Almost Wordless Wednesday: 12-12-12 Favorite Things Party
Today I'm linking up with one of my favorite blogs, 320 Sycamore, in honor of her annual "Favorite Things" link party.
In no particular order, here are twelve of my favorite things....thirteen if you count Melissa's website.
1) I don't go anywhere - not even the gym - without gliding a bit of this on. It's mandatory vanity support.
Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller, Sheer Tint
This tube of magic somehow wakes up my eyes, conceals my dark under-eye circles, and doesn't make me look like a reverse-racoon (you know - too much white around the eyes?) It's light and doesn't ever get cake-y. Bonus: this tube lasts forever! Best $10-12 dollars I've ever spent on cosmetics.
2) I know I've mentioned my MomAgenda before, but this has been the only planner/organizer in the history of planner/organizers that has ever given my life a semblance of order.
My favorite part is that below my schedule are spaces for each of my children's schedules so I can see the entire nightmare week's plan at a glance. There are only 4 spaces for my 5 kids, but I pencil in Larissa's activites where you are supposed to write your week's menu -- because honestly, how hard is it for me to forget that we'll probably be eating Pizza Hut at least two out of the 7 days??
3)
How much do I love this store? Enough that I go there at a minimum, once a week. I am an avid thrift store shopper and while I enjoy smaller stores with more unique treasures, you cannot beat Goodwill for their enormous assortment of full-retail-quality merchandise at bargain-basement prices. My Goodwill is clean, organized and easy to navigate, although I have been in some that are a little sketchy. In addition to the fact that Goodwill is often the recipient of all of Target's salvage items (Shabby Chic brand king-sized duvet - new - for $19.99?? New Merona summer wedges for $5.99??) and seasonal excess, you can find brands from Gymboree to Justice, Abercrombie to Banana Republic, all under one roof. Staple items that you can't go wrong with: Chidren's books, frames, and household decor.
4) This is kind of embarassing (and shows my age), but this is by far my favorite fragrance. Ever. I started wearing it in high school and then took a brief hiatus to pursue more lofty department store fragrances as an adult. However, neither my nose nor my wallet could ever adjust to the change and I found myself running back to Walgreen's for another bottle of the good stuff. (Only about $12.00 and located on the shelf next to...(gulp)...the Love's Baby Soft). I get compliments on my smell all the time, so I know "Skin" is legit!
5) I have a couple of friends who sell Pampered Chef so I either host a party or go to a party at least 4-5 times a year. Although I truly love all of my PC products, this has been my surprise favorite.
The Deep Covered Baker is basically made of the same material as their pizza stone, but the outside is obviously glazed. You can cook a 5lb chicken, a 4lb roast, a casserole, soup, or even dessert in this baby -- sometimes in under 30 minutes! Even better, I can cook an entire spaghetti squash in just 8 minutes. It is a fantastic invention and invaluable for those of us who wait until 4:30 in the afternoon to figure out what's for dinner. That black utensil on the right is pretty awesome too. It's called a Mix and Chop and it is fantastic for cooking ground beef, sausage, etc., especially if it's 5:25 p.m. and you are frantically trying to cook a solidly frozen block of hamburger (not that I would know from experience).
6) With 5 kids my car reeks. A lot. And often. Spilled milk, forgotten food wrappers, sports shoes/equipment. UGH. These ScentPortables from Bath & Body Works are the BEST! The fragrances are pleasant and long-lasting without being cloying or overpowering. Right now this is my favorite scent.
It now smells as if I am driving around with a freshly cut Christmas tree in my car instead of 5 kids with quesitonable hygiene habits. Since B&BW coupons and sales are plentiful and easily obtained, you can get multiples of the clip and the inserts for less than $15.00.
7) Essie Nail Polish is my favorite. If you can get over the sticker shock ($8-10), you'll enjoy the value of cool colors and long-lasting wear. My hands take a lot of abuse, but this polish remains relatively fresh for at least 10 days, which makes it worth every penny. Plus, their colors have cute names like this one..."Sand of the Beach"
8) I've also mentioned my love of Greek Gods brand Greek yogurt here before, but ahhh....I love this stuff. A dash of Kashi and some frozen berries - ta da! Breakfast! Or snack. Or dessert....
