These Are A Few of My Favorite Things
May 13, 2009
I've seen too many gift guides floating around lately, likely because of Mother's Day, and I have to tell you: for the large part, I haven't liked much in them. Is it because I'm thrifty? Or because my taste in things varies so greatly from everyone else's? Because I'm beginning to think that it's the latter, and I can't be alone in this. In any case, here are a few things that I'm loving lately, many of which I've recently purchased:
Stackable Rings
I'm not sure at what point in this pregnancy my fingers started to swell, but wearing my beloved engagement ring and wedding bands is no longer a comfortable option. When I nearly tore my finger off trying to remove them one day, I decided to go up a size and buy something to get me through the next four months. Check out these CZ stackable rings from Target. I bought four for $16, and am wearing two on my left ring finger. They're super-sparkly, which I love, and if I lose one or a stone falls out or they start to turn green, I'll still have two left over! Score!
Modern Crib
Okay, fine. So maybe you aren't shopping for a crib, but it's taking up a large portion of my nights lately. I've been looking and looking for a modern crib in espresso, preferably one that converts into a toddler bed, and let me tell you this: modern cribs in espresso are not cheap. What up, espresso haters? Does everything have to be in cherry or white or natural? And why are there so many sleigh-style cribs? And do people really spend more than $1,000 on cribs? Because that seems like a waste of money for something that will probably be chewed on, used for only a few short years, and then sold on Craigslist for $75. (Or Best Offer.)
Lip Gloss
When it comes to lip gloss, I'm a creature of habit. I love finding a gloss that is perfect for me in color and shimmer and texture, and I'm loyal to that gloss to a fault. For the past six years, I've been wearing MAC lip glass. And frankly, I've been a bit gun shy to try anything new. Aside from Holly's Lipslick in Daring (also great in Hipster!), which is more like a balm in texture than a gloss, everything I have tried has been too gloppy or gritty or thick. It's worn off too quickly or has made my lips chap, and there's nothing more annoying than a perfect pout ruined by dry, peeling lips. So when a friend suggested I try Mary Kay's lip gloss line, I was admittedly skeptical. I've been using this lip gloss for a week now, and I think I just got served. It's perfect in shimmer, in texture, and in color. My lips look natural and feel moisturized. I've been trying three colors, but I keep coming back to one called Cream and Sugar, a perfectly nude and sparkly gloss. And this is where I'll admit it, even though I've been trying to avoid the word: my lips look downright succulent.
Cute Summery Dress, May Double As Swimsuit Cover
I have a policy about clothes, and it pretty much goes like this: it pains me to spend a lot of money on them. I think I inherited that from my mother. I could never be one of those people who spend hundreds of dollars (or, fine, even $70) on one single item, because OMG: think of how many OTHER things I could be getting. Why buy one thing when I could buy six (or three)? Unless I plan on keeping that dress, or that shirt, or those shoes, or that handbag for a loooonnnngggggg time, I just can't justify it. Which is one reason I like places like TJ Maxx, and Ross, and outlet stores. And is another reason I like this dress from Old Navy: multi-purpose! Cute! Breezy for these hot Texas summers! And less than $30! My husband, on the other hand, is just the opposite from me. He buys the best, but always manages to get killer deals. I think this is because not enough men shop, so he has an advantage over women, who are always shopping. Also, he only shops a few times a year, usually when forced by me, so his infrequent sprees and my constantly shopping throughout the year probably amortize out equally. Maybe. Or that's what I tell him, anyway.
Vacations
This is the kind of thing that Roger and I spend our money on: traveling. We love to travel, we love to explore, we love to pamper ourselves. In ten short days, we'll be flying to St. Kitts and Nevis (warning: you may want to turn down the volume before clicking on that link), where we're promised a villa with that exact view. And maybe fewer place settings. I plan to lie around on the beach, indulge in massages, eat artfully prepared food, and exploring the tiny islands' markets, sugar mills and plantations.
Home Accessories
Roger and I have love buying pieces for our home, which I would describe (when it's not being remodeled) as modern-meets-Indo-Asian. A lot of dark wood, interesting ethnic pieces, low-profile furniture, natural colors with occasional pops of color. We've pretty much furnished our home between places we've traveled and trips to ZGallerie, our favorite home decor shop. A very pretty Hindu goddess stands atop this Chiang Mai Table (ZGallerie, $24.95) in our living room, but I have a feeling that the statue will be relocated once our daughter becomes mobile.
Cute Individual Serving Dishes
I am totally coveting these cute little Au Gratin serving dishes (hint, hint, Roger: I'd prefer a set of six, please), $5.95 each at Crate and Barrel. They'd be great for au gratin potatoes, yes, but also chicken pot pies! Individual quiches! Cobblers! Souffles! (Okay, fine. I don't actually make souffle - it scares me - but maybe if I had these I would at least try.)
Deliciously Edible Hand Soap
My most favorite hand soap evah, Cucina Coriander and Olive Tree, infused with olive oil. So your hands stay soft. I love this soap for my kitchen or for my guest bathrooms, and this is why: it's not girly. It's a soap that women and men both love. Which is important to consider when you like to host parties, and the men go into your bathroom and all they find is sweet pea-scented soap or whatever else you found on sale at Bath & Body Works. This soap is deliciously fragrant, lingers delicately, and is amazingly fresh. You want this soap, you just don't know it yet.
Comments
Lip gloss!!! I'm a fanatic myself and if I can find the Mar Kay lip gloss, I'll def try it :D
Posted by: Ki | May 14, 2009 01:22 AM
OMG I am also obsessed with cribs at the moment, and I LOVE THAT ONE! We are only looking at modern cribs also, I am super tired of sleigh cribs, it would look weird in our house since everything is modern. Do you know of a store that has that crib in stock? All the ones we've found are online-online except for the Oeuf at Baby Bliss on Snider Plaza, and it's $700. Anywayz, maybe I should just email you. I am in CRIB HELL.
Posted by: Jenny B | May 14, 2009 09:07 AM
That crib is adorable and very chic. I say for things that, spend the money. You'll look at it a billion times a day and be glad you got the one you want.
Posted by: skiplovey | May 14, 2009 09:52 AM
I got an adorable crib -- highly rated from Consumer Reports -- for $279. I see NO NEED to spend a lot of money on a crib, particularly because, and this is my experience, your kid might not even SLEEP in it for a while. You don't know yet. So really, please, don't do it.
Posted by: jonniker | May 16, 2009 01:44 AM
I DO want that soap! Where can I buy some? Is it only available online? I am trying to recall what soap I have in the guest bath and I fear it may actually be sweet pea!! :)
Posted by: Amanda | May 20, 2009 10:41 AM
Just wanted to let you know that I actually received a set of those Crate and Barrel Au Gratin serving dishes as wedding gifts, and I absolutely love them! They get used all the time - french onion soup, coffee cakes, and even various casseroles invented by my husband.
Posted by: Katherin | May 23, 2009 02:02 AM