A Few of my Favorite Things

I'm going to pretend I'm Oprah today and do a "Favorite Things" show. I mean post. Minus the free Viking refrigerators, digital cameras, designer purses, and slew of women hyperventilating and sporting mascara-streaked faces.

Here it goes...

The Coffee House station on Direct TV: This has changed my life. If you have Direct TV, see if you get this music station. It's actually an XM Satellite Radio station that also plays through your television. Where I live it's channel 848. 

I enjoy smooth, mellow, delicious music all the time. Cafe Verona anyone? It features "coffee covers" of already-cool songs {made even cooler "unplugged."} Best of all, I feel like I live in Starbucks.

 

........................................

Fresh Herbs: A departure from music, I know. Clearly, my favorite things are all over the map. I'm a nut for really good (quick) food with layers of flavor. Fresh herbs are a super easy and inexpensive way to make regular food taste gourmet. Just swing by the herbs section of your produce department. 

myrecipes.com

{You don't honestly think I grow fresh herbs, do you? It sounds idyllic and I wish I did. But, I can only grow one thing at a time and right now that happens to be 3 children.}

Anyway, my favorites are cilantro and basil. I love to snip cilantro on top of Salsa Chicken, quesadillas, tacos, soup. It's also great on Thai food. 

When I was in grad school I waited tables at a swanky Italian restaurant that sprinkled fresh basil on almost all the dishes. It was love at first bite. Just last night I sauteed leftover angel hair with yummy stuff and topped it with fresh basil. Delish. And it took all of 5 minutes.

Fresh herbs are usually about a dollar a bunch and a cheap way to chic food.

...............................................

Sunless Tanner: It's come a long way since the early days of stinky orange stain in a tube. Now that I'm a grown up and realize that wrinkles and sun damage are unattractive yet inevitable, I try to avoid "tanning." 

Not that my teenage self ever laid out in the sun on my black trampoline while slathered in Crisco. And not that I now have a bevy of ever-growing age spots on my thirty-something self as a result.

But let's be honest. Wintry white legs are no woman's best asset. And I believe stretch marks and cellulite are always improved with a tan. 

Meet my new friend, L'Oreal Sublime Glow.

www.pics.drugstore.com

This brand works well and gradually turns your pale self into a believable bronze beauty. Because it's gradual, you don't have to worry about legs that look like they bathed in Tang.

{Tip: T.J. Maxx often has high-end and nicer drug store brands for way cheap. I just got a $10 bottle of Aveeno gradual sunless tanner for $5.99. It also works great. A friend got a super-expensive bottle of Clarins for 5 or 10 bucks. Another tip: Exfoliating in the shower before application gives you a smoother sheen. Yes, I have a part-time job selling stuff on infomercials.}

...............................................

Craigslist: Sort of like e-bay but free and local. Just list stuff you want to sell (or want hauled off) and you arrange the details with interested buyers in your area. A great way to sell unwanted furniture and stuff sitting in your garage. The Man sold two old sets of golf clubs for $80 each within 24 hours.

Likewise, a great place to find furniture or even free stuff (like plants or building materials.) Yep, they have a category called "FREE." I shop there most.

...............................................

Restaurant.com: I just bought $100 worth of gift certificates to a swanky local restaurant for $8. No lie. Check it out. Great for date night with your man or to print out and give as gifts.

I could go on but I'll keep you guessing and save more for another episode. I mean post.

What are a few of your favorite things? I'd love to know.