Friday Faves

Something new!

Like all good internet dwellers, I often stumble upon things I find beautiful, useful or just plain interesting, and want to share them. I'm going to do so with a bi-weekly segment called Friday Faves. It'll be a collection of stuff that's caught my eye since we last spoke and that I think you'll like too, because let's be honest - I can only text my sister so many times a day.

Charley Harper Collection for The Land of Nod

If you don't have kids or a vaguely problematic pinteresting problem you might be like, Land of WHO NOW? Reasonable. The Land of Nod is Crate & Barrel's children's branch and they just announced a collection of bedding and housewares that is, yes, technically for babies, featuring the art of noted midcentury illustrator and personal fave Charley Harper. I want ALL of this shit, and am considering how to tell my dude that I'll be ditching our queen size mattress for a crib.

You Gotta Little Lipstick on Your Ear

These amazing handmade acrylic lipstick earrings from Honey B Gold come in red AND pink!

It'd Be Really Hard to Sleep Here

This futuristic, neon pink bedroom is straight outta Jem. It also kinda makes me feel like I've been shrunken down into a Barbie Dream House bedroom circa 1986.

Ring Around the Roses

These beautiful clear resin rings filled with real flowers, hand-dyed in rainbow hues!

You're Too Sweet

These adorable food-themed office supplies are too sweet to pass up.

Taking Petty to a Whole New Level

Boston's infamous Skinny House is up for sale! Just a cool 900K for this tiny sliver of home, that's just over six feet at its narrowest. This house exists for one simple reason: spite. It was built on a remaining scrap of land to block light and harbor views from the occupant's brother next door. And you thought you knew how to hold a grudge.

More Exciting Than Watching Paint Dry

These paint palette enamel pins are so damn cute!

This Really Lights Up a Room

This sculpture by artist Matt McVeigh looks pretty on the surface, but has more to say.

B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Crimper)

This tumblr is great for a little stroll down beauty product memory lane. It's a fun flash of nostalgia to see products you loved in junior high, and ads you didn't realize have been tattooed somewhere on your brain ever since you saw them in an old issue of Seventeen.

Give Them a Hand

These illustrations - and there are a ton - are always hands on a pink background, but with a new activity (yes, eating guac is an activity). I'm just weirdly obsessed with hand art.

What cool stuff have you been peeping on lately?

ROUNDUP: Cool Stuff on the Internet Vol. 6

{Note: Hey! You might have noticed things look different around here. I've been a little MIA on the posting front because I've been busy working on the new layout and design - hope you like it!}

It's time for another round of Cool Stuff on the Internet! Here's some fun stuff I found recently:

Golden Girls Lego Set

Okay, don't get too excited here - this mockup of a Golden Girls Lego set has only entered the Lego Ideas Program, which means, though it received the necessary votes to move to the next phase, it still has a long road ahead of it before production is a possibility. Or, maybe you should get excited because THIS IS A TINY MODEL OF THE GIRLS' LIVING ROOM AND KITCHEN and how could you be asked to contain yourself?! So many good details, including, duh, a mini cheesecake.

YVNG PEARL Nail Decals

For those of you who've lamented that you can't paint an accurate rendition of Jerry Seinfeld's face with your non-dominant hand (all of us, am I right?), YVNG PEARL has you - well, your nails - covered. This Etsy shop is full of original illustrations of pop culture touchstones turned to wildly unique nail art decals. Make it tasty with tacos and pizza, keep it festive with the fez-topped turkey from Friends (pairs well with the "We Were On A Break!" decal) or show your mysterious side with a slice of Twin Peaks cherry pie - because who doesn't need Leland Palmer on their middle finger?

Inside Sophia Loren's Roman Villa, 1964

These archival images of hollywood legend Sophia Loren's Italian home are opulent. First you're like, "Umm, that's the biggest pool I've ever seen in my entire life." Then you think, "Wow, this place is over the top." Finally, you realize, "Oh, that giant brick building that looks like a fictional elementary school is her pool house." Yeah, she got it like that. This home has so much gold and ornate detail, it's like the fancy frame around a painting you're not allowed to touch.

Cathy CK

In the spirit of Garfield Minus Garfield, this tumblr-based comic strip takes the artwork from Cathy cartoons and replaces the text with material from comedian Louis CK's various standup routines. The result is oddly harmonious, and worth a follow just for the random bits of Louie it adds to your day.

