Knife Fight!!!

Everyone loves name checking, I know I do. So the title for this one's aptly (in my opinion) borrowed from a particular Minus the Bear song. Now to get to the point. This is a knife, it is sharp, it looks cool, buy it. I could leave it there, but I'll explain a bit longer. This knife is made by Wenger, the official maker of knives and watches for the Swiss Army (that's right, Victorinox Swiss Army doesn't do that anymore or ever), so you know it's of the highest quality before it even arrives in your hands. It is also just the right size to get confiscated by TSA, but still be practical to use for most larger scale knife-necessitating tasks. The hashed grip helps maintain control and the clever closing mechanism (you press down on the logo printed on the side of the knife!) makes it feel more like a spy weapon than a camping aid. Obviously for us city folk this isn't the best knife to do things with considering its accurate weapon like appearance. The sleek black plastic body with a contoured grip and minimalistic logo add to the knife's persona. At 17.5$ plus 7$ shipping, who wouldn't want to imagine yourself deep in the jungle as the last marine alive from your platoon as you fight for your life against an onslaught of charlies.

View product details from Amazon.

For When Dial Doesn't Cut It

Sometimes those ever classy bathroom adornments, Dial, Softsoap, et al, just can't cut it in the kitchen. Sure they work, and yeah they're fine. You don't like that orangey-yellow liquid antibacterial that's present in so many of my childhood scrapes and cuts? Fine, get it in lavender scent and hey it's even purple! All's well that ends well I suppose, unless you're present with an opportunity such as this: Cucina. For those of you who don't know, that's Italian for kitchen (it has nothing to do with star spangled banners or tight little something or anothers). This soap smells fantastic and works fantastically. The best part is that it's all natural and thus OK to eat. Sure you can do that with Dial, but when you've been cooking for a while and then immerse your now Dial coated hands in a bowl of vegetables you're coating, the end product tastes more like a 4th grade punishment for swearing than a delicious side dish. Cucina's tested formula of coriander and olive oil leaves your hands clean, smelling fresh, and ready to take on your next task in the kitchen without tainting everything you touch. If this sounds too good to be true, it vaguely is. Perfection comes at a price, 20$ (plus 6$ shipping from Amazon) per 16.9 ounce bottle that is. At this point most of you have given up, but if you're willing to front the cash you most certainly won't be disappointed. Also available at most Anthropologie stores.

View product details from Amazon.

What Minimalism Is Supposed To Be

One last Etsy post before I continue looking at things elsewhere. This purse, much like the earrings in the post below, represents an old fashioned simplicity that seems to be making a "modern" comeback. I say that mostly because it seems that modern went the route of minimalism for too long and has finally sorted out the difference between simplistic and modern. While not the best purse you've ever owned in terms of practicality (can't shoulder sling that shit or fit much inside of it), it does look nice and ultimately that's what counts for things like these. The wood handles and sophisticated print make the bag, but the inside with its cream interior and green striped pocket put the perfect finish on this bag. The price is 42$ plus 5.5$ shipping.

View product details at jenniferladd's Etsy store.

Handmade Bargain Hunting

This post certainly won't help my credibility as to my sexual preference, but I still assure you that I'm straight. However, these earrings looked too nice given the price (15$ + 2$ shipping) to pass up. Simple, elegant, clean; the things that often get passed up by the gaudiness of ordinary design. These aren't exactly Patricia Locke, but for those on a budget it provides hope that you don't have to sacrifice style for affordability (something that happens all too often in my opinion). Once again, etsy carries through with their handmade goods, but as with most things available on the site they're either unique or one of a limited number (<10) so get it before it's gone.

View product details at petitminx's Etsy shop.

Tantalizing Ties

For those of you unfortunate few who have not heard of Etsy, etsy.com is essentially a marketplace for people to sell handmade goods. However, these aren't the same popsicle stick Christmas tree ornaments you made when you were five. Etsy provides a unique opportunity for people with creative talents, but no means of dissemination. That brings me to these ties, which while a bit late for this past Christmas season are still significantly cooler than your average find. Coming in at the entirely reasonably priced 40$ (with an additional modest 3.2$ for shipping), these ties are certainly fun and certainly festive. If you're pinched for cash, a 30$ microfiber counterpart exists. While I'm not sure what the attraction is of a white tie with white snowflakes (see the color options on the site linked below), I am sure that you'll be sure to impress with that snazzy looking powder blue with white snowflakes. The textured tie is rarely witnessed especially when it isn't the fabric itself that's textured. Break away from those awful ties that plague mid-level business executives; the boring muddied colors; step away from your Jerry Garcia collection and try one of these for a spin.

View product details at toybreaker's Etsy store.

What Your White Walls Have Been Missing

Everyone has to appreciate the simplicity Ellsworth Kelly not only experimented with, but relished in. The point was never to make an overarching statement or to make you think, what he did was always aesthetically motivated and that was that. This MoMA printed mid-sized poster (30"x28") is a great tribute to Mr. Kelly and his unending supply of vibrant colors and simple lines that were consistently in clear defiance of any recognized movement. At 19$ (with a massive 2$ discount if you're a MoMA member), this little splash is perfectly crafted to adorn a dorm room wall while having the added bonus of leading your friends to think you appreciate modern art. After all, the original painting is currently on display at MoMA. Or for an additional 155$ (sounds overpriced, but really isn't) you can get it in a quaint black frame, surely of highest quality given the vendor. Shipping unfortunately isn't free, but is only 6$. I highly recommend this to clear up any white wall blues.

View product details at the MoMA online store.