Pretty Patroltag:prettypatrol.com,2008://12008-06-21T22:39:26ZMovable Type 3.35Best Blu-Ray Movies to Prettify Your Plasma to the Max!tag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1182008-06-21T19:53:40Z2008-06-21T22:39:26ZAfter viewing more than one hundred Blu-ray movies, we made our list of those that best beautified our living room with the prettiest high-definition pictures.
So where has the Pretty Patrol been the past few months? Well, our pretties, taking a beauty break! We have been looking into redesigning our site. If you have any suggestions, please e-mail us via our About Us page. We also have been doing lots of movies and martinis because...
We totally went Blu-ray! It was so worth it, but quickly realized that not all movies benefit that much from high definition. Shoot-'em-up cop dramas in HD? Ew. Films deliberately shot by "real filmmakers" with low budge equip? Uck, what a waist of our highly packed pixels. We just want Blu-rays that can show off the potential of our plasma. So after viewing more than one hundred Blu-ray flicks, we made a list of those that best beautified our living room with the prettiest high-definition pictures.
Most Beautifying Blu-Rays for Your Plasma
Ratatouille
Aside from the fact that the magicians at Pixar made rats cute, we just adore this movie on all counts. The animation is so crisp and wonderfully textured your plasma will come to life and show its full potential. You will sizzle-smack your ass with pride knowing your investment was worth it. The picture is simply amazing. We can't wait for 'The Incredibles' on Blu-ray.
Planet Earth
The entire series is so gorgeous, your plasma will become wall art. Perfect for an office lobby, or to put on as ambient art during a cocktail party -- just mute the sound.
The Polar Express
The most beautiful Christmas classic currently on Blu-ray. Movie magic -- pure and simple -- transforms your plasma screen into a window to another world.
Meet the Robinsons
Watching this Blu-ray is like watching an easter basket explode on your plasma screen. We love the bright, crisp colors and the happy, storybook quality throughout the kiddie flick.
Bladerunner
Wow. The sci-fi noir classic still holds, and now has been completely rejuvenated. Harrison Ford's so young, too!
Troy
Brad Pitt, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom are the hottest trio to hit HD. Woo! Swoon, swoon, swoon... 'cause it's almost like they're in your living room.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
The detailed special effects just pop! Johnny Depp, too. Mmm.
Memoirs of a Geisha
Although it's the only drama on our list, the movie is so beautifully filmed you'll appreciate how Blu-ray only intensifies the prettiment. The lighting, color and overall mise en scene transport you into the story like few other films can, even in HD.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
We love all the Harry Potter movies, but the fourth installment shines a smidge more than the rest, as the most visually complex and rich of the series. That actor who plays Cedric is only going to get hotter as he gets older, too!
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
We were most impressed with the art direction, which just pops with such crispness. The elegant attention to details annoints every scene with perfect prettiment.
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Dali Mama Yoga Mats and Bagstag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1172008-04-09T19:00:00Z2008-04-10T05:19:16ZYoga is one of the best ways to fashion a pretty spirit in a pretty body. So why not bring the prettiness full circle and artfully accessorize for ohm-my-goodness sake?
Yoga is one of the best ways to fashion a pretty spirit in a pretty body. So why not bring the prettiness full circle and artfully accessorize for ohm-my-goodness sake? We found gorgeous yoga mats, bags and pillows made by Dali Mama -- a company run by a yoga mom, Dawn Alane, in Pacific Palisades, CA. Our favorite is the beautiful aubergine yoga bag, with just enough extra room for a towel and a SIGG water bottle.
You can buy Dali Mama yoga mats, bags and bolster pillows at one of our favorite pretty sites, The Succulent Wife.
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Clearly Chic Plastic Ghost Chairtag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1162008-04-08T02:18:47Z2008-04-08T02:42:23ZPlastic and chic used in the same sentence? Swallowed gasps and sighs galore we'd expect. But even we were surprised by the Louis Ghost Chair.
Plastic and chic used in the same sentence? Swallowed gasps and sighs galore we'd expect. But even we were surprised by the Louis Ghost Chair. Designed by Philippe Starck, the polycarbonate buttress for your derriere is clearly as chic as a plastic chair can be. Whether you're looking for an eclectic piece for a room with modern decor or a set of pretty poolside chairs, you can make a stylish statement that's quite versatile, too.
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Spring Cleaning With a Designer Dust-Bustertag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1152008-04-05T19:00:00Z2008-04-06T06:45:17ZSo, while we were sweeping and Swiffering, we found a shiny, sculptural sucker-upper worthy of its own pedestal. It's a stainless steel and plastic, hand-held vacuum designed by Stefano Giovannoni. At first glance, we were reminded of a dolphin sculpture by Brancusi.
