Justice / Lenny Kravitz "Let Love Rule" from Alanedit on Vimeo.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
studiopatró
Simple but chic designs of tea towels and napkins from Studiopatró. I'm eye-ing the "slate" and "willow" colorways... 
Check out more here.
steven meisel Oct 2009 Vogue italia
I know I don't usually post too much about fashion on this blog, (I do follow it for my day job), but sometimes you just can't deny the fabulousness of a true fashion moment. Case in point- sooo loving the super stylin' glamor of this editorial piece from Steven Meisel in the October 09 Vogue Italia, featuring Daphne Guinness and Tyson Ballou. It's mysterious, moody, and oh so marvelous.
(more images here via Beauty Confessional)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Emmo Home now at South Coast Plaza!
OC local store post!- I blogged about Emmo Home awhile back. Over the weekend- I was excited to find out they now have a temporary showroom in über fabulous South Coast Plaza! They still have their original location (just down the street)- but this new space will give them much better visibility and exposure to a wider audience. The other location will probably act as a showroom for more of their larger furniture pieces. There's lots of fun stuff in stock and it's just in time for the holiday gift shopping season (I'm especially loving all the Banana Family line by A di Alessi pieces, 
and also those great Anything Design scissors.) They're located on the second floor of the Crate & Barrel/Macy's Home wing- across the bridge- in the corner space that Simon Pierce previously resided in. Please support your local modern design shop! Definitely check it out next time you're there and say Hi! Tell them Happy Mundane sent ya!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Domo at 7-Eleven
whoa- kind of random- but hey- not complainin'! Domo is now at your local 7-Eleven! I stopped by the one near me and picked up a coffee cup and Slurpee- 
but there's also really fun straws 
and check out the hot dog packaging! 
(via eat me daily)Read more here-
Check out the fun 3 part webisodes here.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
NesCafé Dolce Gusto
Recently, I was contacted and given the opportunity to review and test out a free sample unit of the new NesCafé Dolce Gusto machine. With a normal latte costing about $3 nowadays, I've been curious about what one of these machines would be like to have at home, so I was excited to give it a whirl. The NesCafé Dolce Gusto is a single-serve coffee machine. I guess a similar one would be the Tassimo one. Basically, you put in a little capsule into the machine, turn a lever, and out comes instant cappuccino! So here's how it went down:
First, after opening it, in addition to the machine, I found that it also came with two glasses, one for taller drinks, like a Mocha, and one for smaller ones, like an cappuccino or regular coffee.
The machine itself is a little larger than I expected- but it's not HUGE- about the same size as a normal coffee machine. For some reason though, I thought it would be smaller- but overall, I really liked the design. 
(It kind of reminds me of a little bird!) Anyway- I started with a Mocha (my favorite). You fill the back part with water, and turn the machine on. In less than a minute- the power light flashes from red to green, indicating that the water is hot and ready to go. The speed was pretty impressive. You then put in the capsule. For a Mocha- there are two capsules needed. One for the espresso part, and the other, I assume for the milk part- They were colored accordingly.
There is a little chart/diagram on the box to indicate the suggested proportion of how much you put in, but you can control the proportion (ie. if you like a stronger drink, you can put more -or less- as you like.) This is all controlled by how long you leave the lever thing on. 
You just slide the lever/knob thing to the red circle (there are three positions for the lever. One is Red, for hot drinks, then in the middle is the off position, then there's a blue one for cold drinks)- and then the water goes, passes through the capsules, and the drink starts pouring out. After that- voila! instant Mocha- complete with frothy top! 
It was actually really easy and the taste was yummy and authentic- just like one from the coffee shop. There was a sample set of flavors that came with the box (see here for the list of flavors) and over the next couple days, I tried the other ones, all of which were pretty good. The only one that I didn't really care for was one called "Choco-chino." Personally, it tasted to me like one of those powdered hot chocolates. eh. Overall, it's really quite convenient. The boxes of capsules go for about $8.49, and you get 16 capsules in a box- however, depending on what kind of drink/flavor you get, that 16 can equal 16 cups or 8 cups (if you get a Mocha, it takes two capsules to make one, but a Cafe Americano only takes one capsule)- still, that comes out to be much cheaper than a normal cup from a coffee store chain. So all in all- really impressed with the speed, ease, and taste!
Now, here are my gripes. The first thing is the capsules. The size of the capsule made me think that maybe you could get two drinks out of each- but unfortunately that's not the case- (i tried, but when filling the second cup, it got too watery too quickly)- There just always seemed to be a lot leftover inside after one cup. Also, I noticed there wasn't a recycle symbol on it- so I asked the NesCafe contact about recyclability of the capsules. She explained it best-"I can appreciate your concerns about recycling the pods, we hear that a lot. Nescafe Dolce Gusto is a global brand. You might be reassured to know that the capsules are recoverable through packaging recovery schemes in Europe, called green dot organizations. These do not exist in the US, so in part one reason we can’t be recycled is the recycling capabilities / infrastructure specific to the US market. In general, Nestlé is committed to reducing the environmental impact of packaging, without jeopardizing the safety, quality or consumer acceptance of its products. The company strives to reduce weight and volume of materials; lead in the development and use of renewable resources; support the recovery of used packaging and decrease waste and use recycled materials, where appropriate." So, sadly, no- in the US they aren't.
