Can you believe it’s already August? It’s okay though, because that means my favorite season is almost here: FALL!! (The first day of Fall in the Northern Hemisphere this year is September 22 at 5:18 p.m.) In preparation for this crisp, bright, leafy, rainy, glorious time of year, I created an Autumn Essentials list, chockablock full of products (clocks, silverwear, apparel, art, etc.) to help get you in the spirit. In honor of Halloween, the list currently contains 31 items, but I’m sure there will be more as the autumn months get closer, so keep checking back! Cool stuff shown above (L-R): Puckered Canvas Bag, 23 Inch Roulette Clock, Narration Booties, Lipmann Collection Nail Color in Dark Side of The Moon, Gladiator Bird, Raven, Wire Spun Candelabra, Viceroy Velvet Curtain.

When was the last time you sent someone a surprise bouquet of flowers? How about the last time you received one? “Sending someone flowers” is written off by many these days as cliche’ and unoriginal. Steer clear of a dozen long stems and you’re golden! Studio Choo delivers some of the Cutest Floral Arrangements I’ve Ever Seen! If you’re not in the mood to shell out for the real thing, or if you want to give the gift of an everlasting bloom, consider giving Paper Flowers (Super-chic. Don’t laugh). And if you’re in the crafty mood, bust out a Paper Flower How-To Book and make a romantic personalized bouquet for your loved one.

For the paper flower Single Rose Gift Box (above) or a bouquet of paper roses, visit zoebradley.com.

SHOP FAIRIES HERE

My favorite theory on the origins of fairies comes from the author, J.M. Barrie, who wrote: “. . . when the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies.” I enjoy decorating my home and garden with unique and whimsical fairy figurines to remind me of these peaceful mythological creatures. I have added some wonderful fairy products to Kazowie, which you may view here. These items make great gifts for any collector of whimsical and wonderful fairies.

Shown, clockwise from left: Itsy Bitsy Petal Fairy Figure, Don’t Piss Off The Fairies Engraved Sign, A Fairy’s Secret Place Sculpture, The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies, and Fiona- the Flower Fairy Sculpture.

SHOP SHORT DRESSES HERE.
SHOP LONG DRESSES HERE.

It’s prom time and I cannot be more jealous of high schoolers! Everyone knows the dress is the most important part of prom and I unfortunately abhorred both of mine. I wish I could go back and do it again with the amazing selection of dresses that have come out this year. (Though I’m tads concerned with the maturity of these garments that are meant to be worn by 17 year old girls. I’m pretty sure my dad wouldn’t have let me out of the house wearing some of these styles! . . .Basically, they’re hot.) It seems as though the long, sequined, brightly colored dresses have made a comeback in 2009, but this year, they’re backless, low-cut, and supes slinky. Check out some hot Long Prom Dresses that stood out from the bunch.

Shown (above from L to R): Terani Prom Dress 1599, Faviana Prom Dress 6231, Sexy Evening Gown by Faviana 6304.

Short dresses are just as hot. Prom’s your night to shine, so I say go big with a sequined dress. I’ve selected some Short Prom Dresses that I would’ve loved to rock at my prom back in ‘02.

Shown (above from L to R): Unique Short Prom Dress, Alyce 6364 Pageant Gown, and Jovani 10740 Prom Dress.

Some other potential prom dresses could be found in a few of my previous buyer’s guides on Kazowie. Take a look: Hourglass Dresses, Watercolor Dresses, & Metallic Dresses.

Whoever came up with split expanders is a genius. I’m so glad that I am able to wear some of the most beautiful, hand-crafted, organic earrings I’ve ever seen without spending months to irreversibly stretch out my ear lobes to an unnaturally large size. Check some of my fave picks out on my Handmade Split Expander Earrings guide. I own a pair and there’s no way anyone can tell it’s not the real thing.

Quiz: Can you tell which are real expander earrings and which are split? (Answers below)

Split expander earrings create the illusion that you’re wearing one big fatty tapered (bone, wood, coconut, whatever) earring through an expanded lobe piercing but, in fact, you’re wearing two separate front and back pieces that connect together in your ear with a regular-sized steel earring post. If you want the look without the commitment, this is definitely the way to go. I’ve found some other very Pretty Stick Earrings (pictured below with split expanders) that also require no stretching of earlobes. Perf.

Aren’t they pretty?

[answers: a.stretch, b.split, c.split, d.stretch, e.stretch]