Hmmmph. Spring cleaning is upon us again. Tackling the dirt, dust and festering fugment that has crept into the nooks and crannies of one's abode is not the most pleasant of things, but unfortunately an necessity for prettimaintenance (the maintenance of prettiment).
So, while we were sweeping and Swiffering, we found a shiny, sculptural sucker-upper worthy of its own pedestal. It's a stainless steel and plastic, hand-held vacuum designed by Stefano Giovannoni. At first glance, we were reminded of a dolphin sculpture by Brancusi. Who knew a dust-buster could be so chic? You can buy the Giovannoni vacuum at one of our favorite Web sites, retromodern.com.
Pretty Note: Our posts have been less frequent as of late because we're also doing some spring cleaning on the site -- trying to design a much prettier one! ]]>
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Fab Frou-Frous and Favor Giftstag:prettypatrol.com,2007://1.952008-03-13T19:00:00Z2008-03-14T01:32:02ZWhether it's the holidays or not, having a backup store of frou-frous and favors can come in handy. We found many thank-you gifts for under $15.
Having a backup store of frou-frous and favors can come in handy. You never know when you'll need a batch of little thank-yous to make the rounds, so why not be prepared? We'll add more ideas soon, but here are a few just for starters:
Miniature Perfume Sets Perfect for Splitting Five Ways
- Calvin Klein 5 Piece Miniature Set
- Calvin Klein 5 Piece Miniature Set - Another Variation
- Christian Dior 5 Piece Miniature Set
- Escada Collector's Edition Miniature Coffret 5 Piece Set
- Guerlain Collection Miniatures 5 Piece Set
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Not a Car, Not a Bike, But a Carver: Motoring in a Cockpittag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1142008-03-12T04:01:41Z2008-03-12T06:41:10ZThe three-wheeled Carver One is simply a quantum step forward in vehicle design and maneuverability. Imaging zipping around Europe like James Bond. Well, you can!
Looking for a different kind of hybrid? The Dutch automotive concept merging the best features of a car and a motorcycle into a single sleek ride was birthed more than a decade ago, and we're delighted to see the results. The three-wheeled Carver One is simply a quantum step forward in vehicle design and maneuverability, with a futuristic cockpit that automatically tilts on its chassis to whip into curves without the risk of flipping over.
The Carver One is so techno-pretty we're expecting it to pop up in a James Bond flick in the near future, but you don't have to be a secret agent to own one. It's currently available in the EU, with only 500 being made each year. Get on the waiting list now! Motorists on the western side of The Pond probably will have to wait till at least 2009 for a model that's street-legal in North America. The Carver One gets approximately 40 MPG (U.S.) and seats two.
- See photos and read more about Carver One.
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Adorable, Affordable Steiff Mini Teddy Bears and the Inspiring Margarete Steifftag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1132008-03-08T18:13:56Z2008-03-08T22:30:54ZMini Steiff Teddy Bears are fanstastically affordable... Margerete Steiff was an incredible woman and a entrepreneur years ahead of her time, with a success story that sounds like many you would hear on 'Oprah' today.
Anyone who loves toys probably would squeal like a tickled pig if they had thousands of dollars to gloriously spend solely on Steiffs, the most beautiful stuffed animals on the planet. The classic Steiff Teddy bears, with their buttoned ears, movable joints and soft mohair fur, are a must for any toy collection... Even if many collectors would insist they're not just toys, they're Steiffs.
Of course, if you can't afford the high price tags for the larger Steiffs, why not go smaller? The adorable mini Teddy bears (shown above) still may seem expensive at around $60, but we found them online on sale for just under $40. In Steiff terms, that's a steal! After all, Steiffs are the utmost in quality and say volumes about your taste and sentiment. The mini Teddy bears are only 3" high, yet still possess the exquisite quality of a full-size Steiff, making them perfect gifts for special occasions.
About Margarete Steiff, the Founder of Steiff
Margerete Steiff was an incredible woman and an entrepreneur years ahead of her time, with a success story that sounds like many you would hear on 'Oprah' today. Most people who only popularly know the Steiff brand don't realize the empire of collectibles was started by a woman who was stricken with polio as a toddler and confined to a wheelchair her entire life. Then imagine living as a woman in Germany in the 1800s, and her story becomes even more inspiring.
