Welcom to Your Dream Bedroom Thanks to bryan keith design Bedding!

Great designers have a signature look that you can tell right away. It is their distinct vision that speaks through each item they create.

I recently discovered and then fell hard for the soothing yet bold graphics of bryan keith design. I love the clean modern lines and contemporary colours of these bedding designs that add to a room without ever overpowering it. 

The unexpected blend of apple green, taupe and ivory in the St. Maarten Comforter Set sets the room in a calm, serene tone. The luxurious textures of Tanglewood with its exquisite embroidery and faux silk give a upscale resort feel to the place. And the playful lines in the Ventura Comforter Set just ooze grown-up sophistication.

The incredible designer of the this brand, Bryan Keith Parker, previously launched the memorable Nautica Home Collection (which  become one of the major home brands for Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens-N-Things), FUBU Home and Nate Berkus among others. But now he's launched his own impeccable brand - bryan keith - sold exclusively at Macy’s and www.macys.com. And I for one am thrilled!

 

One of the designs I'm swooning over is the Dana Point 6-piece Duvet Set (pictured above). This set is so gorgeous, so rich, yet at a price within reach.  Everything has such great weight to it and the quality of materials and workmanship is striking. The reversible cotton duvet is ablaze with a vibrant, joyful hexagonal print in sea blues and white, but turn it over and it's a fresh-air-on-the-cape stripe! It's two duvets in one! And with 2 reversible shams, you'll always feeling like you're getting into a brand new bed. What a feeling! The breakfast pillow is the perfect reading and napping companion (it just fits in the crink of your neck just so) and while the square pillow starts out in the bedroom, I often bring it out to the living room with me, because the rich blue and wonderful embroidered stitching is so gorgeous, I just want it see it all of the time.

I only want bryan keith bedding from now on! The only drawback? You'll want to stay in bed amongst one of the most brilliantly designed bedding sets long after the alarm's gone off.

bryan keith is sold exclusively at Macy’s and www.macys.com. Shop now.

Luckies of London Limited Has the Most Fun & Unique Affordable Gifts!

 

Oh boy. I've got a ton of birthdays, anniversaries and housewarmings in the next couple of months and I was starting to panic - how am I going to shop for all of these people and occasions? There's not enough time and I don't have a lot of money and ...

It's so easy to get stressed out about this kind of thing because it really does take a lot of time to find just the right thing for each individual if you have to hunt around different stores and rack your brain trying to remember something they need or want or like. 

But there is no need to worry anymore because I've found the most amazing one-stop-shop there is - Luckies of London Limited run by the lovely Jim. And it's all online, so you can shop in the comfort of your own home at whatever time is convenient for you. And boy, are you going to be blown away by the selection!

Check out the extraordinary, affordable finds I got for the folks on my gift-giving list:

- Undercover mini sleeve for mp3 players, cameras, games, phones, etc.

Just like it's big brother, the Undercover Laptop Sleeve, this awesome little padded envelope is actually made of a strong tyvek material,  lined and secures tightly with velcro. So while it looks just like a beat up piece of paper, it's splashproof, tearproof and  a lot heartier than that plastic thing you've been using to carry your phone/camera/etc. in. But be careful - it's so authentic looking that you might just want to pop your phone in the mail!

- Party Animals

Anyone can make a sandwich, but mine is going to be the only one with cool looking one, thanks to these playful sandwich cutters. I want to get the whole lot - Pig & Hen (I have the Cow). And I'm not going to just limit myself to sandwiches with this l'il beaut. Oh no, I'm going to make cow-shaped cookies, cow-shaped polenta and cow-shaped  burgers (or is that too cruel?) for my next dinner parties, to name just a few. And while I'm keeping this guy (I'm calling him Len for some reason), I'm going to get a bunch for my food-loving friends. It's not only great fun, it's something they'll really use too.

- Morris the Memo Holder

Speaking of animals, I love Morris. Not only does he hold your memo notes for you, he'll hold it in his mouth for you so you won't forget your shopping list or reminder to pick up the dry cleaning.  There is something so sweet about this burrow. He never asks anything of you - just that you make him feel useful. Now that's unconditional love! He comes in Red, White and Charcoal.

- Pickmaster

This is the ultimate gift for the music lover or musician on your list! Like the old 3-hole punch from high school, the Pickmaster (pictured above) punches out not holes, but a lifetime of personalized guitar picks out of anything flat - cardboard, plastic, etc. You can recycle materials and rock your way up the Stairway to Heaven! This gorgeous sturdy, chromed metal punch is something that the axe player in your life will genuinely appreciate. Rock on!

