This is your corner of the universe and I love that you share your product endorsements with us! I would NEVER have purchased the SWS yarn and now I fear I am a wee bit obsessed with it. Anyone that doesn't like it can just not read it. Nyah.

LOVE L'Occitane - the Immortelle Skin Brightening Polish is fantastic and gets me sooo many compliments, definitely worth the splurge. I'll have to try out the two items you've mentioned as well.

I loved The Perfect Storm, too. (Have you ever seen Sebastian Junger?) The movie, not so much. Also, Magic Eraser. Thanks for the other tips but I will have to pass on the tacos as it's a long way to go from Marietta, Ga. I'll just haev to settle for Taco Mac.

In the spirit of sharing: Swallow casein knitting needles. I love, love, love these and can't say enough good things about them. Casein is milk protein, and Swallow makes these needles in a lovely tortoiseshell look that harms no tortoises at all. The needles are flexible, strong, smooth, quiet, and pretty, and are my absolute favorites whether I'm working with cotton, wool, or something else.

I got mine at the Slipt Stitch in El Segundo, but they are also available online in the US from jklneedles.com. The company which makes them is in Australia and you can read about them here: http://www.arnos.com.au/swallow/home.html

bare escentuals face powder makeup rocks.

and i second Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

sally hansen "Salon" nail polish; doesnt chip and comes in all the colors i like. although those are only out for a limited time, of course.

i love mr. clean and his magic eraser! i just had to move offices last week at work and the "new" walls were awful... so i scrubbed them down with a couple of erasers and now things are much, much better. well, that and a couple of large posters didn't hurt.

thanks for sharing happy stuff! now i want almonds in many forms -- to eat and to shower with!

keep up the awesome blogging -- love it :)

I get a lot of compliments for wearing Fresh's Cannabis Santal perfume. It makes me happy.

I love Zappo's.

And, well, my favorite TV show makes me happy. Heroes. So good.

Just a few of my favorite things.

And now I have to go out and buy lipstick, thank to you. You are not helping me cut down on the non-survival purchases, here...

Amanda, it takes a while to get used to the more dry (and LONG lasting!!) effects of that lipstick but to me it is so worth it. What I have learned thus far: definitely make sure you have removed it all before re-applying, or it flakes. Also, don't forget you're wearing lipcolor and accidentally put Carmex on because the color will flake off too.

But I have become addicted to this... without lipstick I look so washed out and icky. This stays on ALL DAY, even through lunch, never leaves the icky ring on the mug, and doesn't kiss off on your kissee. I have put lipstick on at night for a date and still had pretty, tinted lips the next morning! crazy!

Sometimes I swear we were seperated at birth! Deadliest Catch ROCKS. I Love Sig. I sometimes talk about the crews from Deadliest Catch as if I personally know them. I want to become the cook on Sigs boat. I must go now....I have some daydreaming to do.

I LOVE watching "Deadliest Catch"!!! There is just something so majestic about the ocean.

Newfoundland and Labrador. Also on the cold Atlantic, full of hot fishermen, icebergs and the largest inland harbour in the world (St John's Harbour). A trip to Newfoundland will net you more new friends and friendly faces than you ever thought imaginable. Also home of the Thrum Mitten.

I get my geek on with Mythbusters. An urban myth not panning out? Try black powder, dynamite or C4! Yeehaw!! Oops, that might be my inner redneck rather than my inner geek.

My favourite thing to own would have to be Magnetix. Keeps the children and cats (sometimes me too) occupied. Also catboxes with lids. Because one of my cats would stand on the edge of the box and poop on the outside of it. Now, he can't.

Amanda? Lipstick IS a survival purchase.

Laurie, I don't see it as "free advertising." I see it as "being helpy." I love hearing about great products from friends and I love telling people about terrific discoveries.

Now, if I could just get Zappos' great customer service to deliver cat litter in handy-dandy 55 gallon drums, my happiness would be complete. (I did do a little research and learned that amazon.com WILL deliver my cats' favorite brand of litter, but with the delivery charges it's twice as expensive as when I buy it at Target... hmmmm, Target might be Best Retailer Ever.)

Delurking here to comment. I have been reading your blog for months, and can sooooo relate!

I too like to share my "finds". Just this week, I recommended Activia Yogurt to my friends. Well, you can imagine they said TMI !! But, I love it!

I consider your site as another one of my "finds" that I've had to share with friends. Looking forward to your book.

Jill, I had to find a PetSmart (there's one in Woodland Hills) because I had the same issue, it was like $80 to deliver the cat litter! Now I go there and stock up regularly.

What a great column...how very wonderful. OK, my post-it notes are at the ready and I'll use my noon hour to buy things to make me HAPPY. Lipstick and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser first. I love to clean...and I put on lipstick all day long and it comes off all day long.

Oh yeah...cool blustery windy places are dreamy. I read 'Sensible Kate' as a kid all about a northern california coast town with boats and storms and seagulls...great stuff.

I love Formula 409 by Clorox; kitchen surfaces get a very cool clean quiet sheen thing going on with that stuff. I feel very kitchen-succesful with 409.

Hi P! Ooooh, what is Activa yogurt? does it do something helpy to your insides? I love to get my healthfreak on with foodstuffs...

Hi! First time reading your blog. I love the way you write - very easy to read. I will definitely have to check out your up-coming book!

LIke some others said, I don't see it as "free advertising." It is simply sharing your love of these product to your friends. That's what half of "advertising" is anyway - word of mouth! :-) I would have to say that the thing that changed my world (and my kitties world) is the electric cat box. No smell, very little clean up - only have to dump the holding container every three to four days! :-) I love it! :-) Cheers!

Oh, I am so with you! I love my Magic Eraser and just about anything that come out of L'Occitane, especially their candles.
Since peace amoung the feline inhabitants is so important to domestic felicity, I thought you might want to know of one of the products that my felines love - the Drinkwell Water Fountain (http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-Pet-Fountain-for-Cats/dp/B00063446M). It gives them clean water 24x7 and I swear one of my cats thinks it's her personal spa - she spends hours each day lounging next to it. Plus, I think the gurgling water sound is very pleasent. :-)

Okay, so that's my husband's favorite T.V. show EVER! And awhile back, they ran a marathon...nothing but deadliest catch all day long. Me, I get a bit sea sick watching the waves on the T.V. but that's where I just focus on my knitting and don't look up. You've inspired me to make a happy list...

I *LOVE* L'Occitane's Almond Shower Oil!!!!!!!!! I love all their products, but that is probably numero uno.

My husband does not understand my fascination with Deadliest Catch. And nor do I, quite frankly. I grew up in the Midwest, among rolling fields and certainly not anywhere near a raging sea. I think that I went to college in Duluth, Minnesota, because of Lake Superior. Seriously. Oh, and spent a semester on the rugged west coast of Ireland. My favorite thing to do there was walk out to the beach during a storm. It just makes you feel so ALIVE.

Laurie -- thanks for your favorite small things! These are the *important* things, after all. I think I'll post a few of my own....

You rock.

Hi! I'm delurking, too. I've just discovered The Deadliest Catch, too, and how great it is for knitting. And I love the Magic Eraser.

Love reading your blog!

Deborah, I'm just down the road from Marietta in the downtown/midtown area of Atlanta. Try Taqueiro del Sol (I am quite sure I didn't spell that even close to right) on Howell Mill for some yummy and very cheap tacos.

I am also a fan of the Magic Erasers. And Bare Escentuals makeup.

I also love the Aloe and Olive bath products. Smell so yummy.

The best invention ever is Wrinkle-Free 100% Cotton shirts, from Orvis (http://www.orvis.com) and Wrinkle Resistant cotton shirts from Eddie Bauer (http://www.eddiebauer.com). EB has Petite and Tall sizes.

I wear these to work every day -- right now I'm wearing a pink Orvis shirt I've had for 2 years, still looks like new. Put on the dryer on light and take it out right away.

The Schick Intuition Razor combines a lump of shaving /conditioner with the razor blade. Just one step, quick & easy in the shower.

Oral-B® Hummingbird flosser -- push the little button and it vibrates as it flosses your teeth. About $8.

Both at Target.

What I WANT is a car with a place for a purse -- not the floor or passenger seat.

Must try this cat litter! My booga-booga-yellow-boy loves "marking" up the house...it's horrible.

I could do the sandwich!

