Just a note

I wrote an article about Etsy last fall. After months of fruitlessly attempting to get someone to publish it, Tsia Carson at Supernaturale recognized its brilliance. So please, read it if you like (if you don't want to read it, you should still check out Supernaturale anyway cuz it's awesome).

But. There is a correction I need to make. When I did my research, Etsy had about 650,000 registered users. That number is now more like 750,000.

I feel better.

Best of snacking

These are a few of my favorite things... for eating or drinking late at night:


Potato chip: Tim's Sweet Maui Onion: You have one, and you think, "that's pretty good." Then you have another, and you think, "maybe just one more." Then you look down and the bag is empty.

Creme Brulee Cocoa from Land 'o Lakes: First of all, who knew Land 'O Lakes made cocoa? Second, I'm not sure if this is still being made, but it's worth the variety pack for six amazing cups of cocoa (make with milk).

Beecher's Flagship cheese: One of the many, many food items worth the trip to Seattle.

Marie Sharp's Habanero Sauce: It's on every table in Belize, and for good reason. Ok, it's not technically a snack, but I have put it on chips. And it was good.

Blue Diamond Wasabi & Soy Sauce almonds: If Oprah gave away cans of nuts on her Favorite Things episode, it would be these nuts.

Glasses, glasses everywhere

I'm generally not a person who gets all that worked up about kitchen stores. Cooking is fun (though not as much fun as eating), but it's not like I'm gonna get high on a really nice set of pots.

There is an exception. As my mother pointed out after we made a pilgrimage to Ikea, I really like glasses (she must have noticed that I picked up all 2,019 of them in the store). Napa Style has some really nice stemless champagne flutes etched with botanical designs (tumblers, too!). They'd probably look just as nice filled with grape juice, or a low-priced wine equivalent.


Aforementioned Ikea has lots of lovelies, too, from blue cocktail glasses to the super groovy Komedi model, right.

Nearly every glass offered at MoMA is miles above your average clear cylinder, from the inside-out champagne glasses to these bright, swooping, almost-but-not-quite juvenile curved glasses (below).


But the prize for Best Glasses Ever goes to the wares from WarauKoppu (top). If those smiling carafes don't make getting your daily dosage of H2O a little better, well, you don't deserve them.

Post-holiday happy-drums (you know, the opposite of doldrums)

Happy New Year!
Did I say the blog would be back in January? Whoops, I meant February. Fortunately, I'm making myself practically perfect in every way thanks to One Year to an Organized Life. I'm sure that once I get the hang of Zen organizing, this blog will be updated with regular precision. And I will never again lose my keys or have a hamper full of dirty clothes.

In the meantime, here's what everyone got for Christmas. I couldn't put it up earlier because that would have ruined the surprises. But now, the bearer of Santa's sack would like to brag. Just a little.

Several people got soap or soapy stuff from Fridays at the Farm, a wonderful little Oregon operation. The soaps smell awesome (I particularly like Goat's Milk Goodnight) and the packaging, featuring vintage photos from the makers' families, can't be beat. You can even give them your own photo for a custom label!

The "big gift" of the season was a stovetop smoker. we've already gotten some pretty dang good smoked chicken out of it; I'm really looking forward to attempting salmon.

For wine-loving recipients, I couldn't resist a wine bottle cozy from Napa Style. How great is a drunken reindeer on your bottle of cabernet?


Etsy was not ignored, of course. I found a tie that actually inspired desire at the shop of toybreaker. Admittedly, some of their creations are a little daring for my taste (so I'm a prude, but how would you react to someone in a meat grinder tie?), but the silk ties with flowers are nothing but gorgeous. Subsequent wearings have proved such ties draw unprovoked compliments.

Announcing the triumphant return...

...of this blog. Coming in January. Because if I post things here now, it will ruin my family's Christmas.

(almost as exciting as parkour off a mobile home)

Time for tulips

It's almost spring! Ok, so it's only January and it takes 20 minutes to defrost my windshield every morning. But each day the light lasts a little longer, and in my book, that means the hibernation is almost over.

Which hopefully means that the twig craze is about to go away along with barren branches. You know what I mean: the bronze willow stick earrings, the twig-with-bird-charm necklaces, the budding this, that and everything else. Enough already.

From tulip prints to tulip tattoos actual tulip bulbs, nothing says spring like the flower of windmills and wood clogs.

The tulip print shown here is from Prinsen Photography & Designs on, of course, Etsy.

Snow is glistening

I love snow. And snowflakes. They're perfect for the holiday season: Festive, yet non-denominational, pretty and free of commercial association. At least, they can be.

There are lots of products embellished with snowflakes. Etsy, of course, has pendants, earrings, and other handmade goodies (Shown here are tatted snowflakes by TotusMel, magnets by teresasart and pendant by craftonomy).

As beautiful as individual snowflakes are, they tend to melt. But you can capture their elegance thanks to people at Cal Tech, who sell photos of snowflakes taken with "a specially designed snowflake photomicroscope."

