Officially summer doesn't end for another few weeks, but the unofficial finish line is in sight-dreaded Labor Day, when, alas, we start to think of back-to-school, back-to-work, back-to-basics. However, given that we are experiencing a heat wave-the fifth of the summer, the weather prognosticators tell us-it's still summer so far as we're concerned. And to make sure that we feel festiive all day long, we're touting, this week and next, some of the most delicious, floral-y scents that have come down the pike this summer. These are fragrances that will just make you swoon, dreaming of gardens redolent with gardenia, tuberose, lilac, and Mother Nature's most heavenly scents.

Prada aptly named its new, limited-edition fragrance Infusion de Tubéreuse, and although the unmistakable scent of the heady tuberose is present, there is a rich tapestry of blood orange from Italy and Indian spices in the mix. Last year Prada introduced its series of limited-edition infusions, and fans of the Infusion d'Iris will probably love this one, as well. The scent is layered with something called dynamore (a rare and luxurious ingredient in perfumery), which allegedly brings a sensuality to this scent. I don't know about that, but I will say that its woody notes coalesce cunningly with the citrus and floral.

The packaging is cute and playful, not romantic and gooey as you might expect. The box is a mosaic-like pattern, inspired by a print taken from the Prada archives. The leaves of the flowers on the box are an ombréed mauve, and the print is a very edgy one, not a dreamy one. Grab it while you still can. (Available in sizes from 1.7 to 6.75 fl. oz., $74 to $135)

The second fragrance we're crazy about is Nina Ricci's Le Paradis de Nina, an intoxicating reinterpretation of a scent created for the company years ago. The notes start off with a whiff of orange and mandarin peels, and as the scent deepens, layers of orange and almond blossoms and heliotrope emerge. And then finally, unexpected, candy apple, and the irresistible notes of gardenia. Lastly, mysterious scents of sandalwood emanate, along with a hint of patchouli and vanilla.

The bottle is the Ricci classic apple that has been reworked for several different fragrances, most notably last year, into an apple with Swarovski-encrusted leaves. It's a tamer apple this year, in a soft frosty pink. (1.7 fl oz for 56)

Stay tuned next week for two more special floral fragrances.

Posted on Monday, August 30, 2010 @ 04:41 PM

Check Out More On: Beauty: Fragrance

Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 @ 03:37 PM

It's got a really cute name, Bobble, to go with its really cute design, which is from the fertile pen and mind of that genius of modern everything, industrial designer Karim Rashid. It's a stylish water bottle with a smart patented filter built into it, a filter that removes chlorine and organic contaminants from municipal tap water. It more or less replicates the experience of drinking purchased, clean, bottled water.

And since we spend over $15 billion a year to buy water, it's sure going to save us all a little bit of moolah, not to mention space in landfills. It's made from recycled plastic and is free of BPA and PVC...in other words, stuff you don't want your water bottle made of. Given the heat waves we have been experiencing these past weeks, nobody, not even a camel, is likely to leave the house without toting a bottle of hydration.

The Bobble comes in a half dozen snappy colors - Kelly green, poppy red, lemon yellow, turquoise, magenta, and sedate black. The carbon filter is good for about 40 gallons of water and it's suggested that it be replaced every two months or so; to clean it, soak in boiling water. It sells for $9.95 and is available on line, and at Bed Bath & Beyond and Barnes and Noble.

Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2010 @ 04:47 PM

Check Out More On: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry | Favorite Finds | Fun Stuff

Not too many people know that the bows used for string instruments are fabricated from horse-tail hairs. Without horses, where would Samuel Barber's exquisite Adagio for Strings be? Or Niccolò Paganini's celebrated Caprice No. 24? So, it seems a not-too-big-a-stretch for the Lexington (Kentucky) Philharmonic to celebrate horses, especially their tails, considering that Lexington and its environs are the home to arguably the grandest, most glorious, and most gorgeous horse farms in America. And the Philharmonic is doing it just in time to coincide with the legendary, much-anticipated World Equestrian Games, which will be held in Lexington from September 25 to October 10.

