Olivine

You’re going to enjoy this store. Like most great shops and restaurants in Houston, it’s in a strip mall. They call this Rice Village; sure queens, call it anything you want. It’s a bunch of moderately posh shops in a strip mall.
This store just happens to be a stone’s throw from a breastfeeding store. Imagine being a postpartum mom looking for solace in pretty French bed linens and fluffy towels. Imagine what your toddler will do to your carefully chosen organza and chiffon fabrics. Another stone’s throw, and you’ll see a Pea in the Pod store. I get it; this strip mall is for mommies and up and coming mommies. This is not the shop or strip mall for poor mommies, only rich mommies.
This store also carries things for guys like me who love burning things – candles. Lots of exotically scented candles. Who doesn’t love exotically scented candles? And fancy dishes. Who doesn’t need a set of fancy dishes? I’ve never seen so many old fashioned cheeses spreaders and functional cheese trays. Stroll for long enough time in here, and you’ll think everyone needs many old fashioned cheese spreaders and functional cheese trays.
Kudos to the fun gal working when I went there. I asked her if I could write an out-​of-​state check, and she said, «Sure; it bounces, and I’ll go to Chicago and snuff your candle out.» What guy doesn’t need their candle snuffed out?

Olivine is a cute shop. Cute big fluffy puppy dog sleeping on the floor. Cute jammies. Cute baby jammies. Cute cups for your night stand. Cute, cute, cute. And very sweet.
Get an image in your head, and you’ll be imagining this shop: white french linen. Linens, blankets, robes, pajamas, christening garb, books tucked here and there, pretty smelling candles, lotions, and infuser sets, and linen-​covered furniture. Did I mention the sleeping dog? He (or she) is vigilantly napping while customers peruse.
I was recently on a quest for a teapot, and lumbered into this shop wanting to leave no stone unturned. No luck with the teapot, but I did find some candles that I almost couldn’t live without. There were also a few Lollia hand lotions that I refrained from buying… even the purse-​sized one that I know I’ll regret not having.
At first glance, the prices seem a bit rich for items that appear very basic. This assumption is incorrect. The prices reflect the quality and the subtle embellishments. Simple, sweet, and classic.