Happy 8th anniversary, Tim.
And where was I before the day
that I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know
That I am
The Luckiest
Cold Process Soap and Hot Process Soap
Since becoming a mother, I have a whole new appreciation for quiet moments to myself. They are extremely rare, to say the least, and I know that they will become even more rare as Darah grows and learns how to follow me all over the house! I have always enjoyed shower time because it just feels good to get clean, and I also tend to keep a supply of nice smelling shampoos and soaps on hand to either rev me up in the morning or help me wind down at the end of the day.
My next featured Memphis in May business is Mocha’s Handmade Soaps, and this is yet another company that I’m so glad to have found and to now share with you. Vikki, the woman behind the company, makes a wonderful variety of cold and hot process soaps made with ingredients you can pronounce, and even has a nice selection of vegan soaps for sale. Vikki has been making soap and perfecting her craft for 3 years now. She loves being able to create something new and original that will bring people joy and also promote healthy skin, especially as we age (a fact I’m becoming all-too-aware of now that 30 is just a few months away!). I really enjoyed learning that Vikki makes all of her soaps by hand and cures them for 3 to 6 weeks. Furthermore, her soaps are detergent-free, which is not the case for the vast majority of soaps that you find in the stores.
The soaps I have sampled from this shop smell heavenly, lather beautifully, and help provide a peaceful space just for me when I step into the shower. I was so excited to read about the ingredients that are used in her soaps: “Saponified oils of Olive, Soybean, Palm Kernel, Coconut, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Palm, Sunflower, Avocado, Sweet Almond, Fragrance, Goats Milk, Vitamin E and other skin-loving oils and butters. Herbs and grains are also added to some recipes for a natural, gentle exfoliation. Some soaps are colored with natural oxides from the earth, ultramarines, & micas.” I recognized every single thing! I had the opportunity to try a cold process soap, and I was so impressed with how silky smooth (but not greasy!) I felt after using it. The bar also produced a great lather, so I can tell that one bar is going to last a good long while! I also had the opportunity to try the Hollywood Pink soap (Vikki’s version of an Avon scent). This was not a scent that I was familiar with before, but let me tell you, the first time I used it I just kept sniffing it again and again! It is light, but warm. I loved it! Finally, I tried the Peppermint Soap with Goat’s Milk. This is definitely going to be my go-to soap in the morning when I need some help waking up. It smells so refreshing and I feel nice and clean after using it!
I asked Vikki to share what she loves most about our great city. Her answers: the weather and the BBQ. May must just be the best month ever to her, then! 🙂 I’m sure she’s still making time to fill orders in between playing outside and eating some of the world’s best BBQ, though!
Vikki takes great pride in her work and stands behind every product she makes. If you can’t decide which soap to try first, though, she did say that if she had to choose 3 favorites, she would suggest Love Spell, Black Raspberry Vanilla and Baby Grace Philosophy. I say that you can’t go wrong if you go with the artist’s recommendation! If you have a particular kind of scent in mind and wish you could have it in a soap form, convo Vikki…the odds are decent that she can make it for you, which is really cool! Also, Vikki gives free samples with each purchase, so what are you waiting for?! Her bars of soap start at just $4.00.
EDIT: Giveaway CLOSED
Win it!: Here’s your chance to bring Mocha’s Homemade Soaps (and a little bit of Memphis) into your home! Vikki is giving one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a cold or hot process soap of your choice from the ones she has listed on her site. Nice! The contest will run until May 18th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.
Mandatory Entry:
Tell me which bar of cold process soap or hot process soap you would like to win (and choose wisely, as you will get this pick if you are the winner!)
Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
3. Add Mocha’s Homemade Soaps to your Etsy favorites
4. Tell me one scent you would like to see Vikki offer in her shop
5. If you left a Memphis in May comment on this post before May 2nd, leave a comment for an extra entry
Disclosure: I received product samples to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Update Your Wardrobe with Mozella Designs Jewelry (GIVEAWAY!)
EDIT: Giveaway CLOSED
It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to one seriously skilled Memphis jewelry designer. Take a look around Mozella Designs Etsy store. You see a lot of beautiful things, don’t you? Take this silver and gold interlocked mesh bracelet, for example. That’s a piece that would go with pretty much everything! Or what about this fluttery flower ring? It is so delicate, and yet, so bold! This flower pendant necklace could take most any outfit from drab to fab, as well.