Angela Lansbury's Positive Moves

These are highlights from a VHS released by Angela in the early 90s, showcasing her health and exercise routines, as well as her thoughts on life. That all sounds fine, but what you're really here for is the awkward floor thrusting, aloe lotion rubdown and the bubble bath finale. Skip around at least some of this video because there are so many odd visuals: "on land swimming," gesturing as exercise, inexplicable car buffing, and a parade of pastel jumpsuits. Oh yeah, and that bubble bath, during which Angela tells us her thoughts on female sexuality. I don't know either.

What cool stuff have you found lately? Leave me some links!

ROUNDUP: Cool Stuff on the Internet Vol. 5

It's time for another round of Cool Stuff on the Internet! Here's some fun stuff I found recently:

50 Unexplainable Stock Photos No One Will Ever Use

You may be familiar with the internet sensation of "Women Laughing Alone with Salad," (a stock photo rockstar, if such a title existed), but these photos somehow make even less sense. The above picture, for instance, seems to lack any discernible meaning or message - is it a play on 'sweet dreams' or something? Although he is definitely not dreaming, as evidenced by his haunting stare. If you're into seeing things like crash test dummies in a loving embrace, a child earnestly sniffing a cactus or two adult men sharing a single white turtleneck sweater then, please, take a gander.

A Splash of Sea Water Under a Microscope

Pictured above is the magnified contents of a random drop of sea water - yes, the same water you frolic in, and which occasionally ends up in your mouth. I know there are obviously sea creatures in the sea. I just don't like it when science is all "just in case you were trying to forget that you're dunking your whole body in a fish's toilet, here is some gross stuff you probably swallowed along the way. LOL!" I don't like the idea that something is so small I can't see it, yet also somehow has, like, 10 legs. Also, what are those curly little things?! Glad you asked - here's a breakdown of each new friend.

Tiny Birthday for a Tiny Hedgehog

Let's take a moment to recover with what is, undoubtedly, one of the cutest things to happen on the internet. From the people who brought you "Tiny Hamsters Eating Tiny Burritos" comes a tiny birthday party full of tiny presents and a tiny birthday cake for a tiny hedgehog. There's just no room for complaining here...this is about as good as it gets. Also, don't miss the cameo from the aforementioned tiny hamsters!

This Guy is Collecting Every VHS Copy of Speed Ever

In case you're ever down on yourself for not having a hobby, or maybe having an embarrassing one, please keep in mind that some dude out there is actually dedicating his time, energy and van space (of course he drives a van) to collecting every single VHS copy of the movie Speed ever made (although he also has some laser discs for bartering). He's also wearing two pairs of sunglasses in the article photo so...you know. Part of me likes this and part of me wishes I had a copy just so I could keep it from him.

Things Fitting Perfectly Into Other Things Tumblr

I'm sure some (most?) of you are like, "uh, cool...a cracker in the bottom of a cup," but when I see this picture I feel a deep calmness in my very being (and I also kinda want a Ritz). Much like "Things Organized Neatly" this tumblr gives me the satisfaction of seeing order and harmony through the lens of everyday objects. Why does it feel so satisfying to see a bottle cap fit snugly into a sink drain? I don't knooooow, but it feels so right.

What 1939 Thought Fashion in 2000 Would Look Like

In this vintage clip, top fashion designers predict what kind of crazy fashion hijinks we'd have gotten up to by the year 2000. Much like most future predictions (e.g. flying cars, robot maids, the value of Beanie Babies) these are pretty off, but entertaining nonetheless. Apparently, we should be covered in sheer mesh by now so that we can, presumes the video's narrator, "catch the males." Also, one of them thought we would wear lightbulbs in our hair. Seems dangerous. 

What cool stuff have you found lately? Leave me some links!

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ROUNDUP: Cool Stuff on the Internet Vol. 4

It's time for another round of Cool Stuff on the Internet! Here's some fun stuff I found recently:

The Muppets Painted as Twin Peaks Characters

A talented illustrator has painted some beloved Muppets as if they were characters on Twin Peaks. For TP fans, you may find yourself oddly delighted by seeing Miss Piggy's dead body wrapped in plastic, and for those less familiar with the show, you may find yourselves oddly horrified by the beginning of this sentence. I'm partial to Gonzo as The Man From Another Place (above right), but they're all great. If you dig this, you might also like Twin Peaks Characters as Simpsons Characters.

