May Favorites

June is here in a few days! Can you believe it?! I'm shocked at how quickly this month has flown by, but it has and I have a few favorites to share.

This spiral-bound notebook is my first favorite.  I bought this notebook at Barnes and Noble for my mum.  She lost her last notebook and had been lamenting the loss, so I bought her a new one.  The notebook is to mark the 25th anniversary of Dr. Seuss's "Oh! The Places You'll Go!" and I had already bought Mum the bookmark, so I decided to buy her the notebook.  And, I admit, my plan is go back and purchase one for me.

I love this notebook because of the lines inside (without lines I write at this weird upward angle) and the colorful, glittery balloons.  I also love the message, as Mum has done a lot more traveling and will be doing a lot more traveling since she retired. And it isn't badly priced at $9.99.

This special addition magazine by the British publisher Mollie Makes.  Last year they did a special edition magazine on blogging, so this year they tackled Social Media.  I do a little social media, but probably not as much as most.  This publication gives not only valuable tips but a lot more depth to understanding various social media platforms.  My only complaint? The price:  $17.99.  A bit much for magazine.

Mason jar mugs are all the rage right now.  And, I admit, I've been sucked into the hype.  What I love about these mugs is there is no logo or other junk on them.  And the price cannot be beat.  I paid $1.00 for each mug at the Dollar Tree.  We're using these for root beer floats (a summer tradition for the Fam).

Those who know me know that I am a sucker for caramels.  I LOVE them.  They are my favorite sweet of all sweets, and I can never have enough.  And these caramels have risen to my favorite.

Werther's Original Soft Caramels are not as easy to find as you would think.But they are well worth the purchase.  The caramels are so soft and buttery they will literally melt in your mouth.  And don't try biting into one and eating it in small bites.  It will disintegrate in your hand.  Just pop the entire piece in your mouth and prepare yourself for a caramel awakening.  Werther's Original... If you are, by chance, reading this blog post - don't be shy about sending me a case of these babies.  They will not go to waste.

Trivia Crack... My new addiction.  I love that it allows me to use all the worthless information packed away in my brain.  It kills time more effectively than solitaire, and some of the questions are very interesting as well.  My only real complaint is that I downloaded the free version which is littered with ads.  Sure, I can always cough up the $2.99 for the ad-free version, but I admit I'm cheap and cannot bring myself to spend the money on something designed to kill time while I am waiting for an oil change or a doctor's appointment.

And my final favorite is provolone flavored Cheez-Its.  I love these babies.  I am a snacker, and these are amazing things to snack on.  I'm getting hungry just thinking about them.

What about you? What are your favorites from May?  Share in the comments!

March and April Favorites

Well, I haven't been as good at blogging this year as I had planned.  I know... I know... Same story - different day.  But since I was a bit lax on keeping up, I thought I would include a Favorites post.  This time, I'll cover my favorites from March and April.

My first favorite is Arcona's White Team Purifying Cleanser.  I received a sample of this product in a beauty bag full of all sorts of skin care, hair care, and miscellaneous beauty products.  Immediately I was caught by the smell.  It's fantastic.  It's this subtle blend of tea, honey, and even a bit of fruitiness.  But the true fabulousness of this product is what it does to my face.

I lucked out in the skin department.  Growing up, I rarely had a pimple, zit, spot, or black head.  As an adult, my skin stayed clear, soft, and wrinkle free.  However, I've had a difficult time finding a good cleanser that isn't harsh on my skin.  I finally found it in this product.  When I use this product, my skin feels clean, soft, and hydrated.  I love the stuff.  It's a bit steep at $42 for a 3.5 ounce size, but a little goes a long way.

While I've been pretty lucky with my skin, I've been cursed with under-eye, dark circles.  I also have puffy eyes from my twisted sleep schedule.  So, one day I thought I would try Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Vitality Eye Roll-On.  At $16, it's worth it!  It has not only lightened the dark circles under my eyes (which is nice since I don't wear make up unless I'm on camera), but it also visibly reduces the puffiness under my eyes.    It works so good, Mum has stolen my bottle.

My next favorite is the Union Jack messenger bag.  I got this in the United Kingdom, and while most would probably use this to tote around their computer, paperwork, and miscellaneous bits - I use it as a handbag.  It fits everything except my cameras, and I love it.  It's not heavy (like most bags), has plenty of room for everything, includes a top zipper (which means stuff doesn't fall out when the bag tips over), and the strap is long enough so it can be a cross-body bag.

Burt's Bees will most likely stay on my Favorites lists forever.  I cannot live without this stuff.  I have random tubes in every bag, every room, and in ever vehicle I own.  I love the way it feels on my lips (not waxy and heavy), while the balm makes my lips feel tingly and soothed.

I bought a couple of these LePens several months ago, because I thought they would be great for signing Christmas cards.  I used those pens so much, I needed to buy new ones.  This time I bought the 10 pack, but because it didn't come with my favorite color (orange) - I ended up buying a few single ones too.  These pens write smoothly - with little pressure.  I just wish the barrels of the pens were a little thicker to make maneuvering them easier.

