On Riverside Drive

Raindrops on roses, and whisker-less legs, these are a few of my favorite things

Every year during the Holidays, I put together a basket of my favorite things to give as gifts to my family and friends. I'm always on the lookout for new products, better than the product of the year before, and, with the help of my super-shopper girlfriends, we test them out. If nothing else, it makes for some great conversation.

Here's what is going into my 2007 Favorite Things Basket, and if you're one of my recipients, act surprised.

Hanes Tagless Plain White T-shirt - My friend Sheila, from Minot, ND, recently came to visit me and as a hostess gift she brought me a package of the new Hanes Plain White T-shirts. I had no idea that Hanes made their famous Tagless tees for women, nor would I have thought to try them. Now, I'm addicted. They're cheap, come in a package of two at Target, and have become a staple in my wardrobe. They look great alone, with a pair of jeans, or under almost everything I wear, because they are so soft. Not to mention, they wash up great!

Dawn Simple Pleasures Dishwashing Detergent - Dawn has released a new line of dish soaps called Simple Pleasures, with air fresheners built right in to the bottle. A little vent filled with tiny scent pellets is shaped into the bottom of the soap container - give it a quick shake to release more scent, or just leave it on the side of the sink and enjoy a fresh scent for weeks. No worries, it still features the same grease-fighting Dawn that we've come to trust, but now, just walking by the sink and getting a whiff of it will make you happy too! My favorite scent? Apple and Pear.

Vitamin Water from Glaceau - I love this product, and since I gave up Diet Coke, I am drinking more of it. Plain water can get a little boring, so the Vitamin Water gives me a little spice. The notion is simple, water + vitamins, in a To-Go bottle. No pills to pop. It comes in a gazillion flavors, with just the right blend of taste without being too sweet. My favorite flavors are Focus, Energy, and Revive, and the funny labels alone are worth the purchase. If you want to grow up to be like their buff celebrity endorsers - Brian Urlacher, Shaquille O'Neal, or Donovan McNabb, drink a lot of it.

Lancome Définicils Mascara - Hands down the best mascara on the market. Every year I test out all the new mascaras, in hopes that there might be something just as good for less money. I'd rather buy mascara at Walgreen's than Herbergers, but to date, nothing is better than the Lancome Définicils. They're also the number one selling mascara in the country, and at $23.00 a tube, I guess that's the price we have to pay for beauty. Their Cils Booster (the white lengthener you put on before the mascara is also great, but it gets a bit costly.)

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner - As long as we're talking make-up, my favorite eyeliner. Best of Beauty Award Winner (October 2007) for "Allure" and Best Long-Wearing Liner Award from "In Style" (April 2007). Also not available at Walgreens, but worth the $19.00 a pop.

It's a 10 - Leave in Hair Conditioner - Funky looking retro bottle, bright blue and pink. Great product and easy to use. Nothing is worse than a leave in conditioner that leaves your hair greasy and heavy. Not this one. Just spray on after you towel dry your hair - it adds shine, seals & protects hair color, detangles, prevents split ends, leaves hair just the right "soft" and you don't even know you have it in.

Schick Intuition Razor - No need for shaving cream! Intuition's Conditioning Strip lathers lightly when wet! It is enriched with aloe, cocoa butter, and Vitamin E, so it smoothes with every stroke. Easy pop out replacement heads. I also like Schick's Quatro, for the lesser cost, but Intuition is the best.

iPhone - I wish I could buy all of my friends one, I love it that much. Of all my favorite products of 2007, this is at the top of the list. Instead, everyone will be getting some Apple iTunes gift cards and they can do what they want with them. The iPod touch is just as amazing, without the phone calling ability.

Crocs with Fleece - I was not a fan of the original Crocs at all. I thought they were cheesy and ugly. But, the new Crocs with fleece (Crocs Mammoth) are hot. They are so warm and cozy, and great for around the house instead of slippers. I don't know if I'd wear them in public, though all the kids are at the high school, I'll keep my cozy Crocs in the comfort of my home. You can get them in a ton of colors, (I have red and black), online or at Herbergers, but hurry, they're selling out fast!

Secret Clinical Deodorant - I'll spare you my "Coffee Makes Me Sweat" monologue. But, my friend Megan and I have been researching deodorant for years. She could only find deodorant to solve her problem via a prescription…until Secret Clinical. You put it on at night, and voila, problem solved. I don't know how it works, but it does. (More info at Secret.com.)

OPI Nail Polish in all the Russian colors - Short, dark, nails are in, and nothing says, "I know fashion," more than OPI's Russian Collection. My favorite colors - Russian Navy, Midnight in Moscow, Boris and Natasha, Suzy says Da!, and Siberian Nights.

Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert - My favorite book of 2007. It's the story of one woman's journey to finding herself, over a year, through Italy, India and Indonesia…but it's a lot more interesting than that subtitle. Witty, insightful, and a quick-and-easy read. My favorite combination in a book!

Worthington Crocheted Rib Tights - If you're going to wear the Russian Collection, finish it off with the tights. You can wear them with anything, short skirt, long skirt, little black dress, or under jeans. Available at JC Penny, and by far, the best fitting tights on the market. (Believe me, I've wasted a lot of money on too tight at the waist tights, or saggy at the knees leggings.)

Happy Shopping, and feel free to send me your favorite products to try! Listen to the radio show this weekend as my guests are Chip and Pepper, my favorite jean designers (and designers to the stars.) They're old friends of mine from Winnipeg, who made it big in Hollywood…but, they still make the hottest jeans on the market.

Karin Housley is a realtor in the St. Croix Valley, a Wednesday Valley Life columnist and hosts a weekly radio show every Saturday morning at 9:00 on AM 1220 KLBB - or listen live via the web at klbbradio.com. You can email her at karin@karinhousley.com or visit her website at www.karinhousley.com.