Shopping Etsy: Bicycle!

Some things to help you look cool while you tool around.

1.) Bike Tools, $35

2.) Dual Vintage Bikes Print, $95

3.) Edith Bike Seat Cover, $28

4.) Bike Bag, $20

5.) LED Light necklace, $23

6.) Monster Bike Helmet, $90

7.) Custom Wood Fenders, $200

Shopping Etsy: Garden decor

The Diamondbacks are playing the Toronto  Blue Jays on May 22nd.

I’ve heard that they are a horrible team, but I chose to go to the game, mostly (as in 100% why) because they are giving away a D-backs garden gnome figurine.

I recounted this to a friend and he asked, “What exactly does a garden gnome do?”

Um, um, um. Good question.

According to Wikipedia:

A garden gnome is a figurine of a small humanoid creature, usually wearing a pointy hat, produced for the purpose of ornamentation, typically of gardens or on lawns. These figurines originate in 19th century Germany, where they became known as Gartenzwerg (literally “garden dwarf”). The application of the term gnome in English is first attested in the 1930s.

So basically, they are garden statues. Period.

What a disappointment. I was hoping they’d been placed in gardens to ward away bad garden mojo, for a good yield, etc. But in actuality, their sole purpose is to be cute.

So in the spirit of well-appointed gardens, here are a few things that might add a little magic to yours:

1.) Happy Buddha, $54
2.) A Trio of Gnomes, $20
3.) Ceramic Mushroom Garden Ornament, $14.50
4.) Garden Herb, $9
5.) Vintage Fawn Outdoor Statue, $30
6.) Allium Garden Ornament, $39
7.) Mosaic Ladybug Stepping Stone, $75

Phoenix Sloppy Joes

“Does Manwich still exist?” asked a friend the other day.

Indeed it does, and it’s still a meal.

You might remember the Sloppy Joe as cafeteria fodder — or what your mom made when your parents were going for a night on the town, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t delicious.  You can make your own (this Sloppy Joe mix from Etsy looks interesting), or you can try out some local varieties:

District Kitchen
Sloppy Joe made from lean Buffalo for  $9 or happy hour sliders for $5 (right).
320 N. 3rd St
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Liberty Market
Liberty Joe, $7, which you can order “extra sloppy” for an additional 50 cents.
230 N. Gilbert Rd.
Gilbert, AZ 85234
(480) 892-1900

Cafe Bink
Get a fancy sloppy joe on an onion roll for $10
36889 N. Tom Darlington Dr.
Carefree, AZ 85377
(480) 488-9796

Any other places serve Sloppy Joe’s in Phoenix?

Shopping Etsy: Moustache May!

It’s now May, which in my household means — moustaches!

My husband, creator of charity website Fund-A-Stache, now has a ridiculous handlebar to raise money for St. Mary’s Food Bank.

He will also participate in Moustache May, a community site wear hundreds of men take daily photos of their moustaches and give each other pats on the back for the best shots (love you guys :^D).

It’s not too late to start growing and helping someone by growing funny facial hair!

Here are a few moustache items to put you in the growing/giving spirit:

1.) Moustache Salt & Pepper, $35
2.) Stacking Moustache Mugs, $52
3.) The Moustache Button Collection, $6.25
4.) Mustache Man Print, $15
5.) Felt Moustache, $12
6.) Mustache Wall Clock, $120
7.) Whisker Wax, $14
8.) Jean-Pierre the Food Critic, $16
9.) Apple Mustache Laptop Decals, $12

Shopping Etsy: Tennis, anyone?

For the past couple of years, a friend and I have gone to a local park and hit a couple balls during his work off-season. We call it tennis.

I’ve barely played in 20 years. He’s new to the game.  My forehand blows. His backhand (sorry, Nick) could use some help.

Every time we play, I leave the public courts determined to practice more or take some lessons. Eventually it gets hot, I get sedentary, and I don’t play until the next off-season and the urge strikes.

Maybe, just maybe some tennis-inspired Etsy will get the proverbial ball bouncing?

