The Present Perfect

Father’s Day Countdown: Superman

2013-06-13T03:53:00.000-07:00

So, I am a huge sucker for really cute and sentimental things… the current favorite is this Sears commercial:

On that superhero note, this is a fun apron that Dad will get a kick out of:

Product image courtesy of www.paper-source.com

Father’s Day Countdown: Vino

2013-06-07T03:47:00.000-07:00

This cool, hand-blown decanter is a great gift for any oenophile dads out there. It’s designed to fit mouth-to-mouth with an open wine bottle. When you flip it so the wine pours into the decanter, wine aeration is cut to two minutes.

{Winebreather decanter $50}

Happy weekend, everyone! I am thrilled to be reuniting with some grad school friends—can’t wait to catch up with everybody!

Image courtesy of www.aplusrstore.com

Father’s Day Countdown: Papa Bear

2013-06-04T03:07:00.000-07:00

Mugs and ties might be as generic as you can get in terms of Father’s Day gifts, but this mug is too cute to resist:

{Papa Bear Mug $14.95}

Fill it with Dad’s favorite candy for an extra touch. As a reminder, Father’s Day is Sunday, June 16th!

Image courtesy of www.paper-source.com

Freeze!

2013-06-03T03:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, all! I hope everyone had a great weekend. My Saturday was filled with some fantastic live country music, and yesterday was spent hosting a fun surprise party for a friend’s birthday.

I saw these ice “cube” trays and laughed out loud:

{Frozen Smiles Ice Cube Tray $10}

It would be fun to either gift this or use it to make ice cubes for an “over the hill” birthday or retirement party—funny way to throw some dentures into people’s drinks!

Image courtesy of www.fredflare.com

Shark Attack!

2013-05-31T03:07:00.000-07:00

Happy weekend, everybody!

{Shark Bite Oven Mitt $18}

Letterpress

2013-05-28T03:19:00.000-07:00

I’m a huge sucker for anything letterpress-related, so I am LOVING these refrigerator magnets:

{Letterpress Fridge Magnets $23.50}

This retro-inspired set comes with 80 upper case letters and a mix of punctuation, including ampersands and exclamation marks. The perfect set of accessories for any refrigerator!

Image courtesy of www.blueribbongeneralstore.net

Getting Iced

2013-05-20T03:29:00.000-07:00

One of my husband’s favorite beverages is whiskey, which should really be enjoyed with the proper type of ice cube:

Turns out that this is actually very easy to achieve without having to make a trip out to some hipster bar in Brooklyn or Portland:

{Set of 2 Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds $9.99}

I recently gifted a pair of these molds to someone as a thank you gift, and he absolutely loved them. Might be a good item to keep in mind for Father’s Day next month!

Images courtesy of www.amazon.com

Dancing Shoes

2013-05-15T03:24:00.000-07:00

Around this time last year, I went on an amazing trip to Paris with some girlfriends. In addition to eating our weight in crepes, seeing the sights, and doing some serious shopping, one of my favorite things about the trip was observing the tres chic street fashion that runs rampant in the City of Light. Something that is so quintessentially Parisian is the effortless elegance that comes with a perfect pair of ballet flats, like these from the French shoe company Repetto:

{Repetto patent ballet flats in taupe $275}

Repetto actually originated as a dance shoe company in 1947, in a tiny workshop near the Paris National Opera. Their flats are insanely comfortable and so easy to pair with anything… and are both stylish and functional for a night of dancing (or a day of running errands around town)!

Image courtesy of www.saksfifthavenue.com

Never. Enough. Stripes.

2013-05-14T03:35:00.000-07:00

I am totally obsessed with this Rifle Paper Co. iPhone case, and I think that’s all there really is to say about it:

{Gold stripe iPhone case $34.95}

Not quite ready to switch over from my little tiger AniCase that I blogged about the other month, but I certainly know where I’m setting my sights on next. A perfectly preppy gift for anyone who wants to tote his or her iPhone around in style!

Image courtesy of www.paper-source.com

Oh Hey, Old Friend…

2013-05-13T03:24:00.000-07:00

So, I am realizing a couple of things:

1. We are already almost halfway through 2013.

2. I can’t keep up with this blog for the life of me.

3. That makes me sad.

4. I am in full control of changing that situation.

So… here we are. I have been traveling a lot, both for work and pleasure, and having my work computer in tow leaves little carry-on room for my personal (i.e. blogging) laptop—especially because I try really hard not to ever check luggage! However, I’ve really missed blogging and am trying my damnedest to get back to it, starting with today’s post.

