For Eric

Not to be sappy, but Eric is like... the best person ever. Bonus, he's a total hunk. BUT, fatal flaw, he's terrible at telling me gift ideas. And Father's Day is upcoming. I'm pretty sure he'd like some kind of gun, but I know nothing about guns. I also know he needs new skis and boots, but there is NO WAY I could figure that out, either. 

So, what do I know about him? He's tall and Norwegian. Likes to bike. Likes outer-space. Total nerd. Grill master extraordinaire. 

1 The Chart of Cosmic Exploration - He loves space. And I think he actually said he liked this poster once? 

2 Cycling Jersey - I messed up and bought him a black helmet (not hi-vis) when I got him one for his birthday last year; I'd like to redeem myself and get him at least *one* item of biking equipment that is hi-vis.

3 Grill Mat - He likes to grill; fairly certain he was looking at a mat at some point. 

4 We could really use a new weed eater and edger, but seems like a boring gift.   

5 The Office - We no longer have Netflix and we miss watching The Office. Either the box set or another Netflix membership? I heard Stranger Things 3 is coming out soon, too...

6 Norse Sweatshirt - He's Norwegian, therefore he obviously loves anything and everything related. Right? 

7 Lego Saturn V - Did I mention he's a nerd. A big, sexy nerd. 

8 Black Bear Art Print - He once owned bees? And I want this print. I fear this list may reveal how self-centered I am... 

9 Kuhl Shorts - He's so skinny, his old shorts don't fit. 

10 Cycling Shorts - See above. 

Best of Baby Stuff: Mobiles

There are a lot of cool mobiles out there; these are a few of my favorites...

Symphony in 3 Movements / Circular Bunnies Mobile / Olephant Mobile / Themis Primis Mobile

... but I saved the best for last. Look at how adorable this mobile is!!!

I think Eric would actually be into this one. :)

Zara is Amazing!!

Holy. Cow. I am so excited right now!!!!! Finding gender neutral baby clothing has been nigh-on impossible, but then I came across the Zara Mini lookbook today.... I love it all. So classic and amazing and adorable. I'm in love!!!

Above are images from the lookbook.
Below are some outfits from their website. I had a really hard time picking favorites - though their sweaters are too sweet for words. Eep! So cute!

Diaper Bags

I hadn't planned on buying a diaper bag. I figured I could carry whatever I needed in the Patagonia computer bag Eric got me years ago. You know, save some money while successfully avoiding those gigantic, hideously patterned diaper totes sold by every baby store out there.

But then I started researching diaper bags. They come with changing pads! They're completely wipeable! They have things like "antimicrobial linings to reduce odor-causing bacteria" and "thermo-insulated bottle holders." And not all of them come in garish colors and require a sherpa to haul them for you! If I can spare my Patagonia bag from leaking bottles and, more importantly, diapers, I will be one happy mama.

Below are a few of the better options I've come across. While nice, numbers 1-4 cost much more than I want to spend on a bag used to carry stained clothing and used burp cloths, but numbers 5 and 6 may be just what I'm looking for. In fact, Skip Hop's Via Messenger has been Eric approved - in both the green and gray! Hopefully that means he would even consent to carrying it once in a while?!

1. So Young Khaki Charlie Bag - also comes in slate and black / 2. OiOi Crushed Wax Canvas Stachel Diaper Bag / 3. Stork Sak Ashley / 4. Stork Sak Aubrey / 5. Skip Hop Duo Essential Diaper Bag - in gray and in luxe french stripe / 6. Skip Hop Via Messenger

JCP

Suddenly, JCP has become cool. They now have lines by Johnathan Adler, Design by Conran, and even Martha Stewart. AND, everything in the home section is on sale this week. I'm quite tempted....

These sofas are fabulous:

Crescent Heights Sofa / Darrin Fabric Sofa / Bleecker Sofa

That Crescent Heights sofa is the perfect color of greige and the Darrin is only $849 right now. Eric, can we get another sofa? Or two?

