Pleasure Notes

While most people associate seat belts with safety while driving, the denizens of Southern California are compelled to turn even something this seemingly mundane into a fashion statement. Yes, I’m talking about the seatbelt bag. And what better way to celebrate the enduring nature of this iconic fashion statement than to open a gleaming storefront on Melrose Avenue, in the middle of an economic crisis. Harveys, the company that started the seatbelt bag craze from a little home in the O.C., has done just that, despite creator Dana Harvey’s promised, just a little over a year ago, not to go Hollywood.

Convertible Tote by Harveys

For the record, I love bags. I’m even a fan of seat belts. But wouldn’t this idea have been so much better if the bags were actually made of recycled seat belts? So, how pleased do you think I was when I discovered Harveys actually offers the Treecycle line of, yep, recycled seatbelt bags? Yippee. I can now officially jump on the bandwagon.

Treecycle Messenger by Harveys

To be honest, the bags are so damn cute, I’d already convinced myself that the company’s use of new seat belts could be the only thing preventing seat belt manufacturers from filing Chapter 11 now that the auto industry is in the toilet. The headline could be: Once Again Hollywood Saves the Day!

Baseman VENISON by Harveys

Alas, no. The creators of the seatbelt bag are not the only industrious souls to find seat belts strangely alluring out of context, or to devise ways of sharing their obsession with the easily-converted masses. Behold.

The hammock you wish you had:

Sling by Ting London

The perfect arm chair, for that perfect person over whom you’re surreptitiously drooling to lounge in, perfectly, while sipping a perfectly shaken Martini:

By Nuttapong Charoenkitivarakorn

The Brangelina version of your grandmother’s backyard bench:

By Peter Danko

The throw pillow you won’t really want to throw, from dead stock and recycled seat belts:

By Ting London

And, oh dear… Okay, so I’m breaking the rules a bit with this last one, but this is absolutely, hands down, the sexiest flooring on the market, made of recycled leather belts, and constitutes one of only three purposes for which to have a belt in your house:

Custom Designed by Ting London

Close enough to seat belts, right? And environmentally friendly. The cows are already long dead.

So, screw Heroes. Seat belts will save the world. What else do you think will?

When was the last time you had a lollipop? Aside from a few months in my malnourished 20s, when all I ate was Sees Butterscotch Lollypops, these little candies-on-a-stick have not had much of a presence in my life since, as a kid, I was given one at the conclusion of every visit to a doctor or dentist – pause a moment to reflect on the brilliance of giving hard candy to children who have just had their teeth cleaned – gotta love the good ole days. A few weeks ago, however, my friend Jen turned me on to this amazing, San Francisco-based company, Lollyphile, which makes homemade lollipops. After getting drunk, at work, off of the Absinthe-flavored sucker, I am a huge fan. Today’s Pleasure Find, however, is dedicated to my friends Jamie and Califmom, as well as anyone else who believes life is simply more pleasurable when bacon is involved. I give you… Maple-Bacon Lollipops!

Maple-Bacon Lollipops

Made with chunks of organic, cured bacon and pure Vermont maple syrup, there is no way these lollipops won’t send your pleasure receptors, not to mention your taste buds, into overdrive.

Made by Lollyphile.com

Go hog wild, people! And let me know what other uses for bacon get you giddy, or at least drooling like a Mastiff.

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted, I am not affiliated with any manufacturer or retailer of products highlighted in Pleasure Finds Friday posts, nor do I receive any compensation for endorsements.

I used to wish madly for a magic pill that would solve all my problems. I used to think that one day I would wake up as an Adult – with a capital “A” – and everything would make sense. I used to think that life came with a very detailed instruction booklet which somehow I’d just misplaced. I’ve grown up a bit since then. Now I believe that my problems are only as big as the room I give them to fill. I believe that adulthood isn’t a proper noun, and very little makes sense. I believe that if there is a very detailed instruction booklet out there, I don’t want to find it. Don’t worry. I’m far from being any sort of Pollyanna. I have my share of challenges and moments of cynicism. I see the world’s burden of conflicts. But I’ve spent enough of my life wanting to escape, preferably into a Happily Ever After with a rockin’ soundtrack. I now choose to embrace the insanity of life on life’s terms. I’m no longer looking for the balloons to carry me away. I’ll just stay here, rooted to the ground, and let go – to watch with pleasure as they float toward the clouds on their own.

By Katie Lee/Flickr

Are you still looking for a fairytale ending?

My current drugs of choice are caffeine and TiVo, but there was a time I walked through the purple haze. Sometimes I wish I could still visit that floating cloud of numbed-out pleasure. Most of the time, however, I strive to free myself of every veil shielding me from the beauty and cruelty of life. Frequently, I feel about as successful as Samantha’s sister in Sixteen Candles. But then I remember what a great high I get from simply basking in the sun (so please, stop raining!) or picking out a new batch of flowers or snort-laughing with a friend. Or kissing a new lover. And I am content once again to trade the haze for a purple bouquet.

Purple Haze

Do you enjoyed an unveiled life or prefer a purple haze?

I am single, frequently happily so. When the right guy comes along, however, I am willing to test the waters. Sometimes it is perfect, at least for a while, and I have a very nice swim before my fingers get all wrinkled, and the boy and I go our separate ways. At other times, I get burned. But today, I fell in love. So what if my new boyfriend is imaginary. And needs a chest and back wax in the worst way. And is blue. I like blue.

Gary by Joshua Beggs

Isn’t he just the cutest thing ever? (Yes, that was me squealing.) He brings me such pleasure, I simply had to share him with you – but not in that way, geesh. Say hi to Gary, folks.

garysreallife.com

Check out his blog. Give thanks to his brilliant creator, Joshua Beggs. But just remember, I have dibs, and will now be visiting The Knot.