You know how there are some things that you just can’t imagine living without? Maybe it’s an appliance, or your phone, or a favorite food? I was thinking about a few of these things today and I thought it would be fun to list some of my favorites – in no particular order. I would love to have you join in and provide your favorites – but since my blog gets way too much spam if I open it up for comments, I think I’m going to suggest that you add your favorites on Facebook (www.facebook.com/GardenGirlSkinCare). If you aren’t already a fan (or whatever they call it now) – please do click on the “like” button so you can be a part of the community.

Anyway -  here is my random mix of favorite things. Clearly it is not comprehensive or exhaustive, but it was fun to create!

• My family (I know that’s obvious but this list wouldn’t be complete without it)
• My friends (see above)
• Garden Girl products (of course!), my personal “must have’s”: You’re Fresh, Even Stephen, Break Free, Nature Nurture, Super Hero serum, Eye Can’t Believe It, Chill Out lotion, Alive body wash,  Simmer Down bath salts, Hand it to You hand cream and Zippity Do Dah peppermint foot cream
• My new VitaMix!
• Our SodaStream soda/seltzer machine
• White vinegar (for cleaning and laundry)
• My tumble composter from Costco (so easy!)
• My husband’s old (2003) Prius – such a great car
• My BlackBerry
• My laptop
• Facebook
• Mineral makeup
• Greek yogurt
• Chocolate
• Banana Bread
• Smoothies
• Gooey brownies
• Hot fudge
• Ice cream (Brigham’s Mocha Chip or Chocolate Chip are 2 all-time favorites)
• Broccoli (seriously)
• Spinach (again, seriously)
• Juicy tomatoes in the summer – especially with fresh mozzarella and basil! (and crusty bread)
• speaking of bread….CARBS (but I try to squeeze in whole grains whenever possible) – especially chewy, crusty bread and pasta
• A big salad with tons of stuff in there – especially if someone else did all the chopping
• Shortcut dinners like all natural frozen potstickers from Costco, Mama Rosie’s spinach ravioli, Bell & Evan’s chicken, Trader Joe’s mandarin orange chicken, Trader Joe’s frozen brown rice, quesadillas, omelettes
• My rice cooker
• My Kitchen Aid mixer
• My favorite cookbooks: America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook, Gourmet cookbook, and King Arthur Flour Cookie Book
• Cooking Light magazine
• Epicurious.com and other online recipe databases
• Food Network
• Any good workout I can find that’s 20 minutes or less and that I can do at home
• Our Weber Grill
• My latex mattress
• Central air conditioning (i know – VERY un-eco-friendly but we do keep it on the warm side)
• Caribbean Sol sunblock
• Caribbean Sol all natural self tanner (nice!)
• Trader Joe’s Powerberries (DO NOT BUY these if you are not already addicted – they are so yummy that they are pure evil…)
• Our pizza stone
• Pizza dough from Russo’s
• Actually – Russo’s in general, along with Trader Joe’s (can’t imagine life without it), Costco, and Whole Foods
• Reusable grocery bags (just seems like an obviously good idea, doesn’t it? and now I have finally gotten the hang of always having them in the car…)

I could do an entire list of my favorite food from Trader Joe’s – actually I think I have in the past? And I know I’ve done a “favorite finds at Costco” Facebook posting. Those are always fun!

Anyway – that’s my random list, for better or for worse. It makes me laugh that it is mostly food – apparently I have a one-track mind…

I’m looking forward to hearing what some of your favorites are!

You know, each year I think the same thing. Fourth of July is just the best holiday. Really. It’s just a fun, happy time getting together with friends and family. Celebrated by everyone (ok – everyone in the U.S. to be specific), it’s one of the few inclusive holidays that is meant purely for celebration.

I think part of the reason I love it so much is that my town – my small, New England town – does a great job of making it fun. Nothing too fancy – it’s pretty “old school” actually. But we start with unbelievably good fireworks on the 3rd. People come from all over to see these – they really are that good. Each year it’s better and better, and more and more crowded!

My boys have been going since they were weeks old. My oldest, now 7, started when he was 8 weeks old, and my youngest when he was about 3 1/2 months old. On the boys, we always put those goofy but effective headsets that are made for blocking out loud noises. The ones that construction people use. Sure they look pretty dorky – but the boys wear them proudly and sit with jaws dropped watching the sparkling, noisy, fantastic light show without being bothered by the noise.

It’s a family affair for us – started when my sister first moved to this town about 13 years ago. Then when my husband and I moved here and my sister left, we took over the tradition. A barbeque then the mile trek into town, loaded up with beach chairs and blankets, with children in tow – the youngest in strollers. The boys get to stay up late, but invariably the youngest is asleep by the time we get home.

The next day, on the actual 4th, there’s a pancake breakfast at the Masonic Hall (that we slept through this year…) and a wonderful parade with bands, little league and lots of fire engines, police cars and local celebrities. That’s followed by a craft show on town green. Then the rest of the day is for neighborhood parties, wiffle ball and general relaxing.

I can’t wait for next Fourth of July…