Vermont Soap Organics Deep Cleans Without Toxic Chemicals

I am trying to rid our house of chemicals and go all natural wherever possible.

One of the first places I hit was underneath the skin where I store my house cleaners. A clean house is very important to me, but now that we have the option of cleaners that use natural ingredients instead of toxic chemicals, I want to replace everything under there.

The problem is, some natural cleaners just don't do the job well enough.

So I'm always on the lookout for something that doesn't just smell good or makes my appliances look good, but really gets in there and cleans.

Vermont Soap Organics produces "USDA Approved, Certified Organic alternatives to the chemical and detergent based personal care products now in general use," and their Farm & Ranch Multi-Surface Cleaner stands up to my vigourous testing.

I like that it works on everything in the bathroom and kitchen, it brings out a shine on the taps as well as the porcelain and countertops. I feel good knowing that its free of artificial preservatives, colours, fragrances alcohol and detergents too.

Not only that, it smells good. Using saponified  organic coconut, olive and jojoba oils, organic orange oil, tea tree and other natural essential oils, organic aloe and rosemary extract, you get that fresh, clean aroma without inhaling anything harmful.

But don't feel you can only use it on your room's surfaces - it works on all washable materials including wood, plastics, leather, cloth, people, pets, car interiors and much more (just be sure to test a small area prior to use).

So instead of having 5 bottles under the sink, have just the one. The good one.

Buy Farm & Ranch Multi-Surface Cleaner now.

Get Summer's Glow Safely with Lancaster's Infine Bronze Kaleidoscope!

We all know that sitting in the sun is bad for you. Dangerous even.

So how do you get that awesome glow without having to slather yourself in products, waiting for hours for your "tan" to develop?

Lancaster Infinite Bronze Kaleidoscope Illuminating Compact Powder - available at Shoppers Drug Mart and other retailers including HSN.com - delivers amazing glow without making you look glittery or tweeny.

The light captures and reflects on the powder, giving your skin this amazing effect - like you've been softened around the edges, perfected to look your very best. Who needs Photoshop when you look this incredible?

Five tones (soft pink, pink, lilac, beige and bronze) illuminate you like you're red carpet ready. I use it on my whole face - cheeks, temples - and work my shoulders and decolletage as well. It is super sexy but subtle, you know? It sculpts and highlights you in all the right places.

And while it will make you look refreshed, it also neutralizes up to 80% of free radicals on the surface of your skin, so it's working even when you're not.

This is one of those products that once you try, you simply can't live without. And that's how I've felt with every Lancaster product I've ever used.

p.s. I'll be using this well after the summer has passed. Because then my skin will turn back to its pale colour and I'll need that little lift to make me look healthy and glowy all over again...

Pull Together the New Zipit Collection from Cabrelli Inc.

I bet you've never had a pencil case this fun to use.

The New Zipit Collection from Cabrelli Inc. is comprised of products created using a single strip of zipper.  

Yes, you read that right - a single strip. What's amazing is that it's kind of hard to imagine that this single strip makes a full-fledged product. Let me explain:

When I got my pencil case, it was not in the shape of a pencil case (pictured above). Yet. See, when you get , it's a coiled single strand of zipper. You are instructed to pull the zipper and like a set of dominoes gracefully knocking against one another in a mesmerizing row, the zipper takes a soft corner every once in awhile (how it knows to do that, I'll never know) and suddenly, it's made itself into a wickedly funky pencil case.

I love that you get to kind of put it together - and you have the power to take it all apart if you like, like an evil scientist.

And there are many other products available that work the same way. The Classic Go Big Bag works for both home and travel, the shape of Le Gym works for more than just sneaks and tanks and the Student Lap Top Bag is adult-friendly as well.

If you're looking for an original gift, I think this is just about as original as it gets.

Shop the New Zipit Collection from Cabrelli Inc. now.

Count Down to Better Health With New Balance's Via Slim Pedometer

Did you know that you can walk your way to good health merely by eating well and walking 10,000 steps a day? According to The Walking Site:

"The average person's stride length is approximately 2.5 feet long. That means it takes just over 2,000 steps to walk one mile, and 10,000 steps is close to 5 miles. A sedentary person may only average 1,000 to 3,000 steps a day."

It sounds like a lot, but once you track your steps throughout the day, you might be surprised.

I put on my amazing new New Balance Via Slim Pedometer to track just my walk to the grocery store, library, post office etc. In other words, my usual route through the neighbourhood. Here are the results:

4951 steps

1.56 miles

149.5 calories burned

2.38 miles/hour

Now imagine if I'd worn it all day! There is something so invigorating having a pedometer along with you. It really does feel like you've got your own personal coach, egging you on to go that one bit farther. I felt like I just wanted to keep going!

And it's so easy to use. You just clip it onto your waistband and it does all of the hard work of counting and tracking your steps. It displays the time, sensing if you're walking or running, tracks how many miles you've gone and how fast and my favourite feature - tells you how many calories you've burned.

My Mom and I go walking once a week and it started out at just a few hours and this week was our longest yet - 8 hours! Luckily I had my trusty New Balance Via Slim Pedometer with me. Here's how we did this week:

15842 steps

5 miles

478.4 calories burned

2.34 miles/hour

I think I'm just going to keep this l'il baby on my at all times. In fact, I'm going to go for a long walk now and see how many steps I can go!

I've finally found the motivation to walk everyday and work off these last few pounds that just won't leave with my New Balance Via Slim Pedometer.

Get one too and we'll do it together!

eos Hand Lotion is Designed to Go Where You Go

I am a big fan of the eos - Evolution of Smooth - line. I am completely addicted to their lip balms (one of the best I've ever tried) and their shaving lotions are sublime.

