Unlike a few of her friends, Marie was never much of a hippie back in the day, but of late she has started catching onto the luxe boho look—you know, the artfully disheveled presence that allows women to wear free-spirited daywear in a plethora of floaty silhouettes and soft prints, but still accessorize with high-end labels like Prada and Pedro Garcia. Or Elisa Solomon. At 17 inches long, the designer’s Thunderbird necklace channels la vie bohème with turquoise and 18 karat gold.

White porcelain plates are a must for minimalist chefs, but sometimes you want a presentation with a little more of that so-called wow factor. Achieve it with these organic edible roses, which make beautiful accents on your lovingly prepared appetizers, entrées, tarts or cakes. Infused with mild fruit flavoring, they’re also a fun gift for friends who like to bake up a storm in the kitchen.

The pairing of lime and chili is a classic flavor combination adored from Latin America to the South Pacific, and Charles loves the kick it gives to Marie’s signature beef and veggie skewers. You too can use these flavors to make your meat, chicken and seafood mouthwatering. Simply use this rub before grilling, panfrying or roasting. It’s made up of carefully selected spices such as New Mexican chilies, California cilantro, Turkish cumin and paprika, as well as sea salt and lime.

You can never have enough cuffs in your jewelry box, at least this is the fashion philosophy around the C&M headquarters where the halls are a veritable haute couture show when Marie is in town. Alex Woo has taken our love of wrist wraps and created this exotic stunner, the Zahrah, fashioned from suede cords that are intricately hand-woven. Inspired by the oh-so-vibrant beauty of Morocco, the bracelet signifies the blooming flower, or zahrah, and flaunts one’s affinity for silver or gold vermeil in yellow or rose.

So you’re looking for a striking accent for an all-black ensemble? Hit Moyna Bags for a closer peek at this embroidered silk clutch, with inside pocket, beaded chain, magnetic snap-tap closure. All at once glam and “little girl,” the bright turquoise color allows us to hang onto the fleeting days of summer just a bit longer. We just love pretty little things that are all gussied up with beaded details.

The Gardener in Berkeley peddles an uncommon assortment of gardenwares, like Japanese scissors for cutting stubborn roses and terracotta exports from Tuscany. Owner Alta Tingle also stocks items to make the most of homegrown fruits, veggies and flowers. Ceramic and wooden salad bowls let you share Mother Nature’s bounty with friends, unique watering cans make the mundane more fun, and a plethora of cookbooks provide new twists on some of your favorite recipes. Tingle, a former garden designer and lecturer on landscape design, opened her Berkeley location 24 years ago, followed by shops in Healdsburg, and San Francisco’s Ferry Building. Marie often stops in when she’s in the mood for pruning, planting and sowing, and she can’t help but snap up a few deliciously-scented soaps as well.

Despite its popularity, Oakland’s Bellanico retains a neighborly feel with comforting rustic California Italian cuisine and tiny interiors accented with blown glass pendants. Husband and wife owners Chris Shepherd and Elizabeth Frumusa (the duo behind Aperto in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill) named Bellancio for their two daughters, nicknamed Bella and Nico, and they recruited Chef de Cuisine Jonathan Luce, formerly of Pearl’s Oyster Bar. Expect such decadent dishes as risotto with black mission figs and gorgonzola, as well as wild-caught albacore.

In San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, Bae is noted for home accessories ideal for outfitting a home office. Mirrors trimmed with seashells. Vases crafted from coral. Starfish napkin rings and glossy abalone shells. Matt Bissinger and David Caler have a taste for decadent glass—everything from lamps to hourglasses—but you’ll also find bowls carved from the stumps and roots of Chinese fir trees, faux blossoms, leather-bound journals, dashing magnifying glasses, and deliciously scented bath salts and pampering potions from the Elizabeth W collection made in San Francisco. Pens made from flatware stems may inspire you to compose a message in a bottle and throw it out to sea.

New York City socialite Tory Burch made her ascension to fashion icon in 2004 when she launched her eponymous clothing label, which spans caftans, tunics and sequined cardigans. Although her designs have pervaded the mainstream, we still adore her concepts (much of her inspiration is drawn from interior designer David Hicks, as well as the bright colors and ethnic prints of her parents’ vintage wardrobes). This season she rocks the croc print, using it to spruce up these patent leather Leigh booties. Slip on the generously stacked heels when you desire a rock n’ roll swagger.

David Glass is committed to making luscious Euro-style desserts that draw upon all-natural ingredients from all over the world, as evidenced by his Ultimate Cheesecake (which is divine when topped with sliced kiwis or strawberries). Glass has worked at restaurants in Istanbul, Teheran, Delhi, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Tokyo (he also hiked in the Himalayas where he learned to cook rice and potatoes and yak). His sweet creations are made using a minimal amount of machinery, so they are very close to handmade. A portion of profits benefit local, national, and international charities.

