This is kind of a currently obsessed post in disguise… but since I’ve got road trips on the brain, I thought I’d unite under a single theme.

1. The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano. I loved this book, and I think it’s the perfect road trip novel for several reasons: it’s long enough to last you, it is told in smaller snippets (diary entries and short-story-like “interviews”) so picking it up and putting it down is not a problem, and it’s about really road-trippy people. (Check out James Wood’s NY Times Review.)
2. Pack This! I love Knock Knock, and I actually use my Pack This! notepad before almost every trip.
3. Half Pink Hair. I feel like you should either start a road trip or return from a road trip with a new look. I really want this half-pink hair but know that I will mess it up. (Anyone died their hair pink? Half pink? Tips?!) (Found this on Suicide Blonde’s tumblr.)
4. Globetrotter Necklace. I enjoy wearing thematically appropriate jewelry.
5. Bright Backpack! I often carry way too many items for a purse alone, so I just got this Jansport backpack and I am thrilled with it. It’s high quality, has perfect pockets, fits my macbook pro, feels good on the shoulders, and is all of my favorite colors (except blue, but that’s okay).
6. Postcards from Penguin. Maybe you are wondering why I start trips with postcards. This is because I have to address them and stamp them before I leave or else I will never actually send any. (Besides, most local postcards use very ugly fonts.) But the real reason I’m posting these particular postcards is because I AM SO EXCITED that they are coming to America (…in October… but you can pre-order them!… Penguin always puts everything out in the UK first…). There are 100 Book Covers in ONE box of postcards! (We are pretty in love with book covers here at Stickers & Donuts!)

Note: Background for this post from Mike Swanson’s Blog’s Wallpaper collection.

Inspired by Maria’s previous “What I Bought” post, and Mindy Ephron’s blog (things i bought that i love) (which is just as funny as the Office episodes she has written), I’ve created a post of things that I have recently purchased.  No, I’m not substantially aiding the economy with 25 cent animal figurines, but they make me happy.

• Mock me all you want, but I love Gossip Girl.  The dialogue is gelastic and completely delightful.  I could be in a foul mood, but then the lovely Veronica Mars will say something ridiculous like, “Hey Upper East Siders. We hear that World War III just broke out. And it’s wearing kneesocks. Choose your side or run and hide. We have a feeling this one’s to the death.” Harhar.  I can even determine if my Monday will be bearable, based on whether or not there will be a new episode.  The blitheness trickles throughout the week.  Tuesday mornings, I dash to NY Mag’s Daily Intel to read their episode recaps (Gossip Girl Reality Index!).  I piss away the rest of the week until Friday, when Daily Intel releases a list of the best viewer assessments OF the recaps.  I’ve been considering purchasing Season One since August, and when a couple of my friends promised to watch the show if I shared Gossip Girl DVDs with them, I concluded that this would be an excellent time to purchase the set.  Gossip Girl- The Complete First Season from Amazon, $24
• “Yo, us bears totally have to stick together to battle vegetarian dinosaurs,” exclaimed Poppy the polar bear.  Uncle Fun, a neat toy/knick-knack store in Lakeview, has card catalog drawers FILLED with magical little toys- perfect for setting up battles.  Plastic Critter Figurines from Uncle Fun, $0.25!
• I went through an entire tub of Trader Joe’s Mini Cafe Twists in less than a week.  And then, I bought a new tub.  Each twist is a puff pastry chunk, coated in cinnamon sugar.  Plus, they’re vegan!  Mini Cafe Twists from Trader Joe’s, $2.29
• THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING CARDS I HAVE EVER SEEN.  Everytime I see a picture of William Shatner, I can’t help but giggle.  A little.  Did you know he has a self-reflective album produced by Ben Folds? (totally a Pitchfork 7.5, yo).  I bought this card from one of my favorite stories in Chicago, Paper Boy, which is a member of the Uncle Fun empire.  Designed by Sara Hernandez (who works at Paper Boy!), this card is part of a glorious Gocco-screenprinted line.  I highly recommend that you take a peek at her Etsy: Give your thanks with T(om) Hanks, In love?, Smitten?  Amor?  Sara’s card line is available for purchase at Paper Boy ($3.00 a card), or HER ETSY- PAPERTIGERCARDS! ($3.50 a card).
• My fridge is spoiled.  There are two new additions to the mess of concert posters and pictures of my friends that hang precariously on my fridge.  Item One- A 1983 postcard that features the Beach Boys singing to their “number one fans,” President and Mrs. Reagan.  Yes, this picture is taken right before Dennis Wilson drowned (the postcard morbidly includes this fact).  Item Two- A silly “telegram” from summer squash.  Tragic vegetable love.  Both from Uncle Fun, $0.75

I have no idea why I felt compelled to construct two sentences with “yo,” but I’M NOT GOING TO DELETE THEM.

One of my favorite things yesterday at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn was the Postcard Machine.

A woman sits inside this crafty little “postcard vending machine” with a microphone and speaks in very terse, robotic voice as you interact with it to get your postcard. (more…)

I love Urban Outfitter’s US map that features artist-designed postcards from 50 states (plus some Canadian provinces). Here’s the New Mexico postcard: (more…)