René of the Day // 11.10.11 // Girl on a Budget

Piperlime.com has a hell of a great thing going with their Girl on a Budget site. Like most e-stores, you can categorize your search and I came across this brilliant section. I love to have clothes in my closet, ready to wear, but I’m not a fan of shopping. I think it’s an inefficient use of time, dealing with many retail employees can be frustrating and I just don’t enjoy it. Also, I always feel guilty spending money on clothes. I think this came from my mom’s rants in college when I didn’t have much money to blow and knowing she has five closets full of things we can share, that’s generally where I “shop.” But I digress – this site is amazing because everything – boots, accessories, dress, everything – are under $100. I’m a gal who can get behind that – it’s all stylish and most of it is from recognizable brands at reasonable prices. It’s great to know I scroll down the entire page and everything I like will not break the bank – score! Splurge without the guilt. I've also discovered new designers here, like Tinley Road and Hive & Honey. Style and savings = double dream. Here are some recent gems I’ve found:

Check out more items on this page for those ballin’ on a budget here.  

René of the Day // 11.5.11 // What's in season?

Not talking fashion here, folks. We're talking produce. I absolutely love grocery shopping. Once you get past the people who are abusing the usage of the motorized carts and the screaming children, it is my zen. So many fun products and choices.... as someone who loves to cook, it's like a painter picking out colors for a masterpiece.

It can be argued that cooking "seasonally" makes the most wholesome, healthy and wise meals. By buying produce in season, it reduces the cost of goods purchased and many times make it easier to buy local. I won't dive deeply into those ideas, I'm sure you can find much more detailed information regarding it on other blogs. But I digress, I thought it would be helpful to share a list of items to keep on your grocery list and recipe searches for the next few months as we go through winter.

In Season Fruits and Vegetables: Winter

• FRUITS
• Grapefruit
• Kiwis
• Lemons
• Mandarins / Clementines
• Oranges
• Pears
• Tangerines
• VEGETABLES
• Beets
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Chicories: Belgian Endive, Curly Endive, Escarole, Raddichio
• Fennel
• Kale
• Leeks
• Parsnips
• Radishes
• Sweet potatoes
• Turnips
• Winter squash

René of the Day // 11.4.11 // Kiehl's

I'm not a beauty junkie - a girl who collects make-up and lotions and potions and half empty pots of gunk that clutter my drawers. I like to keep it simple - one bottle of everything, discard and replace as needed. (Living in a studio apartment has really trained me to be this way.) But, I do have a few things by which I swear. Kiehl's products are among them.

The desire began from some beauty magazine when I was in high school. I don't read them anymore (every year, every month is the same issue - summer - diet, skin and nail tips! Nothing new to be said) but it was either advertised or listed in one of their must-have product pages or a celebrity claimed it to be their favorite. At any rate, I was in South Beach Miami, FL for spring break my freshman year of college and approached my first Kiehl's store experience. I bought their classic lip balm #1 and never bought a tube of Carmex or a stick of Soflips again. To this day, I have some by my bed, in my bathroom and in my handbag. It's odor-free, smooth, not oily. It lasts quite a while and does such a phenomenal job (it will transform dry skin or lips overnight), it's worth the few extra dollars.

So when I discovered they sold Kiehl's products at Saks in downtown Cincinnati, I splurged on shampoo and conditioner. Mind you, with my out-of-control curly hair, I've received recommendations for more special product lines than you can shake your straightener at. I've been disappointed by many. Kiehl's doesn't carry a curly line so I tried the formula for dry hair - Olive Oil Fruit Nourishing shampoo and conditioner. WOW!!! It makes my hair soft, easy to comb through when it's wet and beautiful when it's dry. It's moisturized and easy to work with and looks nice for days (you know I can't wash this rats nest every day, fools. Let's be real.)

