Travalo, the travel atomizer

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34144517Just because air travel stinks these days doesn’t mean you shouldn’t smell fabulous when you’re on the road.

Consider a high-tech atomizer, Travalo Touch. Made of sleek but durable aluminum, Travalo Touch is a 5 mL refillable fragrance wand with rollerball technology.

No worries about having your favorite perfume yanked at security. TSA-approved, Travalo Touch is a portable fragrance wand. Its spill-free Genie-S pump system allows you to fill the atomizer before you head to the airport. The cylinder holds 50 roll-on applications of your favorite scent.

You can gauge the level of perfume through a clear window. The cylinder is available in black, pink or silver and slides easily into an evening bag or jacket pocket. Expect to pay about $20.

Let It Rain Barrels

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CR_Rotary_Rain_Barrel-026_web-191x300On March 22, World Water Day, Wilmington will be awash in conservation as 18 hand-painted rain barrels will begin to appear at businesses all over the city. The barrels  will be auctioned off on Earth Day, Saturday, April 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Chase Center to raise money to help improve access to clean water in Third World countries. Tickets to the event are $50. To learn more, visit Let It Rain Barrels.

Caesar Rodney Rotary Club is sponsoring the project as part of its work to raise awareness of water as a vital natural resource. The group is raising money to fund clean-water projects overseas through its partnership with University of Delaware’s Engineers without Borders Chapter. The rotary also wants to educate homeowners and businesses on the time-honored and low-tech way to conserve water and save money by capturing water in a rain barrel. 

CR_Rotary_Rain_Barrel-047_web-191x300Rain barrels have been around forever and continue to make sense. By gathering water that would otherwise run off into the ground or a storm sewer you can keep your garden happy on the hottest day — without turning a faucet.

In addition to Delaware artists, schools and other organizations are creating a deluge of inspiration, including Cab Calloway School of the Arts and Urban Promise, which is dedicated to helping kids and young adults reach their full potential through Christian principals.

Think of the rain barrels as functional art — and a reminder of a precious resource.

                                                                                  

Broken Shed Vodka is whey cool

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bottle_2011_0-98x300Two guys in a tumbledown shack have lots of time to think. And, odds are they can really use a drink.

In a dinged-up shed on a mountain in New Zealand, two Yanks from Connecticut dreamed up a New Zealand vodka. The aptly named Broken Shed is distilled four times. It’s gluten-free, additive-free and naturally smooth. No sugar, either.

The creamy notes come from whey, which the Broken Shed folks refer to as “milk honey.” The result is an inviting vodka that is round, rather than sharp, with no cloying sweetness.

Whey to go, guys.

Expect to pay about $30 for a 750 ml bottle. Broken Shed is currently available in New York, Connecticut and online purveyors.

0You could tuck a bottle of Broken Shed in the freezer and enjoy with ice and a lemon twist. The makers suggest a classic cocktail to get us through ‘til spring.

In the 1960s, the Old Fashioned cocktail was in vogue. My grandparents traveled with their own blend, delighting hosts who would add ice and an orange slice. Typically made using bourbon or whiskey, Broken Shed has put their own spin on this timeless temptation.

 

Here’s a whey-cool recipe:

Old Fashioned

3 oz Broken Shed vodka

3 dash bitters

1 sugar cube

Zest of lemon/orange/grapefruit

Garnish- flamed or not

In glass, add sugar cube with bitters and few slices of zest, add 3 oz vodka and 4 cubes ice. Stir for 10-15 seconds.

Garnish and serve to copious thanks.

 

Boom Boom! Explodes with kindness

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Handbag_BB_1_0Boom Boom! Revolution’s acts of kindness cards and lifestyle products are a sure shot for folks who enjoy making nice.

Now, you can literally carry the Boom Boom! message of environmental responsibility with you. The company has partnered with eco-friendly and upscale portable tote company, RunRunRun to design the latest addition to its kindness collection: the exclusive Boom Boom! Italia Tote.

handbag_foldedThink of it as the Mother Teresa of reusable shopping bags. It’s a foldable travel tote that’s compact, stylish and practical. (MSRP: $12.99)

The embossed snap on the outside reads “The Uprising of Guerilla Goodness” and the interior message, printed on leather, says: “Measure your life by what you give, not what you receive.” http://boomboomcards.com/italia-tote

You also can play it forward with Boom Boom! Cards acts of kindness cards kits, available in Original, Teen, Green, and Family Decks. Each contains 26 cards with an act of guerilla goodness for users to spread good vibes throughout their communities.

From there, users can engage with the Boom Boom! community at boomboomcards.com  by posting kindness stories, photos and videos, and following their cards (each has a unique ID) on the Boom Boom! map to see how their acts of kindness create a positive ripple effect.

Not nice enough for you? To keep the goodness flowing, users can register their cards at boomboomcards.com and donate 10% of the purchase price directly to the charity of their choice.

Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage

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The annual Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage, a tradition for the H&G set, returns this spring over five weekends from Saturday, April 20, through Saturday, May 18. For 76 years, the Pilgrimage has offered visitors the opportunity to explore some of Maryland’s most fascinating and noteworthy properties.

The 2013 tour includes about 50 private homes, gardens, farms, churches and historic sites, including a docked Skipjack, across six areas in Maryland. They are Anne Arundel County-Annapolis: Wardour (Saturday, April 20); Queen Anne’s County (Sunday, April 27); Baltimore City: Guilford (Sunday, April 28); Somerset and Worcester Counties (Saturday, May 4) and Charles County (Saturday, May 18).

bcity-201-east-highfiel-resize-site-7-fODx.jpg-resampled-250The annual spring tours showcase MHGP’s efforts to cultivate awareness of Maryland’s rich architectural and cultural heritage. Each year, proceeds  support preservation projects in each host community. To date, the Pilgrimage has raised more than $1 million for the preservation and restoration of architecturally significant properties throughout Maryland while evoking oohs and ahs from tour-goers.

This year, visitors will see Ogden Nash’s home and Sherwood Garden’s, where 80,000 tulips bloom, in the Guilford neighborhood of Baltimore, rarely seem homes in the Wardour community of Annapolis, 300-year-old homes in Queen Anne’s County, as well as homes that have never been publicly toured in Somerset and Worcester Counties.

Guests can buy lunch along the route. In Guilford, home to the stone Tudor house shown above, lunch will be served at the Second Presbyterian Church, where the first 700 visitors  will receive a free Sherwood Gardens poster and can see the restored sanctuary and its  light-filled Georgian Revival interior.

5B.The Manour of Truman' MD med resOther tour highlights include:

Anne Arundel:

The Wardour community in West Annapolis offers a walking tour of nine breathtaking properties, including the waterfront home of the president of St. John’s College with its superb art collection. Other stops include the grand Kent Road home built in 1911 by the architect of the Naval Academy’s Bancroft Hall, the largest college dorm in the world. Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. designed the neighborhood in the early 20th century.

Queen Anne’s County:

Queenstown and Centreville are the focus of this tour, with many of the homes built in the 1700s.  Reed Creek Farm, built in 1775, has a view of the Chester River and an 18th century ballroom regarded as the loveliest room in the county. The original ceiling was discovered during a recent renovation. The South Liberty Street home has an extensive collection of Delft Pottery and samplers dating from the 1730s.

Baltimore:

Guilford is celebrating its centennial, with the garden tour featured as the first of many events during the year (www.guilfordassociation.org). Sherwood Gardens is the most famous tulip garden in North America. The Chancery Road Turnbull House is the former home of famous Baltimore artist Grace Hill Turnbull and features a mix of Spanish Mission and Arts and Crafts styles.  Turnbull’s church-like studio has stained glass windows and a bell tower. The Rugby Road home, formerly owned by famed poet Nash, is a Tudor Revival structure built in 1927. More info at www.facebook.com/GuilfordCentennial.

Somerset and Worcester Counties:

One of the highlights of the tour is the Anderson Road property known as Hollyhurst, with its Flemish-bond brick work. The Federal-style house was lovingly revived in the early 1980s with the introduction of raised-panel woodwork.  Crisfield on Phoenix Church Road,  also known as Watkins Point Farm, has never been on the tour before. The Greek Revival estate is furnished with 18th century period furniture. Beverly of Worchester, built in 1774, is one of the most elaborate and best preserved Revolutionary War period homes.

Charles County:

The Caleb W. Jones Skipjack will be docked in Benedict, one of only a handful of operating Skipjacks in the world. The Manor of Truman’s Place in Waldorf, shown above,  played a role in the War of 1812. Its more recent history includes a rear sunken garden with koi pond and gazebo.

Tickets of each tour are $30,  purchased in advance. For tickets and information, go to mhgp.org or call 410-821-6933.

Reviving Red, serious color care

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Many folks are under the impression that red hair simply grows out of your head.

images-1That’s true for a fortunate few. But most of us need help in attaining chestnut, auburn or copper tresses — and in keeping the color from fading soon after we stroll, head held high, out of the salon. Take it from me, a redhead who can attest that those stubborn whitish hairs at the temple can resurface as soon as 10 days after coloring.

That’s because red hair color, alas, doesn’t last as long as blond and brunette colorants.

Now, there’s a super salon line formulated to restore and refresh all shades of red and copper color-treated hair. Think of yourself as an eternal Rita Hayworth. Flawless. Glorious. And seemingly effortless.

imagesNaturally, the idea comes from a creative brain located just under a mane of red hair.  Ruth Roche is artistic ambassador of Pureology, whose products include such ingredients as lycopene extract, the powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes and other red fruits and veggies.

The line includes a full range of products, from shampoo and conditioner to treatments that infuse hair with red tones between visits to your favorite hairdresser. Expect color that is still going strong after 30 shampoos.

