Frivolity

This time of year, my kids spend a little time each day with their noses in the toy catalogs. I put most of them straight into recycling, but they're on to me, and they know we're getting at least one or two new catalogs each day. It's ridiculous how much mail these companies ship out! It's ridiculous what silly toys my children flag and add to their Christmas lists. There are things I know they'd play with once and be bored by, or things their siblings already have, or things THEY already have (Another magic set, Ruth, really? You've learned three of the dozen tricks in the one you got last year.). Part of me wants to shut it down, but mostly I get it. I've been the kid, dog-earring the pages of the Sears' Big Book, and as an adult I'm not immune to the lure of the shiny, pretty pages of THINGS. Most of the non-toy catalogs also go into the recycling right away, but I have my soft spots. Uncommon Goods, CB2, and lots more. Heck, I love to page through some of the kids' catalogs as well. Land of Nod is so much fun.

With an appropriate appreciation for how totally unnecessary any of these things are in my life, I felt like sharing some of things that have caught my eye lately. Things that I would scoop up in a second if they were free, but will most likely never spend the money on, since they will forever be nudged down the priority list by someone's high water snow pants needing replaced, or the braces we're arranging to pay for over two years. Like the kids, though, I can find fun in dreaming. I figured I might as well share.*

- Throw Pillows.

I have a great love of and longing for throw pillows these days, but I feel like few things are less of a need and more of a want. They're hardly even useful. I can already hear myself telling the kids, "Don't lie down on THAT pillow. I can't wash it!"

These Target ones are simple and lovely and actually coordinate pretty closely with my living room. Heck they're even on sale. {sigh}

  

More expensive and less mainstream, I'm in love with the state bird and flower hand made pillows from Uncommon Goods.

If you check out the "Birds and Blooms Map Art" you can get a feel for what each state's image would be. I would love to get Kansas and Nebraska for our living room. I think it's perfect that they have the same bird, but different yellow-toned flowers. I might also like to get Indiana and Colorado, to complete our "places that have defined our lives" pillow theme, but mostly the two home states.

The biggest problem with throw pillows is that I don't just want one. If I did, I'd get one of the sale ones from Target and call it done. I want a whole bunch that coordinate without looking "coordinated", and that I can swap out seasonally, and suddenly it's not a $20 project but $200+. I really need new slipcovers for the sofa before there's any point in new throw pillows (or whole new sofas, but that's definitely not in the works for a while).

- Serving ware.

You guys probably know by now that I have a problem. It's an addiction to hosting parties, small and large, and to collecting fun serving pieces to make it possible. Okay, it would be a problem, if I actually indulged myself. As it is, I keep a constant running mental list of all the things I want to buy someday when I win the lottery.

A mason jar drink dispenser has been on that list for years, most recently this offering from Bed, Bath and Beyond:

It's almost comical how inexpensive it is ($25, less the constant barrage of $5 off coupons that come in the mail), and that I still haven't bought it despite how frequently I could have used it. It just never rises high enough on the priority list. Of course, Pottery Barn has the gold standard of this item, but this one is the closest imitation I've seen, for less than half the price.

Also, tea towels... I have a drawer full of perfectly serviceable kitchen towels, but every time a William Sonoma catalog finds it's way into my home, I get a little sparkle in my eye for the pretty towels. Ooh, and tableclothes!

 

We have a few tablecloths, all very simple - hotel white, a deep holiday red, etc - that come out for parties. I don't really need any more at this point. But so, so pretty.

- Jewelry.

I don't buy much jewelry, and typically what I do buy is from Forever 21 or NY&Co (read: dirt cheap, in price and quality). Every now and then a piece catches my eye, though. I saw this bangle from Uncommon Goods a year or two ago and have wanted it ever since:

I have no idea where I'd wear it, but I flatter myself I'd find countless occasions. Never mind that wooden beaded necklace I caved on and bought myself last spring and have only worn twice.

I could go on and on, really, but I'll quit. At least until the next round of catalogs arrive and I find more fun things I want to share.

(It makes me laugh, as I look at this handful of items, that I don't even have expensive tastes in my "dream" list. I suppose I don't let myself bother looking at the things that are completely out of my range.)

*Despite how it might appear, this is not intended as a Christmas list to my mom. I promise, Mom. I don't expect any or all of these under the tree this year. I mean, I wouldn't return them if they were... but it's not a poorly veiled (or totally unveiled) beg for stuff.