Bach for Book Lovers CD
There’s studies and brilliant, successful people who swear that classical music helps them think better and work harder. And a part of me believed this but a bigger part was always really annoyed by a lot of classical stations and CD’s. It ain’t all nice. Ever been in a quiet state and then hear timpanies crashing? Or styles being changed up when you don’t want it to? Sometimes, it’s just plain hard to get into a groove to classical.
That’s why I love these CD series - especially the Bach for Book Lovers (although Mozart at Midnight is a close second). This CD is a wonderful companion whilst writing articles - when I need to concentrate on my work but need a little something to help me along. It’s soothing yet energising. All the songs are the same style which means no drums are going to crash you out of your zone.
BUY AT: Amazon
Bee House Teapots
Generally a day doesn’t go by that I don’t have tea; it gets me up in the morning, it gives me a kick in the afternoon and it comforts me just before bed. I’m extraordinarily picky about my tea and how it’s made so finding the perfect tea pot has been a trial by a lot of errors process.
One of my favourites (and the one I’ve only been using the past several months) is the Bee House 15oz Tea Pot. I love this pot because it’s small, cute, and beautiful but also because it has it’s own stainless steel infusers that fits in nicely (and removes just as nice) and also because the lid can easily come off, stay open, or close shut. It retains heat wonderfully without having the handle get scolding hot. And the best part? No drips!
With summer coming up, I just purchased the 45oz Teapot in a beautiful green which is perfect for Ice Tea (brewing, storing, serving). Both pots clean easily (either by hand or the dishwasher) and come in a variety of colours. And the smaller one goes perfect with my favourite Lily Crowned Tea Cosy.
BUY AT: Bee House Teapots
Boss of You
You may or may not know, but I’ve run a company called “Girl at Play” since 2001. My first year was hard financially and emotionally because I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew is that I wanted to do something other than work in corporate America.
I bought every book you can imagine on business and creativity but I was always left feeling either confused, overloaded, or with a sick feeling in my stomach. Why? I’m creative but I don’t do boas or write in felts. I’m not one to gush about being juicy and thinking that’s enough to get me by. But also, I’m not into a stifled work routine or learning numbers and basically feeling as though I’m in a 1, 2, 3 step business box. I couldn’t find a book that spoke to the creative entrepreneur that I was - a book that was smart, interesting, funny, understandable, helpful, doable and above all, written by people who lived what they preached.
So imagine how happy I was to discover that two talented, amazing, wonderful, smart, business savvy ladies that I know were writing a book called, The Boss of You. Emira Mears and Lauren Bacon are the perfect people to write the perfect business book because they run a successful graphic design business and know what it takes to start a company, maintain and grow it, enjoy it and deal with everything that comes your way when you are the boss of you. And they know how to do it with style, grace, humour, attention and smarts.
They don’t talk down, it’s not a “womens” book with silly tricks that don’t work but tips, ideas, and lessons learned that are extraordinarily useful, practical and simple. I only wish I had this book when I first started - it would have saved me so much time and money on buying and reading other books. It also would have helped me to get to where I am faster and with far less stress.
If you’re thinking of starting a business or you’re already self-employed, I urge you to buy this book because it honestly will help you get your feet off the ground. And when you’re leaping into the world of self-employed, you need all the help you can get.
BUY AT: Amazon
Eco Align Ultra Mat
I love yoga but I have a tendency to hate yoga mats. Why? They’re either too flimsy, too skinny or made out of a whole bunch of garbage that is anything but eco-friendly. And if we’re going to be picky, the colours usually suck.
On a trip to Lulumon I discovered their eco-friendly pretty mats made out of Thermal Plastic Elastomer (a big set of words that just mean it’s made out of an environmentally green product). Basically this means no latex, PVC or toxic chemicals to inhale on your downward facing dogs!
What I also really love about this mat is that there are three alignment lines drawn on both sides which help you to keep your posture in your poses. Amd the thickness is perfect whether you’re doing pilates or yoga.
Lightweight, durable, and pretty, you’ll easily be able to tote this around town or just leave it out if your practice is just in your living room.
BUY AT: Lulumon
Azna Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls
There was a time when I was addicted to those large, moist cinnamon rolls your find at that chain in malls. They were so bad in so many ways but oh so good. Had I not found out I couldn’t eat gluten, I would still be consuming those sugary, non-organic, heart attack inducing masses. I loved them so much.
It’s been a few years since I’ve had a warm, fresh cinnamon bun because I haven’t found gluten-free versions anywhere. But today I discovered Azna Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls in the freezer section at my local Whole Foods. I literally jumped for joy.
However, I’ve learned to not get my hopes up about gluten-free baked goods as most of them just aren’t good. In fact, most of them are terrible - dry, hard, tasteless. So with a mix of hope and fear, I popped my frozen roll into an oven (at 350F) for about 8min. And then, the taste test.
Let’s just say I have no need to ever miss that chain company’s roll’s. For not only are Azna’s gluten free, they’re dairy free, organic, and absolutely undeniably amazing! Moist, flavourful, with icing that is just heaven. In. Love. I am well aware it’s just a baked good but those of you with a (gluten-free) sweet tooth will understand what it’s like to find something that tastes as good - if not better - than things you’ve been without.
Even if you’re not gluten free, do yourself a favour and eat these because although they’re not packed full of vitamins, they are better for you because of the ingredient list. And also, you’re supporting a great little company (check out their site) and gluten free awareness instead of a mass commercial chain.
BUY AT: Azna Gluten Free Web Site or Whole Foods.