I don't buy this stuff every month - it's usually a treat. I'd bought Aussie because it was cheap and smelled great and it made my hair as dry as the sand on the beaches in Sydney - not okay. So when I was at Green Hills Mall (fabulous!) in Nashville in October, I popped into the store and had to buy it to save my head - and it has. Seeing as I don't dye my hair or pay to have it cut or style (I trim the ends on my own), I can justify the expense (~$18/bottle).

If you order online, they send you wonderful samples of their other product! Give it a shot - it's natural and luxurious without being froofy. And I adore the nostalgic, clean, apothecary branding. Try something and see if you're able to resist addiction.

René of the Day // 11.1.11 // Thanks Nordstrom

Halloween has passed. 

At least one store in the retail realm gets it. 

René of the Day // 9.17.11 // PetPeople

Since Hyde Bark has closed on Hyde Park Square, I was excited to see a new pet-themed shop opened recently in walking distance of my apartment. It was a gorgeous day so I took Findlay to PetPeople - a national chain pet shop that has opened in the former Blockbuster space by the Aveda Institute in Hyde Park. The store is very clean, bright and fun. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. They had a great selection of premium dog food, treats and leashes and collars, plus items to meet the needs of cats, bunnies (Rocky, get excited!) and other small animals. Findlay was a good boy and got a little squeaky hedgehog! I'm looking forward to going back - they had a lot of nice toys and treats at really reasonable prices.

We joined their PetPeeps rewards so we'll continue to make visits. I've been thinking about a new leash and collar - he's always had the same orange argyle set that I can't seem to part with. PetPeople also has a "pet wash" - for $15 to use the space to scrub your pooch and they provide the shampoo, towels and clean up. Luckily Fin fits in my tub when he just needs to be cleaned up but not groomed. I think we equally enjoyed our visit and I was pleased to see it was much more reasonable than Hyde Bark.

René of the Day // 9.16.11 // Private Selection Tasting

Open bar and taste testing? Obviously, I signed up! Made me laugh because my friend Nikki said, "Dang girl - I love your life - it's always so fun!" I can't disagree :) Junior League hosted a fundraising event with Kroger's Private Selection brand to invite us to taste some of their potential new products and provide our feedback. Kelley, Adam, Liz and I secured a cocktail table and filled our little plates with boundless goodies. The focus of the tasting was on flatbreads - loved the rosemary and olive oil and sea salt and cracked black pepper. They were a nice, wide size and snapped nicely to accommodate spreads and dips. They had a beautiful wheel of brie with walnuts and apples that we couldn't get enough of. Little sandwiches and bruschetta filled us as we tasted the cheese straws - my least favorite of the items to be rated. The blue cheese didn't have a hint of that flavor. The cheddar flavor wasn't very exciting. I do think the little cheese rectangles would've been good crunched in soup.

The two olive tables were a hit for Adam and I - the girls aren't fans. I told him it was like a martini bar without the vodka! Stuffed with everything from citrus, blue cheese - the best I've had - soft creamy cheese not a hard square shoved in the olive like they usually are, garlic - with a big crunchy ripe clove and a few others, all of which I loved! Lastly, the cookies - we all really enjoyed the little pumpkin spice tea cookies and my favorite was the raspberry cookies with chocolate-coating on the bottom - except I think the raspberry seeds got stuck in my teeth, which was annoying. The butter pecan cookies weren't as good as a pecan sandie from Keebler.

It was a fun way to spend the evening and may have convinced me to try shopping at Kroger again - it's always a zoo and the aisles break in the center and turn so you can't just work up and down as you go. But their private label brand does have great offerings. I prefer the aesthetics of shopping at Biggs but their produce has declined and they don't carry a lot of the great gourmet products they used to. Trader Joe's is my favorite these days. But it's great that the League was able to provide the little evening of entertaining and benefit our efforts for the year.

René of the Day // 9.13.11 // MAD MEN @ Banana Republic

SWOON!

