The sheraton Center Toronto .... NEVER EVER AGAIN

I've stayed many places...honestly this was the worst. From the noise that nobody stopped at 2:30am, to the rattling heaters, the bathtub that didn't hold water, the attitude when we tried to have concerns met, to trying to leave this review on the sheraton website and nothing working (we than called to get the number and the women at guest services was SO ignorant and just said well I guess it doesn't work) This is the worst, most overpriced hotel I have EVER stayed at. I was really looking forward to our trip away.....such a shame, and money wasted. I think I would have slept better and had less problems at a super 8 motel! The only bright part was the pool, and the maintenance man that we met in our room to fix our broken tub at almost 8pm with kids waiting to bathe and go to bed. Even when I said to my autistic son not to touch my hot coffee because it was hot the idiot waiter at the bnb restaurant thought it was funny to say "oh go on touch it it's not that hot" HOW UNPROFESSIONAL!!!!!!! I am disgusted and would NEVER EVER GO BACK!!!! If you stay here make sure you do not get room 1211 or you WILL NOT SLEEP! Good luck future travelers. I spend 40-50 nights in various hotels around ontario, and I will never step foot in this one again!.

Tis the season!

I'd be lying if I didn't say once in a while my marriage has issues, but I am honestly blessed to be married to my husband. A night here or there we INDIVIDUALLY grab a room and just relax alone......or he'll wake up with our son and let me sleep....I might only get dinner on the table a scant few nights a week....but he loves me. Tonight I went on a mini getaway...

I headed downtown..... I think i'm in love with the IDEA of downtown Toronto.... it's loud, busy and rushed....3 things I am not. I planned to go do some christmas shopping, thanks to pre menopause I barely get anything done in less than 5 trips. I ended up finding some awesome pants, than went back to my room.

hours later I woke up sitting up on the couch..... OH NO the day wasted!!!!

no





It was glorious..... I didn't have to force myself to stay awake or explain to anyone that I was just sooooo fuckinnnnnn tired lol


I even managed to hold onto my hotel room key the entire time.  How indulgent....and I'd not even got my coat off. I ate a hot meal, got to close the bathroom door to go without having to lock it,,,,,enjoyed an ENTIRE hot shower without a single peep....no words from anyone, no dog barking.....Even a grown up meal of Fish, and asparagus  WOW!


I place so much pressure on this one trip....always...a huge list of accomplishments....they rarely get done. it's as though I feel guilty for just GETTING AWAY..... this time I just let it be...... i just slowed down.....I came  back after menopause shopping.....(you know menopause really DOES suck)  i had a hot coffee, washed my clothes,,,,(because it's not 35 things in one load in an effort to dwindle down the stacks in the laundry room)   My husband would be impressed....  

it might seem like an odd topic....but I wanted to blog about it because I don't ever want to forget what this day felt like.... I think it's the first time in about 15 years I just....let....go.  And felt great about it!

Tanya

Spice it Up Great Finds

Spice it Up Great Finds  We were featured in the on fire for handmade shops selected. Please if you could head to the bottom of the page and vote for us we'd love you for it!

A Big Welcome To INDIE POLISH

So I have recently begun making nail polishes. Which quickly turned into another 30 listings on my etsy shop....The more I looked at it the more it seemed odd. SOOO I opened another shop

Which can me found here ---->  http://www.etsy.com/shop/IndiePolish


I have always loved nail polish...my mom used to buy it for me and I was forever mixing it and making neat nail designs in fact I can still tell you my first 3 polishes she gave me....revlon classic red. Revlon classic pink and wet and wild glitter bomb. So this was natural but not really a natural fit into me and the boy (imho)


Check it out! I will also be selling nail art supplies. I'm very proud of this shop. and we have a grand opening sale now too! ENJOY!

A handmade christmas part 1

So in an effort to buy every single gift for christmas handmade or making it ourselves (ok I may buy a video game for my son) I decided to share my purchases.

I instantly fell in love with Mountain Scentaments on www.craftcafe.co. Her soaps stood out to me and than I saw MAN FRIENDLY felted soap. Having a dad who treats his body like a 5 yr old on summer vacation at the dump I thought this would be perfect for him. Half soap, Half wash cloth. They smell amazing and they are HUGE!!! Well worth the 8$ paid per bar! they arrived fast, well labeled and I am thrilled!!!

I picked this fishing one in irish tweed

And this one in Winter pear 

Now I havn't used them but if the quality and care shown in the item and packaging reflects the soap i know the receivers are in for a treat (i may give one to hubby)

This is one of those shops that I want to go back and shop in....i'd be curious to see what's new. The shop owner is a delight and conversations were replied to promptly.

I strongly urge you to try this shop. 

CLICK HERE FOR MOUNTAIN SCENTAMENTS

Product Review - Performance Colors

Years ago when I became a mom I kinda gave up on make up. Five years later I looked in the mirror and hardly recognized the tired, blah face looking at me. I ran across this etsy shop called Performance colors.

She offered a great range of items all handmade, and available in samples too. Her one deal of 3 lipsticks for 10$ was too good to pass up... I went thru all of them about 25 times and settled on

 

  Rocket 

                           
                                                                  cheekie monkey

                                                                                  Ruby




I love them all and they feel great and last a VERY long time. If, like me, you can't wear read you MUST try ruby...it is the quintessential red for non red wearers. Cheekie monkey is more sheer than it appears and is equally lovely for a more plain look. Rocket was not for me but it is super pretty if you don't have the skin tone that I do.




