Rebagz are so neat! I’ve seen them in gift shops before. There are a number of different sizes and styles, all recycled from rice bags, grain bags and juice packs. It doesn’t stylish, but they have a really interesting and pretty look to them.

They’re a little out of my budget though. Alas.

Right now I have my eye on this large tie tote, this messenger bag, and this on the go/baby bag.

I still hate winter. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this a time or two. I always hate it. Every year. Bleah. Stupid winter. Stupid cold.

But I do smell like a margarita! Which makes me feel more summery, even if I don’t actually *feel* more summery.

I usually shower at night, particularly in the cold months. It helps to warm me up so I can get to sleep. Otherwise, if I’m too chilly, I can lay there for what feels like forever not sleeping. My feet suffer the most. It feels like the blankets insulate, holding in the cold. Awful! So I take my shower and then go straight to bed. And the warmth of my skin warms up the blankets and they hold it in.

Maybe I should just get an electric blanket. I’m considering it. It will be even colder next month.

So last night when I showered, I used my margarita 3-in-1 gel for my hair and body, then exfoliated and moisturized with a margarita scrub. I particularly love the scrub. The scent lingers for a long time and I keep sniffing myself and wishing I had a real margarita.

Are there other bath/body products out there that have a good authentic margarita scent?

It has taken years, but I have finally mostly made peace with my skin. I’ve gotten to know what it likes, what it doesn’t, what it will tolerate and what it really, definitely won’t. I have a pretty strict routine but I modify it as I find things that work better for me. This is my current product list:

Coal Face (Lush) – This is a cleanser that comes in the form of a black bar like a bar of soap. It uses charcoal, licorice, and sandalwood oil and has a fresh almost citrusy scent. My skin really digs it. The charcoal grit sticks in my buf-puf but it doesn’t really bother me. If that’s the kind of thing that would bother you, perhaps it would be best to avoid. Or not, really you’ll like it. Try it anyway.

Buf-Puf – It’s an exfoliating sponge. They make them in varying degrees of scrubby-ness. I use this pretty much every time I wash my face. I like and need a lot of exfoliation or my skin really shows it. Sometimes I skip the buf-puf in the shower but only if I’m following up with my home-made skin scrub.

Scrub recipe: Honey, sugar. Use more sugar if you like more scrub, less if you like less. This is sticky, so I usually only use this in the shower. The sugar helps to exfoliate and clean out your pores and the honey has natural moisturizing and anti-bacterial properties. Yay!

Aveeno SPF 15 Positively Radiant Moisturizer – I first tried this facial moisturizer because I love the Aveeno daily body moisturizer so much. Here at chez product whore we seriously refer to this stuff as “magic lotion” because it’s that good. Usually lotions will claim to moisturize for 24 hours but don’t. This stuff does. So I figured if the body lotion is so great maybe the face lotion will be great too! I do like it but it’s not *as* good. It’s not even that there’s anything bad about it. It’s just not as spectacular as the body lotion. It’s not greasy and has a bit of highlighting shimmer, but not in a bad way. You wouldn’t notice it unless you were looking really closely at your fingertips after applying.

Sometimes I break this up with Ultralight from Lush. I think it’s getting discontinued but they have a few new moisturizers to take its place so I’m sure I’ll still be happy.

I follow my moisturizer with an acne treating cream. You’re supposed to apply them under your moisturizer but I’m a rebel and do it after. It works for me! I’m not brand loyal when it comes to this. Usually I pick up whatever 10% Benzoyl Peroxide cream is cheapest. I think I’m currently using the WalMart brand but in the past I’ve used Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, and AcneFree.

At night I use Imperialis moisturizer (Lush) and sometimes I’ll dab a little tea tree oil on problem spots. This, strangely, makes me irresistible to Biscuit. He has to be physically restrained or he will attack me and start licking my face like mad. It’s toxic though, thus the restraint.

What are your must have products?

