It Came From Geekery

It probably says something that I can think of several people off the top of my head 

who would love to have one of these hanging in their offices/homes.

So if you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you've probably noticed that I tend rely pretty dang heavily on themes. Most of the time, it's a theme for each individual post, sometimes it's a one-day-of-the-week themed thing, and if I'm feeling really masochistic ambitious, I'll do a theme that lasts the whole month.  That's mainly because (as a writing convention) it makes the posts work a little better as a entity; giving them a unified quality that makes them easier to digest, as opposed to just being a random smattering of whatever strikes my fancy.

And that's all well and good, but sometimes it's hard to make a theme work for one entire post.  Like, "trying to translate Aramaic into Klingon" hard, because I'll find a hat here and there that I really like but I can't find enough in that style to make a post out of it, and unless it's a really, really nifty hat, I just don't feel justified in devoting a post to one solitary hat.

For example:

This fleecy periodic table of elements hat is so adorkable in concept that you'd think there'd be tons of hats like them around, but strangely enough, only one shop seems to offer them.

Considering the continuing popularity of the Harry Potter series, one would think there would be tons of Potterverse-related hats out there.  And yet, this I Heart Quidditch hat is the only one I could find.

Also, what is it with the wealth of Princess-Leia-bun hats, but this is pretty much the only Spock-ears hat I can find?  Are Trekkies still not prevalent enough in society, or what?

And just because it exists, here's an Android hat:

Which I like to think is a mark of the awesomeness of the Droid.  Because honestly: When was the last time you saw an iPhone hat?  Yeah.  I rest my case.

So in closing, the reason why all these hats are lumped together is because they're so stinkin' rad that they're the only ones that exist.  Which I suppose is a theme in and of itself, and while it may not be a particularly satisfying one,  it's one I can live with.

And on that note, see you Friday!

Muffle Yer Ears

It probably says something that the best bit of art that has earmuffs in it also features owls.  

And my guess is that the something is "WE ARE THE BORG OWLS: RESISTANCE IS FUTILE."

You know what, Internets?  I'm gonna post about earmuffs today because, frankly, um...

To be perfectly honest, I'm a little tipsy at the moment, because my one remaining grandfather just passed away and while I do not believe that getting tanked is a proper way to deal with loss, I do believe that there are times when your ability to cope is greatly enhanced by being half a bubble off sober.  And while I'm sure that trying to write a post while being slightly buzzed and pinballing all over the six stages of grief is not the best idea I've ever had, it beats being huddled in a ball and weeping.  So let's do this thing, shall we?

First up, there's this nifty geometric patterned set of earmuffs, which I like a lot.  They look retro.  Or mod.  Or retrolly moddish.  Either way, I like 'em.

Next up, there's this crocheted earmuff/earwarmer combo, which takes the appearance of California rolls.  Because cookies and pizza are so yesterday, man.  Sushi is the new hotness when it comes to circular foodstuffs.

Well, unless we're talking about pie.  Pie still rocks.

For those of you out there who love them some yeti, you are gonna love these crocheted earmuffs.  Not just because they're really well-made, but because they're yeti earmuffs.  And just to state even more of the obvious, water is wet, grass is green, bears are Catholic and the Pope poops in the woods.

Meanwhile, I'm kinda liking this pair of purple monster earmuffs from the same shop.  But that might just be because I'm a sucker for monsters.  And earmuffs.  So really, this entire bit right here should come as a surprise to no one.  Heck, the only way this would be even more up my alley would be if they had a button closure instead of a ribbon.

And while I typing about things that should come as no surprise, guess who found a pair of Hello Kitty earmuffs and wants them for her very own?

Yeah, that would be me on both counts.  Mostly because Little Penny Lane really committed to the whole "make this mamma-jamma look as much like Hello Kitty as possible" thing, to the point where the whiskers just stick out there.  That is committing to an idea, folks.

And that's today's post.  Hopefully you all like at least one set of earmuffs posted on here, and if not, at least I got to think about something that doesn't make me break down sobbing like a kid with a stubbed toe.

See you Wednesday.

Edit:  For the curious, I actually wrote this the day my grandfather died (last Friday,) so no, I was not drinking at some unseemly hour of Monday morning.  My coping mechanisms may suck, but they're not that terrible.


Son of Edit:  And on a coincidental note, I received an early birthday/Decemberween package from good buddy leafy_days.  In said package was a pair of sheep earmuffs, which in turn made my mother-truckin' day.

Happiness Is Turkey

Believe it or not, this is actually the front of a note card.  Methinks whoever was to receive 

such a card would be liable to stick it on the fridge for the rest of time.  I know I would.

