Monday, November 10, 2008

Let's Shop

When my sister and I were little girls, as soon as we arrived in the US for our summer vacation, we asked our parents to stop at the very first foodmart so that we could get our hands on some much-missed Oreos, that all-American treat...
These days, I still munch on Oreos as soon as possible after landing in the US, but another thing I love is hanging out in drugstores and checking out products for my hair and skin. I always buy bottles of Dr Brommer's soaps, especially the Tea Tree one, as well as moisturizers from Burt's Bees, an all-natural brand I discovered years ago in Vermont - the company was recently purchased by Clorox, which I hope will remain faithful to Burt's Bees classic ingredients.

After shopping, I love heading to the Vitamin Barn (at the Malibu Colony Plaza) for a strawberry smoothie, another all-American treat...

41 comments:

Becky said...

I love Burts Bees products! Didn't know they were recently purchased by Chlorox and will have to keep an eye on the ingredients. They have the best chapstick!

Kitty said...

Oreos are sold in the UK now! Only in the past few months though - my daughter loves them. x

l'air du temps said...

in spain they have an american store which sells all our sentimental eats and other products. it was kind of challenging trying to explain to my friends our love of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

so cool that your choices share our healthier and ecologically friendly side...

Tess Kincaid said...

I really like Burts Bees stuff, too, especially the lemon butter cuticle cream. And now I am craving an Oreo.

please sir said...

I love Burt Bee items too!

Mary-Laure said...

BFLAT - I must try the chapstick then... Another item to add to my shopping list!

KITTY - I can't blame your daughter!

L'AIR DU TEMPS - I don't think any non American can "understand" the appeal of peanut butter and jelly.
I wonder, what else do you buy at your local American store?

WILLOW - oh, the lemon butter cuticle cream, I had forgotten about it! I used to use it and it was heavenly... Must buy some, thanks for reminding me.

Solange said...

oh, I love the choice they have in the U.S. much more then in Europe, well different, let's say.
enjoy eating Oreos and the beauty buys!

am going to New York in a few weeks, should get my stock of products, any tips??

Take care,
Solange

raining sheep said...

I love Burt's Bees anything. there are a couple of organic stores that carry the entire line...absolute heaven. I love the tinted lip balm. Regarding my milk glass - the milk glass (which is the white stuff on the first photo of my post) I found at flea markets. The storage jars in the last photo are from Ikea.

Mary-Laure said...

SOLANGE - many dermatologists say that products by Neutrogena and Olay are just as good as much pricier skincare lines, and I love Neutrogena, so I always buy their products, especially for my sometimes acne-prone skin (sad but true.......)
I also love Cetaphil, a gentle facial cleanser that dermatologists also highly recommend.
Burt's Bees stuff is just great, wonderfully scented and makes for great gifts - the lemon cuticle cream for instance is a winner.
Aquaphor ointment is also great for burns and cracks in the skin - also recommended by many dermatologist.
When it comes to hair, I go for John Frieda's blond line.
At natural stores, stock up on Dr Brommer's soaps (also cute presents, Tom of Maine toothpaste or Kiss My Face products, which are all super natural and fresh.
Enjoy NY and tell me what you bought!!!

RAINING SHEEP - thanks for the info, I really liked all those containers on your beautiful blog...

sealaura said...

the lip balm with pomegranate oil is a good friend of mine. Me encantan las abejas de Burt!

J Elaine said...

I am a HUGE fan of Dr Bronner's soap. I wish natural stores in Paris were more progressive and carried a wider range of products (they remind me of the organic stores that my mum always took me to in the US back in the 80s but less charming). Whenever in London, I pick up a bottle at the Fresh and Wild stores. My favorites are tee tree oil, lavender and eucalyptus! I'll bet you can have wheatgrass everywhere, too! I am envious...

PS You have beautiful skin, Marie-Laure... everyone gets an occasional blemish!

Mrs.French said...

wonderful American traditions...we are a Burt's bees family as well...xo

Joie de vivre said...

I had no idea that the smoothie was so American! They are second nature to me, I guess I assumed other countries would love them too!

Candace said...

It seems that I must be missing out on some good things.

The only Burt who I know is someone from my scuba club. As for bees, I see them everyday in my backyard. Of the doctors who I see, Dr. Brommer is not one of them. Tess likes to kiss my face, but I don't think that qualifies as a product line.

Now then, I am familiar with Oreos as well as the various techniques and etiquette associated with eating them.

When it comes to peanut butter, Rusty is the peanut butter addict of the family with Tess coming in as a close second.

As for smoothies, Jamba Juice rocks my world, and I also enjoy creating my own flavors at home.

Chloé Van Paris said...

I remenber shopping with you and Céline in Orlando.
I have to say that a mall shopping is something i enjoy to do.
Just to relax and walk.
If i am missing something from the US right now in the cold parisian winter -i would say the smothies that are so easy to get there.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you're having fun buying up on all those US treats.

Laura in Paris said...

