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.
Apart from my wedding plus engagement rings and the occasional pair of drop earrings, I’m not really one for jewelry. Sure, I’ve been known to bling it up on particularly dressy occasions, but for the most part, I prefer to adorn myself with very little- and the one small jewelry box in my closet is testament to that.
My watches, however, are… plentiful, to say the least. From vintage roman numerals to digital displays, rhinestone-encrusted numbers to Mickey Mouse hands, watches are most definitely jewelry- functional jewelry!
And therein lies my love of them. Not only are they beautiful or fun or kitschy, they actually tell me what time it is! Some throw the date in as well, or let me know what time it is in Paris, where some of my family live.
If you’re wondering where this Ode-to-a-Watch-esque post came from, I’ve been asked to do a review of Watchband.biz, a site offering- you guessed it- watchbands.
Not just any old watchbands, mind you. We’re talking artisanal watchbands, crafted by hand in Austria in a process that involves more than sixty separate stages. That’s right, sixty. This means that no two of their watchbands are alike- and, given the proper care, should last you a long, long time.
The site features many gorgeous, buttery-leather straps, but the ones that immediately caught my eye were the ones pictured here, the Prestige collection. The texture and colors of these straps look just about right for a variety of watch styles. At US$107.40 per band, what’s to stop me from “sharing” the band among several of my watches? All I need are some tools, maybe a couple of pins and screws (also available at the site) and I’m ready to go.
Of course, there are straps of every kind here- from mesh metal to waterproof rubber-but what struck me is that they all look exquisitely made. Definitely a store for true watch aficionados, and those like me- who just love a good watch. Visit Watchband.biz to see more.
Door knobs, knockers and handles don’t sound very sexy, but I like to think of them as jewelry for your home. When my husband and I first moved here, one of the first things we did was change all door and cabinetry hardware… not only was it a quick way to update the look of our rooms, but it was an inexpensive way to do it as well.
ArchitecturalClassics.com is sponsoring this post, but I want to make clear right now that I’m being completely objective here. If I didn’t like their products, or their site, I’d call them on it. But the truth is, I do like their products, and probably would have featured them here even without the sponsorship.
They describe themselves as “one of Europe’s leading retailers of period, decorative and classical pieces”- so if you’re decorating in an ultra-modern or Asian-zen style, their offerings probably aren’t for you. I’m partial to European grandeur, ritzy hotels and antique designs that have stood the test of time- so there was lots that I found to love here.
The Lion’s Head Door Knocker shown here, for example, is a hand-finished reproduction of an original period piece, available in polished brass or (as shown in photo) patina. Perfect to adorn your front door, whether you live in a simple cottage (like me), a sprawling mansion, or a city apartment. It costs 100 euros- not cheap, but I prefer to think of it as a small investment in my front door. Heh.
Their site is easy on the eyes, with enough helpful information to simplify ordering, and a solid search engine that located the crystal doorknobs I was looking for… and they might just have what your house needs as well. See more at Architectural Classics.
It’s funny how, now that it’s December, our house is full to overflowing with sweets. Not only do I have a whole box of Krispy Kremes (oh yes), I’ve got bowls of candy canes, sugared orange jellies, gigantic chocolate chip cookies… it’s a sweet tooth’s dream around here.
Which is why this post on candy. When else but the holidays can you get away with all these?
First, my favorite discovery: The 1970s Retro Candy Gift Basket. We’re talking (take a deep breath now): Jaw Breakers, Classic Now & Laters, Razzles, Party Stix, Fun Gum Wax Lips, Pop Rocks, Wonka Tart N Tiny, Bubble Gum Cigars, Bubble Gum Cigarettes, Candy Cigarettes, Wonka Runts, Sweettarts, Lemon Heads, Cherry Heads, Apple Heads, Charms Sweet & Sour Pops, Necco Assorted Wafers, Reeds Root Beer Candy Rolls, Licorice Pipes, Zots, Sugar Daddy Pops, Double Bubble Gum, Boston Baked Beans and Atomic Fireball. That’s right, I said Razzles! $24.99 at Amazon.
Of course, if you want to be naughty but still good, there’s always YummyEarth’s Organic Lollipops, which uses gluten-free sugars, no chemicals or dyes, and real fruit extracts.
The lollipops come in these flavors: Pomegranate Pucker, Cheeky Lemon, Razzmatazz Berry, Orange Squeeze, Wet-Face Watermelon- and they really are good.
Then there’s the classic Lump o Coal: 5 ounces of Santa`s Lump of Coal black licorice candy chunks in an adorable gift box, for $9.90. Legend has it that naughty children got lumps of coal from St. Nick… so this might be perfect for the naughty person in your life!
Any one of my cats would love this especially excessive jeweled pet bowl. Made of crystal and trimmed with a semi-precious stone. A mere $315 at Furniture of America.
This is part of their holiday collection, so expect it to expire after the holidays.
Click on the image to see a larger photo of the pet bowl in all its sparkly, crystalline glory.