The pieces at Mozella Designs are beautifully crafted and very in tune with current trends. They must be made by someone who has been doing this professionally for years and years, right?!
NOPE! Christine, the designer, has only been making jewelry for a few months! I could hardly believe it, myself. I think her work looks like the product of someone who has been around long enough to know how to get it right every single time. Beginner’s luck? I don’t think so. I think Christine has a gift! She says that she really enjoys learning different techniques for making all types of jewelry, but she is currently especially fond of making rings. She’s doing really well in that department, I think!
Christine sent me these lovely earrings, and lovely they are! I have worn them every chance I could. They can easily go with a fitted top and jeans and they look just as great in business attire. I love that they incorporate such pretty dangling features without being loud or garish, as dangle earrings can sometimes be. The Swarovski briolettes add just the right touch of shine to the gold hammered rings and glass pearls. I love these earrings, plain and simple!
Christine says that she doesn’t really have a specific process for making her jewelry. She tries to stay on top of currently fashion trends to get style or color ideas, but often she just imagines a particular design at random times and then goes with it. She keeps a notebook on hand so that she can sketch out her designs when brilliance hits!
I asked Christine what she likes best about Memphis, and she said that the spring and summer months are her favorite because the city is always alive with festivals, parties and other opportunities to just be outside. If you live in Memphis, you might run into Christine at the rooftop party at the Peabody Hotel. Look for the lovely young lady with the best jewelry at the party. That’s her!
Buy It: Mozella Designs’ creations are beautiful, unique and very fashionable. Pick out something special for yourself or a friend today!Having a hard time choosing the perfect gift from so many different beautiful options? That’s ok, because Mozella Designs offers gift certificates so that your loved one can get the perfect item!
Win it!: Christine is giving you the chance to snag your very own handcrafted jewelry by offering a $25 gift certificate to her shop! You guys are SO LUCKY!!! The contest will run until May 17th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.
Mandatory Entry:
Tell me your very favorite item at Mozella Designs and where you would wear it!
Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
3. Follow Mozella Designs on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
4. Become a fan of Mozella Designs on Facebook
5. If you left a Memphis in May comment on this post before May 2nd, leave a comment for an extra entry
Don’t forget to check out these other giveaways! Reusable snack bags (ends 05/09), handmade stuffed animal (ends 05/13), silky scarf (ends 05/15), handmade detergent-free soap (ends 05/18)
Disclosure: I received a product sample for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Infinity Scarf Makes a Splash!
One of my very favorite ways to accessorize is by wearing scarves. I’m so glad that decorative scarves have grown in popularity. Now there are so many pretty pieces that can take the most boring of outfits and make it stand out.I wore scarves all the time this winter.
I’ve been feeling a bit lost in the accessory department now that the weather has warmed up. I have some nice jewelry, but a scarf just seems to pull an outfit together so effortlessly!
If you can relate to this feeling, Terry, the owner of Etsy shop Memphis Gypsy, has a solution for you! She has created super cute infinity scarves that are perfect for spring! Hooray! Terry sent me this navy and purple floral scarf to try out. Just adding a whimsical scarf to an outfit can make all the difference between looking drab and looking very put together, and this scarf has definitely brought new life to a few of my work outfits as well as to my weekend attire. I’ve had several people comment on what a great idea the spring/summer scarf is, and I have to agree! Scarves at Memphis Gypsy are 34 inches around and about 6 inches wide.
In addition to working with various fabrics and knits to make scarves, Terry also loves to work with beads and resin material.
When I asked her what her favorite thing to make was, she answered, “Well that’s a hard question, it is kind of like asking a mom what child is her favorite. I just love creating and wearing what I make. It really depends on my mood, whatever I am making at the time is usually my favorite and then changes an hour or so later.” Can’t you tell that Terry is such a creative force with a passion for living life to its fullest?
