Every Monday we’ll 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.

As a dedicated “vinegar, baking soda and water only cleaner” who generally doesn’t allow chemicals in her house, I can’t believe I’m admitting this but I can’t live without my Method Flushable Bathroom Cleaning Wipes. I find them so easy to use that the kids’ bathroom now gets a wipe down every evening while my son plays in the bathtub. Once the kid-washing is over, all I’m there for is to be the safety supervisor so now that I keep a pack of these under the sink I can multi-task and wipe the sink & counter, wash the floor or give the toilet a quick wipe. It only takes a minute and I can flush it after.

Not that I couldn’t do the same thing with the spray bottle of vinegar and roll of paper towel that’s under every sink in my house….but I suppose it’s the “flushable” part that hooked me! I like them so much that I now let my son bath in our ensuite or downstairs just so that I can do a quick clean-up while he plays.

by Nicole

Nestle has a website called Very Best Baking which has become a staple in my kitchen. I love to bake, but I don’t love to spend hours upon hours on really complicated recipes. The fine folks at Nestle have gathered together tons of recipes, sorted them by difficulty, pulled some out as seasonal, and given people a place to review them. I can easily go to the website, type in a couple of key ingredients that I would like to use, and viola - there appears a list of things I could bake.

My suggestion? Try the Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies. They are to die for.

by Canape

Burt’s Bees Body Butter is one thing I can’t live without. I originally bought it to treat my son’s itchy winter-triggered eczema patches because all the products our doctor recommended were loaded with chemicals. It worked beautifully on his delicate skin and then I discovered it’s awesome for long lasting moisture on my own skin, as well. A little dollop applied to my arms and legs keeps them moisturized all day long and it smells yummy to honey and shea butter. But the best part? Burt’s Bees Body Butter is paraben and phthalate-free, which is truly a rarity when it comes to personal care products that can be purchased in your local drugstore or supermarket.

by Izzy

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I don’t take very good care of my nails. Manicures are a must, lest I bite and pull my way into painful cuticles and nasty looking nails. It used to be that by the fourth or fifth day after a manicure, my cuticles were already peeling again, and there was no way to keep my hands looking nice. Then, my manicurist gave me some Solar Oil. By rubbing a little into each cuticle before bed at night, it keeps my manicure looking fresh at least an extra week. I can’t live without it!

by Canape

My experience with C.O. Bigelow products started with lip gloss and led to the best face toner I’ve ever used. Their “For Oily Skin” tonic is specially formulated to eliminate impurities. The cool part is shaking the bottle before each use to mix the witch hazel with the grapefruit, lemon and mandarin extracts. How it makes me skin feel is clean is great, but I have definitely noticed a difference in the typical oily zones. Bath & Body Works carries many of their products or you can order them online. It is a daily favorite of mine.

by Emily

I can’t live (or sleep) without my Simmons Beautyrest Memory Foam pillow. I tried several out at the store and finally decided on this one. It wasn’t too hard or soft and seemed to provide the best amount of continuous firmness. The difference between this memory foam pillow and others is the fact it’s contoured in a traditional shape. No big valley in the middle like some you may have seen. The cover is machine washable and has held up reasonably well over the past year. Although $50 is more than I’d like to spend on a pillow, I’ve slept better than I have in years! It’s on my list of must haves now.

by Terry (guest reviewer)

If you would like to share a “Must Have” with our readers, please e-mail us.

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I was terrified to try any product other than my trusted, extremely mild facial wash for fear of The Breakout That Would End All Breakouts.

Eventually my skin problems improved. I wasn’t a kid anymore! I realized I needed some relief from the Canadian winter skin that plagued me.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15 is the first brand that I tried, and I was hooked. I love it because it has virtually no scent and it has sun screen built right in! It doesn’t clog my pores and makes my skin look fresh without feeling oily. The bottle has a little pump at the top and one pump is enough to cover my just-washed face each morning. My Canadian skin has no idea what country it’s in…

~ by Amy

I can’t live without my LIPFusion Micro-Injected Collagen Lip Plump Color Shine (long name — good stuff!)

It’s not as if my Mick Jagger lips aren’t big enough without a little added plumping, but I’m addicted to opening my purse which contains only three items: a red, hard leather wallet with hinges, my tube of LIPFusion and my crazy-fantastic iPhone.

Twisting the square lid off and applying a bit of stinging LIPFusion in my favorite color, “Glow,” gives me a full-lipped tingle that lasts until it’s wiped off by a kiss from a dark, handsome stranger husband.

~ by Bitsy

My Aunt was a Mary Kay lady back in the day when you had to mix the stuff up with water so I’ve been a follower since the dark ages.

Lots of things have changed and Mary Kay is as hip and cool as the products you’ll find at the upscale department stores, with a variety of skin care and glamour products to make you the prettiest girl you can be.

But one thing hasn’t changed is the wonder that is Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream.

I once had a massive sunburn and my friend’s mom applied it to my legs every hour. It doesn’t cure a sunburn but it helped the skin not be tight and miserable and it helped keep me from peeling away like a mummy.

As someone who suffers with eczema, I can tell you that you need to embrace moisture that will last. Putting this stuff on your eczema is almost heaven. Applied daily, I find that it keeps the skin smooth, nonflaky and when used with hydrocortisone every couple of days, I have zero itchiness.

It’s intended use, as an eye cream, is also a wonder. If I were diligent and dabbed on a little under my eyes at night, I would find that slight lines and wrinkles that have started cropping up since turning 30 would lessen more and more with use. I’m lazy and seldom remember to use it that way, which is surprising given my inherent VANITY, but it works well.