Horsetails 2010 is a superb show and fundraising event that combines visual art and artist, musical instruments, and silky tail-hair from prominent horses; famed thoroughbred farms from Kentucky--and owners of other influential horse-y breeds--were invited to donate tail-hair from many prized equines for the project and then each selected artist participating in the fundraiser was paired with a horse. The event has generated some 50 blue-ribbon-winning works of art which will be auctioned off, and which will likely garner major winner's-circle wampum. Using a small violin form and a bow as a canvas, the artists were asked to create their unique pieces, which clearly celebrate the horse and the music; upon completion, each bow was then strung with the horse hair. The results-realistic, impressionists, assemblages, collages, mixed media, and so on-comprise a striking panoply of styles and techniques. Come September 20, the auction will commence.

Lexington's local Cross Gate Gallery, a well-known gallery for anyone who admires and knows sporting art, has been displaying these works locally in Lexington, but 20 of the works are coming northward, for us Yankees to view. Starting August 1, the local exhibit will be open to the public at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion at the corner of East and Madison Avenues in Saratoga. This display, including pieces from Andre Pater, Peter Williams, and Joanne Mehl, will coincide with the opening of the Saratoga racing season, which heralds 40 days of world-class horse-racing. So, get thee to the gallery, enjoy the wonderful area surrounding Saratoga, and take in some horse-racing and art.

The ultimate auction (which will start in September) will benefit the Lexington Philharmonic's Foundation Partners in Education Fund, a program aimed to benefit Kentucky children though music education. (Cross Gate Gallery can be reached in Saratoga at 859-421-3426.)

Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 @ 08:14 AM

Speaking about his new line of lip glosses, Beverly Hills dermatologist Stuart Kaplan says that he wanted to "recommend a natural product to patients that not only moisturizes and protects from the sun, but also fights aging." He feels that with his Lip 20, he has developed the first true anti-aging treatment for the lips.

Lip 20 by KaplanMD is a treatment and color product that is enriched with marine collagen, peptides, antioxidants, and a long list of "good" ingredients, like sea buckthorn berry extract, a moisturizer that KaplanMD says is clinically proven to be 20 times more effective than Vitamin E, providing superior hydrating and lip-softening. Another miracle ingredient is the patented hyaluronic "filling spheres" that microscopically "infiltrate" lip tissue and therefore plump lips up and smooth them out. Another important asset of KaplanMD's glosses is the SPF 20 factor.

The packaging of the glosses is really fun, too. The hinged top of the tube flips up, the inner protective sheath of the tube spirals up, like a periscope, and then out of that, pops the lip gloss. The product is available in five colors: Clear, Sheer Natural, Sheer Berry, Sheer Ruby, and Sheer Nude ($30 each), and is sold in Gotham at Windsor Pharmacy. In addition to these five lip care-and-color products, KaplanMD makes a limited edition (very limited and nearing the end of production, so hurry up if you want to get one!) Peach Shimmer, in (duh) a peachy tone, nice enough in and of itself...but what makes it very razzly-dazzly, is the shimmer gloss that comes with it, to overlay on the peachy color. Very peachy, indeed.

Posted on Monday, July 19, 2010 @ 10:15 AM

Check Out More On: Beauty: Makeup & Skin Care

Anyone who has ever swooned over the more-is-more, gay, highly patterned MacKenzie-Childs wares, full well knows that you could easily drop $600 for a "trinket." (Well, O.K., for the newest place settings...but it's easy to run up a big tariff if you let yourself go.) So, all those who love the brand and want to save a bit, Attention: Starting this week, July 16th through the 18th, the company is holding its annual blow-out barn sale...YEAH!!!! Expect savings up to even 80% off original retail.

The sale will be held at the company's headquarters in Aurora, in New York State's scenic Finger Lakes district (more about that later). But here are some examples of the kinds of savings you can count on:

• Hand-painted glassware that normally sells for as much as $100 may be found for as little as $20.
• Ceramic flower pots, canisters, and plates normally ranging from $150 to about $285 may be found for as little as $30 to $60.
• Enamel trays, pots, and vases which would sell for as much as $128 full price may be found for as little as $30.

There are returns, overstocks, and seconds or irregulars, but as you well know, you'd be hard pressed to find anything "irregular" about something that the company calls "irregular." There will be thousands and thousands of items up for grabs, including M-C's famous enamelware, glassware, furniture, home décor accessories, and "trinkets" of all stripes. The company will also be providing music and some Dinosaur BBQ delicacies. You can take a tour of the famous, restored farmhouse, a three-story Victorian mansion, and you can watch a video showing how many of the company's handcrafted pieces are made.

