I just discovered the coolest website: fredflare. It’s full of awesome, kitschy things, such as lamps, light switch covers and jewelry. I particularly adore these plant decorations. Lawn art for the urbanite, these little guys are made to stick inside potted plants, so not having a lawn is no problem. I also saw a cuckoo clock that I like, not to mention an owl necklace, which could further my obsession with the little hooters.

I’ve always kinda liked Christina Aguilera, and even though she’s considered a “pop star” she’s garnered enough respect that that’s not an embarrassing admission (the way it would be if one said they always kinda liked Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson). Though she was lumped in with them as part of the late-90s blonde pop sensation, she always seemed a bit different to me. First there’s her voice; no one can deny her talent. Her videos were often edgier (see “Fighter” for example) and her music seemed more influenced by other genres. I can’t fathom Jessica Simpson singing alongside Li’l Kim, but Christina did it twice. I’ve also always thought she exuded a weird blend of do-me sex appeal (“Genie in a Bottle,” “Dirrty,” “Lady Marmalade”) and feminist confidence (“Fighter,” “Can’t Hold Us Down,” “Beautiful,” “What a Woman Wants”).

Her newest disc, Back to Basics, drops on August 15, and I’m curious to hear the two album set. She claims that it was influenced by jazz, and I’m sure she was also inspired by married life. According to an article in People magazine:

“Back to Basics pays homage to vintage jazz, soul and blues styles, which Aguilera says inspire her. ‘Not to say that music today doesn’t have heart, but it’s really few and far between because technology has advanced itself so much that anybody can be a singer,’ she says. ‘Back in the day, you had to know how to sing.’

Her new single, “Ain’t No Other Man” is really great (evidently it was inspired by her new hubby); I just added it to my workout playlist. I’m excited to hear more.

Well, apparently, the Bronze Age collection extends beyond dinnerware. I love this lamp, and I need this little owl for my collection.

I really like this Bronze Age collection of dinnerware from Target. I have absolutely zero need for more dishes, so I can’t justify getting the whole set, although I did pick up a couple of pieces. There was a really neat capiz platter that I didn’t get (it was $24.99), but the salad plates and small tumblers were so affordable I just had to snag a few. I’m sure I’ll add to the collection each time I go back (which is pretty much weekly!).

When I first moved to Atlanta two years ago, I was stoked to find out that the nearby mall had a Crate and Barrel store. While I still love these canisters, it turns out that most of the stuff there isn’t really my style. Plus, I find that most of the items are overpriced (at lease compared to what you get).

So I was pleased to discover cb2, a sleek, modern offshoot of the original Crate and Barrel. They have affordable furnishings that are also cool looking. I love the Audrey wall clock, and I really dig the day-glo Buddhas. They also have dining sets, bedding, personal accessories, and a large range of decorative accents.