Are Those Waffles In Your Ears?

It's the kind of morning when the rain is bucketing down, it's grey and dark, and you just want to wrap your hand around a steaming mug of tea and stay inside all cosy-like.  Perfect weather for browsing Etsy actually, especially with the dollar at US.99c. In other words, better online shopping conditions could not really be hoped for.

The other day (when the dollar was at a measly 94c) I discovered Tiny Tasty, an Etsy store based in Oslo who create the cutest food-based (ok, mostly dessert-based) jewellery.

"Oh I love your waffle earrings!"

"Thanks, they're from Oslo". Oh yeah, that's a conversation I want to have.

Tiny Tasty treats are around $50 from Etsy. If you like the mug above, you can nab it from the Tea Appreciation Society for about $11.

Bargain!

I had one of those stars-are-in-alignment shopping days today. I just kept finding awesome stuff to buy! Everyone had sales! Things in Target kept scanning up at lower prices then the tag read! After a haul which included several cute dresses for little miss - which could've been alot more but I restrained myself - a lovely baking book, some useful storage and bargains galore at Diva, who had just started markdowns; I arrived home to a cool little pressie in the letterbox. My chain store buys were still fabulous, but this little thing was a bit more special. Etsy seller Maya's Kalupi makes cute colouring wallets in a whole host of adorable fabrics. They're perfect for throwing in your handbag when you're out to dinner or anywhere else that a little person might need to be amused (ie: everywhere).  They even come with crayons and a notepad! Ours was a sunny yellow with ladybugs all over, but if fairies, apples, rainbows, trucks, or owls are more your thang, there's lots of those too. They're finished with an elastic button clasp, but the best bit is that they are just US$9.50 each. Which is like $9.95 Oz buckaroos at the moment. And for an amused child plus the warm and fuzzy feelnig that comes from supporting independent designers, it's by far the biggest bargain of the day!

When Disney Is A-OK

(In which I shamelessly copy and paste today's post from NeverShoppedOut.com, because let's be honest here, there's lots of good telly on Thursdays. Ahem.)

There are some things in life you can’t avoid. Death, taxes, and Disney are the first that spring to mind. Someone warned me when my daughter was born that we wouldn’t be able to withstand the inevitable branded onslaught, and despite my very best efforts a few things have slipped though my radar. A Tinkerbell costume, for one. Several packets of trademarked Band-aids, for another. And just recently, a fully-blown musical animation on DVD, otherwise known as The Princess and the Frog. My daughter is obsessed with it. There hasn’t been this much reverse-and-replay action since Shrek, and for a kid who wore headband Shrek ears nonstop for 6 months, that’s saying something.

So, in the interests of research, and also to put visuals to all the catchy tunes that have been emanating from the telly for the last few days, we sat down together to watch the whole thing. And I was pleasantly surprised. The Princess and the Frog is based on the classic Frog Princess story by E.D. Baker, and like all Disney flicks, there’s lots of singing, stereotypes and wide-eyed beauties. But in a good way, though – set in the French Quarter of New Orleans at the beginning of the Jazz age, the tunes are really pretty cool, and the beautiful heroine, Tiana, has a whole lot of what I believe Southerners call, “gumption”. The Prince is a charming foreigner with a lust for life, and the villian is a spooky voodoo man with a nifty dress sense. Plus, Oprah is in it, so it gets extra cool points right there.

You can probably guess the basic storyline and ending, but there’s nothing wrong with a classic, is there? Particularly when a trumpet-playing alligator is involved.

Even though the DVD gets a thumbs-up, I don’t really want to purchase all the merchandise that goes with it. But it’s easy to indulge their latest obessession with finds that are along the same lines – in true cartoon form, you just need to use your imagination!

1. The Frog Princess, by E.D. Baker, $7.25 from Book Depository
2. Big by Fiona Scanlan Clara Headband, $22.95 from Babysgotstyle
3. Ellie Bellie Kid’s Reversible Tutu, $79.99 from Metromum
4. Toy Trumpet, $37.95 from Rhythmic Kids
5. Cool Jazz for Kids CD, $14.99 from theabcshop
6. Gator Golf, US$14.99 from Amazon
7. Scruffy Dog Silver Ballet Shoes, $39.95 from Scarlettjadeandjett
8. Froggy Bow Hairclips, US$4 from Etsy
9. Prince Crown, $5.95 from thepartypeople

Deep Breath - New Buys for a New Decade

We might look back on the noughties as a fast paced, consumer-driven, bling-encrusted decade with fond memories and maybe a cultural cringe or two. In theory, that means we can look forward to a decade (what are they called? Teens?) where we learn to slow down, appreciate quality over quantity, and focus on the whole (I'm talking friends and family, community, planet) rather than looking inwards.