And if all that is not enough, stay a day or three longer and visit New York State's stunning Finger Lake District, an area with 11 pristine lakes, spread like fingers across central New York, encompassing 9,000-plus square miles filled with outdoor adventures and bucolic scenery. It's accessible from Gotham, Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto. In addition to an abundance of Thoreau-esque lakeside retreats, the region offers top-notch vineyards, farm-to-table culinary delights, and internationally acclaimed annual festivals:

Take in a show at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. Known as "Broadway in the Finger Lakes," the theater is currently featuring Promises, Promises through July 28.

At the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, you can see a show of the masterful quilter Nancy Crow. We have had the pleasure of writing her up many times, most notably in The New York Times. Let's just say, to call her a "quilter" is sort of like calling Michelangelo a doodler. The woman is a fab artist who has just chosen textiles as her métier. Her quilts are sensational. Period.

There is also a Finger Lakes Wine Festival taking place at the same time, so it's the perfect time to shop, enjoy the arts and have a drink!

MacKenzie-Childs is located at 3260 State Route 90, one mile north of the historic village of Aurora.

Posted on Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 04:31 PM

Check Out More On: Home Furnishings | Fun Stuff

Not so long ago, Heather Wiese-Alexander worked at Neiman Marcus as an art director, but in her spare time, she loved to make striking note cards and wedding and shower invitations for friends. As might be expected, that avocation took hold over her life and soon it was the vocation, not the pastime. Her passion for elegant stationery and exquisite writing papers led her to the Italian paper-maker, Fabriano, manufacturers and purveyors of some of the finest 100% cotton papers with a luscious feel to the surface.

Her next quest was to locate the right machinery to produce old-fashioned letterpress. Yes, many people like engraved stationery, but the true (and perhaps smug) aficionado knows the value of handsomely turned papers, as they are spewed out of a hand-cranked letterpress. There is nothing like the feel of a wonderfully crafted letterpress note.

Husband Scott Alexander remembered seeing pictures of a letterpress back in his family's printing business, in Arkansas. It took a little arm-twisting, but the couple succeeded in wresting away a press from Scott's great-great-great uncle, and after noodling and doodling, Bell'Invito was born.

Wiese-Alexander and her team do everything themselves, by hand. Her designs range from the expected animals and flowers, to the unexpected - her Merletto (lace) collection is rife with splashes of gold, textured, lace-like patterns. There are Oriental-inspired motifs, fanciful designs, and representational themes; envelopes are exquisitely lined in lavish papers. The stock is heavy, substantial, and weighty enough for serious thoughts.

There are custom-made designs, and Wiese-Alexander specializes in imaginative and chic wedding invitations (the save-the-date invitation on a wine bottle provides info on hotels and so on for out-of-town guests), her ready-to-write boxed sets, and all manner of cards, notes, and letter papers come in assorted sizes (and locally are available at Bergdorf Goodman. Every one of her papers is a treat to touch and a pleasure to write on, although you may be tempted NOT to write on them, since they are so special. .

Posted on Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 02:27 PM

Indeed, we do love to travel (we are writing from shipboard as we speak, afloat off Venice!), especially if we have all the right stuff with us. The smart designers and gifted leatherworkers at Graphic Image can help fulfill that wish.

Tom Glazer, son of the founder, Bennett Glazer, who today helms the company along with sister Carol, often says, "My favorite comment about Graphic Image is that we are the biggest brand that nobody has heard of." He explains that what this means is that brand awareness is there, just not total name awareness. "Anyone shopping the top stores in America knows our products immediately by their style, if not by name. Our style is our brand. It is recognizable without a label."

The company produces the smartest, chicest, most beautifully made travel accessories, among other items-travel journals, agendas, photo albums, keepsake albums, and the like. But the best items are the ones you can take along with you that will even make travel more pleasant (if that is possible!), like the Crayola-colored luggage tags, the handsome alarm clocks, the change purses, the European-money holders, the passport holders (our favorites are the metallic ones!), and the various different configurations of travel-document holders, so that there is a style and type for everyone. (And newest to the market are the iPad covers and cases, along with a plethora of high-tech covers and carry-alls.)

All of the company's exquisite leather goods use fine-quality materials, sewn by master artisans, and the result is distinctive products...so that your eye can spot the brand when you see it, even if you don't know the name-i.e., the "biggest brand you never heard of." The prices are exactly what you'd expect to pay for top-quality goods, made with style and flair...and worth every penny.

