Fish out of water

An incredibly kind, generous friend who must be completely unaware of my commitment issues recently gifted me with a fish. Mr. Limpet has incredible blue and red markings but his fishbowl was not doing him justice. I immediately set to finding him a home that was a little more stylish. There isn't a lot out there. the exception is The 1984 Fishbowl, by Danny Cheung. A modern twist on the age old glass fish bowl. It's quirky shape is eye catching, the windows are made of magnified glass providing a detailed look at your goldfish, while the opaque walls provide refuge. Life inside a goldfish bowl can't be a lot of fun without a little privacy! The fishbowl was inspired by and takes its name from the novel 1984 by George Orwell. I'm not sure of the lifespan of a goldfish but at $469 The 1984 Fishbowl is quite a commitment. Hopefully Mr. Limpet comes from sturdy stock.

X-tremely Versatile - The X-bench!

The classic x-bench whether full upholstered or with wood, chrome or gilt legs is an extremely versatile piece. Perfect in the living room, den, bedroom, hallway or even the kitchen. I love 2 x-benches at the foot of the bed, in liue of a coffee table or tucked under a console. A single x-bench doubles as a side table or ottoman. I love the architectural details and an x-bench is a great way to introduce a bright color or wild pattern in a room in a subtle way. Faux crocodile, zebra, velvet, stripes, tufted or with nail heads, the possibilities are limited to your imagination!

Girl Scout cookie season is upon us...

It's official, girl scout cookies season is upon us! I was out shopping this morning and out in front of my neighborhood market a troop had set up shop. Girl Scout cookies are sold by the Girl Scouts of the USA as part of their yearly fundraiser to support local scout units. Girls have been shilling cookies since 1917 and today, sales are estimated to be over 200 million boxes per year. That's a lot of thin mints!!! At $4 a box they're competitive with the average grocery store boxed cookie and, come one, it's a great cause. Not buying an anual box or two of Girl Scout cookies is un American, bad juju and just plain mean. I was a Girl Scout for a hot second back in 1977. I switched to the Indian Maidens however because their costumes were way cooler. What can I say, we here at Curious Orange have always been a sucker for fringe and feathers...

Straight Lines are Boring!

The Chevron pattern is a bold pattern that makes a really strong impact on a room. It's essentially a series of connected V's pointing either up or down. It's a little bit undulating a little bit wavy but with more of an edge. Chevron feels organic like a zebra print but more graphic and punchy. You can make a bold statement with a chevron rug (West Elm makes a great fairly inexpensive one) or you could even stencil and paint the chevron right on the floor!  I love chevron curtains but smaller accessories like jars and pillows are great for adding a dash of modern graphics to a room.

Everything's coming up turquoise!

Pantone, which tracks colors in the fashion and home decor industries, has named turquoise the color of 2010. Pantone's executive director said it was the obvious choice because it's soothing and makes people think of being on vacation, which we all need after the tough year of 2009. Hmmmm. I prefer last year's mimosa which is also soothing and reminds people of brunch which is relaxing and far cheaper than a holiday.

I'm not crazy for turquoise used as an accent color in decor. If I see one more turquoise vase, pillow or throw I just might scream. It feels a little tired. It actually feels so tired I can barely keep my eyes open as I type this sentence. I do, however, think turquoise can be interesting when used as a neutral. Because it has both warm and cool undertones, it pairs well with any other color in the spectrum and can look elegant or casual. I like the idea of turquoise walls or wallpaper and even better, a turquoise sofa.

My Favorite Things - The Sick Bed Addition

I've been stuck in bed with a cold for the past two days doing my best Camille impression but decided to pause mid swoon to post a few of Curious Orange's sick bed must haves...

Smith's Rosebud Salve - This cult-favorite, multi-purpose lip balm has been popular for over 100 years. Rosebud salve is a miracle worker in the aid relief of chapped and dry skin. Rosebud Salve is also a terrific lip moisturizer and natural looking lip gloss. It moisturizes dry lips, calms and heals irritation, and soothes the sting of minor burns. You should also try dabbing it on dry elbows or knees to condition, and relieve dryness. Also an excellent remedy dry irritated noses . The longer I lie in bed, the more uses I come up with! http://www.sephora.com/

Moleskine is the legendary notebook that has held the inspirations and ideas of everyone from Van Gogh and Picasso to Hemingway and yours truly. Artists, authors, and geniuses of all variety have long appreciated the simplicity and superior functionality of these notebooks. Moleskine notebooks open flat and are great for writing down the brilliant thoughts one has while laying around in bed all day. http://www.moleskines.com/

Bassett & Co licorice allsorts are my favorite sick bed treat. The licorice is medicinal. Sort of. Available at Bristol Farms and Cost Plus World Markets.

Bed Head Pajamas are hands down my favorite pj's and their flannel in particular is the softest, warmest, most comfortable brand I've found. The best part, they only get better with age. http://www.bedheadjps.com/

Hankeez™ brand tissue are made from 100% sustainable natural resources. They're environmentally responsible tissues and the boxes come in amazing prints like leopard, zebra, faux leather and stylized florals. They provide soothing comfort to your sensitive skin and are not hideous like most boxes of tissues. www.hankeez.net

My Style Icon #2 Edie Sedgwick

For an all too brief space of time Edie Sedgwick was the bright light of Andy Warhol's world of self proclaimed superstars. Beautiful, wealthy and emotionally troubled, her life of glamour and excess rapidly spiraled into debt, drug abuse and a tragic early death.  Edie dazzled everyone with her beauty, style, glamour and wealth. She was an "it girl" with a penchant for chandelier earrings, tights and eyeliner. She was part of the "Youthquake'' movement and a style trendsetter who made fashion statements simply by waking up in the morning and throwing on a stripped t-shirt over a leotard.

"She was the girl on fire with the silver hair close to her head, the eyes, the Viceroy in her fingers, the sleeves rolled up, those legs, yoicks! ... All you saw was her,'' the poet Rene Ricard, recalls, in Edie: American Girl George Plimpton's bio on Ms. Sedgwick. It is one of my all time favorite books and a must for fans of the poor little rich girl genre. Seriously, I own like 5 copies.