Now a new Hand Lotion has been added to the collection, and as I'm sure you can guess, it's incredible.

The eos Hand Lotion is made to fit in your hand, purse, pocket or desk. It's small and rounded, like a smooth rock you'd find at the beach, so it feels good to hold. It comes in the very pretty shades of minty blue and green, so it looks charming wherever you stash it.

eos Hand Lotion has everything you want in a lotion - it goes on light and airy, absorbs superfast and doesn't leave a slick of grease behind. Using 97% natural ingredients, including shea butter, oat extract, aloe, vitamins C & E, you don't have to worry about any chemicals. It's dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic and paraben-free.

I love the fresh cucumber scent (though it makes me want a gin and tonic, but that's just me) and that it makes your skin soft all day long, no matter how many times you wash your hands.

It's also crazy cheap, so I say get one for home, one for the office, one for your bag, one for your luggage...

Shop now.

Treat Yourself to Berry Allure's Incredible Chocolate Covered Delicacies

Why have a regular chocolate bar when you can indulge in Berry Allure's Chocolate Covered Delicacies by DOTI US, Inc.?

This family-owned company from Poland creates chocolate-covered fruit and nuts. But not just any ol' kind. Nothing ordinary about these.

We're talking the good stuff here, the impressive stuff - Chocolate Covered Gooseberries, Cocoa Dusted Chocolate Covered Strawberries and  Chocolate Covered Blackcurrants, to mention just a few.

Chocolate and fruit has been done before, but not like this. Dark Chocolate Covered Orange Peel is the perfect offering at the end of your dinner party while you serve coffee. And award-winning pastry chef and chocolatier Rikke Gryber's Rowanberry in Dark Chocolate pairs beautifully with wines, cheese and Amarone.

There is so much to choose from juicy and ripe sour cherries, strawberries, gooseberries, black currants, ginger pieces, chunks of rhubarb and orange peel are "candied and dipped in luscious chocolate. Our carefully selected nuts, be they cashews, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts or brazil nuts, are tenderly roasted before their chocolate bath in order to bring out their amazing aroma, taste and crunchy texture."

Oh my.

And while Berry Allure's Chocolate Covered Delicacies are indeed decadent, they are somewhat healthy as they use good chocolate and they are filled with vitamin packed fruits and nuts.

If you are going to have chocolate, why not have the good stuff?

Shop now.

Start Your Day on the Right Foot with The Small Object: Today Is Super Journal

Sometimes life can be overwhelming. Deadlines come faster than you can keep up with them, clothes pile up (didn't you just do laundry) and you wonder how you're ever going to manage it all.

I can't grant you more time, but I think this might help:

The Small Object: Today Is Super Journal gives you not only a colourful place to list all of your to-do's and write down your thoughts, but is so cute and fun, you can't help but smile and giggle.

The "Daily Inspiration" page gives you the categories (to make, eat, find, wear, remember, play, ponder, create, see, be visit, match) and you simply fill them in. Easy peasy.

"Daily Expenses" helps you track your money and "Daily Doodles" allow you to goof off when you need to take a much-needed breather.

When you need to write about what's going on, the "Daily Journal" is the best place to be. A little acorn of a guy holding a pencil accompanies you on your journey. Fill in the coloured blocks with the day, date, weather (aww) and how you're feeling. Tracking your day has never felt so good before.

Blank pages give you the room you need to breathe and sort things out. Writing on these colourful wavy lines, it's hard to think that life is hard.

My favourite of course is the "Daily To-Do List" pages. 24 colourful lines blank circles at the end of each that you can fill in with your life stuff. 

That, and the stickers. Because nothing can be too much for a sticker.

Instead of buying a plain ol' notebook get The Small Object: Today Is Super Journal. You'll be so glad you did.

Look Fabulous Without Draining Your Wallet with The Bling Society Jewelry

I have always wanted to look like a million bucks, but I've never had the disposable income for it. I covet runway items, but have to shop off the rack.

So I search for expensive looking things that fit my budget. I hunt for bargains that would fool even Hollywood folks.

That's why I'm so enthralled to have found The Bling Society.

Founder and CEO, Samantha Delaney says "There was a gap in the market, a space between beautiful jewelry and play pieces that was clearly defined by price.  I couldn't find amazing costume pieces that didn't cost a fortune, nor did I want to sacrifice great quality.  That gap inspired the foundation of The Bling Society." 

Using Grade AAA stones and properties such as Sterling Silver 925 and 18ct gold, you'll be able to set the room a sparkle with your jewelry without having to part with your entire paycheck.

Choose from fabulous rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, bangles, and brooches. You can also shop by collection: Art Decoratif, Babylon Black , Billionaire Couture, La Crevier Couture, Park Avenue Bling, Safara Couture and Sui Generis.

Look royally exquisite with Louche around your neck. This 20.0ct round-cut 'French Blue' simulated diamond with square and marquise-cut diamonds set on a silver 925 setting will upgrade any outfit. And Old Hollywood - a 30.0ct marquise and round-cut simulated diamond bracelet complete with traditional clasp - is the perfect bracelet for bringing the glamour of yesterday to today. This is definitely one of my favourites.

And that's what I love most about The Bling Society - you can shop for a range of styles and prices that are affordable for your individual budget. 

I went with a modern choice that harkens back to a simpler time - the Chic Couture Ring (pictured above). This stack of 5 pure 1.0ct round-cut pink simulated diamonds set on a rose gold band allows you to choose your amount of bling. One band says simple elegance, and 5 says "I will be noticed." It even has RG stamped inside the band, so no one will ever know it was actually affordable. Let them think you've got a bundle - nothing wrong with that, I say.

