PopBetty

A Love Letter to Pop Culture

  • About
  • Books
  • Career
  • D.I.Y.
  • Film
  • Food
  • Holiday
  • Contact

Web Shopping Guide (Archive Post)

January 20, 2007 by Renee Claire

PopBetty | DItalia

Left to right: San Pellegrino Aranciata, Rega DOP Whole Peeled Tomatoes, L’Isola D’Oro Italian Tuna in Oil.

I found Italian import store DITALIA right after finding My Boulangerie, which is great because culinary tourism is the only tourism I’ll be doing in the near future. Unlike My Boulangerie, DITALIA doesn’t sell any oven-ready breads like focaccia or grissini (*sniff*), but it has almost everything else, including wine, espresso, truffles, plum tomatoes, oil-packed tuna, and tiramisu. Definitely one to bookmark.


PopBetty | My Boulangerie

Left to right: Lavender honey drops, almond croissants, Parisian macarons.

I’m thrilled that I found My Boulangerie, an online shop featuring many hard-to-find French pastries and sweets. I’ve seen several nice French import stores online (The Frenchy Bee on eBay, for example), but I’ve never seen a catalog as comprehensive as My Boulangerie–they’ve got macarons, calissons, chestnut spread, and brioches. They even sell French chewing gum (Hollywood brand).

My favorite items, however, are the croissants: they sell four kinds (plain, chocolate, almond, and apple) prepared and frozen for home use. To eat, you just thaw them and allow the dough to rise overnight, then bake them in the morning. Yum!


PopBetty | The Curiosity Shoppe

From left to right: Hammerpress Test Print Journal, $8.00; Mushroom Shelves, $60-75.00; Wall Art with Hooks, $32.00; Cast Iron Bird Paperweight, $50.00.

Another excellent store is The Curiosity Shoppe.  The blog-loved (bloved?) Shoppe features an eclectic mix of well-designed, affordable objects, like the four above.

The owners also have an inspiring blog called Smarts & Crafts.  Most store blogs are done as an afterthought, and thus tend to be crap; Smarts & Crafts is, by contrast, quite savvy and interesting.

My absolute favorite post is this one on recycled card catalogs (source of image below).  Such a great idea.

PopBetty | Card File from The Curiosity Shoppe


PopBetty | Beklina

From left to right: Wool Khangai Tie Hat, $70.00; Myth & Ritual Multi-Stitch Trench, $240.00; Wren Recycled Leather Handbag, $235.00.

Another store for the web shopping guide is Beklina, a sustainable fashion boutique.  Every product is made of organic, sustainable, or recycled materials, without descending into hippy chic cliches.

Above are three favorite finds.  The Stewart+Brown hat uses wool from nomadic Mongolian herders, the Myth & Ritual trench is produced in the U.S. and is sweatshop free, and the bag features recycled leather (other colors & styles available).  Beklina also has Rosy Naylor’s much-blogged-about hats, both on sale (1, 2).


PopBetty | Plumo

Left to right: Black Edwardian Umbrella, £19.00; Seven Rings, £189.00; Espresso Cups & Saucers (set of 4), £18.00; Bird Nest Key Holder, £18.00; Rope Door Stop, £30.00; Pearl Hangers, £3.95.

OK, so I’m breaking my “must offer U.S. delivery” rule for one store: Plümo.  Based in the UK, Plümo may or may not offer international delivery; that said, whoever owns Plümo has exquisite taste.

Take the sample buys above.  Normally, I pick one to three photos for a store profile, but in this case I couldn’t choose less than these six.  The yellow mugs give me the warm fuzzies, the umbrella is gorgeous and doubles as a weapon, and that rope knot is the Platonic ideal of a door stop.  The other three finds successfully mix beauty and wit. Just wonderful.

Plümo sells clothing, jewelry, shoes & bags, household goods, and gift items.  See their website for more beautiful items you may or may not be able to order (via Designers’ Block).


PopBetty | Kiosk

Left to right: Cherry Lollies, $5.00; Groetsch Wood Hair Comb, $21.00; 2 Ribbed Ceramic Cups, $28.00.

New York-based Kiosk sells imports from a rotating list of countries (the current featured country is Germany; past countries include Sweden & Mexico).  The owners look for products that are

“humble, straight forward and beautiful for their
simplicity and directness; […] products designed not around one personality but the result of local aesthetics and needs.” (Link)

Above are three favorite finds; check out Kiosk’s full inventory here.

About the post title: We’ve created a new category called “Web Shopping Guide” to help you find the best online shopping.  We’ll introduce stores in individual posts, then organize our finds in a directory.  If you want to recommend a store, do so in comments or email us at shesabetty AT gmail DOT com.  Stores must offer U.S. delivery.


PopBetty | YTBA
YTBA, or Yet To Be Announced, is an excellent showcase for up-and-coming Australian designers.  The site features about 25 new design labels, each with a special section devoted to them, complete with biography.

Of the many cool finds, I particularly liked these Of Cabbages & Kings rib cage earrings, $50.00.  The black are my favorite, but they’re also available in white, red stripe, & denim.  They manage to be both edgy & pretty, a neat trick.

[Note: The site doesn’t discuss international shipping, but they were featured on Daily Candy’s Everywhere section, so I’m hopeful…]


PopBetty | Hapaculture

I’m really impressed with Hapaculture, a store with unique products for great prices.  Below are two jewelry finds; Hapaculture also has a wide variety of items for your home, self, and family (i.e. this fantastic collection of Totoro dolls).  Check them out.