- YouToDo

It's as tall as I am, which means there's a lot to get through, but I'm up for the challenge. Are you? This list of to dos isn't a chores list by any means. It's more of a life list and the whole family can get involved. There are easy tasks such as "make and flip a pancake" and harder challenges like "learn the capitol cities of Europe." It comes with stickers so you can mark your achievements and there are a few blank spots for you to write in your own to dos. It's much easier to tackle your goals and dreams when they're right there facing you every day. This is a fantastic gift for anyone of any age.

The best part of all this? These are just a small few of the outrageously great products  Luckies has to offer. Shop their whole collection now and get the best gifts EVER!

My HercuGlass Clear Mug is Virtually Unbreakable!

Recently I broke my one and only coffee mug.

It's not that we only have one mug, but it was the only one I used for coffee. I guess because I work from home (freelance writing) and every day is a little bit different, using the one mug brings a little bit of comfort and sanity to my often crazybusy workday.

So to prevent that from happening again, I looked to the glass experts HercuGlass and Santanoni Glass & Ceramics.

I got their best-selling Ultra-Break Resistant 13 oz. Clear Mug (pictured above), which holds enough coffee to get me through my harried mornings and is "thermal shock resistant." That means that it will stand up the usual bumps I put it through the day and won't fall apart at the drop of a hat like a reality show housewife.

Check out this amazing drop-test video and see just how much the Clear Mug can withstand!

And if your mug happens to fracture while pouring in a hot drink, HercuGlass will replace it. All you have to do is send it back to them. They will "analyze to see how it broke, so we can learn more about our process and how to improve it even more and send you a replacement." How awesome is that?!

At prices this low, you can afford to replace all your cups and glasses. I will not only do this at home, but when I open my restaurant, I'm using these almost unbreakable glasses and cups in the dining room. Why would you use anything else?

Shop the entire collection at HercuGlass and Santanoni Glass & Ceramics!

Make Drinks Like the Pros with Lime Tree Cove Cocktail Salts

Mixology has become one of North America's favourite pastimes.

My fella has become an excellent drink maker in recent months. Frothy, boozy concoctions from the 20s and 30s are a current fave.

But I do love classics such as Margaritas and Bloody Marys. The key to these fabulous beverages is in the rimming. If you don't line 'em with salt, they aren't the real deal. The problem is, how do you do it without making a huge mess?

I found the solution at Lime Tree Cove.

CEO Tim McCaffery writes about how the company started:

"We began when my fiancè asked me, 'Can you re-salt my margarita?' The concept of a better way to prepare rimmed cocktails was born."

Tim and his crew have created the perfect tools and ingredients (all natural) to rim your drinks with ease. 

The Barmaid (pictured above) takes drink rimming and salting to a whole new level. This handheld device allows you to make margaritas, mojitos, martinis, pina coladas, and whatever else you like to sip on. Just wet the rim of your glass with lime, lemon , etc. Place the Barmaid on the rim of your glass, press the button and go around the edge. The Barmaid does the rest, dispensing just the right amount of salt the the glass' edge. You can control the amount of salt by pressing more for more and less for less. Sooo easy!

Want something a little fancier than just plain salt? The Gourmet Samplers allow you an exciting range of spices and seasonings to try.  I taste-tested the Margarita Fiesta Sampler. Offering 4 variations to whet your whistle, there's something here for everyone: Tangy Lime Salt, Spicy Chili Salt, Sea Salt and Fresh Lemon Sugar for those wanting a sweet finish to their drink.

Next time your friends want to go out for drinks, tell 'em they can have handcrafted, personalized drinks at your place. Just see where you all end up.

Shop the entire Lime Tree Cove Collection now.

Take Your Food to Another Level with Sea to Sky Seasonings Salts

Do you get into a routine where everything you make tastes the same?

I certainly do. I tend to rely on the same spices, do the same 10 dishes again and again and fall into the same pattern at mealtime because I'm rushed for time.

I've recently discovered however, that all it takes is a little salt. Not just any salt, of course. I'm talking about Sea to Sky Seasonings Salts.

These Canadian-inspired infused seasonings & salts enhance flavours way beyond simple table salt. The goal of Sea to Sky Seasonings is "to elevate your taste experience to a new level," and they have most certainly reached it.

By  using as many locally grown, ethical and organic ingredients as possible, you get the freshest, most vibrant taste. And you won't find any food colourings or other flavour enhancers here - just natural ingredients that will enliven both your food and your palates.

New flavours are introduced seasonally - I tried some earlier this season such as Vancoucer Coast & Mountains Berry & Honey Salt (try rimming your Margarita glass with this one - heaven), Vancouver Island Seaweed Salt (so good a top of salmon!), Thompson Okanagan Apple Salt, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Garlic Salt (I shook this all over my homemade sweet potato fries), Northern BC Wild Mushroom Salt (so decadent on eggs!) and for the every day, I quickly became addicted to Kootenay Rockies Spring Skiing Salt (so fresh!).

