Oil Producing States

Summertime, and the livin' is greasy. (Imagine that being sung. Badly.) Ahem. Now that we've gotten that out of the way... There's no need to be all shiny just because it's hot outside, and if you've been putting powder (shudders) over the oil -- STOP!!! The next time you're at the drugstore, pick up some of these amazing oil-absorbing sheets. Sure, you could find a similar product with better packaging, and yes, this brand is basically marketed to twelve-year olds, but why should they have all the fun? These things work, people. Would I lie to you about a cosmetic product? www.walgreens.com, $4.99

Appealing Stuff

Someone recently asked me about a good exfoliator, and this is my answer. If your skin is too sensitive for alpha-hydroxy products, this is not for you, but everyone else is in luck because this stuff really works! Use it once or twice a week on a regular basis, and you will actually see smoother, less flaky skin and a general improvement in texture. And, no, I'm not on the L'oreal payroll. One more thing: don't confuse this with their similarly packaged micro-dermabrasion kit(ReFinish); that one exfoliates with aluminum oxide crystals while this one (ReNoviste) uses glycolic acid. Let me know what you think! www.drugstore.com, $23

Get Carded

I never got into the card making that was all the rage because -- well, frankly, it looked like too much work. But it is practically impossible to find great stationery, and when I saw this gorgeous card and read that it was made with (brilliant!!) rub-ons, I thought, "that much work even I could do!" And promptly started looking for cool rub-ons. I found this website -- amillionlittlethings.com, short on style, but full of rub-on cuteness. My favorites are from American Crafts, $5.59.

Window to the World

Sometimes you just don't want to deal with window treatments. This would be perfect for a window that you want covered but translucent. Yeah, I'm thinking of putting them on the window in my shower. I think the neighbors would like that a lot. www.jane2.com, $76

Lemon Tree, Very Pretty

I've finally given in to an obsession with lemons. I was trying to resist -- really, I was. And for a few brief moments, it looked like the pineapple would triumph as Fruit of the Moment. But here we are, looking at cute lemon topiaries and buying lotions smelling of lemon and making lemon bars and lemon-cilantro hummus, so lemon it is.

www.acornsprings.com, $42.50

Throw Some Peanuts on the Floor

Made from recycled plastic bottles and packing materials (what does that mean? I hope it's those awful peanuts that fly all over the place when you open a box), this rug is cute, easy to clean, and I'm pretty sure it would look great in my kitchen. I know you were hoping to hear that. However, if it wouldn't match your kitchen, there are two other patterns. See how I'm always thinking of others?

www.vivaterra.com, $29

Post Haste

More creative recycling -- I love this trend! And don't tell me you wouldn't feel like the coolest kid on the block when whipping out this wallet to pay for a Dr. Pepper.

www.firebox.com, $19.95 paper wallet