We Covet | Better Living Through Consumerism

Covet-a-long: You Covet

Our weekly look at what We Covet readers are feeling covetous about... And don't forget to submit your finds to us at wecovet@gmail.com!

Our friend Jessica writes:

I covet being so fantastically rich that I could send all my college girlfriends "just because" presents all the time, rather than just for events like weddings and births.  I currently covet giving all of my '90s-era chick posse the Coach Legacy Leather Bridgit Clutch.  The surprisingly tough hardware, combined with the classic brand and leatha-like-butta is a perfect combination of the girls we used to be and women we are now. 

15 years ago we simply stuck an ID (sometimes fake) in our back pocket, tucked a key under the mat and a $5 bill in our bra before hitting a bar or a punk rock show. Usually bartenders and guys would keep us so supplied in Rolling Rocks and Parliaments that the five-spot would still be there, sweatily stuck to a boob when we rolled home after last call.  Nowadays my girls and I all need a sharp little bag to hold the phone, the credit cards, the car keys, the lipstick, the gum and other trappings of adulthood. This cool bag proclaims our former toughness, while giving a nod to the minivan, mortgage, husband, kid and pets we have waiting at home for us.  Wear with black, your tattered Ani DeFranco t-shirt, non-sensible shoes and don't you dare tie a scarf on the handle. 

Coach Legacy Leather Bridgit Clutch, $398.00 @ Coach

Our friend Ann writes:

These vivo barefoot shoes are supposed to be the closest thing to going barefoot while still at work...

And these must be the closest thing to going barefoot while not at work!

Odette and Dopie shoes, $120.00 & $55.00 @ Terra Plana

Thanks this week's awesome participants, and please keep your personal coveting picks coming! 

 

Covet-a-long: You Covet

Our weekly look at what We Covet readers are feeling covetous about... And don't forget to submit your finds to us at wecovet@gmail.com!

Our friend Faith writes:

Okay so maybe I don't COVET it because I have it...but I totally would die if I ever loose it. It is the Hydracoach waterbottle. It is similar to the camelback one, but it KEEPS TRACK OF HOW MUCH WATER YOU ARE DRINKING. Plus it also helps with how much you should drink. It is awesome, because it is dishwasher safe, and I find myself competing with the bottle to see if I can make it to my goal before the day is up. And it really isn't all that expensive considering how nifty it is.

My other coveted item is not yet available. But is SO AWESOME I have wet my pants every time I think about it. It is the new I AM NOT A PAPER CUP!!! I can't wait until it comes out. I think that maybe it might slow down my drive thru Starbucks habit. (You know because that cup feels so good in my hand and LOOKS AWESOME!) I love the fake out factor too.

Hydracoach Water Bottle, $27.95 @ Amazon.com

 Our friend Dawn writes:

I want it, gotta have it, bad. Lots of love, ladies!

[Ed note: This translates to "Sh*t, it's raining"]

Merde Il Pleut Umbrella, $45.00 @ Raindrops

Thanks this week's awesome participants, and please keep your personal coveting picks coming! 

 

Covet-a-long: You Covet

Our weekly look at what We Covet readers are feeling covetous about...

Our friend Lora writes:

WOW! I can tell that you all are becoming such a part of me when I can’t stumble across something like this without thinking of you. =) Check this out!!!

Fabulous starter set of cloth menstrual pads, in your choice of fabric(s).  Everything you need to get started in mama cloth!

Included are the following 16 pads:
4 - Heavy/Overnight Pads (12.5"L x 3.5"W)
6 - Regular Pads (10.5"L x 3"W)
6 - Pantyliners with wings (8"L x 2.5"W)

Each comes with a built-in waterproof barrier unless you request otherwise, and wrap-around wings with professionally-applied polyacetel resin snaps.

16-Pad Starter Set of Cloth Menstrual Pads, currently SOLD OUT (but a smaller 6-pad starter set is available here), @ NaturallyHip

Our friend Michelle writes:

In my search for non-toxic bottles, sippy-cups, and toys for my two sons I stumbled across Anamalz. These little wooden critters are adorable and fun and I don't have to worry about lead or phthalates or constantly having to replace batteries. My three-year-old son loves them because they are portable and pose-able and I love them because they are environmentally friendly (portions of proceeds go to wildlife organizations) and highly unlikely to appear on any alarming recall list.

I purchased mine through Amazon so I could find the dealer with the best prices.

Behold the cute!

Anamalz, $5.95-$6.95 each, @ amazon.com

Thanks this week's awesome participants, and please keep your personal coveting picks coming! 

Covet-a-long: You Covet

Our weekly look at what We Covet readers are feeling covetous about...

Our friend Becki (aka "The Confetti Queen") Writes:

What about getting shopping/inside tips from readers?

Here's mine for free regarding purses, the second level, not the top tier.

Macy's.

Macy's, at least in CA, has a perpetual purse clearance table, usually located in the BACK of the purse department.

Purses marked down here are the second tier of greatness and cost: Baby Phat, Guess, Fossil, Jessica Simpson,  Liz, Haku Juru (whatever - you know I mean Gwen's line, lol) and my personal favorite - Kathy Van Zeeland.

The purses are usually 25-40% off. HOWEVER, at least once a month, sometimes announced in the paper, sometimes not, the table is marked down an ADDITIONAL 40-50% off.  This makes these purses VERY affordable.  I buy Christmas and birthday gifts ahead of time and SAVE SAVE SAVE - and my daughter gets to have name brand purses that are fairly current.  (And many of them.)