I may not have the salary of a rich person, but I sure want to look like one. Thanks to The Bling Society, now I do.

XANGO’s Juni Gentle Body Bar Cleans Naturally

Do you know what's in your soap? Did you know that your body absorbs not just what you put into it, but what goes on it?

That's why you should be using XANGO’s Juni Gentle Body Bar. This all-natural soap uses a botanical-, not chemical-based formula that exfoliates and cleans your skin without stripping it of it's natural oils. That means that your skin stays soft both in and out of the water.

Mangosteens are known as a powerful fruit that you eat, but here in XANGO’s Juni Gentle Body Bar, a mangosteen infusion with pericarp oil calms and soothes your skin. It also gives it a healthy radiance that now that you're sporting shorter fashions, you'll really appreciate. And the addition of olive, safflower and coconut oils keep your skin nourished and hydrated. None of that dryness that you usually experience from bars of soap occurs. And a lovely, delicate fragrance wafts from the bar, thanks to ingredients such as orange oil and lavender.

I have heard that the soapy lather you are used to with soap bars is due to the use of chemicals, so that you could see that your soap was working away. But Juni gives a great, thick lather and there are no chemicals here!

Want peace of mind that you're not washing away your body's natural oils? Then get yourself the Juni Gentle Body Bar.

Be Beautiful & Protected with Revision Skincare's New Intellishade SPF 45 Matte Tinted Moisturizer

Have you been outside lately?

I was out at 4 p.m. and came back at 6 p.m. and guess what? I have a sunburn.

You've got to protect yourself these days, whether it's sunny out or not. The problem is, do you always remember?If you're like me, then you answered, "Not always."

That's why you should get yourself some of the fabulous New Intellishade SPF 45 Matte Tinted Moisturizer from Revision Skincare. It has 5 big bonus features:

- will match your skin tone, no matter what the shade (talk about personalized)

 - gives you a hint of sheer colour with a matte finish (you never see that combination), so that you don't look shiny (read: greasy/sweaty) in the heat

- has a high SPF, so you don't have to spend time or even remember to apply sunscreen underneath your makeup

- it minimizes pores (it's the first moisturizer to use this technology in the US) and evens out your skintone (it's the superhero of all makeup and skincare!)

- it has anti-aging ingredients, so you start to look younger once you start using it!

Using a new formula "with breakthrough peptides, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5," your skin suddenly looks younger. That's because your fine lines and wrinkles are being reduces and your skin in increasing its collagen protection. Powerful ingredients such as titanium, zinc, THD Ascorbate (the most powerful form of Vitamin C), green tea and coenzyme Q10 work to keep you looking good and youthful.

It also will save you a ton of time - no more having to apply suncare, then moisturizer, then your foundation. How do we ever get outta the house, I wonder?

It's so lightweight that you feel like you're not wearing makeup at all and I love that I don't have to apply moisturizer and then wait for that to sink in before applying foundation - this truly is an all-in-one skincare and beauty solution! 

I also appreciate that while it delivers a sheer mineral tint that matches your skintone (so no more dark lines along your jawline), it gives you sufficient coverage so that you don't feel like you're not wearing any makeup at all (a feeling that quite honestly makes me a little queasy if I have to go out when it's bright out) - but not that heavy caked-on look either. You look like you, but a more refined you. And it's not that you look good just after application - it lasts all day long, so you look radiant and rejuvenated from when you first leave the house in the morning until you go to bed.

Instead of buying a moisturizer, foundation, concealer and skincare that fights the effects of aging, why not get yourself New Intellishade SPF 45 Matte Tinted Moisturizer and save yourself all that time, money and energy?

That would be the smart thing to do. And you're one smart cookie, aren't you?

Stop Bulking Up Your Wallet With Cards & Get the Ultra Slim Saddle-Lite

I have a friend that has so many cards - credit, bank, rewards, business, you name it, he's got it, kind of cards - that he got himself this huge accordion-file type of change purse to put them in. Of course it doesn't come close to fitting in his pants like his wallet does, so now he carries a messenger bag with him wherever he goes, or he brings a jacket so that he can put the purse in his pocket.

All that just to carry around his cards.

I think he should saddle up and switch to Saddle-Lite.

First of all, he's got to definitely get rid of some cards. Or at least leave some at home.

Choosing the 6 or so he uses the most , he can then use them in style with the awesomely designed Saddle-Lite. It can hold 6 or more, depending on the thickness of the cards.

Place your cards face up. That way, you never have to fumble around trying to see which card is what (Doesn't it drive you crazy when you're in line to pay for something and someone is shuffling through all of their cards, asking the cashier, "What does the card look like? What colour is it?" Argh!).

The cool tattoo-designed band and plastic sleeve (available in various colours) keeps them secure and in place, so you can take them in and out of your pocket or bag with ease.

Finally.

Just think how much easier life will be now that you can access your cards - driver's licence, hotel key, transit pass, bank card, gift cards, coffee cards, credit cards, ID, you know, your life stuff.

Saddle-Lites are affordable, so while you're buying yourself one, get one for your friend with the bulging wallet too. 

Everyone will be forever grateful.

Get the Cleanest Floors You've Ever Had with Rubbermaid's Reveal Microfiber Spray Mop

I've got hardwood floors throughout my home. And then tiles in the kitchen and bathroom.

That combined with my fella and I working out of our one-bedroom home with our cat at our feet leaves our place somewhat overrun. Oh, and when I'm not writing, I'm cooking, so needless to say, our floors need to be cleaned once a day.At least.

