Friday, July 22, 2011

Happy Birthday Alexander Calder

Celebrate the birthday of American sculptor and artist (most famous for inventing mobile sculptures) Alexander Calder (July 22, 1898) with a custom mobile from Atomic Mobiles! You choose the design and colors and voila! A custom mobile for your home, office, baby or wherever you want to enjoy your own personal piece of abstract art! 


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Take a Moment...

Slow down.
Focus.
Stop trying to multi-task.
Put down the phone.
Pick up your child/pet.

The article "Lessons from a Zen Mommy" by Bethany Saltman in the August issue of Parents magazine gave me pause. She has some advice that sounds so simple, but that can really be a challenge for us today in our media- and tech-bombarded world. Even if you don't have children, these are pearls...

• Do what you're doing while you're doing it. Stop multitasking! The past is over. The future hasn't happened yet. Therefore all we have is the present. Why do we need to do it all? Dig deep to find YOUR answer to that question.

• Leave no trace. Oh how I wish my family abided by this rule! Take responsibility for yourself and your mess.

• Take just the right amount. Do we really need all of this "stuff"? You already know the answer to that.

• Practice Patience. Don't beat yourself up over things. I loved this idea: Saltman suggests using something you see or do every day- such as flushing the toilet- to remind you to pause, breathe and slow down.

If you're like me, you're more familiar with the feeling that your world is spinning out of control than you are any sort of Zen state. And that's okay. Just remember the journey IS the journey, so we might as well enjoy it, right?

Friday, July 8, 2011

Grime Fighter

To wipe out the bad guys (germs), sometimes you have to (kitchen) sink to their level. Spongester is a  stainless steel rack that helps expunge bacteria with two distinct shelves for your separate sponges. "Good sponge"(for countertops and dishes) lives on top. "Evil sponge" (for the sink and drain) resides beneath. This little gadget's a great way to keep track of your scrubbers in style. Exclusively available through UncommonGoods, Michael Frank created it to appease a former germ-conscious roommate.



Thursday, July 7, 2011

A New Angle

I love the shape of the Metro sofa from Room & Board. The angle is a practical alternative to the sharp right-angled sectional. Its low profile, clean lines and blend-down cushions create the ultimate experience in contemporary comfort!
PS- I'm also a big fan of Room & Board's fantastic customer service.


Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Who needs Ken?


Architect Barbie can build her own dream house!

Equipped for business with blueprints, hard hat, and geek-chic reading glasses, Barbie's not toying around! Her creators consulted members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to make sure she captured the true spirit of the profession. I love her, though I'm not sure her outfit is appropriate for the construction site. www.Shop.Mattel.com

Friday, July 1, 2011

Celebrate American Design!


The US Postal Service has given its stamp of approval for a dozen iconic household products featured on this page of "Pioneers of American Industrial Design" postage stamps! The series focuses on designers of  Machine Age products, a style that emerged during the Depression. Manufacturers wooed customers with futuristic household goods in materials such as Bakelite, aluminum and chrome. Meant for mass manufacturing, these designs departed from the more ornate detailing of the then-popular Art Deco style, adopting a streamlined appearance influenced by the silhouettes of planes, trains and ocean liners. The set pays tribute to famed 20th century designers who gave us everything from Fiestaware (Frederick Hurten Rhead) to the standard desk telephone (Henry Dreyfuss). Available at www.shop.usps.com