Harry and David Pop Up Orchard

For their 75th anniversary, Harry & David are celebrating with pop-up stores in cities where they do not have a retail presence. I got to meet designer Matthew Goodrich (seen here with me as the other pear), who, along with David Rockwell of The Rockwell Group, was responsible for the green design. See more photos of the space here, and be sure to pick up some delicious salsas (love the pepper and onion relish) and other holiday goodies before they skip out of town. Fifth Avenue near 22nd Street.

STIRRING ice cubes

For those who love to swirl, I see great potential with these ice trays from Blomus. For starters, you could float an herb or edible blossom in each. Or, instead of water, use a blend of juices that would melt into your cocktail or water serving. I added pomegranate seeds, mint, and small triangles of blood orange for some color and a hint of flavor to the glasses of water in the photo. We can use a little extra chill right about now!

Ellen's TV Show on Oprah.com

I am participating in a contest on Oprah's new channel to get a TV show. SAUCE! is the name of the show. Please click on the link to access the 3 minute video. The show will feature the talents of the Hip Hostess NYC, a top chef and mixologist to create the ultimate party. We demonstrate a cocktail and recipes for sauces and how to display your dishes in the most creative way. Cocktail brands, special food products, tableware, glassware, appliances, and anything that contributes to creating a party will all be showcased. Plus the most creative recipes of chefs and mixologists will form the body of the show.
PLEASE VOTE and VOTE OFTEN!
You can vote more than once...the more votes the better!
Spread the word...TV land needs a show like this to celebrate all the creative minds out there!
Thanks for your consideration.

Telling Time

QlockTwo tells the time, not by using numbers, but by using words. I love the understated, minimalist design by Biegert & Funk, who have attached the piece together with magnets, so it appears to float off the wall. It’s available in stainless steel and 5 fun colors: black ice tea, vanilla sugar, cherry cake, frozen blackberry, and lime juice. Check out the website, and see how it looks in each color in English, then for fun, switch to the 9 other languages: German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French, Danish, Russian, and Arabic. The clock spells out the time in five minute increments, and has a dot in each corner for every minute in between.

cat lovers go MOD!

Modkat has taken the mess and inconvenience of out dealing with the of realities of having cats as housemates. Designers, Brett Teper and Rich Williams, cat owners themselves, have tested and worked out every aspect of the litter box, from the scooper to the litter bag material. Not only does this design prevent litter from being scattered about, it also prevents other pets (dogs) from (ahem) interfering! Most importantly, it is not an embarrassment to have about. Seeing is believing, cats love it—check out the user-submitted videos of their cat’s reactions on the website.

nice TOUCH

I thought this post might come in “handy” after the recent snowfall. If you have a touch screen device, such as an IPhone, and have always had to remove gloves to answer the phone, here is your savior. Telefingers was developed by Chicagoan mom and daughter, who were sick of answering the phone with their noses! See a video from Mac Life here, which show how the gloves work.

organicspamagazine.com

SEPT / OCT ISSUE
BEST IN GREEN DESIGN

See my picks for the latest and best in kitchen design, renovation tips, and garden sanctuaries. From the contributer's page, some background info:

Ellen Swandiak has had a lifelong love affair with design. Every space she has ever lived in has undergone at least one transformation. Whether shopping for accessories, pouring through design magazines, checking out apartments in other cites (just to see), or admiring friends' homes, the passion for beautiful things and ingenious design never ends. "I love mixing a minimalist backdrop with the focus on a few splendid objects." She especially enjoys the "find" scouted from a vacation, which preserves the memory of time spent exploring exotic places. "I think it is really important to surround yourself with the things you love to look at, because it brings joy into your life on a daily basis. They don't need to be expensive, but should make you smile when you see them."