Celebrating Artistic Achievement

Last night, I was treated to a night at Lincoln Center to see the New York City Ballet's production of Russion Roots which celebrates the works of Jerome Robbins. The ballet was mesmerizing. I kept thinking that so much hard work and effort by so many people must go on behind the scenes to create such a work and that it is important that this kind of achievement be celebrated. I spend my days analyzing transaction documents and arguing about their terms. Eventually, issues get settled, deals close and money changes hands. Life goes on. It is reassuring to know that there are people in this world who devote their lives to creating beauty.

Required Reading: Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

I may be a "Johnny-come-lately" here since this book was written in 2003 and has been on the New York Times best sellers list, but I just finished reading it and cannot rave enough to anyone who will listen. The author, Azar Nafisi, is an Iranian-born woman who was sent abroad to complete her studies as a child after her father was arrested for political reasons. She receives her doctorate in English and American literature from the University of Oklahoma and returns to Iran in 1979 to teach at the University of Tehran. She is enthusiastic and idealistic. The following year, Islamic extremists take over the universities and begin their purge. She recounts with horror and disillusionment how seemingly overnight the most private aspects of everyday life become subject to scrutiny under the Khomeini regime. Women are required to be veiled in public places and may not be accompanied by men other than their father, brother or husband; they are subject to being flogged and jailed if they are perceived as bearing the slightest trace of immodesty by the morality patrols that become part of everyday life; they are searched and at times subjected to the indignity of being examined to determine if they are still virgins. People's homes become subject to arbitrary searches for illegal satellite dishes or other evidences of Western decadence. Classic works of art, literature and film are banned. Dr. Nafisi is ultimately expelled from the University for refusing to wear the veil, and she begins to teach a private class to some of her most dedicated students in which they study forbidden works of classic literature.

The book is a memoir in which she describes her experiences, and those of the seven women in her class. In it she interweaves their stories and those of the works they read. She ultimately spends eleven years in Iran. There, she experiences the birth of her children and lives through the Iranian-Iraqi war and the death of Khomeini, before she and her husband make the difficult decision to leave the country that she loves despite her suffering there. Reading her work, one is provided with a literary review of many of the works of Nabokov, Fitzgerald, Austen and James; learns about the history and politics of Iran; and, through beautifully written, poignant prose, experiences the frustration of these women who, because they live so far away, we easily can forget are so much like us. I finished reading this book a couple of days ago and still feel like I have said farewell to a close friend.

I'm Still Alive

I've tried to keep this site light and cheery, but lately things haven't been going that well for a number of reasons. So I haven't posted anything for more than a month and even thought of giving up blogging. Besides being extremely busy at work (I'm my own worst enemy in that regard - I'll run myself ragged until I'm completely drained and then get depressed), the noise issues in my apartment are taking their toll on my mental health. I hear my upstairs neighbors walking back and forth in their apartment as if there were no barrier between us, and they refuse to get carpeting in their living room. But worse, I was idiotic enough to buy an apartment adjacent to an elevator. It turns out that parts of the elevator machinery seem to get lose (it's a very old building), and when they do, I get clanging and thumping in my apartment that vibrates through my very soul. Making it worse, is that dealing with the management company and the superintendent has been a nightmare. They'll eventually call in some mechanics after I complain enough and make some adjustments that seem to help, but the problem always returns after a couple of months. To add insult to injury, they act like I'm the problem and claim that they don't hear the noise and that noone else has complained. However, I'm on the second floor and the closest one to the elevator motor so of course I'm bearing the brunt, and it's complete BS that they can't hear the noise. I've spoken to a couple of the porters, and they know exactly what the sound I'm hearing is. (And this is supposed to be a top-notch building.)

Anyway, today I had some soundproofing folks from City Soundproofing over to evaluate the situation. They were very professional and made me feel better because they totally validated my belief that the elevator noise is excessive (yes, I realize I'm paying them and it's in their interest to make me feel that way). They're going to go back and formulate a proposal but they tell me that although we may be able to treat the ceiling, there's not much I can do about the elevator noise on my end. So tomorrow I'll go back to the management company and start this dance again. It's really draining.