And now I want to try these from Sea to Sky Seasoning core lineup:

Bacon & Tomato Salt - Smokey Oyama bacon, concentrated sundried tomatoes and sea salt all packaged into one delicious ingredient?  Oh my!

Cabernet Sauvignon Salt - This Cab Sav from the Niagara region is sure to intensify your evening's menu.

Cinnamon, Chocolate & Chipotle - How sexy is this combination? Just think of all you can use it on!

Silk Spice - Created by Chef Silke Seiler, this seasoning is fascinating and completely unique. What a fabulous gift for the food lover in your life!

Shop the entire Sea to Sky Seasonings Store and rev up your cooking - naturally!

Celebrate Summer with Porch Parties: Cocktail Recipes & Easy Ideas for Outdoor Entertaining

The summer goes by so quickly. 

Before you know it, it's Fall, the kids are back in school and the heavy coats and wool tights come out. So celebrate the season with Porch Parties: Cocktail Recipes & Easy Ideas for Outdoor Entertaining by Denise Gee.

This is more than just drinks on a porch. It's about, as Denise says, "the joy of architecture and neighbourly camaraderie." Doesn't that sound good right about now? No running errands, no cleaning the bathroom - just getting together with friends and family.

Denise lives in Dallas, but she writes, "But what really shaped my design aesthetic was being raised in one of Mississippi’s most beautiful, historic and hospitable cities: Natchez. It was there, growing up downtown in a four-story Victorian house/clothing store owned by my mother and grandmother—and being a young docent at several antebellum houses—that I learned the joy of cooking, entertaining, storytelling, architecture, interior decorating and garden design." 

It's true that there's something instantly relaxing about a porch. I think it's that no one works out on the porch - it's where you talk and commune and you automatically unwind and decompress like you would on vacation.  

So in order to throw your own Porch Party, Denise gives you some great pointers like planning your buffet, how to stock the bar, garnish ideas and even includes a handy (and extensive) checklist.

And you're going to love her drink ideas - Blood Orange Martini, Prosecco Mojito and something called a Gumby Slumber. For these truly sweltering days, cooling off is easy with Denise's Watermelon Cooler, Blackberry Smash and a fascinating drink called the Michelada that calls for beer, hot sauce and soy sauce.

I love her "Punch" section and learned so much - for example, that Punch should have "at least three but preferably five ingredients and serve a boatload of people (or at least a small crowd)." And doesn't Lemon Sherbet, Ice Ring Finesse and Bourbon Slush Punch sound good right about now?

There is also a ton of non-alcoholic offerings, or as Denise calls 'em, Frocktails, as well as little bites to offer along with the drinks (you don't want the neighbours falling off the porch) such as Greek Crostini, Shrimp & Tomato Salad and Creamy Orange Fruit Dip.

Whether you live in a condo or have a sprawling house in the country, isn't it time you threw a porch party? You've got all you need right here, thanks to Porch Parties.

My New Life Guide Is Lotta Jansdotter's Handmade Living: A Fresh Take on Scandinavian Living

I have loved Lotta Jansdotter for years and have written about her products at every opportunity. I wrote about her sewing book back in 2007 and her notecard book, labels and stickers back in 2010.

There is such a clean simplicity to everything that she does that I find so calming and simultaneously appealing.So when I discovered her new book, Handmade Living: A Fresh Take on Scandinavian Style, I knew I'd found my new life guide.

What I mean by that is adapted her philosophies and looks into my own life. While there are many similarities to our looks and homes, I am always looking for ways to improve, simplify, declutter and spend more time on the things that truly matter.

Lotta graciously lets us in on her home and office and shows us fantastic ways to decorate, design and entertain. But really, it is more a lesson about a way of life. In the introduction, she writes, "It's my aim to show you that living a stylish life does not require a lot of money. It simply takes some interest, patience, and a touch of creativity."

I really believe that  you can live a full life without spending a lot. It's like a lot of organizing books say - keep only what really matters and you will enjoy those few things so much more. So I am already on board with her on this one. I think I just need a little honing and maybe a little more Scandinavian touches throughout the place.

Lotta also says that for her, "home is not really home unless there is a bit of cooking involved," so she she not only shares some of her beloved recipes, but includes recipe cards at the back.

I think what I find so fascinating is that she lives in bustling New York doing all of these wildly creative, energetic things and yet, her home is a haven of serenity, calm and beauty. This, while she has a husband, 2 year-old son and a cat. It's not a pristine white on white penthouse where things don't get touched and/or moved. This is like our home - where people live their lives and get dirty and have laundry to do and garbage to take out. What a relief to find someone like us (because we all know that people like Martha Stewart has staff and is prickly about mess). Just look at her kitchen - things are stacked and stacked. It feels just like home, doesn't it?

