Back in the day, most of us at one time or another have received raisins, stickers, or fast food coupons during Halloween trick-o-treating festivities. With all the creativity and hard work involved in making today’s most sophisticated costumes, people today deserve something more SPOOK-TA-CULAR!
Check out these gross out candies that would make you scream with laughter!
One taste and it might be love at first bite. Happy chomping!
“Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak is one of my all time favorite children’s books. Consisting of only ten lines and filled with delightful pictures, my five year old self would flip through the dog-earred pages right before bedtime.
This Caldecott award winning book tells the story of Max, a playful child who was sent to bed without supper by his mother as punishment and whose room mysteriously transforms into a forest filled with “Wild Things”. I would often times daydream about my own room becoming a jungle, and I vicariously lived through the adventures of little Max.
Flash forward some years, and now kids of all ages can enjoy this timeless story on the big screen. A live action 
movie directed by Spike Jonze will be released nationwide on October 16th. The look of the film mirrors the images from the book and the “Wild Things” remain true to the original drawings.
Big kudos to Spike for making this short story into a sweet, innocent, and honest theatrical interpretation of Mr. Sendak’s classic piece of work. The set design and trailer looks amazing!
Check out the official movie preview.
Harajuku girls got that wicked style, as Gwen Stefani once proclaimed, and it’s no surprise they’re making their way into our hearts…one beat at a time. These kawaii (Japanese for “cute”) girls are just a small peek through a window of the Japanese Pop Culture world, known as J-Pop – a mash-up phenomenon of fantasy, anime/manga, street fashion, music, art and film.
For a taste of J-Pop in the US, all these elements converged into the nation’s first retail and entertainment complex called New People. This $15 million, 20,000-square-foot building is in San Francisco’s historic 
Japantown and was newly created by Seiji Horiguchi, chairmen of Viz Media, the largest distributor of all things anime.
New People is a cool alternative to experiencing modern Tokyo. Upon entrance, the ground floor cafe features Blue Bottle Coffee (http://bluebottlecoffee.net/) and Delica RF-1 bento boxes and snacks ( http://www.delicarf1.com/ ) for the
hungry masses. Walking up the staircase to the first floor, people can feed their desire for Japanese gadgets, novelties, and media at the New People shop. The most exciting draw here to date was the book signing of anime comic book illustrator, Junko Mizuno.
The second level houses well known boutiques from the trendy Harajuku district. The most notable are Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, Black Peace Now and DokiDoki .
The Baby, the Stars Shine Bright label is known for it’s Sweet Lolita style. A fusion of light pastel princess floral prints mixed with Victorian and Edwardian influences. It’s like an 18th century European romantic novel heroine meets baby doll dresses and parasols.
Giant Lego House
In England, a life-sized two story Lego house is being built for a BBC series called James May’s Toy Stories.
Over 3 million lego blocks were constructed by the general public and now volunteer builders are piecing it all together.
Once completed, the host James, will live in the house complete with staircase, furniture, bed, toilet, and bathtub made entirely out of Legos.
They also added a personal touch as his name is personalized on the outside wall.
He will be residing there until it is no longer deemed safe.
Check out the Lego House Gallery
Read the rest of this article »
New York City was running abuzz with the fashion industry elite this past week. As host city to the much anticipated Fashion Week, top designers showcased their upcoming collections at Bryant Park. Editors, Stylists and Buyers had privileged access to all the hottest runway shows.
Surprisingly, most of the fashion insiders missed the breakout star of the week. Held at the Park Avenue Hotel, the huggable Snuggie blanket revealed it’s first premiere collection for the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 season. A giant fleece blanket with arms, it’s the ultimate relaxation statement piece. Once only featured on television infomercials, it made it official fashion debut with much public affection.
Hosted by Ross the Intern from Jay Leno’s “Tonight” show, models of all ages
and of the canine species posed and strutted down the catwalk.
Extremely fitting for the current economic environment, Snuggies offer comfort from a tough and challenging outside world. Worned exclusively during the leisure hours at home, Snuggies give us not only a sense of protection from the harsh cold weather elements, but comic relief.
They come in a wide variety of styles, ranging from Alvin and the Chipmunk:
Gregorian Monk (camel/brown/grey), Irregular Gumby (green), Nursing home Hippie (tie-dyed) to Obese Snow Leopard (animal print).
Other latest additions featured in the show were the college logo and camouflaged prints, and the luxury microfiber plush material Snuggie.
Be the first to prepare for winter by checking out their cozy collection here.
https://www.getsnuggie.com
https://www.snuggiefordogs.com
Photos provided by Newsweek
Not all Happy Meals have to come from McD’s.
In Japan, “happy meals” are mostly vegan and contain no hamburgers, french fries, or miniature toys.
What makes these meals so “happy” are the unique presentation of the food itself. Here’s a peek.
Aren’t these so fun to look at?
And this one is my own personal favorite.
Saying goodbye to Summer can be a difficult thing. With Fall quickly approaching, everyone is trying to squeeze in the last bits of fun in the sun. What better way to start this transition than a visit to a local carnival or state fair? Summer just wouldn’t seem complete without it.
