Bohemian Rose Giveaway!

To celebrate my birthday (which is today - yay!), I thought I'd try my hand at a blog giveaway. Since this is my first blog giveaway, I thought I'd include a couple of my favorite items to use. By the way, that didn't narrow down my choices at all, since I definitely use all of my own products!

First, you can soap up in the shower with your very own Bohemian

Rose soap in your choice of scent. All of my soaps are made in the cold process method, which basically means that I melt all of the oils, and in a separate container mix my water and sodium hydroxide. I let both containers cool to room temperature, then stick blend them together, add any scent or color, and pour into the mold. Once it's all in the mold, the chemical reactions heat the whole thing up to turn it into soap. Science is cool! :)

After you're all squeaky clean, you can exfoliate with your Bohemian Rose sugar scrub, also in your choice of scent. I make all of my sugar scrubs with a blend of sugar and raw sugar, along with oils and butters to help your sking feel soft and smooth. If you've never used a scrub before, don't worry! Just scoop out some of the scrub, massage it onto your damp skin, and the sugar blend will gently exfoliate. Rinse, pat dry, and you're good to go! I love to use my sugar scrub on my feet especially, but it's great as an all-over scrub too.

Now, on to the important part - how to enter the giveaway!

(Thanks to Roses. I used her blog giveaways as a guideline on mine!)

1. Stop by my Art Fire shop, come back and leave a comment on my blog with your favorite item there, and how I can get a hold of you if you win. That's all you have to do to enter! So easy!

2. For another entry, tweet about my giveaway, and post the link for it.

3. For another extra entry, blog about my giveway, and post the link.

4. Want yet another entry in the giveaway? Comment with a suggestion for products or scents you'd like to see from Bohemian Rose in the future.

5. Not enough ways to enter? Make a purchase from my ArtFire studio or my Etsy shop.

Easy peasy! Giveaway ends on Bastille Day (July 14, which was also my grandpa's birthday. Lots of July birthdays in my family!). :)

Coming Tomorrow - A Bohemian Rose Giveaway!

That's right, folks. In honor of my birthday tomorrow I'm starting a giveaway. Check back tomorrow for full details. But if you'd like to go ahead and take a peek at my Art Fire or Etsy shop, go right ahead. I won't stop you! :)

Happy 4th of July!

Friday Feature

Last weekend when Ben and I went down to Austin, we went ahead and bought my birthday present, even thought it was a week and a half early. I had asked Ben for a mountain dulcimer, but since he had absolutely no idea what it was in the first place, I did some research and found exactly what I wanted. We could either have it shipped directly from McSpadden Dulcimers in Arkansas, or, since we were going to be in Austin anyway, pick it up at a folk music store, Fiddler's Green, that sold them.

This is the type of dulcimer that we bought. Cherry back, and redwood top -- it actually looks much darker in color than in the picture. While we were paying for my dulcimer, several other customers were admiring the pegs, discussing what high quality they are. I know I'm still a beginner dulcimer player, but the sound quality is very nice (and I did try out all of the dulcimers they had in stock). If you're looking to buy a mountain dulcimer for yourself (and why wouldn't you be?!?!), you can't go wrong with a McSpadden Dulcimer. Or if you're in the Austin, TX area, head on over to Fiddler's Green. The guy who helped me was very knowledgeable and helpful. If I lived in Austin, I'd definitely go back for lessons!

Hump Day Humor

In honor of today being my mom's birthday, I thought I'd post something she'll think is funny. Happy birthday, mom!

And Finally... Part III

So you saw that I was out in Lubbock taking a two week class, and then you stuck around to read Part II about Orff Schulwerk. Now, the thrilling conclusion... Part III, all about Kodaly!

Before I tell you about Kodaly, let's start with how to pronounce it. It sounds like "co-dye" with emphasis on the first syllable.

Alright, now that you know how to say it, let's get on with the show. The Organization of American Kodaly Educators has a wonderful outline of everything that is Kodaly. In a nutshell, the Kodaly Concept is that singing is the foundation of musical learning. The voice is an instrument we all have, and that we can use throughout our lives. Through singing, children learn how to read and write music, improvise and create. In a Kodaly elementary music classroom, children use folk songs, singing games, and chants to have these experiences.

Zoltan Kodaly was a Hungarian composer who spent much of his life advocating music education in Hungary. He believed that if people are well-educated musically (starting in early childhood), they become more informed and appriciative listeners of professional musicians. Kodaly also saw folk music as being important for continuing a culture's traditions. Along with Bela Bartok, another Hungarian composer, he gathered folk songs from villages all over Hungary. In fact, many of his compositions were inspired by Hungarian folk songs.

In my opinion, music teachers don't have to, and shouldn't, see themselves as solely "Orff" or "Kodaly." Both can and should be used in the elementary music classroom. In my own class, for example, I use singing games, rhymes, and folk songs. But with these songs, I also have my students play on Orff instruments, create, and move. All of these activities together make my students well-rounded musicians. Yes, they enjoy playing singing games to learn musical concepts, but they also love playing instruments. Why should I deprive them of one or the other, just so my teaching falls into someone's strict guidelines of what an ideal music class should be?

"Shady Grove" is one of my favorite folk songs, and is one that often will randomly pop into my head. Here it is as sung by Jean Ritchie, who sang many, many folk songs for children on her mountain dulcimer. Enjoy!

Where Was I? - Part II

Recently I posted about a two-week summer training I was taking. I mentioned the two main philosophies of elementary music education, Orff Schulwerk and Kodaly. Many music educators feel that you're either in the Orff camp or the Kodaly camp, but not both. I disagree. Both can, and should, be used together to create more meaningful experiences for the children in the music class.

The American Orff-Shulwerk Association has a wonderful explanation of what Orff Schulwerk is. Basically Orff Schulwerk is a way to teach music that involves a lot of student creativity using songs, chants, rhymes, instruments, and movement. Students use these materials to experience musical concepts before identifying them. In Orff Schulwerk, students are active learners, participating in both decision making (ex: helping to create movement to accompany a song) and music making.

Thanks to Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman (pronounced Kate-mahn) and their work together, we have such a wonderful methodology. You may have heard of Carl Orff as a composer -- Carmina Burana is probably his most famous work. Orff and Keetman wrote four volumes of music, Music for Children. These volumes are wonderful pieces of music that children absolutely love to play and create with. My favorite piece from the volumes is Street Song. It's very challenging, but so much fun to play.



