Liberty of London for Target launches today – Sunday, March 14, 2010! Similar to the Target Global Bazaar and Go International, it’s an exclusive collaboration with English style powerhouse Liberty of London.

There are so many cool items in the preview: teapots, piggy banks, bicycles, dresses, flip-flops (plus the usual… picture frames, cushions, candles etc.) — all in the amazing prints that Liberty of London is known for. Cannot wait! Some of the items (like the beach cruiser bicycle) will be online exclusives, but most items will be in-store.

Liberty of London preview pics:

Get thee to a Target store – today! :)

Previews for the new spring/summer 2010 line from IKEA have been making their way around the home decor blogosphere this month. Since I’m a fan of IKEA, home bloggers, and frugal decor, here’s a quick roundup of what’s coming soon from IKEA.

IKEA Spring Preview Round-Up:

Real Simple has a great preview, with 8 collection photos (and prices!). Including: new Poang chairs, lighting, textiles, and outdoor furniture. I’m loving the BLANKO table (pictured), $40 and the chairs are only $20. Holly also says that there will be a lot of new kitchen gadgets, fabric and outdoor furniture — in-store in February.

Apartment Therapy has a spring textiles preview of the three new lines which they’re calling “a mix of Scandinavia & Japan”, including: HENNY — polka dots and lines, RENATE — spring and floral, CHARLOTTA –  by a Swedish manga artist with cityscapes (love this one!).

ShelterPop has a few pictures of the actual products (sometimes it’s easier to get a feel for how things will fit your home sans-styling).

The new lines are rumored to hit IKEA stores in February. Reminder: the fabric tends to sell-out super early and they often don’t reorder, so keep in mind if you’re planning any projects.

Are you planning on buying anything from the IKEA Spring line?

I’m excited about today’s 10 Things That Make Me Happy list!  We’re getting a double dose of happy since it’s by Gretchen Rubin from The Happiness Project. :) If you’re unfamiliar with Gretchen, she’s a bestselling author who decided to document her quest to find more happiness in her life. I’ve been reading along on her blog for a few years now, so I’m looking forward to her new book The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun (December 2009).  So without further ado, here are 10 things that make Gretchen happy.

who: Gretchen Rubin
where: New York City

1. my three computer monitors – I love having three monitors. Try it!

2. running shoes - it’s the rare occasion that gets me to wear any other shoes.

3. blender - I make smoothies practically every day, and I love firing up my blender.

4. filofax - I love all things internet and networked, but I still depend on my trusty Filofax for my calendar.

5. diet soft drinks -I drink tons of soft drinks. And I love each sip.

6. contact lenses - I recently got a stubborn case of conjunctivitis and had to give up my lenses for weeks. Boy, I missed them!

7. my blog – when I started my blog, I had no expectations that I’d enjoy it. But now it’s a huge engine of happiness for me. the happiness project

8. subways, buses, and taxis – one of my favorite things about living in New York City is that I don’t have to drive.

9. ziploc bags – I have a huge collection of Ziploc bags, in all sizes, and find a million ways to use them.

10. books – Any and all books make me happy. amazon

Thanks Gretchen! If you haven’t checked out The Happiness Project, the “Best Of” is a great place to start, I also love the weekly Wednesday Tips. Happy Thanksgiving!

[photos: totalaldo, josiahmackenzie, astralpup, bitchbuzz, jacreative, manicomi, jliba, tamakisono, wonderlane]

Today’s 10 Things That Make Me Happy is by Nubby Twiglet — design extraordinaire and coincidentally a fellow Portlander! One of my RSS reader staples, I love Nubby’s weekly “What I Wore” sartorialist-style posts, the fontalicious “Typofiles”, and “This Week In Pictures” in which I quite often get to do a little Portland spotting. ;) So without further ado, here are 10 things that make Nubby happy.

who: Nubby Twiglet
where: Portland, Oregon

1. dries van noten shoes – I own six pairs of this Belgian designer’s shoes because not only are they amazingly crafted (seriously, they wear forever) but the designs are truly breathtaking. My favorite pairs are the wedges from his Fall 2007 collection style.com

2. philosophy ‘vanilla birthday cake’ lip gloss -This lip gloss smells just as good as the name implies and wears extremely well. Yum! $12 philosophy [psst... get 25% off with coupon code: ENJOY through Friday, November 20.]

