THN WATCH IN PURP.

GET IT...THN Watch by Flud Watches

ROCK IT: PUBLIC ENEMY.

GET IT...The Love Hurts Muscle Tank by Public Enemy

BOHO BABES.

TO GO: KAWAII JAPANESE OUTLET

Kawaii Japanese Outlet

Chicago has well-developed neighborhoods for Chinese, Southeast Asian and Korean goods, but if you are yearning for Japanese items, your best bet is to scour the dusty back shelves of general Asian shops or take a trip to Mitsuwa in Arlington Heights. Thus, I was tickled to stumble upon a new kid on the block, Kawaii Japanese Outlet, which just opened about six weeks ago. Located in the middle of University Village on Halsted, Kawaii's warm, brightly lit storefront will transport you to the land of the rising sun, with the beats of J-pop playing on the speakers.

The offerings here include assorted sundries that you never knew you needed, like Hello Kitty tote bags, laundry baskets, a vast array of fake eyelashes and other efficiency gadgets that are the cornerstone of Japanese products. There are wall hangings, office supplies, and beauty supplies, all with a Japanese bent. Needless to say, everything in sight is kawaii, or cute to the max. 

What does this have to do with you, foodies? Well, in addition to the other neat items, they have a decent selection of cooking utensils and dry goods. You can pick up all the basics here, like sushi mats, rice paddles, knives and ladles. With the Japanese love for compact storage and packaging, you will not be surprised to find a large assortment of heavy-duty tupperware and other specialized food containers. There is also a well-thought-out section of snack and dry goods, where you can get dashi powder, instant miso soup base, soba noodles, and Hello Panda shortbread biscuits. Mochi ice cream is available in a handful of flavors. 

Matching the rest of the shop, the staffers behind the counter are bubbly personalities who greet you upon arrival with a cheery "Hello" (rather than the obligatory "Irasshaimase!" in Tokyo). Upon entering, I was plied with samples of lemon candies, packed with my daily value of vitamin C, and Calpico, a non-carbonated dairy-based fruit drink. I tried the lychee, which was pleasantly fruity with a yogurt tang.

Sure, it's no Mitsuwa, but if you need furikake in a pinch or need to satiate a craving for Ichiban ramen pronto, Kawaii is there for you. Besides, a car is required to get to Arlington Heights, while Kawaii is actually in the city. Did I mention that prices are slightly lower than Mitsuwa too?

A beautiful selection of chopsticks, there was also a nice assortment of Japanese bowls and flatware, so that you can better display your round sushi on square plates, and vice versa.

Bento boxes and the accompanying encased chopsticks and tote bags. I was amused to see that the exact same bento box I bought from a 100-yen shop in Tokyo last fall was now available practically in my own backyard. Ah, the power of globalization.

Other accessories to add pizazz to your bento box, such as egg molds, onigiri molds, and hot dog-to-octopus cutters. If straining to decipher the labels leaves you feeling lost in translation, feel free to ask Kawaii staffers for help.

More yumminess!

Kawaii Japanese Outlet
1338 S. Halsted (and Maxwell)
(312) 970-0094
Open: Mon-Thurs 10-9 pm, Fri-Sat 10-10 pm and Sun 12-9 pm

Excerpt from: Chicago Foodies

BOMBSHELL: THE UK'S DAISY LOWE.

Ms. Daisy Lowe is undefinable...at least in my opinion. Of course, she's been labeled a bombshell, but she is a style chameleon (like myself) and therefore, somewhat of a mystery. I've seen a ton of her on blogs lately and if you peruse my archives, you will find a video that was taken of her during a cover shoot for British Esquire. 

BEING BOHEMIAN.

I stumbled upon this blog post today as I perused through page after page of bohemian/hippie inspired blogs. I particularly enjoyed this post on the Inspire Bohemia blog, entitled, Bohemian Rhapsody Vol. 1. Below you will find the written part of the blogpost. If you would like to view the beautiful pictures (some of which I have previously grabbed from a plethora of sites and added to my own personal collection) that accompany this literary work, click on the highlighted text links. Enjoy!

 

Bohemian Rhapsody Vol. 1

A bohemian (apart from technically being a native of Bohemia itself) is often used to refer to "a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices." For me, Bohemian style is something defined by each individual... it's like a paint palette on which an artist blends his colors, over time it becomes layered with the colors from all of his masterpieces, the evidence of his passion and labor. For me, my style is just the same, evidence and expression of my travels, my passions, my creativity and the essence of my personality. Both in fashion and design, I am a whirlwind of bohemianism - a collage of all the things I love, uninhibited by convention.

Bohemian style is articulated over time, it's a passionate collection of global beauty unregulated by trends or pretentious order, it is a reflection of ones personality and above all it makes for a warm and cozy sanctuary from the daily grind! There's no style I love more than an eclectic and artistic amalgamation of furniture, art and accessories! Even if a bohemian isn't your cup of tea, you can still apply it to your own style by remembering to follow your own inspirations and ideas of beauty and not let trends and opinions effect the expression of who you are and what makes you happy!

Amen! And now, enjoy the first volume of what I consider to be some amazing bohemian themed inspiration photos........ oh, and have a wonderful weekend!

ANA AVATAR.

Meeee...avatar'd out on Maui : )

CHICTOPIA FAVES.

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BLOGLOVIN.

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TRANCY NANCY.

CHICKS ON SPEED.

Chicks on Speed: 'Super Surfer Girl' (directed by Mariah Garnett, 2008).

 
From original press release notes found on phinnweb.blogspot.com: 

It may be winter in central Europe, but somewhere it's hot hot summer, like in down under Australia.

The Single 'Super Surfer Girl', in CHIX style, isn't just a song, but a full-blown international advertising campaign, based around a range of girls surfwear, COS designed in collaboration with Insight, Australia, titled "INSIGHT ON CHICKS ON SPEED" to be launched on December 5th worldwide, along with a video, by New York artist Mariah Garnett.

Always with Attitude, the Chicks created the song Super Surfer Girl, as an anthem for surf babes the world over, poking fun at feminist theory, and yet, empowering and encouraging young women to take their destiny into their own hands. 'Super Surfer Girl' is WALL OF SOUND and the love of kitsch combined into a celebration of beach and rough surf culture.

  

I WANT TO SEE...

...THROUGH THESE!


Introducing the Ray Ban: Clubmaster in multi-stripes on white. These shades MUST be mine.