Bath Product Giveaway April 24, 2008

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite nostalgic items from childhood is the old bath time favorite of the soap on a rope.  I recall when my parents  bought my first one……. it was a bright blue turtle hanging from a woven white rope.  I loved it!  It just seemed so cool to have a shaped soap that I could wear as a necklace.  (Boy was I easy to please back then!!)

The Enterprising Kitchen has resurrected this old favorite with a more socially conscious, green twist.  The Enterprising Kitchen is non-profit organization that enables lower-income women who have been unemployed and underemployed to gain valuable job and life skills while creating beautiful bath and spa products.  The women of the Enterprising Kitchen create their products using only the finest ingredients and purest essential oils. All products are manufactured in small batches onsite at their Chicago facility and they sell to over 300 stores across the US and are available online.  The Enterprising Kitchen is a member of the Fair Trade Federation.

Ananya Studio (And don’t forget Ananya is offering 30% off all their fair trade sterling silver jewelry.  Just enter mom in the coupon code box at checkout.)  is beginning to stock a range of the incredible products from the Enterprising Kitchen.  (As soon as I can get them loaded up on the website.) To kick off this product offering, we are pleased to do a giveaway of their fun, new take on the soap on a rope.   The Enterprising Kitchen crafts their soap on a rope using the recycled, odd shaped scraps from their bars of soap.  Each piece is knotted to create a yummy smelling, colorful line of soap.  To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment on this post.  The winner will be drawn on Friday May 2nd.

Trillium Artisans April 23, 2008

On days like today, when Portland is weighted down under depressing, cold grey clouds for what seems like the thousandth day in  a row, it is difficult to remember why I love Portland and choose to raise a family here.  Then, however, I stumble on something like Trillium Artisans and my love for Portland all comes rushing back. 

Trillium Artisans is a Portland group with a primary purpose to help small, low income crafters form sustainable, profitable businesses for themselves.  As part of the program, Trillium artists have access to product reviews, retail and wholesale opportunities, small business counseling, peer networking, and guest speakers.   Also, artists agree that of the products they sell through Trillium,  the items will be constructed of at least 50% recycled or reclaimed materials.    I love this program because it is supporting independent artists who are committed to helping our environment!!
 

Trillium began in 1999 as Eco-biz  and eventually combined with a business-planning program called the Entrepreneurial Training Program.  Trillium is currently funded by the City of Portland Bureau of Housing and Community Development, New Belgium Brewing Company, and the Oregon Arts Commission through the National Endowment for the Arts.   This innovative program has grown so much that artists now have their own retail store in Southeast Portland.   If you are not blessed enough to live in Portland (I guess I actually do love Portland), you can also purchase products through their website or on etsy.  Both the store and their website offers a range of beautiful, creative crafts that reflect the diversity of this group of talented artists.  When you visit their shop or website, you will find garden art, jewelry, scarves, clocks, hair accessories and too many other enchanting products to list.   

On The Inside April 15, 2008

I am sooooo EXCITED!!  My husband and I are planning an adult only trip to someplace warm and sunny.  I cannot wait!  It has been a VERY long time since we have gone on a vacation without the kids………oh, the pure decadence of not having to go to any baseball or soccer games for a whole weekend,  sleeping to whatever time we want and dinners out without worrying about what is on the kid’s menu.   I cannot believe it is actually happening!

Thoughts of this trip have spurred me to start thinking about my unmentionables.  It is always fun to pick up a little something new for vacation.  On The Inside has beautiful handmade, sexy  lingerie that can be made to order to met all your sizing needs.  I love this Sweetspire camisole made from organic cotton.  It looks so soft and comfortable….. I can see putting it on and never wanting to take it off.  (And you can even order matching panties.)

I am also drooling over these super sexy boyshorts.  They are crafted from a soft black organic cotton embellished with delicate white embroidered flowers.  I am drawn to boyshorts because they are so flattering.  They help hide some of the bumps and lumps that come with motherhood.  And if you are a set kind-of girl, you can pick up the matching organic cotton camisole to compliment the panties.

On The Inside uses organic cotton panty liners on all of her panties because as the artist says, “I know your precious pink parts would be environmentally conscious, if they could express a point of view.”  She also uses recycled boxes for shipping.  What a great way to dress-up your “precious parts” while helping save the environment!!!

The Windsong March 14, 2008

As the mom of two active, sweaty little boys there are some major funky smells going on in my house and laundry basket.  Sometimes when I go into the boy’s bathroom, the smell of their socks in the dirty clothes hamper is overwhelming.  I am always looking for ways to get their clothes clean and  hide the smells that seem to waft from their socks.  In the past, I have resorted to using fabric softeners but I have always worried about the chemicals that are in them.  The Windsong offers an all natural alternative to fight stinky boy smell.  Their organic anti-static laundry spray comes with an essential oil spray that you spritz on a free pillow and then toss into your dryer with your clean laundry.  Your laundry has less static and comes out smelling of the scent of your choice.  Good-bye (more…)

Box Wood Goods February 15, 2008

Box Wood Goods is the weaving of “two long time friends,” Pam Bartley and Elena LeBel.  With the combined skills of a botanist and a designer, they envisioned a company that ”strives to create solutions that generate less full landfills, more fair trade, and tons of smiles on really, clean faces.”  Their company features linens made of sustainable materials like bamboo, flax or hemp printed with cheeky sayings.  Need a fun, stylish wedding shower gift?  Checkout the EAT, DRINK, BE MARRY bamboo cocktail napkins. 

Another unusual item I discovered at Box Wood Goods is their vintage Obi/Kimono Pillows.  The style forces in this company  rescue damaged Japanese kimono and obi and reuse them to create soothing, beautiful  pillows. The artists study each of the kimonos to determine which parts will translate into the most stunning finished product.  The pillows are then filled with a custom blend of organic grains.  They use buckwheat to provide aeration and support, and millet to soften the edges.   Each pillow is a unique creation based on the kimono or obi  from which it was derived. 
 

rinnovi February 11, 2008

With Mother Nature offering us a tease of Spring here in the Pacific Northwest, I began to notice how winter worn, pale and dry  my skin looks.  (It is amazing what you can hide with a turtleneck and a little foundation!)  Now that I am longing to shed my layers of fleece and don my tank tops and mini skirts, I realize I have to do something to spiff up my skin.  Luckily for me, I found Rinnovi Body Spa on etsy.   Rinnovi offers organic bath and body products in a range of scents including sweet orange, vanilla, lavender, margarita, grapefruit and many others.  (You can choose the scent that appeals to you.)  Here is a look at one of their body polish products.

At only $7.60, I can spend the next few months polishing my skin to get it ready to see the light of day. 

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Rinnovi is offering a limited edition Seduction Trio.  This trio includes a 1 oz salt and sugar scrub, 1 oz body butter and a 2 oz organic warming massage oil- all in her special Seduction scent which includes a combination of male and female aphrodisiacs and coconut.  A great way to spice up your Valentine’s Day!

Of course, all of Rinnovi’s products are made with organic and all natural ingredients. Be good to yourself and get your skin in shape- summer is just around the corner!  Also, once you are all shiny and exfoliated, checkout Rinnovi’s sister site, Bella Style , to find fashions and accessories to show off your rejuvenated skin.