Great Kitchen Products I Can’t Live Without And More
My daughter, Alexandra, and I were talking about great kitchen products making daily life nicer like a candle adhesive, vintage rug at the sink, Wine-Away for a white table runner, etc. and she said “Mom, that should be your Five Faves with Annie and Cindy.”
Great idea! Some I have mentioned before. Here we go…
1. Keep Your Taper Candles Straight
I’m not sure why I messed around with melting candlewax into candlestick bases to keep tapers straight…I should have bought Stick-um Candle Adhesive sooner! The tan candles are from here and here is a similar twisted black one.
2. Keep Your Table Runner Stain-Free
Alexandra gave us this cool woven table runner from Crate and Barrel. I use Wine-Away and Spray n’ Wash on spills and spot clean or wash by hand. It takes the worry out of having a white runner.
3. Vintage Rug For The Sink
It’s good to have a rug by the sink and dishwasher for moisture. We needed a small rug since the sink is angled.
I referred to this post before buying it: Vintage Rug Runners in The Kitchen are So NOW…My Favorite Sources. Remember to buy a rug pad to prevent slipping.
4. Favorite Glassware
I have to keep myself from buying more glasses. We have a whole range of price levels from World Market to Waterford. But the glasses I use every day are the ones with the wicker holders. They are a good size and you don’t need a coaster. The only thing is, I wished they stacked (I’d probably buy a few more).
I also love the mugs we bought in Paris at Marin Montagut (Fun Things to Do In PARIS Right Now).
My second favorite mugs are the stackable ones from Pottery Barn. I have the white but there are other pretty colors…
I have the best husband…he brings me coffee in bed every morning. He’s one of the “Great Kitchen Products I Can’t Live Without.” Or at least I wouldn’t want to. We love our Nespresso Vertuo coffeemaker too!
5. What To Watch: Father Stu
Howard and I liked this movie on Netflix although it has gotten mixed reviews (Roger Ebert). There is a scene that is particularly moving where Mark Wahlberg is speaking to prison inmates. True story.
If you are new here, each Sunday I share my top five favorite things along with my friends, Cindy and Annie. It’s like our weekly “catch-up” phone call. If you would like to receive this series every week, please sign up HERE.
Let’s see what Annie and Cindy’s Five Faves are this week:
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I didn’t know the wicker wrapped glasses didn’t need a coaster, and didn’t know about the taper candle adhesive. Life changed in small but memorable ways. 🙂
I always love your Sunday Five Favs posts, they never disappoint. I can’t tell you how many things and ideas I’ve used, seems like every week there is something I can’t live without. I discovered the candle adhesive years ago and boy, it was a game changer. Glad you found it. Your kitchen is beautiful and I love the rug in front of your sink.
I don’t know exactly where you are in Florida, but I hope you aren’t in the path of the hurricane. Please be safe.
MA to the rescue! Stick-em … you read my mind. I bought those great hurricanes you recommended but my tapers won’t stand up straight. I just googled what to do and then opened your post. Stick-em is on the way. So funny, this product reminds me of the old days of the Raiders … Lester Hayes could be spotted on the side lines picking grass out of his gloves covered in stick-em!!! Anyway … between that an sink rugs you’ve got my decorating dilemmas answered for the week. Have a good one! xo
The candles stickers sounds like a great idea, I’m still waiting for you to show us your kitchen, as much as you’ve shown us glances here and there I just can’t picture all of its glory together.
Praying the cold/cool front prevents Ian from coming near us too. We live on the AL/FL line.
Glad to know the glasses come apart. I saw some similar at our $General for $2 I should have bought them.
Wine Away, stick-em candle holders and Spray and Wash (my all time favorite) are all in the card. And I love the wicker holder glasses you gave me last year! Now I just need to watch Father Stu!
I think you will like Father Stu, TC!
Mary Ann! I hope the storm isn’t too bad! I keep watching your weather on the app!
I love all your glassware! It’s part of how you set such gorgeous tables! I love how you choose flowers that match the glassware sometimes!
