Brush, floss, multi-task

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Only 22 percent of us have achieved the lofty status of flossing every day, surveys say.

So why doesn’t someone come up with a device that allows us to floss when we are stuck in traffic or paying bills online?

In fact, somebody has. Majestic Drug has developed an innovative solution called Proxi-Plus®to help us keep our teeth and gums healthy when we are on-the-go.

Recommended by dentists, Proxi-Plus is a little blue device that cleans teeth and those hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.  There’s an interdental brush on one end and a flosser on the other to remove food from between teeth, clean plaque and stimulate gums.

0The nice folks at the company sent me some samples to try. My husband Dale, the ultimate multi-taker, uses Proxi-Plus to floss as he checks his Facebook posts. You can find them at Walgreens and other drugstores for about $6 for a pack of 30.

No more hassle of carrying a toothbrush and toothpaste in my purse. And no more excuses for not flossing. Proxi-Plus is small, sanitary and disposable, ideal for busy people who really, really want to floss more often.

Moroccanoil for Mom

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Mom always said you were her crowning glory — even when you made her want to pull her hair out.

roundup_21930_Image01UploadYou can help to restore and revive Mom’s hair with a  gift she will use and enjoy for months to come. Give her Moroccanoil on Mother’s Day. This year, you can buy a three-pack of treats in a cabana-striped turquoise-and-white travel tote inspired by the peaceful hues of the Mediterranean seaside.

Moroccanoil products leave hair naturally smooth and shiny, and also make hair feel healthier over time. If Mom colors those gray hairs you gave her Moroccanoil will renew the youthful sheen of her locks.

There are three limited-edition totes to choose from:

  • Repair Essentials ($64.60) includes a nurturing trio of Moroccanoil Treatment (50ml),  Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner (250ml).
  • Styling Essentials ($62.40) teams Moroccanoil Treatment (50ml), Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream (300ml) andMoroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Medium (75ml)
  • Volumizing Essentials ($72) will give Mom a lift with Moroccanoil Treatment Light (50ml), Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo (250ml) and Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse (250ml)

 

 

Wilmington Garden Day, a blooming great tour

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There is simply no place as lovely as the Brandywine Valley in spring.

imagesSince 1947, the best way to see gardens in bloom has been Wilmington Garden Day. This year’s don’t-miss tour is May 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., rain or shine.

Among the destinations is the Goodstay Gardens, a Tudor-style botanical oasis on the University of Delaware’s Wilmington campus, a site from the very first tour. Several years ago, I wrote about Frog Hollow, the unique private enclave developed by a passionate pair of gardeners, for Philadelphia magazine. This year will be the last time the North Wilmington favorite will be open to the public.

Expect to pluck a bouquet of inspiration from public, suburban and country gardens. Tickets are $30 and proceeds benefit Friendship House and St. Michael’s School and Nursery in Wilmington.

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Lisa likes this. You will, too.

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On every bag of veggies and sauce from Lisa’s Organics, there’s a three word message: Lisa likes this.

SW-Veggies-260x260That makes sense. If you are going to put your name on a product it should  be something that you enjoy.

But would other folks like it, too? The nice folks from Lisa’s shipped me some samples so I could try them and report on my thoughts.

What I discovered was a happy blend of convenience, good taste and nutrition. The veggie combos come in flexible, recyclable plastic bags that you can easily tuck in a crowded freezer. Each package contains generous two servings.

I mixed Lisa’s sweet peas with onion and parmesan sauce with my own faro for a quick nutritious dish. (If I had not been in a hurry, I would have made risotto.) I enjoyed the fresh flavor of the peas with the nuttiness of the faro. For added oomph, stir in more minced onion and chopped parsley from the garden.

Lisa’s broccoli with gorgonzola sauce is a natural with pasta. I blended the veggies with fettucine and added a splash of half and half and a twist of cracked black pepper. If you have leftover steak, slice that and toss it in at the end. Fast. Easy. Yummy.

