More than a year ago, I confessed my admiration for things that can fit into my pockets. Here’s another dizzying collection of pint-sized objects WHICH-ARE-MOSTLY-FRIVOLOUS-BUT-WORTHY-OF-DEEPLY-GRATIFYING-SHOULDER-SHRUGS-AND-“AWWs”.
PS- I must be obscuring some Star Wars passion, because I just realized that there are two Star Wars-related items. Oops and WEIRD.
1. I always wanted a fluffy animal as a child, like a guinea pig. I hear they smell, though. Miniature Funny Guinea Pig, psubio9 on Etsy, $20
2. A handy card in your pocket will prepare you for random declarations of love. COOL NOTE: These cards are by The Great Lakes, who made the infamous “Elementary Lovenote Set” featured in the previous pocket-sized treasures collection. A Roll in the Hay Card, thegreatlakes on Etsy, $4
3. A bike chain refashioned into a bottle opener! How ingenious! Recycled Bike Chain Bottle Opener Key Chain, Delight, $8.50
4. Admittedly, this will look rather awkward in your pocket, BUT IMAGINE YOUR FUTURE SELF + IMPROMPTU DANCE PARTIES = ASTRONOMICAL COOL POINTS. iLuv Mini Portable Speakers, Amazon, $21.50
5. In high school, my calculus teacher told us that derivatives are like matryoshka dolls. This excellent simile has stuck with me, despite not having taken the derivative of something in years. Thank you, Dr. Sloan. Hand Stamped Pocket Mirror Matryoshka Doll, TagsOnBags on Etsy, $4.50
6. My mom gave me a pair of these from her trip to Japan (practical gift giver, I guess). I learned, however, that disposable chopsticks are incredibly detrimental to the environment (WSJ claims that even Chinese pop stars carry their own chopsticks, so maybe I should too!). Second fun fact: I couldn’t use chopsticks until I was 21. I am asian. Yamazaki Stainless Steel chopsticks, Amazon, $12
7. After searching for mini screwdrivers that I could put in my ukulele bag, I came across this. Ridiculous! (But I secretly like the idea of using a grenade screwdriver on my ukulele) (Oh wait, not a secret anymore.) Grenade Screwdriver Set, Kikkerland, $5
8. There is a high possibility that if I owned this necklace, I would throw the tiny polymer clay candies at annoying people on the train. Yummy Candy Jar Necklace, Shanalogic, $16
9. I travel to NYC fairly regularly, and I think this journal would be perfect to record my favorite places and experiences. Like the time a synthesizer-playing scientologist gave me a map and directions to Bryant Park on the subway. New York City Mini Journal 6-Pack, Galison/Mudpuppy, $18
10. Although these *can* fit in your pocket, they reside in a freezer. Or, alternatively, you could transport them to a friend’s house in your pockets, and then place them in a freezer. These whiskey rocks will be like little chanteuses in your glass- chanteuses that don’t water down your drink. And, using them = WHISKEY LITERALLY ON THE ROCKS arharharharharhar. Whiskey Stones by Andrew Hellman, Unica Home, $20
11. Tiny bottle warmers to keep your hands warm! Mini Hottie Hand Warmer, Flight 001, $10
12. Oh, you already know my (and Minty Lewis’s) serious love of wombats. I had to include this. Wombat pendant, dragonwisper on Etsy, $1.50
13. Another miniature notebook for good ideas. I like the way “Think!” is hidden on the cover. Alphabet Writer’s Notepad, Galison/Mudpuppy, $5.50
14. This whistle necklace is by one of my favorite bloggers, oh, hello friend. It’s much lovelier than the THREE RAPE WHISTLES I received when I started college. Whistle necklace, ohhellofriend on Etsy, $24
15. According to several friends, George Lucas invented ewoks so people like me would want to watch Star Wars. You win, George Lucas. Star Wars Mimobot 2G Flash Drive, Delight, $32.50
MORE RAMBLING AFTER THE JUMP…
1. Lil Matilda wallet from Bird on the Wire, €14.5
2. Chi’s Sweet Home Plush from Akinaiblog.com, €21
3. Music Monkey Speaker from Urban Outfitters, £30 (it dances!)
4. Gadget Girls print by Kevin Dart from Fleet Street Scandal, $30
5. Generation A by Douglas Coupland from Amazon, £9.98
6. SAND de PANDA sandwich maker from JBox, $12.80 (SO COOL)
7. This is London by Miroslav Sasek from Design Museum Shop, £10.99
8. Ampersand cushion by AuntyCookie on etsy, $45
9. Action Book by Behance Outfitter, $15 (for creative times!)
10. CentralChef Cupcake Holder from Amazon, $17.99
Additional Notes: Ookah constructed the lovely image above, and offered a matching template for all of the other wishlists. The font is Quicksand Bold. Finally, if you enjoy Miroslav Sasek here are five silly facts on Miroslav Sasek.
