Rare Bird Finds

Rare Bird Finds Apologizes

Dear Friends of Rare Bird Finds,

We recently published a find of a single-serve rice bowl that depicted an image of an Asian girl that has offended you, our readers.  We are sincerely sorry for posting a product bearing an image that has such painful historical connections to racism and prejudice.  Although we did not intend to offend, the fact still remains that our ignorance caused pain and anger, and for that we are deeply sorry.

We are thankful for every reader who took the time to email us about the post.  It is because of your voices we not only removed the post, but also learned a valuable lesson.  We promise to strive to be more sensitive and socially responsible.  Please accept our deepest, humblest apology.

Mei-Lynn & Sharla

Butterfly Scarf

I think this butterfly scarf is so pretty!  May not be too practical for colder climates (I just got back from Alaska..you need heavy duty!) but great for climates that are moderately cold.  On sale for $103 at Anthropologie

Geekzilla Notecards

These Geekzilla cards are so cute!  I love the "Hello my name is.." sticker.  $5 for a set of 6 at Sweet Bonny

Thrush Passport Holder

Love this lively lemon-y birdie passport holder.  Would brighten up any trip through customs.  $16 at Buy Olympia.

Jack Cards - Reminder Service

Gosh, sometimes my schedule is so busy I forget about important things like a friend's birthday or an anniversary.  The site Jack Cards is a big help for folks like me - you enter in all your important dates and pick cards for each one, and a couple of weeks before each event, Jack Cards will send you the card.  It's a great reminder service AND it saves you time.  More than 1,000 great cards to choose from! Cards start at $1.50.

Wine Glass Illusion Tumblers

I love these tumblers that look like they're wine glasses when filled with a colored drink.  Neat!  $88 for a set of 4.

Thanks for Nothing Card

Did your loved one forget you this year?  Send them one of these thank you cards.  $3 at Earmark Invitations

Russian Dolls Card Holders

Your Holiday parties may be done for another year but these Russian Doll card holders would also be cute picture holders.  $18 at Oliver Bonas

Protect Our Earth Glasses

I love these green glasses made from the bottom halves of rescued Bordeaux bottles.  They come etched with a branch design and each one say "Protect Our Earth" in 4 different languages: English, Spanish, Afrikaans/South African and French. Set of 4.  $40 at Uncommon Goods.

Wild Hibiscus Flowers

Pour champagne (or any other fizzy drink) over one of these wild hibiscus flowers and watch it bloom - plus you can eat the champagne-soaked flower afterwards, which has a rhubarb/raspberry taste to it.  A unique way to liven up a glass of champagne - perhaps for New Year's?

Hacking a More Tasteful MySpace

The MySpace layout often leaves much to be desired, and so this hack by Mike Industries for creating a "more tasteful" MySpace is quite nifty and easy to follow since it provides all the instructions you need as well as templates.  Many thanks to Nicole from Pink Loves Brown whose MySpace page is super pretty - check it out! 

Plush Pull-a-Long

So cute - little pull-a-longs that can be converted into a child's backpack. $27.95 at Calliope.

Please Be 18

I think there comes a time in every young American man's life where he hopes the girl he's chatting up is legal.  "Please Be 18" t-shirt just says what's on your mind.  On sale for $9.99 at Tees My Body.

Bottle Cap Whistles

Ooh, look, functional whistles made out of recycled bottle caps and advertisements. No two are alike, and there are a bunch of different styles to choose from.  $12 at Loran Scruggs.

Momspit - No Rinse Cleanser for Hands & Face

Good ol' mom.  She never let you out in public with dirt on your face.  Now you can carry along your very own Momspit to clean with when you are on the go.  Unlike your mom's spit, this is just a foaming no rinse cleanser.  Way less Gross  $9 at Shop Intuition

Deodorizing Refrigerator Egg

When I was pregnant with my first baby, the smell of the inside of a refridgerator made my want to lose my lunch.  It did not matter whose refridgerator it was or what was inside.  I seriously had to leave the room when one was opened.  I should mention that was even with 10 baking soda packs in there.  Maybe I should have tried one of these deodorizing eggs instead.  It uses charcoal to deodorize and can be "re-charged" by being popped in the mirowaved (the insert).  $16.50 at  King Arthur Flour

Dead Tired Sleep Mask

The perfect sleep mask for the day after Christmas..especially if you are with annoying relatives.  $12 at Gama-Go

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to our readers who celebrate this holiday - may today bring you joy as you (hopefully) spend time with your family and friends.  No posts today or tomorrow since we're both on holiday. 

