Chased by Children

Let the Holidays begin

Chili from Don't Try this at Home is hosting a carnival today for Holiday shopping.  Who doesn't need ideas for those impossible to shop for people on your list?

So, let's start here by being classy.

Every year you have to decide which party or family event to attend.  You can't go to all of them.  Limit the guilt that you feel. Instead of sending regrets send them dessert.  Cupcakes (located on West Briar Place in Chicago) will ship anywhere in the US.  Not only are they delicious they are gorgeous.  Case in point:

Are you thoughtful like that?

Or maybe some unbelievable coffee:  Who else out there is addicted?  If you aren't now, then you will be.  Chicago area roasters Metropolis Coffee Company are really cool for people who make something that ends up so hot.  I know, I made that up myself, I'm the Darren Stevens of my generation.

Metropolis Coffee Company.  You will want to send those special people something if you can't be there for the holidays.

Go there now and check out the unique Chicago rhythym.

That's all I got people.  Go back to the carnival now and check out all the other holiday gift ideas.

Go to Market Mondays

Ahhh.  Monday.  Here we go:

Escada makes jeans that cost $10,000.  Yep. 

You can buy a pair here.

Or you can feed a family of 5 for two years.  Think it over.

They are lovely.  Swarovski Crystals encrusted.  Denim.  Yes the same material that Ree's husband over at Confessions of a Pioneer Woman wears to heard and care for cattle.    Denim.

Please don't buy these for me.  I don't actually wear jeans anymore.  encrusted or otherwise.

Go to Market Mondays

Okay, this is the halfway point of my eight week excursion into online shopping.  As I told you last week this has been such great fun for me that I wonder if I will be able to stop.

I wonder if I can trespass upon you to leave me a comment about the series.  Keep it or dump it.  You can help me decide.  I thank you for your opinion in advance.

Now, to the good stuff I found this week:

How about this little number for your foyer?  This little thumbnail doesn't do it justice, you really need to take a look at this site.    This one is $4,500.  I don't own a crystal chandelier but would love to have a dining room or foyer that justified one.

When King George was a little boy his very Italian mother had a beautiful crystal chandelier in her dining room.  One day he and his Dad were playing ball in the house and accidentally hit the chandelier.   His very nimble father scooped him and his sister up and swept them out to the car in a flash.  The King says they drove around for hours until his father felt it was safe to go back home.  That story always makes me smile and wish that I could strike that sort of fear in the soul of my husband.

I'm a slipper girl.  Did I ever tell you that?  The King implemented a "no shoes in the house" policy back when it was his house and I was there for the first time...remind me to post on that later.  Anyhoo, I wear whatever Target will sell me.  They aren't pretty most of the time (although I do like the ones I have on right now that are sock monkey-esque).  These little numbers ($95) are probably too good for me...but I would like to find that out.  Red Envelope always has the nicest gift ideas.  If I wanted to start a  gift company I would just steal theirs.  Seriously.

Who saw Memoirs of a Geisha?  What?  Go watch it right now and come back.  I loved the beauty of that movie.  When they did exterior shots of the Geisha house you see these tulip-like drain spouts that make a lovely little tinkle tinkle sound. I have always admired (from a great distance) the water features common in Japanese gardens.  These, in particular, seem like such a beautiful way to direct rain.

Guess what? That's what, chicken butt.  I found them.  And here they are.  At $79.95 for 27 I think it's practically a bargain.  No I will not lend you the money.  What do you mean why....you are supposed to buy these items for ME.  ahem.  I'll just pretend this conversation never happened. 

Go to Market Monday

I have to tell you that Monday is rapidly becoming my favorite blog day.  First of all because I usually get a lot of traffic and second because this eight week adventure in going to market has turned out to be a lot of fun.

This is actually the third installment of Go to Market Monday, and for those of you who don't know.  it's my way of shopping without my husband, King George or any of the three little Princesses.

I highlight some luxury or cool or interesting items and then you go out and get them for me.  What's that?  Why would you get them for me?  Umm....sympathy?  Read more of my blog and believe me, you'll be sending me all sorts of sympathetic gifts (and perhaps some grammar books).

When you look at this item it would be reasonable for you to think, "hey, that toaster looks like a teapot".  But you would be wrong.  That toaster is ALSO a teapot.  Why would you want two appliances when you only need one?  Who has the cash for that?  Not me.    That second teapot is in the shape of a globe, it's also very cool.  Check out the extraordinary Teapottery site.  It's in the UK and you know that those English people know a lot about tea (and manners) because they actually drink it.  I'm more of a Latte gal myself but if there were toast involved I'd consider converting.  If you know anything about me you know that I've converted for a lot less....let me tell you. Let. Me. Tell. You.

