Year-Round Valentine's Day

I've been struggling for the right words for Valentine's Day decorating, but am in a bit of a sugar cookie-induced haze. I had a speaking engagement today, and the lovely audience thanked me with a big tray of sugar cookies with inch-thick icing. I can barely move, much less form a coherant thought.

Instead of pontificating, here is a breakdown of some things that COULD be considered Valentine's Day specific, but are actually sold year-round. Therefore, you don't have to feel self-conscious displaying these wonderful things past Feb. 14th.

The Max Litterbox by Cats Rule, at Petco. I saw this over the weekend and really couldn't stop thinking about how this company managed to make a cat toilet so lovely and whimsical. See website for store locations.

The Fleur-de-lys drinking glass at Anthropologie (Rittenhouse Square) transforms simple tap water in to ambrosia. All for $8 a pop. I've been meaning to buy a set of these for a while, but have previously been put off by the somewhat hard edges and the teeming mass of humanity that descends on the store on Saturdays, my preferred shopping day. But someday, these will be mine.

But nothing says romance quite like this sexy tiger rug. All kidding aside, a tiger rug is great for breaking up the monotony of both your marriage and a monochromatic decorating scheme. Really. Everybody becomes much more interesting when a sassy rug is in a room. Head straight to Matthew Izzo to buy one.

But at least I could shop

My apologies about being AWOL for about two weeks. I will spare you the details, but I came down with a severe bronchial infection. It was decidedly not glamorous.

However, there is one good thing about all that bed rest, besides watching a weekend of That Girl...online shopping. I'm one of millions who puts off shopping until the last available moment, which turns out to work in my favor, since retailers start marking things down. Not that I'm cheap, mind you, just exuberant. I like buying lots at a time, in multiples.

As usual, anthropologie has the best home stuff on sale. Here are a few things that I liked:

- Glass Candlesticks (left), about $8/piece. Glass candlesticks are pretty fantastic, because they give you a nice stately tablescape without entirely blocking everyone's view. The light reflects on the glass, which is a pretty effect.

- Lion Workshop Toy, $10. I'm a big advocate of using children's home accessories as legitimate decor. Buy two, use them as accent pillows--works particularly well on "modern" style sofas.

- Fleur de sel lamp, $60 This lamp sort of reminds me of the fantastic Bodo Sperlein collection for Spanish ceramics maker Lladro. The texture is magnificent. Because it's all in white, the overall texture, not necessarily the rosettes, that is noticed. So I wouldn't worry about this being too frou-frou.

Party Before the Family Arrives

Fortify yourself with champagne cocktails, goodies and much-needed shopping before having to face endless family gatherings. Scarlett Alley (241 Race St.) is having a Holiday Party tomorrow night from 4-8:30 pm. You can view the invitation here. They'll be having a special on ornaments.

I know, I can't bear to think of tree-decorating either, but when I'm a sucker for animal-shaped ornaments, like the penguin at left by MoMa. Also look at the turkey serveware.

Photo from ScarlettAlley.com

Note: Apparently, I have the IQ of a cupcake at times. This event is this Wednesday, the 29th, not last week. Silly, silly. I'll chalk it up to both holiday and penguin-shaped ornament excitement.

Fun on the Table

Place cards have a very poor reputation-they're the sort of things you see at stuffy little tea parties or dreary dinner parties. I haven't looked back on any of my experiences and said, "You know what would've made Eunice's party so much better? Place cards! That, and not getting my hair caught on fire in the centerpiece."

But if you are a fun individual (and you are if you're reading this), you can make place cards work to your advantage. Start with these fantastic Animal Placecard Holders from west elm (1330 Chestnut St). You probably should buy about four sets at LEAST, since little silver giraffes have a way of going missing. Besides, having lots of placecard holders can be good karma--the more you have, the more fun little gatherings you'll want to have. If everyone had animal-shaped placecard holders, perhaps there would be no such thing as hermits.

