thanks Dan

I have great neighbors! Here is another neighborly fav and this time from my friend Dan! 

"I have a current fav product: Superfeet

I’ve only had mine for a few weeks but the comfort, support, & cushioning difference compared to the stock athletic shoe insole is well worth the investment ($35-$45 a pair). They have a variety of insoles for all types of shoes and activities. Safe to say I will now always use superfeet with my running shoes."

pretty nails

This fav comes from my longtime friend Lauren!



"I love painting my nails. I could do it all day every day. I love how it looks, how it smells (I like gas smell too, I am weird I know) and how it makes my hands look so feminine. I think I like it so much because I bite my nails for the better part of my life. Ok so enough about my gross habit. I heart O.P.I. The colors are fabulous, the names are chic and hip. Living in Japan I am hard pressed to find O.P.I brand but I have a great sister back in the states who gets it for me (perks of having a hair dresser in the family). You can “try” on different colors on the site so go check out pretty much any salon by you!"

something sweet

Today's fav comes from Crystal! By the way, you should check out her blog, she makes the cutest cakes and she is adorable in general!


"Jelly Belly Pomegranate Jelly Beans. This is my favorite candy. Well, one of many. These are great! The only place I ever see them is Cracker Barrell, so everytime we go (which is quite often), I get a bag. They don't last very long! The funny thing is, I've never even eaten a pomegranate. I do love these jelly beans, though."

neighborly favs

Today's favs come from my neighbor and friend Lauren! Read and enjoy (and don't forget that you too can send me your favs to be posted this week. Send to elhajs@aol.com)!

Love this blog from a fellow Oso Grande dad and fellow Little League Baseball Manager. So bad its good…some things we think inside but do not have the guts to say…he says them…some things we would never even think…but he writes them down for all to see.

I also love www.orangette.blogspot.com.

Leslie's Favorites!

I'm excited that you are sending in your own personal favorites! Keep it coming. This week is all about you guys. Email me at elhajs@aol.com.

All of today's favorites are via my friend Leslie from Leslie's Lines:

I'm in love with my Zyliss shake 'n go shaker and wanted to share it with you. I always get comments when I bring it to friends' houses or work, asking "what's that?"

This to-go styled cup lives up to its name! Put in powdered drink mix, prep eggs or pour in salad dressing ingredients – shake and go!

This multi-tasking plastic shaker also serves as an ad hoc measuring tool with ounce and millimeter markings on the sides. The wide mouth mounted on the screw cap prevents spills and controls the pour.

5 - in -1 shaker
* Measure. Mix. Store. Serve. Drink.
* 16 oz capacity. Blends homemade salad dressings, drinks, marinades, shakes and
sauces
* Leakproof spout

Not to mention that it also doubles as a handy flask at tailgating parties!

Since Lee is such a wonderful chef, and our produce usually spoils long before we have time to savor it, "Santa" brought him Debbie Meyer Green Bags for Christmas. Don't be ashamed to admit it - you know you've seen the commercials - "BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE!" I'll have to say that they do work pretty darn good. Mushrooms and lettuce that have been in our fridge since after Christmas still look fresh off the shelf. Our goal is to incorporate more fresh fruit and veggies into our diets, and with the help of these little magic bags, it just might be possible!

I know they can be purchased at Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Amazon.com and directly from the website.

Preserve those veggies and fruits! Especially the more expensive organic varieties.

For all my friends who like to fill-up landfills with obscene numbers of plastic water bottles, check this out:

Clear2Go

As seen on TV!

Okay so today's fav belongs to my friend Vanessa and here's what she has to share:

"I've been wanting to try this forever and finally did! I'm always so skeptic of the "As Seen on TV" products. Anyway, it's the PedEgg!!! Love it to pieces!!! Leaves your feet feeling as soft as a newborn's (okay, almost!).

Don't forget that I am tired, really tired, so it's your job as my friends and readers to send me your favs. My email address is in the post below!

xo

Design Mom - Guest Blog

(I heart Design Mom's blog, she has great style and she's fun to read. I hope you enjoy her fav's)

A few of Gabrielle Blair's (from Design Mom) favorite things.

A Good Pair of Heels
Try wearing heels on a everyday errand -- like to Costco -- even just with jeans and a t-shirt. They make even the most non-glamorous outings seem important. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I swear the employees treat you better too.

Getting a Good Deal
Doesn't it feel good to find a great price on something? I found a $350 Spyder ski coat for my husband at TJ Maxx for $120. Score!

Graphic Design Blogs
They remind me of what I studied in college, what I surrounded myself with during my former career, and why I love it. A great one is Hi + Low. It's not entirely graphic design, but it mostly is, and the author (Abby Clawson Low) has a flawless eye and never ending good taste.

