Bite Down

If there's anything this print teaches us, it's that great white sharks are just as scary

in a snazzy suit and tie as they are in the buff. They just look somewhat cooler.

July is finally drawing to a close and August is getting ready to roll in. That means summer has just about met its end, and that the new school year is just around the corner (which is great for parents and collegiate students; anybody between kindergarten and their senior year of high school will rightly think otherwise.) With facts like these looming over our heads, it's hard not to wonder if there is anything worth looking forward to in the month of August at all.

Well, take it from me--there is definitely something to look forward to this coming month. And that thing, dear Internets, is that wonderful seven-day-span the Discovery Channel likes to call Shark Week. Because it's as close to a recognized holiday as August is likely to get, and frankly, we could all use more programming about sharks in our lives.

So without further ado, let's get to the shark hats, shall we?

...Yes, I really did just start this post off with a fleece shark hat from Obey My Brain. At this point, it would be sacrilegious of me not to.

The same could also be said of this shark-shaped felt fascinator. Because wanting to wear a shark on your head should not stop you from looking all dressy and stuff.

Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure that any baby that gets an adorable little shark hat like this is highly unlikely to ever be embarrassed by baby photos when they're all grown up.

Of course, if you haven't got the time to send away for a shark hat before Shark Week kicks off, you could always make one out of paper. As to whether or not it looks as awesome as this one does is a matter of personal opinion.

And just because I think it's fitting, here's a necklace featuring a quote from the movie Jaws:

Because let's face it; the only thing more memorable than that line is the actual overture itself, and I don't know too many places that sell a necklace that'll play that tune.

And that's it for this week. So even if you don't see sharks (televised or in the flesh) featuring into your weekend plans, here's hoping you all have a lovely weekend.

See you Monday!

Cuckoo For Cocoa

Posting this print forces me to admit that I have never actually had a whoopie pie.

But they certainly do look very tasty.

If you ask me, there are few things more obnoxious than having a comestible craving that you can't fulfill. There's something about getting a hankering for food (particularly good food) that is just so powerful that it'll just ruin your day if you can't satisfy it. My guess is that it has something to do with the combined senses of taste and smell. By themselves, they're pretty intense for reminding people about stuff they like; together, they deliver a wicked one-two that'll just ruin your palate for anything else.

Case in point: I want some flippin' chocolate. But we don't have any in the house, and it doesn't strike me as worth it to go out and get some. So here I am, not having any chocolate, and trying my best to be adult about it.

And frankly? Being an adult needs to come with more perks. A LOT more perks.

Well, at least I can blog about chocolatey hats. Which is precisely what I'm gonna do right now.

First up, we've got this Black Forest cake-inspired fascinator, complete with cherries on top and a matching red ribbon winding around it.

Not sure what the sparkly flowery bits are for, but they definitely add to the hat instead of taking away from it, so they're fine.

Of course, if you prefer your chocolate more on the tangy side, then you'll probably like this chocolate orange veiled fascinator. And even better, you don't have to whack it one on the tabletop first in order to enjoy it.

Like the aforementioned whoopie pies, I have also never had a petit-four. And if they all look as adorable as the felted one that makes this fascinator, then I probably never will. They would just be too cute to eat.

And because this hat seriously deserves to be shared, here's a chocolate bombe burlesque/mini hat:

...And on that note, this post has officially done absolutely nothing to weaken my cravings. But with a little luck, I'm no longer the only one who wants some chocolate now, so at least I won't be alone on that score. Misery loves company, or taking others down with me: you make the call.

See you Friday!

'Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky

I like the multicolored charm of this print. It's got whimsy.

I don't think it's any big secret that I am not a particular fan of rain. In fact, with the exception of farmers and Shirley Manson circa 1995, it's safe to say that most people don't really get a big kick out rain. There may be people who don' t mind it, but that strikes me as being similar to people who don't mind elevator music; they tolerate it better than those who hate it, but I highly doubt they actually actively seek it out (this applies both to the cumulonimbus or yet another soulless cover of "The Girl From Ipanema.")

So it says something when, after seven days of nothing but intense, unrelenting heat, I nearly wept with joy when a storm front moved through the area, knocking the temperature down ten freakin' degrees in an hour's time. Under normal circumstances, I'd be watching Weather Underground/listening to NOAA radio like a hawk for reported tornado signatures; in this case, I wanted to dance the Dance Of Joy.