37 People Reveal the Most WTF Thing They Ever Saw at Their Friend's House via Thought Catalog 

Ok, this Burt Reynolds crab doll has nothing to do with this, but I found him when I Googled "weird." Enjoy!
If you love getting all up in people's business and hearing gross/creepy/weird stories, I think you'll enjoy this list as much as I did. From 'innocent but weird' (a family's communal bowl of finger-dipping ketchup) to 'there has to be something more to this' (a fake Thanksgiving feast displayed at the table year round) to 'uh, I'm pretty sure that's illegal' (a 6th grade boy bathing with his mother), you'll find all kinds of delightful disfunction that will make you feel pretty normal in comparison and also teach you why you should never stand on the crusty parts of the carpet.
All You Need is Pug Etsy Shop

This shop is full of adorable hand-knit and crocheted items (mostly) for dogs. I recognize the superfluous nature of leg warmers for dogs, but I dare you to deny how cute they look on the model pug. I DOUBLE DOG DARE you, in fact. Lose your pet clothes inhibitions and grab a full aviator setup (above), robot dog hat or beret for your pup. If I saw a dog walking down the street in a beret I might never recover.

The Hey Dude Set is Rotting Away in the Arizona Desert

According to this Buzzfeed article, the set from the semi-beloved early 90's Nickelodeon show Hey Dude is currently rotting away in the Arizona desert, more than 20 years after the show began. It's a little eery to see familiar sights ravaged by the hands of time (see side-by-side above), but it also makes me wonder what other shows have just up and left their sets behind. That seems weird, right? After all the time and money that goes into production to just be like, "Ehhh. Leave it." Well, they did warn us that it'd be a little wild and a little strange. Also, are killer cacti a thing?

Real NASA Images on Silk from Slow Factory

File this one under genius ideas that are so pretty and cool that I can't believe the whole world isn't wearing them. Okay, that might be a very specific file, but the sentiment remains the same. Slow Factory prints real images of space from NASA's open data collection of satellite images on gorgeous silk creations, like scarves, dresses and shirts. Pro tip: they'd also come in handy for a future Zenon costume.

 Rocky Ridge Animal Refuge in Arkansas

Yeah, yeah - another animal feature in one post. If you have an issue with too many animals on the internet then you have an uphill battle in front of you, which will be difficult WITH NO HEART. There's no purer fun than inter-species cuddling and carrying on, and this storybook-style animal sanctuary delivers nothing but the best. Owner Janice Wolf (of course she has an animal name!) set up the refuge over 20 years ago for animals who need medical care or new homes, and up to 60 animals - including a zebra named barcode (brilliant!) - are currently there living out the internet's wildest fantasy.

The Mysterious Story of Vivian Maier

I love weird discovery stories like this! A guy buys a box full of undeveloped negatives at an auction, develops them, discovers they contain some of the best street photography of the 20th century and essentially causes the photographer, Vivian Maier, to become an art world darling more than 50 years later (and just a few after her death). Her take on everyday life in 50s and 60s New York City is cool, beautiful and inspiring. There's also a piece on Vivian in the current issue of Bust Magazine if you're interested! 

What cool stuff have you seen lately? Link it in the comments!

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ROUNDUP: Cool Stuff on the Internet Vol. 3

It's time for another round of Cool Stuff on the Internet! Here's some fun stuff I found recently:

Garfield Minus Garfield

Just what it sounds like: Garfield comic strips, where Garfield has been removed. This often leaves just a few panels of an introspective, lonely Jon Arbuckle, and it gets pretty dark without that witty kitty offering his two cents on naps and lasagna. I never really noticed what a sad sack Jon is. Can we get Nermal in here to lighten the mood?

The Bob's Burgers Experiment

If you watch Bob's Burgers, you've likely noticed the ever-changing menu board at the restaurant which features a special burger of the day, always - always - with a pun-derful name, such as the 'Don't You Four Cheddar 'Bout Me' (pictured above). Well, some genius has taken to creating all of these fictional foods in real life and documenting it all on his blog. 

Iconic '90s Cartoon Outfits Recreated via Buzzfeed 

Ever wonder what your favorite childhood cartoon characters would wear today? Okay, probably not, but now you don't ever need to have that thought because this list has just gone ahead and told you. Keeping you from thinking thoughts, is there any greater gift? All your faves are here (including Pepper Ann, who is so often overlooked) and some of these outfits are actually pretty great, regardless of cartoon inspiration.

Amazing Shadow Sculptures via Marvelous

Artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster create piles of what seems like debris - trash, birds, cigarette packs, cans, scrap metal - and shine lights on them just so to create shadows that truly resemble people sitting, standing or talking. In that picture above, would you ever believe that pile of trash could create that very recognizable human shadow behind it?