I also ordered some concealer samples in fair and light. I'd given up on this stuff years ago. it was cakey or looked like I was wearing concealer....however this formula is silky, smooth and spreads and blends like nothing I have felt before. SERIOUSLY impressed. A serious must have and I will buy some soon.

I also received some eyeshadow samples and lipstick samples. One of the eye shadows worked beautifully for me.....the eye shadow wore beautifully thru bus and subway trips all day, a 3 hr tattoo session and all the way home....it creased the TINIEST bit (I have hooded eyelids and this is typical) but a quick wipe with my finger and it was seamlessly blended perfectly again.


Despite the amazing product, Tiffany is so amazing and ever SHARED Where she gets her tiny sample pots and I picked some up.... Most handmade artists feel this huge competition among each other and value their suppliers and rarely share info...So when a seller so easily shares info, tricks of the trade and so on it says alot.


I would easily score this a 10/10  no complaints....and I know for a fact that I would gladly go back and buy full sizes of the concealer, and eye shadow...along with my new fave lipstick....

Thank you Tiffany....I was losing hope on finding affordable quality make up! Me, my husband, my non frumpy friends....we all thank you!



You can find Performance colors at  http://www.etsy.com/shop/PerformanceColors   I honestly think you'll be amazed!

The design Gods sent me an angel - Beepart

Part of having an ADHD 5 yr old is the constant change. It's like our entire life should be made of repositionable vinyl.

We talked about his love of fishing and the Octonauts and decided to do an under the sea theme. He went away with dad for the weekend and I got started!

I am a sucker for shopping handmade, and local, ran a search, and came up with Beepart on etsy. The designs seemed to be perfect. The owner Neil is very convo friendly, patient and worked with me as I had a budget. We changed the sizes from what was listed which was nice. I didn't have to lose any of the elements, just adjust the size.

In the time it took to get here (within days) I painted the remainder of the wall (his room was half blue and half green) blue. With out taupe rug it was already looking like a sandy ocean theme. Forgive me as it was not until after I painted that I thought I should have taken a before picture of his room. Mom has ADHD too. There were so many colors to pick from but I finally settled on lime green,bright orange. and dark grey.

 

Now before anyone says "how hard can it be to apply a decal to a wall....let me tell you it can be really hard. BUT if you follow Neil's rules that he includes it's FAR ore pleasant (i found this out after trying to apply one decal sans directions)

While I waited for the paint to dry I happened to find this set at sears. I didn't by the fancy cushion....just the bedding....it was on sale for 70$ plus I had a 10$ gift card and a 10% coupon NICE

His old set was street signs and those babyish construction vehicles in light colors and rounded corners.

Neil's shop Beepart is available here ----> BEEPART SHOP

SO after a few hours and only a tiny credit card (my fault) The end result was the happiest boy under the sea! 

please not the sports theme bed set was bought by daddy 6 months before our son was born......and of course, he has NO interest in sports.

 

                                         

Beepart on ETSY

Ps I forgot to mention. All the green bubbles and shells were included free as part of the sheet. I would without a doubt shop here again, and you should too.

50 things you might not know

1. If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on your right side. If you are left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side. 2. If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. For when a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off. 3. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying. 4. Your tongue is germ free only if it is pink. If it is white there is a thin film of bacteria on it. 5. The Mercedes-Benz motto is “Das Beste oder Nichts” meaning “the best or nothing”. 6. The Titanic was the first ship to use the SOS signal. 7. The pupil of the eye expands as much as 45 percent when a person looks at something pleasing. 8. The average person who stops smoking requires one hour less sleep a night. 9. Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day. 10. The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear. 11. Dalmatians are born without spots. 12. Bats always turn left when exiting a cave. 13. The ‘v’ in the name of a court case does not stand for ‘versus’, but for ‘and’ (in civil proceedings) or ‘against’ (in criminal proceedings). 14. Men’s shirts have the buttons on the right, but women’s shirts have the buttons on the left. 15. The owl is the only bird to drop its upper eyelid to wink. All other birds raise their lower eyelids. 16. The reason honey is so easy to digest is that it’s already been digested by a bee. 17. Roosters cannot crow if they cannot extend their necks. 18. The color blue has a calming effect. It causes the brain to release calming hormones. 19. Every time you sneeze some of your brain cells die. 20. Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart. 21. The verb “cleave” is the only English word with two synonyms which are antonyms of each other: adhere and separate. 22. When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red. 23. When hippos are upset, their sweat turns red. 24. The first Harley Davidson motorcycle was built in 1903, and used a tomato can for a carburetor. 25. The lion that roars in the MGM logo is named Volney. 26. Google is actually the common name for a number with a million zeros. 27. Switching letters is called spoonerism. For example, saying jag of Flapan, instead of flag of Japan. 28. It cost 7 million dollars to build the Titanic and 200 million to make a film about it. 29. The attachment of the human skin to muscles is what causes dimples. 30. There are 1,792 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower. 31. The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles bursting. 32. Human hair and fingernails continue to grow after death. 33. It takes about 20 seconds for a red blood cell to circle the whole body. 34. The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets. 35. Most soccer players run 7 miles in a game. 36. The only part of the body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It takes in oxygen directly from the air. 37. Every day 200 million couples make love, 400,000 babies are born, and 140,000 people die. 38. In most watch advertisements the time displayed on the watch is 10:10 because then the arms frame the brand of the watch (and make it look like it is smiling). 39. Colgate faced big obstacle marketing toothpaste in Spanish speaking countries. Colgate translates into the command “go hang yourself.” 40. The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning its head are the rabbit and the parrot. 41. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair. 42. The average person laughs 13 times a day. 43. Do you know the names of the three wise monkeys? They are:Mizaru(See no evil), Mikazaru(Hear no evil), and Mazaru(Speak no evil) 44. Women blink nearly twice as much as men. 45. German Shepherds bite humans more than any other breed of dog. 46. Large kangaroos cover more than 30 feet with each jump. 47. Whip makes a cracking sound because its tip moves faster than the speed of sound. 48. Two animal rights protesters were protesting at the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn. Suddenly the pigs, all two thousand of them, escaped through a broken fence and stampeded, trampling the two hapless protesters to death. 49. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural cause. 50. The human heart creates enough pressure while pumping to squirt blood 30 feet!! *I cannot confirm or deny any of these facts are true or false. But the article swears to them being true!* :)

Fun with purpose

I love doing product reviews and I also like when people are kind enough to review us.

