Save Your Skin

As I've mentioned (confessed, really) before, I have worn the same makeup types and brands for so many years, it's amazing that most of them are still in production.  I recently had to stock up on some discontinued lipgloss on eBay- a pretty gross thought, really, but desperate times call for, well, pre-owned lipgloss. However, I recently was looking through photos of myself on Facebook (oh, come on, you do it, too) and I noticed something disturbing- I have a tendency to get shiny a few hours after I get made up. And not in that pretty-fresh-dewy-glow way (more in a I-just-rubbed-a-slice-of-pizza-on-my-forehead way). I first noticed this issue in a series of photos from my friend's wedding last summer (witness the horror at below right), but I consoled myself that it was a warm summer day, and I was probably just a little overheated. But my distress increased as I flipped further and further back in time, and realized this has been a bit of a chronic problem. Like, since forever. How did I not know this about myself, you ask? I'll tell you how- denial. It's powerful stuff, people.
And as if that wasn't enough, this discovery coincided with another unpleasantness, which was the arrival of my first legitimate facial wrinkles. Pretty much the same day that I stopped getting zits with regularity, my skin decided to inflict a different kind of punishment on me, in the form of smile lines and crow's feet (which can also be spotted in the photo at right). Ugh. It became clear to me that I needed to add a new weapon to my grossness-fighting arsenal. Luckily, my friend T, whose make-up skills have evolved since college, showed up just in the nick of time with exactly what I never knew I needed: BareMinerals powder foundation ($25, from Sephora.com). It's a super-light and natural looking powder that looks and feels way better than a liquid foundation; it just gently masks the flaws and leaves you looking like you. And it's SPF 15, too, so it actually prevents more wrinkles! Plus, it's made entirely out of natural minerals that won't poison you or clog your pores, and cause the acne to show up to the party, too, when you fall asleep with your make-up on (which I never do, particularly not after friends' weddings). My only suggestion would be to try to get to a Sephora store, or a make-up counter that carries BareMinerals to make sure you pick the exact right shade for you (there are 20 to choose from)- the only thing worse than a wrinkly oil-slick is the Kabuki mask of wrong-color foundation.

Friday Styles: A New Spin On Things

There aren't many things in life that I like as much now as I did when I was twelve. For instance, I no longer listen to the Backstreet Boys on repeat, I don't have a crush on any of my older brother's friends (unless you consider my husband his friend), I doubt I would watch TRL, Dawson's Creek or Party of Five, anymore, even if they were still on the air, and I've finally accepted that I am not someone who should have bangs. But if I had to hang out with my twelve-year-old self for an afternoon, I know exactly what we could do that we would both enjoy: a drug store shopping spree. Ever since I started getting an allowance, I have taken a tremendous, unexplainable pleasure in shopping at the pharmacy. I love the cosmetics aisle, I love the non-perishable food aisle (pretzel buckets!), I love the home-improvement section, the greeting cards and magazines, the school supplies... I could honestly spend hours browsing the aisles of the drug store. And, while I occasionally have rung up some whopper bills, I usually escape for under $30- try to have that much fun for $30 at the mall!  I couldn't even take my tweener alter-ego to see the Justin Bieber movie for that.
One of my favorite things about the drug store is how often to find something wonderful that you didn't know you needed, nay, didn't even know existed, until you spot it on the shelf. On a recent cold Sunday, I ducked into my local Duane Reade to pick up some necessity I had run out of, and found myself in that familiar happy place, wandering up the aisles checking out mustache trimmers and denture cream (neither of which I needed, thank you very much). I landed in the hair-care section, and that is when I discovered something that has become one of my favorite new products- the Goody Spin Pin, $5.99 for 2, from Amazon.com, or most major drug stores). I am (obviously) a sucker for anything that promises to make my life easier, and I was actually amazed at how well these things work (Goody claims they take the place of 20 bobby pins, and I believe it). All you do is form your hair into a knot or bun and twist the pins in, and miraculously they hold it. I have thick slippery hair that's cut in multiple layers and, if they work for me, they would work for anybody.  I feel like these are one of those things, like the Internet, or cell phones, or running water, that once you have, it would be hard to go back to your life before them. Which is why I would buy several sets for Preteen Lily.

Unfortunately, as miraculous as these things are, though, there isn't anything they can do about those terrible bangs.