Avery Bombe Chest from Crate and Barrel

Rarely do I see something at C&B that I feel I MUST have, but I am loving their Avery Bombe chest for $799. The dimensions (41 x 17 x 34) make me think that I can get two and use them as nightstands. I think they'd go well with my high bed and I need a little extra storage for clothes and the like. I also love that the drawers are lined with this silk screened black and white paper with a vine pattern. Don't know that I'll actually get it, but I think it's cute, cute, cute!

Stop Those Pesky Unsolicited Catalogs Today!

I just spent 15 minutes at http://www.catalogchoice.org/ removing my name from the mailing lists of unsolicited catalogs that I've been receiving. Catalog Choice is a free service that helps you to decide what gets into your mailbox. Use it to reduce your mailbox clutter, while helping save natural resources. You'll be asked to create an account when you go on and all your information will be saved. As you get new catalogs, you can just log on and add them to your list of unwanted catalogs. At the moment, the site only offers opt out requests for individual catalog titles – unfortunately, there is no way to stop all catalogs with one click. It works best if you have your catalogs on hand when you log on so that you can type in the customer number (usually found on the mailing label at the back of the catalog) for each catalog you want to stop receiving. If you don't have the customer number you can indicate that it's not available and they'll still process the request. I've tried calling merchants in the past to get off their mailing lists and, believe me, this is a lot easier. And you don't have to talk to anyone!

Catalog Choice is a sponsored project of the Ecology Center. It is endorsed by the National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Resources Defense Council, and funded by the Overbrook Foundation, the Merck Family Fund, and the Kendeda Fund.

Signature Scalloped Percale Bedding by Garnet Hill

I have not been very lucky in the bedding department. Recently, I wore a hole in the fitted sheet of one set and was duped into buying another set that turned out to be of very poor quality (despite a 620 thread count!). So I set about looking for a new set that was: (1) made of cotton, (2) crisp and (3) white. I ordered this particular sheet set from Garnet Hill which fit the bill nicely and am very pleased with my purchase. It is made from a 220 thread count cotton percale weave, is nice and crisp and to me looks quite elegant. I've gone back and forth on the question of whether I prefer silky soft or crisp sheets and am firmly in the "crisp" camp now. Of course, these things are a matter of taste. I personally prefer sheets the breathe. Also, I understand that bedding made from smoother fibers may not last as long. (The one I recently had to throw away was from a costly sateen set). BTW, "percale," for those who do not know, refers to the weave of a material - it has a thread count of 200 or higher, is typically woven tightly, is of medium weight, firm and smooth with no gloss, and warps and washes very well. Also, note that, as Cheryl Mendelson points out in her book, Home Comforts, the durability of cloth is a function of many factors of which thread count is just one. It is affected by the weight of the cloth, the type and quality of the fibers comprising the material, the overall construction of the cloth, the nature and quality of the weave and the type of finish used. So don't be duped by a high thread count alone like I was!

True Love? Hans Olsen Compact Dining Set

I saw this dining set on the Apartment Therapy website some time ago and I've never been able to get it out of my mind. It's a 1930s Danish teak four seat dining set by Hans Olsen for the Frem Rojle Company. Do you see how the seats fit neatly into the table when they're not in use? I have a tiny dining area that I have not yet been able to furnish despite countless hours on the internet and this set would seem to be a perfect size. Also, I sat on the chairs at ABC Home and they are surprisingly comfortable (note the triangle shaped seats). The price, however, is steep - about $5,ooo. I'm not quite ready to take the leap but I AM getting desperate. And although I've been claiming to be a "traditional" girl for a long time, I have found my recent "modern" purchases to have been quite satisfying. Aaahhh, love . . . how can one ever know if it's the real thing or just a passing fancy?

Around the House and In the Garden - A Memoir of Heartbreak, Healing and Home Improvement

Back in July of last year, I posted an entry about Dominique Browning, the editor-in-chief of the now defunct House & Garden and how I loved her editor's letters at the beginning of each issue. A few months later the magazine stopped being published. I am surprised at the outpouring that the magazine's ending provoked. Even now, most of the hits I get on this site are from people conducting web searches for "Dominique Browning," and, in the comments to that entry, people bemoan the loss of the magazine and wonder about her whereabouts. I have never met Ms. Browning and have no idea where she might be, I just posted an entry giving kudos to a woman whom I thought admirable. But for those who never got enough of Ms. Browning's writing, I wanted to recommend this book, Around the House and in the Garden - A Memoir of Heartbreak, Healing, and Home Improvement, which I read a while ago and kept meaning to post about. It is a collection of essays written in the personal style of her editor's letters, with the same poignancy and wit, about her sense of loss after her divorce and how her home often expressed the various stages of her grief and healing. Here's a short excerpt:

