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December 12th, 2014
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Sometimes you come across things or products that change your life. Things you become passionate about because they either work so well or add something extra to your daily activities that you can't imagine life without them. When I realized that I hadn't written a blog in a while, I thought that perhaps I should share some of my favorite things...tis the season to appreciate them after all.
I'm consistently in awe of individuals who have artistic talent. While my creative talents lie more in the conceptual arena, those who can actually bring ideas to life have my ultimate respect and admiration. Dog Portraits by Jess provides the ability for you to get a custom canvas portrait of your pet done by local artist Jessie Wheaton. She's brilliant. She's affordable. And for individuals who have pets that are part of their families, she provides the ability to create a beautiful piece of art that they will adore. I had a portrait painted for a friend, and it remains one of the best gifts I've ever given. She's amazing. And her art is too.
I'm a geek. I've embraced it. And because of that I like the quirky, geek centric products that websites like ThinkGeek offer. Whether it is a Star Wars themed AT-AT lawn ornament or a Back to the Future Flux Capacitor car charger, ThinkGeek has everything you can imagine. I could spend way too long sifting through this website and if I purchased everything that captured my eye as being awesome, I may get more than my share of strange looks. Just doing "research" for this blog I spent waaaaaaay too long looking at Big Bang Theory Bazinga pajamas. From Dr. Who to Marvel Comics to retro items, they have every geekified thing you can imagine. Seriously. Check it out. You know you want to.
A friend that works in a salon introduced me to this moisturizing skin cream. According to its simple orange and white packaging, it says it is highly concentrated glycerin moisturizer enriched with Vitamins B2, C & E. It's made in Japan and is designed to hydrate, smooth and sooth rough, scaly and dry skin. I'm convinced it's infused with the tears and sweat of Samurai warriors because I've never found anything that works to heal distressed skin like this product. It's magical. And, it is the number one selling skincare cream in Japan. It does so without sulfates and a bunch of synthetic dyes, fragrances and chemicals. You can find it in some Sephora stores (mostly the ones in Pittsburgh) but it's just as easy to just order it online. You can thank me later.
I suppose you would say that buried deep down inside me is a closet fashionista. Big Bang Theory jammies aside, I love designer clothes and shoes and bags as much as the next girl. That being said, I often struggle with the "do I need that or do I want that" conundrum that is often fueled by the amount of cash (or lack thereof) in my wallet. Ann's Fabulous Finds solves this problem by offering pre-loved, high quality, authentic designer accessories with the ability to lay them away and pay as you go. They will also sell your items for you on consignment. I've used Ann's way more than once as a buyer and a seller and have never been disappointed. Just wait until you see what I've got on layaway.
It's like a mall of food. If you haven't stopped into one, make it a point to do so. I'll drive to Robinson just to shop here. Designed like a European outdoor market, you have access to nearly everything you could ever want in your fridge or pantry. Add to it that they have the biggest olive bar I've ever seen, fresh cut meats and seafood and a whole section dedicated to cheese and I'm in heaven. I'm not ashamed to admit that I've driven almost an hour just for their fresh squeezed orange juice. They even have curbside take out for their bistro. So. Worth. The. Drive.
I'm not a wine snob. Not even close. But, with that being said, I know enough to know when I come across something makes me ask, "What was that?" and "can I have another glass?" The first time I experienced Conundrum white was as a drug rep and a physician ordered a bottle for the table. I expected the bill to be outrageous...the wine was amazing and everyone was commenting on how good it was. Instead of the pricey vintages that were often the favorites at physician dinners, what I found was an affordable and delicious option that now is a staple for gift giving and special events in my home. True wine aficionados may turn their nose up to the fact that the whole concept of these wines focuses on being a blend, but for those tuned in to taste and affordability, you can absolutely go wrong with the flavor of this wine. And, at a ridiculously low price of less than $30 a bottle, you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to at least give it a chance. I buy mine at Good Mansion wines.
I've been on the spotify bandwagon for a couple of years. For those of you happy with Pandora, I urge you to take the plunge and try this application for your smartphone or your desktop computer. Like Pandora, you can listen free to millions of songs. But spotify takes listening to a different level. You can choose artists, albums or playlists that you create or choose one already made for you. Spotify also has a discover feature where it will suggest new music and artists based upon your preferences. The feature I like is that you can make your music a social experience. Share your songs and playlists on Facebook, Twitter and Blogs and subscribe to friends and artists that you want to follow. If you're brave enough, find me on Spotify. You might just like Carrie's Mac Daddy Playlist. Carrie Scanlon's Spotify
Rent the Runway takes the headache and hassle out of finding that perfect dress for special events, weddings and galas. It is as easy as hopping on their website, searching for the look and formality of the gown and selecting the dates you need it. They will send it to you in two sizes, just in case. You can rent gowns that on the rack would be thousands of dollars for less than one hundred. It's amazing and a way to look like a million bucks without breaking the bank. Plus, you don't have to spend a ton on something you may wear only once. It's brilliant and New Years Eve is coming up.
SeatStir, formally FilASeat, Pittsburgh, gives you the opportunity to get extraordinarily low cost tickets to live theatre, comedy and musical events around Pittsburgh. When shows don't sell out, you get the chance to fill these seats at a fraction of the cost. You can search by date and the site will tell you what's available. It's great for when you want something to do on the weekend but don't want to shell out a bunch of cash and still get high quality entertainment. You'll love it.
These are the things that stood out as I prepared to write this blog. Things that I'll go the extra mile to have in my life. Things that make life easier or more enjoyable. As I sit here, I feel guilty that I didn't include a couple others. Two very honorable mentions go out to my Babybliss professional hair dryer which has been worth every penny of its expensive price tag and cut my drying time from more than an hour to about 20 minutes and the ridiculously awesome Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix which is the secret ingredient in more than a handful of recipes beyond just the obvious (try it in your chili). What are some of YOUR favorite things?
Comments about this blog can be addressed to carrie@bordaslaw.com or simply comment below.
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