Love the sea, always have. Grew up surrounded by the stuff in Orkney (small group of islands off the north coast of Scotland - never, ever call them "the Orkneys" unless you want to be lynched). And I get to go to oil rigs in the North Sea and be surrounded by the stuff on a weekly basis. Lots of ex-fishermen work offshore too.

You'd enjoy it Laurie...:-)

Oops. The Aloe and Olive is from the Healing Gardens line. You can find it at the grocery store, Target, Walmart, etc.

Alicia, another thing you can try (and I'll have to add it to the next list of good things) is Comfort Zone Feliway ... it is like prozac for cats, and it is said to help with marking. They have a plug-in oil and also a spray.

I use it as a plug-in because I swear it helps keep them from beating each other up. If I run out of the plug-in, Bob is attacking Frankie all night long on the bed and keeping me awake and mad. As soon as I put in a new plug-in refill, voila, suddenly everyone is friendly and Bob is nicer to his sister. Weird, eh?

Age Correct Nail Treatment from Sally Hansen. I work in manufacturing, and this stuff makes your nails look finished, bright, and healthy with minimal upkeep. I've gotten rid of every other nail polish I have, I love it that much.

And Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream - no fragrance, colloidal oatmeal - and the softest dang elbows this side of the Mississippi (which has, to this point, been impossible!)

My favorite little things?
CAP is one ;)
Mr. Clean Eraser another

You're not giving free advertising - you're sharing information with friends.

The other day I posted about how I love the tulips in the office park because while I myself am tulip-impaired, not really wishing to go through the whole thing of planting them and digging them up and refrigerating them at a precise temperature before choosing the precisely correct autumnal moment to plant them again, the office park hires a whole army of Juans who are magically able to produce hordes of tulips, and someone commented that tulips were "the lipstick of the garden" -- which I totally got because I could never comprehend lipstick, or how one could get it to stay put for more than five minutes, and here you go and lay it all out there. Even though I'll probably never wear it again, another mystery of life explained is a good thing.

I am afraid to count the number of words in that first sentence.

On the subject of fishermen and oceans and hats, I have two words for you: come visit. I will take you to Boston and Gloucester and all up and down the coast of Maine, where you can admire lots of studly fishermen, and even knit them hats, should you so choose. Off this coast it's cold practically all the time.

Love the Deadliest Catch! I just started watching it a few weeks ago, though. They were running one of those "fill the Saturday with one show all day long" things on Discovery and we turned it on. We now find ourselves rooting for the different ships. And the cats enjoy watching the radar thing go around. Do your cats watch TV? Ours do. One is a nature loving documentary cat and the other is the engineering cat. It's too funny.

Lynne? How do you get the hummingbirds to stand still while you floss them? :)

I LOVE the Deadliest Catch...I have what some people might call an unhealthy obsession with the show (ok, ok, so they've called me crazy and have threatened therapy). I even have the first two seasons on DVD. I feel better knowing I am not alone.

I also love The Perfect Storm movie, I've never read the book, I'll have to add that to my list though.

I have visited Iceland and loved it, too! Have you seen the movie "Cold Fever"? Only available on VHS in the US, but rather wonderful and filmed in Iceland. Sometimes hard to find, although public libraries have it and I see amazon.com has a few used copies.

Love, love, love Deadliest Catch. I want to be a crew member on the Cornelia Marie...love Phil...and love, love, love, love Dirty Mike's voice-overs. That's a whole other obsession....

Happy Thursday, Laurie and readers! One more wake up until the weekend!

The Schick Intuition Razor has to be if not the MOST amazing invention in the world, it's right up next to it! As Lynne said, it's very simple, razor plus conditioner in one, very quick and easy! (The only negative I have with it, is the cost. Wal-Mart is the cheapest place to get them that i've found)

I totally agree with you on the lipstick. It is the absolute best at lasting all day. I like the fact that it doesn't feel like regular lipstick. I want to go back to Iceland too! I lived there (Keflavik) with my Mr. X back in the 70's. I've always wanted to go back for a visit to see all the things that I missed then and to see all the new too. One of my favorite things to do was go to the harbor when the fishing boats came in and watch them unload their catch. Oh yeah, and walk to the bakery first thing each morning for a fresh pastry and eat it on the walk back home.

reading about your happy made me feel happy...so pass on the product hints anytime!!

I love the water too, oceans, rivers, lakes, and the greatest of all, Puget Sound. Puget Sound in Seattle is so incredible!!! I've lived here all my life, but I still get an excited feeling when I come into view of Lake Union and the Space Needle, and that's just from the freeway!

Cancers love the h2o .

btw, do you collect shampoos? Does your shower have at least 5 different kinds for different moods and smells? A cheap but feels like a million, clairol herbal essences break's over...

oh yummmmmm!

Hooray for Feliway! Being a college student, I move pretty often, and it stresses out the Feline Impersonator something awful. One of the first things I do when I get into my new place is plug the Feliway thing into my bedroom outlet. It's helped him re-adjust much better. I also make sure to have it on hand when a roommate moves in/out of a bedroom, to keep the FI from trying to take the room over as his personal fur closet.

It's great stuff.

Oh, meant to ask: does that almond-scented stuff come in other flavors? It sounds splendid, except for the minor drawback that I hate almond scent. (I am fine with actual almonds, when I'm permitted to eat them, just not the scent.)

Now I know why we are friends. My mother studied Scottish fishing villages for, like, thirty years. If you want mournful songs of ships gone down and women vowing eternal love for men who will never return, well, I'm your gal.

Thanks Laurie for your recommendations. I must try that bath stuff :)

I wanted to make you you all know that Magic Erasers, as wonderful as they are, are made of Melamine(sp?) which is the stuff they found in all that poisoned pet food. So if your fur kids are as naughty as mine, you'll want to be sure to store them (the erasers, not the cats) where they can't get at them. Especially if you cleaned anything kitchen/food related. Or is it just my dogs that are dumb enough to eat a sponge?

I'm telling you, you're an Alaskan girl at heart :)
I live in the town where the Time Bandit harbors? It docks right across the pier from the boat my husband works on. No kidding.

DIET COKE.

duh!

These are a few of my favorite things:

1) Burt's Bees Baby Bee Apricot Baby oil. I have itchy sensitive skin and this stuff is neither greasy nor irritating. And it smells good.

2) Feliway. When I introduced the Boys to Queen Sophie all hell broke lose. Now as long as I have one plugged in somewhere it's all good. She still resents them, but she doesn't try to kill them either. (I've found that Drs Foster & Smith catalogue/website has the best price for refills.)

3) Method dryer sheets in Fresh Air. They smell so good!

4) Anything wrinkle free clothing wise.
4 a) Downey Wrinkle Releaser. Not crazy about the smell, but if I don't have to iron, all is right in the world.

5) Alexia Sweet Potato Fries. Oh. My. God.

6) Pure Grace perfume by philosophy. Smells like clean laundry. Just wish the smell stayed a little longer.

7) Swiffer duster cloths. Three cats (one long hair and two short) = lots of fur everywhere. Although I've decided to use up my last box and try the microfiber dusters 'cos I've got that "Green" guilt. We'll see how that goes.

8) Grease. (The movie not the food.) I flew all the way to San Francisco (from Pittsburgh, PA) this past December to see "Sing Along Grease" at the Castro (and to visit my bf Rachel) and I still have the HBO guide from when it was on in 1980.

I've been using Colorstay for years (sheer Mocha or regular Endless Spice) and love how it stays on for most of the day. Then I found Estee Lauder Double Wear lipstick and -- that was it! It just does not come off without makeup remover. I'll put it on before work and have to take it off at bedtime. It costs about three times as much as the Revlon and doesn't come in as many shades, but I think it's worth the added expense. Wait until they have one of their bonus giveaways and you'll feel you're getting more than your money's worth!

I had no idea there were other KnitChix who liked to throw while watching Deadliest Catch...I feel so much less wackaloon! Btw, my best friend and I love love love your blog---thank you for putting so much of your life out there on the Internets :)

Lucia... I just got the grape extract shower oil, too, actually it was free with purchase because I am on their mailing list, and it smells lovely! And works the same.

There is something very decadent about these products, and at $22 a bottle they are really way out of my normal budget, but so worth it. I feel like I splurge on very little for myself, three years of debt reduction has been good for me but boooooring, so this is my one little extravagance. When I quit smoking, I literally would calculate how much I *would have* spent on cigarettes for the month and spent it at L'Occitane instead. Dorky but it made me feel nice.