I love oreos, and my favorite ice cream is "cookies 'n cream"!

Fifi Flowers said...

Seems you are fitting into the Malibu region perfectly! Hope you have your oreos!
ENJOY!
Fifi

J Elaine said...

My stateside confession... twizzlers red licorice though I rarely eat them as before. Cream of wheat, grits, and grapenuts cereal are staples I really miss. Small, local coffee shops with homemade goodies. Juicebars full of organic produce and wheatgrass. The isles in natural food stores where you can buy commodities in 'bulk' and fill your own containers. Customer service, recycling, open space, American optimism...

muralimanohar said...

Peppermint and lavender Dr Bronners...staples back home in the States, a luxury treat over here in Sydney. :( I can't afford to keep us in soap at the rate we go through it.

My sentimental US buy is always Reese's cups. Yum.

Rebekah said...

Love those oreos!!!

Bonbon Oiseau said...

aw--so sweet--i do the same thing when i come to paris! head straight (and i mean straight) to l'institute d'eurosanté on the Bld. St. Germaine!
too funny...

Nikella said...

Dr Brommers! I love their stuff! Husband always uses the Peppermint soap.

Mary-Laure said...

JEN - I think f you every time I step into a natural foods store here... I also like Dr Brommer's eucalyptus soap (as well as peppermint and almond...)
I used to be addicted to red Twizzlers back in the days (in Cambridge) but I've been free from them for years now.

JOIE DE VIVRE - to my knowledge, smoothies are not ubiquitous elsewhere, and certainly not in France. In Paris there are a few American juice bars that offer smoothies, though.

CANDACE - you message really made me laugh! Ill introduce you to Burt's Bees products. And we'll discuss How To Eat Oreos next time we get together...

CHLOE - if you're cold in Paris, join me in California!

BONBON - what do you get? I read that French sunscreen is THE best - I use Anhelios fluide 50.

NIKELLA - yes, peppermint is so fresh and energizing.

Candace said...

It sounds as if it might be time to bring out the smoothie maker. Any requests?

Trader Joe's carries frozen mango, frozen pineapple, frozen mixed berries (raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, etc.) as well as frozen peaches, I believe. I add fresh fruits according to season, cost and availability.

I often use a 100% juice product as part of the base. For instance, one of the flavors is piña colada, which I use as part of the base for my piña colada smoothies in addition to shredded coconut for texture.

Do you prefer ice-based or yogurt-based smoothies? I prefer ice-based rather than yogurt-based, but that's simply personal preference.

I've just made myself hungry. I think that I'd better eat breakfast!

marie said...

yum!
you look so settled..your new home looks beautiful!

Kira Aderne said...

so delicious!!!

a kiss :))

A l a i n said...

Vous avez raison pour les produits naturel, les savons à la vitamine E je suis preneur, un très bon reportage photo...

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Yummy stuff, inside and out.

Anonymous said...

oh...when i am in france...i rrrrrun to the Pharmacie to get amazing skin products...(although, montréal is getting better...slowly you can find those products here...) hope you are well!!!!
xxnancy

mansuetude said...

i'll take a red twizzler (slightly stale) over a dark oreo any day!

are you sure USA invented smoothies? I will believe you and you will be the source quoted in a bookmark in my brain!

Cool post!

Unknown said...

I love the same things!!!!
I bought very few things in my last trip there and they were mostly Burts bees products!!!

Mary-Laure said...

CANDANCE - thanks for the tip about Trader Joe's!
I like ice-based smoothies, really, rather than yogurt-based ones. It's so much lighter!
Yum, that shredded coconut in your smoothies sounds heavenly! I love coconut.

NANCY - what products do you buy in Paris?

MANSUETUDE - I'm not sure the USA invented smoothies but it's the only country I know where they are so widely available; the very few places that offer them are labeled "American" juice bars in Paris...

P said...

Oh dear, I just tagged you. Don't hate me...

http://www.whatpossessedme.com/2008/11/seven-adorable-irresistible-awe.html

mansuetude said...

ahh . :)

Hey Harriet said...

All this love for Burts Bees, I wish there was one over here!

Oh & that smoothie looks delicious!

Kwana said...

This is such a fun post. I love hearing about folks' faves. I'm stuck on Neutrogena bath oil and the classic smell of ponds cold cream. After reading this I really want some Oreos and a glass of milk.

limonana said...

I adore both these brands & have been using them for several years now...along with Dr.Hauschka products which I love love love...maybe you have seen it but I read a bit about what Clorox intends to do with Burt's bees here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/business/06bees.html

cindy* said...

do have great finds, don't they? i didn't realize until i traveled out of the country for the first time how unique US drugstores really are...then again i was only ten years old. wonderful post!

Mary-Laure said...

KWANA - I'm a longtime fan of Neutrogena too!

LIMONANA - thanks for the link, sounds interesting...

Alya said...

I'd love to try Burt's Bees products, but we don't get them here. I'm going to have to search for them the next time I travel..