The Perfect Blend

New York City is both the best and worst place to live if you are a food lover. On the one hand, there are an endless number of incredible restaurants and gourmet shops, plenty of people to enjoy them with, and even the most obscure ingredients can be found all year round. On the other hand, if you want to use those ingredients, chances are you will be doing so in a kitchen the size of breadbox. Wait, a shoebox. No, a matchbox. 
Because I suffer from tinykitchenitis myself,  I am always on the hunt for kitchen tools that work well for a lot of purposes and don't take up too much space (I love you, citrus juicer, but you have six parts, take up a whole shelf and only do one thing). That's why I have a special (very compact) place in my heart and kitchen cabinet - same thing, really-  for my stick blender. I have the Kitchenaid KHB300 model, $89 at Amazon.com, but there are other good ones out there for as little as $20.
This little sucker has essentially replaced my blender, Cuisinart and hand mixer, and takes up less space than any of them. It's basically the Optimus Prime of kitchen appliances...in that it's a transformer (get it?) The blender blade can do anything a traditional blender can do, only it does it right in the pot/bowl/pitcher, so you end up with fewer dishes. Pureeing a huge batch of soup is a messy pain with a normal blender, but oh-so-easy with a stick blender. Pop on the food processing attachment and you can chop onions in a few seconds, without any mess. Need to whip up some mirangues for dessert? Pop on the whisk attachment and boom, you're in business. Then, the attachments go right into the dishwasher to clean, and then stow away in no space when you're done.  If it sounds like I am doing an infomercial, it's because I actually feel like I am in an infomercial when I'm cooking with this thing.
So much functionality packed into such a tiny package... kind of like my kitchen.

Oh, Yes!

It's been a while since I have done a post about a new beauty product, because, frankly, I haven't used a new beauty product in a while. I'm a creature of habit, and once I find a product I love, I tend to stick with it with an almost religious ferocity. I've used the same brand and color of eyeshadow (this one, Nosy McGee) every day for eight years, and if (horror of horrors) it were to be discontinued, I wouldn't be surprised to find myself outside the factory with a ski mask and a grappling hook, planning a raid to gather the remaining shimmery tubs. So, it was not without a certain amount of trepidation and skepticism that I even tried the new(ish) line of hair products from Yes to Carrots. But! They are amazing!

There is very little not to love about this shampoo and conditioner ($7.99 each from Amazon.com, or major drug stores). For one thing, they are made with (almost) all natural ingredients, and have none of the toxic carcinogenic parabens, phthalates, or SLS that is frequently found in shampoos and conditioners. I mean, I like having shiny, pretty hair, as much as the next girl, but I'd rather not have to die for it. And shiny, pretty hair I have, indeed, with these products. I swear, you'll like what it does for your 'do so much, you'll find yourself flirtatiously tossing your hair around like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Even if you're a guy. And, as if that wasn't enough, the products also have a lovely light, clean scent that will make you irresistible to members of the opposite sex. Okay, that last part isn't true- if you have an unpleasant personality and a face like a pit bull, no shampoo is going to turn you into a femme fatale.  But these products do really smell delicious, in a way that's not too fruity or perfume-y, so your fella can use them without feeling creepy about it.

 Yes to Carrots also has a skin-care line, which I am gathering the courage to try, but I'll bet is pretty great, and new lines called Yes to Tomatoes, Yes to Cucumbers, and Yes to Blueberries, which you might like even better. As for me and trying new things, all I can say is "yes, yes, yes!"

Note: You may have noticed that after I posted this, Google Adsense (in it's infinite wisdom) started running an ad for Yes to Carrots on my sidebar. That's because they use some smarty-pants algorithm that attaches appropriate ads to related content, not because I wrote a post endorsing an advertiser. All opinions and endorsements on my blog are my own, and I have never been paid or compensated to say something nice about a product, person, place, or thing. Unless you count not complaining too much about my husband, since he goes to work every day and lets me stay home and write a blog as "compensation".

Book 'Em

Even though our tastes in literature differ tremendously, both JM and I are avid readers (yes, that's a euphemism for "severe geeks"). Yet, neither one of us has actually bought a new book since 2009. How can that be, you ask? Have we switched, so he is now catching up on my florid, relationship-based novels and I his military historic non-fiction? Decidedly not. Have we stopped reading and instead turned our intellect toward other pursuits, like chess or solving Fermat's last theorem? Um, no (and what intellect?) Have we run out of space on our color-coded bookshelves? Well, yes, but that's not the reason. The real reason is that we are now both now fully converted to reading on our Kindles ($139-379 on Amazon.com). As you know, I like to write about the things I love, and the only reason I haven't written a post on this topic before is that I thought everyone sort of already knew about them and had their own preconceived opinions, positive or negative. However, thrice in the last week, people (okay, they were all foreigners, but still...), have stopped me on the subway platform, in the airport, and walking down the street (yes, I can read and walk at the same time), to ask me what was this strange screened tablet I was staring at, and whether I liked it. Also, Amazon announced the new generation of Kindle last week (It has 3G wireless! And comes in black!), so I figured this post might be timely after all. Don't get me wrong, I still love the look and feeling of a real book -- the smell of the ink, the texture of the paper, the feeling of that first time you crack the spine -- that's all like porn to us nerdy bibliophiles.  But there are a lot of benefits to the Kindle that give real books a run for their money. Here are just some of the reasons I love my Kindle.

