Rescue Me

In loving memory of my Great Aunt who was nothing short of extraordinary and the canine daughter that kept her company for so many years, Mitzi, I bring you Danny and Ron's Rescue. Dedicated to rescuing dogs in need, putting an end to dog fighting, puppy mills, bait dogs, and starving and abused dogs generally, these guys are pretty extraordinary themselves!! Donations are always needed to help with expenses (especially medical expenses) for the dogs they rescue. Consider following in a great lady's footsteps and making Danny and Ron's Rescue one of your charities of choice or better, yet, make one of their dogs in need of a home like Elmer and Teddy (both available for adoption now) a member of your family!

Tee Time

Everyone needs basic tees and the Vince Little Boy Tees should be those tees! These tees are perfection, by far my favorites!!! They are fit fabulous (yes, I just made that up), made from a combination of cotton (90%) and spandex (10%) which results in the softest (soooo soft), lightest but not too light, most perfect fitting tee!!! The length of these tees is also right on the mark - 27 inches from the shoulder to the hem - not too long and not too short, ideal for layering and equally excellent solo!!! Now for the one catch, these tees retail for $60 each which probably seems pricey to many of you but these are worth it (count the exclamation marks) since you will wear them ALL the time (good thing they come in a ton of colors). That being said, during my 2 second search I found the heather grey and sunflower yellow ones on sale at Barneys.com for $39 (sizes are very limited); the heather grey and black ones on sale at Intermix.com for $39; and and the ceramic, watercress and squash (a.k.a. bright blue, kelly green, bright mustard yellow) on sale at vince.com for $36!!!

Don't Let This Ship SALE!!!!

Layla Grayce has all MacBeth Collection items on sale for 30% off!!! They have a great selection for babies and kids and some globally adorable stuff too!

Escentually Flawless Skin

Bare Escentuals is my favorite make-up overall and I have been using more and more of their products since my Aunt first introduced me to their eyeshadows sometime around 2001! Other than lip gloss, mascara and some eyeliner (I don't wear it often and when I do, I turn to Bare Escentuals or one other brand), all I wear is Bare Escentuals. I have turned so many of my friends on to it over the years that if I worked on commission I would be writing this from my summer home! There are too many products to discuss all of them in one posting so I will start with the basics, the Bare Escentuals foundation, bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation. Here is all you need to know: this has not irritated the skin of anyone I know, even my friends with the most sensitive skin, this has never caused my oily skin to break out, this make-up is 100% natural, preservative free (made with crushed minerals) so you can literally sleep in it, the coverage is flawless, it is weightless, has an SPF of 15 and you will LOVE it!!

The bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation comes in a full palette of shades so you can find your perfect match (in the rare case that you are in between shades and go to their boutiques they will mix them up for you to create the perfect shade). The Bare Escentuals Full Covergae Kabuki Brush ($28) is the best brush to use with the foundation, you will find it is so easy to apply the foundation (swirl, tap and buff) and you will get the best coverage with it. If you are a Bare Escentuals virgin, I highly recommend buying one of the Bare Escentuals Starter Kits which contain the foundation and brushes as well as a few more products, most of which I love and will write about at another time. Sorry to be so cryptic about these kits but they vary slightly depending on where you purchase them (Bare Escentuals , Ulta and Sephora, among others all sell them) so you'll have to do your research on them. The kits generally sell for around $60 while the bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation alone is $25 (to be fair, the containers in the kit are usually a little smaller than the full size bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation). Let me know how much you love this product once you try it and how many compliments you get too!!

Hot Wheels

Just in time for summer weekends away, I'd like to introduce you to the cutest weekend bag by Toss Designs, the Rolling Duffel. While I don't have one of my own (yet), I have borrowed my friend's and I give this bag stellar marks for the amount it can hold (it seems like literally the exact amount you can squish together in a big and still get it to fit in the overhead bin on a plane) and equally stellar marks for being so cute but I have to be honest and and ding it a little in the weight department (but then again, who couldn't stand to lose a few) since the bag, sans your clothes, is on the heavy side. So, if you are going to be carrying this on your shoulder (it does come with a detachable shoulder strap) as opposed to wheeling this around behind you, this is probably not a good choice. Otherwise, to wheel is to love!!