For a while I was drinking coffee every day. This was fine except when I would take a day off and then I was plagued with a nasty headache. I cursed the little caffeine monkey on my back (damn you little monkey!) and one day decided it might be a good idea to give it up for a while. Since then, I’ve tried to limit it to a cup once or twice a week, and have been caffeine-headache free. Yay!

Until this last week. I haven’t been able to help myself!

I’ve always liked those little tins of coffee drink mix. You’ve probably seen them at the store. The cans are about the size of a can of spam and they cost a gazillion dollars. Ok not that much. But they *are* expensive for how tiny they are. So I rarely buy them. This is probably for the best because it’s such tasty stuff that I’d want to drink it all the time and back would come my little monkey!

Unfortunately, I found an alternative that tastes just as fabulous but costs a lot less! I’m sad! I’m excited! I don’t know what I am! I’m drinking more coffee, that’s for sure.

I love reading the Hillbilly Housewife. Good information, well presented, great site. Did you know she also has drink mix recipes??? Eep! I made the Rich Vanilla Coffee mix last weekend, not really because it was the one I wanted to try the most, but because I had all of the ingredients on hand. And it is so good. So good! I made my way through the first batch this week and just made a new batch today. I cannot wait to try some of the other recipes. If you have the ingredients for any of these on hand, I highly recommend you try them!

I plan to stock up on the ingredients and tuck drink mixes in my holiday goodie baskets and bags. It will be fabulous!

Now that it’s getting cold, I’m in the mood to drink more hot beverages. They really do help when I’m feeling icy. Which seems like most of the time! I’ve totally been in the mood for tea, coffee and hot chocolate. I’ll comment on the other two at a later point but right now I want to talk about tea! After last night I just have tea on the brain! I’m actually making a pot right now.

I have a ridiculous amount of the stuff (not that it’s limited to tea, I have a ridiculous amount of stuff in general) and I keep getting the urge to buy more! I have two tea pots but it just doesn’t seem like enough! Here are some things that have caught my eye recently. Maybe they’d be good for the tea drinker in your life!

Mate Lemon Blast Herbal Tea: I haven’t actually tried any Mate tea so far, but I’ve been aiming to make my way through the different tea types to figure out what I like. Teavana describes it as “An energizing blend of Yerba Mate with lemongrass, rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.” I really like the smell of lemongrass so this has some definite potential.

Samurai Chai Mate: “A sip of this sweetly robust straight up Mate blend awakens the Samurai within. Inspired by the Way of the Warrior, this fresh green Mate is imbued with strong spices, invigorating herbs and revitalizing citrus. A wonderful cup of tea that will get you moving!” Citrus and spice can be pretty fabulous together and this sounds like a good morning tea.

Insulated Travel Tea Mug: This is a great idea for a messy person like me! Once in a while I’ll take my coffee or tea to work in a travel mug and somehow I always manage to spill it. On me or in the car somehow. A vacuum sealed cup would be incredibly helpful. As long as it worked anyway.

TriniTEA Electric Tea Maker: Have I mentioned that I also love appliances? I seriously don’t need any more. I don’t have room for any more. But man, I *want* this! Adagio says: “This wondrous appliance does it all – heats water, steeps leaves, and keeps tea warm so you may enjoy it all day long. Variable timer and temperature control lets you adjust the strength of an infusion, ensuring a perfect cup of tea each time. “

How handy would this be if you have multiple tea types that you like to drink? They all seem to come with different requirements for temperature and steep time. This could take the guess work out of it! (And, since it keeps it warm in the pot, it could also cut down on my icky unintentionally cold tea problem.)

Instant Read Digital Thermometer: For a slightly less expensive option, I could also use an instant read thermometer. It might not be as fancy, and it would take more work on my part, but it would definitely help me steep a perfect cup of tea. Ok, let’s not get overly ambitious here. It would get me going in the right direction, anyway.