You Can Take It With You- at any given time, I have a lineup of five or six books waiting to be read on my Kindle (including The Fountainhead, which, in physical form is a real honker). And when I travel, I can take all those books with me, without having to actually carry six books. My Kindle is light enough to carry anywhere in my purse, but even when I don't have it with me, my books automatically sync to the "Kindle for iPhone" app, which means that I can seamlessly pick up right where I left off, right on my phone.
Immediate Gratification- I was recently talking books at lunch with a friend (we geeks band together), and as she made suggestions, I was able to download them to my Kindle right away. So much better than writing them down on a napkin I would inevitably lose.
Privacy, Please- When you read on a Kindle, no one can look over your shoulder or read your book jacket. And while there is something amusing about the communal experience of finding yourself in a subway car with eight other people all reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, it was a relief to me to be able to read the Twilight series without being judged by my fellow commuters. Oh, shut up, you've probably read them, too.
Easy Does It- Even if you are a technophobe, the Kindle is surprisingly instinctual and easy to use. My husband's grandfather, who has never really used a computer, picked up how to use the Kindle very quickly. It also has a screen that uses real ink, instead of backlighting, so there are no problems with glare when you read in the sun. Also, you can turn the page with the push of one thumb, which makes it much easier to read one-handed while in the bath, or while cooking, or walking the dog (yes, I do read in those places).

The only downsides I have encountered with the Kindle are that you have to remember to charge it (although the battery lasts a very long time), you have to turn it off for takeoff and landing on an airplane, and you can't lend out the books once you've finished. But that last one isn't really a problem for my husband and me, anyway. 

And, no, Amazon isn't paying me to write this (but, hey, Jeff Bezos, you can if you want to).

The Fabulizer

When I packed up and moved into my college Freshman dorm room in the fall of 1999, I arrived armed with the essentials- a green original iMac, phone cards to call home, and a hugely padded black lace bra that my roommates immediately dubbed "The Fabulizer." I have, in my life, been blessed with many gifts (namely: naturally blond hair I don't have to color, a fairly sunny disposition, and a better-than-average ability to solve crossword puzzles), but I was not bestowed with what you might call "an ample bosom." Hence, The Fabulizer, which immediately added at least three cup sizes to anyone (to prove this, I once tacked it up on the flat wall, and, voila, "Wally Parton").  However,  while it was, well, fabulous, The Fabulizer had several blatant drawbacks. The black lace and thick straps hardly made for an inconspicuous combo, so it made it's presence known by showing though or sticking out of almost any outfit (luckily it was the late 90s and underwear-as-outerwear was in). To totally hide this monster of a bra, in fact, an outfit would have to be so modest as to be completely beside the point.  Also, because I didn't wear it at all times, it was unlikely I fooled anyone into thinking a rack like that had just sprouted overnight. Still, I managed to get quite a bit of wear out of that sucker over the course of the next four extremely educational and enriching years, until I finally outgrew it (emotionally, not physically, sadly).
In my adult life, which could frequently use a little fabulizing, I have often reminisced about the enhancing properties of that brassiere, and wished I had something with similar capabilities which would fit my lifestyle now. It seemed an impossible dream until, like a miracle, I found it: The Fabulizer 2.0.
The Plunge Multi-way Bra with Gel-Curve, $37.50 from Victoria's Secret is the Fabulizer for the new millennium (give or take 10 years). Seriously. I bought it in nude to wear under a dress to a wedding last September, and I have worn it almost every day since (sorry to disappoint you, People I Have Met Since September, but my cleavage isn't the real deal). This bra is actually comfortable, smooth enough to wear under anything without showing, and, unlike any other strapless bra I have ever owned, it stays up on it's own. And the patented Gel-Curve stuff looks and feels way more like real boob than the mattress foam that was stuffed into the original Fabulizer (not that I intend to test that by getting groped).
So, if you happen to be similarly mosquito-bitten, or just want to enhance your natural assets, I suggest you head to Vicky's and try this lovely thing on immediately. And if you spend more than $100 (by buying this bra in every color), get free shipping through July13 using the promo code: SHIPVS10. Fabulous.