Posted on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 @ 01:37 PM

Developed in Italy, the REphase line of beauty and skin care products-cosmecuticals, if you will-was designed to work progressively in stages, treating problems as they develop, as the skin ages and evolves, transitioning from age to another. Since 2006, these legendary products have been on sale in Europe, but not available in the States, so those of us in the New World have not had the advantage of using these miraculous potions, unless we brought them home from the Old World. If you were fortunate enough to go to Europe, and if you'd sampled them there and carted them westward, you'd have been transformed into a regular client in no time flat; the only thing standing between you and daily use would have been the Atlantic.

But now, an ocean need not prevent you from securing and using REphase. Of the family of 29 products (and more to come), a half dozen or so (at least for now), are available on line and through a toll-free number, 888-580-4650. They include Bio-Scrub (with mother-of-pearl crystals); D-White (helps to remove uneven skin tones and age spots); Kollagen (for repairing wrinkles and dealing with the loss of elasticity); Microspheres 36 (rejuvenates mature skin and attacks deep wrinkles and furrows); Laser (helps to manufacture collagen to keep ski wrinkle-free); Ultimate (designed to be a Botox alternative!). Prices range from about $55 to $225.

Subjected to serious clinical trials, the products are among Italy's best beauty exports; according to company literature, products are manufactured with pharmaceutical-grade ingredients, making them just a step removed from prescription-authorized products. All are hypo-allergenic and are completely natural, using 99.9% pure pharmaceutically classified ingredients. But, enough jargon.

The 4-1-1 on Goldie Hand Treatment, one of the company's banner products, is that it is an innovative, triple-threat in combating dryness, age spots/freckles, and general aging. Used twice daily, it has been shown to be effective in making hands look younger and more elastic. With summer tanning season starting-and more freckles on the way-it's assuredly worth a shot to try Goldie and aim for platinum, if not golden results.

Posted on Monday, June 21, 2010 @ 12:16 PM

Dad may also like to get his mitts, oven or otherwise, on the Cuisinart's digital temperature gauge, ($24.99) with a color-changing display. Very cool, or hot, depending on the temperature. It's programmable and magnetic, and you can actually set the desired temperature, then test to see if the meat is-in the words of the kids when you travel--there yet??? When the steak, chops, chicken, etc., have reached their set temperatures, the color in the read-out display changes; and just in case dad is off somewhere sharing a mojito and conversation with a neighbor over the back fence, there is an audible alarm that will alert him to return to the grill. Comes with a three-foot-long Teflon cable, so that it can reach the corners of the grilling tray. And it's magnetic to allow for easy storage.

Two other items from Cuisinart that are worth considering, as well, for use both indoors and outdoors: The pre-seasoned cast iron fajita set ($39.99) and the non-stick wok ($19.99). The former is manufactured with innovative flavor slots which work to remove excess grease and fat from food while at the same time, enhancing the natural grilled flavor of the meat. And it comes with a handsome wooden serving tray, that fits the skillet perfectly, so the meal can be served sizzling hot. The non-stick wok would also be a treat for dad, as it's got a well designed non-stick surface and a heat-resistant folding handle.....all this, just to ask him to make you dinner on HIS day!

Posted on Monday, June 14, 2010 @ 02:58 PM

Check Out More On: Home Furnishings | Furs | Fun Stuff | Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

It's too cute-and just oh-so-useful-to put into words: It's called Beauty for Real. Someone should have dreamed this up ages ago, but finally, Leslie Munsell, a go-to make-up pro did. She has been in the business over twenty years, and has a list of clients that reads like a Hollywood agent's dream team; she also owns a hot salon in Miami and is an Aveda Global Master, teaching around the world, so she must know a thing or three about beauty, what women want from make-up, and how to get both in one fell swoop, that is to say, in one product that won't cost a Saudi's oil well.

So, what did she dream up? Make-up that lights up. While it certainly lights up your face (and isn't that at least one goal?), it simply lights up, really, with a light! When you pop a little button on the tube, you can actually SEE the lip gloss or mascara you're putting on, as the tubes light up. Maybe it's a little gimmicky, but it really works, and it's so totally useful!

