We don’t use QR Codes here in the U.S. but they do in Japan, the land of all things cute. The QR Code is a 2-dimensional bar code that can be encoded with addresses or URL’s. In Japan, cell phones can read QR Codes with its camera and automatically launch the correct URL in the browser. For the Marc Jacobs mobile site in Japan, Marc Jacobs created this hand drawn QR Code.

Unfortunately, they are of no use for us here in the U.S. but I loved the design so much I took the image and created an iPhone background out of it. I also did one of the Louis Vuitton version that Takashi Murakami did a few months ago. Follow the instructions below to use on your iPhone!

1. Click on the image above you’d like to save. (Will launch a full-sized image in a new window)
2. Right-click and save as to your desktop.
3. Sync the image through your iPhone backup on iTunes, or for a quicker way, e-mail the image to yourself and open the image on your iPhone to save as wallpaper.

So after the humongous splurge on painting and new furniture, I knew I had to be on a budget when choosing a dresser for the bedroom. I’ve had 2 IKEA Hemnes dressers in the past and have been impressed with their quality so I begrudgingly picked up another one, this time the double-dresser in espresso.

My only qualm is that this piece screams “Ikea!” because it is so easily recognizable… but you can’t beat the price at $299. Also this piece is a lot more modern than I wanted — I’m aiming for beachy contemporary but clean and hotel-like. So I thought maybe I could dress it up a little by changing the hardware.

I stopped by Restoration Hardware and picked up some rustic, round knobs in a dirty, vintage finish. Turns out this was just the key to get rid of the over-modernized look of the round knobs.

Before:

After:

The new, ornate knobs also matches the silver mirror I bought from IKEA to mount on the wall above the dresser as well. Finished looks to come soon — once I figure out how to get this mirror up!

I’m such a sucker for Shu Uemura’s package design. ESPECIALLY when he collaborates with Japanese artists to make these limited edition cleansing oils or make-up cases. Moyoco Anno, a manga artist and illustrator, designed a set of playful new packaging for Shu Uemura’s legendary cleansing oils.

As with most things I am aesthetics over functionality so I’d probably choose an oil based on packaging moreso the actual product inside. My favorite is the pink one. Now if only I can get through my current Ai Yamaguchi cleansing oil to get this new bottle.

I really have to get in the habit of USING and FINISHING my products. Sigh.

So I did it. I threw away almost an entire grocery bag’s worth of makeup. It was so painful. I didn’t realize I’d kept so many old makeup palettes, mostly because the packaging/casing was so cute.

There were MAC eye shadows from my college days, NARS palettes from when I first discovered Sephora and Stila palettes from, well, it looked like one per season for the last 3 years. I threw away my favorite Shu Uemura water-based blush sticks, my YSL touche eclat and all other cream-based things that were more than a year old. (Ick!)

Then when I got to my Chanel eye shadow and seasonal sets… I just couldn’t bear trashing them. Most were barely used, still tucked into the little black velvet envelope. Maybe if I’m able to scrape off the “used” layers then they’ll be like new and I can at least use them for another month?

I took a Qtip and started rubbing off the top layers of my eye shadows and cream blushes. I’d read something before about scraping off a top layer of your makeup and applying alcohol to sanitize. I went ahead and did this to a handful of my favorite palettes (all Chanel, ) and am pretty pleased with the result.

I also found a drawer full of brand new Smashbox makeup I’ve never used. I vaguely remember receiving them as a Christmas gift way back when but wasn’t daring enough to try the bold colors because I’m pretty amateur when it comes to eye makeup. I actually picked up an eye shadow trio and experimented with it today… a softly glimmering olive as a base with a dark violet-blue as an eyeliner. Let’s hope I don’t smudge…

When I went to Japan in 2007 I picked up a Takashi Murakami print from the Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills. It was such a detailed piece that I opted for the oversized print. I knew it would be pricey to frame but I thought it was a cool piece to bring back and put up at home.

Well, fast forward a few months later and Aaron Brothers quoted me $650 to do an oversized custom frame. I didn’t have a compelling reason to display the print so I just left it rolled up in its tube. After my move, I realized now would be as good of a time to put it up as ever, and I had a guest room painted in a soft grey that would be the perfect backdrop for it.

So I headed out to FastFrame in hopes of cheaper prices. I asked them to price out two options:

Option 1: Double matted with grey and white with a simple black frame.

Option 2: A single white mat with a silver shadow box frame. (Where the glass is about 2″ away from the print, giving it a “museum” look)

The pricing came out to be a little less than Aaron Brothers, but still a large chunk of change. The shadowbox was about $100 more than the traditional frame. The print should be ready tomorrow and I’ll post a pic with my choice then… but in the meantime, which option would you have chosen?