I cannot say my home healed my heart. But I can say that, as my heart healed, my home reflected it. Perhaps my house forced my hand, at times, with its unrelenting demands. And perhaps at times my heart, gladdened, let me turn my attention homeward. Whatever the strange, looping path I took out of sadness, it wound its way from room to room, like a recurring dream I had as a child, in which I kept lo looking for something in a cavernous, empty old house, never finding it, but never being able to stop the ceaseless searching, either. Maybe my subject is yearning; maybe that's the case for most of us. We yearn to live in houses full of love, happiness, passion, and peace, too. We yearn for domestic bliss. Even when we have found it, we are restless about wanting things to be better. As soon as we get what we want, we want more. That's the nature of being alive, of persevering, of striving. And that is the nature of redecorating.

Cath Kidston Stationery

Who?! Who doesn't like stationery?! OK, maybe men don't (Do men like stationery? Maybe they just don't care about it). Anyway, one of the gifts I received this past Christmas, which I love, is this set of Cath Kidston stationery. I love all things CK (although I'll be the first to admit that the merchandise is overpriced), and this cheerfully decorated stationery in her classic patterns is no different. The only problem is that I love the stationery so much, I can't bear to use it.

Silly Fridays: A Thief in Paris

(source unknown):

A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre. After careful planning, he craftily got past security, stole the paintings and made it safely to his van. However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas. When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such an obvious error, he replied, "Monsieur that is the reason I stole the paintings: I had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh

Sorry, I know this is pretty bad, but I figured I had nothing Toulouse!

Dream Team?

(Photos courtesy of Associated Press)
Who would've thunk that turquoise jewelry and a burgundy suit would go well together? But Hillary managed to pull it off nicely at last night's debate. I have to hand it to her hair, makeup and wardrobe people - she's been looking FANtastic!

Fuerza Bruta

Last Sunday I stood outside for an hour in freezing cold weather to get tickets to see Fuerza Bruta (transl.: Brute Force), a new show by the makers of the long-running hit, De La Guarda. Regular price tickets are $70 but two hours before the show, they will sell 20 tickets at the door for $25. Fuerza Bruta is hard to describe. Much of the show takes place overhead and is set to a soundtrack of clubby thumping music - dancers traverse vertical shimmering curtains, a man smashes into oncoming walls while running on a treadmill, nymph-like beauties frolic in a pool of water suspended inches above the audience's head. The show is visually captivating and often beautiful to watch. Some scenes were a bit abstract for me and there seemed to be no unifying theme, but it was a novel way to spend an hour in NYC (audience members stand the entire time and are herded around while the props are moved). So, am I glad to have waited an hour in the freezing cold? Definitely, if only because I'm not sure I would have been thrilled if I'd paid the full $70, but, as it was, the show was definitely entertaining and worth watching. Fuerza Bruta is playing at The Daryl Roth Theater at 101 East 15th Street (Between Union Square East and Irving Place), New York, New York.

