FAKE BAKE
Who has time to spend hours in the sun damaging her (or his) skin just to have that sun-kissed look? Thanks to Fake Bake’s products, you won’t have to. And don’t worry about becoming a freakish hue of orange, because Fake Bake creates a brown tone that looks more natural than most self-tanning products on the market. Its tanning agents start working as soon as they contact the skin, so it’s important to use latex gloves and follow the directions. Start with a good hydrating exfoliant to remove dead cells and ensure a smooth application of the self-tanning lotion. Nighttime application — several nights in a row until you achieve the tan you want — is recommended for maximum results. You then apply the lotion once a week to maintain the tan, supplementing in between with either Fake Bake’s self-tanning butter or tinted mousse. The products, which range in price from $20 to $28, are available locally at Bath Haus, located in Mainstreet at River Ranch. Call 993-0644 for more info. — Leslie Turk

SWEET AS PIE
If you head to the original Don’s Specialty Meats in Carencro or the newer location in Scott, J&J Pie Lady offers a sweet complement for your order of boudin or cracklin’. Charlene Vallairie of Opelousas makes old-fashioned sweet dough pies — in varieties including plain, pineapple and chocolate — and her tidy 7 ounce-pies only cost $2.25. In addition to her retail outlets, Vallairie takes special orders, and offers full-sized pies for $12. For more info, call (337) 948-9796. — Scott Jordan 

TILE BY TILE
Some people collect coffee spoons or antique Coke bottles. But for those who love buildings, ceramic artist Kai Drobish has opened up a whole new world of collecting. Drobish models Acadiana’s landmarks on 6-inch hand-built tiles that can be hung, side by side, to create an entire town on your living room wall. St. John Cathedral stands tall in lively red and green glaze, its towers and logias shaped in a folk art bas relief. Multiple landmarks in the area, from the historic buildings at the Academy of Sacred Heart to the walls of the Judice Inn, are represented in Drobish’s collection. The LSU grad migrated from New Orleans to Bay St. Louis, but she says she’s beating her way back to Lafayette, where her mom, painter Camilla Drobish, shares space with her at Jefferson Street Market. Tiles cost $25 a piece, or call Drobish at (504) 782-5371 for a custom creation of your own home. — Mary Tutwiler