mouthwash

i have a mundane problem i'm throwing out there to blog-land...
i recently bought this large economy size bottle of Mouthwash, cuz.. well... it was on sale and really was such a good deal. the bad thing is that its huge, and although it does come with handle inserts, its really kinda ugly and difficult to use since its so bulky. i'd like to transfer some of it into a smaller container, and was looking for some options. i was thinking a basic carafe or something like this one from Crate&Barrel...
but... just wondering if any of you have seen anything out there that might be a bit more asethetically pleasing? ideas? help? anyone?

cup of joe

I've noticed both Burger King and Mc Donalds have been trying to hype up their regular coffee. And actually, my mom swears by Micky D's coffee, she says its the best- now granted- i'm more prone to the latte, but i have been drinking more regular "joe".. and i am by no means a connossieur, but i do love the cups that BK is using. They're so simple and bold and the brown with the dark black kinda reminds me of vintage 70's dunkin' donuts or something... i think i need a cup right now....

also- just wanted to give a shout out to Holly at Decor8 for mentioning happymundane on her blog the other day- welcome to all you new visitors!!- please feel free to check out the archives to the right for other happy mundane things! Holly also sent me a tip on this stylish litter box cover bench for all you cat lovers- you can read more on her site (thanks holly!)

Life Size

Another book i bought recently is LifeSize by Hyperkit, which is published by Victionary. For all of you more graphically inclined, this is really an amazing collection of images and objects- all of which are represented in their "actual size"- What makes it so... happy mundane, is that its really all everyday objects, and also explores our perception about scale- its so interesting to see them juxtaposed against the bold graphics- there are tons of die-cuts, rubbings of objects, interactive elements, like stickers and things you can punch out- its just visual eyecandy - and so inspirational.
click on the button below and get it now!

Blue Monday #5: essential home dishes

In addition to Martha world, Kmart also has their line called Essential Home- which, i guess, is their way of covering all their bases (ie. more contemporary styles) that Martha doesn't- One of the best things about the Essential Home line is their "Chromatherapy" line- I recently bought their 16pc dinnerware set- and i love it- the bowl is in my header image- (obviously i bought the aqua colorway) its only $24.99 - i love that its colored in the inside and white on the outside- AND- each different catagory is a slightly different hue- so the dinner plate is a different tone than the dessert plate, than the bowl, etc...it just gives the whole set a little more sophistication- and not soo "matchy matchy"- they're thick and hardy, and the bowl in particular is really great because its really low, yet deep and wide enough- perfect for both cereal and a salad. Best thing is this week it's on sale!

i also love their selection of Chromatherapy towels too- soo many pretty colors...and i really really loved this dishtowel with this retro graphic fork/spoon motif-they had a bunch of other cool vintage-y designs with matching pot holders as well! (also on sale! for $2.69!!
(sigh) i need an extra house!!

While you were out : part 2

so the first thing i wanted to do with my parent's "while you were out" was remove the awful mandatory-seems-like-every-asian's-parents-home-has-one-80's- halogen torch light- looking for options, i really liked this tripod lamp from Design Within reach- but... at $648, that would be half my budget- so... i then came across this one from CB2- which at $189- was a lot more budget friendly- but still- that was a lot to spend for just one piece of my puzzle- While making "the rounds" looking for potential things, i came across this tripod lamp at Walmart - which was perfect- except for the really weird inverted shade- but at $29.99- i could not pass that up- with a simple switch out, via the other 'mart'- (kmart)- i got a larger replacement drum shade for $9.99- and voila!- cool looking tripod lamp for about $40 bucks!-
stay tuned for the next installment, and i'll show you the completed room-

spice is nice

i love these stackable plastic spice containers at Container Store... simple yet functional.

Walmart continued...

