I like the look of this glass benchtop, and even better, hot pots can be placed anywhere.

The Californian company behind these is Jockimo, and their ColorFuse™ products include color and air bubbles captured inside of the glass creating a three dimensional aspect to the panels. Texture, color, finish, laminating, edge polishing and back lighting are available.  Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a distributor or dealers for down-under installation.

Vapur in California have come up with a re-usable water bottle that can be folded flat when empty.  It stands upright when full, folds flat and rolls up small enough to put in a pocket or purse, has a Carabiner for easy carrying, a writeable text area for your child’s name, is dishwasher safe and also can be frozen and used as an ice-pack.  It comes in three colours and is only US$8.95 (NZ$12.00).  You can purchase it from their website right here and they ship worldwide.   The Vapur sure would save some space in Master Five’s school bag.

Whoa, how about these kitchens to inspire a change on your reno.  My favourite is Duality – the silver version – it works well as a room separator and you can view the other room while ‘in’ the kitchen. And for those who use and have a load of cookbooks, the Library kitchen is perfect.  Phillippe Starck designed these for Warendorf (formerly Miele kitchens) in Europe.  No ideas yet when they will be available, but they WILL be available – at least in Europe.

via [Apartment Therapy]

I am always on the lookout for lunch boxes with many compartments, so myself, my husband and my son has a selection of goodies for the day ahead.  The Goodbyn Lunchbox is cool and you can fit a banana inside which is a bonus, plus it comes with over 200 stickers to personalise.  They are US$29.95 each but Goodbyn don’t ship down-under, however, this website will send it for a ridiculous US$35 making this one expensive lunchbox (about NZ90).  That’s a pity, as I wanted to buy each niece and nephew one for Christmas. We’ll just stick to the Sandwich Keeper Plus for now.

Joseph Joseph always has clever ideas for the kitchen and here is their latest range.  Not sure when it will reach NZ but you can get the range now in Australia from the Gifted Store.  I have their nesting bowls that I posted about a while back and they are great to bake with and an awesome way to keep all the baking gear together.

via [Core 77]

This awesome piece of kitchen equipment, designed by Gabriele Meldaikyte, was designed for people with only one functioning hand.  Not only does it work for people with a disability but also works perfectly for me (and many other mums out there), as usually my dinner preparation starts at about the time Miss 4mths old loses it, and I have to carry her around the kitchen while I prepare the evening meal – thus, having only one hand to make dinner……I want one of these soo bad!

Both left and right handed people can use this product.  It includes pins for gripping fruit, graters, tube and container openers, fruit and vege cutting and peeling equipment, a food box, equipment for peeling egg shells, an area for keeping bread stable while cutting and buttering, and non-slip rubbers.

The worst thing is, we can’t get it yet…I hope it will be manufactured and available for sale soon….like next week please!

via [Yanko]

Hi everyone.  I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted but blogging about bits and pieces I love is not the priority when Miss 4mths old is sleeping, or lack there of….anywaaay

We need a bread bin.  After staring at the ugly bright orange bread bag today I remembered this cool bin from Eva Solo.  It’s way over priced, at AU$250.00 (buy it in Australia here), but the plain and simple muted colour is perfect for the benchtop, either in pearl or metallic.  Let me know if you have found something similar for a much better deal.

Ok, I got a little carried away looking at all the houses at Sagaponac and only because I wanted to show you this one. Now there are several I like that are totally cool….go take a look sometime.  This home is the Ban + Maltz Furniture House inspired by Mies Van der Rohe’s unbuilt Brick Country House.  It has 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms over 3800 square feet.  What’s clever about it is the primary structure – the house is made of modular cabinet units providing loads of storage, supports the roof, and encloses heating and cooling systems. What I would give for that much storage!

via [Apartment Therapy]

If you think you’ve chosen the tiles for the kitchen or bathroom, think again!  Moving Color is the company behind these temperature sensitive tiles.  The base colour can match almost any colour you desire;  they change colour based on body or water temperature or whatever they are touching!   The temperature change point can be requested by you, so the dynamic colour change begins at the selected temperature and changes over three phases, each one is a 6 – 10° rise in temperature. Once the temperature peak is passed, the base colour returns and remains the same until the temperature drops.

The tiles can be used on floors, walls and counters and they are a green product, because they use glass that is 20 – 80% recycled. Also they come in eleven different glass textures.  How much you ask?….about US$15 for a tile 4 x 4 inches, so US$180 a square foot and they also do larger 18 x 18 inch tiles.  Nice and expensive way to make sure the shower isn’t too hot for the kids!

If there is something I never leave home without…other than the kids….it’s my Camelbak plastic bottle. Now they have a stainless version in silver or with added graphics.  I haven’t seen them in the camping or travel stores here in Auckland, but I am sure they’re not far away.  If you have seen them here, let me know. 

This would have to be the perfect accessory for the ‘Man Cave’ – ie (guy’s apartment).  The Swissarmius Cutlery Holder is cool, masculine but still keeps things tidy.  In fact, even I would have one of these on the bench…any cooking emergency and every tool is at the ready!