Late-bloomers should be heartened to know it wasn't until Margarete was in her thirties that her "wow moment," as Oprah would put it, came to her. While making and selling her own garments, Margarete made a stuffed felt elephant that she simply meant to be a pincushion. Eventually, however, that little pincushion caught the eye of a child who thought it was a toy, and Margarete had her "wow moment." Why not make them as toys? Soon she started making more elephants than garments, and within a few years already had sold thousands. The rest, as they say, is history.
Her toy business grew and soon her nephew, Richard Steiff, joined her and helped create the iconical Steiff "Teddy" bear we all know today. Of course, history buffs would like to add that the worldwide popularity had a lot to do with Teddy Roosevelt's passion for bear hunting and Clifford Berryman's famous caricature of Roosevelt and a bear cub printed in the 'Washington Post' in 1902.
- Buy Steiff Mini Teddy Bears Online]]>
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Perfectly Pretty Pop-Up Book: 'How Many? Spectacular Paper Sculptures' tag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1122008-03-01T20:00:00Z2008-03-02T05:32:26ZAlthough most pop-up books are pretty -- and there are stacks of favorites we'd like to round up in the future -- we just wanted to post a little ditty on a recent fave: 'How Many? Spectacular Paper Sculptures' by Ron Van Der Meer.
Although most pop-up books are pretty -- and there are stacks of favorites we'd like to round up in the future -- we just wanted to post a little ditty on a recent fave: 'How Many? Spectacular Paper Sculptures' by Ron Van Der Meer. It's a very modern, pop-artsy and fantastically designed pop-up with lots of geometric shapes that you can spend hours counting. The book is perfect for engaging the minds of children (ages five or six, and older) or just supplying a burst of color and wonder for adults.
The best part is we finally found it on sale, too! And if you love it, like we do, you also may love Ron Van Der Meer's other fantastic pop-up book that gives a three-dimensional tour of architectural wonders over the centuries, 'The Architecture Pack', too.
- Buy 'How Many? Spectacular Paper Sculptures' Online
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Posh Piggies and Duckies and Bears, Oh Buy!tag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1112008-02-28T20:00:00Z2008-02-29T02:10:46ZSince we've been in an especially lighthearted mood, we've decided to buy everyone one of three cute, critter trendables by Bud by Designroom: a Posh Piggy Bank, a Fashion Duck or a Buddy Bear.
We don't know about you, but we've been hit with a heavy calendar lineup of birthday parties as of late -- soirees for old ones, cutesy affairs for little ones and E-vite sneak attacks for persnickety power-partiers in between. So, since we've been in an especially lighthearted mood, we've decided to buy everyone one of three cute, critter trendables by Bud by Designroom: a Posh Piggy Bank, a Fashion Duck or a Buddy Bear. A sense of humor is a must, and if none of them like a little lighthearted token, well... baaaah! We'll look the other way.
There are dozens of ducks, pigs and bears to choose from online. And a pretty note: Bud by Designroom does not use plastics containing phtalates, chemicals that recently have been shown to build up in our systems and possibly contribute to health ailments.
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Zoobies: Some of the Cuddliest Critters for Totstag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1102008-02-28T02:00:00Z2008-02-28T04:21:46ZEvery Zoobie Pet is a three-in-one gift for a toddler: a stuffed animal, a pillow and a blanket. We heart the lion, especially. Who couldn't? There are more than a dozen other cuddly critters,
Spring is already here in southern California, and the past few days have been ideal for going to the zoo, so we just had to go down to the San Diego Zoo to see the pandas, for a little overdue inspiration from Mother Nature. If you've never seen the pandas, it's worth the trip and will remind you how precious life, all life, is in our world.
Of course, with all the furry cuddliness before us -- and the absolute kidlock of strollers -- we had a thought: "If you couldn't take home a panda, what would be the next cutest, cuddly thing for little kiddies to snuggle with?" We were delighted to come home and find an answer... Zoobies! They're just adorable, and are made by a company whose motto is "Play. Sleep. Love." In an evermore sarcastic and cynical world, what a wonderful, lovely sentiment.
Every Zoobie is a three-in-one gift for a toddler: a stuffed animal, a pillow and a blanket. We especially heart the lion. Who couldn't? There are more than a dozen other cuddly critters, including a panda, polar bear, pink hippo, blue elephant (which we own) and many more. Their maker, Zoobie Pets, currently has two collections: a zoo collection and a safari collection.
We haven't seen them in stores, yet, but you can buy a number of Zoobies online.
- Buy Zoobie Pets online]]>
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Make Beautiful Ukrainian Easter Eggstag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1092008-02-26T03:35:14Z2008-02-26T05:01:13ZEaster eggs don't have to be so PAAS blah. Get more creative and artsy with an Ukrainian Easter egg decorating kit that enables you to make beautiful designs on Easter eggs that have Old World charm.