She gives great advice about everything from covering your windows so they still let in light to using up wasted space with baskets and shelves. And now I want "tray slings" and to instill "Fika" and "Smorgastarta" in my life! - you're just going to have to get the book to find out what they are.My favourite part of the book is about her office. She loves it so much that she decorates and reorganizes it all the time. A woman after my own heart.

I know about 20 people that could really use this book and about 50 that would love it just for the beautiful wisdom and ideas within it, not to mention the photos. What a gorgeous gift this makes - both for yourself and for others. 

And really, giving yourself the life you deserve is the best gift of all. Which is why this is going on my permanent holiday and birthday gift list. Because this kind of joy should be spread all around!

Buy your copies of Handmade Living now.

Bhold Shoe Bags Pamper Your Shoes - Each Individual One

Maybe you've been only using your shoe bags for traveling. I have. Because they aren't really all that pretty or that functional for anything more than keeping your shoes separate from your clothes in your luggage.

That's until I got Bhold Shoe Bags.

Proudly made and designed in Canada, you won't be able to resist these pretty little numbers. They come in so many patterns suitable for both men, women and young ladies, so they make a wonderful gift for the world traveler or the never-ending organizer.

Far superior to the ones you've used up until now, Bhold Bags are lined (your shoes have never been so pampered - I call my bags my "shoe spas") and come with a separator, so that each shoe gets its own cushy department and stay in tip-top shape. How swank is that?! The two drawstrings are finished with wooden beads, making it easy to stash and store your shoes in an instant.

And there are so many collections to choose from: Bella, an embellished collection that reminds me of frothy wedding cakes, Bling, for those that want to add a little shimmer and shine with Swarovski crystals to their closet, Top Shelf is a rich collection of sumptuous patterns and colours, Playful is all about whimsical and colourful cottons, and the Active Collection, which oozes city chic.

I got the Pixie Gurl (pictured above) which I use for storing away my lovely towering heels and wedges as well as toting my flats with me when I'm heading out for a night on the town and know that I will only get as far as the restaurant before I'll have to switch out of my teeterting booties.

Of course, you don't have to use them only for shoes - wrap wine or champagne, store your audio equipment (who says you can't still rock a yellow discman?) or keep all of your hair accessories together and organized. The possibilities are endless.

I am thrilled to have found Bhold Bags. They are the solution I didn't know I needed. Next on my list? A Bhold Shopping Bag!

Shop the entire Bhold Collection now.

IdeaStream Has Everything I Need to Get Organized

Being organized gives me a great sense of calm and peace. If I'm organized, I can then focus on the task at hand. I have everything at my disposal and I don't have to waste time hunting around for anything.

And while 70% of the time, my desk is an oasis of order, the rest of the time, it looks like my desk went on a 24-hour bender. So I am always on the hunt for fun, innovative products that will help me stay on course. 

I found amazing, affordable stuff at IdeaStream Products! They create items that I am always searching out, but can never find in regular office supply stores, or as they say it best, "ground-breaking products that change the way people think, live and work."

One of the best organizational tools are index cards. They allow you to do anything from create lists to plot out an entire book. But how to store them? The Vaultz Acrylic Index Card Box - 3x5 (I got White) is a sturdy, secure place for your pictures, recipes or valuable notes. It holds 350 index cards, so you can save desktop space by storing them all in this one great looking container, complete with steel corners and aluminum reinforcement.  And if you decide to use it to stash money, passport and other valuables, you can lock it up, safe and sound. I bet your wooden recipe box from the '60s can't do all that!

Another great find is the 5 x 8 Locking Storage Clipboard. This mini clipboard has so many superb features - the storage is huge and includes a net pocket, pen loop and elastic to hold back of notepad or anything else; there's an optional shoulder strap which makes it a valuable asset during garage sales, meetings, etc.; it comes with a notepad, so you can start using it right away; it's tough, so take it out onto the field; lock away your money and your secrets! Why would you want a regular 'ol clipboard when you can get this one? 

And because not all file folders are created equal, I am now completely addicted to the Find-It File Folders. I got the All Tab 80 Pack of Letter, Assorted (pictured above) and they are so far superior to what I've been using. Here's why:

- Each folder can have the tab in any of the 3 positions - left, middle and right - you just fold the scored spine to whichever position you desire. This has huge implications to your productivity:  if you can see the tab wherever you are, that means you'll find it faster.

- The box of 80 folders is only $16.99! This means that you can redo your entire home and office within your budget. Woo woo!

- The assorted pack has 5 bright, fun colours, so you can colour coordinate your projects, clients, etc. There is nothing that makes it easier to organize yourself than assigning something a colour. Try it. Just watch how much of a difference it makes.

