I think I used the exact same title the last time I posted about these gorgeous necklaces created by Mati McDonough and Moodswing Studio, but I couldn't resist letting everyone know the entire collection is now available and they are disappearing fast! 

Check out Peek Keep - totally cool home accessories, paper goods and - I love this - "little treasures". 

More cool adhesive wall art, this with a kooky, pop art, Giant Robot kind of look to it...check out Pop Cling! 

Thief alert - I swiped the title of this blog entry from Vanity Fair, and their recent blurb about Butch and Harold's new line of peel & stick artwork.  So much fun!! 

I love Muji's Wall Mounted CD player, which is now available at Muji Soho in NYC. 

[China Pepsi Can by Stella Lai] 

I'm not much of a soda drinker, but this is pretty cool -  a series of Pepsi cans that feature the work of artists from around the world spanning the Americas, Asia and Europe.

Even if you aren't in the market for wallpaper, head over to the Nama Rococo website and dive into their world of color and elegance.  I want to sit in a room plastered with their creations, and drink champagne while I wear an outrageous hat.

The travel gods have informed me - loudly and clearly - that I am supposed to stay home right now, as I have had so many potential travel plans fall through in the last few months it has become laughable!  So be it, but in the meantime, here are some of my favorite travel accessories & tips and where to find them.  I have developed certain routines and easily packable creature comforts over the years, and it is a quirky hobby of mine to search for the perfect little travel accoutrements.

To be honest, I don't own a travel neck pillow; it is one of those things I keep thinking I should invest in but I haven't yet for some reason.  I hereby vow to purchase one before my next trip, just to see what I've been missing.  I might have to get the Minnie Neck Pillow, pictured above, from Flight 001, a great website with every possible travel amenity you can imagine.  They have a few stores here and there too, so see if one is in your neighborhood. 

I have this passport wallet from Tepper Jackson and it makes every international travel experience a colorful adventure!  I L-O-V-E Tepper Jackson's travel accessories.  I have the passport case, luggage tags (helps you spot your luggage easily on the conveyer belt for checked bags), an overnight bag and toiletry kit.  Their pieces are indestructible, eye-catching and can be cleaned easily because they're all plastic.  My favorites!!!  A little P.S.  Tepper Jackson does have a website, but right now it looks to be only a splash page, so do a google search for Tepper Jackson and go hunting.

Another confession:  I have no idea what my brand of luggage is.  I don't feel terribly passionate about finding the perfect suitcase.  As long as it holds my belongings and has strong zippers to hold it all in, I'm happy.  But if I were going to go all-out, I'd try one of these beauties - maybe the International 20" Zippered Expandable Carry On, pictured above, from the Rolls Royce of luggage, Tumi.

Or maybe this colorful number by Orla Kiely.

A few other goodies I always have with me when I travel, particularly on longer trips across oceans:

* Hardcover journal - I am a big fan of the 8" x 6" basic black sketchbook, but I know many people swear by Moleskin notebooks.  There are also handmade Lama Li travel journals and I just received this set of Jonathan Adler Blue & Brown notebooks as a gift and they're FAB!  I also bring plenty of my favorite pens and a few pencils for sketching.  When I am feeling really ambitious, I'll throw in a travel watercolor set.

* Travel candles - You can find these pretty much anywhere, but right now my favorites are from Aroma Naturals, which I get at my local Whole Foods Market.  While I'm there I also pick up Emergen-C, which I like to have on long trips as well.

* Siggs Water Bottle - I just received one of these as a gift on my recent trip to Boulder as a reminder to stay super hydrated while at altitude.  Word on the street has been that these are the super deluxe, super cool water bottles to have and I've never believed the hype, but I am now a believer!  They are indestructible and...

"Due to SIGG's special, proprietary internal coating, these high-tech bottles are resistant to fruit juice acids, energy drinks, alcohol and virtually any consumable beverage. Because the liners are taste and scent neutral, you can enjoy any beverage you'd like – without any lingering smell or taste of the last beverage you drank. The composition of the liner also reduces the chances of bacteria build-up." -SIGGS website

They may or may not make it with me on every trip depending on how packed my suitcase is, but if there's room it's worth bringing it along.