Yay! It’s my very first Currently Obsessed post! I have a serious sweet tooth – as you will probably find out after subsequent posts – so I thought it fitting to relate all these items to mouth-watering sweet stuff!
1) Cupcake Car: When I saw these incredible “cars” capable of going a whopping 7mph, I actually screamed, in a pretty high-pitched voice: “Ohmygosh! They are soooo CUTE!” Because they so are. If any of you have $25,000 to spare you can get yourself the best Christmas present ever: a vehicle slower than a bike – but probably faster than your normal walking speed – that is fully customisable so you can get a car that resembles your favourite cupcake! I’m dreaming of the day that I arrive to school in one of these…The only question that remains: Do I need a driving license for one of these?!!
2) Oreo Cupcakes: I got pretty obsessed with cupcakes this week, and these look SO delicious! I mean pink panda cupcakes that are made from Strawberry Milkshake flavoured Oreos! Can you get more mouth-watering then that?
3) Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain (Or just Amélie): I’ve just started my A-Level French course at school and my teacher said that we needed to expose ourselves to more French culture; movies, music, book etc. So I decided to watch a French movie – I’m so glad I picked Amelie! It has actually become one of my favourite movies of all time! Its about a kooky waitress in Paris who leads a simple life and decides to devote her life to bringing strangers happiness. It is the cutest movie ever – I know I overuse the word cute, but there is no other way to describe this movie! You don’t even need to speak French – watch it with the English subtitles!
4) Carmex Cherry Lip Balm: Cherry Carmex is the best lip balm ever! I have really chapped lips but this lip balm makes them feel all moisturised and smooth! Your lips actually tingle when you put it on AND it smells so good! Every time I reapply it people will go: Are you eating a sweet? What smells so good? It only costs £2 as well, I can’t find any downsides!
5) Nymph Costume: So Halloween isn’t as huge a deal here in The UK as it is in the US, but I still think it is a great excuse for fancy dress! How beautiful is this handmade, leaf-adorned tunic? I think dressing up as Greek Forest Nymph would make the perfect Halloween costume! It is obviously dressing up, it is a unique idea and its just really pretty and feminine! Too bad it’s not exactly scary!
6) Irregular Choice Shoes: Irregular Choice makes the wackiest most original shoes that I have ever seen! You need to check out their website! I love all the colours and prints and the different structures – can you use the word structures when describing shoes? – that all the shoes have, but, my favourite pair by far are the ones covered with little ice creams! I went and tried them on in the store and everything, but unfortunately I am completely incapable of walking in 6inch heels!
I don’t really know what kind of pun, if any, my title is, but it is supposed to relate to Earth Day and maybe the phrase “in the pink”. Alright, fine. Title fail.
Anyway, here are ten things you can purchase today without feeling like a total non-environmental consumer whore:
Okay, okay…this post has been coming for some time, but after getting the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living, I just couldn’t put it off any longer. Little known fact about Lorraine: I am currently obsessed with Martha Stewart. From her awesome packaging design (I would LOVE to work for them…are you listening Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia??) to her line of crafts, from her cute kitchen line at Macy’s to my recent discovery of her Martha Stewart Living magazine, I am in love. In love with the fresh colors, the helpful mom/grandma-like tips for ironing, and the easy decor ideas from her craft line. If I weren’t already a designer, I’d buy all of her wedding stationary at the first sign of an engagement ring. (It’s nowhere in site, but heck, I may just do that anyways for a party!)
So without further ado, Good Things I LOVE:
And as the finishing touch, Martha reported on her visit to Prague in the latest issue of Living. Seriously: big brownie points in my book for featuring the beautiful capital of the Czech Republic. (Now if only she would just invite my grandma on to the show to share how Grandma bakes authentic Czech pastries such as kolaches. Yum!)
Although Heath Ledger’s Frankie Valli solo (on bleachers!) in 10 Things I Hate About You is exceptional, I prefer the scene where pugnacious Patrick Verona lights his cigarette with his bunsen burner(!) My appreciation for silly science things stems from my previous life as a science nerd (behemothic-I-want-to-make-a-glow-in-the-dark-tomato-plant «TRUE STORY» proportions).