Reviews are not only useful to other shoppers, it helps your web ranking, and lets us know how we're doing

So here's a review of one of my faves!

Sugared Euphoria
http://craftcafe.co/shop/sugaredeuphoria
Best Bath bombs ever. I met Sarah a bit ago when her mom ordered from my shop, than she did and so the story goes. She has this insane passion for bath and beauty products.....so it was no suprise that she started creating. The creations that come out of this small home based company is incredible, it's as though she's been doing this for years! I have had the pleasure of trying many bath bombs that I have bought to laze in the tub with (if my son doesn't use them first)
I adore the viva la juicy bath bomb

The scent stays on your skin for a longtime!!! and the towel used to dry off leaves the bathroom lightly scented. The grapeseed oil leaves your skin sooooo soft but not greasy. I honestly just bought 5 of these in one trip so I don't run out!

Love the shop! Love the owner! Love handmade!

No news is good news

So it's been a long time since I have posted I know. I got stuck with having to do the google chrome crossover and such.

Right now we are soooooo busy. Just our mineral mud and ugly bar keep us on our toes with near constant production. Next month out tealights will be featured in the La Femme Film Festival swag bags.....how awesome! we are so proud and will keep you updated.

So if you've noticed we have almost all the same things on our website as on etsy....sadly we can't cut etsy loose as they are the main traffic source foor our growing brand....but one day...

I have made a big decision to go back to our roots and get back into more essential oils than fragrances for body care. I will still use fragrances for candles, but it appears when it comes to the body people want natural....so look for our new custom blend 100% natural body stuff coming all this month!

i'll be back soon! Tanya PS now that we will have our blog up and running smoothly we'd love to offer some banner exchange spots on our site. if interested contact me asap