* Skin Care - I am a fanatic about washing my face every night, and a little dab of moisturizer on a ten-hour plane ride can feel blissful.  Pictured on the left above is a complete travel kit from Juice Beauty, an organic skin care line.  On the right is from Origins, whose products I've been using for years.  Things that smell nice and feel good on your skin in a foreign place can make your day!

* Other items I find handy and/or indespensible - Nail files, lip balms, sugar free lozenges (pictured above), granola bars, tissues, anti-bacterial towlettes (I found lavender wipes by Giovanni Cosmetics at Whole Foods and they are heavenly), and another trick I use sometimes is to take along lavender sachets to put in my pillow.

* One more note - When it comes to your ipod, use it sparingly.  There are times when it might be nice to shut yourself off from the world in order to recharge - a long bus ride, at the end of a busy day exploring, but I encourage you to go without it as you are out and about, particularly in a foreign country.  Having your headphones on sends a clear message that you want to be left alone, and if you aren't feeling particularly worn out, left it in your bag and listen to the sounds around you, open yourself up to a potential conversation with someone fascinating.

Now all you have to do is decide where to go - head over to Lonely Planet and go exploring!! 

The lovely Jamila Tazewell, owner & designer of 11:11 enterprises, emailed me recently and I am now about to order one of her fabulous creations.  She has a colorful array of wallets, passport covers and business card holders that are sold all over the country.  Rock on Jamila!

I recently found the amazing work of Diana Fayt and I now can't stop perusing her online gallery, trying to decide what I simply must have.  Visit her website, blog and Etsy shop! 

I am heading over to the Pacific Design Center this evening for this event, which is across the street from one of my favorite paper stores in the world - Soolip.  If you live in Los Angeles and haven't been here yet, plan a field trip and get lost in their bungalow filled with handmade papers, beautiful journals, pens and other treasures. 

One of my superheroes - Andrea Scher - is now offering a sterling silver bulls eye pendant!  A lovely reminder to Be Your Own Superhero.

The coolest wall decals around:  "blik surface graphics are oversized, self-adhesive, removable decals that allow anyone to quickly & easily create decorative patterns or custom wall murals for home or office." 

A friend came over recently with her new Flip Video Camera and I was immediately hooked.  This tiny camera holds about an hour's worth of video and makes it easy to take all of your genius filmwork, upload and share it all you want.  The Flip Video Ultra Series offers a variety of colors a la iPod, and was given a stamp of approval from Ms. Winfrey herself.

These are just a few of the lovely objects available over at Share an Umbrella, "...a socially minded, fun organization made up of artists and artisans who desire to care for people who are less fortunate than themselves."  Buy something cool, make a difference! 

These are just two of the intriguing creations from the Old Soul Doll Company.  Shari Enge, owner and artist:

"I like to think that sense of mystery and wonder, that longing to know the unknown about my family and the South, shows through in my dolls." 

I can't remember how I stumbled upon Rose and Radish, but I love their quirky assortment of paper and home goods.  With product categories such as "Eclectic", "Table" and "Wrap" that all lead to colorful eye candy, I'm officially hooked.

Anytime I see ads for rugs and textiles designed by Emma Gardner I swoon... 

I found Renga Arts in a recent issue of Craft magazine and love what they're doing.  From their website:

"Renga Arts produces and sells functional art made of reclaimed, salvaged, and recycled materials...we strive to offer creatively inspired objects of everyday utility."

They have a small online store and links to a number of artists they also represent.  Bookmark this site for your next gift shopping venture! 

Visit Buy Olympia for a slew of handmade goods, including books, magazines, t-shirts, notecards and more.

Artists include Nikki McClure, who I recently wrote about, Little Otsu, and I'm Smitten.

They also give you quick links to gifts under $10 and $35, making it easy to search for gifts within your budget.