Melissa over at 320 Sycamore and Donna at Funky Junk Interiors are having a Favorite Things Party.  It is a great way to see what  fellow bloggers love and perhaps get a few ideas that may become your favorites too.

 Did you happen to see Oprah’s Favorite Things episode on Friday?  What fun. The audience were the ecstatic recipients of a diamond watch, a Nikon DSLR, a big screen TV, a 5 year subscription to Netflix, and a  Blue Ray player were just a few of the things I can remember off the top of my head – but there was so much more.  The second part of the show airs on Monday Nov 22. Wouldn’t it have been an incredibly fun experience to have been an audience member for one of these shows?   You still can get lucky!  On Oprah’s website you can enter a contest for a chance to win it all too.  Not sure of the exact link yet, but I am sure it will be up on her site after Monday’s show.

My Favorite Things

 2010

 These are a few of my favorite things – the things that make my life better, easier, and prettier.  Life for me would not be the same without them.

This is the best full bodied red wine I have found for under $15.00.  I love red wine and stock up on Yellow Tail Shiraz. 

I work with my hands for a living and they get pretty beat up.  Avon Anew Ultimate Hand and Nail Cream is the best – not greasy and my nails seem to grow overnight when I use this.  I have it in my purse, in my car, by my kitchen sink, and on my nightstand.   I have to get it online now as Avon discontinued it – how could they do this to such a great product?  Thank goodness for discontinued product sites.

This by far is the greatest invention for cleaning floors.  If you have hardwood floors in your home, this mop will become your best friend.  What used to take me half an hour I can now complete in 10 minutes with my Bona Hardwood Mop. 

When I was in high school, my friends used to call me the lip gloss queen.  I still am. I adore lipstick and Clinique Long Last Lipgloss in Cabana Crush.  It is a clear pink color that when a little is applied over any lipstick adds the perfect polish.  No matter what color lipstick I have on, people always ask what color do I have on?  I tell them it is the Cabana Crush gloss I use as a topper that makes the color look perfect.

I could not live without this.  It is my Pilates Reformer. I have faithfully used this 3 times a week for the past 15 years. It keeps me limber and strong.  The best thing I ever ever bought for myself.

I am a child of the 70’s when we used to bask in the sun to get tan.  Fast forward to 2010 and all the damage started showing up.  I love Shiseido skin care products and this is my current fav – White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam.  It has a yummy foaming action that makes washing my face a pleasant experience.  It makes my skin feel and look so much better, especially when I use it with my Clairsonic.

The best frozen meals ever! I stock these Bertolli Bag Meals in my freezer. They are delicious and when you buy them at Walmart they only cost $5.99.  You just empty the contents of the bag into a skillet and you have a delicious dinner ready in literally 10 minutes. I even think I could serve any of the many choices they have at a dinner party as the main entree. Pour a few bags into one big skillet and presto – a party!  Your guests will think you have been slaving over the stove all day.  Bertolli is the way to go when you need delicious – FAST!

 Christmas music – all of it. I start listening to it early and have made November 18 the official start of putting Christmas music on at home, in my car, and my workshop at work.  Last year I went to see Straight No Chaser.  My new favorite.  I like to listen to old traditional songs as well as newly arranged versions of the classics.

 Thank goodness for the US Postal Service who make it affordable to send friends and loved ones stuff with their free flat rate shipping boxes.  My hubby and I like to send lots of surprises to our daughters – one away at college, the other in the Peace Corps in Africa.  These boxes allow you to stuff as much as you can in the box for one flat rate as long as you don’t go over a certain weight. I think you would have to send a a dozen bricks to go over the maximum weight.  We have never gone over and there were some shipments that I was sure we were over – not even close .  You can go to your local post office and pick up a few to have on hand –  free and perfect for sending holiday gifts in.

 My daughter Mandy bought me one of these Eco Cups earlier this year .  They are ceramic with rubber tops and hand grips.  I use it in instead of a regular mug when I am at home as it  keeps my tea hot for a long time, plus they are so pretty. With a regular mug, my tea cools off way too fast.  I like it hot!  My Eco Cup has a blue and white china pattern on it with a white top.  I think they would make the perfect gift for all of my tea and coffee drinking friends.

For more ideas and inspiration, stop by over at 320 Sycamore where you will find more favorite things from over 90 bloggers.