misosouper, a shopping blog

Today at Urban Outfitters, I bought two more pairs of these shoes.  (Yes, they were featured in Lucky this month, but I had them first!  Dibs!  I’m an original style spotter!)  You should buy them too.  The low heel is perfect for running around after two kids; the round toe is perfect for looking pulled-together Parisian.

But this post is not about shoes.  It’s about the extra $4 I needed to spend to get 20% off the shoes.  (In case you’re wondering, enter GIFTED as your coupon code, then FREEBIRD for free shipping.)

Because it’s the holidays, and I really should be buying things for others, I ended up choosing three gifts for three very different kids.  For $34.95 (before 20% off, natch), here’s what I bought:

1.  Polaroid Notes, for our babysitter by day, artiste by night; 2.  WTF Snowglobe, for my defeatist 17-year-old cousin; 3.  Ouija Board Keychain, for his superstitious 13-year-old sister.

Inspired by American pop culture, Josh Jakus 6-Pack Coasters are a nod to the conventional soda can 6-pack. The coasters are a fun and modern design made of recycled rubber. There are six coasters in a set and you can place them back into their rings for storage. The black coasters are made 100% of recycled tires and the colored rubber is 30% post-industrial waste. The functional design of the coasters are part of Josh Jakus‘ vision to create simple, elegant and whimsical every day objects. The California-based designer’s home accessories are not only aesthetically pleasing, but sustainably produced as well. Jakus aims to use recycled or excess materials in his products when possible and using production methods, which achieve the highest yield. The products are made in the USA in small batches to meet consumer demand.

Getting engaged on Christmas is a cliche on par with garters, ice sculptures, and that twirled-arm-drinking-a-toast-thing.

In other words, DON”T DO IT, people.

How about getting engaged on Thanksgiving instead?  The sentiment is certainly there; instead of shoehorning a ring on her finger as the obligatory holiday gift, you’ll demonstrate how thankful you are that she’s in your life.

This ring, with its twig motif and lovely rose cut diamond, is appropriately fall-themed.

You have one day to make it happen.

So you’re not going to spring for the $1000 wine dispenser, eh?

Typical.

Let me show you something that will make your wine taste (almost) as good, for 3% of the cost:   the Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator.

Just hold this little gadget over your wine glass, and pour; the good stuff will taste great, and the cheap stuff (what up, Yellowtail!) will taste good.

$6 bottle of wine, you just got an upgrade.  You taste like $10, at least.

My lovely neighbor, with whom we carouse quite often, only drinks white.

I only drink red.

At the end of the night, some of both bottles remain.

What’s a subdivision to do?

Before I mention the solution, let me mention the price.  At $1000, I’m not necessarily suggesting you run out to buy this for your favorite oenophile.  But the Skybar WP1000–with its space-age ability to simultaneously store, chill, pour, and preserve three bottles of wine–is definitely fruit for fantasy.

I suggest you split the cost with your neighbor.