If you are not ready or if you already gave her the Tiffany blue box, here is another signature blue box that will please her this Valentine. I like the drawings on the artisanal chocolates. It is common these days to see design like the chocolates made by Christopher Elbow. The MarieBelle chocolates gain points for being more cheerful and adorable.

You can buy it online from MarieBelle Chocolates or find at a retailer near you that carry the collection. I spotted this gift idea on Parcel Post, the blog of Urbanic Paper, a boutique in Venice, California. I wish to leave a message to my dear husband. I saw on the store listing that it may be available at Indigo.

A must-go in SoHo

I noted on my agenda a visit to the Cacao Bar and Tea Salon that is inside their retail space in SoHo. Their line of hot chocolate seems awesome and many rave about it. Another idea is to sit down for a nice cacao at their Parisian style salon. It is on the pricey side but indulgences are in order on Valentine’s Day.

+ MarieBelle Chocolates

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Last November I received an email announcing the new Elan Form Chilewich Case for iPhone 3G and 3GS. I like the placemats from Chilewich. Therefore, I was intrigued by their design. But not long before, I bought a Paul Frank Julius silicone case that got too big after a couple weeks of usage. For that reason, I wanted to give a thorough test drive before introducing the Griffin + Chilewich case.

I love it! It looks great and it stays in place. I selected the light grey, which I think is more feminine than the gravel (dark grey). Do not worry about the pale color. The outer layer is covered with the same woven vinyl that Sandy Chilewich designed for her placemats. If you are looking for an iPhone case, this is one you should consider.

The Griffin + Chilewich Collection is available at the Griffin website, the Apple Store, and the MoMA Design Store.

Griffin + Threadless Collection

But Chilewich is not the only design brand that collaborates with Griffin. Threadless is another one. You can add original art from the Threadless community of designers to smooth, sleek shells designed by Griffin. So far, only one pattern is available in the Griffin + Threadless Collection.

SOURCING:
+ Griffin Elan Form Chilewich Case for iPhone 3GS – Light Gray $39.95 USD
+ photos: Griffin Technology’s Co-op Initiative

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More bag options for the fashionable city girl. The laptop bag is available for a 15-inch and a 17-inch laptop version. If you have a 13-inch laptop, I find that a 15-inch flat carrier is often not too big. Plus, it comes handy to bring a magazine with me. Ask then first for exact dimensions, if this is the case.

The silk-screened Canvas shopping bag is big enough to fit a picnic for 2. It is ideal for a stop at Central Park. These bags are made in Brooklyn. You can shop online at nyDesignroom or visit their showroom Thursday to Sunday from 12 to 7 PM.

+ Laptop Carrier $110 USD
+ Shopping Baaag $55 USD
+ via Design Milk

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Fans of Amy Butler who are week-end travelers or who often take a-week vacation under the sun would be thrilled by this news. You can get a fabulous carry-ons designed by Amy Butler. As usual, the patterns are divine.

I would love to get a navy Dream Traveler-Sari Flowers for Christmas. Sadly, the Graceful Traveler-Fuschia Tree that is on wheels is too big to bring to the cabin of an airplane. Other travel essentials are the carried-away everything bags that come handy to bring your beauty products and makeup.

The fashion bags are big enough to carry all your stuff across the city. The Josephine bag or the Abina tote would suit the needs of a creative business woman, a mother or a fashionable university student.

See the entire Amy Butler for Kalencom collection here.

SOURCING:
+ Dream Traveler – Sari Flowers $260 USD
+ Abina tote $180 USD
+ Josephine Bag $160 USD
+ Carried-away bags $22-$42 USD

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Forget the typical floral arrangements this year and be original with your Mother’s Day gift. I spot three ideas that would make a lasting impression. The focal point of a courtyard garden designed by Floral Grubb is this succulent vertical garden. Sempervivum and a little horizontal bed with Myers asparagus and echeveria create an amazing vertical garden. What is more impressive with this view is that the courtyard has a concrete deep soaking bath.

Floral Grubb also did the succulents planted in china cups. If you wish to do-it-yourself visit a flea market to find an assortment of fine China cups and saucers. You can also use teapots or cream and sugar pots. Either bring your vessels to your florist or plant the succulents yourself. Tie a nice handmade tag to the handle. Write on the tag how to take care of the plant.

Growing your own vegetable garden is all the rage. Why not give your mother a potted garden filled with leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, fresh herbs and edible flowers? As a premise to her gift, you can serve this salad made with arugula, feta, pine nuts and edible flowers. It is the salad recipe by The Lylah Blog.

CREDITS:
+ Vertical Garden: Flora’s blog
+ Succulents in a tea cup: Apartment Therapy San Francisco
+ Edible flowers salad and Flower Beds: The Lylah Blog

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+ Since I have a thing for apple and bird feeder, it will come to no surprise that Apple Bird Feeder caught my eye. $25 USD at Modern Tribe

+ Desk Tidy designed by Daniel Black and Martin Blum will look great in the kitchen next to the phone. $34 USD at MoMA

+ The design of the Voila Trivets designed by Eric Janssen will please your mother and father. $50 USD each at MoMA

+ I adore the architectural reference of the Folding Bird House designed by Jesper Moller Hansen and Dorthe Weis. Sadly, I will not be able to use in my backyard visited by an army of squirrels. Make sure to find the right spot before hanging this birdhouse. It is a MoMA exclusive. $50 USD

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+ I may get a Retro Modern Pet Bed for my cats. These cat beds look so cool. They are $69 for a bed with a wood base, $82 for an acrylic base. You only see two of their fabrics on their Etsy shop but Little Kittyville proposes a wide selection of fabrics.