That being said, as much as I love a clean house, I don't want to spend hours scrubbing floors. That's why I am head over heels for Rubbermaid's New Reveal Microfiber Spray Mop!

The microfiber pad is phenomenal - I can't believe how clean the floors get, with no need to go over them again (thank goodnesss)! Rubbermaid says it picks up "50% more dirt and dust per swipe than traditional mops," but it seems like a higher number to me.My kitchen and bathroom tiles have these grooves where everything slips into. The Reveal cleaned 'em  right out. All that hair (it's not just the cat, we all shed), dust, dirt, food, everything gets picked up.  And because of the design, it swivels and gets into teeny, tiny corners like no other mop I've ever tried.

I think because of the thick, thirsty microfiber material, it holds more water than most pads and it's able to  clean thoroughly with each swab you do. My floors look amazing (yes, you can come and see them, but please call first). A refillable spray bottle allows you to wash your floors in whatever eco cleaners you like. Me, I like to use just water (try it and tell me your floors don't shine up a storm), so I appreciate that I can fill the bottle and pull the handle and spray as I go (why anyone would still use a bucket in this day and age is beyond me, but all this time, I have been having to go over to the sink and re-wet my cloth - no more!).  That means, that I can clean much, much faster.

I've never seen a velcro stickiness like this before either. You never ever have to worry about the pad becoming loose (a problem I've had in the past with other mops) because you have to use some upper arm strength to tear the pad off when you're done. So mop away knowing that the pad is always safe and secure. I also love the cushiony foam handle, which makes for very comfortable mopping. Why not make the experience as enjoyable as possible?And there's no need for disposable anything with this mop. You get 200 times with each pad. Toss your pad into the wash, not in the garbage like those ones from the drugstore. Ech.

Buy it online at Rubbermaid.com, at Lowes, Loblaws, Home Hardware, Walmart and Home Depot for $29.99 (it comes with one spray bottle and one cleaning pad). Additional cleaning pads can be purchased for $6.99 and spray bottles are $4.49.

Rubbermaid Reveal Microfiber Spray Mop, where have you been all of my life? I know have all this extra time on my hands, thanks to you.

Ahhh.

Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care Helps Communities Beat Unfair Conditions

It's not often that you can make a difference by buying skincare.

But Alaffia cares about more than your skin. They are advancing gender equality and alleviating poverty through the fair trade of handcrafted shea butter in Togo, West Africa and their amazing products.

Alaffia's Skincare line is superb, one of the best I've ever tried. And crazy inexpensive! When I saw the quality of the ingredients and how it transformed my skin, I thought for sure these bottles would be at least $60 each. 

Not even close!

My routine starts with the Rooibos & Shea Butter Antioxidant Facial Cleanser. Using a combination of  handcrafted shea butter, virgin coconut oil, rooibos tea, aloe and African wild honey, it feels soft and gentle on your skin, but considering that I had some waterproof makeup on, it really went to work on getting everything off - with no effort on my part.

I love the feeling of having a freshly washed face before bed, but learned long ago that soap dries out your skin. My skin's dry enough, thank you very much, so I really appreciate that after having used this cleanser, my skin feels softer than before I put on my makeup this morning.

Next, I apply the tea-coloured Rooibos & Shea Antioxidant Facial Toner, sprayed on a cotton ball. The refreshing, revitalizing blend of rooibos tea, shea leaf extracts, witch-hazel and African wild honey prepped my fave like a canvas. See, it's formulated to "naturally balance your skin's pH and help maximize hydration," and because there's no drying alcohol, your skin simply looks clean and luminescent. 

My favourite part has got to be putting on Alaffia's Rooibos & Shea Butter Antioxidant Face Cream. I think it's because it feels so good to smooth on (the texture is soft and silky) and you can feel your skin immediately hydrate and soften upon application. Really, it works that quickly. It's their amazing products that you see throughout the line - unrefined shea butter, virgin coconut oil, rooibos tea and African wild honey. My skin became so supple and toned after using this just after a few days. And after just one day of use, my fella came home and said, "Your skin looks really good."

That really says it all, doesn't it?

You should shop Alaffia for many reasons:

- their products work

- they are incredibly affordable

- purchasing their products goes to help women in West Africa

- the fragrance of the ingredients is intoxicating - kind of like Chinese 5 spice powder

So shop Alaffia now and make a difference - to your skin and to those in need.

Summer Just Got Super Comfotable with Superfeet's New Premium Sandals

I wrote about Superfeet's amazing insoles awhile back and am thrilled to introduce to you their new Premium Sandals!

Just in time for the season that is no doubt going to be too hot to wear closed-toe shoes, these shoes look as cool as they feel.  

I tried the Women's (they have styles for men too!) FLP in Dusty Rose, though they are black with a light grey insole, so the name in no way denotes the colour.

A "built-in orthotic" hugs your instep and heel, supporting you with each and every step.  A podiatrist designed the inside so that you walk properly and comfortably for once.  My Mom and I walk at least 6 hours at a time every week. These are just about the only shoes that will be able to keep with us beside our bulky runners!

They are super light, which mean foot fatigue never sets in and you can pack 'em with you without weighing down your bag.

Thick straps don't rub against the skin somehow, while the rubber bottom increases traction so that whether you've traversing hard city pavements or rugged hills, you can feel secure with each step you take.

The shoe's are made out antimicrobial materials, biodegrading "almost 50 times faster than regular sandal components when they hit the landfill."

The only question is, do you want Dusty Rose or Latte?