hmmmmmmmm

Five Reasons to Use Synthetic Fragrance Elements Be aware of the natural resources you are depleting! Synthetics replace diminishing supplies of natural raw materials. For example, Proctor and Gamble alone uses nine times the world's annual supply of lavender! Synthetics allow perfumers to produce new scents not known in nature. They provide floral scents such as lilac or lily, which cannot be extracted from the natural flower. Synthetics provide consistent quality, whereas climactic and other conditions can affect naturally occurring raw materials. Synthetic components make some fragrances available that would otherwise be unaffordable. What is an Essential Oil? Fragrance Oils Vs. Essential Oils: A Never Ending Debate By Lisa Chambers Fragrance verses essentials oils.... Natural verses synthetic... Differences in opinions on these subjects often lead to debates ranging from intriguing to downright brutal. So in the end, which is really the best for soapmaking and other bath and body products? Here are some common points and considerations you may not of thought of. Fragrance Oils In general, fragrance oils tend to be more affordable than essential oils. There are famous and much beloved scents that can only be found in a fragrance oil. Some fragrances simply cannot be mimicked through essential oils. Fragrance oils fall into the FDA's jurisdiction and their "trade secret" law. This means that the manufacturer of the fragrance oil does not have to disclose the ingredients used in making their fragrances. Basically you may never know what in the world is really in a fragrance oil, but they do have guidelines in place to ensure the general safety of the product. (Though one could argue that this guideline may be questionable due to the fact there are many items that are approved by the FDA that create debates in the issue of it's safety- from the arguments over Sodium Laurel Sulfate all the way down to artificial sweeteners!) The ingredients used may range from debates as far as safety is concerned to an outright environmental hazard. For soapmakers, especially one that may not have a lot of experience, sometimes fragrance oils can be a bit more aggravating than an essential oil during the soapmaking process. Certain fragrances can cause what soapmakers know as "seizing". Most soapmakers know this term, and we all know this problem can lead to a potential bad day for us! The good news is many experienced soapmakers know tricks of the trade to save our soap batches when this happens, or sometimes prevent it entirely. (Remember that a fragrance from one supplier may behave better than another- it all depends on the source and what they used to create the scent.) There are people that are particularly sensitive to fragrance oils and even sometimes just plain allergic to them. However, in fairness, you have to keep in mind that over a hundred different ingredients could be used to create just one fragrance! The truth is that if a product is carefully made and the fragrance oils are carefully measured and added in the recommended amounts, the amount of fragrance actually used is generally unlikely to cause a reaction. I'm not sure it would be fair be to ban all fragrances if you have bad luck with one particular scent or product. Now that does not mean there aren't people out there that are genuinely that sensitive- it does happen. I'm just saying that it actually happens very rarely. Essential Oils In general, essential oils tend to put a dent in your wallet compared to fragrance oils. There are in fact different grades of essential oils, and as with all things, the better ones tend to be more expensive. If you find one that is significantly cheaper, chance are it may not be as pure as you think and may be any better than a fragrance oil. Now I am once again speaking in general and am not stating this is always the case. The reasoning is that there are many manufacturers that sell essential oils that do in fact contain a small percentage of synthetic materials as well. Another blow to the theory that going natural is more environmentally friendly, is that hundreds of pounds of plant matter could be used to make a single ounce of essential oil! Certain plants used to create essential oils such as certain types of sandalwood, cedarwood, and rosewood oil are now endangered from the over-harvesting. Such heavy usage of natural resources can create an imbalance in the environment for types of essential oils that are extracted from "non-renewable" resources. Even if an essential oil is natural, it doesn't mean that the means from which it was extracted was. There are several methods for extracting essentials oils, and some choose using chemical solvents in the process for certain essential oils. Many people may not be aware of this, yet they should be. Many oils made in this fashion are still labeled "natural or "pure", but I suppose it all comes down to what you personally define "pure" as. As far as being environmentally friendly, many don't realize that majority of the essentials oils sold in the U.S., or the materials to make them, come from overseas. In a heated debate I once witnessed, one intuitive person brought up a new point that is absolutely worth considering. The fuel used either by flight or by sea alone could very well make up for any advantage that essentials oil have over fragrance oils in terms of being environmentally friendly. Now bear in mind that wherever we buy our essential oils from, more than likely bought it from a larger supplier or wholesale distributor. The product may in fact change hands many times so it's not always possible to know the source. Another blow to the theory that going natural is more environmentally friendly, is that hundreds of pounds of plant matter could be used to make a single ounce of essential oil! Certain plants used to create essential oils such as certain types of sandalwood, cedarwood, and rosewood oil are now endangered from the over-harvesting. Such heavy usage of natural resources can create an imbalance in the environment for types of essential oils that are extracted from "non-renewable" resources. Essential oils undeniably have been found to carry positive properties from the plant materials they were extracted from. Wisely chosen quality essential oils can greatly increase the desired effects in a topical application such as creams or lotions. However, many debate on this when it comes to the topic of soapmaking. Unless a soap is "rebatched" or "milled", including through "met and pour" methods, or cooked through a "hot process" method, some believe that the high alkali needed during the soapmaking process actually kills at least a vast majority of any of the positive properties that may have come have from the plant matter the essential oil was extracted from. Then again, the heat from the methods could tear down beneficial antioxidants, vitamins, or essential fatty acids that the base oils in the soapmaking process has brought to the table. Some don't believe either of these to be true and can intelligently argue both of these points to death. There are those that are particularly sensitive to fragrance oils, yet there are people that are sensitive to essential oils as well- often time people that are sensitive to one may be sensitive to another. This does not make either one "bad". You can't place blame any more than you could place blame due to any other allergy. If you're allergic to cats, you can't blame the cat and certainly you can blame yourself. It just happens. "Leave-on" products that aren't rinsed away, such as lotions and creams, need to be treated especially carefully in terms of essential oils. Too much of a particular oil can have far more irritating results than benefits. For an example, if you make a lotion with large amounts of grapefruit, orange, or any other citrus in the summertime, these citrus oils may enhance your chances of getting scorched by the sun or possibly an even worse reaction from sun exposure. Large amounts of rosemary essential oil or extract in a "leave on" product could cause massive irritation. Some essential oils are even toxic if ingested! You have to get to know your oils- which means lots of homework before welcoming a new ingredient. Conclusion There are even many more valid points to each side than I have listed here- there are new ones all the time and the cycle of this debate doesn't look like it's going to end any time soon. It's important to openly review both ends of the spectrum and establish you own opinion by the weight of the importance each point of view carries and not just the simple number of listed pros and cons of each. Some people simply refuse to use anything with fragrance oils, and some people find products with essential oils to be an overpriced ploy for profit gain. Some recognize the benefits of essential oils and commonly use them in topical leave-on applications, but find them to be a waste when it comes to soapmaking. Then there are some that feel strongly enough that they avoid either one, sometimes simply leaving their products entirely unscented. As for me, personally, I think everyone is right. I see both ends to this debate as valid, and in a sense I believe the difference in opinions is a great thing. My theory is this - there are obvious faults to both fragrance and essential oils. If only fragrance oils were used, I think pollution to the environment and our bodies would skyrocket to an all time high and it would be a total shame to cast out the magical scents with countless benefits given to us by mother earth, herself. Yet, at the same time, if only essential oils were used there could be devastating results to the planet from over-harvesting. I also think this would bring a sense of boredom to the bath and body industry as a whole. Even if it is sometimes overlooked because of it's common over-use, certain scents and fragrances really touch people. I think they would miss many of their favorite scents that simply cannot be imitated with all natural essentials oils. Whether it's to enhance a certain mood, is a treat to indulge in and brings a sense of pampering in our hectic lives, or someone just plain likes it, I truly think people actually connect with certain scents. I believe aromatherapy goes far beyond just premium grade natural essential oils. As a soapmaker, I embrace both at this point, and make my soaps as my passion drives me- without prejudice. The Author For more articles like this, you can visit this author's website - http://www.chambersessentials.com- our blog for beauty, health, home, and soul... Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/ Aromachology and Aromatherapy Definitions Aromachology: The science of the effect of scent on mood and behavior (Psychology of Scent). Aromachology is the use of specific essential oils to enhance the psychological or aesthetic sense of well-being. Some of the benefits include relaxation, reduction of stress, improvement of work performance, elevation of moods, reduction in depression, stimulation of memory and alertness, and enhancement of self-image and sexuality. Aromatherapy: The use of fragrance can benefit us in many ways. For example, psychologists often use aroma to retrieve forgotten memories, since our olfactory sense, our sense of smell, is the strongest memory trigger we have. We can use aromas to improve our everyday life, too. One aroma may, in fact, have several benefits. Recent studies from the Olfactory Research Fund, an independent, tax-exempt, charitable organization, have revealed some of following aromachology benefits and uses: Aromachology Uses: The use of fragrance can benefit us in many ways. For example, psychologists often use aroma to retrieve forgotten memories, since our olfactory sense, our sense of smell, is the strongest memory trigger we have. We can use aromas to improve our everyday life, too. One aroma may, in fact, have several benefits. Recent studies from the Olfactory Research Fund, an independent, tax-exempt, charitable organization, have revealed some of following aromachology benefits and uses: Peppermint & Lily of the Valley Mental Stimulant Long distance drivers, studying, exams. Lemon Mental Stimulant Error reduction in the workplace. Vanilla Relaxant Stress reduction Fir Relaxant, sanitizer Stress reduction, refreshing Ylang Ylang Encourage Happiness, sensuality Mood enhancement Basil Uplifting, alertness Mood enhancement Rosewood Antidepressant Mood enhancement Lavender Calming, relaxant Stress reduction, mood enhancement ** What is an essential oil? The use of extracted plant essential oils derived from the flowers, leaves, roots, resins, or bark for psychological and physical well-being. Inhalation, using methods such as diffusion, is the most common method of enjoying the benefits of essential oils. Our sense of smell is able to process up to 100,000 different smells. Certain aromas do help us to feel better and feeling better can have a tremendous therapeutic influence on stress related emotional and psychological symptoms. --------------- A highly volatile substance isolated by a physical process from an odoriferous plant of a single botanical species. The oil bears the name of the plant from which it is derived; for example, rose oil or peppermint oil. Such oils were called essential because they were thought to represent the very essence of odor and flavor. Distillation is the most common method… Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic extracts which are distilled from a variety of aromatic plant material including grasses, leaves, flowers, needles & twigs, peel of fruit, wood and roots. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in their Vocabulary of Natural Materials (ISO/D1S9235.2) defines an essential oil as follows: "An essential oil is a product made by distillation with either water or steam or by mechanical processing of citrus rinds or by dry distillation of natural materials. Following the distillation, the essential oil is physically separated from the water phase." Dr. Brian Lawrence states "For an essential oil to be a true essential oil, it must be isolated by physical means only. The physical methods used are distillation (steam, steam/water and water) or expression (also known as cold pressing, a unique feature for citrus peel oils). There is one other method of oil isolation specific to a very limited number of essential oil plants. This is a maceration/distillation. In the process, the plant material is macerated in warm water to release the enzyme-bound essential oil. Examples of oils produced by maceration are onion, garlic, wintergreen, bitter almond, etc. What is NOT an Essential oil is a CO2 extract, a halohydrocarbon extract or an empyreumatic distillate."