In Search of a Great Facial

Many years ago, I used to go to a little salon for a facial that left me with brand new skin every time. The results were so dramatic, my mom would ask incredulously what I'd done. The facialist soon left the salon for whereabouts unknown. I don't remember the name of the salon, but I remember that her name was Irina and she was from Brooklyn. Even if Google had been around back then, I don't think I would have had much luck finding her with that info. Anyhoo, since then, I've been in search of similar results with varying degrees of success but none have come close. I've been to Ling's on E 14th Street in NYC (relaxing and thorough but no "new skin") and Oasis on Park Avenue (varying results but consistently stressful long checkout due to ditzy staff not worthy of McDonald's) and a number of other places. The routine is always the same, the facialist looks at your face and proceeds to tell you what's wrong with it (as if I didn't know, it's why I'm getting the facial), interrogates you as to what products you use (Lady, just give me the service I paid for) and ultimately tries to sell you a bunch of pricey products when you're done (Irina, where can you be?!). Yesterday, after having pulled a near all-nighter in order to turn in an assignment that was ultimately crappy, I decided to take the afternoon off and treat myself to a facial at Metamorphosis Day Spa on East 56th Street. Their waiting room is tiny and doesn't have the ambiance of the "relaxation room" at Oasis, but that's OK - I'm there for the facial and there's always a group of yapping bridesmaids-to-be disrupting the relaxation at Oasis anyway. My facial begins, I'm sleepy and want to rest while my facialist does her job. She proceeds to ask me what products I use, and I begrudgingly disclose the information. After her inspection, she proceeds to recommend their pumpkin peel which will renew my skin and make the extractions easier (ok, whatever you say). It will be another $40 (oh, it's all becoming clear to me now, but fine. Can I rest now?). She goes about her routine - slathering, massaging, cleaning - she doesn't spend much time on the extractions except on my nose, where I've asked her to go easy due to excessively sensitive skin there. She puts a mask on and leaves for a while, thank God. She eventually comes back in with a bang that startles me out of my snooze. Before the facial's over, she's asked me how I'm doing about 5 times. She let's me know that she will leave me my "prescription" at the front desk and tells me how I should use the products she's recommending. I'm not listening. When it's over, I look at my skin, it looks nice and clean. My prescription and recommended products wait for me at the checkout counter, there are 4 very expensive looking containers. I don't buy any and pay my bill. My boyfriend doesn't notice a big difference (no big deal, what does he know, anyway?) and today my skin feels a little dry again. Oh well, no lasting effects, but I guess the experience was worth the $160 I shelled out (Wasn't it?).

It's Not About the Packaging: Infusium 23 Works!

Every now and then, a product comes along that actually does what the manufacturer says it does. Infusium 23 leave-in hair treatment not only instantly detangles hair and improves manageability, it also strengthens damaged hair, prevents breakage and leaves hair smooth and shiny. I've been using it after shampooing since I was in college and have converted a number of people along the way. I don't see much advertising for this product, but the fact that it's been around for more than 20 years leads me to believe that it must have a following. A 33 oz bottle costs just $9.99 at Walgreens. They have changed their look recently, so the container may look a bit different from the one pictured here. I just love to spread the word about a great product, and at the risk of sounding like a raving lunatic, this one may truly improve your life!

Movies To See: La Vie En Rose

Yesterday, we watched La Vie En Rose (aka La Môme), Olivier Dahan's portrayal of the life of the legendary French singer, Edith Piaf. The film has superb acting (Marion Cotillard, in the role of Edith Piaf, is riveting), beautiful cinematography and an amazing story to tell. In the movie, Ms. Piaf's life is depicted in a series of recollections, not always chronological, having a dreamlike quality.To say that her life was tragic is an understatement of the first degree - she was born into abject poverty, abandoned by her mother, raised by her grandmother in a brothel, suffered from blindness as a child, worked as a street performer with her father, lost her young son to meningitis when she was 20, lost her lover in a plane crash, became addicted to morphine and died of cancer at the age of 47. Still, Edith Piaf became an international star and icon. I love to see a film like this one. It still haunts me today, which for me is the sign of a great movie.

I'm Back

I've been away for a while. We recently got back from a short, but sweet trip to Culebra, Puerto Rico, and I am almost ready to face the New Year. It's great to get away from the every day grind, but going away is also useful for putting things in perspective, I think. When I get back from vacation, I find that all of my usual worries and frustrations (about work, noisy neighbors, my boyfriend hogging the computer) come flooding back. But the fact that they've been absent for a while helps me to recognize them for what they are - bad habits. I read somewhere that a person's thoughts create "tracks" of a sort in the mind and that once we have taken a certain path, we are likely to continue taking the same one over and over again. If going away to visit a new place is good for one thing, I think it's to help one learn to form new tracks.

