Nalgene Travel Bottles - Container Store

I love having travel bottles that I know really will not leak, and are small enough to save space for carry-on liquids, I can put any of my favorite products in them, and they're reasonably priced. Container Store has an awesome travel aisle, with a ton of different bottles to choose from, and the Nalgene ones I've gotten from there are great!! Definitely check it out!

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream

If anyone has a skin condition, I almost always go straight to either coconut oil, or cetaphil! :) Cetaphil is an awesome moisturizer, its a rich cream that really does its job, and is great to help relieve dry skin, eczema, great for massaging hands or back, I even use it as a nightly face moisturizer. The tub lasts long time, and sometimes goes on sale at Target. I've also found it at Costco in a bit bigger jar, for I think about the Target sale price. They also sell this in 3 oz. tubes - great for traveling!! But I have trouble finding the tubes- have only found them at Walmart so far. Definitely try this unscented gentle moisturizer for your whole family's needs!

Yankee SoHo Living Candles - Marshalls

You know when you find a great product, for an awesome price, and its just gratifying? I find these big (14.5 oz) two-wick candles at Marshalls, for $3 or $4 each!! It is such a bargain, and they smell great and look nice, and last long! Keep your eye out! :)

Gmail email

If you don't have gmail as your primary email account, I really encourage you to try it! I know a lot of people have it now, but there are still some I'm surprised that don't have it. I know its a switch to have to transfer to a new email account, and getting used to it takes a bit of adjustment time, but the perks are way worth it, I love it!

Some of the perks: the layout is easy to use and makes sense, simplifies; it auto saves your emails every minute as you type them, so no more lost emails; you can search your emails by typing in a keyword- saves time and super handy; it saves your emails in a "pile" so that your emails back and forth with someone are all compiled; you can "label things"; can create categories to file emails in; can mark things as "spam" so whenever you receive new junk emails from the same company, it goes directly into the spam folder instead; it has a calendar connected you can use and also share with others who have gmail (Ian and I have one we use, so we can both write things on it and try to stay organized!) Oh, and gchat and video gchat, which is super easy and convenient and free, definitely a big perk!

mail.google.com

Nestle Peppermint Mocha Creamer

You know those little things that only come around during the holidays, and its part of what gets you excited about the season? haha ok well this Peppermint Mocha Creamer is definitely one of those things for me! It is so good, I am not a regular coffee drinker, but during this season I definitely drink more, just to enjoy this creamer! Yum!!

Lydia Jane Photography

So the photographer we were SO blessed to have found for our wedding, did an amazing job and I just love her style! She was great to work with, was awesome on the wedding day, working with all the friends and family, had a great attitude and a smile on her face, and took gorgeous pictures! We were very pleased!
lydiajane.com

Income Property - HGTV

So my hubby and I watch a lot of HGTV and Food Network, and one of the shows we love is Income Property, hosted by Scott McGillivray. Its awesome to see how he turns crappy basements and rental places into gorgeous, sleek, durable income properties, and ups the value of the house, it gets the owners more rent and supposedly better tenants. Even though the show doesn't apply to us, we don't have an income property and don't plan to, its still neat to watch! And no matter what stress goes on, what problems they run into, the host has this calm demeanor, so its relaxing, and not stressful to watch.

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss

As a nanny, I definitely have favorite children's books, and this is one of my very favorites. It puts emotions into colors so kids can begin to learn how to express their feelings (instead of just screaming or crying :) ha). Here are a couple excerpts:
"Some days of course, feel sort of brown. Then I feel slow and low, low down."
"But when my days are happy pink, its great to jump and just not think."
 It is a colorful, calm book to read. They have it in a baby board book as well.

Mac & Cheese - Trader Joe's

I know everyone has a favorite mac & cheese, but from the first time I had this one, it wins, hands down as THE best mac & cheese in my book! Its in the freezer section in Trader Joe's, is conveniently microwaveable, and is so creamy and cheesy and amazing. Quick comfort food!