Catch up! what's new, product review, anything else random

Things are getting CRAZY! Between meandtheboy really heating up do our destash store becoming equally sought out! it's been rediculous! We have also started doing tophatter auctions...... www.tophatter.com is an auction for all kinds of things.....think craigslist, but more handmade and an auction. I have been listing items in the auctions with 100% going towards books about autism, aspergers, adhd and other ASD issues for classes in his school.

I have signed up for 3 sampler boxes this month! I have desided to work hard to cement our brand. It would be a dream to have an actually store one day! Building our brand is big this year.

I've done some awesome shopping lately.....

I love packaging supplies, in fact my love is so strong I have had to open a section in my supply shop!!!

Tessa is one of the first people I ever met on etsy. Even  if we don't talk forever, it's like nothing ever changed! She's awesome and runs 3 shops also, I shopped at WASHI WISHES

I ordered a 4 pack and was thrilled to pick my own! It arrived fast, well packaged and they were perfect! One thing I appreciate more than a deal is CONSISTENCY.....i'd rather pay a bit more and know what I am getting, when i'm likely getting it,,,,and from someone that loves what they do. Washi wishes' prices are not higher, in fact they are very fair,,,,I just don't go searching for other sellers.....if it's not broke don't fix it!

Washi Wishes shop

Mariah is a RIOT!!! from pink hair to her apple eating mom Mariah is a fun person to know! I love her gluten free gingerbreadm so does my son!  so we have ordered a couple of times and it's always AWESOME!!!  I could find a pics of the gingerbread but this looks yummy too....her marshmallow flavors sound amazing...

PLUS!!!! her logo is a manatee in a crown!!!!! I mean how awesome and out of the box is that. She's here Realist mermaid  mmmmmmmmmm cookies






Even tho I make amazing sprays and candles and nice smelly stuff, there is something about buying someone else's that feels indulgent!  I always knew Briar Muse what a store i'd shop at. Unique scents, modern design...and it's just obvious how much theis seller cares about her company and customers...pride shows, I ordered two room sprays. Carribean teak and buttercream. They are both amazing although I am FAR more partial to the stronger deeper teak scent!

shes awesome and has her own independant website slong with some amazing deals! Briar Muse



so tonight i'm taking it easy. We have alot of new stuff too  but that's for another post

kids ideas of love

happy valentines day!
actually i'm a day late.
so here's a REALLY REALLY long and adorable post about kids views of love!!!

K I D ' S  I D E A S  A B O U T  L O V E

Kids, aged 5 to 10, were asked questions about what they thought of love and marriage. Here's what they said.

