Bryn's Picks

Burberry Tote

2009-04-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

I got a free tote at a conference a few months ago. It's awesome....but it says SWE and has all of the major donors written across the front. So I'm in search of a replacement. I think Burberry should do the trick. A little bit more than free, actually, about the same price as a pair of tory burch sandals :-)

Why didn't I think of that

2009-04-24T22:42:00.000-07:00

Pure genius. This outlet adapter has rotating plugs. You can plug in 4 cell phone chargers at the same time. Incredible.

Found

2009-04-24T22:39:00.000-07:00

I love this leash and I love this picture. The leash and proceeds go towards raising awareness about pet adoption.

Dry Conditioner

2009-04-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

I love my dry shampoo. It works wonders and helps me revive my hair after a workout. My only complaint is that it makes your hair feel a little straw-like. That's where the dry conditioner comes in! It leaves hair glossy! Crazy!

Conditioning Masks for Hair

2009-04-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for a great way to get my hair looking shiny and feeling soft. I've seen the intense conditioning treatments often, but this one keeps popping up. It's the triple moisture hair mask by neutrogena.

Remington Airwave

2009-04-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

This crazy hairdryer actually spins sections of your hair into loose ringlets/waves. I haven't tried it yet, but the reviews are awesome. We'll jut have to see what it can do on my thick mane!

Clear Skin

2009-04-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

They interviewed a gorgeous woman in the May Lucky and she talked about what she uses on her face. She washes with the Sally Hershberger face shamoo, uses a balancing mist by Jurlique and a face mask by Darphin. I can spend money on shoes, purses and clothes, but I still by the $3 face wash and $5 lotions. Maybe someday.

Jimmy Choo

2009-02-15T21:15:00.001-08:00

Why are the expensive ones always the prettiest? The Seattle Strappy Shoe by Jimmy Choo is incredible. The color will go perfect with any number of spring/summer outfits. You can find them at net-a-porter.com, but we aware that they come with a hefty price tag.

Living Proof

2009-02-15T21:02:00.000-08:00

Designed by a bunch of MIT grads, this stuff kills frizz at the source. I haven't tried it yet, but it claims to be a brand new technology for tackling frizz while simultaneously repelling dirt. You can get it at Sephora where it comes in both straight and wavy formulas.

Skis

2009-02-03T20:02:00.001-08:00

Skiing is fun. And half the fun is looking good while doing it. I'll take a pair of these please. They are from 2008, but so awesome. I'm sure they are too fancy for my skiing, but they are gorgeous. K2 T9 Tough Luv 2008.

Coach Spectator

2009-01-27T18:57:00.000-08:00

I'm addicted to purses. I get it from my mom. I'm loving the Coach Spectator Julianne. It's quite large and looks to be a great carry-on/day bag. Currently they only have the large available, but I anticipate a medium being available soon, Coach.

Bario Neal

2009-01-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

Bario-Neal jewelry is handcrafted in Philadelphia with reclaimed metals, ethically sourced stones and low impact, environmentally conscious practices. This ring is awesome and the packaging is incredible. They used recycled bottles as well as muslim bags and handmade wooden boxes. You can find out where to buy them at bario-neal.

Conditioner

2009-01-13T20:18:00.000-08:00

A list of the best conditioners according to Lucky:

1. Herbal essences hydralicious self-targeting conditioner

2. Pantene beautiful length conditioner

3. Paul Mitchell super strong daily conditioner

4. Aestelance hydrate leave-in conditioner

5. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer

Betseyville Wedge Pump

2009-01-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

Wedge's are great because you can wear them so much longer than heels....well, you can wear them the same amount of time and your feet hurt way less! The betseyville lexine is an adorable patent pump that comes in red and black. You can find it at shoesrus.net.

Lodis Primadonna

2009-01-04T11:41:00.000-08:00

I've been eyeing the Lodis wallets for quite some time. They are sleek and can carry a TON of things. You can slip it into your purse or use it as a clutch for the evening. This year I'm using a deep purple, patent, Primadonna Lodis wallet. It holds all of my cards, money, receipts and coins. They have some smaller designs for those that like to carry a few less items and they are always coming out with different colors and styles. You can get them at zappos, and yes, they are a little pricey, but so worth it. I spent over a year trying to find a cheaper version, but nothing matched it.

