookie Cutters, by Williams-Sonoma, via elephantine, $19.99 for set of 3

These are undoubtedly the coolest cookie cutters I have ever seen. I love making cookies for people, and these guarantee that I can give the perfect personalized treat for every occasion. Common greetings such as Happy, Birthday, and Holidays, as well as individual letters, are placed in rails inside the cutter. With a gentle push of the plunger, your message is imprinted onto your cookie. The best part? They come with a mesh dishwasher-safe bag for easy clean up. Unfortunately, they're out of stock online, but I managed to grab a set before that happened. I just have to wait until June to get them. I think that day will be better than Christmas.

Arcade Aesthetic

The Puckman Bookcase, by Mirko Ginepro Design, via Unplggd 

There is no doubt about the inspiration behind this delightfully dweeby shelving unit, our arcade friend, Pac-man. Wall mounted with room behind for cords to run to your favorite console, this functional art will be sure to be the talk of your next gaming get-together. Available in yellow, black, white, or can be custom colored. I'm thinking of a big red bow, to make it a Ms. Pac-man. PS. Note the iPod rug. Too cool.

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby

USB 180 Degree Revolving Hub, at Perpetual Kid, via Unplggd $19.99

Fun and colorful, this USB bar helps add more essential ports to your computer or laptop. The first two ports can be revolved 180 degrees from the second two, allowing easy organization of cords and connections. Color coding possibilities abound, and a simple matching tag at the device end would eliminate "cord tracing". Here USB stands for unique, stylish, and brilliant.

Go Ahead, Judge My Cover

Reading List Book Covers, by City Book Jackets $11 for set of three

Everyone has a type of book that they like to read, but others might find...interesting. Self-help diet books, steamy romance, teenage vampire fiction, and the list goes on. Use these clever book covers to suggest your enjoyment of the classics: Moby Dick, War and Peace, and Ulysses. No one on the bus will be the wiser, and you can continue reading your very descriptive love story. Other styles of covers, including original artwork, are available as well.

New Additions to My Shop!

It's been a little while, but I've just made a few additions to my etsy shop! A few months ago I posted about a necklace I made out of hex nuts, and these are a few of my other hardware designs. These are a bit more petite and subtle than the last, but statement necklaces will be added soon! I'll be creating new designs over the rest of my break until school starts, so keep checking back! Add a little hardware to your life!

Shine On

Porcelain Hanging Lamps, by imm Living, via Apartment Therapy $42 each

These faux flashlight lamps are oh so dramatic when grouped, yet simply brilliant when individually placed. Porcelain instead of plastic, cords instead of batteries. These lamps are definitely thinking outside of the flashlight.

Got Milk? Part Deux

Glass Half Pint, by Solutions $14.95, via Love All This

I continue to fall in love with objects that play on past lives and previous connotations. This glass carton of milk doesn't have a missing person on it, but it is missing from my life. I can see myself now, serving brunch with this little wonder, full of cream for coffee or milk for cereal. Pair this with M's Baked Breakfast Bread that I've been wanting to try, and any guest will be delighted, which of course means that I would be delighted as well!

Framed, I tell you! I was Framed!

Doodle Book Frame, Cox & Cox $21.61

This fun frame is perfect for the artistically talented or untalented child or adult in your life (yeah, that's everyone). Made out of stacked sheets of paper the frame can be changed for the season, your mood, or just plain boredom. Or, if you're one of those people who has a new beau every week, this is perfect for you too! Just tear off "Billy" and doodle an ode to "Bobby". What's that? You have a date with Tommy next week? Not a problem...

New Year's Resolution: Snooze Less

Clocky Rolling Clock, from Perpetual Kid $49.99

This adorable little clock could easily become your worst nightmare. After the first snooze Clocky rolls off its perch and rolls around your room looking for a place to hide, blinking and beeping all the way. Able to jump from 3 feet off the ground, this cute acrobat will help you kick that snooze habit in no time. If you decide to abandon your resolution, however, the wheels can be disabled, leaving you with the cutest stationary alarm clock ever.

Sharp Thinking

Kapoosh Knife Block, Target $19.99

About a year ago I received this knife block as a gift, and just had to share it as an innovative design. Instead of slots, this wooden case is filled with small black plastic rods that accommodate any assortment or orientation of knives. The rods are embedded into a plastic base to allow for easy cleaning. Also available in black or stainless steel, you're sure to be able to find one to match your decor. However, beware, everyone that sees it will want to try their hand at the art of  "Knife Arranging".

Achieve Balance This Year

Wine Wedge in Grey Concrete with Blue and Clear Glass, by DrCraze $30

Warm sea glass enriches cold concrete for an interesting mix of texture, and the weight of the object contrasts wonderfully with its airy balancing act. I see this awesome wine bottle holder at home among stone and brushed stainless steel, or as a bit of solidarity in a white, crisp kitchen. Add in the fact that it makes me think of centers of gravity and other fun physics ideas, this is the wine bottle holder for me or any other aesthetically aware science dorks.

Cast Lamps Cast Light

Cowboy Zen Oil Lamp, by TheCeremonialHome $48 each

These beautiful, square oil lamps are rustic, industrial, natural, and modern all at once. Made of recycled steel, copper, and bronze and cast stone, they're eco-friendly too. Sure to add some sophistication to your mantle or table, these are the types of items that a new year should hold for you. 

PS. My sister has just started a blog of her own filled with "anti-tips" to make your home "faux-pressive". MarthaStewartHatesMe has advice for those who want to appear perfect, without being perfect, and without putting in all of that hard work! Be sure to leave a comment to let her know I sent you! ;)