And every morning I get to look forward to my shower... it's such a small but effective daily luxury :)

Oh With the Sharing....Favorite Things - Yougert, Sushi, Coffee Shops and my ultimate favorite thing - Roller Derby!!!

Then I am not right, either. I adore the Deadlist Catch and only TiVo that and the Office. I talk about the Deadlist Catch in meetings at work, using it as a leadership and management parable. Sigh.

So, you're not alone.

Laurie, I just ordered the L'Occitane products you mentioned just because you mentioned them. I needed a splurge after a good honest workout last night with my own Magic Eraser. Love the Magic Eraser!

And my Dyson. The Dyson has been worth every penny I saved to get it.

Bevvy, Deborah,

You do NOT have to settle for Taco Mac! Taquiera del Sol is good, but Los Hermanos in Tucker is AMAZING and cheap. I know, I know, it's not close, but oh my goodness, it's so good!

Laurie, I love the Magic Eraser, too, and bare escentuals/bare minerals makeup, and the new Kings of Leon CD and John Freida color-enhancing shampoo and the very cheap, very good NYC brand eyelash curler.

Hmm... maybe listing the things that make us happy is a great form of therapy. You *are* helpy, Laurie! Um, can we do this like once a week?

Now, who's got a good product to keep their hair from being frizzy?

Dr. Bronner's liquid soap. I love love love Dr. Bronner's. This soap can clean your dishes, your laundry, your body, your car. Plus it has goofy weird religious messages on the packages. A must have really.

Laurie, I use Feliway spray, and it works some. It's not nearly as bad as before, thank you 8-pound-baby-Jesus. I will have to try the plug-in. Thanks!

Zina, I am a shampoo collector! My shower and bathroom cabinet are full of shampoos and conditioners. I'm hoping one day I'll find a miracle product...so far, no good.

Purl - we here at Chez Stuff love your "advertising" - especially because you love Yahoo and that funds the health insurance over here!

My faves: Burt's Bee's Shea butter hand cream (in the purple tube) you only need the tiniest bit but it works wonders- especially on hands that are overwashed like mine.

Olay UV Fragrance Free SPF 15 face lotion (on the budget)

Orlane Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream (not on the budget - but again, only need a tiny bit)

Lavendar plants - they can live through anything and still bloom over and over again

Tom's Fennel toothpaste

Tarte Blush sticks - big fat gel sticks taht you can use on your lips and cheeks and it looks so natural

Method Wood for Good polish - smells yummy - almost makes me want to clean!

And REvlon colorstay lipstick!

Thats a good list of great stuff. I'll take your advice on the pooping surfaces and the magic eraser. Also, people shouldn't have to get paid to say good things. Payment is just a bonus. If people paid people to say good things, then they're probably lying.

PS - LOVE your sandwich recipe - except I might want to be the "meat" myself

1. "Deadliest Catch" ROCKS! I never miss an episode and this season I totally cried about the ship that went down and the way they made the poor lone survivor ride back in the helicopter with the bodies of his dead crew mates. That was just cruel!

2. Why don't they just re-name zappos.com to heroinforyourfeet.com?

3. Woo hoo! Product recommendations - I am all about sharing the wealth. Best hair product for fine, straight hair: Redken "10 Guts" Root Pump. Sounds scary, but adds volume at the roots and no greasy/oily buildup on the rest of your hair therefore allowing that all important 1 day between shampoos for those of us whose hair is also oily. Best makeup product: Laura Mercier oil-free tinted moisturizer. Good coverage, makes your skin look fantastic, has SPF and has finally freed me from the "my foundation feels like 10 layers of concrete on my face" issue.

LOVE the Wal-Mart Great Value brand of Fruit Punch and Grape single drink mixes!

lol...Mr. Clean magic erasers...I had to email everyone I knew when I started using those!

Love your reccomendations, I am going to get my butt to L'Occitane ASAP.

I can't say enough about Oxi Clean. The stuff takes out ANYTHING! My baby's pale pink linen pants were covered in smushed strawberries and I left it for a few days before I put the OXiClean paste on it and now they look like new! Plus, it is way better than bleach at taking out yellowish stains on white shirts and it doesn't degrade the fabric. Love it!

Being a tree-huggin' Earth nugget Vegan I'm all about me some "green clean"! Must tout the happiness of Ecover (http://www.ecover.com/us/en) laundry/cleaning products. Love their Lemon scent dish detergent. All great stuff and no crazy side effects to my freakishly sensitive skin.

Got to say a big Hoorah! for Indigo Wild (www.indigowild.com) and their Zum Bar soaps. Love the Frankinfetti - frankincense, myrrh, patchouli and sandalwood. Smells so good you could eat it.

Love my Plantronics headset for my home phone. No more crazy bent-neck-shoulder twisty contortions while multi-tasking and talking on the phone.

Earth Friendly Yarns helps make me a happy knitter with a woo hoo! selection of eco-vegan friendly yarn stuff. (www.earthfriendlyyarns.com)

Life would be sad here in the wilds of North Carolina without Kiss My Face products. (http://www.kissmyface.com) The husband absolutely adores their Lavender & Shea Moisture Shave. He has that sensitive-and-can't-shave-daily kind of skin and this stuff works wonders for him.

Swheat Scoop cat litter. No dust. No odor. Biodegradable and flushable even in my septic tank. Creature likes it, too!

And, of course, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Wondermous! Even the husband has fun with these when he polishes the wheels on his beloved truck.

We LOVE Arizona Green Tea - Diet (sweetened w/Splenda) and Decaf! Good Stuff! We have a grocer that orders it by the case for us as it is usually hard to find in stock! But, so good and guilt-free!

I am in a constant battle with myself - who do I love more Sig on the Northwestern or Phil on the Cornelia Marie. I am not a fan of that Blake who thinks he is "all that". And, I actually cheer when they hit the crab. Mr. Motorcycle doesn't get it - but is patient while I watch, usually.

You'll have to visit Duluth Harbor & maybe make your way up to Grand Marais if you make it out to visit (I'll gladly take you). Heres some photos from my last few trips! http://tinyurl.com/2ywtyr

OH, I am SOOO addicted to "Deadliest Catch." What a hoot! Come on up, I'll get you to Dutch and Aqutan. We would have a blast. The crab harvest just make for good tv. I am glad it is not in Smell-O-Vision, though.

I love getting info on what others have tried and liked. You just can't trust commercials.

Long live the Magic Sponge!

I love everything from Burt's Bees. For the quality you just can't beat the price.

Clif Shot Bloks are the best cycling snack ever. They taste great, keep you mouth feeling moist and don't get all kinds off goop all over your shirt.

tasha, aveda makes two products i use to keep my hair from going frizzy. sadly, they're not cheap. one of them is called Hang Straight (i think) and for the life of me i can't remember the other name. comes in a short grey-blue bottle.

i used to use John Frieda's Frizz ease or whatever it's called. it's good, but i prefer the aveda stuff.

rock on... someone other than myself, addicted to The Deadliest Catch!
You'd think this would attract more men than women as viewers, but I know more women that watch than men! Its not an eye candy thing, I'm not sure what it is.. I just enjoy the show so much (and I hate crab!)

I am totally the same way! I used to send emails to my friends and family telling them about my favoritest new thing. Then, I wondered if they got tired of it...so I started my own blog so I would keep the friends I have that don't think I am too odd. Family, ha! They are stuck with me!!!

i don't know about your kitty family, but mine loves, loves, loves to put kitty kisses on the windows, i guess so the girl handprints don't get lonely or something...anyway, my new fave is called "invisible glass" available in the automotive section at walmart. way, WAY, better than all the blue ones, at least at my house.

And here I thought I was the only person with two X chromosones that likes Deadliest Catch. I can't even nail down why I love that show (okay hot fisherman, definitely). I loved the recent episode where they saved the guy who fell in the ocean, and he and the captain were man-hugging and teary. Then laughing how he never lost his hat or glasses.

Word on Zappos! I love them and I have large feet (size 11 to size 12 depending on the shoe) - love their shipping and return policies, too. And exceptionally fast shipping as I'm so not about waiting for good things to come to me.

Oh, I forgot to mention Burt's Bees Orange Essence facial cleanser. Smells sooooo good and melts the makeup off. And it leaves your skin feeling so soft and smooth. Also Burt's Coconut Foot Cream. One night a week is all it takes to keep your feet sandle pretty all summer. Does anyone else now have a craving for ambrosia????

