News from BelleRinger PR

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET Nothing is exactly what you get when you purchase this non-product from British company I Want One Of Those (IWOOT). The item description on their site calls it " . . . a lovingly crafted vial of emptiness . . . " It's great for the person who has everything, doesn't want anything or just plain doesn't deserve a thing. The product struck a chord - it sold out in mid-December and IWOOT won't have new inventory until early January. Those of us with concerns about the environment may cringe - the non-product sells for $6.28 in American dollars and ships for approximately the same amount. Imagine the good those dollars could do if donated to a responsible green charity . . .

CLASSIC BUILDING BLOCKS - WITH A TWIST Ever dream of your child growing up bilingual? Or able to communicate through sign language? Building blocks from Uncle Goose make it possible for your child to learn while playing. The company's beautiful basswood blocks are also available in sign language symbols, Braille and 12 languages. The aesthetics of the blocks are also pleasing; they feature bevelled edges, embossed letters/numerals/signs, and non-toxic inks (see the site for more details). And the price is right - $30 will get you a bag of blocks that should last at least two generations. (Seen on babygadget .)

IN THE DARK is where I wouldn't want to be with a Living Dead Doll . I missed these pretties when I substituted gift cards for toy stores - probably a good thing for my niece's sake. There are over 50 collectible dolls in the 12 series - something for every taste. The first Living Dead Dolls Art Show was held in NYC Nov. 1-14, 2006, where creators of these cult collectibles - Ed, Damian and Mez - invited 100 designers to submit renditions and suggestions for the next series. (Thanks for this find goes to The Cool Hunter .)

LOW-MAINTENANCE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PET The hippest new pet these days hails from Dcuk . These curious wooden ducks soothe the consciences of environmentalists (they're made from recycled teak and sustainable bamboo) and would-be pet owners (the only maintenance is a dust cloth). Each dcuk has a name (Sarah just joined my family) and is individually carved. The dcuk's best attribute from my perspective? No vet bills!

THE "MUST HAVE" FOR SLEEPING BEAUTIES This beautiful sleep mask is my choice for the best bedroom accessory. Indie designer Katie's use of silk dupioni ensures the mask caresses the face. This mask is reversible from red to black; it's also available in white polka dot/black silk. She cleverly padded the layers with soft fleece that makes it comfortable for side sleepers. Katie also makes jewelry travel bags that are so pretty you'll start packing for a trip!

#3 ON MY CHRISTMAS LIST Well, sort of. My readers have been keeping track of the items I'm putting on my Christmas list - in hopes that my husband reads this blog. I've been looking for the perfect necklace - the kind you can wear every day if you want to. When I stumbled across this beautiful bad hair day pendant from Nek Jewelry I had to buy it. The folks at Nek say it's from an Argentinian beauty school and is one-of-a-kind. The pendant is infused with a charm that is supposed to drive the eyes away from unfortunate hair. Let's hope it works! (They suggest wearing a hat if it doesn't.)

THE PERFECT SECRET SANTA GIFT I couldn't help but giggle when I saw this belt on the Great Green Goods site today. Unique belts are great for adding a touch of whimsy or originality to an outfit. And the green and red on this belt are perfect for the holidays. But seriously, what kind of mindset would you have to be in to put this on? "I can eat anything I want - and still wear a size 4!" "Won't Aunt Jan love this (hee hee)!" Take a look at Refinding for more fun (and practical) gear!

FOR THE HOSTESS WHO HAS EVERYTHING Grace at design*sponge finds the most original - and hip - house goodies out there. I'm in awe of these beautiful trays by French designer Frederique Morrell. Morrell finds and preserves vintage needlepoint pieces by laminating them onto journals, trays, lunchboxes and keyrings. As a needlepoint junkie (I've been stitching for 10+ years) I appreciate both the time and energy spent in the actual stitching of the canvases in addition to Morrell's preservation of these exquisite pieces. Cursive NYC carries an assortment of Morrell's work.

PEOPLE-WATCHING I can spend hours sifting through photos of old family friends and relatives, looking at the scrawled messages on the back and wondering how I'm connected to these people. I don't know who these dancers but neither does the person who posted the photo. It's part of the Look At Me project, which started with a few photos found by Frederic Bonn and Zoe Deleu in a Paris street in 1998. The site allows us to peek at strangers through photos taken from the 1900s to the 1970s. The collection contains approximately 616 photos of nameless individuals and groups; photos found in the streets, at flea markets, or in attics. I can't decide if I prefer the photos from the early 1900s or the laughing groups from later in the century. Take a look when you have a little bit of time; it's a relatively private way of people-watching.

DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR GIFT LIST Last night I reviewed my holiday shopping list and discovered that a VIP was missing from it. My pal Frankie is the Very Important Pet in my life and to leave him off the gift list would be a gross mistake. There are too many ways my 30-lb. canine friend could (and does) punish me. Fortunately his latest method - dragging blankets, throws, and sheets all over the house - is less destructive then past punishments. This morning I started browsing the usual pooch sites for a suitable gift and found this fun carrier at Pet Paris . Though Frankie's too large to be toted around I can still appreciate a carrier that has a fur-lined entrance, a coordinating fur blankie, and a skull that glows in the dark (!).

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LOVE TO EAT I stumbled across Hungry Girl one week before Halloween, when I had made the self-destructive mistake of buying two bags of "fun size" candy bars. The timing was truly unfortunate; I had opened one of the bags the night before reading Lisa's column about the horrors of the little goodies. I've since come to love the HG (Hungry Girl, for those of you not in the know) site. In addition to nutrition info and eating tips, Lisa reviews and introduces packaged foods and shares original recipes. I was very impressed by her recipe for homemade peanut butter cups - I wish I'd seen it before Halloween. And I already appreciate the Holiday help she's doling out. I believe the success of Lisa's site is due to her own experiences. She admits that she loves to eat and battled with that extra 25 lbs. that too many of us know too well. Her site is packed with fun, facts, and creative ideas, and makes you want to go back for another help...

TIME TO SEND OUT HOLIDAY CARDS . . . As readers of my blog already know, I love unique and custom stationery and paper goods. There are a lot of fun cards out there but I haven't seen too many postcards. Hammerpress makes a full line of stationery, wedding invitations, cards, and yes, postcards. The company's art is very vintage in its look and feel - you can't get more vintage than pressed lead type! This is one of their Christmas postcards - don't you love it!

#2 ON MY CHRISTMAS LIST The next goodie on my Christmas list is a bag from 1154 Lill . I can't begin to tell you how many I've designed through their online shop - only to sigh and leave them in the cart for 'later'. I absolutely love choosing my bag's style, fabrics, shoulder straps (for totes), inside compartments and more. The reversible bags are my favorites - it's like a 2 for 1! 1154 has a lot of competition out there but I haven't found any that beat their selection of fabrics, accessories, etc. I noticed that they've expanded their selection of 'pre-designed' bags - the one in this photo is reversible and available off the shelf. I'm trying not to sound like an ad for 1154 but I'm simply gaga over them. My Santa knows the gift certificate to put in my stocking!