If you live in an area where they are unlikely to fall from the sky, you can always make your own with computer paper. Though most of us are content to make a few folds and a few cuts, some people can make impressively complex creations. They can't be mushed together to make snowballs, and they won't cling to the tree branches (unless you really have a problem), but they will help you celebrate.

That's the spirit

Hmmm, it's been awhile. Either there was a distinct lack of neat-o in the world for a few months, or weddings are more time consuming than I thought.

But it doesn't matter. Because now it's November, which means that, yes, I hear sleigh bells ringing. I don't care if Thanksgiving is still a week away: It's Christmas!

I can't wait to get a tree, but I will wait, because I don't want it to dry out and become a fire hazard before the presents are even wrapped. In the meantime, I can absorb the festivus emitted by fiber optic trees, tinsel trees, and even the retro Evergleam trees.

There are all kinds of decorative/funky/non-organic trees available. What lack in scent, they make up for in holiday spirit. They may even inspire a rendition of "Oh Tannenbaum."

And for real holiday spirit, Aid to Artisans sells cool things (like the tree shown here) and helps people in developing countries.

Sites Worth Seeing

There are so many website on the internet, and so few that are worth spending time at. This is particularly true of blogs. Unlike this bog, some people will just put any old junk on their page. Two blogs that are at least as cool as this one are
What I Wore and Sarah's spot.

What I Wore (not to be confused with whatiwore.com) is NOT a daily entry of what she wore that day. It's actually a window-shopping blog like this one, but is devoted to beauty and fashion.

Sarah's Spot is what most people think of when they think blog. It's an online journal, written by a mom who has a toddler. And it's good. Most people think their lives are this interesting. Sarah actually has the sense to edit her life for the rest of the world so that it actually is. And she can write. Oh, and did I mention the recipe for healthy Ding Dongs?

Finally, I joined the millions of people who mistyped "Gmail" the URL box and ended up at Gamil. I was intrigued by their tea stick (above), and the fact that they are cleverly profiting off of finger slips.

Forbidden Fruit

The iPod is probably the best thing to happen to runners since spandex. But now Apple has gone and teamed with Nike to create a system that has runners drooling (including myself). An iPod that gets info from my shoe? I can listen to music AND see how far I've gone and at what pace? And I can program my never-fail, pump-me-up-now song to play at the hardest part of my workout? Where have you been all my life?

Of course, there are drawbacks. The major one is that the kit is specifically, and only, for Nike shoes. I don't run in Nikes. I have one model of shoe that I've run in since high school. Asking me to change shoes is like asking me to change genders. As seductive as this offer is, I don't think I'm ready for that kind of sacrifice.

But now I'm in a quandary (hey, remember that game, "The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary"? No?). Sometime soon, my first-generation iPod will stop functioning. Then I will replace it. But with what? I was considering a shuffle, which is ideally set up (and priced) for running. Then I thought maybe a nano, which is what works with the Nike system. Most recently, I was convinced that Oregon Scientific's sport MP3 player was exactly what I wanted.

And now there is this. Maybe my iPod will last until iPod teams with asics. Until then, I will have to be content to lust mightily for what every runner wants.

Who says fire and liquor don't mix?

Scented candles are good. Cocktails good, too. If only there was a way to combine them...

Ponder no more. On the Rocks Candles, which can be found at Etsy, has done it. Their line of cocktail-scented candles is just what has been missing from bars, bedrooms and bridal showers. Until now.

For the serious pyralcoholic, On the Rocks offers the Ultimate Indulgence Party Pack. At $130, this collection of 14 candles will set you back a bit, but just think of it as buying the house a double. It's like a great party without the hangover.

And with a better smell.

Hot time

It's been mighty warm here the last few days, which is making me think about cool things. Things like pools, shade, sprinklers and banana leaves (which of course four tanned guys would be fanning me with).

One thing that I'm eying right now is Brookestone's 360 fan. Normal oscillating fans, which hit you and then leave like an abusive lover, are irritating. But this one has a nice even, mid-level air flow that (I imagine) is more like a faithful servant.

Posh, Sexy, Sporty

So I already posted about the SUV of sportswatches, and while that's pretty cool, what I really covet is this: Oregon Scientific's MP3 player.

I've always thought they should make an iPod sport edition. Forget the nano; what I want is an iPod that can withstand rain, heat, cold, sharp jolts... basically, my typical outdoor run. Apple apparently decided that instead of investing in that, it would just made expensive accessories. Not good enough.

That's why the Oregon Scientific MP3 player is so great. The entire thing is made to be waterproof. And it has FM radio. And it has a pedometer. And, and... I'm in love.

It only comes in 512k and 1G sizes, but it's relatively cheap at around $170 (especially when you consider that the iPod waterproof case comes in at about $140).

This is one thing I'm actually getting. Someday. Probably about six weeks before they intorduce the Oregon Scientific mini.

Boob Lube

Boob Lube. It sounds a lot kinkier than it is.

Boob Lube is a product meant to help women conduct self breast examinations. For those of you who may not be aware (hello, Y chromosome), women are supposed to check their breasts monthly for suspicious lumps. And some of you (Y carriers, again) may not realize that it isn't as fun as it sounds.