Southwest vegetables in ranchero sauce offer the dual benefit of being the quickest and most flavorful combo. Lisa’s ranchero sauce is a slow-cooked, mildly spicy blend of organic red chiles, garlic and tomato with  organic sweet corn and onions, plus red and green peppers. Sweet potatoes are the wild card, adding just the right hint of sugar and even more color.

I rolled the veggies in a whole wheat tortilla in less time than it would take to call out for pizza. De-LISH.

Lisa’s vegetables are all grown organically in the U.S. and Canada and are frozen the same day they are picked. (And if you are wondering who Lisa is, she is Lisa Marie Boudreau, a mother of three who works from home.)

You can find Lisa’s in the frozen food section of select grocers, including two of my favorites, Whole Foods and Wegmans. MSRP: $3.49.

Zoya goes neutral — and green

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Zoya is known for bringing style to our fingertips with high-quality, professional-grade nail lacquers. The only rub is it isn’t always easy to indulge in fashion-forward colors in an office that calls for more subdued, conservative hues.

image004So what’s a corporate fashionista to do?

Enter Zoya’s Godiva PixieDust, a neutral that is cool and exciting. Godiva is a textured, matte nude polish that you can wear as semi-sheer single coat or opaque full coverage in just two coats, depending on your mood. No base coat. No top coat. Dries quickly. You can even make your own custom shade by blending a few drops of another PixieDust color.

I like Zoya because it’s easy to apply, doesn’t smell like chemicals and lasts a long time, a big plus for a writer who spends a lot of time at the keyboard. An added benefit: tiny dings in matte, pale polish are far less apparent than in deep, saturated colors in high-gloss finishes.

For pointers on achieving a flawless finish, watch Zoya’s video on how to apply PixieDust. Expect to pay $8 a bottle.

So what about those polishes you have had hanging around for what seems like eons? Check out the Earth Day Zoya Nail Polish Exchange, April 19-26.  Get rid of old nail polish that may not be BIG5FREE (Free of Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, DBP and Camphor) and exchange it for greener, toxin-free Zoya polishes for $4 a bottle, plus shipping and handling. Zoya will properly dispose of your old polish.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Go to www.zoya.com and pick out the polishes you want and add them to your shopping cart. You must select a minimum of six bottles and no more than 24 bottles. If you own a salon, it’s a minimum of 12 bottles and a max of 48. (The offer is not good on PixieDust shades.)
  2. Apply the code (copy and paste for best results): ZOYAEARTH2013
  3. Wait for your new polish to arrive in the mail

Happy feet in Barefooters

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0Going barefoot is an everyday pleasure. Until stepping on a rock, a pin or an errant Barbie shoe shatters your bliss.

Barefooters are an anatomically engineered shoe designed to feel great. These very casual, somewhat industrial looking looking pull-ons are made in Italy from shock- absorbing, extremely flexible and antimicrobial CorksiLite™, an all-natural blend of cork and silicone. You can even see tiny flecks of brown cork interspersed with the colorful silicone.

So what does that mean? Breathable comfort. No more blisters. And, uh, your feet won’t get sweaty and stinky.

imagesBarefooters’ unique Oooaaahs™ insoles are nicely padded with reflexology pods, which gently massage the pressure points of weary feet while you walk. Barefooters makes shoes for men and women, lots of colors, full range of sizes.

Don’t worry if they get muddy while you are gardening or hiking. Like your feet, Barefooters are washable. In fact, the shoes are easier to wash than your feet because you can toss them in the washing machine. Or just spritz them with the hose while you are rinsing off your real tootsies.

You can find Barefooters in stores in the northern United States and Canada or online at  such footwear purveyors as Footsmart, Shoebuy and Planetshoes. MSRP is $99 a pair but you can find discounts that vary by retailer.

