SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Egg Heads

Thanks to Sieger, you can now have egg on your table instead of on your face. Okay, okay, so that was a bad joke, but there's no denying the beauty of this Matroschischka egg cup, a miniature version of the popular Matroschka egg cup series.

Made of white porcelain from Furstenberg (a German factory known for its luxe tableware), these dainty, hand-painted cups are available in five patterns (all relating back to Sieger's new My China! series): Treasure, Emperor's Garden (which incorporates bold, Asian-flavored flower motifs), White, Glossy Platinum and Polished Gold. These carefully crafted cups are as classy and sophisticated as your grandma's best china, but they manage to incorporate a refreshingly modern aesthetic.

They're perfect for storing small sugar cubes, raisins, and other teeny-tiny table essentials .

Sieger Matroschischka cup, $220. Available at Michael C. Fina in New York. For stores, visit MichaelCFina.com

Body Art

That Kat Von D is a badass chick. The Mexico-born star (y'all know I had to throw that factoid in there! And mad props to my homies at Latina for bringing that to light!) has become as known for her rockstar-meets-pinup-gal personal style (the leather halter tops, oversized glasses, midriff-revealing tank tops, cigarette jeans, chunky wedge shows, cut-off tees, animal-print dresses, studded belts, leather cuff bracelets, etc.) as for her top-notch work as a premier tattoo artist. From her sleeves (meaning the tats that cover her entire length of her arms) to the sprinkle of inked stars around her left eye, Von D is showing that tattoos can be sexy and feminine.

On the red carpet, one of the things that always makes Von D stand out is her sultry makeup -- whether she's rocking a smokey eye with nude lips or burlesque-style red lipstick and an understated eye. Which is why she's such a perfect candidate to create a make-up line, a fact that Sephora quickly picked up on when it asked Von D to create her own limited-edition line of lipsticks, eyeshadows and brushes for Sephora. The eyeshadow palettes are spectacular -- there's the Ludwig, which incorporates warm and earth-based colors (yellow (which she dubs "tequila"), brown (which she calls "leather"), copper (or "baroque"), olive green (called "orbi"), etc.) to the Beethoven, which includes darker, moodier colors like dark, metallic blue (which she names "speed blue"), taupe (or "sinner," as she calls it), a light mauve shade (which she dubs "galeano" and more). The shades are really unusual in the best of ways and they're easy to blend for interesting contours and combinations.

Kat Von D for Sephora True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Ludwig and Beethoven, $34 each. Visit Sephora.com

Heal The World (Or At Least Your Skin)

I've tried many a lotion (scented and unscented, shimmering and translucent, thick and creamy or light and silky, with SPF and without it), and I must say I never expected to get some of the best results from a product that can be found at any major drugstore. But woomp, there it is -- after a week of integrating Curel's Natural Healing Soothing Lotion to my after-shower routine, I've officially set my sights on a new item to toss in my basket when I make my Duane Reade runs.

The lotion includes lavender to soften your skin, chamomile to calm and soothe, and oatmeal to reduce any inflamation and irritation (those of you who suffered through the chicken pox already know oatmeal can work wonders on even the most botched-up skin). What I love about this particular lotion is just how light it is -- the texture is somewhere in between baby oil and vaseline, and it glides on smoothly and coats your skin without making you feel sticky and caked up. Just 15 minutes after applying the lotion, you'll actually feel your skin being replenished and hydrated (I sound like a commercial but it really is the case). It's a perfect buy for summer, when the sun's rays take a toll on our skin and we need that extra TLC (but when it's dumb hot out, and we don't want a thick cream that's just going to make us sweat and feel gross). The ingredients are quite gentle and there are no artificial scents so even those with extremely sensitive skin can reap the benefits of this one. Guess Curel can cure all.

$9.99; available at most drugstores

The Final Straw

H&M has been steadily picking up its purse game over the last few years and, now, among the throwaway bedazzled clutches and flimsy canvas totes, you'll also find some fantastic faux leather hobo bags, linen carry-alls, and chic clutches. A recent stroll through H&M's bag section left me feenin' like Jodeci, particularly for this leather-and-raffia doctor's frame bag with wooden handles (needless to say, I was in the cash register minutes later.... So much for self control, right?!). The colorful raffia pattern feels like a wink-wink to Missoni (the fashion house that made luxurious cotton and silk multicolored prints its signature, not to mention a look synonymous with haute hippie chic). The H&M bag takes an aesthetic associated with haute couture and flips the paradigm through the usage of raffia, which is clearly an inexpensive, beach-ready, summer-only textile. Which brings me to the next point -- this bag is so much more sophisticated than your average straw purse (the top leather part and the buckles on the sides add elegance and finesse) AND it's quite roomy (so you can carry your trashy summer romance novel, suntan lotion, wallet, keys, glasses, flip-flops and more). And since it's bursting with more colors than a Skittles pack, it will match pretty much any bathing suit you choose to wear -- making it perfect for us indecisive types.

