Miss Us?

Then check out our guest post today over at I Don’t Think Prada is the Answer They’re Looking For.  Happy Holidays!  See you back here in January.

And, I’m a Vegetarian

I very rarely cook meat at home these days, sometimes my husband cooks burgers on the grill, but I’m generally in a cookout for the pickles and chips.  When I was pregnant the only meat I could stomach was in blt’s (nitrate free!).  And the second to last straw was my very belated reading of Fast Food Nation, which I picked up at the salvation army last week, which confirmed that there is indeed poop in hamburgers.  The actual last straw is this video on Perez Hilton.  it. is. awful.

Look, Up There, in the Sky!

Did any of my fellow western burb commuters notice that WGBH had Supergrover on the big screen today?  I love supergrover!  I have patiently explained to babymouse many times that grover is way better than elmo but it’s all elmo elmo elmo at my house.  I love supegrover’s helmet.

 That was not at all related to this product, it is an upside down planter for 75$, and of course I am thinking over a table like a chandelier, pretty.  It reminds me of the hanging fixture in Gwyneth Paltrows dining room which I’m sure cost ONE BILLION dollars. 

It has a similar feel. You can put other plants in this planter but I think the orchid works best, less chunky and theoretically an orchid could grow hanging from the ceiling like that.  When we were in Puerto Rico there were orchids growing all over the place hanging off rocks in the yard!  It was crazy.  The Boskke sky planter in white is $75 at Velocity Art and Design. 

Time to Start Checking Price Tags at H&M

Thanks Kirtsy and Ideeli and Racked.  Apparently there is a “leaked” picture of a Jimmy Choo for H&M boot out there, which costs… $350!!  Now I know an over the knee leather (it is leather) boot would be the most expensive item in an inexpensive line, but come on now.  I know leather is expensive, but really it’s not, I’ve seen big pieces of it laying around at the upholstery seconds store for like nothing.   I am going to take a wild guess that this is seconds leather.  I just don’t like these expensive inexpensive designer collaborations, what’s the point?  It’s like buying a yucky lobster at McDonalds for like, $12.99.  Also what about faux, or velvet, or felt.  all cheaper. 

Although I have to say those over the knee boots that are all over seem super comfortable and cozy, but then so do these.

Kaftan Do

This adorable tile print tunic/ kaftan is on sale at Boden for $31!  The print reminds of swimming pool liners, and you can never have enough beach/pool/pajama/cookout ware.

Also in the Boden sale section, this hat for 11! 

A Lotta Links

Hello Friends!  Guess who didn’t rake her lawn last fall?  I was dreading the day the snow would melt to reveal the leaves in my large and ragged yard.  This is the summer of the stone patio at the CountryMouse House so I need to get on the stick.  Here are some links for those of you not up to their eyeballs in soggy plant matter.

 This week I found the website of my dreams, that’s right, it’s Mrs. O, dedicated to nothing but the adoration and discussion of Michelle Obama’s outfits.  It’s great because if someone suddenly comes in your office there is a picture of the Obamas on your screen and maybe you are on BBC news!  It pains me to say that despite my love of all things Mrs. O, I was not feeling the last few outfits she wore in London,  in particular the black and white dress and the blue skirt/argyle cardigan outfit.  The black and white was just too blah in pictures, maybe it was the cardigan, which looked like an afterthought.   A little jacket would have been more formal.   If I were dressing her it would be all bright sheath dresses and baubly brooches all the time, maybe in a liberty print for London, ooo, you know the Mrs. O look we know and love.  The Thakoon coat and dress she wore yesterday was very relieving.  By the way, is she like 8 feet tall?  She is literally towering over everyone in the G20 pictures wearing only kitten heels.

The Felix Rey collection is in full swing at Target and although overall it is not for me (golden applique fish??) there are a couple cute bags, this one is my favorite.

I have ben thinking about getting some new throw pillows for my couch, which seems like the easiest thing in the world but is turning out to be quite difficult;  a lot of pillows are more than 100$!  How can that be?  and many of them are too small, and also the sheer number of pillows available make it really hard to pick some.  Anyway I love this site, it has lots of affordable ikats and etc., still no decision on my part but lots of stalking.

We may have mentioned that I am helping CityMouse with the flowers for her wedding.  In the early planning process, I said “I can do anything, as long as I have a picture and can practice.”  I would like to amend that statement, I can’t do this (from All the Best):

This amazing!  Best fridge ever.  From Design Sponge and Casa Pinka

I love this bathing suit from the new Isaac Mizrahi Liz Claiborne line.  It has boning, so cute.

More Mullet

The back of this cardigan is a  chiffony blouse!  Don’t get the pink one, it kind of looks like… baggy skin.  But the light blue one is lovely.  No bright colors unfortunately.  This reminds me of when I used to work at the Banana Republic in 1999 and the sweaters would come in the colors sky, concrete, mortar, cloud, sand, and anvil, and they would all be bleachy dirt colored.  But I love this sweater, you have to click to see the back.  It is $88 at Anthropologie.

PB+PBteen=BFF

I used to dearly love the Pottery Barn back when I couldn’t afford it, and then I could somewhat afford it, but didn’t like it anymore, and now I like it a little and can afford it a little.   But what I have always liked is PBteen.  Sure there is a lot of the hulking smooth-edged wood furniture that PB is famous for (like bunk-bed-chill-pad-bookcase-vanity combos that appear to be the size of my kitchen-whoa), but a lot of nicer things too, especially the accessories and lighting.  The Circolo Bed  looks like a cross between a garden gate and a row of chain link bracelets, and is $699 to $999 twin to queen, which isn’t exactly cheap.  But it’s new, it will go on sale, and if it were at the adult Pottery Barn it would be $1400 and in a wood finish you would probably be tempted to paint anyway!

Delightful Delmans

Let me begin with an apology that what I’m about to post about is in no way budget friendly. You see, I’m a member of one of those super secret shopping societies and happened to pick these up for only $80. I actually assumed my super secret shopping society was a load of hooey and that these were probably available everywhere for $80 until I tried to find them today only to realize what a GREAT deal I got on them. Because of the price I wouldn’t mention them if it wasn’t for the fact that I now believe them to be THE GRAETEST SHOES OF ALL TIME!!! What shoes, you ask? The Delman Leticia flats for (sorry) $250. You know how you always look at flats with elastic backs and think they must be super comfy and get them home only to realize that the elastic in the back just dings into your foot? Well, these shoes have the elastic on the sides so you get the same delightful stretchiness without and digging at all. They also have a very comfy round toe and a nice one inch wedge heel making them the perfect shoe, but for the price. Anyway, those of you with money shooting out your ears should buy these. And for those of you whose ears are money free who would like to join my super secret shopping society (and are not a dress size XS or shoe size 7- I don’t need any additional competition) you can leave your e-mail address and I’ll send you an invitation to join!