happygirl essentials: lanolips

It happened right after I went slightly overboard with the limes. I had ordered ten pounds of limes, because well, I love limes so much. I didn't stop to think exactly how much fruit ten pounds of limes is. So, for awhile I put lime juice on everything. I drank straight lime juice with water. I put lime juice on salmon and vegetables. I ate those limes until I couldn't stand the thought of another lime.

It was right after that that my lips started to become chapped. My lips were chapped so badly that when I smiled, it hurt and sometimes they would crack so badly they would bleed. I thought that maybe I was dehydrated so I upped my intake of water. I went to the drugstore and I bought every remedy for severe dry lips. I went through tubes of Chapstick, Aquaphor,  lip scrubs and anything else that looked like it would solve my chapped lip problem. I bought products at Sephora and CVS. Nothing made a difference. Some would make my lips feel smooth for awhile but as soon as the balm wore off, my lips became as chapped as they were before. Many had menthol which burned my lips so badly I had to wipe it off immediately and it still continued to sting. I tried solutions I found online but they didn't work. Then I came across an article about Lanolips.

I bought several tubes (Lemonaid Lip Treatment $16 for very dry lips and Tinted Lip Balm in Rose $13.50 for dry lips) online at Nordstrom.  The moment they arrived, I tried the Lemonaid. It didn't burn. It felt soothing. The balm was thick and it stayed on my lips making them immediately smooth and lasted on my lips all afternoon. Even after it came off while brushing my teeth, my lips were still smooth. I applied more before bed and I woke up with the softest lips. The chapped, dry lips that I had for months were gone. This morning I tried the tinted balm and my lips are so soft and pillowy with the perfect hint of a pale non-shimmery pink. Even before I experienced the problem I had with chapped lips, I had never loved a lipstick, balm or gloss. I'd never found the one that I couldn't be without. This is the one. This is it.

I visited Lanolips website to find out why this product works so well and it's because it's made with lanolin which is similar to our skin's own lipids. I love that it is a cruelty-free product made from sheep's wool. There are no artificial fragrances, sulfates, petrolatum, parabens or mineral oil. It's available in a multitude of flavors including Coconutter which is my next purchase.

I love this product. My lips have never felt this soft and healthy. Yes, at $16, it isn't cheap but because it's so thick, you need just a dab and it stays put on your lips.  It's worth every penny to be be able to smile without hurting. It's a Happygirl essential.

* This is not a sponsored post. I just love the product

How to Travel Happy

How to Travel Happy by thehappygirl featuring bkr

Catherine jean, $23 / Michael Kors tote handbag / Nordstrom pink scarve / Casetify apple iphone case / Byredo body moisturizer / TanTowel sun care / Bkr kitchen dining / Bose Quietcomfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones (Apple), $285 / Big Magic Creative Living Beyond Fear

Over the next few months I will be spending a lot of time in planes and on long road trips. I've flown a little over a million miles so far and during this time in the air, I've created a little kit of what works to help make travel more comfortable.

One tip that helps me feel refreshed, especially after a transcontinental trip, is taking off all of my makeup before I board a flight and sweeping on a Tan Towel. By the time I land, I have a nice glow. I swipe on a little Vaseline Rosy Lips and I feel ready to jump into a new adventure. The pashmina helps me feel cozy on cool flights and the eye mask along with the noise cancelling headphones relax me into a nice doze after a light fruit plate on the flight. I love my bkr bottle. It reminds me to keep hydrated, which is especially important when you're 36,000 feet in the air. Elizabeth Gilbert's newest book "Big Magic" is one that I have been saving to read on my next trip. I'm excited to start reading this and discover my own big magic.

Wherever you are traveling to this season, may you be surrounded by happiness.

the happygirl guide: tips # 2 & 17 the socks and the call-ahead

There are some things that make life easier, happier or more efficient. I'm all for that. Here are two things that will make your life happier.

tip #2: buy all the same socks

Last week when my husband was in L.A. on business I spent a lot of time cleaning closets and drawers. I know the one drawer that's frustrating is his sock drawer. Like most men, he has dozens of pairs of dark socks that all look similar to each other but for a slight difference in pattern or material. Early in the morning it's hard to tell which socks match when you have Paisley, checked, plain, striped or dotted black socks. They all look kind of similar. Doing laundry also takes that much longer. It feels like that matching card game we played when we were kids. Does this black sock match this slightly different black sock? No? Try again. 

So, last week I emptied out the drawer, paired them up and dropped the socks off at our local shelter. There were 14 different styles of black/dark socks. No wonder it was a challenge to see which of these was not like the other every time I did laundry.  I then bought L. 12 pairs of the same black socks and 10 of the same white gym socks. Unsurprisingly, L. loved it and mornings are just that much easier now.

try: Nordstrom crew socks 4-pack for $14.50

tip #17: call-ahead seating

When we first moved to Seattle we hated leaving behind our favorite locally owned restaurants like Fitzwilly's and Sylvester's (both in Northampton, MA). It was exciting though finding new places  where we could savor the best bacon burger or blueberry pancakes. Recently we found out that while many of our new favorite (locally owned and chain) restaurants don't accept reservations, they do take call-ahead seating.

