There aren’t strict qualifications to make the list.  Some of these items are on my wish list, and some I already own and love. Others I stumbled across on the web and couldn’t help but investigate further.

ActiveHold Technology

As a gym rat, my hair is either in a ponytail or braids during my workout.  As any woman with long hair can attest, fashionable hair elastics typically don’t have staying power: they fall off, and they stretch out.  While I’ve yet to find a product that perpetually springs back to its original size,  I|M offers elasticized bands that you won’t lose half way through your workout or on your way home.  Their “ActiveHold Technology” runs a rubber tread through their I|M Active products.  You avoid the painful dislodgement of a typical rubber band, but the tread grips enough to keep your hair accessories in place.  ($4.99 for 4 thick bands, 8 thin or medium bands)

Gummy Bears, err Fruit Slices, are good for you!

Hero Nutritionals created Slice of Life, a line of gummy vitamins for adults.  Surely I’m not alone in envying all the tasty chewable and gummy vitamins available to children.  Gummy vitamins feed your inner child.  While not the most comprehensive multi-vitamin on the market, looking forward to gummy slices means I’m more apt to remember to take calcium and wheat grass supplements as well.  (Suggested retail $19.99 for a 30-day supply, but I found them for $11.95)

Lip Service

In 2005, custom cosmetic site reflect.com shut down. I stocked up on my favorite lipstick as they shipped their final orders.  I recently accepted I needed to find a new lipstick brand or brands because I have reached the dregs of my final tube from reflect.com. The berry tones I love are really hard to find; apparently, they don’t flatter most complexions.  My search brought me to two brands I recommend.

Bare Escentuals offers a 100% natural lipstick line. No chemical additives or preservatives.  The lipstick applies a bit dryer than other lipsticks I tried, but a layer of lip gloss solves the problem.  It’s supposed to “hug” your lips for 6 hours (if you’re a talker, divide by 2).   Red Zin is my hue of choice, held in a curvy, but a tad oversized cylinder. ($15 per tube)

Launched in 1991, Fresh is just reaching the West Coast markets.  Stand alone stores have popped up in Los Angeles in the past couple of years.   Though a bit more expensive than I’d prefer ($22/tube), their lipsticks slide on like butter; no gloss needed.  You can’t put a price tag on sexy, silky lips.  Cranberry Lemonade is my color of choice.

PS. My favorite lip gloss? Try Kiehl’s for slight sparkle and subtle mango flavor.

Hanes Tees

Threadless offers great graphic tees, but Hanes is the ticket if you need basic solid tees.  I’ve never understood how some people pay $100 for a t-shirt, when you can get quality at a much more affordable price. I’m particularly fond of their 3/4 sleeve boatneck t-shirt ($16); so much so, that I have it in 3 colors. Hanes keeps you covered in fitted and relaxed t-shirts, tanks and camisoles, as well as comfy loungewear for rainy weekends in.

Douglass Fudge

photo from www.douglasscandies.com

Family vacations as a child meant a road trip to the Jersey shore.  My family stayed in the same motel every year for more than a decade.  The best part of the trip was the last day’s stop at Douglass Fudge, famous for its saltwater taffy and, obviously, fudge. All week long we’d snag samples as we passed the store each night, and on the final day, before the drive home, my mom would buy a variety of Douglass products by request for various members of the family.  If you’re a fudge person, I recommend their coconut cream and chocolate marshmallow flavors; for saltwater taffy, take the sampler.

Still, my favorite sweet is their molasses paddle — a dark chocolate-covered molasses caramel on a stick.  You can pick up a box of 6 for $16.50 + shipping.  I like to cut them up in 8 pieces and freeze them, so I can enjoy a square a day.

Warning: These are super chewy and sticky, so be careful if you have a lot of fillings.

PS to Mom: Hint Hint, X-mas is coming!

Wacky Walk’r

The Urban Wacky Walk’r is a stretch rubber leash that doubles in length from 3 to 6 feet as you dog applies forward pressure.  The give of the rubber is much easier on your joints when your dog tries to make a dash for it, but its stretch limitations means it keeps your dog in line and at your side.

Fear not that the rubber could snap, all leashers are reinforced with an inner safety line just in case.  They come in a variety of funky colors, so you can keep your dog both safe and styling. This awesome line of leashes runs between $21-$31 depending upon the size of the dog.  (Amazon offers a 15% discount off typical retail prices)

Pomegranate

Pomegranates are my favorite fruit, making the POM Wonderful brand icon one I look forward to each winter when pomegranates come into season.

Since quality pomegranate seeds aren’t available year round,  Archipelago Botanicals’ Pomegranate Body Collection  provides an olfactory fix.  I’m particularly enamored with their sugar body scrub. With a liberal inclusion of fragrant oils, you and your apartment will smell fabulous for hours after you shower, and you’ll have softer skin to show for it.   ($25-$35 depending on retailer)

Antica Farmacista

I didn’t wear perfume for a very long time because I broke out into burning red rashes shortly after application. Then I discovered Antica Farmacista, which is heavy on essential oils and natural ingredients.  A little goes a long way, lasting up to 8 hours.  I’m a fan of the Vanilla, Boubon, & Mandarin scent, but there are 12 to choose from.  I lucked out and picked my first bottle up on clearance from a retailer that was no longer carrying the line, but it’s well worth the sticker price of $58 for a bottle.

YogaMatic custom mats

Regulars in mind-body fitness classes of all sorts tend to own their own mats.  After considering the germs and bacteria hanging out on gym-owned mats, they invest in their own.  And yoga mats can tell you a lot about a person.  Do they like solids or prints, thick or thin mats, textured or smooth, muted or bold colors?  You can make a statement with a custom printed mat from yogamatic. Upload a jpg, and for $85+ shipping you can have the most unique mat in class.

Customize a muppet

photo by carlosfpardo

This Christmas FAO Schwarz is offering the Muppet What Not Workshop. (What Nots are background players in muppet shows.)  Start with an orange, blue or green muppet.  Customize the eyes and a nose, as well as hair.  And then pick out attire, like a hoodie sweatshirt.  Instead of just singing along to the Avenue Q soundtrack, you can act it out! ($90 + shipping)

Bacon-of-the Month Club

photo by shawnzam

Several articles this summer pointed to Bacon as the hot new food trend. Bacon: it’s so bad for you, it’s good.  Thus, I present The Grateful Palate’s Bacon-of-the month club.  For $275 (inclusive of shipping), you’ll receive a monthly delivery of artisan bacon along with a variety of schwag, including site discounts, a monthly comic strip,  a rubber pig and snout, tee and pen. Oink!

For a more affordable bacon fix, try Mo’s Bacon Bar by Vosges Chocolate, which combines salty bacon pieces with milk chocolate. ($7.50 on the Vosges website)

Le Fin

What new products or old favorites made your list this year?

Here’s a shortcut to my 2007 list.