My (not really) New Vice

I've been hitting Pinterest pretty hard for the last few months, actually, it's been one of my favorite pass times for the better part of this year, and frankly, it's probably why I haven't started blogging again more. Because with the ease of pinning straight to a pre-categorized pinboard, I have no need to make little categories here in the form of posts. If you use Pinterest, you already know how addictive it is. Especially the iPhone app. Oh the joy I get from pinning on my phone! It's so much better a fix than Facebook or Twitter and when there are new pins: it makes my heart skip ever so slightly.

So, here's what I love about it for the average person: It's a great way to remember all the semi-useful things we learn about on the internet. The type of bar soap someone recommended that would normally fall out of your head the moment it was digested, let's say. Or a flower arrangement for a party, or hell, even recipes if you are a super-visual-recipe-saver-type.

For a designer: It's crack. Pure and simple. I have categories I reference all the time for work. Down to windows and door, staircases, stove vent hoods, tile layouts. You name it. Whenever I need a little inspiration or clarification on something, I can reference all the photos of completed projects I love.

Try it, I really think it's life-changing (in an inflated, internet way) and if you're there, follow me. I've added a button right on the top of my page just to make it easy. And here are a few of the things I've been pinning lately:

Tea or Coffee?

I don't have too many vices, just the regulars - Bravo, Diet Coke, bulk candy, sales at Barney's, sales on cashmere, Salon shoes at sale prices, you get my drift...

And what's been getting my attention lately? Tea. Like a true addict, it's always within arms' reach and if I don't have it with me, I feel slightly unnerved. In late summer, I virtually abandoned coffee in favor of black tea, full-time. In the fall, the conditioned worsened and by what it now late winter, I'm a full-blown user.

What I have grown to also appreciate is the complex universe that accompanies tea. The varieties, the different cups and mugs, the different brewing techniques... Here are a few of the things that I'm either using, or have caught my addict eye.

Intelligentsia's 333: Introduced to me by some very special people in the know, this is amazingness. Herbal teas usually fall flat for me, but the flavors in this are amazing. The mix of tart rosehips and fresh peppermint is a really nice compliment to the chamomille.

Teavana's Thousand Mountain Jasmine: My Christmas present from my boyfriend (it's a long story), I underestimated how good it would be. With just a little agave, it quickly becomes a sweet treat, otherwise it's a solid black tea.

Hario's 15-oz. teapot, perfect for brewing loose tea for two or one. I love it's design and the glass makes judging strength so much easier. This is on the wishlist.

Breville's Variable-Temperature Kettle: While it's still a little bulky for my taste, I love that it has temperature settings for different varieties of tea. I have loved electric kettles since I used to spend weeks at a time with my cousins in Denmark. Europeans know how to do it with tea, always present and always quickly brewed in an electric kettle. It makes so much sense and it's so quick. While this one is the Rolls-Royce, any electric kettle makes me happy.

And to enjoy, two options for the home:


Crate and Barrel's Latte Mug makes for the most perfect "big cup." I had been on the hunt for the best big white mug for some time, and again, the best, most hip friends in NY opened my eyes to the bargain that was right in front of my eyes.

And for the more urbane, Bodum's tumbler. It looks so amazing when it's filled, and the technology lives up to it's reputation, you really can't feel the heat.

And for on the go:

From Summit Tea Company, a glass and stainless steel tumbler that lets you brew loose tea while not being limited to the pot. Ah, the convenience.

Rut City

I'm in a rut, style wise.

I have no need to buy clothes anymore since at school, I would just get paint on them, or graphite from hours spent drafting, but also, I have no desire to put the money there. Money is for the aforemetnioned books and graphite.

But reading one of my favorite blogs, frugal fashonista, I realized "I can do this!"


I have all of the things I would need to pull this off! The sweater, the pants, the flats, and all of a sudden, a new lease on my look without dropping coin.

I love when that happens.

Hot Plates*

I got to thinking this week about some of the best china patterns. I have no idea why, except that I have a few friends who are getting married and I like to play registry consultant, and also, china is something that really defines your tastes, I think because you make a committment to to your china pattern -- you have it your whole life, sometimes longer than the marriage!

One of my favorites that is just so beyond, it's a total pipedream. It will be one of the patterns that I spend my life collecting, hopefully finding them at a good price, piece by piece. It's Hermes' Balcons Du Guadalquivir. It's truly amazing. I love the way it looks on it's own, I love that each plate is different and I love the way it mixes and pops on the table. Swoon.

