For the Shakespeare Inspired
Buying just the right card for that special someone usually involves a trip to Hallmark, Target, CVS or the supermarket where the selection includes the humorous (which seems to be subjective) or cards filled with flowery language that simply say too much. Simplicity in a card is almost always the best choice but finding a card that has just the right message is challenging (and nearly impossible) at the last-minute unless a supply of Bard’s Cards is on hand. Read more 
The KeepCup
How do you measure the impact of not doing something?
Most parents, if asked, would say that one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century is the Sippy Cup – a spill-proof cup designed for toddlers. When my daughter was a little, she loved her Sippy Cup because she could drink from any number of angles and never spill a drop. I loved it for the same reasons – especially in the car, on a plane, or when she was sitting on a piece of upholstered furniture. She continued to use her Sippy Cup for years after toddlerhood and her reluctance to give it up never bothered me. In fact, I used to tell anyone who would listen, that the Sippy Cup is truly one of the best inventions ever and that Sippy Cups for adults would be the next great invention. Read more
649 Bars of Soap
What is elegance? Soap and water. ~Cecil Beaton
A bar of soap seems like one of the simplest things in the world. Just add water, lather, and wash away dirt, germs, and oil but soap can do so much more than leave skin clean. A truly great bar of soap can also make skin soft and smell wonderful for many hours making creamy, lightly scented soap one of life’s true luxuries.
At Smallflower (www.smallflower.com) – an on-line apothecary (pharmacy) established by the 140-year old Chicago-based Merz Apothecary, shoppers can choose among 649 different bars of soap. Choose among 115 brands and 135 different scents from 24 countries. Read more
Josh’s Firehouse Dog Treats
Dogs are the leaders of the planet. If you see two life forms, one of them’s making a poop, the other one’s carrying it for him, who would you assume is in charge? ~Jerry Seinfeld
As much as we like to think we’re in charge, most dog owners are totally gaga over their pups and go to great lengths to keep them happy and healthy. If Queen Elizabeth had an i-phone, bets on the cover photo would be on her corgis (the Queen is purported to prefer her dogs over her blood relatives). But, I digress. Read more
Mystic Knotwork Bracelets
The nautical look is a style that seems to be timeless whether it’s the quintessential French sailor’s shirt or the American nautical rope bracelet. Back in the early 80’s, I remember purchasing my first Breton red and white stripe long sleeve sailor shirt for $26 in Newport, Rhode Island along with a white nautical rope bracelet that I wore on my wrist for most of the summer until sand and dirt mixed with water (and probably spilled beer) pushed it into retirement. The preppy look reigned at the time and although briefly threatened by the flash of disco fashions, the nautical look persevered and is enjoying a resurgence in popularity today. Read more
Resqme
The perfect gift – peace of mind.
Throughout the year I am always on the outlook for small stocking stuffers that are useful. My top choice this year: the Resqme – an escape tool designed to be a window breaker and seat belt cutter in an emergency or vehicle entrapment. Although the chances of being in an accident are low (a driver can expect to be in one accident every 15-20 years, depending on the insurance company), most drivers can expect to be in 2-3 accidents over their lifetime which could involve water, fire, and entrapment – all the more reason to be prepared. Read more
Handwoven Cotton Throws
Several years ago, I restored my husband’s great grandmother’s farmhouse in Iowa: a 2-story 900 square foot 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom little brown house that sits on a hill overlooking rolling hills of corn and soybeans. The project took nearly two years to complete but when finished, the “Little Brown House” looked like the little farm house my husband remembered visiting as a child.
With softly pleated green and white pinstriped curtains covering every window, multicolored braided rugs on the old wooden floors, and an upholstered sofa and rocking chair swathed in shades of “sage” and “celery” colored fabric, the Little Brown House was nearly perfect when the final touch was added: a handwoven apple green cotton throw by Nantucket Looms. Read more
The Robert Lambert Fruitcake
It’s that time of year when we are all thinking about decadent desserts so before David Letterman delivers his top ten list of fruitcake uses or the NRA suggests using slices of Aunt Martha’s fruitcake in the next skeet shooting contest, consider for a moment that fruitcake isn’t as bad as the masses make it out to be.
Most people believe there are two truths to fruitcake: people either love it or hate it but nearly everyone would love this traditional holiday dessert if they tasted a fruitcake made by Robert Lambert of San Rafael, California, a man totally dedicated to the art of making decadent, delicious fruitcake that can make even the most vocal critic grin and beg for seconds. Read more
Bring Back the Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon, Please!
Station wagons have a reputation for being about the most uncool car in the world among the younger generation but that wasn’t always the case. Those of us who grew up in the 1970’s and 1980’s more than likely drove the family station wagon (affectionately referred to as the “draggin’ wagon”) which for all intents and purposes was a movable party mobile with a V8 engine. Read more
LoveWell Soap
Anyone’s life truly lived consists of work, sunshine, exercise, soap, plenty of fresh air, and a happy contented spirit. ~Lillie Langtry
Most people would agree the above statement is the epitome of wholesomeness but if Lillie Langtry ever read the ingredient list on the box of most commercial bars of soap (sodium tallowate, sodium cocoate and/or sodium kernelate, water, hydrogenated tallow acid, coconut acid, glycerin, fragrance, sodium chloride, pentasodium penetrate, pentaerythrityl tetra-du-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, titanium dioxide, D&C Green No 8, and FD & C Green No 3), then the popular cleanser wouldn’t be considered so wholesome. Read more
Paddock Post 