One Weird Looking Kid...

So I had to go to Toys R Us the other day out of desperation to find a gift for my nephew's 3rd birthday. As I was walking down an aisle I came across this box...

I did a double take and thought...what the hell is up with that kid on there and why is his head so huge!?

Then I looked really close and just shook my head and thought...damn, that poor kid is pretty ugly. How did he end up as a toy box model? Probably out of pity, which makes the whole thing even more sad.

Now I feel really bad for posting this and when I look at him again I kind of think he's (so ugly he's) cute.

I Want a New Drug.

I LOVE old drug store signage and apothecaries.

I also love this place in Japan!

And a turquoise apothecary!? Amazing!

Restaurant Ware. Stylish & Practical.

For years, my mom has been near obsessed with restaurant ware (aka diner ware & hotel ware). She has a huge collection of plain white dishes and in the last few years, she has begun to pass her obsession onto me.

This stuff is getting harder to find, especially the plain pieces, as people realize how durable and indestructible it is.

I think my favorite styles of restaurant ware include symbols - like anchors & crests - and logos.

If you see any of this in your travels, I'd snap it up and start a collection. We all know the dishes you can buy at Ikea or elsewhere are complete crap that chip after 2 uses...these dishes will last you almost a lifetime and a lot of the styles/patterns are timeless. Look for pieces that are really thick and heavy and are marked with any of the following makers: Syracuse, Shenango, Homer Laughlin, Mayer, Buffalo, Iroquois. For full details of these collectible pieces, you can check the Restaurant Ware Collectors Network.

(b)ummm...

Nice Bunz! Sorry about that impaling though...

The Simple Life.

I'm all about practicality, at least I'm trying to be. After learning to edit my decor choices, I'm starting to get a lot better about editing my fashion choices as well. I admit, I have an enormous amount of respect for simple, modest clothes that stay out of the way of getting things done.

Why is it that the people who seem to thrive at something, masters of their trade, are the people who could not give a SHIT about what they have on? One prime example is Steve Jobs. All he ever wears is a black shirt and jeans - the staple choice for techies of many trades - computer, theatre, sound, etc. These are the people getting shit done. In my opinion, the guy in the black jeans, plain white t-shirt, velcro shoes and feathery hair is the coolest guy of all. It's the only real 'look' left that still manages to give a gentle finger to fashion without being forced and obvious. I don't even think the people who dress this way realize the statement they're making. I love it. I want to be them. But I can't because it would be forced.

Another group of practical fashionistas I admire are tourists. Maybe it's the little bit of commie in me who loves the idea of a uniform but again, logic trumps everything with this look. There is NO WAY these people will let fashion get in the way of their life experience.

Hilarious yet...I'm jealous I don't have the balls to pull this off regularly.

Spring on Spring Street.

Perhaps I'm immature...actually, I AM immature, but I just have a hard time saying pussy willow out loud. But, since I'm typing it, I will say with great pride that the pussy willow bush I planted last summer is blooming! (ugh. that does NOT sound good.)

Nature at it's Finest.

What a beautiful weekend it was here in the country, perfect for a nice trail walk. My parents were over for dinner so we decided to head down to an old back-road trail for a pre-dinner jaunt. So off we went...

About 10 minutes in, we looked ahead and thought...what the hell is that?

Oh, you know, just a redneck car graveyard.

We carried on after checking out the 8-10 cars and about 15 minutes later, saw something else strange in the distance...is that a stove on top of a tree trunk?

Yes, yes it is.

On our way back, we ended up stuck in a huge muddy soy bean field and had to battle our way back to the trail...

Just after we found the trail again, Pierre puked. Then we headed home. You know what though? It was pretty fun.

Highway Fashions with Mandy the Mannequin

So, there's this old guy. He lives in an old house on the highway. Pretty normal, right? What if this old guy had a mannequin and displayed her at the end of his driveway and changed her outfits every couple of weeks? Is that weird? I think it might be. Here are the first of many photos to come of Mandy the Mannequin.