Once again, it’s time for my and Ashley’s favorite things…
1. Shur-Line Pro Edger – We used this a lot when we painted all of the rooms in our house. It proved to be especially helpful when we had to paint along window, door, and baseboard moldings. Just be sure not to let paint get on the guides and you’ll have nice, crisp lines on every edge.
2. iCade- I love retro games, and I love my iPad, but the touch screen controls often leave something to be desired. While I’m not a huge fan of iAccessories most of the time, this is officially the best way to play classic Atari games on your iPad. Just be forewarned: the Atari’s Greatest Hits app uses in-app payments, but you can all the games for about $10. Not a bad deal, considering the Atari 2600 cost $199 when it first arrived on the shelves in the late 70′s.
3. Mythbusters – I couldn’t live without the Discovery Channel. It’s one of the few reasons I don’t just cancel my cable TV service and go internet streaming-only. Mythbusters is why I started watching the Discovery Channel to begin with, and I’d argue it’s still one of the best (if not the best) on television.
4. Bucky Cubes – Like Bucky Balls, but with more flat sides. I’m still waiting for my loving wife to get the hint and get me a set of these!
5. Geek Pocket Watch- I’m not much of a pocket watch guy, but if I was, I would have to get this one. You can’t tell it from the tiny picture here, but instead of the usual 1 through 12, it shows equations that work out to the standard numbers. This would be a great gift for all the math geeks in your life!
6. Siberia V2 Headset – It’s no secret that I’m a bit of a gamer, so a good headset is essential. After spending several years with the previous version of these headphones, I decided it was time to upgrade. The integrated microphone and closed-back design are welcome improvements, and they’re just as comfortable as my old pair. In my opinion, this is one of the best gaming headsets you can find for under $100.
1. Taza Pillow from Crate & Barrel – I’ve been searching for pillows for our current sofa for months. We want to get a new couch in the future (read more about that here), but with all of the projects going on, it will probably be a while. In the meantime, we need some pillows that will match the gray walls and the beige sofa, and these are at the top of my list. Gotta love Ikat!
2. Barefoot Contessa Harvest Pumpkin Butter- If you like apple butter and you like pumpkin pie, then you will love this Harvest Pumpkin Butter! It’s so yummy in the fall! You can put it on anything from pancakes or waffles to English muffins or biscuits.
3. Thanksgiving Bingo Place Cards- Even though we aren’t hosting Thanksgiving this year (you kind of have to have a kitchen in order to do that!), I went ahead and picked up a few packs of these Bingo Place Cards for next year. It will go perfectly with the vintage-inspired table I have envisioned. Yes, I’m thinking way ahead.
4. Burt’s Bees Lip Balm in Honeysuckle – I picked this up on an impulse buy at Walgreen’s a few weeks ago. The color ended up being perfect (a very light, nude color) and it delivers a great amount of hydration. It definitely earned a spot in to my “favorite lip gloss collection”. Yay for impulse buys!
5. Rachel Ray Stainless Steel Cookware – Now that the kitchen is getting closer and closer to being DONE, I’m so anxious to get cooking! I purchased this set of cookware shortly before we packed up the apartment (though I don’t think Crate & Barrel still carries it!), and I miss it so much! I cannot wait to unpack it and put every piece to good use.
6. White Christmas by Yankee Candle – Last year, I was told the White Christmas line at Yankee Candle was discontinued. But now, it’s miraculously reappeared – only with a different label. Now that it’s back, I’m even more excited to decorate for Christmas. Is the first week of November too early to start? ; )
Happy October, everyone! The weather is getting cooler, the leaves will soon start changing, and before you know it, we’ll be sitting down for a big Thanksgiving dinner. So let’s get started with this month’s favorite things…
1. Hoodies – Warning: This is going to sound very un-manly. I love hoodies. They’re a bit too casual for work, but I try to wear one whenever I can during my off-time this time of year. I’m super-excited that the weather has cooled down to the point where I can wear one without looking crazy. It was in the 50′s last night! Bring on the cold weather!
2. Our Local Farmers’ Market – I know, I know. I’m a little late in the year to be talking about this, but I only just recently discovered the joy of our local farmers’ market. Ashley has been going there all her life, but after a year of living in the area, I’d never been. That problem was rectified last month, and now I’m hooked. Eating apples, peaches, and other produce that I know was just picked by a local farmer is a great feeling, and everything tastes better, too! Every few days since we first went, I’ve been going back to replenish my stock of fruits and veggies. I’m already looking forward to next year when I can take full advantage of the entire harvest season.
3. SplashTop for iPad – I love this app. Sure, it lets you remote control your computer, but tons of apps do that. The joy of Splashtop is if you are on the same local network, you can watch Flash videos in real time! It really does feel like you’ve got your whole computer on your iPad while you’re using it. Of course, movies and such don’t work quite as well over 3G, but you can still remote control your PC or Mac remotely over the airwaves. This is my new go-to app for remote-controlling my personal computers, and I don’t see myself changing anytime soon.