Address Labels

2008-10-12T11:11:00.003-07:00

I'm a huge fan of writing notes/letters....although I seldom do it. I'm also a huge fan of return address labels. See, I've always lived on really long street names: "SE Cougar Mtn Way," "NE Campus Parkways," "Meritage Common." Once I live on "Vine St." and another time I lived on "NE 88th St." it was incredible. But alas, we bought a house in CA and will be living here until the market goes back....so at least 5-10 years. We live on Meritage Common and it takes FOREVER to address cards. I found these cute ones on erincondren.com. I like the circular design that fits easily on the back of the envelope. She has all sorts of cute ones and I suggest you check them out.

Cowshed

2008-10-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

Another potential decor item is the lavender soap by Cowshed. The sleek bottle and design add a modern twist to typical hand soap.

Black and White Soap

2008-10-12T10:59:00.003-07:00

We've been redecorating our bathroom for ages and I've finally settled on a black/white theme....I know, so original. These soaps, in ebony vanilla and mild ivory almond, should add a nice touch. Made by Catherine Memmi, they can be found at luckyscent.com.

Allure October 2008

2008-10-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

Allure has so many awesome suggestions. Here's my list of things to try from the October 2008 issue:

St. Ives Exfoliating Moisturizing Body Polish in Oatmeal and Shea Butter

Purple Polish: Eiffel for Me (OPI), Alchemy (Sally Hansen)

They also had a master list for their best of beauty issue. It's awesome!

BAM Necklace

2008-10-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

A few years ago Coach had an awesome BAM keychain. I never found it at the store and they never sold it online. girlrops.com is selling a BAM necklace. How funny! AND it's way cheaper than the coach version. I'm thinking of buying the necklace and turning it into a keychain.

Samy Dry Shampoo

2008-10-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

Dry shampoo has bought me a lot of sleeping time over the past few months. And for those of you who think it's gross, talk to your hairdresser. They'll tell you that it's better to wash every other day. I loved the dry shampoo by Ojon, but have been in intrigued by the recent popularity of the Samy Dry Shampoo. It's a lot less expensive than Ojon. If it works just as well, I'm sold!

Tokyo Bay Watch

2008-10-12T10:20:00.001-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I love the classic look of my victorinox swiss army watch. But sometime I want something a little more funky. Th Tokyo Bay Gloss Watch is sleek and funky at the same time. Is that even possible?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

I love shopping for a cause. Here are some of my picks for things that will help fight breast cancer!

Envirosax reusable grocery bag. 10% of the proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Breast cancer foundation.

Dove chocolate and M&M are also helping the fight. I couldn't find a good picture, but who really needs an excuse to eat chocolate?

Travel Straightener

2008-10-12T10:08:00.001-07:00

This mini straightener is perfect for travel and it's pretty inexpensive ($20). It's about 9" long and comes with a cute, heat resistant carrying case. It's made by conair, so you know it'll be good.

Envirosax

2008-10-12T09:52:00.001-07:00

I'm addicted to bags. It doesn't matter what kind. Recently, I've been in the market for a new reusable grocery bag. The Envirosax line has some great patterns and can hold approximately 2 plastic bags worth of goods. It claims to be waterproof and they even sell 2 styles that benefit the Susan G Komen breast cancer foundation.

Business Card Holders

2008-09-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

I've been obsessed with business card holders ever since Nick got me a gorgeous engraved case for Christmas. Since I've already filled that one to the brim I've been in the market for another. I found this awesome holder from www.thedailyobsession.com. You can find this case at lama designs.

Fun Websites

2008-09-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the recommended websites from this months issue of Lucky Mag.

www.pixiemarket.com

Cute dresses and T's

www.acetoolonline.com

Tool and carpenter bags that can be used as awesome carryalls

www.beklina.com

All earth friendly and sustainable

www.areaware.com

Innovative items, great for unique gifts!