If you're an elementary music teacher, and interested in taking Orff training, I highly recommend taking it at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. All of the teachers there are absolutely top notch, and they create an environment where you can feel comfortable to learn and grow.

Hump Day Humor

see more dog and puppy pictures

Sale!

Now that i'm back home, I'm having a weekend sale to celebrate! In both my Art Fire and Etsy shops you can enjoy free shipping with your purchase. So enjoy your Father's Day weekend, and I'll refund your shipping via PayPal. Happy shopping!

Where Have You Been, Bohemian Rose?

I've been to your Art Fire and Etsy shops, and they're both on vacation! Where did you go???

If you're asking yourself this oh-so-important question, you've come to the right place. Both of my shops are temporarily on vacation for two weeks, until Sunday, June 21. So never fear, they'll be back up and ready for your soapy needs in another week!

Right now I'm in the very flat city of Lubbock, TX, taking a two week elementary music education training. This summer I'm taking Kodaly Level I. There are all together four levels of training to take before I can say I'm Kodaly certified. My roommate is taking Level II this summer... Here's hoping I can stick it out to the bitter end!

If you're asking yourself, what *is* Kodaly anyway? read on.

There are two major schools of thought in music education - Orff Schulwerk and Kodaly. (As a side note, I'm already Orff certified. You'll see how Orff and Kodaly go wonderfully together in the classroom.)

Check back later for my gripping part II to find out exactly what Orff and Kodaly entail!

Friday Feature

Today's Friday Feature is Johnny's Sister. I recently bought a tote bag from her and absolutely love it. Not only is it big enough to hold all of my stuff, it also has pockets. Definitely a plus for me.

The bag I bought is similar to this one, but with different coloring. There are two pockets -- one interior and one exterior. And if you'd like to fasten your bag closed, it features a side button closure. (Dark Chocolate Yoga Bag, $65.00)

Johnny's Sister also makes unique jewelry. My favorite in her shop is the Spare Change Choker/Wrist Wrap. I love the brightness of the silk cord that the vintage Indian coin is strung on. (Spare Change Choker/Wrist Wrap, $18.00)

School's Out

Our last day of school for the year was today. Even though I have to be at school tomorrow for our workday, I'm going to go ahead and say it... School's out!

Is it bad that I already miss my kiddos a little bit?

Hump Day Humor

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Art Fire Treasure Hunt

The Art Fire Treasure Hunt starts today! (I blogged about it earlier this month if you're wondering what in the heck I'm talking about.)

The Treasure Hunt will go from 10:00 a.m. EST to midnight EST. Shop from any of the participating Art Fire artisans, find the item with the treasure chest photo. Purchase that item and get the sale! Each artisan has chosen their own sale for their treasure item.

Find the treasure chest in my Art Fire studio, and get your shipping refunded!

See the full list of participating vendors here.

Happy shopping!

Friday Feature

Today's Friday Feature is Art Fire artisan Lady Mudwerkes! She makes lovely clay items including plaques and mirror frames. All of her work is inspired by nature, myth, or fantasy.

One of the first items in her studio that caught my eye was her Moon Lady Mirror Frame. The Moon Lady's face emerges from a slivery crescent moon, with her hair billowing around where the mirror will go. Beautifully serene. (Moon Lady Mirror Frame, $165.00)

While Lady Mudwerkes has a couple Tree of Life tiles in her studio, this one is my favorite. Peeking through the gnarled branches you can see the moon in each of her phases. This tile can be displayed as a wall hanging or on an easel. (Tree of Life Tile, $30.00)

Don't forget, our very first Art Fire Treasure Hunt is underway tomorrow! Check back tomorrow for more info!

Hump Day Humor

I almost forgot today is Wednesday! After having Monday off (which we never usually get off from school--mostly our days off happen on Fridays), the last two days I've spent thinking it's a different day than it actually is. So in that spirit, here is your Hump Day Humor!


see more Fail Blog

A Memorial Day Poem

Memorial Day

Eula Gladys Lincoln

In distant field of sunny France
Where strangers come and go,
Amid the farms of Flanders, where
The fragrant breezes blow,
Our solder-dead in quiet sleep
'Neath crosses row on row.

Here shrapnel shells once shrieked and burst
And took their toll of death;
The very wind, itself a foe,
Bore poison on its breath.

Above their graves the birds now sing
As round that home of yore,
When, carefree boys, they romped and played;
Those childhood days soon o'er,
The boys to brave and strong men grown,
They romped and played no more.

They put aside their childish toys,
A man's work each must do,
And when their country called for them,
To her they answered true.

"We must protect our native land:
She shall not suffer wrong
For she has reared and nurtured us,
We're men and we are strong.
We'll bid good-bye to those we love;
It will not be for long."

With aching hearts and tear-dimmed
watched them go away.
Some have returned but many sleep
In foreign lands today.

Where English roses bloom and fade,
In France where lilies grow,
Among the fields of Flanders, where
The scarlet poppies blow,
Our soldier-dead are not forgot
Though strangers come and go.

Poseidon Salt Bars

That's right, ladies and gents, my Poseidon salt bars are off the curing rack and back in stock. The scent is clean and refreshing, just like the salty sea air. And my salt bars are made with coconut milk to make the lather extra creamy. Soap up with one of these in the shower, and it feels like you're sudsing up with a "lotion-y" lather. Available now in my Art Fire and Etsy shops. (Poseidon salt bar, $5.00)

Art Fire Treasure Hunt Sneak Peek

Coming soon...the very first Art Fire Treasure Hunt! (Click here for full details.) Basically, each Art Fire studio that is participating in the treasure hunt will have a sale. You, the shopper, visit those participating studios and try to find the hidden treasure picture in their item listings. If you find it and purchase that item, you get the sale! How fun does that sound!

Hump Day Humor

This is one of my all-time favorite Flight of the Conchords songs. I've never heard one I didn't like, but this is one of their most funny.

New Blog Layout

I had been wanting to change my blog from a two-column to a three-column layout. After spending quite a bit of time reading how to do it, I finally stumbled across some simple directions to change my template. So now I can separate my Etsy and Art Fire information. Not only does it make it easier for you to find, but it also makes it feel less cluttered to me. Double bonus!

Friday Feature

Today's Friday Feature is The Holy Bead! Whatever your faith, you can find prayer beads for you at The Holy Bead. I recently bought a strand of prayer beads from her, and they are beautiful! Plus, with every purchase you make at The Holy Bead, you'll receive a free strand of love beads!