Measuring 23" x 11" x 14", the bag has multiple storage compartments and is perfect for short trips (or at least short trips if you pack at all like I do - who wants to make decisions in advance, and what about the weather, you can never tell how it will be...you get the idea). The bags pictured above - the one on left is from the Medallion Collection (one of my favorites) and the one on the right is from the Zanzibar Green Collection - are both are made from vinyl which keeps the H2O out too (and accounts for some of the weight of the bag - the canvas bags might be a little lighter but I am not sure).

The Rolling Duffel comes in a variety of patterns and retails for $196 or you can call Maria at Sealed With a Kiss for discounted prices ~ 631-470 0014!!!

Lend a Helping Paw

In 1997, Puppies Behind Bars ("PBB") my favorite program/charity came into existence and since then has been one of the most remarkable causes I have learned about. I can’t say enough about the benefits of this program, probably because they are so life altering for the prisoners who act as puppy raisers and the recipients of the guide dogs they train. PBB works by offsetting a substantial portion of exceedingly high cost of training guide dogs by enlisting prisoners (carefully selected) to train the puppies. Here is additional information (and a much better explanation) from the PBB website:

Dr. Thomas Lane, a veterinarian in Florida, thought that prison inmates would make excellent puppy raisers, and started the first guide-dog/prison program. Not only do inmates have unlimited time to spend with the puppies, but they benefit from the responsibility of being puppy raisers in ways that are especially important to their rehabilitation: they learn patience, what it is like to be completely responsible for a living being, how to give and receive unconditional love, and -- since puppy raisers take classes and train the dogs together -- how to work as a team.

PBB strives to meet the current needs of the communities in which we work and has expanded its goals accordingly. After the events of September 11, 2001, law enforcement agencies' need for working dogs increased dramatically. To help meet this demand, PBB added the training of explosive detection canines (EDCs) to its program. In 2006, PBB started raising dogs to assist disabled children and adults and launched Dog Tags: Service Dogs for Those Who’ve Served Us, through which we donate fully trained service dogs to wounded soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The pups live in the cells with their primary raisers, go to classes administered by PBB once a week, and are furloughed two or three weekends a month to 'puppy sitters' who take the dogs into their homes in order to expose them to things they won't experience in prison. These can be as simple as hearing doorbells or the sounds of a coffee grinder, and as complex as learning how to ride in a car and walk down a crowded sidewalk.

The puppies live in prison for sixteen months, after which they are tested to determine their suitability for training as service dogs for the disabled or explosive detection canines for law enforcement. If they are deemed suitable, PBB returns them to the schools where they continue their formal training. If they do not continue on the track to become working dogs, PBB donates them to families with blind children. In either case, these puppies, raised in such a unique environment, spend their lives as companions to people who need them.

PBB pays all of the costs incurred with raising these puppies so anything you could spare, whenever you could spare it to help this cause would surely be instantly gratifying!!! Even if you can't give, it is worth exploring the PBB website to learn more about this amazing charity!

Let it Grow, Let it Grow, Let it Grow

Once upon a time I was at the nail salon. The girl next to me and I started talking (naturally) and somehow we landed on the subject of hair - which she was having issues with since the birth of her daughter. She recommended Hair, Skin and Nails by Purvana and swore that it made her hair (which was falling out after she gave birth) stop falling out, get thicker and healthier. I went right to the vitamin guy, he told me this was his best selling product (even better than prenatal vitamins). I bought them, tried them and the rest is history! My hair, skin and nails will now live happily ever after!

The Pursuit of Straightness

Its that time of year again when those of us with curly, frizzy, difficult to manage hair flock to our respective salon's to tame our manes (I went yesterday). The most popular processes are the Japanese Straightening (Thermal Reconditioning) and the Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatment. Having tried both, I thought that I would tell you about another option that I like even better, Straight Variations. As a reference point, I have long, fine, curly and frizzy hair. My curls are not kinky but are somewhat unruly and a halo of frizz surrounds them - ugh! One of my best friends participates in this yearly pilgrimage with me and also gets the Straight Variations. She has thick, dark hair with tighter curls (though also not kinky) and she dyes her hair with a single process regularly.

First, let me tell you what I didn't like about the Japanese and Brazilian methods. The Japanese Straighteners are very harsh and the results are extreme. If you are seeking super straight almost volumless hair, the Japanese Straighteners will yield this result and for many, it looks great. I used this process for a number of years and while I loved how straight my hair was and how easy it was to dry, I found the damage to my hair significant (dry, thinning hair) and the lack of volume and resulting styling issues annoying. Knowing my dislikes, my stylist suggested I try the Straight Variations which is essentially a hair relaxer that comes in 3 different strengths (your stylist will know best which one is most appropriate for you - I get the middle strength as does my friend) and removes most of the curl and all of the frizz from your hair. The Straight Variations is far less damaging than the Japanese Straightener and the process leaves more volume in your hair as well. The result - LOVE!!

