Makeup storage, gourmet pizza, secondhand deals and the solution to all your LEGO woes are right here in this week's OnMilwaukee.com Recommends.
Caboodles’ Sassy make-up case – Caboodles’ Sassy makeup case was my companion on a recent trip out of town. Transporting my makeup is always a hassle for me; when I’m standing in front of my own mirror, every brush and blush and powder and eye cream is within reaching distance. But in a hotel, I always forget where I put everything, and then inevitably discover that I left something at home. This tapered tote has a sleek black exterior and a zippered lid with a large, divided open compartment inside and plenty of interior pockets. It fits all my makeup inside and I love the elastic banding on the lid with a Velcro plastic flap to keep makeup from slaking off and ruining the rest of the stored items. It’s small and easy to pack or carry. Caboodles also offers personalized name-plating services if you want a little extra flair. You can find the brand at Target and Wal-Mart. – Colleen Jurkiewicz
Ferrante’s – Ferrante's, 10404 N. Port Washington Rd., is old school, in a very good way. The Ferrante family began its dining voyage in the 1920s with an ice cream shop and restaurant in the area that is now the Historic Third Ward. Its current dining and drinking establishment was opened by Lisa and Bob Ferrante in 1977. Now representing the fourth generation of restaurateurs Lisa’s daughter Amy Ferrante-Gollwitzer has taken over as owner. She and her team still make great pizza, amazing broasted chicken and many great sandwiches. The bar hops on weekends and the dining area is comfortably loud and supper club light in its feel. Need a reason to go to Mequon? Ferrante's is one, for sure. – Jeff Sherman
Uncle Ned's Consignment – I recently wandered into this antique/thrift shop at 601 S. 6th St. (the road is under construction) and was impressed with the selection and the prices. I bought a set of vintage "TV trays" in good shape for $12 and a few records in mint condition for under $2. The owner has a ton of items in storage, too, so the stock is constantly rotating. Furnishings, glassware, toys, clothing and knick-knacky things are also available. I particularly liked the bowl of camera flashbulbs next to the register. Hadn't seen those in a while. – Molly Snyder
"The LEGO Built-It Book, Vol. 1: Amazing Vehicles" (No Starch Press) – Maybe you're in the same situation we're in at our house. The kids buy LEGO sets and build them, but they come apart or are taken apart and the house is overflowing with bricks in all shapes, colors and sizes. They can and do use them to make their own creations, but some ideas are always welcome, too. This book serves up plans for 10 vehicles, including a go-kart, a street rod and a rescue truck that can all be built from the same basic inventory of parts. As is always the case with LEGOs (though the book is "unofficial"), the instructions here are easy to follow. Kids can also mix and match basic parts from these different plans to create their own morphed ideas. – Bobby Tanzilo
Griffin PowerDock 5 – Given the "universal" part of USB, it’s not surprising that oodles of devices with this cord clog our houses. If you’re like me, your nightstand or kitchen counter is littered with phones, tablets, cameras and other portable devices fighting for charging plugs. The $100 Griffin PowerDock 5, fortunately, is loaded with USB ports (five of them, obviously) that supply 10 watts to each bay – and if you are frustrated by slowly charging devices, you know how much this matters. The whole station is about as large as an iPad, and with each slot separated by plexiglass, you can easily store any mobile device you might have, of any brand, and see what’s going on on each screen. PowerDock 5 is optimized for iOS devices (iPad, iPad mini, iPhone, iPod touch, iPod nano), although its 5V (2.1 amp) charging circuitry will also charge most Kindle and Android devices, too. Get your countertop under control in a stylish, simple way with the PowerDock 5. – Andy Tarnoff
Kiehl’s "Heavy Lifting" Moisturizer For Men – Will Kiehl’s Facial Fuel moisturizer throw you into the fountain of youth and spit you out as a younger, more beautiful version of yourself? This I don’t know, but for $40, it might be worth finding out. I’ve used Kiehl’s caffeinated face wash, anti-aging gel and shaving cream for some time now, and I’m a fan of the cool, chilling and slight but not unpleasant tightening effect they have on my face. This specific cream is nice because it doubles as a moisturizer, too, which is the one thing, as a dude, I have a hard time slathering on my mug. With caffeine to perk your face up, it also contains linseed oil, a "proven firming powerhouse." The results, Kiehl’s claims, is to lift skin up, while minimizing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. What I like is that it’s light, smells nice and doesn’t make my face shiny. Whether I’m now smooth as a baby’s bottom is debatable, but the results from "Heavy Lifting" Moisturizer, over time, are indeed noticeable. – Andy Tarnoff