In honor of the fact that I am no longer sweltering into a puddle of miserable misery, today's post is all about cloudy stuff, featuring a chance of rain.

Quick question: Have I featured this fascinator before? Because it looks really familiar, and yet I can't seem to find it anywhere in the archives.

Aw, what the heck--if I did, it's worth posting twice, I think.

On a less cloudy/more rainy note, this headband features droplets of rain that fall down onto your shoulder. Which--according to the description--is totally removable, if you'd rather not be distracted by something brushing against your clavicle all day long.

Admit it: It's hard to look at this headband and not start humming "I'm Only A Little Black Raincloud." And if it wasn't, it will be now after I've said that.

And just because I can, here's a pair of shoes featuring happy little clouds:

Because I was serious about the "happy little cloud" thing. Also, Em & Sprout make cute things.

See you Wednesday!

Stuff A Sock In It

What could be better than a sock monkey print?

A sock monkey print with a Beastie Boys quote, that's what.

Internets, I don't know how you're holding up during Heat Wavemageddon--hopefully, you're doing well, staying cool and keeping hydrated--but I am one sad, sweaty little soul right now. I've been doing everything I can to stave off heat stroke or anything serious like that; wearing lightweight clothes, drinking gallons of water and basically lazing around during the hottest part of the day, etc. But even so, there are some things that are just plain hard to do when it's nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit inside your freakin' house, and one of those things is thinking.

Seriously. I am not lying. There is a reason I favorited/retweeted this comment by web comic Kawaii Not. It's because my brain hasn't worked properly since last Saturday night, because that was the last time it was cool enough for the blasted thing to function properly. It's hard enough to use my gray matter long enough to type coherently; thinking up ideas for posts this week has been nigh on impossible.

Which is why it's a good thing one of my oldest and dearest friends, CherryTrie, sent me this link about sock monkey toys on Facebook. Because otherwise, today's post probably wouldn't have happened. Because, dang it, if you can't appreciate a whimsical toy made out of socks, then what good are you?

That's what I thought. Now, on with the post!

First up, there's this sock bunny monster by Sammi Bears. Because if there's anything more adorable than a bunny or a monster, it's a hybrid of the two.

This one I chose not just because it's frickin' rad (which it is,) but because I've got a sister-in-law who's got a soft spot for elephants, and just so happened to decorate her infant daughter's room with elephants.

By the way, that last paragraph marks the point where her husband stopped liking me. But in my defense, I couldn't resist. And Mitter's Critters made me do it.

Of course, this post isn't just about everyday (or everydayish) sock beasties. For example, this sock apatosaurus from SewMuchRock is anything but ordinary.

The same could also be said of this sock pirate monster from Stuf'd, who you may recall as being responsible for the Maple Leaf monster from the Canada Day post. And if you don't recall that, then you should definitely go and check that store out. Like, now, if you've got the time.

And just to prove that all that is stuffed need not be cute, here's a sock Eldritch Abomination:

Or an Eldritch Horror, as Sock It To Me Softies & Stuff describes them. Although I will say that this is definitely more appealing-looking than a regular Eldritch Abomination.

And if you don't know what an Eldritch Abomination is, I would suggest not Googling that. Trust me--you don't want to. Not if you ever want to sleep again, anyway.

And on that note, that's it for this week. Stay cool this weekend, and see you Monday!

Of Geeks And Hot Messes

...Yeah, it kind of feels like this print right about now.

Internets, it is hot here. Real hot. Freakin' hot. It's-a-headline-on-Yahoo!-News hot. And I have no A/C. As such, it is so hot that it's hard to come up with compelling reasons not to steal all the ice cubes in the house for the mother of all ice baths, let alone think about hats.

However, I would feel like a schmuck if I took a day off on the account of Excessive Heat. So how's about looking at some more geeky-type things. Because that's about as good of a theme I can think of right now. Also, this laptop is uncomfortably warm, and the sooner I can knock this post out, the sooner I can go lounge in front of the fan.

Upcycled computer cord + Regular headband = This bit of awesomeness.

Considering how ubiquitous the @ symbol has become over the years, it was only a matter of time before it got featured on a headband.

