Merry Mondays, Week Two: Live

Welcome to week two of Merry Mondays:  mini holiday guides meant to help you find a gift for the special people in your life.  This week’s theme is “Live,” and these are some of my favorite products for everyday living that I’ve reviewed this year.  I believe they each have the potential to improve quality of life in some way, either through comfort, efficiency, or ease of use.

The Logitech Webcam Pro 9000

I use a webcam for several reasons:  “calling” family online, making family videos, vlogging, and filming my live weekly show on MomTV.com.  This tiny bit of hardware has become a part of my daily life.  When I recently had the chance to review the Logitech Webcam Pro 9000, I was thrilled to discover how much easier that part of my daily life was going to get!  The autofocus, sharp HD output, “right-light” technology and more are features that make it effortless to use my webcam.  There’s no editing, no rebooting, no worrying about content or clarity.  I just plug in my webcam, open the intuitive, user-friendly software, and I’m on my way.  If you’re looking to upgrade your own webcam or purchase one for family so you can keep in touch, the Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 is a great choice.

Sorel Footwear

I’ve written before about Sorel’s partial sponsorship of my attendance at the Type A Mom Conference.  Though it began as a business relationship, I’ve been so pleased to be associated with Sorel simply because of the amazing quality of their cold-weather, outdoor footwear.  Everyone I know who has owned a pair of Sorel boots cannot say enough about the comfort, and new owners soon become quick fans.  My own pair of Sorel boots proved fun to wear for their unique style, and surprisingly comfortable despite wearing them for 12+ hours at a time.  Sorel boots have recently been featured as the “must have” winter boots for style and comfort in O, the Oprah Magazine, Ski magazine, Vogue TV, and Self magazine.  They’ve made an effort to move beyond rugged outdoor shoes, and you can now find Sorel footwear that includes more urban options, as well as fabulous slippers for indoors.

Not only can you find Sorel at respected retail partners, you can now shop for that special gift at Sorel.com itself.  The company recently redesigned their entire site to include a storefront for customers to buy directly online.

At Home with Michael Chiarello:  Easy Entertaining

In October I had the opportunity to participate in a webinar hosted by Marie Callender’s and Chef Michael Chiarello.  As part of the event, I was sent Chiarello’s newest book At Home with Michael Chiarello:  Easy Entertaining.  The book, just as Chiarello was during the webinar, is extremely educational and informative.  This is not just a book of recipes; Chiarello takes the time to guide you through six rules to putting the entertain back in entertaining, how to stock a useful and diverse pantry, and the psychology behind different foods and dishes.  There is also a fabulous section that covers Entertaining 101, including the best equipment to keep on hand, right down to cleaning agents, and helpful troubleshooting for most common kitchen headaches.

There are still recipes aplenty though, too.  And one of the most interesting features of the book is how Chiarello guides you through preparing these recipes in steps – 2 days before, 1 day before, morning of, 1 hour before, and service.  The accompanying photographs are nearly as delicious as the food Chiarello describes, making this book just as suitable for your loved one’s coffee table as their kitchen.

You might also enjoy these related posts from Tree, Root, and Twig:

1. CLOSED: Merry Mondays, Week One: Love {Giveaway Included!}
2. ‘Tis the Season for Merry Mondays
3. Sorel.com Takes an Exciting New Direction

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