The Mice Will Play

This week I got the very exciting news that I was chosen as one of 5 participants (+1 guest) to be a part of Truly Nolen's Mouse Car Parade!

If you live in South Florida and you see the parade this Saturday (July 24th) wave to us (and if you're on Twitter follow the event at #MousecarParade.

In honor of this event, I am dedicating the rest of my week's posts to pests - creepy, crawly, scurrying and yet somehow kinda cute pests.  And since I get to ride around in a life size mouse this weekend - today is all about Mice.

See - mice can be cute...at least in "The Pest" Series Etchings by Achiozza. 

The chicest mouse I have ever seen.  The Cosmic Mouse Ring by RFXStudios on Etsy.

 

The House of Mouse makes absolutely irresistible felt mice. I am especially taken with Anakin Skywalker Mouse (above) and Hannibal Lecter Mouse (below). 

Getting married?

Straight from the U.K., you can even have mice as your wedding cake topper:

However, if we're talking edible mice (who would ever think I would be saying that...), I think this cupcake by Martha Stewart (tutorial on Bunny Cakes) is perfect. Though almost too adorable to eat. 

And finally...

Have Your Ever Seen Such A Sight In Your Life?

Three Blind Mice caught and mounted just for you by Craft Sleuth.

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The Pear Neccessities

Over the last couple of years I have learned how to cook. I love it, but I don't have the chance to do it often.  However, after a successful vegetable lasagna last night, I have decided that this week I am going to try a new culinary adventure: Pear, Gorgonzola and Caramelized Onion Pizza. 

Pears aren't a fruit I often eat, but I love the look of them. And once I do have one I always think, "why don't I eat this more often?"  As you can probably already tell, today's post is about pears.

If you're not going to eat them, might as well wear them! Cathy at la prochaine fois makes these incredible dried fruit rings. 

Searching for something a little less frilly? Ash Hilton makes this modern, chic Pear Ring.

The steel base of Yanko Designs' Pear Tree Lamp charges three pear lights that can be picked off and stay illuminated for an hour before "running out of juice." Place them back on the tree to recharge.

 

Too cool to juice -these Buddha Pears (for sale in the UK and China) were created by a Chinese farmer. Read more about it at Just Cool Design.

And finally....

Just about the best chair I have ever seen:

 

The Prickly Pear Cactus Chair by Valentina Glez Wohlers

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Lucky Dog: Top Ten Picks for National Out of the Dog House Day

Who proclaimed July 19th National Out of the Dog House Day? I don't know. However I do know that there are some amazing dog houses out there and since I rarely feature pet items, I thought today was as good of a time as any. Here are my Top Ten Favorite Dog Houses (in no particular order).

Modern Home as seen on HomeHouseDesign.com

 

Doggy Couture Dog House from Juicy Couture as seen on PetsTrends.com.

Marco Morosini's Dog is God Trailer Dog House courtesy of Style Hive.

 

Sadly sold out - Yappy Happy's Starbark's Indoor Doghouse.

For small breeds - the Indoor Planter Dog House from My Urban Garden.

 

Modern Luxe- The Magis Dog House for sale on Plush Pod.

 

Retro Fun Dog House by Dog Online.

Dirt Insulated Dog House by Tails By The Lake.

 

Pet Palace by MacKenzie-Childs.

And finally....

Personalized Dog House Wall Decal by Graphic Spaces on Etsy.

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Let the Sun Shine In

To me, sunflowers are the happiest of flowers. Sure daisies make me smile and tulips are amongst my favorites, but I will take sunflowers over any others anytime.

These cupcakes from Cupcake Craftts are yummy and smile inducing - the perfect combination for a sweet treat. 

Shlomit Ofir created this beautiful gold graphic sunflower necklace. I am in love with this. (My birthday is Sunday hint hint, lol)

The Nebraska Sunflower soap by Suds by Sarah is natural and fresh and it looks so pretty sitting in a wooden soap dish. Plus it has sunflower petals in it!

Honestly I don't usually go for dolls - their faces kind of creep me out, but I can't resist "Suzie the Sunflower Fairy" by Max Bailey and Elizabeth Ruffing.  The petals around her hair and the butterfly wings are too cute (and her face doesn't weird me out either!)

And finally....

A lot of sunflower products are shall we say...."countrified". Not this chic little clutch by Davie and Chiyo.  The black and white print with the pop of yellow inside is just perfect, proving that sunflowers can be "city-fied" too.

How Can I Control My Life When I Can't Control My Hair?

