Welcome to June’s installment of my current favorites from recent shopping excursions and from the depths of our apartment that have been rediscovered. What great things are you using in your life right now?
- Nathan water bottle — We ALL know we’re supposed to drink a lot of water throughout the day. At least 2 liters in fact. But unfortunately few of us end up doing that, especially if we find ourselves on the go all day. This past weekend, we wound up in a sporting goods store and I noticed they had a Nathan water bottle. I’ve heard good things about them and have not been so thrilled with our current water bottle situation (we have a few Sigg bottles and of course use a few other sports ones for running) because the nozzles get gross and you have to squirt out the water which is unpleasant. So I purchased a new Nathan Frosted Tritan Water Bottle and it has barely left my side for the last 4 days. It is fantastic because it works with a straw system, so you don’t have to tip the bottle up in front of your face while driving or squirt it down your throat while running. It’s really well sized for the hand and come with replacement straws to get you started. It has quickly superseded all my expectations
- George Gina Lucy handbag — There are not too many designer things that I get excited about in life. But I have been a fan of GG&L bags since they started populating the streets of Germany several years ago. While new ones easily fetch €400 or more, I have kept an eye out for bags from time to time on eBay. And last month, I finally found a bag that I adore…and at a complete steal for less than €60! What I love about the purse is that while it’s not too huge, it has a ton of little side pockets to stick things in. So I can separate my keys from my phone, preventing the latter from getting all scratched up, and can keep a bunch of other stuff in my purse that every mom needs (from Bandaids to a Swiss Army knife.)
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5D camera — Recently we’ve discovered just how great it can be to have a camera with you when you’re out running. This is especially true when you are running a new route or in a new city where you’re doing some site seeing on the run (a new favorite past time of ours). We’ve been using a rather old Samsung camera for this purpose, but have been fearful about getting it sweating, taking it out in the rain or dropping it. Then we discovered that a whole new breed of cameras have come to the market in the last few years which are considered “tough”. Our new camera will work underwater, can be dropped from 7 feet up and is great for taking to the park, beach or just about anywhere else. Check out Stefan’s new running blog and his unboxing video of the Lumix DMC-TS5D camera here.
- Simply for Flying kid’s travel logbook — Do you travel a lot with their kids, especially in planes? Within Europe, it’s quite common to hop off to a city for a long weekend and do some exploring. In fact, we’ll be doing exactly that next weekend with Mackenzie when we go visit London. While there’s plenty to be excited about during the trip, it’s also nice to create an extra special memento for your kids to look back on in the future. And that’s where the Simply for Flying logbook comes in handy. With plenty of space to record all the important details of all your trips (and to get a special note from the Captain as well), these books are super cute and just the right size to keep with your passport. Oh and watch out for a new giveaway starting this week to win one of FIVE of these adorable logbooks!!
What fabulous things have you found in the last month?? Share with us in the comments below!!
Ah, we’re going to be in the market for a new camera before too long, and Peter and I were just having this discussion the other day. There are times when I want something tiny I can throw in my purse but still get decent pictures with (in other words, way better than my phone), and then there are other times where I want the REAL DEAL, big lens, and all the gizmos. Of course, every time I think about making a purchase, my Scotch blood rises up and says, “Are you out of your mind? You don’t want to pay that much for a CAMERA!” and I continue to nurse my slowly dying, ever-more-finicky Kodak for a little bit longer. 😉
I can highly recommend the Lumix. It’s really versatile and not so small that you’re at risk of dropping it all the time — but it’s easy to carry everywhere with you.
I love my Canon DSLR, but it’s definitely not the kind of thing you want to haul all over the place with you. It’s more like an investment that you nurture going forward with new lenses. Few point & shoot cameras compare with a DSLR with a great lens — but the Lumix we bought is 16 megapixels which is just crazy. And a fraction of the cost of the DSLR.
Nice list! I will have to check out a couple of things as I’m always on the lookout for fab handbags and water bottles. I love our Siggs but they are getting pretty banged up.
The nozzles on our Siggs have gotten really funky lately. I know they can be replaced but the ones we have now always seem to close up when we drink which is just annoying. I’m really happy with this Nathan bottle and we’re planning to get several more now. Our Siggs are also something like 8 years old now and definitely not looking so sexy anymore lol.