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.

TOTAL crack, that Deadliest Catch show. We go out to my boyfriend's parent's house on weekdays to wash clothes (don't ask...poor college grad) and that show comes on and I don't even hear the buzzer for the dryer. And Mike Rowe's voice just makes me all quivery inside, so manly he is. :D I love that show and just thought I was a little nutzo to like it so much since I assume their market is more manly men.

I also like the show, Future Weapons and Mythbusters. :D

Yay for Discovery Channel crack! :D

When you eat popcorn at the movie it will make the lipstick flake off. Don't know why but it always does.

Good topic CAP - I'm going to have to hunt down some more Burt's Bees products, I see.

My faves:

My Roomba robot vac - it picks up our three dogs' hair really well on our low-pile carpeting and hardwood floors;

Sirius satellite radio;

My car - a '96 Honda Accord wagon that is about turn over 260,000 miles. This car has never needed a repair that wasn't because of it's age, or mechanic's error (one brake job has been really screwed up).

TJMaxx - fun to shop in, you never know what they'll have, which reminds me of -

Tea - Ahmad's Earl Grey, found on occasion at TJM. Not too much bergamot like Twining's.

Favorite teapot for loose tea - Adagio Tea's IngenuiTEA;

Pepsi One (Diet Pepsi is way too sweet for me).

Elmore-Pisgah (www.elmore-pisgah.com) - I just discovered you can order their Peaches & Cream cotton yarn direct from their website for cheap - and you get it FAST. I placed an online order Sunday night and it arrived yesterday (Wednesday). AWESOME. AND all of their colors appear to come on cones, if you should so desire (which I do). YAY!

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

(Oh, and about jklneedles.com (towards the top) - I ordered 3 different times from them, and never got any of the orders, nor any response to my e-mails (I was never charged either).)

I'm soooo cranky and your post made me smile :) Thanks and I'm so going to try the lip gloss.

de-lurking here.

Hi!

First I have to say that reading your blog is one of the highlights of my day. I'm not sure what that really says about me, LOL, but your blog always makes me smile and I wanted to say thank you for that.

Second...wanted to share some of my happy things.

Burts Bees lipbalm...can't get enough of that stuff.

Mary Kay's hand stuff. The one where you use the overnight cream, then the buffing cream, then the cleaning stuff and finally the hand cream. I've never found anything that makes my hands feel so soft without making them oily and slippery. LOVE this stuff.

My birdfeeders. Yea, I'm too young to be this "into" feeding the birds, but I love watching the cardinals come to my feeders, and the goldfinches and woodpeckers and all the other birds that frequent my yard. I even had an Indigo Bunting last year, which was a huge treat since I've never seen one before. There's something relaxing about watching them. My parents feed the birds (and squirrels and apparently other random wildlife...) and I tell them all the time that their backyard is better than anything on tv. One night my Mom put out a random assortment of "stuff" (cheese-its, hardboiled egg, peanut butter on old bread...told you it was random) and looked outside about 1/2 hour later and saw a neighborhood cat sitting in the pile of food eating a hardboiled egg. You just can't help but laugh. ;)

OMGOMGOMG.... I LOVELOVELOVE Deadliest Catch!! Oh man, can't you just see Blake all sweaty and having to take his shirt off?!? YeeeeeHaaaaaw!! "I'm a cowboy" indeed!!

I love Deadliest Catch too! I miss my cable so bad.

The best part is the sexy hot narrator Mike Rowe. I would do that man's laundry any day, and I don't do my own laundry.

I looked for an email address to write to you but could not find one so I am going to post a comment to you instead.

I just spent the last hour + reading through some of your earlier posts...and I was mesmerized. Not only is your writing incredibly honest...but it is filled with poignancy as well as humor.

I am a 58 year old new grandma and found myself divorced 5 years ago after 31 years of marriage!!!
Daunting doesn't even begin to describe what it was like...

After reading through some of what you went through-- I could so relate to so much of your emotional turmoil...When I have more time I plan to continue reading your earlier posts until I see where your journey of healing and moving on has taken you.

I will end by saying that my life is full and good now...a new grandchild, a wonderful relationship with a man for the last 4 years...a better sense of myself....etc. and I never thought that I would be able to say that.

I hope that you are in a good place now, too.
Take care : )

I just noticed that my comment came up with the name: "brandilion" instead of "Grammie"?!! Strange...I'm not sure how that happened?

My site is http://awaitingbuddha.blogspot.com

...come visit sometime... : )

So...not having cable, thank you Terri for pointing out that one can "Netflix" Deadliest Catch.

Trader Joe's:
Yes! "Charles Shaw" Chardonnay for moi.
Yes! Lavender Salt Scrub--so cheap and so good for making smooth heels for summer sandals.
And Yes! Yes! for Chocolate Covered Almond Clusters.

Well, of course you love small fishing towns. I thought that was a Cancerian thing. Because my mom and I? Neither of us can imagine living in a place in which we are far from the ocean. And we love exploring those little towns. Speaking of which, now that the weather is nicer, I think it's time for me to hit 1 some weekend and drive through Marin and Sonoma counties. I might even get crazy enough to keep going up into Mendocino county.