4. Husky Screwdriver – This is one of those things I didn’t know I couldn’t live without. I use my Husky “tweaker” screwdriver almost every day, and it’s a lifesaver. There’s not much more to say about this. If you work on electronics or computers (or even if you don’t), you should have one of these in your tool arsenal. At $5-10, it’s a great investment.
5. Espresso Maker - You might realize by now, I’m a bit of a coffee fanatic. It’s not that I drink a ton of it, mind you. I just love a truly good cup in the morning. One thing I’ve been really hankering for lately, though, is a nice latte from home every now and then, and that’s not possible without an espresso machine. If you’ve never done any research on these steam-era marvels, you should. They’re really fascinating, and you’ll have a new appreciation for the skill it takes for your barista to pull a good shot of espresso. In the near future, I think we’ll be starting to shop around for something to scratch my espresso itch. I’ll probably start pretty small and inexpensive, but I’ll be sure to share my success (or defeat) with you guys when the time comes.
6. Rostov’s – Speaking of coffee, Rostov’s is one of the local coffee roasters in the Richmond Area. Again, we like keeping it local whenever we can. If you’ve never had a cup of coffee made with beans that were just roasted a day or so previous, you’re missing out. Whenever someone says, “I don’t like coffee,” I just reply, “You just haven’t had the right cup yet.” Rostov’s is a great place to start exploring your coffee options. They’ve got all sorts of different beans, roasts, and blends. If you find all of that a little confusing, that’s okay! I found the staff there to be extremely helpful the first time I wandered in. They helped me pick the right bean for my tastes, then offered to grind it for me right there. If you’re not in the Richmond area, just do a Google search for local coffee roasters (or, you can order Rostov’s on their website). You’ll never go back to grocery store coffee again.
Now for the birthday girl’s favorite things. I’m pretty sure she’s giving me some birthday present hints in here somewhere…
1. Twirl by Kate Spade- Even though I’m kind of a “perfume junkie”, I’m a tried and true Clinique Happy and Amazing Grace fan. I like perfume to be light, airy, not too fruity and slightly floral. In last month’s Birchbox (which I talked about in this Fave Things post), they included a sample of Twirl by Kate Spade. Let me say, I have used that little sample until there is not one molecule of perfume left! It smells SO good! I’ve noticed that the scent changes a bit by the end of the day – but in a totally good way. They decsribe it best… “the fragrance dries down to a base of luminous musks and a touch of a French macaroon—straight from the patisserie, of course.” … Yum, right?!
2. Smashbox Photo Op Eyeshadow Trio – I started using this eyeshadow in college, then switched between a few others for a while just for something different. After getting tired of those, I switched back to the Smashbox Eyeshadow (in Focal Point) and wondered why I quit using it in the first place! In short, it’s awesome for everyday and can be easily amped up with a tiny dab of water on your brush. I don’t see myself going back to the “others” anytime soon.
3. Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder- Magic. In. A. Bottle. For my hair anyways. A few sprays on the roots adds immediate volume. I also use it on the ends of my hair to add a little extra texture. It’s also slightly tinted, which makes your hair appear thicker. Overall, this is one of my new “must haves”. If you decide to try it out, make sure you get the right shade for your hair. My hair is medium brown with chunky blonde highlights, so I use the “Blondish Hair Powder” and it blends in really well!
4. White Pumpkins – Last year, I loved the idea of trading in the traditional orange pumpkins for the Martha Stewart-ish white pumpkins – or “fairytale pumpkins” as they call them around here. But this year, I’m kind of obsessed with them. Over the past few weeks, we’ve noticed a lot of the local patches, markets, and farmers selling more white pumpkins this year, and they are selling out fast! We haven’t decided what we’re going to do on our front porch yet – but I’m pretty sure at least one white pumpkin will be involved.
5. Sephora’s Beauty Insider Program – Apparently this is the month for beauty products. I’ve been a Sephora shopper for years (since 2005 according to my Beauty Insider account) and over the years I have become a huge fan of their Beauty Insider program. (It’s free to join, by the way!) With every dollar you spend, one point is added to your Beauty Bank. As you save up points, you can “cash them in” for special Insider products. (The 500-point perks are really nice!) They even have special deals and store events specifically for Beauty Insider members. Aaaaand, when your birthday rolls around, they send you a special birthday gift – for free! My birthday is coming up on Friday, and along with the order I placed last week, they sent me a bottle of Philosophy’s Vanilla Cupcake Shower Gel. How nice!
6. Mercury Canister – Another ZGallerie favorite! Ever since I did the DIY mercury glass candle votive a while back, I tend to be distracted by mercury glass items wherever I shop. I love how it can add a little bit of subtle “bling” to a any room. This little canister would be cute paired with a stack of books and a small vase of flowers. Love it!
7. Real Simple Wall Organizer – I picked up this Real Simple dry erase weekly wall organizer the other day at Target. We’ve only used it for a few days, but we already love it! We hung it on the side of the fridge and it has proved to be really useful. It’s not too big and bulky to take up a bunch of room, but it’s the perfect space for Greg and me to keep track of our weekly happenings and major to-do’s. And it has a nice, linen frame that you usually don’t find with the “norm” wipe-off calendars. Yay for pretty organization!
