Pop Culture Pillows

I'm a big fan of pop art, after all I do create pop art portraits myself! While surfing the next these pop culture pillows caught my eye. They are a great way to dress up any modern room without spending a fortune. Choose from Hepburn, John Cleese, Debbie Harry, Tom Waits, Friday Kahlo, or Coltrane. Each 14x14 pillow is graphically illustrated by an artist in Texas and silk screened on a removable cotton casing with a solid black back. They retail for $29.99 each at Modern Artisans, a website that sells handcrafted items created by skilled American artists.

Posted by Jill 1/04/2008 - Permalink

Best of 2007!

Happy New Year everyone! I thought this was the perfect time to take a look back at my reviews and make a best of 2007 list!

Mom and Baby: Personalized Pacifiers

What it is: Well, personalized pacifiers of course!

Why it wins: They are just too darn cute, and at such a great price they make the perfect gift for a new baby. Read more...

Bath and Body: T C & Company

What it is: Bara Naos Sugar Scrub

Why it wins: I love scrubs, and this is simply the best one I've tested. It's made with body butter so it leaves the skin soft but not greasy. Read more...

Jewelry: Wired Originals

What it is: Jewelry made from sterling silver wire and semi-precious gemstones.

Why it wins: Perfect balance between funky and pretty, these earrings go well with jeans or can be worn for a night on the town. Read more...

Stationery: Specialty Cards 4U

What it is: Handmade cards

Why it wins: Aside from being super cute, their Think Pink line donated 25% of sales to Susan G. Komen Foundation. Read more...

Fashion: The Bosom Button

What it is: A stylish little button to keep the girls from popping out of your blouse.

Why it wins: Simple yet genius invention, and at such a great price it's a must for every busty girl. Read more...

Home Decor: Imagekind

What it is: Order an art print from their large collection, or create your own work of art!

Why it wins: Allows you to shop by gift collection to suit any personality and taste. Read more...

Miscellaneous: Cup Couture

What it is: Cupcoats are designer thermal sleeves for coffee cups.

Why it wins: A chic way to protect your fingers from a piping hot coffee cup. Read more...

Posted by Jill 12/31/2007 - Permalink

Teapot Mart

Next time you have a gal-pal coming over for brunch, wow her with these exotic wares from a cute little site called Teapot Mart. The website specializes in Yixing and other unusual teapots and sets, and also sells specialty Chinese teas.

Yixing is a type of Chinese pottery made from iron rich purple clay. The pot is also engraved by the artist or calligrapher. Though there are many choices available on the website, styles include the contemporary clean look of the red moon teapot, the nature-inspired pumpkin tea set, and the Asian themed yin yang teapot.

With many items under $50, Tea Pot Mart has some great sale items on their site, Visit the Teapot Mart website and subscribe to their email list for a coupon for $5 off!!

Posted by Jill 12/28/2007 - Permalink

Shea Radiance Baby Butter

I was recently sent a sample of the Lavender and Chamomile Baby Butter by Shea Radiance, which is part of a line of organic products including baby oil, baby soaps, and belly butter for expecting mamas. The generously sized tub (8 ounces) retails for $19.95. While it may seem a bit pricey, a little goes a LONG way, it would easily last a few months with daily use. Besides, it is 100% natural with no additives, preservatives, or water, so it made me feel good about putting it on baby's skin.

Massaging babies with shea butter after a bath has been practiced in West Africa for a long time. Since lavender and chamomile are known for their relaxing properties, when combined with massage it makes the perfect bedtime routine to help baby gently fall asleep. On top of that the shea butter keeps baby's skin super soft and helps relieve symptoms of eczema. I used it on both myself and my daughter. The aroma is pleasantly relaxing and smells natural since it is made from essential oils and not artificially created scents. While I can't say if it made her sleep better (she's always been a great sleeper!) I could tell she enjoyed the calming massage.

Shea Radiance is a family owned business. Learning from their parents and grandparents in West Africa, they began making products with unrefined, organic shea butter to help alleviate their own children's skin conditions. They then expanded their line to include other oils and butters, essential oils and an exclusive line of natural and organic culinary oils, herbs and spices. To ensure quality, most of their products come from tropical locations in Africa, Asia and beyond.

Visit the Shea Radiance website, and to learn more about unrefined shea butter and other natural beauty ingredients, visit their Beauty out of Africa blog. Shea Radiance is offering free shipping on holiday orders of $50 or more.

Posted by Jill 12/18/2007 - Permalink

Zook Hooks

Don't you hate it when you are in a crowded restaurant and there is no place other than the mucky floor to put your purse or diaper bag? You spent some serious money on your Kate Spade and you don't really want to leave with a ketchup stain on it. Not to mention I'm always so nervous when my bag in under the table and out of my site. A popular shopping center near us has recently had a number of reports of wallets being stolen from bags right under the woman's nose at a busy restaurant.

A simple solution to this are Zook Hooks, stylish metal purse hangers that can be used on a table or even over a bathroom stall. They offer many styles including the bling purse hooks that hold up to 20 lbs! They are a steal at only $12.00. They also have mirrored purse hangers for only $9.99, which have a compacted mirror attached to discreetly check your makeup! If you don't carry a big bag, then check out the $14.99 Wrap Around Links that fold up and fit in the tiniest clutch.

Check out the many styles at the Zook Hooks website. You need to order by December 15th for Christmas delivery, but they also offer gift cards! They offer free shipping on orders of $60 or more.