Even in this technology driven age, families still flock to fairs. It’s a place where kids can get on rides without height restrictions, where teens bring their summer crushes, and for others wanting to have a nostalgic time. I fall in the last category and I adore everything the fair has to offer. The experience is like inexpensive time travel where one can relive feelings of childhood euphoria. 
There are many eccentric sights and sounds to behold!
Fair go-ers come from all walks of life. Everyone is welcomed and there is so much love all around. Size doesn’t matter. Tall people, tiny folks, and big people in hand-operated motorized chairs are treated equally. No shirt, no teeth, no problem. Try to count all the various versions of mullets and logo-screened tanktops. Anything goes and it’s all about the fun. See people dressed as sparkly clowns, cartoon mascots, Lord of the Rings characters and those who look like they’re in Tolkien costumes but aren’t. It’s an extremely diverse crowd.
The first thing one notices upon entrance pass the ticket booth is the scent of carnival food that permeates the air. The four basic food groups served are 1) Deep Fried 2) Sweet and sticky 3) BBQ-ed 4) Extra cold and frothy. Some all-American junk food prerequisites for an authentic fair are cotton candy, funnel cake, kettle corn, shaved ice, dippin’ dots, fried candy bars and onion blossom. It’s the only time where even the strictest dieters throw their junk food restrictions out the window.
Alongside the food booths are many interesting handicraft stands. Colorful friendship bracelets, magic wands covered in ribbons, flower wreaths, folk art, western belts and hats, buckles with horses and defunct automobile logos, rastafarian beanies with attached dreadlocks, personalized tees with names airbrushed inside a neon heart, homeopathic massage oils, figurines with intricate metalwork of medieval dragons and tiny warriors welded on gems, and crystal unicorns all belong here like one big happy family. Attendees can also get their face painted like a cat, have henna tattoos of undecipherable characters, and get portraits taken of themselves as gangsters and victorian ladies at a wildwest saloon. It’s a magical place where you can be anything you want!
Throughout the years, the products offered at fairs have greatly expanded. There are now large exhibition halls that showcase the latest 
and greatest in country cooking, household appliances and home accessories. There are enough varieties of homemade jams, sauces, preserved fruits, freeze-dried vegetables, and trail mix available to stash in your emergency food supply cabinet to last you many lifetimes over. There are also infomercial-like booths with Jack Lalanne lookalikes hawking their products in front of a live audience. Their demonstration skills are absolutely convincing. God only knows how much we need that amazing vegetable chopper, juicemixer, dipmaker, super absorbent rag, carpet stain remover, jacuzzi stimulator pump, shiney car wax, ______ (fill in the blank), etc.
Other exhibition halls feature arts and crafts submissions from all across the state. Every art project is a winner. As long as it’s made with bare hands, it’s awarded with a ribbon! There are patchwork quilts, deformed paper maches heads, dioramas made with discarded materials, miniature models glued together by toothpicks, and clothes woven from a loom. One wonders if they’ve just discovered a tomb of lost primitive treasures.
Out of all this activity, don’t forget to visit the carnival area where you can throw quarters on plates, pop balloons with waterguns, and throw shots into a hoop like a basketball champion. It’s all about demonstrating your old school skills. Winning the prizes are only secondary. In addition, the bright blinking lights and sounds of the environment transport us to another place, a long forgotten one. The best part is watching the little kids faces light up on the carousels, ferris wheels, and baby coasters – everyone’s having a great time.
Last but not least, the grand finale is getting tickets to whichever musician is playing that night in the concert series line-up. These performers are living legends and popular teen idols…of your grandparent’s time. Okay, I’m slightly exaggerating. They’re entertainers you waited long to 
see but were unable to (because you were an embryo) and finally can at a fraction of their original concert ticket price. These family friendly acts help us all bond together, despite what generation you fall into. As long as we’re all rocking, it’s all good.
Everyone goes home with something from the fair: a lot of laughs, quality time spent with loved ones, heartwarming smiles, and priceless memories to last until the next summer. Remember to make room in the car for that giant-sized teddybear…now if only you can recall where you parked hours ago in that huge dirt road lot.
Until next time. xoxo
Oh the miracle of nature. The sun is shining. Birds are chirping. Flowers are…hatching. Huh?
Yes, you read correctly. These handmade porous ceramic planters look like real giant eggs.
But wait, there’s a surprise inside. Crack open the top.
DIY HEM TAPE
Ever buy a great fitting pair of jeans but the length is too long?
No time to visit a tailor?
A great solution to this dilemna is the first double-stick hem tape designed for denim fabric. It can alter the length of jeans in a flash. It also allows flexibility to alter between short and long looks on the same pants without leaving behind any sticky residue.
One pack contains a sheet of 18 strips.
Happy Hemming!
http://www.bristols6.com/html/hemtape.php#
Does your morning routine make you feel like a hamster on a wheel?
How about these special items to perk up your day?
Wake up blessed with Holy Toast.