Back to our usual schedule Wednesday!

Heavy Metal T-Shirt

For the chem geek in your life, a rockin' t-shirt that celebrates those, uhm, heavy metals.  $14.99 - $16.99 at Think Geek.

Pug Dog Pull Toy

Even though I don't own a pug, I think this is the most adorable pull-toy!  If this listing sells out, be sure to check out the shop's gallery to see if more has been added.  $40 at Mojoe Grind Co.

Droidel, Droidel, Droidel

For you Jewish Star Wars fans, learn how to make your very own R2D2 dreidel droidel on the Star Wars website.  Free template!

Etsy Saturday

Okay, so you should have already bought all your gifts by now but if you haven't you could always buy something and have it shipped to the recipient. You know, the old "It's on its way" trick.  My family sometimes puts a picture of the item in a card.  Maybe a little tacky and not as fun but no one seems to mind.

Or maybe you are all done and you want to reward yourself.  While everyone else is out fighting the crowds you can sit back and buy yourself a few new things with your Christmas bonus!  Enjoy!

Some Etsy Hints for the Etsy newbies:  If the item is sold out browse around their shop.  There may be the same or similar items for sale. If you don't have an Etsy acount you will need one but it is super easy to sign up.  Most sellers take paypal.  You can use your paypal account or pay with a credit card through paypal.  Easy! (It works a lot like Ebay)

Hand Painted Penguin Salt and Pepper Shaker Set $14 at Dolamakes

Zen Girl print $20 at Elsita

Pumpkin Pead Pod Scarflette $55 at Karen Thurman Design

Happy Salad Bowl Apron $35 at Snappy Shop

Ancient Peruvian Style Earrings $35 at India Y La Luna

Green Lucite Real Insect Cufflinks $19 at Kolos Studio

Tree Trunk Coaster Pair $8 at Little Odd Forest

Martha and Orange Love Store Brand Cheerios print $13 at Hearts and Laserbeams 

The Full Bottle Wine Glass

Know someone who drinks a lot of wine?  Get them this wine glass - it's large enough to hold a full bottle of wine!  But you can also use it as a candy or nut bowl.  $24.95 at Hammacher.

Chocolate Hedgehogs

These chocolate hedgehogs are so cute!  $9.98, set of 3, at Hearth Song.

Hound Dog Hairpins

Cute!  What I love about these hound dog hairpins (aside from being totally adorable) is that the doggies are sniffing each other's butts. Hehehe.  $6 at Gerbera Designs.

A. Luchador Loteria Set   B. Pop Cufflinks C. Thank You Garden Kit

D. Dew iPod Case E. Pirate Pepper Mill F. Orange Choker

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Pop-Up Christmas Photo Album

What a nifty idea - a pop-up photo album!  It works just like a pop-up book and it holds up to 38 photos. Cute way to store your Christmas photos. Watch the video on the site to see how it works. $63.95 at Vat 19.

1000 Cranes Necklace

I love this origami crane necklace made out of mirrored lucite! $44 at Stars + Infinite Darkness.

Brown Owl Lap Tee

What a cool owl shirt for babies!  $15 at coco and milkweed.

Modcloth Contest!

Wanna win $100 gift certificate to ModCloth? Entering the contest is easy - just visit the ModCloth blog between now and Christmas Eve and leave a short comment (under 500 words) about which ModCloth items are on your holiday wishlist and why. The most convincing will win a $100 ModCloth Gift Certificate!

