By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
As I am celebrating my 50th birthday this year, I am looking at Valentine’s Day a little differently. This year it is all about me and self-love. Being my own soul mate. I am really looking at myself for who I am and I am embracing both my strengths and weaknesses, with all my imperfections in all their glory. So, here are a few things that I just LOVE and that make ME happy (and perhaps you too?):

Heart Pendant Necklace – Nothing says love more than a heart symbol, but this necklace states it in [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
You know when you come across something that gives you such a sweet feeling? Well, Hook-Links did this to me. It brought me back to when I was younger (much younger), when my best friend Keri and I were inseparable. We lived within a short walking distance from each other and when we were not together, we were on the phone talking for hours! (I wish I could go back in time and listen to those phone calls.) We slept and ate at each others homes, we did sports together and even joined each others [...]

Though all of us are curious about our roots and sometimes even fascinated by our family history, genealogy used to be perceived as a dry artform practiced by the retired folks, i.e. the ones who really had the time to delve into the research and the connections and the research again.
Well, here’s a company that is making genealogy look fresh and sexy! Just like the people on the family tree branches were at one time – or the tree wouldn’t exist. the company is called My Tree & Me and it designs and modernizes genealogy charts.

It’s easy to order: Choose [...]

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and you are either looking forward to it or feeling that the whole “getting in the mood and feeling amorous” is just another thing to add to your to-do list.
You may be familiar with the Eden Fantasys adult shop – or maybe not. If you are, you are probably familiar with their titillating props. What you may not know is their large selection of romantic products for couples. Products like massage kits such as the Knead Me Massage Set or the Don’t Stop Massage Candle. Both create a romantic ambiance and warm massage [...]

Ahhhh. Oftentimes it’s the simple things in life that make us happiest. Even in the kitchen. A little dose of happy just came in with this Snapi single handed server that I just discovered. What an adorable and practical little invention. One of those things where you wonder why it didn’t exist before…
The Snapi is a clamshell-like spring-loaded claw that makes picking up, well, practically anything easy, with a single hand, a whole serving with just one scoop.
I first tried it on all the items below (and then some) and am now using it as my favorite server. Sure, it’s [...]

With Valentine’s Day coming up quickly, we thought it would be timely to repost this “gift idea favorite” piece. Go cute or go raunchy. The choice is yours.
 
Do you want to add a bit of amore in your relationship? Just think that every month you both could receive a sexy pair of intimates, model them for each other and  enjoy the rest of the evening together, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
Here are some Intimates of the Month Club to surely inspire romance in your relationship…

FOR HER

Panty by Post – Although this is a Canadian company, it actually started in Paris, which [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Is there better, thoroughly classic way of showing your undying love than with a dozen roses? Unfortunately, they last such a short time that they quickly start looking like your ‘dying’ love. Well, here’s a set of dozen roses that will not only live forever but that can also be worn as a LOVEly fashion statement! (OK, we’ll stop with the lovies now).
This String of Roses Silk Scarf is made with 100% natural silk that is weaved on antique looms to weave the richest quality fabric possible. All scarves are handmade and hand-dyed in Vietnam [...]

Gina Balourdas, the artist behind the Lizzy B vintage jewelry line, has been hooked on flea markets and estate sales every since she was a little girl and her parents brought her along on their vintage treasure hunt expeditions.
Today, Gina still gets inspired by found vintage and antique silver. Her canvass for this particular medium is jewelry. She re-purposes vintage silver into one-of-a- kind pieces. Take her silver tray pieces. Each silver tray has its own special characteristics that ‘speak’ and help determine whether the final piece will be a pendant, earrings or beautiful cuff. Her favorite trays include those [...]

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to fall in love all over again with your significant other? As one of Michael Leunig’s quotes states, “Love one another and you will be happy; it is as simple and as difficult as that.” My husband and I say ‘I love you’ probably 20 times a day and although we mean it, we may have lost some of the passion in the words. Sometimes it takes a little effort to really demonstrate our true love.

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Okay, I admit it. I am a closet potato chip eater. I have no cravings for sweet treats but hand me a bag of something crunchy and salty and the contents of said bag are gone. Ugh! This has been my nemesis for my entire life. I just cannot have chips in my home. And, you know as well as me that the “healthy” baked chips are just not the same.
Gone are the days when I could cut back on eating so that I could indulge my craving. As they say, “Once on the lips, [...]