Anyway, what can you do after you buy the holders? You can either dutifuly fill cards out with everyone's name, then waste three whole evenings trying to find the right place for your guests. OR you can fill out the cards with the names of splashy/tawdry historical figures, literary characters ("No, I get to be Moll Flanders!") or fun made-up names.

Photo from westelm.com

In Praise of the Kids' Table

Oh I can get so deliriously envious at the decorating options available to babies. You know, for little spit-up machines with varying stages of consciousness, they sure have much cheerier options of tableware than we grown-ups do.

Wouldn't you prefer to see this mug (BabyCie, available through Open House, 107 S. 13th St.) in the morning rather than a depressing, chipped, sensible earth-tone stoneware vessel? After all, who doesn't like giraffes? Especially french giraffes, which are actually spelled girafe and are therefore 1000 times fancier than normal giraffes.

Hmph.

Jewels Are Life Enhancing

Personally, I have never gravitated towards using candles as home decor. Nothing against candles and the people who use them, really. It's just that I would feel a need to buy whimsically shaped candles, and then I would feel terrible lighting them. And if I just didn't light them, the candles would accumulate dust, and then I would feel bad about neglecting them. It's really a vicious cycle that I wasn't willing to participate in, if you can somehow follow that.

But I must say that I'm thinking of revising my opinion re: candles, all because of these vaguely medieval Jewel Stem Candle Holders, available at P.H.A.G.-Philadelphia Home Art Garden (252 S. 12th). They'd make a very nice impact on your Thanksgiving/Holiday tables, breaking up the formal nonsense of plain white china.

The Case of the Missing Pants and Found Owls

I went to Anthropologie (1801 Walnut) this Sunday, fully intending on buying a pair of pants.

I left with the owl sake set, pictured at left, instead. I snagged the last owl-shaped cup, but there were still many owl-shaped teapots left. You can buy sets of two cups at the online storefront.

Who knows how this amusing substitution happened--perhaps I'm just very susceptible to owl-shaped stoneware--but I originally thought I was getting a tea set. Maybe this should be Anthropologie's new motto: You go in for pants, leave with a tea set, and eventually find out that you have a sake set.

Photo from anthropologie.com

Today's Lesson: What Exactly is Capiz?

Capiz shells have been a big trend for a while, used mainly as wall hangings and in chandelier fixtures. I didn't pay too much attention to the material, since I found it to be cumbersome, noisy and well...a bit of a rip-off. I recall west elm selling three strands of skimpy, hanging capiz shell pendants strewn on fishing wire, at an alarming price for the quantity given.

Remember the big "tissue-weight cotton" layering trend of a few years back? You know it was just a trend manufactured in order to get unsuspecting shoppers to buy multiple tank tops. Same for the capiz shell pendants- they look lovely clustered together, but you'd need to spent about $200+ for a proper look.

Above, is a great example of how you can incorporate the luminous qualities of capiz shells without a lot of hassle, fishing wire, or dealing with unfair price points. It's a capiz bowl from Ten Thousand Villages (1122 Walnut St). Wouldn't it look fantastic with a bunch of lemons in it?

*Note: I've been told that capiz is actually a thin, off-white colored portion of the shell of a clam.

(photo from tenthousandvillages.com)

Genuine Table Linens

There is just something about buying table linens that makes one feel so grown-up and domestic, isn't there?

The trouble is (and I am speaking from experience) that it's very difficult to find appropriate tablecloths that aren't made of vinyl or too formal. At left, is a wonderful runner from linen boutique Linu (1036 Pine). It's an original statement that would work well with coffee mugs or fine china.

There's also a lovely selection of full tablecloths, napkins and other accessories. Personally, I'm partial to table runners, because you can still show off the color of the table, you don't have to worry about measurements and it's less likely to get dirty.

Everyday Rococo Accessories

Did you know that Cher is getting rid of her collection of Rococo and Gothic home furnishings, to start over in a 'simple' Moroccan-meets-plenty-of-teak decorating scheme? She is.