The only other gripe would be that the flavor capsules are not as easily available at your local grocery store. They are however, available online and at Sur la Table, Macys, Bloomingdales, and Bed Bath and Beyond. Luckily, I'm a mall rat, so I guess that's not really a problem for me- but for someone who lives where those stores aren't local, then that could be a little inconvenient. Oh, I should also note that the machine itself retails for $149.99- (and there's currently a $30 rebate offered online.) I believe that makes it a little more expensive than some of its competitors. Anyway- I've had the machine now for a few weeks and have enjoyed using it- especially on the weekends. I think it'd make a great gift (or even a little gift for yourself)- I'm curious if any of you have one of these self serve coffee machines at home or have considered getting one? If you have one, do you like it? good experience with them? bad?
First, after opening it, in addition to the machine, I found that it also came with two glasses, one for taller drinks, like a Mocha, and one for smaller ones, like an cappuccino or regular coffee.
The machine itself is a little larger than I expected- but it's not HUGE- about the same size as a normal coffee machine. For some reason though, I thought it would be smaller- but overall, I really liked the design. 
(It kind of reminds me of a little bird!) Anyway- I started with a Mocha (my favorite). You fill the back part with water, and turn the machine on. In less than a minute- the power light flashes from red to green, indicating that the water is hot and ready to go. The speed was pretty impressive. You then put in the capsule. For a Mocha- there are two capsules needed. One for the espresso part, and the other, I assume for the milk part- They were colored accordingly.
There is a little chart/diagram on the box to indicate the suggested proportion of how much you put in, but you can control the proportion (ie. if you like a stronger drink, you can put more -or less- as you like.) This is all controlled by how long you leave the lever thing on. 
You just slide the lever/knob thing to the red circle (there are three positions for the lever. One is Red, for hot drinks, then in the middle is the off position, then there's a blue one for cold drinks)- and then the water goes, passes through the capsules, and the drink starts pouring out. After that- voila! instant Mocha- complete with frothy top! 
It was actually really easy and the taste was yummy and authentic- just like one from the coffee shop. There was a sample set of flavors that came with the box (see here for the list of flavors) and over the next couple days, I tried the other ones, all of which were pretty good. The only one that I didn't really care for was one called "Choco-chino." Personally, it tasted to me like one of those powdered hot chocolates. eh. Overall, it's really quite convenient. The boxes of capsules go for about $8.49, and you get 16 capsules in a box- however, depending on what kind of drink/flavor you get, that 16 can equal 16 cups or 8 cups (if you get a Mocha, it takes two capsules to make one, but a Cafe Americano only takes one capsule)- still, that comes out to be much cheaper than a normal cup from a coffee store chain. So all in all- really impressed with the speed, ease, and taste!Now, here are my gripes. The first thing is the capsules. The size of the capsule made me think that maybe you could get two drinks out of each- but unfortunately that's not the case- (i tried, but when filling the second cup, it got too watery too quickly)- There just always seemed to be a lot leftover inside after one cup. Also, I noticed there wasn't a recycle symbol on it- so I asked the NesCafe contact about recyclability of the capsules. She explained it best-"I can appreciate your concerns about recycling the pods, we hear that a lot. Nescafe Dolce Gusto is a global brand. You might be reassured to know that the capsules are recoverable through packaging recovery schemes in Europe, called green dot organizations. These do not exist in the US, so in part one reason we can’t be recycled is the recycling capabilities / infrastructure specific to the US market. In general, Nestlé is committed to reducing the environmental impact of packaging, without jeopardizing the safety, quality or consumer acceptance of its products. The company strives to reduce weight and volume of materials; lead in the development and use of renewable resources; support the recovery of used packaging and decrease waste and use recycled materials, where appropriate." So, sadly, no- in the US they aren't.
The only other gripe would be that the flavor capsules are not as easily available at your local grocery store. They are however, available online and at Sur la Table, Macys, Bloomingdales, and Bed Bath and Beyond. Luckily, I'm a mall rat, so I guess that's not really a problem for me- but for someone who lives where those stores aren't local, then that could be a little inconvenient. Oh, I should also note that the machine itself retails for $149.99- (and there's currently a $30 rebate offered online.) I believe that makes it a little more expensive than some of its competitors. Anyway- I've had the machine now for a few weeks and have enjoyed using it- especially on the weekends. I think it'd make a great gift (or even a little gift for yourself)- I'm curious if any of you have one of these self serve coffee machines at home or have considered getting one? If you have one, do you like it? good experience with them? bad?
Friday, October 09, 2009
Hilton Hotels new logo
...And in random graphic design news... did anyone notice that Hilton changed their logo? I joined the Hilton rewards thing awhile back since I travel frequently- and saw the new logo. I remember back in the day, the old Hilton logo, (which I actually liked)- the big simple red "H". 
Then somewhere in the 90's? it changed to the blue logo with the swirly/curly thing- which was like... ok.. whatever. But now it's changed again- and oddly, it's very similar to the old one- but they turned it sideways? 
