Pleasure Notes

I abhor hunting, unless it is for one’s socks or keys. I don’t think there’s any reason to carry a gun unless you are in a war zone or the Yukon. And there is a very special little place in my heart for Bambi. So there is no logical reason for me to be so giddy over this week’s Pleasure Find. But who could possibly refrain from squealing with glee upon seeing this deer head wall ornament?

Deer Head Wall Ornament

It is available in black, white and silver from iloveuma.com. It adheres to almost any wall, window, or mirror – though clearly a wall is the obvious choice location. And when you upgrade from that cramped apartment to that gorgeous dream house, this can come with you and be readhered above the fireplace.

Hunting Season 2.0

The only question left is – What to name him? George?

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.

The powers that be are scratching their collective heads, trying to figure out how to stop the current economic free-fall without pissing off the fat cats too much or letting the boys in the hood get too hungry. While the new Obama administration in Washington attempts to gain the trust of Wall Street and retain the trust of Main Street, those out in the street are simply stressed out. So I propose a quick-fix stress relief. Get yourself a coin bank! Here’s a way to keep cash close to home and bring back that childhood pleasure of dropping pennies into a slot, shaking your bank, hearing the clink of money and feeling the weight of your wealth in your hands. Now, I don’t encourage transferring your entire retirement portfolio into any of these coin banks, but I guarantee that at least one or two of them will bring a smile to your face.

Most Sleek Coin Bank: When not being mistaken for a drawer handle, it serves as a simply, sexy coin receptacle. Also works as a murder weapon, I imagine.

Sansone Coin Bank by Danetti

Most Baby Shower-Ready Coin Bank: Perfect for both boys and girls, this gift will gain you points with the freaked-out parents-to-be who just realized exactly how much college tuition will cost in 2027.

Duck Coin Bank by Reed & Barton

Most Mod Coin Bank: Minimalist and hot. Pairs well with the Most Bond-esque Bathtub. Must be broken to retrieve money.

Money Box by Kensaku Oshiro

Most Hipster-ific Coin Bank: Both cute and terrifying, it can easily pass as simple sculpture made by your slightly-disturbed next door neighbor.

Untidy Work Robo Bank by idstudio/Etsy.com

Most Labor-Intensive Coin Bank: It’s a fair-trade item, but whoever made it likely makes less in a month than we take home in a day, so just appreciate it, okay?

Beaded Pink Piggybank at wow-imports.com

Most Blinged-Out Coin Bank: For anyone who just refuses to see the Bedazzled Era die.

Crystal Piggy Bank by Team Sugar

Most Trauma-Inducing Coin Bank: Fugly is cool, right? And everyone likes secret hiding places. No one would ever guess this zombie doll holds your fortune.

Zombie Doll by Fuzzyfreaks/Etsy.com

Most Geek-Friendly Coin Bank: Does not require that you be a regular at Giant Robot or the equivalent, but this bank does eat your money, which makes it very hard for even the most jaded to not geek out just a little.

Gobbleit Bank at Firebox.com

Most Artsy-Fartsy Coin Bank: Pottery-making, hemp-clothed, bare-footed gypsies will befriend this whale, and quickly forget it also holds the cash to fund their next peyote trip.

Whale Bank by Moneybanks.co.uk

Most Kitschy Coin Bank: A kukaburo! In a gum tree! Equally at home in a Philippe Stark-decorated loft or your granny’s boudoir.

Kukaburo Money Box by Maxim Velcovsky

Most Emotive Coin Bank: Hey, you can’t blame the piggy for being as shocked as the rest of us at the state of things.

Pig Bank by Wildmud/Etsy.com

See. Wasn’t that more pleasurable than watching the Dow do its daily dance?

Much has been made of the rose. Poets and musicians invoke it when addressing love, beauty or life. Why, I wonder? After all, there are many more exotic flowers, many more hearty, many more fragile. But, hell, if Shakespeare and Byron got traction out of the rose, what can we expect from Seal, Bette or Outkast? The rose is traditional. It is safe.

White Roses

Stop and really look a moment – two white roses in a red vase. Simple. Follow their design, though, the way the petals fold and fall… And you are reminded that the rose is anything but simple. Like love, beauty and life.

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. If you are single and not dating anyone, you may dread this holiday because it is exclusionary. If you are single and dating, but not in love, you may dread this holiday because it encourages us to make promises we may not want to keep. If you are in a committed relationship, you may dread this holiday because we, as a society, have a universal expectation of heightened romance that we, as individuals, may not be able to meet. I simply suggest taking a step back, remembering that love is not dictated by a single day, nor is it defined by a single type of relationship. It is about connecting, sharing, communicating, feeling, hoping, and remembering. So, with that in mind, this week’s Pleasure Find is sure to please any girl, regardless of her status, and can be given by any boy (or girl), regardless of his (or her) intent.

Forget Me Not

This Forget Me Not ring, designed by Kiel Mead, is based on the mold of a single string and is available in both sterling silver and 14K gold. I am actually thinking about getting one for myself. After all, self-love is most important. Without it, no other true and healthy love is possible.

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.

A few years ago, while traveling through Indonesia, I was fortunate enough to stay for a stint with a distant cousin. His house was filled with bouquets of freshly cut orchids. Those bouquets were gathered and tended to by a house staff provided to him by the MNC for which he worked. I do not have a house staff. I am not a flora connoisseur. I do, however, make a point of always having fresh cut flowers in my house. They unfailingly bring me pleasure.

Winter White Flowers

Luckily, I live in Southern California, where flowers are relatively cheap and abundant. Not everyone is so fortunate, however, so I’ve decided to share with you my bouquet choice each week. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to scrounge up some spare change, or head for the fields, and pick up a Pleasure Bouquet of your own.