In the spirit of old friends, best friends, and every kind of friend in-between:

{Friendship bracelet temporary tattoo $5 for 2}

HOW CUTE is this?! I actually got the idea from one of my best friends, and some quick online searching took me to Tattly, a cool online retailer that sells “designy temporary tattoos.” This would be such a fun party favor for anything from a 10th birthday party to a bachelorette weekend… just love it!

Image courtesy of www.tattly.com

Life’s a Picnic

2013-04-17T03:42:00.000-07:00

April showers bring May flowers, or so the saying goes. Even though it’s not always apparent here in the Pacific Northwest, we’re officially in the spring season. To me, that conjures up images of fresh tulips, sunshine, and enjoying time outdoors (though I will most likely have to wait until summer to get my share of that). At any rate, this gift pick seemed spring-appropriate:

{C.Wonder Wicker Picnic Basket & Set $128}

This adorable wicker basket comes with four sets of stainless silverware and four ceramic plates, as well as a corkscrew and salt and pepper shakers. The basket also comes with two built-in ice packs to keep food and drinks chilled. Perfect for a leisurely spring afternoon in the park!

Image courtesy of www.cwonder.com

Thinking of Boston

2013-04-16T03:10:00.000-07:00

Sending my thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by the atrocious bombings that took place at the Boston Marathon yesterday. It was both shocking and depressing to read the accounts of the events that unfolded on the news sites. I sincerely hope that everyone is now safe and sound, and that this dark time passes over quickly.

Cooking Up Some Love

2013-04-15T03:28:00.000-07:00

Good morning! It’s been a while. I spent this past weekend in New York, attending my friend’s beautiful wedding. It was truly the most gorgeous, elegant event I have ever attended and it was so much fun to witness all of the love and joy… I definitely teared up during her father’s speech.

For their wedding gift, I had gotten the newlyweds a set of cooking accessories they had registered for. On that cooking theme, a great wedding gift idea is this book:

{Bride & Groom: First and Forever Cookbook $22.81}

I received a copy of this as a gift almost five years ago, and it’s great. Package it with a pair of aprons or a cast iron skillet, and you’ve got yourself a great gift to commemorate two people embarking on a lifelong journey together!

Image courtesy of www.amazon.com

Raise a Glass

2013-04-05T03:45:00.000-07:00

With Mad Men’s final season beginning on Sunday, I’ve got Don Draper and cocktails on my mind. Can’t think of a better way to commemorate this genius show than with these adorable old-fashioned glasses:

{Golden Chevron DOF Glasses $48 for a set of 4}

As I mentioned before, chevron is the new stripe… and this is the perfect accent piece to any at-home (or, in the way of Don, at-work) bar.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Image courtesy of www.cwonder.com

Lunch Cruiser

2013-04-01T03:25:00.000-07:00

How’s this for a cool lunch box?! The orange part is an elastic band, and then you lift the green lid to put the goods in.

{Lunchbox Car $18}

The one thing I would change about this lunchbox is its lack of a handle. However, I’m sure that most kids wouldn’t care—this thing is awesome!

Image courtesy of www.aplusrstore.com

Domo!

2013-03-26T03:25:00.000-07:00

Today’s gift pick is ideal for any fan of Domo, the cartoon monster from Japan:

{Domo Toaster $42}

While I am a little bit skeptical about a toaster that appears to burn a design into my bread, it’d probably be worth it for the novelty factor. Plus, I’m sure you could just toast for a shorter period of time, before it becomes charred. What a cute way to take your toast in the morning!

Image courtesy of www.fredflare.com

Home Is Where the Cookie Is

2013-03-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Today’s gift pick is for the kitchen, and the perfect accoutrement for baking projects turned into care packages. Nothing beats a good homemade cookie, and now you can ensure that your gift recipient can put a stamp of authenticity on all of his or her baked treats!

{Homemade Cookie Stamp $16.95}

It would be super cute to to package this with a sweet apron and oven mitts, or perhaps some King Arthur flour, Scharffen-Berger chocolate chips, and a whisk!