Um, I love Sun-In.

OK. I have found my home. I figured we were somehow related, but this ices it. Deadliest Catch is the best show EVER! Manly men that do manly jobs. While Jon Bon Jovi sings about it. Gotta love it. I can't decide between Sig or Jonathan. (I'm sure they are up all night worrying about it.) Can you imagine the surreal life that those men must be living right now? Crab fishermen who lived in obscurity doing a dangerous job now have women in the lower 48 states wondering how to get to Dutch Harbor.

I have told my friends, look: Just because I don't like to eat crab, I can't swim, I get seasick, I don't like the cold and I can run a bit high-maintenance and Dutch Harbor probably doesn't have a Four Seasons, I see NO REASON why a relationship wouldn't work out given the chance.

A girl can dream.

I must admit that I had no idea that the first two seasons were out on DVD. (you learn so much on these blogs.) There's a purchase I must make.

Along with the lipstick.

I also agree with brandilion about Mike Rowe. Laundry and all.

I digress. My favorite things:

1. Purchasing books. Thank God for librarys or I would be bankrupt.

2. My roomba vacuum cleaner

3. Clinique lipstick: Glow Bronze and Bamboo Pink

4. Starbux Grande Non-Fat Latte

5. Eli's Cheesecake

6. Any deep dish pizza made in the City of Chicago. Giordano's pizza is my favorite, however. They ship all over the country. (Get your visas ready: http://www.giordanos.com/ )

We may be nerds, but there seem to be a whole hell of a lot of us. I can see the marketers now: women who knit and love fishermen...who knew??

TerraTint lip balm; less goopy than Burt's Bee's lip balm and is sheer, mint-flavored, and has SPF of 18 or something like that. LOVE IT.

I have a weird thing with the ocean and fishing boats too! The North Atlantic, not the pretty blue ocean in the south (though it definitely has its good points.)
I even went to Gloucester last June just to see the Fisherman's Memorial. Though I do have to say, I have lots of fishermen in my family, and none of them look like George Clooney or Marky Mark. The guy who played Bugsy looked about right, though.
If you've never been there, Nantucket is a great place for people like us to visit. It has a very interesting whaling history, and the house porn there just blew my mind.

1. Paul Gross - star of the series Due South (quirky, funny, intelligent, snarky cop show, pokes fun at America *and* Canada), on DVD; the hilarious curling (yes, I said curling and hilarious, trust me) movie Men With Brooms; and umpteen other things. Drop. Dead. Gorgeous. Nice. Hellaciously smart. Canadian actor, producer, writer, singer, and director. Yay Canada! Thank you kindly. (And his co-stars on DS, first David Marciano, then Callum Keith Rennie, ain't to be sneezed at, either.)

2. The Sentinel - Richard Burgi (plays tall, alpha, snarky, ex-Army Ranger, dry-witted and muscly DDG cop with blinding smile; also Susan's ex on Desperate Housewives) and Garett Maggart (plays shorter, long-curly-haired, mouth to die for, talkative, brainy and totally cute anthropologist), ohmigawdthudwhatasandwich! Alas, only first season on DVD as yet 'cause it wasn't a big hit... One of the best eyecandy buddy cop shows ever. Ok, cop who's got enhanced senses, and anthropologist who's studying/helping him, buddy shows. ;)

3. Netflix. 'Cause I can't afford both cable TV and--

4. Broadband, at long last. Speeeed!

5. KnitPicks yarn prices. Especially the Bare lines for dyeing yourself. Cheaper than spinning it, even.

6. Denise interchangeable knitting needle sets. 30+ years, 3 sets, I'm obsessive about these needles.

7. When feeling decadent, Safeway's Select cheesecake - plain. Who needs the Cheesecake Factory?

8. The Oregon/Washington coasts. You want dramatic scenery, drive on up 101, where the Coast Range mountains fall straight into the Pacific a goodly stretch of the way. (101 is no longer a competitor to the road to Hana for narrowest, windy coast road with cliffs that tourists are most likely to get killed on; they improved it. [g] Just don't drive too slow, you might get a ticket in OR for... going too slow. Seriously.) You want a harbor? Depoe Bay - the world's smallest, totally enclosed by solid rock with one narrow entrance, up in the northern half of the OR Coast. Take a whale-watching cruise just to have the fun of going in and out of the harbor. Plus there's the Tillamook Cheese Factory with Cheese of the Gods (Tillamook Black Label Extra Sharp Cheddar) and samples, wineries all over, the Cannon Beach Bakery, ditto the Cannon Beach Sand Castle competition and all the artsy stuff there, and scads more. Plus did I mention the incredible scenery? And the beaches are all practically deserted compared to other places. Really. (Ok, sometimes it's because you'd need ropes and pitons to *get* to the beach, or because it's cold and/or raining, but still. Plus coastal beaches in OR are all public land.)

