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By Sara Thompson
Today's Woman Magazine
www.iamtodayswoman.com


Welcome to the first installment of Shopping with Sara!  I’ll be your guide to all sorts of fun, fabulous new things from all around our fair city. Every month I’ll bring you the latest in fashion, tasty treats, new entertainments and the best deals I can find.

Take a Whiff
The Good Home Co. laundry detergent and fabric softener offers scents like Pure
Grass and Beach Days that will make you feel like you just came in from a sunny day
outdoors, even if it’s 40 degrees and raining. (Bedded Bliss, $16.75 for
34 fl. oz.)

Never Get Out of Bed
Combine herringbone weave, a 406-thread count, and a long history of fine Italian linen
making and you have the Rolls Royce of bedding with Sferra Brothers sheets. (Bedded
Bliss, Prices vary, see store for details)

Soap for the Queen  
Offering royal jelly soap  — made from the food of the queen bee and reported to be
very good for the skin — emblazoned with bees, as well as personalized soap gift sets
and fine French-milled soaps. There are lots of ways to wash off the day. (Bedded
Bliss, $4 and up)

Safe Keeping
Bungee wallets are discreet enough for those teeny evening bags but durable, too.
Umbra’s bungee wallets are a great way to keep your keys, credit cards and money
safe and secure. This is not your mama’s coin purse. The small plastic case is held shut
with a little bungee cord and is the perfect size to hold all those store discount cards we
all seem to be collecting. (Divas, $5 for small, $8 for large)

BEDDED BLISS
If you are very serious about your sheets, this shop is for you. Owner
Donna Osif takes linens for your home to a totally new dimension, offering luxurious
bedding, pajamas and towels, plus soaps, slippers, and a host of other products
guaranteed to give you sweet dreams. Tucked away in the Chenoweth Square
shopping center, this cozy shop features beds decked out in lush Egyptian cottons just
begging you to try a nap on their fluffy pillows.  3936 Chenoweth Square, Louisville,
(502) 899-5153.

DIVAS
Handbags and accessories are a specialty here, but look closer and you’ll find darling
knickknacks, like the tiny door hangers that read “My Bubbie Loves Me” and beautiful
patterned stationery (flowers, dots, fleur de lis). This sparkly little boutique is a great
place to browse with your girlfriends or pick up an unusual gift since Divas has a little of
everything, from jewelry to candles and more. Owner Fran Berg is happy to show you
around. 2400 Lime Kiln Lane, Suite C, Louisville, (502) 426-0206.

For the Foodie Wannabe
Recently I’ve been branching out a little bit, food wise. I blame it on too many hours
watching the Food Network. If you’re looking to broaden your gastronomic horizons,
here are three delicious ways to do it. Find these products at specialty stores such as
Whole Foods Market.Basilicata Salad Dressing and Sauce  Made in Prospect, Ky.,
Basilicata is a supremely versatile and tasty basil and olive oil dressing. Dip bread in it,
marinate meat with it, or toss it on a salad. (Hint: we have to buy the 3-pack at Costco
because we go through about a bottle a week. (olivebranchcuisine.com, $4.99 for a 13
oz. bottle)

Halloumi  
Halloumi is a strange and wonderful cheese that hails from the country of Cyprus. White
and salty, halloumi is similar to mozzarella in texture. Try halloumi grilled (it won’t melt)
and dipped in Basilicata sauce or see halloumicheese.com for recipes and info. ($6.99
for an 8.8 oz package)

Dark chocolate covered almonds
You won’t even care about those studies showing that dark chocolate is actually good
for you or that almonds are chock-full of protein, nutrients and vitamin E — you’ll be too
busy enjoying this yummy snack. ($10.99/lb.)

Run Out of Things to Say?
Dinner conversation getting a bit stale? Liven things up with Table Topics. Cards
feature questions such as, “In your opinion, what are the Seven Wonders of the
World?” and come in themes such as Girls’ Night Out, Great Conversations, and
Original. (Divas, $25)

Tea Time 
You’ve seen it on Oprah and if you’re a tea junkie like me, you wanted to try Tea forte
the first time you saw those darling little silken pyramids. The six-pack includes flavors
such as citrus mint, and gift sets are available. (Divas, $5 for two teabags, $10 for six
teabags)

Find Of the Month
Universal Lipstick
Does this happen to you? The siren song of a new tube of lipstick lures you in and 10
minutes later you’re walking away with a pink that will never look good on you no matter
what. Right? Me, too. But I recently remembered that many years ago my friends and I
discovered a truly foolproof lipstick color. So I went out and got a fresh tube of Revlon’s
Toast of New York. To be sure, my friends and I are varied hues — I’m a fair brunette,
Dara’s an olive-skinned blonde, and Amy’s a redhead. Girls, this lipstick looks good on
all of us. It’s a deep gorgeous reddish brown, great for evening wear with a little gloss or
even during the day for a little drama. (Available at Target and area drugstores, $6)