I have a lot on my plate this week and my dear friend Caffeine is helping me through. I love coffee but the stuff makes my stomach hurt so I usually turn to tea for my daily jolt. I’ve never brewed loose tea but I’d like to try it. It seems that those who start never return to supermarket tea bags again.
Of course, I’d need some supplies. Cute ones, obviously.
Glass teapots via Red Sail
Infuser and travel mug via Crate&Barrel
How do you caffeinate?
Posted in Material things
This weekend, Matt and I had dinner with our friends Spivian (Spencer + Vivian), who recently returned from their honeymoon in Greece (lucky ducks). We caught up over Japanese tapas and, as I do with every newly hitched couple, I asked the obligatory question:
“So. How’s married life?”
(What are you supposed to talk to married folks about anyway?)
So Spivian starts talking about how they’re redoing … I forget … something in their cute little condo that requires trips to Ikea, where they’ll probably frolic around like this:
And Vivian then says, “Married life is good. It’s just like playing house!”
I knew it. That’s exactly how I envisioned it to be. Now I’m even more excited to get married one day because dude, I love playing house!
I know that there are bigger things to think about when it comes to marriage, things like commitment, trust, yada yada yada. But since I’m not even engaged yet, I would like to think about house stuff!
So I came across this glorious site today called Delight.com. Have you heard of it? It has the cuuuutest stuff that I can’t wait to buy once we get a place of our own.
For instance:
Un-Slippable Dinner Tray, $24.50
Sure, it’d be nice to have romantic candlelight dinners, but I know the reality is that 99.9 percent of the time, we’ll end up eating on the couch while watching Man Vs. Food. This trays would be a wonderful companion. I am very spill-prone.
Self-Watering Plant Pots, $14.50 each
I like plants, but I have a tendency to kill living organisms. Amazingly, these cutie patootie plants water themselves. Genius.
Koi Pitchers, $42.50 each
I just think these pitchers are way cool. Hee hee.
Told you domestication is fun!
Photos from Delight.com.
UPDATED: Oh, I just have to add one more. Chat Plates! These are from MoMA, via oh joy! My life is pretty much complete.
The other day, my friend Jenny was like, “Girl, you need an asprin.” And I was like, “Huh?” And she was like, “Cuz you have diamond fever.”
Crap, is it that obvious?
To be honest, even I’m a little surprised at just how much those little sparkly rocks make my heart swell with glee. I’ve never been a jewelry person — OK, let me clarify. I can’t be a jewelry person. I’ve lost just about every bead and bauble I’ve ever owned. Once, Matt presented me with a little velvet box, saying, “Here, open it,” and then I lifted the lid to find the dangly earrings I’d left in his car the weekend before. “Now don’t you tell me I never get you anything nice,” he said.
So no, I’ve never owned anything fancy ever. That’s why the idea of wearing a real-life diamond is crazy to me and when Matt first mentioned ring shopping, I had this whole “I’m not worthy” mentality. (I sort of got over that, luckily.)
The first ring I fell in love with is this one.
White diamond oval ring by Melissa Joy Manning
I think it’s unique and stylish and just plain cool. I imagined it on my finger with normal clothes and with fancy clothes. I looked at it every night before I went to bed. I was smitten.
But I soon learned that the first lesson in ring shopping is to not ask for opinions. I shared the link with some girlfriends and their reactions were all the same: “Uhhhhhhhh.”
“Uhhhhhhhh, it’s cute, but you know that thing has to last for at least 50 years.”
“Uhhhhhhhh, it’s gold.”
“Uhhhhhhhh, that’s more of a birthday ring.”
I was a little sad, but I realized their opinions didn’t matter so much as long as Matt and I loved it. Though I knew getting Matt on board would be tough. First I told him the price. “It’s $690,” I said. His response? “Uhhhhhhhh, well then let’s get two in case you lose one.” I then showed him the link and he was not a fan and he said he thought we could do much better. After looking at more rings, I kind of got over that one, but I still think it’s lovely!
(P.S. My friends aren’t divas — they just like fancier rings. It’s all good.)
The ring we’re looking at now is, well, much more “normal,” but I am really crushing on it and hope that we can find a jeweler who can create it for a reasonable price. (Dude, the cost is a big deal to me! No one should live in poverty for a little thing that sparkles in the moonlight.) I suppose I’ll take my own advice and not show you the said ring until it’s purchased and on my finger — it seems like bad luck to do so beforehand, no?
I guess we’ll all just have to wait.
(HURRY!)
Posted in Boyfriend of the Year, Material things
UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations Michelle Draveski!!
Suede “believe” bracelet by LaurenLuvS
Yes, I’m hosting a giveaway! Why? Because I like you. And you like free stuff. Get it?
One of you lucky readers will receive this gorgeous suede bracelet from LaurenLuvS, a new jewelry collection by my sister’s BFF Lauren. I’ve known Lauren since she was thiiiiiiiiiiiis tall and even though she’s younger than me, she kind of watched me grow up. She recently started making jewelry and I’m in love with just about every single creation — she’s got peacock feather earrings (adore), flower charm and leaf earrings (swoon) and feather charm earrings (want). I’m totally down to help spread the word about her new Etsy shop because I think she’s really talented.
And a cutie!
Words from Lauren: What makes LaurenLuvS unique is that everything is made with LUV :) I hope that every piece I make can bring peace, love and happiness to the person who wears it. It sounds kinda corny, but it’s true! I like the inspirational charms because they are tangible reminders to “believe,” “live,” “love” and “dream.”
Awwwwww.
Oh yes. The swag. Take a look at LaurenLuvS and then comment here to enter. Make sure you enter a valid email address to win. Earn extra entries by blogging or tweeting about the contest and leaving a link in a separate comment. The contest ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 26. A winner will be selected at random.