9. Powell's City of Books in Portland, Heaven on Earth for booklovers, biggest independent new/used bookstore in the world, open 365 days a year as well as online. (powellsbooks.com) Takes up an entire city block. Not counting, of course, the satellite stores. They have *maps* of the main store. You literally need one. I'd move in if I could. Trade your unwanted books in for credit and go nuts. Or just go nuts.

10. Fire Mountain Gems (firemountaingems.com), humongous bead/jewelry supplier in OR (no sales tax!) that sells wholesale to the public. Very, very dangerous.

11. No, I do not work for the Oregon State Tourism Bureau. [g]

Okay, for all you Mike Rowe fans:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Rowe_(television_host)

We get Deadliest Catch in Taiwan, but so many of our cable shows here are dead shows in the US that I assumed it was long gone back home. So glad I can keep up on things this summer while we're back.

My vote for all-day lip color: Almay TLC (Truly Lasting Color). I haven't tried any others, so I can't compare, but it lasts long enough (8 hours) without my needing to fuss with removing it at bedtime. The gloss is okay, a little thick, but not gritty.

L'Occitane used to carry a sweet lemon shower cream (sweet is part of the name, not an adjective - heehee). I got the last bottle in existence last summer, I believe. I'll have to look for the almond one now (mmm... almond).

I LOVE Cetaphil cleanser, and also their spf 15 facial moisturizer. Not expensive, very light, absorbs quickly. Used it for years.

L'Oreal AirWear foundation compact. It's between a powder and a cream, goes on easily, smooths out your blotchiness but is SO light. I love it, esp. here in the subtropics.

I'm a twice-a-week shampooer, so Pantene's Milky Treatment (okay, this is its name in Taiwan -- I'm guessing they don't call it the same in the states) is perfect: it cleans in one wash, leaves my hair silky, but not heavy or greasy. It's perfect for days afterwards.

And I love me my Oral-B electric toothbrush! Dentists here don't really clean your teeth -- they just brush them for you and shine a funky blue light in your mouth for 3 minutes -- so I NEED to be my own hygienist. Can't live without it.

Love all the suggestions! Can't wait to get back to Shopping Land and fill my suitcases this summer!

I loved Iceland! Icelandair has the best deals for flights. And someone else mentioned the Blue Lagoon - my skin was smooth for weeks after I spent an afternoon there. Laurie, do go back. I went by myself and had a lovely time, took day tours to amazing places. One was the spot where the techtonic plates of North
America and Europe are moving apart - you walked down the crack between the two!

Big love for Deadliest Catch. Also the Tour de France, because there's great drama in those bike races. Related to that last is Phil Liggett, who commentates (I just KNOW that is a word) for bicycling and he gets so excited he just cracks me up.

Love Bare Escentuals makeup. Adagio Tea. eebeads.com if you are interested in that sort of thing...they specialize in small quantities, so you don't have to start out with a big investment if you're not sure you're into the beading thing. My Mac makes me smile every time I open it up, which is several times a day. Cetaphil. Angels on Bare Skin cleanser from Lush (actually, just Lush in general, they make me pretty happy).

There's more stuff, but apparently I have to leave to go to dinner RIGHT NOW. :P

Someone commented on popcorn making that lipstick flake off? I bet it's because of the oil in the popcorn...the Colorstay stuff is best removed with something oil-based, and the popcorn has oil in it, so it's just doing that.

OMG-I love the L'Occitane Almond Shower gel and the creamy colored almond spray that goes with it. I ran across this by accident in N.C. and am addicted. I second the Dyson-who knew we were so dirty. Also- Addi turbo needles. P.S. I love the old post about how you never saw a movie, I too never saw a movie, they had late movies where we lived, didn't start until midnight, perfect excuse in high school to stay out until 0200 am.

I LOVE Deadliest Catch too. It's great TV. And the Northwestern catches alot of fish!

Omigoodness, I feel like you just wrote a favorite thing article for moi! Mr. Clean is my main squeeze with his Magic Erasers. A true OCD gals delight. I cannot tolerate naked lips and must have lipstick nearby at all times. Revlon Colorstay has made it possible to not go into a panic attack or nervously reapply every 10 minutes. My favorite show, Deadliest Catch. I go to Fort Bragg every year. LOVE it. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and letting me know I'm not alone!

Yep, I love Deadliest Catch too. Found it late one night when my hot flashes were keeping me awake. Boy howdy! That cold sea spashing really helped cool me off. :)

Wow! This is a goldmine of great things!

For knitters: Bryspun are my favorite needles. The points are the best for lace knitting (or if you plan to increase or decrease anywhere in the project). They're slightly flexible, and warm to the touch, and easy on your hands.

The Royal ballwinders are great, too. AC Moore has them for about $36, and this week (through Tuesday) they have a 50% off coupon available, which makes it a real bargain.

I have allergies to everything and get most of my "beauty" products from The Vitamin Shoppe. For after bath/shower moisturizing, try TwinLabs NAPCA spray- on liquid. Towel off and spray yourself. You won't feel anything at all on your skin, or smell anything, either. You'll just be covered in healthy, luscious skin. During the winter, this stops the dry itchies dead.