Last year, my stylist suggested that I try the Brazilian because it is so "healthy" for your hair so I decided that I would try it (my friend said, as usual, I could be the guinea pig and stuck with the Straight Variations). Unlike the Japanese and Straight Variations, the Brazilian process is not permanent, it washes out gradually over the course of about 8-12 weeks (on average). I have to say, while the results were decent for about 3 months, overall I really didn't like it. I felt that the results from the Straight Variations were better (more polished and more volume), are permanent and, I didn't notice that my hair was any healthier from the Brazilian. Not to mention, you can only use certain shampoos because you need to avoid those with Sodium Chloride which strips the treatment out of your hair (you will find that most shampoos contain Sodium Chloride) and most of the shampoos formulated for use with this process don't lather (i.e. I felt like my hair was dirty all the time even though it wasn't).

All in all, I think the Straight Variations is the happy medium among these hair straighteners/relaxers/conditioners and is the clear winner with me!! Unlike the Japanese and Brazilian processes, no flat iron is used with Straight Variations so it doesn't take nearly as long which is just an added bonus! Also, if your hair is thicker or your curls more unruly, you can get this process done more than once a year (my friend says she will every year because about 6-9 months in her new growth can get annoying but she has yet to pull the trigger). and I would suggest getting a conditioning treatment after the process to counteract some of the inevitable drying. I know a number of salons offer Straight Variations but it is not as widely known or available as the Japanese and Brazilian processes so you might have to look around for a place you are comfortable with (I know of a place in NJ and another in NYC, send me an email for more info). Pries vary by salon but Straight Variations will run you around $200 which makes it the least expensive option as well!!!

Don't Let Your Hair Down

I have pretty fine hair and while its long, I don't have a lot of it so finding hair clips that don't fall out is challenging. For those of you that share my pain or for those of you that just think these are far nicer than your average plastic clip, the Ficcare Maximus Clip is a must have! These handmade and hand painted clips come in a number of different colors and a designs as well as sizes small, medium and large. I haven't a clue what size mine are, sorry. I will say that they hold my hair pretty well (they are actually patented) which is no small feat but if you have very short, fine hair, I am not sure it will do the trick (the small might, if that isn't what I have - I don't think it is). No worries, the clips come with an instructional brochure so everyone can figure out how to use them! The Maximus Clips are sold at various online and retail stores for about $36-40 depending on size and design.

Don't Let This Ship SALE!!!

My favorite ribbed tanks are on sale for $9.99 each for the next 24 HOURS ONLY at Cherry Tee!!!

Make a Toast

If you love wine or are purchasing a gift for someone that does, Reidel Wine Glasses are a awesome! They glasses literally make wine taste better! Reidel makes a number of different collections including hand-blown glasses and their website makes it very easy to select the appropriate glass for you based on your choice of wine. The website also offers a number of decanters (some are really beautiful) and other accessories.

I personally like the Vinum collection which are the first machine-made, over 24% lead crystal stemware, based exclusively on the characteristics of wine grape varietals. These glasses are designed so that their rims let wine flow smoothly, and their shape and sizing work together to direct wine to the ideal part of the palette. Fine, yes, I did steal a lot of that description! If you aren't serious about wine (which I am not) or you just want to get a one size fits all set, consider the Vinum Bordeaux Wine Glasses.

You'll have to do some research on prices but I have often found Amazon has some of the best prices out there. Note that these glasses are dishwasher safe but hand washing may be the better way to go to avoid breakage and detergent residue - they are totally worth the effort!

Peep Toe Predicament

A friend of mine at work came to me today to ask what to do about wearing stockings with peep toe shoes in this too-cold-to-wear-no-stockings and too-warm-to-resist-the-urge-to-wear-a-cute-skirt-weather. My admittedly unhelpful solution to this problem is simple, I don't do stockings, they are just not my thing and I don't do freezing my butt of either so I just avoid skirts until it is warm enough not to have to worry about this problem (tights in the fall in winter excepted). This didn't fly with her so I suggested footless stockings like the ones by Spanx which do the trick if your skirt is knee-length or longer but not for shorter skirts or cold legs! Spanx also make an under the heel style that covers the entire leg and heel but leaves the rest of your foot exposed (I'm not going to lie, I don't get these). If you are in need of an instant fix or you are on a tight budget, you can always cut the toe bed off of your stockings. Finally, you can also just wear stockings (NO reinforced toe beds) especially if the open toe is slight or your skirt is exceptionally long and if not, you can just hope no one is paying attention to your feet (which is not likely to be the case if your peep toes are so fabulous that you had to wear them instead of closed toed-shoes)!

