Sun Jar by Suck UK

I absolutely love this sun jar! Just looking at it makes me happy. These Sun Jar's are made in the UK by Suck Uk and were designed by Tobias Wong. They charge during the day and light up at night. The jar is made out of a traditional mason jar and high tech energy efficient lighting. When the jar is placed in sunlight the solar cell creates an electrical current that charges the battery over a few hours. This energy is then used at night to power the three LED lamps inside the jar.
You can turn the sun jar off (so that it doesn't automatically light up) to conserve the power so that you can use it at night. The Sun Jar can be left outside because they were made water tight just incase your house or apartment isn't bright enough. Once charged by the sun, the Sun Jar will last about five hours. Cool huh?

Sun Jars need direct sunshine to work

Sun Jar by Tobias Wong - $44 available for purchase in the US online at charlesandmarie.com

Great for a garden or a kid's bedroom

Cheese Plates

I love cheese and I adore unique cheese plates. I'm sure this will be the first of several posts about cheese and their displays but I thought I'd feature a few cheese plates just in time for the holidays. They make great gifts too!

I visit the JK Adams store almost every time I am in Vermont and they have such beautiful slate. This piece actually has names of cheese written on it. The names featured are: Asiago, Bleu, Camembert, Cheddar, Chevre, Colby, Edam, Feta, Gorgonzola, Gouda, Guyere, Havarti, Monterey jack, Mozzarella, Munster, Parmesan, Pepper Jack, Provolone, Romano, and Swiss.

Vermont Slate Cheese Plate with Names - $28.00 at JKAdams.com

Monogrammed Cheese Plate can be customized with up to three letters.

Monogrammed Slate Cheese Plate - $44.00 for a 16"x12" plate at JKAdams.com

Williams-Sonoma Grand Tour Cheese Plate - $39.00 at Williams-Sonoma.com

Unique Clip Boards

I came across these clip boards on etsy and fell in love! I think clip boards are a great gift for any mom you know who needs to keep track of all of her papers and notes. Wait until you see the options I've picked out:

Know any cheerleading coaches?
Cheerleading Clipboard by slimdgm - $23.00 at Etsy.com

Know any troop leaders?
Girlscout Clipboard by slimdgm - $23.00 at Etsy.com

Know a bride to be? This is one of my favorites and a great gift for any bride planning her wedding.
Wedding Clipboard - $15.00 at Etsy.com

Eleni's Cookies New York

Last week we went to the New York Food and Wine Festival and had the best mini cupcakes made by Eleni's. Eleni's makes adorable cookie sets for baby showers as well as tons of other occasions. I also happen to like the handbag set for a friend.

Bundle of Boy by Eleni's Cookies - $59.50 at Elenis.com

New Baby Girl Cookies by Eleni's NYC - $65 at Elenis.com

Designer Handbag Cookies by Eleni - $75 at Elenis.com

Aprons

I am such a sucker for aprons. I'm not always the neatest cook even though I try to be. I hate splattering something on one of my favorite shirts...oil is usually the hardest to get out. When I'm baking, flour gets all over the place and I'm notorious for wiping my forehead while my hand is full of flour.
I can either wear shirts I don't care as much about or I can do what I love to do which is to wear one of my aprons. I can't explain it but I just feel pretty in most of my aprons. I can throw them into the laundry afterwards (delicate cycle) and they always come out clean.
My favorite aprons are those that are vintage or just unique. I've bought a couple at anthropolgie.com and my absolute favorite is one that my room mate from college bought me at a garage sale! It's a pink checkered waist tie around apron with stitching on the front. I also bought one from a lady in town who makes them...I'll post the one I bought first. Here are a couple that I like:

I bought the one above at The Craft Lounge which is a new crafting boutique in town. THe lady who makes them also has them available on her on site which is: SadiePulitzer.com
for $25

Jessie Steele Apron at Girlyaprons.com - $25.95

Farm Fresh Half Apron at Anthropologie.com - $28.00