So i recently posted about how Walmart is beginning to change their home dept. This is apparently all part of a new campaign to "Look beyond the basics"- and i think its pretty well done. I'm sure the big wigs at Walmart are feelin' the pressure from Target's uber cheap chic-ness- They now have this whole in-store brand called "Home Trends" that is suprisingly pretty good- (more on this as my "while you were out" adventure continues this weekend) they've followed Target's theory of simplifying their collection into several "themes"- like City Living or Traditional, etc... I went in last night to pick up some daily essentials and saw some pretty great things- and since it's Walmart- they were totally cheap. (Now i realize a lot of people have issues with Walmart, and you don't have to shop there if you don't want to- but speaking purely from the mundane aesthetic- i'll give props wherever i see good design.) They had some West elm-esque items that were impressive. Satin-esque screen pillows with flora, spaghetti-like rattan lamps- and i really loved this photo-real palm frond and water-droplet-on-leaf print pillows, on clearance for $5!

del taco chairs

i don't know if you've ever noticed, but at Del Taco, the chairs have a cactus design on the back. I realize that they've had these chairs since 2000, when they revamped their stores with their newer "fiesta" look, which.. um... yeah... I guess makes work it Del Taco- but i really appreciate the fact that someone thought to make the back of the chairs like cactus. kinda bad, but bad-good in a kitchy way. and its subtle. anyways, i like their crinkle fries.

yummy.

Been buried in work, so I got a treat today. fruit flavored mochi is pretty and yummy. pretty yummy!

what time is it?

Stopped by the local Ikea, looking for a light for my office/library area, but of course got completely side-tracked, and ended up in the clock section- not that i need a new clock, but if i did- there are some really great options: loved the SLABANG ($12.99) it has a rubber shell that is oh so mo-derne....also came in lemon yellow, but preferred this cool grey/taupe color....and I'm also a big fan of the large digital display... BUT- then I found the VIRRA really interesting- it can be set to four different positions to show the date, temperature, timer and countdown... and its magnetic. all for $4.99- hm.... choices.. so many choices....

While you were out. episode #1

So... I recently took some "before and after" pics of a "project" my parents gave me. My parentals recently had their home re-carpeted and the inside walls repainted. Now, being that i am their only son (let alone only child), and i work in design, they asked me to help with the daunting task of redecorating. This was a good and bad thing. On the one hand, I was able to play decorator with someone elses money. On the other hand, i had to deal with trying to convince my parents of my decorating ideas. All was somewhat saved when they had to be out of town for three weeks, which gave me three weeks to do a "while you were out."- I decided to just tackle the living room and dining room (which are combined) and was given $1500 budget (oh, and my mom said she wanted pinks and lavendars...and my dad kinda gave me that look of.."um... yeah."). Living in suburbia and with only $1500, my shopping choices would be a challenge. Oh, and i was forced to keep as much of the furniture as possible. (yikes). The good thing is that my parents have always been open and appreciative of a more "modern" aesthetic. Here's where it started.
now, i'll be the first to say that its not like it' was that bad to begin with- its just kinda plain and mildy stuck in the late 80's "contemporary asian"- In its hey day, it was really striking, and actually really cool. but that was 1986. and its now 2006. and my mission was to upgrade it a little to at least late 2002 "contemporary asian"? So...stay tuned the next couple days. i will post my decorating adventure...

Home is where the Heart is

i recently got this new book, by Ilse Crawford. Ilse, if you didn't already know, is an internationally celebrated designer with a trackrecord that is just "wow", has a company called stuidolise, and was the launch editor to British Elle Decoration (aka. the Bible). so... she's gots it goin' on and has mad style- ummkay? But sadly, i must admit- i had no real clue about her until recently. (sssh. don't tell) anyways- this book is amazing. it has a ton of borderline "self-help" phrases and quotes, but it really just sets things straight- her philosophy on decorating your home and just... living is so right on cue with what i've always felt, but never could articulate. More importantly, this book has stunning imagery that just gets you so inspired. I know, as with most visual people, we don't always read the text, just look at the pictures right? but in this book, the essays are actually really thoughtful, and go hand in hand with the pictures. it would be the best gift you can give someone that is just moving into a new home, or is in the midst (or in the need) of a home makeover/redo- or just a gift for yourself to remind you what "home" is all about- click on the box below and get it NOW!!

