Grapefruit + Bergamot = 7-Up??

I don't why, but whenever I wash my hands with this soap, it reminds me of 7-Up!  Who would have thought that by combining Grapefruit and Bergamot you could get the scent of 7-Up!  Which, if you think about it, is really a nice, crisp, clean scent - not too sweet, not too flowery, not too fruity.  Just fresh and clean.  I keep a bottle of this delicious foamy soap by the kitchen sink for quick hand wash-ups, and save the harsher dishwashing soap for the dishes.  A few years ago you could only find Kiss My Face Grapefruit & Bergamot Foaming Soap at Trader Joe's and some health food stores.  Now, if you look carefully, you will see it on the shelf at Marsh, Kroger, Wal-Mart and other mainstream stores.  

A hint of mint, a bit of basil

I'm not big on burning candles in the summer.  It's just too hot.  But every now and then you need a scented candle to freshen up the kitchen after a particularly "fragrant" meal - but the problem is most candles are just too much for summer - too fruity, too spicy, too flowery... just too much.  This week I was at Target and found the perfect summer scented candle ~ Mint Basil.  The scent is fresh, simply fresh, and the clean, crisp, unfussy jar perfectly complements the scent.  

Laundry Room Space Saver

If you stopped after looking at just the first picture, you might wonder what what's so exciting about this item.  But the second picture reveals the ingenious design.  This wall mounted drying rack unfolds to allow 14 feet of drying space, then folds neatly away when not in use.  I've tried other drying racks and have never been satisfied - they take up too much space or are clumsy to use.  This one is neat and tidy, was easy to install, and sells for $34.99 at the Container Store.   Look for the Fold-Away Drying Rack. You won't be disappointed.

Clear Glass Cylinders - a grown-up toy!

I have a small collection of clear glass cylinders of various sizes. My mom got me started several years ago with a set of three for Christmas. Then I picked up a short squatty one at TJMaxx last year, and added a couple of others that contained candles at one time that I recycled and cleaned out once the candle was burned up. I used these at Christmas for a easy, fun and festive centerpiece. Other times, I have filled them with cranberries with a floating candle on top. Use your imagination! To brighten things up in the spring, fill them with citrus - either whole fruit or slices. Maybe acorns in the fall? They are nice to have available for a quick, interesting centerpiece.

My friend Laura tipped me off on these Reisenthel Market Baskets. They are lightweight, roomy, modern, and come in a wide assortment of colors and patterns. And the best part - just pull out the plastic side bars and the basket collapses for storage. Although I must say, I use mine so often, it is rarely in storage! It's a must for the Farmers' Market, and handy when taking a meal to a friend with a new baby or toting supplies to a meeting. It's an updated alternative to the traditional wicker basket.

Tide Wash Bag

Lingerie bags - basic, boring, and a bit of a pain in the neck. The mesh holes are too big and hooks get caught in them. The zipper can snag on other items in the wash. But, wait, you don't have to resort to handwashing all of your delicates . . . here's some good news: Tide Wash Bags. The bag is made of a very fine mesh, the zipper is tucked up under a flap, and they have a pleat at the bottom to expand a little bit. You can find these at Walgreens and Target for about $4. I have no idea why someone didn't think of these improvements earlier, but I'm just glad they have now.

Ugh................American Idol without TiVo

My youngest son and I were watching a live episode of AI last week and it was an absolutely horrible experience . . . not because of Jake, he's cool, but because we were watching it live - with all of the long and frequent commercial breaks. Which brings me to my next favorite thing - TiVo. You get to watch the show you want, when you want to watch it - in about 2/3 of the time! Generic DVRs, like the kind we have from Comcast, are ok - but I really miss our old TiVo box. I miss it enough that I think I will stop by Best Buy next week and see what it would take to switch back. For ease of programming, and stopping the fast forward at the exact moment the commercials end and the show starts up again, you just can't beat TiVo - - - and I miss that cute little cartoon guy!

A Bouquet of Yellow Tulips...

...or pink or purple or orange.

The perfect pick-me-up for the cold and dreary days of February! I love the simplicity of a round vase with a single color bouquet of fresh tulips, flopping naturally over the sides. It looks fresh and modern and reminds me that spring is just around the corner.

Eliminate Twist-ties Forever!

I despise the pokey little wire twist-ties on plastic bags - and I never seem to be able to tightly seal partial bags of frozen vegetables, dry pasta, or chocolate chips. Then I discovered Twixit Bag Clips. These are light weight plastic clips that snap tight to seal up a package. Look for them in the kitchen gadget section of a big box store or gourmet kitchen shops. Cheap, clever, and makes my life easier - - - Love that!

Salt & Water vs Hardwood

I was complaining to my friend Krista about the water, snow & salt coming into our house and damaging our wood floor. She suggested I check out the Waterhog mats from LLBean. What a great idea! You can order them in several widths and any length and these things really work to suck up all the gunk and keep your floors clean and protected. There's not a lot of choice in color, but the tan is not too light and looks fine on the wood floors.