Sometimes it’s the little things…

When I’m running out the door to pilates I always remember to take my water bottle or my hair rubberband: never both. I always remember my iPhone, but why can’t I have both cold fresh water and a cool neck!

Voila: problem solved! It finally occurred to me to stretch my hair band around my water bottle. That way they’re always together, and if the band gets wet, so what? It’ll dry. The hairband didn’t stretch out, but if it did, I’d just loop it around my hair one more time.

It’s the little things that make me happy…

Just like everyone else I know, one of my 2011 goals was better health: exercising more, eat healthier and sleeping better. A few days ago I saw a blurb online in the Wall Street Journal on NikeWomen’s updated online Training Club. Sounded promising: I travel a lot and having a free online personal trainer sounds like a deal to me!

So I quickly tapped into Nike.com and (with a good deal of effort that I’m saving you here) found the NikeWomen’s Training Club information. After reading through (an overcomplicated) series of information pages and sample workouts, I realized all I had to do was go to iTunes and download the app. Done.  (you must have an iPhone or iPad to use NTC).

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Serendipity: That same morning Whoopie is talking about Tupperware on The View. The deal was sealed: I had to check out Tupperware.

• First, track it down. Domestic Sluts is a London site, and their link was also in the UK
• Second, what do I need? I knew what wasn’t working, but what would clean the chaos
• Lastly, how much do I want to spend

Problem solved: Tupperware.com has the Modular Mates storage system on sale: 40% + discount! And in moi favorite blue. Bonus: they deliver.

Tupperware to the rescue! Who knew?

I’ve been a city girl for a while now. Paris, Copenhagen, New York, Chicago: they took me out of life in the ‘burbs and changed me forever:

• car? Take a bus, metro or a cab. Or better yet, just walk.
• everything can be delivered. Even waffles and frozen yogurt. 24/7.
• washing machine? The laundry service down the block picks up and delivers. And nothing is better than freshly pressed sheets from the laundry.
• garage? We had a storage unit. For only $372 per month!

With a grocery market on every corner, I’m used to picking up a bag or two of groceries every couple days. I go to the farmers market for fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs and meats, and even fish and breads. There’s always an online grocery store that delivers.

Every convenience imaginable, all for a price.

I had long conversations with my Omaha bff J about the price of groceries: how can 3 small plastic bags of groceries, with no meat, fish or cleaning products, cost $127.50? My box of favorite tea bags from the Italian deli? $12.  I became immune to to the prices: it’s the cost of living in the city. But it provided endless entertainment for Moi suburban friends. It was almost an honor: I could top any price my friends ever paid for anything.

And now, I’m living part of the year in South Florida: the home of the car and big, wide roads. So today, for the very first time, instead of shopping at a corner grocery market, I shopped at Super Target. [Read more →]

The perfect do-ahead or last-minute gift: something homemade from your kitchen. Every year I go to Omaha for a holiday bake-a-thon with moi bff J. Every year we add new recipes, reject some previous efforts, and always bake our favorites. I return home with my freezer and pantry stocked up for holiday giving, family dinners, and anytime snacking and nibbling.

For home-baked gift-giving I purchased some monogrammed gift boxes in assorted sizes from Williams-Sonoma. I bought burgundy boxes with a gold monogram in quantity, but also purchased some white boxes with spring seasons in pastel colors for summer giving. The boxes fold flat for easy storage, and with the different sizes I can easily gift 6 cookies or a whole batch of peanut brittle. [Read more →]

Only 20 More Days Til Christmas!

Christmas is right around the corner, and we have a new holiday gift idea for every day of the week. If you’re making a list, and checking it twice, here’s a holiday gift idea for everyone on your list!

click here for: 30 Gifts in 30 Days

Be sure to check back every day for a new gift idea… for someone special, or maybe a gift just for you!

Where will you be December 2 ? I’ll be waiting at the doors for the 10th Annual One of A Kind Show Chicago to open!

With over 600 vendor artists from across North America, this is the perfect opportunity for holiday shopping: and a little self-indulgent shopping too! Artisans offer every type of  personally crafted creating including: [Read more →]

If you’re like Moi shopping online is a regular event: not just on Cyber Monday. But in honor of cyber Monday I’m sharing one of my online shopping tips: ebates.com.

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Just got back from Walgreens where I bought 2 huge bags of Blue Diamond Almonds Bold Wasabi & Soy Sauce:  almost 1/2 price! Have you tried them yet? Moi traveling friend S introduced me to them a while back: I’m addicted!

Bold is a good word to describe these almonds: the strong spicy flavor is a perfect afternoon snack, and great to serve to friends with cocktails. Keep a stash in your cabinet for companies…if you can resist eating the whole bag!

Moi tip: Wasabi Soy Almonds are on sale at Walgreens thru November 20 at your local Walgreens store or at Walgreens.com. The 16oz bag is regularly $7.99: it’s on sale now for $4.99! They’re also available in purse-size 1.5 oz bags.

With all the world-wide eco-green efforts its shocking how much bottled water is still sold: and how expensive bottled water can be! On long roadtrips we’re often shocked that its cheaper to buy a huge bottle of pop than a small bottle of water: scary thought! So for our wallets and our planet we’re a fan of BYOB Water: Bring Your Own Bottled Water!

The world does not need another bottled water vendor. But apparently we do need another reusable self-filtering water bottle. I’ve had a reusable Brita water bottle for moi long walks, days on the terrace, car rides, and just for convenience in the house. You simply pour tap water into the bottle, and screw on the lid with its built-in, replaceable Brita charcoal water filter. Voila! I bought it at Target over 10 years ago, I buy the charcoal filters online, and throw the bottle and cap into the dishwasher regularly. What could be simpler!

But this week a NYTimes article on a new reusable water bottle caught my eye: The Bobble.It also has a replaceable charcoal water filter, so you can have filtered water on the go. It also comes in several sizes, and the charcoal filters are in multiple colors. Snazzy!

My Brita bottle still works great, but it triggered me to look at Brita’s website: oops, my bottle is no longer made! In fact, although I found references to Brita’s Fill and Go Water Bottle, I couldn’t actually find one for sale. I still can buy the filters on Amazon.com, so I’m good to go.

But when my old-school self-filter water bottle wears out, I’ll be shopping for The Bobble or one like it.

The Bobble and other water bottle filters are available at Bed Bath and Beyond and The Container Store.

Moi tip: self-filtering water bottles are a great Christmas gift: ecological, economical and convenient!