Confession: While you are talking to me, I am probably thinking about your hair. Sure eyes are great and smiles are important, but nothing wows me as much as a woman with no split ends. Hair is a common theme in my life. As a child I bit my blonde friend with the hopes that my dark locks would lighten. My first paid, published article was based on that very event.  I have dyed my hair with Kool-Aid, Henna, Manic Panic and dye on the market.  It has been every color imaginable except green and blue and it has been cut in just as many styles. I like to sit in a stylist's chair and say, "Surprise me."  But enough about me, here are some other hair obsessed folks who have taken it to greater heights:

At the Imperia Vodka Hair Competition new heights wasn't an exaggeration.  Thanks to Natalie West for the pic!

I might add that Project Runway is another one of my obsessions and Chris March's clothing made with real human hair was one of the most unforgettable collections in the show's history. 

Of course no hair is more unforgettable than Medusa's head of snakes. Even she had to tame her mane as depicted in this great print by artist Nancy Farmer. 

"Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair" Art Print by 2nd Coming cracks me up. 

I also get a good laugh from this Vintage Novelty Hair Dryer.  I feel like you could really freak out the neighbors if they caught a glimpse of you aiming this at your head in the bathroom one morning...

In an ultimate act of patience and recycling, Beijing hairdresser Huang Xin celebrated the 60th anniversary of Communist China’s founding with a replica of the buildings and monuments around Tiananmen Square – all made entirely of human hair. Photo and info courtesy of Mental Floss.

And finally......

What you are looking at is hair.  The NY Times reports: "According to Matter of Trust, a San Francisco environmental charity, the ridged texture that helps hair sop up natural skin oils also make it effective at catching crude. The group began taking donations 10 years ago to create hair mats for smaller spills and have been in the national spotlight since the Gulf oil spill.  Learn more at Matter of Trust's web site.

The Good Old Summertime

June 1st is officially noted as being "Children's Day" or "Stand Up for Children Day" both in the United Stated as well as internationally and yet this is the first year that I even knew about it.  Believe me I would have exploited it for gifts somehow back when I was a kid. For me, June 1st marks the start of summer and so today I have for you a variety of summer themed items for children:

Paola Lakimi captures all the best parts of summer in this sweet print.

You can't go wrong with this monkey in a teeny weeny pink bikini from Twinkle Kids 2.

 

Ensure your baby's cool factor with this felt Surfs Up Mobile by Pink Perch. 

For hippie kid chic, no one does it better than Art & Soul. I don't have kids yet, but I buy gifts here all the time. Everything is unique and absolutely precious.

What is better than spending a summer day relaxing in a hammock? Robyna's ZaZa Recycled Baby and Children's Hammocks are upcycled using vintage fabrics are a calming summer treat.

And finally, while I normally try to promote small businesses and handcrafted items, I am in love with Pottery Barn Kid's Beach Ball Sprinkler Toy and I just have to share it with you. 

I kind of want one....or three....in the corner of my yard for my BBQ party...

 

Don't Grow One - Buy One!

A friend of mine called tonight for a cupcake emergency. Logic would dictate that my post would be about cupcakes, right? Wrong! On the way back to the car we saw a man with the best beard ever - it was ZZ Top quality and so today's Etsy Treasury is all about BEARDS:

Beards are Sexy Tote Bag by The Bold Banana

Bearded Family Portraits - Chester by I Made You A Beard

 

Hammock Beard Print by Uncle Fatso

"...and how it pains me to carry your heavy heart upon the spine of my hairs"

Beard Collection Set of 3 Postcards by fric de mentol

Bearded Lady by Kath Atomz

Green Bearded Beanie by Tara Duff

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The No Good, Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Week

Have you ever had a time in life where things get so bad it is like time is standing still? I am happy to be back and while there is still a lot to deal with, it is nice to be able to let my mind wander online and well, my wandering led me to check out some "Very Bad Day" pieces:

My brother introduced me to Exploding Dog and I am obsessed. Robots and sarcasm - does it get much better?

Sometimes you just feel like the rain cloud is hovering over your head. Illustrator Riikka Kurka designs some beautiful pieces, but I am drawn to the Huono Päivä (translated: "Bad Day") T-Shirt she made for a TaiK school project. 

Wow octopus AND robot prints in one post. A moneky would be the holy trinity, but really...who wants to see a sad monkey? Tuesday Was A Bad Day by Emma Klingbeil just makes me smile. 

My sentiments over the last week exactly lol.  Love this - the "F*ck the Rain" umbrella seen on the Cool Hunting Guide. 

Some days a girl can't even bear the thought of going out of the house without a bag over her head. 

The Large Lucy and her Bad Hair Day Doll by Poppy Seed Tree is adorable. I love her paper bag disguise and want to just give her a big hug and tell her "tomorrow is another day."

Keep smiling and I will see you tomorrow!

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