Kid Decor with Class

It's not just a pretty flower. It can live, forever fresh and lovely, on your wall.

Lately, I've seen these tv ads for some company called Fathead, selling really obnoxious wall decals. I don't like the ads, or the particular decals it pushes, but I did think the idea of instant decor was a good one. Especially for nurseries and little kid rooms, where you might want to make a big fun splash, but maybe don't have the time or money for a mural or insane theme room (or maybe you don't want to look at it while you're stuck in that room for hours with a newborn).

So then I looked around and found Wallflower. This company offers wall decals you really can live with for a long time. They will not offend. And there's scarcely any cheese in sight, although the overpriced lions come dangerously close to dairy territory. I mean, just about anyone would like a photorealistic giant flower, or butterfly, or even a seashell stuck on the wall. There's also these fascinating abstract splashes of liquid that have some decor potential; although a toddler might get the wrong idea and start hurling drinks at the walls to add her own artistic statement.

The real plus is that these decals start at under $50 and peel on and off easily. That means no mural painter, no DIY stencils, and no smelly fumes in a kid's room. The dahlia above is about $95, and an entire wall decal will set you back a grand, which might be too grand for your progeny. At Wallflower.

Landing Strip, Part Deux

Sure, they look simple, but these Gym Hooks store stuff in style.

Yes, I know. You thought I was done with my neurotic quest for order in the foyer. But I wasn't done.

After I installed the fantastic switch plate I wrote about in the last post, I realized it wasn't quite enough to keep my clutter corralled. Thus, I turned back to the venerable A+R for another solution: the Hay Gym Hook. These hooks look simple, but function in multiple ways. You can hang a heavy bag on it, while looping your scarf or sweatshirt through the middle of it. They come in lots of pretty colors (I chose the natural wood, but if I were hanging more than one I'd do a combo). And they're beautifully, sturdily designed and easy to hang. After installing the Gym Hook, my belongings look organized and deliberate, not a pile of junk abandoned in a heap.

These hooks run around $35, which might seem steep, but this is a case of getting exactly what you pay for. Worth it! At A+R.

Instant Landing Strip

Hang your keys or an unruly small child from the Walhub's handy hooks.

In my never ending search for home efficiency, I've recently turned my toad focus to the landing strip. You know what I'm talking about (wipe that smile off your face; it's not that landing strip), the area right inside the door where all your going out stuff congregates: your keys, his/her keys, your jacket that never makes it into the closet, your phone, and, in my case, aerial odds and ends like socks. It's a damn mess, all the time. And unless you have some ultimate foyer, it's likely to remain that way unless you take action.

Barring construction for a hall closet you can't afford, or buying some Abstrackt/Malm IKEA thing it'll take an army to assemble, your options for a landing strip are sadly limited. So, when I ran across one small affordable step in the strip solution, I was thrilled. The Walhub faceplate fits over the existing switch plates in your house (hopefully, in your entryway), and turns any light switch into a mini storage unit for keys or a small purse (one even has a slot for storing outgoing mail). Venerable modernist mecca A+R featured the Walhub at the Dwell show in L.A. recently, to great acclaim, but of course I needed to try it out. Sure enough, the thing makes a difference. Between the Walhub and some hanging hooks inside the door, I might be able to create foyer order out of cluttered chaos.

The best part? These brilliant space savers start at $16. When's the last time you bought anything innovative and stylish and useful for just $16? Try never. At A+R.

A Phone Pillow Gone Hardcore

This thing is hard as a rock, but I doubt the iPhone minds much.

It's a proven fact that if you have a spot to put specific items, you'll probably place them in that spot and actually be able to locate said items. Take the phone, for instance, that ends up in a purse, on the desk, placed on the kitchen counter, or even left in the bathroom (ew). Just think: if there really was an appealing, stylish spot to stick your phone, you'd use it, right?

The very quirky company Snarkitecture has the answer in the Pillow, a phone holder that looks like a pillow, but is actually made of concrete. Yep, it's a concrete resting place, all white and elegant looking, just waiting to keep your phone corralled. All you have to do is order the thing and place it where you'll use it constantly. This makes a wonderfully low tech gift for that high tech style geek on your gift list. Of course, it can also hold other things, like keys, or sunglasses, or change, but it's specifically designed to hold the phone.

As with all scarce, stylish gifts, the Pillow isn't a bargain at $68. But what price do you put on efficiency? At Snarkitecture.

