Product Recall- Travel Press

Remember when I recommended the Bodum Travel Press? Well I take all that back. I completely recommend a French Press and those that travel well, such as a stainless steel one. But this plastic one is no good. Around the press is a piece of rubber that is supposed to act as a suction and prevent grounds from coming through. Well it ain't so. It does not work. Also, the cup creaks and pops when you pour in hot water and I just know that one day the pop will be followed by a crack and that's not good.

Eau de Toilette

I love most all things L'Occitane. On my recent trip home from Africa, I stopped in the duty free shop in Johannesburg and was mesmerized by all the cosmetics and sweet fragrances and stayed in there for hours. I hope the security guy didn't notice my kneeling down in the middle of the aisle, hoisting up my Lycra capris and using the Display lotions to moisturize my poor, dirty, dry legs. I found another fragrance for my arms, and then Dior for my face, of course. Then I used this L'Occitane Honey and Lemon Eau de Toilette on my pillow. Yes, it smelled like burning trash and so I covered all that up with Honey and Lemon and it then smelled like a sweet honeycomb and it smelled soooooo good. I snuggled with it close all 16 hours home and fell in love with this sweet, warm smell of Honey and Lemon. Retail $46. P.S. My birthday was August 1st.

Cosmetics- Eyeliner

Christine gave me this for my birthday one year. It is my favorite and I have found nothing that quite compares. No pencil liner can compare to this liquid version. The tiny brush takes some practice, but once you get it down you will never go back. This creamy liner brushes on deep, smoky, eye-defining color. It is long-wearing and waterproof, sorta. Surely nothing is truly water-proof. I always wonder how they define that. Basically I assume it means it won't run if you cry your eyes out at work one day. But if you decide to go swimming on your lunch hour, you may look like a raccoon when you get out of the water and need to remove and reapply. The whole water-proof thing confuses me, but I love the way this goes on and the deep, defining color.

It can be smudged while still wet for a smokier effect. It is easily removed with eye make-up remover or my favorite, Vaseline.

Travel Necessities

I took these to Mozambique and found them to be one of the most handle little things ever. On my way there I had a layover in Johannesburg and stayed in a little Inn with no washcloths or towels. I was not overly surprised, it was $50 a night and would I really want to use washcloths at a low end hostel anyway? The answer is no. So I pulled out my handy, thick, soft durable little disposable washcloth. I hung it out to dry and it dried quickly and I was able to use it again the next day. Some even come with soap already in them so all you need is water. And if the soap is gentle enough for a babies-well you know- then surely it is okay for me. Carla found these and told me they were good. Laura uses them too. Both use them on their babies and thrifty Laura cuts hers in half because she claims they are just too big for Owen's little-well you know, but I recommend them for everyone.

You know how you go to visit someone overnight and they let you use the guest bathroom and the towels are always white and fluffy and new and monogrammed and you wind up spending about an hour over the sink with hand soap and hot water trying to scrub clean the fancy Supima cotton washcloth that you just used to take off your make-up and it is now covered in black mascara stains!!!? No? OK, well maybe it is just me. But from now on I am putting some of these in all my over-night bags so that I am never without one. And you can invite me over and I will not ruin your towels.