Internets, it's that time of year again; that time where the roads are clogged with traffic, the pantry suddenly becomes a veritable wealth of canned cranberry sauce, the kitchen's been getting the full-court-press since Tuesday, you've got family members crashing on the couch and only the truly brave would dare to make a run to the grocery store now.  Yep, you guessed it--it's Turkey Day: The American Version.*

Well, not just yet, actually.  It's tomorrow, but all of that stuff is still true.  And since we all know that "Thanksgiving" means "turkey," it's a safe bet as to what today's post is going to be about.  But this year, we're just going to be looking at hats from TWINKIE CHAN!  Why?  Because any shop whose name is in all caps and ends with an exclamation point deserves a day in the spotlight.

Also, it helps that they have two turkey-themed bits of millinery, as you're about to see:

This fascinator proves what I always suspected to be true: While maturity may force lead us to ask for the white meat, in reality we've all got those tasty drumsticks on our mind.

And just because it wouldn't be a T-Day post without one, here's a turkey hat that pays homage to the whole freakin' bird:

Well, the whole bird minus the wings, anyway.  Maybe the wings were real popular in TWINKIE CHAN!'s house, so they were always gone first.  That would make sense.

Anywho, that's it for this week, as that I am planning on being in deep enough of a tryptophan-induced coma Friday that posting just isn't going to happen.  So here's wishing a Happy Turkey Day to those of you who celebrate, and a hopefully not-too-obnoxious Thursday to those that don't, and either way, see you next week!


* The differentiation is to distinguish it from Turkey Day: The Canadian Version, which was last month.  And yes, they really do have one too, but I don't think Pilgrims were involved.

Zip Yer Lip

While I have no need for alphabetic flash cards, I could see wanting to own this set, just for the prettiness alone.

Once again, it's Monday--that day we dread most out of the seven we call a week.  However, due to the fact that there's a federal holiday coming up this Thursday and that most a good chunk of places of employment also remain closed Friday, Monday just isn't feeling like a Monday this week.  In fact, it kinda feels a little like a Wednesday, which just makes the whole week feel like it's zipping by unnaturally fast.

And since it's impossible for me to think about the word "zip" without thinking of zippers, that means we're looking at some more zipper hats today on HH.

First up, there's this brightly-colored zipper bow headband, which I like quite a bit.  Not because it's a bow (although admittedly that's pretty nice,) but because of how aggressively bright these colors are.  Because if there's one thing the month of November isn't, it's bright and cheerful.

The same could be said for the colors of this cocktail hat, but the zipper is far more subtle.  It's like, "Yeah, I'm here, but I don't need to steal the show or anything.  I'm just gonna chill out in the back and let the rest do all the heavy lifting."

Y'know, that is if it could talk.  Which obviously it can't. Because it's an inanimate object. Duh.

Anyway--moving on:

It's the little details that really makes this zipper headband, I think.  And it helps that said "little details" just so happen to be buttons.  Because buttons make everything better.

And just because I love the supremely old-school fanciness of it, here's a zipper cocktail hat:

Admit it:  You never knew a zipper hat could look this classy, did you?  I certainly didn't, and I now stand corrected in the most awesome way imaginable.

See you Wednesday!

Cute & Clanky

If this print doesn't make you squee from the adorable, there is something dangerously wrong with you.

You know what, Internets?  It's been far too long since I last posted some robot hats.  So guess what I'm going to do today (and by "guess" I mean "accurately predict what today's post is going to be about based on the title, the tags and the freakin' amuse-bouche I've got at the top of the page")?

If you said "robot hats," congratulations!  You won the knowledge that you are capable deductive reasoning!  Get yourself a cookie!

And while you're munching on your cookie, check out this lime green robot hat.  Because eating cookies and looking at cute hats make for a nice little mini-break during  your hectic day, I think.

Speaking of cute, look at this pink robot hat.  How much more precious can you get?

...Well, that all depends on whether you find yourself an equally-precious robot fascinator, like the one pictured above.   It's like what you'd get if you crossed a robot with a Care Bear.

P.S.  I will henceforth refer to this as Tenderheart Bearbot.  Care Bearbot : STARE!

Of course, if you'd rather go with something a little less robot-shaped, you can't go wrong with a robot pattern.  Y'know, like the one featured on this bomber hat, for example.  It's robottish goodness without being too far gone into robotitude.

By the way, are either of those words?  If not, I'd like to nominate them for actual wordhood.  The English language needs more robot-related words.

And finally, just because I can, here's a felted robot top hat:

Because while it's all well and good to want to look dapper, nothing makes you stand out from the crowd like a robot top hat.

See you next week!

