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If you like loose leaf tea, here’s the cup for you. This teacup has tilted base with an inbuilt and removable strainer; brewing your tea simply involves tilting the cup away from the leaves when it has reached the correct strength. Available in Pure Black or Snow White.

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If you still rely on paper and pen/pencil to keep your thoughts in order, check out these little notebooks. Perfectly sized for a pocket or small bag, they’ll keep your lists neat and tidy. Notebooks include STUFF TO DO, GREAT IDEAS, NOTE TO SELF, and STOCK UP, each $6.00.

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Another version of this Flat Life Lamp was available a couple of years ago (see 2010 post), but this Anglepoise-like image is a tad more sophisticated. Be sure to check out the Flat Life Clock (shown below) as well (how much do you wish it had an actual alarm function?).
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As summer begins to change into fall, a fire pit for warming chilly hands and feet could be in the cards. AK47 has quite a few snazzy options, but they are all towards the higher end of the price spectrum (be prepared to spend around $1500+). One that especially stands out is the Discolo Fire Pit, which has a diameter of almost 4 feet. The base (sold separately) isn’t necessary, but be sure to set up a safe surround of gravel, stone, or sand before making a fire. Better to be safe than sorry, right? There’s also a grill accessory and bag (each $766) sold separately.

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Have you noticed that summer is almost over? If you don’t already own a picnic blanket, consider this one from fruitsuper design. It’s made from a double-sided, water-repellent fabric and has a shoulder strap with snaps to make rolling it up and carrying it around a breeze. There’s also the added bonus of wind-resistant corners (a small but nice detail). Might be a great choice for a backyard get together, park picnic, play dates, beach outing, etc.

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What do you do when you’re serious about beautiful product design and have some money to burn in the kitchen? You snap up the Tools collection by Iittala, that’s what. Each piece features oversized handles and is made of stainless steel and aluminium. Prices of each piece below.

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How about a nice slice of Swiss to show off your cheese spread? A composite of acrylic resin and powdered bauxite means the material is similar to marble, so think about chilling it ahead of time to keep your cheeses fresh on the table. If you look closely, you’ll see that one hole goes all the way through for easy hanging. And there’s no worries about bacteria or odors as the board is non-porous.
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Need a mid-sized terrarium? This modern pill-shaped terrarium by Chive will blend easily with modern interiors. It’s a pretty decent size as well: 14″ high by 9″ diameter. If you’re fond of small pod-like vases and such, be sure to check out Chive’s other offerings.
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Whether you use these containers in the kitchen for storing tea leaves or elsewhere to corral odds and ends, you’ll enjoy their beautiful Castor Aralia wood grain. Using one or two to organize those items you use often might bring a little bit more pleasure than storing those same items in a flimsy plastic alternative.
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Shine some light on your books with this small portable lamp. It slides under books (or rests on top) to provide a diffused light right where you need it. I’d say it’s a tad too small for a proper task light, as you may note when checking the dimensions. Instead, consider it specifically for those dark bookshelves instead.

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Do you know a budding architect? Do you still enjoy playing around with building blocks? Either way, bookmark these building blocks of the achitectural classics. Each piece is magnetized to the base, allowing you to place blocks in whatever way you see fit. Be sure to check out the Chateau de Chambord and Neuschwanstein models (each $16.99); it looks like Amazon has all three.
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This looks more like a well crafted shiv than a letter opener, but rest assured its intent is for paperwork rather than protecting yourself in prison. But never mind all that, let’s get to the more impressive feature: the blade of this letter opener is made from a “fusion of 100% post-consumer recycled paper and a water-based resin made from cashew nut shells.” Paper + water + cashew shells = blade. Nice. The blade pivots between the two-pieced handle of poplar wood.
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Just think, some people pick up cards at the supermarket. Pfft. Not you, of course. You have more of discerning nature and require a card that shows your stylish restraint and superb taste, maybe a card along the lines of these geometric beauties. Choose the Oval or Cube shape in black or metallic gold; the recipient will find a debossed black or gold “Happy Birthday” inside.
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For us visual planners, a small overview of the month is pretty necessary, and these sticky notes seem like they would accompany our weekly planner or notebook quite well. Each pad has 15 sheets showing an empty grid; quickly jot down the current month’s dates and you’ll have your calendar wherever you want it. (The price is almost negligible, so maybe you can add some other fun sticky notes to your order; perhaps full moon, small maple leaf, or tetris?)

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Here’s another price increase: back in 2010, the Leti Lamp was $369 for the small 12.5″h size, and now it’s $500. That’s a score for the ‘don’t procrastinate’ camp. For those of you in the ‘save until you can afford’ camp, you’ll be saving a little longer for this all in one eco-sustainable desk lamp and bookend.

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