Clorox Green Works natural all-purpose cleaner

I love having a cleaner I can safely use on everything, that works well, smells nice and light (I can't stand those strong offensive cleaners) and I will buy it again and again. Plus its a good price. Definitely a good buy! Also invest in some cleaning cloths you can launder and re-use over and over! They clean better than paper towels and save money and... trees! :)

Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara

I feel like I have tried way too many mascaras, and most all of them flake or make my lashes look weird. The one that outshines all the rest, for me, is always Maybelline (yes I love lots of their makeup, its affordable and satisfactory!) Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara. It doesn't flake, it goes on well, and I am always happy with it. At Christmas time sometimes Target will package them in twos for a special price, so I stock up a bit then too. :) After reading that waterproof mascara can be drying to the lashes, I now buy regular, not waterproof, and just only buy waterproof if I need it (wedding day, summer time, etc.)

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation

This is by far my favorite foundation! I have used it for years and love it! I use a foundation sponge (the little ones that come in packs of two at target) to apply it - it goes on and blends in smoothly, looks natural, and has a nice light feel. A little goes a long way too, and its very affordable, and they come out with coupons for it which is nice. If you're wanting to try a new foundation, definitely give this one a try!! :)

Doubletree Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ever stayed at a Doubletree Hotel? We did a night on our honeymoon, and they give you these amazing huge thick chocolate chip cookies when you check in! They are so good, I have been trying to track them down ever since! :) I found out you can order them online, and they also have "copycat" recipes - not sure if they're close to the real thing, but good idea!

Cookies to order online: http://www.christiecookies.com/StoreFront/IAFDispatcher

At home recipe: http://www.foodgeeks.com/recipes/18302

The Unbreakable Eyebrow Brush

For a long time, I've had an eyebrow/lash brush in my makeup kit, but I've had to replace it time and time again, because I drop my bag or something, and it breaks. There's something about the cheap plastic that has no durability. I figured maybe invest in one that costs more, but the one I kept seeing that was more looked to be the same type of hard plastic. So my solution - a little kids (new :) toothbrush is a durable plastic, with bristles that are nicely softer than eyebrow brushes, and it works great! I spent $2 on one like the above picture, and it'll last way longer than my previous several! ha. Call me crazy, but I'm just a fan of practical and good prices!

Nana's Apple Cake Mix - Tastefully Simple

This is seriously one of the best desserts I've ever had! (And I generally don't personally qualify anything as "dessert" unless it contains chocolate ;) It is so yummy I almost ate the whole pan in a day!! haha. Its easy too, just add chopped apples & eggs, and bake! Enjoy! (My friend said its great if you add 1/4 cup cinnamon chips, that's also really good!)
http://www.tastefullysimple.com/shopourproducts/allproducts/nanasapplecakemix157108.aspx
If you need a Tastefully Simple consultant, I can refer one.

Misto Olive Oil Sprayer - Bed, Bath & Beyond

This has been one of my favorite little purchases from our wedding gift cards! I love the idea of Pam spray but we prefer to cook with Olive oil as much as possible, so this is perfect! You fill it half full with any oil you'd like, and when ready to mist, pump it first and spray. Its great!! I've also seen them at TJ Maxx/Marshalls type stores. If you buy at Bed Bath & Beyond, remember to use one of their 20% off coupons! (one coupon can be used per item, and even though they list an expiration date, they never actually expire, and if you forget to use a coupon, bring receipt back with the coupon and they'll give you the difference!)

TLC Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars - Target or Giant

If you have a candy bar craving, but are trying to stay healthy, or if you're hungry and want a little something sweet, these are great! 

Glass Prep Bowls w/ lids - Pampered Chef

I love these small glass prep bowls! They're a great alternative to plastic containers, and last way longer too, and are safe. They come with lids that easily attach - unlike lots of other glass and lid sets. They come in 1-cup size (shown), and 2-cup size. The 2-cup size is great for leftovers and can be safely reheated in the glass. The 1-cup size is perfect for baby food and small amounts of leftovers. And yes, you could use them as prep bowls, which is their original intent, but they have many uses! :) Enjoy!
1-cup size set of 6: http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/product.jsp?productId=9792&categoryCode=KW
2-cup size set of 2: http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/product.jsp?productId=27468&categoryCode=KW
If you need a Pampered Chef consultant, I can connect you with one.

7/28/11 I have noticed that the lids have been shrinking and no longer stay on the containers, they work their way off. I contacted Pampered Chef about it and they gave me a run around and were no help, then they forwarded me to a managers voicemail who never returned my call. I would not buy these again. Until they make better lids!!!

