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This weekend we are headed to the coast to enjoy the remaining days of summer. We typically pack an assortment of goodies to eat throughout the day. The last time we made the trip to Bodega Bay, we stopped off at our favorite Whole Foods Market to pick up some items as well as some forgotten paper plates and utensils.

Not realizing there was a better, more eco-friendly alternative available, I was happy to find bambu Veneerware plates and picnic utensil packs. Excited to see bambu was a great alternative to paper plates and plastic forks, we felt good about the fact that bambu plates biodegrade naturally within 4-6 months after disposal. It was also good to know that there are no bleaches or dyes in their product. Their products are made from bamboo peeled directly from the stalk and bamboo is recognized as a highly renewable resource.

Sturdy and stylish, bambu was great for our picnic at the beach. Thin like paper plates, we were surprised how durable they held up with fruit salad and other saucy delights.

I love bambu's philosophy and guiding principles for their commitment to eco-smart innovation. "We exist to create interest and excitement around renewable materials and sustainable practices; we do that with original design, innovation and imagination."

Now, that's Extraordinique!

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Extraordinique was founded upon the idea of sharing stories about "ideapreneurs" - people who ideate, design and develop the most extraordinary and unique things for modern day life. Their backstories and their products alike are inspiring, fun, creative, influential and often manifest a simple solution designed to perfection. dVider is one such company that I say fits the bill.

This summer, I have been looking to do something fun and dimensional in an entry way to enhance the space. I have been looking for something with versatility and personality. dVider decals seem to provide that simple and artistic solution that can be added for any occasion and refresh your room's personality in style.

With this post, dVider stickers, in my opinion, can speak for themselves.

"We don't want to take over the world, we just want to share our stickers with it." - dVider

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Patio umbrellas tend to come in your standard colors and styles, but to designer and owner of WW & Co., Alison Childress, patio umbrellas don't have to all look the same and can be fun, vibrant and unique. If you like to entertain or just enjoy your own tranquil outdoor living space, give it some flare with a uniquely designed umbrella. You can be festive with "Flamenco" or classic with "Lattice." I personally love the Gerber umbrella, which according to Cottage Living is WW& Co's best seller.

WW & Co. produces  high  quality  outdoor  cushions,  market  umbrellas,  and  other outdoor  fabric accessories by  combining  great  design,  unique fabrics,  and  superior  components  with  the  highest  quality  construction  techniques.

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I was drawn to these sweet-smelling and sophisticated soy-based candles at my favorite store, Anthropologie. I stood before a wall of beautifully presented candles searching to buy an "E" for Extraordinique, which is infused with Eucalyptus & Sweet Basil. Unfortunately, they were out of the E, but I bought the L for the sweet smell alone -- made up of lemon verbena and lavender. From A-Z, each of these candles are aromatic and burn cleanly. It's sophisticated packaging and design goes well in any powder room or living space. I think I'll have to try every one of them in the alphabet! I think they make great personalized monogrammed gifts for any occasion as well!

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A world-renowned asian art glass studio has opened its first gallery store in the United States, Liuligongfang in San Francisco, right off Union Square. Artist, Loretta Hui-Shan Yang is internationally recognized for perfecting and reviving the ancient Chinese art glass technique called Liuli (literally "beautiful glass").  She has devoted the last 20 years of her life to Liuli and seeks harmony between art and life with every art glass piece she creates. Yang compiles each Liuli collection to reflect the beauty of life and nature, "revealing both authentic and modern expressions of Chinese culture."

Yang has expressed her artistic talents in Liuli and in acting. Yang, was a critically acclaimed and award-winning Taiwanese film star in the 1970s, but left the movie industry in 1987, at the height of her career, to pursue "enlightenment." While studying the French glass-making process pate-de verre, which translates to paste of glass, Yang learned that the art form had actually originated in China and could be traced back 3,000 years to the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. Yang and former film director, and now husband, Yi Chang became determined to resurrect the ancient art of Liuli and return it to the forefront of the art world.

Art for Yang, is "an evocative manifestation of love, life and spirituality." Her work, for example, includes these beautiful glass bowls she created as a set called, Tranquility of Heaven and Earth. Her collections also include jewelry and other collectibles for the home.

Liuligongfang is a 3,100 square-foot gallery store that showcases the amazing beauty of their creations and invites you to sip tea at their glass bar. While at the bar, you can enjoy tea served from Liuli teapots in Liuli cups and learn about pate-de-verre casting techniques and the Liuli story.

Extraordinque!

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Polly George is known for her pure and simple white glazed ceramics. Polly slip casts her items and then individually stamps or decorates them with hand applied birds, butterflies and roses. The glaze is then hand dipped giving each item their own individual character ensuring that no two are ever exactly the same. Her collections have many individual pieces, including a tiered cake stand, tea pot, vases, candle holder, bottles and more. I also love her Mr. and Mrs. Jones set as well. They are classic and whimsical.

Her butterfly collection is so beautiful and perfect as we enter into Spring.

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A new alternative to the beanbag of the past, Jukka Setälä from Finland designed the Fatboy®
in 1998 as the beanbag from the 21st century. Now with a wide selection of Fatboy options, which includes Fatboy's for indoor and outdoor spaces as well as for your four-legged companions, Fatboy is a fun and easy-to-maintain accessory for any home, office, dorm room, game room, etc.

Considering we call our own cat, Fatboy, we see the  24x24 catbag being the perfect place for him to take his coveted catnaps!

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