Truth be told, I hate shopping. I may have said this in a previous blog post. I just want fabulous clothes in my closet for my ever-ready needs. I get tremendous guilt when I spend money on clothes - even though I wear them for years - I still have clothes from when I worked at the Gap in high school in my wardrobe that get worn. So as MR tells me, I should allow myself to a little shopping treat and not feel bad - isn't he the best? :)

I was walking through the mall and hit my regulars: Ann Taylor LOFT, J. Crew and then Banana Republic - and my jaw dropped when I caught sight of their window displays - MAD MEN Collection for Banana Republic! I mean, are you kidding me? I have recently become addicted to the show and am almost through the Season 4 DVDs. Always adoring the dresses worn by Peggy and Joan, I popped inside and scanned the racks. I would've loved to see more options in Betty's style. Honestly, I wear dresses or skirts almost every day. But I do have a difficult time justifying $75+ for one item of clothing - it's not that much but I still wince with guilt. With this being an exception, I may have to choose a favorite, something sassy and classy, and make it mine.

René of the Day // 9.7.11 // Ooh, Farmer's Market!

Of course I love the local Hyde Park Square farmers market, which has expanded this summer, and it's always a great adventure to explore the markets in other cities - Union Square in NYC is one of my favs. But this post is about one of my favorite scents. It's a common 21 questions or getting-to-know-you inquiry and in recent years, this has been my answer: Farmers Market candle by Yankee. They like to describe it as "Autumn's freshest bounty... sweet berries, juicy apples, succulent peaches and warm spices." MMM...

The scent isn't overwhelming and it doesn't smell too much like chemical jarred foods like many candles do. It's fresh, clean and bright. It's a seasonless scent and had become my signature for the apartment. So even after the vendors have packed up for the summer, I still enjoy the aroma.

René of the Day // 8.23.11 // Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day

Dirty apartment? Mrs. Meyer’s will clean it up! I discovered these products a few years ago at Whole Foods. Pulled in by the chic packaging and wooed by the luscious scents, I’ve been addicted ever since. It doesn’t contain heavy-duty chemicals so it’s safe for Fin and they leave behind the nicest smell – not like harsh PineSol or bleach product reekings. I haven’t tried the laundry products but the others rank high on my list of must-haves around the house.

The price tag is a bit higher but you can often snag them for a deal at Home Goods to TJ Maxx. Plus, it takes a few months to use a whole bottle of toilet cleaner when you live alone, so the opportunity cost evens it out. Yes – I do enjoy my loo smelling of lavender or geranium. 

René of the Day // 7.23.11 // Power Grass

How amazeballs is this? I saw this multi-docking charger station at Target for $24.99 and mentally chalked it onto my Christmas list. I love the simple clean look of the grass and it's quirky and funny to think of the electronics we can't seem to live without "growing" out of a window box lol

So it hides the cords - but do you think it can handle my iPhone, BlackBerry, Kindle, iPod and two MacBook Pros? Perhaps I need a whole garden to charge the brigade! 

René of the Day // 7.21.11 // Mark Your Calendars!

...for the second annual Cincinnati Chocolate Festival!

The event is on October 23 from 12:00-6:00 p.m. at the Cintas Center at Xavier University.

Tickets:
$5/10 tickets at Kroger
$7/10 tickets at the door
$1/2 additional tickets

Tickets may be used for chocolate tastings, raffle baskets, demonstrations and other happenings.

Follow the festival on Twitter or become a Fan on Facebook for more delicious details!

More than 30 vendors will have delectable tastings of their best chocolate offerings. With vendor competitions, an amateur contest, children's activities, raffle baskets, holiday shopping opportunities and chef demonstrations, the entire day will satisfy your sweet tooth!

A fabulous Premiere Party will be hosted on Thursday, October 20 at Midwest Culinary Institute with one of my favorite local chefs, Sean Kagy and sponsored by one of my favorite wine shops, A Bottle of Two. With a silent auction, chocolate-inspired food stations and a champagne reception, it will be a the perfect soiree to whet the appetite before the big event!