This particular strand of prayer beads is an open strand like the one I bought for myself. The wooden, jasper, and quartz beads celebrate all that is Mother Nature. (Earthtones Prayer Rope, $23.00)

Hump Day Humor

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for an important announcement. Go check out the EtsyVeg Team blog. My Violet lip balm is currently featured in the blog team treasury!

And now back to your Hump Day Humor. Thank you.

Star Trek

OK, allow me a nerdy moment here. We took my mom to see the new Star Trek movie on Sunday. I was *really* excited to see it this weekend. As in bouncing off the walls excited. The original Star Trek series was always my favorite (especially The Trouble with Tribbles and A Piece of the Action). Back when I was a kid, I think they ran them on Nick at Night or some such. Don't get me wrong, The Next Generation was a great series, too, (I watched them all growing up when they were brand new. Yes, yes, I know I'm surprisingly young to be *that* into the original series...) but I've always had a special place in my heart for the original characters. So of course when I first saw they were making a new Star Trek movie with those original characters, I was pumped, but curious to see how new actors would portray the original crew.

Needless to say, I think that whoever was in charge of casting did a bang-up job. Chris Pine makes a hunky young Kirk, and Zachary Quinto comes across very well as Spock. I loved the storyline, and somehow went into the theater without knowing that Leonard Nimoy was in it. When he first turns around and you see his face, I actually gasped out loud. Ben laughed at me later for not knowing it was coming. Honestly, I have no idea how I missed that bit of info.

Anyway, I don't want to go into details about the movie and spoil it for anyone, but all I know is that I could go see it again in a heartbeat. And I never go see movies in the theater more than once. Whenever this one finally makes its way to DVD, I'll be right there to snatch up my copy. Blu Ray, please, I want to watch Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto hunk it up crystal clear, thank you very much.

Happy Mother's Day!

In honor of all of you moms out there, I'm continuing my Saturday Night Special through today. Feel free to enjoy free shipping from either of my shops today. Offer valid in my Art Fire studio and Etsy shop until I wake up Monday morning. Just put "Moms Rock" in the notes to seller at checkout.

Happy Mother's Day!

SNS

I haven't done a Saturday Night Special in a while, so I thought it would be nice to offer one on Mother's Day weekend.

~*~*~ SNS Sale ~*~*~

Free shipping on your purchase from now until I wake up Sunday morning. Just put SNS in the notes to seller on your order, and I'll refund your shipping via PayPal!

This offer is valid in my Art Fire and Etsy shops.

Happy shopping!

Friday Feature

Today's Friday Feature is Mea Culpa Body and Bath. I'll start with a product of hers that I have bought and loved, her shampoo and conditioner. I know, I know, it's like I have a weird hair fetish or something. (Really, I don't!) I love supporting handmade, and love trying products from other bath and body makers that I don't personally make (like shampoo). So there.

Anyway, her shampoo is great. You know how I told you recently that my hair is picky? Well, it happens to enjoy trading off with the shampoo bar I mentioned last week. I have the Champa scent in the shower, but her Lolita shampoo and conditioner set sounds divine, too. (shampoo and conditioner set, $16.99)

The next time I get a tattoo, I'll definitely give her tattoo balm a try. She uses only butters, oils, and essential oils in the balm, all of which are great for letting your skin heal naturally. Just put a layer of the tattoo balm over your new tattoo, and gently massage in. (tattoo balm, $5.00)

Etsy Treasury!

Check it out, I'm in a treasury on Etsy! This one is full of great items of all kinds. You should definitely come look at it before it expires Sunday morning.

Thank you, La Vieja Tun Tun, for including my Relaxation soap in your treasury!

Hump Day Humor

Today's Hump Day Humor comes to us from Fail Blog. If you've never been to this website, you should. It's hilarious.

'poo Experiment Update

If you read Saturday's post, you already know that I was experimenting with the no 'poo method. Instead of using shampoo, mix one tablespoon baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Then use a vinegar rinse -- 1 tablespoon vinegar mixed with a cup of water.

So I tried this Saturday morning, and my hair felt great. I had even bought a new hair brush that afternoon with bristles, which I have read is best for redistributing your hair's natural oils. Let me tell you, my hair felt soft and clean for days! Normally I wash my hair every other day. Guys, I didn't wash it until this morning. I really thought about not 'pooing again, but decided to try inalather's shampoo bar with the vinegar rinse. So far so good, my hair is just as soft as it was for the last couple of days. Although the vinegar did eat up some of the scent from the 'poo bar... At least I got to enjoy the Cedar and Saffron yumminess while I washed up!

To 'poo or not to 'poo...

I'm talking shampoo here, duh! Recently I've been reading a lot about the no 'poo method. Take 1 tablespoon of baking soda and mix it in a cup with some water to make a paste. Massage it into your hair at the roots and scalp, and rinse. Then take 1 tablespoon of vinegar, mix with 1 cup water, apply to your roots and scalp, and rinse. It sounds easy, and from what I've read, it allows your hair to use its own oil to soften your hair, unlike commercial shampoos that strip your hair.

Now, my hair is picky. It doesn't like to have the same shampoo wash it every time. The closest I ever came to finding shampoo that my hair loved consistantly was from inalather on Etsy. Her 'poo bars rock! I loved how easy they were to use, but after a while my hair wanted some conditioner. (By the way, I've heard that inalather is developing conditioner bars...) Call me nutty here, but I didn't want to mix my wonderfully fragrant 'poo bar with some random smelling conditioner. So I left my Cedar and Saffron 'poo bar in its holder in the shower and went back to commercial shampoo and conditioner.

How does this relate to the no 'poo method, you ask? Well this morning I decided to try the baking soda/vinegar rinse on my hair. Since I'd never tried it before, I wasn't sure how long it would take, or how my hair would feel and look after. I had two cups ready to go on the ledge, one with baking soda, and one with apple cider vinegar. I put some water in with my baking soda, but I really think I should have put less. It was really watery, and I think it would be easier to apply if it was more of a paste. Next time... Anyway, I massaged it all in and rinsed. My hair felt really clean as I rinsed, which I have to say surprised me. I mixed my apple cider vinegar with about a cup of water, and massaged that in too. Next time, I'm adding a drop of essential oil, because vinegar just smells so freaking strong! My hair doesn't smell like vinegar at the moment, but I could definitely smell it for about 30 minutes after my shower.