Try Dry

Hi gang. Yes, I'm still alive, and I'm sorry I've been sort of MIA these past two weeks. I've had a lot on my plate, and I've been a busy little bee, between hosting a wedding shower and bachelorette party last weekend, work projects, apartment projects, babysitting my niece, and helping out two friends with their upcoming nuptials. I've been so busy, in fact, that the blog isn't the only thing I've been neglecting. No, I haven't forgotten to feed my dog (or my husband), but I haven't been for a run since May, and I'll admit I've skipped a shower here and there as well. But don't worry, I have Spanx to hide the telltale extra jiggle in my thighs until I can find my way back to the gym.

And I recently also discovered a cheater way to "wash" my hair instantly. On those days when I'm running late somewhere I have to look presentable (which is pretty much everyday), and don't have time to wash and dry my hair, I simply spray in some of my new secret weapon, Klorane Dry Shampoo ($13 from Amazon.com). You just spray it lightly around your roots- a little goes a long way (peeps with dark hair should be especially conservative), rub your head with a towel, and then run a brush through your locks. I've got the whole process down to under a minute (which beats my notorious marathon showers).

It basically absorbs and hides the greasiness from your 'do, leaving it looking and smelling fresh and clean, and easy to style (although I usually don't have time for that, either).  It's a miracle in a can, but it does have limitations- what you do about those stubbly legs and fragrant armpits is up to you.

A Clean Day Giveaway!

As I have documented many times on this blog, I am on an unceasing crusade to find good, non-toxic cleaning products that don't suck, and won't slowly poison me. Or quickly poison me, for that matter. So when I discovered the line of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day cleaning products, it was as if a light shined down from the sky and a choir of angels heralded them. These cleansers are made from simple, clean, earth-friendly ingredients, smell heavenly, and actually work.  And even the packaging is cute! I love these products so much, in fact, I wrote the manufacturers a fan letter - only the second one I have ever written in my life (fun fact: The first went to Ann M. Martin, the author of the Baby-Sitters Club books circa 1989). Unlike Ms. Martin, Mrs. Meyer didn't write back and send me stickers and an autograph for my "Autograph Book", but I like their products enough to forgive them that. I know this post reads like an ad, but Mrs. Meyer's is in no way paying or compensating me for this (yet- I'm still hoping for that autograph)- I'm just creepily obsessed with them.

In fact, I like their products so much that I want you to discover them, too. Hence: a giveaway! Just leave a comment on this post by midnight on Monday night (May 31), telling me your least favorite household chore (mine: matching socks) and I will randomly select two winners!

The First Prize will be a bounty/bevy/smorgasbord of  Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products in your choice of scent (choose from Lemon Verbena, Lavender or Geranium- my fave), including the dish soap, hand soap, counter top spray- which I use every day- and whatever else I decide to pick out for you depending on how nice I'm feeling that day.

The Second Prize will be a bottle of the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day All-Purpose Cleaner (which may leave you wondering why any of the other products are necessary) in your choice of scent.

So leave a comment and you just might... clean up.

Friday Styles: A Case in (Needle)Point

Most of the time, contributing to this blog is one of the high points of my day. It is my hobby and my great escape- when I'm doing the things I enjoy less (like unloading the dishwasher or picking up my dog's poo), I often let my mind wander and find myself daydreaming about what I want to write about next. I usually have a mental list a mile long of projects and ideas I can't wait to write about and share with you. But, for some reason, all the pleasure and joy I take in blogging goes out the window on Fridays, like a miracle in reverse. Maybe it's because I've already used up the week's best ideas, or because I am distracted and impatient to get the weekend started, but I find I end up with a massive, impenetrable writer's block on Friday. By Monday, that excitement and enthusiasm are always back in full force, but on Friday, I feel like I am running on fumes. "So, write Friday's post on Thursday!", my husband declares, as if I hadn't thought of that (and failed at it) already. So my latest solution to this problem is to start a new feature: Friday Styles. These posts will feature something that I own that I think is awesome, and that I think you should probably buy, too. That way, my reasoning goes, when I'm stuck, I can just look around my apartment until I spot something to write about. Hopefully, this will also help me rediscover all the great stuff I have stashed away in my place, and remember to be grateful for it. I hope you enjoy.

