Month: February 2020

Hi-Tec Hiking Boots

Hi-tec hiking boots are made with a one-of-a-kind amazing material that is waterproof but breathable.  Houston’s local rep, Bob Oliver, actually told us about a time during a demonstration of the boots’ ability to stay clean no matter what happens to them, whether a walk through sludge or a coffee or wine spill or anything else.  A woman who was watching the demonstration of how remarkably clean the boots stayed suddenly ran out of the room with a shriek.  They couldn’t imagine what had happened.  When she came back in, she explained that her husband had been wearing this brand of boots to work for a few years now, and she had come to think he wasn’t really going to work but must be having an affair because the boots were never dirty!  So once she realized the boots were truly water and dirt-proof, and that he really was going to work and not to an affair, it restored their marriage! 

The Hi-tec hiking boots are made with “Ion Mask” technology developed by the British government.  You can read more about this amazing material at <a href=”http://www.wetisdry.com”>www.wetisdry.com</a> and find out how you can get a pair of these amazing boots at <a href=”http://www.hi-tec.com”>www.hi-tec.com</a> Also, check out <a href=”http://www.magnumboots.com”>www.magnumboots.com</a> to see what the police are wearing these days and you can, too!  We especially enjoyed talking to Bob Oliver, who has a real passion for his products!We sampled the Altitude Ultra.  They work great!

Pendleton Clothing: 100+ Years of Heritage in The Making

Long-standing quality and British style give this company a reputable position among wool clothing manufacturers today.  When you put on a piece of Pendleton wool clothing, you feel both warm and prestigiously-dressed at the same time.  That is always a great feeling to have!  Our Pendleton favorites for women’s wool apparel for the season include the Double Face Collar Persimmon Jacket and the mock neck turtlenecks.  The turtlenecks are some of the best available today.  They are soft and not as constricting as most turtlenecks.  Pendleton also makes reversible clothing.  We think the reversible plaid Jacket is snappy.  Pendleton clothing’s best attribute is that it is very warm, but lightweight, stylish, and not bulky.  To buy Pendleton is to invest in quality that will last you a lifetime.

Pendleton is celebrating 100 years.  They have posted an inspirational and interesting history of the wool trade on their site at the link “Pendleton Heritage”.  You can read all about it at http://www.pendleton-usa.com for the company’s main site and catalog of wonderful products.

Circle E Candles

Spice Up Your Autumn with our favorite candles!  Circle E Candles are some of the best candles out there.  Fall is a cozy, mesmerizing time of year with the color-change of trees and the arrival of gentle autumn breezes. Nothing compliments autumn more than a warm, spice aroma wafting through the air. We are in search for the perfect Fall candle. We recognize Circle E Candles as among “the best of the best candles”. When you light Circle E Candles, they make a house a home. They are high-quality, long-lasting, and wonderfully aromatic. Our current favorite for the kitchen is Apple Strudel. You can visit Circle E Candles at www.CircleECandles.com

Pairing Knife by Kuhn Rikon

We recently discovered a paring knife that never needs sharpening. We found it at www.kuhnrikon.com, a great company from Switzerland. It’s called the “Non-Stick Colori Paring Knife”. They have several colors to choose from. What makes this knife special is that it has a carbon steel blade that stays sharp. We also like that it has a sheath which keeps it sharp and covered. Here’s a direct link, although you can also find the knives for sale at local gourmet specialty shops. http://www.kuhnrikon.com/products/tools/tools.php3?id=250

The Nap Collection

Are you ready to take the best nap you’ll ever have? You can with The Nap Collection by Brookstone. (www.Brookstone.com)  The Nap Collection is bliss in a box! The Nap Collection includes a cuddly blanket, cuddly matching booties, and a comfortable matching pillow.

It comes with the Brookstone “nap blanket” that by itself is a great luxury. The nap blanket is plush and snuggly. It weighs a not-too-lightweight, not-too-heavy weight. If Goldilocks had found The Nap Collection at the three bears’ house, she would not have cared that the bed was too big or small. When you surround yourself in the cuddly bliss, you can nap anywhere. We think this would make a great Christmas gift or anytime gift for you or anyone who is special to you. We also think this is a great set to take with you traveling to use during long layovers.