Good luck! And spread the word!
Posted in General, Material things, woo!
Once in a while, cool stuff happens to me, but this is one of the coolest. Definitely Top 20. It falls somewhere between meeting Mario Lopez and discovering Thin Mints.
Posted in Friendship, General, Material things
I never in a kabillion years thought I would do a vlog (Why can’t we just type anymore?!), but I’ve been so inspired by my technology workshop and my bloggy friends that okay, okay, let’s try this. Here is me.
Posted in General, Material things
In my 27 years of existence, I’ve never stepped into Bag Territory. It’s too scary. Too crazy. And once you’re in, there’s no turning back.
But last week, I stumbled, somewhat accidentally. My purse of the moment — a cute, sweater-like hobo from Urban Outfitters — had a monster rip inside and all my stuff slid underneath the lining. Ghet-to. It was annoying because I had just bought the thing during the holidays. I always buy cheap shit like that. Then I had a random thought.
And when I have random thoughts, I turn to Twitter.
Suddenly, I became popular. People started messaging me: Check out BlueFly! Try the Camarillo outlets! Ebay’s the way to go! Marc by Marc Jacobs! Fossil is great! Get a Birkin! (Uh, thanks @fjeng but I said $200, not $20,000) Then I open my email: “handbagheaven and baghausbuzz are following you on Twitter.” Oh, hi there. I think I had just entered Bag Territory.
(Yeah, it was wittier in my head. Whatever.)
Not knowing where to start, I clicked on a link in a reply by @annietown.
And there it was.
Hello, lover.
Andrea Brueckner Cardiff Satchel
It was a bit more than I was hoping to pay, but I loved it. It was classy, but sort of edgy. I could see myself rocking it everywhere.
So I quickly consulted some friends/bag mentors, who told me to get it (obv), and so as the practical woman I am, I gave myself one night to sleep on it, and then when I woke up the next morning, I got out my debit card and snagged it. I felt a tiny rush.
And then I told Twitter. And people congratulated me as if I just had a child. That made me happy. Girls are so fun.
I have the bag now and we’re in bliss. I just keep looking at it and petting it. It’s better crafted than any accessory I own, which I guess isn’t saying much, but it’s just so apparent for someone who’s used to Forever 21. The snappy magnet closure thingy snaps really tight and there are all these canvas pockets inside and the hardware is super sturdy.
So there. I think I’m in love.
There’s no turning back.
Posted in Material things
Roar!
Dino Hoodie, $62 at Kayden
P.S. I made dinosaur sounds while taking these photos.
P.P.S. I’m still cool.
Posted in Material things
The term white elephant refers to a gift whose maintenance cost exceeds its usefulness.
—Wikipedia
My friends and I take the white elephant “stealing” gift exchange game seriously. When the rules say, “Bring a crappy gift,” oh, we bring it. Then we transform into cackling middle schoolers once the novelties are unwrapped. It’s so much fun, I swear, we could do this every Friday and the hilarity wouldn’t wear off.
This weekend, I went to two holiday parties where we played this glorious game. Here’s what some lucky recipients got to take home:
Signed Papa Roach CD
Internet urinal
Rock Your Body with Jamie King DVD
Dried octopus snacks
Mineral oil enema
500-piece cat puzzle
Framed doily cutout of Chinese communist leader Mao
Photo collection of famous statue genitalia
Personal lubricant
Southwest Airlines drink coupons
Grow Your Own Jesus
At one party, I ended up with Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn (yay?), and at the other, I was the big winner of soap.
At Party #2, we also played Secret Santa and I got a hamburger phone! My lovely friend Jenn apparently reads my website. I gave my friend Larry a USB-powered pole dancer, which the boys seemed to wholeheartedly enjoy.
Ho ho ho.
USB Pole Dancer from Michelle Woo on Vimeo.
Santa, baby …
It is a mystery as to why I fall asleep extraordinarily faster when Matt is lying next to me than when I’m alone because he snores like chainsaw and has major problems staying on his half, or, rather, his 9/10ths. It could because his mere presence puts me at ease, calming me into a peaceful slumber. … NAH. It’s probably because of his heartbeat. The Beating Heart Stress Relief Pillow vibrates with a special rhythmic heart beat when you clutch it to your chest. The rhythm changes over time to mimic a real heart. And I bet it never steals the covers.
Adore this print by Paola Zakimi. This girl is sad like I am sometimes sad. Let’s pet each other’s hair and say, “There, there.”
Yes, I want a ballet bar, or, I’m sorry, barre. I’d be such a poser, I know. I’m no ballerina. It’s just that I bought these new Bar Method DVDs and while I could simply use a steady chair, I’d be way more excited to stretch and plie on an actual barre. And more excited ultimately means more fit, right? Right. Done.
Speaking of exercise, I really want the iJoy Ride. How does it work? Watch this video. Hey, no snickering! This is serious business. “This unique and exciting balance trainer improves coordination skills, flattens the stomach and builds core muscle strength.” AND SERVES NO OTHER PURPOSE. Yeah, I know the thing is $499. I said this is a wish list.
Maybe if I had Juno’s Hamburger Phone, I would inherit her natural charm and ability to spew snappy one-liners on cue. Though I can probably do without her hyper-fertile eggs for at least a few more years.
We recently did a complete overhaul on our bathroom and now it is lacking good reading material. (Old, crumply Us Weeklies, I miss you.) I would like to start new with a subscription to W. The clothes are gorgeous, the writing is superb and the people are preeeeeeeeeetty. Want.
That’s about all I can think of for this hour. But I leave you with this Popping Edamame Keychain that Matt just bought me. Don’t you love? Hooray for useless stuff!
