We Covet | Better Living Through Consumerism

Monsters We Covet

This? Is beyond awesome. For seriously. I have my credit card out and am purchasing as we speak.

You're wondering what it is? It's a MONSTER LAPTOP SLEEVE and I? LOVE IT.

I mean, what's not to love? This baby combines the awesomeness of monster cuddly toys with the utility of laptop accessories. The one potential downside is that a monster laptop sleeve might make your computer even more irresistible to your grubby-fingered toddler, but whatever. You're entitled to have your own monster, and those offspring just have to learn that they're not the only ones who get to play with fuzzy toys. Just tell the little grubster that this particular monster is more like Randall the Creepy Lizard-Monster on Monsters, Inc, and less like Sulley. They may start having computer-themed nightmares, but they'll get the picture.

Monster Laptop Sleeve, $65 @ Barry's Farm

Mug We Covet

Because besides being made of 100% biodegradable corn plastic, hot damn, it speaks the truth.

Reading Is Sexy 100% corn mug, $12.00 @ buyolympia.com

Covet-a-long: What Do YOU Covet?

Far be it from us to assume to have the market cornered on covetousness. I mean, sure, we're some seriously covetous betches, but I'm quite certain some of you could -- on a good day, when the moon is in such-and-such house, and we're momentarily distracted by shiny things (as we often are) -- outcovet us with your skillful ninja coveting. Yesssss, mah pressshus.

So we want to hear from you: what things do YOU covet, and why? Send us links to specific items (we like us some purty pitchers!) with just a sentence or two about your coveting, or a lengthy diatribe on some obscure item you once saw in a swank boutique somewheres with elaborate hand-drawn illustrations depicting it -- it matters not. We just want to know what makes your little consumerist heart go pitter-patter... or *cha-ching!*, rather.

Send your own personal objects of desire to: wecovet@gmail.com with the subject line "Covet-a-long." We'll post a few of the best reader submissions each week. okthxbai!

Decorating Idea We Covet: Wall Decals

I'm completely enamored of the possibilities inherent in using wall decals instead of paint and/or wallpaper. The flexibility and inventiveness of decorating with decals, and the number of companies producing them, seems to be growing daily -- just have a look at Real Simple's awesome decal round-up and resource list. And then commence with struggling, like me, to stop your brain from re-imagining every flat surface in your home. I mean, that bland old refrigerator could use some spiffying up, couldn't it?

Anti-Feminist-Ruin-Your-Daughters-Crap We Covet

Nothing, I suppose, says a woman's place is in the home more than a pretty, frilly apron. With ruffles. And flowers. Still, I love this kiddy apron from Anthropologie. I love it because it's pretty, because it has flowers and ruffles on it, and because it's called 'Nosegay,' which is like the most awesome word ever. Oh, and I suppose that I love it, too, because my daughter loves it and insists upon wearing it every time she 'cooks,' which is, like, twelve times a day, which means that the Nosegay Apron saves me from having to launder twelve different sets of clothes every single day.

And? The child is much more Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen than she is Nigella Lawson or (*shudder*) Rachael Ray, so I'm not too worried about  the whole reinforcing-retrograde-gender-stereotypes thing. And if she wears her wee hockey helmet with the Nosegay Apron while scrambling some eggs, well, all the better.

Nosegay Apron, $18.00 @ Anthropologie.com (adult sizes available, and you so know that I'm on that.)

Excellent Memory Aid We Covet

I'm always jotting down little 'notes to self' and then losing them, so I couldn't help but grin when I saw these door hangar notes.

Have a memory like a steel trap? Neither do we. But ever since we started jotting down all of our latest and greatest thoughts on our door hangars, forgetfulness has become a thing of the past! Let your brain take a break, and keep all of your thoughts in the handiest of locations: your door knob!

There are also To Do List and Grocery List door hangars, if you're so inclined.

Thoughts & Ponderings Door Hangars, $12.00 for 15 cards @ The Paper Princess

Children's Book We Covet: Scaredy Squirrel

Melanie Watt's charming book "Scaredy Squirrel" is, hands-down, the funniest, most delightful children's book I've read to my daughter since, errm, something by Mo Willems.

The book follows the OCD, fretful life of one Squirrel with some serious issues (especially where germs and "biters" are concerned). I quite literally LOLed. A must have for parents and preschoolers, and ideal birthday gift fodder.

Scaredy Squirrel, $10.17 @ Amazon.com

Online Tool We Covet: Adobe PhotoShop Express

This just in:  Photoshop Express -- Adobe's free online version of its most excellent, industry-standard image editor -- is now in public Beta! Yippee! Go check it out here.

Wired has a great write up detailing the ins and outs of Photoshop Express, for you read-the-manual-before-plunging-in-headlong types.

In conclusion, I [heart] the internet and its ever-expanding awesomeness. The end.

Kid Stuff We Covet: Devout Dolls

I'll be honest: the Devout Doll that my two-year old received as a gift is not in her bedroom, nor her playroom. It's in my room, on my bookshelf, beside - duh - some books and some assembly-line mini faux-oil paintings of bugs that I found on sale at Urban Outfitters (which, can I say, Urban Outfitters? LOVE). Why? Because I love that doll. I named her Bicephala.

She's, like, so much more me than she is my daughter. For now. I'll return her to her rightful place in the playroom the minute  the child shows any signs of interest in Barbie. Until then, though? She's my lovey.

Is that wrong?

Devout Dolls, around $40 @ Devoutdolls.com

Love At First Sight: The Rakku

Seriously. The MINUTE I saw this, at Guy Kawasaki's blog, I had to have it. It's, like, installation art for your shoes. Installation art that makes storing and retrieving your shoes obscenely easy - and I say 'obscenely' because once you have a Rakku? You'll want more shoes.

Win-win.

Rakku Shoe Wheel, $65 @ RakkuDesigns. Also available: Rakkiddo, the shoe wheel for kids, and the Shoe Pod, for the wheel-phobic.

Pillow We Covet

Sometimes there's not much beyond "blah" to say. So shut yer trap let this pillow do the talkin' for ya, mouthy.

Blah Blah Cushion, £42.00 @ donnawilson.com

We Covet Etsy

This week's Etsy picks, all available through the reishdress shop:

My Big Heart Ring, $10

Sherlock Holmes Hair Pins, $3.75

Octopus Hair Comb, $12

Guess I have a thing for red this week, huh? (shrugs)

 

Bizarre Product Of The Week: The Mansy

First of all, what self-respecting person of the male sex would don a garment that compounds the word 'man' with the word 'pansy'? Second of all, what self-respecting person with any excess baggage in the nether regions (which is to say, again, any person of the male sex) don a garment that effectively binds his sensitive parts and requires that he get a bikini wax?

I don't care how in tune you are with your higher chakras or whether yoga has enabled you to bend your legs back over your shoulders, there is no excuse for a manotard. None.

The 'Mansy,' by Lululemon. Ad premieres April 1st (which, yes, I KNOW - April Fool's. We can only hope.)

Badvertising: The Cottonelle Puppy

Don't get me wrong here. I, like most of humanity in possession of something resembling a soul, love puppies. And the puppy in question here is indeed adorable and fluffy and sprightly -- all the things puppies were meant to be.

HOWEVER.

Toy We Covet: Shawnimals

Our entire family is pretty much ga-ga over Pocket Ninjas and all of their offspring. I mean, how can you not love the Pocket Stache? You so totally need that and you know it.

Pocket Ninja, $15 @ Shawnimals Shop