Revlon has something funky going on with the clear gloss they provide with the Colorstay lipstick. I've used the lipstick for years because it is the best, but I always use another brand of lip gloss over it and then it doesn't get all gritty and nasty.

Sometimes it is the small things that make the difference between sitting in a corner eating your own arm and basic happiness.

See, this is why I read your blog. You GET IT.

Deadliest Catch is the BEST! I have crushes on Edgar Hansen of the Northwestern and, as in my May/December way, Josh Harris of the Cornelia Marie (Captain Phil's older son). Swoon!

OMG!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Deadliest Catch and can't believe there are other people who watch it, too!!! Praise be to all that is good!!! I've lived in fear that they'll cancel the show since I thought I was the only one alive who watched it. I can't even knit while it's on...I find myself staring at the screen while HOLDING my knitting and can only knit during commercials. Love you Captain Sig...Love you Captain Phil!!!! (BTW...did they settle the bet at the end of Alaskan King Crab season last week? My cable went out during the last 10 minutes and I don't know who won the $900. I sure hope it wasn't Blake...he's such a weinie. NO ONE earns my respect by betraying Captain Phil!)

Oh and Blake, yeah, cutie, but what an attitude. Go Phil and Sig!

1. Melt's Smooth Operator Shea-ving Butter.

I haven't had a single nick or razor burn since I got it, and my desert-dry skin is soft and not at all flakey. http://www.meltproducts.com/by-product-category.asp?CategoryID=1

It's pricey, but it's super-concentrated. A blop the size of a Canneloni bean does my whole lower leg.

2. Avoderm cat food. My lifelong cat dandruff problem miraculously disappeared and I wasn't even trying to cure it. I just bought the food 'cause it was at the health food store where I was getting a burrito and I didn't want to get myself into one of those "no Meow Mix" places. You understand. Anyway, kitty fur? Softest ever. Kitty dandruff? Non-existent. Plus, no barfing, no turning up of kitty nose.

3. Dye Magnets. Shout makes one, Woolite makes one, they're in the laundry aisle of the supermarket. See, I live alone. Doing six loads of laundry to separate out each colour scheme doesn't really work for me, and I know it's not environmentally sound. I toss everything (but the really, really delicate stuff) into one load with cold water and a dye magnet and colours don't bleed. It also saves you from unwanted Jackson Pollock effects when you accidentally leave a pen in your pocket and wash it. Not that I ever do that.

Smith's Rosebud Salve is my holy grail lip stuff. Your lips will be in heaven. No color, but it does have a hint of shine to it for those days when you don't want much else.

I have to say my tv/knitting addiction is MASH on dvd. love this.

My favorite vacations have all been in the Caribbean. Love me some Cozumel!

LOVE the manly tv shows. My favorite is American Chopper, followed closely by Dog: The Bounty Hunter.

And I totally love color-staying lipstick, although I'm addicted to the Cover Girl equivalent -- "Outlast". That stuff lasts on me for 24 hours! I have to use eye makeup remover to get it off in the mornings before my shower!

I will have to try that Almond Shower Oil. Sounds wonderful. A friend of mine makes soaps and body butters and after-shower oil sprays, and has an addictive lemon version that I love.

Philosophy Purity Cleanser worth the bucks and lasts with careful use
My new to me rice cooker - takes up space in my small kitchen, but so so worth it especially as it was $2 at the humane society thrift store!!!!
The Humane Society Thrift Store is my new fave store, the rich folk here like to donate for the critters

I stopped shoe shopping at zappos when I discovered endless.com. Not as many styles BUT, overnight shipping is negative $5. It's true! And, I think their prices are better than zappos. Or at least for the shoes I buy. Try it! You'll love it! I made enemies with the girls at work because they blew their budget on shoes. Seriously, I don't work there, but I heart endless.com.

Can anyone persuade Tom's to start making their honeysuckle baby shampoo again? I loved that stuff for 20 years, and then they only made almond-scented shampoo (yuck), and then they stopped making shampoo altogether, probably because they got wind of my fondness for it.

On the other hand, elann just started offering a baby alpaca/merino laceweight. Happy happy joy joy.

Best moisturizer: bag balm.

Best soap: Ivory.

Ha! Deadliest Catch is my FAVORITE show. But only because I get to wear one of those orange survival suits myself! In my career, the suit is a neccessary addition to my winter wardrobe, even on a small Kansas lake, freezing conditions are no fun! I don't know how those crabguys do it.

OMG...I just started watching The Deadliest Catch and LOVE LOVE LOVE it for all the same reasons you do! And I feel the same about not ever setting foot on one of those boats, either. I am just bummed that it seems the season is already almost over (I'm a little behind on my TiVo). I need to go rent the DVDs...

Oh, and I LOVE Magic Eraser, too. Freaky little lighter-than-air foam thing that gets anything off anything.

What's wrong with sharing information? At least then your not listening to paid-hype. Personally, I like getting personal recommendations. And I still stand in awe of how you live in LA! That places gives me the heebie jeebies everytime we go through. Okay, I will darken the doorstep of Anaheim for the mouse! Your my hero just for living in LA!

Tostitos' creamy spinach dip. Ohmigod love the stuff, only one store in town carries it (a super Walmart) and not much then so my husband buys them out every time they have it. It's usually in or near the chips aisle, sold in glass jars.

Oh, and caramel frappalattes from the Coffee Beanery.

I was introduced to flourless chocolate cake at a SNB last year. And its so good, its bad.

Its actually really really bad.

I don't know if L.A. has Whole Foods but that where I've had it from. O. Trader Joe's also sells them.

Check this out - it's someone going out of their comfort zone with their knitting, and achieving something fabulous:
http://shaxophile.blogspot.com/

Best cat toy ever: Pet Stages' Fishy Fun. Ziggy and Picasso worship these things. I swear, we go through four of these things a week playing fetch. I don't know where they end up!

Best shampoo and conditioner ever: Aveda's "Brilliance" line. Finally! Soft hair! That is straight! In humid weather! Aveda, I want to marry you.

Best yogurt ever: Trader Joe's Vanana yogurt. Vanilla and banana flavors, with no nasty preservatives or corn syrup to make my food allergies go goofy. Tastes awesome with a few chocolate chips, if you want a cool treat.

Best cleaner ever: Ecover Cream Scrub. Use it in your tub, in your kitchen sink, and to scrub the stains off of your stainless steel cookware, because YOU JUST HAD TO PUT STAINLESS STEEL COOKWARE ON YOUR WEDDING REGISTRY and now it looks like crap. Seriously, this is a miracle product!

Best body lotion ever: Johnson's all-natural nourishing baby lotion with olive oil. Yummy, with no weird baby-powder smell. Great for big people, too!

Best book ever: "Girl with a Pearl Earring," by Tracy Chevalier.

Best magazine ever: "Body and Soul." Who cares if Martha is the head honcho? It's still pretty cool.

How's that for some new stuff to sample? We should be rating the best-smelling yarn here, too. Because yarn is for petting and smelling!

Now I've got to try the L'Occitane shower gel. I'll second (third, fourth, whatever) the Schick Intuition and Downy Wrinkle Release. I stockpile that stuff, and was so happy they finally came up with a travel size bottle. I haven't ironed in ages! Love "Deadliest Catch" too!! And "The Perfect Storm"! Have you read Linda Greenlaw's books?? If not, you'd love them. (I actually missed my stop on the subway while reading the first one. Ooops.) I also love Burt's Bees lip balm (addicted), Toms of Maine toothpaste in Cinnamon Clove (regular, not gel) and Vitamin Water.

I used to love L'Occitane's lavender foot cream. they've changed the formula though, and it comes in a smaller container, so I'm not quite as in love with it as I used to be. Still love the Eau d'Azur fragrance though!

On TV I love Cash Cab on Discovery channel--they changed their schedule for a while and I was seriously bummed.

And I don't know if this really fits with the category of little things, but I think amazon.com is the best. idea. ever.--even with shipping charges!

Also, Iceland? Blue Lagoon. Even if you went nowhere else it would be worth the trip!

The Deadliest Catch is the BEST knitting show ever! I caught a marathon of it a few weeks ago and was just entranced! Mezmorized I tell ya! Isn't the captain of the Maverick cute!

Hi Laurie. Thanks for the tips. You're so cute.

Be sure you don't miss www.endless.com if you love zappos. Endless rocks.

And I can't live without Carmex.

