Some of My Favorite Things

I don’t think it’s fair for just TV stars to hype their favorite products. The stuff on TV and in the impulse buy magazines are full of ooh and aah ideas, but most of it isn’t affordable. I don’t spend $300 on slippers or $100 on a wedge of cheese shipped from a fancy fromagerie in Soho. I’m no Oprah or Nate or Today Show contributor, but I do have a list of my very own favorite things that I thought I’d share with you. 

Cover Girl Lash Exact mascara – Seriously, a drug store brand trumps the department store stuff, hands down. I have tried them all and keep coming back to Lash Exact. Bonus: No snooty overly done up mannequin will try to sell you on white head remover or a gauche lipstick color.

LL Bean Boat and Tote Bag – This is my go-to gift for teachers, friends, new parents, you name it. I recommend the long handles to make for easier toting. I’ve had my bag for almost a decade, and it has worn incredibly well. I use it to carry library books most of the time, but it’s handy to carry snacks and other essentials for long car trips too. You simply cannot go wrong with this bag, and free shipping makes it even better!

Born boots – I do not believe in sacrificing comfort for looks. I also don’t believe in sacrificing looks for comfort. This often puts me in a footwear quandary. Enter Born boots. Stylish, chic, and oh so comfy. The heel height is perfectly flattering and easy to walk in. I’ve even worn my tall black boots to walk the dog. I covet these and these and these. Oh, and these. You are aware of my boot problem, right?

Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s – O.M.G. Your mouth hasn’t experienced goodness until you have eaten these. They are sadly only available for a limited time during the holidays so stock up. Bonus: The ones covered in chocolate are totally worth the calories. I buy a few boxes for my own private stash. I mean let’s be honest, if Mommy doesn’t get her chocolate fix, the whole family suffers.

Cake stands – This one might seem strange, but I love a lovely cake stand. I don’t even bake cake very often, but a cake stand is so versatile. I have one on my kitchen table right now with some gourds stacked on top. I had one next to the stove with an assortment of all the basics I reach for when cooking – olive oil, salt, pepper, sesame oil. You can pile a couple stands on top of each other and, voila, cupcake display or finger food extravaganza. Use a cake stand to stack tortillas on top, hold condiments, or place a few mini vases with fresh flowers for a fetching display. A cake stand makes a fine perch for a wedge of cheese and some grapes. There are tons of cute cake stands to be found everywhere from Etsy to flea markets to Target.

Busy Body Book – I might play the role of Digital Girl online, but at heart, I still love paper. After years of using a digital calendar, I reverted to paper. I like the tactical feel of crossing things off my to-do list, and I like to flip through the pages of a calendar. I was a love em and leave em kind of calendar girl, but the Busy Body Book made me find a steady date. The size and layout are perfect for my needs. I love that there’s a column for me, Mac Daddy, and Bird and Deal. At a glance I can see what we all have going on. There’s room for notes and doodads too.

Cocktail Napkins – I might have a bit of a an obsession. I love cocktail napkins and buy them whenever I see a steal. There are holiday napkins, natch. I also have Democratic donkey napkins for election cocktail parties. I have seasonal colors, clever sayings, and mongrammed napkins. I buy them as hostess gifts and stocking stuffers. I tuck a colorful cocktail napkin into the boys’ lunchboxes and always have them on hand for snacks and munchies for friends who pop over. Did I mention we are pop over people? People actually take us up on this so it’s essential to keep a stash of cocktail napkins. At least that’s what I tell myself.

So tell me, what do you love?