Editor's Choice: Leifheit International USA

I've been told by many health care professionals lately that I need to drink more water, and I've been trying, I swear, I just hate having to get up from my desk to go refill my bottle/cup/mug. Either I keep putting it off, or I get distracted doing something else and all of the sudden the whole day has gone by and I'm no closer to that refill. Well, much to my delight (not to mention the delight of health care professionals across the greater Chicagoland area), I have found a solution to my problems. A bright, colorful, charming solution.

Leifheit International recently introduced a lovely line of insulated carafes in bold colors like deep cranberry, denim dark blue and translucent lime green, as well as simple black and white, and a classy chrome. A couple of weeks ago, a plump little lime green carafe arrived at the office (thanks, Lynn!) and now sits on my desk all day long, full of ice water and at my disposal. All Leifheit vacuum carafes are made with high-quality materials and double-wall, glass-lined construction that keeps one liter (8 cups) of liquid hot or cold for 12 hours -- so the ice water I fill it up with in the morning is still cold and refreshing as the afternoon drags on.

Functional, handy, attractive (dare I say cute?), the Columbus carafes from Leifheit have it all. Check them out at www.leifheitusa.com.

-Stephanie

Editor's Choice: Aladdin

From the looks of Ashley's last Editor's Choice and previous Editor's Choice postings on tea and hot chocolate, one might begin to suspect that we like a good hot beverage around here. It could be the frigid temperature of our office in the afternoons (I'm wearing a scarf as I write this), but more likely I think the former is a bit more on the mark. High quality coffee, tea and hot chocolate are not a topic lost on the editors of Fancy Food, and high quality beverages are nothing less than deserving of a quality, chic ride to the office. I'll admit, not all of my travel mugs are what I would call chic, but that's why I liked Aladdin's new Artist Series when I saw it at the International Home & Housewares Show last month.

The collection features the work of six emerging artists from around the world in the form of an insulated travel mug and matching microwave-safe, 20-oz. insulated bowl. Shown at the top of this blog post is art by Portland, Oregon-native Amy Ruppel. Other artists in the collection hail from Barcelona, England and Tokyo. Each artist brings a different mood and personality to his or her creation, so the pieces have an individuality most lunch containers and coffee mugs just can't offer. In addition to being beautiful, the pieces are also quite functional. The coffee mug is dishwasher safe (YES!!!) and car-cup friendly while the bowl is microwave- and dishwasher-safe with a cool-touch exterior and an easy-grip twist-on lid. The collection should be available this spring, and I may just have to order a set myself!

You can see what else Aladdin's got by visiting www.aladdin-pmi.com.

-Stephanie

Editor's Choice: FusionBrands

I am not a morning person. People really shouldn’t talk to me before 9 a.m. if they expect a coherent conversation — or worse, an answer to an important question! It’s no surprise that I need a tall, travel mug of coffee as I head out the door each morning. I usually make my own coffee, but on days when I am rushed, I’m guilty of splurging on something from the coffee shop near the train station.

The last time I visited this well-known chain establishment, I noticed a small sign posted to the tiny bin of cup sleeves. It warns customers, in so many words, that, should they take one of these corrugated barriers, they are definitely NOT eco-friendly. Maybe it’s because it was early in the morning, but I am almost positive the barista scoffed at me as I reached for one. I’m all for saving the planet, but do I really have to burn my fingertips to do so?

Luckily, I am no longer disrespecting Mother Earth with each sip of my Grande Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte thanks to FusionBrands’ (www.fusionbrands.com) CupCooley, a reusable silicone cup cozy that keeps hands safe when consuming hot drinks or soups. The flexible sleeve, which comes in green, brown and pink, fits standard-sized paper cups. At the Housewares Show last week, a FusionBrands public relations rep (who I also happened to attend college with!) told me she can’t live without the CupCooley and was sweet enough to give me a sample. In just a week, I’ve whipped it out of my purse on several occasions — not only is it 100 percent eco-friendly, but it’s also quite a conversation starter at the coffee shop!

-Ashley

P.S. Look for another innovative FusionBrands product in the silicone feature in the May issue of Fancy Food.

P.P.S. Stay tuned, more International Home & Housewares Show coverage to come!