Image courtesy of www.paper-source.com

This Little Piggy

2013-03-21T03:42:00.000-07:00

Good morning! It’s been a while, friends—I was completely off the grid during my Hawaiian vacation for the past week or so! This year has just been flying by, and I know I’ve been lacking on my blogging consistency. However, it was really awesome to spend time with my family (in paradise, no less) and now it’s back to reality… and blogging!

I saw this item from C.Wonder and thought that it would make a really cute hostess or housewarming gift:

{This Little Pig Cheese Board & Spreader $28}

It would be the perfect accessory for a country-style kitchen, don’t you think?

Image courtesy of www.cwonder.com

The New Stripe

2013-03-12T03:23:00.000-07:00

{Chevron Journal Set $20}

I never met a stripe I didn’t like, but I’m starting to think that chevron might be the new stripe—a spring refresh of the staple, if you will. This punchy orange and fuchsia set from C.Wonder are everything you need to keep your thoughts in order… and look fashionable while doing it!

Image courtesy of www.cwonder.com

Bag It

2013-03-07T03:34:00.000-08:00

Lately, I’ve been wanting a cross-body bag… and I thought this one was super cute:

{Madewell Lovelock Minibag $128}

It’s like a charming little briefcase! Also, the strap on this leather gem is removable, which means it doubles as a clutch when the occasion calls for it.

Image courtesy of www.madewell.com

Luck o’ the Irish!

2013-03-06T03:12:00.000-08:00

I can’t believe we’re already a few days into March—2013 is just flying by, and I can barely keep up with it. While St. Patrick’s Day isn’t something I typically think of as a gift-y occasion, this little lucky clover planting kit was too cute not to share:

{Good Luck Seed Kit $8.95}

It comes with seeds for a white clover plant, a starter pot made of coconut husk, a compost disc, and a plant marker. The side of the box also has a sweet little space to write a personal note. I’d couple this item with some chocolate gold coins (or real ones, if that’s your thing… baller) and it would make the perfect St. Patrick’s Day treat. Alternatively, a little good luck plant would be a sweet gesture for anyone moving to a new place, starting a new job, going back to school… we can all use some luck here or there, so the possibilities are endless!

Image courtesy of www.paper-source.com

Fortune Teller

2013-03-01T03:46:00.000-08:00

I saw this little fortune cookie box and thought it was such a fun and quirky home décor piece. With a hinge and snap closure, it is the perfect hiding place for little treasures!

{Fortune Cookie Box $25}

Have a great weekend, everyone—see you back here next week!

Image courtesy of www.shopbop.com

Fashion’s Finest

2013-02-28T03:18:00.000-08:00

I don’t normally blog about books I haven’t finished yet, but this one has been an incredibly interesting read so far:

{Grace: A Memoir $21.48}

It’s a pretty juicy read from one of fashion’s ultimate insiders. As the creative director of American Vogue, she’s seen and been through it all as Anna Wintour’s right hand woman. She has an incredibly interesting life story, and I can’t wait to finish reading it!

Image courtesy of www.amazon.com

In Lieu of a Gift (Idea)…

2013-02-27T03:23:00.000-08:00

… do me a favor and read this amazing article about my sister. She is simply the best! Cute, too:

After you’re done reading that great article, check out her website at www.catherinekwong.com. And then hire her to design your home. You will not regret that gift to yourself.

Image courtesy of www.bessfriday.com

Kitchen Scientist

2013-02-26T03:18:00.000-08:00

When I lived in New York, one of the best meals I had there was at WD~50. Wiley Dufresne, the chef and owner, is a culinary genius—and such a nice guy! It was my husband’s birthday and we were given the privilege of visiting the kitchen after our meal and chatting with Wiley himself. It was pretty awesome.

Wiley is a master of molecular gastronomy, so any fans of his culinary style can experiment at home with this cool kit:

{DIY Molecular Gastronomy Kit $58}

This kit comes with various 5 pre-measured food additives, 5 specialized tools, and a DVD of 50 recipes. It’s a great gift idea for a budding chef. The food enthusiast in your life can impress his or her dinner party guests with all sorts of crazy concoctions. Mint caviar beads, anyone?

Image courtesy of www.aplusrstore.com