Modernist Mugs

Housewares.

Now I know that I have an unusually strong penchant for cute tea cups, but you have to admit that these new 50's inspired designs from West Elm are abso-freakin-lutely adorable. I'll take a set with a tin of Earl Grey, thank you very much!

Matryoshkas Measure

Clever Kitchen Tool.

I'm a bit of a product stalker. I often have a difficult time buying something the first time I see it. I usually stew about said product. Search it on the web for best pricing. And then stew about it some more.

Well I've been stewing about these adorable measuring cups for months now!



I love that they are a kitschy play on traditional Russian matryoshkas. They are adorable enough to set out on the counter. And are actually quite practical because there are 6 dry measures nestled into one cute package.

Should I stop stewing and just buy them???

Olive & Cocoa

Source for unique gifts.

OMG. I have no idea how Olive & Cocoa got my information and then decided to send me a catalogue, but it was love at first sight.

I haven't dog-eared so many pages in a single catalogue in a LONG time. Make sure to check out their site and start making your wish list.

Here are just a handful of my favorites...in case anyone is curious.


Cupcake Stands packaged in a wooden crate



Red and White Wine Decanters



Numbered Wine Glasses



Old-fashioned lollipops packaged in their signature crate.




Tapas Caddy



And because it's the year of Hibiscus...subtly pink martini glasses.

Red Hot Mixer

Registry Must.

If I didn't already have my very own Kitchen Aid Mixer, you better bet that I would be sprinting to the store to buy this 90th Anniversary Limited Edition Candy Apple Red version. With a color and finish like a Vintage Corvette, you will be the envy of the neighborhood. Brides of 2010...add this to your registry and know that I am SO jealous!!

Williams-Sonoma

Must Have Kitchen Gadgets.

Oh geez. I have a firm/semi-firm rule about not buying specialized kitchen gadgets. The reality-based side of my brain says that they take up too much room to warrant their occasional use. But then I get a new Williams-Sonoma catalogue in the mail, and all of my reason goes right out the window. My newest obsessions are:

The Calzone Maker
I know this isn't that hard to do without a gadget, but look how nice and easy it looks here. I kind of have to have it.


Giant Donut Cake Pan
There are few things in this world that my husband likes more than a donut. If I made him a donut cake for his next birthday, he might pass out from excitement. Yes...I need this.


Ebelskiver Pan - aka filled pancake pan.
Also on the list of things that my husband loves is things filled with nutella. I can just picture how happy he would be to bit into a nutella-filled pancake. And I wouldn't be too upset to have one either.


Whoopie Pie Pan
It's the hottest trend in desserts for 2010. Is there even a question if I should get this? I think not.

You need this.

Registry recommendation.

When my husband and I registered for wedding gifts last year, he thought I was absolutely ridiculous for registering for a salad spinner. He argued that I would not possibly use it enough to justify the space that it would take up. Well he was wrong, wrong, wrong. I use my salad spinner at least 4 times a week. I use it to clean, dry, and store salad or herbs and I save a ton of money by not buying the pre-washed and pre-cut greens.

But this weekend I came across something that might trump my beloved salad spinner. A collapsible salad spinner. For those of you out there that are registering for wedding gifts, you have to include it on your list. And I'm so jealous of those of you that receive it...

Get what you want

Registry.

Planning a wedding registry can be tough stuff. Once you've gotten through the pots & pans, mixers, and dishes you have to think about decorative items. But what if the place that you found your salad spinner (my fave thing in the world) doesn't provide things for home decor that floats your boat?

The answer is sites like The Things I Want, which allows you to pick anything that you like from the web to create a wish list (aka registry) that you can share with as few or as many people as you'd like. So now those amazing online boutiques that you drool over that don't provide a registry are finally fair game for a registry. Brilliant!!

And you don't have to be getting married, moving in to a house, or having a baby to get in on the fun. These sites are perfectly acceptable as "Christmas or Birthday Lists" as well. Save your 'rents and friends the stress of figuring out if what they like is what you like and just show them what you've been stalking on the web.

Which brings me to a new find on the web. Mothology. This site has a treasure trove of beautiful items for the home. Take a gander at these lovelies and see if you'd like to add any of them to your list.

Un Verre d'Amitie' Glasses (A glass of friendship)

Telescoping Picture Holders

Mercury Glass Votives

Mansard Style Mirror with an Antique Pedestal Foyer Table

Mercury Hobnail Collection

Chalkboard Stands

Wooden 3-tier Display Stand

Dinnerware with Flair!

Registry.

I decided over the holiday break to try and find a solution to storing my old magazines, the ones with to much good info to just pull out the pertinent pages. Instead, I started flipping through pages, became inspired to write this blog entry and never went back to my organization project!

But all was not a total loss, I get to introduce you to Jessica Rust Designs. Jessica definitely knows how to use classic patterns but with a personal flair. You have to look closely for the personal touches as they are added so seamlessly that it doesn’t take away from the style, it adds to it. Amidst the birds, trees and blossoms you will find your wedding date or initials intertwined into the design.

All of Jessica’s designs are absolutely stunning and she has recently added an online registry that makes ordering a snap. If you already have a china pattern, don’t worry, Rust designs are so stylish that they would integrate nicely with most patterns or you could always add a fun twist to dessert. --b

I need a second house…

Registry and gifts.

So if you are anything like me, you receive enough magazines and catalogues in the mail to start your own wing at the local library. I usually dog-ear all of my pages of interest, and then go back later to tear out those pages and catalogue them by category…because you never know when you will want to refer back to something.

Well I’ve been going back through my dog-ears of the last few months, and I keep coming across the same name – Rosanna, Inc. Her collections of tableware and glassware are amazing! Whether you are beachy, earthy, worldy, or dramatic, Rosanna has unique and lovely pieces to suit your taste.

If I had known about this website before my wedding in August, my registry might have looked very different. The Rococo Noir collection has my name written all over it. If I only had another 100 square feet of space… --a

From Top: Mondo Collection, Cin Cin Collection, Rococo Noir Collection

Green Goods.

Registry.

Registering for shower and wedding gifts can be really fun and exciting...and a bit intimidating. My registry consultant from a certain department store (who will remain nameless), looked at me a like I was a crazy lady when I said that I wasn't going to register for fine china & sterling silver. The fact that I didn't have room in my apartment to store 12 sets of both everyday and fancy-schmancy dinnerware was apparently a ridiculous notion. Evs...

So instead of making sure that you have the proper amount of tea cups, gravy boats, and rice makers (really?? is that necessary), register for some fun things!!

Here is a perfect example of an item of distinction that I doubt you will find on any registry list. Esque, by Andi Kovel & Justin Parker, is a line of one of a kind pieces of functional art that are made from recycled glass and processed in an electric furnace that is powered by wind energy. I particularly like the "Jute Cozy Carafe + Glasses." Good for the earth and good for you tabletop, yes? --a