Whooo-whooooo.

Would the kids think I was strange if I brought my lunch to school in this?

I don't think they would. That's the beauty of small children.

How absolutely adorable. This lunch box rocks!

Skip Hop Zoo Lunchies

ReSnackIt

Here's a cute and very green idea. Why didn't I think of this?

ReSnackIt , designed by a Mom in search of an earth-friendly sandwich bag, is the perfect way to carry my PB&J to school AND help save the environment. Plus it comes in lots of cool colors/patterns!

If you're one to bring your lunch to work, consider buying one of these!

Sold at most Whole Foods and at the Paper Source too!

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Keurig

I think this would be a totally awesomerific present.

I am still currently using my 12-cup brewer, which is fine, but this Keurig single-cup coffee brewer is just so 2011.

This model (B-40) is only $99 from amazon.com. Not too shabby!!

A sensational gift in my humble opinion.

months of the year...

It's time for me to get serious and start thinking of calendars for next year. Now is the time to make this decision because once January hits, all the good calendars are mostly gone. This has happened to me a handful of times in my life and it always puts me in a sour mood when I think about it. I mean, picking a calendar is a big decision because you will have to look at it for the whole year. Granted the month's change, but the overall feel of my calendar has to be one that I am pleased with.

I've decided my calendar hunt will take place at Paper Source this year. They never let me down.

Here are the ones I like:

SUPER fun.

LOVE. I adore every single month in the calendar, which is hard to come by! This will most likely be the one for me.

This calendar is funny. I recommend this one for my blogger friend Melanie.

She LOVES cupcakes.

This is obviously a very basic calendar, but one I would love for my desk at school. It's got so much more character than those boring old while ones.

WOW.

Check out my new funky metallic orange hair dryer.

It's awesome. AND it's orange.

And it works like a professional stylist from the salon. Meg dried her hair in 6 minutes flat, opposed to the usual 12. THAT's incredible! I can't wait to test it out on myself tomorrow. I have a feeling this machine is going to change my life.

The Infiniti Pro by Conair. "Put the power in the palm of your hand." (Enter cymbals sound here.) Available at TARGET.

Did that sounds like a commercial to you? Okay, good.

Crazy good. Insanely delicious.

This dressing is the YUMMIEST. I just picked it up today at Super Stop and Shop because as I was skittering down the salad dressing aisle my eyes were drawn to the product packaging. I am such a sucker for packaging. I'll admit it. Give me a nice looking bottle and I'm sold. The good thing about most well-packaged products is that they do actually taste better. In my opinion. Or at least, my brain has convinced my taste buds to think that way.

Brinanna's Home Style Dressing is for real DEEElicious.

I picked up some Rich Poppy Seed dressing and it's phenomenally sweet and flavorful. I can't wait to pack a salad for lunch tomorrow with butter lettuce, raspberries, grapes, sliced almonds, and especially this tasty topper. What a treat!

There are lots of other appealing flavors too... just check them out at your local grocer (Whole Foods excluded, which is surprising, but true).

BRIANNA'S

Fine Salad Dressing

Crazy good.

Nikon D90

This is my dream camera.

It costs over 1,000 dollars so I think I will be dreaming for a while.

Izze Sparkling Juice

I love Izze sparkling juice. Do you know it? It's so yummy and all natural. It's flavor is different from soda, and better in my humble opinion. Although don't get me wrong, I do love a good carbonated fountain soda every now and again. Coke, please. Or Dr. Pepper, thanks. BUT if you're ever in a place that sells Izze Sparkling juice- go for it! They have the most delicious flavors including grapefruit, pomegranate, clementine, and blackberry, apple, lime, blueberry, and peach. So many to choose from!

I enjoyed a blackberry juice today and was immensely satisfied.

So flavorful and has that extra added fizz for a wonderful thirst quenching experience. HIGHLY recommended. Just wonderful.

a touch of fun for your laptop...

I'm thinking about getting a "skin" for my MacBook. They're all the rage if you haven't heard. They add a little personality to any computer and can be found in many different patterns and pictures. They can also be easily removed without leaving any residue, which is VERY important to me, as I am ridiculously in love with my computer. I've found a few that I really like and it'll just be a matter of time before I order one. Which one do you like best?