Try to Contain Yourself!

Spring is the perfect time of year to bring you another one of my favorite product lines, The Macbeth Collection. This home/office/dorm accessory line offers tons of accessories for decorating, organizing and gifting wrapped in your choice of over 200 exclusive prints that are sure to match any decor, need or occasion!!

I combined three complimentary prints to liven up my drab office in the form of the tissue box, the large clip board, the trinket tray to hold odds and ends and now candy (how else does one make it through the day), and the window box where I keep pending documents that I am am not ready to file away just yet. When my sister left for college I bought her the clip board as well as the Padtre (notepad in a tray), and the magnet board. Going to a BBQ, consider the Tote Along as a gift. Have a Beach House, look at the oval tub, perfect for storing shoes and beach toys. Need accessories to organize your baby's room, playroom or den or just looking for fabulous ideas for baby gifts, check out the Macbeth Collection items on the Layla Grace website. All of these ideas barely touch the surface so check out The Macbeth Collection 101 for 101 ways to use items from the collection!

You can order directly from the Macbeth Collection website or for personal attention, more ideas and the best prices I have found (20% off) call Maria at Sealed With A Kiss at 631-470 0014. The ideas are endless but all adorable and sure to be unique and much loved!

10 Seconds to Save the World

...or at least make a difference in it! You can donate to the Animal Rescue Site just by going to the site and clicking on the "Click Here" Icon. Every time you do, sponsors of the site fund the provision of food and care for rescued animals living in shelters. Once on the site, you can click on the tabs at the top and link to The Hunger Site (money goes to world hunger organizations), The Breast Cancer Site (funds free mammograms to those in need), The Child Health Site (funds preventative care and treatment to children in need around the world), The Literacy Site (provides free books for children worldwide) and The Rainforest Site (which is dedicated to global rainforest preservation) all of which work on the same premise!

Cute Beyond Words

The I See Me personalized books are my all time favorite gift for a new baby or young kids (or you can buy it for your own, of course). You choose your book (I like My Very Own Name for boys and My Very Own Fairy Tale for girls) and then you supply the company with child's first and last names (you can include their middle name for an additional $4.95), their gender, birth date and a dedication and I See Me will print up a personalized book using the information that you provided. You can also purchase a keepsake box (pictured above) for an additional $4.95 (yes, in addition to the other additional $4.95 for the middle name if you're so inclined). Parents and grandparents should definitely take a look at the the Book, The World According to [INSERT CHILD'S NAME] which makes an excellent project to do with your child to keep or give as a gift from your child. I See Me will send you a kit with personalized instructions and all of the supplies that you will need to create material containing your child's own artwork and words which to send to I See Me which will then turn everything into a professional looking book. Its actually a really great idea!! All Books are $29.95 not including extras. Enter code FSD4165 at checkout for FREE shipping!

Don't Let This Ship SALE...

Thanks to Mom, Bosica is offering a FREE full-size Recharging Night Moisture (usually $33 for 1 fl oz) with every purchase of $70 (excludes Kits and Gift Certificates) or more until May 1st by using the code "4mom4me" and Cherry Tee is offering 20% off on gift sets and tees until May 5th using the code "mom09"!

This Just Makes Cents!

If you haven't already heard about Ebates and you shop online at all, you should sign up ASAP! Ebates is an online rebate site that offers rebates equal to a specified percentage of your purchase at over a thousand online retailers (including drugstore.com, A Pea in the Pod, Target, Home Depot, Victoria's Secret and even Ebay) which are automatically credited to your Ebates account when you make a purchase by going through the Ebates website. Ebates is FREE and incredibly easy to use, all you have to do is go to the website, sign up and whenever you plan to make an online purchase, log on to your account on the Ebates website and check to see if the store that you are making your purchase from participates (the percentage back will be shown). If so, just click on the store's link and once you have made your purchase, the store notifies Ebates and your rebate will appear in your account (it can take a little while). Every three months Ebates sends you a check for the amount in your account as long as you have accumulated at least $5.01, if not, whatever you do have is held for another three months and so on. Essentially, Ebates receives a commission from retailers for purchases made via links from the Ebates site and then shares that commission with you which can amount to a lot of $$$ on large purchases and you would be surprised to see what adds up from smaller, more routine purchases as well. Ebates often offers special coupons and deals that they will send your way and most often, coupon and promotion codes that you have still work so you save even more!! You can find a complete list of participating retailers by clicking here, you might be very surprised to see how many you frequent. Once you join (why would you not), you should also refer your friends on the site because when you do and they sign up, you both get $5 credited to your account (which does not count towards your required $5.01 balance to receive a check)!!