Here’s an example of her passion in action. Terry is a woman with a dream. She offers her creations for sale not only because she truly loves to make things, but also because she is working hard to make the cut for the hit show, “So You Think You Can Dance!” She was featured a few times during season 6 (if you watched it, she was the girl in all white). She got some encouraging feedback from the judges, and her goal is to make it to Las Vegas during season 7! Any money she makes from selling her crafts goes to help Terry get to the audition and live out her dream. Pretty cool, huh?
So why is Terry’s Shop called, “Memphis Gypsy?” She says, “I am just a girl from Memphis who loves to make jewelry. I get called ‘Gypsy’ all the time ( mostly by my mother) because I can never narrow down what accessories I want to wear so I wear everything!” Now she gets to pass on her flare for accessories to others through her Etsy shop!
Since this series is about highlighting artists in Memphis, I asked Terry what her favorite thing is about the city. Her answer? The live music scene! She says, “There are so many under-appreciated musicians in Memphis. You can pretty much go see a great band any night of the week. I only wish I had more time to go see more bands.”She is so right. Memphis has produced the King of Rock ‘N Roll, and what few people realize is that the talent pool here continues to be amazingly rich. If you are a fan of truly great music, a vacation to Memphis should be in your plans, for sure.
Buy It!: If you are looking for a versatile piece to add to your wardrobe, the silky scarf from Memphis Gypsy is what you are seeking! Scarves are available in several designs for $15.00.
EDIT: Giveaway CLOSED!
Win It!: Terry wants to help one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader look her best by giving away one of her silky scarves! The contest will run until Saturday, May 15th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.
Mandatory Entry:
Tell me which infinity scarf you would choose (and choose wisely, because that is the one you will win if your number is selected!).
Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
3. Follow Memphis Gypsy on Twitter
4. Become a fan of Memphis Gypsy on Facebook
5. Add Memphis Gypsy to your Etsy favorites
6. If you left a Memphis in May comment on this post before May 2nd, leave a comment for an extra entry
Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Plush Monster: A Best Buddy for Your Child
Most of the children I know have far more toys than they need, and maybe even more toys than they even want. This is because we, as parents, find things in the stores that seem so cool, but that our children hardly play with when we bring it home to them. Or, children beg for the latest toy that is being heavily advertised on television and you eventually give in, only to have it break after 20 minutes of use or turn out not to be very entertaining, after all. So many of our homes are knee-deep in plastic crap.
Many children also have an extra special toy that they love to pieces and that goes with them everywhere. Often, this toy is a very special stuffed animal. I know when I was a little girl stuffed animals were my very favorite, and I would play with them for hours on end. I had a stuffed monkey who wore an outfit very similar to Dorothy’s (from The Wizard of Oz). Her name was Samantha and she was my best buddy.
I want Darah to have a best buddy, too, and I have found the COOLEST handmade stuffed animals…err….creatures EVER! Meet Darah’s new plush monster pal Eloi. Eloi comes from a shop called Mr. Sogs and is the handiwork of a wonderful Memphian named Joelle. Joelle has always had a soft spot for animals that are a little bit different, and that is reflected in her creations. Whenever she feels inspired to make a new creature, Joelle will make a few different versions until she gets it just right. All of her creatures are made two of a kind (she says that’s so that they will never really be lonely!).
The name Mr. Sogs comes from Joelle’s very large cat by the same name. Mr. Sogs loves the creatures that Joelle makes, so much so that he used to open the door to her sewing room when she wasn’t around, steal the creatures, and then sleep on them! Ha! Rest assured, she keeps her sewing room locked, now, much to the chagrin of Mr. Sogs.
Now, back to the creatures. When Joelle gave us the opportunity to choose something in her shop to review, Tim and I took this job VERY seriously. We carefully examined each creature, and talked about the features we loved about each one, and whether or not we sensed that each one would be a good potential buddy for Darah. We had to make some tough choices due to all the unbelievably cute animals in the shop, but eventually, we knew that Eloi was destined to reside at the House of M. And when he arrived, Tim and I were so excited! I’m sure if anyone had been watching us, they would have laughed at how excited we were to present Eloi to Darah. But we couldn’t help it! We took a good long look at him before we handed him over, and were just blown away by how beautifully he had been put together. He was part work of art and part future BFF, ready to romp and play. He was, in a word, perfect.
