Lucite for Sore Eyes

Cute without being cutesy, these hairpins remind me of a grown-up version of those plastic barrettes everyone had in the seventies. Plus, this is one of my favorite colors. These are from snapcrafty.com, which also has some fantastically cute jewelry, all made from vintage lucite pieces and the like.

It's Never Too Late

Who doesn't want to be a girl detective? I first learned the meaning of "titian-haired" while reading about Nancy's adventures, and there's still a part of me that wishes I could spend my days sleuthing around old mansions with hidden staircases, driving my blue roadster, and ignoring the advice of my elders in pursuit of the truth. If you can't get enough Nancy, this Wikipedia article will remind you of the good old days: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Drew

Glass Houses

I wish I were redecorating and needed glass tiles. (And that I had unlimited funds for my redecoration schemes). Then, I could buy some of these gorgeous tiles from Oceanside Glasstile. Oh, and p.s. they're made with up to 85% recycled glass. www.glasstile.com

Food for Thought

You know, life's not just about cute shoes and great chocolate. No, really. Which is why I am so excited about having a local chapter of Dining for Women. Dining for Women is a giving circle that helps women and children in developing countries. Translation: once a month, a bunch of very cool and interesting women of all ages come to my house, bringing with them (a) something yummy and (2) their checkbooks. We eat, have great conversation, and at the end of the evening, we learn about the program designated to receive our donations that month. Then, we give whatever we might have spent on eating out to Dining for Women, which collects money from chapters nationwide and sends it to that month's charity. We started the chapter in November, and we have already helped support micro-credit programs in Africa and Guatemala, and a women's shelter in Iraq. If you don't have a chapter in your area, it's very easy to start one. Just check out www.diningforwomen.org!

Fired Up

Despite the pretentious, unpronounceable name, this chocolate is fantastic. Don't miss the Red Fire and Black Pearl chocolate bars. The Red Fire bar combines two of my favorite things -- cinnamon and hot chiles -- for an unexpected flavorful delirious mouth tingling sensation explosion. And the Black Pearl is pretty good, too. This chocolate isn't fair trade certified, and since I prefer my chocolate products *not* be produced using child slaves, I asked and was assured that the owner "is constantly sourcing single-origin chocolates to create products where we know specifically where the beans are grown and how the people are treated within the agricultural cropping." I'm not sure about the syntax, but it seems to indicate that there's no child slavery involved. So enjoy with a clear conscience! www.vosgeschocolate.com

Parker's Posies

The first time I saw a Kim Parker piece was in the bathroom of a local Thai restaurant. I liked it so much, I actually considered offering to buy it right off the wall. Then, I read about her in Home magazine's September 2006 issue, and realized there was a whole slew of Kim Parker products I couldn't afford. Sadness! But a few weeks ago, I found this print on sale at (don't tell anyone!) World Market, and it has now found a home over my couch, where it is just perfect.

You Know It's True

Everyone knows that the more obscure a beauty product is, the better it is, which is why Septodont hand lotion is my favorite. Delicate, clean soapy smell, superquick absorbency, lightweight yet protective. And practically impossible to get. I get mine from a friend at the dentist's office, which is where I discovered it, but this looks like a promising source:

http://www.newlinemedical.com/Sept_cream.html