There’s something so warm and fuzzy about diners. They’re full of nice waitresses that seem like your aunt or grandma, everything on the menu is calorie-filled and covered in maple syrup, the decor is cheese-central and you can stay there hidden for hours. Orla Kiely has just released her Fall 2007 line of diner-inspired clothing and accessories, which personifies all those warm fuzzies.

Her collection is full of Fall-friendly tones, chunky knits, her usual graphic prints and fun patterns that pick up on the diner theme. Our favorite pieces are her coffee mug-laden accessories and graphic tabletop patterned dresses.

Eat them up at www.orlakiely.com or at Retail Laboratory in the Biltmore Fashion Park.

It’s getting more and more difficult to pinch those pennies. Outrageously fun igadgets pop up each week, a girl can’t buy a hot dress for under $400 anymore, and even gas provides wear and tear on the wallet.

This Harry Allen Piggybank is big enough to hold $10,000, the gentlemen at Haus modern living store claimed. Why, you ask? Oh, because it’s cast from an actual pig. It’s a part of Harry Allen’s “Reality” line, a collection of items cast in chrome, silicone, sterling silver and resin. Regular items are taken, like a pig (that died of natural causes, mind you) and are cast to create different things entirely. Like banks.

We also like the silicone keychains made of old italian church keys and the beautiful $500 silver forks and knives cast from take-out silverwear.

But it’ll take a piggy full of cash before those happen.

Distributed at Haus in Scottsdale, or visit www.areaware.com

If you’ve ever found yourself daydreaming about Jack Black and John Cusak’s lives in High Fidelity, then you’ll LOVE Stinkweeds, located on the NW corner of Central and Camelback in Phoenix.

A tiny record store currently located in the middle of a construction zone, Stinkweeds offers independent-music central. Shoppers can find a wide variety of new and used records and CDs including indie-rock, electonica, jazz, blues, alt-country, experimental and reggae. The outdoor stage hosts sporatic performances where guests can listen to off-the-beaten-path tuneage.

When buying a very awesome album called “Cookies” by the 1990’s, the nice guy at the counter started digging around and resurfaced with a 1/2 off used copy, in case we wanted a better deal. That doesn’t happen at Best Buy.

www.stinkweeds.com.

It seems like whenever we decide our fun new flats are the perfect completion to that chic work outfit, everyone in the office towers over us in killer stillettos, making us regret our decision to choose 3rd grade footwear over sexy stems.

But these superfun Marc Jacobs flats are so hardcore childish, it pushes the heel rule into a whole other dimension- a dimension where we live in a giant jungle gym of flat-wearers and hot women in stillettos don’t matter. Made of ponyhair with leather appliques and a beaded face, these shoes are adorably smile-inducing and chic. So much, in fact, we’re betting it’ll spark a flat revolution in offices across to nation.

www.eluxury.com

 

Angry people deal with frustrations toward others in one of three ways:
1. By addressing annoying things as they occur in a sensible way
2. By holding it in until it has to be brought up
3. By leaving nasty, passive-aggressive notes on the fridge or counter while acting completely normal to your face.

We’ve all dealt with those notes at one time or another.

Our new favorite blog compiles pictures of the country’s most horrible and obnoxious passive-aggressive notes, from office-wide notices about kitchen tidiness to roommate-written letters regarding the placement of some hideous placemats, to landlords asking (for the thousandth time) about rent. They show a photo of the angry note, words from whoever sent it in and room for readers to comment on the utter stupidity of some people.

So the next time your roommate is acting totally normal to your face but telling you daily to “clean up the effing bathroom” on strategically placed post-its, send it on over to www.passiveaggressivenotes.com.

You heard right.  American Gladiators is back.  Word on the street is the greased-up men and permed she-males are coming out of hiding for an amped-up, 21st century version of the 1989 original series.

Nitro, Turbo, Ice, Laser,  Blaze, Diamond, Gold, Thunder, Lace and the rest of the muscle-headed crew probably won’t return, but a whole new slew of beefy bodybuilders will be joining NBC this year for at least six new episodes.  No news on challenge or show updates yet, but NBC’s website states that they are currently casting for the series.

