Pink Saturday - Pigs & poodles

Pink Saturday - Beverly, at the blog "How Sweet the Sound" hosts Pink Saturday. Let the color pink inspire you!

Let's take another stroll down Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, CA, enjoying the spring air and enjoying this eclectic street of arts, fashion, counter-culture and cutting edge. I'm sure we can find some pink things here.

Oh, look at this!

On the West side of the street there's a crumbling tan brick building, a long, low group of shops fronting the sidewalk. The first thing I noticed was the pair of wicker chairs out front, with pretty pink rose-print cushions.


The second thing I noticed was the hexagonal subway tile on the floor in the doorways, they probably date from the 1920s - you could almost say buildings like this are the prototype of Los Angeles' iconic strip malls.


This store is called Bountiful - and that's a perfect description of the vast assortment of wonders you'll find here. You go in and marvel at the wonderful antiques and salvage goods. On a cabinet just in front of the door, a whole array of antique lamps are displayed. Two of my favorite things - pink, and a tag that says "Sale Price"!


In the bay window, an assortment of cake plates - they are not new, but reproductions. Look at the pink ones!


I browsed through the shop and found wonderful pink things, like this wash basin printed with poppy flowers, high on a shelf above my head.


And this pretty platter with pink roses - Theodore Haviland China from the turn of the 20th century, Limoges, France.

This is a wonderful store, and full of delectable things. But in these troubled economic times, I have to economize. No $120 platters for me; no $300 painted wicker chairs. I need a little more affordable luxuries.

And then I saw them.

Poodles.

These pink and black poodles are french-milled soaps made by Gianna Rose Atelier. This line of artisan soaps are all-vegetable based for guilt-free bathing, and come in a variety of scents and shapes that will delight and intrigue you. The packaging is exquisite and almost makes you hesitate to undo the paper and open it. An indulgence, of course, but what beautiful gifts! There's a whole line of soaps that are shaped like dogs! You can take your pick of Chihuahua, Dachshund, Maltese, Westie and Cocker Spaniel!

Only they smell like lavender and florals and linen - not Wet Dog!


And then there are the pink pigs. I think I like those the best.

Gianna Rose soaps are not cheap - you could buy dozens of bars of Dial for the price of one of these. But if you needed a special sweet gift in these troubled times? Or just a small thing to make you feel luxurious?

Me, I was shopping on my lunch hour, and feeling a little stress from the office. I bought one bar of Lemon Verbena scented soap. Such a pretty thing to hold in my hand. I still can't bring myself to undo the pretty paper!

Pink Saturdays are for indulging. At least a tiny bit. Go for it!