Love and Marriage:

• "If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it. It takes too long." -- Glenn, age 7
• "Love is like an avalanche where you have to run for your life." -- John, age 9
• "I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful." -- Manuel, age 8
• "No one is sure why it happens, but I heard it has something to do with how you smell. That's why perfume and deodorant are so popular." -- Mae, age 9
• "Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." -- Greg, age 8
• "Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife." -- Tom, age 5
• "On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date." -- Mike, 10
• "I'm in favor of love as long as it doesn't happen when Dinosaurs is on television." -- Jill, age 6
• "One of the people has freckles, and so he finds somebody else who has freckles too." -- Andrew, age 6
• "My mother says to look for a man who is kind. That's what I'll do. I'll find somebody who's kinda tall and handsome." -- Carolyn, age 8
• "It gives me a headache to think about that stuff. I'm just a kid. I don't need that kind of trouble." -- Kenny, age 7
• "One of you should know how to write a check. Because, even if you have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills." -- Ava, age 8
• "When somebody's been dating for a while, the boy might propose to the girl. He says to her, 'I'll take you for a whole life, or at least until we have kids and get divorced.'" -- Anita, 9
• "I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding fourth grade hard enough." -- Regina, age 10
• "Most men are brainless, so you might have to try more than once to find a live one." -- Angie, age 10
• "A man and a woman promise to go through sickness and illness and diseases together." -- Marlon, age 10
• "[Being] single is better . . . for the simple reason that I wouldn't want to change no diapers. Of course, if I did get married, I'd figure something out. I'd just phone my mother and have her come over for some coffee and diaper-changing." -- Kirsten, age 10
• "Love is foolish...but I still might try it sometime." -- Floyd, age 9
• "Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me." -- Dave, age 8

Kissing:

• "When a person gets kissed for the first time, they fall down, and they don't get up for at least an hour." -- Wendy, age 8
• "You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough bucks to buy her a big ring and her own VCR, 'cause she'll want to have videos of the wedding." -- Jim, age 10
• "Never kiss in front of other people. It's a big embarrassing thing if anybody sees you. But if nobody sees you, I might be willing to try it with a handsome boy, but just for a few hours." -- Kally, age 9
• "You learn [how to kiss] right on the spot when the gooshy feelings get the best of you." -- Doug, age 7
• "If it's your mother, you can kiss her anytime. But if it's a new person, you have to ask permission." -- Roger, age 6
• "It's never okay to kiss a boy. They always slobber all over you. That's why I stopped doing it." -- Tammy, age 10
• "I know one reason kissing was created. It makes you feel warm all over, and they didn't always have electric heat or fireplaces or even stoves in their houses." -- Gina, age 8
• "The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that." -- Curt, age 7
• "The rules goes like this: if you kiss someone, then you should marry her and have kids with her. It's the right thing to do." -- Howard, age 8
• (on seeing a couple kissing) "He is trying to steal her chewing gum!" -- Boy, age 6

Beauty:

• "If you want to be loved by somebody who isn't already in your family, it doesn't hurt to be beautiful." -- Anita, age 8
• "Beauty is skin deep. But how rich you are can last a long time." -- Christine, age 9
• "It isn't always how you look. Look at me. I'm handsome like anything, and I haven't got anybody to marry me yet." -- Brian, age 7

How People In Love Act:

• "Lovers will just be staring at each other and their food will get cold. Other people care more about the food." -- Brad, age 8
• "They act mooshy. Like puppy dogs, except puppy dogs don't wag their tails nearly as much." -- Arnold, age 10
• "All of a sudden, the people get movies fever so they can sit together in the dark." -- Sherm, age 8
• "Romantic adults usually are all dressed up, so if they are just wearing jeans it might mean they used to go out or they just broke up." -- Sarah, age 9
• "It's love if they order one of those desserts that are on fire. They like to order those because it's just like how their hearts are -- on fire." -- Christine, age 9
• "See if the man picks up the check. That's how you can tell if he's in love." -- John, age 9
• "Many daters just eat pork chops and french fries and talk about love." -- Craig, age 9

What Mom and Dad Have In Common:

• "Both don't want no more kids." -- Lori, age 8

How To Tell If Two People Are Married:

• "Married people usually look happy to talk to other people." -- Eddie, age 6
• "You might have to guess based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids." -- Derrick, age 8

Deciding Who To Marry:

• "You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming." -- Allan, age 10
• "No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with." -- Kirsten, age 10

Strategies For Making People Fall In Love With You:

• "Tell them that you own a whole bunch of candy stores." -- Del, age 6
• "Shake your hips and hope for the best." -- Camille, age 9
• "Yell out that you love them at the top of your lungs...and don't worry if their parents are right there." -- Manuel, age 8
• "Don't do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get attention, but attention ain't the same thing as love." -- Alonzo, age 9
• "One way is to take the girl out to eat. Make sure it's something she likes to eat. French fries usually works for me." -- Bart, age 9

The Best Age To Get Married:

• "Twenty three is the best age because you know the person forever by then." -- Cam, age 10
• "No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married!" -- Freddie, age 6

OUr first blog interview with the AMAZING TRACI OF SAMPLER VILLAGE

So a week or so ago I sent Traci a few questions so we could get to know her better. This woman works her butt off!!!! plus supports all her villagers!!!! here's what she had to say!

Why did you start Sampler villager?I have always loved sampler boxes, who doesn't like to try before they buy. I knew a lot of crafters/artisans so I asked around if they would be interested in participating in a sampler box. The response was overwhelming, thus Sampler Village was born in September 2009.

What is the best part of running Sampler Village?By far, meeting and getting to know all the Villagers, we a like a family here. It takes a Village to do a sampler box...LOL!!

How many vendors on average do you work with?Every month is different. Our biggest box by far is our Christmas/Holiday Box. We had over 100 participating for those boxes alone. I would say an adverage of participates (Villagers) each month is between 50-70.