Love your kitchen faves! Those candles look so pretty!
xx
I’m making dinner tonight and the flowers match my pumpkin bowls 🙂
This was such a fun post Mary Ann! The candle adhesive is in my cart! I keep the shorter set of the wicker glasses at our lake house. Those stack nicely. I always look forward to your Sunday posts. Thanks for the time you put into them. Have a great week!
Uh oh, Karen, you are making me want the smaller glasses!
JUST watched “Father Stu” on Netflix and now I find your recommendation. Agree – mixed reviews, but it had some charming funny scenes as well as several quite powerful. Even shed a few tears.
Prayers for safety with the coming storm.
Thank you so much Riva…the movie choked me up a bit too!
I will have to get some of that candle adhesive! Another great item is a copper taper candle sharpener I bought at Anthropologie off the clearance shelf awhile back. Works really well for the bottoms that are too big to fit.
Love your glassware cabinet. Mine are from all price points too. I snagged a Waterford decanter at a estate sale months ago for $25.00. I intended to sell it on eBay but couldn’t part with it.
Hope the hurricane doesn’t give you too much trouble on your side of Florida! At least you have notice with hurricanes…earthquakes not so much.😞
Linda
Don’t part with the decanter, Linda…what a deal!
You need to have a contest and the prize would be “win a morning in-bed coffee delivery” courtesy your hubby. So many good ideas this Sunday.
Ha! He is not THAT cooperative, Laura. I can barely get him to give me his recipes for the blog.
HI MARY ANN
It is so fun peeking into your kitchen. You do have a lot of glassware! No wonder your table always looks so pretty! Wine Away is so great we always have a large stash. I need to get that candle goop. I always forget about it too!
Can you believe I’m tempted to buy more, Cindy? Crazy.
Dear Mary Ann,
All your suggestions are great but what is intriguing is the wall & windows on the photo of the table runner.
Could you show us a photo of the wall with windows.
I am doing some remodeling of my 30 yr old house and I need ideas.
I love the bead board look.
I think you found a lovely to buy in Florida. Prayers that the storm briefly passes you 🙏
I have shown the dining room a few times (one of the few finished rooms–although we are getting an extendable table soon). https://classiccasualhome.com/how-to-make-your-dining-room-informal-and-other-faves/
Good luck Patricia!
I went back to the pictures of the dining area blog, which i missed when you first posted it.
I love how you have designed that room. The color you chose seems so soothing, a gorgeous color. I feel green gives a serene feeling to a room. Since there is a slider in that area, there is enough light in the room, even with the higher windows. Rotating the art work is very clever. I do that every so often because I have collected more art than I need.
Mary Ann, you have been very fortunate to have found a lovely home in your new state.
I hope you and Howard settle in well and do not miss California.
Did you know that you can use Wine Away on carpets? Says so on the back of the bottle. I used it to get out an old stain of spilled Coke a Cola on ecru color carpet. We use it to get red wine stains out of linens at church – works every time!
Great tip, Carole!
All great tips! Wine Away is essential. I used it to clean up potential disaster when a guest spilled red wine on my white linen sofa. And it worked beautifully! I’m buying extra bottles for my kids’ Christmas stockings this year.
What a great idea…as a Christmas stocking stuffer! Your guest must have been SO relieved!
Mary Ann,
Have you found any sturdy collapsible luggage racks that can withstand a heavy suitcase? I’m in the market for two for our guest room also.
YES, I would enjoy seeing progress pictures as you’re working on a particular room. Your home is just lovely and the upgrades and decorating you’ve done are top-notch.
Looking forward to seeing your sister Teresa’s new home.
I just went by the reviews on Amazon and I knew I needed two so I bought a set. I will report back when I get them. Thanks for your input about “progress” shots.
Mary Ann,
These posts are always filled with welcome information and inspiration. I love having friends over for lunch or dinner and it’s fun for me to set the table. The candle product to keep the candles straight is just what I need.
Thank you for your Sunday favorite posts. I always enjoy the team’s recommendations.
Do the glasses with the wicker sleeves separate from the wicker for washing purposes?
Karen B.
Thanks, Karen. Yes, the glasses come apart for the dishwasher. I bought them for my sister and loved them so much we got them for us.