Posted by Jill 12/14/2007 - Permalink

Yndigo Designs

Yndigo Designs is an online jewelry shop featuring funky, unique jewelry. Owner Kim Lyons, who has been designing and handcrafting jewelry for over 9 years, creates her award winning jewelry in limited editions. She fuses ethnic and traditional elements, which she refers to as "ethno-chic" works of art. Aside from their regular collection, which features stones, woods, corals and more, she offers a few smaller lines, each with their own specific inspiration.

The Sweetheart Collection features charm bracelets, necklaces and earrings all with, you guessed it, a heart in the design! While I am generally not one for heart jewelry, the funky flair makes them far more interesting than the sugary sweet jewelry your boyfriend bought you in high school. They are handcrafted with sterling silver, Mother of Pearl shell, Paua shell, Red Coral, semi-precious stones, and more.

The Jasiri Collection has a more ethnic appeal. Jasiri means "be bold" in Swahili. The line is handcrafted from Mother of Pearl and features bold, chunky jewelry. I love the Jasiri Pyramid earrings, shown left, which retail for $40.

The Tigress Collection is all about animals. These pieces are made to stand out on their own and would work well with the neutral pieces in your wardrobe. They are made from Tiger Cowrie Shell, which was once used as currency in Africa.

The Fluid Collection, inspired by water, features soft blues and greens with hints of pink and purple, perfect to go with your favorite jeans. These are handcrafted from Paua shell, a species of Abalone shell found in seas around New Zealand, and sterling silver. I love the 3 strand necklace, left, for $176. It may seem a little pricey but with a necklace like that who needs other accessories?

If you are looking for a special gift but are unsure of what they would like, Yndigo also specializes in jeweled bookmarks, key chains, and zipper pulls. Ranging from $8 to $24, these would make great stocking stuffers or would be a nice little gift for a coworker or a hostess.

Head on over to the Yndigo website and check out their gallery of work, and be sure to check out the sale section too! Plus, use code "btqsquare" to save 15% thru January 6th, 2008!

Posted by Jill 12/11/2007 - Permalink

Stocking Stuffers

Craftsbury Kids, a website focusing on mostly handmade heirloom quality toys for children, has an adorable selection of stocking stuffers for your little ones this Christmas. Best of all, many of them are under $10!

Designed by a sculptor, their cute little animal puzzles come in your choice of a rabbit, pig, tortoise or elephant. They are made from basswood and sanded to a smooth finish. No need to worry about lead as they are paint and finish free, with rounded edges and are completey safe for your baby to chew on.

Other finds include a brightly colored illustrated book about vegetables by Sara Anderson, which allows you to teach your kids about veggies rather than trying to hide them in their food! (Sorry Jessica Seinfeld - I do want to buy your book though!) They also have adorable finger puppet books and handmade barrettes for little girls featuring days of the week or Japanese inspired designs.

If you are sick of the noisy toys that devour batteries, head on over to Craftsbury Kids where you will receive free shipping on orders of $75 or more with code HFS.

Posted by Jill 12/07/2007 - Permalink

Going Ga-Ga for luxury baby products!

Ga-Ga, an online baby boutique selling a wide variety of mostly handmade products for mom and baby, recently launched their own line of made in the USA, sweatshop free baby bibs and blankets.

The 26x33 inch luxury blankets are made from super cozy 100% cotton and fleece. They are machine washable and come in 4 adorable styles: dinosaur, airplane, butterfly or flowers. Bib are made of vinyl and are easily wiped clean, which is so much easier than putting them through the wash. The designs are embroidered onto the bib with a simple but fun zig-zag stitch. Choose from cat, dog, mod squares or mod circles. I am really loving the dog bib, it would be so cute for a little boy!

Ga-Ga was started by hip mom Jackie Louk, who feels that, "It's so important that moms retain their sense of style post baby." They sell a wide variety of products such as maternity wear, diaper bags, music, toys and more. Join their mailing list to receive 10% off your first order!

Posted by Jill 12/04/2007 - Permalink

Holiday Toy Guide

Baby Classroom: Lots of great deals on education toys including Baby Einstein- plus free shipping on orders over $100.

Craftsbury Kids: Check out their special sale items plus free shipping over $75. They feature classic wooden toys and more.

E-Beanstalk: Features educational toys. They make it easy so you can shop by age. Free shipping on orders over $75 plus save 15% on all Gift Series.

Educational Toys Planet: Free shipping over $75 plus hot sale items.

Go to Baby: Sale on personalized baby blankets and robes, plus many other personalized baby gifts. Free shipping over $150.

Happy Valley Toys: Lots of sale items including Melissa and Doug and Lego. Free shipping over $100.

Keep Gaming: Check out their special deals on Dance Dance Revolution and other electronic toys for the big kids.

Kite and Wind: Free shipping on order over $50

Lucky Kids: Great deals on kids furniture, dollhouses, kitchens, wagons and more! Free shipping on orders over $79 (excludes oversized items).

Mad Allie: Check out the sale section for adorable kids suitcases and other travel items.

My Bambino: Browse their sale items for personalized gifts for kids.

Playful Plush Toys: Check out their rewards program to earn up to 15% off. Features Webkinz and many character toys.

Stuffed Animal Shelter: Save 10%. Adopt a stuffed animal and help support animal shelters.

Stuffed Animals.com: Loads of stuffed toys on sale!

The Land of Nod: Free shipping on over 50 items!

Teeni Banini: Toys, Cloth Diapers & Gifts Discount Code: TBS10 for 10% off your entire store purchase. Expires 12/31/07. Shipping Specials: Flat shipping rates of $2.95, $5.95 & Free on orders over $75.

Wonder Brains: Education toys. Free shipping over $100 plus a few sale toys. Also be sure to check out their toy safety guide.

Make sure you let the kids tell Santa what they want! Phone calls with Santa at Santa Speaking

Posted by Jill 11/30/2007

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