I suffered from a bout of ennui after returning from Culebra. The beaches there were so beautiful, the views breathtaking and the weather - sunny and hot. It seemed senseless to return to the cold, to my job, to my dark little apartment. Needless to say, I had a bit of the post-vacation blahs. I received a small bonus from work and, interestingly, could think of nothing special to do with the money. I'm past thinking that any material purchases can make a lasting difference in my life or happiness. On the other hand, continuing to save for the future while getting insufficient enjoyment in the present makes little sense. So what, then, could add some zest? At first, I resolved that we would try a different restaurant and sample new fine cuisine each week. The food, I then realize, is more symbolic - I want to focus more on experiential pursuits in general. If I have to articulate a New Year's resolution, it's that I want to be constantly forming new "tracks." Alas, I think I have a goal and, for now, the cloud above my head has lifted.

Vacation Pics

(1) aerial view of Culebra (transl. "snake") upon arrival after a 25 minute flight from San Juan; (2) beautiful Flamenco beach where we stayed at a small villa; (3) the road to Carlos Rosario - a 15 minute hike on a trail at the end of Flamenco beach leads to a small lovely beach; (4) views on the way to Carlos Rosario; (5) the pristine waters of Carlos Rosario beach have some of the best snorkeling on the island; (6) me at Carlos Rosario; (7) we took a boat ride to an even smaller island called Culebrita (transl. "little snake"); (8) we were dropped off at this jaw dropping beach in Culebrita - there, I saw a stingray while snorkeling as well as tons of colorful fishies; (9) more of the beach on Culebrita; (10) the view on one of our hikes on Culebrita; (11) another view on that same hike; (12) the end of our pilgrimmage - a lighthouse built by the Spanish Crown in the 1880s.

Home Decor Dilemma: Coffee Table vs. Ottoman

I previously wrote about my need for a coffee table or ottoman and my indecision over which one to get. We really like to put our feet up when we sit, so I'm partial to the ottoman. However, a coffee table seems more classy in that you can serve drinks, etc. on it when you have guests (although I think the right ottoman can do the trick with a tray on it). Also, with a table I don't have to worry about my cats scratching up another piece of upholstered furniture. Still, it's a toughie for me. Below are some options I like and/or think are interesting.

The Devin Ottoman from Crate & Barrel (52"x20"x19") -$899 I'll just show because I think it has all of the advantages of an ottoman and some of the benefits of a coffee table and is reasonably priced. Unfortunately, the style just doesn't do it for me.

The Roth Ottoman at Restoration Hardware (39"Dx17"H) - $1450 in leather is CUTE. As with everything I love, a little pricey. Also, given the layout of my space (very rectangular), I wonder if round in the middle would work.

I love the Lucia coffee table at Restoration Hardware (50Wx31Dx17H) - $775 in brass. I think it's so elegant although I'm worried that it's a bit large for my space.

The Louis coffee table at Anthropologie is currently on sale for $399 (please excuse the quality of the picture). In my space, however, I'm afraid it would look a bit too precious.

Jayson Home & Garden has this nice bench $1,345 (48x29x17). Nice, although it doesn't look like it would hold a tray too steadily.The Lowell bench at Restoration Hardware ("46x24"x16) is on sale right now - $596 upholstered; $1450 in leathers of various colors. I think the dimensions are perfect and it's flat enough to hold a tray. I love the turned legs and the fact that it has casters. The upholstered style is priced right although it's another item I'd have to keep away from my cats' paws, which argues for getting the leather version. Depending on how my wallet is doing after the holidays, this may be the one.

One intriguing option that I stumbled upon on 1st Dibs was this Louis XV style bench and coffee table, but what is more shocking than the $3,000+ price tag is that someone has already bought it!

Booked It: Culebra, Here I Come!

I like to do three things on vacation - (1) escape from "civilization", (2) experience nature and (3) get in shape. Number 3 may sound strange but if you see vacation as a chance for some adventure, there are activities that are so fun you hardly notice you're working out. I look forward to biking, snorkeling, kayaking and swimming as well as some well-deserved loafing about. Culebra (which means "snake" in Spanish) is located 20 miles east of Puerto Rico and 15 miles west of St. Thomas (it is part of Puerto Rico). It is about 7 miles long and 4 miles wide and has less than 2000 year round residents. It is home to one of the oldest bird sanctuaries and is a nesting site for leatherback, green sea and hawksbill sea turtles. The island has an interesting history. It was first inhabited by the Taino Indians. During Spanish colonialism, it served as a refuge for native Indians seeking to escape slavery on the main island. In the 18th century, pirates used its secluded cays as hideways. Culebra was ceded to the United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American war and used for bombing practice by the U.S. military until 1975. Today, most of the island and its surrounding 23 islets are protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a nature preserve. Flamenco Beach, pictured above, is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and the clarity of the water and reefs at another, Carlos Rosario beach, are supposed to be ideal for diving and snorkeling. I will be there for five days and four nights beginning on December 27th. I cannot wait! Now, I only have to make it through Christmas . . . .