9) JC Penney
I loved nothing more than paging through the JC Penney catalog when I was a child. My mom probably bought 80% of my clothes there. Then JC Penney sort of fell off the radar...until a couple of years ago. I don't really know what compelled me to walk into one of their stores because if you'd asked me where my favorite place to shop was, Penney's wouldn't have even made the Top 50. Actually, I do know what got me into the store...their offer of free "back to school" haircuts for kids. I took the three youngest in for (great!) haircuts and couldn't help but browse the aisles afterwards. Now I have gotten kind of hooked. They have cute, quality clothing at reasonable prices, not to mention a Sephora counter. My best finds by far are in their "activewear" section - in particular the Xersion brand of clothing. Affordable, adorable, and in many cases, dead ringers for Lululemon (a super high-end, high-priced brand). Even one of my "devoted to Lulu" gym mates was fooled by these pants, which I bought for a cool $17 on Black Friday. The fleecy sweatshirt is on my "want" list.
10) This is one of my new favorite shows this season. I never really got into "The Office", but I have a massive girl crush on Mindy Kaling now that she has her own show. Witty, droll, clever. I'd like to think that in real life she would be my new BFF.
11) Speaking of TV, I'm honestly addicted to this channel.
I have no clue where my morbid fascination with true crime came from, but I daresay I'm obsessed wtih tales of murder. Thankfully that's all this channel airs - 24/7. And if I could watch it 24/7, I think I would. All I know is this...people are crazy. And scary. And willing to do just about anything to avoid a messy divorce. Also? Cyanide makes its victims smell like almonds, and antifreeze is sweet and easily hidden in Gatorade or juice. Just in case - you know - you have anyone you're thinking about doing away with. "Fatal Encounters", "Unusual Suspects" and "Deadly Women" are my top shows. I'm fairly confident I could survive any attempt on my life...but then again, I'm fairly certain that nearly everyone around me is a potential killer.
12) If you ever get invited to a Lia Sophia party, don't bother ordering anything but these:
I am not a big jewelry wearer, but these have been my go-to earrings for years whenever I need a little something to jazz things up. I wear them when I want to perk up an everyday outfit or when I want to add a little sparkle to a fancy ensemble without going over the top. I know a lot of women who own these earrings and they all agree that these are a must-own. They come in silver, too. (I have them as well).
************************************************
I love finding out what other people's favorite things are. I usually find at least two new things to test drive when I read other lists. Go check out Melissa's site today and also - let me know if there's a favorite of yours that I should know about.
In no particular order, here are twelve of my favorite things....thirteen if you count Melissa's website.
1) I don't go anywhere - not even the gym - without gliding a bit of this on. It's mandatory vanity support.
Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller, Sheer Tint
This tube of magic somehow wakes up my eyes, conceals my dark under-eye circles, and doesn't make me look like a reverse-racoon (you know - too much white around the eyes?) It's light and doesn't ever get cake-y. Bonus: this tube lasts forever! Best $10-12 dollars I've ever spent on cosmetics.
2) I know I've mentioned my MomAgenda before, but this has been the only planner/organizer in the history of planner/organizers that has ever given my life a semblance of order.
My favorite part is that below my schedule are spaces for each of my children's schedules so I can see the entire nightmare week's plan at a glance. There are only 4 spaces for my 5 kids, but I pencil in Larissa's activites where you are supposed to write your week's menu -- because honestly, how hard is it for me to forget that we'll probably be eating Pizza Hut at least two out of the 7 days??
3)
How much do I love this store? Enough that I go there at a minimum, once a week. I am an avid thrift store shopper and while I enjoy smaller stores with more unique treasures, you cannot beat Goodwill for their enormous assortment of full-retail-quality merchandise at bargain-basement prices. My Goodwill is clean, organized and easy to navigate, although I have been in some that are a little sketchy. In addition to the fact that Goodwill is often the recipient of all of Target's salvage items (Shabby Chic brand king-sized duvet - new - for $19.99?? New Merona summer wedges for $5.99??) and seasonal excess, you can find brands from Gymboree to Justice, Abercrombie to Banana Republic, all under one roof. Staple items that you can't go wrong with: Chidren's books, frames, and household decor.
4) This is kind of embarassing (and shows my age), but this is by far my favorite fragrance. Ever. I started wearing it in high school and then took a brief hiatus to pursue more lofty department store fragrances as an adult. However, neither my nose nor my wallet could ever adjust to the change and I found myself running back to Walgreen's for another bottle of the good stuff. (Only about $12.00 and located on the shelf next to...(gulp)...the Love's Baby Soft). I get compliments on my smell all the time, so I know "Skin" is legit!