Kathryn posted about the Carrie Crochet bicycle basket a while back and now I have discovered it at The Container Store for so much cheaper!  Only US$25, about NZ$40.  The Container Store is like heaven for the obsessive compulsive tidiers and organisers out there.  Imagine Howards Storage World, but the size of a large supermarket!  While living in Houston it was a regular shopping stop for me.

Yes, I have an addiction – it is the store Anthropologie, and although we don’t have it down-under, I still swoon over the seasonal ranges online.  They do ship across Europe and North America, but sadly, down here in Oz and NZ we are forgotten once again; which is actually a good thing or I would really give the credit card a beating!  If you aren’t familiar with their store (everything from clothes and shoes to kitchen and bedroom) go take a look and fall in love with….well…..everything!

After I purchased my first colourful striped laptop sleeve from BUILT, it disappeared.  I discovered my husband had coveted it for his laptop and so left me wanting…..Now they have some cool new items for us to ooh and aah over in cool colours, shapes and cuts.  I love the look of the new bottle totes, the diaper (nappy) bags; which of course I need – and the new bumper laptop sleeve.  Go take a look at their range here.  You can shop online but they ship only within the US.  If you do a google search though, you will find a few stores that sell down-under.  

I have a great Alessi Oil and Vinegar set but I would much prefer this combo, as I seem to always over do the balsamic on my salad.  These Pipette Oil Bottles make it possible to squeeze on just what you need. Designed by Camilla Kropp for Design House Stockholm, you can buy the set online from Top3 By Design in Australia or pop into their Bondi Junction store.  

These are the prettiest nesting bowls for a party don’t you think!  They are melamine and come in two colours, Yellow and Pink and each measures at: 4.8″W x 3 1/4″H – 6.8″W x 4″H – 8.75W x 4 1/2″H and 10.9”W x 5″H.   They cost US$32 or NZ$55 for the set of four.

Unfortunately they don’t ship these outside the US, so you’ll have to have them shipped to a friend then posted on.  On the upside, the manufacturer donates 5% of the suggested retail price to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Spoonsisters.com donates 10% of the retail sale of this product to breast cancer charities.  Wouldn’t it be the perfect spread at a little girls party.  

via [Apartment Therapy]

If you are ever in the need for a gift, The Spoon Sisters is a great shopping site.  They ship worldwide and have a vast selection of goodies to sift through.  One of my favourites at present is the Happy Birthday Cake Mould.  Now I know that most folks love chocolate icing on top, and if you do a runny mix and pour it over the cake, then you don’t have to try and smear it in and around the letters, making it so much easier…and tastier.  It’s sells for NZ$55 plus shipping, but think of the amount of birthdays you bake for (especially if you have children) in a lifetime.  Oh, and if they want something fancy then you can decorate the centre of it any way they desire!  

This Remuera, Auckland house recently sold around the NZ$5.5m mark.  Whoever ’snapped’ it up must be pretty chuffed, and have a load of wine!  I have cellar envy.  We don’t even have wine in the house right now, so could not imagine what this would look like full.  I love that you can see part of the cellar from the dining area as well (image second row left).  This mighty home has 5 double bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 4 living areas, a home theatre, a games room, a gymnasium, a 1000 bottle wine cellar, a state of the art kitchen with huge butler’s pantry, 3 car garaging, a pool house, an 18 metre gas heated pool, a spa and dedicated utility rooms covering about 800m2.  The house is fully automated to control everything from lighting to irrigation.  Oh, and last – beautiful views through beautiful native trees.  To view more images go here.

images [Open2view.com]

Yes, they’ve been on my mind for a while and I have to post about them, so just bare with me while I am eating for two.  They are kind of quick, kind of healthy and with the treat on top, perfect! 

You’ll need:

8 popsicle/iceblock sticks or skewers

Melting chocolate – about 1kg or about 3 cups of your favourite chocolate bar.

4-6 Bananas

3 Tbsp butter

Toppings:

Hundreds and Thousands/Sprinkles

Crushed peanuts or desiccated coconut

Mini M&M’s or any other goodies you want added

Directions:

Peel bananas.  If you like, slice them length ways or in half to make them a little smaller for the kids.

Push skewers in and lay on a tray (baking or wax paper underneath to stop them sticking) and place in the freezer – minimum 10 minutes to make them nice and cold.

Melt the chocolate according to instructions with the added butter.  In a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally (double boiler method), or in the microwave.

Lay out toppings on flat trays and get ready….

Remove bananas from freezer and get dipping in the chocolate – use a spoon if required to help cover them well. QUICKLY roll them through the toppings before the chocolate begins to harden!  Seriously no messing around,  the cold banana will make the chocolate set quickly.  

Place back on tray and either chill in freezer till needed or serve immediately.  So good!

The chocolate you don’t use, just pour into a dish, cool and break into pieces to eat later.  Can be wrapped in foil and kept in fridge.