Things I LOVE This Month: February 2010

• My love for chocolate runs deep. I had to ask Pete not to get me ANY chocolate for Valentines day, or the thirty pounds I have recently lost would be found again. It was hard to turn down a box of Godiva. I still however need a chocolate "fix" almost daily. It is my crack. So I needed to find myself a healthy option then milk chocolate, and I found this:

Ta-DAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I pop a few of these in my mouth when I need a chocolate fix and I have to tell you--it is the best dark chocolate I have ever feasted on! (YES better then Godiva!). Run and grab yourself a bag or two (on Sale this week at CVS!).
I am now a forever lover of DOVE.

• Lush. I love it. By far one of the best bath product brands ever to exist. You know me--I am a beauty product LOVA! You may recall, if you read my blog, that my first introduction to this company was when my mother in-law bought this for me:

This is called a sex bomb. It is AWESOME in your bath!!!!! I started thinking about it when I couldn't have Valentines Day, and requested Pete give me one of these instead! He did and also introduced me to:

The Bubble bar. Which makes AWESOME bubbles in the bath!

And this:

BOHEMIAN SOAP!!!! A wonderful added bonus to an everyday shower or bath!!!
And Pete scored a sample of this:

Prince Shaving cream and RAVED about it.

My bathing heart belongs to LUSH!

• As usual I thought I would make my own baby food, and fill my kid up with fresher ingredients and make her a lover of food. OH she is a lover of food alright, but not because I am making it. I am normally an Earths Best only buyer of babyfood, but then I stumbled upon these two babyfoods:

Ella's Kitchen

This happens to be Addison's favorite one.

And...

Plum Baby

Not only does this ACTUALLY smell like the real thing--it tastes like it to!!! I also love the handy pouch that is awesome for warming up in a cup of water, and easy to put the screw top on to put back in the fridge for later use.

• I just bought a new pair of sneakers that I LOVE! Running in them is a dream!

Ryka makes a fabulous shoe!

• I have discovered how to save money: Shop Rite! I am not a fan of the huge crowds, the lack of parking, or the produce. However, there everyday foods are HALF the price when on sale!!! Now that is something to rave about!

• Swiss Emmi Yogurt! Seriously the most rich, creamy, and fresh tasting yogurt I have ever encountered. It reminded me of the amazing yogurt I had in Aruba! My fav flavors is pink grapefruit and Apricot.

• Just when you thought I couldn't blog about Panera Bread enough...here I am doing it again! It has changed into my Starbucks (and I love me some Starbucks). All because of one item..... Iced Green Tea!!! All I can sum it up with is... AWESOME. (especially after a bad ass work out) word on the street is that it is this:

but in green tea form not black tea! And after hours of searching, I am still unable to find it! So off I am to buy it from Panera, cup by cup!

Things I LOVE This Month: January 2010

***I am never satisfied with a face cleanser. Unless it is the $60 a bottle one I used to buy A Sephora and try to make one bottle last for a year. Recently I tried this:

Which actually reminded me of the $60 bottle so now I am hooked! Not to mention it comes with a face scrubber!!! My face feels 1,000 times cleaner after washing with this product, especially after a grimy workout filled with sweat. You can check it out here.

***If you were like me when you were little the best part of having a Cabbagepatch Kid was not that they were the "in" thing, came with a birth certificate, or had a scribbled name on their behind, but because when you whiffed their little heads it smelled like heaven. I hoped for my baby to smell like one. However, my poor puker babies more often smelled like spit up then they did soap or lotion. Then I found this:

Can I tell just tell you.... Cabbagepatch Kid head HEAVEN! It smells awesome. I love to lather it on Addison, and she loves it too! We are also digging this by Aveeno too:

Smells so good and cleans so well.... I don't know if I will ever go back to Johnson & Johnson even if it is cheaper.

***I am an addict. Luckily this is a healthy addiction!!! It is ZUMBA!!! Wonder what it is? Check it out here when it was featured on the Today show a few years ago!