Squirreled Away

My alternate title for this print:  Ralph S. Mouse, EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

Thanks to several days in a row of wind that varied between 15-30 MPH, it's safe to say that whatever leaves were left on the trees are now decidedly all over the ground.  This means two things; that now would probably be the best time to hop to raking, and that it's a whole lot easier to see squirrels in all their wacky glory.  And speaking as someone whose brain wired to be easily distracted by anything that promises to be more entertaining than what I ought to be doing, I'm getting to see a lot of squirrel-related wackiness at the moment, because a bunch of them have decided to take up residence in the pine tree out front.

Also, it helps that I actually kinda like squirrels.  After having grown up in a college town that had a rather friendly squirrel population, I gained a soft spot for the little miscreants, and to this day get a kick out of watching them clamber and scamper around.   However, I do understand that there are those out there who don't have a soft spot for squirrels, and TH is one of them.

And honestly, I think the squirrels in the pine tree know this.  It's the only reason I can think of as to why TH got bumrushed by the lot of them when he stepped outside early one morning.  Why?  Because I think that--in their own squirrely logic--they were determined to overwhelm him with cute.

Needless to say, that didn't work, but it did give me an idea for today's post.  So without further ado, let's get to it, shall we?

First up, there's this squirrel beanie, which is actually upcycled from a cashmere sweater.  So not only does it fit with today's topic, it's also green and soft like whoa.  What's not to like?

But if you'd rather have a squirrel hat that is a bit more squirrelesque, you can't go wrong with a hat like the one above.  The only way it could be more squirrel-esque if it it had a bushy tail.  And possibly an acorn or two.

Just to prove that, yes, squirrels can be perfect for dress-up occasions, I've even found a squirrel fascinator, complete with toadstools.  Because toadstools are the new acorns in the squirrel world, I guess.

And just because it amuses me, here's a bug-eyed squirrel toque:

Because the only thing cuter than a regular squirrel is a squirrel that can do Bambi eyes like a pro.

See you Friday!

Pom-Pom-POW

Anyone know what kind of flowers are featured in this print?  I kinda like 'em.

Well, Internets, I don't know what the weather was like in your area this weekend, but here in Centraliana it was cold.  Not just chilly; I'm talking below-freezing, teeth-chattering, skin-numbing, need-three-layers-of-clothes-in-order-to-function, couldn't-hold-back-the-swearing-when-stepping-outside cold.  And yes, I know there's a lot of compound attributives that last sentence, but it's the only way I could think of to accurately describe the sheer level of cold that was going on around here.

And when you hit that level of cold, there's only one kind of accessory that will do: a pom-pom hat.  Because for some reason, The Powers That Be decided that hats best suited for the cold-weather months are also perfect for pom-pomitude, and really, I can't argue with that logic at all.

Especially when said pom-poms are a beautifully big as the one on this hat.  Just look at the vast bigly bigness of the thing.

Of course, if you prefer your pom-poms a little more on the understated side, then you can't go wrong with a pom-pom-studded mini beret.

According to the description, this hat is supposed to be an owl beanie.  I'm guessing it's because the silhouette and color scheme are supposed to suggest an owl, which it does a bit.  However, since I'm still somewhat over the whole "owl hat" thing, I'm only posting this because I like the little pom-pom at the top.

I like the old-school glamour of this beret.  Mostly because it's hard to think of a time before where I looked at something featuring a pom-pom and would've described it as "glamourous," but this one has succeeded admirably in that respect.

And just because not all pom-poms need to be spherical, here's a bow-shaped pom-pom:

Note:  I have no idea why this is in reference to Madam Pomfrey, but it's been a long while since I read the Harry Potter series, so maybe she did rock a hat like this.  And even if she didn't, the hat is still awesome and I would totally wear it all the stinkin' time.

Of course, the same could be said of Luna's glasses, so there you are. Spectra Specs, FTW!

See you Wednesday!

Never Forget

I like how thickly the paint was applied to this painting.  

Kinda makes me want to touch it, even though I know that's not kosher with paintings.

Depending on where you live, today is either Armistice Day, Remembrance Day or Veterans Day.  While the names might be different, the fact of the matter is that today is the day where we remember those who fought in defense of our respective countries.  This time of reflection can take many forms; parades, trips to the cemetery or simply a moment of silence, but the one we'll be focusing on today is the poppy.  Because as the poem goes,

"If ye break faith with us, who die,

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,

In Flanders Fields."

And since I ain't breaking the faith, here be the hats:

Since I don't recall there being any rule that says you can't venerate without first embracing austerity, we're starting this off with this lovely, lush poppy fascinator.

