White Velvet & Unwhite Fur

Velvet Grommet Window Panels, at West Elm

Ooooooh, Velvet Grommet curtains in white (Ivory, really). They're so luxurious and decadent and ON SALE.

But then I remember that I've got a few of these guys at home...

Cardboard's Bird & Mille

...so my wintry white windowscape would end up looking something like this:

Bonus Bone: Conran's classic bins

Classic bin, at The Conran Shop

Simple, classic, BIG, and most importantly a metal trash can that does not cost over $100! I'm looking at you, Simplehuman!

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Press 'n' Dress

Madame est Servie, by Aïssa Logerot

I NEVER iron. But I might be more prone to do so if I had this ironing board/mirror standing up smart in the corner of my bedroom.

Of course I would have to buy an iron but, after doing so, I would certainly offer my (poor) ironing and (adequate) primping skills to designer Aïssa Logerot if she needs someone to test out this conceptual, multifunctional piece. Send me an email if you need a wrinkly and unaccessorized guinea pig, Aïssa!

Love the Pink Feets

"No, Not Anymore - Paper Towels."

Paper Towels

The best pleasures are the simple ones...

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day! If you're looking to combine a little spring cleaning and some Earth Day celebrating you should wander over to Mrs. Myers. They're offering free shipping on every order today!

Photo credit: NASA

Sandwich sponge

Sandwich sponge, at MoMA

First of all, this is the most expensive sponge I've ever seen and that's just redonk. But it is pretty adorable and makes me smile a ton. If I had a kid it would make bath time a lot of fun. Or maybe Hardwood would help with the dishes more if we had a bunch of them.

Gift Catalog: Sahalie

I'm not sure how I got on this mailing list because I've never heard of this company and I don't regularly mail order canteens and fleece. But there it was, the catalog, standing tall in my mailbox and begging to be blogged.

Check out our picks from Sahalie...

Cardboard: Dissolving Soap (Hand, Body, Shampoo, Conditioner, or Laundry)

I love paper soap! No other product in existence reminds me more of my baby backpacker years. Well...paper soap...and maybe Tang...and definitely blue tarps. But that's it! I'm also thoroughly impressed that Sahalie sells formulas for hairs and laundry.

Porcelain: Farkel

Porcelain chose this dice game simply because it's called Farkel and "...that's fun to say."

Anything strike your fancy from Sahalie?

Thanksgiving preparations: Before & After

Hardwood and I are celebrating Thanksgiving with his family. It will be the first, big holiday we host at our home. We have a kick-ass vegetarian feast all planned out. But there was the little matter of carving out a spot in our apartment to serve it. I was tired of eating all our meals at the sofa and I'm sure Hardwood's 99 year old Grandmother (That's right 99!) wouldn't find it all that comfortable. Plus six people sitting around our coffee table eating a massive feast would be really tight and awkward. So a month ago I snapped up a giant Norden table at one of IKEA's Seize the Day sales.

The table is in our front room, which acts as my painting studio. I just needed to convert the room from crazy, messy art studio into a clean and comfortable dining room. That's how I spent my Monday night. I thought I'd show a few before and after shots of the space. Behold the Madness!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I think it turned out pretty good. It's still a little cluttered with the canvases and books, but there was only so much I could hide.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! And good luck to all of those cooking and cleaning the next couple days!

A Laborious Update

• Wash the dishes
• One load of laundry
• Call Alison Rose
• Take photos of my neighbor's porch
• Pay four bills
• Weed through clean laundry for items to donate or swap
• Put remaining clean laundry away
• Compose two brilliant blog posts
• Clear all stuff collected on my bedroom bureau

Okay, well, I got close. I did wash all the dishes and complete one load of laundry. I gabbed with Alison Rose for a good long while and also chatted with Porcelain and Mama Cardboard. Taking photos of my neighbor's porch was my Hail Mary and I can't quite believe I got that done (see above). Bill payments and clothes sorting, check. I didn't put all my clean clothes away but that makes for an exciting Tuesday night. This post makes three four bloggies and the surface of my bureau is seeing light for the first time in months.

I hope you too had a great Labor Day!

A Tradition of Labor

Gil Elvgren Pin-Up

In honor of Labor Day, I'm going after my To Do list. To keep me on task, I'm going to reveal my (totally achievable) list of daily chores to all you guys. At the end of the day, if I'm not too callused, I'll update all that I accomplished. But, if I fall asleep in my mop water, the reveal will have to wait until tomorrow. Here's the list:

• Wash the dishes
• One load of laundry
• Call Alison Rose
• Take photos of my neighbor's porch
• Pay four bills
• Weed through clean laundry for items to donate or swap
• Put remaining clean laundry away
• Compose two brilliant blog posts
• Clear all stuff collected on my bedroom bureau

So the pressure's on! Gotta get off this couch and go find my duster.

Photo credit: Life Goes On...(v2.0)

Silly Scented

Basil Dish Soap

I recently cracked open my new Mrs. Meyer's Basil scented dish soap. Remember how excited I was...?

Well, I have to say that the thrill is gone. While the soap cleans better than my previous brand, I don't think it smells very basil-y. In fact, it smells very much like Choward's Violet Mints.

Choward's Violet Candy

The scent isn't particularly awful. I just expected earthy green and got candy sweet. Think I'll pass on the re-purchase.

Candy photo credit: libraryman on flickr

Nice Rack

Sweater Drying Rack, $8

I know I was just talking to someone about drying racks...I can't remember who that person was but I do remember she was looking for and not finding a decent sweater drying rack.

Hey, whoever you are, here is one from The Container Store! Let me know if you want me to pick one up for you next time I'm out buying ginkgo biloba.

Happy Earth Day! - (Now Git to Cleanin')

Porcelain and I celebrated Earth Day today by taking the train to work. Sure, we do that everyday and, no, neither of us have cars...Did you catch that? We're pro-green every day of the week. And riding the CTA daily deserves some aromatherapy.

So we went a little crazy on the Mrs. Meyer's website just now. We feel justified as it's an eco-conscious company making eco-conscious products and we all need to clean (even on the holidays). Here's what ended up in our "bucket:"

Basil & Basil Dish Soap

I've been stalking the new Basil scent at Whole Foods but they don't seem to carry it yet so I ordered me up some Dish Soap online. I need my dishes to smell like Caprese Salad. Need it.

Lavender Dryer Sheets & Lavender in the Sun

I also picked up some Lavender Dryer Sheets because I just heard a naesty rumor that regular dryer sheets use animal fats to soften. The Mrs. Meyer's sheets contain a "vegetable-derived softening agent" and I bet they smell a whole field of flowers better than Jewel Brand.

Geranium Hand Soap & [Duh] & Geranium Shower Cleaner

Porcelain entered Geranium kingdom and rode off with some Surface Scrub, Shower Cleaner, and a giant tub of Hand Soap. It is Earth Day so she's working the refill angle (less packaging waste). Way to green it, Porce.

Clary Sage Chamomile Litter Freshener & The Stink

Lastly, Porcelain grabbed some Clary Sage Chamomile Litter Freshener. She's used it in the past and says it smells great but also helps to neutralize the peeps smell. Think I'll have to try some of that next time.

But we're not the only ones who can have this much fun buying cleaning supplies online. Right now Mrs. Meyer's is offering 30% off the entire order. Simply enter in coupon code DC30 at check out.