Happy Scents: Skin Trip

When I worked in L.A., I spent a lot of time outdoors. Because I would fly in every week from rainy Seattle, I took advantage of every sunny moment, often sitting by the hotel pool with my friends Andrea, a fellow reporter from Cleveland, Victoria from Dallas and Isabelle from Canada.  We'd talk about the films we saw, read our press notes and prepare for our television interviews with the actors, all while under the swaying palm trees on the fourth floor pool deck. 

While I used sunscreen, my skin was still somewhat tan and needed moisture. One afternoon I was at Whole Foods and discovered Skin Trip. I love everything coconut and I admit that I bought this on this feature alone. Later, that night after the screenings, I took a shower and smoothed on Skin Trip. It was light, lighter than I expected with a texture somewhat between traditional lotion and water. However, it sunk right into my skin leaving behind a soft feel and a light creamy-coconut scent.  I dislike anything that feels sticky or greasy on my skin and Skin Trip was neither. It was perfect. 

At about $11, Mountain Ocean Skin Trip remains one of my favorite beauty products and Mountain Ocean, based in Boulder, Colorado does not test their products on animals. This is important to me.  I'm wearing Skin Trip right now and if I close my eyes I remember the way the California sun reflected off the pool as we sat under the palm trees. Life felt simple and happy, as if it would always be that way.

happy things: le labo jasmin 17

When I worked in the film industry, there was a period when I covered the Cannes Film Festival for a few years. While I remember the films and the actors I interviewed, one of the strongest memories I have is of jasmine. During those sunny days in May, it seemed that the scent of jasmine, combined with the salt air, created a heady perfume that seemed to exist only in this coastal town in France. I tucked this memory into my heart and since then I have been on a mission to find the perfect a perfume that reminds me of those happy moments.

The problem is that jasmine is a tough scent to capture. It can come across too fake or too sweet, like a can of bathroom spray. In all of my travels around the world, however, I have found two scents that have a similar feel- Child and Kai, perfumes which are happy,  creamy, white florals. I own both and I love them. However, I was still searching for the perfect single note jasmine perfume. I searched Sephora and Nordstrom, small boutiques and perfume counters. Then, one day recently, I found it. I was in the Nordstrom flagship store and I stopped by their Le Labo counter. I closed my eyes, took one whiff of Le Labo Jasmin 17 and that was it. I was standing on the sand in a white linen dress with my feet in the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by wild jasmine plants. I bought the body lotion ($68) and have been using it every morning. It immediately makes me happy.

It isn't just me who appreciates the scent. My husband buries his head into my neck and kisses me saying "I love the way you smell." Lately, when people hug me, they linger longer and usually say "Oh my God, you smell so good" and hug me again. My favorite Le Labo moment so far came from a little five year-old who said "You smell happy."  Jasmin 17 isn't a scent that announces itself to people. Being a body lotion, I didn't expect long staying power but when I step in the shower at the end of the day, I can still smell the fragrance lightly lingering on my skin.

Le Labo fragrance is an investment but it feels like you're wearing happiness. I like that.

I hope you're having a happy Monday!

happy things: a brunch so hard kit

Lemon blueberry pancakes.

An omelette with herbed goat cheese.

French press coffee.

Fat summer strawberries with Greek yogurt.

Mimosas.

I don't care much about lunch or dinner but brunch makes me happy, euphoric. The angels sing. It doesn't matter to me if it's room service on a balcony or a little dive diner, brunch food is happy food. Whenever I get the chance L and I will head out on a brunch date and it makes me fall in love with him all over again over shared bites of a cinnamon roll and maple glazed bacon. Friends know that if it involves brunch, I'm in.

So, when I was at Nordstrom, I found this Brunch So Hard kit and I knew that other than a favorite companion, this would be the one other thing I'd need to make brunch perfect. Included in this kit is: antacid, pain reliever, dental floss, breath drops, sweet vs. savory decision coin, hand cleaning towelettes, a stain remover and best of all, a pants extender(!). And once you've used up the products, you get a reusable coin purse that will remind you of just how hard you brunch when you reach for a token.

Here's to the perfect combination of your favorite people and brunch!

happy video: baby pandas on a slide

Whenever I start to lose faith in this world, I watch this video. I like knowing that there are people whose job it is to show baby pandas how to go down a slide. That these little, pudgy Panda cubs follow her down the slide does actually at times bring me to happy tears.

I hope you're having a great (and happy!) Wednesday!

happy things: The Dress Shop at Disney Springs

One of my favorite places is Walt Disney World. Of all the places in all of the world, this is the one that makes me happy just knowing that it exists. I'm looking forward to my next trip there in May.

If you love Disney too and you're a girl who loves a little whimsy in her life, lucky you. A new dress shop, called (coincidentally) The Dress Shop, has opened at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida. Perhaps you love "Alice in Wonderland" or Minnie Mouse's polka dotted dresses, then you might want to book that trip to Walt Disney World sooner rather than later. This shop is going to be a must-stop-in for every girl who loves dressing up. (My eye is on the light blue Cinderella Castle skirt and the It's a Small World Dress.)

Take a look at the video below. If you've ever wanted to dress like your favorite character or a cast member at your favorite Walt Disney World attraction, your world is about to get a lot happier!

Dress sizes range from XS-XXXL with dress prices between $80-$160. The Dress Shop also carries accessories with items like Dooney & Bourke handbags, headbands and jewelry. The Tower of Terror headband is genius.

When Marlo met Phil

One of my favorite things in life is to watch people together who have that "thing" that makes you think "Ah, of course. You two could only belong to one another."