Stuck On You

How often do you find a top, dress etc. that would be perfect if it only stayed put here or there?? If you haven't, I don't like you! If you have, you must get the Miss Oops Mishap Tape ASAP! I have tried double-sided tape (and keep it on hand in my desk drawer just in case) and toupee tape as well but I love the Mishap Tape (fabric friendly and hypoallergenic) the most. The strips are thin so you avoid gathering too much fabric under the tape and the length is perfect - just long enough to really keep a hold while covering enough area so that you likely won't need to use more than one strip (unless you have a major mishap going on). The best part about the Mishap Tape is that it is so easy to apply unlike double sided and toupee tapes which stick to your hands, your hair and itself as you try to get it adhere to the fabric. Unlike other tapes, Mishap Tape is covered on both sides, on one side the covering tab is in two sections so you can place the first part of the tape on the fabric and then remove the covering tab on the second part which makes it so easy to get it in the perfect spot. Once in place, you just peel off the other side which has a little tape-less part on the end so no picking to separate the tape from the covering! This is seriously user friendly fashion tape!! Mishap Tape is perfect for use with low cut tops and dresses and all tops that may volunteer too much cleavage, hems that come undone before you can get them fixed, protruding bra straps, button downs that buckle, fabric belts or sashes that look best just so, the list goes on and on! You can purchase Mishap Tape for $6.99 for a pack of 36 strips on the Miss Oops website but it is also available on other sites and in stores as well.

About Face!

I am lucky to have pretty good skin but it doesn't come entirely naturally and people often ask me what I use to keep my complexion clear. My skin type can drive me nuts, sometimes its oily, sometimes normal and sometimes combination depending on the time of year so I tend to switch some of my routine up pretty regularly. One of my favorite product lines is Boscia which offers an ever growing variety of preservative-free, botanically-based skincare products. While sold at Sephora, Beauty.com and other retailers, the Boscia website is the best for selecting which products will work best for you. I have been using this line (increasingly so) for a few years so I'll give you the rundown on what I have tried and what I use. I use the Oil-free Daily Hydration SPF 15 (1 oz, $27) daily along with the Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment (1/2 oz, $38). The moisturizer is very light, absorbs extremely quickly and even on my most oily days it doesn't make my skin greasy or cause breakouts. All I can say about the eye gel is that I started to use it when I saw tiny lines appearing at the sides of my eyes (I refuse to say that they are crows feet and you can't make me) and ever since then they don't appear to have become any more pronounced and new ones don't seem to be appearing! I did try a product by Prescriptives to see if I would like it better and I didn't like it nearly as much. I also use the Willow Bark Breakout Treatment (0.5 fl oz $25.00) when I first sense that a breakout may be brewing or when any part of my face is particularly oily. I haven't been using this product that long so I can't say much about it other than the fact that it does seems to ward off breakouts to some extent and make any that debut disappear faster than they had in the past. For cleansing I use the Purifying Cleansing Gel (4.06 fl oz, $21.00) when my skin is oily and sometimes when it is normal and the Soothing Cleansing Cream (4.06 fl oz, $21.00) when it is dry and the rest of the time when it is normal. The Purifying Cleansing Gel is great at reducing oil and it isn't very drying so I can use it when my skin is normal as well (though if your skin is normal most of the time this is probably not the best cleanser for you). I love the Soothing Cleansing Cream when my skin is dry because it doesn't dry you out at all (nor does it make you greasy) and it is actually soothing - its a great all around cleanser. Word of caution, if you like a lot of lather, these cleansers aren't going to cut it (by the way, lather is not indicative of a product's efficacy). I have also used the MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil (4.06 fl oz, $21.00) which is one of Bosica's best selling products but I am not in love with it. It could be because it is an oil and even thought they say it won't, I am always scared it will cause me to breakout but I think the other 2 cleansers do just as good of a job removing make-up and I haven't found the value in this one. Give it a shot, based on the popularity of this product, I am quite possibly wrong on this one. Though I don't use it religiously (I just forget) I love the Clarifying Detox Mask (2.8 oz, $25.00) and my skin feels so soft and clean afterwards. I love the fact that this mask is quick drying and it also really helps to clear up breakouts and ward of potential ones. Finally, I also have the Blotting Linens (100 sheets, $10.00) which do an excellent job of absorbing excess oil and reducing shine and come in a variety of scents (I use the plain ones). These are perfect for throwing in your bag and carrying around, especially in the upcoming months! If you want to sample any of the Boscia products you can call their customer service (888.635.8884) and request samples and they are also available when you place an order through the Boscia website (if there is nothing that you want to try, get samples of what you use to travel with). One last note, while the product sizes may seem small, a little goes a long way and I find that they last a lot longer than they look like they will. Shipping is free for order of $45 or more and gift certificates are available.

