Little Miss Hits the Marc

Miss Marc by Marc Jacobs USB key chain, $38, ShopBop

Office girls of the 50s knew to always have a mini sewing kit, nail file and extra stockings on hand.  I’d say that list still holds, with the addition of a USB jump drive.  USB drives have saved me many times, like when the wireless connection went down minutes before a big presentation or when I needed to do a quick print job in a hotel’s business center.

This Miss Marc by Marc Jacobs USB key chain will make sure I am never without a trusty drive.  Miss Marc has popped up on everything from t-shirts to totes over the years.  While I like her quirky-cute look, at thirty-ahem-something years of age, donning a shirt with her on it never seemed quite right.  But this key chain fits the bill perfectly and I won’t have to worry about anyone at my office walking off with my drive.

What about you?  Do you always have a USB drive on hand?

Love, the Second Time Around

Do you ever contemplate a purchase, decide against it, and regret doing do ever since?  Oh, I have been positively haunted by some of the things that I let get away.  But with Google, I find myself on occasion typing in the lost item with the hopes it pops up on eBay or elsewhere.  

About four years back, I was putting my husband through a University of Michigan graduate school program and watching every penny.  So despite the fact that a certain resin Marc Jacobs white guitar pendant watch necklace was at a “last call” price in my Neiman Marcus shopping cart, I let it go.  I was drawn to the ease and playfulness of it.  It seemed like just the thing I would throw on with one of the grey t shirts I live in and my Supergas, say to take in the Dinosaur Jr. concert that was paying down the street.  Or some for some other occasion where I could, ironically, care less about the time.   

With thanks to eBay, I will soon know if love really is sweeter the second time around.  And, even better, my necklace will be here just in time for me to throw it on with a grey t shirt to watch the Old 97’s play down the street.

So, how about you?  Anything you have let languish in your shopping cart only to regret it later?

Funny Valentine

Photo is property of Mattia Biagi

I have always loved Mattia Biagi’s tar teddy bear.  Perhaps a little sinister to some, I like the way it takes an innocent form, the common teddy bear, and makes you look at it in a completely different perspective.  The tar drips give the bear a sense of movement before it becomes frozen in time. What does it make you think of?  Does it conjure emotions of the innocence of childhood morphing into something else? 

TGIF

Photograph by Romulo Yanes

How happy are we that it is Friday?  I am not sure what was going on around the blog o’sphere this week but it seems like everyone was anxiously waiting for this day to arrive, me included.  So now that it is here, what are you planning to do this weekend?  I am using dog sitting as a great excuse to stay in and cook the entire weekend.  First up, Saturday breakfast:

One perfectly puffed, golden apple pancake

One Illy cappuccino

Have a Delicious weekend!

I Scream, You Scream

Years back, I headed to Cincinnati, OH for a press check.  Despite broken print presses, sleeping in the print shop lounge, and one very difficult client, the whole trip was worth it because I got introduced to Graeter’s ice cream.  Established in 1870, Graeter's uses the French pot process which incorporates much less air in the ice cream than other methods, resulting in the thickest, creamiest ice cream I have ever tasted. 

They ship all over the country, so one Father’s Day I sent my Dad several pints.   He could barely stop eating long enough to call to tell me how amazing it was.  Prices range from $60 to $80 for 6 pints, and $90 to $120 for 12 pints, depending on the shipping area.  Greater’s would make a sweet Valentine’s Day gift.  If an endorsement from Delicious does not have you convinced, according to the February edition of Vogue, Graeter’s is just what Jeanna Lyons is giving this year.

I am curious, do you eat ice cream in the winter or is it just a warm weather treat?

City in a Box



Paris in a Box, London in a Box, New York in a Box

I always like to buy travel-themed gifts for my nieces, and these wooden cityscapes from Muji  are just perfect.  In fact, I think I might have to get the Paris one for my home office.  Which city is your favorite?   



Target’s Latest Designer Collaboration Flies Under the Radar

Linea Pelle for Target Studded Hobo in Black $34.99
Available February–June

Since the first Michael Graves whistling teakettle, Target has been known for “bringing design to all.” Their fashion collaborations are usually advertised in glossies and on TV.  Video on Target.com would showcase designers speaking about the collection and the experience of partnering with Target. Editorial coverage ranged from the Wall Street Journal to Vogue.

So it’s surprising that their current collaboration with Linea Pelle has been available in stores since February 2, with barely a mention.  I spotted the handbags, make-up bags and accessories completely by accident while running errands. 

Admittedly some of Target’s handbag collections have left me cold, such as the recent Mulberry one.  Making a quality faux leather is tricky but the Linea Pelle line is worth a look.  There is a cornflower blue top handle bag that would be perfect for Spring and the black one pictured here will hold you over until then.  The line is part of Target’s Spring 2011 Trend Accessories Collection and prices range from $4.99 to $49.99 for handbags, scarves, jewelry, hats and shoes.  While select items from the collection are availible online, the Linea Pelle items are not (as of press time). 

I am curious, would you have made a trip to Target just to check out the line had you known about it?  Will you go now?

Vanilla Vixen Cakes

Saturday, I met up with friends at one of our favorite bars in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, Bar on Buena.  When the waitress overheard that I had celebrated my birthday the previous evening, she came out with large piece of chocolate cake for all of us to share.  One bite and I knew I had to tell you all about it and how to get it. 

Now, I have had cakes from many of Chicago’s popular bakeries, but this is one of the finest chocolates cakes I have ever had in the city.  This cake had rich chocolate flavor that was the perfect balance between sweet and bittersweet.  The frosting was creamy perfection, chocolate as well but not too much to overpower the cake.  There was also a hint of shredded coconut that added an element of sweet surprise, but what really won me over was the flavor of the chocolate and how light and fluffy the cake was.  Everyone at the table agreed, even my best guy friend who doesn’t even consider himself that much of a chocolate person.

Then, I came to learn that our waitress’s generosity was not the only thing behind the surprise dessert.  She baked it herself!  Heather Reardon of Vanilla Vixen Cakes supplies local restaurants with her confections and also takes custom orders.  My advice this Valentine’s Day, skip the whole prix fixe menu ordeal, stay in, and order one of her cakes to celebrate. 

Besides being delicious, don't you just love her company's name?

For more information or to place an order contact: heather@vanillavixencakes.com

Shake it Up

From Design Milk,

Reverse Salt and Pepper, $32, Chiasso

I have needed new salt and pepper shakers for, oh I’d say about a year now.  What’s the hold up in getting on that, you ask?  Why the opportunity at stake, of course.  I can’t make up my mind.  Do I go with something whimsical and colorful from Alessi? Or something understated, like these brushed nickel ones from Calvin Klein?

Helping, and at the same time delaying, my decision is Design Milk’s round up of salt and pepper shakers.  A long-time follower of Design Milk, I nearly fell off my chair when I read their Facebook post, “Behind Design Milk there is just a girl who loves design.” “A” girl runs this blog?  The features are so diverse; the coverage is so in-depth; the design so lovely, I assumed it was a team of people. 

So please, visit Design Milk and tell me what you think.  And, oh, back to the task at hand.  What salt and pepper shakers would you buy if you were me?