Zak’s Favorite Things of 2009
Archipelago Botanicals Coconut Sugar Scrub
This coconut scrub has a fresh scent and enough grit for brisk exfoliation. Chock full of natural oils, it’ll keep you moisturized and smelling shower fresh for hours. Unlike many edibles-scented beauty items, this one is not super sweet, nor does it remind you of a candy or food product.
Moo.com minicards
Even though I love the design of my business cards provided by my employer, I don’t always want to advertise my job. Sometimes I’m looking to make new friends or plug my blog. Accordingly, I need calling cards of my own. Moo.com makes custom calling cards simple. Though I could buy full-size cards, I prefer the mini-cards since they’re easy to tuck into your bag or your back pocket. With 100 cards per order, you can provide unique images for each of have duplicates created of one or more design. They’re a great way to express yourself and your interests to the different circles your travel in.
Chocolate Salty Oat Cookies
Since moving to the DC Metro area, I’ve discovered Chocolate Salty Oat Cookies, which are available at the Teaism locations around town. The creator found the perfect balance of salty and sweet in these oat cookies; I like to pretend they’re healthy since they are oatmeal cookies, but I’m pretty sure they don’t skimp on the butter. If you don’t live in the area, you can order them directly from Kayak Cookies. The creator now lives in Massachussetts, though she licenses the recipe to Teaism.
Turtle Mountain’s So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage
You can’t have cookies without milk, but when you’re lactose intolerant, you need another option. If you’re a fan of all things coconut like me, consider this tasty beverage alternative. Chock full of healthy medium chain fatty acids (MCFA), I have a glass of So Delicious every morning with a splash of OJ stirred in. In Original, Unsweetened and Vanilla, it’s great with cereal, oatmeal, and pancakes. Most importantly, it helps keep you full throughout the morning.
Monkey Brains!!
Since we’re on the subject of breakfast food. Can we talk Monkey Brains? No, not those brains; I mean the best oatmeal out there. Though I prefer strawberry, it also comes in bluberry and raspberry flavor. No high fructose corn syrup in this product means no sugar guilt for you.
Michael Stars Tees
A tee is not just a tee when it’s from Michael Stars. Though the one size fits most fit isn’t ideal and the pricing is almost to my absurdity cut off, they’re a great investment given their fit and quality. They’ve got just enough stretch to fit most, but enough elasticity to spring back to their original form. These tees look great dressed up or with jeans, and as someone who prefers solids to prints and other zany imprints, the color range provides something for everyone. While not every style will fit every body, I’m eagerly awaiting the next sale on the styles I love to stock up on a few.
Ode Magazine
Ode is an upbeat magazine focused on people working to change the world in big and small ways. In a world full of bad news at primetime, it’s great to get an issue of Ode or a read their weekly e-newsletter to see what’s right with the world. What else is there to say about it?
Creed’s Virgin Island Water
I’ve never been much for perfume, but I have to admit Creed’s Virgin Island Water sends me to my happy place. Though it typically retails for well over $200, ebay will score you a great deal. Given the strength of this unisex scent, a little goes a long day. It’s a scrumptious tropical beach smell. Since I’m not a perfume expert, I share the breakdown of the notes from Creed‘s site.
- Top Note: Essence of copra (the white inner portion of the coconut); lime of the Antilles; white bergamot and mandarin orange from Sicily.
- Middle Note: Hibiscus, ginger, ylang-ylang and Indian jasmine.
- Bottom Note: Sugar cane and white rum of the Antilles, musk from Tonkin
Traditionally, I think that fragrance would be way too busy, but it’s just right. And with the wintertime doldrums setting in, it can’t hurt to keep a bottle near by.
And that wraps my 2009 list of Favorite Things.
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