Goodies from the new IKEA catalog

I really like IKEA. I mean, yeah, it's not heirloom quality but there have been many, many times in my life when "saving up for an investment piece" was really not advice I could take.

And I like the design. Not everything (hate their florals) but many things. I like IKEA green! I like that the children's toys are cheap and conform to EU standards for chemicals.














I also secretly wish an IKEA room planning person would come to my house and show me how to fit a family of sixteen into my living room.

Haaap Haap

Boon ducks.

Instruit en amusant

My friend Anna pointed me to this great image blog, agence eureka.

Don't you want to play alphabo? Educational and fun!

Match up

From my friend Chris, who mostly knows about this, comes a tip:



I like that it's lower case, because if you think about it, isn't lowercase more common? By Voila.

Cookin'

I've been in an uncoveting rut recently, I think. I spend too much time in Trader Joe's, where the packaging is awful.

But check this out - IKEA getting into the stove biz. Kid stove, that is.



This is important because most fridges either look like this, or cost a lot. The IKEA one has burners that glow, man. At least that's what I think they were doing. And all for $99.

Of course you could put this together yourself out of bits and pieces from the as-is section.

Robots obey what the children say

Okay, actually having to play this would drive me crazy (it's something about not touching the wires) but I find the box itself appallingly cute.

You. Roll.

Modernseed has some stuff on sale. I like this Uroll scooter - it's obviously still crazy much even on sale, but then again you can use it as a night table when the kid is done with it. Or as a stand for your Tivoli radio.

Hippos go berserk

I like this simple maple teether from Etsy seller little alouette.

Heaps of covet

I went to Borders today to get an ipod cover.

Actually first I went to Barnes & Nobles, realized it wasn't the one with Paperchase in it, drove a couple blocks and parked at a Borders, got confused again, tried to concentrate, realized I was finally in the right place and went inside.

Anyway, I love Paperchase, and not just the notebooks. There was a sort of narrow melamine tray that I seriously coveted, but I was trying not to be indulgent. I did buy some presents (almost as fun as buying stuff for myself) and an ipod cover of silver with crazy pink cartoon cats rocking out. It actually wasn't my favorite pattern (there are a bunch of themes and then various products with the pattern) but it was the best they had in the store and is pretty fun and not serious.

So, some stuff I liked...

A CD case made of metal! With a zipper.

One of the many totes.

A place to put your [insert form of public transportation here] card.

Dish towels! Never too many...


A tumbler. There were also mugs -- china, although thin.
Finally, the tray I loved. It was even better in person.

Over medium, please

I feel like I don't need to keep this blog up, I just need to point people (parent-types, at least) in the direction of Mahar Drygoods all the time.





I mean, this is my favorite breakfast, right here.

Holiday catalogs, part 2

Land of Nod is another (another!) upscale kids' stuff catalog. It's sort of Pottery Barn meets Melissa and Doug. Fun to look at but I doubt I'll buy anything there.

You could make something almost as good with some oilcloth from the fabric store and a pair of scissors, but these mats are nice. You put them under the easel or kid's table or anywhere that could get messy. So, the entire house, really...

Not really acting my age

I was at a five-and-dime and I saw these plastic animals and bought a few for the kiddo. She is fond of them, but I think I like them more. They're made by the German company Schleich and the figures are very dense and pleasant to touch. The way they look is sort of "naturalistic with a pinch of cute," very covetable, and I long to get a whole set and line them up on my mantelpiece, nose to tail. At this point we have only the elephant, the tiger, and the housecat (cat is MIA, though).

I also rather long to "visit the world of knights".

Make a match

I actually love the game Memory, and I would love it even more if I could play with Marimekko patterns.

Wake me up before you go-go

Another Notcot steal, but I can't help it. This clock is so covetable in its blend of old and new, with wood shell and LED display, and ipodesque white face. Gorgeous!

(Funny how much the furniture in the shoot looks like classic Eastern European soc-design. I have sat on many a chair of that type!)

It does a body good

Coochicoos brought this crazy thing to my attention. I love the little milk guys! Apparently it's a gang of some sort, by tokidoki. Available at Yoyashops, which also has this fantastic but ridiculously priced felt basket.

Go tell aunt Rody

We recently acquired (garage sale) a Rody. Like this, except ours is red, and has a detachable rocking base. Apparently, they have health benefits (?) but the main thing is that it's so damn cute. Really Rody is a yoga ball in a funny shape.

Why don't they make it in my size

This is just gorgeous! I adore it. A leather seat and the headlight works. Can't you just imagine zipping down to the corner store on it?

Dump

Not like I think people should be spending $225 on baby toys, but isn't this pretty?

Square colored cuff

I used to have this thing about a certain Lego piece. It was from the town set, and I knew it only by the intriguing moniker of 'square colored light.' Only later did I realize that they were supposed to be things like tail lamps or traffic signal lights. I thought of them more like jewels. Well, you know I'd love this. Even though I don't have any linkable shirts.

Via Fixed Gear Finds. It reminds me that I haven't been Etsyside recently.

I didn't even see this before

I blogged Melissa and Doug but never saw these very cool (Spanish) blocks. Look at the detailing around the letter. Lovely!