You can see why I've fallen hard for IdeaStream. Affordable and inventive products that keep me on my game.

You should see my desk.  It's a thing of beauty now.

Cake Vintage Kitchen Papers Turns Your Dinner Party Into the Event of the Season

I love to entertain, but truthfully I'd rather spend my money on ingredients instead of the decorations. But I do like to spruce the place up a bit. It really needs a lift when company's coming by.

That's why my new favourite dinner party accessory is Cake Vintage Kitchen Papers.

This line of beautifully-styled vintage looking papers dresses up your table quickly and without a lot of expense. And you can choose to reuse or recycle them, meaning they'll take up less space than your Grandmother's linens.

Perfect Serving Placemats elevate your food so that everything has the feel of a fine French meal. Whether your tableware is handmade in Portugal or from Ikea, your guest will at least know where which fork goes where. And there's 50 of 'em, so that oughta get you through the summer.

And since doilies are so passe, update your look with 8" Serving Papers (pictured above).  This pad of 25 tear-off sheets means that you can use them under everything from your leek and cheese souffle appetizer to your homemade rhubarb crumble dessert.

For the food lover who's always dabbling in the kitchen, the Cook's Journal is a phenomenal gift. It has a table of contents and each recipe is numbered (space for 40-hand written dishes), with room for the ingredients and directions. With vintage images throughout, it is the most beautiful journal and an instant cookbook - just fill in the blanks and you've got your best-seller completed!

Using soy based inks & 30% recycled content, these are treasured items that make not only wonderful entertaining accompaniments, but incredibly memorable gifts too. 

Shop the entire Cake Vintage Kitchen Papers collection now. A portion of all of proceeds are donated to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund at Vanderbilt.

If You're Going to Write, Use a Turtle Pen

I am one of the few writers left that uses paper and pen.

While I can be found working away on my computer for a good 10-12 hours a day writing to deadline, I still use a notepad to take notes while interviewing a chef or celebrity, make lists upon lists (upon lists  - you should see them all) of all the things I need to do and pick up/drop off as well as I keep a paper calendar and agenda that tracks all of my appointments and deadlines. Oh, and I also write old-school thank you notes and send cards through the mail, so you can imagine that I'm always in need of a great pen.

Turtle Pens are unique in that they not only have a great weight to them, not to mention a fantastic stainless steel body, but each pen features SNAPback mechanism and extendible nib casing or "Turtle Head" as the company calls it.

To "activate" the pen, or bring the pen point out of its shell, you pull the top of the pen back, like you're reloading a shotgun (I've never done this, but I've seen it on TV). It's kind of a cool factor, as is the hearty stainless steel case it comes in. But really, it's a heckuva lot of fun to use.

Turtle Pens come in a variety of colours (I got Black) and are refillable. I love the smoothness of the ink and the point of the pen - not too wide and not too thin. If you write at all, even if its just grocery lists, you'll know what I mean.

If you still use pen and paper like I do, get yourself a pen that looks and feels good like a Turtle Pen.

p.s. It makes an awesome gift too.

Get Organized with Scribble on Everything's Incredible Chalkboard Weekly Calendar Decal

I bet you're thinking that you could totally get organized for once and for all, if only you could find a system that not only allows you to customize it to your needs but is big enough to go on the wall.

Because you've got some big ass ideas and nowhere right now to put 'em!

Enter the most fabulous chalkboard of the decade - Scribble on Everything's Chalkboard Weekly Calendar Decal.

It is the most fabulous for so many reasons, including:

- The blocks (8, 12x13.5" chalkboard decals and 8, 12x3" diecut days of week chalkboard decals) are so big that when I unfurled them all on a sheet, I held it from ceiling to floor and it was longer than my walls (and I have fairly high ceilings, so you can just imagine that these are really something). This is really worth noting because sometimes you just need a really big space to allow your mind to open up and this is one of the only calendars that I've seen that really does hold everything that you could possible need to put in there (Octomom, I'm talking to you).

- The other amazing feature besides their ginormous size is that you can put 'em exactly where you want 'em. This is truly a genius feature because not everyone works Sun-Sat. Some people like the week to start on Monday. And who says that they all have to be in one row, starting left to right? Put your calendar blocks where it makes sense for you. If that means all around your armoire and sewing machine, then hells yes, that's where it shall go.

- The decals are made from matte vinyl, which doesn't leave a permanent mark or residue and yet they work like a real blackboard.  And it was made for us modern folks - clean the dustless chalk (you get a twelve pack included with your decals) off with a damp cloth - no mess like the primary school classroom you remember. Thank goodness!

There is no excuse not to be organized thanks to Scribble on Everything's Chalkboard Weekly Calendar Decal.