Tampon Crafts

Yes, these are all tampons. I generally wouldn't waste a tampon on unnecessary matters because how much would you regret it if you had a tampon emergency and you realized that you just hot glued your last one in a DIY menorah? Very much, I think. Tampon Crafts is fun for a peruse and there are several holiday related ideas, which is very timely. You have to admit - those Christmas "lights" are genius, right? Something here could be a great Yankee Swap gag gift for the right crowd, unless you don't hang out with people who would think a tampon toupee is hilarious, in which case you have my sincerest condolences.

Yogurt the Pirate Dog on Instagram

This dog is just adorable. I guess some might describe her missing eye and always-hanging-out tongue in other ways ("disfigured" and "gross" come to mind), but I love a good messed up mutt. Her remaining eye is so big and beautiful it totally makes up for the missing one, right? She likes to wear elf outfits and fancy collars (the human shirt kind, not dog collars) and we get to look at that for FREE. What a world!

The Worst Things For Sale

Everyone has seen something and wondered how it ever got made - this site is full of those things. Ever wanted a $70 wi-fi egg tray that updates your phone when your eggs are about to go bad? How about the iPhone panties pictured above, which serve no purpose whatsoever, except creeping me out indefinitely (look how they're just pushed to the side for charging...ewww). I can't forget the hard candy that makes your body exude a perfumed scent when you eat it. Because putting on perfume is so hard. Don't worry - they're sugar free, which is great because I know when I'm eating weird Bulgarian chemical perfume candies, the sugar content is of utmost concern.

What cool stuff have you seen lately? Link it in the comments!

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ROUNDUP: Cool Stuff on the Internet Vol.2

It's time for another round of Cool Stuff on the Internet! Here's some fun stuff I found recently:

Pop Culture Watercolor Portraits via Oh Gosh Cindy

I am a sucker for pop culture art and also a bit of a watercolor lover, so this Etsy shop full of  amazing portraits definitely caught my eye. There are multiple Clueless numbers, as well as a healthy dose of Audrey Hepburn, Molly Ringwald and Wednesday Addams. Relevant quotes accompany each portrait, and they are all very reasonably priced (even to this cheap-o). 

Food & Flower Art via Oh I See Red!

This site has so much cool art that I hard a REALLY hard time picking just a few samples here. Red describes herself as an artist-architect who likes to paint, but not with a paintbrush. Suddenly paintbrushes feel totally passe when there are carrot sticks, flower petals, and onion peels with which to make art. Are you seeing her version of The Scream? Hello! Check this out.

DIY Holographic Clutch via Wait Until The Sunset 

Damn, that's a nice clutch! Believe it or not, Olivia over at Wait Until The Sunset made this from an existing bag and some hologram contact paper. Somehow she also makes it look totally easy.

The Same Picture of Dave Coulier via Instagram

Some saint/lunatic runs this Instagram account which consists solely of, you guessed it, the same picture of Dave Coulier. Every. Single. Day. I would tell you to check it out, but you probably already get the point. It's somehow mesmerizing.

31 Things You Needed From The Delia's Summer '96 Catalog via Buzzfeed

I think we've pretty much all had a moment with a Delia's catalog at some point. If that point for you was summer 1996, then you're in luck because some great soul has scanned the ENTIRE THING for us to peruse. I think '96-'99 is the ultimate era for catalog clothes nostalgia and these chunky heels and chain wallets might convince you of that, too.

The Alice Bag via JumpFromPaper

This purse is like a total optical illusion - it's a real life, dimensional purse, but it takes it design inspiration from cartoons to give it that straight-from-the-comic-book-page look. With bold outlines and a misleadingly slim depth, this bag with confuse everyone when you pull out your lunch and cell like it ain't no thang.

3D Printed Objects Made of Sugar via Colossal

I keep hearing about 3D printers, which to be totally honest I don't entirely understand. I feel like my brain is just not "in the future" enough right now to picture this process. That being said, some creative smarties printed out gorgeous 3D objects made of sugar which can be used for cakes or centerpieces.

The Creepiest Headless Portraits from the Victorian Era via io9

Before you scroll down, know that these ARE NOT REAL HEADLESS PEOPLE. Ok, got that out of the way for you squeamish types. Among other strange habits, the Victorian people were also pretty wild about posing for faux headless photos for some reason. I'm glad they left evidence of their OG-Photoshop skills for us to be confused by forever. Nothing says 'family photo' like Mom's head in your hand, right?

What good stuff have you been finding around lately?

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