Happy Labor Day Weekend

It's the start of the last weekend of summer. In some states, kids have been back at school for weeks. Here, most kids start back next week, while the little ones (like Olive) will start the following week. As the official end of summer, I realize that there are so many things we didn't do as much as I'd have liked, including mostly going to the pool. Our pool will be closing this weekend and I thought we'd get a few more swims in but with the rain and chilly weather, looks like that won't be happening. The month of September is insanely busy for us so this weekend sort of crept up on me. We don't have any BBQ plans or anything, but, weather permitting, we will get to meet with some friends at the zoo tomorrow. That should be fun. I'm including a few summer pictures as we say adios to my favorite season (luckily, fall is my 2nd favorite!)

Judgement Day

I often feel like I am being judged.

Perhaps I am, perhaps it is only my over-active imagination, but I don't like the feel of it. Today, I took Olive to a playgroup for her new preschool class (she starts in a couple of weeks) at her teacher's house. It was great fun and nice to meet other parents and kids and the teachers. But during one point, she saw another child take off their shoes and wanted to do the same to jump on the mini trampoline. While she had already gotten on and off of this trampoline about 1000 times, I didn't want her taking her shoes off and tromping around the yard shoeless. Well, she wasn't too happy about that and threw a little fit. I was mortified. I know, I know, she is almost 2 and acts every bit of it, but it's totally embarassing. Especially when you are around people who you don't know. On top of that, Olive is independent. Well, that's putting it midly. She is FIERCELY independent. One of the first comments someone made about her today was, "wow, she's independent". Oh great, we're off to a good start, huh? Anyway, I thought I felt a stare or two at her displays of unhappiness. I am getting really good at not losing my cool and diffusing the situation, but it still takes awhile sometimes. I must admit that I was really happy a bit later when there was a kid who was throwing balls at people's heads over and over again. It made me feel better. I know, it's silly and I know it's not their place to judge - all I can do is do my best and be comfortable with the decisions that I make, but really, why don't kids get it that a temper tantrum in front of strangers is not the best way to make new friends??

Tuesday's Tips

If you read this blog with any regularity, you will know that I love bath and body products (ok, let's call it like it is...it's really quite an obsession). I am always posting about great things I find and since I like to use different products each time because I feel like there are so many great ones out there, I find a lot of new ones. But today I am excited because I have just added a new line of natural bath and body products to my business. I did a write-up on a few of them yesterday over at my other blog - little pink pansy. Here's a brief synopsis...

SUGAR SOUFFLE SCRUB

If you prefer a good, exfoliating sugar scrub that doesn't leave an oil slick deathtrap in your tub after use, you will like these creamy, foaming, sugar souffle scrubs that are moisturizing without leaving oiliness behind. Made with scrubby natural turbinado sugar whipped into a creamy soap and glycerin base with natural essential oils and/or vegan synthetic fragrances.

PUMPKIN PIE & LAVENDER PERFUME

A study by The Smell & Taste Treatment & Research Foundation determined that the combination of pumpkin pie and lavender had more of an arousing effect on men. The fragrance is wonderful-- spicy sweet pumpkin mixed with the warm, distinctive floral of lavender.

MEN'S SHOWER SCRUB GEL

A thick, mildly foaming shower gel with lots of finely ground walnut shell to really scrub off the gunk! Tested on actual men! No parabens, acrylates, or propylene glycol.

ALL-NATURAL VEGAN LIP BALM

This hemp oil-based vegan lip balm is soothing and moisturizing, not too slick and not too hard and waxy! These are flavored with natural essential oils - no artificial flavoring.

LAVENDER BRUSH-ON CUTICLE BALM (VEGAN)

All-natural, soothing cuticle balm in a click-twist brush pen is easy to apply to cuticles. Made with all-natural and vegan apricot, jojoba and sweet almond oils, lavender essential oil, and vitamin e.

REFRESHING BODY SPRAY

These body sprays are made with certified organic aloe vera juice to soothe the skin and are completely alcohol-free.

WHIPPED SHEA BODY BUTTER

Real shea butter is whipped up with apricot kernel oil, coconut oil and meadowfoam oil, vegetable glycerin, fragrance oils, and vitamin e. And, I do mean WHIPPED until it has the consistency of frosting. Melts on contact with skin and is a skin-soothing luxury.

For more information on any of the products, simply click on the picture or click here to see all of our wonderful new products in our spa collection.

Book Reviews

So I've been a slacker with my blogging lately because I've been busy planning birthday parties, family trips, shows for my business, and reading. I've read two books that I haven't reviewed so thought I'd catch up a little here and provide some reading recommendations for the end of summer.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I decided to read this book because it was highly recommended to me. I still have not yet read Hosseini's other book (The Kite Runner) but it's on my list. Everyone I know who has read either of these just raves about how good they are. In fact, even the lady who checked me out at the library said how good this book was so I was thrilled to read it. Lately I've been into reading a lot of books that are totally different from my own life, something I can't necessarily relate to. This book is a story about two women living in Afghanistan over a turbulent 30 year period, ending shortly after 9/11. To say that it is poignant doesn't even begin to describe it. For those of us who have always lived the cushy US life, it's so hard to imagine the way things have been in other countries, even in recent times. To live in a country that is always at war, to be a woman and not always have the freedom to marry who you want or to work a job outside the home. These things are beyond our scope because they seem so outdated and unfair. There were parts of this book that were so sad that I almost put it down, but I persevered because I reminded myself that this is a sad reality for many and I should at least open my eyes to these injustices. The book did not end exactly as I thought it would but it was definitely an interesting read. I'd highly recommend this and give it 4.5 stars.