AND FOR ME - I have 4 Kathy purses in my closet, including one I stalked in crazy colors that I could NOT afford at regular prices.  These purses were regularly $100 to $125 each.  I paid between $25 and $35 each.  So basically I got 4 for 1.

They are fairly consistent about this practice - I have been doing this for 4 years!!

Thanks for the great tip, Becki!

Our Friend Jess Writes:

Saw these pirate dishes and thought of you...

"Rehabilitated Dishware by Sarah Cihat is an exercise in sustainability that reincarnates existing products. Used or unwanted ceramics are redesigned and resurfaced then presented as new collections. Interesting designs and modern colors enliven the dish, extending its life cycle past the thrift store or overstock pile."

Rehabilitated Dishware, contact sarah at sarahcihat.com for prices.

Thanks this week's awesome participants, and please keep your personal coveting picks coming!

Covet-a-long: You Covet

Our weekly look at what We Covet readers are feeling covetous about...

Our friend Baltimore Gal Writes:

OK, so there are a few things that I covet. Two for now.

One is a Gee's Bend Quilt- which I could never afford- so I would settle for a reproduction rug that I could hang on the wall.- probably "Birds in the Air" or "Roman Stripes" or "Strips"- they're all so cool. I saw this exhibit when they came to Baltimore and was blown away by these women. Gee's Bend is a remote community in Alabama known for its brilliant and dynamic quilts. The Gee's Bend Quilt Collection, includes hand-loomed, flat-woven Pima cotton rugs from India, hand-knotted wool and silk rugs from Nepal, and hand-tufted New Zealand wool rugs made by craftsmen in the United States based on their designs. Classic Rug Collection, Inc. creates handmade rugs based on folk-art motifs and Barbara Barran's original designs. For more about the 39 African- American women who make these quilts, check out the NPR Program.

Another is a bookcase door which is about the coolest idea ever, as far as I'm concerned. The website talks about efficiency and space-saving but all I can think about is "cool" and "hiding".

Stripes rug, $4,599.00 @ Classic Rug

Our friend Ree writes:

[I covet] DHC Skincare and Food products. Have either of you tried their stuff?  I love the Virgin Olive Oil (yes, that's really the name) for breaking up / cleansing makeup off, then the foaming cleanser - and especially the makeup primer.

I covet! the makeup primer.

Smooths over my acne scars and makes my foundation go on wayyyyyy smoother.

Cleansing Foam, $8.00 @ DHC

Thanks this week's awesome participants, and please keep your personal coveting picks coming! 

Covet-a-long: You Covet

Our weekly look at what We Covet readers are feeling covetous about...

Our friend Jessica writes:
I'm a sucker for polka dots and bows, but usually find them too precious and akin to the frocks I dress my two year old daughter in for Sunday school.  The dots and ties on this silky, trampy sandal are the perfect counterpoint to Laura Ashley, and the high heel and loud look are evening's answer to the practical accessories of daily momdom.

I want these in every color for date nights, weddings, charity events, hot and steamy trips to Trader Joe's.  I think that if I had these babies strapped on my feet it wouldn't matter what I was wearing, what I weighed, that the biggest accomplishment of my day was quelling a tantrum at the library toddler hour.   The power of the Caylie would transform me into a tarty art student who salsa dances on weekends, never cleans her bathroom and eats men for breakfast.  Hey, I may no longer be able to pray my way into one of Betsey's trademarked floral Lycra dresses, but the shoes still fit and I covet wearing them.

Betsey Johnson Women's Chip Pump,  $189.95  @ Endless.com

Our friend Kim writes:

I love this water bottle from CamelBak.

It's nice for driving or walking with a stroller b/c there's no twist toppy stuff going on-you can just leave the spout up and drink away-no spills.  Great for the gym b/c it's way easier than trying to get the top off of a regular water bottle while running/etc.  The straw goes all the way to the bottom so you dont have to tip it back to get to that last drip!

Loves it!

CamelBak 25oz. water bottle, $12.00 @ REI.com

Thanks this week's awesome participants, and please keep your personal coveting picks coming!

Covet-a-long: You Covet

Yippee! We received a METRIC TON of awesome email from you last week, proclaiming the glory and rightness of things YOU covet. And your submissions were so incredibly fabulous that we want to share as many as we can, so look for more readers selections to appear later this week... And please, keep your personal coveting picks coming! (PS: If you can also send us a link to somewhere the item of your choice is for sale, we'd appreciate it! Also please let us know if there is a URL you'd like to have your name linked to! okthxbai!)
. . . . .

Our friend Jodi Writes:
Hi ladies!!

These have been the object of my desire for the last 3 months. I keep thinking that I will buy a pair when I get my bonus check...and then the bonus comes and it never is as much as I think it should be...and I do other things with it...like pay bills and all that.

Anyway... don't think I'm a dork... they are Chuck Taylors with a plaid tongue. LOVE them!!

Converse Chuck Taylor® All Star® Plaid Double Tongue Ox, $47.00 @ zappos

Our friend Sarah Writes:

Ever since Linda over at All & Sundry posted about them, I have spent every holiday drooling over the Superhero Designs necklaces.  Kiwi and Joy are my favorites (you can see all necklaces here).  BUT, at the pricey price tag (could I be more redundant?), I can only leave the browser window open accidentally and hope my husband catches on. (He hasn't.)

Of course, if my email is published on wecovet.com... yeah, who am I kidding? :)

Joy necklace, $99.00 @ superhero designs

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!