What is the most miraculous/cool blessed thing that has ever happened as a result of your company?The Villagers! I have been able to meet so many wonderful people that I consider my 'friends'. I do feel very blessed that I can be a stay at home mom and TOTALLY LOVE what I do.

Are there any new ventures on the horizon that you want to share with us?Sampler Village just keeps growing and growing. We offer our Villagers lots of fun incentives to come join us. New Ventures? YES!! Although not related to Sampler Village, a huge online Craft Market is being developed as we speak. I am very proud and honored to be part of it's development. CraftCafe.co will be making is debut in late spring, early summer of 2012!

How does anyone interested reach you?You can reach me directly by email: traci@samplervillage.com

Links..
http://www.samplervillage.com/
http://www.samplervillage.etsy.com/
http://www.samplervillage.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/SamplerVillage2
www.twitter.com/SamplerVillage
www.youtube.com/user/SamplerVillage


This woman is amazing!!!! why not either try a sampler box, or get your goods put in one!

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Have you forgot something?

Don't ever underestimate the value of a buyers feedback. Weather good or bad it provides key information to why your business is flourishing, or failing!

Buyers, as small businesses profit mainly from word of mouth, your feedback is paramount to our success! Even not so stellar feedback should be seen as a piece of info as to where something may need to be improved, perhaps even something you never thought of.

Customer critique is one of the best weapons sellers have. Surely a happy customer will tell their friends all about you but so will a dissatisfied one.

Forgotten to leave your feedback? remember how vital it is for us.....and leave us some when you have a minute!

Hot new review blog!!!!

so We made a great sale to a local family....we love all our  customers but we honestly get kind of excited when we get to deal with people close to us. I did'nt know at the time that the amazing lady that bought our items had a super talented blogger daughter. Sarah is just getting started but I think she will for sure be going places in no time. She has a beautiful blog, and a great direct writing style. She was kind enought to review our items...and I invite you to follow her blog! you can check out our review here

 sugared euphoria
 http://sugaredeuphoria.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-me-and-boy-handmade-tart-melts.html?showComment=1328217671286#c5159496793115356388 

HOW AWESOME!!!


Thanks sarah and I am CERTAIN your blog will be growing in no time!!!

Pricing for small companies

I recently found this article and thought I would share it since we are all worried about pricing.


The pricing strategy of your small business can ultimately determine your fate. Small business owners can ensure profitability and longevity by paying close attention to their pricing strategy.
Commonly, in business plans I've reviewed, the pricing strategy has been to be the lowest price provider in the market. This approach comes from taking a quick view of competitors and assuming you can win business by having the lowest price.
Lowest Pricing Does Not Win

Having the lowest price is not a strong position for small business. Larger competitors with deep pockets and the ability to have lower operating costs will destroy any small business trying to compete on price alone. Avoiding the low price strategy starts with looking at the demand in the market by examining three factors:
 
1. Competitive Analysis: Don't just look at your competitor's pricing. Look at the whole package they offer. Are they serving price-conscious consumers or the affluent group? What are the value-added services if any?
 
2. Ceiling Price: The ceiling price is the highest price the market will bear. Survey experts and customers to determine pricing limits. The highest price in the market may not be the ceiling price.
 
3. Price Elasticity: If the demand for your product or service is less elastic, you can then have a higher ceiling on prices. Low elastic demand depends on limited competitors, buyer's perception of quality, and consumers not habituated to looking for the lowest price in your industry.
Once you understand the demand structure in your industry, review your costs and profit goals as set in your business plan or financials. The low price strategy is best avoided by small business but there are conditions such as a price war that can drag a company into the lowest price battle.
 
Avoiding a Price War
A price war can wreck havoc in any industry and leave many businesses, out of business. In the early 90's, I observed the competitive exercise equipment market enter a price war in a large city market. Profits were plentiful but a price war took the gross margins from 42% to 12%. In less than 18 months, over 60% of the retailers were out of business while my division went national. Take these tips to evade a deadly price war:
Enhance Exclusivity: Products or services that are exclusive to your business provide protection from falling prices.

Drop High Maintenance Goods: There may be products or services in your business that have high customer service and maintenance costs. Drop the unprofitable lines and find out what customers don't want.

Value-added: Find value your business can add to stand out in the marketplace. Be the most unique business in the category.

Branding: Develop your brand name in the market. Brand name businesses can always stand strong in a price war. Leave the price-cutting and price wars to big business. Small businesses with solid pricing strategies can escape a price war and low price position. Carefully, consider your price decisions. Your business depends on it.

I found this article BRILLANT  often we lower our prices too much. Although we all KNOW that price doesn't always reflect quality....our society has brainwashed us to believe the more something costs the better it is... Just something to think about the next time you think being cheaper than so and so's store.....you may be hurting yourself.

Out with the old and in with the new!

This weeks featured artist on etsy was the last straw for me! the featured proudly professed how she is inspired by the resourcefulness of people who don't have money while she sells her 45$ panties and High Priced lingerie. I am not certain if these are rich people with no money, but as an actual person with no money I buy my cotton panties in a bag for 12$ for 5 pairs.....if I splurge on fancies it's 5 for 20$.

A few weeks ago I came across http://www.luulla.com/  My supply store gets alot of hassle from etsy so I decided to start moving it over to luulla and see what happens, all I got was helpful staff, who diligently moved each one of my listings over and uploaded them all manually (MANUALLY!!!!) all 176 of them pictures and all.

Tommy told me it would take a few days. Once they were done he told me and I had a look and wow....perfection. It is nice to be able to put my shop in someones hands and trust all will go well.... I was happy with the 6 months of free service, I never dreamed the was a company that would do all this.