And while I sincerely wonder if she's been spending too much time at Pier 1 (not that there's anything wrong with doing so if Pier 1 is what you like, it is just odd picturing glamorous Cher around anonymous wicker sets), I'd like to take this opportunity to shoot down the myth that Rococo = complicated decorating.

At left, is a candleholder by Gervasoni, available at the newly opened, much-anticipated Bruges Home (323A Race St.). The silhouette evokes the overwrought splendor of the mid 19th-century, but the unexpected flatness and all-white color make the piece simple. It's a very witty candleholder, with nary a glimmer of gold in site.

Photo courtesy of Gervasoni

Re-live the School Field Trip Experience This Weekend

Labor Day weekend is so overrated, isn't it? The traffic, the crack of dawn slog to the beach/park/whatever and (at least this weekend), the threat of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ernesto ruining everything.

It's enough to make you want to stay in town.

And you should, because this weekend the East Falls Glassworks (3510 Scotts Lane) will be having a studio open-house. You can see all sorts of fancy glass-blowing techniques, and if the website is any indication, you may be able to see someone make a glass kite or novelty pig-shaped cup. Or you can just settle for a fancy bowl, left.

Your House Isn't a Home Unless You Have a Conversation Piece

So the other day, I was browsing the online collection of Architectural Antiques, when I stumbled upon this curious item (at left). I had absolutely no idea what its purpose was, but it appeared to be extraordinarily life-enhancing.

It turns out that this lovingly carved wooden bear is not only a professional life-enhancer, but is also a very serious Schnapps set. I'm not sure how much it is, but if you are in the market for a Schnapps bear, then money is probably no object in your pursuit of this rarified work of art.

Most homes are in dire need of items like these. These less-functional, lovingly crafted objects used to be called 'conversation pieces.' You know, whimsical shaped ashtrays, lamps shaped like a lady's leg, that sort of thing. Sure, possessing a chandelier made of novelty shot glasses won't get you on the cover of Architectural Digest, but it will banish awkward small talk from your parties. Short on conversation? Not so current in your knowledge of current events? Then move your Schnapps bear to the center of the room and watch your guests perk up (as is the case when liquor and carved bears are involved).

Just one small touch of whimsy is all you need to rescue your decor from the Blah Beige Syndrome (everything being so tasteful and correct that you no longer notice anything). You don't need to go so far as the Schnapps bear, but you can easily hang a more creative chandelier and not lose any style points. If your budget allows, go off to the splendidly named bahdeebahdu gallery (309 Cherry St) for the theatrical light sculptures. Site permission is needed to post photos, so you'll just have to see for yourself.

Have a Tea Party

Did you know that Philadelphians prefer tea over coffee, while New York prefers coffee over tea? I didn't either, until I heard a podcast from KYW on the subject of best places to get coffee and tea in the city. There was a nice gentleman from the Equal sweetener company who also insisted we mix Red Zinger (hibiscus) tea with Southern Comfort. Not really a morning person, I'd think.

Most of us are used to consuming bagged tea, mostly because loose tea is messy and we're not sure what to do with it. If you're thinking of making the fancy switch, you will need to start with a tea infuser of some sort. A tea ball (available from Remedy Tea Bar, 1628 Sansom St.), is very handy and easy to use, even if it does look like a microphone. I should also note that the people at Remedy take very kindly to people who are very new to the world of tea balls.

If you plan on having frequent tea parties, or just require more to your mornings, you should upgrade to a teapot with an infuser built in. The Bodum Tea Pot at Williams-Sonoma (200 S. Broad St.) is very basic, has a pleasing shape and a plunger that allows you to control the strength of the brew. The Flowering Tea Pot, also from Williams-Sonoma, is the Cirque du Soleil of tea- the included "tea flowers" bloom as they brew. The downside: The teapot is only 14-oz.

When you think of teacups, you normally think of porcelain. That's very nice, but I'm told it's not the most efficient material for consuming hot tea. Glass is the best, as it retains heat better than all other materials. Remedy has a selection of efficient tea-specific glassware, if you're so inclined.