It's rare to catch the moment on video when two people click, when they fall in love. This morning, I came across this video of Marlo Thomas ("That Girl") as a guest on 'The Phil Donahue Show." It's sweet how adorable and playful these two are with each other. It's obvious that Phil and Marlo were meant to be. They just have that thing, that chemistry that makes you think "Yup, he's the one meant for me." The best part? Towards the end of the clip when they return after the break and Phil goofily grabs Marlo's hand. I can imagine that they had one very long dinner after the show.

Phil and Marlo married on May 21, 1980. Congratulations to these two perfectly matched people who makes us believe in #couplegoals.

happy things: cara cara oranges

L and I agree on most things. We like the same music. (Hello, Bossa Nova) We love the same vacation spots. (Hey, Disney) We laugh at the same things. (Why is that aardvark in the video wearing a shirt?) One of the things we differ on is oranges. He is an orange juice buff while I slowly and carefully enjoy the whole orange experience from that first burst of orange zest when you peel it, to savoring one perfect section at a time.

It has been awhile, however, since I've eaten an orange because I've been burned too many times on oranges that are dry and tasteless with rubbery ends. At Trader Joe's last week, I decided to try a bag of Cara Cara oranges. With their bright pink flesh and super juicy, sweet yet tart tang, they have become my go-to orange for the past week. I am feasting on these like I do with Macoun apples (New England apples with a ridiculously short season) in the fall. These Cara Cara navel oranges are easy to peel, seedless and they make both great eating oranges and orange juice. (The juicer in the background is a vintage model from France I found on ebay.)

With the dreary, wet days of winter-almost-spring, starting each morning with a bright orange burst sets my day off with a big smile. (Plus, I feel like I am doing something good for my body which makes me want to follow my clean eating program!) The Cara Cara season is short so try them while they are still in stores!

The 3-pound bag at Trader Joe's is a steal at $2.99.

happy monday video: pixar's "piper"

This animated short played prior to Disney's "Finding Dory." It's so beautifully made and such a sweet story about not letting fear stop you from participating in life.

Enjoy!

The Happygirl Valentine's Day Gift Guide

The best Valentine's Day gift I ever received was from a boyfriend I had known for just a few months. We were long distance at the time (he was in his senior year at college and I had just graduated) and I was sick. After an accident, I lost my sight. In the days following, there wasn't much I could do but lay on the couch and cuddle with my dog.

A few days after the accident, a package arrived. My mom opened it for me and told me to hang on. She slipped headphones over my ears. Then I heard the music. The package was from my boyfriend. He couldn't get away from school so he made me a mix tape. In between each song, I listened to his voice explain why he chose that song. I listened and smiled. The first song was "Here Comes the Sun." He explained that while the doctors weren't sure my sight would return, he just knew I would see the sun again. Throughout those difficult days I listened to the music and his voice over and over. It got me through those scary days. I think that's when I really fell in love.  Even after I regained my sight, this mix tape was still one of my favorite things.

I still have this tape that I digitized and as for the guy? Well, I married him.

The best I-Love-You gift is from the heart and maybe that just means shutting off your phones and spending time together drinking coffee or playing a game. Focused time is the best gift. It is.

Here are some of my other favorite things that might inspire you as you celebrate the love you share with your best friend/partner/spouse/mom/roommate. Happy Valentine's Day!

I love giving and getting a glassybaby as a gift. Each votive is unique and handcrafted here in Seattle.  I've been to the glassblowing hot shop in Madrona and watching these artisans, it's clear that they impart a little soul into each piece of art. In addition to using them with tea lights, I also use them to serve little sundaes or for wine. I have given this gift to celebrate a new baby, as a memorial gift to a bereaved friend in lieu of flowers and for many birthdays and friends who I just wanted to send a bit of cheer to. This glassybaby is called goodness etched (see that sweet little heart?) but there are also over a hundred different colors to choose from. (The official Happygirl color is Ocean.)
Starting at $44.
(The package is darling, tied with a big white grosgrain bow. The tea light is included.)
Shipping is free. glassybaby.com

I recently discovered this wine, Cotes des Roses from Gerard Bertrand at my local grocer. While the wine itself tastes like a happy blend of strawberry, citrus and jasmine, the bottle itself is lovely. Turn the bottle upside down and you'll be delighted to see a rose carved into the glass. At $13.95, this wine is a happy reminder of summer days, at a good price point. Plus, once you enjoy the wine, the bottle is perfect for a few long-stemmed flowers like big, fluffy pink Peonies. gerard-bertrand.com

Sometimes it's fun to be the good girl with an edge. This water bottle from bkr is one of my favorites. The jet black silicone and glass tiny water bottle with a heart says "Yes, I know hydration is important, especially after last night." $35 bkr.com

It would be easy to spend $100 on a romantic Valentine's Day dinner, but what if, instead, you took that money and bought toys for the dogs at your local shelter? L and I did this one year and there was no dinner that could have compared to the joy we had in dropping these toys off. 

Think about how goofiily delighted they will be to play with their new toys courtesy 

of you and your big heart! 

While you're there, check out the pets available for adoption. Sometimes the love of your life is exceptionally furry. Click here for a list of your local shelters.

(You may want to call the shelter first to be sure that they accept toys or

 if they are in need of blankets or other items.)

Like the mixed tape my boyfriend made me, a personalized playlist is a touching gift that says 

"I love you. You make me feel things. I'm grateful to have you in my life." It doesn't cost a thing but it's meaningful and shows that you care enough to select songs just for him or her.

Here's a Spotify Valentine's Day playlist I made for inspiration. 

(Scroll down on the right side of the playlist to see all the songs.)

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the best feel good video of Christmas 2016

Every year there is a video that captures the feeling of the Christmas season so clearly. This year, it is this video. I don't want to give away too much so just turn up your speakers and watch.