We all have those products that are in our personal arsenals of “five favorites”: Things that make us feel better or look better or make our days run more smoothly. Because my kids and I are back in our hometown this week taking care of some old business and visiting with friends and family, I decided to write a lighthearted piece for you to enjoy while I’m on this brief hiatus. I always enjoy hearing and reading about products that others like and find effective or useful so I’m happy to share with you as well.
Here are some things I’m really excited about lately:
Resistance Bands: Since the 30-Day Fitness Challenge I issued to myself and you lovely readers, I’ve kept up the workout habit and when I can’t get to the gym, these little lovelies can provide a pretty substantial workout for the price of an extra value meal (which I’ve never consumed!). These resistance bands come in a set of three and I purchased them at Walmart for $8.97. It’s a small investment. Big payoff. You can work abs, rear, legs, and arms and also do some relaxing stretches with these simple bands. Bonus: They weight almost nothing and use up almost no room in my travel bag, allowing me to keep up my workout routine while away from home. 
NuMe flat iron: A friend recently did my hair and used her NuMe flat iron. It was spectacular and made my hair straight and smooth like no other iron I’d previously used. I knew NuMe had to be part of my life. While they’re not cheap, there was a code at the time (Google for a current code!) that saved me about $90, making it far more affordable. My last iron, a Chi, lived a good life but was ready for retirement. Thanks to my sweet and frugal friend, my daughter and I have been using this flat iron several times a week and are pleased with the quality.
Kiko!: I can’t rave enough about this brand. Prepare for some major gushing. When in Rome earlier this year, my daughter and I discovered this dynamic cosmetics store in the heart of the shopping district. The entire district was fabulous but this particular store drew us right in. The shop was fun and abuzz with beautiful Italian women shopping for makeup and skin care products. The lovely girls helped us find makeup to match our skin tones and we nicely navigated the language barrier, had some laughs, and excitedly left the shop with some very well-priced goodies. This was our last day in Europe so we didn’t use our new products until we’d returned home. We love them. We filled our bags with lipsticks, foundation, facial scrub, anti-wrinkle serum, and creme blush. Our only regret was that we didn’t purchase more when in Rome because we soon discovered that we can’t yet purchase their products online. Our only choice is to wait until they’re available for purchase here hopefully later this month or…return to Rome to replenish our stock!
Books: I love books. As a writer, this should reassure you. It’s hard to be a successful writer without being an avid reader. The past few months, I’ve become a book hog: happily accepting copies to read for reviews and downloading onto my Nook, a whole bunch of books for summer reading. I do so prefer a hard copy of a book, one that I can highlight, bookmark, and hold in my hands and turn its pages. But although I long resisted the e-reader, I now enjoy my Nook and the free books that often are offered for it. It’s perfect for traveling as I can transport several books in one device and it consumes little space while packing.
This Chair: I’ve been jonesing for a similar chair, a sitting place where I can snuggle with a book and blanket or my laptop and write. Or just to sit with a hot mug of tea and think. Color me happy when I discovered this chair, in my current favorite shade of blue, in a store on sale. Not only was it on sale, it was clearance. And not only did I get the clearance price, I had a $10 rewards from this store and a 20% off coupon. So what originally was a $129.99 chair was nearly $100 off. Happy early birthday to me!
What are your favorite things? What things in your life spell simplicity but feel so luxurious? A favorite perfume? A comfortable pillow? What are your comfort items?