TIP: Allergy-free centerpieces, inspired by Positano Coast.

Did an interview at Positano Coast (212 Walnut St.) in March and was bowled over by the abundance of lemons- they were in centerpieces, on the walls, in lucite columns, on the bar (left, below) etc. Lemons everywhere. While it was part of the theme of the restaurant- Positano Coast makes its own Limoncello- the lemons-lemons-everywhere theme warmed up the room considerably, no small feat on that drizzly March day.

I've kept this memory in the recesses of my brain until today, when allergies struck again, aided by the mother's day flowers displays everywhere. Wrote a note to self: Flowers are a BAD idea in allergy-filled Philadelphia. Judging by the swollen eyes and constant sneezing of passersby, Philadelphia attracts the sort of allergans that Dyson vacuum cleaners can't handle. We could turn 1 Liberty Place in to a Dyson vacuum cleaner, and we'd all still have the punched-in-the-face look of the allergy sufferer.

So do your guests a favor, and replace your centerpieces with fruit. A bowl of lemons, with a few votives scattered about, gives you the color and warmth of a floral display. A tall glass vase, such as this one from P.A.D. Home Furnishings (804 N. 2nd), filled with kumquats, limes or other small citrus, would complete a mini-bar setup (next to differing sizes of pitchers, glasses and bottles).

What on earth can you do with an egg cup?

Was poking about Manor Home and Gifts (210 S. 17th) when I came across a collection of egg cups. Initially, I was delighted by the range of styles- pewter colonial chic, modern, french country and this curious one shaped like a head (left). But then the big question: What can you possibly use an egg cup for these days?

Since I'm merely domestically inclined, as opposed to domestic (can set a proper table, but haven't the time to cook a proper course), the obvious answer- for a soft-boiled egg- does not apply. And when was the last time someone ate a soft-boiled egg anyway?

So leaving out eggs, you can do the following with an egg cup, depending on the size and materials: You can use it as a small candle holder (indeed, one of the egg cups at Manor Home doubles as a votive holder); to hold a serving of sauce for something dippable; as a single-serving sugar bowl with coffee; filled with a bit of water and holding a single large-head flower, snipped just below the bud; or as a makeshift, yet tasteful, shot glass.

The quest for a better vase.

Most of us own exactly one vase. Perhaps it was an ill-fated wedding gift, or a leftover from Valentine's Days gone by. Wherever it came from, the vase is gathering dust in some undisclosed corner of your house. Which is where it will stay when you finally have a floral arrangement to display.

Moments like that pushed me over the edge, in regards to vases. Not only does it make me anxious trying to determine the right pronunciation, but vases don't seem to be relevant to modern life as we know it, unless your lifestyle dictates the obsessive purchase of fresh blooms. But for most of us, re-purposing other things will do. Besides, it's much more charming and fresh to use something ordinary in an unexpected way.

My favorite non-vase is an empty bottle of fancy booze, particularly Lindeman's Lambic Ale. The wine bottle-like shape is made of a heavy green glass, with an old-fashioned, yet distinctly European label. Use a Lindeman's bottle to display a single daffodill, tulip, or lily. Most larger area liquor stores (like Canal's in Marlton) carry Lindeman's Lambic Ale for around $7.99-8.99.

This isn't going to win me points in the creativity category, but pottery also functions well as a vase (imagine that). Just think of this double-use when trying to justify the cost of a much-needed Jonathan Adler pottery piece.

For those with a minimalistic bent, put something sparse in one of these skinny zombie tumblers from CB2 (which is owned by Crate and Barrel). Group them, single-file, down the length of a rectangular dining room table, or across a mantle.

Domino Magazine suggests using tomato cans, a practice I support, even if I have no use for canned tomatoes in my daily life. It's an adorable look that doesn't appear as if you're trying too hard, and would make a pleasant display along a windowsill. Carnations would look darling. You're not limited to tomato cans, either- I think both the miniature and quart-sized milk cartons, opened as if you were using them, stuffed with flowers, would be very endearing.

