­If you're in the market for quirky and unique housewares in San Francisco, check out the newly opened General Store in the Outer Sunset district. The shop is the brainchild of  Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter, who handpick a selection new, handmade and vintage items. Shoppers will find a little bit of everything, including tools, plants, jewelry, utilitarian items like laundry bins as well as art, books and clothing, and many of the goods are created by local artisans. General Store, 4035 Judah Street, San Francisco, CA 94122. Phone: (415) 682-0600. Closed Monday.

­Children's clothes are inherently cute because they are so small, but little girls' clothing just seems, well, so much cuter. It's hard to get excited about boy's cargos and tshirts when the girls' section is selling adorable sundresses, tunics and stripey leggings. Well, for all the fashion conscious moms of little boys, you're in luck. New York-based Baby Susu sells stylish clothing for boys up until age 4. You can find Liberty print button down shirts, hip tuxedo style tops and jaunty blazers. Available to purchase online (there's a great sale happening now) or at various locations in NYC. You can also buy online here at Trifle, which sells lots of stylish clothes for babies and children.­

­­When it comes to jewelry, I definitely believe that less is more and prefer one or two bold pieces to piling it on. For this reason, I love the bold simplicity of an oversized cuff bracelet. If you're wearing a short sleeved dress, it's really all you need to accessorize. If you love big, bold cuffs, browse the selection by Kara Ross. This pink python number with quartz manages to be both masculine and feminine, and I also love her jet black cuffs. The pink python retails for $467.­­

­West Elm is always one of designers' favorite go-to places for stylish but affordable pieces. I love the company's rugs and bedding, which are contemporary but never too cute or too country. There are 38 West Elm stores across the country, and the company has just opened its first Chicago outpost in Lincoln Park, close to sister property Pottery Barn and PB Kids/Teen. West Elm, 1000 W. North Avenue, Chicago. Phone: (312)867-1770.

­I don't know about you, but I think it's hard to find an affordable but funky carry case for your laptop. One ­vintage cool solution is the BookBook, which nestles your Macbook between two rigid, velvet lined cases which look like an antique book. The BookBook is not only cool but works as a clever disguise for your laptop, to make it less appealing to laptop thieves who might be lurking in Starbucks. The BookBook sells for $79.99 here.

­I am a sucker for beautifully designed and nice smelling cleaning products. Whether I actually use them is another story. If you can actually be bothered to hand wash your delicates, check out Soak. There are three luscious scents, including citrus and one that smells like good clean fun, as well as a scentless one for sensitive souls. Apart from smelling nice, Soak's big claim is that it is a no rinse product- which means that you just squeeze the water out and let the product evaporate. Check out Soak's website for more crafty cleaning tips. ­

­"Get thee to a nunnery" may not be such a bad thing after all, considering the recent slew of monasteries converted to luxury hotels. There's the Four Seasons in Prague, as well as The Augustine there, and the Certosa di Maggianoin Tuscany. One of the most interesting hotels with a divine pedigree is the Parador de Santo Estevo in Galicia, Spain, a former 10th century monastery. There are 77 rooms dotted around three cloisters, and one of the hotel's top selling points (apart from its secluded location) is its new $2 million spa. The 9,6000 square foot space features a flotation tank, Vichy showers, and an extensive spa menu (Celtic massage, anyone?)­

­­If you're looking for a little way to add some Valentine's Day cheer, Williams-Sonoma has the perfect product that isn't too sweet and gooey. The message in a cookie cutter kit allows you to easily rearrange words to create your own personalised message on a sweet treat. The cookie cutters come in rounded and scalloped edges, as well as the prerequisite heart. Available here.

­One of the main problems that comes with being a New Yorker is that you expect New York levels of service – and style- everywhere you go, and this can often lead to disappointment. If you’re a New Yorker looking to escape this winter to someplace warm but also groovy, then consider the Gansevoort Turks and Caicos, a Wymara resort.

­There are certain grim tasks we all have to tackle around the house (well, those of us without housekeepers), like vacuuming, dusting and mopping. My theory is that if you have to do a nasty job, at least try to make it slightly fun by wearing a ridiculously girlie pair of pink gloves and cranking up the rock and roll (cleaning to Led Zeppelin works for me). Although I hate cleaning, I am loving the products from Alice Supply Company. They have refashioned humble cleaning products into seriously cute objects. They have given tool boxes, plungers, dusters and even garden houses a funky, fresh look. This striped toolbox retails for $60.­