I recently passed by foursided, a picture-framing gallery in Lakeview, which had the most glorious vintage science posters in the store window. My eyes twinkled. One poster featured a ring stand-hugged flask that floated above a bunsen burner (cliché image, I know), while the other poster discussed vision and wavelengths (lots of colors!). Often featuring magnificent hand sketches and an elusive sans-serif “science” font, vintage science illustrations are gorgeously quirky. Apparently there are others that share my fascination with vintage science illustrations, because I FOUND A LOT OF NEAT THINGS. Here is a selection of my findings, in science lesson form.
1. FACT! Flexor muscles allow you to bend your joints. These tins serve as the ideal hiding spot for little trinkets, and as a good reminder of the often overlooked flexor muscles. Tiny Tins (Flexors) from aminyitray on Etsy, $10
2. FACT! Fuzzy bugs are more pleasant in sketch-form, rather than alive-crawling-on-your-leg-form. Fuzzy Wuzzy Insect Pendant from Schmutzerland on Etsy, $27
3. FACT! KING PHILIP CAME OVER FOR GOOD SEX. Do you remember biological classification? No? Silly child. Well, perhaps you should get this BALLER SHIRT WHICH HAS A VINTAGE IMAGE OF MAJOR PHYLA. For those of you who are concerned about how others will respond to your new shirt, FEAR NOT! It comes in two color combinations! Light blue (shown above), and brown (shown below in a clo-clo-close-up image of the shirt) Tree of Life shirt from isotope on Etsy, $18 (Note: isotope has lots of interesting vintage science shirts, so I highly recommend that you take a peek.)
4. FACT! Reindeer = Caribou. These cards don’t feature an authentic vintage illustration, but after sifting through lots of science encyclopedia images, I couldn’t resist including these cards. Also, I like reindeer. Reindeer Antlers letterpress cards from Springtide Press on Etsy, $18
5. FACT! Vena Cava is a fashion label that occasionally makes pretty things, but generally bores me. DOUBLE FACT! De-oxygenated blood travels through the superior and inferior vena cava. TRIPLE FACT! The aorta is the largest artery in the body. Aorta and Vena Cava ring from aminyitray on Etsy, $40
6. FACT! Girls and boys who use skull-adorned pocket mirrors are excellent at hand to hand combat. Skull Pocket Mirror from badgeland on Etsy, $2.49
7. FACT! Without the Moog synthesizer, we would be without many hottt electronic tracks. Note detail below! Moog Synthesizer Schematic shirt from isotope on Etsy, $14
8. FACT! Biology purses are cooler than rolling backpacks. Biology Book Purse from prettytheory on Etsy, $40
9. FACT! Wearing a necklace that shows an injured hand proves that you are not afraid of blood, bitches, and hand to hand combat. Wounded Hand Pendant from aminyitray on Etsy, $25
10. FACT! The experience of reading any book can be improved if you use a tuberculosis, diphtheria, and tetanus bookmark. Yum. Bacteria Bookmark from DamageNoted on Etsy, $1.75
Final note: If you really like vintage science illustrations, you will love this Flickr pool.
Is it weird that, though I am perpetually boyfriendless, I love Valentine’s Day? On Valentine’s Day I feel no sadness in my singularity, and view it as an excuse to do my favorite childish things: eat chocolate, wear pink, and make crafty cards. I think of it as a day to celebrate the concept of love in general. Loving your friends, your family, your Winnie-the-Pooh. I hope you feel the same way, but if not, maybe some of these sweet things will help get you in the mood (listed clockwise):
1. For the Key to your Heart: I found these lovely little Kamibashi dolls ($10) and key chains, which were featured in New York Time’s ten Valentine’s Day accessory picks.
2. Old Fashioned: Found these old fashioned Valentine’s on the site of a favorite S&D sponsor. Way better than a tear-off Hannah Montana card. (Perpetual Kid, $5)
3. New Fashioned: ReadyMade recommends using your lunch hour to make Valentine’s out of office supplies. We say, what better way to spend your lunch hour and not spend any money. If you like the miniature Valentine look, let me remind you of Tricia’s fabulous tiny things post (Twenty-two Pocket Sized Treasures), where she featured a The World’s Smallest Post Office, where you can send The World’s Smallest Letter for a mere $8.