For hand lotion, I like Jason's NAPCA. Their apricot shower gel is super, too.

If my hands are really in bad shape, after the hand lotion, I put on some cream from Ulta that they usually have around Thanksgiving that's scented with cranberry.

Maybe someone out there can help. Years ago, Love Cosmetics used to make an apricot-scented shampoo that made my hair curly. I loved it! It was, bar none, the best shampoo I've ever used. Then they stopped making it.

Eventually, I found Wash & Curl Shampoo (not to be confused with Wash N Curl Shampoo). This is a shampoo that says it will make your hair curly, and it does. Not as well as Love's, but good.

The problem is that I can't buy it locally anymore. Does anyone know of a good curl-producing shampoo? That actually works?

Recently, I discovered canned chicken packed in water. WalMart has the best price on this. Drain it like canned tuna and add mayo and whatever for great chicken salad.

Also add this to 2 or 3 cans of undiluted cream of chicken soup, heat, add the same amount of Minute Rice (use the can to measure). Cover for 5 minutes, stir, and you have a yummy side dish.

My favorite place by the water is le Mont St. Michele on the Northern coast of France. It's the most wonderful town that's barely stepped out of the Middle Ages, and it' surrounded by rhe English Channel when the tide comes in. OK, so it's not the ocean, and they don't do a lot of fishing, but it's great!

Guess what?!?!?! I saw Matt from The Northwestern ship today at Fred Meyer - which is a store kind of like Target. Plus a couple of months ago my hubby ran in to Sig at a grocery store and they talked for about 15 minutes. We tape each show on our DVR. :)

I am always amazed by how many comments you get - wow! You are so popular.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your favorites. I might have to do a post like this in the next few days too.

BTW - I love online banking and your cats are adorable.

Lip Balm - C.O.Bigelow Mentha lip balm stick is the BEST!!!! Can't go to sleep without it! For dishes I love Earth-Friendly Dishwashing liquid in the Pear scent -- it is heavenly so I don't mind doing dishes at all(much)! Laundry detergent - Seventh Generation is great and doesn't harm the environment either! Can I use more exclamation points!!!

I have been helplessly, hopelessly in love with Deadliest Catch since it first came on. I love Captain Phil. I think he is a closet Cajun -- for God's sake, the name of his boat is Cornelia Marie and I have never heard that particular name further than an hour's drive from Lafayette or Carencro.

Seriously, you pegged it: Manly jobs! Boats! Dangerous weather! Fish-finding radar! A place that is never insanely hot! Men who need knitted things! More boats! Fishing! Danger! Mike Rowe talking! And not only that but it's a contest for who can catch the most crabs! More danger! And also you get to watch them cook sometimes, which is important to any Southerner. Doesn't matter WHAT they are cooking.

And because I am a Southerner, not only can I fish, but I can sit and knit and watch OTHER PEOPLE FISH ON TV.

Deadliest Catch is the best knitting show EVER!!! And as one of my friends says, "Captain Sig can give me crabs anytime!"

Yup, go take back Iceland! I'll go with you!

And I love online banking. Especially the automatic bill paying part.

what about gilmore girls? or is it still too early? *sob*

I'm not so much with the big burly fishermen but I do love icy windswept oceans (my dream vacation is an arctic cruise on an icebreaker) and am completely jealous that you've been to Iceland.

LOVE harbor towns! Want to visit Cornwall but am afraid I will become an expatriot and never return. I live near a very small harbor on the east coast, but other people's harbors are always way more interesting.

Product warning to any moms out there. Rainbow Hair Detangler works fine but smells like gas station bathroom disinfectant. Ew.

Dez you are too funny! Give me crabs indeed. I forgot another fun thing: the Vermont Country Store catalog (more stuff than in their website, I think). A trip down memory lane, plus some "hey, that's a pretty good idea". Plus they will track down (and sometimes have re-created) stuff that isn't made anymore.

Hi Laurie, and everyone else. I can't comment on Deadliest Catch, as I don't have cable. And with one small toddler we PBS it all day long. :) My favorite things:
Tea- PG Tips. One bag is perfect for a 16oz mug.
Cookies-I cannot live without Anna's Ginger thins. They're perfect with tea.
Lip Balm-Coppertone Kids SPF 30. Used to be marketed under the name Little Licks, but it's the same stuff. The only place I can find it is online, though.
Food-Smuckers All Natural Creamy Peanut Butter (sigh)
Body Lotion-St. Ives 24 Hour Moisture Lotion. We moved up here to northern New York (from Savannah, GA no less!) two years ago, and my skin has been in itchy agony since. Of course, I've been pregnant the whole time we've been here, so that might have something to do with it. Either way, my skin is much happier with this lotion, and it does last all day through the constant handwashing associated with toddler-wrangling.
TV Show-Monk. My husband I adore Tony Shaloub, and my parents have been buying us the DVDs for years now.
Yarn-Cestari 2-Ply Wool. It's a great sturdy, basic wool. Affordable and naturally machine washable.
Needles-Clover Bamboo Circulars.
Ok, I'm done. I'll let someone else have a turn now. :)

I'm reading all these wonderful suggestions and comments while idly listening to an unknown show on the travel channel--and suddenly realize that Mike Rowe is narrating! It's World Odysseys, an episode is on the Czech Republic. New dose of Rowe voice!