Full Circle Makes the Best Kitchen & Cleaning Tools!

Why are you still using that scrub brush that you got from the dollar store two years ago?

Ew. Not to mention that it is nowhere near eco-friendly.

That's why you've got to check out Full Circle.

Their cleaning tools are so beautiful, so wonderful to hold and use, completely eco-friendly and sustainable and - here's the biggest suprise - absolutely affordable!

Everything from dish brushes, scrub brushes, sponge, cloths, towels,to make-your-own natural cleaning set and home composting solutions are available here, so you can clean and have a clean conscience.

The Be Good Dish Brush has quickly become one of our most used kitchen tools ever. I used to just rely on a sponge and dish cloth, but this recycle plastic, renewable bamboo dish brush gets at all the stuck-on food and grease with so little elbow grease, I have time to go and make myself a drink afterwards!

Now that the Farmer's Markets are getting going, the The Ring Vegetable Brush is a must for gently removing dirt from your hand-picked carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, etc. The natural and recycled bristles work out the land from your veg quickly and easily. And the part bamboo handle is just gorgeous (Why can't Full Circle make jewelry too? This is the perfect bangle!) and so smooth. Everything Full Circle makes is just so easy on the hands, something that you certainly wouldn't notice with those cheap plastic things you've been using up until now, but you can't help but take note of - rest your thumb there, put your hand there, ahh!

And speaking of brushes, the Reach Bottle Brush works in travel mugs, baby bottles and I've been using mine to also clean the sludge that occurs in vases full of water (why does it do that?) and dust out the inside of my lamps. You simple place the longer end of the brush on the inside and squeeze the handle to clean both surfaces simultaneously. The handle and bristles are made with recycled plastic and the wire is made of  recycled stainless steel. This is one of those tools that you didn't realize was so handy until you had it, and now you can't live without it.

One of my favourite designs is the Stick'em Magnetic Kitchen Towel (pictured above). You know how chefs have a towel that sits on their hip so that they can wipe their hands or grab a hot pan out of the oven with one quick move? That's what this towel is like. You can put it wherever is most convenient, not just where it happens to fit.You can toss it towards the fridge or stove and it sticks! How cool is that? And here's the best part - the bamboo and organic cotton blend is so cushy and soft, you use it more than any other towel that's passed through the house. Ooh, if only there was pajamas in this material...

These are just a few of the amazingly wonderful, inexpensive kitchen tools from Full Circle. Look around and finally get items that are worthy of you.

Hershey's Drops Satisfy Your Chocolate Craving

Doesn't it seem like Easter was forever ago?

You got your chocolate fill then, but now the craving is back - big time. The problem is, it's shorts weather, so you can't binge like you used to.

That's where Hershey's comes in.

Instead of mowing down on an entire chocolate bar, you can satiate your sweet tooth with New Hershey's Drops. 

Because there is no candy shell, there's no mess. Which means you can nibble on them while you're working away at your desk and not have to worry about getting chocolate everywhere for once. The other bonus is that because they are small, you can have as many - or as little - as you like.

Hershey's Drops are available in two flavours - Milk Chocolate and Cookies 'n' Crème.  And with Cookies 'n' Crème coming in at only 200 calories for 14, and Milk Chocolate totaling 210 for 15, you can snack and share these l'il cuties and not feel that you need another sweet all day long.

Much like Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Drops make it possible to have chocolate and be able to fit into your tankini!

Go ahead and get your chocolate on.

Check Out the Divine New Makeup Line from Beauty Without Cruelty

Beauty Without Cruelty has been offering "ethical, cruelty-free products that are made with natural, organic and safe ingredients" for over 40 years.

Their new makeup line - BWC Colour - includes mineral eyeshadows, natural eye pencils and pressed powders that are fragrance free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

If you suffer from dry lips like I do, you'll be swooning over BWC's Natural Infusion Lipsticks. It glides over your lips giving you great colour (I tried Cappuccino) while simultaneously delivering a wallop of hydration, thanks to jojoba seed and castor see oils, and vitamin E. 

And to keep you looking polished, but never too made up, the Ultimate Natural Mascara (pictured above) is perfect.The Black is dark, but not too inky. The power of natural ingredients such as  Japanese fruit, rice, carnauba and acacia waxes, rice bran oil and bamboo stem powder, gives you beautifully long lashes without any gloopy bits or hard points. Your lashes stay soft and nourished, but they look picture perfect.

You'll never want to go back to chemically-laden drugstore cosmetics after using BWC.

Be sure to check out their entire makeup line as well as the rest of their products such as hair care, skin care and body care too. I have been using their Daily Benefits Aromatherapy Shampoo and it's got the most beautiful scent. It also managed to get rid of months of product build up and add a bunch of shine to my formerly matte head.

Discover Eco-Friendly & Stylish WeWood Watches

Have you noticed how watches have all started to look the same?

I saw the same design made by 5 different companies. And that was just in one single display case. I craved something unique, something that would stand out against the crowd, but nothing too crazy. I don't want to look like a club kid after all. I want something I can wear to the office in addition to a night out with friends.

I found it all in WeWood Watches. 

It's amazing how sophisticated looking they are, because sometimes with wood, you get a very rustic, barn feel, which wasn't the vibe I wanted at all.

Somehow WeWood has managed to make very refined looking time pieces, while making them sustainable. "Completely absent of artificial and toxic materials," your watch is natural and when you purchase a WeWood watch, a tree is planted. 

Look fashionable and help to rebuild our endangered ecosystem? It's possible, thanks to WeWood.