Pear Jelly Bellys
I don't love every flavor of Jelly Bellys, mostly just Juicy Pear. They are so yummy. Ben Blair gave me a whole pound for Christmas and they didn't even survive till the 26th.

Gabrielle
http://designmom.com

Guest Blogger- Lara Miller

One of my favorite things we have for our kids is the Radio Flyer Excursion Wagon. It is so fun to take my boys around the block in it and even to the grocery store for some light shopping. They seem to love this way of transportation because I never hear a peep out of them when we're rolling in it. The seats are facing each other so it is so nice for them to talk and share their experiences along the way. There is a big storage compartment on the side of the wagon to carry their snacks and blankets as well my camera and cell phone! It also has 4 built in cup holders in the wagon for their drinks. It's great because it has seatbelts for each rider so my little one can't try and wiggle out. It's really such a fabulous wagon and I get compliments on it all the time. If you don't already have a fun means of transportation to take your kids on a leisurly walk around the block, I think this wagon is definitely worth a look!

All the best!

Lara Miller

Guest Post- Laurin & Kelly

What's better than one fun and stylish blogger.....two! I love reading Laurin & Kelly Talk and it's awesome because the two friends blog to each other about all kinds of things. I didn't hesitate to ask them to do a guest blog here! So please enjoy!

Hi. This is Laurin of Laurin and Kelly Talk. This is our first guest post for another blogger and we are happy it's Amanda. We love her site.

Don't be mad that Amanda isn't here today. Just follow her over to our place at www.laurinandkellytalk.com because we are swapping blogs today.

Apparently Kelly and I love shopping as much as Amanda and we wanted to share with her readers a couple of our favorite things and some places we stalk on the internet.

Right now I am obsessed with the Dell Mini 9 computer. I have been madly entering giveaways in the hope of winning one, but am totally willing to shell out the bucks to get it if I don't. The mac daddy model is only $499. Do you know how much blogging I could do in the car line of my kids' school?

I love the internet. Love it. I find the greatest things in the shopping que of StumbleUpon. It's my rabbit hole. But, one site I could never live without is www.ShopStyle.com. I use it for shopping and to find great fashion for our readers. Just enter whatever is on your wish list at the moment, like "flat boots" and, voila, a catalog just for you.

Hi. It's Kelly. Right now I'm all about channelling Kate Moss with the black leggings and black ballet slippers. I am a total fashion junkie and I'm coveting the Mighty Fine "I Only Kiss Superheroes" tee. I think my husband will love it.

You can get it at Boutique to You, a great site where you can find current shots of what the celebs are wearing, like in US Weekly. You can "Shop by Celebrity" or "Shop by Designer".

Kathryn's Favorite Things- Guest Blog

Hi all! I'm so glad Amanda asked me to stop by today. Because my blog, Snippet & Ink, is almost entirely about weddings, I don't usually have a chance to share things that I love outside the wedding world. There is so much beautiful, delicious, clever, brilliant, etc. stuff out there, that it was tough to choose just a few of my favorites, but here are the ones I did pick, in no particular order...

1. My Cartier Tank watch

I've always wanted one of these classic watches, but never thought I'd get to own one! This was a gift from my mom who found it on eBay for only $200. It still has the original band which is totally worn and I love it.

2. Angie's Kettle Corn

You know those samples they have out sometimes at Whole Foods? Well I tried some of this tasty kettle corn last time I was there and now I'm hooked. If no one was watching I could easily eat an entire bag by myself.

3. Thonet bentwood chairs

I want my kitchen table to be surrounded by these simple yet beautiful chairs. And if I can't afford a whole kitchen table's worth, then I'll settle for one really special one in my bedroom or living room.

4. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Books have always been one of my favorite things and there are so many that I love, but Lolita is still my favorite. It is brilliant and horrifying and beautiful all at once, and I could happily read it again and again.

5. Gleena dessert plates

I would love to serve dessert on these paper-thin porcelain plates. Their delicate simplicity would work equally well at a casual outdoor dinner and a more formal get-together, and I think ice cream would taste even better eaten off one of them.

Mary's Favorite Things- Guest Blog

Hello everyone! My name is Mary, and Amanda has asked me to share a few of my favorite things with you today. It's a bit of a departure from the slices of my life that I share at my blog, South End Blend, so I'm happily here to do just that.

I gave this post quite a bit of thought. Because, frankly, choosing my favorite of anything is a tough task. I'm constantly inspired, I love a lot, and there's just so darn much that's covetable. Here are four of my of-the-moment loves:


1. The Madeline Weinrib 'Emma' rug is my dream come true: pair red and crisp white with a classic yet of-the-minute pattern and you're mine, all mine. Well, not technically...unfortunately, this beauty will run me a pretty penny, so for now I worship it from afar (and, in the meantime, search high and low for a suitable knockoff.)

