Cindy Loughridge was the first person to begin keeping a 10 Things set of her own after I started posting my little personal project to Flickr. Her photos often capture life’s little pleasures and in the month of Mother’s Day, we can’t think of a better contributor than a mom who not only celebrates her daughter as the subject of her work, but has also passed on to her a passion for photography.

Mint Chip Ice Cream at the former Thrifty’s Drug (now known as Rite-Aid)
Mmmmmmmint Chip! I remember going to Thrifty’s as a kid and getting a single scoop of Mint Chip on a cake cone for 25¢. Yes, that’s one quarter.

Well, due to inflation it is now 99¢. It is still the BEST Mint Chip ice cream in town…even better than 51 Flavors. I am so lucky that Rite-Aid decided to continue the Thrifty’s ice cream counter.

Gayles
Nestled in the seaside town of Capitola, California, Gayles is my favorite deli/rotisserie/bakery west of the Rockies. All the delicious concoctions are made on-site, so it’s fresh everyday. The store is extremely busy; they have to service customers with a numbered ticket system…kind of old school but it works for them. They have this system down to a science.

If you’re ever in the area, it’s a must to visit Gayles. Try my favorite breakfast item: the Christopher Bun, a fancy name for the cinnamon rolls. Oh, so delectable!

L’annine

This hand and body cream is from Europe, so it must be good, right? Well, let me tell you: this is the best cream I have ever tried. I have the driest skin due to the arid climate of California…I pray for humidity, crazy me. The cream goes on smoothly with no greasiness and the light lemon scent is divine. I always carry a tube with me in my tote.

Sweet Basil
According to Wikipedia, the word basil comes from the Greek word basileus, meaning “king”. It is considered the “King of the Herbs”. I always plant a few sweet basil plants, more than I can ever use in one season.

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Basil makes a wonderful companion plant to tomatoes; they actually help each other grow! How very sweet (basil) that is. Try some in your sandwiches, salads, pasta, pizza, and my favorite way, tomatoes with fresh mozzarella.

Booksmart
Independent bookstores have gone the way of giant corporate bookstores (not that there’s anything wrong with the Giant Bookstores). I just have a place in my heart for the independent ones. Our’s is aptly named BookSmart.

 

 

I count my blessings we still have one in my town. The owners are locals and are the kindest people you will meet. So go out and support your local independent bookstore. I do!

Cashmere Wrap
If you don’t have a pure cashmere wrap, put it on your wish list. It is a wonderful investment. For the price of the wrap, I can definitely say I have gotten my money’s worth.

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It’s wonderful to use on evenings out when you don’t really need a jacket, or mornings when there is just a touch of chill to the air. It’s great when you are stuck under a fan at the movies and perfect to take on planes. Better than any airplane blanket–yuck. And who ever has a blanket this chic?

Reefs
The best flip flops on earth…to me.

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I get a new pair every year. Here they are! Purrrrr.

Vietnamese Sandwich
This is the Asian version of a sub-sandwich. A variety of meats are offered in these sandwiches, but I always get the grilled chicken.

The fixins’ are as follows:
10-inch baguette
French mayonnaise
A sprinkling of Maggi (French soy sauce)
Thinly sliced pickled carrots, white radish, cucumbers and very hot green chili peppers….I mean smokin’ hot.
Grilled chicken (or other meat…they even offer a veggie version with tofu).
Last and most importantly: Fresh Cilantro

Pure gastronomic heaven.

Moms and Daughters
…and in this case granddaughter.

These two ladies are the best “things” of all. I love them dearly and, as you can tell, they love each other dearly. I’m not going to get sappy on this one. It would be too obvious. But it’s May, so go and celebrate with all the wonderful ladies in your life.

New Book Anticipation
Ah…who doesn’t know what I’m talking about? A newly released novel by a favorite author. The excitement, the thrill, the anticipation. Sometimes I will wait a few days before diving in; which is just my poor attempt to extend the book, when what I really want is to devour the whole thing in one sitting.

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But like a good meal, we want to find out what happens while still savoring every bite. We race to the end, but that also means it’s really over. Next up: Body Surfing by Anita Shreve, one of my all time favorite writers.