Also, you look kinda nekkid in that picture with Frankie, heehee.

I think it was Trace who mentioned "Dirty Jobs'" Mike Rowe doing the voice-overs for "Deadliest Catch?" Ummm.... yum! Makes all that fish and drama incurably sexy ;)

If you have dry, cracked heels (ugly in sandals!) you MUST try Heel Balm. I *love* Heel Balm, available at most drug stores as well as Target. If you use this on your heels for 2 weeks straight, your feet will feel and look as soft as a baby's butt. I heard that this stuff used to only be available by prescription several years ago. I still use it every morning and my heels always look awesome!

I actually never properly thanked you for introducing me to your old favourite pooping surface.
They sell it here north of Toronto (Canada) and the cats (and us) are much happier with all the pooping harmony going on!

You may possibly love the dvd Fishing With John, which is a TV series style collection of shorts where super indie star John Lurie takes a bunch of different actors fishing, like Tom Waits, Matt Dillon, and Willem DaFoe. It's really awesome. Thanks for your endorsements! You always make me laugh.

I said once that I thought you should get advertizing kick-backs--- you know, credit for your endorsements! Nothing wrong with endorsing....I just think you should profit from it! Hope it wasn't my comment-- it wasn't meant to be disparaging!

Sun-In. lol. And I didn't know they did a Colorstay sheer! Joy!

I'm not good with these lists - I'm a little bit of a cosmetic addict and then I am also bad with details, but...

-Smashbox lip gloss and Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint.
-L'oreal Collagen Line Filler (miracle stuff!)
-Pretty much anything Estee Lauder.
-If we are talking food, Trader Joe's chocolate covered pretzels and and peanut butter chocolate pretzels (even if you don't like other kinds - these are like crack cocaine.)
-The Vaseline and Jergens lotions that have "firming, shimmer, or radiance" in the titles. Even though it's body lotion, I put it on my face and it makes me look great with no make-up.
-LUSH massage bar - makes your skin super silky and smells SO good. I was skeptical until I got a sample. (They give out samples all the time, like of their face masks, and there is one at the Santa Monica Promenade...)

Um, ok, so that's a lot...

Ooh, and I forgot to add...go to Gloucester and Boston - go! They are all blustery and lighthousey and...go!

I think I have gotten at least seven people addicted to Magic Erasers!

Love Deadliest Catch- tivo every tuesday and knit during it every Thursday night while watching with the hubby. And I live ten minutes from Fisherman's Terminal in Seattle which is where many of the boats from Deadliest catch "live". We had brunch down there last weekend and after we drove around the docks, hoping to spot the Northwestern or another boat from this season. No luck, but we did see the the Sea Star from a couple seasons ago.

I forgot to add, if you have little ones, Dreft Baby Spray is the best stain remover ever!!! Removes blueberry juice and chocolate, no problems!

Husband loves Deadliest Catch; we finally started tivo'ing it; there are several on there now he needs to catch up on.

Me, I like mountaineering stories like Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer and Touching the Void, a fascinating movie/true mountain climbing story. I am a total physical coward, not athletic, but for some reason I just love reading these adventure stories from the comfort of my cozy bed or couch. I think I even have a scrap of paper in my purse with a list of the true life adventure books I still need to read. Perfect Storm was one (great book) that was listed in a Newsweek list of adventure books I found several years ago.

that color stay really works? i tried one (a different brand) and it was awful. hmmm, must rethink this...

First, as a sailor, I can tell you that the portrayal of the skipper of the sailboat in both the movie and the book were waaaay off. Junger never even interviewed him! I can also tell you that he did exactly what he should have done under the circumstances - strap himself in and wait it out. His boat washed up on shore later with nary a scratch on it! Other than that, the book was definitely a gripper and who can complain about anything George Clooney? (slurp)

One of my favorite products is called Flitz. It's a magic metal polish that is 10,000% times better than anything else you will find. You can usually find it in hardware stores. If all else fails, hie over to a West Marine where you'll find it and 3M Marine Metal Polish, which is just as good.

Another thing that life wouldn't be complete without is a FoodSaver vacuum sealer. I'm a vacuum sealing maniac - important papers, spare clothes, yarn stash, oh and food.

OHMYGOD LAURIE I LOVE DEADLIEST CATCH!!! I discovered this show a year ago while I was channel flipping during my "I can only knit scarves" stage. The intro to the show this year is so much better than last year. And Sig and his brother Edgar were on Jay Leno about two weeks ago. I'm so glad other people are discovering it! See? You're not alone in your obsession! Yay!!! I'm not crazy! I think... :)

L'Occitane The Vert (Green Tea) au de cologne. My favorite investment. America's Choice, the store brand for Walbaums (I don't know if that is a national supermarket chain) is awesome. Great products. I love Mythbusters, and can't get enough of Dirty Jobs. Mostly because the host (Mike Rowe, the voiceover host for Deadliest Catch) is so incredibly hot. Love the swiffer duster things that you fluff up. Keeps the dust off my hands (which can cause them to itch. Dusting becomes (almost) a pleasure. My Dyson--love it. Olay Complete SPF15 (I've used it for about 15 years, and I swear by it--I get compliments from dermatologists). And I don't know how I lived before I got a Mason-Pearson hairbrush. Worth every single penny.

I think my brother was watching a marathon of the Deadliest Catch this weekend, he told us about a guy who fell overboard...he loves that show. Manly guys....hmmm...i may have to give it a try!

The "Martha's Vineyard" salad from Arby's (of all places!) is totally delicious; raspberry dressing, chicken, cheese, dried cranberries, apple pieces, sliced toasted almonds, mmmmm....

I can barely go a week without my Josh Groban CDs or Alton Brown and "Good Eats."

And let's not forget the crazy fun melodrama that is "Ugly Betty." :o)

Oh, great things! Lovely splurges.

For me, I splurge on very little, except:
1. Swan Creek candles, clean burning, 100% soy, lead free wicks and they also have tarts and crumbles for candle warmers. (swancreekcandle.com)

2. Bath and Body Works Ile de Tahiti Moana body wash in Tiare flower. New scent for after the boy broke up with me. (I bought the body butter too).

3. Dog and Suds corn dogs (not much of a splurge at $1.25 each), but they remind me of when I was little and it makes me happy. :)

For what it is worh, I too vote with the "helpy" group. Bring on the recommendations. :)

When I was in my early 20s, I was in a Walgreen's and the lady behind the beauty counter asked if she could help. I told her I wanted to find a foundation that wouldn't leave me all pimply and streaky at the end of the day. I was about at the end of my rope. She unlocked a glass case behind her and brought out a package of Max Factor Pan-Cake makeup. At first I was like, NO WAY, isn't that the stuff that goes on 5 inches thick and looks like a mask? She explained that it's activated by water. You dampen a cotton pad and rub it over the top of the "cake" of makeup, which is in a "pan" - thus the name. Yes, it was quite a bit more expensive than other foundations, but a little goes a long way. She told me it was her personal favorite and was wearing it as we spoke. She had to be in her late 50s, but by golly, her skin looked wonderful!

That was over 20 years ago and, aside from a couple experiments where I thought something else might be better (it never was!), I haven't used anything else. You control the amount of coverage just by using more or less water. It provides a beautiful, even coverage and blends beautifully, even on super-oily skin. (I always finish with a little dusting of Cover Girl pressed powder in the T-zone.) My own skin has naturally become less oily as I've gotten older, but I still can't stand the greasy feel of "regular" liquid foundations. I will probably use this stuff until I'm far too old to care what my face looks like! (PS: They don't keep it locked up anymore; most other makeup products have long since caught up with the price of this stuff. I have to say I'm surprised; it's only a couple dollars more than it was 20 years ago!)

L'Occitane's shea/lavendar dry foot cream rocks - your skin absorbs it very quickly, but not so quickly that you can't use it for a good foot massage, and it works great on your hands, too. It's $25 a tube but I haven't found anything else like it.

you forgot

DYSON!!!!

The best vacuum EVER MADE.

Deadliest Catch is HOT! Sig and Edgar were on the talk show circuit a few weeks ago. Two stories: Sig was vacationing in Vegas w/his wife and was practically mugged by some woman who ran across the casino and threw herself at him! (Was that you, Laurie?) and Edgar got a fan letter from a mom who asked her 6 yr-old what he wanted to be for halloween and he kept saying 'Edgar!'. Took her a bit to figure out what he was talking about! Edgar felt really flattered!
Also, a movie recommendation if you haven't seen it, a few years old, "Smilla's Sense of Snow." i think you'd like it, and of course, I assume you've read "the Shipping News" by Annie Proulx. Book better than movie--I loved that book.
I will try the almond stuff, and as I get older, find I need lipstick more--am also fair and a fan of the sheer. I will check it out!
Thanks Laurie--we love you!