A Different Kind of Grinch

Christmas is a great time to foist my own taste upon other people, and I have always been a sucker for all things "Anthropologie." Don't ask me why I get so excited over a colander, but I love this bright red vintage-style colander ($15).

I'm also loving:

The Jolanta covered dish ($38), ornithology magnets ($24) and cockadoodle timer ($10). Now which lucky person on my gift list, should I get these quaint little items for. . . .

Cool Blog: GarayArtisans.com/WordPress

I just stumbled upon this site, and am really impressed by the faux finishing work these guys do. Regina's blog is full of lovely pictures of their work, great design advice and witty writing. Below is a picture of one of their jobs, which I would love to replicate in my little dining area. If they weren't based in Florida, I might hire them.

Mi Apartamento

Funny, I started out to write about my need for a coffee table and my dilemma over whether to buy a coffee table, an ottoman or some combination of both, and in the process of taking a picture for this post, all of these other problems became apparent. It's an interesting exercise, I think, taking photos of your living space to gain insight into what could be improved.

Some basic problems, I think, are that: I need a radiator cover for that hideous beast that lives under my windows; I am in serious need of some wall decor; I HAVE to do something about that cable wire; the bookcase to the right of the entryway is too short; what might otherwise be a gracious entryway is cluttered with a coat rack on which every article of winter clothing my boyfriend and I own is hung. Oh yeah, and I need a coffee table or ottoman in the seating area. It looks like a lot more work remains to be done.

Dreaming of Falling Off the Grid

I may be outgrowing New York, or perhaps am getting old and crabby, but I've come to think that apartment living in the City is just not civilized. Despite moving into a fancy doorman building in Gramercy Park, I still have to deal with a next door neighbor who is unable to refrain from slamming his door, upstairs neighbors who won't get carpeting (as required by the bylaws) and a resident manager (euphemism for "super") who can't arrange to have the clanging elevator next to my apartment fixed correctly. I feel I'm under assault. Then I read an article in the New York Times real estate section about Ben and Rachel Smith who for $150,000 found a home in the mountains of Panama. They are living my dream! (Except that I want to live in Costa Rica and closer to the beach.) They have views from their terrace of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, live in a bird paradise and can hear the sound of howler monkeys in the tree tops surrounding their homes (I've heard howler monkeys and they actually sound pretty scary, but I'd take them over my next door neighbor any day). Financially, I can't see being able to retire for at least another 15 years, but truly don't think I can wait that long. Drastic measures may have to be called for. . . .

Feeling Grinchy This Year

I just don't want to do it - I don't want to deal with X-mas this year. I go through it every year: dread, followed by resentment, followed by resignation. Eventually, I come around and actually find pleasure in trying to match the right gift with the right person. This may be stage one, and most likely I will come around. Still, a week in the Carribean, away from it all, during the holidays may be just what the doctor ordered . . . .

Tried and True: Restoration Hardware

I previously wrote about my struggle to find a sisal rug. I ended up buying one at Restoration Hardware that was well-priced and seemed to be of better quality than that of its competitors (it doesn't have all those stragly loose fibers that I see in a lot of natural fiber rugs) . And then, I remembered, "oh yeah, Restoration Hardware!" For some reason, I'd forgotten all about them lately. But when looking for classically designed furniture, lighting, etc., of good quality, they're worth remembering. I've purchased lighting there and I'm thinking of buying a coffee table/ottoman from them. I sometimes wish I'd bought my sofa there. I think the quality and craftsmanship of their furniture surpasses that of, say, a Pottery Barn, but they are more reasonably priced than, for example, a Williams Sonoma. I recently read that the Company is up for sale. I hope that doesn't change anything on the ground floor.

You're Soooo Vain . . . .

When I want to indulge my teenie bopper side, I browse the Urban Outfitters website. If I had a vanity table, I might get these adorable little items to put on it:

Van