Not many people know that I was an English Literature major in College; even fewer know that I almost chose to be a History major. It was a subject that always fascinated me, and I was especially enamored with the ancient Greeks and Romans.
It should come as no surprise, then, that I’ve chosen to write about Ancient Assets, an online store that sells ancient coin jewelry. That I love jewelry is obvious- I sometimes feel like every other post on this site features jewelry. Naturally, jewelry that contains a bit of history in every piece is so me.
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It’s one of the things my mother always told me to be grateful for: full lips. Now, while my lips are thicker than most of the women in my family, I’m certainly no Angelina Jolie… Keep Reading »
25 Jan 08 in
Bath & Body,
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That I’m a little bit of a shopaholic is a given. What those closest to me know, however, is that I’m even more of a foodaholic. I’m enthusiastic about food- good food in particular- and going hand in hand with that is my almost unhealthy infatuation with kitchens.
My kitchen, a corner of which is pictured here, is warm and inviting and bold: its walls are painted cherry red, its cabinets are black, and its “island” is actually a repurposed pedestal table. It’s been this way since we moved in a little more than two years ago. I loved it then, and I still love it, but that doesn’t stop me from swooning over beautiful kitchens whenever I see them.
Which is why, when Green Tea Design asked me to review their kitchen cabinet collection, I accepted cheerfully. And excitedly!
The first thing that struck me about these kitchen cabinets is that they’re Asian-inspired designs. How can a kitchen be Asian-inspired, and yet be modern and functional and everything a kitchen in the year 2007 should be?
Apparently it can. The key word here is “flexible”, and because you can stack or separate the modular units, mix and match the various designs, or have single modules custom-made, these pieces are wonderfully flexible.
Take, for example, the Dana Cupboard I am coveting (pictured here hanging above the Mizuna kitchen counter): An adaptation of a classic tea chest design, the cupboard features both open shelves and closed doors, and is available in a variety of sizes and colors and woods.
And speaking of woods: all Green Tea’s furniture is constructed using salvaged hard woods such as Elm and Gingko. By salvaged they mean they use large beams reclaimed from older structures such as country homes, barns and warehouses. And you thought the “Green” in their name was just for looks.
Check out Green Tea Design’s kitchen cabinetry- but only if you’re ready to fall in love. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
I don’t know anyone else who loves sleep as much as I do. I’m not sure why most people have trouble getting out of bed, but for me, it’s because I really, really enjoy sleeping.
My husband likes to joke that I can sleep anywhere- on planes, in cars, in particularly billowy armchairs. But while it’s true that I don’t have trouble falling asleep, my sleeping location of choice is and will always be our bedroom.
Our set-up is simple enough: a king-sized bed with a tall buffet table with drawers at its head that functions as a headboard and replaces the need for side-tables. At the foot, an oversized antique hope chest filled with extra pillows and blankets. Directly across the bed is the wooden “entertainment center” my husband had made to order, holding our tv and DVD player. Nothing really matches- yet it’s a set-up that’s worked for us quite well since we moved here two years ago.
But while I’m certainly not complaining, lately I’ve been seriously contemplating “upgrading” our bedroom. How wonderful it would be to come home to a picture-perfect sanctuary, to wake up in a beautiful bed and see my alarm clock sitting prettily on a brand new night table? To know that our bedroom, which no one but ourselves ever sees, is just as- if not more- beautiful than the other rooms in our home?
Which is why the order for a review on this site selling bedroom furniture came at such a fortuitous time.
I’m a web-research addict, and never make large purchases without spending an almost unhealthy amount of time on Google (and Froogle, of course). Still, I’ve found it difficult to find many places online featuring bedroom sets that are designed to my liking.
What I like about the furniture on this site is its obvious quality. Of course I can’t speak from first-hand experience, not having placed an order just yet, but looking at the pieces and their descriptions gives me the feeling that I won’t be finding any awkward beds that squeak and sad tables that teeter here- these are pieces crafted of hardwood, designed thoughtfully and made scrupulously.
And then, of course, there’s price. The bedroom set I’m particularly lusting after, pictured here, carries a retail price of $4,099.00. Not too surprising, given that it includes a canopy bed, six-drawer dresser, mirror and nightstand, all in a beautiful “warm cappuccino colored matte finish”. The price on the site, however, is $1,639.00- with a delivery charge of $150. A good deal? I think so.
Of course, I want to customize my order, and this site makes it easy as well. $65 to upgrade to a King-size (naturally!), $260 for an additional nightstand… I can even add a 5-drawer chest for $560. And if I decide I don’t really need the mirror, I can choose to remove it… bringing my total for all I want to a healthy price of $2,404.00.
No, this isn’t a perfect site. It could certainly do with a better design, and I’d be happier with a less hard-selling approach. But the amount of information available is great… and they accept PayPal.
See more bedroom furniture on their site.
As someone who works from home, I don’t really need a large “career wardrobe”- in fact, much of my work is done in a t-shirt and comfy pair of jeans. When I do have to go and meet clients, however, I like to dress professionally: a crisp white shirt, carefully pressed pants, low-heeled shoes, and- of course- a good, sturdy bag for my papers and documents.
It being 2007 now and all, I’m looking forward to updating my career wardrobe. Nothing fancy, mostly just to add to my existing pieces, but I definitely need a new bag- or maybe two?
It’s a good thing, you see, that I’d been asked to review the handbags section at Fashion Shop UK. I had never heard of their shop, nor of the brands they feature, before- but I was excited to see that among their collections are “professional” bags.
The bags are not cheap- the professional ones, particularly, are quite pricey. My personal favorite, for example, the Elixir Slim Attache by Moonsus, is priced at around $241.04.
Then again… look at it. It’s made of water resistant fabric, is lined in satin, has European leather trim and handles… and is available in four colors. This is a good bag, ladies and gentlemen.
The shop features designer, luxury and evening handbag collections as well, with a good variety in design. Of course, they all seem like “luxury” bags to me- and there are quite a few that should catch any stylish woman’s eye. There’s free shipping in the UK for “orders over 50” (I assume this is pounds, but I’m not quite sure), and a “7-day no quibble money back guarantee” on all purchases. Now that I like.