I am now gunning for a spot for me and the boy. The feeling of luula is light, their staff cares and even helps promote ALL shops....not the most artsy fartsy one with the best pics and  overpriced pieces of folded paper.

Do I hate etsy....of course not...but I am tiring of their system. My supply shop is harassed alot for really what boils up to nonsense.....while overseas resellers RUIN the market with mass produced "handmade" goods simply because they sell so much more, and raise etsy's profit higher they seem to slip under the radar. I recently  had a friend have to send in pictures of her making all her items because it was thought perhaps they were not handmade when this shop owner was clearly a handmade shop....the hassle they gave here was truly undeserved, and sooner or later it will happen to all of us. The traffic and sales from etsy can't be argued, but if I have to read on more feature artist and their bullsht story i might vomit some handmade puke!

I am PRAYING that luulla takes off. Perhaps if etsy could realize that without it's sellers they would have no paycheck or site, eat a little humble pie and try to help out the underdogs (like those of us who have  made less than 20$ this entire month) perhaps we wouldn't have our panties in a bunch ready to jump ship to those that simply treat us properly....like artist, people and part of something greater!

Thanks luulla!!! I wish you, and us sellers all the success in the world. Keep treating us well and we'll tell the world about you....value us as artist and people and we'll return the favor in sales and word of mouth!

A week of good....than bad

I always try to stay positive so I will start there

Got an amazing deal on a handmade quilt at sinclaieville . I love it. It's so perfect!  I have always had a soft spot for quilts...the amount of time and work that goes into it amazes me.  This quilt was perfect. A mix of purples and greens with a few pops of pattern. Also I liked that it was backed in black, I find it adds a modern touch.

I was shocked when this quilt had been marked down to 35$. It wa over I had to have it. It came smartly wrapped in a clean garbage bag in a great well wrapped box. It did'nt take too long, and after a handwash and line dry it has'nt left the couch yet! In our house we are big cuddlers....our new couch we bought when we moved is a huge oversized blue faux suede with room for 4 to stretch right out. We often lay all over the couch in pj's falling in and out of naps cozy under handmade blankets and quilts, watching reruns of looney tunes with the boy. It's a wonderful way to spend the weekend. I would suggest everyone check out sinclaieville - gifts from a quilters heart   They do still have quilts at amazing prices and also sale ones too. But most of all Tami is an amazing seller, the love she has for what she does shines thru. I would buy here again anytime my budget allows.

The bad

The boy has bronchitis  ICK   so shipments are slightly delayed as he is home with me from school. Oddly it has'nt dulled his loudness or obsession for video games.....but I am glad to be able to baby him for a bit. Now that he is 5 he does'nt seem to need me so much (not at all if you'd asked him)  His teeth are loose, he picks his own outfits......and breaks mommy's heart with his sudden burst of lippy comments!  As much as I miss my baby boy I am also amazed by my little man daily. This picture is from his christmas concert!

Coming soon!

Next week I will be posting our blog interview with Traci at Sampler village. I am so excited to ask her a few burning questions. She is so talented and kind and really supports artists! The handmade world is lucky for this lady! This month, as with last month we will again be  in the Sampler. Plus we will be including a 20% off code also for anything. Se you next week!

Stores I love

So I am starting my destash store on www.luulla.com and needed a new banner. I tried to make one but it never works out so well! I searched and searched but also didn't want to invest alot because I don't know how luulla will go. I came across this cute shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/DollarBanners DOLLAR BANNERS.

WHAT??? banners for 1$. Indeed it's true!  I fell in love with the bluebird design. I don't like elegant la di da stuff because that's not who I am. I love birds, and lots of color and something that you don't see everyday. 

I contacted The shop owner about it and explained I needed a specific size. She explained she normally charged an extra fee for resizing but I didn't have to worry she just took care of it. I could have added an avatar for 1$ but I had previously decided to use my picture of me so people can see me.

WELL, within no time she sent me this!

Valerie is funny, kind and easy to work with and I would EASILY recommend this seller to anyone....and already have!

please take a minute to check her out. for 1$ you can freshen your store whenever. I didn't ask about custom but Valerie is so easy to work with I am guessing it would be fine!

This is for sure a store I love

Feeling like I got my big girl panties on!

sigh....DEEP BREATH

it's been awhile eh?

Well I am glad to be back! Christmas was great/terrible but me and the boy had a great time. Life has been insane lately. The store was SO busy before christmas.....naturally after christmas it's dead. SO!!!!! I enrolled in college... I will be taking a class for credit about autism and the asd spectrum....hmmmmmmmmmm wonder what inspired that?

what else?      OH THE BOY MADE IT TO FIVE! Yep! 5 years old...broke my heart but I am proud because we both made it! He had his first play date with a friend from school on his birthday it was alot of fun! They both are adhd so it was a very interesting day! 

Lots of new stuff in the shop including a 10% of candle and tart sale, 75% off clearance sale and new roll on perfumes and jewelry!





Thank you guys so much for reading my blog

Poppin my guest blogger cherry!

Some point soon I will be having my first guest blogger....as I wondered who to pick.....I wanted someone fun, smart, kind and someone who I think has helped the handmade movement!

SO I am working on a list of questions for none other than the lovely TRACI of Sampler Village. Despite being all the previously mentioned things she is also HONEST. Look for her spot coming soon!

AWWW sorry blog readers

After the review I made of legit bad product became a mental case all over my blog  decided to take a break. BUT I;M BACK!!!!!!

And BOY do I have a gazillion of reviews for you!!!!! not just crafters either.

I have missed blogging so much!