They have other really cool stuff too - check it out!

Vermont Soap Organics Deep Cleans Without Toxic Chemicals

I am trying to rid our house of chemicals and go all natural wherever possible.

One of the first places I hit was underneath the skin where I store my house cleaners. A clean house is very important to me, but now that we have the option of cleaners that use natural ingredients instead of toxic chemicals, I want to replace everything under there.

The problem is, some natural cleaners just don't do the job well enough.

So I'm always on the lookout for something that doesn't just smell good or makes my appliances look good, but really gets in there and cleans.

Vermont Soap Organics produces "USDA Approved, Certified Organic alternatives to the chemical and detergent based personal care products now in general use," and their Farm & Ranch Multi-Surface Cleaner stands up to my vigourous testing.

I like that it works on everything in the bathroom and kitchen, it brings out a shine on the taps as well as the porcelain and countertops. I feel good knowing that its free of artificial preservatives, colours, fragrances alcohol and detergents too.

Not only that, it smells good. Using saponified  organic coconut, olive and jojoba oils, organic orange oil, tea tree and other natural essential oils, organic aloe and rosemary extract, you get that fresh, clean aroma without inhaling anything harmful.

But don't feel you can only use it on your room's surfaces - it works on all washable materials including wood, plastics, leather, cloth, people, pets, car interiors and much more (just be sure to test a small area prior to use).

So instead of having 5 bottles under the sink, have just the one. The good one.

Buy Farm & Ranch Multi-Surface Cleaner now.

Get the Cleanest Floors You've Ever Had with Rubbermaid's Reveal Microfiber Spray Mop

I've got hardwood floors throughout my home. And then tiles in the kitchen and bathroom.

That combined with my fella and I working out of our one-bedroom home with our cat at our feet leaves our place somewhat overrun. Oh, and when I'm not writing, I'm cooking, so needless to say, our floors need to be cleaned once a day.At least.

That being said, as much as I love a clean house, I don't want to spend hours scrubbing floors. That's why I am head over heels for Rubbermaid's New Reveal Microfiber Spray Mop!

The microfiber pad is phenomenal - I can't believe how clean the floors get, with no need to go over them again (thank goodnesss)! Rubbermaid says it picks up "50% more dirt and dust per swipe than traditional mops," but it seems like a higher number to me.My kitchen and bathroom tiles have these grooves where everything slips into. The Reveal cleaned 'em  right out. All that hair (it's not just the cat, we all shed), dust, dirt, food, everything gets picked up.  And because of the design, it swivels and gets into teeny, tiny corners like no other mop I've ever tried.

I think because of the thick, thirsty microfiber material, it holds more water than most pads and it's able to  clean thoroughly with each swab you do. My floors look amazing (yes, you can come and see them, but please call first). A refillable spray bottle allows you to wash your floors in whatever eco cleaners you like. Me, I like to use just water (try it and tell me your floors don't shine up a storm), so I appreciate that I can fill the bottle and pull the handle and spray as I go (why anyone would still use a bucket in this day and age is beyond me, but all this time, I have been having to go over to the sink and re-wet my cloth - no more!).  That means, that I can clean much, much faster.

I've never seen a velcro stickiness like this before either. You never ever have to worry about the pad becoming loose (a problem I've had in the past with other mops) because you have to use some upper arm strength to tear the pad off when you're done. So mop away knowing that the pad is always safe and secure. I also love the cushiony foam handle, which makes for very comfortable mopping. Why not make the experience as enjoyable as possible?And there's no need for disposable anything with this mop. You get 200 times with each pad. Toss your pad into the wash, not in the garbage like those ones from the drugstore. Ech.

Buy it online at Rubbermaid.com, at Lowes, Loblaws, Home Hardware, Walmart and Home Depot for $29.99 (it comes with one spray bottle and one cleaning pad). Additional cleaning pads can be purchased for $6.99 and spray bottles are $4.49.

Rubbermaid Reveal Microfiber Spray Mop, where have you been all of my life? I know have all this extra time on my hands, thanks to you.

Ahhh.

Full Circle Makes the Best Kitchen & Cleaning Tools!

Why are you still using that scrub brush that you got from the dollar store two years ago?

Ew. Not to mention that it is nowhere near eco-friendly.

That's why you've got to check out Full Circle.

Their cleaning tools are so beautiful, so wonderful to hold and use, completely eco-friendly and sustainable and - here's the biggest suprise - absolutely affordable!

Everything from dish brushes, scrub brushes, sponge, cloths, towels,to make-your-own natural cleaning set and home composting solutions are available here, so you can clean and have a clean conscience.

