It’s that time again! Time for us to feature a few of our current favorite things. First up, here’s Greg’s:
1. Washing Machine Hamper – We need a new hamper. Recently, we’ve actually been using an old white plastic one that would look more at home in my old dorm room (not a classy place) than in a home. Ash wants to get one of those nice espresso wicker ones at Target. Me? My vote is for this one! It would certainly make laundry a little more fun. Now if only it was really a washing machine you could move from room to room… I think CB2 would be on to something.
2. Tape Dispenser – Another favorite from CB2 is this early 90′s flashback tape dispenser. It’s kind of funny to think of stuff from my childhood as truly “retro”, but this is pretty cool looking. It hearkens back to the days of my prized Garth Brooks cassette tapes, and I think it could be right at home in my “modern geek chic” office.
3. Indie Rock Poster Book - A cool mix of music and art for your coffee table or office. I’m a big fan of eclectic artwork, and I have an equally eclectic taste in music, so this is right up my alley. Best of all, by buying this book, you’re helping a worthy cause. Royalties go to charities supported by Yellow Bird Project.
4. Pivot Power Surge Protector - So I’m a huge fan of non-standard power strips. Being a tech geek, I have a lot of gadgets with power bricks that take up a lot of space. This one swivels so you can use all six outlet pods. It comes in handy when you need to plug something in the wall in a tight space or around furniture.
5. The Seven Year Pen – I’m a huge sucker for nice pens. This Swiss-made pen is able to write 1.7 meters (that’s 5.58 feet for us in the States) a day for 7 years. As much as I love my Inka, this one seems like a great pen to keep at my desk. As little as I write, this pen would might even last for much, much longer than advertised.
6. Google + - If searching Google is “Googling”, and using Facebook is “Facebooking”, then what do you call using Google Plus? “Google+ing” just looks funny. Anyway, I’m currently loving Google+. For me, Google+ is what Facebook was to MySpace: trimmed down and packed with all the essential features. The only problem is you need an invite to get in. So, if you’ve got a friend who’s on Google+, make sure you ask them for an invite and check it out!
1. Mod Multi Shoulder Tote – I’m what you would call a tote-junkie. I have come to grips with my “addiction” and am living by the rule “If one comes in, one gets donated”. So far, it’s been working out pretty good. That doesn’t mean I don’t like to “window shop” for totes every now and then. This tote, from Paper-Source, caught my eye recently and I’m having to refrain from clicking the “add to cart” button. I love it because it’s roomy, has long handles, a graphic pattern, and it’s made from 95% recycled post-consumer material. It would be a perfect “errand running” tote.
2. Lagoon by Martha Stewart - We recently used this paint color for a project (which we will be talking about on Wednesday!) and ever since, I’ve been looking for anything and everything to paint that color! I’m not sure if it’s too much for an entire room – though, I must admit, I’m rather tempted to amp up the color in the laundry room! Sooner or later, I will find another place to use it. It’s a very cheery, happy blue, but it’s classic and chic at the same time. And it’s Martha Stewart. What’s not to love?
3. Camera Pencil Sharpener – In the digital age, it’s sometimes easy to forget what using an old fashioned pencil is like. It sounds weird, but it’s true! I like to keep pencils around the office for sketching out quick ideas, but sometimes I forget I have them. On that note, I think this camera pencil sharpener is pretty nifty. It’s one of those things you wouldn’t buy for yourself but would love to give (or receive) as a gift.
4. Orla Kiely Pencils – When I came across the pencil sharpener (#3) on the Paper-Source website, I saw these nifty pencils in the “PS Recommends” window nearby. I blame my love for these on the fact that its Back-to-school supplies season and it’s hard to resist.
5. Book Book iPad Cover - Finally, I cute and well-functioning iPad case! Simply put, I LOVE this iPad cover. Not only is the outside cover super classy (and fun) but it’s very convenient too. Unlike other iPad covers, the Book Book turns into a fully-adjustable, hand-free stand. If you like to read books on your iPad, like I do, you’ll really appreciate the “book like” feel it gives you when your reading. It’s the best of both worlds!
6. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream at Home - I ordered this cookbook a few days ago and I can’t wait to get my hands on it! I’ve never had homemade ice cream that actually tasted good, and I hear this book is the answer. We first heard about Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream on the Food Network when they featured her Queen City Cayenne ice cream on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”. Oh, and how awesome is this… you can mail-order ice cream directly from Jeni’s! This would be a unique gift idea for that foodie friend of yours that is hard to buy for.
7. Decorate by Holy Becker – This is one of those hardback books that you’ll love having sit on the coffee table but is really useful too! This book is chock full of ideas, solutions, shortcuts, floor plans, and tips from designers such as Jonathan Adler and Amy Butler for every room on every budget. In my opinion, it’s a must have for anyone who is interested in making the most of their home.
That’s the round up of our current favorites. Do you have any new favorites you’ve encountered this month? Share your findings with the class!
We were not paid or perked to include any of these items in our Favorite Things line up. Like every month, they are our honest-to-goodness favorites. Some links include affiliates.