Mix It Up

I am not a big granola eater but a number of my friends are and were very excited when I told them about MixMyGranola.com, a website that offers custom-mixed granola. How it works: You first pick your base granola (16 ounces of either organic, french vanilla, low fat or 100% Organic Muesli) and then you select your ingredients (priced by the ounce) which include everything from fruit to nuts to seeds to M&Ms and gummy bears! MixMyGranola.com puts it all together and ships it to you (flat rate of $4.99). One of the coolest features on the site is a nutrition calculator that you can click on to see the value of your mix as you are making it!! MixMyGranola.com offers a few pre-mixed options and allows you to reorder mixes you have previously purchased. And of course, gift certificates are available (and I happen to think this is a very unique gift that I would even like - see above).

The Pawfect Treat

In honor of my four-legged furry son's Birthday (he's 8) and Earth Day, I introduce you to Three Dog Bakery which makes all-natural, oven-baked treats for dogs and cats. I found Three Dog Bakery when my dog was a puppy and my Vet warned me that his breed has a propensity to gain weight and told me that I would need to be very careful with it in order to keep him healthy. I went on a hunt for low fat, all natural (always the way to go with your pets) treats that weren't too big. That is when I found Jump N Sit Bits. While all of their treats are great, Jump N Sit Bits are small treats intended to be used for training but I started giving them to my dog as his treats and he loved them (I thought he might catch on when my Father refers to them as his Gandhi goodies but so far, so good). My dog only weighs 20 pounds so one of these probably won't do the trick for larger dogs but Jump N Sit Bits are great for dogs who need to lose a few (or not gain a few to begin with) and, of course, for training purposes. You can find all of Three Dog's products on their website and some specialty pet stores carry them as well. Jump N Sit Bits are $5.35 for a jar which lasts me a few months.

I'll Drink to This!

I think this wine truly needs no description. I have never tried it, don't know anyone that has, I know nothing about it (other than it is under $20 and widely available online) and I still think it is worth buying!!!

From Your Mouth To Many Ears...

This recommendation is from the favorite cousin of the blog who says that the Mobile Edge Paris - Notebook Carrying Backpack is a great choice if you are looking for a laptop bag. From what I hear, this bag is very light and its slim size makes it more user friendly than bigger bulkier bags not to mention it is a little trendier than most and has a side pocket for water bottles. Since I haven't given this one a try myself, here are the specs from Amazon.com where you can find this bag for $45: SafetyCell computer protection compartment; plenty of interior pockets for organization; ergonomic ventilated back panel for comfort; includes removable pouch for accessories or cosmetics; convenient hide-away water bottle pocket.

Baby Bootie

I was at my friend's place visiting her adorable newborn son when I saw one of her gifts, a pint-sized brown leather (or leather-like) club chair, that was almost as cute as he was! I went to get the info on it to tell you all about it and was crushed to find out that the store that they had purchased it at was no longer in business so I scoured the web to see if I could find it elsewhere - no such luck. BUT, I did find a couple of similarly cute chairs for tiny tushies at Toddle Rock (the pink and brown above, they have a few different styles and tons of different fabrics and personalization options) and AMBShopping.com (the brown leather-like club chair and ottoman above). Rosenberry Rooms had some very cute chairs as well but my favorite one on their site was over $500 (figures) while the Toddle Rock chairs are around $48-$60 (and about another $20 if you want it personalized) and the AMBShopping.com club chair and ottoman is around $148 (you might be able to find it for less elsewhere on the web). The Toddle Rock chairs are about 18-25 inches high and the AMBShopping.com chair is about 25 inches high - too CUTE!

