forcute

I love this website - Branch. They sell only the best sustainable products and gifts for the home, and everything is just so much fun. New merchandise is always being added and the prices are very reasonable too. Nearly everything is made in the USA, and most of that is handmade quality stuff. Love it!

Vintage Belt Floor Mat by TING

Vintage leather belts on a reconstituted leather backing.

Handmade in the UK $698.

Blanket + Poncho

100% recycled cotton and polyester. Comes in lots of great colors.

Handmade in the USA $56.

Figure Pillow (Cat) by K Studio

Made of 100% organically grown cotton

Handmade in Grand Rapids MI $108.

Childrens Chair by Daniel Michalik

100% pure cork cast with non-toxic binders

Handmade in Brooklyn $238.

I love maps. This is a set of twelve city plates which make up 3 collections. Cities include Berlin, Shanghai, Los Angeles and Cairo (Set 1 - “gateway cities”); New Orleans, Washington D.C., Las Vegas and Dubai  - (Set 2 - culture and capitalism); Brasilia, New York, Melbourne and St. Petersburg (Set 3 - Capital Migration).

New York 

These beauties are made in porcelain and are individually boxed with a key. $480 for the full set. They are avaible for purchase separately too, if you have one place thats extra special to you!

From notNeutral - Rios Clementi Hale Studios

Tom Ford Elizabeth 

Lately, given the hot summer weather and bright sun, Ive been thinking more and more about sunglasses. When I recently misplaced my pair of black sunglasses, I realized how inadequate my collection truly is. Ive spent lots of time in the stores and have never really been interested in them until now. Depending where you shop, there are some really great deals to be had. I find that sunglasses made in Italy are of great quality and wherever I look, I try to find not only a good style, but something that will feel good wearing. And yes, I never pay retail and you shouldnt either!

Tom Ford Samantha

I recently discovered the Tom Ford brand. We are all familiar with his sunglasses on famous celebrities, and with frame styles such as Whitney, Samantha, and Lauren, its easy to ID which style you love most. His frames are also quite tasteful, sparing us from much of the “bling” that too many in the stores have. I suppose if you are the creative director of Gucci, you must be doing something right.

I found a great site called Le Train Bleu. They have a great assortment of both cheap and chic and the brands they sell are so new and different I can’t get enough.

You’ll see they sell dresses, tops, shoes and acessories. They also have an apothecary section…that always excites me. Here are some of my favorite picks…

Bianca Dress from Heidi Merrick $455  

Checkers Peeps $82

Pastel Dress $122

The focus of my latest obsession has been the website beautycrunch. It is an authorized seller of discontinued Stila, Too Faced, and DuWop cosmetics.

Cosmetic companies cannot have “sales” like clothing companies have because it could cheapen their reputation. So this is were it gets good - the items on this site (I love love love Stila) are more than 50% off their original price, plus, unless you’re a resident of California, you’re not paying sales tax. This can add up to a big savings for you. Here are some of my favorites - they are amazing.

 stila winter palette in glacier ice - $12

stila - best of glamour - $30

too faced - candy lips - $8

stila - travel brush set and case - $30 (what a steal!!!)

Stock up on some goodies for yourself!

Beautycrunch.com

This is a perfect example of something being beautiful and useless at the same time. Maybe I sound harsh, because I do love this amazing little clutch, and I suppose everything doesn’t have to be completely utilitarian. However, one of my basic requirements is that I should at least be able to carry my keys and a lipstick!  Made in Italy.

Below are a few more beautifully impractical items from the Neiman Marcus sale going on now. Free shipping too with code NMSHIP. I’m obsessed!

Valentino Leopard Print Bow Clutch

Fendi Embellished Convertible Bag

I was admiring these Giles & Brother hoops on sale at Barney’s, and then I realized they are even cheaper at Shopbop. Shobop, I might add, is my new favorite store. When they have a sale, they really have a sale. You can get just about anything there, from $20 t-shirts to designer shoes.

These great earrrings are the large chaton rinestone hoops and come in a bunch of great colors. This one is called citrine. They have other products in the line too, including necklaces and cuff bracelets. Made in New York City.

Giles & Brother Chaton Rhinestone Hoops

Continuing my obsession with everyday objects that are not quite as the seem, the crumple cup (below) is such a fun little find. Many of you might remember the Lucky Beggar cup (they also make a Lucky Beggar coin purse). Known by generations as the iconic New York City paper coffee cup, the Lucky Beggar makes us all feel a little bit nostalgic with its “We are happy to serve you” message accross the front.

My newest find is the crumpled cup, available at the MOMA store. What looks like a wrinkled little plastic picnic cup is instead a sturdy white porcelain beauty that would be fun to use for just about anything. Get the set of three and have some crumpled coffee with two of your closest friends. ($35)  

Crumpled Cups from Revol, 2004

I cannot get enough of white cotton tops for summer. This one from jcrew is right on the mark. I think white is especially tricky from a see-through standpoint, and this great little top has the right amount of coverage that makes it look rich, and not too thin. Sleveless, dots, beautiful. Jcrew $150.

Confetti Bateau Top

My favorite obsession, Freddy&Ma have come out with the sweetest Mother’s Day gift idea. The newly released “Minnie” coin purse is available in a variety of colors, incuding pink, green, camel, blue, and red for just $30 a pop. Buy one with a gift card of $50 or more, you will get free express shipping and a nifty little set of fabric and leather swatches to give you some ideas for your full size bag!!

These great little numbers are perfect for change or any little thing you’d want to use them for. Since Im always losing earrings, this might just the the perfect thing to keep them organized when your’re on the go. And I just love the ombossed f&m logo.

 And dont forget, they are made right here in the USA.  

Visit Freddy&Ma