Link of the Day -- Inner Messages

Today I randomly came across this fantastic site by Yoon Jung Yun, a Korean jewelry designer making "inner message" rings. The rings look like ordinary wedding bands (though they don't necessarily need to be used as such), but on the inside, they contain secret messages printed backwards in raised text, causing it to be imprinted on the wearer's finger after a few hours of wear. It's a really adorable idea--certainly very private, subtle, and intimate--and I love that the bands can be purchased as singles rather than pairs, making for a great romantic gift. Ready-to-wear designs with "always" and "marry me" imprinted in them start at $120, with custom messages available for some more. It's may not be super budget-friendly, but it gets across a clear point!

Inner Message rings by Yoon Jung Yun, available right over here.

Budget Finds -- Cupcake Accessories!

Red has been so swamped she's practically been eaten by alligators. It's not a pretty sight, but she's excited about rewarding herself with some sweet treats when it's all over--maybe a cupcake?

Ahh, if someone wanted to bake Red a cupcake, they would instantly become her favorite. And better yet would be if they decided to use these beyond-adorable cupcake wrappers, on sale at Cupcake Social's Etsy shop right here. (Anyone else think Etsy should spell "shop" with the extra "pe" at the end? "Shoppe" seems so much more appropriate for Etsy.)


One pattern is cuter than the next--tulip, plaid, even animal print? It's almost too good to be true. And clocking in at under $5.00, this is one of the most affordable ways to make someone feel like they're seriously special.

Click here to check out Cupcake Social's Shop, filled with many, many more adorable goodies!

Recipe Lust: Coconut Shrimp

Since making arancini last weekend, I've been finding different ways to use the remainder of my panko bread crumbs. Suffice it to say, it's not a difficult ingredient to use. Coat anything in panko and it's instantly crunchy and delicious. And the shrimp in my freezer are looking like the next logical option, which made me instantly think of this recipe for panko-crusted Coconut Shrimp. Easy, quick, and requiring a short list of mostly pantry-staple ingredients, it looks as budget friendly as it does crave-worthy, and that's something we can all stomach!

Click here for the full recipe, with photo step by steps and all!

Design Porn -- Handpainted Coral Dishes

It's been a long week for Red, so apologies for the late posting! To balance out all the food content this week, I thought I'd close out with a little design porn. These dishes by Modern Goods are simply irresistible, drawing on one of my favorite color palettes and beachy (read: summery!) illustrations. They're all hand painted, and unfortunately that translates to "very expensive," but that doesn't mean I can't stare in awe until I feel confident enough to reproduce the patterns on my own at the local pottery painting studio! (Shhh... I would never advocate such a thing!)



Other patterns are available right here--they're all pretty exquisite. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

Sad News for Foodies

I had plans to run a restaurant review today, but my appetite for writing has crashed with the news that NYTimes restaurant critic Frank Bruni will be stepping down from his role in August when his memoirs, "Born Round: the Secret History of a Full-Time Eater" debuts in bookstores across the country. Apparently he feels the book will create a conflict with his ability to produce anonymous reviews--this intrigues me! But the fact that we will no longer be privy to his writing on a weekly basis (his pieces will still run in the NYT Magazine every now and then) is a sad piece of news for foodies far and wide.

For that, I'm holding on to my review until next week. Frank, you'll be missed! [via Gawker]

Budget Finds -- Andy Pratt's Colorful Citiscapes

Today, I'm absolutely digging the work of Andy Pratt, whose gorgeous illustrations are selling for a mere $20 right here. They're colorful, vivid, and purely joyful, a celebration of various cities around the country including my own (NYC), the one where I was born (San Francisco), and the one that currently houses TWB (Boston). $20 buys you an 8 x 10, but framing one of these in an 11 x 14 frame with an 8 x 10 opening will make these babies look like they're worth millions.




[all photos via andypratt.net]

Geek or Chic? Pipette Tableware

Things that find an intersection between scientific labware and dinnertime place settings always seem to catch my eye--perhaps not so much for my own interest, but because I spent a good chunk of the last 6 years either doing science or surrounding myself with scientists and engineers. Regardless of reason, I'm drawn to these interesting oil and vinegar bottles over at Design House Stockholm, which are modeled after lab pipettes. At the very least, they're probably fun for making beautiful presentations when entertaining! I think I may be more prone to gift them to some of the aforementioned engineer friends that put them on my own table, but they're certainly not lacking in either geekness or chicness. What do you think?



Pipette Oil and Vinegar Bottles by Camilla Kropp, $59