The Be Good Dish Brush has quickly become one of our most used kitchen tools ever. I used to just rely on a sponge and dish cloth, but this recycle plastic, renewable bamboo dish brush gets at all the stuck-on food and grease with so little elbow grease, I have time to go and make myself a drink afterwards!

Now that the Farmer's Markets are getting going, the The Ring Vegetable Brush is a must for gently removing dirt from your hand-picked carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, etc. The natural and recycled bristles work out the land from your veg quickly and easily. And the part bamboo handle is just gorgeous (Why can't Full Circle make jewelry too? This is the perfect bangle!) and so smooth. Everything Full Circle makes is just so easy on the hands, something that you certainly wouldn't notice with those cheap plastic things you've been using up until now, but you can't help but take note of - rest your thumb there, put your hand there, ahh!

And speaking of brushes, the Reach Bottle Brush works in travel mugs, baby bottles and I've been using mine to also clean the sludge that occurs in vases full of water (why does it do that?) and dust out the inside of my lamps. You simple place the longer end of the brush on the inside and squeeze the handle to clean both surfaces simultaneously. The handle and bristles are made with recycled plastic and the wire is made of  recycled stainless steel. This is one of those tools that you didn't realize was so handy until you had it, and now you can't live without it.

One of my favourite designs is the Stick'em Magnetic Kitchen Towel (pictured above). You know how chefs have a towel that sits on their hip so that they can wipe their hands or grab a hot pan out of the oven with one quick move? That's what this towel is like. You can put it wherever is most convenient, not just where it happens to fit.You can toss it towards the fridge or stove and it sticks! How cool is that? And here's the best part - the bamboo and organic cotton blend is so cushy and soft, you use it more than any other towel that's passed through the house. Ooh, if only there was pajamas in this material...

These are just a few of the amazingly wonderful, inexpensive kitchen tools from Full Circle. Look around and finally get items that are worthy of you.

Hershey's Drops Satisfy Your Chocolate Craving

Doesn't it seem like Easter was forever ago?

You got your chocolate fill then, but now the craving is back - big time. The problem is, it's shorts weather, so you can't binge like you used to.

That's where Hershey's comes in.

Instead of mowing down on an entire chocolate bar, you can satiate your sweet tooth with New Hershey's Drops. 

Because there is no candy shell, there's no mess. Which means you can nibble on them while you're working away at your desk and not have to worry about getting chocolate everywhere for once. The other bonus is that because they are small, you can have as many - or as little - as you like.

Hershey's Drops are available in two flavours - Milk Chocolate and Cookies 'n' Crème.  And with Cookies 'n' Crème coming in at only 200 calories for 14, and Milk Chocolate totaling 210 for 15, you can snack and share these l'il cuties and not feel that you need another sweet all day long.

Much like Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Drops make it possible to have chocolate and be able to fit into your tankini!

Go ahead and get your chocolate on.

Haikubes Offers A Fun Alternative on Family Game Night

Haikus are a magical, ethereal form of writing that's always fascinated me. This ancient Japanese poetry continues to enthrall and challenge us. Maybe even more so now that life's become so complicated.

Much like creating Six-Word Memoirs or filling in crosswords, I find that you have to allow yourself to go through all the stages - understanding how it's constructed (17 syllables - 5 on the first line, 7 on the second line, 5 on the third line), figuring out how you're going to do it (oh lord), then moving past all of the critics in your head and all of that learning to do things a certain way and let go in order to create little moments of wonder.

Simple, right?

Haikubes is the most fun version I've ever seen for creating haikus. In the game, you get to roll all 63 word cubes that clack together like mah-jong tiles. The words on the two coloured cubes set the direction and theme of your for your haiku.

I think you'll be surprised by what you're able to come up with and construct.

And as a writer, I just enjoy looking at the cubes, thinking about the words and their individual beauty - bottle, moonlight, fortune, slips, there, parallel, hand. Sometimes it's nice to just sit and contemplate one thing at a time.

You will find how rare

In this life that shakes and rolls

That beauty can be seen here

Get Haikubes now.

My New Favourite Party Go-To Dessert is Kari's Malva Pudding

One of the biggest headaches for me when it comes to planning a dinner party is worrying about what to serve for dessert.

As I don't bake too often, I am always wondering what to offer people after the dinner dishes have been cleared. Chocolates seem too mundane and anything like cupcakes or macarons seem overdone. I want to serve something original and exciting, but truthfully, I'm not quite at the level of being able to do it myself.

So I looked to the pros, searching for an exhilarating choice. And I found it all in Kari's Malva Pudding.

These handmade cakes come way of the Mansfeld Family in Aptos California. Most notably by Miss Kari herself.  Using fresh "cage-free eggs from the Glaum chicken ranch just up the road and fresh apricot jam from the local farmer's market with no corn syrup in it," you'll appreciate all the wholesome, natural ingredients as well as the fact that one serving is only 230 calories!

