Extraordinique

Case-Mate: Make Your Case

2011-02-22T00:19:01Z

I have been dying to try out Case-Mate's Make Your Own Case creation. It took a good drop on the sidewalk to push me to sit down and design my own iPhone 4 case and I'm sure glad I did. I'm thrilled with the outcome above! I just wish I had the case before it took a tumble.

Check out the many designers who help bring out your inner creative! My design assets are created by the stylistic Shadow Chen (aka @saltyshadow). You rock girl! Thank you!

Website

Gotta Go to TCHO

2010-11-10T23:34:27Z

I've been meaning to visit the TCHO Factory and store for years now and I just found out that the TCHO Beta store is now open, bigger and better, right off of Pier 17 in San Francisco. This is a fun place to walk on a beautiful Saturday morning after visiting the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market.

So extend your stroll, buy a Blue Bottle coffee, some fresh organic fruit and raw nuts, then head down to TCHO. You won't be disappointed and your taste buds will be delighted with TCHO!

Things We Love About TCHO

Website | Where to Buy

Nina's House

2010-08-21T01:52:08Z

When it comes to furnishing baby's room, there's one common question, where's it all going to fit in the baby's room? Dave Keune, dutch interior products designer, created Nina's House incorporating a simple, functional and friendly design for the baby's room.

This one piece serves as a crib, changing table, playpen and easily accessible dresser. This one piece was designed for so many functions.

Keune thought of everything, including playful cut-out windows so that mom and dad can still keep an eye on the little one while playing in the playpen or sleeping.

What's also cool is that the entire roof can also be opened up by rolling back the roof tiles which are connected flexibly with bright yellow ropes.

The house can be adapted as the baby grows older.

Underneath, the house rests on two wheels allowing the house to be moved around easily. Otherwise it can be disassembled back into a flat pack for easy transport or storage.

Website | Where to Buy

Ninna Nanna Bassinet

2010-08-21T01:42:35Z

Talk about a simple, yet beautiful design. This Ninna Nanna Bassinet is open and plush with a solid birch rocker base, easy for keeping baby comfortable and sleeping close to your side.

I love the minimalist nature of this design and the portable, re-usable function of it.

Extraordinique!

Website | Where to Buy

Gotta Love the Cranky Pants

2010-08-21T01:02:22Z

Crankypants has now taken their popular Classic Crankypants and Monster Booty and Monkey Booty designs to a whole new level. To keep up with demand, Monsterbooty forged a partnership with a Fair Trade Federation certified knitting cooperative in Peru to produce these classics. This lets Crankypants produce these hot little numbers while keeping them hand knit and ethically produced.

The cooperative is made up of head of household women who use knitting to support their families. These Crankypants longies are hand knit using 100% wool from the Peruvian Highlands that has been locally small batch died especially for Crankypants.

Every size and style features extra rows knit into the bum to make room for a cloth diaper and a drawstring waist for growing room.

I wish these came in my size because you know I would wear them too!

Website | Where to Buy

Giddy-Up Lil' ChickPea Kid

2010-08-21T00:43:54Z

For the little ride 'em cowboy in your belly or out on the trail, these Chickpea Kid cowhide cowboy boots are so darling for the little cowboy (or cowgirl) in your life.

Giddy-up!

Website | Where to Buy

Seaside Chums in Hoppop

2010-08-21T00:13:29Z

So, now that I have your attention with that headline - how cute is bath time in Hoppop's Baby Bath Bato. This baby bathtub makes bathing easy and fun - not to mention, oh so stylish. Hoppop makes amazing baby products marrying style with function.

Hoppop Bato
Website | Where to Buy

During bath time, keep your baby entertained with these darling phthalate free Seaside Chums Bath Squirts. Adorable!

Seaside Chums Bath Squirts
Website | Where to Buy

Baby Bonding with Bellybuds

2010-08-20T23:35:13Z

It seems like pregnancy is in the air this month. We've got lots of new announcements and baby showers to attend and I can't stop marveling at how cute all of the latest gifts are for mom's and baby-to-be.

Let's start with Bellybuds®.
Bellybuds® are a safe and convenient option for prenatal bonding with your baby.

The bellyphones® gently adhere to the birth mother's belly and play directly into the womb, so baby can hear prenatal music, voices, soothing sounds, or whatever you like.

What we thought was so great here is that this is a great product for adopting couples and surrogacy couples. This gives these families the opportunity to send their voices to baby-to-be through the birth mom's belly.

Extraordinique!

Website | Where to Buy

Fissler Appeals to the Gourmet Chef in You

2009-11-09T02:34:33Z

Cooking is an art form to me and good cookware is essential. I have just recently been introduced to Fissler INTENSA cooking line. The features are what really amaze me. Not only does this cooking system look totally modern, but every facet of the cookware is smart for the cook!

I have my eye on the 2.4 Quart Casserole with ThermoStar tempature indicator, Cookstar base and special pouring function built into the pan. Each feature here is designed to help reduce time, cook evenly and reduce energy consumption.

Fissler thinks of every aspect of the cooking experience, putting serious chefs or just the weekend enthusiast in better control of the cooking process.

Watch this demo video to see more:

Website | Where to Buy

Gimme Some Kusmi Tea

2009-11-09T01:25:10Z

So as I have been trading my morning cup of joe for a strong cup of green tea, I have found Kusmi Tea to be a great replacement to my sugary, creamy, coffee concoction. I found the line of Kusmi Teas at Dean & Deluca recently in Napa Valley and tried the Kusmi Detox tea. I've got to say, it's a great, invigorating tea without the coffee jitters - not to mention all those additional calories.