It took me an hour to get through the blog plus comments (with a tiny bit of work in between, heh), but now I have a whole page of new exciting things to try. Love you. All of you.

No fair! I'm sitting here quietly minding my own business, reading your blog, and you have to go and mention "Deadliest Catch." So now I'm reminded of my favorite daydream-y splurge: Mike Rowe, the guy who narrates the show and does the "Dirty Jobs" thing and now I'm having trouble concentrating on work. I don't know what it is about that guy. Oh, never mind. Yes, I do.

By the way, I L-O-V-E your blog. And I'll admit to being particularly pleeeeeeezed by any feline photos that happen to appear.

--A fan in Seattle

O.K., Laurie - Here's my most recent favorite things story. I'm like you, when I find something really good, I like to share. So, one of my kitties (who are all oldsters) now has glaucoma. I've had to take him to the vet ophthamologist. Didn't even know such a doc existed. The specialist vets that we were sent to are AWESOME. Anyway, he had to go on pills & an eye drop twice a day. One of the vets sent me home with some treats to see if Screech would eat them. He would. Turns out there is a compounding vet pharmacist here in Houston. Here's their web site: http://bcpvetpharm.com

They will make up treats for your pet with the meds in them and they (the pets) don't even know it! It is truly a godsend if your pet is sick. I am SO impressed with this place. You may have something similar in L.A., but I don't think there are many around. These good people ship meds all over - zoos, ranches, anywhere. Check them out. God forbid you will ever need them, but if you do, you'll know about them!

Read Sea Story by Sam Llewellyn -- it's about sailboats, not fishing boats, but it's a great story.

Laurie -

Okay! I have been reading you for some time now, even went back and read all the archives. I laughed a little (well ALOT, actually) and cried a little. I have always been a little bit too shy to write in, but when you said you watched The Deadliest Catch, I just knew you were my kind of girl!! And not in a weird way. I totally get why you watch that show and feel the same way. (let's face it, anytime you start a show with a song by Bon Jovi, you know it is going to be a good time.)

Keep up the great blogging and know that your special kind of geaky nerdiness is appreciated by all the Sisterhood of the Nerds!!

Now that I have totally freaked you out, just wanted to let you know You Rock!!

You're not advertising, Auntie. You're telling your girlfriends what you like. We don't all have local girlies, ya know.

I love those Harris boys. /sigh We won't look at the age differences if that's okay. o.O I use/love Method cleaning stuff. It's earth friendly and everything. Best part is that Target carries it. Bare Escentuals is amazing. I have weird stress acne prone skin and that stuff makes me look human without making things worse.

I love it when you share your tips! And your cats! Sadly though, I must report one of your loves that didn't work out for me. Apparently the cats in our family are retarded. I purchased that oh-so-cute cat house you showed several months ago -- you know, the one that looks like a big tiger with a jumbo mouth? 'Cause my cat will climb into ANYTHING -- box, bag, purse -- whatever. But, the tigerhouse was a no-go. Maybe he was intimidated? So, I gave it to my parents in hopes that one of their cats would love it. Another no-go. And damn....I wanted one of those cute pics like you have of your kitty in the tiger! Oh well....off to check out Deadliest Catch!

My new addiction is the Brit Show: How clean is your house? Who can resist two brisk English ladies sticking their noses into other people’s toilet bowls and screaming, "Ewwww!"

Also love:

- 2% Fage yogurt - greek strained yogurt that’s 120 calories but tastes like thick, sour cream and is filling! Great for diets. Pricey at $2 but, I think, totally worth the money.
- Hermes perfume: Jardin sur la Nil. I get lots of compliments. Very fresh and light, smells like citrus-y mangos but isn’t overly sweet. Expensive, but if you have a birthday coming up, and someone really, really likes you....
- Seltzer to wean me off of soda and beer.
- Burt’s beeswax lip balm – love the tingly peppermint.
- Empty refillable lipstick palette by Sephora for holding and mixing lipstick remnants into my own creations. Good for those indecisive days when you want a different color every hour. And yes, I even have Colorstay lipstick in one pot.
- Shiseido cover-up pencil – the only coverup that wasn’t too oily and with fine enough point to draw on small, dark pimple scars
- Brucci nail color "Brown Ice" – a great, all-season, shape shifting color. One-coat for sheer shimmer, two coats for solid, bronzey goodness. ALWAYS get compliments. And you can’t beat the $1.50 price.
- Cetaphil for super-gentle makeup removal and face cleaning, water optional.

I think the Magic Eraser is a unanimous happy product! I used it to remove Sharpie writing from textured & painted sheetrock walls... MAGIC!
(The Amy Winehouse CD blaring in the background helped too.. I totally heart Amy Winehouse)

Tasha- I love "Biosilk Silk Therapy" for hair frizz..drugstores carry it - the bottle lasts forever! (as long as you don't let it spill)

many shampoos!? ME TOO! (totally a mood thing) but L.O.V.E. Neutrogena's Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner.

Last one? but SO NOT LEAST! "TendSkin" it's an astringent that I found by searching drugstore.com for "5 star reviews" **because opinions are so much better than advertising**
Tendskin + Swisspers = no razor bumps/ ingrown hairs at ALL! armpit bumps gone! Love it.

i heart magic eraser, too!

ooh thanks for the list.

i'm going to have to try the colorstay. i've been wary and also because i used to spend on beauty aids what i now spend in yarn i've got a "stash" of beauty aids to work through. which is why i can't possibly try the occitane products you've listed until I USE UP ALL OF THE CRAP I ALREADY HAVE!!!

i love online banking. hate writing checks. but the clicking, i can do. and on schedule.

i'm a big fan of the magic eraser too -- i haven't gone green yet. somehow i can't extract myself from the powers of bleach. but the eraser is awesome. and i'm not much of a cleaner.

deadliest catch -- i'll have to check that out, now that summer reruns will be popping up soon, and gilmore girls is over, and they've cancelled veronica mars. sigh. love the perfect storm too. seen the movie many times and even have read the book more than once. and i love me a good fishing village. you'd love the town where my cousins live in france.
and when you come to boston, we'll go to gloucester and have fried clams and squint so that the fishermen look like mark wahlberg and george clooney.

Ok, so I am, like, wuuuuuuuuuuuy down here at the bottom of the comment pile, but I couldn't resist blabbing because I've been tempted to do one of these posts (and frankly take care of my Christmas list by giving away "My favorites" themed gifts) but have never had the nerve to do it.

I won't lie, my obsession with the Magic Eraser concerns me and what if people find out how bad it is and TAKE IT AWAY? Then what?

Anyway, despite the fact that we are strangers in the general world, when it comes to Dangerous Catch (narrated by Mike Rowe, my personal TV crush), Zappos (I have recruited one hundred people to try it. I love it so much. Do you have a Zappos Visa? Oh, I do. You get credit toward future shoe purchases. Yes, it is awesome.) and online banking we are like kindred consumer spirits.

You may have just given me the courage to write a post like this myself. Mostly because I like to tell everyone how smart I am for having found such awesome things.

In case you can't tell, I'm also very humble.

The deadliest catch IS tv crack. It takes just one show and you are hooked (no pun intended)

ok...so i'm relatively new to your blog. but what is it with cats and pooping? i swear my cats do it just because they're bored! but thanks for the tips...as for one of my favorites, clorox wipes. makes cleaning counters, sinks, floors, stoves, EVERYTHING so easy! i don't think i'd ever clean my kitchen without them

Oh, my gosh! My husband and I watch Deadliest Catch every week. I swore we were the only ones...

I just tried Heavy Duty Magic Erasers - love them! They last much longer than regular ones and you should see my stove!

I love Zappo's. I could own 300 pairs of shoes, if it didn't cut into my everything else budget!

Burt's Bees lip balm is awesome. I am addicted to it. put it on about 16 times a day!

Orbit makes a new mint mojito gum, that is pretty good. :) I can pretend I am having a cocktail whenever I choose.

And I simply adore peanut Butter Kit Kats.

Laurie,
I already sent you some of my favorite things from here- did you get them yet?