3. forever 21 - I’d been shopping at their stores for years when I was contacted by them earlier this year to design their fashion blog, The Skinny. They were an absolute dream to work with and I will be featured in their new magazine as well! forever 21

4. saint cupcake - Best cupcakes in existence. If you’re ever in Portland, Oregon, you MUST try one! $2.50 saint cupcake [Note: As a fellow Portlander I can vouch for their cupcakey goodness!]

5. nixon watches - I have been wearing a black version of their Chalet watch for close to two years now and the compliments never seem to stop. It’s streamlined enough that I can wear it while I’m designing all day and it doesn’t catch on anything. This watch is solid, simple, timeless and it matches everything! $120 nixon

6. moleskine planners - What can I say? Molskine makes the best planners because they have a secret pocket in the back and the paper is perfectly smooth. I would seriously be lost without mine. $10 moleskine

7. miu miu bags – I’ve loved Miu Miu since the mid-90s but it was never in my budget to afford any of their pieces. Finally, when I was graduating from my design program, I splurged on a bag as a gift to myself. Since then, I’ve added three more to my collection. They are all very well made, streamlined and I’m sure they will still be in my regular rotation in ten years. from $26/week miu miu

8. new york city – I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, but New York is like a second home to me. I visit at least twice a year and some of my closest friends live there. I spent a month there this summer and lived in the East Village with my best friend, rode across the Williamsburg Bridge on the back of a motorcycle and freelanced for a marketing agency. New York always turns on the charm! nyc

9. house industries type posters – I just ordered a few of these screen-printed posters for my office. They’re fantastic quality and a great gift for those who are type obsessed! $35 house industries

10. mac studio fix – I’ve been using MAC Studio Fix for the last 10+ years and it goes on so smoothly that I don’t need to use foundation. Truly a time-saving, all in one base. Enough said. $26 m.a.c. cosmetics

Thanks Nubby! Alright, you’re next… what’s on your list?

I was a huge fan of Domino magazine — sadly no longer with us. My favorite part of the magazine was the back page feature called “10 Things That Make Me Happy.”  It inspired me to start 10 things lists on my personal blog a couple of years ago. And while it might seem frivolous to list a bunch of stuff that you love, it’s a great reminder to be positive and thankful. So without further ado, here are 10 things that make me happy.

who: The Frugal Bon Vivant
where: Portland, Oregon

1. tuna niçoise sandwich – One bite of this sandwich takes me straight back to France. I found this recipe in a recent Everyday Food magazine, and it’s become a weekly summer meal! about $10 everyday food

2. yurt and cabin camping - You don’t have to go to Mongolia to get in on the yurt action. Cheaper than a hotel and easier than tent camping — I would vote Oregon campgrounds as some of the best facilities. from $27 reserve america

3. mia outlaw boots - I snagged these at The Rack for quite a deal! I’m mentally ready for fall now. $130 onlineshoes

4. bicycle print - I discovered this print at Flatstock Seattle during Bumbershoot this year. It’s so colorful and happy! love, love, love! $25 strawberryluna

5. le perroquet - It’s summer in a glass! (1 part pastis, 1/2 part mint syrup, 5 parts water) Diabolo menthe is also excellent (just water and mint syrup). $8.99 amazon

6. gap 1969 sexy boot jeans – I previously had a long-standing commitment to J.Crew hipslung jeans — and then they dumped that line of jeans! So after six months of wearing ratty jeans, I checked out Gap’s redesign and I’m happy to report that I’m a new convert! from $59.50 gap

7. atomizer – I don’t carry cosmetics in my purse, (and my style has never been too girly-girl) but I simply adore these mini atomizers. They’re perfect for traveling. I have sparkly gold for my L’Occitane perfume and purple for rose water. $10 sephora

8. greece – Last year at this time, I was in Greece. September is the perfect time to visit — shoulder season, but still great weather. $cheaper than you think! travelocity

9. scarves – Granted, scarves aren’t a new style statement, but holy hell I love them! I was only so-so about scarves, until I went traveling and now scarves are my thing. I go in practically any store and make a bee-line for the scarves. I got most of mine in Turkey, but banana republic has cute ones lately.

10. pete yorn & scarlett johansson – I’ve found my fall soundtrack. I was initially skeptical of this album, but ended up loving it. $7.99 amazon

You’re next. What’s on your list?

Etsy’s Weekend Deals is a BOGO Edition — ranging from “buy 1, get 1 free” to “buy 1, get 1 50% off” — through Sunday, August 30, 2009. Reminder: the three BOGO deals from last week’s Etsy feature end Monday too!