Beauty for Real's Illuminating Lip Gloss is loaded with plant-derived anti-oxidants (like green tea and grape seed extracts), that deliver outstanding regenerative properties. And there is a plumper in it, too, for pucker-perfect lips. It's the high-tech packaging that really gets us: There is a mirror to help you see what you are doing, but more importantly, there is a little LED light that allows for easy application while you're on the go-in a cab, in a candle-lit restaurant, in a hurry in the elevator. There are nine tantalizing shades, each selling at $22, available nationwide.

Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 @ 04:01 PM

It's travel season, officially, what with Memorial Day-the unofficial beginning of summer-upon us. And, darn, if it isn't inconvenient to start meting out three-ounce "servings" of all your vital and favorite cosmetics and toiletries to stick into plastic bottles, all of which then have to be stuffed into a ridiculously small plastic bag. Well, forget it. We just check our luggage these days, despite the nasty luggage fee. One royal pain, indeed.

However, if you want to travel in style, with the most gorgeous "train" case (yeah, these train cases know how to travel in plane luggage holds, too!) loaded to the brim with travel-size lotions and potions, then treat yourself to the Luxe Travel Cases from Minimus , a Web retailer which specializes in all things travel-size...and we mean all things! If it's something you want to take on the road with you, they've got it in miniature. Single-servings of things you do not want to buy in bulk; or oddball, travel accessories of medicines; or European cosmetics, or whatever.

For the lady-like jet-setter, there is a stunning, cream- and luggage-colored "Tuscan" train case by Bric's, makers of fine-quality valises and totes, all crafted in Italy-artistry, quality, and craftsmanship are inherent in these bags. The little valise is loaded up with 52 (yes, really) travel-size, beauty-regime products, and includes things like: Badger Headache Soother in peppermint and lavender; Evian Facial Spray (this is one of my favorites and I take it on every plane trip!); H2O+ Lip Mender; Philip B Chocolate Milk Body Wash & Bubble Bath (yummy, yummy); Nexxus Mousse Plus...and way more. The entire case and contents retails for $895, which is probably more than your plane ticket costs.

For those with a Y chromosome, there is a slightly smaller cache of goodies, 43 items, and they include high-end luxury brands, and hard-to-find items, including things like: Dr. Singha's Travel Tonic Herbal Supplement; E-shave Pre-Shave Oil in a lavender scent; Jack Black Oil-Free Sweat Resistant Sun Guard SPF 30+; Badger Sore Muscle Rub (now, we're talking-who doesn't get absolutely trashed on long flights?); Brittanie's Thyme Organic Insect Repellent. It's all packed very handsomely in a tobacco-toned Bric's Italian "Life Pelle Necessaire" tri-fold toiletry bag for $549.

Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 02:04 PM

Check Out More On: Beauty: Makeup & Skin Care | Beauty: Spa & Bath | Handbags & Totes

We are ready, nonetheless, to start spring cleaning, no matter what the thermometer says, because the calendar is going to say it's summer in a scant five weeks and if we don't get the spring cleaning done now, we'll have to call is summer cleaning, or skip it altogether until spring, 2011 (not bad idea).

There is no better piece of equipment for a deep cleaning than Verilux's Cleanwave UV-C Sanitizing Furniture and Bed Vac. The "magic" in the UV-C light eliminates up to 99.9% of "bad stuff," like viruses, bacteria, germs, mold, nasty dust mites, and flea eggs from just about any household surfaces. In fact, the Verilux Company says that in tests conducted by a recognized antimicrobial-testing laboratory, the machines (plural, as there are two smaller models), effectively even eliminated H1N1 and MRSA viruses on surfaces. Good enough for us.

And with-know-whom, Mr. Four-Legged Furry-Boy in the house, we're very interested in anything that gets rid of wicked germs and Lord-only-know-what might be tracked into the old homestead by dirty paws. The machine, which looks likes an oversized hand-held vac is designed to clean and sanitize countless household surfaces-things like upholstered furniture, mattresses, pet areas, and so on. It keeps the surfaces germ- and allergen-free without harsh chemicals-not to mention it cleans dust and dirt.

Compact and portable, the five-pound, lightweight unit is available now at Amazon and on the company's website, and at stores nationwide for $129.95. The two smaller models, both hand-held wands, are $69.95, and $29.95. The smaller of the two is a portable, travel-size, and is a perfect for a conscientious road warrior who may want to give a quick, sanitizing pass over hotel bedding.

Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 @ 10:09 AM

Posted on Thursday, May 06, 2010 @ 10:13 AM

Last month, we walked miles of aisles, that is to say, 13 miles in countless aisles in Chicago's behemoth McCormick Place convention center, at the International Home Housewares Show. We scoped out the various booths where thousands of products were showcased, in several sections, including "Dine + Design," "Wired + Well," and "Clean + Contain." And don't' think these booths are like anything you've seen at a typical trade show; they are massive in size, and are made to feel like glamorous showrooms. Some have two levels, cooking facilities, hospitality suites, and so on....not to mention, all the necessary exhibition space where you can test drive products. We saw so many new, innovative gizmos and gadgets, not to mention items that sported new takes on old favorites, at the gazillions of pavilions at the show, that it's hard to pinpoint just a handful. But what we can target was the prolific use of color in all the things we saw....not that sleek, glittery chrome, shiny ebony plastic, and antiseptic white surfaces weren't in attendance-they were. But color ruled.

Herewith a glimpse of some of the housewares we spotted that created rainbows of splendid hues, sometimes splashed on unexpected accessories and appliances. In the next week or two, we'll highlight a few specific lines or products we've singled out for other reasons.

Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 @ 05:15 PM

Check Out More On: Home Accessories

Founded in 1970, and the brainchild of U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day (April 22) was created to pay homage to the terra firma under our feet-our home, the earth. This special observance day was meant to encourage respect for life on the planet, engender ecological thinking and practices, and highlight growing concern over pollution of our air, soil, and water.

That said-such serious thoughts, indeed-this year, thanks to the creative folks at Burt's Bees, there will be even more things to think about on Earth Day, and a little irreverent levity thrown into the mix. Burt's Bees has been offering distinctive, earth-friendly, natural personal-care products for 25 years. The company grew out of the humble backyard of a beekeeper in Maine (hello, Burt) to become a leader in the arena of natural personal-care products. Burt's is dedicated to natural body-care solutions from head-to-toe for, and is perhaps best known for its assorted balms.

So, O.K., what has Burt cooked up for Earth Day? Well, it's a fun and funny nod to Burt Shavitz, a co-founder of the company and its namesake. The bearded Burt participated in the first Earth Day celebration four decades ago and has been living lightly on the planet ever since. Burt has brought his love and respect for the natural world into the everyday practices of Burt's Bees for 25 years, and now he's encouraging New York locals to "Find Their [very own] Burt" by discovering the earth-friendly potential we all share.

On April 22nd, Burt look-alikes will take to the streets of New York, handing out samples of the company's many products, and urging folks to be as eco-friendly as Burt has been (and is). Passing out free "Burt" beards and hats, the Burt look-alikes will help transform Gothamites into Burt wannabes. Look for them near Rockefeller Center and in Central Park.

Burt's Bees will also be offering delicious, nutritious smoothies at a "Bike Blender" station in Times Square, where visitors can stop by and enjoy a smoothie, featuring natural ingredients, like honey, pomegranate, and cranberry (some of the same natural ingredients that are in Burt's Bees products). What will make these smoothies a smooth deal is that the blenders mixing them will be powered by people riding bicycles!

For more fun, there is a website, FindYourBurt.com, where visitors will be asked to "Burtify" their image and where they can learn more about ecology-minded ways to help conserve the earth's natural resources. So, come to the Blender Blowout, in Central Park between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., and at Times Square, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 09:57 AM

Three weeks ago it was summer. Two weeks ago it was winter. Last weekend, it was spring, and this week, Mother Nature wrought torrid August in April. Today we woke up and it was below 40...and a few years ago, we had a massive snowstorm in April. So, don't install the air conditioners just yet and don't clean and put away the humidifier just yet, either. Our humidifiers are going full-tilt.

Anyone in an overheated New York City apartment almost always has at least one humidifier chugging along, relief from the dry steam heat. A humidifier pumps water back into the air-better for your sinuses (relieving congestion, irritation, and dry coughs), your skin (itchy skin, chapped lips, and worse-WRINKLES!!)-in other words, your entire system.

The two types of humidifiers are evaporative (generally cheaper, and the more common) and ultrasonic, which produces a more diffuse mist. Both types come in either the warm or cool modes, but, because ultrasonic models do not boil water, they are regarded as safer-no chance to get scalded if the unit is knocked over and its water comes in contact with skin.