The only hard part is trying to choose which style to get. The WeWood Date Army is quite fascinating and the Beige/Brown is simply stunning. But I wanted something with power and oomph. Something that wouldn't just settle into the background.

The WeWood Crono Black (pictured above) is a little bit Joan Jett, a little bit Laura Croft:Tomb Raider. Just what I wanted/needed to amp up my look.  This ebony wood watch is made from a tree that is thought to ward off evil spirits - just call it your good luck charm. And it's not just pretty - in addition to the time, it offers a stopwatch, the time and date and an alarm. So you can always be where you need to be, when you need to be there.

All that for this amazingly low price? And a tree gets planted every time you buy one?

What the heck are you waiting for? Buy a WeWood watch now.

If You Love Good Food, You're Going to Love Southern Living Off the Eaten Path

One of my many, many dreams for the near future is to have a Southern food counter or truck or restaurant.

Though I've never even been to the South, I am enamoured by the food, ingredients and people. I can think of nothing more comforting than shrimp n' grits, a muffaletta sandwich (a specialty of New Orleans), fried chicken, collard greens and cornbread.

So when I heard about the brand new, just released Southern Living Off the Eaten Path by Morgan Murphy, I knew it would have to find a place amongst my very carefully selected cookbooks.

It's the subtitle after the colon that really got me - Favourite Southern Dives and 150 Recipes That Made Them Famous - and the fact that award-winning travel writer Murphy drove 15,000 miles in his 1959 Cadillac last summer and picked 75 places to include.

It is so jam-packed with photos, recipes and backstory, that it's more of an intimate scrapbook or personalized tour of the South than a mere cookbook. If I could somehow manage it, I'd like to do what Murphy did, and visit every single one of these places in one fell swoop. Now that's what I call a vacation!

And what is so surprising is that the recipes are not your average "dive" dishes. Krazy Kat's in Delaware for instance offers Vanilla-Cognac Brined Pork Tenderloin with a Gingersnap Jus! You'd better believe that's joining my regular rotation of dinners. And Lobster and Brie Mac and Cheese from Cabana in Nashville and Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs from The Local in Virginia? Ooh la la. I think I just found my dinner party menu items. And I've got to make the  PCP Pie (Pineapple-Coconut-Pecan) from Ed & Kay's in Arkansas at the next do or potluck. Can you imagine the kinds of  hoots and hollers that will get?

Of course the book is teaming with the kind of comfort food dishes that are famous in the South - Hush Puppies, Crawfish Pie, Beignets, Shrimp and Crab Etoufee, Sweet Potato Casserole, Chicken-Fried Steak with Country Gravy, Southern Fried Catfish, Pecan Pie, Cornbread, Candied Yams, Chiles Rellenos, Buttermilk Biscuits  - and a heckuva lot more (My mouth filled with saliva as I wrote these. I'm heading into the kitchen to make some of these treasures as soon as I'm done here).

Go ahead and check out the preview here.

Thank you, Mr. Murphy, for bringing the South up here to me in the North via Southern Living Off the Beaten Path. I am so grateful to be surrounded by all of this great food  made by great folks from these great places. 

I hope you don't mind, I've gone ahead and doggeared the whole darn book.

Desperate for Vim, Vitality and Vigour? Get It All with EatStrong Snacks!

 

I am desperate need of some extra energy,

I know you feel the same. My to-do list is teetering with items yet to be crossed off, laundry is done but not put away and where did that new basket of dirty clothes come from? That's just the beginning, so I need to ramp things up and eat food that is full of energy to help get me through these frenetic days/weeks/months.

And something quick and easy and that doesn't taste like wallpaper would be great.

After months of searching, I am thrilled to have found EatStrong.

Founder Sophie Pachella created a fresh new line of "honestly healthy snacks." Yep, this is the real deal - good food that fills you up. 

Take the EatStrong Trail Mix, for instance. It is a surefire way to keep low blood sugar crashes at bay and to get you through those tough crunch times where you don't have time to eat, but you've got to have something. Vitamins, minerals, omega-3s and fiber abound in this delightful mix of almonds, cashews, flax seeds, pistachios, sunflower seeds and walnuts. Ooh, it's tasty and filling. Oh, and to keep your sweet tooth at bay, Sophie's popped in some organic cacao chocolate drops, so you won't have to give into the lunch room vending machine anymore. Phew!

And if I need a quick meal or snack on the go, I prefer EatStrong Energy Bars to those supermarket ones that are supposedly "healthy," but you and I both know how laden with fat and sugar they are.

This soft bar of  finely crushed flax, sunflower and hemp seeds is only 230 calories, but it will keep you going for hours on end.  Again, some organic chocolate drops have been added in to satiate you. According to Sophie, this blend of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants will "increase metabolic function, fortify muscles and promote lean body mass."

 

It's practically a workout in a bar. Practically.

Life is sometimes too busy to stop and eat well. At least eat well on the run. 

 

Get EatStrong now.

Bring Paradise Home Via Tautropfen's Jalë Orient Collection

I am not really a chocolates/candles/flowers kind of gal.

But I can't help but swoon over "the beguiling organic rose oil obtained from the hand-picked blossoms of the  fragrant Damascene Rose" in Tautropfen's Jalë  Orient Collection. The scent is just mind-blowingly alluring and exotic. And I have to say, now I'm completely spoiled because the fragrance of regular roses just became oh-so-ordinary. This scent is just so much deeper and richer.

The Tautropfen Jalë  Orient Collection gives you many enchanting options for creamy soft skin:

- Enchanting Rose Shower Emulsion uses the intoxicating rose oil blended with argan oil, making for a satiny, velvety wash that transforms the bathroom into a garden and your skin into a pampered, nourished wonder.