Blue Monday #4: flocked pillow

I have a problem. i'll admit it. i have waaay too many pillows (and vases...and...) and i can't stop buying them. i have them everywhere. upstairs, downstairs.... everywhere. I bought this pillow at Target, a couple weeks ago. Of course, I don't need ANOTHER pillow, but it was so beautiful that i was powerless. it's faux suede with a flocked design, and it was only $14.99- they had it in a few colorways- (but of course you know which one i chose) for now, it's sitting on my chair by the upstairs window... although now i'm thinking i should have gotten the rust colored one. (sigh... buyers remorse?) .. anyways- you can get one here-

mundane aesthetic #2: lets go outside

sunny morning in the OC.
outside on my patio.
appreciating the plants that i haven't killed.
(yet...)

beautiful day for OJ

nothin' like a nice tall glass of Orange Juice to start your morning- and today in southern cali is another classic beautiful morning. sun is up and its my favorite time of day in my house, because the light shines in and just fills up the space. unfortunately that is also because i still don't have proper curtains. but i digress.

i really enjoy Tropicana's latest bottle for its "Pure premium" oj. it looks like the classic caraffe- but its plastic- and it just totally stands out when its sitting amongst all the other typical paper cartons. i enjoy being able to see the product and it feels nice when you're pouring it. it looks so lovely on my table. (it will look even better when i remove the label, hehe, but i do love the little woodgrain design element for the "grovestand" text) . Also, if you go to Tropicana's website, they have a really intersting history section- i love that there was a "Tropic Ana" character in the late 60's through the 70's- they should bring her back- i love consumer product mascots! kudos for Tropicana.

it was so nice outside, as i was sipping my oj, that i was inspired to take a bunch of pics of my (surviving) plants. i will post them over the weekend for my weekly "mundane aesthetic"-
what are your plans for the weekend? anything fun? have a fantastic friday!!

swayzak

i've been a fan of swayzak for awhile- i love their dubby-house grooves- their latest release has such a great cover- using the plastic holding tabs (do they have an official name?) from plastic bags, normally found on loaves of bread- i've always loved those things- would love to make a piece of art with them. but i guess now i don't have to- i can just put the cd cover on the wall! (available here and through itunes)

the frother- the story continues...

and so... last weekend i got the milk frother i was so obsessed over- and it has changed my world. i ended up opting for the electric version, because a: it was the first one i found, and b: i figure less cleanup- for those of you who don't know what a milk frother is, (and i probably am the only one) it's like a mini electric wisk, and all you do is put it in some warm milk (you only need a little, because it froths it up so much, the foam rises) now i can make my own cinnamon dolce lattes! i found my Bodum one at Macys (i didn't see it online)- but its also available through the Bodum website-

ed emberley

Does anyone remember Ed Emberley? I strongly believe that I would not be who and where i am (professionally) today without Mr. Emberley. His books influenced me so much as a child growing up in good ol' Garden Grove, CA. I still have my first Ed Emberley book my mom bought for me way back in 1976. (seen above) Well, that obviously was a long time ago, so it's soo good to know that Ed Emberley is still around today- and still doing amazing things for children. His simplistic yet genius instructional books made drawing easy and approachable, but most of all, inspirational. And now, that clever japanese bag company Superplanning, have come out with an Ed Emberley collection of bags and accessories!! i don't know if they're available in the US yet- but how great are they?! who influenced you?

Blue Monday 3b: sprout home

As mentioned on It's(K)notwood, while in Chicago, i purchased this cute little pot from Sprout Home. I was torn between the white or the aqua colorway, but obviously you can see which one won. They had many sizes, and since i had to bring it home on the plane, i went for the smallest one. Not sure what i'm going to plant in it. At Sprout, they had put succulents in it, which i think i'll end up doing as well (since that's the only kind of plant i can't seem to kill!). You can get one of your own here.

Blue Monday 3: it's a party y'all

All the stores are slowly creeping in new product for Summer- scary but true. however, I do love these drink accessories from Crate&Barrel. first is the "olive buoy" that look like little alien ships (and of coures, its Blue Monday, and they're my favorite translucent aqua) ...


the packaging is great too-
and i also love these "crazy eyes seafood picks"- (anything with googly eyes is a winner in my book.)