This set of glasses consisting of a butterfly, spider and spider web are simply beautiful individually or as a prey vs. predator scenario. They were created by design group Propoganda, which was established in 1994 by of group of advertising executives who set out to instill the innate sense of Thai playfulness into every day products.

*via Mr. Matt Spangler via devincastro

We’re big fans of whiskey.  I like Oban and D prefers a Lagavulin.  So when I came across these Whiskey Stones design by Teroforma, I was pretty darn excited.   Made out of natural soapstone from Vermont, they take advantage of the fact that soapstone has a unsual ability to conduct and retain coldness, making it a perfect solution for chilling our whiskey without watering it down.  Can’t wait to give them a try.

On a perfect Tuesday morning we enjoyed:

Homemade Watermelon Agua Fresca
Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
Siphoned Courier Coffee
Moo’s famous banana bread
Local blueberry scones
Chocolate chip scones with an espresso glaze
Olive oil granola
Local blueberries, blackberries and raspberries
Creamy papas con chiles
Homemade tortillas!
Scrambled eggs with queso fresca
Carlton Farms Bacon
Pico de gallo
Guacamole

These lovelies, made of 100% wool, are crocheted by the amazingly talented hands of Sandra Juto in Gothenburg, Sweden.  I think I might have to get myself two pairs…

You can buy them here.

I love the small coincidences in life.  I came across these intricate and gorgeous terrariums at Paula Hayes’s studio on East 13th street in NYC.  When I went online to see more of her work, I discovered that in addition to her terrariums, bird feeders and silicone planters, she also happens to be a fellow Skidmore alum.

Paula has designed landscapes and gardens for a few lucky ones including renowned designer Jill Stuart and gallerists David & Monica Zwirner (who coincidentally represent Marcel Dzama.)

Enjoy the playfulness of Paula’s website here.

How lovely are these Nesting Rose Bowls from White Forest Pottery?

I first spotted her work in the February issue of Food and Wine embracing chocolate pots de creme and once I saw her other work I couldn’t quite yet enough.

Nancy Bauch, the founder and creator of all things at White Forest Pottery, is an artist living in the Hudson River Valley.

*photos taken from www.askinosie.com

I have to admit; I’m a bit spoiled.  I have amazing and dear friends who have great taste and appreciate food, design, experiences and branding .  This year, one of the gifts I received was a bar of Askinosie Chocolate.  Not only is it beautifully packaged; it is some of the best chocolate I’ve ever had.  In honor of the fact that we finished the last few squares last night after dinner, I thought I would share a bit about this chocolate so you can go out and enjoy it for yourself.

Askinosie Chocolate is a small company based out of Springfield, Missouri.  One of the things that makes them unique is that they are the first small batch chocolate maker in the U.S. to press their own cocoa butter and are the only makers of natural cocoa powder.  Perhaps also why I found their chocolate so divine…

The particular bar I was given was made of  75% Cocoa Beans from Soconusco, Mexico (this includes 1% Askinosie cocoa butter that they make with the same beans). Each of their batches of chocolate varies slightly because they experiment with texture.   However, on each bars there is a Choc-o-lot # and if you enter it here you’ll find out a number of goodies about your bar.  My Choc-o-lot # was 102208.

I found out that my bar lived this life:

7/21/2008    the beans were shipped to our factory.
9/15/2008    beans were roasted to perfection bringing out all the flavors.
9/22/2008    cocoa liquor, sugar, and cocoa butter were mixed to make chocolate
9/22/2008    roasted nibs were mixed into a paste called liquor in our universal
10/22/2008  your product was packaged by hand.
3/27/2009     given as a birthday present to Dan and I
4/9/20009     no more chocolate.  Sad

You can order directly from their website and even visit their factory.

Askinosie Chocolate
514 E. Commercial
Springfield, MO 65803