With that in mind, I want to borrow that wonderfully understated British WWII slogan and gently suggest we all bare it in mind:

In order to do this, let's borrow some of that noughties spirit and buy a few little things to get us on our way. Good things though; useful things. I promise.

An inspirational notebook to jot down your thoughts. And get this: you could even use a pen to do so! A PEN! Notebook, $24.95; 'Bow' pen $6.95; both from Notemaker.

A book which not only looks pretty, but teaches you how to grow your own vegies and how to cook them. That's right, rants about Coles will soon be (mostly) a thing of the past! Delia's Kitchen Garden, $36.45 from Book Depository.

Some cute fabric to create your very own Sound of Music curtain-dress moment. $12.95 per 1/2m from FunkyFabrix.

Bling doesn't have to disappear altogether - in fact, give it a new lease on life by supporting independent artists who use recycled or reclaimed materials. Brooch, US$34.99 from ecobling at Etsy.

Tread softly on the earth - but make sure it's in a jazz style shoe in organic leather. Dorothy, $219 from tHeHorse.

And float about like a cloud in a supersoft organic cotton tee. $120 by Bassike.

Deep breath.....now, doesn't that feel better already?

Mugs to Love

Every Christmas and birthday, someone, somewhere, will buy me a new set of mugs and/or a teapot. I'm not a crazy teapot lady (yet), though I do have several teapot-themed necklaces courtesy of Etsy. Come to think of it, my pj's have teacups on them too. Hmmm. So when I found Love That Mug, well it was like Christmas had come 3 weeks early!

Love That Mug design "favourite mugs", ones that express your personality, are conveniently dishwasher safe, and naturally totally rad. I love this little purple owl, or the Shower Me Not for cold wintery days. Or the Dairy Moo Mug, which thoughfully includes an arrow (behind the cow) pointing up to 'Insert Milk Here". hehe!

For $17.95, they're a pretty cool stocking filler. My Christmas stocking, in particular...!

Regretsy. SO FUNNY!

I've not done much more today apart from ROFL to the max at Regretsy, a hilarious blog about all the horrible shit you can buy on etsy. I heart etsy so much, but not so much as to want to purchase a vampire-printed reusable menstrual pad. Or a child's wall print about abortion. Or a poncho for my chicken. Or a pink made from a turtle's claw (seriously). Actually some of these just sound sick and their makers should probably be arrested. To lighten the mood, here's some shoes someone painted Twighlight-style. Good taste not included.

Etsy Love: Free Range Baby

While trawling through my daily blog reading, I came across a gorgeous Etsy store, based in NZ, Free Range Baby. As I am chronically awful at craft, cute little hand made pieces like this inspire not only admiration but lots and lots of 'aaaw'. Free Range Baby use fabrics that are vintage, reclaimed, or recycled, making each piece unique and that extra bit special. And, um HOW CUTE IS THIS!:

Yep, it's got an owl in the pocket. And this jacket has a hippo on it.

There's no point being half-hearted about colour, so if you're going to go for this swirly and spotty little number with a pretty bow, match it with bold tights and brighten up everyone's day...

But my fave has to be this simple, classic pinny. Sweet and totally adorable, it's quite a steal for US$40 (about $48 Aussie dollars at the moment)!

Supermarket, thankfully not of the Coles variety

Being a mother and attempting to be a housewife means I spend more then my fair share of time trudging through the unflattering lighting and space age background noise environment that is Coles. But check this out: a Supermarket that is essentially the same as our beloved Etsy. Handmade, arty goodness without a Fly Buys card in sight.

I just spent more time looking through the kidswear, jewellery, prints and bags then I spend planning and executing a full-blown grocery shop. I'm loving the cards by Fold (US$11 each), the journals (US$18) from Andy Pratt and just about everything from Poketo, including this wicked monstery mug (US$14).

It doesn't come with a 'Warning: this is addictive and you now have no excuse to give a crap present. Ever", but it should. *Happy browsing sigh*

Shopping is Shite

On my never-ending quest to find weird and wonderful and albeit useless trinkets, I have recently become enamoured with mildly offensive everyday objects. Etsy hath been my saviour. The other day I bought a shite plate, which will sit nicely next to my shite toy bunny. I don't mean they are awful, or indeed made from/to look like fecal matter, I mean that they are lovely everyday objects emblazoned with something possibly offensive:

My shite plate is a vintage find from the back of Nanna's cupboard and hand-painted with "food-safe" ceramic paint. I can't wait to serve up a delicious steaming plate of something, to have the lucky recipient clean their plate and then see those bold black letters staring back at them. It may bias them against what they've just eaten, but it will be funny.

Shite bunny is made in the USA from soft felt and lovingly hand-stitched together. He has a brother, who lives with my brother, the "go F**K yourself" bunny (the toy, not my sibling). They get along great (the toys, not my sibling and the toy).

Get your bollocky plates from Trixiedelicious and Bunnies wot swear from spidercamp . Feck! Arse! Drink!