Things I Love: July 2013

My favorite things in July 2013. And yes, I know my photography skills are lacking. Oh well. July 6, 2013.

Fast Company Magazine has a front-of-book sidebar in which executives provide one or two things they love right now. I’ve gotten great recommendations for books, business tools, places, music, movies, apps, and more.

So I figured: Why not make that a monthly feature on my blog? I’ll share two or three favorite things of the moment—and I’ll ask for yours.

We’ll all get great tips and tricks and tools this way.

Here’s what I love right now:

L’Occitane en Provence’s Dry Skin Hand Cream

A small dollop of this hand cream moisturizes two hands without greasy residue. I bought a couple one-ounce tubes for my briefcase and handbag. Even though Houston’s humid, I wash my hands a lot—and they get dry.

Next Issue

Where has this app been all my life? When I discovered Next Issue, I hesitated because of its monthly fee ($9.99 for the basic and $14.99 for the premium). Yet I’ve more than recouped the cost in not buying individual paper issues, I’ve discovered wonderful publications I wouldn’t have explored otherwise, I’ve read more than ever, and I’ve found that many magazines have fantastic tablet-only features.

Enfusia’s Bee Friendly Natural Lip Balm

The colony collapse crisis prompted me to seek beeswax-free lip balm years ago—to no avail. So when I saw this lip balm by chance in my local Kroger, I bought it. Little did I know that the manufacturer operates just north of Houston and that it has a female founder and CEO. (My fan letter to her became one of the prompts for this post.) In addition to its bee-friendly-ness, this lip balm goes on smoothly, lasts for hours, and works well under lipstick.

What do you love right now?