Custom Needlepoint Monogrammed Loafers, $158, from By Paige.
Okay, so I know I've shown these babies before, but it was almost a year ago, and I don't think I gave them the fanfare they deserve back then, so they are making an encore appearance today. These monogrammed needlepoint loafers were a gift from my husband, a man who never met a popped collar he didn't like (a.k.a. the reigning Preppiest Man Alive). While my own fashion choices are a little more eclectic, there is something wonderfully traditional, classic and pulled-together about the Brooks Brothers set, and I absolutely adore these shoes, from By Paige. Despite being personalized and handmade (you can choose everything from the pattern - think zebra- to the colors, to the font), I think they are very reasonably priced. And they are so comfortable, that I usually slip them on whenever I am just lounging around the apartment. I know they are a little over-the-top (that's sort of the point), but to keep them from going too "costume-y", I wear them with skinny jeans, a blazer, and chunky jewelry (as opposed to Lilly Pulitzer capris). The downside is that because they are custom, they can take up to 4 months to arrive- but at least you know that a classic like these will be in style (or not, depending on your perspective) forever.

Bag That Thing Up

So, about a year ago, I wrote a post about reusable shopping bags, and, at the time, I felt like that would be my final word on the subject. I thought I knew all there was to know, and that I really delved deep in my analysis. Looking back now, though, I can laugh at my own foolishness; my folly and my naivete. It's hard to believe that the girl who wrote that post is even the same person who writes this one. A lot of things happened in 2009 - just think, a year ago, Jon & Kate were still going strong, we'd never seen Lady Gaga wear this hat, and Snookie and The Situation were strangers to us. It's hard to imagine. And, personally, I've grown up a lot: I'm a little older, a little wiser... I became an aunt and a dog-parent, I endured a 26.2 painful miles in self-contemplation, I learned all the lyrics to the girl part of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and how to wallpaper. Big stuff.
But, perhaps most importantly, I discovered these awesome reusable shopping bags from Flip & Tumble. The bags are huge, made out of washable ripstop nylon, can hold 25 lbs, have a strap that stays on your shoulder, and, like magic, they roll up into themselves to form a small (smaller than a peach) ball. I have stashed one in all my handbags, and even in some of my coat pockets, so I always have one with me. And, as a result, I find myself using them every single day. And they're cheap (okay, not cheap, but reasonable)! Just $9, or $8, if you buy three or more (which you should, because they're awesome). Who knows what 2010 holds in store for us, but whatever it is, I know one thing: It's in the bag.

Travel Tip #004: Scarf Tactics

I know I have mentioned this before, but some things are so genius they bear repeating. And that's definitely how I feel about this travel tip, which has proven essential to my happiness and general well-being on more than one occasion. Whenever I travel anywhere - be it by airplane, train, bus, or car - I always wear an oversize Pashmina-style wrap as a scarf around my neck. In addition to keeping my neck warm and being a cute accessory with casual clothes, and serving as a wrap with dressier outfits, it also serves a multitude of other functions in my travels. They are big enough to spread out over yourself and use as a warm blanket (beats those static-y fleece numbers the airline may or may not provide) or wad up and use as a pillow. In a pinch, I have used one as a towel, a picnic blanket, a mop, and a beach cover-up, and I've even tied one around my waist to cover up a massive coffee spill on the front of my pants (Gwyneth Paltrow once famously did the same thing to cover her derriere when her leather pants split a seam on a red carpet).
Depending on the blend of the fabric, most of them are machine washable (just don't put them in the dryer!), so you can use them to death without fear of dry-cleaning repercussions. I buy inexpensive wraps in every color in bulk from the street vendors who peddle them on every corner in Manhattan, so when they get truly filthy, I don't feel guilty and can easily replace them. But if you want to invest in something a little more special, all of these options are lovely, versatile, and durable. There, now all your travel problems are all wrapped up.

Top left: Gray Love Quotes wrap scarf, $78, from Zappos.com; top right: Crinkle jersey wrap scarf, $39, from J.Jill; bottom left: Lightweight cashmere scarves, $49 each, from Restoration Hardware; bottom right: White fringed wrap, $13, from Overstock.com.