4. Some Like it Hot: MarieBelle’s Aztec hot chocolate (mmm, eccentric!) was apparently on one of Oprah’s favorite things lists, and if it’s Oprah’s favorite, then it’s mine.
5. Heart of Gold: I Heart Guts could come in handy for several occasions. Maybe give a uterus to say congrats to a pregnancy, a brain for graduation, or, of course, a heart for Valentine’s Day. This lovable organ comes as either a Heart of Gold ($27) or the regular-old red thumper ($17).
6. Frog or Prince?: Put this plastic little froggy in water, and he turns into a handsome prince. Instant gratification, and no sticky kisses required. (Urban Outfitters, $6)
7. For Your Sugar (Fix): Yum, cupcakes! The more freshly baked, the better. Add a conversation heart for true holiday spirit. (From Baked, the hip bakery in Brooklyn and Charelston)
8. Neruda’s Love Poems: Whether you have a literary (or Latino, for that matter) lover, or you just going to spend Vday eating ice cream and reading love poems (not actually recommended), Pablo Neruda’s Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair is one the best collections of love poetry (a largely intolerable genre) available. Best in its original Spanish, it can be enjoyed in either language with this edition. (Penguin, $13).
9. lo-li-ta: Wouldn’t you love to pull this little Hello Kitty Pouch with Pom Pom ($13) out of your purse on Valentine’s Day? Filled with chocolate & conversation hearts, of course.
10. To Get You in the Mood: Finally, download tons of free Valentine’s Day fonts and dingbats at dafont.com, completely free, and completely cute. Just stick with Times New Roman for papers. (Featured here, Love Letters.)
Knock Knock. Who’s there? It’s Jen Bilik, the Head Honcho (founder, creator, owner) of Knock Knock. (Sorry, I couldn’t help it.) She is the one behind all of those funny, well-written, cleanly-designed pads, books, folders, binders, notebooks, and flashcards that you always see in that Kitschy shop on the corner. (Everything is also for sale on-line, and, HINT HINT, the Nifty Notes and Pocket Notes make great stocking stuffers.)
1. Pack This! Pad, $7; 2. Pro Con Pad, $7; 3. Dial an Excuse, $7.50; 4. Thanks a Lot!, $4.50, 5. Daily Mood Tracker Paper Mouse Pad, $11; 6. Things To Do Pocket Notes, $5.50; 7. Accomplish Pad, $7; 8. Random Dawdle Paper Mouse Pad, $11
Due to my various neuroses, which result in an incredible amount of list-making and indecision, Knock Knock pads frequently come in handy. Due to my obsession with clean, functional graphic design and witty writing, I feel a tickle of joy in my heart every time I see them.
Yes, the pads can be considered humorous novelty and joke gifts, but often they are quite functional. I use my “Pack This” pad every time I go on a trip. The “Rate that Wine” pad would have been perfect for the Wine class I took in college. I’ve always thought the “Daily Mood Tracker” should be used in therapy (you might need to ignore the “kill me now” column…) rather than ugly black and white xeroxed sheets (seriously, if you’re already depressed, ugly designed mood tracking sheets aren’t going to help). And, while I hope the entire “Shit List” pad wouldn’t come in handy for anyone very often, I think Steven Colbert might like it if he were renamed it “Dead to Me.”
I wanted to make a Gift Guide featuring all Knock Knock products, but then I could just write a post that says, “Please go to the Knock Knock site for your holiday shopping.” So, instead, I’ve been including them here and there, like in the Neurotic Gift Guide post. Since then, several people have said they wished they could get me The Complete Manual of Things That Might Kill You. (TIP: For someone as paranoid as me, this would be a cruel joke.)
Anyway, in place of an All Knock Knock Gift Guide, I’m offering you an interview with the founder and owner of the company that puts the “fun in functional.”
INTERVIEW WITH THE RULER OF KNOCK KNOCK (more…)
Growing up, I was obsessed with apes, particularly with gorillas. Even now, I am not sure why more people aren’t intrigued that some animals — gorillas and chimpanzees in particular — are capable of human communication.
In probably second grade, as soon as I learned that some apes could learn sign language, I wanted to learn sign language. That stuck with me through college, and was part of the reason I ended up taking ASL classes at Gallaudet. (Random, I know.)
Anyway. Enough of my life story. Gorillas are adorable. So, if you want to deck your house out in gorilla merchandise, well, I think it’s a fab idea.
ALSO, if you have money to spare & have friends with money to spare, then you can adopt a baby gorilla this xmas for only $50. You get a certificate and some other goodies. Oh, and more good karma.