ALSO.. My favorite pickles in the world are: Mt. Olive Old fashioned Bread and Butter pickles. I love them so much- that I buy 2-3 jars and hand-carry them (and they get heavy being hauled around) on the plane.. for the flight every summer from NC to Seoul, South Korea. It's always sad when I eat the last pickle.. sigh...

THIS is a company in NC- but, they are found in other states. I discovered them first in OKLAHOMA.

Someone please compile all these into list.

Lets if I can add, I already saw a couple of my favorites:

-Rosebud Salve (we called it Rosita and I remember when it was .25 cents)
-Cetaphil skin cleanser, used it on my babies because they had sensitive skin and Cetaphil bar soap for me
-Stridex Triple Action Acne Pads With Salicylic Acid, good for acne at all ages.
-Dental Flossers (my son asked me to remind him to buy these when he moves out)
-Almaden, Box of Cabernet Sauvignon (always in the fridge)
-Diet 7-Up, goes well with wine or whiskey
-Color Stay foundation and lip color, it stays
-Cococare, 100% Cocoa Butter, The Yellow Stick, smells good enough to eat

I'm sure I will remember more as soon as I hit Post.

this was so fun! i love reading what other people use and enjoy. my favorites: burt's bees lip balm. i have some stored in every possible location.(my kids and husband steal it on a regular basis) i also loved L'Occitane ultra moisturizing care with sunscreen. i use that for my face everyday. love it! and diet dr. pepper!! yum! ( and the kids don't like it! Hooray for me!!)

I dont watch Deadliest Catch (ducking!) but I do LOVE Discovery Channel. My favorite show on that channel has to be Mythbusters. Gotta love a show where they regularly blow things up with C4 or a mystery concoction of cottonballs and various unknown chemicals.

I also have some weird fascination for shows about engineering failures, or nautical disasters. Everytime a show about the Andrea Doria, or the White Star ships (Titanic, Brittanic) comes on, I'm there with my Tivo and a ball of yarn and crochet hooks or knitting needles.

Products that I love...

New socks. One of my great loves is brand new terrycloth socks. (crew) Lately I've been enjoying Gold Toe socks.

Ho-Ho's. I love Ho-Ho's. Nothing better than opening up a box and eating a Ho-Ho or a dozen. (ok, I dont actually eat the whole box in one sitting)

Brand new t-shirts...especially Hanes Beefy-T's that can be bought in the men's department at WalMart. I have so many t-shirts that I can probably have 2 months worth of shirts. Just got a new one last night in pale green.

My Royal yarn winder. OHMYGOSH! How did I go for 30+years of crocheting (been crocheting since I was 6) without buying a yarn winder? It's so fun to just sit and wind yarn.

I use the exact same lip gloss- same color even. It is the best ever!

I must come back soon and read through everyone's recommendations!

My fave color of the Colorstay is Everlasting Rum. I swear if they discontinue it I might have a(nother) nervous breakdown.

forgot! also love susanne's rosewood needles! i've been knitting lace and these needles are perfect and beautiful! they are made from scraps of musical instruments. i love that too! the thought that i might be knitting with a sister piece of a violin or cello? very fun!

I am back. I forgot to tell you that I like www.endless.com better than Zappos because the shipping is NEGATIVE $5. Plus, like Zappos, returns are free. LOVE IT.

I found some generic Magic Erasers at my dollar store [much cheaper!] AND THEY WORK JUST AS WELL!

Thank God You're Here is a funny new show and The Office is OMG laugh out loud funny and My Name is Earl [and yummy Jason Leigh... drool]and my guilty pleasure is Dr. G.

And since I love Laurie's cat pics I also found this site: http://icanhascheezburger.com/

"The Deadliest Catch"! Yay! Rocks! We like... Yes, yes.

...

Sorry for the weirdness. :S

HOW did I forget to mention icanhascheezburger.com?! I loooooove it. Such a good pick-me-up!

Y'all, I really am thinking about starting a My Favorite Things blog. Whaddya think?

I love honest product recommendations. The Almond Shower oil sounds perfect for my mom, I'm going to bookmark it for later when I need to buy birthday gifts. Thanks!

Other Ruth, I swear I actually walk around in my house telling my cats they "can has cheeseburgers if they good" because ... why? why has that stuck with me...? Yet I love it, too.

I was going to chime in to say that another best thing about "Deadliest Catch" is Mike Rowe's voice. But I see I'm not the first to say so. He definitely gets another vote from me!

Also, it really is fun to say.

"I can has cheeeeeseburger..."

1. Burt's Bees Parsley Blemish Stick for well uh...blemishes. Works wonders.

2. Oxi Clean for stains (laundry)

3.MAC "Studio Fix" for a face powder/foundation thingy

(great idea, Laurie!!)

"raindrops on roses
and whiskers on kittens..."

Wow I would tell you about how much in common we have and how great I think you are, but just sounds too stalker-ish so uh..nevermind. Moving on, I also love Deadliest Catch and I can't explain it. I don't like crabs and I hate the cold, I do love being out on the water though. I go to church with a lovely older couple, they have a son who lives on one of the remote islands in that area of Alaska. And They told me that they go out to those docks sometimes. And Even Know Some Of The Captains And Crew, including the wonderful Sig and his brothers. I am still working out how I can insinuate myself into one of their Alasken vacations without giving off the above mentioned stalker-ish vibes.
Another love : Burt's Bees. I'm working on the full collection, but their hand cremes, lotions and body wash are wonderful and all natural.I have freakishly sensitive skin, so it's nice have good products that are paraben and phthlate free.

I remember stopping in Fort Bragg during my 1-week camping trip along the Nor Cal coast a few years ago. I got some ice-cream from a little shop inside the Rite Aid there. Nice town. Good memories.

I love your *advertising*! I like knowing what you like so I can go get it and pretend I'm as cool as you -- but not in a weird stakerish way -- in a flattering way :) Like for example, I didn't buy the cat liter and try to force my little dog to use it..see? not wierd at all.
On an unrelated note, I've been inspired by your healthy money attitude! My 32 years on the planet have spent mostly avoiding money, money talk, etc....to the point that I'm further in debt than is healthy. I decided it was time to put my big girl panties on and deal with it! So, I've printed out my bank statements and I've been charting where my money goes...very informative -- and scary!
next, I'm setting up a budget which I have never before had in my life! thanks, laurie!

Delurking to offer this link http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/
as happy-making. I may not be rich and famous, but at least I know how to dress myself.....

Hi, Laurie!

I enjoy reading your blog everyday... I don't comment because I figure you get hundreds of them and its too much to keep up - BUT, then you have to go and post that picture of Iceland. It is my favorite vacation I have been on... When I saw the pic, I knew where it was before I even read the post!

Thank you for helping me to re-live the memory!

Amanda

Oh my god, Deadliest Catch is the ONE show my boyfriend and I agree on. Because otherwise I'm like "We should watch Ugly Betty! Or House! Or Little People, Big World!" and he says "Um, no. Didn't the TiVo record some golf for me?" But if we have "Deadliest Catch" recorded, we are both happy.

TiVo is obviously the thing that has saved our relationship...because when he's not around, I can still watch Ugly Betty and House and Little People, Big World. And when I'm not home, he can watch golf. I still don't understand the appeal of golf, but he likes it, so what the heck.

I can't say I've ever seen Deadliest Catch, but a friend mentioned it the other day and I thought, wow, that does not sound like the kind of thing I'd be interested in. but holy crap Aunt Purl, I am madly in love with Iceland and I've never even been there! and I'm going to be studying abroad in Denmark! so I'll have to check it out.

what is with the fascination with fishing towns? I'm not criticizing anyone, because I love them too, but there's no rational explanation for it. for me, anyway. I think the movie "Local Hero" is what got me hooked on them. there's something about the weather and the quaintness and they just seem lovely.

can anyone recommend a good teeth whitener? I've tried Crest Whitestrips and they made my gums hurt (?).

my favorites:
The Office - Pam Beesley has been quite personal growthy recently
Piroulines - the perfect little sweet with afternoon tea
Weight Watchers Strawberry Banana Smoothies - oh my goodness. so tasty. and I don't even like yogurt
Maybelline Express Finish Nail Color in Red Comet - it's red and glittery and makes you feel like a rock star

I am a freak for Deadliest Catch too! Glad to know there are more in the world who love it.

I see someone else already mentioned The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. I loved that book and it made me want to move to Newfoundland. I can see you there, kissing a cod!! (Rite of passage up there.)

