I love getting things from Etsy!
The artists always put their special touches in the packages--handwriting notes of thanks or including bonus postcards!
I ordered the picture of what I imagine my capricious muse would look like from The Black Apple's Etsy Shop.
I am having it framed and hanging it next to my desk.
I recently took a trip to Paris, well, not REALLY Paris, more accurately to "Paris to the Moon" in Costa Mesa. If you haven't been there yet...comment dites-vous...in French "You should totally go?" Oui! Go!
The front store is called "Paris to the Moon." It is an eclectic mix of cupie dolls, French soaps and jewelry.
Ask the gals there, very nicely, to open up the back store. It's called "Paris Underground" and I would describe it like this: If Tim Burton, Anne Rice and Robert Smith had an private apartment in The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland it would look just like this store--dark, weird and wonderful.
These pictures will give you the best idea of what to expect. When I walked through, my first thought was, the man who owns the store must have given his mom fits growing up. He truly has a dark imagination, which I appreciate about him...
While down on 17th Street, pop into Pantina to do a little more shopping.
Life just keeps getting more complicated. For instance, does anyone besides my husband know what exactly you can bring on a plane? Which products can accompany you? Which will get brutally tossed by some heartless security person--lost forever in the abyss of an airport trash bin?
If you can't bear the thought of handing over your precious moisturizer or shampoo, then listen up! Those smarties at Sephora have done all the measuring for you. Their Plane Pretty Line has lots of choices. You might even find a new "must have."
Stopped by Patina Boutique in Costa Mesa today. (here) They are having their bi-annual sale until Sunday, which means 60 % off True Religion Jeans and more...
Shopping at Patina's is kind of like going through your slightly mental older sister's closet. You know, the one who married a movie producer and has more money then should be legal and just can't stop buying great stuff, piling it higher and higher, never enjoying its awesomeness. The only difference is you will actually have to pay for things coveted there, not just sneak it under your J.Crew pea coat like you would with your sister's stuff.
I almost had a near-fatal shopping mishap while there. I found this Orla Kiely bag for $48! So, while I was searching for my glasses to confirm unbelievable price, my femme-calculator was going full-throttle.. $48 with 60% off...
Put the glasses on...$848...femme-calculator disappears in a tiny ** poof**
Imagine the exchange at the counter, "That will be $347." Me expecting it to be $20... **poof**
Still, forgetting the sharply disappointing handbag blunder, I like shopping at Patina. (Sadly, I don't have any sisters)
I LOVE to shop the clothing catalogue Boden USA , Here. Everything I have gotten from them has been well-made and beautiful. Because it is a British outfit (pitiful pun), they charge no sales tax and always have some kind of free shipping and free returns deal. If you order their catalogue, you will receive many (many) 15% offers as well. So no sales tax, free shipping, free returns and 15 % off--excellent!
Today, like most of you, we ran errands; got the kids hair cut, dropped off the dry cleaning, scheduled Larry's tattoo...what? Oh, that isn't what you did today, scheduled a tattoo for your husband?
We actually had to re-schedule his appointment with Sid at Sid's Tattoo in Santa Ana. We did have it scheduled on Feb. 9th, but (this is like most of you) we are going to Professional Bull Riding at The Honda Center that day--yes, I am bringing a book to read.
While there I finally got a chance to poke around at Hannah's, just next door to Sid's, and I am glad I did.
It is a little boutique with things for kids and some women's trinkets as well. I got this "S" necklace by Lady Katie.
You should go, but call first, her hours are what the hours would be if I had my own store (You know, short and negotiable.)
Another talented maker of handmade things. I was looking for a costmetic case to use in the upcoming issue of Broughton Quarterly--for a layout I want to call B.Y.O.S. (you know Bring Your Own Spa) and I came across these from Watanwatan.
Wristlet, $23
Coin Purse, $12
Cosmetic Bag, $17
Not sure which one will work best, guess I have to order all of them...
On New Year's Day My Mom, Meghan, Emily and I have a tradition. While the guys watch football, we go to Fashion Island in Newport Beach and fill the first day of the year with makeup, shopping, lunch and chocolate.
First we show up at Bloomingdales, stripped of all makeup, to get professionally "dolled-up" by the various counters there. It is a great way to get tips and try different products. Every year I learn something new. It doesn't cost anything but they expect you to buy a little something (at least.)
(My Mom at the Clinique Counter--Meghan had Perscriptives and I did Lancome.)
Here we are freshly "done" and ready for lunch.
(This is how my friend Vicki would like to see me everyday. I wear far too little makeup as far as she is concerned. Look what SHE got for Christmas for the love of Chanel.)
Next it was the Bloomie's Cafe for their Mango Salad. Meghan is so good. When I was preg it was all cheeseburgers and burritos.
Anthropologie is the biggest outing of the day. We spent about an hour rumaging and checking price tags. I had read in Style Scoop, The OC Register Blog, that American Rag had opened at Fashion Island and so we went to check it out. I used to shop at AR in San Francisco when I was in college and loved it. Their vintage items were hand-picked and perfect for The City and statistics class--not so much for SoCal Carpooling. I didn't see anything of interest and the "house" music blaring made me want to run screaming to Muttropolis and shove one $10 dog biscuits in each ear ---Oh, but what was this? A home section? Eureka!
(Their assortment of glassware was astonishing--very unique.)
(The most popular accessory at Fashion Island is your dog.)
I bought this home for my new iPhone from those swankies at Brocade Home. All housewarming gifts should be in the form of iTunes gift cards, please.
I have started my Christmas shopping. I like to get it all done long before the huddled, frenzied masses even begin. I enjoy spending the days of December telling everyone, "Oh, I've been done since Thanksgiving." I am a real scrooge that way...
I have been waiting for Rock Scissors Paper to release all of their holiday items, which they promised in Sept., but must still be putting their magical touches on. They have released a few items that I have ordered (yes, already).
Here is a sample of some of their unique holiday collection.
Christmas Cards
Tags
Wrapping Paper
Just realizing, should have sent this before the school's gift wrap blitz.
They also have some very nice personalized stationery that makes a great gift.
I feel the same way about wine as I do about a really beautiful dress; I don't care how its made or who makes it...and I am willing to spend a little more if I really love it. I don't want to use colorful language to discuss it with my dinner-mates, I just want to look pretty wearing it (or drinking it.)
Given this, having me recommend a wine is really preposterous but I am going to forge ahead anyway. It is "The Show" 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon.
I selected this wine for three reasons; one, Goot told me I HAVE to pay at least $10 for a good bottle (bye-bye Sutter Home), two, the wine guy at Pacific Ranch Market recommended it (and it is pitiful how easily influenced I am) and most importantly, three, I really liked the label. Though my last reason may sound silly, it turns out I was very keen to be attracted to the Hatch Show Print on the bottle.
The boys at Three Thieves couldn't decide which label they liked best out of the three Hatch sent them, so they went with them all. I like their attitude.
Checking out the website at The Hatch Show Print, I found these very cool t-shirts.
And these prints.
(Ordered both t-shirts and prints for the very hard-to-buy-for Joey and Larry for x-mas. Don't tell them.)
Yes, the wine is very good.....excuse me, it is big and bold with layers of spice and sweet vanilla.
And I got some Christmas shopping done. Yeah for me!
Drinking, check. Shopping, check.
This would be such a great Christmas gift for just the right person. Claudine Hellmuth is an artist who creates personalized, original artwork exclusively for you using photos of some lucky person in your life.
I love these. The processing time is about 2 months so you have to get on the stick if you wanted to get me one....I mean get one for someone you love.
