Curator Coop: Baby it's Cold Outside

Before we start, you must view:

Now let me apologize for succumbing to this Christmas in November that seems to have taken hold, but after seeing the Hershey's Kiss jingle bells commercial for the 15th time by November 7th, I give up.  In my estimation, by the year 2015, we will forgo Halloween altogether... it's only a matter of time before pumpkin patches are sacrificed in the name of Douglas Fir.  Seriously though, on ABC Family there's a countdown to the '25 Days of Christmas Movies' thing they do every year.  That's a countdown for a countdown people.

Regardless of when I believe the Christmas spirit should take hold, it has turned decidedly cold here in Portland.  To me, that means it's started to dip below 60 degrees.  What can I say, I'm weak despite growing up in the Northeast and then living in the Alps (sorta)...

He are some warm and fuzzies.  I'd probably wear them all at once, but then again I've been likened to a crazy scarf lady - not unlike a crazy cat lady.

Exhibit A:

images here: matchesfashion.com

It may seem like a bowl of sherbet ice cream but it actually reads neutral which helps justify paying $181.00 for a beanie.  I promise you they didn't sell this Missoni number at Target - trust me, I was there.  What a bust.  And thankfully, at 100% cashmere, it doesn't feel like it came from Target either.

Exhibit B:

image here: aritzia.com

Here's one I can vouch for.  See - honesty is the best policy.  And so is endorsement from experience.  Most of the luxury crap on here is a virtual wish-list for my next life - the one where I sneeze gold - so I'll be sure to indicate when it's not.  This was my jacket today, it's that warm.  Unfortunately, it comes from this Canadian chain up here in the Pac NW called Aritzia and doesn't seem to have an online dealer... there are a few stores 'round the country - like San Fran, Dallas, Chicago, and NJ.  If you ever find yourself near a store be sure to pop in.  Hopefully they don't take as long as Zara to sell online.

Exhibit C:

image here: asos.com

I'm referencing the "fur snood" (although I'd take the jacket too).  I like that it's burgundy.  I think that says "I like to party but not in real fur".  And I like that it's called a snood - I will never call them circle or infinity scarves again.  Plus, I did my research and Asos' fur snood is cheaper than Topshop's fur snood. BAM!  

Virtual damage done: $292.96.  Could be worse, my friends, could be worse.

Curator Coop.

I am being forced to blog for 15 minutes today.  That seems completely counterintuitive as blogging, like journaling, should be of one's own volition.  But I get it.  It's the encouraging nature of my better half, and I appreciate it.  I believe he's probably sick of me showing him the next overpriced candle I want....or cute matching Christmas stockings I found for our 7th Christmas together.... or the outrageously priced Hermes cuff I'm never going to see...

Or maybe he thinks I actually have a POV?

Regardless, please find some well curated items that are nothing if not pretty to look at:


Exhibit A:

Very cool tribal-ish earrings I randomly found on Etsy (Noble House Designs) in a completely unrelated search for fabric.  Isn't that the beauty of Etsy!!  They're equal parts everyday-awesome and show stoppers.  The necklaces are badass too.  But I'm currently focusing on finding legit earrings for my rehearsal dinner.

images and earrings via: Noble House Designs

Exhibit B:

image via ilvoelv.com

I'm here to tell you that it's OK to dream about the Louis Vuitton leopard stoles.  Everyone dreams about something at LEAST 800 bucks, right?  Seriously though...I've put one of these on and they are massive and snuggly and negate the need for pretty much any other accessory.  If you just give up Starbucks for roughly 215 days, you could acquire one of these.  And promptly mail it to me.  Thanks.


Exhibit C:

image via o.co

Eames knockoffs!  An easy o.co find.  Pretty self explanatory all-purpose chair.  Go ahead and buy them because you can put them literally anywhere.  These are 1/5 of the price of the real deal.  Are they forever?  Style wise - of course...construction wise - who knows.  Overstock reviews are glowing and to be frank, that's good enough for me.

Virtual damage done:  $1131.99 give or take some tax.  Luckily, homegirl lives in a tax free state.  Unluckily, I don't own any of these.  Oh well :)

Hey good lookin'

It would be so me to launch into some diatribe explaining my absence.  But I won't.  I'll try to keep things more simple....maybe that will fuel consistency?  Maybe not....only time, and perhaps Zach Galifianakis, will tell.

Zach's only on my mind because homeboy graced the cover of Rolling Stone this month and, to be frank, I dig his glasses.  See...

But while we are on the topic...immediately youtube Between Two Ferns which will explain my love for the heavily bearded man above.  And, though it may seem a contradiction, do not go see Hangover 2, or part 2, or whatever they called it.  It's not good.

Keeping it light, I'll share a few things on my mind:

1. This lovely rug from West Elm.  I dig it.  Unfortunately, it is likely to end up with jelly, or nutella or orange juice stains in the white bits.  So I will refrain for now.

2. These shiny young (Miu Miu) things.  You probably hate them but I don't.  Me: these shoes :: barracuda: shiny things.  Isn't that how they do comparisons on the SATs?  Do the SATs still exist?

3. This awesomely nostalgic wallpaper from Osborne & Little.  

A few points on this one:

• Once I discovered Osborne & Little I found little need to look elsewhere for wallpaper.  I live in a rental flat and am not made of money so the likelihood that I will own any of the ingenious wallpapers in the foreseeable future is dubious.  Mark my word though, one day, I'll have a fantastically O & L-fied room.
• I have gone back to this Zagazoo wallpaper more times than I can count.  You think I'm weird...I just think there's something so nostalgic about it.  I want to have it.  In a bathroom where people need a little humor and a lot to look at.  I kept thinking I KNOW this artwork, I remember it from somewhere.  So I started pondering my favorite childhood books.  First I googled Shel Silverstein, thinking it might be like some of his illustrations....then I looked up Dr Seuss, but it was no Who down in Who-ville. Then it hit me - ROALD DAHL, perhaps one of my fave of all time...still.  My sister used to give me brilliant Roald Dahl and Shel Silverstein books for Christmas every year.  Quentin Blake is the famed illustrator for Roald Dahl's classics.  

image via thebloghorn.org

• Logic then told me to put Quentin Blake and Osborne & Little into google which of course led me to find that Quentin illustrated the Zagazoo wallpaper.  It's now destiny.

4. This slice of heaven from Banana.  Yesterday I went into a Banana Republic for the first time in - no joke - 2 years.  Now that I live in a summer-sweater-appropriate-climate, I bee-lined to this guy.  I didn't buy it (I'm being good) but I have thought of it multiple times since yesterday at 2PM which is less than 24 hours ago.  Even better news - it could moonlight as a pillow....it's that soft.

end rant.