Beaba Pour La Bebe

I may have mentioned that BabyMouse has a million food allergies, in fact it is easier to tell people what he isn’t allergic to than to rattle off the offending foods!  Especially considering his allergies, like many mothers I aspire to lovingly prepare homemade baby food from organic ingredients, but as we all know these things don’t always work out considering there are only 24 hours in a day and most of them are spent singing farm songs and fishing non-food items out of his mouth.  Also the contraptions you need to prepare babyfood (steamer baskets, food mills) don’t line up nicely with the other items in the cabinet and are kind of hard to clean.  This  Beaba Babycook babyfood contraption, $139.00 at Williams Sonoma, is a multipurpose devise that steams and purees foods, and also can defrost (previously steamed and pureed) food.  I store baby food by freezing in ordinary ice cube trays, but with the whole plastic scare thing, you might be interested in these Bisphenol-A free baby food trays.  I know $139 is not cheap, but I’m pretty sure you could also whip up some adult vinagrette in there as well.

Also in my dreams babymouse eats only locally grown produce, and this time of year it is pretty easy to find it- Here is a list of Farmers Markets in Massachusetts for those that are local, and there are similar lists available in other parts of the country.

Rhymes with Fancy

I have a friend who is ridiculously stylish.  You know those items you see in magazines and think no one actually wears?  My friend wears all of them and looks good doing it.  She’s stylish in the way that says “I’m married to a designer.”  Her name just happens to rhyme with fancy, so you can probably guess her nickname.  Anyway, she’s a particularly difficult person to buy gifts for becuase I really have no clue what to buy for someone so fashionable.  My look is more classic than of the moment and I’m pretty sure she isn’t dying to receive a new kelly green cardigan (btw, I am if anyone wants to know).  But today, while perusing Outblush I spotted that perfect gift for her.  Check out this awesome bentwood coffee cuff that can also double as a bracelet when not in use around your coffee cup.  The cuff is $68, which is really expensive for a coffee cuff but not too bad for a bracelet.

On A Whim

Has anyone else noticed that people seem to be kooky with anticipation for summer since the weather has started to warm up? I don’t remember last winter being all that bad but apparently it turned us all into emotionally fragile shut ins.

I thought I was holding it together, but then I nearly jumped out the window when I saw the adorable/affordable Whim by Cynthia Rowley for Target line of outdoor accessories. There is a madras kiddie pool (finally a kiddie pool that matches our kakis!), colorful croquet and bocce ball sets, and a green cane print melamine plate set! I didn’t see anything over $20 and some items are in store only, so I suggest you run like a sun starved crazy person, don’t walk, to your local Target. Is that the ice cream man I hear?

Cheap Chic for Your Feet

I’m not a regular Payless shopper.  I was in high school, but in college I moved up to Baker’s and have never looked back until now.  I recently read that Payless was bringing in some well known designers so I decided to check them out again.  While not everything they have is a winner, I do absolutely love these Mork Mirrored Sandals for $19.99.  Banana Republic has a similar sandal, but without the backstrap for $78.  Nanu Nanu!

A Lotta Links

Hi Everybody, it’s that time of the week again when we putter around the internet so you don’t have to! Or at least you can putter more efficiently!

I love these porcelain flowers from Roost, you could use them as permanent flower arrangements for a bedside table or bathroom vanity, but they could also be part of a low maintenance centerpiece. They range from $6.67 for the littlest one to $22 for the big peony (my favorite). Available at Velocity Art and Design.

A big thanks to Red Jet Whistle for introducing us to EQ3.  CityMouse has been searcing high and low for a reasonably priced contemporary bed with concealed storage and they have one for under $1000!!!  Red Jet Whistle, you’re my hero! Continue reading »

Attention Budget Brides: Veils on Aisle 3

I am HORRIFIED by the amounts many brides spend on their veil.  A veil is, after all, a very long piece of netting and we all know that netting costs about $2 at Joann’s Fabrics.  In fact, netting costs so little that many of my friends have chosen to make their own veils in order to avoid the insane price gouging at their local bridal boutique.  One thing you miss out on when you make your own veil are those nicely finished edges.  Thankfully everyone’s favorite budget designer, Isaac Mizrahi, now offers veils as part of his Target bridal line.  His veils are available in many different lengths.  The veil pictured is 116″ long and is only $24.99.  For those of you whose weddings aren’t in the near future, you my want to consider buying your veil now since these are likely to disappear when Isaac leaves Target.

