French Friday: Pretty Parisian Laptop Case
Years ago, I bought a laptop case on Etsy. The fabric was a woodland scene––nibbling squirrels and jaunty-looking mushrooms––with bright red buttons and winding twine as a closure. The interior was a soft, robin’s egg blue flannel. I bought this laptop cover during an especially urban period in my life: I worked in a tall, steel and mirrored glass building in the center of midtown. A rattling subway car conveyed me on a crowded, subterranean journey. I browsed giant, two-story chain stores on my lunch hour. Something in me craved a sweet sylvan escape.
I’ve been slow to recognize the exquisite marriage between form and function. I spent years buying super cheap, quick-fix solutions to those daily necessities: a toilet bowl plunger, a coffee cup, a tote bag. My lesson first came in the form of those Anthropologie cafe au lait bowls. I had lovingly picked them up each time I visited the store but never just plunked down the cash. It was stupid––I could have been enjoying them everyday. They didn’t cost much. What was stopping me?
I suppose what I’m talking about is pleasure, and being careful to not needless delay it. Having a laptop case with tiny squirrels on it delights me. So does drinking out of sky blue cafe au lait bowls and keeping nice hand soap in the bathroom. None of it costs much, but the pleasure it adds is infinite.
So in honor of French Friday I offer up this laptop case for your perusal, charmingly Gallic and avian. When you’re pulling out your computer to pay bills or work on a paper a little French whimsy can go a long way.
Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams: Gorgeous. And thanks for the reminder that a little pleasure goes a long way.
1 year ago
ruth@gracelaced: The interesting thing about some of the things we call little indulgences is that they ultimately bring pleasure to others as well, infinitely increasing your investment. Finding lovely handsoap in a friend’s bathroom, being served in a brightly colored cafe au lait bowl, and even sitting next to someone who embodies whimsey and charm–down to their laptop case–these things would brighten my day as well.1 year ago
Katie, It really does! It’s necessary! (At least to me…)
Ruth, I never considered the domino effect of pleasure, but you’re right. I love the scented candles in my friend’s bathroom and seeing a smiling woman with a punchy red lipstick.1 year ago
fanny | live happy: I completely agree with you and the commenters. Those little things really do go a long, long way.
This laptop case is the cutest thing I’ve seen in a long time! I’m kind of in love with it!1 year ago
deanne: Love this post. I am 37 years old and the only thing I wanted for Christmas from my mom is a sock monkey, because I never had one and they make me smile. Silly, but so what. And now I want something–anything–with tiny squirrels on it!!1 year ago
Sara Rose: Oooooooh you reminded me of one of the bday/anniversary gifts I need to find Nolan! This one IS SUPER fab too. Speaking of little pleasures, do you know I took the mini-splurge and got myself a pink and green owl mug for a gift last year. I use it EVERY MORNING for coffee. It and my coffee brewing make me indecently happy every am.1 year ago
Sara Rose: I may even be nice and get him a Darth Vader alarm clock because he’s wanted one since he was, maybe, four.1 year ago
Sarah: I can totally relate to this post. I always seem to buy the just slightly less expensive thing and then regret it and always wish I just bought the slighlty more expensive nicer thing that would have made me so much happier. These little things add up!1 year ago
Tori: this is SO TRUE! when i am rich(er) and have an apartment that’s not, you know, a studio, i am totally springing for amazingly soft sheets and really thick, luxuriant towels. those things embody pleasure for me. (i already have nice hand-soaps by the dozen…thanks, Mom!)1 year ago
SusanB: Sarah, I own the same EXACT sky blue cafe au lait bowls you write about, which I purchased in much the same way you described… after multiple viewings and deliberation. Enough said!
1 year ago
Christine H.: Funny enough, I was in Anthro the day before you wrote this and spent 30 minutes deciding if I should buy this candle in the sale section. Happily, I bought it and the minute I set it on my dresser and lit it I wondered what the big debate had been—it obviously belonged in my room.
This brings to mind a quote from my beloved Austen: “Why not seize the pleasure at once? How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation?”1 year ago
JenCal: Life is all about the little details and splurges. They make the ordinary extraordinary
1 year ago