Tiny Bubbles

There are a lot of pros and cons about living in a fifth floor walk-up. For example: my butt has never looked better (pro). On the other hand, we have gone whole weekends using paper towels in the bathroom, because we were out of toilet paper and too lazy to go out just for that (con). And not all of my reasoning is butt-related. JM and I both drink a lot of seltzer water, which, it turns out, really starts to weigh a lot when you take it above ground level. Not to mention the bi-weekly lugging of the empty bottles down the stairs on recycling day. I was starting to get freaky Madonna arms from all that heavy-lifting, when my brother and sister-in-law took pity on me and bought us a SodaStream seltzer maker ($100-200) for my birthday last year. This cute, ingenious gadget is shaped like a penguin and turns ordinary, boring old tap water into delicious, sparkly, festive seltzer water with the push of a button, er, rather, beak. It also comes with a bunch of syrups and flavorings so you can make your own colas and sodas, if that's your thing. Unlike bottled "club soda", the SodaStream seltzer has barely any sodium or additives (it's literally just whatever is in your tap water), so it's hydrating and as good for you as drinking water- but so much more fun!
The maker comes with a canisters of CO2 which carbonates the water. When the canisters run out, they can be exchanged for new, full ones at a retailer near you, or by sending them in (we've had our seltzer maker since June, and have only gone through three canisters). They also come with 1-liter glass carafes, which are machine washable, totally hygienic, and can be re-used forever, so they're good for the environment, too. Plus, they lend your seltzer a really classy vibe. So invest in one and enjoy a little bit of the bubbly.

Abracadinner!

Working from home is not always easy. I mean, my life is pretty easy, but actually getting work done at home can be difficult. There are always dishes and laundry to be washed, a dog to be walked, a run I'm putting off, and a million random household or work projects calling my name. You might think that, being home all day, the days would just drag on and on for me (and I admit that was a concern for me when I left my full-time job) but it turns out that couldn't be further from the truth. By the time I get all those things checked off my list, eat something for lunch (like today's overly-toasted hamburger bun bottom) and post to the blog, I'm stunned to realize my husband's workday is almost over, and I have to quickly clean up the mess I inevitably made with that day's project and come up with something quick to make for dinner. Sometimes, I can't even get it all done in time, and things slip through the cracks - like that run. Or showering. Or, today, getting my blog post up before 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Luckily, I have discovered some really wonderful products that help make it a snap to throw together delicious, nutritious dinners in short time (sparing my poor husband from whatever other nonsense I might dig out of the fridge). Here are three wonderful products that I always keep stocked in the fridge or cabinets for those last-minute meals. They beat charred mateless bread products by a long shot.

Near East Couscous and Rice Pilaf: I am a huge fan of this whole line of products and we eat them all. My absolute favorites, though, are the Parmesan Couscous and Original Rice Pilaf. Both are great as a side to any chicken, fish, or meat and can be whipped up in a snap.

Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce: I mourn the years I wasted cooking with supermarket-brand tomato sauce, before I knew about this stuff. It's a little more expensive, but it's completely all-natural and fresh and galaxies better than any other jarred tomato sauce I have ever tasted. Lightyears better. (Here's a tip: buy it at Whole Foods; it's about $2 cheaper there than anywhere else). In a pinch, I chop up whatever veggies are in the fridge, mix them with this sauce and spoon it over couscous or pasta. Or I use it to whip up this rustic eggy deliciousness. Yum.

Soy Vay: I love these sauces- no freaky preservatives or junk, and so tasty. I use the Island Teriyaki to quickly marinate chicken or fish before throwing it in the oven or on the grill for 10 minutes. Voila- dinner is ready (even if I never am)!

Jammin' Jammies

Sure, there are evenings that call for silky negligee, or old, worn-in, sweatpants and an oversize t-shirt, but ever since I saw Claudette Colbert win over Clark Gable while sporting them in It Happened One Night, I have viewed crisp, classic, cotton pajamas to be the height of sleepwear. They are charming at the Sunday breakfast table, totally appropriate for middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom during visits to the in-laws, and not embarrassing if you ever have to evacuate your hotel room due to an overactive fire alarm. And, I promise, for many men, they are just as alluring on you as some silly scratchy-lace teddy contraption. I insist on 100 percent cotton -- flannel is too hot for me and silk is too slippery -- and for sleeping, my taste runs to subtle, soft whites and blues (although almost all of the options shown below are available in bolder colors and patterns if you insist on sporting cheetah-print while you slumber). But no matter which ones you choose you will be comfortable, cute, and subtly sexy for whatever happens one night.

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left to right: Liberty print pjs, $234, from Bed Head; Classic blue-stripe men's pajamas, $79.50, from Brooks Brothers; Cotton stripes pjs, $39, from Victoria's Secret; "Lauren" floral-print pajama set, $64, from Pine Cone Hill; Donna Nadeau white cotton pajamas, on sale for $33, from Nordstrom.com; Camisole pajama set, $149, from Eberjey.