We chose Eloi because we knew that Darah wouldn’t be able to resist those fabulous antennas. And we were exactly right! She reached for Eloi and grabbed him by the antennas and started chewing away. The she loved on him by putting his face on hers. Tim and I just about died. It was so cute. Whenever Eloi gets spotted in the toy box, she reaches for him and just keeps on chewing. Fortunately, he is so well-crafted that he can withstand the abuse, no problem.
I know that Eloi will be having many adventures with Darah and with our entire family, and I just can’t imagine a cooler best bud, except perhaps a certain gingham-dressed monkey.
While Eloi has already found his forever home, there are several other sweet plush monsters at Mr Sogs waiting to be adopted! Wallace is Eloi’s cousin, and he’d love to join your family! Or perhaps Elmore is just the right fit for your little one? Whichever creature you choose, rest assured that they are each made with lots of love and filled with love to give! Micro Creatures at Mr. Sogs start at $19.00 and larger creatures start at $40.00.
EDIT: Giveaway CLOSED!
Win it!: Mr. Sogs the cat doesn’t want to share these creatures with you, but Joelle does! One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win either Chester or Elmore!! The contest will run until Thursday, May 13th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States. Be sure to leave your email address in your comments or have it in your profile or else I can’t contact you to tell you that you won!
How to Enter:
Mandatory entry: Tell me the creature from Mr. Sogs that you never knew belonged in your home until now! Also tell me if you prefer Chester or Elmore.
Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect
3. Put my button on your blog (leave blog url)
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
5. Become a Fan of Mr. Sogs on Facebook
6. Add Mr. Sogs to your Etsy favorites
Disclosure: I received a complimentary product in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Toys that Grow with Your Child
We all know that babies grow out of their clothes with lightning speed. There’s just not much that can be done about that, I’m afraid! But do they have to outgrow their toys just as fast? There are many toys on the market that have the lifespan of a size newborn onesie, either due to their poor quality or to the fact that they just aren’t that stimulating to a growing mind.
Playskool is a brand that has impressed me time and time again. They offer high quality, developmentally focused toys that keep your budget in mind. Every Playskool product we own gets pulled out of the toy box on a regular basis.
Recently, my friends at Playskool sent Darah the Playskool Explore and Grow Activity Ball
The ball also opens up and has some cool features inside. Darah is quite interested in playing with the ball when it has been opened, though she isn’t yet able to open the ball herself. When she gets a little bit older, though, I know that opening the ball and playing with the activities on the inside will be enjoyable for her. It will also encourage problem solving and the development of fine motor skills!
Buy It!: The Playskool Explore ‘N Grow Activity Ball is ideal for babies as young as 6 months in age, and will offer excitement to any little one through the toddler years. It can be purchased for $15.99 at mass retailers such as Target and online
Do you love Playskool products, too? What is your child’s favorite Playskool toy? Don’t forget to stop by and say hello to everyone at Playskool on Facebook!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.
Hurry! Get Your Extra Entry for the Memphis in May Giveaway Series!
This is a friendly reminder to make a comment on this post by May 2nd so that you can have an extra entry for the Memphis in May giveaway series. If you don’t know anything about Memphis, here’s a link to the Wikipedia entry about the city to help you out! You are going to be so glad that you got an extra entry, because the products you are about to see are awesome!
10 Foods that Make Me Happy
Special thanks to Mary Allison, blogger at The Makeshift Revolution (which happens to be the best new blog of the year, in my humble opinion) for giving me the Happy 101 Award. The rules are simple…I need to tell you about 10 things that make me happy. I’ve decided to make it all food-related, since that’s a large percentage of the things that make me happy in life, anyway!
1. Sticky rice with mango. My mother-in-law introduced me to this out-of-this-world Thai dessert. We used to make it ourselves at home, but then we ran out of sticky rice and have yet to find more in Memphis. Until last night. We got to go out on our first date in months (thanks, Crissy and Stash!) and we went to Jasmine, a fabulous jewel of a restaurant that we somehow missed until now. And we had sticky rice with mango. And I just about died from the joy of it.
2. French onion soup. But it has to be done right. I want it in a beautiful dish with loads of yummy cheese on top and the onions cooked just so. This is something that I have never been successful at creating at home, but on occasion I can find it at a restaurant and I love it!