We discovered this option not long ago when we arrived at one of our favorite restaurants to find a long wait. The host remembered us from previous visits and said "Next time, call and let us know you're on your way. We'll add you to the waitlist. It's call-ahead seating." Many restaurants who have this option don't promote it so it's a good idea to call your favorite spots and see if they offer this option. You could save 30 minutes or more waiting in a cramped space. (FYI: CPK and The Outback both offer call-ahead seating.)

Also: To make reservations, we love OpenTable. Download the app and make reservations in seconds.

Have a happy weekend!

happy things: jo malone sugar & spice collection

There is something about comfort scents that instantly make you happy. Take the cake above, for instance. Look at it. Can you almost smell the sweet cream frosting? And inside, raspberry filling on layers of pure white, soft, fluffy cake. You're smiling right now, aren't you? I am as I write this. Cake is a happy scent, as is lemon tart, ginger biscuit and bitter orange and chocolate-- all delicious treats but also new scents in the Jo Malone Sugar & Spice limited edition cologne collection.

Last week, I attended the Sugar & Spice debut at a very ladylike cake party at the Nordstrom in Bellevue, WA. At this event we sampled the new colognes along with the sweets that inspired them -- a lemon tart as we tried the new Lemon Tart fragrance. There was the ginger biscuit followed by the Ginger Biscuit scent, red currant and cream pastry followed by the Red Currant & Cream cologne, gooseberry sweets with the Elderflower & Gooseberry cologne and finally orange with chocolate treats and Bitter Orange & Chocolate cologne.

Before you think "Oh, gosh, I do not want to smell like cake." The new colognes (which are available for a limited time) don't smell like you've just made pastries. Rather, they are inspired by these delicate treats.  After trying the five new scents my favorites were the Bitter Orange & Chocolate which when layered over Orange Blossom (my signature scent) left me feeling uplifted and happy. It added depth to my favorite white blossom cologne. This combination is what I would wear to an evening cocktail party. I also loved the Elderflower & Gooseberry which reminded me of a cool summer morning. It was the kind of clean scent perfect for a summer wedding. For my husband, I loved Ginger Biscuit. It was a warm scent that reminded me of cozy days in autumn by the fire.

We are biologically wired to like the smell of food, especially sweet foods. These new scents by Jo Malone definitely hit that primal note in us. I looked around at the event and all I saw were smiles. These new scents? Definitely a happy thing.

The Jo Malone Sugar & Spice collection is available at Nordstrom for a limited time only.

review: the perfect guy gift: the nespresso U

My husband reminds me of George Clooney. He does. I realized this the last time I was in the South of France and I saw the bus stop ads featuring George Clooney in the Nespresso ads*. I remember looking at George thinking "Hmmm, L. reminds me of George and he likes espresso too."

And this is what I thought of this weekend as I stood in the middle of the mall feeling like Robert Frost (You know, the poet, "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood. . .") I was at the mall buying a Christmas gift for my husband. This present had to say "Your wife is so awesome that she knew exactly the right gift that would make you think 'This is just what I wanted! How did you know?'" That kind of Christmas gift. No pressure. 

So, I asked him, of course. "Honey, what do you want for Christmas?"

"You know, I don't need anything," he answered. 

"I know but if I was going shopping for you and you wanted something, what would you want?"

He thought for a moment. "Um, shaving cream?"

"Babe," I said. "I'm not buying your Christmas gift at Safeway."

"No, no, the stuff you got me from Nordstrom, the stuff that smells like lemons." 

"OK, done. What else?" I asked. 

"I'm good, Babe. Love you." And that was that. Shaving cream. For Christmas. Which is why I stood flummoxed by the Crabtree & Evelyn. I was hot. The place was crowded and then it happened. I came up with THE present. 

Here's how the thought process went. 

I'm feeling claustrophobic and hot. ----->Where do I wish I was instead of this mall? -----> Oh, I love sunny Cannes.  -----> Every time I left for a screening I passed by that bus stop with the George Clooney ads for Nespresso ------> I like George Clooney ------> I love my husband.  -----> George loves espresso. -----> L. loves espresso. ----> !Buy L. a new espresso machine and make him happy every morning! ----> Done!

And so, I went to Sur la Table to find L. the perfect espresso machine. We have a beverage bar in our kitchen and while I like my Keurig, L. is a purist. He drinks an espresso straight up from of his favorite glass espresso cups from Nespresso. We've had a Nespresso for YEARS and it has always served up the perfect, hot espresso and with the attached frother, a picture perfect cappuccino. The model we previously had though, was enormous. I looked at the range of new Nespresso machines and chose the Nespresso U, a sleek, compact unit that still had 19 bars of pressure which made the perfect shot every time. 