Reviving Red Sham’pOil gives hair a super boost, replenishing hair and sealing the cuticle. MSRP: $29 for 8.5 oz. Red Reflect Enhancer and Copper Reflect Enhancer ($40 each) come in individual tubes, ready for weekly use to refresh hair. Reviving Red Illuminating Caring Oil makes hair shiny. Just put a little in your palm and smooth through damp or dry hair. MSRP: $32 for 5.2 oz.

Pureology is sold at salons. Ask your hairdresser about the line.

 

Speck’s CandyShell in emerald. Sweet

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image004Most folks put their iPhones through a lot of paces. Calls. Texting. Music. Words With Friends.

Speck’s CandyShell cases keep smartphones looking stylish while protecting your mobile from the rigors of constant use. The cases are rugged, yet soft to the touch — and now you can order one in emerald, this year’s hotter-than-sizzling fashion color.

The CandyShell design features two layers of protection, a hard outer shell in a glossy satin finish and an inner rubberized shell that is shock absorbent. Think of it as an M&M, except this CandyShell isn’t edible. Rather, it’s a mean, green mobile machine.

Not into emerald? Not to worry. Speck has a rainbow of cheerful, saturated shades to choose from. Expect to pay $34.95 to buy your phone a new wardrobe. An upgraded offering, priced at $39.95, includes a slot for a credit card and a few bucks.

You can dress all your mobile devices in matching outfits. Speck also makes colorful coverings for tablets and MacBooks.

 

Brilliant! The Philadelphia Flower Show

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I always leave the Philadelphia Flower Show with a bouquet of ideas for my home and garden. And, of course, I buy a few of the plants, tools and other garden gadgets that will help turn my musings into my own piece of paradise.

2266_lThis year’s show is, well, Brilliant! That’s also the name of the extravaganza that celebrates English gardens. If riotous color, glorious ponds and lush greenery are your cuppa, go straight to the Pennsylvania Convention Center and savor a banquet of miniatures, arrangements and large-scale exhibits. (These sumptuous shots were taken by R. Kennedy for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp.)

Then start shopping — although it’s hard to know where to begin with 125 merchants in house.

1085_lLook for lily bulbs at De Waterlelie, a purveyor from the Netherlands. Check out the cobra head, a tool sold by a company in Wisconsin that goes after weeds like a badger. Have a chat with the folks at EP Henry, a wonderful South Jersey company that can help you to create a Brit-inspired hardscape at your castle. Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is selling themed mementoes of the event, as well as topiaries, herbs and other green goodies.

The show runs through Sunday, March 10. Tickets are $27 for adults, $20 for students, and $15 for children age 2-16. Tots under 2 are admitted free.

 

Lady Alice, the apple of our mouth

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The apple of our eye — red, round and shiny — is seldom the apple of our mouth.

243ee2ff6d13393e0d90aedda93b8cb0It looks lovely. But it tastes bland.

Enter Lady Alice, a beautiful apple from Rainier Fruit Co. in eastern Washington, named for Alice Zirkie, a founder of the grower.

Lady Alice is comely, round with glowing skin tinged with pink and gold stripes. And the apple tastes just as appealing as it looks, crunchy and dense, with a balance of tartness and sweetness.

It’s firm, not mealy, and holds up nicely in a pie. Lady Alice also resists browning when the apple is sliced, making it a natural for fruit trays and salads.

You might be reminded of heirloom apples that never make it to the supermarket. But this year, Lady Alice is widely available in grocery stores. Like cherries, the growing season is short so enjoy them while you can. To find out where, visit Rainier Fruit.

Say oui to the Frenchie Revolution

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0At times, it’s hard to tell which is man’s best friend. A dog? Or wine?

Visitors can indulge in fine wines while their pets are pampered at Frenchie Winery, located at Raymond Vineyards in Napa Valley’s Rutherford district.

Frenchie, so named for proprietor Jean-Claude Boisset’s beloved French Bulldog, is a tasting room for dogs. While pet parents visit the Raymond tasting room, their pooches can   relax in a kennel furnished with dog beds crafted from wine barrels. A bar dispenses fresh water.

0-1In the tasting room for people, pet-lovers can keep an eye on their four-footed friends via doggie cam. They also can savor the first two Frenchie reds produced at the winery.

Even before you taste Frenchie, the bottle gets your attention. In fact, after you enjoy the wine, you will be tempted not to recycle its charming container.

The labels depict portraits of  Frenchie at great moments in history. On the 2009 Red Blend, Frenchie poses as Napoleon at his coronation. The emperor would have no doubt enjoyed the wine, with flavors of blackberries, raspberries and cassis and notes of oak.

On the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Frenchie is perched on a rearing stallion, a la Louis XIV, the Sun King who reigned for 72 years. The cab is well structured and a long finish. Expect blackberries, cocoa and a hint of vanilla.

The suggested retail price for each wine is $30. (A Chardonnay with Frenchie dolled up like Marie Antoinette is currently sold out. Frenchie’s reply to the masses: Let them drink cake!)

The winery will donate $1 from each sale to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. If you take your dog to Frenchie’s winery, expect Fido to be treated like royalty.