Autumn Dots by Decalgirl

(Fun. Colorful. Polka Dots.)

Sunset in Venice by Claude Monet

(close to my heart.)

Graffiti Skyline by Derek Prospero

(not sure if this is really my style-- but I think it's super cool.)

Farbstudie Quadrate by Kandinsky

(Very me. I had a poster of this in college.)

Dragon Fly Blue by Decalgirl

(whimsical and cute)

Curly Girl Designs

(LOVE this one. Totally my favorite. Totally fun!)

squeaky green, super clean

Did you know that most dryer sheets are made with animal fat? Totally gross. I didn't even know this until I went to write this post. I wanted to tell you how I found these really pleasant smelling moist dryer sheets and when I went to do a little research about them I found out the fun fact about dryer sheets and animal fat. Awesome.

Luckily, you don't need to use animal-fat infested dryer sheets anymore. You can start using method squeaky green dryer cloths and can kiss animal fat goodbye (sorry, I'll stop saying animal fat now. It's giving me the heebie jeebies too).

These squeaky green dryer cloths are brilliant.

They are just a little bit damp and when you put them in the dryer along with your clothes renewable plant-based softeners make your clothes super soft and just so perfectly fragrant. Now that's something you want to put your face up to. Squeaky green, super clean, hot clothes out of the dryer. Oh my. Yes, please.

Bermuda Shorts

Hello, Summer.

Meet: Bermuda Shorts.

Best. Nail color. EVER.

Getting ready for summer:

I'm getting so excited for summer, it's practically here! Besides the rain today I'd say we've had a pretty great run for spring. I feel like I really got a chance to wear my favorite spring outfits and I wasn't even pretending to be warm, I really was! This spring/summer I'm embracing my pale skin and vow to take extra good care to protect it from the elements. I have already bought 2 bottles of sunblock, next step is to start protecting my face. I do wear an spf 15 moisturizer every day, but in that hot summer weather on that sandy beach you just NEED some extra protection! I'm particularly interested in purchasing a summer hat this year. J.crew and anthropologie have some cute ones-- but I'm sure I can swing by the outlet mall and find a practical one for less. We shall see in time what I end up with...

Here is what I am using for skin protection:

Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturizer

I love Neutrogena products and this is one that I have been a fan of for a long time. It goes on smooth and doesn't leave a greasy feeling, plus you know you're face is getting protection all day.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sun Block

This stuff is magic. It goes on so light you don't even know it's on! Which means it's the stuff for me because I HATE that icky sunblock feeling. SO sticky!

And as far as my head goes, I've been looking into a few options:

Summer Straw Hat by j.crew

Whirling Plaid Sunhat from Anthropologie

Eric Javits Packable Floppy Hat from Saks

(LOVE the orange detail!)

Ribbon-Wrapped Hat from Anthropologie

Straw Trilby Hat by j.crew

(The last two are more for fashion's sake I'll admit-- but I do love them.)

Hope I can still get my summer freckles!!!!!

Addicted to chapstick.

I love chapstick. I NEED chapstick. Without chapstick I cannot function. I cannot sleep, I cannot eat, I can hardly breathe. Hello, my name is Anna and I am addicted to chapstick.

Every bag I own has a classic Chapstick brand moisturizer tube inside. Classic chapstick is the way to go. Tragically, the other day I could not find any of my chapstick. Not even ONE. My lips were burning! I was going crazy. Ask Zan. Or Meg. Or Lauren. They were all witnesses to my withdrawal. Not pretty.

Luckily, Meg had a Vaseline tin to save my lips from their dry, uncomfortable state. Phew! This brand is pretty good. It's got a glossy texture, which is not particularly my cup of tea, but it works for some people.

In my Easter basket this year I received Burt's Bees replenishing lip balm with pomegranate oil. Sounds fancy, huh? It is. I enjoy using it from time to time. It gives my lips a nice color and tastes yummy too (if you happen to lick your lips like I do... which is probably the reason I need chapstick so much).

And lastly, I am a fan of Nivea: A Kiss of Moisture. The cherry flavor, like Burt's Bees pomegranate, also adds a tint of color and this brand goes on so smooth. Nivea doesn't last quite as long as the classic chapstick brand, but it's great to take out to dinner if you want just a slight pink color on your lips.