I started watching Deadliest Catch when I recognized his voice on that show, after watching Dirty Jobs.

Mike Rowe--ear candy (or crack).

www.endless.com

An online shoe store that ships overnight FREE of charge and returns are free as well. Right now they are still offering $5.00 off your order just for buying shoes. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?!?
Plus - they have the cutest shoes. I'm a former Zappos lover but find this website to be WAY better.

I have not met many women who can not miss an episode of Deadliest Catch. I have been watching it since it's inception and I am totally addicted.

If you are interested and didn't know this, the Northwestern sells their merchandise online. I am currently drinking my coffee from a mug that says, "I'm a Sig girl". LOL!

If interested, the website is below:

http://www.fvnorthwestern.com/northwestern.html

Oh goodness...I have a list the length of my arm of stuff I need to try now...and a whole list of my favorites all of you apparently love too! I actually haven't heard of L'Occitane before...I blame living in the middle of freakin nowhere. Anyhow, my favorite, favorite, favorite thing (that nobody has mentioned yet) is BPAL. (http://www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com/bb.html) All their perfumes are made out of plant oils and they're just soooooo yum. After half a year of indifference out of the hubby, I've even got him hooked on wearing it now. Cuz it's all natural stuff in them they smell slightly different on each person...and even their smallest size (an imp) lasts forever cuz you only need the tiniest amount. Pretty sure I'm not ever going to go back to "real" perfume again.

For Laurie and all the folks who love Deadliest Catch...get yourselves to the Discovery Channel website. Many of the boats have their own websites linked to the DC page and they rock. I know someone mentioned the Northwestern's site and yep, they sell EVERYTHING. I'm begging my husband for a Northwestern t-shirt for our one year anniversary (in addition to our Vegas trip). I may just buy it for myself.

I'm such an Edgar girl!

PS - I'm new to reading this blog (and to knitting too!) and just wanted to say I LOVE IT! You are so fun to read. Thanks for making me laugh everyday!

Oh. My. God. I JUST found out that Zappo's ships to Canada! To CANADA! My home! Where I live! I can get shoes delivered TO MY DOOR IN CANADA! Where I live!

Can't talk; gotta order me some shoes. Thank you thank you thank you for clueing me into this phenomenon. It's these little things that make life so much better, particularly when you've had a blowing-chunks month like I am having...

Whoever complained before is a whiner or an idiot. Word-of-mouth recommendations are SO CRITICAL to the modern gal (and guy) who are balancing debt, finances, budgets (or lack thereof) with the desire to see movies, go to restaurants, buy wonderful bath products, and get litter for their cats.

For any pet-owners out there who may have messes to clean up, I swear by "Nature's Miracle" - the orange oxy-clean version is good too. It is fabulous.

And Vasque boots for hiking.

And Jockey underwear.

That's all I can think of right now, except that I long to try the bath soapy oil you mention. YUM!

I just found out I can purchase BAGS of ice from Sonic-the ice is the reason I purchase the Route 44 drink. My son was making fun of me last night because I keep sharing this gem of knowledge.

Revlon ColorStay- you nailed it! When I do wear lipstick, it's my choice. Found it from neighborhood friends who one day showed up at the school bus stop wearing (gasp!) lipstick. Who are these women? I said to my self and then the bus came and their kids ran to the strangers and I
recognized them in the lipsticky disguises...

rambling now... Oh, yeah, I was hooked on (pun intended) the Deadliest Catch there for awhile. The skippers and crew were so interesting.

My realestate agent turned me onto magic eraser and Old English scratch cover- great products.

Now looking for the perfect BRA!

Huge (well size 10) Deadliest Catch fan!! I never miss it or the re-runs!! I read recently that several of the captains are starting a new business http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/042207/hom_20070422039.shtml and wiil be targeting the Alaska Cruise ship tourists. It just won't be the same show without Phil, Sig, Rick and Larry. My favorite is Greg Moncrief and his wife Ragnhild. It was great to see the crew working with Ragnhild on the recent episodes.

As for Mike Rowe...Awesome voice, cool dude, so funny...and heck I might even consider going straight for him!! Nahh, but I do love everything he does!

I too am totally mesmerized by the ocean. I can sit and watch it all day long, just don't ask me to go in it or get on a boat and go out in it. I have a huge fear of water...ie, lakes, rivers and the ocean. My brother-in-law was a king crab fisherman out of Kodiak Alaska. He was killed in a storm at sea a few years ago. It is one of the most dangerous jobs.

I love sharing about products I find that I think are the best....ie, Defurr-UM cat treats.....Soba will love them and you will never have to worry about finding hairballs in your shoes again!