Roomba: A Useful New Presence Makes a Generous Present

I've been waiting quite a while to write something about the Roomba, because although I liked the general concept of a robot vacuum cleaner, I didn't have one and I don't trust other people's reviews of potential novelty items. However, Mr. Crab purchased me one for my birthday (and the appliance was much appreciated, although I wouldn't recommend the Roomba to any of my male readers out there as a romantic or even recommended gift, unless the Roomba is carting around jewels or something), and thus I'm able to write an informed review.

I know: he doesn't look like Mr. Personality, but the Roomba's got moves.

First off, we named our Roomba Gordo. He appeared to have some sort of winsome personality right out the box, and once he started moving around our home, haplessly banging into things, I felt the need to address him by some sort of moniker. He was working so hard! Seriously, Gordo spent a great deal of time trying to navigate our "open concept" living area, and he did improve over time. Sure, he got pathetically stuck at one point, crying out for help in an incongruous calm female voice, but that was quickly remedied and he got right back to work. The best part? Once he was done, he made his way back to his docking station and backed himself into his home for a refreshing recharge. Watching a small appliance, indeed watching anything at all, learn from mistakes, work industriously and then go do exactly what it was designed to do, as promised, on the box, was worth the cost.

But what about the floor? The floor was clean! Gone were the faded dried up jacaranda blossoms, toast crumbs, and rug's worth of cat hair. Gordo can be preprogrammed for regular cleanings, or you can just press his go button and run him whenever. While our cat isn't riding him yet, he's no longer running from the room while Gordo is on his rounds. If you know someone with a more open floor plan with hard surface floors, this device makes one incredible gift. Especially since vacuuming all the time by hand sucks, and the dog only picks up the food and leaves the rest of the filth. Gordo is a timesaver for sure.

You can find the Roomba at the iRobot site, although we found ours at CostCo for either the same or a lower price. Buy one for busy people and instantly improve their standard of cleanliness.

An Appealing Little Gift

Any carrot would be delighted to be brutalized by such an attractive peeler.

You have have those times when you just have to show up with something useful and interesting? I'm talking about a functional hostess gift, not a bunch of flowers that wilt and perish, or baked goods that pack on the pounds. You just need a little something that's original.

So look no further than this very pretty veggie peeler from Normann Copenhagen. Yes, a veggie peeler can be pretty, I promise, and it's a most functional summer hostess gift, with all that organic produce flying around. Just look that the open handle design and lovely colors. You're sure to find one to fit any kitchen. The giving of such a gift also signals that you might be of some help in the kitchen, and every hostess can use an extra scullery slave, you know.

These pretty peelers are just $17 each at Gretel Home. Keep a couple hands for one appealing gift.

Beauty for the Intrepid

Summer is basically here (although if you're on the east coast or in the mid west, my condolences, because your weather is seasonally bizarre and sucks). Now is the time for travel plans, beach outings, and a less hectic beauty routine. Know a friend who's going away and having a birthday? Geminis (like the Toad) are not into fuss when it comes to appearance; they're into efficiency.

Thus, I've rounded up a little travel package of some beauty short cuts and essentials for the lucky adventurous friend. Present her with this little assortment of products and watch her gleam.

Chicstix: Yeah, I know, it seems a little weird and intimate to give a shaving product, but after test


driving this for about a month, I have to say it's pretty genius. Shaped like a roll on deodorant stick, this solid shaving soap glides on in the shower and makes for one close, soft shave. So soft, in fact, that Mr. Crab has commented on the softness of my legs (no small feat for a Toad). I prefer the unscented, but the reviews have been positive on the scent front. Plus, because it's solid, it's easy to haul on a trip. And it lasts a lot longer than a can of shaving cream. It's $9, but it's money well spent. At Chicstix.




Ojon Reverse Damage: Unless you and your friends have virtuous virgin hair, you have some damage going. Frizz, split ends, frazzles, the unflattering possibilities are endless and summer only makes them worse. This light weight oil treatment protects and smoothes those freaky follicles. And it only takes a couple of drops to do the job. At Sephora.

Embroyolisse Lait Concentre: You can trust the French when it comes to good skincare. And this cream, which I've been slathering on for a couple of weeks, is superior to just about anything else I've tried. It's a secret weapon for professional makeup artists and models everywhere. You can use it as a primer, a makeup remover, and one kick ass moisturizer. And it contains no nasty parabens. This stuff smoothes on like a dream and continues to protect for about 24 hours. Plus, the texture is dreamy. All in all, the perfect salve for a flight, to avoid in air mummification. At Embryolisse.

Essie's Butler, Please: What's a vacation without a little fun on the toes? This rich blue looks both indulgent and modernist. It's not morbid. It won't make your feet look dead. It will make the toes look worthy of lounging in Yves Saint Laurent's moroccan hideaway. At Essie.