Of course, if you'd rather something a bit on the simpler side, you could always go with a solitary poppy, like this fascinator right here.

And since we all know how much of a sucker I am for all things felt, here's a sweet little poppy fascinator that is relevant both to my own interests and to the interests of this post.

But if you're thinking, "It's nice to want to remember our veterans, but I'd rather do something that will actually benefit them instead of just remembering them," I've got you covered:

For each of these poppy badges sold,  £1 will be donated to Help For Heroes Charity, and...

£2 will be donated to the RBL Poppy Appeal for each of these poppy badges that are sold.  Or you could always get yourself a Buddy Poppy.  It's up to you, and what you feel would be best.  In the end, I suppose the only thing that really matters is that you remember.


See you next week!

Egg 'Em On

For some reason, I think of The Bloggess when I look at this sign.  Can't imagine why...

Hey, Internets--you know how sometimes you wander into the bathroom only to realize that you're out of toilet paper?  I'm not talking about those times when you're just faced with an empty roll; I'm talking about there is no toilet paper anywhere, at all.  So you're stuck there, desperate, and all you can do is run a mental checklist to see what options you have that would make a somewhat decent substitute for what you're supposed to use (which, by the way, in descending order of desirability is: Kleenex, napkins, paper towels, and pages from the phone book)?  The reason I'm bringing this up is so that you have an idea for the mindset I was in when this post was written.  Not that I'm likening what I write to that which is most flushable, but the level of desperation is about the same.

See, due to a combination of poor planning and ill-timed writer's block, I was having a hard time coming up with a post for today.  Taking breaks only to keep me from bashing my head into the desk, I spent nearly five hours trying to come up with something--anything--and without a single shred of success.

So just as I was about to give up and write up a "sorry, no post" post (which would be the equivalent of using the phone book pages, in case you're wondering,) I saw these:

And at that moment, it was like I stumbled across a box of Puffs with Aloe Vera while I was on my way to search for the Yellow Pages.  It's not the usual, but danged if it's not the next best thing.

Besides, egg cozies are kind of like hats, aren't they?  Hats for soft-boiled eggs, anyway.  So why not do a post about egg cozies?

So this one is a spring onion egg cozy, which I think TH would approve of.  Considering how much that dude loves onions and eggs, the only thing that would make it better is if it came as part of a set cozies that had a box of paprika, some peppers and a stick of butter.  Oh, and a salt and pepper shaker, too.

What can I say?  I know how TH rolls.

Considering how matryoshka dolls are well-known for containing stuff, I suppose it only makes sense that someone out there would make a matryoshka egg cozy.

Admittedly, I have never had a soft-boiled egg in my life, but if someone were to give me this robot egg cozy, I'd give them a shot.

And just because it's so appropriate, here's a chicken-shaped egg cozy:

It's like the egg went full-circle, didn't it?  Even though the cozy is probably closer to the size of a baby chick than a full-grown chicken, but even so.  Still.  Awesome.


And now, I am going to stop using my brain before it completely melts down.  See you Friday!

By The Neck

Question:  Will I ever get tired of prints made on pages of old books?

Answer:  NO.

Over this weekend, I talked Rufus the Roommate into trimming my pixie cut a little in the back because had gotten a little long and it was starting to look like the larval stage of a mullet (or at least it was to me.)  To her credit, she did a great job, but I am now being reminded just exactly how much a difference barely even one inch of hair makes in keeping a person's neck warm.  It's about the same as having a blanket that is just one inch too small--you wouldn't think that it would matter until necessity informs you in the sharpest way possible.

Suffice to say, I've been rocking the hoodie-and-neckwarmer combo a lot since then.  And since we all know the drill by now, let's just dive right into today's post, shall we?

What I like about this red scarflette is that the way it's designed.  It's like BAM: instant turtleneck for any long-sleeved T-shirt.

Then again, if you prefer a neckwarmer that isn't willing to settle just at warming your neck, you could always go with a cowl like this stripey mamma-jamma right here.

Not sure what it is I like best about this scarflette: that it fastens closed by tying instead of buttoning, or that it comes with a pair of matching wristwarmers.

And yes, I know the description refers to it as a scarf.  But seeing as the above fails to meet a key requirement for a scarf (meaning, it's got to be able to wrap all the way around your neck at least once,) that makes it a scarflette both in my book and on this blog.

Another question:  Does a neckwarmer stop being a neckwarmer when it's loose enough to wrap around your shoulders?

Another answer:  Maybe.  But since I like it, so it's posted here anyway.

And finally, just in time for Movember, here's a mustache neckwarmer:

Because as long as mustaches are en vogue, they might as well be for a purpose, right?

See you Wednesday!