I had time yesterday to pick up the Smith's Rosebud Salve --did a great job on my dry cuticles.

Today I'll buy the Occitane Shower Oil -- anything that helps me get out of bed is worth the $$.

I made a list of the suggestions and now look forward to working my way thru -- one day at a time.

Best column ever, Laurie, thank you!

Oh! I LOVE this topic. Hearing about people's favorite products is the best. Every March I start to get hives of anxiety waiting for InStyle's Best Beauty Buys to come out---it is literally the only magazine I buy all year. I can't wait to try out everyone's suggestions!

Anyway here are some of my favorite products (note: these are not budget friendly, but they are so, so worth it. I sacrifice in other areas to afford these and I often can find cheap trial sizes on ebay.):

Christian Dior Diorskin pressed powder. I have impossibly pale and difficult to match skin that is not as clear as I'd like it to be. This stuff makes it look like porcelain. It is Unbelievably awesome.

Philosophy microdelivery peel. Works miracles on uneven skin.

Bliss Triple oxygen mask. Amazing results in a foamy, fun to use mask.

The entire Murad skincare line. Really gives me hope that I may actually have decent skin for once in my life.

I too love the Magic Eraser and the Deadliest Catch. I can't wait to give your other recommendations a go!

As a mother of four, I can confidently say that Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is the best invention EVER. Except for maybe penicillin.

Also... have you ever been to Bodega Bay? I think you'd really like it. It's in Northern California, on the coast east of Napa county. It's beautiful, has fishing boats and stuff... and the coolest part - it's where Alfred Hitchcock filmed The Birds! You can toodle around the town and see all the places where the crazy birds attacked everybody! Very cool.

i too had no idea there were so many other women 100% obsessed with "deadliest catch" out there. like katie, several bajillion posts above me, i scour fisherman's terminal for hopes of a glimpse of one of the crab boats. i did see sig in a shoestore once, but tried to be cool and pretend i live in new york instad of seattle, where celebrities are just regular people.

sometimes, when things go wrong at work, i narrate the problem out loud, "one thousand miles south of dutch harbor..."

Hey I Get Clean too! I just ordered the starter kit a while ago because I had been buying it bit by bit for the past 15 years and finally everything ran out at more or less the same time. It was so exciting to get the whole package at once, with the bonus cleaning caddy kit. Awesome.

I live in a small fishing town by the way and it's pretty neat. Smelly, at times, but great. People around here ride the ferry in storms for fun...plus there's the added excitement of wondering which island you'll be stranded on when they finally shut the ferry down because the surf is too treacherous.

OK, the lipstick recommendation and review may be the single most important piece of information I've received this decade!

Thanks!!!

(OH, and Trader Joe's has the best almond oatmeal soap on the planet. And it's from TJ's so you know it isn't like a bajillion dollars per bar or something. So, check it out!)

Happy things:
"Fair Trade" coffee (love me some 963missions.com)
and bananas.
Cascadian farms edamame.
Salmon - preferably wild (though it's wildly expensive!) - in any way shape or form.
The library.
Oh, and your blog. ;-)

Happy things:
"Fair Trade" coffee (love me some 963missions.com)
and bananas.
Cascadian farms edamame.
Salmon - preferably wild (though it's wildly expensive!) - in any way shape or form.
The library.
Oh, and your blog. ;-)

I, too, am a fan of the Deadliest Catch! I have two of those little carved wooden sailor figurines on my sailboat. One is in a yellow slicker & so'wester hat - his name is 'Sig', and the other is a peg-leg pirate with an eye-patch - that's 'Hiram'. And Mike Rowe’s smooth voiceover doesn't hurt. That man is sexy, but dang, I know where his hands have been and there isn't enough Purell in the world, if you know what I mean and I think you do. ;-)

I love love love Deadliest Catch - I even watch the reruns!

My product find is the Philosophy Makeup Optional skin care regimen. Oh.My.God. After a few weeks my skin is like my baby daughter's skin - smooth, clear and pretty darn perfect. Sephora stores sell a little kit for like $70 -
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P177317&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=3866

Oh, and the Bare Escentuals (I hate the way they spell that!) works much better when I use Philosophy's The Supernatural Poreless Tinted

My husband used to be one of those fisherman like on Deadliest Catch. It is way cool, it's true. I'm lucky.

I went out last night and bought some 'sheer mocha' based on your recommendation. I am aslo very fair and lipsticks end up looking weird on me too! I love your product reviews. If not for them, I wouldn't be sitting here typing this with pretty lips. Thanks, Crazy Aunt Purl!

Another great place to order Feliway (it works, it works! it's totally worth the money!): EntirelyPets.com -- shipping is a flat $4.95.

Out of five cats three of ours were marking. We installed a Feliway emitter upstairs, one downstairs and *Poof!* it all stopped. It mimics the hormone cats release when they rub their cheeks on things. Oh lordy but it works so well.

The is the first time I have read your blog and thoroughly enjoy it. Will definitely buy the book.

