New Stuff for the New Year
I made no resolutions for 2021. Just a commitment to keep wearing my mask, washing my hands, keeping my distance from other people. In other words, keep trying to stay safe as pandemic numbers keep climbing.
I’m also keeping up my ear acupressure with ear seeds. Ear acupressure has been around for centuries. Based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, auricular acupuncture focuses on points on the ear to treat such conditions as mood disorders, obesity, stress, pain and addiction.
Ear Seed kits support health alignments such as anxiety, depression, libido, hormone balance, gut issues, fertility, immunity, pain, memory, focus, and much more.
Ear seeds are an easy way to practice acupressure. While anyone over the age of three can use ear seeds, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor before use. They come in a variety of colors: 24K gold, invisible sterling silver, clear crystal, and rainbow crystal. Ear Seeds — NAO Wellness NYC
What I do for myself is refresh, with new products and some of the old. One of my annual rituals is to make sure I have a fresh new toothbrush. With dentist visits curtailed due to the pandemic, I alternate my electric toothbrush with one of Dr. Plotka’s silver-infused antimicrobial brushes.
With their flossing bristles, a regular brushing does a really good job of fighting plaque. https://www.mouthwatchers.com/
Another thing I refreshed was my first-aid supply, which turned out to be a mess of expired products. What I found on Amazon was the Welly Excursion kit, which contains a selection of tapes and bandages (latex-free, flexible fabric, waterproof), as well as antibiotic ointments and ibuprofen.
Though I use a fair amount of alcohol-based hand cleaner throughout the day, I like to bathe in fragrant artisan vegan soaps. These superior soaps are as “natural” as can be, free of
triclosan, parabens, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances, pH balanced and made with plant-based materials.
From the same company, a produce wash–which I use on everything I will eat-even when the package says the item has already been washed. It’s an organic
An organic coconut-based soap that’s free of fragrances and scrubs off wax, microbes, soil, and residual pesticides from fruits and veggies. I can use it in two ways. First, just by lathering my hands in the soap and applying it to the fruits and veggies or mixing it in with a bowl of water and swirling in lettuce and other more fragile foods. Aromatherapeutic Soaps | Cold Process | Small-Batch | Artisan | Handma – Sea Witch Botanicals
Masks will be with us for a long time to come, and I have been trying some good versions. Mamasks are made of 100% woven cotton and bio-washed, which means the fabric is extra gentle and the vibrancy of the colors lasts longer. Easily adjustable, the ear bands can be made smaller or larger with the help of silicone stoppers. The most innovative feature is their copper-ion filter that offers powerful antibacterial, antimicrobial & deodorizing benefits.
Mamask was formed with the sole purpose of producing the safest and stylish masks on the market. The company’s line of face masks has garnered attention from Glamour, CNET, and other media outlets for its unique cotton-ion fabric filters and downright too cute designs that both kids and adults love wearing.
Backed by two decades of menswear design experience, Mamask turned to a 3D pattern that was used by the garment company when developing its line of masks. The attention to detail is apparent in the thoughtful design that both protects wearers and is comfortable and breathable at the same time. https://www.mamask-usa.com/
Marcellamoda, known for its New York City-inspired “Minimalism with an Edge” fashion, offers highly sought-after unisex face masks featuring cotton, nose wires, adjustable ear loops, and reusable filters all sourced in Europe. Providing designer style and all-day comfort for both women and men, they’re the essential wardrobe accessory that keeps you safe while looking good. So safe that they were recently chosen as one of the best fitting face masks in all of America by The Wall Street Journal.
Marcellamoda’s masks are ethically and sustainably made and are available in a wide complement of colors; favorites include black and sapphire blue. Marcellamoda NYC. Minimalism with an Edge. Handcrafted in Europe
AirQueen.com has what they describe as “next generation technology masks that have, on average 97% protection,” making them both effective and reasonably priced, at a cost of less than 20 cents a day.
COVID Educator and former network Chief Medical correspondent Bob Arnot MD says: “As more and more Americans are forced indoors by cold winter temperatures, an increased level of protection and protecting the general public is vital at a time when the pandemic is reaching its highest levels of infection. Medical grade masks may have a major effect on stemming the current growth of new cases. They have prevented infections when health care providers were exposed to aerosolized virus. This next generation technology from AirQueen.com offers high medical grade protection for everyone.”
