I’ve been helping an old friend shop for wedding favors over the last few days, and it’s actually kind of exhausting. She’s a blonde white girl from a small town, and he’s a Chinese guy with a very traditional family. Because their familiar really wanted to do just one wedding, she’s in the market for two sets of favors for the reception - one with an Asian theme and one that’s more US-traditional.

Her initial thought was to put some cute crane origami favors next to some bluebird favors, but her fiancee quickly informed her that he’s Chinese, NOT Japanese. Oops. Eventually, she settled on these cute double happiness candles instead. Since her wedding colors are red, black, and white, I think they’ll look especially nice.

You can get these candles (and other Asian wedding favors) at Beau-Coup.

I’m a huge West Elm fan, but I feel like everyone I know shops there and I’m always afraid I’m going to buy a $3000 piece of furniture and then see it in a friend’s place. Luckily, I came across Chiasso, and most of my friends avoid shopping there because they like to see things there in the store.

Chiasso’s website is fun - you can see some examples of their products below, or just click here to browse on your own.

I’m especially fond of the salt and pepper shakers you see above. They look great on my table, and they also look spectacular on the counter next when I’m cooking (I have a stainless steel kitchen).

Ella Moss is easily one of my favorite designers.  I love that her apparel is not only cute, but it’s also somewhat affordable.  I wouldn’t say we can all go out and dress in nothing but Ella Moss, but pretty much anyone can get a couple pieces for a stylish splurge.

As spring approachs, I find myself checking out more of her dresses.  It’s crucial to have a couple of casual spring dresses, and Ella Moss does them better than almost anyone.   My personal favorites are the ones in that really, really soft cotton fabric she uses, but I find myself falling in love with almost every Ella Moss dress I see.

To make it easy to browse a lot of the Ella Moss styles currently available, I’ve embedded a set of them below.  Clicking on your favorites will take you over to the original retailers.

I’m a huge fan of modern furniture and decor pieces that aren’t completely over the top. I won’t sacrifice *too* much comfort and practicality for style. That’s why I thought this Lakota Modern Coat Rack was so amazing - not only is it clean and modern in style, but it’s practical.

Why so practical, you ask? Well, have you ever put a heavy purse and coat on one side of a coat rack, only to have the whole thing start to fall over? This coat rack has a teepee design that makes it much, much easier to balance. If you have little kids or big dogs running around, you won’t have to worry nearly as much about them knocking over the coat rack and getting hurt, either. What’s not to love?

I know this You Are Here Doormat has been around for a little while now, but I just can’t get over how cute it is.  It would be perfect for something outside, a clubhouse, an apartment, or even a loft, depending on your decor.  I also like that it’s made of recycled rubber.

The mat is $32 over at Chiasso, and it would make a great gift for your apartment.  I know a particularly surly young philosophy major I’ll be gifting one to.

This Hungry, Hungry Hippo T-Shirt reminds me of chasing marbles under couches and giving my mom a headache.  To find out now that he was never really that hungry hungry - well that’s just not right.

If you want to disturb random strangers on the street, you can get this shirt here for $20.

I recently came across the book “Spoon Me, Fork Me”, and it seemed like kind of a fun idea for a cookbook.  The entire book is dedicated to recipes that inspire lust, complete with sensual photos to enhance the reading.  On the upside, who doesn’t love both food and sex?  The downside, though, is that combining sex with food means you may never get to the actual meal.

If you think you’re capable of multi-tasking, you may enjoy one (or all) of the books below.

Fork Me, Spoon Me: the sensual cookbook - Author Amy Reiley includes recipes for Hot Honey Nuts, Vanilla-Scented Sea Bass, Moist Mango Meatloaf, Ginger Mojitos, and Persian Love Cake.

The New InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook - Authors Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge include recipes for Strawberries Drenched in Honeyed Cream, Orange Blossom Panna Cott,a and Grilled Vietnamese Gingered Beef Rolls, along with dozens of sensual photographs.