Usually when I use commercial shampoo and conditioner, my hair takes FOREVER to dry. Really. My hair is long and really, really thick. Every time I get it cut by someone new, they always go on and on about how much hair I have. Oh do I? I hadn't noticed it sitting on top of my head. Today, my hair dried a lot quicker than normal, which was great since I had to get to the bank before it closed this morning. My hair even looks great, and feels really soft, like it did with inalather's 'poo bar. If it didn't take me so long to do this whole process, I would be all over trying this method out starting today. But I think I'm going to go back to my lovely 'poo bar, and try the vinegar rinse with it to see if the two together can make my hair as happy as it feels right now. Just wait though, summer vacation is coming up in the not too distant future. I'll definitely be no 'pooing then.

Happy First of May!

Warning - This video contains graphic sexual situations and adult language. If you're sensitive to those things, then don't watch. Otherwise, get ready for a funny song celebrating today, the first of May!

Hump Day Humor

As I was thinking about how this semseter has flown by, I realized that for a lot of people the week seems to drag. So I'm introducing a new weekly staple on my blog just for you -- Hump Day Humor! Every Wednesday I'll post a little something just to make you laugh and help get you through 'till Friday. Enjoy!

New Soap Listings

After a busy weekend at Arbor Daze, I now have two of my newest soaps listed in my Art Fire and Etsy shops!


First, I'd like to introduce you to Brighid. A Celtic goddess worshipped farther than just Ireland, she was the goddess of blacksmiths, poetry, and the fire of inspiration. So of course her soap is made with Guiness, and scented with blackberry. I don't personally enjoy drinking Guiness, but the scent of it in soap mixed with the blackberries is amazing. You really need to try this one out in the shower! (Brighid at Art Fire, Brighid at Etsy, $5.00)



Also new in my shops is Irish Tweed. This just happens to be my friend Greg's favorite. It's a very sexy, masculine blend of sandalwood, lemon, verbena, and violet. Cary Grant used to wear a scent just like this one. And if you don't already know this about me, I definitely think Cary Grant when I think of a sexy man. Trust me, this is one happening scent. (Irish Tweed at Art Fire, Irish Tweed at Etsy, $5.00)

Arbor Daze

I will be putting my Art Fire and Etsy shops on vacation this week, because I'm busy getting ready for my first show! If you're in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, stop by Arbor Daze in Euless near the city hall (click here for a parking map). It runs Saturday, April 25 from 9:00am-8:00pm, and Sunday, April 26 from 2:00pm-6:00pm. Come out for lots of food, arts & crafts vendors (me!), two stages for music and dancing, and a kid zone. Oh, and if you've been wanting to plant a tree, they have plenty to give away to a loving home. So if you're up for a little outdoor fun this weekend, come on down to Arbor Daze. Just remember to stop by the arts & crafts area to sniff some soap while you're there. :)

Friday Feature

In today's Friday Feature, I'd like to feature Art Fire artisan NotMoira. As she states in her Art Fire shop, her cards are fun "on the outside with an unexpected message on the inside."

Take this card for instance. So pretty on the outside. You'd never guess that the inside message says "You, my friend, put the 'ass' in classy." I literally laughed out loud when I saw this card. I don't know about you, but I can think of a friend or two who would appreciate the humor here. (classy card, $2.95)

Thinking of "going green"? NotMoira has started carrying canvas bags in her Art Fire studio. If you love LOL cats as much as I do, you're going to appreciate this bag. Her canvas bag is washable too, although NotMoira recommends handwashing it inside out. (Nom Nom Nom bag, $11.00)

Another Bohemian Rose Feature!

Want to enter another giveaway for some FREE Bohemian Rose product? C'mon, you know you do! Then stop by roses' blog and read some more about me, Jenn. :) Be careful, all of these great write-ups might start going to my head...

Oh, and stop by roses' Etsy shop too while you're at it. She's got a lot of great items there, including this lovable snuggle bunny!

I've Been Featured!

Two artisans have featured me in their blogs today. The first one I'd like to share with you is on PlanetJune's blog. She recently ordered some of my lip balms, and you can read about them in her blog. You really should take a look through her Art Fire shop. I've just been learning to crochet, so I know they're way out of my league, but her amigurumi patterns are just so darn cute! Especially the little chihuahua one.

While you're busy reading, stop by BrigaBauble's blog. Learn more about me, Jenn, and the soapy goodness that I love to make. :) Also, you can enter the giveaway to win one of my awesome sugar scrubs FREE! What are you waiting for, go enter already! ;)

New - Solid Perfumes

There is a new product tonight at Bohemian Rose Bath & Soap! Drumroll please.......

Solid Perfumes!













($9.00 Art Fire, Etsy)

These one-ounce push up tubes are easy to apply and great to toss in your purse or travel bag too. Just swipe the perfume on your pulse points and you're good to go. The combination of jojoba oil, candelilla wax, and soy wax will sink in quickly without leaving your skin feeling oily. Plus, since it's in a tube, you don't have the mess of dipping your fingers into a pot.

Current Scents:
Hecate (read about this scent here)
Lavender
Tir na Nog (read about this scent here)
Ultraviolet

More scents will be added soon! These wonderful solid perfumes are now available in my Art Fire and Etsy shops.

Fuzzy's Tacos

On Monday nights Ben has pool club. This week he thought he wasn't going to have to play, so we were going to have dinner at home. Just before we got started making anything to eat, his brother called and said their team was one person short, and Ben would have to come play after all. So Ben decided that it would be faster if we went out to eat someplace up towards where he would need to be to play pool afterward. We remembered that the P.E. teacher at my school had told me that another Fuzzy's Taco location had opened up in Arlington, but we hadn't tried it out yet.

If you've never heard of Fuzzy's Taco, it's a tiny little restaurant just off the corner of University and Berry in Fort Worth, just down the block from TCU. I have to admit that I didn't go there too often in college, because (1) there's no parking on Berry and (2) walking across Berry is a pain in the rear. The times that we did run across that busy street, I definitely enjoyed some fantastic veggie tacos.