Easter eggs don't have to be so PAAS blah. Get more creative and artsy with an Ukrainian Easter egg decorating kit that enables you to make beautiful designs on Easter eggs that have Old World charm. Enjoy learning how to decorate eggs with the traditional kistky drawing tool, which basically uses hot wax that flows through a cupped metal tip that you heat over a candle. It's very calming and meditative -- dipping, drawing, heating the kistky, drawing, dipping, etc. You'll definitely want to turn off the TV and just take the time to relax and focus on creating pretty eggs.
We found a great Ukrainian Easter Egg kit at Hearthsong. The kit contains eight packets of vivid, water-soluble dyes, two kistky tools for drawing the linework in wax, a beeswax patty, full instructions with design diagrams, and color photos of finished eggs.
For those who are less industrious, Hearthsong also exclusively has a very pretty Easter Stickers set, which has pretty flower stickers for Easter eggs.
- Buy Ukrainian Egg Decorating Kit Online
- Buy Easter Stickers Set Online]]>
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More Pretty, Reusable Grocery Totes in a Rainbow of Colorstag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1082008-02-19T20:00:00Z2008-02-26T03:35:50ZWe found another fabulously colorful line of reusable grocery tote bags from Baggu. They're a great option for those who want highly compact bags that they can stuff in pockets
Today we heard that Santa Monica, Calif. is one step closer to putting the kibosh on the plastic shopping bags that are littering our beaches, fugifying our planet and harming innocent critters. It's about time! SaMo's a little behind the curve, but we're happy nonetheless... and now even happier because...
We found another fabulously colorful line of reusable grocery tote bags from Baggu. They're a great option for those who want highly compact bags that they can stuff in pockets. We love other heavy duty cloth bags, like b. happybags, but Baggu's lightweight durability and on-the-go convenience are just as eco-pretty!
- Buy Baggu Grocery Totes online]]>
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Chic Gift Chocolates for Valentine's: Eleven of the Prettiesttag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1042008-02-11T20:00:00Z2008-02-13T07:50:53ZWhether you're looking for trendy artisan chocolates or classic candy boxes, here are eleven of the prettiest chocolicious gifts we found for Valentine's Day.
The season of love is upon us, and we don't exactly mean Valentine's. We mean the love of chocolate! At the heart of the matter, it's all really about chocolate bliss anyway. Whether you're looking for trendy artisan chocolates or classic candy boxes, here are eleven of the prettiest chocolicious gifts we found for Valentine's Day.
Remember: Regardless if you're in a relationshop or not, with a girl or a guy, you'll always have at least one Valentine to send a little love: Yourself! Peace, and be lovely.
Always a Classic... Godiva Who doesn't love Godiva? This year's heart-shaped fabric box with sheer ribbon roses (pictured above) is yet another classic choice for your Valentine's sweetums. We love that the chocolate hearts are perfectly petite, too. Available in many locations worldwide.
More Chocolatiers We Simply Love
MarieBelle The dark chocolate ganaches are beautifully detailed artisan chocolates. They look like jewel tiles in MarieBelle's pretty signature blue-and-brown box. MarieBelle is available in the U.S., Australia and Canada.
Hotel Chocolat The Catwalk Valentine's gift box is crisp and sophisticated, with just the right touch of pink, for those who think velvet heart boxes are too cliche for the season of love. Available in the U.K. and U.S.
Cosmic Chocolates The designs of the chocolates are absolutely, well, cosmic. With starbusts, funky florals, hearts and almost sparkly "Cosmic Bombs," the high-styled morsels are almost too hip for their own chocolicious good. Cosmic Chocolates is based in the San Francisco Bay area. Available in the U.S.
Kekau Chocolatier Aside from shiny and shapely designs, Kekau raises the gusto with bold flavors, like Habanero Tequila and Espresso Chai, and more delicate flavors, like Lavendar Noire and Wild Lime. Kekau Chocolatier is based in Eugene, OR. Available in the U.S.
Oliver Kita Some of the artisan chocolates are almost too pretty to eat. Plus, Oliver Kita embraces an environmentally and socially responsible work ethic, so that pretty is inside and out. Based in the Hudson Valley of New York. Available in the U.S.
Vosges Haut-Chocolat Beautiful purple boxes and chakralicious flavors. Vosges effuses a lovely, spiritual "One love. One chocolate." mission, too, and is certified organic. Based in New York, with shops in New York, Chicago and Las Vegas. Available in the U.S.