Kiss My Face Creamy Cleanser & Toner - Whole Foods or Online

I love Kiss My Face Creamy Cleanser, and spray Toner! They smell light but great, are great for sensitive skin, a little goes a long way so they last a while! And my skin has been much better using these products, than using other kinds. I usually buy them at Whole Foods, or you can order online.

Whole Potent & Pure KMF skincare line: http://www.kissmyfacewebstore.com/products/beauty-face-care/potent-and-pure
Cleanser: http://www.kissmyfacewebstore.com/detail/KMF+1200401
Toner: http://www.kissmyfacewebstore.com/detail/KMF+1205300

Coconut Oil - Whole Foods or Online

Coconut oil has a ton of health benefits and uses, it is definitely a good thing to keep on hand! You can cook with it, eat it, moisturize with it, help clear up diaper rashes, skin conditions; its naturally antibacterial, and a natural anti-fungal (can cure yeast infections). It can get liquidy when warm or hot, or will firm up when placed in the refrigerator or freezer even for a few minutes. Check out the following links!
http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Naturally-Cure-a-Yeast-Infection-With-Coconut-Oil&id=2628768
http://www.coconutdiet.com/skin_health.htm

Tri-color Pasta Recipe

 

This is something I made up, and has been a recurring meal that we love and is easy to toss together! I make a box of tri-color rotini pasta, and while the water's heating up and all, I dice up a red bell pepper and throw in a grill pan with some olive oil, cooking till tender. I also heat up some corn (in a steamer or grill pan). And make pesto sauce in a little pot (I get those little packets when they're on sale). Dice up chunks of fresh mozzarella and sit aside. Once pasta is drained, return to pan on low, add a bunch of fresh spinach, pour hot pesto sauce over that (it'll wilt the spinach, just stir it around), and toss in the bell pepper, corn, and mozz cheese, mixing around and topping with grated parmesan cheese. It makes 4 big sized servings, or 8 "side dish" servings. Sometimes we eat it beside rotisserie chicken, but honestly its good and filling all by itself!

Julie & Julia Movie

If you've never seen this movie, it is a great one! Definitely worth a watch, and one of those rare movies that's unique, cute, and a breath of fresh air.

Kettle Corn - Trader Joe's

The perfect sweet and salty snack, and at a great price! I've also seen it in a "light" version in mini snack bags.

Oxi Clean Laundry Stain Remover

This stuff is great, definitely my favorite laundry stain remover. The only thing I've seen it not remove are stains from neosporin or vaseline - which many stain removers can't help. Here's the hint for removing these greasy 'unremovable stains': spray with WD-40, then follow with dish soap (rub it in) and throw in laundry. Works like magic. Sometimes for minor greasy stains just the dish soap step will work. :) Also check out Oxi Clean powder, and carpet cleaner!

Spaghetti Squash

If you've never had a spaghetti squash, now is a great time to try them, since its fall and they're in grocery stores all over! They are easy to prepare and healthy and, I'm already a squash lover, but spaghetti squash is definitely one of my favorites!
How to prepare: Rinse squash, cut in half, and with spoon hallow out seeds (like you would a halloween pumpkin :), turn flat side facing down on a baking sheet (I cover mine with foil to make for easy clean up!) and bake in a preheated oven at 375 for 30-40 minutes - check them and see how soft they are - the softer the better, so if in doubt put it back in for a bit - when its done, from the outside when you push with your finger it'll be mushy, and when poked with a fork the 'spaghetti strands' will easily flake out. Using a fork remove all of the spaghetti squash (may have to let squash cool a bit, it'll be hot!), and add butter and salt and pepper - it is super easy and so delicious! Enjoy!! If you have leftovers, just reheat in a pot on the stove, stirring a few times. For baby food, it can be pureed with formula or breastmilk - it doesn't get completely "pureed" - it'll still have some texture, so is ideal for older babies, not a first food. ha.

Apple Carrot Sauce Crushers - Trader Joe's

These are great for fruit-on-the-go, with no sugar added. I love them, and they're fun for kids, a great way to sneak in more veggies! They also make great 'teething toys' for babies (don't knock it till you try it :) - don't ask me why but they entertain teething babies for hours! ha. They also come in plain applesauce. They can be stored in refrigerator, or at room temp, which is handy!