 

Dive into Planet Ocean on Blu-Ray

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As a Jersey girl, I grew up thinking the ocean was downa Shore, the biggest pool you ever saw, a wet and tangy tangle of seaweed, shells and gentle waves just waiting to be jumped.

imagesIn truth, oceans are deep and mystical creatures. You can explore the seas on Planet Ocean, a compelling documentary that takes you on an unprecedented journey into the least known regions of the earth. It’s  available on Blu-Ray and DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Directed by acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the maker of Home, and narrated by actor Josh Duhamel (Transformers, Life As We Know It), Planet Ocean invites viewers to swim the globe with breathtaking aerial views and underwater imagery in extreme geographical conditions.

In other words, leave your water wings behind and dive in. In 93 brief minutes, you will get a deluge of insights on this most precious earthly resource.

You can buy Planet Ocean at Amazon, Target, Kmart, Best Buy and other retailers. Prices start at less than $13.

Keep your cool with tilt

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There’s a downside to the glorious spring weather embracing the East Coast, which has millions dashing to decks, patios and balconies.

M.aspxHow to keep the dip chilled?

Hopefully, you are prepared with tilt, with a lower-case T, a decidedly cool stainless steel ball that you can drop in dips, salads and drinks to maintain their cool, without ice.

This handy, low-tech gadget comes from Soiree Home, the enterprising folks who invented what has quickly become an iconic, pour-through device to decant wine.

tilt is flavorless (so as not to corrupt your hummus) and reusable, at the ready in your freezer, where it demands little more space than an ice cube. Or store it on the counter in the enclosed silicon stand and chill four to six hours before use. (MSRP: $34.99 for a set of two or $17.99 for a singleton.)

You can buy one large shiny orb or a pair of chillers. Each comes with a handy hook for retrieving the devices when the party’s over. Clean up is easy. Wash with soap and water until the next use.

From Spain, two great value reds

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When I’m looking for reds that suit both my sensibility and my budget, I often turn to wines imported from Spain, birthplace of food-friendly wines that also are focused on style.
VinaZaco_Temp_NV_HRTwo noteworthy wines in the coveted $15 or less category come from Bodegas Bilbainas, the largest estate in the Rioja Alta, where traditional character blends with modern production techniques. Both are 100 percent Tempranillo. Think fruit. Color. The best of the grape.

Vina Zaco 2010 is lively and assertive, yet its scents of violets and fresh feel make it a good match for grilled chicken and veggies, as well as the meats from the barbecue that we usually serve with reds on a soft summer night. Because it isn’t overly heavy, tempranillo is a great match with small bites, your very own tapas hour.  Wine Spectator loved this offering, awarding it 90 points. You will enjoy it, too.

Vina Pomal Crianza 2009 is more traditional, yet is still simpatico with a wide range of dishes from cheeses to grilled fish. Expect an aromatic bouquet of black cherry, licorice and vanilla. The winemaker suggests serving at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. For optimum flavor, pop it in the fridge an hour before uncorking. Honest! No need to decant. Pour and enjoy.

 

Easter chocolates by Norman Love

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Here’s hoping the Easter bunny brings you a basketful of exquisite chocolates from Norman Love Confections (NLC). The high-end candy maker is offering eight limited-edition treats through March 30, all in the shape of eggs.

2013 easter_10pc_P9209852_rt smallCaramel Crunch has a surprise inside, crunchy, dark pearls of chocolate.  Creamy Peanut Butter is a polka -dotted confection of velvety peanut butter ganache in a milk chocolate shell.

For the butterscotch lover, there’s a silky butterscotch ganache made from slow-cooked brown sugar and butter. The clincher: a layer of creamy white chocolate. Other temptations include Vanilla Pudding, Coconut Almond, Mint Chocolate Cookie, Lemon Drop and Strawberry Shortcake.

Easter collections are packaged in a variety of pretty gift boxes. Choices range from a five-piece sampler priced at  $13.25 to a 50-piece candy bonanza priced at $95, plus shipping. Chocolate bunnies also are available for the traditionalist.

If you don’t hop to it in time to indulge in Easter treats, don’t despair. Norman Love offers and expansive line of chocolates and truffles suitable for weddings, gifts and every day indulgence.