My bets on the next hot new symbol? The asterisk. You just wait; it's time is gonna come, and it's gonna be soon.

Science: Granting us the knowledge of atomic structures so that we can put models of them on headbands since classical antiquity.

And just because I could totally use a real one of these right about now, here's a rocket pop headband from youcute:

Seriously. Rocket pops are amazing, and so is this headband.

See you Friday!

Like Cats And Dogs

Oh, anthropomorphic animals--will you ever stop being amusing?

Probably not, as long as I can keep finding prints like this one.

You know what I haven't done in a while, Internets? Posted some cats and dogs in hats, and that's a darn shame (particularly when you consider that the first cats-in-hats post I did is still far and way the most popular on this whole blog.) So in the interest of giving you all more of what you want, here's a selection of cats and dogs in hats:

You're welcome. Also, pugs look adorable in sock monkey hats.

Hey, cat owners; you know what your cat really needs? A camouflage kitty hat. Not because I think it would actually help any with stalking birds or whatever, but because it'll make their futile hunting from the wrong side of the window even more amusing for you.

Not only will this fleecy dog snood keep your dog's ears warm in winter, but if you accessorize with a pair of neon plastic frames and a PBR can, you can have your very own Hipster Dog!

...Admit it--you were thinking the exact same thing.

I like to think that this particular cat hat was made for the folks who were either recently laid off or starting telecommuting to work. Because it is a bit of a transition to make, particularly if you're used to daily interactions of the passive-aggressive kind and egregious comb-overs. Slapping this hat on your cat would kill two birds with one stone.

And if you don't get that, then you have never had to deal with a cat.

Lastly, just because I can, here's a pug in a viking hat:

It's the little braids that really sells it, I think.

See you Wednesday!

Pump Up The Jam

Yes, this print is unapologetic girlish thing ever. Take it up with Rosie Music.

Remember that song? That one got blasted a fair bit in our house back in the day. Whatever happened to Ya Kid K, anyway? Does she still have a career?

Anywho, as I might have mentioned once or twice before, I am big fan of headphones. Which probably leads you to one of two conclusions: that I must really dig music, or I am pretentious audiophile jerkwad. The truth of the matter is that, yeah, I do like music, but most of the time that I'm wearing them, I'm either listening to documentaries, stand-up or reviews from TGWTG.com on my computer while I'm working. Because--thanks to having grown up in a one-story, three-bedroom house with five other people--I apparently cannot function unless there is white noise in the form of people talking.

Make of that what you will, Internets.

So with that in mind (and as I listen to Paw Dugan, natch,) let's look at some headphones.

Yes, I just totally kicked this post with a pair of headphones featuring a big, red robot painted on them. Because headphones are cool, robots are cool, and the combination of robots on headphones is just too stone-cold awesome to not post.

AntiBromide actually has a wide selection of really amazing customized headphones to offer, so that I had a really hard time picking a pair I liked best. Then I saw these cupcake headphones, and the decision-making process got a lot easier.

Hey, the Hetalia fandom section of the Internets? I have a question for you: What's with the yellow birdy thing? Because I'm not really seeing how a chibi baby chick ties into a webcomic/manga/anime series about anthropomorphic personifications of countries circa World War II.

But hey, if it means cute headphones like this pair, I'll roll with it.

Note: While I may not be into steampunk myself, I can appreciate this pair of fully-functional steampunk headphones.

And now, just so I can end this post by going full-circle, here's a pair of hand-painted headphones featuring GiR.

I ask you; what would be better to blast The Doom Song through?

And on that note, that's it for this week (no pun intended.) Enjoy your weekend, and see you Monday!

Unicornucopia

Forget prancing ponies--galloping unicorns are what's hot in the streets,

and FLY CHARLIE can hook you up with a print of one in whatever color you choose.