5) I have a couple of friends who sell Pampered Chef so I either host a party or go to a party at least 4-5 times a year. Although I truly love all of my PC products, this has been my surprise favorite.
The Deep Covered Baker is basically made of the same material as their pizza stone, but the outside is obviously glazed. You can cook a 5lb chicken, a 4lb roast, a casserole, soup, or even dessert in this baby -- sometimes in under 30 minutes! Even better, I can cook an entire spaghetti squash in just 8 minutes. It is a fantastic invention and invaluable for those of us who wait until 4:30 in the afternoon to figure out what's for dinner. That black utensil on the right is pretty awesome too. It's called a Mix and Chop and it is fantastic for cooking ground beef, sausage, etc., especially if it's 5:25 p.m. and you are frantically trying to cook a solidly frozen block of hamburger (not that I would know from experience).
6) With 5 kids my car reeks. A lot. And often. Spilled milk, forgotten food wrappers, sports shoes/equipment. UGH. These ScentPortables from Bath & Body Works are the BEST! The fragrances are pleasant and long-lasting without being cloying or overpowering. Right now this is my favorite scent.
It now smells as if I am driving around with a freshly cut Christmas tree in my car instead of 5 kids with quesitonable hygiene habits. Since B&BW coupons and sales are plentiful and easily obtained, you can get multiples of the clip and the inserts for less than $15.00.
7) Essie Nail Polish is my favorite. If you can get over the sticker shock ($8-10), you'll enjoy the value of cool colors and long-lasting wear. My hands take a lot of abuse, but this polish remains relatively fresh for at least 10 days, which makes it worth every penny. Plus, their colors have cute names like this one..."Sand of the Beach"
8) I've also mentioned my love of Greek Gods brand Greek yogurt here before, but ahhh....I love this stuff. A dash of Kashi and some frozen berries - ta da! Breakfast! Or snack. Or dessert....
9) JC Penney
I loved nothing more than paging through the JC Penney catalog when I was a child. My mom probably bought 80% of my clothes there. Then JC Penney sort of fell off the radar...until a couple of years ago. I don't really know what compelled me to walk into one of their stores because if you'd asked me where my favorite place to shop was, Penney's wouldn't have even made the Top 50. Actually, I do know what got me into the store...their offer of free "back to school" haircuts for kids. I took the three youngest in for (great!) haircuts and couldn't help but browse the aisles afterwards. Now I have gotten kind of hooked. They have cute, quality clothing at reasonable prices, not to mention a Sephora counter. My best finds by far are in their "activewear" section - in particular the Xersion brand of clothing. Affordable, adorable, and in many cases, dead ringers for Lululemon (a super high-end, high-priced brand). Even one of my "devoted to Lulu" gym mates was fooled by these pants, which I bought for a cool $17 on Black Friday. The fleecy sweatshirt is on my "want" list.
10) This is one of my new favorite shows this season. I never really got into "The Office", but I have a massive girl crush on Mindy Kaling now that she has her own show. Witty, droll, clever. I'd like to think that in real life she would be my new BFF.
11) Speaking of TV, I'm honestly addicted to this channel.
I have no clue where my morbid fascination with true crime came from, but I daresay I'm obsessed wtih tales of murder. Thankfully that's all this channel airs - 24/7. And if I could watch it 24/7, I think I would. All I know is this...people are crazy. And scary. And willing to do just about anything to avoid a messy divorce. Also? Cyanide makes its victims smell like almonds, and antifreeze is sweet and easily hidden in Gatorade or juice. Just in case - you know - you have anyone you're thinking about doing away with. "Fatal Encounters", "Unusual Suspects" and "Deadly Women" are my top shows. I'm fairly confident I could survive any attempt on my life...but then again, I'm fairly certain that nearly everyone around me is a potential killer.
12) If you ever get invited to a Lia Sophia party, don't bother ordering anything but these:
I am not a big jewelry wearer, but these have been my go-to earrings for years whenever I need a little something to jazz things up. I wear them when I want to perk up an everyday outfit or when I want to add a little sparkle to a fancy ensemble without going over the top. I know a lot of women who own these earrings and they all agree that these are a must-own. They come in silver, too. (I have them as well).
************************************************
I love finding out what other people's favorite things are. I usually find at least two new things to test drive when I read other lists. Go check out Melissa's site today and also - let me know if there's a favorite of yours that I should know about.