Quick picks

• Brass Take Flight bracelet by threebird’sdesign
• Sweet porcelain honey pear $6 (Buy 1, get 1 50% off)
• Plant Markers by Blue Sky Pottery – BOGOBonVivant gets you Buy 1, Get 1 Free!
• Garden for Victory posters by Victory Garden of Tomorrow – “my frugal poster” gets you Buy 1, Get 1 Free!
• Midwest Seed Bombs by Visual Lingual – BOGOFrugal gets you Buy 1, Get 1 Free!

I’m a first-time [urban] gardener this year, so I’ve been excited about every little thing happening in my container gardens!  I’ve also been on the lookout for charming gardening supplies. As usual, Etsy has a lot of kitschy, whimsy, and just plain cute gardening paraphernalia. Here are a few of my favorites…

1. Plant Markers by Blue Sky Pottery

I’m absolutely in love with these stoneware clay plant labels! In the shape of a tomato (2.25″ x 3.25″), each plant marker has a different veggie or herb imprinted. There are 30+ markers to choose from and each one comes with an 8″ stake. Since the markers are fired and glazed you can use them year after year.

Price: 3 markers for $24, but Deb has offered a Buy One, Get One Free deal (with no quantity limit!) for Frugal Bon Vivant readers! Just mention BOGOBonVivant in your note to the seller (including what stakes you want) to get 6 markers for $24. Thanks Deb!

2. Garden for Victory posters by Victory Garden of Tomorrow

I first ran across these WWII “propaganda” victory garden posters in late spring (when the nation was victory garden and Michelle Obama-crazy!), when I was searching for victory garden prints. I’m a huge fan of vintage-y posters, so these updated versions are really cool! They would be perfect for a mud room/gardening area or even in a kitchen. My favorites: Grow Food on an organic farm, Break New Ground. Plant an urban garden, and Keep ‘Em Flying. You can raise your own chickens.

Price: 1 – 12″x18″ poster for $12. Joe has offered Frugal Bon Vivant readers a Buy One, Get One Free deal until the end of August! Just mention “my frugal poster” (and then write in what poster you want for free) in the comments section at checkout to get 2 posters for $12. Sweet deal, Joe!

3. Midwest Seed Bombs by Visual Lingual

These seed bombs come in the cutest little printed bags. If you need inspiration to join the guerrilla gardening movement, these should do the trick! So go practice random acts of gardening with this 4.5 ounce wildflower mixture.

Price: 1 packet (5 seed bombs) for $6. Maya has also offered Frugal Bon Vivant readers a Buy One, Get One Free deal until the end of August! Just mention “BOGOFrugal” in the comments section at checkout to get 2 seed packs for $6. Thanks Maya!

4. Grow Your Own Food T-Shirt by Happy Family

Here’s another “victory garden” themed item. I’m loving this ” Grow Your Own Food” shirt. Cute and simple design.

Price: $18

OK, gardeners & non-gardeners: what’s your latest Etsy find?

It’s time for another edition of weekend link love. Here are a few of my recent favorites. So grab some coffee & get cozy!

The Uniform Project: 1 dress, 365 days

The idea is that Sheena will wear one dress for an entire year as an “experiment in sustainable fashion” and to raise awareness and money (over $8,000 so far!) to fund education for children living in Indian slums. I first heard about The Uniform Project via Daily Candy and have been following on Twitter ever since. She mixes things up by layering and accessorizing, and posting new pictures every day. Quick fashion inspiration, and a really fun blog.

Stuff White People Like: Snarky Humor

A little dose of snark, a little dose of truth — Stuff White People Like posts random things that are “white”. After reading through a few of these, you’ll find something to say “Hey!” about. ;) A few hilarious ones: hummus, camping, Japan, public radio, Wes Anderson movies, sea salt, taking a year off… And there’s even a book now — too funny!

What’s your favorite Sunday morning blog?

I’m always running across brilliant sites on the interwebs –so many, that my RSS reader is practically overflowing. Here are a few of my favorites that I wanted to share. So grab some coffee & get cozy!