Photo Envelopes

2008-09-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

I never really knew what these were for. Why would you need to carry a few photos with you in a leather envelope? In the latest issue of Lucky, they recommend using these little things to hold onto old receipts. I love it! What a great way to stay organized, or at least a great way to keep clutter at bay. Check these ones out from thedailyplanner.com. There are others out there, but these come in all sorts of colors and are pretty reasonable!

hide a bee

2008-04-27T19:51:00.001-07:00

The hide-a-bee is a dog toy. Nick and I saw it at a fancy dog store in Berkeley. You can get it online for about half the price :-) You put the squeaky bees inside the hive and then the pooch tries to get them out. Apparently it keeps them busy. It's kinda like when Nick and I velcro a visor around one of the legs of the dining room table and Moch tries to get it off :-)

Cupcake Blog

2008-04-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

I've recently gotten into making cupcakes. It all started with the cupcake blog. I've blogged about the samoa cupcakes, but just wanted to give this blog a little shout out.

Magtable

2008-04-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

The umbra magtable is the perfect solution for my problem, too many magazines! The clever design stores magazines out of the way but within easy reach.

Styli Style

2008-03-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

I've been using the styli-style black flat eye pencil for years. It goes on really smooth and last forever. The pencil requires a special sharpener due to its shape but my first pencil came with a sharpener. They are actually pretty inexpensive, although I've only found them online. Totally worth it!

Gelaskins

2008-03-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

Dress up your laptop, iPod or phone with gelaskins. They help protect your device and are pretty fun! There are many different patterns to choose from.

1154 Lill Studio

2008-03-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

I LOVE purses. They are one of my weaknesses. 1154 Lill Studio lets you design your own purse. There are 22 different purse designs to choose from. Then you get to pick the different fabric combinations to make your purse unique. I put this one together in 2 minutes....so don't judge.

Rainbow Candles

2008-03-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

I love blowing out candles on a birthday cake. And I'm even a fan of trick candles. But these little numbers are incredible! These candles have colored flames. I'm sure the chemicals they use aren't all that good for you but whatever, just blow them out fast. You can find them at Rainbow Moments.

Josh Jakus

2008-03-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

These little felt bags are so crazy. They unzip to a flat piece of felt. Visit the website for a demo on these little bags. I'm addicted to bags, so anything fun and new is bound to pique my interest.

Potting Shed Creations

2008-03-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

I get kind of annoyed when I have to but any entire bunch of cilantro at the grocery store. I typically only need a pinch, so I buy the bunch and 95% of bunch is thrown away. But this little wonder could solve my problem. The Garden in a bag let's you grow different kinds of plants in a bag. You can grow anything from herbs to flowers indoors or outdoors in these leak proof bags. They cost $8 and can be ordered online.

Smashbox o-gloss

2008-03-18T20:42:00.000-07:00

Ever had a hard time finding the right color of lip gloss? Well o-gloss by smashbox is "clear" and they claim it "Reacts" with your bodies chemistry to create your own personal shade of pink. I'll try it out the next time I'm at sephora and let you know.

Ojon Dry Shampoo

2008-03-16T19:02:00.001-07:00

I've always been skeptical of the dry shampoos. You can spray it into your hair and it makes it feel clean. Yeah right....or so I thought. I read about Ojon in Lucky and thought I'd give it a try. Lisa and I headed to Sephora and found Ojon Rub Out Dry Cleanser. My hair was roughly 1.5 days old, a little icky, but nothing too bad. Not like those days back in elementary school. She sprayed it on half of my head and then I ran my fingers through my hair a few times. A few minutes later I could already tell it had worked. My hair had no oil in it at all and it felt a little lighter. Both Lisa and Nick could tell a difference too. It's pretty good ish.

Cupcake Blog

2008-03-12T19:02:00.001-07:00

Pic courtesy of cupcakeblog.com

So apparently I am on a samoas kick. After posting about the delicious little girl scout cookies I decided to try and make some for myself. I turned to my favorite search engine, google, and instead, I found a recipe for samoa cupcakes. I love cupcakes better than cookies and better than cake, so this was really the best situation possible.

The cupcakes were pretty darn delicious, even if they took me an entire evening to make. I ended up making them "mini" which made them extra cute.

The best part of all is this fabulous website I found. Cupcake Blog is a cooking website written by a fellow engineer. She has all sorts of different recipes. And if any of them are as delicious as the Samoa cupcakes (As I suspect they will be), I will be returning here often.