3. Big fat yeast rolls, smothered in honey butter. I used to eat these at a restaurant named Quincy’s in the area where I grew up. It isn’t there anymore, but oh man I remember those big fat yeast rolls. Their commercials had dancing yeast rolls (at least that’s how I’m remembering it).
4. Ben’s cookies. When I studied in Oxford for a summer I would go every single day after classes and get a cookie. I remember that they were pricey. I also remember that I gained 10 pounds that summer. Totally worth it. If I could order them and have them shipped to the states, I would. And I’m cheap, so that should tell you something.
5. Boiled peanuts. I can understand why anyone who wasn’t raised on these would think that they are slimy and gross, but I could eat my weight in boiled peanuts in one sitting.
6. Peanut M&M’s. Leslie and I ate an entire bag of these in one sitting once in college. The big bag.
7. Macaroni Grill. Hands down the best Italian food chain restaurant out there!
8. Dairy Queen chicken sandwich. It’s been a few years since I’ve had one of these, but holy crap they are delicious! So are DQ fries, by the way.
9. Andes mints. The perfect size. The perfect flavor. If you ever visit my house, leave one on my pillow and you will make my week!
10. Lane cake. This was the specialty of my mother’s mother, and it is still the cake of choice for me on my birthday. Whiskey in the frosting? Yes, please!
What about you? What do you like to eat???
Who Knew Going Green Could Be So Lovely? (Reusable Bag GIVEAWAY!)
EDIT: Giveaway CLOSED!
I consider myself to be an eco-friendly gal. I’ve greened my cleaning products, many of my personal care items, and even some of the food choices I make. But there’s one area where I have failed. I bring my lunch to work almost every single day. While bringing my lunch is very wallet-friendly and arguably good for the environment since I’m not motoring all over town to find some fast food, I make a crucial error when it comes to how I transport the food.
Almost every single day, I use plastic sandwich bags. And I don’t wash them and re-use them. I just throw them away. Frankly, I didn’t give that habit much thought at all until recently. But I realize now that I’m being totally inconsistent by breaking out my reusable totes for every grocery trip, where I proceed to buy more plastic bags to use and throw away.
There is another option, I am pleased to say. Did you know that reusable snack and sandwich bags are available? And even better, they are really cute! Bleu Roo is a shop that has the cutest reusable snack bags that you’ve ever seen!
Amanda is the brains behind Bleu Roo, where she combines a love of the environment with her crafty skills and her embroidery techniques! She sent me a reusable snack bag to try out, and I’ve been toting it with me to work every day since. The outside is a cotton and the inside is a waterproof and stain resistant nylon. The bag secures with velcro. I have already washed the bag after using it for my peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and it held up beautifully in the wash. It also line-dried very quickly. The bags are large at 8×8, so they can hold enough food for kids and adults, alike. Overall, I found these snack bags to be excellent, and I only wish I had tried them out sooner!
Bleu Roo offers so many beautiful items. I’ve put the hand embroidered snack bag on my wish list for Mother’s Day, birthday or Christmas, and I also love the personalized totes that Amanda offers.
Buy It!: If you use ziploc bags for your own lunches or for your kids lunches, consider making the switch to reusable bags. They are so much more attractive than plastic, and they will pay for themselves in just a few months. Bleu Roo has a beautiful selection with prices starting at just $5.50!
Win It!: Bleu Roo is spreading the love by offering one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader one plain snack bag AND one embroidered snack bag of your choice so that you can go green in style! The contest will run until Sunday, May 9th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States. Be sure to leave your email address in your comments or have it in your profile or else I can’t contact you to tell you that you won!
How to Enter:
Mandatory entry: Tell me the embroidered snack bag you want if you win (choose wisely, as this will be your bag if your number is drawn!)
Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog (leave blog url)
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
5. Subscriber to the Sampler Village Etsy Team blog (Bleu Roo is a member)
6. Subscriber to the Bleu Roo blog
7. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)
current giveaways: Hen and Chicks cloth diaper (ends 4/30), Sugar Free Allstars children’s cd (ends 5/4), MAM pacifiers (ends 05/07)
Disclosure: I received a product sample for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
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