Well the new location in Arlington is just as tasty as the one I remember. Ben had the ground beef crunchy tacos, and they came out exactly as he ordered them -- meat and cheese only. (Sometimes we go out and they put veggies on his tacos by accident. *gasp!*) Obviously I'm not an expert on ground beef tacos, but he said they were pretty good. Since I had always ordered the grilled veggie tacos before, I decided to branch out and try something new. And let me tell you, their grilled veggie sandwich is really good! Add a splash of their Butt Burnin' sauce at the table, and you're good to go! I enjoyed it so much I even called my mom on the way back home to tell her about it.

So if you're from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, or just in town for a visit, drop by one of the five Fuzzy's Taco locations for some delicious tacos and tex-mex food!

A New Scent!

Ah, dear reader, I see we meet once again! And just after I've put a double batch of soap to bed in the oven. What scent was it, you ask? One that hasn't been listed in my Etsy or Art Fire shops before -- Tir na Nog.

Tir na Nog in Celtic mythology was the "Land of the Ever-Young." But it is also an island where the faeries lived. The Celts described Tir na Nog as being somewhere to the west, far off of the map. This scent is just as mysterious as Tir na Nog would have been for the ancient Celts. It has a base of sandalwood, musk, and spice, and is topped with citrus, amber, and a hint of rose. Definitely a sexy, unisex scent.

Look for this one in my shops next month!

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

I just realized that I hadn't blogged AT ALL this past week. Oops! To make up for it, I'm taking some photographs today of my two newest lip balm additions, Brigid and Honeysuckle Nectarine. I made them a week or so ago, and wasn't able to photograph them because it's been so dreary and rainy here. Not to mention cold and windy! But lo and behold, this morning is sunny without a cloud in the sky, birds are chirping, and the wind isn't blowing a continuous 40 mph. Look for these to be listed soon (tonight, hopefully!) in my Etsy and Art Fire shops!

SNS

It's about that time again. What time, you ask? For Saturday Night Specials of course! And without any further ado, here is tonight's special!

Free shipping in my Etsy and Art Fire shops! Make your purchases as usual, and I'll refund your shipping, or you can wait and I'll send you a revised invoice without the shipping. Just be sure to put SNS in the notes to seller. Sale goes until I wake up Sunday morning. :) Happy shopping!

Friday Feature

Drum roll please.... Today's Friday Feature is mirthreverence! Mirth & Reverence offers OOAK jewelry, altar dolls, and photography. Here are a few of my favorite items in Kate and Jamie's shop.

Kate and Jamie offer many gorgeous altar dolls in their shop, but their Hekate doll is one I keep going back to just to look at it. The doll they used as a base is Elphaba from Wicked. Very appropriate, I think, to become a representation of Hekate, who was called the Queen of the Witches. What I'm always impressed by when I browse through Mirth & Reverence is the detail work on every doll. Not only did they clothe her the way you would imagine her to look, but she has beads snaking around her arms (snakes are one symbol of the Greek goddess) and bare feet that appear dusty from all of her travels. Even the stand she comes with is detailed--they painted it to be a crossroads, another of Hekate's symbols. These altar dolls are definitely worth every penny. (Hekate, $350.00)

I had a really difficult time choosing one piece of their jewelry to feature. They're all beautiful, so when you browse through Mirth & Reverence, definitely go through all of the jewelry. The Dream Castle necklace is a two-strand necklace of tiny seed beads and accented with Snowflake Obsidian. My first thought when I looked at this necklace was that it would look great wrapped to make a bracelet. Lo and behold, when I read the description, they suggest the very same thing! :) (Dream Castle, $15.00)

Last summer Ben and I took a trip to San Francisco to attend his college friend's wedding. While we were there we took a guided trip up to Muir Woods. On the way up we kept hearing about all of the wildlife we might see in the woods. When we arrived, we all went our separate ways and met back at the bus later. Other people on the bus saw deer, but we sure didn't! So when I saw this photograph in Mirth & Reverence's shop, I knew I had to include it here. I sure do wish I could've seen her in person! (Doe in Muir Woods, $15.00)

Thinking About Selling on Art Fire?

Well, if you're not, you should be. Art Fire is a great community of talented artists of all kinds. The site is in beta, so get in on the ground floor and help build and shape this wonderful community! You can sign up for a free account that allows you to list up to 10 items in your studio. Or you can upgrade to a verified account to list unlimited items. There are many great things about selling on Art Fire, but the best one to me is that there are no fees. That's right, no listing fee or selling fee. To have a verified account, you pay a flat rate monthly fee. And if you act quickly, you can have a verified account for only $7 a month. There are only 427 of these left, and then the price goes up to $20 a month.

Click here to read more about Art Fire.

Click here to set up your $7 a month account! (Thanks for letting me refer you!) ;)

Weekend in Austin

I just love going to Austin. Did I mention that before? :) Not only because I get to spend time with friends we don't see often enough, but because Austin is so incredibly veggie-friendly! Whenever we go out to eat in the DFW area, people always ask me where I can eat. When people ask me that in Austin, I say I can eat anywhere! It's Austin, there's going to be *something* vegetarian on the menu.

I had said in my previous post that I hoped we could eat at Trudy's and Dog Almighty this weekend, and we had the chance to eat at both!

My absolute favorite thing to order at Trudy's is the Veggie Flaquita dinner. Imagine an enchilada-sized flauta stuffed with spinach, pinto and black beans, corn, pico de gallo and cheese. The flaquitas are fried and topped with your choice of sauce. Usually I get the suiza sauce, which is a verde sauce mixed with a little sour cream. Saturday night I was a bit daring and had the caliente sauce, which was a spicy verde sauce. (Yes, I do love verde sauces...) The veggie flaquitas come with rice and your choice of bean--they have six different kinds of bean. I had the refried black beans, which are a little spicy. Yum!

Today on our way out of town we stopped in for lunch at Dog Almighty. What I love about this little place is that you can order anything on their menu vegetarian. Anything. The first time Ben took me there years ago I ordered the chili dog, just because I'd never had a chili dog. And you know what I learned? Chili dogs are ridiculously messy! :) Today I had the Broken Spoke Dog, which comes topped with BBQ sauce and sauteed onions, but I had them add sliced jalapenos too. So good! Ben always orderes the Jalapeno Corndog (with a regular ol' beef hot dog). He loves it because the batter is spicy with bits of jalapeno peppers in it. Every time we go, I'm tempted to try a veggie one. Maybe next time!

What Am I Up To?

