Here’s a round-up of some new-to-me things!
Sugarbear Ice Cream
Sugarbear opened in May just in time for lots of summertime visits! Check it out on High Street next to the Rivanna River Company. The courtyard in the back has games and plenty of space to lounge.
I met some friends and their kids for a visit on opening day.
LOVED the Wild Woman Whiskey flavor! They also have an Old Fashioned flavor that I need to try ASAP.
Blue Apron Summertime Prep
Birch is starting swim team this summer and we’ll have practice everyday starting around 4:45p. Thus I’ve been making more of an effort to do my dinner prep when I’m making lunch! Blue Apron meals are still on the rotation. We order two per week and have them 3/4 of the nights. It has simplified our dinnertime routine so much! I do as much prep as I can earlier so we just have to execute when we come home hungry at 5:30/6.
Outdoor dining on the porch is back too! We love eating outside. This seared salmon in a Dijon dressing, herby roasted potatoes, and peppadew veggies combo was so good.
Get 50% off the first 4 weeks of a new subscription here!
Grow Summer Scents
Grow Fragrance launched its summer scents, and the Pineapple Coconut is SO GOOD!
Sea Salt Neroli and Pomelo (grapefruit) are back for a second summer, and they are all so perfect for this time of year. Buy some refills for your canisters!
Desavery
Desavery sent me samples of their skincare and it is VERY nice! Desavery’s full line is organic, vegan, cruelty-free, hand-blended, packaged in glass, and follows the EU’s strict regulations for skincare – no phthalates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, etc.
Best-sellers:
- Dream Oil Cleanser ($45) is a nourishing cleanser with rose, frankincense, and spikenard (known for its sedative-like properties) for a calming cleanse that won’t strip the skin of its natural oils while still deeply cleansing impurities. I love an oil cleanser for taking off makeup at the sink at night, and this has been filling in for me since I ran out of Beautycounter.
- Stellar Serum is a facial oil that not only brightens skin with Vitamin K but also calms the nervous system with cortisol-lowering clary sage and bergamot. Collagen-producing prickly pear seed oil and Vitamin E work together to nourish the skin. Oils used are anti-inflammatory and a great option for sensitive skin.
- Smooth Hyaluronic Acid plumps the skin and prevents moisture loss throughout the day. Also great for freshening your complexion throughout the day or increasing overnight hydration. Clary sage and bergamot add a calming effect when inhaled.
Daily Harvest Pops + Pizzas
Daily Harvest has some new pops! My kids LOVE mango, and so the mango passionfruit was a huge hit.
I absolutely love their flatbreads for my lunches! Naturally I add some cheese or pepperoni (they are vegan otherwise!) but they are so so good!
Saint Viviana
I ordered this NA wine from Zero Proof after someone said it was the “best ever” and it is GOOD. I forgot how much having good NA wine helps me minimize my weeknight drinking. I still think the Giesen is the best ever (don’t order it from Amazon – get it at Whole Foods for much less!)
Uncool Coconut Cream Pie
I also had this NA beer at Three Notch’d and it was awesome!! Tasted so good and coconutty. Just be sure to keep it cold. They have so many cool flavors!
La Fermiere Yogurt
I found this yogurt at Whole Foods (I think it’s in tons of grocery stores) and my gosh it was so good!! Also the little purple pot makes such a great storage container once you’re finished!
Fan Girl Trip To Richmond
Look who I found in Richmond! Colleen was speaking at a networking event with Brand Gloss and I went down for the night to hang out and network. So fun to meet online friends IRL! If you’re a woman entrepreneur, you must read her book: Don’t Make It Weird.
Sampl Wine Sampler
One Sampl includes seven different glasses of wine, often focusing on one region. This is such a great way to have a glass of wine without committing to a bottle! The kit also makes such a great gift (Father’s Day is around the corner). Get 15% off with the code KATH15.
Cod Cakes
I’ve been eating these salmon cakes for months, but I found the cod version and might like it even more!! Look for them in stores too! The perfect salad topper.
Perler Beads (Fuze Beads)
Birch has been all about perler beads lately! We got this Star Wars kit and he focuses so hard when he’s building them. I remember so many failed iron attempts of these when I was little!
Melissa says
Great photos and recommendations! The Grow Fragrance products sound amazing, I definitely will need to check them out, for sure!
Blandine says
Hi Kath,
I work in EU policy making and I can tell you that while the use of parabens has been reduced in 2014, it is still allowed.
Kath Younger says
Gotcha! That sentence might have been confusing. This company doesn’t use them, but thanks for clarifying that it’s not because of the EU regulations.