Cagle State Park

Cagle State Park is one of Texas’ prettiest parks. Nestled on the tranquil waters of Lake Conroe, surrounded by the Sam Houston National Forest, Cagle State Park has enjoyable walking trails as well as lakeside picnic and camping sites. We enjoyed an afternoon of hiking and picnicking by the water. The park also has a boat launch. As we were hiking, we saw lots of birds, including a bald eagle! The forest was filled with butterflies. Our youngest reviewer called it “the magical butterfly forest”.


In our opinion, it is one of Houston and surrounding areas’ “best kept secret” parks. Here are some pictures. It makes a great day trip getaway from Houston. To get there from Houston, take I-45 North past Conroe to exit 102. Go West for 8 miles on hwy 1375. The park will be on your left.

Best Hair Towel

:)

I have long hair, and a few years ago, I found some wonderful “hair towels” by Lucy Locks that became one of my most favorite beauty items.  For any woman who has just stepped out of the shower, they are great.  They have a button on one end and a loop on the other, so you twist your hair in the towel and button it up.  Well, I can only find Lucy Locks on Amazon now.  So I have been looking for a replacement.  The Sephora hair towel works great.  It’s more spacious than most hair towels and yet fits snugly on your head.  These towels are my hair’s best friend.    You can find them at www.sephora.com.

Ragin Cajun Zydeco Night Thursday Night

Are you ready for Le Bon Temps?  We recently discovered our favorite Cajun restaurant in Houston, Texas, Ragin Cajun.  (www.ragin-cajun.com)  Their motto is “Family Serving Family” and boy, do they live up to it!  We gave them a Best of The Best 5-Star Review.  They have great food, a comprehensively Cajun ambiance, and wonderful service.  We visited on a Thursday night and enjoyed a great live Zydeco band.  This restaurant is also kid-friendly, and even the little ones had a Ragin good time!

Smartwool Socks

We recently had a wonderful “sock it to me” moment at a local R.E.I. store where we went in search of hiking boots. The salesman told us that he didn’t even want us to try on boots before we’d taken a look at socks. He then introduced us to the wonderful world of today’s socks. He highly recommended Smartwool and Wigwam.   We have tried Smartwool and truly consider them “the best of the best” in wool hiking socks.  Soon, we will be reviewing Wigwam socks, also.  But let us tell you about Smartwool!

Smartwool truly lives up to its name. Smartwool socks are made of the highest quality marino wool available. They truly wick away moisture from your feet, as they are capeable of holidng 30% of their weight in water. So even when you sweat, your feet stay dry. We recommend the Smartwool Ultra Hiking Socks. We really liked the heavy and extra heavy Smartwool hiking socks. They are truly “the best of the best” in wool hiking socks. You can find them at www.Smartwool.com

Wigwam Super Socks

When is a sock not a sock? When it’s a Wigwam! For years, when we needed socks, we treated them just like any other basic necessity: nothing special, just necessary. So we bought them at Wal-mart, Target, and similar stores. But the problem we always encountered is that after awhile, the socks began to wear and tear. And they always made our feet sweat.

At the suggestion of an R.E.I. hiking boots salesman who told us we needed to figure out socks before boots, we  tried Wigwam ultramax hiking socks. I spoke with Bob Wolleber a representative for Wigwam in Houston, Texas. He was filled with well-appropriated enthusiasm for the sophistication of techology in the world of socks. He said, “The techology of the world has finally come to socks.” What surprised us the most is that Wigwam socks are made from shellfish! Okay, let us clarify. They are made from a natural synthetic material called “chitosan” which comes from shellfish, wicks away moisture, and also has anti-bacterial properties.
They are our favorite at The Best of The Best because they are comfortably soft yet made to last.  Wigwam is an American-owned company located in Sheboygan, WI. All of their products are American-farmed and American-made. You can find these excellent socks at www.wigwam.com