My previous boss asked me to join the efforts of the Isaac M. Wise Sisterhood, to which she belongs, and contribute PR and social media expertise. I'm having a great time seeing everything come together and helping to secure local celebrity judges and spread the word about this incredible event. All proceeds benefit local children's charities supported by the Sisterhood. I hope all my friends and family can attend!

René of the Day // 7.15.11 // I Heart TJ's

I worry that too many people don't understand the concept or establishment that is Trader Joe's. My mom was one of these people - she thought it was an upscale grocer like Whole Foods or The Fresh Market that over-charged for things like local produce and other items that can usually be found much cheaper at other stores... but my friends, that is NOT the case! I hate shopping but I have an odd love of grocery shopping.

TJ's, as we like to call it, is a mecca of fresh, unique and inexpensive savories that consumes my tummy and heart each week. At least once a week I pop in to grab lunch with the gals from work and I've found that I can check off my grocery list quiet cheaply there. Their frozen food section is mind-blowing - curry paneer rolls, pad Thai, loads of Ethnic foods and also meats, fish and special desserts and appetizers suitable for cocktail parties - things you'd order in a restaurant but never find in, say, Kroger's freezer.

One of my new favorites is the guacamole hummus (Can you imagine? Two amazing things in one, less than $3 and only 50/cals per serving). Their massive wine and beer selection has an unheard of number of decent bottles under $10 - the classic "two buck Chuck" is here - and craft beers at unbeatable prices. The only thing I would not recommend is their sushi - it tends to be a bit gluey and icky - but I think that's fair to say for most grocery store sushi. And their flowers! Gorgeous bouquets  starting at $4 - seriously. No man has an excuse now! Their weekly Fearless Flyer that comes in the mail always has great recipes, hilarious descriptions of items in season and groceries lists to easily grab all the goodies.

I just love that I can fulfill my grocery list with gourmet items and staples with neat, unique items for less than expected. And it's fun to shop there - the employee's ring bells at the check out, anyone will stop to help you find things and the clever, hand-written signs for every product give it a lovely kitschy feel - very west coast. So I had to share... I love this place.

René of the Day // 7.14.11 // Must Have: Kate Spade Book Clutch

I have been eyeing these adorable and intellectually-stimulated clutches by Kate Spade for months! Literature + KS style = divine. I was head-over-heels for "The Great Gatsby" style when the purses first came out but it's no longer available on the website. How smart would it look to carry this tucked under your arm? Oh! And my reading glasses are brown-framed Kate Spade spectacles - how apropos! Of course, I cannot justify this purchase right now - it's a not a practical every day bag and I have plenty of trips and other things that my money will be put to better use for in the coming months. But take a peek at these fabulous "book bags" by clicking here.

René of the Day // 5.26.11 // A Bottle or Two

Or three... usually four is how things go when my aunt Chrissy AKA Kiki comes home from Chicago. Our favorite wine shop, A Bottle or Two, hosts Thirsty Thursday. We decided to meet there for our traditional tasting to celebrate her trip home and enjoy the sips and swirls with savings!

For $5 you receive 6 tastings (see image of list below); this week's selections were "Patio Pounders" - great light wines for pairing with Memorial Day munchies. The pinot noir was quite unique for the varietal, which happens to be one of my favorites, and it was my top choice in this tasting. Bright flavor with dark red fruit notes.

We always have a great time at A Bottle or Two; the selection of wine is fabulous and uncommon - so many wine shops have the same selection, over and over - and they have an exciting beer section, as well. The small room in the back is great for exclusive tastings which we've loved and the cheese and other savories they serve are always divine.

I highly encourage any Cincy oneophiles or those interested in learning more about wine to visit ABOT; the owner, David, will be happy to walk you through options, tasting profiles and pairings. Become a Fan on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Cheers!