- Alluring Rose Soap gives your skin the same luscious feeling as the emulsion, but with the bar, you get dried rose petals on top and a swirl of colour through the soap. If you can manage to tear yourself away from it (just try to stop yourself from smelling it - I bet you can't), it makes a wonderful gift.

- Enchanting Rose Bath Cube comes two to a pack and they look similar to the soap, but are smaller and sqaure. Dried rose petals can be seen throughout these as well. So pretty! And just think about how rewarding it will be to come home after a long day and sink into a luxurious bath that drenches your skin in cocoa butter, organic shea butter and milk protein. Simply dissolve a cube while running your bath and in mere moments, your skin - and soul - will be restored to their natural beauty. Ahhh...

-Magical Rhassul Wash Clay -  Over the years, I've witnessed the incredible power of clay.  This ancient ritual can done on your both your hair and skin.  It's so easy: "Dissolve the Rhassul wash clay in warm water (first put water in a bowl, then mix in 3-4 tablespoons of wash clay), then leave it to thicken. Massage the viscous substance into the dampened hair, then leave it to do its work. Meanwhile, wash your body with the gel. Rinse off your hair and skin thoroughly with water." You'll be amazed at how clean and soft they feel after this opulent Moroccan Lava Clay treatment.

Tautropfen's Jalë  Orient Collection is anything but ordinary. Regular roses are just that - regular - from now on.

Create Dramatic, Bold Eyes with Annabelle's Amazing Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencil

Anyone who knows me well knows that I like efficiency. 

I like to do things well, but quickly. I like to combine efforts if I can. For example, I paint my nails and dry them while working away at my laptop, I listen to audiobooks while I'm cleaning or walking. I know that multitasking is not always useful, but in some instances, I find it so rewarding.

Like the NEW Annabelle Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencils.

For years, I have searched out eyeshadow pencils, having found one in a drugstore discount bin decades ago, but found very few and even less that went on smoothly and stayed put. Now I've found it all in Annabelle Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencils.

Instead of having to fiddle with eyeshadows that sprinkle themselves all over and that I can rarely apply with ease, with these amazing pencils, you simply swoop a few swipes over your eyelids and bam! You've got colourful eyeshadow that doesn't streak, smudge or budge. It goes on much better (read: smoother, softer) and bolder than most eyeshadows I've tried and I love that it takes just a second to put on (truth be told though, I do have the smallest eyelids ). So I'm out the door quickly. Which is good, because there is so much to do...

It keeps up with me and my day, which you can't say about all makeup products. I know you know what I'm talking about - who has time to reapply their makeup on days like these? Nah, this is the good stuff right here: I put it on in the morning and it's still right where I put it when I go to remove it late at night. It's also waterproof, so go ahead and get wet - swim, cry, sweat. Do what you need to do. Annabelle's NEW Smoothie Eyeshadow isn't going anywhere.

I recommend getting all 8 colours, but that's just me.

Need a Quick Pick Me Up? ReVyte Revitalizes You Anytime Day or Night

Are you tired?

Is that you stayed up too late watching a movie on cable? Was it that huge lunch that you just devoured and now you're slumbering at your desk? Did you just come from a meeting that left you feeling completely exhausted and depleted? Have you been burning the candle at both ends and now you're wondering how you're going to get through the day?

Whatever the reason (mine: it was so hot and sticky last night, I tossed and turned without catching much shut eye at all and then I was thinking about all that work waiting for me on my desk and... well, you get the idea), there is help available.

ReVyte is an effervescent vitamin supplement tablet that dissolves in water and delivers a walloping pack of vitamins (A, C and B12, for example) and energy (caffeine and ginseng extract), so that you can get through your day.

You simply dissolve 1 or 2 tablets (2 tablets per pack) in a glass or bottle of water. It goes from creamy light yellow to shockingly electric yellow in just a minute.  The flavour is subtle - lemon/lime - but you'll start to feel peppy quickly. I felt renewed and revived after just a few minutes of having just half of my water!

ReVyte does not contain any dairy, sugar or animal products, with the ingredients listed on the back of the package.

While you don't want to come to rely on having a ReVyte every day, it's nice to know it's there when you need it.

Haikubes Offers A Fun Alternative on Family Game Night

Haikus are a magical, ethereal form of writing that's always fascinated me. This ancient Japanese poetry continues to enthrall and challenge us. Maybe even more so now that life's become so complicated.

Much like creating Six-Word Memoirs or filling in crosswords, I find that you have to allow yourself to go through all the stages - understanding how it's constructed (17 syllables - 5 on the first line, 7 on the second line, 5 on the third line), figuring out how you're going to do it (oh lord), then moving past all of the critics in your head and all of that learning to do things a certain way and let go in order to create little moments of wonder.

Simple, right?

Haikubes is the most fun version I've ever seen for creating haikus. In the game, you get to roll all 63 word cubes that clack together like mah-jong tiles. The words on the two coloured cubes set the direction and theme of your for your haiku.

I think you'll be surprised by what you're able to come up with and construct.

And as a writer, I just enjoy looking at the cubes, thinking about the words and their individual beauty - bottle, moonlight, fortune, slips, there, parallel, hand. Sometimes it's nice to just sit and contemplate one thing at a time.

You will find how rare

In this life that shakes and rolls

That beauty can be seen here

Get Haikubes now.

Pamper Yourself with Equavie's Organic Hand Cream

My hands go through so much during the day.

From morning 'til night, I am working at my computer, handling endless pieces of paper (so drying!) and in between - cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and other assorted household things.