Girl Scout Cookies

2008-03-09T20:53:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again. Girl scout cookie season! It's interesting....girl scouts sell delicious cookies to raise money while the boy scouts pick up your old Christmas trees. Anyways, I wanted to talk about my favorite cookie, the Samoas! These are quite possibly the best (non-homemade) cookie ever. I don't care if you don't like coconut, with all the chocolate and caramel you can hardly even tell.

I often wonder if they are delicious because you can only get them for a limited time. Like my mint m&m's, only available during Christmas. Or a Bentley, only available to people with ~$250,000 to burn. In any case, I always buy a few boxes of these little delights. Speaking of delights, did you know they changed the name? I know, why mess with success. They are now called "Caramel Delights." Not sure what that's about, but it's cool.

There's no link in this post. Just head to your neighborhood Safeway and look for the girls with the green and brown outfits. I think I've only had a total of 5 cookies so far....we'll see how long that lasts.

Sonicare Flexcare RS930

2008-03-07T16:26:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of oral health. I floss every night, religiously. I received the Sonicare Flexcare RS930 for Christmas. I had been living in the stone ages with my Sonicare 2.0. This toothbrush is awesome. First, you can custom design your brushing experience. In addition to "clean mode" there are a number of other options to choose from.

Are you like Nick? New to the sonicare family and not quite use to the vigorous sonic vibrations? Choose sensitive mode.

Do you crave that extra little luxury? Set your brush to massage and your gums will be in heaven.

In a hurry? "Go Care" mode provides you with the same sonic action in half the time.

Finally, there's "Max Care" mode. This is a combination of the normal "clean" mode with a little massage at the end of each stage.

But that's not all. The flexcare also has a much smaller brush head. The older models were so big and bulky, but these are roughly the same size as a regular toothbrush.

Finally, for you germaphobes out there - the Flexcare comes with the UV cleaning system. Just put the brush head into the box and the UV light kills 99% of bacteria! Wow!

Benkyodo

2008-03-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

Mochi! No, not my puppy, the kind you eat. Mochi/Manju are Japanese sweets and Benkyodo makes the best. It's kinda hard to explain....sweet rice, beans and cake.....typically different combinations of the 3. My family loves it! I was a saint for bringing it home for Christmas. Probably the best I've ever had - sorry Grandma.

Fino

2008-03-05T19:17:00.000-08:00

If you come and visit me, we will go to Fino's. It is by far the best italian restaurant I've ever been to (in the US). It's actually a few blocks south of union square - but don't worry, we aren't in the tenderloin yet ;-) The last time I ate there we had the chocolate raspberry something or other for dessert. Heaven in my mouth! We literally licked the bowl clean. There wasn't a speck left.

Scoma's

2008-03-05T19:04:00.000-08:00

My officemate has nothing but rave reviews for Scoma's on Fisherman's Wharf. Even though it's in a toursit trap of a location, she swears it's the best! She gets the crab saute - it's not on the menu but they'll make it for you. It's a pile of peeled crab with pasta and veggies. I saw her leftovers and trust me, it's enough to feed you for at least 2 days. It's a little spendy, but well worth it if you're looking for some good eats.

Creme de la Mer

2008-03-04T21:45:00.000-08:00

I'm not one to spend a ton of money on lotion or other face products. During a Nordstrom makeup event I received a free sample of the creme de la mer moisturizer. I threw it in my travel bag and forgot about it. Christmas came around and it was time to visit the fam. We packed our bags (including my sample of creme de la mer) and headed for home. This stuff is incredible! It made my skin look smooth and soft and was not the least bit greasy. Unfortunately it costs about a gazillion dollars an ounce ($125 for a 1 oz jar). I don't plan on buying more once I run out - I can think of better things to spend $125 on - like getting Mochi neutered :-) But if you are in the market for a high end moisturizer that really works, I recommend creme de la mer.

Frank Gehry Torque Ring

2008-03-04T21:30:00.000-08:00

Frank Gehry has designed a line for Tiffany and Co. Maybe it's the engineer in me, but I'm loving the Torque ring in sterling silver! I'll need to try it on before committing to the purchase, at $125 it's one of the few "affordable" pieces at Tiffany and Co.