It’s full of petroleum-based goodness, which I know some people don’t care for. I however, can’t live without it.

~ by Gidge

I can’t live without my Oral B Triumph w/ SmartGuide. It is, hands down, the best electric toothbrush I’ve ever used and as someone who takes oral hygeine VERY seriously, I know that of which I speak.

Not only does it tell you how long you’ve brushed (around two minutes is recommended) but it will also tell you if you’re brushing too hard — something I’ve always been guilty of and that is very bad for your gums.

The Oral-B Triumph has four different brushing modes: clean, soft, massage and polishing. Mine came with a flossing head (FlossAction) that I’m particularly fond of and even though it’s not a subsititute for flossing, I’m in love with it because it gives me peace of mind to know that it’s doing more than a regular toothbrush ever could.

~ by Izzy

~ Mary

Aveda Cheek Tint is something I can’t live without in my makeup bag. It is simple to use and versatile too. On a morning when I just want a little color and mascara for running some errands, it is perfect. On an evening out to dinner and to the symphony, it is perfect.

Apply with your fingers, a brush, or a sponge. Use it on your cheeks, and you can give your chin and forehead a hint too, for a glowing finish. It travels better than a powder blush, and is more foolproof as well.

I wouldn’t be caught without my Aveda Cheek Tint.

~ Canape

I can’t live without my Kipling tote bag. This baby is big, loaded with pockets, pretty and most importantly, water-resistant inside and out.

I take it whenever I have to carry a bunch of stuff and more recently, I’ve been bringing it to the pool. It doesn’t matter if I put wet towels and bathing suits in it or if my kids’ sippy cups leak inside. Nothing stains it and it dries immediately.

My tote is called the Cara from the Kipling “If” collection and the funky pattern is Firework Red.

~ Izzy

I’ve found yet another new obsession. Diet Snapple Green Tea has to be the best diet drink on Earth (made from the best stuff on Earth!). Their are several flavors including: mango, citrus, Asian pear and regular. This satisfying drink combined with the healthy benefits of EGCG and antioxidants equals true love.

~ Fenicle

I can’t live without Simple Solution. It’s a miracle of nature! For those of us with pets who tend to have little accidents, Simple Solution is a stain and odor removal spray.

It comes in several varieties: Cats, Hardwood Floors, and just plain regular. It is safe to use around children and pets. It eliminates stains and odor from urine, feces, vomit, blood, dirt, and grass. It also works with common household stains like red wine, juice, coffee, tea, and baby formula.

It works on both old and new ‘problem’ areas whic is great because though we only have one cat, but he has a bit of an issue with peeing on one spot in our house. Simple Solutions comes to the rescue every time, removing the stain and odor quickly and easily! I can’t live without it.

~ Margalit

In the words of everyone’s favorite governess, these are a few of our favorite things…

Mary Can’t Live Without her Babyhawk Mei Tai baby carriers:

I keep one in the car and one in the house. They are great because the baby is secure and enjoys hanging out with me and is therefore not screaming, making me a much more pleasant person to be around and enabling me to actually get something done, like help my three year old on the potty or grocery shop or get the mail, because both of my hands are free. With the Mei Tai, he is secure enough that I can bend or squat with ease and don’t need to worry about him falling out.

Canape Can’t Live Without her set of Addison Bowls from Crate & Barrel:

They get used so much in my kitchen, I should probably own two of them. They are the perfect range of sizes, dishwasher safe and pretty, too.

Margalit Can’t Live Without her OXO can opener:

It is not electric and yet it opens cans quickly, quietly, efficiently and does so without stress on your hands or cans falling onto the counter. I’m a major fan of OXO Grips tools anyhow, and love their vegetable peelers and the various utensils like spoons and spatulas and pastry blenders, but the can opener has to be my all time favorite el-cheapo must-have kitchen tool.

Izzy Can’t Live Without her Peg Perego Aria stroller:

Why? Because it only weighs 10 lbs or so, it glides like no other stroller I’ve owned AND MOST IMPORTANTLY? It has a tray. I challenge you to find a high quality ultra-lightweight stroller that comes with a tray. I’m betting you won’t find one. I probably sound like a nut carrying on about the damned tray but I like to take long strolls and let my son munch on a snack while we cruise around so a tray was not negotiable.

Additionally, it has handles that are high enough for a tall person. Most lightweight strollers and umbrella strollers have handles that are simply too short for me and my husband and we’re not exactly giants.

Those are just a few of the many things I love about the Aria. It is, quite simply, the best lightweight stroller I’ve come across and believe me, I searched high and low for one that met all my requirements.

Now here’s a tip for you if you don’t feel like dropping two Benjamins on one of these lovelies… Go to BabyAge.com or eBay and buy a model from the previous year. They have generally changed very little, if at all, other than having new color schemes, and you can save a TON of money.

Emily Can’t Live Without her Clinique Clarifying Lotion #2:

Over 9 years ago I went with my cousin to get our make-up done for her wedding. The Clinique consultant gave us some samples and recommended I use Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion #2 (for my dry cheeks & oil in the T-zone complection). I’d never purchased expensive make-up or face products before using this and now I can’t live without it! A bottle of #2 has been present in my bathroom ever since.

It helps remove the dead skin cells, controls oil and refreshes my face every morning. I love that Clinique can custom-fit your skin type and I find the price reasonable. They offer a 3-Step Skin Care System, but I prefer just using the clarifier with my own face wash.