Cost Plus World Market Gourmet Chocolate Bars

Cost Plus World Market offers a wide variety of exotic products from all over the world. They also have product lines of their own, one of which is a marvelous selection of gourmet chocolates.

With pomegranate, chipotle chilis, sea salt, and several different grades of dark chocolate as well as a milk chocolate bar, Cost Plus has put together a package sure to please any chocolate lover.

The dark chocolate bar with sea salt is one of the most pleasant surprises I've had in a while (after Mo's Bacon Bar from Vosges). Rich, dark chocolate studded with bits of sea salt, it's the perfect bar for that particular salt-and-sweet craving. Best of all, it's considerably less expensive than comparable gourmet chocolate bars. These bars are only available at World Market stores, and cannot be ordered through their website. Highly recommended.

Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy

The Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy line is a great collection of herb-infused products from shampoos to body wash and even candles and the B&BW Wallflowers.

Without the perfumey, artificial-smelling overkill of many of the "regular" body products, the Aromatherapy line offers light, natural scents that can help invigorate, relax, or focus the mind. Some of the scents include Eucalyptus Spearmint, Lemon Cardamon, Orange Ginger and Warm Milk and Honey.

My personal favorite so far is the Orange Ginger, but I haven't tried all of them yet, and many other varieties look tempting. They come in gift sets, too, which would make great Christmas presents.

Metro Mint Mint Water

Metro Mint Mint Water is seriously the best flavored water I've ever had. With just enough mint to invigorate but not overwhelm, MetroMint is a great afternoon pick-me-up or morning palate cleanser.

MetroMint comes in spearmint and peppermint flavors. I prefer the spearmint, because I've always preferred spearmint to peppermint. It has no calories, no carbs, and no sugar--just water with a fresh, clean, mint taste. Its only drawback is that it's not a great choice to drink with meals, but the unique, refreshing flavor more than makes up for that.

Look for MetroMint in healthfood stores or in your grocery's natural food aisles.