A more mainstream (and less budget busting) choice is by good ol' Vera Wang. I like two of her patterns, Imperial Scroll and Trellis. Personally, if I had to choose one it would be Imperial Scroll, just because I like the simplicity of it and it's not a pattern that I would see at a girlfriend's house. I like Trellis for the same reason, it's graphic but not in your face. One of the biggest mistakes people make is picking a china that is so trendy you're just asking to hate it in 10 years. I can't imagine hating either of these.

Imperial Scroll

Trellis

The last china that I love is one that is close to my heart. It's not mine yet, but I'd be lying if I said I haven't called dibs on it or have the heart for a battle royale with my sisters when the time comes for it to leave my mom's possession. I'm going to get in trouble for saying that. It's Flow Blue by Johnson Brothers of England and was produced in the 1880's. It's so pretty in person with amazing scalloped edges and crazing.

I keep coming across good patterns all the time, but these are a few of my all-time favorites. You can't go wrong with them.

*"Hot plate" is a little bit of a joke to myself because Mexican restaurants always say "hot plate, hot plate" when your food is delivered. It always makes me laugh, and I always watch to see if if makes anyone else giggle... alas, it's usually just me.

The Best (As I Know Them)

Since I haven't been buying many things lately, I've really started to appreciate the good purchases that I made back when I was rolling in dough and was not a student, living on leftovers and "borrowed" shelter magazines.

So here is the beginning of some of the best things I have ever had the pleasure of owning.

The Longchamp "Le Pliage Large" tote bag. I lived out of it for three months day in and day out and I'm still not sick of it. There's a reason that it's on the arm of every chic Parisian! It is a timeless bag. I've used it as a purse and and as an overnight bag and the quality can't be beat. I'm also waiting for the opportunity when folding it up and snapping it in a cute little bundle comes in handy, but mysteriously, it always seems to be full...

The Clarisonic. Looks like a vibrator, but cleans like a champ. I had wanted this little buddy for a good six months before I got it and it's lived up to the reputation. Clean face and according to my friend's mom, less wrinkles. It's like using a sonicare on your face and it feels FANTASTIC.

LuluLemon "Run: Tempo Crop" pants. With no picture available online, it's hard to convey just how amazing these are. I've never (I mean NEVER) felt comfortable wearing tight, clingy pants to the gym, but what I will say about these is that they actually suck you in. The tag boasts that the fabric is made to support muscles and joints while running, but what it actually does is lift the ass and hold all the squishy bits in. They're amazing. Seriously. I wouldn't go out in public if they weren't.

After I received the worst haircut known to man in April, the godsend who fixed it sprayed only this one product on my hair and it was amazing. All of a sudden, my hair stays straight if I flat iron it, doesn't frizz up if I air dry and it smells awesome. It might only be available locally, but it's from Seven, a salon in Seattle that I'm sure ships.

The hardest working little ballet flat. I took a similar pair to Europe and walked for days straight in Paris in them. The black is on my sale list at J.Crew, because I never pay full price there -- everything goes on sale eventually. Another reason I look like a walking catalog.

My Timbuk2 messenger bag. It's been with me for years of college, years of work, and now grad school and it's still going strong. Holds a laptop and my odds and ends and goes with anything, as long as you don't mind looking a little "dot com." Sure you wouldn't catch a Hepburn with it, but if they needed to carry a laptop, a lunch, school books and a change of clothes, they might consider it.

Bulgari 8008B's. The most glamorous pair of sunglasses - large and in charge with Swarovski crystals on the sides. Needless to say, I don't wear them boating, but I love them year after year.

I could have DIED when Nordstrom's put a similar Michael Kors watch on the Anniversary Sale (jerks), but I'll just take pleasure in knowing that my big gold watch elicited size envy from my old male co-workers in meetings and that it feels powerful on my girly wrist. I love the juxtaposition of a big gold watch with a feminine top. And if, occasionally, I am asked if I'm about to retire to Barbados, so be it.

And lastly, the Cole Haan "Fiona" boot. I ended up with two pairs last fall. It started with finally finding "The Boot." You know, the boot that we spend multiple falls looking for, one that fits our calves, zips (rather than uses that cheap stretch that never stays up), doesn't give us blisters, and makes us feel just the right amount of tall? Well, behold. It was just the black at first, until I met this little number. Brown/bronze snakeskin. They are a sight to see and kick so much ass. Wearing them to work over jeans made my cashmere sweaters feel more Angelina Jolie, less Ina Garten and with skirts and tights, come on.

So there might not be rain drops on roses and dresses made from curtains, but these are just a few of my favorite things, and if you have the means, I highly recommend them. They are so choice.