Nest revives la vie bohème with handmade gladiator sandals by Matt Bernson, breezy sun dresses and tunics, as well as artisan handbags, wallets and jewelry by San Francisco’s Forty-Nine Square Miles. However, it’s the home accessories that we adore. The artfully cluttered boutique calls to mind a Parisian flea market with plenty of accroutements for feathering your nest: rugs, servingware, hardbound tomes on entertaining, and bird cages perched atop high shelves. Chandeliers resembling nests put the finishing touches on the store’s refreshingly organic aesthetic.

San Francisco’s Sarah Shaw boutique channels a modern day Audrey Hepburn with a well-edited selection of dresses by American designers Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch and Tracy Reese. Owner Sarah Shaw has created an airy, sun-dappled space that makes shopping for a work wardrobe a sophisticated affair, yet still fun and casual. Micro-thin belts by Kristin Kahle and handbags by Botkier pull together an outfit with polish, and jewelry is presented in creative ways—on top of black eyed peas or illuminated inside vintage display cases. Spacious hardwood floors provide plenty of twirl-about room for inspecting your rear view in Paige jeans or Chaiken trousers.

Clock Bar at The Westin St. Francis is an upscale yet informal spot for ordering a few cocktails and finger food. Masterminded by inimitable chef Michael Mina (whose namesake restaurant is located across the historic hotel lobby), this spot draws crowds after work and late at night—mostly hotel guests or Union Square shoppers who come to rest weary feet. Cocktails range from the classic (think Sidecars, Mojitos and Dark and Stormies made with ginger beer) to the creative (like The Chartreuse Swizzle). The small but focused menu features such late night delicacies as lobster corn dogs, black truffle popcorn and tuna tartare.

The founder of these fabulous brownies has an extensive career history. After years of watching her mother style food to perfection in the kitchen, Mari Tuttle pursued a career in product design and studied at New York's Parsons School of Design. Upon graduation, she went to work for Smart Design and served as a panelist at the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum's symposium on Japanese food packaging (some of the award-winning products she has created are now part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York). A stint as the Director of Operations for Balthazar Bakery in New York City taught her the art of French pastry, but she returned to product design as the Design Director for Cynthia Rowley’s home line for Target. Whew! Today, Mari creates luxuriously rich, artisanal brownies packaged in signature baton boxes. They are delights to be savored, shared or hoarded. We think she’s found her niche.

Wallpaper*—the go-to publication for all things pertaining to design, fashion and lifestyle—is now peddling selected images (signed by the artists!) from its resplendent archives. Wallpaper* Selects is the magazine’s first foray into contemporary photograph sales. Expect limited edition prints, produced in batches of 10, 20 or 30, by such acclaimed photographers as Jonathan de Villiers, Mauricio Alejo, Jonathan Frantini, Christopher Griffith, Stefan Ruiz, Daniel Stier, Benedict Redgrove and Joël Tettamanti.

Most professional writers develop a heightened appreciation for decadent paper goods that will distinguish their letters from the pack. Joy’s signature set of Chrysanthemum Gold letterpress cards, envelopes and golf pencils exude the kind of modern luxury we’ve come to expect. Even the handmade tray is wrapped in ultrasuede and the pencils bear the inscription “are you a Joy?” The answer, we’re sure, is a resounding yes.

Some of our favorite trends right now are those that rekindle a bygone era. Victor Osbourne chapeaus (created by Victor Osborne and Zachary Barnett) take their inspiration from traditional headwear and the decidedly streetwise vibe that pervades New York City. The result? A uniquely vintage-cool sensibility. Visit the duo’s open storefront in Brooklyn for fierce fedoras to set you apart from the crowds.

Drakkar and Eternity aren’t exactly fragrances you want to proudly display on your bathroom counter. Instead, reach for French architect Jean Nouvel’s bottle for L’Homme Yves Saint Laurent. The silhouette calls to mind, among other things, a laboratory test tube, which is fitting for a men’s fragrance that connotes pure physical chemistry with hints of bergamot, ginger and vetiver. A YSL monogram floats inside, putting the brand at the heart of the fragrance.

Brace your bank book. Mobiado has rolled out the ultimate gilded pleasure, The Professional 105 GCB cell phone featuring 24-karat gold plating and sapphire crystals. But what good is frippery without functionality? This super model comes with a two megapixel camera, video camera and music player that supports AAC, eAAC+ and MP3 audio formats.

Band logos are plenty powerful. The mere glimpse of the tongue-and-lips trademark recalls many Rolling Stones concerts of our youth (those were the days). This design book captures 1,000 of the coolest, most influential rock, hip hop, metal, pop, reggae, and country music graphics spanning the 1960s to today. Bonus features include interviews with artists and presenting the extra large graphics over extended gatefolds. It makes a great gift for your music-loving peers.

Technorati Tags: books, Charles & Marie, design, music, Tragically Hip

Our friends at Insound have launched a sleek new website offering some new items that are great for summer. We’re digging this totally retro monster portable iPod Boombox. Go old school by sliding your iPod, iPod Nano or iPod Mini into the so-called cassette deck. It will take you back to the good old days of Thriller and Digital Underground.

Technorati Tags: Charles & Marie, gadget hip, ipod, Tragically Hip