Magical Girly Bits

When I'm trying to write a post for the blog or list some new things on my online shop, it just wouldn't seem normal around here unless my friendly tele-marketer didn't call repeatedly offering to sell me everything short of a new pancreas, or the Hubbs and the babes didn't need me to stop what I'm doing and activate my special "I-CAN-FIND-ANYTHING-BECAUSE-I-HAVE-A-UTERUS" powers to help locate their missing shoes, keys, or backpacks.

Unlike my years of working in publishing at an office, working at home in front of my own computer has had it's own set of distractions. Although I have learned a lot about the ins and outs of working from home, I confess that the whole "internet at my fingertips" thing continues to be a huge temptation. I see others handle the temptation with restraint while prioritizing work over reading the blogs or Google-ing how to lose a few "el-bees" without having to actually give up eating.

According to a survey I made up just for this post, Americans spend 30-40 hours a week online. Apparently my magical girly bits have the ability to find hidden goodies online, too, and being the altruistic soul that I am, I've decided to help you expand your online time and point you toward some simply intoxicating, inspiring, and (basically all the "in" descriptives that you can imagine) inventive sites I have come across over the last few days.


MAN SHOPS GLOBE

The first discovery I have to share is the Sundance Channel's original series, MAN SHOPS GLOBE. Keith Johnson openly admits the he has the greatest job in the world, and now we get to watch him work every Wednesday night while he digs around in out-of-the-way antique shops, private dealerships, and craft stalls looking for one-of-a-kind home furnishings and accessories for his employer Anthropologie. In each episode of MAN SHOPS GLOBE, Johnson travels to a new country in search of fantastic and unusual decorative objects, furniture, and textiles. He also seeks out the world's best artists and crafts people. The series follows Johnson, who travels six months of the year, from flea markets in Paris to remote villages in India, and obscure art studios in Turkey. Needless to say, I'm addicted! As if I needed another obsession?!

BELGIAN PEARLS

Greet Lefevre is a Belgian interior designer and runs a marvelous company called Lefevre Interiors. She's also a blogger friend and all around wonderful woman. If you don't know her, her blog, or her business, you should! Together with her brother, Greet runs their cabinetmakers business, continuing the fourth generation in the family business. Greet's house is in Flanders and is simply magnificent, you must see the images of her home and adjoining office/studio she has up on her blog Belgian Pearls.



ROOM 17

It is through Greet's blog that I stumbled upon Room 17. Marvelous moody greys, earthy charcoals and linen whites effervesce off the computer screen! Their blog is a treat, as well!


AURELIE ALVAREZ

The charming, whimsical, over-sized paintings of French artist, Aurelie Alvarez catches Anthropolgie's, Keith Johnson's, imagination in this online clip which is part of MAN SHOPS GLOBE series. Johnson suggests that if one were to look up "romantic French artists house" in the dictionary, Auralie's home would be pictured - and quite rightly, the romantic bohemian mood in her studio is palpable!

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