Products you can't live without

Janell's fifth and last prompt.


When I first read this prompt I was like, Oh man, how much time have you got?

But then I realized there's really only ONE product that I really can't live without. Like if I were to time travel to King Arthur's court and realized this product didn't exist yet I would find Merlin to conjure it for me because, seriously, I neeeeed it:
Yup. Chapstick. Not just any Chapstick either, the black wrapper original Chapstick. In a dire emergency I can use the blue kind but my lips just don't feel quite right unless I use the black kind. I think that might be a sign that my lips are addicted? In any event, leaving home without it is a code red emergency. My jeans have a chapstick shaped wear pattern in my left front pocket.


And yes. I do think about the discomforts time travel might force upon me. In case you're wondering: if I time traveled to medieval times I would also be sad without: my facewash, face lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, and 2-ply toilet paper. Try to pretend you haven't imagined something similar. But seriously, imagine the state of your face and teeth in those kinds of conditions. Shudder.


Things I could live without but would reeeaally prefer not to:

Sedu Beach Beauty Sea Salt Spray

This spray is new in my life but I already know we're going to have a long term relationship. For the first time in my life I have good hair. Hair that looks decent enough of the time that people occasionally bother asking who my stylist is. And while mad props go to Krystal for consistently excellent cuts I can also thank this lovely little spray. The idea is that you're supposed to coat your damp hair with it and then let it air dry into beachy waves. I use it more like a texturizer. I spray it all over and then blow dry. It gives my hair volume and just a little bit of "stick" that keeps it nice and shiny straight or holds the Whoorl curl like a dream.

Usually Aaron is the one in our house turning to me and saying, "My hair looks really good today" and I say, "mm, very nice dear." But, as Aaron can attest, I am now the one frequently singing the praises of my own hair.





St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter Lotion

I've never had any particular lotion loyalty. If it keeps my skin moisturized without being greasy then we're good. One day I picked this up and stuck it in my bathroom without thinking there was anything special about it. But then I ran out of baby lotion and started using it on Wes. We would bathe him in the evening, slather him with this lotion and then wrap him up in footie pajamas for the night. After a night of baking in this lotion inside his pajamas he would smell like a little slice of sunshiney heaven. Aaron and I both mentioned how we were picking Wes up just to SMELL him. It's a very gentle scent but OH how I love it. I've stopped using it on Wes because I want it all for ME.


El Pato Salsa de Chile Fresco

I'm not sure if "Products you can't live without" extends to food items but this is my blog so I'm including it. Our taco and burrito consumption skyrocketed after I discovered El Pato last year. This sauce + chicken/pork/beef + my Crockpot + one or two more ingredients = something really delicious. I've started buying these cans in mass quantities.

The other day my sister, Nikki, was lamenting that she just doesn't know that many slow cooker recipes and I pretty much wrote a love letter to El Pato sauce in our gchat box. She tried it and lo, she has been converted. The Pato makes an appearance at least once a week around these parts and without it I would be a little confounded in my meal planning attempts.



My last item is for my girl readers only. Get lost, men. I'm about to share information you don't need to know. Seriously. Go away. I feel awkward enough about this as it is but my life is much more awesome because of this so I'm going to share.










Men gone?








Ok good.

A few months ago several girls from my freshman floor posted rave reviews about this on our private blog and convinced me to give it a try. I was skeptical because it seemed a little hippie crunchy for me but I gave it a try and it's one of those small changes that make a huge difference in your life and you want to tell everyone about it but can't because um no one wants to hear you talk about that. And because I'm convinced there are still some men lurking about I'm just going to give you the link and say no more about it. If you are curious and want a real review, email me and I'll happily tell you how it has changed my life. But seriously. Look into it.



And that's it. My one product I can't live without and the 4 I really really like. There are probably more but I think many of them are things I wouldn't realize how much I needed them until they were gone. So if that time travel scenario ever happens and it turns out that I go into shock when I don't have A, B and C at my disposal I'll let you know.

And, because I'm kind of curious, I'm posing the same question to my readers. What products can YOU not live without? Anything I should look into?