Just a note on buying (because if you don't have one, this is a good time to buy one, when they are likely on sale, before we really do put those air conditioners back in the windows for good): You are likely to find units that are marked as one-, two-, or three-gallon sizes. That number does not refer to the size of the reservoir; it refers to the amount of moisture expelled on a daily basis. Most units have to be refilled at least once a day. Some units have a hygrometer (a device that measures the humidity in the room, which, for comfort, is usually between 45% and 55%. Some units have a humidistat, to regulate the humidity and have auto turn-on and -off, to keep the moisture set at a particular level.

Two units to look at when you buy one now (and if you do run it before the weather turns perpetually warm, be sure to clean and dry it before storing for the summer) are from Germ Guardian and Crane .

Germ Guardian, well known in the humidifier field, boasts that "unlike other humidifiers that grow slimy mold and bacteria in the water tank and send it out into the room, the Germ Guardian Digital Ultrasonic humidifiers use Silver Clean technology to fight the growth of mold and bacteria in the water tank." The company makes many models, all slick blue and white-very antiseptic-looking. The units are ultrasonic and virtually silent. Some have a soft-glow night light, and can run for something like 55 hours, some have options to change from warm to cool mist, others have a water-level indication light, a humidity-level display, and many other fancy bells and whistles.

Crane's also produces a wide range of units, both cool and warm mist models, but the ones you won't find anywhere else are the units designed superficially for children's room...in the shapes of animals-a piggy, a cow, a froggie, a kitty, and so on. But the little cutie that we fell in love with (for performance and it's adorable design) is the colorful tear-drop-shaped unit that we keep in the kitchen (it's good for 250 square feet), and which comes in hot pink, bright green, and other fashion colors, along with pure white. The nozzle turns 360 degrees, and despite the small size of the unit, it dispels over two gallons of moisture; the intensity of the mist can be regulated, too.

Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 @ 12:56 PM

Austin here, again....while Mom is goofing off again somewhere. I'm glad I'm able to do the post again this week, though, because I had one other doggie-related thing (well, sort of doggie-related) that I wanted to share with you all. It's the magical light we take at night when we go out to walk for the last stroll of the evening; actually Mom takes it many places, in her bag, but it always goes out with us at 11 p.m. It's called Light-Up and it's a little, but very powerful, light (actually three LED lights in one), in a compact case, measuring about two-and-one-half inches by a little over one inch. Tiny and strong.

It clips to a belt or a backpack (think: hiking, camping, running), or in my case, to my leash handle. It comes in over 25 different patterns-from camouflage to leopard ad zebra to stylish dots to fleurs de lys and flowers. It's a key chain, too, because it comes with an attached a carabiner and key ring. And the best part, to make it work (to get the powerful beam to go on), you just pull it apart...yeah, really. It's magnetized and when you pull the bottom part away from the top part, the lights go on and stay on-much better than the older light we used to use. (Mom had to depress the button on it, and hold it down to keep it lit ) Now, when she wants to see what monkey business I am getting into while I walk (or when she is on nighttime poop patrol!), she just has to pull the light apart and the beam stays on until she puts the two magnets back together. (It comes with two replaceable lithium batteries and sells for $10. You can find one near you by logging on to www.mayfairlane.com Woof!!!

Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 @ 10:52 AM

Austin here, (like you couldn't tell, looking at my big wet nose), the top dog in the Katz household. I'm doing the blogging this week, as Mom is busy, getting ready to go to the GIANT Housewares Show in Chicago. She said she'd send back a few blogs about new and fab products she sniffs out in the Windy City. But in the meantime, I've got my fat mitts on the keyboard to tell you about a few other products I tested for Mom. As we said last week, we're still in a doggie state of mind, following the Westminster Kennel Club Show, so here are two things I really like:

The Wahl Kennel Pro Combo Kit (a 17-piece--yikes, woof!--grooming kit). Mom can always tell when I need to be groomed. For starters, on the bottom of my paws, I grow exploding clumps of fur in between my pads, ...and don't even ask what the tops of my paws look like-big, furry, blonde tufts erupt from my dainty webbed feet. My neighbor Paxil, the Cairn Terrier, says I look like I am growing fuzzy slippers on my feet. So, that's when we know it's time to get the paws clipped. Dum-da-dum-dum....I used to hate it. But now I love it with my new Wahl clippers.