2. I'm a sucker for letters. And the color turquoise. This letter S (the initial of my last name) from Urban Outfitters fits both those bills, and would look great as a part of the little vignettes that I'm always mixing and matching and creating in corners of my home.

3. There's nothing like fall in New England, and I love it. Especially because its the perfect season to wear boots. Frye boots are sexy with a down home edge, and this fall I'm determined to invest in a pair. The 'Vicki Campus' suit me to a T: they're tall, feminine, and timeless.

4. My Nikon D40 camera is my constant companion. My budding interest in photography and capturing the simple beauty around me prodded me to invest in something a notch above a simple point-and-shoot, and I'm so happy I did. I'm still learning all her bells and whistles and features, but so far, we're getting along super well.

Top 5 Design Favorites - Guest Blog

Hello! My name is Julie and I'm thrilled that Amanda has asked me to Guest Post on her blog. I'm an interior designer with a crazy passion for design. I thought I'd share with you my current top 5 favorite design items. It was tough to narrow down my choices, but I hope you enjoy the ones that made the final cut!



1) The Cary Buffet by Shine Home. I just adore this piece of furniture! The whimsical white detail really pops against the chartreuse background and I love the unique leg style.



2) Jackson Trays from Pottery Barn. These trays are crafted from espresso-finished hardwood and blackened metal handles. They're perfect for stacking magazines, serving drinks or displaying fruit, such as green apples or bright yellow lemons.



3) New from West Elm, the Applique SemiCircle Pillow Cover. Available in copper or steel blue, these pillows are beautiful, unique and sophisticated.



4) Also new from West Elm, the Globe Lamp. These funky lamps are available with a ceramic or silver glass base and the overall lamp measures 49.5"high! Talk about making an impact in your space!




5) Add a punch of color and pattern to your walls with Paul Thomas Wall Canvases. Each hand-painted canvas measures 20 x 20 and comes ready to hang. Hang alone or group together to create a bold statement!


A big thank you to Amanda for inviting me to share! If you have a moment, I'd love for you to visit my blog, belle maison.

Best,
Julie

Bicycle Style- Guest Blog

Hello and thanks to Amanda for asking me to Guest Post. If you've ever read my blog, you know I dream of owning a cute bicycle. Today I'll share just three of my favorites.

1. Jorg and Olif: This Canadian company has the spiffiest marketing and I'll admit that's what first got me sucked into the brand. But I've seen their bicycles in real life and their beautiful. I like both the Scout and the Original designs. Jorg and Olif also sells fantastic accessories.

2. Skeppshult: I tend to like anything Swedish and these bicycles are no exception. I love the leather seats and simple lines.

3. Schwinn: Great classic style and a perfect price on the Sid and Nancy Schwinn bicycles.

Best,

Chelsea
{frolic!}

Guest Blogger- Whitney Hartmann

Thanks Amanda for inviting me to be your first Guest Blogger. I think you'll find my entry more than appropriate because it is all about Blogs!

I am not a huge blogger. I have a blog for my business, and I post photographs every so often, but I love searching through blogs. Most of them have blogrolls, or list of blogs, on their sidebars, so once you find a good one you can click through all of their favorites as well. I am always sending Amanda links of my favorite new blogs that I like. I am a terrible online surfer, so blogs are a perfect way for me to catch up on the latest trends and be inspired by artists, photographers, crafters, other moms just like me, or just to catch up with some family bloggers.

So without further ado, here is a list of my latest favorite blogs, Amanda's excluded. Mark them as your favs, add them to your blogroll. You'll want to checkback for new great inspirations everyday.

http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com
http://aliciapaulson.com/
http://www.bholistic.typepad.com/
http://www.onevote08.org
http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/
http://www.jessicaclaire.net
http://swankypanky.blogs.com/
http://www.designmom.com/
http://purecontemporary.blogs.com/behind_the_curtains/design_for_children/index.html
http://www.dessertfirst.typepad.com/

Finally, if you want to jump on the bandwagon and start a blog for your self, I highly recommend it. It is a great outlet for your creative juices, or just a wonderful way to stay in touch. Here is a list of places you can get a blog for free.

My favorite...
http://wordpress.com/
https://www.blogger.com
http://www.typepad.com/
http://www.thoughts.com
or if you have a mac, sign up for an imac account and start your own mini site.

Happy Blogging!!!

Whitney Hartmann
http://www.whitneyhartmann.com