1.) ’70s Tennis Dress, $19
2.) Racket Pendant, $24
3.) Tennis Scarf, $3
4.) Wire Ball Basket, $40
5.) Forehand Checkbook Cover, $8
6.) Recycled Tennis Greeting Cards, $5
7.) Yellow & White Tennis Carry-all, $38

Wanna play? There are tennis leagues for beginners and intermediates at Encanto Park or  more lessons and leagues in Scottsdale.

Shopping Etsy: Fringe on top…and more

My post started this week with the Kiltie pumps below.

“Damn,” I thought, “fringe on a shoe is a good thing.” While I’m at it, how about on a bag? And I really like bangs, which my British friends refer to as fringe.

Thus, an entire post devoted to Etsy fringe. Enjoy.

1.) Leather Fringe Bag, $179
2.) Multi-strand Tassle, $28
3.) Native American Style Handbag, $24.50
4.) Fringe Necklace, $74
5.) Vintage Caramel Kiltie Pumps, $38
6.) Vintage Fringe Wrap Dress, $16
7.) Leather Moccasins with Fringe, $49.95
8.) Vintage 1970s Loafers, $32

Shopping Etsy: Pride & Prejudice

After viewing three different Pride & Prejudice movies in as many days (the BBC version featuring Colin Firth wins hands down) — I’m feeling the urge to take tea then a turn in the garden.

(My husband, on the other hand, keeps turning on the Olympics, probably in hopes of replenishing some of his lost masculinity.)

A life of manners has little place in my house — however some of the appointments of a Jane Austen-esque life — well I could do with a little more of those. Here are a few things on Etsy that remind me of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy:

1.) Romantic Age Blouse, $32
2.) Fountain Pen, $12.50
3.) Leaves Bobby Pins, $12.50
4.) Leather-bound Journal, $42
5.) Victorian Silhouette Pillow, $25
6.) Floral Bonnet, $26
7.) Do Not Faint Journal, $16
8.) Vintage Lace-up Boots, $49

Shopping Etsy: Dino-mite

Get a little prehistoric with some of these funky dino-themed items:

1.) Humping Dinosaurs Wall Art, $29
2.) Stegosaurus Hat, $30
3.) Billy the Dinosaur Planter, $15
4.) T-Rex T-shirt, $16
5.) When Dinosaurs Roamed Stationery, $10.50
6.) Brontosaurus Charm, $16

Shopping Etsy: Thanksgiving table

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year!

First, there’s the turkey…and turkey sandwiches. And then there’s everything that goes with the turkey…and the turkey sandwiches.

A few things to add to the table to give your Turkey Day a little extra style:

1.) Yellow Soup Tureen, $25
2.) Gravy Boat, $14
3.) Set of 25 Squirrel Place Cards, $30
4.) Squirrel Salt & Pepper
5.) Owl Candle, $14
6.) Set of 6 Acorn & Oak Leaf Place Cards, $18
7.) Damask Table Runner, $15
8.) Set of 4 Acorn Boxes, $14

No passes

Turns out I’m allergic to my new soft contact lens solution, which presented itself with pink, irritated eyes.

“I was wondering why you were wearing Harry Potter glasses. I thought it might be his birthday,” said my lunch companion after viewing my retro, and slightly matronly, specs.

While there are plenty of hot women who rock the sexy secretary look (see below), there’s even a Pretty Girls with Nerdy Glasses appreciation society on Facebook and an accompanying Tumblr blog.

I, however, look more like that woman who used to be in the Old Navy ads.

If you want to try the nerdy girl look, here are some cool glasses from Etsy to try out.

1.) Vintage glasses, $95
2.) ’70s Reddish Brown Fade Frames, $15
3.) Vintage ’50s Aluminum Glasses, $25
4.) Flower Power glasses, $65
5.) Rochas Vintage Glasses, $30
6.) Cat Eye Glasses, $125

WARNING: If you’re like me, you could just end up looking like a nerd.