misosouper, a shopping blog

I’ve been into the whole gladiator summer sandal thing for a few years now, so much so that my original gold pair has staged a protest and fled screaming from my closet, refusing to participate in another summer of wear and tear.

While I love the look of a flat metallic shoe, I do not love the fact that said shoes usually have no support, and occasionally constrict big toes in a vise-like grip that causes what I affectionately term the “jiffy toe ring.”

So I’ve been on the hunt for a comfy pair of glads that are:

a. metallic, preferably gold

b. cushy enough to stand up to an entire day of summer sightseeing

c. not $350 (Oh lord but do I love this pair! Please let them fall down from heaven into my closet tonight. Amen.)

Here’s my (surprising) pick: Birkenstocks. Yeah, go ahead and scoff, but these bronzey gladiator thongs will walk you through this summer, and the next, with change in your pocket. You’ll laugh at all the feebs who spent twice as much to be half as comfortable.

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A full size version of this birdbath would look fab in my flowerbeds, but for now, the miniature version will make my birds just as pleased.

T-shirt dresses in peppy colors are summer perfect, dressed down with slinky sandals, or up with ropey wedges.

And what’s more perfect than snagging a dress this cute, at 75% off?

Infinitely better than one of those goofy “tonight/not tonight” pillows.

You have my permission to hang it next to your bed.

Mid-century modern, wickerized: because you can’t really take your Ovalia egg chair outside.

A few years ago, I stumbled upon Alice’s site The Carrotbox while trying to replace a beloved jade flea market ring. I scored my ring, then another in Murano glass, and another in regular glass, and another in plastic…

She’s got a lot of goodies, and I’m particularly tempted because I only wear non-metal jewels on my right hand. (Curious, I know. But I like the juxtaposition of delicate wedding band on left hand, and chunky fun ring on the right. Not that wedding rings aren’t fun. But I digress.)

Like this wooden gem: so sculptural and low profile. She’s got limited quantities, so you better beat me there.

In honor of Earth Day: a lamp made out of rope that would look fabulous suspending a CFL bulb.

As I was poking around my local Anthropologie last week, I sidled up next to a girl wearing a yellow cami-grey skinny jean ensemble, finished off with a pair of impossibly chic printed flats. Because she dangled a Neiman’s bag from her finger, I assumed the shoes were too spendy for my feet, and let her go without as much as a compliment. After I got home, some internet sleuthing revealed that her shoes were from Target. So I salute you, unnamed shopping buddy with great taste: you’re not only chic but cheap, a girl after my own heart.

Easily mistaken for breath fresheners, but oh, aren’t these bathroom soaps lovely?

We’ve never gotten around to buying a dining room table, probably because when you’re cheap, it’s hard to justify spending upwards of $2K on something you only use a few times a year.

Our justification has arrived, in the form of a sleek, linear design that opens to reveal a regulation-size pool table, so that I can host a dinner party, then hustle all my money back when the dishes are cleared. We’re cheap, remember?

(FYI…I e-mailed the company for info on US retailers and prices, and didn’t receive an answer. So file this under the category of you-can’t-afford-it-if-you-have-to-ask.)