Coral Rose Pin by Jody Lyons, left, $60.00.

Filed Under: Archive

Printemps, Can You Feel It?

January 15, 2007 by Renee Claire

Printemps Alek Wek adI developed a strong attachment to French department store ads while in Paris–the ads are in every Metro station, and since staring at other passengers is not an option (two words: creepy men), I always stared at the ads.

One of my favorites (left) was by Printemps.  Great colors, and I love that Alek Wek looks so vibrant and happy.  So many fashion ads have miserable-looking models (or else they look like plastic dolls or mannequins, like Lindsay Lohan in her new Miu Miu ads).  I don’t understand it at all.  If you can afford a live model, why not make her look, you know, alive?

Filed Under: Fashion

The Writing’s On The Wall

January 7, 2007 by Renee Claire

Pixelnotes WallpaperAs a writer, city dweller, and general nerd, I love the idea of functional walls.  My favorite functional wall is a bookshelf, but running a close second are walls that function as writing surfaces.

If you read design blogs, you’ve already seen the Pixelnotes wallpaper (right).  Created by Sirkka Hammer & Duncan Wilson, Pixelnotes is:

“A wallpaper consisting of four layers of varying grey tones on a bright primary backing. Each layer is perforated in a grid format and backed with a tacky adhesive similar to ‘post-it’ notes.”

As you use the post-its, a pixelated pattern emerges on the wall.  Needless to say, I loved the design immediately; unfortunately, it’s only a conceptual creation at this point, and not available for purchase.

So I was delighted when, thumbing through this month’s Martha Stewart Living, I found this DIY chalkboard calendar (below). I was struck by the visual & functional similarity to the Pixelnotes paper.  In fact, I like the chalkboard even better, since it can be reused.  You can also vary the placement, size of individual squares, & colors for something more artistic or abstract.

Martha Stewart Chalkboard Calendar

All you need is some black chalkboard paint, homemade white chalkboard paint, tape, and a brush. The full how-to explanation is available on MSL’s website, and also in the January issue of MSL (pages 130-134).

Filed Under: D.I.Y., House, Work Spaces

I Want This Dress

January 3, 2007 by Renee Claire

Cache Luxe Strapless Dress with Paillettes

I don’t know why, I’d never wear it, but oh. my. god.  It reminds me of a star cloud.

Strapless Dress with Paillettes, $348.00, from Cache Luxe.

Filed Under: Design

Recipes: Fish Tacos With Bean Salad

December 15, 2006 by Renee Claire

PopBetty - Spicy Fish Tacos with Bean Salsa

We made these last night, and they were a huge success.  While definitely not for a romantic evening (garlic, beans, and fish), these are delicious & healthy.  These recipes (which have been rewritten and significantly modified) first appeared in this month’s issue of Cooking Light (pg 160, by Lisa Bell).  Serves 4.

PopBetty - Fish Tacos with Green Salsa
Fish Tacos

Topping:
1/2 cup sliced scallions
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
3 tsps fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp salt
2 or 3 minced garlic cloves

Taco Filling:
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp red pepper
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1 1/2 pounds red snapper fillets (approx. 4 fillets)

8 to 10 corn tortillas (6-inch)

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. While oven preheats, prepare and mix bean salad (below).  Set aside.
  3. Prepare and mix topping ingredients (above).  Set aside.
  4. Mix the first five ingredients for the taco filling in a small bowl.  Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.  Place the red snapper fillets skin down on the baking sheet, then smear the spice mixture evenly on the fish.
  5. Bake fish for 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily.  Remove fish from oven slightly before ready (as fish will continue to cook once removed).  Set aside.
  6. Take an empty skillet (preferably an old one), and place on a burner.  Set temperature to medium-high.  After a minute, add a tortilla.  Cook on both sides until the tortilla gets nice and singed (see images).  Do this with as many tortillas as you need; note that cooking time speeds up as you go.
  7. Return to the fish.  Shred with fork, removing the skin.
  8. Assemble tacos by placing shredded fish on tortillas, then add a spoonful of the topping.  Serve with bean salad and tortilla chips.

PopBetty - Pinto Bean Salsa

Pinto Bean Salad

3 roma tomatoes, diced
1 diced yellow or orange bell pepper
1 large seeded and diced jalapeno pepper
1/4 cup minced cilantro
2 tbsps lime juice
2 tsps olive oil
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 can pinto beans (we recommend Goya brand), drained and rinsed

Combine all ingredients, mixing well.

Filed Under: Food, Recipes

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • Next Page »

PopBetty is the personal site of an Atlanta-based writer who loves books, travel, nonprofits, and all things digital.

It is currently on hiatus.

Logo created by Typematters.

Popular Posts

  • D.I.Y. Idea & Tutorial: Floral Wedges
  • Recipe: Houston's Grilled Chicken Salad Copycat
  • Welcome to Atlanta: The Reid House
  • To See: Jane Eyre
  • On-line Vintage Clothing Directory, By Price
  • D.I.Y. Inspiration: Trompe-l'œil Clothing
StudioPress Theme of the Month

Disclaimer

PopBetty earns money through banner ads and affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, then we may make a commission from that purchase. That said, all posts and recommendations reflect our genuine interests and feelings about products. We do not offer sponsored posts or allow third parties any editorial control over site content.

Copyright © 2023 · PopBetty · Contact Us · Subscribe · Privacy Policy

 

Loading Comments...