Favorite Things, Q2

It's that time again! As June came to an end, I began to think about what things had made my life better or more fun in the previous three months. Though life has been crazy thus leaving little time for blogging, I'm finally sitting down to share my list.

Here they are, my Favorite Things of 2011, Q2...

1. L. Erickson Double Loop Bow Headband... armed with a giftcard I'd received from my in-laws for Mother's Day, I hit the accessories department of Nordstrom looking for nothing in particular when this adorable, black headband caught my eye. Now, I don't know about you, but I rarely find a headband that fits just right. I'm not sure if my head is uneven or if the headbands are just lopsided, but I have seldom found a headband that I wore more than a couple of times. This one has gotten lots of wear, and I just discovered that it comes in a ton of cool colors! Yes, please! Double-Loop Bow Headband
2. Lysol Dual-Action Disinfecting Wipes... I bought these because I thought they would come in handy for all the little messes that I encounter throughout the day. What I discovered, though, is that they are completely multi-functional. I use them in both the kitchen and bathroom and keep a pack in my car as the abrasive side is perfect for wiping sticky things off leather.  My favorite, randomly discovered use for them though, is as an upholstery and carpet cleaner. These wipes have completely removed stains that have been on my sofa for months and a large spot on the carpet that even a professional cleaning left behind! Lysol Wipes
3. Airbrush Tanning... being a fair-skinned gal, I've tried a wide range of tanning products over the years. (Remember those first generation tan-in-a-bottles that left your skin looking like that of an Oompa Loompa?) I used my share of tanning beds before realizing that the dangers of them far outweighs that 'healthy' glow they produce. I've been fairly pleased with the Mystic Tan type booths but found that they tended to be uneven and to fade quickly. So, in April before attending a wedding in Jamaica (where, I should add I was the only non-African American bridesmaid making my fairness all the more obvious), I stepped into a tanning tent to get airbrushed Toddlers and Tiaras style. I'll admit, standing in the buff just inches from the face of a complete stranger who was armed with an oozie full of beet juice was at first a bit, um, uncomfortable. I was SO happy with the finished product, however, that I returned two more times over the next couple months. I may be the only person to ever begin my Hawaiian vacation more 'tan' than when I ended it! Natural Beetjuice Airbrush Tanning
4. Mrs. Meyer's Honeysuckle Countertop Spray... I've been a big fan of Mrs. Meyer's cleaning products for the past couple of years. Until recently, I had been seriously devoted to the geranium scent, only branching out to basil and lavender when the geranium wasn't available. On a recent Whole Foods adventure (isn't every trip to Whole Foods an adventure?), I found the entire Mrs. Meyer's line to be drastically on sale with additional coupons attached to the bottles.  I decided that at under $2 a bottle, this was the time for me to stock up. I picked up a range of several products including dish soap, hand soap, and countertop spray. The honeysuckle countertop spray has me, literally, looking for reasons to use it. I love the fresh, springy scent it creates in the house, and it may have taken over geranium's spot as my #1. Mrs. Meyer's Honeysuckle Countertop Spray
5. DIRECTV Whole-Home DVR... early in the spring, I decided it was time to get serious (well, as serious as one can get while continuing to eat Oreos for breakfast) about getting in shape. Fortunately, we had invested in an at home elliptical machine late last year, so I didn't have to make too much effort to start a workout regimen. Even with the ease of working out in my own bedroom, without the shows on my DVR list, I never would have made it! I prepped for swimsuit season by elliptical-ing to all the daytime tv I never get to see (The View) and silly reality shows (Pregnant in Heels) I would never take the time to watch otherwise. DIRECTV Whole Home DVR

This list is a tad shorter than Q1's list, but I didn't want to add things that I don't truly love just to have congruent lists. I can only single out one more thing, 5 Hour Energy Shots,  (yes, I know slipping that in is kind-of cheating), and I could not possibly have a list of six items (I'll save that explanation for another day...)