I'm taking too many notes to give a thorough response, but I love ...

Burt's Bees Royal Jelly Eye Cream, but not for my eye area--for my lips!

My loofah fiber washcloth.

My bamboo DPNs for socks (I don't drop stitches nearly as much as I used to!)

Living in walking distance of three terrific coffee places with different vibes. Also two parks (so I can take my kids to play and sit on the bench and knit).

Stargate SG-1 (on DVD--I don't get cable).

The Internet!!!

I did not notice if anyone mentioned possible dating a member of the United States Coast Guard. The men in the Coast Guard seem to have all of your requirements and they are always stationed near the ocean even if they fly. So, when you are interested in dating keep you eyes open.

Patricia, I will take that advice, INDEED.

:) laurie

You might like Strahan in Tasmania. OK it is only a small fishing, oops *tourist* village but you can go out to the coast and be all stormtossed even in the best weather (it being in the roaring 40s and all)

I agree about Magic Eraser and Colorstay lipstick. Would die without them both.

Other favorites are:
House help: SpotBot (1 puppy, 3 cats and 3 kids... I needed floor help!)
Cleaning: Method cleaning products
Hair: Potion 9 anti-frizz stuff for hair
Face: Olay Regenerist moisturizers
Perfume: Lily of the Valley perfume from Crab.&Ev.
Food: Fish tacos from Blue Parrot on Catalina (so glad Avalon was spared!)
Place to people watch *and* shop: Riverwalk in San Antonio
TV show: "Ugly Betty"
Online service: Paperbackswap.com (if you go sign up, tell them crredwards@gmail.com sent you!)
Cat butt pacifier: Litter Maid automatic box

I could seriously go on about this stuff. I'm the crazy woman who has used every brand of butter on the market and now buys only one because its melting point is perfect for the cooking I do.

I'm a shaklee fan too. Wish I could remember to take the supplements nearly as often as I use the cleaning products...

And I love that picture of you in Iceland. Go back. If you ever get the chance for a "do-over", do it every time!

Laurie,

OMG!!! I looooooove Taurino's tacos! Carne asada and al pastor, pleeeeennnty of pico de gallo and salsa, both red and green! I live in Virginia now, but I used to live in San Diego and visit my best friend in L.A., and she would always take me to Taurino, as well as this place that has pastrami chicken-half a small chicken, covered in pastrami spice and roasted, atop a bed of curly fries-I can't remember the name of that place, but memories! Aahhhh! Yum. And you could eat 3 or 4 for a meal and not fel like a pig. Next best thing to Tijuana tacos!

I also loves me a magic eraser. I don't know what is in them, and I don't care. Instantly clean walls. And at a reasonable price- it eats scrubbing and/or painting. So thanks for making me hip to the magic eraser!

Will definitely have to try the after shower oil and have already tried the lipstick and it does rock on the lips for hours.

I have to recommend a find on Ebay that I've been using for about 6-7 years now. It's called Carly's Clear and Smooth. It's a face wash for acne that is soooo good. I forgot it while on vacation and broke out horribly. One bottle lasts forever and no, I don't know the seller, just use the product.

Also, the Downy ball thingy that you fill with Downy and throw in the washer. I somehow knows when to open. (Kinda like the fridge light when the door closes thing).

Love Deadliest Catch too! Also, Little People Big World.... it's pretty good too!

If crushing on the Hanson brothers is wrong, than I don't ever want to be right.

Never thought my husband's favorite show would quickly become mine for the fisherman eye candy!

OMG I love Deadliest Catch!!!! And we were JUST talking about that show at my SNB last night. (Freaky!)

Hey did you hear about that Alaska cruise line that ran aground a couple of days ago? Guess who was the first to arrive on the scene? Blake!!! How much do you love???

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/deadliestcatch/bios/bios_02.html

I love:

Trembach reisling. YUM. Best summer wine ever.
Watermelon.
Redken All Soft shampoo (curly/dry hair)
The Tour de France. It's gripping. And France!
Uniball micro black pens.
Folex carpet cleaner. A miracle product.
Alaska. We have it all. Cold, fishermen, knitting. Who needs more?

"Little People, Big World" is definitely a great show! So is "Jon and Kate Plus Eight"...oh my lord, eight kids! The cuteness quotient is almost overwhelming. lol "Monk" and "Psych" are another couple of my favorite shows, and "Ugly Betty" is faboo (season finale tonight! eek!).

I also gotta say that using Photoshop and collecting pictures of cats/kittens make me happy, as does cooking "with" either Alton Brown or Rachael Ray. Science and cooking! Awesome! Dinner in 30 minutes! Cool!

And Judi is right - the Downy ball totally rocks, too.

Did I mention writing? Writing stuff is the BEST!

Delurking to share my newest favorite lip products! (Though neither of them are actually new.) As far as long lasting lipstick, MAC Pro Longwear Lipcolor is fantastic - a bit expensive, but it's seriously awesome. Lasts forever, doesn't feel funny, replaceable gloss end.. Too bad they stopped making my color.
Benetint lip stain is great too, if you want more sheer color that lasts a long time. Revlon makes some cheaper stains, but application seems a bit tricky.
And I love the Magic Eraser!

I just Netflixed Deadliest Catch. Can't wait! The rest of the family may actually commit me this time.

Charles Shaw - why must you only live at Trader Joe's? I miss you...since I moved away, I try to get my hands on that stuff every chance I get. At $3/bottle...it's the best wine ever!!!

Wet n Wild Lip Liner #666 - sounds evil, but looks angelic on everyone!

Magic Wand stain stick - sold at fabric stores - removes EVERYTHING!

Things I can't live without:

-Tide to Go Pen - I spill coffee and food over the front of my blouses on almost a daily basis. This little pen really does the trick so I don't look like such a geek every afternoon.

-Rusk Being Gutsy Hair Thickener - I'm amazed what a difference this product makes. I used it when I had straight hair to give it a little more body and now I'm using it with a perm to make the curls prettier.

-Wellpatch Migraine Pad (formerly Migraine Ice) - Whenever I feel a headache coming on, I slap one of these on my head and take a couple of Exedrine (another product I love - it has Tylenol, aspirin and caffeine for quick pain relief) and I can usually "head" it off before it gets too painful.

-Vaseline Hand & Nail - very non-greasy and helps strengthen my thin fingernails

1. Tide Stick - helps stains avoid becoming stains

2. Purell - travel sized bottles of hand sanitizer

3. Bulan (formerly Busaba) Vegetarian Thai - I'm not a vegetarian and this place is goooooooooooooood! (love their "chicken" sate)
(corner of Melrose and La Brea)

4. PINKBERRY FROZEN YOGURT
(corner of Melrose and La Brea and many more locations....including one going in @ Farmer's Market!!!!!! Knitting and pinkberry....stop it!)

(the yogurtiness factor is currently at the heart of a lawsuit....but I don't care....so yummy...and non fat.....of course, I write that and think about a certain Seinfeld episode, but I do live on the stuff and continue to succeed in my quest for losing weight)

Well I have to say DH and I have been big fans of Deadliest Catch since it first started airing. One of the few shows we actually agree on. And you're right, perfect knitting show. :)

oh wait......how could i forget??!?!

Wi to the Fi !!!!!!!

OMG, I have the BIG love for the L'Occitane and The Deadliest Catch. My husband thinks I'm a little odd for the last one! I grew up in So. Cal and used to love to go to San Pedro and sit on a big hill with a cliff overlooking the bay and watch big ships. I miss the ocean so much now that I live in Seattle, that I go on vacation to my home town so I can by by the beach!

I'll have to try that Colorstay lipstick! And hey, you go on and review away---If The Oprah can do it, then so can you---at least I know I'll be able to afford the stuff you review!! :)

My favorite shows are Miami Ink and Dog the Bounty Hunter. I have no tattos and I am not a felon. Go figure.

I think I may have been at that same Icelandic fishing village.

I need to try feliway. My cat is so jumpy and nervous these days that I need prozac.

I wear TerraTints lip balm in place of lipstick. It tastes minty, conditions your lips and leaves a nice color. I think you can get it at Whole Foods.

We actually stayed in out hotel room in Jamaica last year at our wedding/honeymoon to watch Deadliest Catch when it was on.

A really wonderful product is bumble and bumble thickening spray. It makes fine hair thick and you can comb it and run your fingers through it all day without flattening it.