Banishing the Blues: Five things I'm Digging Right this Second

As you may have guessed by the slow posting (and the melancholy tone of late!) I've got a little case of the blues. Nothing serious- it happens from time to time to us all, but I thought I'd write down five things I'm grateful for to banish them:

1) Thanks to our exciting news, I'm doing lots of daydreaming about cycling around Italy wearing a silk scarf and these shades. (Do you think they might mistake me for a local?)

2) A visit from my lovely Mum! She's the easiest house guest ever- perfectly content to sit in my sunny backyard, chit chat with me, cook up lovely nibbles and stick her toes in the sand.

3) I've been watching Jamie At Home thanks to my tivo and am crazy, madly in love with him. Everything about it is wonderful- his relaxed, confident style, the gorgeous ingredients, the extreme close ups of that gorgeous food moving and gooshing around on the plate, looking so alive and succulent, his slight and adorable lisp, his hobbit hole of a kitchen with bundles of herbs hanging from the earthen walls and mismatched crockery- even his preposterous hair- I love it all. I can't wait to try a few of his recipes.

4) I've just had an order for 20 Dachshund Party Dogs for a birthday bash in a few months. Doesn't that sound like a fun celebration?

5) I'm loving the instant collection of wooden Ukranian Easter Eggs I scored on Ebay. Their electric color palate pops against their shiny black shells and looks both traditional and radical at once. No pastels in sight!

Wanna play? What are you feeling gratitude for right this second?

A Very Merry Imaginary Birthday for Me!

My husband has been asking me what I want for my birthday. I always find this question incredible, since I catalog the objects of my affection so dutifully on this blog. I have LONG lists of favorites in both of my Etsy shops- now totaling more than 145 pages! Amazon's Universal Wishlist button has allowed that list to balloon to more than 50 pages of lustiness. However, I recognize that my husband's conundrum may be the sheer size and freewheeling variety of all the wishes. So I'm throwing an imaginary birthday party for myself here, with a few hints for the poor fellow.

First and foremost, all my nearest and dearest would come together from the farthest corners of the earth to celebrate with me. Perhaps they could arrive via hot air balloons and wooden sailboats. After all were safely tethered, we'd make our way to a garden by the sea. The smell of freesia and roses would be wafting all around us, making us heady with delight. Copious amounts of champagne would be chilling in elegant silver stands all around the garden and white jacketed waiters with red polka dotted bow ties would pour bubbly for everyone. The waiters would use this bottle opener to open soda pop and root beer for the kiddies.




Next, a troupe of acrobats would perform for us- there would be juggling, tumbling and, of course, firebreathing. As the highlight of the performance, this beautiful cake would be carried out and set on an elaborately dressed table.

The fire breather would light 27 sparklers and bedeck the cake with them as we all whooped and hollared. Then, the acrobats would make a human pyramid and put me at the top so that I could blow them all out.

We'd slice big hunks of cake and eat it on these volcano plates. (All four in the series would look quite lovely hanging in our kitchen afterward.)

After our cake had been sufficiently digested, we'd don our swimsuits and head for the sea. We'd spend the day making sandcastles and floating in the gentle waves. When tired out, we'd rest on soft handmade quilts beneath beautiful painted paper parasols and make the sort of quiet, happy sighs one makes after a long, hot, pleasant day of fun with old friends. We'd munch on the fried chicken, biscuts and potato salad those thoughtful waiters had brought along in wicker baskets. There would also be a selection of iced tea or lemonade garnished with sprigs of mint and served from beautiful Murano glass decanters. We'd use old fashioned paper straws to sip them quite daintily.



After watching a gorgeous sunset, I'd pack away my shawl, sunglasses and straw hat into this beautiful tote bag (which also happens to be an additional 25% off with free shipping!) bid adieu to all my favorite people and go back home to slip into bed thinking how lucky I am to have been born.

Imagination is one of the best parts of living, don't you agree? What would happen at your imaginary birthday party?

Glittery Goodies

My collection of baubles is spilling across the top of my dresser, but I'm like a raccoon who can't take her eyes (and paws) of anything shiny. Here's what's been catching my eye lately.







Have you added anything new to your jewelery wardrobe lately?

Imaginary Desk-scaping

If my little desktop renovation had an unlimited budget, here are five accessories I would add. Click on the images to go to the listings.

This tape dispenser looks like a sculpture.


This gorgeous paperweight reminds me of Champagne, or exhaling in a swimming pool (or swimming in a pool of Champagne!). Since we have the fans going non-stop here in Hawaii, a paperweight might not be a bad idea.
An hourglass to better keep track of the time I'm squandering on the internet. (Ha.)

The prettiest wastebasket- would have to be emptied every day since my garbage is never quite as photogenic as the perfectly crumpled pages in the Pottery Barn catalogs.

And these Tailor Scissors from India look gorgeously heavy and well made. I'd love to get my hands on a pair.

What's on your wish list lately?

Five Simple Things That Make Me Happy

I was just tagged by the talented Maggie of The Chickadee's Nest to name five things that make me happy. (Easy as pie!) In no particular order...

1) My wonderful husband. I've been quite blue while he's been away training with Teach For America this summer. We'll be reunited on August 5th, thank heavens.
2) Fresh Flowers. (Though, really, who doesn't like those?)
3) Thrifting. There is something lovely about rescuing an object from oblivion and making it useful and beautiful again. I never get tired of that.
4) My Mother's Cooking. Hands down the best food I've ever tasted.
5) Champagne. My current favorite inexpensive bottle is this one.


What are five things that make you happy? Consider yourself tagged! (Report back if you make a post. I'd love to read it!)