A lot! The week before spring break is always a bit crazy at school... But I've been busy at home, too! On the curing rack alongside my Brighid soap (that's Guiness and blackberry soap) I now have some Irish Tweed soap. Irish Tweed is based on a scent that Carey Grant used to wear. *swoon* It is one of my all-time favorite scents! I also have a batch of Brighid lip balm made up, just waiting for labels and pictures before I list it in my Etsy and Art Fire shops. You can look for the lip balm to be up next week!

In the meantime, I'm leaving this afternoon to go out of town. A friend of ours is having a housewarming party down in Austin this weekend. I love going to Austin, and will be very upset if I don't get to eat at Trudy's or Dog Almighty at some point this weekend. :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday Feature.... on Saturday?

Yes, I know today is Saturday and not Friday. Yesterday I got home from school around 5:00, showered, and went to Ben's cousin's house to babysit her little toddler. By the time I came back home just before 11:00, I pretty much went straight to bed. Fridays are always so tiring!!! So here I am on a Saturday afternoon writing up my usual Friday Feature. Oh well, better late than never, right?

Before we get to Saturday's Friday Feature, you should take a gander at an Etsy Treasury that my cuticle balm is currently in. This treasury is full of great items from some very nice sellers I've spoken with on a Buy and Stay thread on Etsy. In fact, I've sold so many cuticle balms to people on that thread that I need to make another batch of it this weekend! Woo hoo!

Alright, on to our regularly scheduled programming. Today's Featured Seller is YouniquelyChic. She has the most beautiful Swarovski crystal jewelry in her shop! I've been eyeing several of her earrings and necklaces, but I really need to wait a week or two... I have to admit I've gone on a bit of a shopping spree on Etsy lately... Anyway, here are a couple of my favorites from her shop!

Friday Feature

Welcome to my weekly Friday Feature! Tonight I'm featuring another member of the Etsyveg Team, strawhousebooks, who specializes in handbound journals, albums, and memory boxes. The fabric she uses is chosen by its animal-friendly properties. Yay!

I have a weakness for anything paisley, so here is her Paisley Hand Bound Journal. Not only is the outside pretty in paisley, but the inside pages are beautiful too. Enjoy!

Fresh Off the Curing Rack

Just listed tonight on my Etsy and Art Fire shops: Oatmeal, Milk and Honey Soap. This one smells so good, folks! I initially found this particular OMH scent when I was looking for a scent to make baby shower favors for a shower my sister in law is hostessing. While it does smell like baby -- not baby powder, just baby -- it's just a great creamy-fresh scent. Trust me, you'll love it!

Saturday Night Special

Hello, everyone! It's Saturday night again, and you know what that means... That's right, SALES!

Tonight's sale is (drumroll please): 15% off of your total purchase (before shipping). Place and pay for your order as usual, and I'll refund the difference. Happy shopping!

This sale is valid at my Etsy and Art Fire shops.

Have a great weekend!

Friday Feature

Be sure to stop by the EtsyVeg Team blog. Not only will you see my sugar scrub included in the team treasury, but you can take a look at all of the other gorgeous items there. And trust me, they are beautiful!

For today's regular installment of Friday Feature, I would like to present intergalacticrose! She's a member of the EtsyVeg Team, and all of her products are completely vegan.

Isn't this custom-designed faerie skirt cute? Let her know what colors you want on it, and your measurements, and she'll sew you up your own customized skirt. This beautiful skirt has a drawstring waist, which I personally am a fan of on skirts!

Who doesn't love an Ewok? I know I do! This appliqued hoodie reminds me of a shih-tsu I knew once. His fur was always trimmed short, and his little face looked just like Wicket. Of course, that was his name too. :)

Check Out My indiepublic Page

I've jumped on the bandwagon and I now have a page over at indiepublic. The EtsyVeg team started a page, so I decided to join and support my fellow teammates! Go on over to take a look at my page, and the EtsyVeg team page. There are definitely a lot of pictures of handmade goodies over there!

Out of town!

I just wanted to let you all know that I'll be out of town until the end of the weekend. I'll be in San Antonio for the Texas Music Educators Association conference. A weekend full of music ed workshops and hanging out with other music teachers that I haven't seen in a long time. Yay! :) I'll be back Saturday evening, but since Saturday is Valentine's Day, I'll be back online on Sunday. ;)

Saturday Night Special!

Good afternoon, everyone! Tonight I'm offering a BOGO sale in my Etsy and Art Fire shops. Buy any one item, get another of equal or lesser value for half price! Go ahead and check out like you normally would, and I'll refund you the difference. Happy shopping!

Friday Feature

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been posting any new blogs lately. I've been sick with the flu, still am actually, and it just has made me feel so run down that I get tired from doing the simplest things. The doctor says I should be feeling better by the end of the weekend, which is great because I've been in the mood to make soap for the longest time, but haven't been able to.

But I did want to let everyone know that my Cuticle Balm has been featured in a Treasury on Etsy. Woo hoo! Go check it out, there are really nice items there to look at.

Now onto my regularly scheduled Friday Feature: The Cupcake Mint! Who doesn't love a good cupcake, especially around Valentine's Day? Everything in her shop is made to order, so you can even order in advance and have your cupcakes sent to you on a certain date. How convenient is that? Here are a couple of my favorites from her shop (and let me tell you, this was a hard pick...they all look so yummy!). You'd never guess by looking at them that they're all dairy free too!

These chocolate ganache dipped mini cupcakes are what first brought me to The Cupcake Mint. If frosted cupcakes are delicious, chocolate-dipped cupcakes are even better. This set of six mini cupcakes comes in a cute heart-shaped tin, and a hand-written valentine. Just put your valentine message in your comments to seller at check out, and they'll get you all taken care of!

What could be better than a mint chocolate cupcake? I love the combination of sweet chocolate with that refreshing zing of peppermint. Plus, the little green leaf on top is just too cute. They send the cupcakes unfrosted, so you can be creative and decorate them yourself. Fun!

Friday Feature

Welcome to my first Friday Feature! Drop by every Friday for a new blog featuring Etsy or Art Fire artists.

Today's Friday Featured artist is shadesongs. She has a shop *full* of beautiful jewelry. Here are two of my favorites from her shop:



This gorgeous necklace and earring set shows off elegant handmade lampwork beads. I think the black and white colored beads on the sterling silver chain make these look so elegant.




Shadesongs' Ouija board pendant brought a smile to my face when I saw it. I know I still have one of those in a closet. When I was in high school, some of my girlfriends tried to use one, but all we accomplished was to accuse each other of moving it. It was still fun, though!