Some cool things about this machine were: 

• The Nespresso U has a 24 ounce water tank that can be positioned on either side of the tank or straight behind the machine which will fit any kitchen set-up.
• There are three settings which can be set for ristretto, espresso and lungo (extra small, traditional or long shots). See the different flavors and variations of capsules here. 
• With one touch, you pop in a capsule and the Nespresso U brews the espresso and disposes of the capsule into a container which can hold up to 10 used capsules. 

It had everything I wanted so I bought the Nespresso U and I couldn't wait. I had to give it to L. as soon as I got home.  He was a little surprised that I said "Happy Saturday!!" and handed him the bag from Sur la Table but he's also a techy guy. He immediately unboxed the machine and within three minutes the machine was on our beverage counter ready to make the perfect espresso. And it was perfect. Seeing L. close his eyes as he took that first sip, made me so happy as a wife, as corny as that sounds.  Perfect gift. Yes. I think George would approve. 

*The Nespresso ads featuring George Clooney ran in Europe. They did not (unfortunately) run in the United States.

Notes

• Making espresso sounds complicated, doesn't it? I think that's because we watch the baristas tamper the espresso grounds. With the Nespresso machine, there are no espresso grounds. Everything is self contained in the capsules (which are recyclable when you bring them back to the store.)
• Making your own coffee beverage in the morning is economical. You'll spend no more than $1 making a perfect cup each morning. 
• Nespresso capsules can be purchased in Nespresso stores or online. We order our Nespresso in bulk, usually 10 sleeves at a time including decaffeinated. Each holiday Nespresso features flavored capsules. This season is Coconut, Macadamia Nut and Hazelnut. I went a little crazy buying the Coconut.

smitten: an interview with designer and icon rachel roy

designer and icon rachel roy

(photo courtesy of Ashley Boero)

Sometimes a girl just needs a pair of shoes to lift her spirits. Yes, sometimes they are running shoes that make you feel bouncy and fast and happy but sometimes, you come across very special shoes that make you feel beautiful and ladylike. This is something designer Rachel Roy excels at.

Last night at a lovely (and yes, very ladylike event complete with sparkly lemonade-cucumber drinks and hors d'oeuvres on silver trays) Rachel debuted her new Footwear and Dress Salon Collection at the Nordstrom downtown Seattle flagship store. (10% of the day's sales were donated to the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Backstage Pass program.)

There is a reason that fashion standouts like First Lady Michelle Obama, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner and Penelope Cruz are drawn to Rachel's collections. Her style is tailored yet cool and luxe. Wearing  Rachel Roy whether it's a trench coat, illusion dress or houndstooth heels adds that punch of confidence.

Last night I spoke with Rachel and I became smitten. You will too.

The Happygirl: It's so good to meet you, Rachel! It's such a great event tonight! You look so happy. What makes you happy?

Rachel Roy: Oh, a lot of things! I try to surround myself with love, good intent, being around people with good energy and good spirit who want to be people that don't mind fighting for the sake of good and who want to learn.

HG: Are there are particular things that you love?

Rachel: Oh! I love candles, incense, good food, good wine, good tea, shopping, bubble baths. . .

HG: Is there a scent that makes you happy?

Rachel: Yes! Red roses. Jo Malone Red Roses is my favorite perfume. I love the body lotion. It reminds me of everything magical and glamorous that I aspire to be. This scent reminds me of 1940's movie icons. . .

HG: Is there a movie that makes you happy?

Rachel: Yes! Lots of movies. If I want fashion and inspiration "The Women"-- the 1930's version. If I want a good love story, "The Notebook." Each and every time I cry with my 12 year-old daughter.

HG:  What is you idea of a perfect Saturday?

Rachel: Good question. Sleeping in in my bed. That makes me happy! It's like a cloud with soft pillows and yummy sheets. Being with my girls, of course, and surrounding myself with love and fun, somewhere where we are in the sun and we can hear the ocean with people who care about us around us.

(note: Here's where Rachel did something that no other interviewee has ever done. She flipped the interview around and started asking me questions.)

Rachel: What makes you happy?

HG: Wow. Being around other people who are happy. Just being around people who are honest and who choose happiness in their lives.

(note: When I first met Rachel I introduced myself as The Happygirl.)

Rachel: Tell me about The Happygirl.

HG: It's the adventure guide to getting your happy back. It's about living your life with intention even after loss that you feel like you can't rebound from. . .

Rachel: So you found out how to do that and you're passing the tools on. . .Oh, I love that! You ARE The Happygirl.

HG: So are YOU!


One of the things that stood out for me about Rachel is this moment: Before the event started I watched a 12 year-old girl (accompanied by her sweet dad) carefully taking photos of the shoes displayed and patiently waiting to meet Rachel. It was an awesome moment to behold when she got the chance to meet Rachel and talk with her about fashion.  There were also the friends who came to the event together and squealed when Rachel took a picture with them and the fashion stylist who seemed almost apoplectic and who could barely speak when Rachel smiled at him.

Thank you to Nordstrom for hosting this event and to Rachel Roy for not just being a style icon but for being the kind of person a 12 year-old girl will always remember.


* Which shoes did I buy? The black and white houndstooth 'Ana' on the left. Do you like them?