Must Have Monday’s 08

Welcome to Must Have Monday’s. Every Monday our reviewers will let you have a sneak peak into what we use in our homes and our lives.Here we will tell you about the things we can’t live without. If you have a “must have” item to pass along please e-mail us. We welcome contributions from our readers and are always looking for new reviewers.

Will my J.Crew Favorite Fit corduroy pants make it through the season? If they weren’t such an eye-catching, and thereby memorable, color, I might wear them everyday, but they are burnt orange (Eye of Texas, anyone?). I am sure people with whom I come in daily contact, talk amongst themselves and wonder, “Is she wearing those pants again today?”

These are the best fitting pants ever. I admire the J.Crew Favorite Fits so much that I sent them for two of my friends at Christmas. Low-slung with cute brads on the pockets, make these cords hot. Did I mention they came in an array of great colors?

These pants have gone on sale and are only available at J.Crew online. Many of the sizes and colors are gone. It’s so J.Crew to offer something great and not produce enough to satisfy the need of the people!

Last Winter J.Crew had the greatest mustard colored cardigan with glass buttons. I spied the sweater when I was on a trip and planned to buy it when I returned home to find it sold out. Hopefully, they will replenish their stock soon.

by Bitsy

Beating the wintertime indoor blues with toddlers is constant challenge. A wise mom will invest in the Kangaroo Climber from Step2 and watch as her children expel energy from the warm comforts of home. All of my kids are able to act as if they are on a playground in the park even though we are couped up in the living room.

At first I thought this monstrosity would take up my entire free area, but it is really pretty compact considering it has a slide. The kids can’t get enough of the climbing and jumping, on the durable Step2 plastic. It snaps together without tools and disassembles quickly for storage.

At about $120 I think it is an amazing investment in bad weather sanity. The resale value of Step2 products is high, so consider using this for a few seasons and then letting another family thank you for introducing them to the Kangaroo Climber.

by Helene

Occasionally, I will grab a Smart One’s frozen meal to take with me to work for lunch. As most people, I have my favorite dishes and ones that I don’t care for at all. On a recent grocery trip I found that they had created a new line called, “Fruit Inspirations.”

They have added the flavor of real fruit with vegetables and protein. You can choose from Orange Sesame Chicken, Pineapple Beef Teriyaki, Cranberry Turkey Medallions or my personal favorite - Honey Mango Barbeque Chicken. My first choice meal also has only 240 calories. The mango gives you a burst of sweet, while the barbeque delivers a tangy blend of spice.

These dishes already keep you in-check with following a diet, but most frozen healthy meals I’ve tried were very bland. Smart One’s new line is bursting with flavor!

by Emily