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February 8, 2010

Mohop - Every Clog Has Its Day

via everycloghasitsday.typepad.com

I met the designer of these shoes once, she's adorable and really loves what she does. I still haven't invested in a pair, but I think this Spring I will make it a priority. They are so stinkin' cute and the options are endless!!!

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Filed under  //   design   links   shopping  

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January 30, 2010

Jet Pack Laptop Backpack

via luglife.com

During my insane travel mess last week, as my shoulder was starting to ache due to the weight of my laptop... I was thinking how great it would be if my bag would turn into a backpack so I could even out the load.

Today I walk into a little store on Armitage and voila, Lug's Jet Pack Backpack! It's thin yet roomy, light weight and can be carried three different ways! I'm ready for my next trip!!!

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Filed under  //   cool stuff   links   ramblings   shopping  

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December 11, 2009

Moop : The Porter in Gunmetal Gray

via moopshop.com

Another delicious find...

I have been looking for a bag that's professional enough to carry to a meeting, but tough enough to tote around a construction site. Let me tell you that's a very fine line to walk and there aren't many bags that fit the bill. I need something that can carry my legal file folders (17" wide by 11" tall) so that I can have all my notes/paperwork within reach when needed. This "porter"bag just might do the trick. And it's not too expensive either!

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October 17, 2009

slight obsession

Two years ago I visited Amsterdam and found the most perfect canisters for my kitchen in this little store called Lifestyle Amsterdam.  It's on the P.C. Hooftstraat - amazing street for shopping designer goods!  I bought three, packaged them with the only packing supplies I could find and shipped them home.  Well, sadly, only one survived the trip and I've been obsessed with finding them ever since with no luck.

During my most recent trip, I popped in to see if they still had the canisters and to my surprise, they did!  After much discussion about the goods in their store, I find out that they are designed & manufactured for the stores and are not sold anywhere else.  No wonder I couldn't find them anywhere on the internet!  And, they only have stores in the Netherlands and Brussels.  So, I managed to warm up the clerk (not easy) and talk her into shipping another set to me - in their original packaging!  I left her with all of my contact information, FedEX number and anything I could think she might possibly need to complete the transaction.

One month after my return home, I finally got an email with the details of the transaction.  The price for all the canisters is great, but shipping is ridiculous - 30 euro more than the cost of the merchandise - Ugh!  I've been pondering if it's all really worth it, and it's probably not... but after two years of thinking about a stupid ceramic canister, I'd kick myself if I didn't give this a try.  I could spend all this money and they could all arrive in bits and pieces just like last time... keep your fingers crossed for me.

The one hitch in the plan is how to get the money to the retailer.  Serious lack of customer service!!  They will ONLY accept a wire transfer - which is another ridiculous amount on top of the mountain of money I'm already putting out.  I asked about PayPal or ACH transfer or credit card?  No go.  What I don't understand is the no credit card thing.  If this transaction were to happen here, say at a store on Michigan Ave in Chicago.  I'd tell the clerk what merch I want, where I want it shipped, pay for merch and shipping and be on my merry little way.  If I were to have bought the merch while I was there, in the store, I could have paid via credit card, but now that I've had to make the arrangements via email, it's not acceptable form of payment... huh?

So, as a last ditch effort, I've tapped E to help me.  I sent her money via PayPal so she can go into the store and pay cash or with her PIN card in person.  I really hope this works.  If not, I will have to give up.  I'm just not willing to pay for the wire transfer - it's almost as much as the merch!

Why does everything have to be so difficult?  

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Filed under  //   amsterdam   ramblings   shopping  

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October 9, 2009

The Sweets : Marshmallows: Whimsy & Spice, Brooklyn Confectioners

Forget everything you've ever known about marshmallows! These homemade marshmallows have an incredible soft texture and airy structure and are perfect accompaniments to hot cocoa or coffee, but we bet you won't be able to resist popping one right into your mouth. We offer classic Chocolate Marshmallows made with intense Valrhona chocolate, Caramel Marshmallows which are infused with a dark caramel syrup, giving it a uniquely smooth, toasted flavor, and our new Cardamom Marshmallows, which add a lovely warm Cardamom flavor when added to your favorite hot beverage. Our newest marshmallow flavors include Maple, made with pure Grade B, extra dark maple syrup and Lemongrass, which give forth a smooth, subtle lemon flavor with a hint of ginger

via whimsyandspice.com

I am a sucker for a marshmallow. I ran across this adorable little bakery link and the marshmallows look AMAZING! It seems they change with the seasons - I'm so ordering these!!!  Valrhona chocolate marshmallows... come on, that's simply heaven!!