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

If you haven't heard about DonorsChoose.org you should definitely look into this charity and consider adding it to the list of those to which you donate. I am a huge fan of this charity - it serves a vital purpose and offers donors an element of choice not available with most other charities. The organization can describe themselves far better than I can...

"DonorsChoose.org was pioneered by teachers at a Bronx public high school in the spring of 2000. Charles Best, then a social studies teacher, saw first-hand the scarcity of materials in our public school classrooms and the profound impact of this scarcity on kids' education. Looking for a way to address this problem, he sensed an untapped potential in people who were frustrated by their lack of influence over the use of their charitable donations. DonorsChoose.org, a website connecting classrooms in need with individuals who want to help, was born. DonorsChoose.org is dedicated to addressing the scarcity and inequitable distribution of learning materials and experiences in our public schools."

Essentially, you can read requests from teachers from all over the country for funds for various projects necessary for their classrooms. The projects are described by the teachers in detail as is the intended allocation of the requested funds and the amount necessary to complete the request. You can choose the project you would like to fund in a variety of ways including the type of project or resource you would like to fund (or assist with funding), the area in which the school is located, the poverty level of the area or the amount needed to complete the project. As for your contribution, you can contribute the full amount needed to a project, the remaining amount or any amount for that matter (a number of the projects are also eligible for Double Your Impact offers which trigger matching funds from corporations and other foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). Depending on the teacher, the project and the amount you donate you may receive handwritten thank you's from the students and/or be sent a link to pictures of the students using the materials purchased with the donations (both of which are truly rewarding to get/see).

DonorsChoose.org also offers what I believe to be the ultimate gift you can buy for someone (it is one gift that even the person that has everything doesn't have), a DonorsChoose.org Giving Card. Just like any gift card, you prepay an amount which goes on the card and the recipient can choose the project(s) s/he want to receive the funds. You can also make a donation in the name of the recipient and send them a note (through the site) letting them know all the details which is great for those that are not computer savvy but otherwise, I think the Giving Card is a lot more unique, fun and gratifying for the recipient.

Madam Cleo...Buy Me Now!

I will admit that there is no body cream that I have tried that I am madly in love with (feel free to introduce me to one) but I am definitely in like with Cleo Body Cream, Karite' Butter. This Italian-made cream contains yogurt, is very gentle, so light (absorbs really quickly), amazingly moisturizing, smells great and is really inexpensive! The Cleo Line also contains a number of other products including other body creams, shower creams, bathfoam cream and liquid soap but I haven't tried any of them (please tell if you have). I also haven't seen this in any retail stores but I never really looked (could explain it), I get mine at drugstore.com.

Hanky Panky Time

So I know that everyone already knows about Hanky Panky thongs (and to know is to LOVE) but if you only have the solid colors it may be time for an upgrade! A Brief Affair is like Hanky Panky Heaven, they have a huge selection of Hanky Pankys (thongs, boy shorts, camis, bras, sleepwear and loungewear) and their thongs come in far more than basic colors. Consider...

Helping others with the Breast Cancer Awareness Thong (Hanky Panky will donate $2.00 from each pair to SUSAN G. KOMEN for the CURE, or...

Taking business attire to a new level with the Pinstriped Modal Thong, or...

For you girly girls (or those of you that are having hot flahes just from reading this), the Floral Splash Thong or the Original Ruffled Thong, or...

Maybe you want to give this "peace" a chance (terrible, I know, I couldn't help it) with the Original Peace Thong!

If you are in the giving mood (or have no choice), they also have some adorable pairs that make well appreciated gifts beyond the always cute thongs that say (in Swarovski crystals) "BRIDE", "MAID OF HONOR", "MRS.", "BRIDESMAID", "HOT MOMMA" and "MOM TO BE" like the Leopard Love Letter Thong, complete with the matching leopard stationary...

Or the adorable Vintage Gift Box...

Whatever you pick out (and you can't go wrong), the BEST part is that if you shop at A Brief Affair between now and July 31st, you will get 10% off your order by using the promotion code LatestAndGreatest (shipping is free right now too for orders over $50)!!!

Don't Let This Ship SALE!!!

Cherry Tee is having free shipping on all purchases of $25 or more beginning today through Monday, April 20. Enter code "fsapril" at checkout.