What do you get the woman who has given birth to your favorite three children (or at least three in your top ten)  The sparkle sparkle bling.  That's what.  To make this simple for you...here is some lovely jewelry from Neiman Marcus.  They were designed by John Hardy who clearly knows what he is doing.  And if you know what you are doing you'll spend the $1995 for the cuff (as if married mothers need more "cuffs") and $895 for the earings.  They are extraordinary pieces that are just funky enough for someone who loves being glamorous in the blogosphere.  Jewelry is something that I never buy for myself (except of course for the $14.95 cubic zirconia earings that I wear every single day of my life).  I just never have been that girl who has a set of jewelry for every outfit.  However, the pieces that have been purchased for me are dear to me.  My phenomenal Aunt Jean purchased an emerald ring for me on my high school graduation which I wear on days that I need to feel brave.  I also have some lovely things from the King.  My engagement ring is stunning, I still like to just look at it.   However, now that we've been married a decade (+) it's time for some more....that's all, just more.  Please and thank you very much.

Finally, while you are over there looking at jewelry from Neiman Marcus go to the gift ideas section to find this gift.  It looks like a gorgeously wrapped package.  It's not.  It's a gorgeously designed cheesecake.  $124 (plus S&H) You can eat it all...including that gold ribbon and those lovely roses on top. The cheesecake is white and bittersweet chocolate  with a raspberry swirl on a macadamia nut crust.  I think I just went into diabetic coma  from staring at it.  That doesn't mean I won't try it.  In fact I was thinking my waistline could use some thickening.  This might be just the ticket.

This gift has some competition from here and here .  I liked the Nieman Marcus site better but the others are fun to look at, no?   

Go to Market Monday

This is my new series on internet shopping.

I think I've mentioned that I hate shopping.  So, this is my attempt

at finding cool places on the web that allow me to shop without my family.  I am

looking for things that I would love but that I would never buy for myself (this is where I say:  hint, hint). Enjoy.

Ready for a new fridge? Check out the fresh retro products at Big Chill ... it makes me want to chuck my stainless steel fridge and put in something a little cooler (see what I did there? talking about a fridge I used the word cooooooler? ha! maybe all that Boggle is paying off)  They also have stoves and are about to get dishwashers (does that count as retro?  isn't that kind of like have a retro cell phone?)  This is not a cheap item ($2700) but as long as we are putting up luxury items this one definitely counts.  There are other retro fridges out there.  Some are recycled like these.  And some are so cool that it's hard to tell if they are even retro...like the ones from Smeg.  I think I need a new kitchen to decorate, what?  I don't have any money?  Rats.

You have no idea what this is?  It's for those people in the work force who still need that nap you are so desperately trying to get your 3-year-old to take (not me, but some people).  It's for the work-place and it does two things:  1) confirms that George Castanza on Seinfield was on to something when he was outfitted his desk for a mid-day nap and 2) corporate America is starting more and more to resembe Day-Care.  There is nothing wrong with a mid-day nap, right?  But I draw the line when you are getting paid to take it.  Check out the web site here. 

This contraption is just perfect for all those padded expensive bras that I own.  This an invention that actually serves a practical purpose in my life....what's it doing on this page?  Hmmm....maybe it's really expensive...nope only $20. Get it here. 

Go to Market Monday

I don't like to shop.  For. Anything. 

Oh, sure, I like to buy stuff -- it's the shopping that drives me insane.  I hate trying on clothes, being attacked by perfume ladies, and eating mall food.  I'm sure it's more fun without the misbehaving Princesses, the squeaky stroller, and the shop-a-holic King...but I digress....

For the next eight weeks I will be doing "Go to Market Mondays" about the best places to shop on the internet.  I will try to highlight specific luxury items that I wish I had....so that your Christmas shopping for me will be easier.  You were worried about that, right?  Of course you were.

Like yesterday, I will highlight several shops that I think do a great job of presentation, both on the internet and in their products (those truffles, are you kidding me?).  Anyway, I'm seriously hoping that you will enjoy the weekly break from the usual fare of brilliant wit and pithiness.   That is why you stop by, no?

Happy Monday People.  Shop. Click. Shop. Click. Shop.  You know the drill.