i heart pandas.

they are just sooo cute. i can't stand it. really.

they are always sleeping because bamboo does not have enough nutritional value to keep them going all day.



if i looked that good sleeping, i would sleep all the time too.

these pandas are from the National Zoo.



this panda could run for president.



red pandas are fun! they look like foxes.



my dream is to go to China and actually hold one. they let you do that over there...

Shaq is living my dream. (and the panda thinks it's hilarious.)



for now, i might just have to get a panda outfit and take a nap.


(photos via Flickr)

"i don't really like talking about my flair."

(Office Space)

but talking about flair is fun! and that's what Chotchkie's is all about. (ok, no more Office Space references...)

seriously though, Fred Flare is a great site for cute gifts or a fun party dress (although i have yet to take the plunge and actually buy clothes). BUT, if you are looking for super cute gifts for people you love, or the jacket Bella wore in Twilight (TWILIGHT!), this is the website for you.

also cool:

1) their theme is "Fred Flare / Stay Cute!". (love that.)
2) when you buy something, the box comes with printing on it that says "Fred Flare <3's You!"...and i feel loved.

oh, and it is based in Brooklyn, NY, so if you live on the east coast you get your stuff quick!

some cute stuff i am contemplating:


great valentine's day dress!




i mean...how cute?



put this over white tshirt and you are out the door...




also cool.



russian doll measuring cups!


"key" usb flash drive.



ready for spring with this cardigan!

there is so much good stuff that they sell, it is hard not to find a million things that you want to buy for yourself or other people who deserve some "flare" in their life! love it.

i can't believe it's over.

i just finished watching all five seasons of the HBO show The Wire. all i have to say is:

greatest. show. ever.

here are a few of my favorites...i miss them already!

looking forward to David Simon's new show, Treme, about New Orleans...hoping that it is even half as good as The Wire. fingers crossed.

pure pop.

it is impossible to be in a bad mood after listening to this!

remember the 90's? specifically Ace of Base?? well if you liked them, you will probably like Alphabeat! they are Danish and awesome. their new song is sooo catchy and fun! (and i want the sparkly blue dress in the video...)

now if only itunes in the U.S. sold their albums...

tie dye updated.

remember tie dye? well here is an upgrade! Shabd Simon-Alexander uses space as inspiration for her tie dye pieces--love it! obsessed with this scarf...so pretty.

i don't even wear leggings, but if i did i think these would be pretty rockin' to wear with a slouchy, long black top and black heels.





see full collection here.

(via The Cut blog)

lovely.

i love hydrangeas. i love that they grow on bushes like this:

they seem so accessible. i would love to have a hydrangea bush in my garden. (i would love to have an actual garden...downside to city living.)

i especially like the purple/blue color, but they come in so many other great colors:

something to brighten up the day!

i want.

(www.tiffany.com)

these. or pretty much anything by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. these earrings are a mere $145,000. maybe next christmas?

Schlumberger jewelry i would also accept as a present:

(www.tiffany.com)

this brooch is reasonably priced at $30,000 (!).

Schlumberger's most famous work is probably his setting(s) for the "Tiffany Diamond", bought by Charles Tiffany in 1877.

it used to be in this setting:

(http://www.modernsilver.com/tiffany.htm)

but now it is in this iconic setting called "Bird on a Rock".

quite a rock, indeed.

(www.wikipedia.com)

art.

Manet, Chez Tortoni, 1878–1880

why do people steal it? the above was stolen in 1990 from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston along with twelve other priceless pieces. the museum has an incredible collection and it is so sad that someone would take something that is not theirs and deny people the opportunity to see this art. i love Manet, and would have enjoyed seeing this painting in person...

for more info on the theft and for pictures of the other items stolen, click here.

yumm.

australian licorice is delicious! while i have resorted in the past to paying a ridiculous amount of money (for licorice) to get my hands on some Kokaburra, i recently found that Trader Joes has a remarkably similar product at a much more comfortable price point. now i can have austrailian licorice all the time! which is good/bad.

also, delicious (and because i just ate two cookies):


girl scout samoa cookies = heaven.

space.

(click for larger picture)

is cool. nasa has a great website where they post an "astronomy picture of the day". check it out.

this galaxy is Messier 94 and is approx 15 million light years away from us. it was discovered in 1781. amazing.

also:

(click for larger picture)

andrometa galaxy, 2 1/2 million light years away.

also:

classic.

Holiday is a classic and Katherine Hepburn is incredible in it.

three strands of diamonds goes with...everything!

i love kiehls.

especially this. use it on hair, body, whatevs. thank me later.

pink.

(via www.desiretoinspire.net)

clean, yet colorful.

all things orange.

loving orange these days. roomlust blog has a great post on all things orange.

Burberry trench redux.

great update to the iconic Burberry trench by Christopher Bailey for Colette.

dreaming of Hermes...

beautiful ad campaign by Hermes.