Didn’t win the bid for Virgin Mary’s apparition on bread? Don’t fret, you can now make your very own miracles.
Single folks tired of eating alone?
Here’s a willing friend who will be your breakfast buddy.
Tense morning with your partner or roommates?
Drop some frozen smiles in your drink to help break the ice.
Calling all non-commital people, don’t be afraid to present your significant other with a 2-carat ring.
This one comes attached to a cup.
For the constant traveler, this tote will help speed up the airport security check point process.
Check out these and other fun products at Fred and Friends
May you have a glorious morning!
In honor of Michael Jackson’s birthday today, fans all across the world are paying tribute. One of his most strongest fan base is in Japan. As their top-selling foreign male artist, news of his tragic passing was a devastation to his loyal Japanese followers. Many tearful fans have displayed their heartfelt sympathy and have held candlelight vigils. Some will even make a pilgrimage to Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna for his star studded memorial concert(http://www.tribute2009.com/)
This Pop icon’s legacy will live on. His presence can be felt through his original music, videos, and signature dance moves. Like the other great legends before him such as Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe, his image and likeness will be forever immortalized. To pay homage to Michael Jackson, I’ve compiled a list of unique collectibles found on ebay which may interest you. You too can own a piece of HIStory.
If you wanna be startin’ with something, this MJ California Raisin Figurine looks Invincible
You are not alone if you have these popular dolls
You can choose between the PYT (Pretty Young Thing) Michael and the Improved Michael
Don’t forget to help him accessorize with extra clothing
Or dress up Michael with Colorforms (not to be mistaken with Chloroform) and transfer sheets
If dolls are not for you, how about adopting Bubbles the Chimp?
If smokey the bear sees you holding a matchbook deep in the forest, will he make a sound? Not if you’re holding the Matchstick Garden Book of Seeds! This deceptive design holds seeds in each matchstick. Just tear one out, plant it in the soil and voila! Things will start to bloom in your backyard. The matchbook comes in 4 variety of gardens – mixed herbs, wildflowers, italian garden and mixed greens.
Matchstick Garden Book of Seeds
Let your garden grow! Use Matchstick Garden Book of Seeds!
the japanese are ingenious product designers. for friends who are cutting back on carbs and can’t eat baked goods, here is a book that can bring back young memories of the days when they could consume sweets and not put on any pounds. instead of baking bread, how about making bread that won’t rot or stale? this craft book details how to make replicas of pastries out of felt and paint. they look so realistic!
Life in the communal kitchen can be a set-up for mystery theater. Whodunnit?
Thank goodness for Anti-Theft Lunch Bags. thanks to that, another meal won’t be abducted. if only those muggers don’t steal my mug away too! Maybe this will help foil them.
p.s. works best for girls and lipstick wearers.
Can be found at Urban Outfitters
Konichiwa! I was in tokyo last fall and saw the cutest traditional japanese outfits for doggies
Like any popular japanese product, they are now making their way to the u.s. 
If your furry children are thinking of writing a memoir about their life as a geisha, these kimonos will help put them in the mood.
They can be found at kinokuniya bookstore/gift shop
Sayonara!
English high noon tea. The boston tea party. Traditional japanese tea ceremonies. Tea leaf reading. Monkey-picked tea. Iced tea. Green tea powder. Milk tea with pearls.
Tea is associated with many things. It’s such a mysterious drink with many medicinal properties, but who would have imagined that tea can also be a symbol of love.
Now, a romantic gesture can be revealed through the act of brewing tea.
you can find them here:
How can fashionistas save the world? Let’s start deep within the “sole”, as in the soles of our feet. Whether we realize it or not, each imprint we make has an impact on our planet. Years ago, there were limited options for those wanting comfort and earthy style. Remember the 90s when birkenstocks were put into high fashion spreads? These shoes emulated the mother earth loving era of the flower children, but let’s face it, they were made of leather. Also, the look didn’t seem complete without patchouli oil and a wave of cousin itt hair.
So what’s an eco-conscious and animal-friendly girl to do in a sea of leather flats, sandals and pumps? Did someone say Crocs? Yes, these foam-like shoes may be comfortable and cute on small children, but grownups? I’ll pass for being mistaken as the gardener or a garden gnome on my morning commute to work.
Finally, along comes Melissa! Melissa who? Melissa is a socially responsible Brazilian company making shoes out of recycled plastics – even from last year’s leftover stock. You must be wondering if they are jelly shoes revisited. Not really, but they do feel and smell yummy like tutti fruitti. These unique shoes are super comfy and come in a wide array of styles. You’re bound to find one to suit your taste. Check them out:
The cherry on top of this sweet news is they’ve created looks with fashion forward designers such as vivienne westwood. My personal favorites are the ultragirl style flats and mary janes:
I’ve had them for 8 months now and still feel like i’m walking on air. Melissa should be crowned the willy wonka of plastic shoes! They’ll be releasing an online shop on their official site in the near future. Until then, you can find them here:
http://www.idontlikemondays.us
Happy responsible shopping!