My NERD notebook!  I have quite a few of these spiral notebooks laying around.  I use them constantly to make notes, lists, and other things.  This one is my favorite, and it is rarely out of my hands.

The final favorites is the Neutrogena spray-on sunblock.  I LOVE it!  I use to get SPF 100, but a medical professional told me it is too much and is most likely blocking important Vitamin D.  So, I downgraded to SPF 70.  This stuff gets sprayed on in the morning and several times throughout the day.  People under-estimate the damage the sun can do, and since I know too many people who have been diagnosed with skin cancer - using sunblock is part of my health routine.  Neutrogena's spray on sunblock makes it easy to use, doesn't have the strong fragrance many others have (such as Aveno's spray on sunblock), and doesn't feel greasy or heavy.  I totally recommend it!

So those are my favorites from March and April.  What are your favorite products?  Click on the comments and share yours.  I'd love to hear about them.

Top 15 Favorite Holiday Movies

There is a lot of debate out there on which are the best holiday movies.  Some find the choices as sacred as their political affiliations, coffee choices, or football teams.  But, I thought I would share, with all of you folks, my top holiday movie choices.  These choices are not in any particular order.  That would make this post far too difficult for my brain at this time of the year.

Of course, the Alastair Sim version of A Christmas Carol is fabulous.  This version is not the original, but it far surpasses any prior or after (and that includes the creepy Jim Carey version).  I remember watching this movie when I was a kid, and I still watch it (it doesn't count that I consider myself to still be a kid).  Alastair Sim will forever be Scrooge.

An American classic! To not have this movie on a top holiday movie list is a criminal action, and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law (not matter what country you are in).   Anyone who cannot relate to this simple fact is not human.

Christmas in Connecticut... Okay, I first saw this in my early 20s when I was an aggressive feminist and the very thought of the 1940s reality of a woman's role made my physically ill.  As I got older, I have found the humor in this little ditty and a deep understanding of Barbara Stanwyck's attempts of trying to be a successful single woman in a world where a woman's success was measured by her husband.  Sure, there is a mushy love story in there, but I'm certain you'll appreciate it like I do.

Uh? What planet are you from?!?! Elf is a bowl full of spaghetti topped with maple syrup.  This movie actually deserves rock star status amongst the holiday movies.

And then there is Fred Claus... Right up there with Elf.  Vince Vaughn pretty much plays the same character in every movie, but in this one - it is the other character s who make this movie a bright star and holds a solid place on my holiday movie list.

A classic.  'Nuff said.

I do love this movie.  A precocious child, bumbling robbers, and plenty of hi jinx.  The movies that followed pushed the formula too far and became ingratiating.  However, the original still is a must watch during the holidays (and after the holidays too).

Mum's all time favorite.  We end up watching this movie several times during the holiday season.  It typically starts around Halloween, and it doesn't end until Valentine's Day.  At least I can say Mum knows what she likes.

I like this one.  It is a bit of a ketchy storyline, but Queen Latifah is fabulous in it. And, quite frankly, is sends a great message... Life is too short, so life it!

A childhood favorite that turned into an adulthood favorite.  Dawn and I grew up on these puppet and clay-mation movies.  When I watch them as an adult, it reminds me of what a great childhood I had.

This movie is, in a word, poetry.

Hammered by the critics, but I believe this little ditty is severally under-rated.  

I LOVE this movie.  I love all the supporting characters, how Sandra's Lucy talks to herself, and how the story just slowly falls into place like snow.  I love they used Chicago as the backdrop of this sweet story, and I love how Peter Gallagher's character is so profoundly shallow - even when he's in a coma.

Danny Kaye? Check! Rosemary Clooney? Check!  The song "Sisters"? Check! A total classic that epitomizes the holiday season.

How can you go wrong with the Miser Brothers? You can't!  Mickey Rooney's Santa Claus is totally upstaged by the bad guys... I'm convinced this is what set the foundation for Alan Rickman's work.

Now many of my friends will have an issue with me not including the British classic, Love Actually.  And I will tell you why I didn't include this movie...

Liam Neeson becomes the wing man to a 10-year-old; Hugh Grant has an inappropriate relationship with his employee; the husband and wife of Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman have a dissolving marriage thanks to Rickman's behavior toward an employee; and Kiera Knightly's character is being wooed by the best friend of her husband.  Not to mention the weird dynamic between two body doubles on a movie set, where the majority of their interactions are in the nude (the guy being played by Bilbo Baggins... Martin Freeman).  This movie is creepy, weird, and an HR Manager's nightmare.

So, what are your favorite movies? Is there anything I missed? Share, and if I haven't seen them before - I'll definitely check them out.

Top 5 Favorite CDs...

Do they still call them CDs nowadays? Wow! I didn't realize just how old that question makes me sound.  But since I listen to these bits of music in CD form, and not in their MP3 version - CD it is!

Here goes...