Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend ~ Euphorbia Diamond Frost

Continuously Blooming ~ Drought Tolerant ~ Never Needs Deadheading ~ Clouds of Airy White Flowers in a Neat Mounded Habit ~ It's the perfect annual! Beautiful on its own but pairs well with others, too. Isn't it gorgeous in the container garden with the Royal Velvet petunias and lavendar Angelonia? I also love it mixed with the light pink Superbells and Pennisetum grass in the lower picture. Here's another tip - check out the Proven Winners website for great container garden ideas and plant combinations. Just click on the 'professional grower' tab (don't worry - they won't ask for your ID) and under 'plants and culture', look for the 'combinations' tab. They even give you a map to follow for goof-proof results.

I Love Lucy ~

~ the Lucy vase from Crate and Barrel!

This little white ceramice vase with the embossed vine design packs a lot of style in a little package. Lucy is just 5 1/4 inches tall, features a nice narrow neck, and sells for only $5.95 - but don't stop with just one, buy this one in multiples of three - at this price you can afford to. For a simple, graphic table arrangement at a reasonable cost, pick up three Gerbera daisies or a small package of spider mums like I have in the picture. - you don't need an expensive bouquet. Try it with your favorite flower and you will fall in love with Lucy, too.

Socks!?

What's so special about socks?

After running several halfs and one full marathon, I can honestly say these are the best socks ever. No Slippage - No Blisters - Cool Feet. Even now that I've transitioned to more walking than running and semi-weekly tennis lessons, I still wear only these socks for exercise. They never slip down, I never get blisters, and my feet stay cool and dry. I don't think you can get them at Dick's, but check out your local running store - they probably sell them. I don't know what makes them so special, but I just know that I love them. Alot.

Cuckoo for Coconuts!

Like the funny little rabbit who is "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs", the last few months I have been "Cuckoo for Coconuts". Usually, I go for the citrus or herbal scents - nothing too fruity or floral, but lately, I have been loving coconut scented products. I'm not sure what triggered this sudden change - maybe I'm just in a hurry for the lazy days of summer and the memory of the coconut-scented sunscreen or longing for a tropical vacation. My two new favorites are Suave Tropical Coconut Body Wash (a light coconut scent with a little citrus zing - and it's cheap, too!) and The Body Shop's Coconut Body Butter (rich and luxurious - but a little more money - $20 for the larger tub). Hmm, all of the sudden I am craving an Almond Joy....

Mmmmmm!

It was too difficult to pick just one favorite thing from Great Harvest, so I picked the entire store. I don't think we've ever had a Great Harvest bread that we didn't like. You will find the "Dakota" or "9-Grain" in our kitchen most often. Both of them make perfect toast. Some others to try are the "Popeye", "Honey Wheat", or Brent's new favorite, "Vanilla Almond Swirl". Mmmm! But don't stop there . . . the scones, fruit bars and cookies are yummy, too. And it gets even better . . . through the summer and fall Great Harvest can be found at both the farmers' markets in our area. How handy is that!? Another plus - the bread is preservative-free and made with a special kind of wheat that's supposed to be good for you (see their website for more info). Yummy & healthy - you can't beat that!

What Rhymes with Orange?

Like the four basic food groups, my wardrobe generally consists of 4 basic colors - khaki, black, white and various shades of blue, from periwinkle to aqua. But, last week when I was shopping, a tangerine orange cardigan caught my eye - 3/4 sleeves, little white buttons - basic, but definitely not boring. Just what I needed to spice up my wardrobe a little bit. And it has! I can't believe how well it goes with so many other items I already own - a sheer striped scarf from vacation last year, under my white denim jacket for a pop of color, a blue print skirt to jazz it up a little bit. The bright orange color even helps brighten my mood on an overcast day. Fun, colorful, comfortable . . . and my new favorite thing!

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.