DentaBurst freshening teeth cleaners are the next best thing to keeping a toothbrush and toothpaste with you at all times, but much more convenient. Slip the minty little sleeve over your forefinger and rub it over your teeth and gums — you don’t need water — and in second your teeth feel plaque-free and your breath is fresh. Just in time for that last-minute meeting.
$3.99 for a pack of 12 at CVS.com.
$10 from Loccitane.com
It’s time to test your geek cred—you did totally enjoy Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, right? Like any good Joss Whedon fan, you probably sat glued to your computer, salivating, while anticipating each episode, yes?
Whether you want to capture the magic or you somehow missed it before, now’s a great time to go pick up the Dr. Horrible DVD, because it’s currently less than $7.50 shipped from Buy.com. Get it for yourself; get it for a fellow geeky friend; just get it before it’s gone.
You’ll thank me later.
Reusable grocery bags are ecologically sound and all, but they fold down to the size of a large three-ring binder, which isn’t all that easy keep in your purse. The Joey Tote takes care of this problem — it stores in it’s own built-in pouch, which is roomy enough to hold another tote or two. The machine-washable, rip-stop nylon bags come in two sizes, and are strong enough to hold about 40 pounds worth of stuff (I shoved two gallons of milk into one of the small totes after my last shopping trip with no problems). The large size is just right for slinging over your shoulder, and the small one is about the same size as a standard plastic grocery bag, and as easy to carry, but much more durable. They’re not just for groceries, either: Keep a three-bag set (one large, two small) in your purse and you’ll always have a way to carry your surplus souvenirs when you travel, or to keep the sandy stuff separate after a family trip to the beach.
$8.50 (large), $7 (small), or $20 (for a set of three) at Joeytotes.com.
Connecticut-based Knipschildt offers high-end, handmade chocolates with incredible flavor combinations — raspberry ganache topped with pink peppercorns, caramel with French lavender, and chili-tangerine, to name just a few. Each confection is bears a woman’s name (the caramel-lavender concoction is “Valentina,” raspberry-peppercorn is “Keiko”) and if you’re heading out to the Norfolk, Connecticut, area, you can watch them make the candies in their Chocopologie cafe. No time to road trip? Order one of their “Me a Chocolatier” kits and make something wonderful at home. The kit comes with 21 white-, dark-, or milk-chocolate shells plus a pastry bag and instructions for filling them with your own clever concoctions.
$12 at Knipschildt.com.
School will be back in session before we know it, and that means it’s time to stock the pantry with all manner of portable snacks. Amazon’s got you covered—they’re offering an assortment of eligible snack foods where buying 2 saves you 20%, buying 3 saves you 30%, or buying 5+ gets you a whopping 40% off! Just use coupon code BCKSCLO9 to redeem at checkout.
I always jump on a great deal on Horizon Organic Milk Boxes (they’re aseptic, which means they’re shelf-stable and don’t require refrigeration), but wasn’t Lylah just telling you about Plum Organics the other day? That’s on sale, too. As well as hundreds of other items.
Mix-n-match to get the goodies you want, and then pat yourself on the back for saving all that cash.
A scarf can make a boring outfit pretty and it’s an affordable way to spruce up your wardrobe. This floral wrap works with many colors and outfits, which is a plus.
$34.00 at Bananarepublic.com.
Author Michelle Moran takes the threads of history and convincingly weaves an epic love story that’s also a gorgeously detailed and gripping tale of political intrigue in her sophomore novel, “The Heretic Queen,” which picks up a few years after her first novel, “Nefertiti,” ends.
Reviled for her role in the near-ruin of Egypt and dubbed the Heretic Queen for turning her back on the traditional gods during her reign, Queen Nefertiti has been murdered, and most of her family has perished in a suspicious fire. The sole survivor is her namesake niece, Nefertari, who lives in the shadows of the royal court, her family’s contributions to the country stripped from the official records.
The orphaned princess is taken in by Pharaoh Seti I and falls in love with Ramesses II, the heir to the throne of Egypt. Though beloved by the pharaoh, Nefertari is feared by his people because of her link to Nefertiti.
Like Moran’s first book, “The Heretic Queen” is rooted in meticulous research; her fictional characters are based on actual people and historically documented facts, which makes the story resonate on many levels.
$24.95 at Amazon.com.
I love grouping family photos together, but hate having to work at hanging all the frames. Collage frames take the guesswork out of getting your lines straight, and are an easy way to get your photos organized as well. This one by Array has a 3-D effect that adds depth and interest to the wall hanging.
$49.99 at Target.
For more ideas on organizing your family photos, check out our Quick Tips!
Looking to grill like Bobby Flay, or just adopt a bit of his flair in your kitchen? This week tons of Bobby Flay products at Kohls are on big sale, plus there’s all sorts of ways to make it an even better deal.
First, all this week you get automatic free shipping on your $75+ order. Next, you can add a code or two! Kohls card holders can use coupon code SUMMER15 for an additional 15% off, plus it stacks with code MVC642 for free shipping. No Kohls card? No problem—you can use code PERKSPOT100 for 15% off your $100+ purchase.
(Pictured: Bobby’s grilling skillet. It just looks like anything you cook in it would have to be good.)