Supracor Spacells Facial Sponge
Every magazine and skincare expert agrees - exfoliation is good. The problem for me has been the products for exfoliating - the mitts, the scrubs, the brushes. The mitts almost always get gross or moldy from being left in the shower and they don’t travel well since they don’t dry fast. Scrubs are a mess and get expensive if you use them every day. And brushes, well the handles fly off or they hurt. So what’s a girl in need of exfoliating to do?
Pick up the Supracor Spacells Facial Sponge. I’ve heard people using it on their face but I reserve mine just for the body and it does a remarkable job which is what you need when more skin is starting to show for summer. What I love is that it’s a mitt shape so you put your hand in and start rubbing your skin in circular motions and you can actually feel a difference from the inside out.
It claims to help stimulate blood and lymph flow to eliminate toxins and promote skin regeneration. What I noticed is that it just really sloughed off the dead skin and made the new skin glow. Having sensitive skin I was concerned it might be too harsh but it’s so gentle, leaving no red marks behind. Perfect for before shaving!
It’s made from a special material that is naturally anti fungal, antibacterial and allergen free so you don’t have to worry about keep it in the shower. And because of the material it dries instantly - perfect for travel.-
BUY AT: Fred Segal
Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips in Dolly
It’s true - I don’t own lipstick. Can’t stand it; the way it looks, the way it smells, the way it lasts. I’m a pretty natural makeup wearing kind of girl so it’s mostly clear lipbalms or gloss for me. But sometimes I want a little oomph and so I turn to coloured gloss. But finding one to love has been hard because I have criteria.
No parabens, no gluten (I’m allergic, don’t want to digest), must look natural (not too shiny and goopy) and must last longer than 10 minutes. Tall order that has been hard to fill, let me tell you. But when I saw a woman with the prettiest natural lips and complimented her she said, “Honey, nothing is natural in this town (LA), it’s Bare Escentuals new glosses. Needless to say, I high tailed it to Sephora.
The Buxom Lips gloss in Dolly is a perfect match for me - a neutral pinky shade that looks like my lips just better - glossed, full without being FULL and completely natural. With no parabens or gluten it’s safe to reapply often but you don’t have to - it lasts quite a long time. And my hair doesn’t get caught in it when the wind blows nor do people stare at my ULTRA SHINY HUGE LIPS. Because they’re just regular and pretty. Perfection in a tube!
BUY AT: Sephora
Jan Marini Transformation Serum
Having sensitive, reactive skin makes finding a good anti-aging skin serum hard. I wanted something moisturising but not heavy. Something that will help lesson the aging process but won’t be harsh on my skin (no glycolics, please!). And I want something that’ll give me results fairly quickly instead of having to put my skin through a bad stage first. And I can safely say I have tried everything from prescription retinoids to every department and dermalogical store with very bad results (and wasted money).
Jan Marini is a name that I hear a lot in Hollywood - from facialists to actresses to magazines. But I held off because years ago I tried one of her creams that had acids in it and nearly burned my face off! But the Transformation Serum kept coming up as something I should try. So I finally did.
I love the dropper bottle; this makes getting the product easy and little waste. I use only a couple of drops for my entire (cleansed) face. I put it on morning followed by my SPF and in the evening just on its own. This has improved my skin greatly (even before the Clarisonic), adding moisturisation, even tone, reduced redness and clarity. My skin feels hydrated without feeling heavy or clogged.
Big price tag but a little goes a long way and for someone like me who can’t use a lot of creams, it’s worth every penny.
BUY AT: Skinstore (especially when they have their 20% off sales, like right now!)
Clarisonic
I heard about the Clarisonic when it first came out on the market but I balked at the nearly $200 price tag. Especially since I have very sensitive, reactive skin that has never done well with microdermabrasion or scrubs.
But over the next year, people I knew who had beautiful or much improved skin were raving about it. People on messageboards were raving about it. Oprah raved about it. Still, I was hesitant until months of travel had left me and my skin weary and I thought I’d give it a try and forked over the money.
Money very well spent.
Within one use I noticed a difference in my skin; clearer, fresher, smoother. I kept my receipt just in case my skin flared up in the morning or later in the week but it never happened. Instead, my skin continously kept improving - fewer blotches, dry patches, redness and no breakouts. Using this has helped me reduce my skincare regime - I just use a cleanser, serum and moisturiser. No more scrubs, no more masks, no more monthly facials. So is it worth it? I definitely think so. And if you’re not sure, buy it from a place that offers an easy return and try it out. And if you’re still nervous buy the sensitive brush attachment which is gentler on the skin. You’ll go from petting pretty to being pretty.
BUY AT: Amazon, Sephora and Nordstrom
Joshua Radin “We Were Here” CD
I’ve been in a very hectic, overloaded, somewhat chaotic state as of late (and by ‘as of late’ I mean months). I needed to slow down and just fall in-love with the world again and I needed some theme music to help me do this. Something I could play late at night whilst writing that wouldn’t be intrusive but move me along gently. And perhaps, if possible, swoon just a little.
Ingrid Michaelson’s The Way I Am worked perfectly this but I was in need of more than a 2 minute song to cancel out the craziness of two months. Searching her on iTunes lead me to her duet Sky with Joshua Radin. So I started previewing his music and adding each song to the cart - something I never do. But sure enough I had added his entire album.
The best way for me to describe is softly sweet. It’s not sickly, not syrupy. It’s not overloaded or underdone. It’s just perfectly charming, sweet music to remind me of simpler times, of prettier times and that swooning by music is indeed, possible.
BUY AT: Amazon