Sigg Water Bottles

2008-03-04T21:17:00.000-08:00

Aluminum water bottles are the new Nalgene. They are better for the environment and come in a gazillion different designs. The folks at sigg have some pretty sweet bottles, and for under $20 you can have a different one for each season of the year.

Charging Station for all your CRAP!

2008-03-04T21:07:00.000-08:00

If your household is anything like ours, your counter contains a plethora of phones, blackberries and iPods all vying for prime charging real estate. It's a bit of an eyesore if I do say so. The wall mountable phone/pda charging station will hold up to 3 electronics and can store a 10" power stip behind a sliding door. It's available in white, black and navy blue.

Wooden Platforms

2008-03-04T21:02:00.001-08:00

If I can't have a wedge, the next best thing is a wooden platform....right? The simmer sandal by Steven (Steve Madden) will be a great addition to your spring wardrobe.

Johari by Adidas

2008-03-04T20:51:00.000-08:00

These cute little shoes are compact, comfortable and stylish. Perfect for that flight - easy to remove during security checkpoints! Checkout Johari by Adidas!

Smart Power Strip

2008-03-04T20:44:00.000-08:00

I'm a mechanical engineer....not an electrical one. But my electrical friends tell me that even when my laptop is off, it's sucking power. Makes no sense to me but I'm going with it. This little device claims to stop current flow to an "off" laptop - thereby saving money and energy. Go save the planet and buy a "clever strip."

Jergen's Natural Glow Express

2008-03-04T20:36:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of Jergen's Natural Glow for sometime, so I was excited to learn that they are making an "express" version (People Style Watch March 2008). Jergen's Natural Glow Express claims it can build a natural tan in 3 days. If it's anything like the original Natural Glow, I'll be stocking it by the dozen.

Teeth Whitening

2008-03-04T20:27:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of teeth whitening since the early days of crest white strips. In the March issue of People Style Watch, they introduced a few new systems that might be worth looking into.

Luster Oral Care seems like a cross between the in home and dentist treatment. It uses an activating light to help enhance the whitening effects. For only $40, it beats a trip to the dentist.

Drugstore.com also offers the iWhite. Apparently everyone has jumped on the iXXX wagon. Either way, the system is similar to Luster. You pop a gel filled tray in your mouth and then turn on an activation light. They claim 5 days to a whiter smile. At $45, it's a steal.

Lego Speaker for iPod

2008-03-04T20:23:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's the lego loving girl in me, but I think the mini ipod speaker is too cute.

Zivio Bluetooth

2008-03-04T20:16:00.000-08:00

From the makers of the Gorillapod comes the Zivio bluetooth. It's sleek and stylish and looks like an awesome replacement for the typical bluetooth headset.

Gorillapod

2008-03-04T20:11:00.000-08:00

When we took our Christmas photo this year, I propped the digital camera on a few books and wedged some paper underneath a corner to help make it level. The gorillapod would have saved a lot of time and anguish. For only $20, it's a steal!

Nantaka Joy

2008-03-04T20:03:00.000-08:00

I found this line while searching for unique notebooks online. Nantaka Joy designs beautiful cards that are simple yet elegant.

Bag the Habit

2008-03-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

People Style Watch had a huge section on "Going Green" in their February 2008 edition. They listed 8 or 9 different "Green" bags that we should use to replace plastic bags. Personally, I don't want to spend $40-$50 bucks on a new grocery bag, but these bags by the folks at Bag the Habit sell for just $8 and are large enough to hold your groceries.

Hot Cookie

2008-03-04T19:40:00.000-08:00

I've always been a fan of the mail. I go to the mailbox everyday hoping I've received a little something. Hotcookie.com will let you send anyone a dozen (or more) homemade cookies. We received a box for Christmas and I can personally attest to the deliciousness of every single cookie. They came individually wrapped and never went stale.

Gladiator Sandals

2008-03-04T19:28:00.000-08:00

People Style Watch had the Heech Wedge by Nine West in their February 2008 edition. My wussy feet are a fan of the wedge! I plan on trying on a pair the next time I'm at a nine west store.

Launch of Bryn's Picks

2008-03-04T19:21:00.000-08:00

In an effort to clear out the clutter in our house and ultimately keep track of everything awesome, I've set up this blog as a way to document all the cool and interesting things I find in magazines, online, on tv or while I'm out and about.