“People sacrifice for the iPhone.  But does anyone think, ‘I’m going to take my whole budget and buy a Lobmeyr glass and drink my orange juice every day from rock crystal so I feel nuanced and privileged – and my guests can sit on the floor.’?”  Murray Moss in the WSJ here.

Image via Moss.  This glass is Lobmeyr, though not a juice glass, obviously.  I like to pitch traffic to the source of inspiration when I can and this was the best glass there for here.  Also, it’s name is Patrician, which seemed appropriate, and it is a beer glass and there was a time when beer and I hung out together quite a bit.

Sitting at my desk pondering the secrets of the universe (namely, am I too old to wear a bikini), I took a break from my musings (“Betty, it’s so desperate.”) and dipped my toe into bags instead.  I like a big bag as I have an untold number of talismen that need to travel with me.  Phone.  Calendar (I know some of you think this is the same thing, but in my case it is not.) Hairbrush (that I rarely use as I brush my hair once in the morning and never again unless I am going out.) Three lipsticks the same toasty color; one red.  Glasses.  Supporting cast includes an ipad, a book, lacrosse shorts and/or anything for a school project and garlic or tarragon or something that is missing for dinner.

Meet Edie.  She arrived this afternoon and understood immediately that I need a little structure.  She can accommodate all my needs and realized intuitively not to hang around too long (meaning that with her shoulder strap extended she hits right at the hip rather than being unpleasant behind my back.)  I hate to spend money on these kinds of things and was delighted to find that she would come work for me for a mere $230.

It’s ridiculous how much I rely on J. Crew.  If only he would advise me what to don poolside.

The site reads the cost as $288; a handy email coupon provided a discount.  No compensation, real or imagined, was received for this post.

The Director of Design for Bruschwig & Fils, David Toback, told me yesterday that they are making three new color ways of Le Lac for Fall 2012.  THEY ARE MAKING THREE NEW COLOR WAYS OF LE LAC for Fall 2012.  I think Le Lac is pretty perfect just as she is, but I can’t wait to see her cousins.

(By the way, he didn’t tell “me” as much as he told an entire room of designers.  But I pretended he was talking just to me.  Stay tuned.)

Coffee is very important to me.  I can and do start the day without it, but if I don’t have some by 10:00 things can get a little ugly.

My coffee maker has been a faithful and trusty servant and has served me well for years.  (How many we can’t quite remember.)

A couple of weeks ago her burner stopped heating before the pot was empty; a little jiggling set everything right.

Then yesterday I came in to the kitchen and she was gone, passed quietly in the night.

Fortunately, my friend had given me a box of Dr. Drip.  Not instant, nope, brewed coffee instantly.  Sort of like a disposable Chemex.

The coffee is very good (I know these things.)  Perfect for power outages (of which we have many) or any natural disasters (like your coffee pot dying.)  They mention something about fishing and camping as well; to that, I cannot attest.  Dr. Drip Coffee here.

Dr. Drip has done nothing for me other than give me a little pep; while valuable, I would not consider it compensation.

I am in the middle of a little DIY hell.  It involves math, which is never good, but this “quick” project is taking a little longer than expected.  In the meantime, a few readers asked the name of the wonderful stuff mentioned in yesterday’s post.  I am pretty sure that it was Omorovicza Complexion Brightener.  I can attest that the back of my hand resembled the inside of a fine porcelain cup.  Several stores carry it, but I’m giving my pitch to Bergdorf’s as they provided the introduction.  $140/oz.  Here.