How about you? Do you have any current favorites? Leave a comment and share them with us…
Happy September everyone! This month, we’ve got a big mish-mash of all sorts of awesome stuff that we’ve come across. From time/space machines to popcorn, iPhone covers to nail polish, here is our newest bunch of favorite things:
1. Georgia Brown Plectrum Wallet- Ash and I bought a wallet that held guitar picks for my brother-in-law for Christmas a few years back, and I thought it was awesome. This wallet is a slightly different take on the same idea, and would make a great gift for any guy who needs an emergency pick every now and then. I love brown leather accessories (always have), and the white stitching on this just adds to the character of the whole thing. I’m going to have to put this on my Christmas list this year.
2. Mix Match Gourmet Popcorn: Cheese & Caramel – While we were in college (in Tennessee), Ash and I found this popcorn at the Walgreen’s next to campus. It quickly became a favorite study snack. We hadn’t been able to find it anywhere since and thought it might have been a local product or something. Last week, this long lost favorite came back into our lives when we found it at a local drug store. We’ve even got some family members hooked! If you’re thinking, “Cheese and Caramel at the same time? Ew,” you’ve obviously never tried it. This stuff is so good, it’s addicting! Also, for you adventurous types, they have a version with spicy cheddar. It, too, is amazing in its own way. Go grab a bag (or two) at your local Walgreen’s (or on the Mix Match website) for the weekend!
3. Electricity – While it’s nice to turn off the electronic devices and “rough it” for a while, I really like my refrigerator, microwave, and air conditioning; especially the fridge. I never realized how many times I go to the fridge just to grab a drink or a snack. I’m pretty sure that Ashley and I are going to be investing in a generator as soon as we can.
4. Off! Clip On Fan – When Ash and I bought these, I had my doubts about their effectiveness, but my doubts have been proven baseless. My father-in-law got a new van for his company, so we spent some time working on transferring everything from the old van to the new. However, the mosquitoes were eating us alive! These immediately came to mind, so I ran over to our house, unceremoniously unboxed them, and hung one in each of the vans. Let me tell you, these work great. After a minute or two, we didn’t even see another mosquito.
5. Netflix Streaming – Netflix streaming is great on the TiVo and my computer (despite the somewhat limited selection), but I never thought I’d get so much use out of it on my phone. However, it is quickly becoming my new favorite thing to do from time to time or while I’m coding our new site design (coming soon!). I can just grab my headphones and my phone, check out what’s on my instant queue, and watch any number of episodes from my favorite sci-fi TV shows! What’s even better is it works great over AT&T’s “4G” data network, so I don’t have to sit near a WiFi hot spot.
6. TUL Pens – I’m not completely sure what it is about these pens that is so enjoyable. Objectively, they’re nothing too special, but they write very smoothly and consistently. I’m going to grab a box of them the next time I run to the office supply store just so I can stay stocked up.
7. Doctor Who – Maybe this makes me an even bigger geek than I usually am, but I have recently been obsessed with all things Doctor Who. For those of you who don’t know, Doctor Who is the longest-running sci-fi series of all time, so it’s a pretty big deal. While I haven’t watched many of the old episodes, the reboot is absolutely phenomenal, and thanks to a combination of Netflix and xfinity on-demand streaming, I can watch every episode, from season 1 through the newest episodes in season 6. In light of my new obsession, I kinda want my own Talking TARDIS Cookie Jars (pictured above) soon.
1. Kate Spade New York iPhone Cover- Sometimes I like to change my iPhone cover as often as my clothes! My newest favorite is this one from Kate Spade. I love the colors and the charming, watercolor-esque artwork.
2. Owl Umbrella Stand- When we finally get our foyer in ship shape one day, I can totally see this little guy in there to house umbrellas. Isn’t he cute?
3. 80′s Glam Ultra Fine Sharpies – I’m a self-proclaimed Sharpie addict. I use them for everything from making lists to doodling on the margins of my notebooks. I picked up this 80′s Glam edition pack the other day and I’m loving the fun color combo.
4. Subtle Zebra Print - Lately, I’ve been loving zebra print. Not the in-your-face kind of print, but muted/subtle zebra print – like this rug from West Elm. It’s classic with a little bit of “exotic contemporary” mixed in. Love it!
5. Scrabble Slam! – I randomly bought this card game the other day when I was at Ben Franklin Crafts buying spray paint. Last night, Greg, one of our friends, and I played it, and it is now, hands down, one of our favorite games. It’s one of those games where you will find yourself saying, “Just one more round!” over and over. It’s fast paced (you can play a round in just a couple of minutes), funny, and really addicting.
6. My “Fashion Passion” Pinterest Board – Pinterest isn’t just for home decor inspiration anymore. I recently starting “pinning” fashion photos, hair styles, outfits I like and such on a separate board called “Fashion Passion”. It’s a fun place to collect things I want to try out for myself, like this hair style (pinned here, from here).
7. Only Gold For Me by OPI + Sephora – I picked this nail polish up at Sephora last week and I’m simply addicted to it. It’s very sparkly and looks great over nude/neutral nail colors. It’s not sparkly like “I’m in 8th grade” sparkly. It’s more like… “sophisticated glam”… which is awesome.
