This is just disgusting. I’m appalled at Lise Lefebvre’s so-called take on natural design, the Barenjager bear skin rug. I mean, there are only a handful of Persian Carpet Bears left in the world, and half of them live in captivity. The destruction of this bear could mean that the wall-mounted, singing fish population would skyrocket out of control. As a result, the Drunken Toothless Redneck beaver population of southern Saskatchewan would increase sharply. And we certainly don’t another Christian Right movement.

Inspired by the handcranked music boxes of the past, this portable music box is made from paper and metal, with a great “singing man” design on the outside. You can thank Maria Helena for the art work and Foradacaixa for the box altogether. The Foradacaixa Music box has four song options:  ‘Are you lonesome tonight’, ‘La vie en Rose’, ‘My Way’, and ‘Valser d’Amelie’, which you can preview on youtube. It’s small enough to take anywhere, if you ever need a mid-day pick me up tune. Get it at better living for $24.

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Converse has been busy with a far-flung series of collaborations of late (Varvatos/Converse and Bodega/Converse to name but a recent few), and this time they partner up with powerhouse Japanese label Comme de Garcons. The Converse x CdG PLAY is a classic canvas Chuck Taylor and adorned with the Comme de Garcons PLAY heart. Rei Kawakubo took a Converse silhouette from the 1950’s and simply added a few additional touches. Priced at €87.00, they’re limited edition sneakers coming in combination’s of mid/low and black/white styles. Get these lovely sneakers from the tres bien shop and starting walking to your own beat.

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It seems the digital age is starting to mock the archaic printed and paper forms of the past. Well, now you can get in on the action, with your very own Newspaper Print Laptop Bag. The plastic laptop bag, designed by Mitemite, is covered with newspaper print to give the illusion of a folded paper on the outside, and lined with black satin on the inside so it can cradle your personal computer ever so gently. Each bag’s print is one-of-a-kind unique….until you’ve read the same articles enough times to know the letter-count on the front page. The bag is priced at £ 103.00, which may be a little steep for such subtle wit (I mean, for 50 cents you can make your very own laptop case, all you need is a little duct tape) but at least its black and white print will be easy to match. If this news has peaked your interest, they’re in stock here.

Barbados, Panama, Trinidad, and Grenada are just a few of the exotic places represented by Plantation Rum. Produced by Pierre Fernand, each bottle is made to represent the country it’s coming from, and is distilled in the country’s traditional fashion. From there, the liquor is sent to France for several months to be refined in French oak Cognac barrels. Plantation Rum is designed to look like it’s just come off an 18th century pirate ship, and the golden tones of the rum are only complimented by the label and twine that wraps around the bottle. It looks rugged enough to be picked up off the shores of Jamaica by a drifter, but I’m certain it will look even better in your liquor cabinet. If you’re 21+ (or from anywhere but America), grab it here.

Eat Out! is a book that features conceptual dining from around the world. The book was inspired by the emergence of specialized restaurants that are working to stand out in the competitive food market by providing unique experiences to their customers. The book also goes more in depth, featuring specific dishes and how the overall concept of the restaurant may influence the food or the menu as a whole. To hear it straight from the book’s description: “The book sheds light on current trends and future developments in restaurant design and the creation of exceptional shared dining experiences.” What’s great about this book is that its subjects range from more outlandish places to those that keep it traditional by simply providing a romantic atmosphere for you and your date. It’s only natural that the food industry is beginning to pick up some serious speed, given its universal and communal qualities. Food is something that will never lose its power. Plus, it’s refreshing to see restaurants put sincere thought into the experiences they’re providing. What more of an excuse do you need to travel than simply to discover all the tastes around the globe? Learn about them first with Eat Out! and pick it up from Gestalten for $69.

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Grocery bags, they’re everywhere you look. Fluttering from tree branches, stuck in sewage drains and jammed into that one drawer in the corner of your kitchen. Why do you jam that drawer full of plastic bags? Do you need that many bags? Really the only thing I use them for is wrapping my smoke alarm. There’s no better use. Yes, I could probably replace the thousands of plastic bags I use with Ina Weise’s $25 fabric “Thank You” bag, but I wouldn’t be able to fit as many in my kitchen drawer. I could probably use this bag to do all of my grocery shopping and I could even use it to silence my smoke detector. But what happens when the zombie apocalypse comes? What will I do without a kitchen drawer overflowing with plastic bags? Get eaten by zombies, that’s what.

The Puma Kite Team LE’s were made in honor of the Puma Volvo Ocean Race Team, who came in second place last year. Each of the 500 pairs are constructed from a piece of the sail that was used in the race and is numbered on the tongue to give you a bit of perspective on how quickly you nabbed these limited edition shoes. Regardless of whether you’re into sailing these shoes have got a great concept, and the intricate detailing the sail provides adds to their appeal. They’re being released in select sneaker stores this week and only the truly motivated will be able to get their hands on a pair, so keep your eyes on the prize. Check out more detailed photos in the gallery.

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