Kusmi Detox tea is a great blend of Maté and chinese green tea with a refreshing hint of lemongrass, which I love.

Kusmi Tea has a 140-year history in teas. Their site offers a variety of teas and recipes too. Their Campus Tea recipe made with Ceylon and dry white wine sounds, extraordinique!

Where to Buy | Website

Extraordinique Turns Two

2009-11-07T02:02:50Z

It's amazing to believe that two years ago today, Team Extraordinique launched this site in Las Vegas, during Blog World Expo. We had a great party to launch the site and we have been enjoying writing, receiving your comments and suggestions ever since.

On this day, we want to thank you the readers for supporting Extraordinique. In these crazy economic times, we've found amazing and resilient artists and entrepreneurs defying the odds and creating with extraordinary outcomes.

We hope as we continue to find new ways to share what we think is Extraordinique, you'll find the time to enjoy and share with others!

To recap year two, here are some of our favorite finds:

Using What's Natural to Do Your Dirty Work

2009-09-19T00:30:49Z

Doing some remodeling recently, I have never been more aware of the amount of chemicals and cleaning products you can bring in to your home to finish the job. Cleaning was a big effort after our home improvements and cleaning supplies, like detergents, brushes, scrubbers all seemed both wasteful and un-recyclable once they were used up.

I came across some great environmentally-friendly cleaning products that I thought I would share. Check out Goodbye Detergent! They have interesting scrub, scouring and cleaning pads made with unique materials such as recycled corn cobs, peach pits, & walnut shells.

These scrubs and pads are reusable and have natural abrasives that make it easier to clean with no detergents.

Check out their original Spaghetti Scrubs made with corn cobs!

Website | Where to Buy

V-Moda - A Remix of High Fashion & High Fidelity

2009-08-22T04:51:32Z

My iPhone is always on. Whether I'm talking on the phone or listening to Pandora while I work, a good headset is such a integrated part of my daily experience.

I've tried thinking of the best way to describe how much I love the new V-Moda Vibe II earbuds and microphone. It seems crazy, but when you are tethered as much as I am, having a good, crisp, sharp sound means the world to me. Not only that, since it's an "always on" device, having a headset that looks sleek, is such an appreciated and coveted bonus.

I have not been impressed with the iPhone standard headphones and have been searching for what I feel is the perfect headset (headphones + mic for taking calls).

All about the Vibe II
I can now say, I love my iPhone and Vibe II. V-Moda did everything right. They made this headset just as fashionable and "on the go" functional as the iPhone itself.

Putting these earbuds through the ringer the past couple of weeks, I really feel V-Moda went the extra mile to make the perfect headset (and mic).

Here's what appeals most to me:

The earbuds deliver great sound quality.
The mic delivers really clear pitch and voice sound.
Noise reduction from the outside world is such a treat, especially when I am trying to write.
The fit was perfect for me right out of the box, but the set also comes with three other sizes, which I think is a total necessity.
The sport earhooks make running "fuss free." For runners, you'll know what I mean.
The external ear bud looks really cool. It has a really nice sophisticated design - almost jewel-like in a high-tech geek chic kind of way.

Best of all, the unexpected, yet absolutely favorite feature of V-Moda's Vibe II outside of the style and sound (form and function) is the fabric cabling from the ear bud to the iPhone. I never realized how tangled and knotted the iPhone rubbery cords ended up - always causing me grief and a couple missed calls. The V-Moda's durable black fabric cabling makes wearing the headset more flexible and less restrictive. It's a nice and long cable and feather-light, so it feels like your not wearing a headset at all.

I wanted to write this post all about the great music experiences I have had with V-Moda, but I have to admit this extension of my iPhone appeals to me on such a functional, day-to-day level. Music is always in the background, but V-Moda's "performance" is totally in the foreground for me.

Love it. Love it. Love it.
If you have an iPhone and you are fed up with the rubbery tangled mess of wires, you gotta consider V-Moda. They totally got it right!

Website | Where to Buy

It's ok to play with stickers by dvider

2009-08-22T03:05:48Z

We're always telling the kids not to write or put stickers on the wall, but what if mom wants to?

Camilla Slattery, owner and creative director of the DUMBO based stickers by dvider, announced some fresh new designs, in particular a new line called "eclectic."

I thought for all those moms out there wanting to do something new and fresh for their kids room, this is a great way to give a room personality and style. Check out a bunch of the new designs in action on Camilla's site - stickers by dvider.

Also check out their gallery to get some great ideas for a great nursery, playroom or "tweenie" looking for a "big girl" room.

To see other decals we've featured by dvider, check out Transform Your Space Simply with dVider.

Website | Where to Buy

Use it. Love it. Green Science.

2009-08-21T21:29:36Z

I'm kinda fickle when it comes to beauty products. I'll use a product half way and then get bored of it. My salon though encouraged me to try Green Science - a face cream that my skin just drinks up! I'm on my third container, so I figure at this point, I'm smitten.

If you like a light, yet emollient face cream, this one is delicious for your skin!

If you are in the Sacramento area, check out Salon B. They are running product specials in September, so don't miss out.

Aveda is recognized for their sustainable practices and beauty products
Aveda received the Gold Standard of Cradle to Cradle (C2C) product certifications for sustainability in beauty products. C2C certification and endorsement are the culmination of 30 years of socially and environmentally responsible business practices.

Website | Where to Buy