Fresh Mother's Day Ideas

Did you know that the woman who invented Mother's Day eventually grew to detest the commercialization of the holiday she invented? She was also penniless at the end of her days, but never knew it, because the American Floral Society paid her bills as a sort of tribute.

So instead of flowers this year, I'm brainstorming alternate ideas. Here's what I think my own wonderful Mother might like.

This adorable print would be perfect on the white brick wall in her bedroom above her glorious stacks of books.

This set of cheerful reusable tote bags that fold flat might come in handy. (She can keep a few in the trunk for her tango shoes and one in her handbag!I love how they look all together- groceries and miscellaneous who knows what never looked so cute in plain old plastic grocery bags!)



Fragrance from Jo Malone in Fig and Cassis? (Never floral perfumes for my mum! She quite prefers men's cologne.)
I think she needs this bicycle basketfor her adorable vintage Schwinn. (And a bell too! Ding Ding!)



I'd love to send macarons from Paulette and a nice big bottle of bubbly. (Sicillian Pistachio, New Orleans Praline and Passion Fruit all sound heavenly to me!)


Instead of flowers that will wilt in a few days, perhaps something that will come back year after year, like this Peony in an unexpected shade of green.


What are you planning for your Mom this year?

What I'm wishing for lately:

Espadrilles (What I'd really like is a trip to Nice to buy a pair from a little old man by the sea.)

This vase for my desk, filled with a handful of monogrammed pencils.

A truly sumptuous feather duster.

An i-phone. (This is how I feel about it.)

Mast Brothers Chocolate Bar (preferably a big ole stack...)

What's on your wish list? (And is it just me, or does blogging help get it out of your system a bit?)

Five Finds for Saint Valentine

Not sure about all of you, but I'm knee deep in Valentine's Day prep for my shop and it's on my brain. As usual, I'm feeling all frilly frenchie foo foo for February fourteenth. Now featuring five favorites- (phew!)


This new photo collectionof the beloved Marilyn Monroe would be a lovely way to add some golden girl sex appeal to my bookshelf.

I think lacy tights are probably the only article of clothing on earth that can make you feel incredibly sexy while simultaneously keeping you warm!


Not just any chocolates- Vosges Chocolates please. I love the crazy flavor combinations- like chocolates with curry, paprika and even bacon. Yum.

Some silly, frilly and frivolous slippers in which to prance around the bedroom. (And the bedroom only, thank you!)



Ms. Monroe famously woreNumber Five as bedtime attire. I'll be following (birthday) suit(s)!

Whats inspiring you for February Fourteenth?

How to Rock Fringe Right this Second.

January's featured Etsy Blogger is Rose Works Jewelery. While perusing her shop I came across these cool fringy earrings which inspired this round up of edgy, punk inspired ways to wear fringe fringe fringe!


I think this quirky purse from Jacquibean would be just the thing to add a dash of humor to a blah winter outfit.


Perhaps a dramatic scarf by The Aurora Vintage to bring out your inner feline.


A wild and crazy necklace from Jozae for a wild and crazy night on the town.


Warm, easy to walk in and totally of the moment boots from Planet Claire Vintage.



Perfectly styled suede vest from Ramona West.

Five Christmas Wishes

One of the best parts of blogging is having a space to record the endless parade of wishes for pretty things. And since Christmas is coming, here's what The Fab Miss B is not-so-secretly wishing for:

1)In the Realms of the Unreal (because I've been meaning to watch this doco on Henry Darger for ages) from Amazon.
2)Nesting kitchen set (for my tiny kitchen and gypsy lifestyle!) from Joseph Joseph.
3)Head planter (for my paintbrushes!) from Tiny Things Are Cute.



4)Big and Little Foldover Bag (for my sometimes tiny sometimes massive toting needs) on sale at Anthropologie.



5)Lichen duvet and shams (for the divinely fluffy down comforter Momma D just gave me!) from Target.

Chasing Rainbows: November's Featured Blogger

This month's featured Etsy Blogger is Storybeader. She does so much to keep our street team running smoothly! Thank you so much Deb! Her crystal suncatcher inspired this prism of colorful goodies.
Vintage travel booklets from Ladies and Gentlemen- go ahead and daydream about vacationing back when people still dressed up to fly.


Box o' Spools Brooch by Crumpetcake- wear your crafty-ness on your lapel. (And isn't Crumpetcake the best Etsy shop name yet?)



Create Happiness Magnets by Earmark- an excellent reminder when you aren't feeling your cheerfullest. (And it's also their motto- go check 'em out!)



Mr. Yellowstone Travel Bags by Metka by Trackza- if you're lucky enough to be heading off on vacation these will help you remember what's what. And those yellow stripes will stay sunny no matter what the weather is like at your destination.



Flower Party Print by Geninne- so you can pretend you live in sunny Mexico City just like her!

See more of my Rainbow inspired picks right here.

Mama's Magic

October’s featured Etsy Blogger is Jen of Mama’s Magic. She has two Etsy shops-Baby Friendly Beads is dedicated to jewelry for mom’s with nursing babies (its gotta be tug proof!)and Mama’s Magic Studio showcases her original bead designs.Since Jen’s charming blog is filled with posts about raising children and the creations they inspire, I thought I’d do another round up of cool kid stuff (see the other picks here).


Wool Felt Crown by My Cakies. Because dress up is a serious past time.


Corace Baby Album by IFN Books. Because Baby's first years must be documented.


Vintage Childrens Card Games from Valise Queen. Because these have a charm missing from today's card games.


Birthday Girl Card by Sweet Beets. Because this birthday card doubles as art.


Friends of the Forest collage by Kate Endle. Because Baby's room needs art too.