Just want to let you know I used that Cat Attract kitty litter and my kitten was SO attracted to it he ate it. He has never been the same, the vet couldn't pinpoint what caused his illness but I suspect eating the litter wasn't good.

Laurie,

I'm visiting LA from Bellingham (we considered crashing Hollywood knit night but we were way too damn tired) and specifically wanted to make-up shop while here. I must counter your Revlon with the NARS lip glosses... oh my god they are incredibly beautiful and have naughty names like Orgasm. I bought Foul Play last night at the Topanga Sephora and just love it.

Have you been to Taco del Mexico in Oxnard? Again, one of the reasons we vacation down here. It's a little hole-in-the-wall I never would have gone into without being told how damn good it was, and it was! I'll try to check out the other joint this weekend though, if we have time.

I have bought a lot of shoes from Zappos, however I find that they don't have good deals anymore, just selection. For great prices, check out Endless.com (affiliated with Amazon). They have a good selection and really good sales, and they pay YOU for overnight shipping! I keep deleting their emails without opening them so I don't buy as much.....

I'm disappointed that we didn't get the opportunity to foist ourselves on you (because we are SO okay with the foisting, let me tell you) but maybe another time...if you're ever in Seattle drop us a line and we'll show you a good time, good food, good knitting, but I think we're all out of men. At least I can't find any, so I'm thinkin there's a shortage no one bothered to tell me about.

Jen

I can't get enough of the Deadliest Catch and love Sebastian Junger. I loved the book The Perfect Storm and didn't even mind the movie, how bad can it be with Marky Mark and George Clooney?

The Magic Eraser is the greatest invention ever. I don't think it's toxic--I'm not sure what it's made of but I think it can be considered a green cleaning product. At least that's what I tell myself when I pick up four boxes at a time at the Target.

I love it when people recommend their favorite products. Sometimes I want to try something and no one I know has ever used it so when I read how much someone loves a particular item I then have a reason to go buy it.

Ocean/beach spot that I recommend to everyone and anyone: Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. The weather is iffy, even at the height of summer (go 5 miles in any direction and the weather will change), but great. Best part besides the scenery: drive along any road on the island in the later afternoon and look for the signs at the ends of the driveways of community centers, church halls, etc. that say, "Ceilidh Tonight". That means live Cape Breton style fiddle music. Great pulsating stuff that harkens back to the 18th century. So, no waltzes, no schottishes, etc. The charge is usually cheap and the performance lasts for hours. Who knows,you might see Natalie McMaster. If the sign says, "Adult Party" that means live music, but also food and alcohol (Canadian drinking starts at 19, I think). It may also include live dancing as well, depending, though many times, the dances are done on their own in church halls, etc. I went up there for a workshop at the Ceilidh Trail School of Celtic Music. Just phenomenal.
For shoes: I just got a pair of silver (woohoo) Franco Sarto pumps from PiperLime.com that were on sale. They also do free shipping and ship back. The packing is terrific.

If you are not right, then you are in very good company. I adore "The Deadliest Catch"! Some of that must be Mike Rowe's voice, but it is also all that cold water and yummy crab! I think I've been to that same Icelandic fishing village! Very cool!

Hi - if you haven't read them already, you probably will be fascinated by the PATRICK O'BRIAN novels,which the movie Master and Commander staring my favoriate hunk from Australia - RUSSELL CROWE. After I saw the movie, I read all the books - I mean all 20 of them. I have listend to most of them on Audio Books. YOU MUST YOU MUST read - listen to these books - if you love the see you will be enthralled. BEST - HESTER KNITS from Atlanta

Amen to the Online Banking and the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers! How did we survive without them?

And also: Desperate Housewives and Friends on DVD. All those peeps (Monica and Rachel, Brie and Susan) have been my friends (in my own little crazy head) through some hard times.

My fav laundry stuff: Gain Joyful Expressions. Smells. So. Good.

Hey, I was born in a fishing community. I didn't grow up there but most of my family still live there now. The Deadliest Catch is one of my favorite shows as well, I can't wait for opilio season to start.

I don't know why, but when I'm having a shit day and I read your blog, everything seems a little bit better. Thanks for that. :)

Laurie - must share this favorite with you since I know you like cheap undies!!! Fruit of the Loom cotton bikinis in 3 packs at Wal-mart (like $8) - thick cotton, comfy seams in the crotch, no tags, and they totally DON'T ride up - we're talking full booty coverage!

Just so you know it, that hot guy on the Northwestern, I saw him first!
Love The Deadliest Catch! And drop by if you come to Norway!

hmmm ... favorite products.

1. magic eraser
2. sticky pad (on dashboard)
3. girly razor that has wide rubbery grip
4. kiss my face shave lotion
5. jockey for her undies
6. crystal palace 6" dpns

If you put a Lip Stain on BEFORE you apply any of the color stays on forever lipstick you don't get the dry flakey feeling, and it stays on through anything! I've used several brands of lip stain-Urban Decay, Liptini, and eyeko they all work. It just has to be a STAIN. They cost a little more but last forever.
As for green cleaning Mrs. Meyers smells great, I like the Lemon Verbena.