+ Keeping with the cat theme, I convert an acrylic jewelry piece into a table accessory. Imagine the look of your table if you assemble a pet ring with two side rings by Qift on a napkin. By mixing the combination, you would make one-of-a-kind napkin rings. $12 per pet or side ring. 1 pet with 2 side-rings for $30 USD. Via Moderncat

+ Fiona of Cartolina Cards told us a fantastic news today. Anthropologie will sell her stylish notebooks. It feels good seeing people having success.

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Following the concept of yesterday’s post about vintage style glass milk bottles, I scoured on Etsy these cute porcelain vases from the talented Alyssa Ettinger.

Alyssa likes to fashion her vases with everyday object textures. I showcased her knitwear ceramic vases for Christmas 2007.

Her Milk bottle collection is available as a set or individual vases. She produces them in different bottle sizes. They are dishwasher proof.

She sells them as flower vases but I wish to use them for milk. Alyssa confirmed me be email that all her products are food safe. I am glad that we can use her bottles for drinking liquids. The bottles are dishwasher safe and will show any imperfections, if any, of the antique bottles she used as a mold. I think this fact adds desirable character to her pieces.

These milk bottle vases are only available on etsy. My birthday is in a few months; I will put her Milk bottles on my wish list.

Feb. 26, 2009: I updated my text to reflect the fact that they are food safe.

SOURCING:
+ Alissa Ettinger’s Milk Bottle Vases $30 to $100 USD

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My husband knows that I prefer receiving my favorite flowers instead of the cliché roses for Valentine’s Day. It is not for nothing that the new logo of At Home with Kim Vallee showcases a tulip. By the way, I aim to publish the revamped blog by the end of March 2009.

About the Bouquet

Tulips in orange tones please me even more. Harmonizing the orange tulips with the red tulips, a red anthurium and a second waxy flower stem stay within the Valentine theme. Other choices would have been to mix red or orange amaryllis with the tulips.

We both love cats. Sadly, my bouquet fascinated the kitten too much. It felt once already. Besides spilling water no harm was done.

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When I spotted the adorable owl prints by etsy seller yumi yumi on Hostess with the Mostess yesterday, I knew these illustrations could be the inspirations for an amazing modern chic tablescape.

Wedding Table Design

I am not the only one who thinks so. Milestone Events of Vancouver used them as the basis for their tablescape booth at Wedding Fair 2009. And their booth won first place.

Their sophisticated tablescape exhibits a clever use of natural elements. I would love to sit at that table. Check their blog for more detailed pictures of their tabletop.

Ideas for Valentine’s Day party

I like the softness of the wolf illustration carrying wild flowers. It would make a great gift.

Announce the color of our Valentine’s Day celebrations with the Going sailing print. For something special, you can rent on a sailboat and have a picnic on the lake.

SOURCING:
+ Little Spring Garden print by yumi yumi $20 USD
+ These Are For You print by yumi yumi $20 USD
+ Going Sailing art print by yumi yumi $20 USD
+ Wedding Tablescape: photography by Erin Gilmore – rights reserved
+ Via Hostess with the Mostess and Milestone Events blog

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+ The TV series Pushing Daisies on ABC includes the story of an unusual, romantic love. Why not get inspired by this simple Daisies and wheat grass centerpiece? Serve home made pie for dessert. Floral Lifestyle Expert Julie Mulligan of 1800flowers shares her expertise in teaching us how to easily make floral arrangements that add a punch to your table. Her Present floral arrangement would be great for a shower buffet table. Via It’s A Jaime Thing…

+ If you are tired of giving the predictive flowers or chocolate boxes, here are a few gift ideas for you man this Valentine. Nea’s wall art will remind you everyday that you are loved and cherish. I am showing you Puffed Heart Wall Wear and Looove Wall Wear at $60 each. A more affordable option is Teeny Hearties Wall Wear at $40.

+ If you are really into heart shape, you will appreciate the Hearty Tea Pot Set. If you are not ready to commit, you can simply buy a Hearty Cup & Saucer or a Hearty Mug, both available in white or soft pink. Tea set $140, cup & saucer $18, mug $16

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+ Deluxe Wrist Worms by Sandra Juto, a Swedish artist that lives in Gothenburg. Available in several colors for $59 USD a pair. Via the faves of S.HOPtalk, a blog I discovered thanks to Twitter.

+ I enjoy the crafty look of the packaging for the chutneys, sauces, jams and conserves by Jme, the new line of products by Jamie Oliver. Since the line is only available in Europe for the moment, we can only get inspired by it to produce our own labels for our cooked treats. Via At home at home

+ The Slat Rack by Wallter is the most versatile entry hall rack I saw so far. Use it to hang your coats, hats, helmets, bags, keys and more. As you get in or out of the house, put your mail, newspapers and magazines on the shelf. Available in green, orange, white and chocolate brown for $145 USD. Via Ready 2 Spark

Social Media News

As you may or may not know, I started a new blog on women and social media. Two stories I wrote lately are of a particular interest to our community. Allow me to do a little bit of self-promotion. I wish to hear you point of views on these two posts:

+ Make Love Not War
+ Which Home Design and Cooking blogs are on Technorati Top 100 Blogs

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