Finger Food

Nailezee is latest (that I have heard of) in a line of nail products that make the possibility of having nails a reality for those of us that aren't so blessed. Sick of seeing my thin, peeling nails not improving week after week no matter what we tried, my manicurist suggested I try this and another customer sitting next to me swore by it so of course, I tried it and it really works!! I am not aware of any stores that sell this so you have to buy it online but if you use Protein 1 daily for a month (without nail polish) and then over your nail polish (I do it a few times a week when I remember, not daily), your nails will become much stronger and will grow. The people at Nailezee suggested that I buy Protein 2 for maintenance because continued use of Protein 1 can make your nails so hard that they become brittle (I switch them up). I also randomly tried their Avocado Foot Creme and it is well worth its $6 price tag! The Proteins will run you $17 for a 1/2 ounce bottle. Oh, and for those of you that often ask me to remind you what colors I wear, I am faithful to (and have been for years) Essie's Mademoiselle (base) and Waltz (top).

Not Your Average Joe

After a disappointing break-up with a Tassimo, I really researched single serve brewers and decided I wanted to try a Keurig Home Brewer. Luckily, Shlomo Clause heard my wish and delivered one for Chrismukah. Since getting mine, I have two other friends who followed suit based on my recommendation and both (and two significant others too) love it as much as I do. In fact, two of us loved it so much that we each bought the Mini Brewer (available in three colors) for the office. There are over 200 K-Cup varieties for the Brewers covering coffees (regular, decaf, flavored, organic and free trade varieties), teas (regular, decaf, green, herbal and chai) and hot chocolates (milk, white and dark)and all are made by top brands including Green Mountain, Timothy's, Newman's Own, Emeril's, Twinings, Celestial Seasonings and Ghiradelli to name a few. The larger Home Brewers make a slightly better cup than the Mini Brewer but the Mini is still pretty impressive for its size and at $80 (you can find sales on these or just bring your faithful 20% off coupon to Bed, Bath and Beyond and pick one up there), it is totally worth avoiding spilling coffee out of your "non-spill" travel mug (what can I say, I am talented) on yourself, your car and other belongings. The Home Brewers begin at around $100 depending on the model you select and Keurig customer service is great. If you get one feel free to post or email to swap favorites (French Toast is definitely my favorite flavor, I think...) Word of caution...they are not the quietest machines in the world so if you plan on using it while others are sleeping consider yourself warned!

Sweeter Beater

You can never have enough enough wife beaters and the search for the perfect one never ends!! The Cherry Tee Bing Collection offers a great selection of tees and tanks but the ribbed tanks are the best - they aren't too long, aren't too short, come in 2 sizes and 15 colors! I'll also give honorable mention to the camisoles which are also great and the cap sleeve crew and long sleeve crew which would be also be great IF they were a longer.

In case you happened to be on the hunt for a unique gift and know someone that lives in their beaters (or just doesn't know what they are missing), consider getting them a Cherry Tee Big Bucket O' Tanks or send a Cherry Tee Sampler so they can pick their favorite tank/tee! The tanks are 2 for $30 or $19.50 for one.

Fluff Frocks

So while we are on the subject of being comfy, Barefoot Dreams® CozyChic™ Robes are heavenly!! They are made of this delicious Poly-Microfiber knit which may be the softest fabric I have ever felt! These make great gifts because no matter how many robes someone might have, unless they have this one, they don't have one nearly as soft and cozy (you can have the monogrammed too). Bonus for us vertically challenged folk - if you happen to be a size 0 or 2, you can get away with the Barefoot Dreams® CozyChic™ Youth Robe since these tend to be pricey (not to mention long). You have 16 colors to choose from (some are easier to find than others) and they run around $100-$120 (around $70 for the Youth Robe) depending on where you get them.

Fluff Flops

The Ugg Fluff Slippers are hands down these are the best slippers ever (in my opinion anyway). They are made of the yummy Ugg sheepskin that everyone seems to love (there could be no other reason so many people are walking around is such uggly boots) and they come in a bunch of colors. Second to how comfy they are, the best thing about these slipper is that they don't melt your feet because they are largely open but they have enough sheepskin to keep keep them perfectly warm. They also have a rubber bottom which is great for walking your dog or going for a spa day (with perfect toe exposure for a pedi). Dillards has a few left for $52.50 (if you search for more than 30 seconds like I did you might be able to find even better prices) but they retail for $70.