Enter Boob Lube. An all-natural concoction of tanamu, jojoba and sweet almond oils along with macademia nut oil and meadowfoam seed oil, Boob Lube taps into the theory that women will find any task more pleasant if it is accompanied by good smelling bath stuff.

Of course, any similar lotion or oil could be used for the purpose, to the same effect. But somehow, having "Boob Lube" is more fun.

A lot more fun than cancer.

The SUV of sports watches

One of the main reasons I like running is the simplicity of it. I can pretty much run anywhere, anytime, for any distance, with a minimal amount of equipment. The most gadget-y item that accompanies running is a pair of sunglasses.

But all that has changed, thanks to three letters: GPS.



Various companies have incorporated GPS technology into watch form, which allows runners to see where they are, where they're going, and at what speed. Plus you can set them to a certain pace, and the device will tell you if you're going too slow or too fast.

The most enticing feature, to me, is that the GPS will measure distance traveled. Trail runners, scramblers and just about anyone who doesn't always run on a track can benefit from not having to guesstimate how long that 45-minute run really was.

These things are fabulous, but they aren't cheap. $300 to feel like James Bond in a sports bra might be a bit much. Then again, I thought that about the iPod...

I'll say they're fetching

When a puppy became part of my life earlier this year, I resisted giving him my entire heart for awhile. About a week, to be precise. Then that phase passed and I have been cuddling him and petting him and speaking babytalk non-stop ever since.

It wasn't long before I realized that the precious pooch couldn't just have a regular ID tag. No, he needed something as beautiful and unique as he was. I scoured the internet, where I found gemstone encrusted tags (ugh), silver and gold tags (only your wallet will know it's not from Petco) and heart-shaped tags (dorky).

Fortunately, I finally stumbled upon Fetching Tags, which had exactly what I was looking for. They make dog (and cat) ID tags that are original, durable and witty. You can choose from one of their sayings ("Hound of Love" to "Treat Whore") or make up your own. And unlike the ones marketed towards the Paris Hilton set, they are neither trashy nor ridiculously expensive.

So now my sweet puppy, Bond, has an actual license to lick. It may carry a little less weight than his namesake's license to kill, but it gets a heck of a lot more compliments. Especially from me.

I Think This is Ethical

Professionally ethical, that is. See, a couple of weeks ago I was forced to write about a sport called snow body boarding. (The brand name is Airboard, which will definitely overtake "snow body boarding" as the name of choice.)

So one glorious afternoon, I went to a ski area and got to talk to the cool people who own the Airboard company, and I got to learn how to Airboard, and long story short: Airboards are freaking cool.

I like sledding. I like skiing. I've even been known to snowboard. But like the girl on the late-night-cell-phone-singles-chat commercial says, This could be something real.

It's fast, it's fun, and at a select few resorts, you can use them on groomed slopes. Plus it looks a lot harder than it is, which means that non-Airboarders will look at you with awe even if you wipe out (trust me).

So even though I wrote about Airboards for work, I think it's okay if reiterate here that they're really cool. If not, I'm sure my secret is safe with the literally plural of you.

Put Down the Chocolate Roses

As if you hadn't noticed, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. If the hearts, lace and roses are starting create a nauseating blur, consider some sweet alternatives.

First of all, ditch the chocolates. How special can something be when it's staring you in the face every time you go through the checkout line with toilet paper and broccoli? Instead, try something more decadent: Cheesecake. Junior's is the real deal from New York City, plus they'll ship overnight. And yes, they have a special Valentine's Day cheesecake in the shape of a heart.

After you devour something from Junior's, you'll want a relaxing, low-key activity for 2. If a hot tub isn't available, try an old-fashioned puzzle. Not the kind that come in a cardboard box with a picture of a covered bridge on the front, but a real, hand-cut wood puzzle. Keystone Puzzles in Pennsylvania makes gorgeous puzzles with specially shaped pieces. For a romantic twist, pick one with a nostalgic or Victorian theme.

Finally, flowers. The only thing more lovey-dovey than long stemmed roses? Seeds. Go straight to the heart with a packet of heirloom Forget-Me-Not seeds from Yankee Gardener that you can plant together and watch grow, like your love.

Don't forget the Dramamine.

Truly, the Happiest Place on Earth

A bag of rainbow gnome dolls.

Tell me, who doesn't need that?

Perhaps Etsy makes a few too many appearances on this page. But can you really have too much of a place that sells bags of rainbow gnome dolls?

Answer not required.

What a Great Month

So it's February, and everyone is all excited about Valentine's Day- or more likely, dreading it. But V-day isn't the only celebration that takes place in month 2. For example, did you know that February 1st is the day the Royal Canadian Mounted Police came into existence? Or that the 10th is Umbrella Day? There are many events in February that don't involve hearts, flowers, or chocolate (well, Toothache Day might be related to chocolate).

It's also National Embroidery Month and National Grapefruit Month. To make sure that you're distracting people from things involving cupids or roses, tote around an umbrella from Bruce Harman (above) or something embroidered with a pirate from Sublime Stitching(right).

Or, you could just buckle down and try not to stand out. After all, the 22nd is National Be Humble Day.