$30. Visit Hm.com for store locations

Cuckoo for Coconuts

For some reason, I was craving Cocoa Puffs this morning, and I thought about that whole "cuckoo for cocoa puffs" slogan -- which, of course, led to the silly headline above. Anyway, I am pretty nutty over these coconut-scented products by Philosophy, which are just perfect for summertime. And no, you won't smell like Coco Lopez, Coco Rico, or any other coconut-flavored beverage or food. The Go Coconuts shampoo/shower gel/bubble bath, lip shine and body butter have a very subtle coconut smell that won't overpower your senses; as a matter of fact, the main ingredients in the body butter (just as an example) are shea and cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, beeswax, mango seed butter and macadamia seed oil, not coconut water or anything of the sort (which makes me wonder about the origins of the coconut smell but, hey, I like it, so I won't get too deep into the research...)

The shower gel is particularly refreshing, perfect for morning showers when it's sticky and humid outside. The body butter, meanwhile, is extremely rich, so a small dab should be enough to hydrate your parched legs and arms and leave them feeling incredibly silky. As for the lip shine, it's not particularly hydrating, so I wouldn't recommend using it as a substitute for lip balm, but it's a great top layer for a nude or light pink lipstick or gloss. And, as an aside, while I wouldn't suggest consuming large amounts, if you happen to lick your lips when you have some gloss on, you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover that it actually tastes like coconut (kind of reminded me of the rollerball cherry lipglosses I used to smear on my lips in junior high... 'cause yeah, my lip gloss was poppin', ok?!).

All three items can be purchased individually or, you can go the whole nine yards and buy the set, cleverly named the Tiki Hut. The three goodies come packaged in a box designed to look exactly like a rustic hut with a wooden structure and a palm leaf roof. Now all you need is a hammock and you're good to go...

Go Coconuts Tiki Hut, $35. Visit Sephora.com

Ring of Fire (As in, It's Hot!)

At 12 pm EST today (that's now, my East Coast gals), this gorgeous Judith Ripka ring goes on sale for 50% of its original price. How? Where? Well, the fabulous folks at Gilt.com are launching their Judith Ripka sale today, offering the luxurious baubles crafted by the DeBeer's Award For Diamonds Designer winner at affordable price points.

Ripka's designs are classic and timeless -- think beautifully mounted amethyst or blue quartz rings, pavé diamond-and-gold cuff bracelets, and Pretty Woman-ready, throat-hugging necklaces (your remember that scene when Richard Gere gives her the gorgeous necklace before they venture out to the opera? Well, one of Ripka's necklaces could have been inside that box!).

See, this is just one of the many benefits of being a member of the Gilt Groupe, an invite-only community that provides access to the brands we all lust after at prices up to 70% off retail (now THAT's what I call a sale!). This week alone, they'll have sales on Chip & Pepper, Valentino Red and MINT by Jodi Arnold wares.

But all good things come to an end -- and when it comes to a great sale, that end comes rather quickly. Each sale lasts 36 hours BUT, even then, items sell out at lightning speed so, if you've already mentally added this ring to your jewelry box, you better act with the quickness.

Judith Ripka berge black onyx ring, $1700 (its original price is $3400). Visit http://www.gilt.com

Snake Eyes

Though I hate myself a little bit for taking any sort of style cue from Paula Abdul, she's been hauling this fabulous black Lockheart bag around — and I gotta admit I'm loving it (cue the Burger King jingle). The Serpentine, Angelina Hobo features embossed snakeskin, covered rings that plunge into a deep V-shape along the bag's front, two subtle diagonal pockets on either side and a detachable, lengthy cross-body strap. As some background, Lockheart was founded in 2006 by the same team behind Isabella Fiore, Jennifer Tash and Trang Huynh. Though Tash and Huynh always use top-of-the-line materials for their wares, they also have a penchant for bold, irreverent, in-your-face designs -- from mod leather patchwork motifs to Western-influences calf hair-and-leather constructions to punk rock hardware embellishments like gold rope chains and zippers. And, if you need a boldfaced name to give the line added credibility (shame on you!), then rest assured: Katherine Heigl, Denise Richards, Kate Bosworth and Jessica Simpson are all avid fans.