First up, sorry about the radio silence (or blog silence, as it were.) If you weren't following the desperation on Twitter, allow me to get you caught up:

1. Went to check post that I had scheduled for Monday, only to discover that, well, there was no post in my post. There was a post-shaped entry, but absolutely no content; no text, no links and--most importantly--no hats. Cue WTF face.
2. Tried writing a new post, just to let you all know that there were technical difficulties. Again, all I get is an empty post.
3. Contacted Blogger Help, and proceeded to wait for said help. Alternated between checking email for a helpful response and with the blog to see if the error fixed itself. No such luck on either score. This goes on for two days, wherein I start to debate as to whether or not I should take this as a sign and stop blogging. After I sobered up, I said "screw that noise--I'm blogging."
4. This morning I check the blog again. Still not letting me post. So I hit up Blogger Help once again, probably reeking of desperation. Finally, help appears in the form of "switch your publishing editor," and lo, my test post went through. And there was much rejoicing.

Yeah, it's been an interesting couple of days. And Internets, you have no idea how happy I am to be back. In fact, I'm so happy, here's some unicorn hats. Because unicorns are some the happiest-making things ever.

Particularly when Caseybot gets in on the unicorn hat love. Because while you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, you have to love a unicorn hat that just lets their teeth hang out.

Or something to that effect, anyway.

For those who think that embroidered stuff is for a group euphemistically referred to as "ladies of a certain age", allow me to change your mind with this awesome embroidered unicorn fascinator.

Also, take no heed of the fact that a little girl is wearing it. Adults could totally rock this.

But if you're not too certain of that last one, how's about this whimsical unicorn headband? It's being modeled by an adult, if that helps any.

And finally, just because there's got to be some bronies and colts out there who will appreciate this, here's a fleecy Twilight Sparkle hat:

And yes, I know who Twilight Sparkle is. Also, my favorite ponies are Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Yeah, I am a 30-year-old woman who has no children, and yet I will watch the heck out of this show. I REGRET NOTHING.

And that's it for today. See you Friday!

...Aw, it's good to be back.

In Living Color

Well, if you're going to do a post on colors, you might as well post a print of an assortment of paintbrushes such as this.

Feeling a little drab today, Internets? Then we should definitely take a look and some amazingly colorful hats/fascinators. That should brighten up your day immensely, and mine as well.

Blame it on all those times when I was a kid and left the TV on The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, but when I think of lots of colors, I tend to think of a loaded palette. Hence, why I'm including this leather palette fascinator in today's post.

Also, I actually use the phrase "happy little cloud" pretty frequently. That's also Bob Ross's fault.

It's been a while since I posted anything with buttons on it, so I feel zero shame in posting this multicolored, heart-shaped button headband.

...Okay--it's more like .5%, but if you round down that's pretty much still zero.

Speaking of heart-shaped things, a lot of those went into making this colorful leather headband. Because, really, hearts should not just be limited to the 10-and-under set.

And because this was the thing that gave me the idea for today's post in the first place, here's a Jackson Pollock-inspired mini-hat:

I knew there was a reason I'd featured Chatham Girl before. This just proves that it was totally worth it.

And that's it for this week. Here's hoping your weekend is positively vibrant, and see you Monday!

The Final Straw?

Jane Heller Photography has a wide variety of prints for sale. 

 This is just one of them (and the one that fits in most closely with today's post, natch.)

Believe it or not, Internets, I really do try my hardest to keep from posting the same old thing over and over and over and over and over again.  Not just because it'll most likely bore you to tears and make you less likely to check back in on a regular basis (although that does actually count for a lot,) but also because that's a swift way to wind up in a rut, both writing- and thinking-wise.  So I do make quite a bit of effort to keep the subject matter on this blog fresh and interesting. Y'know, for the good of everyone.

...That being said, it's hard not to keep featuring certain things when you just keeping finding new and pretty things to show.  Particularly when they just keep randomly popping up on certain sites and, darn it, they're just  so...so...nifty-looking.

My case: allow me to make it.

For The Blog's Exhibit A, I would like to present this mod blue straw cop cap from recurring featured shop Fab Gabs.

Exhibit B is--you guessed it--a vintage straw boater, but one featuring a straw bow, as well.

Exhibits C and D come from the same shop, mostly because I couldn't make up my mind as to which one I liked better.  Take a look for yourself:

Can you make up your mind?

And finally, just because there's something quirky I like about it, Exhibit E is a straw cocktail hat that looks kinda like an upside-down basket:

It does look like an upside-down basket, doesn't it?

So in answer to the question posed in today's post's title, is this the final straw hat post?  Probably not, as long as I keep finding new and nifty straw hat-type-things.

And on that note, see you Friday!