Don't think you can use a people clippers, either. You need a doggie clippers, as they are, in the words of my pal Mark, who is a top dog at Wahl, more aggressive with a dog's fur and they do the job more successfully, with their self-sharpening, high-carbon steel blades. So, we got the deluxe kit (shown here) and I highly recommend it. (Although I must admit, I don't use the mirror that comes with the kit--like what am I gonna' do with a mirror? But Mom uses it.) The clippers are rechargeable and do the job expertly, neatly, swiftly. I don't mind the buzzing and sort of like how it feels on my bod. We recommend all the Wahl clippers, as there are many models, priced from about $25 to about $160, for the fanciest (professional) model. And when my paws are all done, I have bee-yoo-tee-ful feet, like the big lions outside the New York Public Library.

Next, I like my new ENORMOUS food bin--it holds SIXTY pounds! Mom says until she found this giant, heavy-duty bin, it was just such a pain storing my food because she buys in bulk and needs to keep my food fresh, handy, and protected. (For the record, I don't think we need to keep it protected, as I would like to get at it all the time...I've been known to be Houdini and climb on the window seat in order to get to the top of the refrigerator to eat chocolates from Maison du Chocolat. But that is another story.) Anyhow, Buddeez makes the very best containers for storing pet food. They are all cleverly designed, with wheels, handles, pour spouts, and safety-snap (airtight) lids--and, they are BPA-free, safe for food, obviously; and, the bins are transparent, so you (and I) can see how much kibble is left. (Oh, hello, do you want to torture me?) Well, Mom loves this new bin with its various easy openings, narrow footprint (for slipping into a tight space), and moreover, with the measuring cup that snaps in place on the underside of the lid. Woof! I agree. Now feed me.

Posted on Friday, March 12, 2010 @ 02:21 PM

Check Out More On: Favorite Finds

We (meaning the furry guy in the picture, known around our home as Austin), and I have been on a tear collecting useful (and fun) doggie supplies ever since the Westminster show (and how about that Westie Sadie who won?)....and have collected several things we will share in the next few weeks. Here is the first batch today. Be sure to get to the end of the column's canine cache, as there is an invitation to share a fun Canine Saturday at Christofle.

CasaBella, makers of the most innovative, beautiful, and thoughtfully designed home accessories for kitchen, bath, and general all-around-the-house-use, always comes up with neat stuff. In fact, here is the company's mission statement: "Through innovation, commitment, and passion we design and deliver functional and unique products to make the world a cleaner place." And they do; I raved about the company's bamboo cleaning supplies a while back.

Now, it's time to enthuse about the handsome and useful crop of canine products the company has just put on the market.

First of all, our favorite (yes, Austin weighed in on this declaration) is the shampoo mitt, which looks sort of like a dust mop for your hand, with a "furry" turquoise microfiber nap (requires less shampoo), and a solid microfiber back. Strong elastic keeps it on the wrist. When you're done, toss it into the wash, which you can do with all the products here.

To dry Fido off, CasaBella has made two bone-shaped (yes, they are very fetching), microfiber towels, which are highly absorbent. They have pockets along the edges, so you can dig your own mitts in and wrap the bone shape around the doggie chassis. (Two different sizes are available.) These microfiber textiles that CasaBella has used in this doggie line are perhaps best suited to the pet throws-ideal for the car, the sofa, anywhere-since the fiber attracts stray fur, sort of like a magnet, and therefore, the throws help keep the fur our of your mashed potatoes. The company makes three throws-a lounger and a blanket, and then in addition, there is a much bigger throw, with a rubberized backing, ideal for car travel. (The canine line also includes a general-purpose sponge in the shape of a bone, cute for cleaning-up, and called, the "No Bones About It" sponge.) All products are reasonably priced and available nationally.

On another canine note, this Saturday, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., shop (with your dog) 'til you both drop at the sterling silver emporium of Christofle, at 680 Madison Avenue. Lisa Fortunato who created Robbie Dawg biscuits (that is Robbie in the picture), will be at the store with home-baked, organic doggie treats, made from recipes from her brand-new book, The Everything Cooking for Dogs Book. There will be martinis for humans, and 20% of the proceeds from the afternoon's shop will benefit the Picasso Veterinary Fund of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals. So, buy a lot, drink a lot, and let your dog eat a lot, too! No begging allowed!

Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 03:05 PM