misosouper, a shopping blog

I found this wicker dog basket for a friend from Chicago that was on the hunt for a bicycle seat for her pup.  I’d buy it for myself, but my dog would tip the front of my bike over, and my cat would look like popcorn pinging around in a hopper (check out this pic to see exactly what I mean).  So:  if you buy this, please send me a photo of you and your pooch at anna {at} misosouper.com, so we can all ogle your adorableness.

*Yes, I know it’s out of stock, but if you read the user reviews, it seems to be perpetually backordered.  Put your name on the list, and they’ll ship after the baskets are out of production.

Speaking of gravity:  it has come to my attention–in the form of my mother grabbing my flip-flopped foot and saying, “won’t it be sad when you fall over on that baby?”–that heavily pregnant women should be wearing some form of arch support.  You know, for the inevitable wobbling and imbalancing and falling that plagues us third trimesterians.

This sucks.  Apparently, I have crossed over to the yoga pant/sneaker phase of pregnancy.

Thankfully, Puma–whose shoes I have idolized since I got over KangaROOS in 3rd grade–hooked my feet up with a pair of their new Cell Voltra sneaks.

Against my inner hipster, whose voice wailed about wearing tunics, skinny jeans, and ankle boots to the end, I put the shoes on, knowing full well that until the bitter end, they weren’t coming off.

They’re silver, thin and sleek, with bubble inserts that make my feet literally bounce as I walk.  In my non-scientific road test–which meant walking kid #1 around the block on her trike–I felt buoyant, faster, actually capable of running from lizards or hailstorms or other perils of the suburban wilderness.

If you are an already fast, already buoyant, already capable athlete looking for a new pair of sneaks, you’ll appreciate their Puma pretty.  For me, for now, their transformative power is more than enough.

We saw many of these upside-down clay planters in Low Country, and their defiant reversal of gravity made me unreasonably happy.

Granted, what’s local for me probably isn’t local for you; but the Orlando-area shop Luxe & Liberty is deserving of your attention, even if you have to order online instead of popping in to pick out a few choice gifts.  Organized around goods made in America, L&L stocks lines both little and big, from neighborhood artisans to well-known names like Calphalon, Amenity Home, and Pangea Organics.  (See?  I told you they were good.)

Here are my picks:

1.  Skinny Fish Artisan Stationary–produced in small batches by artist Shawn Laughlin; 2.  Leather Photo Album, in prismatic colors; 3.  Kalender Platter, trimmed in platinum and gold; 4.  Herb Bowl with Mezzaluna Chopper–one of those tools you didn’t even know you needed; 5.  Endangered Parrots of the World Chess Set–prohibitively expensive, outrageously fun; 6.  Crocus Rocks Glasses with 22K Accents–hello, hostess; 7.  Chiller Pitcher with Lid–a closed carafe that will keep al fresco flies out; 8.  Chick Chair; 9.  Balustrade Napkins–round and round the table they go; 10.  Aptos Collection Pebble Pendant; 11.  Amber Dard Hunter Rose Thermometer & Clock–outdoor temperature gauges are so underrated; 12.  Teco Art Pottery Orb Vase–lovely lines, from an exactingly reproduced historical collection.

Hurry!  Go!  Misosouper readers can enter LUXE09 at checkout to receive 20% off their first purchase.

I’m all for gadgets that make poolside drinking easier.  This cooler/table ensures no more dripping trips to the indoor fridge.