1. Johnson & Johnson Dentotape
Yes, we have a favorite dental floss and that says something because I HATE flossing. And it isn't even because I used to work for J&J. I truly feel that this is the only floss that can leave my mouth feeling completely clean. My whole family also uses it and now it's also David's favorite. Don't be fooled by the "for wide-spaced teeth" thing on the package. It's for anyone who wants a super clean mouth.
Just to show you how much we love this product, David and I drove to 3 Wal-marts in search of these when we ran out. It was a sad day. We had to use some other floss we had laying around (like ones the dentist give you as samples). Wal-mart has the best prices at $2.97 each and they are constantly out of stock in stores so when I finally found some, I shameless horded.
I'm actually surprisingly loyal to my skincare products and the one I like the most is the Shiseido White Lucent Emulsion (basically a moisturizer). Yes, these are pricey and I did get some Duty Free on our trip back to Taiwan recently so I saved a few bucks on taxes. But I've used this exact moisturizer for...I want to say 3-4 years? It's my absolute favorite because it covers well, moisturizes well with small amount and feels so light on the skin. That's not always an easy combination to achieve. Oh, and it smells really good, too. :) And I know you're supposed to use the softener (basically toner) before the moisturizer but I never do and I don't see the need to.
Also this moisturizer comes in AM & PM versions. The AM version basically has SPF 15 protection. I didn't think that was enough SPF for me so I use the Shiseido SPF 55 sunscreen in the mornings so I don't buy the AM version.
A note is that I don't use the full White Lucent line. I have tried the face wash but my skin feels too oily afterwards (especially during Summers). So I still use the Pureness line face wash that I've been using since HS/college. Once in a while I do use the White Lucent face wash when the air feels really harsh & dry, and it feels nice because it doesn't leave your skin feeling stripped of moisture.
This is not the regular Pantene shampoo. It used to be called Pantene Restoratives so I'm still stuck in that term, but apparently it's now called "Restore Beautiful Lengths". Target sells them for around $5 each. Actually it used to be $4.84 a month ago and the price has since gone up to $5. My hair feels silky soft and smells incredible afterwards. I've actually had people ask me what shampoo I use because it smells so good.
And I've noticed that whenever I throw an "empty" bottle away in the toilet room, the room smells great. So I'm thinking maybe I can somehow make air fresheners from this? Oh well, a project to think about for another day.
Getting towels used to be hit and miss. Some towels feel nice and soft but they turn out to be super non-absorbent. (I hate wiping hands on a non-absorbent towel. It feels like you are just pushing the water around.) Or they turn out stiff/rough after you wash them. I hate it when that happens, too, because you can't return them after you use it.
Well, last year I gave these towels a try and got 2 beige ones for our bathroom. Since then I've gotten 2 more bath towels and 1 hand towel. I'm thinking about replacing the guest towels with these eventually.
You can get these at Target and they come in neutral colors. I would admit they don't come in a huge array of colors. But if you are looking for a nice white, gray or beige towel, I would highly recommend these. Always fluffy out of the drier. Super plush and absorbent. Oh and I also got a bathmat and it's great, too!
Don't remember why David and I decided to give Crest Pro Health a try but we're glad we did! We're kind of picky about dental hygiene stuff. I'm picky because I hate spending time on it and when I do, it better be good. He's picky because he's probably the most dental hygiene conscious person I know.
I don't think all toothpastes are created equal but I'm not sure what it is about Pro Health that just leaves your mouth feeling super clean and not like it's stripped. But it does, so we didn't think twice about grabbing the pack of 4 XL tubes at Costco.
It's the only thing I have from The North Face so I'm not sure about the rest of their products, but I got this waterproof jacket just before I went backpacking in Europe back in 2006. And since then, no matter where I travel it's always in my luggage.
What I love about it is it's so lightweight, compact (folds up to the size of 2 mugs), waterproof, windproof (which means it'll keep you warm) and low maintenance (just run it under some soap & water if you are on the go). There are also side zippers that you can unzip if it gets too sweaty inside. Oh and it comes with a hood that actually covers your eyes, which is nice when it rains. And another really nice thing is it zips up to your chin so it keeps your neck warm as well! This jacket is definitely designed thoughtfully.
I liked mine so much that I got one for David, too. It's around $100 and worth the price.
When Ruedi(sp?) came over for Pacifica's Cooking Fellowship, he gave each one of us this paring knife. I absolutely love it! It slices through things like no other knife I've used before. Also the weight of the knife feels great for slicing. And I am not the type of person to talk about stuff like "weight of knives". I think I finally buy into the "a good knife makes all the difference" thing.
Anyway, I'm really enamored by this knife and I don't use another knife at all unless I have to (like when this one is not long enough). And when searching for an image I saw that they sell it at Sur La Table and it's on sale! I may just get another one. :)
This is the best instant coffee I've ever had. Seriously. Nothing else comes close to the aroma and the flavor. I've special ordered through Dad when he's in Taiwan because they are so hard to get! But if you have a Marina Supermarket nearby, give that a try.
Gino has since branched out to also milk teas and stuff but I only love their instant coffee in the green packaging below. Actually, their instant milk teas are pretty bland. So don't get them.
I owe my gleaming kitchen countertops to Lysol wipes. And yes, the orange one is my favorite scent. This is the most versatile cleaner I've used. I rarely use other products except for special cases (like bleach in the toilet). I Lysol wipe everything: toilets, countertops, baseboards, tabletops -- anything with a surface. I think they're better at picking up dirt than those static cling things.
Although I have heard they're not great for the environment so lately I'm experimenting with vinegar, baking soda, borox and alcohol. But none of those can beat the convenience of whipping out a wipe and having a go with a dirty surface so it's going to be painful for me to switch.
I think this may be the best gift we received for our wedding! I never knew a cordless hand vac would be that useful but it really is. We use it regularly to quickly pick up random stuff that inevitable ends up on the kitchen floor. So much more convenient than busting out the full-blown vacuum. I also use it a lot to vacuum the hair & dust that gather around the corners of the foyer.
I've never really had another hand vac, but this one has great suction power in my opinion. It sort of sweeps up everything around its mouth so you don't necessarily have to point at every little thing you want to pick up. But we also take really good care of it by washing out the filters & all removable pieces regularly.
1. Body Wash - Need one that moisturizes well, feels clean afterwards and smells nice. I do love Health Basic's Honey & Jojoba body wash but they're only available in NZ the last I checked. I should really check again because it's such a great product!
2. Lip Balm - Need one that stays on the lips but aren't too pasty, doesn't taste/smell like Vaseline and doesn't dry out too quickly.
3. Body Moisturizer - I've used every single Aveeno one (b/c I used to work for J&J) and while they're okay I'm hoping for something better. Something that goes on light and moisturizes for a long time. I'm basically hoping for something like my face moisturizer but for the body. :)