The Target version of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers works just as well, and cheaper!

Another Southern girl here. I am loving all of your favorite things (Boundless Brandy looks really good with fair skin).
My favorite thing in the whole world is Karen Neuberger pajamas. For a long time, I didn't have jammies, I wore t-shirts to bed. Then, I tried these jammies, and I now have an entire pajama wardrobe. You can find them at fancy stores, but I buy mine at TJ Maxx or Marshalls (more money for SHOES!).
Once you try them out, I expect to be elevated to new best friend status. These are some powerful jammies!

Love these recommendations. Don't forget to add these delicious cereal bars to your snack list:
Fiber One --oats and peanut butter

I would be a very crabby lady if I didn't have:

Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream (lips, nails, boo-boos, itchy skin, red noses when you have a cold, ok for kids to use too)Use a little, little bit!
Epicuren Sunscreen - SPF 45. I mix it with my foundation and it adds a little "glow" and lots of protection. It can be worn plain too and it looks good! Expensive tho and it is from a beauty salon.
Red Shoes! Casual, fancy, clogs, sandals. Red shoes make me happy everytime I look down at my very enormous feet!
Kittens - so sweet. (Shelters need foster homes for the little ones, if you have the heart)! They make any day a whole lot brighter.
And I love any day I have time to read email, this blog, and IM my faraway kids!

With all theses ideas whipping around, can someone recommend an organic automatic dishwasher detergent? I tried Planet (or is it called Earth?) and it doesn't work well, particularly on the silverware.

Thanks

I so love the deadliest catch too! I am major addicted to it. I do live in Nova Scotia and my husband is a lobster fishermen, but i seem to be obsessed with the 'Bering Sea'. Fishing here is nothing like fishing in Alaska. No other woman I know shares my enthusiasm for this show, so I was so happy to see you love it too. Umm.. I sound kind of like a loser - but I'm really not!
Love that you visted Nova Scotia. I love it here. There is nothing better than being out on a boat.

The Magic Eraser? Not so good at removing hair dye from one's face/hairline. Well, actually, it's quite good at it, but it also removes the face/hairline. Ask my darling daughter how she knows!

Fort Bragg, CA is the most beautiful place on Earth. We camped there every summer when I was growing up. I love it.

You mentioned audiobooks earlier. You might enjoy The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. It's a lot of fun and his voice is nice to listen to (imo).

Laurie, reading your post fills me with happiness. I appreciate your quirky (you said it first) goodness.
Things that bring me happiness:
1) Red Rose Tea (apparently it's a Canadian thing) If you want to try some just drop me a line.
2) Montreal Bagels - you can even order some online! http://www.stviateurbagel.com/
3) Gel pens (I have very serious pen fetish)
4) Moleskin Journals (http://www.moleskineus.com/)
P.S. Thanks for answering Question 17!
P.S.S. Our neurotic, but beautiful, feline sends a timid "Yeow-llo" to your feline companions.
P.S.S. Nova Scotia wants you back! And you must check out the west coast Gulf Islands (Salt Spring Island) and Tofino on Vancouver Island.

I sat and watched the "Deadliest Catch" marathon last weekend and was extremely entertained! Agree on the hot fisherman and near death experience.

Thanks for the lipstick tip, now to pick MY perfect color.

Mike Rowe is not aware of this yet, but he is secretly in love with me and will, no doubt, propose to me during the voiceover portion at the end of next season's Deadliest Catch - or as we call it in this house, The Crab Show™. In the meantime, I will continue to quietly worship Sig Hansen from afar, and Jonathan Hillstrand, because he saved a guy. And Blake Painter, just a little, because he's hot - though he obviously knows it.

Gah, now I must go watch. You are evil woman. Evil, I say.

xoxo

abby

p.s. - congrats on the book, the lessening of the wine, the healthy thing. it's hard, and i'm trying too.

yeah, very hard.

OMG...my Mom turned me on to the Magic Eraser, I was hesitant at first. Oh but not now! I actually LOOK for things to scrub - sick I know.

My ex-hub worked in Prudhoe Bay AK - COLD COLD COLD ;O) What is it with that anyway??

Hey, I think you should take up Lucia and go for a visit.

Bevy - car w/ a purse holder - Audi A4 2001, has a little cubby right under the seat - perfect...

Loribird...can I come visit?? I live in Idaho, we could swap :O)

SIG. 'Nuff said.

Keep your fun stories and recommendations coming, we obviously love them :O)

Hello-I too am hooked on lovely books about lonely islands in cold storm-tossed seas with people in peril. One of the best I've ever read is an old one, "Atlantic Fury" by Hammond Innes. My daughter and I are very proud of you and your book that is coming out. Good luck to you and your cats.

Ok - the Magic Eraser will also remove deoderant spots from your shirt without even wetting it or anything. Just dry-erases em right off. No Kidding. Just another reason to love.