Good stuff

This is what pops up when you Google images for "good stuff."

I’ve come across some good stuff in recent weeks/months that I thought I’d tell you about here. I’m going to preface this list with the usual disclaimer that I’m not employed by any of companies mentioned, nor was I given free stuff to review, blah blah blah.

Okay, with that out of the way, let’s get started.

Good stuff #1: I’ve told you about how much j’adore SmartWool socks for running, but I’ve recently discovered that their Secret Sleuth footie socks are fabulous for wearing under driving mocs, Dansko clogs, and other low-cut shoes. I don’t like to wear shoes without socks because of the sweat and stinkle factor, so these little wool-blend socks are awesome for keeping my feet dry invisibly. And wool is a surprisingly cool fabric for summer — my feet don’t get hot at all.

Good stuff #2: Basic tank tops, like these from Old Navy. Please don’t judge my affection for cheap clothes. Until I stop losing weight, I have to replace my wardrobe but not bust the budget. I am loving these tanks — under blouses for a little modesty if buttons gap, under faux-wrap shirts for modesty and a pop of color, under “tissue weight” (translation: cheap, see-through knits) t-shirts for modesty again, and even to sleep in. (Okay, so there appear to be a lot of modesty needs in my wardrobe.) Last winter, I also wore them as an extra layer for warmth and they did a surprisingly good job.

Good stuff #3: Stripes, such as these French sailor tees from Lands’ End. L.L. Bean and J. Crew also have fabulous ones, plus Boden has one, two, three different options. Ladies of a certain size: Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t wear horizontal stripes. I call bullshit on that notion. If the stripes are the right width and the shirt is the right size (not too loose, not too tight), you’re going to look adorable. If you feel a little weird about it, wear a t-shirt layered under a cardigan or a blouse so that you get the look without making a huge stripey statement. At this very moment, I’m wearing the cream with navy blue Lands’ End shirt linked above. I am comfortable and I feel stylish.

Good stuff #4: DHC Olive Virgin Oil for skin. A couple of months ago, I went for a power walk with a couple of other same-aged girlfriends. Our conversation covered the topics on the minds of 40-something women, including our husbands, our health, our hell yes we’re worth it indulgences, and our personal care regimens. One of my friends swore by this oil for her skin, as well as the make up remover, and said that they were worth every penny. Not long after, she gave me some samples and I placed an order the next day. I have incredibly dry skin year ’round and this stuff is awesome. My friend has oily skin and it’s just as awesome for her. (Strange, I know.) Yes, it’s pricey up front, but you use only a couple of a drops at a time, so it lasts forever.

Good stuff #5: 21st century music. I’ll never give up my 80s tunes, but I am loving Picture Show by Neon Trees, In the Grace of your Love and Pieces of the People We Love by The Rapture, and History of Modern by OMD (80′s redux fabulosity).

Good stuff #6: Greek yogurt with fresh fruit (peaches, these days) and a sprinkling of raw sunflower seeds or almonds on top. Using SparkPeople has made me very aware of my caloric intake and I’ve given up granola for breakfast because even my homemade, almost-fat-free stuff was eating up way too much of my day’s calories and not leaving me many options later in the day. Yogurt + fruit + seeds/nuts gives me what I need to get through the morning, but with half the calories. Not that it’s all about the calories — it’s not — but now I have more flexibility with what I eat throughout the day.

So those are the things I’m loving these days. What about you? What’s fabulous in your world?