The Erotic Cookbook - Christina Moles Kaupp offers 100 recipes that draw inspiration from Europe and Asia, including “Catch-Me” Crab Soup to “Up All Night” Espresso Mousse.  Somehow, anything dealing with sex that includes the words “catch” and “crab”seems a little unappealing to me, but you may see things differently.

The Seduction Cookbook: Culinary Creations For Lovers - Oh, how silly.  The description for this one says the book includes a little “fork-play” with appetizer recipes like Chile Lime Shrimp, Rocket Salad with Black Mission Figs and Ahi Tuna Ceviche with Advocado.

Will Cook for Sex: A Guy’s Guide to Cooking - This one’s unique in that it was actually intended for guys.  I got a chance to read through a copy a while back, though, and even as a woman, I enjoyed it.  The recipes were relatively simple, but always impressive.  Author Rocky Fino also put together a cocktail guide, Will Mix for Sex: Twenty-one Classic Cocktails to Set the Mood.

Cooking with Aphrodisiacs: Create Passion on a Plate - This one’s actually a DVD, but it definitely fits the theme.  As you can see from the front, even the pears get turned on by Cooking with Aphrodisiacs.

Booty Food: A Date By Date, Nibble by Nibble, Course by Course Guide to Cultivating Love and Passion Through Food - Author Jackie Malouf mixes dating etiquette, tips, and cooking advice in this steamy title.

The moral of the story?  Even if you don’t find your way into a man’s heart with these meals, you’ll probably find your way into his pants.  If that’s what you’re looking for.

Remember those awesome footie pajamas you wore as a kid?  All one piece, super-warm, and amazingly comfy?  They make footie pajamas for adults now, too.  I was reading Skymall on a flight out to Los Angeles the other day, and saw these adorable adult footie pajamas - which of course, I will be buying for my sister this Christmas.  What do you think?

A set of footie pajamas for grown-ups will run you $60-80, depending on the size.

Polar Fleece Pajamas - Large
Jump into comfort - feet first! Whether you’re lounging around the house or hosting a pajama party, footed pajamas are super-fabulous in any situation.

These car antlers are the most ridiculous product I’ve seen in quite some time, but I just can’t stop smiling about them.   Reindeer antlers for the car?  It sounds like something my dad would have done when we were kids.  My mom would roll her eyes, of course, because that was just her job -  but we would have loved it.

If you feel like you need your own holiday “car reindeer” for the kids or grandkids, you can pick up a set of reindeer car antlers for around $20.   Or, even better, you can pick up a set of antlers and convert a friend’s car when they’re not around.  This would be an especially great prank while he/she is at work.  Just wait until the end of the day when everyone comes out and sees your friend’s new reindeer car.

P.S. - Car antlers will match perfectly with a loud Christmas tie.

I know, I know, “OMG” is for teenagers and dorks - but I really can’t help myself this time.  I came across the Dough Nu Matic EZ Donut Maker and now all I can think about it making dozens of teeny tiny little donuts.  Let me tell you why.  For most of my life, I lived near a Kroger grocery store that carried the most heavenly donuts imaginable.  They were brown sugar cinnamon cake donuts, and even though they were generic, they were always soft and delicious.    I would buy a box every few weeks as an indulgence, and all was right with the world.

Until Wal-Mart - yes, the evil empire, indeed -  came in and built a Super Wal-Mart.  All the grocery stores suffered, and ultimately, the Kroger lost.  They went out of business and I lost my donuts forever.  I tried the donuts at Wal-Mart, but they were just awful.

With a trusty Dough Nu Matic by my side, I could experiment endlessly until I find a way to recreate those amazing brown sugar cinnamon donuts in my own home.  Only then will balance be restored.

If that doesn’t make you feel compelled to go out and immediately buy a Dough Nu Matic, take a look at this photo:

How cute is that??  Anyway, getting your own Dough Nu Matic will set you back about $130.   A small price to pay for fresh donuts without leaving the house.