myBKR.com

I’m in love, love, LOVE with a new water bottle. Is that insane? Is my passion misplaced? I think not!

I cancelled my Arrowhead delivery over a year ago. I’ve been using environmentally friendly, non-plastic water bottles for a while. I finally got a refrigerator with a freezer compartment so I can make ice – ah, the joys of ice, particularly in the midst of our almost-perpetual HEAT WAVE! However, a few things recently conspired to compel me to hunt for something more, something BETTER.

1. I got the diagnosis. I’ve learned that hydration is very important when trying to regulate sugars.
2. I read Crazy, Sexy Diet. I’ve been inspired to increase the amount of veggies in my food regime.
3. I found my blender. I’ve tried my hand at JUICING my veggies and – oh holy hell – I LIKE it!

So, I now know how to make green juices. Green juices and metal containers do not combine well. I never have time to drink my green juices while leisurely reading the Sunday funnies (do they even have those any more?) on my (nonexistent) patio.

What I need is a portable, compact, cute bottle made out of GLASS.

A friend of mine has a childhood friend who just started a company that makes exactly what I need.

DON’T YOU LOVE WHEN KARMA COOPERATES WITH DESIRE?

And now I have a crush. (And neither of them know about it… yet.)

Seriously, people, I love the design of these bottles, I love the look of the website and I particularly love Tal and Kate’s philosophy and philanthropy. Hell, even the names of the bottle colors makes me giddy. It reminds me of when I first saw Apple products. In fact, one could argue the aesthetic is the same. I purchased “pool.” Doesn’t that just make you feel the splash?

What do you think?

It was suspended from the table. LIKE MAGIC.

HOW? HOW? HOW?

The purse was hooked onto a stunning little contraption that grabbed my fancy with the strength of a PIT BULL.

Purchase #1: Leilani

It’s called a luxe link. My poor neighboring volunteer gladly gave me the name of the product, once she’d deciphered my squeal of delight and blocked my attempts to accost her for information. Of course, I visited the company’s online shop as soon as possible.

“Why?” you may ask. “It’s just a hook…”

And I would have to look at you sadly and pity your incomprehension.

You see, I love my purses. I carry my life in them – scripts and cameras and glasses and addresses and money and make-up and sometimes even food.  But I do not treat them well. And I am forever looking for a place to put them, other than beneath my feet, when I am out and about.

I stress out if I hang my purse on my chair.

It is frequently so heavy that the chair falls over as soon as I stand up…

Or it maims people as they try to weave past…

Or it taunts the gazillion pick-pocketing thieves staking out my position and intent upon stealing the whopping 5 bucks I’ve got squirreled away.

These little luxe link thingamajigs could solve my problems. Plus, THEY ARE SO PRETTY!

Purchase #2: Tiffany

I purchased two (out of far too many choices) – one to keep in each of my primary bags so that even when I forget my drivers license and keys upon switching looks I WILL NOT BE WITHOUT A HOOK!

What do you think – necessary, extravagant or necessary extravagance? And which design is your favorite?

Why?

I guess I’m not quite as ready for change as I thought. Or perhaps, more accurately, I do not have the funds or css/html knowledge to create my vision in a new template with any greater satisfaction than that I find with the original.

And change simply for the sake of change is not my objective.

After countless hours – truly a ridiculously alarming number too large to share – of scrolling through the hundreds of free themes out there, I selected a couple that I thought might maintain elements of my original design while also lightening things up a bit to reflect the shift I’m trying to make in my life.

I tweaked the first option as best I could, but there were a few elements – the yellow highlighting and the chartreuse floral – that I truly despised, and which seemed to be locked in to the theme.

First New Look

Then, a trusted friend and loyal reader informed me that the theme showed up broken in her browser. There was no question, then, that it must be rejected forthwith.

Yes, I said FORTHWITH. I watched Lost In Austen last night on Netflix – feeling very anglophile today.

On to the second option.

Second New Look

I tweaked this one as well, also within the limitations of my html knowledge and patience. It was fine. Very readable.

But SO FUCKING BORING!

It just felt plain, plain, PLAIN. The simplicity of it seemed devoid of character.

For me.

I know a blog is about the words. But I’m never just about the words. I want to enfold you in an experience. I want this to be place you can sink into or dance through, depending on your mood and mine, but mostly I want you to FEEL and THINK and BE.

And I didn’t feel anything when I looked at that design. I felt entirely objective and ambivalent, like when I glance at the LA Times while in line for my egg sandwich at Starbucks. I wasn’t curious. I wasn’t invested. I wasn’t drawn in and made to feel present.

Now, I realize that you may feel none of these things anyway when you visit Pleasure Notes. But I do. And, after this little experiment, I’ve realized I don’t need to change the dressing on Pleasure Notes any more than I need a boob job or liposuction to reflect better self-esteem. Not that I’m equating the significance of a change in blog design with that of plastic surgery, but I’m hoping you get the picture. So for the time being, I’m opting out of change.

At least change of the cosmetic sort.

My original Pleasure Notes template:

Original Look

New Look, Option One:

First New Look

And New Look, Option Two is what you are reading at the moment:

Second New Look

No promises regarding which of the three directions I’m going, but I’d really love your feedback – which is your favorite and why, pros and cons, etc.

Thanks a ton, my lovely readers! Hope you’re having a delightful weekend…

xo

Ahhhh, CHOICES!

From Threadless.com

OMG! Isn’t it the cutest thing ever? I mean, really, who wouldn’t be over the moon for this design by Budi Satria Kwan? I admit I’m extremely partial to the moon, and I’ve always thought cows get a bum rap, but really, doesn’t this Fail t-shirt just make you immediately think of milk and cookies? And what could be better than that, FROM A T-SHIRT no less?

by Budi Satria Kwan/threadless.com

Well, the stuck cow might not agree. I kinda feel sorry for him, don’t you? He looks like a “Bob.” Hope you find your way down, Bob. I’m rooting for you!

by Ross Zietz/threadless.com

I become even more impassioned about endangered species than cows, however. Surprising, I know. Which is why I adore Ross Zietz’ Pandamonium. Quite a profound little statement he’s captured with his design, don’t you think? It gets me all riled up, I tell you! And the panda is so damn cute!

by Lucas de Alcantara/threadless.com

Laughter is the best salve when my emotions get hot. I don’t think you even have to be a Star Wars fan to get a chuckle from Lucas de Alcantara’s clever creation. If only we all could be so transformed with a simple New Hairstyle.

by T.J. Zhang/threadless.com

Bangs may not bring about world peace, but flowers put a smile on almost anyone’s face, even the ones in those little tanks who are bent on hurting that poor panda above. You, my lovely readers, are already familiar with how much I love blooming things, so just image how giddy I was to discover T.J. Zhang’s Blooming tee. It about sent me over the moon all over again!

I swear, if Bambi’s mom had gotten a prom picture, this would have been it!

To be fair, I’ve just pointed out my favorite designs. There are plenty of other graphics on the site that might float your boat with more bounce, so go explore (if you are so inclined). The thing I like best about this company is that it is community-based, meaning the Threadless.com membership/readership creates all the graphics, and design decisions are based on community feedback.

Like a big ole Love-In commune for cool t-shirts.

Do you have a favorite t-shirt graphic, from anywhere? Do tell!