Things I LOVE This Month: November 2009

COFFEE FIX:
It was only the start of November when I walked into Starbucks and saw this on a sign:

A Gingerbread Latte! Something I wait all year to arrive again! I nearly leaped over the counter in delight and said "do you mean I can have a gingerbread latte right now? IN a holiday cup?". I am quite sure the barista thought I was nuts.

Then recently I decided to go with something else on the sign. I went with this:

A Peppermint Mocha! Hot damn it was a party in my mouth! I DOWNED the entire cup within five minutes!
My new obsession with lattes and hot chocolate made me purchase this item (in hopes of saving some funds from Starbucks):

General Foods International Peppermint Mocha Latte.
Which is ok being that it is instant. It is a little muddy, watery, and the promise of foam is nonexistent (which is a bummer since it is my favorite part). You can taste the peppermint which is nice. However when you stir the stuff into hot water it makes a crackle pop sound like rice krispies meet pop rocks--which is odd. Do I really want my latte to pop?

IN HONOR OF ARUBA:


When it comes to sunscreen, these folks got it! Probably since they all need it so badly on this island being so close the equator and all. I seriously love this sunscreen, even if it doesn't come in one of those handy dandy spray bottles

While spending most of our time snorkeling, we got to borrow these amazing vests from the hotel:

They were awesome! Even on a sailboat we went on and jumped off to venture around a shipwreck. It helped keep us afloat while still allowing our heads to go beneath the water to explore!
Here is Pete wearing one:


As many of you know, we stayed at the Tamarijn Aruba all inclusive which is part of the Divi resorts. The biggest pro was this:

This was literally outside of our door. I mean how amazing is it to be able to roll out of bed and onto paradise. No street to cross, no shuttle, not even a walkway to the beach. The beach is just right there!!!!!!
The cons: bracelets need to be worn 24/7, buffet was barely edible, other restaurants were ok (Red Parrot was the best), some areas are dirty in the resort, and they are SUPER strict about their overly used ratty beach towels which if you do not return you will get charged $25 for. But all of these cons so are not worth blowing the huge PRO! I will go back in a heartbeat!

Aruba we love you:

Now for the most important thing I LOVE LOVE LOVE this month:

THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!!!!!
There should be a warning label on it though--it should say: you must have time to absorb it, and use it. If you are seeking a spiritual journey you this may not be for you.
I have tried to talk to every Tom, Dick, and Harry about this book--this is how much I love it. How much it has changed me. However, not everyone loved it. Either this book changes you forever, or it bores you to tears. Some have said it was to heavy to get trough, that they weren't at a place in their life that they could "get it" or even want to.
I think it is earth shattering. Amazing. Brilliant.

Things I LOVE This Month: October 2009

I have been a total slacker on this little ol' blog! Believe me it isn't because I haven't run into things I LOVE, but an issue of time.

So here we go for the month of October:

• Shaklee products! Love them! I went to a "Tupperware" like party for these environmentally friendly products and thought, "eh I will by some type of window cleaner and call it a day. I am sure they can't beat the gaggle of cleaning products I already have underneath the counter". Then Pete and I drank wine at my friend Emily's house, and listened to this women tell us about the products and we were SOLD. Hesitant, but sold. The products came to my door step in no time, and let me tell you their fragrant laundry detergent is the BEST I have ever smelled! I also adore their Basic H cleaner which can be used to make degreaser, window cleaner, and basic counter top cleaner. Their scour off worked wonders on my tile in my bathroom, and their anti-bacterial wipes for toys and place mats is perfect for a worried about preschool germs Mom.
• Trader Joe's Panko encrusted Tilapia and their shrimp dumplings! YUM! The Tilapia was a buy after a woman that doesn't even work for the place encouraged every passerby that this was indeed the BEST thing to buy out of the entire store. The shrimp dumplings are a great light lunch or a great starter to an Asian flare meal.
• JR WATKINS DISH SOAP totally cheating on Shaklee right here! I purchased this dish soap after purchasing other Shaklee items and wanting more environmentally friendly products without the big cost. I found this item on sale at Target and I know what to bathe in it so that I smell like this scent ALLLLLLL DAY LONG! It is AMAZING! I also bought their lemon toilet cleaner and let me tell you--it is a joy to be scrubbing that nasty thing!
• Kilwin's ice cream. I ate this down in Lake Worth, FL while on vacation, and continue to think about how yummy it was! The fudge in that joint is lick chopping too!
• Fisher Price Jumperoo Thank God for kind people that are willing to share their baby products with others! My friend shared this item with me, and let me tell you it has been heaven sent! I never have to worry about the jumper snapping off the doorway, or about leaving Addison in it while I leave the room. She just jumps and entertains herself, until she gets bored and needs to be moved onto the next thing.
• Mamma Che Buono ITALY IN AMERICA! Need I say more? AMAZING gelato, Italian desserts, and other scrumptious items. You will never ever want to leave. In fact, I am looking forward to my next trip to West Palm Beach just to go there!
• JAMBA JUICE how I love thee. Not a new find, but I hadn't had one in so long since the nearest one is in NYC, that when I found one while on vacation in Florida, I nearly wet my pants. Jamba Juice is by far the best smoothie place ever put on this earth. Seriously it is. So much so that after I found it's location I made Pete take me there more then once before heading home to CT.
• Speaking of smoothies... Yoplait Smoothie's are pretty good. They are not even remotely close to Jamba Juice, but is doable for those of us with busy lives and no time to cut up fresh fruit and scoop frozen yogurt. This comes in small packets that you toss in the blender with ice and BOOM you got yourself a smoothie.
• Starbucks VIA I am a coffee snob and when I took this taste test I could totally tell the difference. However, I liked this VIA more then I like most at home brew's and it is INSTANT coffee. Pete loves this stuff, and continues to enjoy himself a mug every weekend.

And there you have it--October favorites which didn't even include the bowl of Halloween candy that I loved so much!