These pieces are also on my "Awesome Home Wares" list: 

Charlotte Round Pouf / Design by Conran Luciana Table Lamp / Royal Doulton Mode Tableware 

I'd love that pouf (or one similar) for a nursery and those dishes (!). They come in white and putty and I would like 5 settings of each, please. I absolutely love the shape of the plates. I hope our JCP here in town has at least a couple of these collections. I will have to check it out tonight after work.

Rifle Paper Company iPhone Cases!

Rifle Paper Company is an awesome stationary store that just came out with a new line of iPhone cases. I would seriously consider buying one of these if they had more options in the 4s, instead of just for the iPhone 5.

They're so pretty!

I think my favorites are these....

Or maybe I'll just settle for a bobby pins print?? Eric is always complaining how I take them off and sprinkle them about the house...

Sitting in my Shopping Cart...

This installation of "sitting in my shopping cart" brought to you by the word "cat"

In case you haven't noticed, I am fast becoming a cat lady, people! While others brag about their children and jobs, I tell (what I think to be) hilarious tales of my cat clinging to tree branches, playing chicken with oncoming traffic, and silently ridding the neighborhood of vermin one song-bird at a time. I even have a voice specifically reserved for speaking to The Admiral. It is high-pitched and hugely obnoxious.

Here are a few goods that no modern-day cat lady can live without:

Galactic Cat!

Available at BurgerandFriends on Etsy

Or for days when Cat Lady is feelin' sassy:

Available at BurgerandFriends on Etsy.

The purr-fect place for a cat nap (sorry, couldn't resist):

Available at Xenotees on Etsy. 

I've mentioned this before, but it's still adorable and still in my shopping cart:

Available at Sosie.

Technically this is a catbear (whatever the crap that is), but whatevs. It's adorbs. 

Available at Miriam Brugmann's Etsy shop.

And finally, because Cat Ladies have cats and cats have needs too: the most amazing scratching post EVER

Available at Purr-fect Design.

Accessorizing: Artwork via Little Paper Planes

The search continues for artwork to fill our walls. Today, I came across the site Little Paper Planes. It is full of really great prints in an array of sizes that seem to be reasonably priced. Here are a few of my favorites:

David Linneweh

Julia Rothman

Alyssa Nasner

Caitlin Foster

Louis Reith

My only complaint about this site is that you can't see these pieces any larger than little teeny-tiny product images. I need to see texture, yo!

Would I actually hang any of these on my walls? Mmmm...not sure. Probably the house images if they weren't printed on stupid wood grain. Maybe the Julia Rothman prints on a giant, bare kitchen wall or in a kid's room. But for now, the search continues.

No. Way. Walmart?

Walmart. Carries. Bertoia. Chairs. Well, not the originals, but their own version.

Crazytown. They have both the diamond AND the side chair available.

I know I already own one zillion chairs, but I'll be getting rid of most of those and these suckers are iconic. Dear Walmart, I would like one diamond chair for my bedroom, and four of the side chairs for my patio. Thank you, and goodnight.

Sitting in my Shopping Cart

There are several home items that I have been eyeing for a while now. I periodically go check on them, put them in my online shopping cart, and then close my browser window and will myself to "save! not spend!"

I had a really close call this morning. I was literally at the page where you fill in your credit card info (in order to buy a Makelike poster I've been coveting), and then I realized that the site I was about to order from also carried Ferm Living's shower curtain and that if I was going to buy the poster, I should seriously consider buying the shower curtain at the same time in order to save on shipping. Then I realized that spending $30 for a poster is much more practical than $120 for a shower curtain and I closed my browser window and virtually walked away. Welcome to my brain. But I still really like this poster. It's sweet.

close-up

Another trinket I've been watching for a while: a cat tape dispenser. You did not hear incorrectly.

It's just so darn cute!

Washi tape is also on my list of must-haves:

At $5-10, this is a bit more practical.

Also, should I buy a cactus? I've been wanting one for a while but they only ever have teeny ones here in Billings, and finally Home Depot got some bigger ones in and they're really cool....but I researched them and their sap is poisonous and I'm not sure I want that around my cat though I don't think he'd eat them or anything.....I'm just not sure.

I couldn't even decide which one I'd get. Big spiky or little feathery? Both? None?