My next step is buying this:

***I have been trying to make a point to be more creative. It helps me to relax and do something that doesn't involve wiping a mouth, or cleaning the house. I have been enjoying making handmade cards, and joining a small group of women that like to do the same on a monthly basis. My new favorite stamp is this one:

I love the image so much I want to dip it in fabric paint and stamp the heck out of a plain white dress!!!

***I need motivation on a regular basis. Temptation for yummy brownies/cookies, and the desire to sit on my sofa and eat a bag of chips is strong on some days, and it is good to have something around to get me out of it. Sadly, they don't have free meetings for people that love food like AA meetings for alcohol lovers. So I need some "inside" support. And that is this:

I love me some Shape magazine. I also love Cooking LIght to give me some healthy options on tasty food.
***I am always wishing for better quality photos and the ability to use my creative eye, but always had a lame point and shoot camera that never gave me any satisfaction. Then we got this:Our lives have since changed, since the pictures have. Some may say it is too much money, but can your really put a price on memories! My little kids will only be little kids for so long, and soon the pictures will be all that I have to remember them this age. I LOVE the Rebel!
***I can not believe I lasted this long with a flip cell phone. I mean who in the year 2010 doesn't have a smart phone? Luckily Pete was a good birthday boy and let me share his gift this year. We both got a pair of these:The Hero soon became my hero with access anywhere, at anytime.
***Last but certainly not least: Years ago I bought this tea from Nordstroms that cost me a whopping $20 for 1 stinken box. It was by far the best tea I ever had. The first time I had it in a spa in NYC while getting a pedi. I noticed the intrict detail of the hand woven teabags, and how fancy they seemed. I memorized the name so that I could jump on the internet at home and find me some of that. I did--in Nordstrom. I hung onto that dang box for a good year if not more. Then this a few weeks ago I saw the name "Mighty Tea Leaf" on sale in a local supermarket flyer. Even better, it was on sale for $5.99 for the SAME size box. I thought there would be NO way they had my FAVORITE kind! But they did:If you are a tea lover you must get yourself some of this!!!

Things I LOVE This Month: December 2009

Anything from William Sonoma always calls out class and always delivers a smile. Usually a fancy spatula or some cool dish towels don't really make me jump for joy--however chocolate does. This is fantastic hot chocolate we got for Christmas this year. In fact it was so good I actually gave it as a gift as well.

I have a mad love for crazy expensive Kiehl's body wash. It is the BEST body wash I have ever lathered up. Since it is so pricey I have used it sparingly for years. Then one day I ran out (gasp). I could not afford more. Then my wonderful bought me more for Christmas and rejoice...I smell like their grapefruit sent again. This product is AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME. If I were to win the lottery it is on the short list of must haves in the house.

Infant Entertainment while changing diapers: SOLD.

Infantimo makes this awesome wall mounted mobile that ROCKS MY WORLD. I found it on Black Friday while in Target and thought the heavens opened and spoke to me. Seriously who ever created this is a genius. The best part you can not see in the advertisement pic is that it then folds up flatly on your wall so that you don't have something constantly hanging down. I originally bought this for Addison's Christmas present but broke it out MUCH sooner and thank god I did--PURE genius! It is now my official baby gift.

Sephora rocks. This month was my birthday month and I got this FOR FREE (no purchase necessary) just for holding a beauty insider card which is also FREE:

Awesome lip gloss that isn't even tiny tubes. They are actually pretty life size! VERY VERY impressed. And for that they make my list this month! (Thank you Sephora for make my lips look hot for the holidays)

Bosu Ball is worth every penny! What an awesome work out you can get out of these!!! Easy to assemble and easy to use.

I have been eyeing a Flip video since a kind family shared this product with us on a sailboat in Aruba. Not only is it in HD quality, and tapes up to 2 hours worth of goods, it also has a flip up usb port that ables you to upload it right onto any site or computer you would like! Thank you Santa for getting me one of these beauties.

UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes (Black)">

Easy Christmas gifts that are thoughtful are those awesome cookies and soups etc that comes in a jar. You just dump it and add the wet ingredients and WHALAH have something yummy made. I made a bunch of them this Christmas which inspired me to buy this:

This will come in handy next Christmas for the next round of yummy treats! I actually paired a jar up with the hot chocolate I mentioned above as a very warm gift!

New York City Reviews

Otto This is one of Mario Batali's restaurants. I had high hopes for it which more often then not is a let down. I had envisioned putting the most amazing pizza in my mouth that would bring me back to Italy. All I got was "good". The bathrooms were horrid (peeling paint, and smaller then an out house). The wine was fantastic but it took up the entire menu. THE ENTIRE menu. I didn't finish my goat cheese pizza because I thought it "needed something", and the prosciutto arugula was good but not as good as the place in CT that we get from.

Fuerza Bruta We saw this show at a discounted price which made it well worth it. You MUST coat check everything (including pocket books) because you are standing the entire time, AND (this is my only major complaint)--they make you move around the theatre like a herd of cattle which nobody is ever fond of. The show itself was interesting. Weird. None of us figured out what it was about, but cool none the less. I would certainly recommend it for a different experience, and certainly for a discounted price.

Dashing Divas fantastic nail place. Although you can find AWESOME deals in the city for a mani'/pedi for under $30, this place has a touch of class to it. The hand you a menu to choose from, and their diva pedicure that removes callouses is GREAT. My friend also got the virtual nails done and they came out fabulous. I highly recommend this place, even for the extra change.

Fat Witch Brownies Best Brownies ever made!!! Seriously ...the BEST. You can even order them online!!!!

Chelsea Market I am sad to say that when I lived in NYC I had never been to this place. Now when I visit I don't go without checking it out. It is also home to the above studios of the Food Network. Which explains why you can get the best of everything to eat downstairs. I also love the rustic feel. A must see when in NYC.

Crumbs I used to have one of these that was located in my neighborhood and I rarely went. I just thought "what is the big deal about cupcakes?" I can now tell you what the big deal about cupcakes is...Crumbs. They rock.

Cosi great place for a quick, affordable lunch. However don't count on them having everything in stock on the weekends!

Mesa Grill I love Bobby Flay. I mean the king of the grill! This has been around the third or forth time I have been here. Quite frankly, every time I go I get myself all psyched up and it is never a "blow my socks" off meal. The calamari was awesome. The filet mignon was over cooked (I asked for medium rare and got back well done), which was disappointing with the price that it was. The coconut cake was out of this world. The cake knocked my socks off. I do love this place, but I loved his other place Bolo (which closed in NYC) about 100% better.

New Jersey Gardens Hate how most outlets are outdoor shopping and it is just way to cold? Here is the place for you. Easy to get to off the highway, great variety of stores and outlets, and clean!

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!

A new breakfast LOVE

I have ALWAYS been a fan of Panera Bread. I would drive miles for it. My love ran deep for their Asian Chicken Salad, Broccoli and Cheddar soup, and their fantastic lemonade. It was a lunch place I could not resist since college.

I had always eyes their breakfast menu but had never ventured to getting there during that time of day. I never had the luxury of actually being close enough to one where I could say, "lets run to Panera and grab a quick breakfast". 

However today was the day. I had to run an errand in the area a Panera Bread sat, and I thought "bingo--time to try it out".  It was heavenly. I had an egg, spinach, bacon souffle  that was so full of yummy delicious taste, fragrant, and a great size when it comes to portion control, but enough to fill the belly and the soul. I also had a Caffe Mocha made with skim milk in one of those huge mugs that makes it even more cozy, and full of goodness. I have to say this was TO DIE FOR. I wish I had my camera when drinking it because it was that picture perfect! Brace yourself.... may I say even better then Starbucks! (gasp). I even noticed they too have a Pumpspice Latte which will be my next review--Pumpkin Spice Latte : Panera vs. Strabucks (because Dunkin Donuts is not even close in this running). 

So now I have yet another breakfast place I love and adore. You will to. Don't just go for lunch, treat yourself to a chocolate chip bagel, various souffles, pecan buns, muffins, danish, and more... you name it they got it!