The original show, which aired from 1989-1996, was based on gladiator-style battles including the wall, joust, and unforgettable “eliminator”.  We’re sure the new version will be even more ridiculous. If you’re huge, buff and cheesy, follow the below link for casting info.

www.nbc.com/casting

Dogs may slobber, chew on your PS3 game cases, eat paint chips and go on the rug, but they’re actually smarter than most people think they are. A recent series of studies showed that dogs know about as many words as 14-month old children and when taught a simple task were able to learn as fast as the toddlers. That’s right. Your basset hound Sally is about as smart as your son.

So why are you making her sleep in a crate? Feeding her generic food? You should be ashamed.

Make it up to her with a “Surprise-a-Pet” gift membership. Sign up for one, four or six-time annual memberships, and that lovable mutt of yours will receive a fun present at intervals throughout the year. Choose from many themes and styles for your dog- shower them with a “Spa Dog” gift (pet cologne, a rubber ducky, and paw balm), the “Just Be-Paws” kit (a dog toy, dog donuts and a clay thing for you to smash her baby paws into) or one of many other choices. Send to yourself or a friend’s dog (or cat) for birthdays, Christmas, or no reason at all.

If your dog is really as smart as these studies show she is, she’ll probably really appreciate it.
www.surpriseapet.com

Tea is something many people associate with 98-year old grandmas in stuffy hotel rooms wearing stale Chanel. Souvia, a tea room and store that carries 120+ types of tea, brings new light to a traditional bev by offering innovative flavors, special courses and a relaxed setting.

A contemporary-designed tea room with as many options as most wine bars, Souvia offers tea ranging from $3 to $300 per half-pound, including the very rare kinds that grow on the surface of rocks. We are in love with the “Black Forest Temptation,” a blend of Sencha and Mate teas with shredded coconut, cherry seasoning and rose petals. Other blends include almond brittle, chocolate chips and caramel.

Souvia also offers special classes, seminars and tastings for those of us completely oblivious to the world of tea. Customers can take “Tea 101″, “Tea and Origami”, and “Tea and Food Pairings” from knowledgable and passionate instructors. Don’t worry in you don’t live near one of Souvia’s two Scottsdale locations. They offer a crazy amount of info and online shopping on their website, www.souvia.com.

But don’t be scared to come in! While these rare leaves may call for special occasions, we know this is one place where those pink tweed suits and white gloves just aren’t necessary.

Nobody likes waking up at 3 a.m. to go to the bathroom. It doesn’t help that the seat is an icy 45 degrees. Well kiss that cold butt goodbye. Believe it or not, you can also get rid of toilet paper, air fresheners and flushing.

The Japanese have been into high-tech toilets for decades. Toto Ltd., based in Kitakyushu Japan, has released the multi-function Washlet series in the US, abolishing every toilet bummer you can think of. Practically cars, they come in the S400, S300, E200 and C100 models.

The nicest model, a fully-equipped automated seat cover, features an integrated bidet.  It offers front/rear cleanse, pulsating fountains, soft cleanse and oscillating settings, as well as an aimable stream for your gentle cleansing spray. It also dries your nether regions with an adjustable shot of warm air. A heated seat, which can be adjusted between 79 and 97 degrees keeps your bum comfy, and the neutralizing air purifier makes for an even more enjoyable experience. Leaving the toilet is just as pleasant- autoflush does the work for you and the innovative softclose seat eliminates seatslam, ensuring a silent exit every time.

Did we mention it’s all controlled by a wireless remote? Talk about the ultimate in luxury. For your can.

www.cleanishappy.com

  

The inevitable race that occurs when you decide to split crème brulee with your girlfriends at dinner. Lunging toward the silver slingbacks in a size 7.5 that you and your sister are both eyeing at Neiman. That crazy spell that washes over you when you’re tearing open presents on your birthday. We all have our greedy moments. Now there’s a scent that celebrates it.

Sarah Jessica Parker’s Covet, the fragrance that “throws ration and reason out the window,� embodies the glory that goes along with wanting something bad enough to lie, cheat and steal to get it. Just look at their ads, which picture SJP hanging out with her diamond-encrusted perfume bottle in a jail cell.

Coty Prestige describes it as a “hypnotic bouquet of crushed geranium leaves, fresh sicilian lemon and french lavender laced with decadent chocolate, magnolia and honeysuckle.� They also mentioned that “sensuous musk, exotic woods, and smoldering amber leave an intoxicating afterglow.� Yikes. We might want to all stay away from this stuff. If it makes us obsessive and prone to stealing as they say it will, we could end up in prison with felonies.

www.sarahjessicaparkerbeauty.com