Black Lockheart Serpentine, Angelina Hobo bag aAlso available in burgundy and grey), $750. Visit Lockheart.com

In the Cut

The folks at Cutler Hair Salon in New York City's famed Soho neighborhood (they also have a 57th Street location that predates the Soho one, but I'm fonder of the latter) first shared their secrets with the masses through the launch of their eponymous product line of shampoos and conditioners. Always thinking of their on-the-go, cosmopolitan clientele, they most recently introduced the Cutler Carry-On Collection, which is ideal for those who are hopping around different time zones with more frequency than Hayden Christensen's Jumper character.

The collection includes a Body Milk, Daily Shampoo, Daily Conditioner, and Body Wash (all in 1.7 oz. tubes), as well as a tiny face soap, all tucked into a plastic bag with a convenient zip closure. I'm particularly smitten by the oblong-like shape of the tubes -- they're a normal width but are considerably thinner than most bottles/tubes, which minimizes bulk (always a concern if you like to travel light). The hair products are, of course, suitable for all hair types and work wonders on your locks, but I'm most fond of the Body Milk, which contains coconut oil, shea butter, Hawaiian white ginger root extract, avocado oil, pear extract, and other ingredients that hydrate and nourish your skin -- however jetlagged it may be.

$22; Visit CutlerSalon.com for more information. To order, visit Amazon.com

Champagne Tastes

Even non-lushes are so familiar with liquor brands like Jose Cuervo, Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and Captain Morgan that these guys might as well be universal uncles of sorts (like how Ben and Jerry are every heartbroken gal's BFFs). In that scenario, Dom Perignon would, of course, be the well-traveled, bookish-but-suave, high-post uncle. After all, Dom P is about more than great-tasting champagne: it's a name that's synonymous with luxury and class.

Which were precisely the elements artist Marc Newson had in mind when he designed this sleek chiller, the Marc Newson II for Dom Perignon. The aluminum magnum container features a shield in a bold neon green color which, in turn, bears the wine house's name. Newson's signature, meanwhile, is featured on the back of the container in an eye-popping orange hue. The chiller is Newson's second edition for Dom P (his first effort was produced two years ago, a line of 1,000 limited-edition containers which sold out completely).

Not only is the container regal, but it has a sculptural feel that remains true to Newson's artistic roots. And hey, let's be practical: it's summertime and, whether you're on a yacht off Turks & Caicos or playing with a boogie board in your house's swimming pool, we're all ready to toast something (or someone) and to enjoy the pleasurable things in life, such as a chilled bottle of Dom P.

So go do the Magnum (Zoolander style).

$1000. Available at Moss New York, 866-888-6677, and Moss Los Angeles, 866-902-3423.

Made in Tokyo

Are you a Japanophile? Do you sweat Bathing Ape's Nigo harder than Pharrell, Teyana Taylor, The Clipse and the entire Star Trak family? Do you stare at Murakami's artwork on the cover of Kanye West's Graduation album? Or maybe you're into the thrown-together coolness of United Bamboo's designs or the romantic, lapsadaical vibe of Tsumori Chisato's patterns ad prints? Perhaps it's not Japanese fashion you admire as much their anime films (word to Akira or the trippy, colorful artwork of icons like Murakami Takashi (pictured at his studio in the second image from the top).

Whether you're intrigued, perplexed or fascinated by Japanese art, film, fashion, architecture or interior design, the superb new book Tokyolife: Art and Design (Rizzoli Publishing), written by Ian Luna and featuring contributions from Lauren A. Gould, Tom Mes, Jasper Sharp, Mika Yoshida, Hayashi Fumihiro and more, can serve as your gateway to the homegrown talent of one of the most influential and avant-garde cities in the world. The essays are both informative and thought-provoking, covering heady topics like the rise of Tokyo as a future, otherworldy "supercity" and the collapsing boundaries between fashion production and consumption in postmodern times; the photos, meanwhile, capture the works of Tokyo's tastemakers: from filmmaker Koreeda Hirokazu to art collective Groovisions, painter Takano Aya, couture houses Comme Des Carcons and Dresscamp, and interior designer Yoshoka Tokujin (among many others). The in-depth look at Tokyo's current cultural and artistic output is refreshing and inspirational, so don't just plop this one on your coffe tabe to try and be cool — read it, look through the images, and absorb the content.

Tokyolife: Art and Design By Ian Luna, Rizzoli Publishing, $75.