back to school/back to work

if you click on me, i get bigger!

I'm feeling a little envious today. It's Jackson's first day of school. As a kid, one of the best things about starting school was the new school supplies. I still love the feel of a college-ruled notebook and the smell of a freshly sharpened No. 2 pencil. So I got to thinking, I don't get to go back to school but maybe it's time for some new office supplies.

calendar :: paper-source.com
This calendar is super cool because on the back of each month there is a printed template to make the heavy weight paper into everything from a file folder to a gift box. Love that!

books :: amazon.com
Back to school always meant a new reading list. These are two that I have been dying to read: The Designful Company by Marty Neumeier and Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath & Dan Heath. Time to hit the books!

pretty file folders :: papersource.com
Can't take those icky manilla numbers. Makes keeping all of the those reports and meeting notes a little less of a chore when you have something pretty to put them in.

sharpie pens :: officemax.com
These are new. They are Sharpie. They rock. Enough said. (Also heard a rumor that they now come in purple and orange).

vintage child’s blackboard :: similar at etsy.com
I detest whiteboards. But I like to keep track of projects on the wall so I can quickly reference what's going on. Also helps me not to forget what I need to do when it's staring me in the face. Love the idea of a little chalk board for all of that necessary info.

stripey tool box :: alicesupply.com
As a designer/art director I use lots of tools and being in a corporate environment I use lots of tools that fellow employees don't understand. Sometimes, they need to be locked away. Plus this is just fun to look at. Good place to hide candy, too.

5 days a week mousepad/notepad :: knockknock.biz
The folks at Knock Knock are comic geniuses which is why it is one of my absolute fave's. I am always making notes on scraps of paper. This could serve as scratch pad and mousepad. Multi-tasking!

bento box lunch box by gastrokid :: plasticashop.com
No more sack lunch for this girl. I think this would make my sandwich taste better, don't you?And, if I put sushi in it, I'd be just like Molly Ringwald's character "Claire" in The Breakfast Club.

Midori D-clips in crocodile :: amazon.com
Forget those boring clips. I like getting my inner-preppy on with these croc-shaped lovelies. Just be careful--if you give a co-worker a stack of papers secured with one of the beauties you might not get it back! Another good item for the toolbox.

Think Different Apple posters :: ebay.com
When I worked in a design firm we had the best art. But the corporate environment can be so sterile and, well, beige. These are inspirational but not too edgy for the office. All of the Think Different posters are amazing, but these are my favorites. I am thinking of framing them together as a tryptich.

locker basket letter trays :: seejanework.com
Those standard issue smoked plastic contraptions must die. Love the vintage vibe of these. Plus you can SEE what's in there.

pencil cup in net with silver pencils :: susyjack
Susy Jack's stuff is amazing. She has such a great aesthetic and she assembles all of her items by hand--everything is eco-friendly.

moleskine notebook :: thedailyplanner.com
New Moleskine necessary for important tasks, to-do lists and perhaps mid-meeting doodling.

Stanley Bostitch deluxe hand held Stapler :: amazon.com
I guess it's a holdover from my days working in a dry cleaner, but I love this hand held stapler--it's small, strong and, best of all, hangs nicely on a pencil cup so you always know where to find it.

it's complicated

can't wait...

accidental purchase

"How do you accidentally buy a pair of shoes?" you ask? My husband will no doubt be posing the same question. If you are me, it all starts on the way back from grabbing a snack you don't need at the deli next door. That's right, I ate candy and bought shoes all as a result of leaving my office. I guess this is why I try not to on most days.

So I am walking back with said candy from said deli and I see this very stylish young woman at the crosswalk. She has on a really cute outfit: black and white houndstooth pencil skirt (looked like lightweight wool) and a pretty white cotton lace blouse with cap sleeves that buttoned up the back. I was standing there thinking to myself that I probably would never have put those two pieces together, since one seemed fallish and the other decidely more casual and for warmer weather. But they really worked together and I was impressed. While waiting for the green man to give me the okay to enter the crosswalk, I stood there daydreaming about what pieces in my wardrobe fit these categories that I should try together when I got home.

Then it happened. I looked down. And there they were. The cutest shoes in that subtle dove gray I've been pining after for a while now.

I followed her into my building, then into the elevator trying to note each detail so that I could google (yes, a verb) them as soon as I returned to my desk. Within minutes I discovered that they are Steve Madden and that every retail outlet I could think of was sold out. I did, however, find a vendor on eBay selling a new pair in a 7.5 (my size, sometimes). This is where the accidental part comes in.

See, this vendor was selling the shoes, not listing them in an auction. Two buttons stood next to the picture: "buy now" and "make and offer". This seemed cool--I could suggest a price. Never encountered this on eBay before. The shoes were listed for $69 which seemed like a fair price. I checked to make sure I could return them if they didn't fit. I decided to click the "make an offer" button. I thought, "How about $49?" then I read the note that suggested I make an offer that seemed "fair" to both the seller and me. I softened and entered $59 and hit enter. The screen immediately lit up congratulating me on my purchase, my offer was accepted and I was now the proud owner of these shoes that may or may not fit. Lucky me. I naively thought the seller would have to think about it and get back to me or something. It never occurred to me that the seller could set an authomatic threshold. Silly me.

Actually, I am happy about it. If they don't fit, I can return them. They are really cute, even if I don't need them and am having a hard time thinking of something I have that I can wear with them. But I am sure it will work out in the end.

The moral of this story? Go to the vending machine in the basement when you need sugar. And next time, lo-ball those offers.

weekending

still thinking about the weekend...and dreaming of something like these for my very own.

1 via design*sponge
2 + 3 via it's mary ruffle

this makes me happy

More here.

gorgeous grace

If only this painting came as a print (of course, I would love the orginal oil with its "furry" textures). I need it for my dining room. See more of Linda St. Clair's work here.

Photo from House Beautiful.