Go check out shadesongs' Etsy shop, she has even more wonderful items to look at!

New Soap Listed!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We had a three day weekend here, although my kiddos at school had Friday off as well. It was nice to have a workday to catch up though.

We had some friends over for the weekend and hosted a chili party. Several friends brought chili they had made, and Ben and I each made chili (mine was vegetarian BBQ chili... so yummy!). After dinner we played Catch Phrase and some card games. The whole night was a lot of fun, and we're planning on hosting one again next year.

This evening I just listed a new soap scent - Red Currant. These are yummy sweet, tart salt bars. Colored with a rose swirl, this would make a perfect gift for your Valentine. Add a Red Currant lip balm and you have a fantastic gift set. Red Currant spa salt bars and lip balm are listed in both my Etsy and Art Fire shops. Happy shopping!

SNS in my Etsy and Artfire shops!

Hi everyone! I'm having SNS on both of my shops tonight. Shop to your heart's content and I'll take care of the shipping. Who doesn't love free shipping??? So drop on by my Etsy and Artfire shops tonight! :)

New Items!

I hope you've all been having a relaxing week back to your regular, non-holiday schedules. Mine has been busy, but that's my own fault really. The way that my classes at school are scheduled, I realized on the last day before winter break that I needed to start recorders with my kids the day after we came back. I had originally been planning on doing it the next week, so I had a bunch of work to do to get ready. *sigh*

Anyway, I have new items listed in my Etsy and Art Fire shops. I finally have my Pele lip balm, Hecate soap, and Pepperberry soap listed. All of these can be found in either shop. :)

Pele is the Hawaiian volcano goddess, so it’s fitting that her lip balm is flavored just like a juicy pineapple. This lip balm coordinates with my Pele soap.

Pele is from my Mythos fragrance line.

Hecate, a Greek goddess, was also known as the Queen of the Witches. So of course her scent is dark and mysterious. A blend of lavender, cedarwood, and patchouli essential oils gives this soap a smoky, "witchy" scent. And with black oxide swirls, this soap definitely would suit Hecate any day.

Pepperberry is a delightful spiced berry scent. With black pepper as the top note, you’ll also smell black orchid, berries, rose, and vanilla. I think this one is pretty sexy!

I've Been Featured!

If you head on over to the EtsyVeg Team Blog (and you definitely should...), you'll see that my Gingerbread soap is one of Panda's Picks today. There are six lovely soaps featured, go check them out! Also, if you happen to take a glance at the right hand side of the screen, you'll see that Bohemian Rose is one of the featured sellers. (Woot!) Thanks, Panda!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a fun and safe New Year's Eve. I was feeling lightheaded that day, so we ended up staying in. It ended up being fun, hubs and I watched Batman Begins and the Dark Knight. Let me tell you, those look amazing in blue ray.

I've been doing inventory, and there are two soap scents that I'm down to my last two bars! If you were eyeing my Gingerbread soap, you'd better get it quickly! There are only two, and I won't make any more until next winter. I'm also down to my last two Poseidon spa salt bars. These are great, and if you've never tried a salt bar, you should. The combination of coconut oil, finely ground sea salt, and powdered coconut milk give the lather a creamy, lotion-like feel. It's a totally different shower experience. You can find both of these fabulous soaps in my Etsy and Art Fire shops.

I've been featured again! A big thank you to the We Love Art Fire group for featuring my Violet lip balm this morning on their blog, Studio Art Fire. Their blog is dedicated to featuring various shops and artisans from Art Fire. I did some browsing the other day, and there are some great items featured! Thanks again!

Oh, and don't forget to vote in my lip balm poll. Today is the last day to vote and give me your opinion. I'm considering streamlining my lip balms for 2009. Currently I make lip balms that are uncolored, lip balms that are shimmery, and lip balms that are colored. I make all of these kinds because I like them all, but I want to know what you like best. So go vote. Clickity click!

I've Been Blogged About!

TheOldOakTree has featured me in her blog today. Go check it out! Also, go check out her Etsy shop. She's got great natural baby items like this diaper pail deoderizer. I can't imagine how much lavender or orange essential oils would help eliminate stinky diaper smell!

She will also do custom scents, if there's a special scent you'd like for your baby's room. How sweet is that?

Thanks again, TheOldOakTree!

New Items Listed!

I hope everyone had a relaxing post-holiday weekend! (Despite the Cowboys playing so badly today... hubs came home early from watching it because he was so unhappy about it.) Our doggie is doing well post-surgery. His scab seems to be healing nicely, and I think it's starting to get itchy since he's trying to rub his nose. :)

I just finished listing Violet lip balm, Red Currant lip balm, and Juniper Mint soap on my Etsy and Art Fire sites. I also updated all of my other lip balm photos. Go take a look!

And if you have to go back to work tomorrow, take it easy getting back into the swing of things!

SNS on Etsy

I hope everyone had a great holiday season! I know our house was busy. For those of you who may have gotten a little holiday bonus spending money, enjoy free shipping tonight on my Etsy. Either wait for me to send you a revised invoice, or I'll reimburse you for the shipping.

Happy shopping!

What's Going on at Bohemian Rose?

Well, the answer to that is easy: a lot.

Over the weekend my computer broke. You know, the laptop that has all of my labels and business documentation. Luckily I was able to get everything backed up... I hadn't done it in about a month. Yikes! If I have learned anything from that panicky feeling, back up your files, people! And on a regular basis, not just every once in a while!

Then one of Ben's friends was over, and we were playing Rock Band. It was our gift to each other, and we only had it about a week. Anthony was playing the drums, and suddenly the green drum decided to stop working. He was playing on it, but the sensor wasn't picking it up. So Ben had to go on the computer (which miraculously didn't freeze up on him) and figure out what to do so we can get the drum set replaced.

Sunday night Ben reformatted the computer, so we're working on reinstalling everything. Which means I haven't had a chance yet to make labels for all of those awesome lip balms I made over the weekend. Boo. But hopefully whatever was making the computer freeze up is all fixed now.

Yesterday we took our dog to the vet for his vaccinations and to get a skin tag removed. Last year when he was in for his checkup the vet said that his skin tag wasn't anything to worry about, unless it bothered him. Well since then, he's gotten it with his claws when he rubs his eye, so we decided to have it taken off. So now our doggie has a scab by his eye, and we have to watch him with eagle eyes so he doesn't rub on it. Yesterday we had to stop at Petco on the way home from the vet to get one of those cone collars to put around his neck. It helped him yesterday, but made him restless last night. Today the anesthesia has completely worn off and he's acting more like himself again. Thank goodness. Having a sleeping, un-hyper dog was so strange.

