Long & Lean Reign Supreme

This Pearl comes from my friend Andria.  She tipped me off to these jeans last year and they have been my favorites ever since!  Long & Lean Jeans by Gap.  What's so amazing, is that these jeans are perfect for both of us, and Andria and I are total opposites when it comes to body shape and size.  The second most amazing thing is the price - $59.50-$69.50 depending on the wash, but with Gap's frequent sales and promotions, I've never paid more than $40.  Much better than the popular designer jeans!  Most days you will find me in one of my pairs of Long & Leans... they are just that good.

Peanut Butter, Not Peeps!

When it comes to Easter candy, my favorite by a long shot is the Reese's Peanut Butter Egg.  It is peanut butter perfection ~ the perfect proportion of peanut butter and chocolate.  The regular size Reese's peanut butter cup is close, the miniatures - yech, not quite right, but the there is just something about the size, shape and chocolate to peanut butter ratio in the egg that makes it perfect.  Those fluorescent marshmallow chicks don't tempt me a bit, but I can't let Easter pass without a perfect peanut butter treat ~ a Reese's egg.

Thanks to Maggie for this Pearl!

 I have to give credit to my stylish niece, Maggie, for this favorite Pearl.  A few years ago at our Christmas "Favorite Things" exchange, she gave each of us gals one of these - Lash Blast Mascara by Cover Girl - and it has been one of my favorite things ever since!  Thicker lashes without the ugly raccoon eyes I get from some brands.  I do buy department store cosmetics, but when it comes to mascara, drugstore lines are the way to go.  Why pay over $20 for mascara when you have to replace it every few months anyway?  And this mascara is the best I've found - well it was, until.....

Cover Girl came out with a new hybrid - Lash Blast Fusion - for volume and length.  Now my scraggly little lashes can be thicker and longer, and still without the ugly raccoon eyes.  Thanks, Maggie, for this pearl!


PS  I've added a "Follower" tab off to the side, but so far, I only have one Follower (and that's my mom!), so if you are a regular reader, I would love you to make it official and add yourself as a Follower, too!

Pretty Little Thing

Over the last couple of years, I've gone mostly electronic, and even more so in the last two months with my new iPhone, but I still like to keep a notebook in my purse for jotting down a quick note.  And for that, I love these pretty little notebooks from Greenroom.  I like the paper size, pretty covers and slim profile.  They are about 4 x 5 in, a little bigger than a standard index card.  In addition, they make a great and inexpensive travel journal.  Look for them in the stationary aisle at Target.  The only trouble you have is picking out which cover design you like the best!

McAlister's Does Tea Right!

The best thing is at McAlister's Deli is not the Havarti Sweet Chipotle Chicken Panini (Delicious!) or the Southwest Roasted Corn Soup (Mmmmm!) but their really BIG glasses of Iced Tea and the servers who come around about half way through your lunch and offer to get you a refill.  I like to get mine unsweetened and sweeten it up myself with a couple of pink packets, but the Sweet Tea is a favorite of many.  Always perfectly brewed and always perfectly refreshing - in a really big glass - McAlister's Iced Tea.

Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix

I've hesitated to post this favorite because I know you will all think I am such a nerd... but I can't wait any longer:  Mental Floss Magazine!  This bi-monthly magazine is full of easy-to-understand and not-too-long articles on all sorts of topics - art, literature, history, geography, science, pop culture, and technology.  It explains the interesting parts of these topics with a sense of humor and intelligence without getting bogged down in the gritty technical details.  My sweetheart picked up the first copy for me at a newsstand a few years ago, just because he knew I would like it, then started getting me the annual subscription soon after.  When it arrives in the mail, I have to hide it until I have read it all the way through or one of my kiddos is likely to snatch it and sneak it off to their room.  Yes, it's now a family favorite.  If you like to learn about a wide variety of subjects, I guarantee you will love Mental Floss!


*** Update - After I wrote and posted this entry this morning, I opened up the Wall Street Journal to find an article about Mental Floss being bought by a British company.  Apparently the new owner does not like the name "Mental Floss" as Brits don't floss (ewww!) so don't be surprised if there is a name change in the near future.

Perfect Movie Night

For the perfect movie night, pick up a back of Popcorn, Indiana Kettlecorn Popcorn.  Of the brands that we've tried, we think this is the best combination of salty and sweet.  Crispy, Crunchy, Delicious!  And the ingredient list could not be any simpler - popcorn, sugar, canola oil, salt - no high-tech, whacked  out chemicals.   Mmmm, love it!