Definitely Chocolate Based in Melbourne, the company is dedicated to nurturing the art of chocolate and letting it deliciously melt in Aussie mouths. The handmade chocolates and gift sets in their "romance collection" are right on the pretty without overdoing it. Available in Australia (no international delivery).
Choclatique The Los Angeles-based chocolatier has a lovely "Sweet Deceit" line of sugar-free chocolates, perfect for diabetics and dedicated dieters. They also make a "Savor a Cure" line of chocolates (decorated with pink ribbons) that raises money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Available in the U.S.
Berry Elegance We're fortunate to live only a few miles from their shop! It's just over the hill from Hollywood, and the owners are delightful and caring. We love the luscious, chocolate-covered strawberries and the delightful presentation. Available in the U.S., including shipping to Alaska and Hawaii.
L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates Their chocolate penguins and mice are really cute, for a light-hearted twist on Valentine's. We especially adore the Toille Box Gift Set (pictured). It's just a little more sophisticated than your standard heart-shaped candy box. Available in the U.S., with international shipping to many countries.
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Cute Valentine's Crafts and Kits for Girls and the Tickled Pinktag:prettypatrol.com,2008://1.1022008-02-10T17:00:00Z2008-02-10T17:16:20ZGet crafty for Valentine's Day. We listed a few cute Valentine's crafts and warm-spirited kits below for kids and adults young at heart.
If you spent the holidays putting more love into your heart, only to feel it all leach out during the January blahs, we hope you'll remember that the most lovely holiday of all, Valentine's Day, is just a few bubblegum smacks of pink away. Of course, every day is Valentine's Day on our calendar, but setting our sights on the veritable heart of winter makes the new year doldrums seem ever so less dull and drumly.
One of our favorite things to do to punctuate the post-holiday ennui is to get crafty. So the perfect timing of Valentine's literally tickles us pink. When the same store shelves that dripped with fake blood and bad wigs for Halloween and glared with egregiously glittered gewgaws for Christmas suddenly burst into shrines for all that is precious and pretty, we like to take heart and play.
Few things can truly boost your spirits more than putting your love into something you make for yourself or someone else. You don't have to read 'The Secret' to know that. Wearing or sharing your own creations promotes good energy. Add the lovey-dovey motifs of Valentine's, and you can't lose.
We listed a few cute Valentine's crafts and warm-spirited kits below, and will add more soon, but we love the Color My Hearts Pendant Kit (pictured above). Make a heart. Give a heart. Wear a heart. How lovely of a Valentine is that? The kit includes six transparent, ready-to-decorate hearts along with special paints (eight colors), a fine-tipped brush, craft stick, permanent marker, instructions and six yards of "lustrous, rainbow-hued rayon cording." Ooh... lustrous!
- AirDry Clay Kit-Jewelry
- Bead Snowflakes Kit
- Friendship Bracelet Kit-Cotton Clouds
- Giant Paper Flowers Kit
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Beanbags for Grown-Ups: Icky Vinyl, Buh-Bye! tag:prettypatrol.com,2007://1.682008-02-07T20:00:00Z2008-02-08T04:16:03ZBody-Size Beanbags by Sitting Bull and Fashiob Bags by Fatboy Marikmekko are high-styled bean bags and floor pillows that don't disrupt your fabulous interior decor. Whether for fancy pet beds are nice reading pads, they are fantastic.
Long gone are the icky, '70s-style vinyl beanbags once banished to romper rooms and basements with that garish game-puzzle carpet. Today, you can cuddle in style while watching movies on your plasma or just reading your book club's latest page-turner. You can even pamper your pooch with a beanbag bed that doesn't obliterate your decor scheme.
Beanbags have gone so haute that Sitting Bull calls their line of beanbags "Fashion Bags" (pictured above). Although we consider "fashion" to be something you wear, not something you may rest wearily on, we still think the idea of designing beanbags for grown-up decor is simply lovely. Our favorite Fashion Bag is the Marie Antoinette design with the tassels. Sitting Bull just released new styles in January 2008, too, now available via their U.S. website. Yay!
Another company, Fatboy Marimekko, has an equally fabulous, lively line of adult-styled, adult-sized beanbags as well. Our Fatboy favorite is the floral Unikko Red Beanbag (pictured below), which we think would work best in a sunny, bright room or a covered patio in sight of a garden.
We found Sitting Bull Fashion Bags for around €160-€190 (euro) or $219-$275 (U.S.) and Fatboy Marimekko Beanbags for around €210 (euro) or $300 (U.S.).