And finally, teapots, some of which are so lovely to look at, they can almost double as decoration. If you happen to have a Teavana store near you, definitely go inside and see their selection of teapots. I’ve been to the store in Chicago and it was fabulous! I sampled teas, drooled over their wares, and got advice on tea to take home with me.

Your turn! What’s your favorite tea? Favorite place to buy it?

I have a confession to make.

It should come as no surprise that I am a bit of a hoarder. I collect things. Lots of things. Not like in a having collections sort of way like people are with knick knacks or stamps or vintage, well, everything these days. No. I mean I just keep acquiring stuff.

This would be fine, except… I’m scared to use it. I will buy stuff, then put it away and avoid taking it out and using it, just to keep it safe. How ridiculous is this?

Last summer we went to Chicago and I got the chance to walk around and do a little shopping in Chinatown. It was great. We went in a little tea shop and I found this fabulous kitty cup set. So cute! I had to have it! I had them wrap it up. I carefully wedged it in my bag. I carefully brought it home. I put it in the cupboard. In the cupboard where it has stayed for the last 5 months.

Until tonight.

I’d like you to know that right now, right this very moment, I am forcing myself to drink tea out of one of these adorable tea cups. And it’s hard! My instincts tell me no! What if something happens to it?! What if it has a nasty Muffin-induced accident like the adorable cow bowl?! What if it gets chipped when I wash it?! What if the tea stains it?! What if what if!!

But tonight, right now, right this very moment, I’m making that voice shut up! I’m doing it and… it’s nice!

One would think that I would be happy to have products sent my way. And this usually is true. As I mentioned before, I love getting mail. Really, I do. Except when it’s mail from St. Joseph’s Indian School.

My funds are limited and I am choosy with the charities I support. Their school seemed like a good cause (and I have a good amount of indian in me) so one time, ONE TIME, I sent them a small donation. I sent them what I could afford and hoped that it would go to good use. Never again. Since then, over and over again I have been piled with junk mail and trinkets and products. They’ve sent me key chains and dream catchers and note pads and calendars and cards, and once, even a blanket! And I wonder, is *this* where my money went? Not to helping some sweet indian kid but to sending unwanted crap to people with the hopes that they’ll send you a larger donation?

I intend to send them a letter one of these days letting them know exactly why I will not be sending them money ever again. Stupid indians. >:(

On another note, one place you should feel good about sending your money (they will give you a subscription to their magazine but otherwise don’t send any crap that I can recall) – Best Friends Animal Society. I heart them. They have an animal sanctuary in Utah and help thousands of animals.

Lots of tasty preparations going on at chez product whore today. I need to get to cooking, so I’ll leave you with a picture that makes me happy every time I look at it. Thanks icanhascheezburger.com!

Right now at GreaterGood Network sites, when you spend $50+ you get 1 cent shipping. With each item purchased, you help money to go to good causes. I usually do my shopping on the animal rescue site but there are many in the network to choose from.

The sites include:

The Animal Rescue Site

The Hunger Site

The Breast Cancer Site

The Child Health Site

The Literacy Site

The Rainforest Site

Even if you can’t buy anything (though if you can you should definitely go look around. They have some great stuff!) you can help by clicking at each site every day. Click here for the animal rescue site FAQ.

Sadly, part two of this project didn’t go exactly as planned.

First, a bit of advice: Don’t put your fabric to dry somewhere that will make it icky and moldy/musty/basement-y scented. Ick. :p Big ick. It’s not damp in the least, just super funky.

Beyond that, I had a bit of disappointment when I found that my line of not glue wasn’t holding. It didn’t even hold well enough for me to gently turn my fabric square inside out.

With that in mind, and with it smelling like swamp thing, I have decided to scrap my original plan. I pulled the two squares apart (with ease!) and threw them in the washer. When they’re clean and dry, I’ll re-do the squares, but this time I’m sewing them. I’ll continue from there with Part 3, which will be different than it would have been, but will still result in a fine throw pillow.

Seriously though, stupid basement. And stupid not glue. >:(