More Fun in the International Aisle

Dare I say that except for a handful of heartbreaking 30 degree days that will inevitably come our way before summer begins in earnest, the Winter that Would Not End (does anyone remember that Strawberry Shortcake record/book?) is finally wrapping up here in Boston! And it seems all the brunches and cookouts and general weeknight outdoor beverage drinking have begun! We are hosting the Fourth Annual Soul Food Extravaganza again this year, which takes place annually after the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham, Mass.  For those of you that are local,  if you have always wanted to run six miles while being read to aloud from the works of James Joyce, this is your big chance. 

Anyway, I am always on the lookout for dressy daytime beverages for these sorts of occasions.  I recently obtained some of this Belvoir Farms Elderflower Presse at the wonderfully stocked international aisle at my local Stop & Shop, and it is delicious!  The Belvoir Farms website is also very entertaining,  especially if you read through it at work, because as anyone who has ever tried to recount a ‘hilarious’ work joke to your family at home only to be greeted by vacant stares knows, the funny threshold is a lot lower in the office!  The “meet the family” page is totally office funny.  The Elderflower and Blood Orange Presse are shown above, they are good by themselves and could be made into some yummy summer cocktails as well.

Greatest Suit for Under $200 EVER!!!

So, I have mixed emotions about this post.  I have found the greatest under $200 suit of ALL time.  But on the other hand, I’ve also discovered that those double crossers over at J.Crew released a bunch of new clothes mid-month.  What’s up with that J.Crew?  How can I compose an appropiate ode if you’re going to secretly sneak out all of your best duds mid-month while no one is looking???  Anyway, lucky for you readers I don’t just stalk J.Crew at the first of the month, its a full time love affair for me.  The mid-month releases are some of the best things they’ve had in quite a while.  I’ll just cover most of them on May 1st, but there is one suit that is soooo special I thought I needed to tell you about it right away.  And best of all, if you buy today you can save $20 making this suit only $196 (the coupon code is SAVE20).  Introducing the cutest under $200 suit with the strangest name possible, the Baird McNutt Linen Georgia Suit.

P.S. This suit is also available in red, flax and navy.

5 Things to Love for Under 20$: Earth Day Edition

Since today is Earth Day, we have a special edition of 5 Things to Love! Some may say that going out and buying 5 new frivolities (or one) is not very earth conscious, but let’s not forget the importance of our emotional well being!

I know there are a lot of “green” fashion lines out there right now, but I find they are usually pretty expensive, and of course no newly manufactured item can compare to a recycled one. There are so many pretty old things knocking around out there, and so many creative people making jewelry from them- this ring is made of a vintage watch movement, with a bird added to lure bird-obsessed people like me. The once upon a time sparrow ring is $19, available at the birdznbeez’s shop on Etsy.

You can keep this Flatterware collapsible cup in your purse for those times you need a reusable vessel- the advantage of this one (over a Starbucks reusable travel mug for example) being that it is mostly flat when not in use and is made of one piece of plastic rather than several telescoping (read:leaking) ones. Two for 12$ at Uncommongoods.com.

For more earth and wallet friendly items, Continue reading »

Spring has Sprung

Here in Boston Spring has FINALLY arrived.  I spent a fortune over at Cole Haan this weekend (technically, a fortune less 30%), so now I’m trying to spend as little as possible to spring up the rest of my wardrobe.  Today I’m putting all of my turtlenecks into storage until next year and picking out some cute Spring tops that can take my plainy plain suit wardrobe into the new season.  Since it’s Earth Week I’ve decided to look at Banana Republic because they’re giving one 1% of all proceeds to preserve green spaces this week.

I love this cotton blend button down in tropical coral for $58.00.  I think this color would work with almost all of my suits.  And as we have previously determined, everyone looks good in pink.  However, if the hot pink is too much for you its also available in black, white and a pale pink.  Continue reading »