And would you believe these guys started their business on ETSY?? I never thought of looking for food on ETSY. Actually, I don't frequent the site, but when I do visit am amazed at the things I could find. I know some photographer who have shops to see their images, but it just seems like a whole lotta work. Maybe someday I'll investigate that a little further.

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Filed under  //   cool stuff   food   links   shopping  

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September 13, 2009

tourist shopping

Now that I've unpacked I have to say that I am very proud of the amount of stuff I purchased and brought back...  Karen joked the whole time that all I bought was food and considering how much of a picky eater I am, that was strange.  But it is strangely true.  I bought some prints for framing by local artists (small), two mini eiffel towers, small wooden shoes and food. 

La Maison du Chocolat orange chocolate bar - I've had a serious thing for orange flavored dark chocolate these days and thought it would be the safe pick since nothing else was in English!  I haven't had any yet, but since it's a bar, it should save for a while. 

French macaroons from Ladurée - I had never had an actual French style macaroon so I wasn't sure if I'd like it.  It's a cookie and generally speaking, that's OK in my book, but there are so many different flavors ... I  bought a small box of six - vanilla, lemon, orange blossom, salted caramel, chocolate and coconut.  All super good.  The orange blossom was more flowery than I expected as were the orange blossom marshmallows I bought - I'm forever in search of an orange flavored marshmallow.  I had one once and they are to die for!

Stroopwafels from the little store at Zaanse Schans - I love, love, love these things.  The perfect sweet, salt combo and they are wonderful with my morning tea!  Erika laughed that I came back with these as opposed to cheese or something else.  Karen bought some smoked gouda - so cheap there for a huge chunk compared to what we can get here.

And several truffles from Puccini, which I need to eat within this week.  They are preservative free and won't last long.  We picked up flavors like tea, port, cinnamon, caramel, orange and rhubarb.  

I find it hard to buy anything in Europe that could possibly be purchased back here in the US.  It's so much more expensive and if I can get that whatever back home, I'd rather wait.  I did make one exception and purchased a very cool pair of Audley London shoes in a little boutique.  They were just too cool to pass up.  I have seen Audley shoes here at one little boutique in Wicker Park, but they had limited styles.  No way of knowing if they would have them or be able to get them.  Now I just need an excuse to wear them.  : )

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Filed under  //   shopping   travel  

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August 28, 2009

cool new version of my watch
via michele.com

Oh how I love this version of my Deco watch... it's called Safari Zebra. *heart*

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Filed under  //   cool stuff   shopping  

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August 23, 2009

Yahoo! Finance - so true!

2. Eat your groceries. Did you know that Americans regularly throw away nearly 15% of the food they buy at the grocery store each year? That can add up to hundreds or, depending on your supermarket budget, thousands of dollars each year. Save money by actually eating what you buy.
via customsites.yahoo.com

The headline this morning on Yahoo was '20 Lazy Ways to Save Money' - so I had to click on that. Most of these I already do, but #2 hits home in a big way. Just yesterday I was doing a major house cleaning - fridge, cabinets, everything and threw out a completely ridiculous amount of food!! Some of these things were on their last leg, but others never touched. This is completely horrible and I need to do better about eating what I have in the house AND not buying extras when I go to the store!!

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Filed under  //   ramblings   shopping  

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August 18, 2009

brown butter

Nordstrom Rack is totally hit or miss for me, but my last trip was a good one. I found these delicious Italian leather shoes that are so soft they feel like butter. I love the details too. It's rare that I find a super fashionable shoe that is also able to be worn on a job site. How sad that all of my work shoes have to pass that test.

     

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August 14, 2009

walking on clouds

That's how one reviewer on Zappo's described my new running/walking shoe.  I have been walking a lot more and have been getting pain in my calves and feet.  I have to admit my shoes are old as dirt so it was totally time to pony up for a new pair.  One of my co-workers told me about a shoe store here in town (Murphy's Fit) that is supposed to be known for running shoes and outfitting you with the correct shoe for your foot and desired activity. 

I popped in tonight to get a quick consult and boy did I learn a lot!  I walked barefoot, very slowly while the guy analyzed my gait... and it looks like I keep a very "neutral" position when walking - meaning that I walk mostly on the outer portion of my foot.  Apparently I am a supinator.  Wow, that sounds serious.  Well, not really, but what I did learn is that I am very much in the minority and that most of the shoes on the market will cause me to put additional pressure on the outer portion of my foot and thus pain in the foot, knee and hip is possible. Poo!

The good news - I was set up with a dreamy pair of Asics (gel-cumulus 11) that feel like little pillows on my feet.  I'm headed out for a photo stroll in the morning and will take these babies for their first ride!

One question... is there a reason that all women's shoes have to be pink?? Ugh!

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