Fast Company’s design blog featured this clever little serving dish yesterday. It’s called the Double Dish, and it’s from UK-based kitchen product company, Joseph Joseph. One look at the Double Dish and I could already envision it in my home, since we’re big on pistachio nuts and edamame around here.

Then, by happy accident, I came across the CB2’s Dunk Sushi Plate, another clever entertaining solution. You place maki on the outer part of the dish and soy sauce on the inner part. We often order Japanese takeout, so it’s another win.

And then, well, one thing led to another, and I found myself creating a whole green-and-white sushi dinner party theme.

Perhaps the most exciting find in this whole set is the table linens. Paper Cloud’s Petunias Field pattern is fun and quirky, and the linens are hand printed with water-based inks on organic cotton. Love!

I know zilch about cars, but if I like the design of one, it can take my breath away.

That’s what happened in 2005, when I set out to buy my first car after accepting a job in the suburbs.

My dad, a very practical person—which has always made him a great adviser—recommended that we buy a Corolla. So I went to Toyota’s website, and… ugh. That? But that’s so… boring. “That’s what I, graphic designer extraordinaire (not my official title), would be driving every day?” I complained to my husband. “I honestly don’t think I can do it. I just can’t.”

I spent the next few days obsessing, when all of a sudden… whoooosh. (That’s the sound of my head whipping around in slow-motion.) Big gasp! I saw this gorgeous car parked on the street and ran around to the back to find out what it was. A Mazda. Mazda 3. Wait, Mazda? Can I afford a Mazda? Gawd, I hope so! Because THIS IS THE CAR I WANT. So long story short-ish, we bought the Mazda 3 hatchback. Man, that was one and-a-half years of amazing driving before we sold it to move overseas.

Next year we’re moving back to the U.S. and, now that we have two children (almost), we’re going to need a car right away. So every time I see a model on the road that I like, I make note of it.

Well I might as well make a note of my ass, because none of the cars I admire are ever sold in the U.S. anyway.

Yet I refuse to accept that my car will have to convey “Mom” as opposed to “designer.” Because even though I’ve been a Mom for three-ish years, I’ve been a designer all my life, so that wins out.