Tuesday
Apr142009
Snow & Graham
April 14, 2009 Being a letterpress lover, I am a new fan of Snow & Graham, a Chicago-based paper company. Each item begs to be bought and used for your office, your friend's birthday, or as gift wrap. The purple blossons on the Morning Glory wrapping paper is so bright and cheery I just get a smile looking at it.
The sticky notes (noteBLOCKS) come in 700-sheet blocks, making your office list making a lot more fun. I love the pretty Dogwood noteBOOK, as well as the sunny Cherry Blosson thank you noteset. The coaster greetings are fabulous for any occasion. It doubles up as a giant drink coaster and greeting card in one. Cute!
To find national retailers, go to www.snowandgraham.com.
I really liked the Thai Lemongrass...quite playful. The ginger and lemongrass are well balanced so that it doesn't smell too citrusy or strong. The Vanilla Vera Cruz is now also in a solid perfume form, so it makes for a great scent to tuck into tiny purses. The warm clove, sweet orange, and black pepper in Madagasgar Spice makes me wanna tuck into bed on a cold day.
Their new 3-piece gift sets in Waikiki Pikake and Lotus Garden are real fun too. Celebrate Mother's Day, Earth Day, or everyday with these cute presents. Each set includes a travel sized candle, matches, solid perfume, and a body butter.
Buy it at: 
The first of its kind, the mineral pigment formula is paraben-free and fragrance-free. Lashes are left glossy and enriched with Acacia Senegal, Jojoba Oil, and Aloe Vera. This is a candidate for low maintenance beauty.
Available at Kiehl’s stores, 1-800-KIEHLS-1 and 
I also tried the Radically No Surgetics Complete Age-Defying Care day cream. The texture is so light and fluffy, not heavy at all. I usually opt for a fluid emulsion texture for daytime, but this one is going straight to my bathroom shelf for daily use now!
This treatment cream is especially formulated for multiple signs of aging (wrinkles, slackening, dullness, etc.). It's packaged in such a pretty eye-catching metallic violet container. The night cream version is supposed to reduce dark spots after two months of usage. So start dreaming those icky spots away...
With each purchase, a tree will be planted by Trees for the Future, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating sustainable global environments through reforestation.
* Smashbox is honoring Earth Day by pitching in at The Surfrider Foundation’s Santa Monica Beach Cleanup. Join them on Wednesday, April 22nd from 9-11am. To learn more about the Surfrider Foundation, visit 
As for the darks, I loved the Caraibe (66%) and the Alpaco (66%). The Ecuadorian beans in the Alpaco had such a nice oakiness. If you like fruity notes, the Tainori (64%) and the Manjari (64%) will be perfect. The Albinao (85%) is very smooth, not intense at all. Ditto for the Guanaja (70%).
There are four Grands Crus 100 gram Bars with Ingredients. I gobbled up the Jivara with Caramelized Pecans in no time (yes it was that good), and I loved the Manjari with Orange. Such intense citrus flavor! The Caraïbe with Roasted Hazelnuts is a winner, and the Guanaja with Roasted Cocoa Nibs packed a delicate punch.
Available at the Valrhona Boutique (inside the Food Emporium Fine Chocolates Shop) at NYC's Trump Palace, www.Chocosphere.com, and gourmet shops across the U.S. In San Francisco, Fog City News carries several bars from the new line.
These beautiful living works of art are so low maintenance. Just mist with a spray bottle every week and you're set.
Kat is having a 
Saturday, April 18, 2009
2pm- 5pm
Urban Indigo
3339 Lakeshore Avenue
Oakland, CA
510.419.0451
And, while you're there, check out the cute goodies in this lovely store. How darling is this button bowl? I also want that hand-made 
Each product in this collection contains a minimum of 95% organic ingredients and up to 88% Biodynamic nutrients. Biodynamic farming practices a holistic view of the universe, producing highly nutrient-rich ingredients. That translate to powerful and results-driven skin care.
The Lemon Grass Cleanser is a mild, creamy, and hydrating balm on irritated skin. This is great for post-peel treatments or if you've been dehydrated from baking in the sun. My skin must have been quite thirsty, as the Apricot Calendula Nourishing Cream soaked right in. My face literally drank up the active nutrients in no time. For oily skin, the Echinacea Recovery Cream has a nice light fluid texture that will absorb easily.
The Primrose & Melon Balancing Masque smells like a freshly baked fruit tart - very calming (thanks to Marigold and Primrose) and a good skin toner. The Yellow Sweet Clover Anti-Redness Masque is great for rosacea skin. I liked the Radish Seed Refining Peel. The AHA/BHA gently renews the skin while Lemon Balm helped detox the skin cells.
The Bearberry Eye Repair cream nourishes with brightening properties from the Bearberry extract. Unlike most rich eye creams, this is not heavy at all. For body care, the bioactive Alfalfa, Yarrow, and Sunchoke in the Quince Nourishing Body Lotion is great for eczema skin prone types.
Available collections include L’Art et la Matiere (Cuir Beluga, Angélique Noire, etc.), Les Elixirs Charnels, the gorgeous 180th Year Collector’s Case, and La Petite Robe Noire, which debuted last month.
The 
Check out the