My Favorite Things 2010

I bought my first pair of Sanuks at the Bass Pro Shop in Las Vegas several years ago.  My husband and I stopped in to check out this huge new sporting goods store and we both were enamored with it.  I’m not a sports enthusiast but the store was awesome… and they had a great shoe department.  Now, I’m always on the lookout for a cool new pair of shoes.  My feet are really sensitive and I have a hard time finding shoes that are comfortable for me.  I found these flat Sanuk shoes (which really aren’t SHOES, they are SANDLES that look like shoes) and they were amazingly comfortable.  I bought a pair and basically lived in them.  Until about 2 years later when I actually wore them to death.  Then, because I really did love them so much, I bought another pair.  Of the exact same shoes.  Now that’s devotion.

I have never really been a make-up person.  I don’t like wearing it, I don’t know how to put it on right.  I always feel like I’m doing it wrong and that I end up looking silly.  I’ve always wanted to find a make-up that is easy… and natural… and looks good on me without having to try so hard.  When our local mall opened a Bare Escentuals store I thought I would give it a try.  I love the mineral based make-up and the idea that I don’t have to deal with creams and crazy oily foundations.  So, I went and had my make-up done and I really fell in love with the products.  They are so easy to put on… and I don’t ever feel like I’m wearing make-up.  They look great… and they cover all those nasty splotchy spots that we all have, but won’t ever admit.  I bought their starter kit… for only $60.  Can’t beat that, ladies.

When I was pregnant, I started getting those awful brown spots on my face.  Another of those little pregnancy perks nobody ever tells you about.  The problem was that after I was done having kids… those spots didn’t go away.  Damn spots.  I tried several different skin lightening creams to even out my skin tone and nothing worked.  Nothing.  Then, I was reading a magazine and found an ad for a cream called Acti-Fade.  I was hesitant but I never really give up trying to find something that works. It was certainly a little more pricey than I was used to but I found it online for less than retail and gave it a try.  Honestly, it is the first product I have tried that really does lighten all those brown spots.  I love it so much, I use it every day.  It’s a great moisturizer too and really makes my skin smooth all day long.
 

I found this line of jewelry a few years ago when I was selling boutique merchandise with a friend of mine.  We started a business by choosing only products that we both really loved and that we wanted to share with our friends.  Blessing Rings are fabulous inspirational pieces, not expensive, but charming and meaningful.  I wear at least one piece of Blessing Rings jewelry every single day… and my daughters love them as well.

I am definitely a magazine person.  I love reading decorating mags, beauty mags and cooking mags.  I came across “Where Women Create” while searching for craft magazines and I was hooked immediately.  This isn’t your typical magazine… it’s more like a elegant paperback book.  It is full of photos of the spaces where creative women actually “create” their products.  They can be bedrooms, offices, stores or shacks… the magazine is inspirational and makes me want to get all crafty.  When I’m stuck for ideas, I open up this magazine and am immediately inspired.

I am a book lover.  A serious reader.  I haven’t yet found the beauty of the Kindle, iReader or Nook.  I much prefer to hold a book, hardback or paperback, in my hands and feel the paper as I turn the page.  I love seeing how much I’ve read… and how much left I have to read.  The downside to books is the expense.  Luckily, I found this amazing website that lets you swap books for FREE.  You list your books that you are ready to pass on… and you search for books that you want.  The only cost involved is the postage you pay if someone requests a book from you.  Otherwise, all books you request from others are shipped to you FREE.  Try it, I’m pretty sure you’ll love it.