Here's what is on my own wishlist: Blackbirds Apron, Modern Doily Placemats, Fleur De Lis Earrings,  and the Mod Puffer Coat

 

Slide Light

Create a cool conversation piece in your home with this slide light.  You can either insert your own slides or ask about slide sets.  $189 at Generate

Purple Duck Surprise Mug

When I was little I had a suprise mug with a kermit the frog at the bottom.  It was my very favorite cup.  In fact, I drank a ton of milk because the milk "hid" the frog until the end.  Last year I found some holiday suprise mugs and here is a cute everyday duck suprise mug.  Your kids will love them.  A few more designs here.  $35 at Purple Petunia

Train Cake Pan

You guys seemed to like the mini car and truck pans so I thought I would point you to the train cake pan too.  I see a very happy birthday boy in your future.  $33.95 at Solutions

Squirrelly Lint Brush

So cute!  A lint brush that looks like a squirrel hiding in a log.  Very limited quantities.  $14 at Fred Flare.

Owl Soap with Porcelain Dish

Love this intricately detailed owl soap that comes with a pretty porcelain dish. $20 at Wishing Fish.

Critter Yarn Ball Holders

These critter yarn ball holders do just that - they hold your ball of yarn while you knit so you don't get tangles, all the while looking absolutely adorable. Comes in a variety of styles. $48 at popsie daisy.

TickleMe Plant

This plant looks like a great kid gift.  The TickleMe plant moves when you touch it (because it is ticklish of course!) and curls up and goes to sleep at night.  $4.95 for a packet of seeds at TickleMe Plant

Orbit Bowl

This Orbit Bowl is funky!  It reminds me off those retro chairs.  $30.98 at Ochelly

Thaumatrope Illusion Necklace

This necklace is so cool.  It's a thaumatrope.  (I didn't know what that meant either).  You know, those things that have one image on one side and one on the other and you spin them and they make a complete image together. For instance, this one has a cage on one side and a bird on the other.  When spun you see a bird in a cage.  So fun!  $26.50 at The Mymble's Daughter

Apple Tea Set

What a cheery little tea set!  $14-32 at Shop Modi

Animal Lamps

How adorable would these animal lamps be in a kid's room?  They are so cute, and right now I'm partial to the pig - in honor of my mother who just got herself a pet potbelly pig - oink!  But I love that doggie, too!  $20 at Uncommon Goods.

Gnome Greeter with Removable Sign

Well, you guys know how much I love gnomes.  This little guy will greet your guests with a (removable) sign that can be personalized to say whatever you want.  And, it's on sale for only $14.98 (reg. price is $29.98) at Lillian Vernon.

Tsumami Kanzashi

I am a big fan of tsumami Kanzashi - what is it?  In Japanese, kanzashi means "hair ornament" and tsumami means "pinching of fabric."  The result is handcrafted hair ornaments made from fabric that is stunning visually and is truly a work of art.  I love these elaborate tsumami Kanzashi.  So pretty!  $50 - $85 AUD at Peachy Pan.  Also, more affordable, everyday kanzashi is also available.

Mathmos Space Projector

This gizmo projects a 3' image on the wall.  The image reminds me of a lava lamp, and I love how the colors swirl together.  You can also buy different oil color wheels.  Great for parties or when you're in your room, by yourself, staring into the darkness and wondering if there's really alien life out there.  Uhm, okay, maybe you don't do that.  $130 at Fly-Bird.

Etsy Saturday!

Woohoo!  Found more great things on Etsy this week.  I think it makes it easy to post a lot of them in one day so I can remind you the best way to shop for things on Etsy.

So, if the item is sold out browse around their shop.  There may be the same or similar items for sale. If you don't have an Etsy acount you will need one but it is super easy to sign up.  Most sellers take paypal.  You can use your paypal account or pay with a credit card through paypal.  Easy!

Okay here are the find.  I apologize if any of them are already sold out.  I had to pre-post this early because I am heading down to SoCal to suprise my sister on her 30th birthday! 

White peacock necklace $15 (black one available too)

Lego Soap set of 4 $4.50

Urban Oasis Necklace $30

Holiday Mugs $38

Gray and Orange Apron $39

Key Doll $7.50

Fresh Brewed New York Greek Coffee Cup Candle $17

Quoth the Raven, Ho Ho Ho - Flat Holiday Notecards and Envelopes (Set of 6) $5.50