Francis Kurkdjian is considered one of the greatest perfumers in the industry and is recognized worldwide for creating more than 20 of the best-selling fragrances of all time. We recently got the chance to smell some scent samples, and try the perfumed incense papers from his new line of scents for the home.

All I can say is wow. There were so many lovely smells, I couldn’t choose a favorite. I was also impressed by the way the samples were presented, and especially how fresh the incense papers smell. The papers, which even come with matches, are a truly unique way to scent a room. The scent of our sample was Aqua Universalis – The idea of water that crosses between skin and fabric, between sheets and air. With notes of Bergamon and Lemon from Sicily, White Bouquet, Light and Musky Wood. It’s a scent that is light, but also strong, and very good for a shared bedroom, as it’s niether too feminine or too masculine.

Francis has done some exciting and creative things in the world of fragrance. He created a scent for the fountains of Versailles, recreated the perfume of Marie-Antoinette and even created a dessert based on scent for Plaza Athenee restaurant. The electric experiences have inspired the unique offerings in the collection including: liquid detergent, incense papers, bubbles and a scented leather bracelet along with fine fragrances. I thought the bubbles were an especially fun and unique idea.

The home collection has four key items: candles, interior scents, incense papers and perfuming laundry wash with matching fabric softener. Available for order online via Maison Francis Kurkdjian. There is even an option of having a personal perfume created just for you. If that isn’t wish list worthy, I don’t know what is.

If you are a gardener, and a cook, or even if you just try to be, then the NatureMill is going to be your new best friend. The NatureMill is an indoor composter that can be set up in your kitchen (or anywhere else really), to make quick use of your table scraps. The result is awesome compost that will be great for using in your gardens and flowerbeds. I seriously can not wait for spring so I can put the compost to good use.

NatureMill Composter

I have so many great things to tell about this product, for example, you can add food to the mix at any time, up to 120 lbs a month! That is a lot of food that would have been wasted that instead will become beautiful compost! There is no mixing, the machine does all the work. We love that there are no trash odors, and the variety of items we can put inside. The NatureMill provides a continuous air flow and a powerful carbon filter to remove odors, and the compost tumbler is completely sealed!

Compost is ready in 2 weeks, and there is even a red light to let you know when it’s time to empty the bin. Unlike traditional composting methods, you can add meat, dairy, and fish. You can even compost pet waste, kitty litter, and cage beddings. This is because the NatureMill has high temperatures inside.

It was very easy to set up and get going. The instructions were clear, and the product comes assembled, so all you have to do is make the composting mix. Everything you need is included except for one cup of dirt (which you can get out of your garden, even if the dirt is frozen).

We eat a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits, so it has been wonderful to be able to easily convert the waste into compost. Now in the middle of the snowy winter, we don’t have to think about running out to add scraps to the compost pile, we just add it to the NatureMill in the kitchen! We would really love to get the cabinet kit (shown in the photo), if only we had a free cabinet.

The composter does have to be plugged in, and it works best when you break up your food waste into small bits. It’s been very nice to be able to add our pet waste and especially the bird cage bedding, which used to go to the regular trash can. I can’t wait to be able to use our compost in our future garden beds when spring arrives. It will be such a great way to start off our plantings, and to feed our garden, without having to spend money on commercial compost!

You can buy online direct from the company via the NatureMill website, and you can also check for local stores. The NatureMill should be on the wish list of everyone who loves to garden, or just wants a better way to address the food waste in their household.

Journals Unlimited offers a variety of fun journals for a wide range of topics. Their journals are a fun and easy way to keep track of the events in your life. The pages of the journals have prompts to help you quickly and easily write about your experiences. With many fun options for look and size, there is sure to be a journal for everyone.

We got a chance to try out the Travelers Journal for this review. It came at the perfect time as we were just about to go on an over night trip. Here is a shot of our journal in action at the hotel. I was just getting it filled out, which now I am glad to have a record of things like what the weather was like (it was freezing), and what fun things we did. I can just imagine how great this journal would be on longer trips!

The other thing that we loved, is that they are made in the USA, using soy based ink on acid-free recycled paper. They are super durable, and have a great look. I really loved the travel journal, and have some of their other journals on my wish list; the garden journal, the cooking journal, the gratitude journal, and of course, the pet journal! They have a lot of other fun options too, and they also offer smaller sized journals in addition to the full sized journal.

For more information and to order, visit the Journals Unlimited website.

I am one of those rare few who absolutely LOVE office supplies. Ever since I was young, I could not wait to organize, getting pens and paper was a big treat, and the office supply store was like a candy store to me. So obviously when we got the chance to take a look at the new products from 3M, I was very excited!

The new Post-it Super Sticky labels are great for all kinds of organizing projects. Not only do they stick well (much more sticky than the regular Post-its) but they are also removable. They come in a great variety of sizes and colors. The label pads, which you can get in square or rectangle, are a great size for containers, and other larger items that you want to label. The bright neon colors make them easy to read and spot.

I used some in our pantry. I love being able to look in, and find the container I need really quickly thanks to the bright color. It also really helped that I could remove the label, as I decided to use one of the containers for something new when the other dry good ran out.

The smaller removable labels can be printed on in a laser printer, or you can just write on them. They come in rectangle and round shapes. I love the round dots for use on my calendar, and knowing that I can remove them if I need too is a big plus. The removable labels also come in name badges, full sized sheets, file folder labels, I.D. labels that can go on binders, shelves, etc.

There are new, permanent labels as well. We especially loved the recycled address and return address labels. They are made from 100% post consumer recycled material, but they are white so they will match an envelope! I love to write letters, and being able to create my own, unique labels with the use of my printer and the labels from 3M was a lot of fun. They also offer labels for shipping in packages that have everything you would need (white and clear). In addition to labels for shipping, they have bright colored labels that are larger (2″x4″) that you could use on containers, packages, or anything else you want to stand out.

To see all the colors and sizes, and to find out where to purchase them, be sure to visit the Post-it/3M website. As an office supply junkie, I have to say these new items are very wish list worthy in my book!

Monday, November 30 GelPro will offer 15% off any product on their Web site (excluding gift cards). I have always wanted to try one, and think that they look great for cooks and others who are on their feet a lot. So, if you have always wanted one, today is a great day to snatch one up!