Awesome!

A Butter That's Good for You

On Monday afternoon, while flipping through In Touch and alternately gossiping about what a cad Madonna is and analyzing my life, I somehow failed to hear the boarding of my plane being called, even though I was sitting 5 FEET from the ticket counter desk.  Missing my plane and being stranded in NY an extra night while my clothes were sitting in the airport in Chicago was bad enough, but on top of it, I stayed at this boy's place who only had lever bar soap!!! With no special exfoliating beads!

Imagine how excited I was, then, when I finally made it home and discovered a surprise box of samples from Maryam's Soap Nook!  I immediately slipped out of my dirty clothes and started a hot shower where I delighted the Dead Sea Salt Glow Scrub.  Afterwards, I moisurized with the Whipped Shea Manoi Body Butter, which, I shit you not, is seriously the richest, most moisturizing body cream I have ever tried.  Not only that, but the fragrance (a mix of gardenia, peach, vanilla, jasmine, coconut and musk) lasted all day and even into my evening yoga class, and trust me: that beats Lever any day!

Yummylicious

There are many smells of summer, like the ocean; burgers on the grill; Coppertone lotion, etc etc.

One smell of summer to me is the fabulous Avocado Oil lotion from Crabtree and Evelyn. It's so creamy, smells delicious and is so nice on sunned skin.

And now through June 21st you can get free standard shipping on any order over $25! Yippie!

See also: this offer for some free stuff with a purchase of some other good smelling stuff.

My baby likes sauce, your baby ain't sweet like mine.

So, seriously, what sounds sweeter or more delicious than body scrub called Self Love Body Scrub? It also sounds sort of illegal between you and me, but in the very BEST way.

And with names (flavors?) like peppermint/dark chocolate or ginger/sweet coconut you are sure to smell (and taste!) delicious.

Wow, I think I need a cold shower or something.

Hoppity Hop Hop

Easter is two weeks away and while I still don't completely understand the concept of a giant bunny who brings you a basket full of chocolate, I can always get behind giving and receiving gifts. I'm cool like that.

Harry and David has all kinds of great Easter baskets and other sweet goodness. Delivered straight to the door of the one you love! Or the one who loves chocolate.

Celebrate Jesus and chocolate and all things good! And spring! Or whatever! (have I mentioned I am not terribly religious? Oh, that's already clear? Right.)

Hop hop! It's on it's way...

Sea-Derived Skincare

It shouldn't be a surpirse that great things come from the sea -- sushi, pearls, and H2O skincare for men and women, to name a few.

Last week, I got myself all worked into a tizzy and suffered the outbreak of three pimples, which is about three more than I've had in the last year.  I needed help pronto, so I headed down to the H2O store on Michigan Avenue and picked up my favorite skincare treatment, their Sea Mineral Mud Mask, made from kaolin clay, aloe vera gel, sea fennel, and extracts of dulse, neptune kelp and gigartina.  I don't know what any of that means, really, but within two days of the first application, my skin had totally cleared up and I was decidedly more relaxed.

Now you can experience the wonders of deep-sea skincare at a great discount.  Use the promotional code 162062 to save $25 off your purchase of $100 or more from 1/20 - 3/31/06.  And if you need any help spending $100, in addition to the sea mineral mask, I also recommend the Men's Shaving Set, the microdermabrasion kit, the seaweek soak,  and all of the milk products, to name a few.  Actually, I just recommend all of it.  So, go ahead: dive in.

Pillsbury.com for smart bakers.

I am not a very smart baker. Why? Because I make everything from scratch and refuse to bake anything that comes from a box. And guess what! NO ONE KNOWS. This is totally stupid, and it's a big hassle and waste of time.

Enter Pillsbury.com, a fantastic resource for quick and playful recipes using- gasp! - frozen Pillsbury dough! Who would have thought there were so many options rolled into those little Pop'N Fresh containers? My favorite of these easy recipes is for Gingerbread Stars and it starts out with, "Open package of Pillsbury® refrigerated gingerbread cookies."

This totally beats the recipe I've been using that begins, "Plant your own ginger root and wait five years for it to mature." I seriously do not have the patience anymore, and I *really* don't think anyone's going to know.

Chocolate is love

I love love love drinking chocolate and so far I have not been able to find it in the US. All we have is stupid hot cocoa which is not nearly as good, rich or delicious. Rococo ships overseas. I think I'm in love!

Special Teas: Free shipping!

Special Teas is giving thanks for their customers this holiday season and offering free shipping on orders placed between Nov. 23 and Nov 30, 2005. They've got a myriad of teas to choose from and awesome

if you're a first time tea drinker or buyer, try the China Golden Monkey for starters or the Honeybrush Organic, and don't forget to use Priority Code: 05HSH11 when checking out!

See also: Float tea cups and lantern.

Your feet need love, too!

Okay, everyone knows that Burt's Bees lip balm is about the best thing ever, but did you know that their Coconut Foot Creme is pretty much the most amazing thing, too?  None of us wants anyone else to know about our dry, chapped, nasty feet, and now they don't have to.  Just apply some of this creme, which is rich with vegetable glycerin, coconut oil, rosemary, and peppermint, right before you go to sleep, cover with cotton socks, and wake up with the softest feet you've had in bed since...well, I won't presume to know about that.  Available online and pretty much everywhere else, including Borders Bookstores.

Ooooo, cappuccinos!

Man, oh MAN, I want this! It makes lovely cappuccinos ON YOUR STOVE! All easy peasy like!

Anyone wondering what to get me for Christmas? Look no further! Hmm, does anyone else believe in Christmas presents which we buy for ourselves?!

Thursday Plantation

I was at a bar the other night and this friend of a friend I'd just met asked if I wanted a toothpick.  Not one to turn down an offer from some random guy in a bar, I accepted.  Little did I know that it was not just any ol' toothpick.  From Australia, these Thursday Plantation "chewing sticks" are made with a little peppermint, some spearmint, cinnamon, fennel and menthol, and they are unbelievable! For anyone with an oral fixation, they're a great alternative to gum and nasty cigarettes.