Urban Weeds: Street Style from Portland

Yep, Portland is still the darling of hipsters nationwide. I loathe it a little bit, but I guess my inner-hipster is loving this voyeuristic look at all the “cool kids” on Alberta, Hawthorne, & 23rd (non-residents: those are Portland neighborhoods). I guess that’s the appeal of street style blogs — it’s like The Sartorialist for little ol’ Portland. So even if you’re not from Portland (who are we kidding, half of Portland is from NYC & LA now anyway *wink*), go check out Chelsea & Lisa’s cool new project! Oh and wouldn’t it be fun to see a “hot or not” style-rater added to Urban Weeds? (without people being nasty though)

Halcyon Realms: Anime & Tokyo

I was searching for the artwork for the upcoming Studio Ghibli anime — Ponyo on the Cliffs by the Sea (coming to US & Canada theaters August 14, Ghibli is best known for Spirited Away 2002 Oscar for best anime) and found this gem. He had taken some gorgeous shots of the storyboard book — The Art of Ponyo. Vong is a Singaporean computer graphics artist working in the animation industry in Tokyo, Japan. So his blog is like fun snapshots of life in Tokyo — like the life-sized (if life-sized was 6 stories tall) Gundam in Tokyo or Japan product-lust like Green Tea Coke or the new Cola Shock (Coke + Vodka). I also love it that he only posts about once a week, so each post is full of great photography and detail.

This Young House: Young House Love

I first ran across Sherry & John’s blog while I was perusing Apartment Therapy. Their site is chock full of design advice & how-to projects; or in their words: “We’re 27. Our house is 53. It’s old enough to be our parent, but we treat it like it’s our baby.” They usually have a snazzy weekly giveaway as well — this week it’s a Cardboard Safari item. One of my favorite posts was a look at their closet storage solution (and the installation of said solution). Anyway, “the youngsters” have a really fun writing style, and a now enviable ranch-style home!

What’s your favorite Saturday morning blog?

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

It’s a perfectly simple answer to the “Well then, what should we eat?” outcry that Michael Pollan received after his first book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma. I loved this book right from the cover — brilliant design — and thankfully, the book has some meat to it.

The first half of In Defense of Food is all about Big Food, nutritionism, and a “backstage look” at how Americans got so fat. The second half of the book starts answering the “What should I eat” question. It’s a back to basics approach, that to some of us may seem quite obvious, but there are still a lot of great tips to pick up along the way. Pollan has a really witty writing style as well. I was furiously scribbling down notes as I read this book, so here are some of his highlights on what to eat…

Tips on “Eat Food” – Food Defined:

• Don’t eat anything your great grand-mother wouldn’t recognize as food.
• Don’t eat anything incapable of rotting.
• Avoid food products containing ingredients that are a) unfamiliar b) unpronounceable, c) more than 5 in number, or that include d) high-fructose corn syrup.
• Avoid food products that make health claims.
• Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle.
• Get out of the supermarket whenever possible. (gardening, CSAs, farmers markets etc)

Tips on “Mostly Plants” – What to Eat:

• Eat mostly plants, especially leaves.
• You are what you eat eats too.
• If you have the space buy a freezer (for buying meat in bulk and farmers market produce).
• Eat like an omnivore.
• Eat well-grown food from healthy soils.
• Eat wild foods when you can.
• Be the kind of person who takes supplements (more health conscious, better educated, and more affluent)
• Eat more like the French. Or the Italians. Or the Japanese. Or the Indians. Or the Greeks. (“The whole of a dietary pattern is evidently greater than the sum of its parts!”)
• Regard nontraditional foods with skepticism.
• Don’t look for the magic bullet in the traditional diet. (Example: it’s not just the olive oil in Mediterranean diet, or just the tofu in the Japanese diet)
• Have a glass of wine with dinner.

Tips on “Not too Much” – How to Eat:

• Pay More, Eat Less. (Quality vs quantity)
• Eat meals.
• Do all of your eating at a table. (Interestingly, 18 – 20 % of eating in the US is done in cars now.)
• Don’t get your fuel from the same place your car does.
• Try not to eat alone.
• Consult your gut. (A survey of French vs. Americans, “How do you know when to stop eating? Americans: “When my plate is clean” and “When I run out.” French: “When I feel full.” Now there’s a concept!
• Eat slowly.
• Cook, and if you can, plant a garden.

Some stellar tips, some slightly elitist sounding tips (the “Be affluent” tip – yeah, I’ll get right on that) — but in all an excellent book! I enjoyed this book more than The Omnivore’s Dilemma simply because it has a more positive slant. It’s nice to read about the research behind how eating has changed in the last several centuries, but I love how Pollan has outlined real advice for people who are serious about getting healthier. The simplicity of his guidelines and his coverage of the “French paradox” — this country who eats fats and drinks wine, yet stays skinny — is similar to Mireille Guiliano’s French Women Don’t Get Fat, another excellent read.

In Defense of Food is one of those books that after finishing you keep bringing up in conversations, and yes, I’m even recommending it to my mother, who is a total granola. ;)