I guess I like it better than the curly/swirly version- and I like the clean sans serif font- but- why not just go back to the original then? Anyway- read more about it here at the Brand New blog.
What do you think? Do you like the new logo?
Then somewhere in the 90's? it changed to the blue logo with the swirly/curly thing- which was like... ok.. whatever. But now it's changed again- and oddly, it's very similar to the old one- but they turned it sideways? 
I guess I like it better than the curly/swirly version- and I like the clean sans serif font- but- why not just go back to the original then? Anyway- read more about it here at the Brand New blog.What do you think? Do you like the new logo?
easle as tv stand
Interesting... Flipping through the October 2009 Metropolitan Home and came across this idea. Designer Vincente Wolf used an easle to place a flat screen in this Park Avenue home. Apparently this is one of his trademark design tricks. I'm not sure how I feel about it... but I think I kinda like it! In this example, I'm also drawn to the fact that the easle is also painted a nice glossy black. Check out the rest of the house tour here. Would any of you consider doing this?
TGIF video break: I'm not your toy
Whoa- suddenly its friday! sorry for the lack of posts this week- yikes- I've been buried with work and next thing you know, it's Friday! So here's a little electro-pop to kick the weekend off. I've been listening to a lot of La Roux lately and this recent video for her single "I'm not your toy" I find quite entertaining. I love all the weird juxtapositions in it- 70's wicker chair, inside English-esque greenhouse, set in a pool party, futuristic blips, minimal/modern tribal fashion, kooky characters and awkward dancing- oh and penguins. I guess it's not really a party without penguins...
More about La Roux, here. Also, if you're looking to get your dance on, their song Bulletproof always does the trick for me-
By the way- if you don't already, you can follow me on twitter (see sidebar) and I'm also on facebook- (let's be friends! and join my blog network there)
More about La Roux, here. Also, if you're looking to get your dance on, their song Bulletproof always does the trick for me-
By the way- if you don't already, you can follow me on twitter (see sidebar) and I'm also on facebook- (let's be friends! and join my blog network there)
Monday, October 05, 2009
audiowood
ok seriously. stop the insanity. These turntables are tooooo much awesome-ness for me to take in this munday morning!
Custom made by Joel Scilley. Genius. More pics and info here. (via MetHome)
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Vote for Pepé!
Ok, total plug here from a stage Dad, (I've already told you that I've become one of "those" people!) Pepé is vying to be the "Dog face of 2009" from our local OC newspaper. Vote for him here! NOTE: You have to register to vote, but it's pretty fast and easy-UPDATE: So... Pepé and I would like to thank everyone who has voted- the contest ends this wednesday (Oct. 7) and right now, well... let's just say he has some serious competition. (Pepé isn't exactly in the top position, hehe) - but it's not over yet!- If you have already voted, we found out that you can actually vote again! and again! and again! (up to 10 times per minute)- so... Keep voting!! Pepé appreciates your vote(s)! Click here to vote for Pepé. Sincere thanks!
Saturday, October 03, 2009
pumpkin centerpiece- part 1
Its October- wow- when did that happen?! The weather is slowly getting cooler here in So Cal, and it's got me thinking about what I should do for a Fall centerpiece. And if you recall, last year, this was I ended up with-
But what to do this year? Last year, I saved this amazing tear from the October 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Living (photo by Sang An) and I'm sooo inspired by it.
I can't get this image of gradating pumpkins out of my head. Hm... ideas... Have any of you started decorating for Fall? Actually, do you even decorate for Fall? Would love to hear from you!- leave a comment below!
But what to do this year? Last year, I saved this amazing tear from the October 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Living (photo by Sang An) and I'm sooo inspired by it.
I can't get this image of gradating pumpkins out of my head. Hm... ideas... Have any of you started decorating for Fall? Actually, do you even decorate for Fall? Would love to hear from you!- leave a comment below!
Friday, October 02, 2009
lonny magazine
You may have seen by now, there's a new online magazine- Lonny- If you loved Domino, then this should help fill the void. Really enjoying the homes featured, especially Ron Marvin's place- Check out the issue here. What do you think? are you excited?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
marshmallow and brown sugar
See, if you didn't already know, marshmallows need to be a pantry staple. Apparently they can also help keep your brown sugar from turning into the unbreakable brick that always happens! (via Oct. 09 Real Simple) Have any of you done this? Does it work?
Monday, September 28, 2009
sequence by julianna goodman
sequence from Julianna Goodman on Vimeo. (Music: "The five step" mashup - by Overdub (dave brubeck vs radiohead)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
This could be a problem.
So the other weekend, while in Palm Springs, I stopped by the Cost Plus World Market there. Always love to peruse their food section, and came across this Dark Chocolate Spread. It was right next to the Nutella. Ok, I love me some Nutella, don't get me wrong- but this Dark Chocolate Spread is pretty amazing. . I seriously have been putting it on EVERYTHING ever since. so. so. good. If you have a Cost Plus World Market nearby- I highly suggest picking up a jar. or two. or six. (BTW, It also comes in a cappuccino/chocolate version.) Danger.
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