The fact that May is behind us feels like a victory. I always describe May as December without a holiday. The madness is real, and every year I gear up, hunker down, and just keep taking it one day at a time until it is over.
May, in some ways is the best (school is ending, the idea that summer is coming and won’t that be wonderful) and in other ways the worst (so many end of year celebrations, the reality that summer is coming and my children will need things to do).
But, we did it. We made it through May, and I am excited to share with you some of my favorites from this month. Let’s dive in!
ONE.
May Designs Personalized Whiskey Tasting Journal.
Personalized journals are one of my favorite gifts, and May Designs in my favorite place to order them. May Designs has a huge selection of covers and designs, but my favorite feature of all is the customized page layouts. They give you several choices of page designs that you can use to fill your journal.
There are a few of the expected ones (graph paper, blank pages, lined pages), plus some creative ones (lists, calendars, coloring pages). My favorite option? The whiskey tasting notes pages. Seriously. How cool is this? Each page layout is designed for taking notes on different whiskeys. I bought one of these for my husband for Father’s Day last year, and he has used it ever since. It makes an outstanding gift for the man in your life who enjoys whiskey.
TWO.
Whiskey Toothpicks.
Sticking with the theme of whiskey-related gifts, check out the flavored toothpicks from Daneson. These are another one of my husband’s favorite gifts I have ever given him. They come in several “flavors,” and the packaging is stunning.
THREE.
Laura Mercier Eye Basics Primer.
Tell me if this scenario sounds familiar. You put on your make up. A few hours later you notice your eye shadow is collecting in the crease of your eye lid and messing up your whole look. Have you been there?
This past month, thanks to the expert advice from my friend Amy at the Neiman-Marcus cosmetic counter, I discovered that I have been doing it wrong. For years. I thought we were supposed to put concealer on our lid, the same way we put it under our eyes. Nope nope nope.
Concealer goes under the eye, and eye primer goes on the lid. Which eye primer? Laura Mercier Eye Basics Primer. For me to tell you this product is a game-changer is no small thing. I am a brand loyalist, and this is not my typical brand of makeup. However, I have been swayed. The results were not so-so. They were dramatic. I went from gross collections of eye shadow in the creases of my lid to a flawless smooth fresh-as-the-moment-I-applies-it all day eye lid. It’s that good. You have to try this product!
FOUR.
J Crew Slim Perfect Fit Tee.
With warmer weather upon us, it is officially t-shirt weather. I know what I like in a t-shirt. I want it to be on the thick side, I want it to last through several washes without losing its shape, I want it to have a crew neck, and I want it to have a flattering sleeve. Enter the JCrew Slim Perfect Fit Tee.
My favorite feature is the sleeve length. I despise short-sleeved shirts that cut off my arm at its widest point. Barely-there sleeve lengths looks good on adolescent girls and super models. I am neither. I have real arms, and these arms, while strong and healthy, also have parts that do not need to be emphasized. The sleeve length on the JCrew tee is spot on. It is just long enough to be flattering, but still short enough to be short. I have this shirt in several colors, and I wear them regularly. They wash beautifully, keep their shape, and are truly my idea of a perfect t-shrit.
FIVE.
The Tomato Trick.
For a visual of this trick, check out my May Favorites Instagram Story which is saved in my highlights. Basically, when you need to slice a large quantity of cherry tomatoes, no one wants to do this one tomato at a time. The tomato trick requires two plastic lids from either a sour cream container, a yogurt container, or any other round lidded container. I keep a pair in my pantry for when I need them. Place one of the lids on the cutting boards. Fill the lid with a single layer of tomatoes. Place the second lid on top of the tomatoes. Now, using a serrated knife, carefully move the knife between the two lids while holding it still with your other hand. Once the knife is all the way through, voila! Lift the top lid to reveal a large quantity of sliced cherry tomatoes. We have been slicing scores of tomatoes at Hurley House, and this trick makes the task a snap.
Have a lovely June!
Leave a Reply