Each pudding is spongy, light and moist and is like no other dessert I've ever had.  Slightly caramelly, it has a dulce de leche, creme brulee kind of feel, mixed with moist, fresh-from-the-oven cake. You serve it warm with custard, fruit or a complete showstopper - ice cream.

The pudding is is hand-poured and packaged and frozen fresh. You wouldn't believe how easy it is to:

- defrost

- heat up and serve in an instant

- store (up to 4 days at room temperature, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks)

- pass off as your own, if you want to (I never would, but I won't judge you if you do)

I am stunned that something that was shipped to me frozen can taste so out-of-the-oven fresh and homemade!

Be sure to get both Kari's Malva Pudding and the Chocolate Pudding because if you share these with your dinner guests, they are going to go like lightning.  

Of course, you could keep Kari's Malva Pudding all to yourself. But something tells me as much as you'll want to covet it for yourself, you won't be able to resist sharing it with friends and family!

Dsolv Mesh Lawn Bags Make Working in the Yard a Dream!

Why are spending your weekends in the yard, trying to clean up all those leaves, sticks and yard waste? All that backbreaking work of getting and filling paper bags, only to have to do it all again in a week or two?!

Blech.

That's why you need dsolv mesh lawn bags!

Their inexpensive Starter Kit allows you to get rid of those awful paper bags and to clean up the yard in an instant!

You use the spring-loaded sleeve as a container and slip on one of the 8 dsolv bags that comes in your kit. The bags are made of biopolymer, so despite looking like large fishnet stocking, they are incredibly strong and flexible. You fill your bag with your yard debris and forget about ripped paper bags forever! They are strong enough to drag along your driveway even, so if you don't feel like carrying them, you don't have to - it's practically a vacation having to clean up the yard now!

The best part about these bags though is that they are compostable, just as the leaves and grass clippings that you've just filled it with are. So by taking out the paper equation, you are actually saving the environment by using the dsolv kit. And because each dsolv bag holds up to 45 gallons of yard waster, it's twice as much than a paper lawn bag. And because the sleeve holds the bag upright, you don't have to worry about it tipping over, so add as you go - even over a couple of days if you like!

dsolv has even gone that extra step and included an ergonomic handle so that you can carry your bags out to the curb - it will hold 3 at once, so you don't have to run back and forth down the driveway or laneway like you've had to in the past.

The Starter Kit includes a spring-loaded sleeve, 1 bag handle, and 8 dsolv bags. These items are all packed in a durable, fun pouch, handy for storage between uses.  And inexpensive Refills are available for when you run out of bags.

I don't know why you'd use anything else.

Buy a dsolv Starter Kit now and get your weekends back. Summer is going to go by like that.

It's Easy to Look Good This Season, Thanks to Skinny Dips!

Thank goodness the weather is warming up. Do you feel your palate changing? A couple of weeks ago I was still craving stews and chilis, but these days, I'm thinking grilled chicken, big salads and dips.

Skinny Dips: 60 Recipes for Dips, Spreads, Chips, and Salsas on the Lighter Side of Delicious by Diane Morgan is perfect for this time of year. Diane gives us full-bodied, vibrantly-tasting dips that also happen to be low calorie. And she doesn't do it with substitutions or sweeteners, thankfully. It's all made with whole, natural ingredients.

So whether you're making dips for a summer pool party, to take to someone's potluck dinner or want to make a light lunch, dinner or snack to enjoy at home, these recipes will definitely wow the crowd.

There are so many kinds of dips, you'll never run out of ideas for party snack again! Choose from Vegetable and Herb, Salsas, Guacamoles and Tapenades, Cheese and Tofu , Bean and Legume, Meat and Seafood and Crudites and Other Skinny Dippers. 

Friends and neighbours will be begging for the secret to your dips, such as Butternut Squah Bharit, Svelte Green Goddess Dip, Pomegranate, Orange & Avocado Salsa, Microbrew Cheddar Cheese Spread, Curry Pumpkin Hummus and Thai-Style Spicy Pork Dip!

To help keep you fitting into your summer dresses and capris, Diane's listed the calories of each recipe, as well as how big the recipe is, making it super easy to double or triple the amounts, depending on the size of your crowd. A Healthful Ingredient Glossary helps you with unfamiliar ingredients and recommendations. A section on Tips and Techniques helps guide you through the process of handling and cutting fresh chilies, roasting garlic, zesting citrus and other tasks that will make your dips stand out.

I am so grateful to have found this little gem. It's like having a party planning committee and restaurant menu options permanently at your side!

Buy your copy of Skinny Dips: 60 Recipes for Dips, Spreads, Chips, and Salsas on the Lighter Side of Delicious by Diane Morgan  now!