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Left to right: Classic (very soft) Derek Rose men's cotton pjs, on sale for $104, from Sierra Trading Post; White "Mumbai" pajamas, on sale for $120, from Natori; Oscar de la Renta stretch cotton pjs, $190, from Saks Fifth Avenue; Mandarin-collar "Madeline" pjs, $75, from Pine Cone Hill; Classic stripe pajamas, by Lauren from Ralph Lauren, $82, from Nordstrom.com.

Hanky Panky

Of all of the "outdated" items that are making a comeback these days, the last one you might expect is the handkerchief. Mention the idea of a hanky to a lot of people, and it will inspire disgusted memories of infrequently-washed loogie-filled rags carried around in a great-uncle's pocket. But with the trend towards green living, suddenly new, attractive hankies are showing up everywhere. And if you can look past the "snot factor," they are actually really useful and functional objects. I carry hankies around in my purse all the time- not for nose-blowing (I have tissues for that), but because they are great for a million other uses, from cleaning up spills to wiping off my sunglasses or camera lens to drying my hands in public restrooms. Once you put one in your pocket, you'll be amazed at all the ways you find yourself using it. So get hip to the hanky.

For cute hankies, check out these sites:
Atishoo
Hank and Cheef
Elegant Linens
Giftwagon
Ebay (for pretty vintage ones!)
Happy Hanky

P.S. Sorry I missed last Friday's post- now it can be told that we were on vacation last week. Haha- I outsmarted you, Twitter-and-blog-reading house-robbers!

Tools Rule

If this blog had a mission statement, it would be "to encourage and guide people to try out doing homey things for themselves, instead of paying someone else big bucks to do it." Be it roasting a chicken or hanging a chandelier, there is nothing more rewarding and fun than learning how to do something new, and finding it surprisingly simple. However, even if you are one of those wimps who won't even touch the circuit box, you need a basic set of tools if you are going to accomplish anything. I'm not suggesting you go out and buy a table saw, but you aren't even going to be able to hang a picture frame properly without a hammer, a measuring tape, and a level. I mean I suppose you could always bang a nail into the wall with a rock or something, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Luckily, I have scouted out some cute, simple and functional tool kits to get you started on your do-it-yourself-ing. And they are all-inclusive and pre-packed in cute little containers that you can stow under the sink.

And in case you are one of those intrepid souls for whom the act of walking into a hardware store does not inspire a fit of hives, here is a list of essential tools you can buy a la carte. I pack mine in a cute vintage-looking canvas-and-leather bag, that is so cute I'm sometimes tempted to carry it as a purse. Because if this blog had a motto it would be "you can be into tools and be girly too".

Hammer
Crobar
Needlenose Pliers
Regular Pliers
Screwdrivers (Phillips head, and flat head)
Tape Measure
Utility Knife
Level
Adjustable Wrench
Miter Saw

30-piece Pink Tool Kit, $79, from Little Pink Tools (all proceeds go to breast cancer research); Orange 15-piece "Fixa" tool Kit, $8, from Ikea; Barbara K! Blue 30-piece kit, $49, from Country Curtains; Klein Tool Bag (this is the one I have), $65, from Ace Tool Online.

Rich in Rags

I'll admit at the outset that this is not likely to be my most stimulating post of all time. I mean, I'll do my best to employ the gifts of florid prose and rapier wit with which I have been endowed, but just how exciting can a post about dishrags be?
Here at my parents house, there have always been several drawers chock-a-block full of rags of every variety, from pristine waffled dish towels to ripped up old t-shirts. But I've noticed that in more modern households, people seem to replace rags with paper towels, which are less absorbent and gentle, and so much more wasteful (even though they're better, don't fool yourself with those Seventh Generation ones- just 'cause they're brown doesn't mean that they're green).
It's time to load up on rags- quite possibly the most versatile and reusable household tool you can buy. Here are the ragtag kinds that I use:

Williams-Sonoma striped dish towels, $16 for a set of 8. Perfect for drying plates and glasses without linty residue. Or tuck one in your apron while you're cooking to serve as an impromptu potholder or non-slip base for a cutting board. As an added bonus you'll look so sharp and chef-y.




ProForce Terry Towels, about $20 for 60, from Sam's Club, Costco, or AllmartShopping.com. You'll want to buy these suckers in bulk- I bought one pack at Costco when I first moved to New York six years ago and I still use the same ones every day. They are perfect for sopping up spills, wiping off countertops, dusting, drying off dogs, strapping to your feet to dry a mopped floor... pretty much anything you can think of. And they're cheap enough to use for cleaning up paint and stain spills and other messy home improvement projects. A real rag of tricks.