“To meet demand, AirQueen.com has scaled manufacturing to 100,000,000 masks a month giving the general public the same high level of protection that health care workers have,” says Louis Ziskin, President & CEO, Air Queen, Inc. AirQueen.com
Like many people, I wear glasses, which means that after a short time outside, my glasses get fogged up. It’s clumsy and annoying to clean them while on the move—which is why I have a product called FogBlock. All you have to do is spray FogBlock—no wiping–on eyeglasses, sunglasses, goggles, etc. It’s safe Anti-Reflective and Non-Anti-Reflective lenses and it lasts for many hours,
The product is especially useful for kids who wear glasses. Spray the glasses before the leave for school (or outside play) and eliminate the fogging—and the need to touch their glasses or their eyes. https://www.getkeysmart.com/products/fogblock
And yes, like so many people, I now often crave a glass of wine with dinner, just to mellow out after a day spent doing same-old, same-old. But one glass is my limit, which has made me a big fan of wine in tiny containers.
In Good Taste allows me to taste wines from around the globe in small decorative bottles, so I can explore new flavors—and perhaps at some point, choose a whole bottle.
In other words, I get a virtual wine-tasting experience in my own home.
Each tasting flight includes:
⁃ 8 unique wines in each tasting flight
⁃ Each decorative tasting bottle is one glass of wine
⁃ Wines are curated from around the globe
⁃ I can experiment on your own or join a complimentary virtual tasting
⁃ Full size bottles available when I find some favorites.
Handpicked and limited in batches, each glass is intended to offer new varietals, regions and vintages to enjoy. https://ingoodtaste.com/
When more than one glass is wanted, but still not an entire bottle, Wine Society gives us wine in cans—no corkscrew necessary!
Founded by entrepreneur Angela Allison, WineSociety elevates the quality of canned wine by offering award-winning wines in a convenient 500ml eco-friendly can (no corkscrew required!).
The brand has earned a 94-point score from the International Wine & Spirit Competition. WineSociety works with notable growers in the heart of Napa Valley to produce three offerings:
- TEMPT: Syrah blend with notes of dark cherry, plum & cedar spice (ABV 14%)
- FATE: Chardonnay with hints of peach, bosc pear & fresh citrus (ABV 13%)
- CHANCE: Rose blend of Zinfandel, Syrah & Barbera, redolent of white peach & raspberry (ABV 13%)
All WineSociety blends ($9.99/can) are 90 calories or less per serving and are low in sulfites and residual sugar. Available to ship to nearly 40 states https://winesociety.com/
Donum estates
When only a fine wine will do, the name of Donum Estate comes to mind. The leading Pinot Noir producer in Carneros with an open-air world-class sculpture collection placed among estate vineyards, has several new offerings in honor of its upcoming 20th anniversary.
The new 20th Anniversary Catalog features the Terroir Series, the Ai Weiwei Vertical, and The Gift of Donum collections, as well as two exclusive magnums.
The Ai Weiwei Vertical collection plays homage to Donum’s large-scale sculptures on its Estate grounds and includes the 2015 Ten Oaks Pinot Noir from Donum’s Russian River Vineyard, the 2016 Angel Camp Vineyard Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley, and the 2017 Russian River Reserve Pinot Noir from the best-barrel selection from Donum’s Winside Vineyard, all displayed in a hand-crafted collector’s wooden box.
The Gift of Donum collection features two notable wines that represent Donum’s Carneros Estate vines–the 2016 Carneros Estate Pinot Noir and the 2017 White Barn Pinot Noir; they are also presenting in a custom Donum wooden gift box.
Lastly, select Donum magnums offered include a 2015 West Slope Pinot Noir and a 2014 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, each separately packaged in a Donum branded wooden gift box.
https://www.thedonumestate.com/
Being a virtual shut-in most of the day, doing Zoom meetings, phone calls and emails, I’m acutely aware of how stuffy the air in my office can be—especially when the weather doesn’t permit open windows for more than a couple of minutes.
Enter the Halo XL, the newest diffuser from Guru Nanda, which doubles as a full-function humidifier to help eliminate dry air. It has a remarkable run-time of up to 22 hours per fill and has convenient top fill design for ease of use and quick cleaning!
The 2-in-1 device fills my office with fragrance and provides healthy humidification. It features Shut Off Mist Timers, Optional Light Modes, Sleep Mode & Automatic Safety Shut-off.
Available at Guru Nanda and Amazon! https://gurunanda.com/guru-nanda-halo-xl-humidifier-essential-oil-diffuser/
$99.99
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