Hopefully everything is done breaking now! I'm not sure Ben could take any more... :)

Happy holidays!

Lip Balm-o-Rama!

This weekend I'm busy making lip balm! Today I'm making Violet, and tomorrow I'm making Red Currant, and Pele lip balm to go with my Pele soap. If you haven't seen Pele before, you should check out my Etsy soap section. The soap is a fruity fragrance blend of pineapple, pomegranate, and mango. Pele lip balm is straightforward pineapple! Both are fab if I do say so myself. ;)

All three of these yummy lip balm flavors should be up on my Etsy soon, so don't forget to check back to try them!

What's Coming Soon?

Found yourself wondering what's coming soon from Bohemian Rose Bath & Soap? C'mon, you know you have. Well, even if you haven't (for some weird, freakish reason), read on.

Soap-wise, I currently have two new scents on the curing rack. Juniper Mint and Hecate.

Juniper Mint is a crisp blend of juniper berry and spearmint. I developed the essential oil blend for this soap with men in mind, but I think it's very much a unisex scent. I'd use it! And I'm not just saying that because I test a sliver from each batch of soap... ;)

Hecate, a Greek goddess, was also known as the Queen of the Witches. So of course her scent is dark and mysterious. A blend of lavender, cedarwood, and patchouli essential oils gives this soap a smoky, "witchy" scent. And with black oxide swirls, this soap definitely would suit Hecate any day.

Also coming soon to Bohemian Rose: solid perfumes! These are small, portable, and leak-free. Just pop it in your purse for a night out on the town! My solid perfumes have just been waiting for the right container, which I've finally found. Hooray!

Look for all of these and more in my Etsy and Art Fire shops in 2009.

Come Visit My New Studio Website!

You can now find Bohemian Rose on ArtFire! Hooray! ArtFire is a new online community to buy handmade goods. It's like Etsy, but brand spanking new (read this as: it's in beta version, so look for more awesome features on their website as they grow). I'm excited about our new Studio, so please come on by and take a look at my soaps, lip/cuticle balms, and sugar scrubs!

Why Weekends are Great

Don't get me wrong, I love my day job. I do. But Friday night when I don't have to set my alarm clock... That is a great feeling. If you're like me and not at all a morning person, you know what I'm talking about here. Getting to wake up whenever I'm ready, not when the beeping of the alarm tells me to. Being able to lay in bed until I'm completely awake, instead of stumbling around in the dark to get to the bathroom without waking up my husband.

Take today for example. Ben gets up before me (which doesn't happen during the week...ever), and I get up AFTER the sun. Hooray! Lounge around for about 20 minutes and take a shower when I'm ready to. Then packing an order, running a few errands, and picking up lunch (nachos, a taco, and an unsweet tea if you're interested). Now I'm trying to decide what to make today. I'm thinking a batch of Hecate soap, and maybe a lip balm. But hey, it's Saturday, I can do whatever I'd like to! :)

Aren't weekends great?

More beautiful rings!

Last night I was in chat on Etsy, and one of the other chatters was a jewelry maker from South America. If you read yesterday's blog post, you'll know that I'm in love with looking at rings. Well Alidajoyas has amazing stuff! Most of her items are made to order, and definitely look worth the wait. I'm especially loving the silver ring in the first picture, but both are great!

leandogpottery

Before you read, let me just say that I love rings. It doesn't matter what kind of rings, really. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I enjoy looking at pictures of rings almost as much as I enjoy looking at pictures of soap. *gasp* I know! Shocking!

Anyway, I was browsing through some of the EtsyVeg Team members' shops and came across leandogpottery. She has bunches of beautiful items, so definitely take a glance through her shop. :)

When did craft shows stop being just for crafts?

My mom and I went to the L.D. Bell H.S. craft fair yesterday. This is like the big kahuna of craft fairs, and it has been as long as I can remember. When we walk in there's a high school student holding maps, which is convenient because I didn't go to high school there, so I always get *completely* lost. On the back of the map is a list of vendors. I glanced through the list to see if there were any soap vendors to make sure I wouldn't miss them. (Like I said in an earlier post, I love looking at soap.) :)

As I'm browsing through the vendor list, I noticed names like Tupperware and Mary Kay. Um, since when are those crafts? I get that craft fairs sometimes feel that they have trouble drawing people in, or trouble getting enough vendors, or whatever. I get it. I went to a few craft fairs last year that were about half resale and half actual crafts. I'm sorry, but at that point I think you should change the name from "______ High School Band/Choir/Football/Whatever Craft Fair" to just "_______ High School Fair." That would be a more accurate description. Then I wouldn't feel so let down when I see Coach purses (that are probably knockoffs anyway).

So if you're selling Arbonne/Mary Kay/Tupperware/Silpada at a craft fair, and I walk right on by your table without looking at it, don't be surprised. I'm at the craft fair to shop for handmade items, thank you very much.

I've Been Featured!

So two of the items from my Etsy shop have been featured. Yay! First, Made for Me by Oaklie added my Apple Cider soap to her great finds page. See it and other awesome gift ideas on her website.

Made for Me by Oaklie's Great Finds

Thank you Oaklie!


Also, my Gingerbread soap has been featured in an Etsy Treasury. Woo hoo! Lindabutterfly put together a beautiful treasury of amazing items from new Etsy sellers. I especially like the Daggers in Ice and Flower Power necklace. Great stuff!

Love Those Newbies Treasury

Thank you Linda!

FaerieMade Rocks!

So I love browsing on Etsy. It drives my husband crazy, for sure. :) I spend a lot of time looking at pictures of soap (go figure...). If you haven't checked out FaerieMade yet, you definitely should. I ordered her diaper balm as a gift for one of my husband's coworkers, a bar of Yule soap, and Winter Solstice perfume. Let me tell you, her perfume ROCKS! I haven't used the soap just yet... I'm waiting for one of my soap holders in the shower to get empty first. I mean, I only have 5 soap holders, and one has a shampoo bar in it. But that's another story altogether. :)

Anyway, back to FaerieMade's Winter Solstice perfume. It smells awesome! Amber, juniper berry, sandalwood, patchouli. Those are some scents you can't go wrong with. Go get it before it's gone!