Floating just the heads of roses in a teacup is a bit twee, but seems to be popular. I think the way to make this combination more glamorous would be to use plain white teacups, and to group them in a square formation on a low-set coffee table.

Utensil Liberation

The arrival of unseasonably lovely weather has driven all but myself to the outdoors. I've unceremoniously acquired seasonal allergies with the quickness normally reserved for acquiring the latest Marc Jacobs. Graced with a massive headache, I soothed my broken soul with a proper dinner of grilled cheese and tomato soup.

And then there was a regrettably Carrie Bradshaw-like thought: Are bowls really necessary for the single, metropolitan girl? Or dinner plates? Or tablespoons?

I'm not sure if it's a habit from the days of dorm living, or because my dishwasher can't accomodate most bowls, but I eat all liquid-based foods from a teacup (soup) or mug (cereal). It's not very glamorous at all, but its an eccentric habit that I'm not sure I'd like to give up. Mugs and teacups allow for instant portion control (really, how much tomato soup does one single person need to ingest), solves the etiquette problem of slurping and seems to be much tidier than eating from a bowl. If you subscribe to the teacup-is-better philosophy, then you also have eliminated the need for tablespoons, which are rather clumsy anyway and are the main reasons for slurping.

I also am enamored with using salad, or dessert plates as dinner plates. If you can't cook, this makes a little bit of good food seem plentiful, and gives you an automatic excuse for not having a full-course dinner party, automatically resulting in a stress-free occasion.

Most kitchen-in-a-box sets favor dinner plates and tablespoons over their more graceful and practical cousins. If you're planning to move in to a new place, or are trying to simplify your life, do yourself a favor and break from the Big Dinnerware reflex. The Gnome Mugs from Sur La Table (The Promenade at Sagemore, Marlton) are a bit pricey, but stylishly stand up to daily wear-and-tear. They're worth the price alone for the whimsical names (a gnome named Lucien!) and will enhance your mornings greatly. The coordinating salad-sized Gnome plates are so charming that guests will forget that "jerk chicken" you're serving is supposed to be merely "roasted." Glass mugs, also from Sur La Table, are the best choice for keeping cold items cold and hot items hot, much longer than standard porcelain, stoneware or plastic. A fancier option is the Midnight Magic Daylily cup and saucer from Manor Home (210 S. 17th St.).

Of course, there is the lingering problem of flatware. I've searched high and low for non-silver everyday stuff in the area that doesn't come in a standard 5-piece place-setting. If you want to permanently solve the problem of having excessive tablespoons and salad forks, your option is to buy some fancy-pants silverware. Having silverware, while high-maintenance, is enormously life-enhancing. Besides, there's that old rule that if you spend a great deal of money, you are no longer 'nuts' but 'lovably eccentric.' Head over to Tiffany's (1414 Walnut St.), and revel in the overdone splendor of the English King silverware, or the more Casual Friday Bamboo set. While you're there, pick up some Monkey straws to keep chocolate milk from staining your tablecloth.

Flown the Coop

There's a jewelry store in the Cherry Hill Mall that features these very grand crystal birds in their displays, possibly in the hopes that a large glittering pink parrot would positively compell us to buy a heart-shaped diamond ring. Well, I might have not fit their target demographic, as I left, sans heart-shaped diamond ring. Yet the crystal bird haunted me: Was this objet d'art available for purchase, and if so, where could I incorporate one in my drab daily life?

I immediately thought of the Archer Court salad servers sold by Neiman Marcus-owned Horchow. These overwrought branch-like salad throwers are just begging for a crystal bird of some sort. And behold, Swarovski came to my rescue. They offer not one, but three choices of birds for your very own overwrought utensils and the like. I'd rest my salad servers near the perch, in an unassuming way, in a buffet setting. The site also recommends the birds for your desk too, but unless you had one of those lovely light-filled offices, the birds would seem to be a depressing reminder of your lack of basic freedoms at work.

Swarovski birds are available at the Swarovski retail stores in King of Prussia and Willow Grove.