Can't Live Without...Sunscreen

Today I am headed west to California for the week to visit my family and friends, and to escape the rainiest June in New York history (and hopefully to pan for some gold- or rather tan for golden sun-kissed skin. Okay, even I know that was a really bad pun- looks like we both need to up our Pun Protection Factor!) While my illicit love affair with tanning has been well documented on this blog, I have been resistant to offering actual tanning advice, lest I become a bad influence on you people (artery-clogging burgers not withstanding). However, as bad as my bronzing habit can be, even I wear sunscreen when I am at the beach or by a pool. I admit that it's typically SPF 4, but still. In a case of do-as-I-say-not-as-I-tan, I am going to recommend my favorite sunscreen (and over the years I have tried them all)- good old Coppertone. Not the spray kind, or the Sport kind, or the pink kind for kids- the classic that comes in the white or brown bottle ($10, available from any drugstore or drugstore.com). It's light on your skin and rubs in like a really nice moisturizer, not too thick or sticky. And it's not greasy at all, but it's waterproof and will last all day (although you should reapply anyway, she said hypocritically). But the best part of all is the heavenly smell- it doesn't smell like fake bananas or coconut- it just smells exactly like summer. I would bottle it and wear it as perfume, I love it so much. Now, if only it came in SPF 2...

Can't Live Without...Hairspray

I am blessed/cursed (depending on what day you ask me) with arrow-straight, thick, slippery hair. Most of the time, it's great knowing that, no matter the weather, whether I blow-dry or use "product" or not, my hair is pretty much going to look exactly the same. For years, I paid insane amounts of money on haircuts (living in New York, you get convinced that that's normal), only to look back at photos and realize I couldn't see a difference in any of them (the one exception being a weather-girl bob I sported my senior year of college, which wasn't a good kind of different). The real downside to my particular hair-type is that it takes nothing short of a miracle to style it. If I want to do anything fancier than a ponytail (and, even then, only certain rubber bands will grip my hair enough to stay put), I have to seriously call in the big guns. So, a couple of years ago, when I discovered a big gun hairspray that actually holds a curl in my hair, it was as if a ray of light shined down from on high and a chorus of angels sang out. Hallelujah, Redken Forceful 23 Super Finishing Spray, $12.25 from Amazon.com. Somehow, this stuff holds my hair like super-glue without making it seem helmet-y or stiff. Now, curls stay in my hair longer than it takes to actually curl my hair. Whether you suffer from my particular hair affliction, or another (everybody's got something), the whole line of products is dynamite.

When I have to travel (usually to a wedding) and I can't pack my Redken (my husband doesn't accept "But I need my hairspray!" as a good-enough reason to check a bag), I bring along Tresemmé Super Hold Hair Spray, about $1, which is available at pretty much any drugstore. I like that it's non-aerosol (the pressurized aerosol cans always leak all over my bag on a plane), I have to layer it on like I'm trying out as an extra on "Dynasty", but it actually works pretty darn well. My curls might not make it all the way through the last dance, but they're usually still going strong for the "I dos".

Tip: if your hairspray nozzle sprayer thing gets clogged (mine always does), just run it under warm water for a few moments. Works every time.

Egg-stra Extra!

I'm a sucker for a functional kitchen gadget, but my Manhattan-sized (that's a nice way of saying minuscule) kitchen simply can't accommodate every asparagus peeler and Bacon Genie™ that catches my eye. I keep a handle on my impulses with a rule of thumb that I can't buy anything that only does ONE thing (the one exception to this is the coffee maker, the necessity of which is not up for discussion).

So when a majestic hard-boiled egg slicer showed up in my lunchtime chopped salad joint, I was faced will competing drives: the one that likes being able to open my kitchen drawers, and the one that wanted a hard-boiled egg slicer NOW. Luckily, I soon learned that this little seemingly-superfluous dynamo actually slices a lot of things: mushrooms, strawberries, and mozzarella bocconcini and goat cheese, to name a few. Because it slices with sharp wires instead of blades, food doesn't stick to it, and all the slices are perfectly even. I mean, I'm not throwing out my knife set (let's not overstate the abilities of this sucker), but as far as gadgets go, it's a winner. Unlike, say, the LushLife apple shot glass carver.





Stainless Steel Egg Slicer,$13, from Amazon.com














top photo credit: Real Simple