domesticating

Stickshifts and safetybelts and windowseats

Posted by: | Nov 15 2011 | Comments (2)

I have decided that I need a window nook in our next place. I’m drawn to the idea of reading something that isn’t a textbook in a pretty spot. The only time I really like snow is if I’m inside sipping cocoa watching the flakes fall, so I think a window seat might be the perfect arrangement for Utah.

I realized this affection after I looked through my Pinterest board and saw all sorts of pillow arrangements, benches and window seats pinned. Trend identified. These are my faves.

window seat

I love these colors. Can’t get over how well they look together. I love them more than turquoise and red. Via House of Turquoise.

Via The Lettered Cottage. You should see the before and after of this one. Makes me feel like I can create a window seat out of any window.

Via Flickr user The Estate of Things. The trundle bed is genius. Extra storage too.

 

It just seems too cozy to not dream of a place to daydream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories : domesticating
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Genius

Posted by: | Oct 19 2011 | Comments (9)

For every girl who has suffered through a bland lunch at work, knowing just what ingredient would make the meal better, but being completely unable to access it, these are for you.

Let’s all travel to Germany just for these “pencils” that are really parmesan cheese, pesto, chili and other flavors that needs to make their way to lunchtime.

parmesan-cheese-pencil-sharpener-food-2

Should we be truthful here? Those parm flakes look good enough to eat on their own, no lunch needed.

Via Selectism

Categories : domesticating
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This drives me crazy

Posted by: | Oct 03 2011 | Comments (8)

We all love Dove’s Real Beauty campaign right?

Unilever owns both Dove and Axe. And we’ve all seen how Axe ads play up the stereotype of men being mindless, sex-hungry pigs. Think I’m exaggerating? I found this link to the 10 worst Axe commercials.

unilever double standard

So are we selling real beauty or are we selling to a demographic that cares about real beauty?

Dove may care about real beauty — they are launching serious initiatives and creating partnerships with organizations that don’t have motives like selling product. But you’d think if they really cared, they would work to stop perpetuating stereotypes too.

Isn’t it ads like Axe that narrow the definition of beauty that make us need campaigns like Dove to broaden it?

Another one. H&M partners with UNICEF to help educate children in impoverished countries. But pretty campaigns don’t hide that H&M’s clothes are made by women and children in horrible conditions. In December, 21 workers died in a fire at a factory making H&M clothing. There was no fire extinguisher available.

Their clothes are cheap for a reason.

Look how cute these ethnically-diverse-on-purpose kids look in their clothes made by other children. At least those children might get to go to school now.

H&M UNICEF

There are many more double standards out there. It’s a conflict. I love H&M — and they are often awarded for their anti-pollution efforts and use of organic cotton. But every time I walk into a store these days, all I can think of is “what am I really being sold?

Purchasing behavior is so much more than “see product, pick it up, buy it.” We are sold a brand, a cause, an element that pulls at our heart and elicits support. Even your yogurt will donate to charity — if you make the effort to mail the lid back to them. The Yoplait campaign kills me. They know you bought the yogurt, why not donate a portion of proceeds? Nope, please mail the dirty lid back. Cost of postage is .44, the amount donated by Yoplait is .10.

yoplait save lids save lives

But what about when the company sells values that are really the result of a market research study that says “your customers like these charities, partner with them!” What’s next after that?

Categories : glam, greenery, newshounding
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The best burger I have ever had

Posted by: | Sep 30 2011 | Comments (5)

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I would never steer you wrong when it came to a good burger.

And I have to tell you about Stacked. Because honestly? I was in burger heaven. We’ve deemed it the best burger in San Diego. And we’ve tried a lot of burgers.

You order on an iPad and can create a custom salad, pizza, burger, hot dog — really anything! I highly recommend the Stack and Bleu burger. It was amazing. I made out with that burger.

I tried to make it a little more healthy by switching the bun to whole wheat and adding lettuce. I didn’t take out the fried onions or bacon though. Are you crazy?

Husband got the Wake Up Call burger.  I didn’t try his because I don’t think eggs belong on burgers, but he said mine was better anyway. I only gave him two bites.

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Categories : domesticating, San Diego
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The Missoni for Target craziness

Posted by: | Sep 13 2011 | Comments (19)

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This day has been on my calendar for months. I got to Target this morning at 7:30 a.m., grabbed a cart and the adrenalin definitely got pumping. I met up with Kinzie and we explored together.

We hit the clothes first — and we were fast! — but by the time we got to the second floor, there was no housewares left. 20110913-023941.jpgSomeone handed me a stack of six cups as if it was a total treasure. I didn’t need the cups so when I checked out, I asked the girl in front of me if she wanted them. It was early, and most of the people were there for Missoni stuff.

Get this – she wasn’t. She had no idea. But she could tell they were a hot item – so she bought them anyway. She was only there for Tylenol and a bottle of water. The cups increased her purchase by about $50.

Where we really scored was by the stockroom. They were grabbing the stuff in the back and taking it out to the store. As stuff rolled by, we would grab it, if we wanted it. It wasn’t as bad as it sounds — I really wanted a blanket, more than anything else, and the nice employee took us back there so we could get them. The carts rolling past us with extra stuff was just a bonus.

missoni for target

I’ll be honest. I was one of those crazy people who just grabbed one of everything in my size and sorted it out at check-out. I am going to have to return some things, and I feel bad because a lot of people wanted them, but in my defense, a lot of the items I bought didn’t have price tags on them because they were restock items.

But because of that, I wouldn’t be so worried if your Target seems out of the stuff. Just got at the open of business another day, when they’ve set the store back up. The Mission Valley store thought they would get more next week. They didn’t get any office supplies with their first shipment either.

As for the quality? The clothing is all synthetic and I think the prices are too high. I will have to hand-wash both of my cardigans. I love them for the design, not because they are so-called designer. Because let’s be honest, they are Target, not designer quality.

I liked the dresses but they were too short for me.

missoni for target

As for the rest – this is my haul. The prices were a little high, so I think I’ll be taking back the umbrella, tote and towels. I put them on eBay for a little bit less than some of the crazy prices that people are charging.

I really like the clutch, but I think I could part with it. I think.

missoni for target

Not pictured: a tie that husband requested I get. When I saw that this picture didn’t have it, I nearly had a heart attack, checked my receipt, and then checked the car. It was still there. Thank goodness.

I need to see what husband thinks of the comforter. I had no plans of getting a new bedding set! But husband and I have talked about it for awhile, and this comforter has the same colors as both our walls and the carpet. So I’m calling it fate. And the blanket matches it really well. So I am hoping that husband likes it. Our current bedspread is an heirloom handmade by my grandma and I worry it is getting ruined.

Target did a great job with this collection. They advertised it profusely, they created buzz, and the products are definitely for Target customers, not necessarily people who want to buy designer. Missoni wins too. Their brand awareness just jumped several degrees. And I win. Look a that couch. Oh goodness gracious.

 

P.S. If you didn’t luck out on Missoni, you can still luck out in my giveaway for a Shabby Apple dress!

 

Categories : domesticating, glam
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