Archive for the 'The Art of Shopping' Category

The Most FABULOUS Mascara

I have found the most fabulous mascara to ever exist.  Diorshow Mascara is wonderful.  It makes your lashes long and thickens them as well.  At $24 it is reasonably priced and well worth the small investment.  I used to use Chanel mascara, but I have to admit that Diorshow is a superior product and it costs less.  This makes a great gift too.

Gourmet Cheesecakes for effortless entertaining!

It can be overwhelming to entertain during the week, but not if you have a plan and excellent gourmet products to help you cheat a little.  Instead of having friends for dinner, have them over for coffee and dessert during the week or on a weekend afternoon.  Order a gourmet cheesecake online a few days ahead of time and the day of you will have to make some coffee, cappuccino, and/or tea.  Your friends will appreciate the gesture and no one will care that you didn’t make the cheesecake yourself. 

Click below to visit an online store with my favorite mail order cheesecake. 

http://eclecticgrocer.com/cheesecakes.html

Memory Foam Mattress Topper is Heavenly!

We recently purchased a memory foam mattress topper and it is absolutely fabulous.  You place it under your mattress pad and many of them come with a covering as well.  You can have all the benefits of a memory foam mattress for a fraction of the price.  It helped with my back pain and I slept like a baby the first night we had it.  I also have a memory foam pillow which helps immensely with my neck and back pain.  Now we don’t want to get out of bed in the morning!  Order one for yourself or give one as a gift.  The recipient will thank you again and again. 

Safe Food Storage – Glass instead of Plastic

There are several reasons to choose glass storage containers instead of plastic storage containers for food.  The glass products are more eco-friendly, will not stain (and I have ruined many plastic containers with tomato sauce), and they are believed to be safer for your family.  As I am sure you have heard, there is a great deal of research on the possible ill-effects of using plastic containers for food storage.  Particularly the links between cancer and microwaving foods in plastic containers.  Until this is all sorted out, it is probably best to use glass storage solutions.  Why take a chance?

Please visit the link below for more information on glass storage solutions.

http://eclecticgrocer.com/glass-food-storage.html

Morris Trainor Art Gallery – Kennebunkport Maine

Last year we visited Kennebunkport, Maine for a family vacation.  We visited a few art galleries to find just the right memento for our visit there.  We ended up at the Morris Trainor Art Gallery in Kennebunkport and found a lovely original watercolor by Bob Arsenault.  It is very different because it portrays the sea at night with dark blues and purples – and a full moon.  The gallery staff were very knowledgeable and helpful and the painting was shipped to our home.   

Chic by Colin Cowie

Colin Cowie is a well known lifestyle expert. I just got his book Chic and it was worth every penny. There is information on living a great life and taking time to appreciate your life. An important message of Mr. Cowie’s is to use your fine china and stemware or anything else that you truly love as often as possible. I agree that life is too short to leave all those beautiful things sitting on a shelf collecting dust. This book contains information on entertaining, setting up your home, organizing your kitchen, decorating, recipes, hosting guests, travel. There are also lists on must have items for your kitchen etc. This book is well written and it appeals to both people of all ages. 

Olive Oil Skin Care Products

Olive oil based skin care products are great.  They provide needed moisture but don’t leave your skin feeling oily.  Buyer beware because all olive oil skin care products are not created equally.  Check out the link below for low prices on a high quality olive oil based skin care line. 

http://eclecticgrocer.com/olive-oil-based-skin-care.html

Arbonne Skin Care

Arbonne products are fantastic. I use the NutriMinC® RE9 line and actually noticed a reduction in fine lines underneath my eyes after a week or two. These products are the first ones that prevented my skin from flaking during the winter months yet are not too heavy during the summer months. They also have 15 SPF to protect your skin from sun damage.

Great Prices on High Quality Sheets

It can be expensive to buy Egyptian Cotton Sheets , but there are some quite affordable options.  Don’t be fooled by the thread count number because higher is not necessarily better.  Discount stores like Tuesday Morning or Marshalls can be a great place to get high quality bedding.  I have had quite a bit of luck there and a great set of sheets can last for years.  Check it out and see what treasures you can find, but be ready to search a little.