By bedtime, they are a wreck - dry, aged-looking and feeling incredibly parched.

Or at least, that's how they used to feel.

Since I've had Equavie's Hand Cream on my desk, they've felt completely pampered and rejuvenated.

I love that this cream in a tube is small enough to keep close at hand on my desk and not take up much room (truthfully, there's not much left anyway), and I can stash it in my purse so I've got it with me on the go (so convenient!).

I appreciate that though it's a cream, it's really light and completely non-greasy. There's nothing worse than feeling like you've got to wash your hands after putting on a drugstore hand cream. And it is just lightly fragranced, so it won't overwhelm you with its scent like those most creams.

Using natural and organic ingredients such as sunflower and safflower seed oil, sweet almond oil, oat kernel extract and cocoa seed butter, your hands stay hydrated all day long, no matter how much running around you do or tasks you complete.

Finally, a hand cream that keeps up with my hectic day!

And thanks to no artificial fragrances or colouring, GMO, parabens or petrochemical derivatives, you can feel good about slathering your hands in complete and utter comfort.

Contact SOPAR and get Equavie's Hand Cream today.

Envelop Yourself In Calvin Klein's Eternity Summer Fragrances for Men & Women

What comes to your mind when you think about summer?

I think of the sun hitting my face and hot sand squishing underneath my toes, the smell of suntan lotion and the sea wafting through the air.

What is remarkable is that Calvin Klein has bottled all of those sensory memories in his latest fragrance, Eternity Summer for Women.

Using floral notes such as violet leaves, gardenia, muguet, jamine and lotus lily mixed with the fresh unique scent of cilantro and then blended with creamy musks and fig wood with a hint of mimosa, a feeling that you've been carrying around since childhood emerges.

Happiness.

Whether you remember building sandcastles with your family at the beach or laying on the dock at the cottage, this sun-in-a-bottle will make you feel so good, you may just do cartwheels or go running the next time you hear the ice cream truck.

And while this joyous scent is like a memory bank, it is undoubtedly modern, fresh and sexy. 

Bringing a piece of the beach to the city is the ultimate summer staycay. Thank you Eternity Summer for Women.

p.s. Eternity Summer for Men is sensational too. Citrus and wood nestle amongst the sun's rays. Tres sexy indeed.

p.p.s. Calvin Klein Fragrances are available at select department and drugstores for a limited time.

My New Favourite Party Go-To Dessert is Kari's Malva Pudding

One of the biggest headaches for me when it comes to planning a dinner party is worrying about what to serve for dessert.

As I don't bake too often, I am always wondering what to offer people after the dinner dishes have been cleared. Chocolates seem too mundane and anything like cupcakes or macarons seem overdone. I want to serve something original and exciting, but truthfully, I'm not quite at the level of being able to do it myself.

So I looked to the pros, searching for an exhilarating choice. And I found it all in Kari's Malva Pudding.

These handmade cakes come way of the Mansfeld Family in Aptos California. Most notably by Miss Kari herself.  Using fresh "cage-free eggs from the Glaum chicken ranch just up the road and fresh apricot jam from the local farmer's market with no corn syrup in it," you'll appreciate all the wholesome, natural ingredients as well as the fact that one serving is only 230 calories!

Each pudding is spongy, light and moist and is like no other dessert I've ever had.  Slightly caramelly, it has a dulce de leche, creme brulee kind of feel, mixed with moist, fresh-from-the-oven cake. You serve it warm with custard, fruit or a complete showstopper - ice cream.

The pudding is is hand-poured and packaged and frozen fresh. You wouldn't believe how easy it is to:

- defrost

- heat up and serve in an instant

- store (up to 4 days at room temperature, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks)

- pass off as your own, if you want to (I never would, but I won't judge you if you do)

I am stunned that something that was shipped to me frozen can taste so out-of-the-oven fresh and homemade!

Be sure to get both Kari's Malva Pudding and the Chocolate Pudding because if you share these with your dinner guests, they are going to go like lightning.  

Of course, you could keep Kari's Malva Pudding all to yourself. But something tells me as much as you'll want to covet it for yourself, you won't be able to resist sharing it with friends and family!

Add Some Colour with Julep's Incredible Spring/Summer 2011 Collection

One of the best ways to add some pop to your wardrobe this season is to rock your nails in the latest brights.

Julep’s new Spring/Summer 2011 Collection reveals hot-off-the-runway colours that work with everything from your office wardrobe to weekends on the patio.

Free of toluene, formaldehyde and DBP, this is one of the thickest polishes I've ever tried. I did two coats out of habit more than anything, but I think you could get away with just one, no problem. Which means, it goes on twice as fast and will last twice as long. 

Sweet.

And I love the tall, thin bottles. These look more like lip lacquers than nail polishes, don't they? What fun, and they don't take up as much space as your other polishes - so load up!

The new Spring/Summer 2011 Collection colours are absolutely fabulous. Let me introduce you to the lovely ladies.

Amy - I love, love, love this blue. It is deeply flattering and very ballerina feminine while maintaining its downtown edginess. It makes your black stuff look new again and paired with pink, orange or green clothes, it looks downright futuristic.

Gloria - This coral is pop modern and bright. It really accentuates a tan or if you don't have one, makes it look like you do.

Natalie - A sunny, but soft around the edges kind of pink goes with absolutely everything. Which is why you'll be wearing it long past the end of the warm weather.

You can purchase the Spring/Summer 2011 Collection individually or get 'em all together. Either way,  $1 will be donated to organizations that support women through Julep's Powered by Girlfriends program. 

Summer just won't be complete without Julep's Spring/Summer 2011 Collection.