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella, the author of the Shopaholic books, is back with a new one. In this story, Lexi Smart has a car accident and loses her memory of the past three years. When she wakes up, she has this perfect life, a gorgeous rich husband, a fantastic job, a great body, and tries to piece together what happened over the three years that she can't remember. While this is not a deep read, it's a fun beach book, a great one to pass a few minutes of time, and a super quick read. A book that shows us the importance of liking yourself for who you are, no matter who that may be. Four stars for an entertaining, light read.

Total Slacker

I've been a total slacker with my posting this week. I tried to do Tuesday's Tips but Blogger was acting like a toddler and I got frustrated and gave up. I've been super busy and way overcommitted. I now finally have a moment and wanted to take a second to post. I'm working like crazy on Olive's birthday invitations - they are nothing special but have been time consuming to get the right things. I'm just doing a small gathering at our local park for a few children to come and play and eat cake. Olive has decided she wants a dog party so we're knee-deep in dogs and bones over here. The things we do for love...

Not much else to report but am looking forward to catching up on life and getting some sleep. Hope all is well with everyone else...

Inspiration

Lately, I'm finding inspiration everywhere I look.

For example, yesterday I was blessed with the opportunity to meet up with an old acquaintance from college. We didn't really know each other that well in school but reconnected recently through a networking site. She is considering the possibility of designing her own line of stationery so we met to catch up but also to discuss this further. After leaving, I felt so incredibly inspired, both personally and professionally. My mind was racing with business ideas for her and for myself. I was so excited. But I was also inspired personally too. It's always great to make new friends, which is what I felt like I did. Too bad she's moving out of state in a few weeks but I'm thrilled to have had the chance to catch up and talk shop.

I've also found all sorts of inspiration elsewhere - from friends, from events, from things I see. I feel optimistic today. The world is really a beautiful place with so many amazing things to offer if we choose to see it and choose to learn from each inconsequential experience. I do a lot of reflection and find I've learned more in the last year or so than in the previous 28. Today, take some time to notice things around you and how they directly or indirectly impact your life. You'll be surprised what you can learn.

I love to read

A friend just introduced me to this great new site called Goodreads. It's a networking plus book review site all in one. The way it works is that you rate books you've read and you can put other books on your "current reading" or "to read" lists. You add friends and you can view each other's reviews. Pretty neat to see what your friends are reading and recommending. Gives you great tips for when you go to the library, you'll know what to check out.





I'm currently reading a few books - GRITS Friends are Forevah, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and Remember Me?

Happy Reading and have a great weekend!

Busy, Busy, Busy

When it rains, it pours, doesn't it??

I've been so busy lately. I hate to be bored and love to be out doing things so Olive and I have way overscheduled ourselves recently. I took a day off yesterday to recoup, but seems we didn't really take any time off. We were still busy.

Now seems like things are really picking up with my business too. Have been getting lots of orders, starting new product lines, and preparing for some upcoming shows. This is great news because it's been a very slow summer.

I can't complain - life is good and I much prefer busy to stagnant. Olive starts school in a few weeks and while I'm a little sad, I'm also thrilled - that's 6 hours a week that I can work/run errands/relax without having to constantly be on Mommy status. AAHHH....

Hope the end of your summer is great too!

Tuesday's Tips - a day late

It's time to go a little more green and natural with your cleaning products.

I have been phasing out all of our harsh chemical products and replacing them all with more natural ones. One of my favorites thus far has been a carpet cleaner from Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day. It actually works amazingly well, even on those mysterious carpet discolorations and also on our couch. The one we have is Lemon Verbena scent (quite nice but subtle) Carpet Cleaner. I cannot find this on their website so perhaps they have discontinued it, but I did find this other carpet cleaner that I suspect is very similar. I was quite skeptical of these at first but have been really impressed with the results. You can order online or look up a retailer in your area. I think most Whole Foods stores carry them, as well as many others such as Target.

Some other great product lines are:

Method
Seventh Generation
Clorox Green Works
Simple Green

I have used all of these except for the Simple Green. The best part about these products (besides being natural and avoiding exposing yourself and your family to harsh chemicals) is that most of them are pretty cost-effective too. For the most part, they cost the same or just a tiny bit more than the regular cleaners. I will also soon be carrying a new line of natural cleaning products at my online shop - little pink pansy - so check back there soon.

Do your small part to help make our lives a little more natural and a little greener. The more we all do, the cheaper and more mainstream these things will become. If nothing else, it makes you feel good and clean to use them!

winter???

Check your calendar. Today is August 10th. Yesterday, August 9th, Olive wore a jacket for the first time this "season". Yep, a jacket. She only stopped wearing a jacket in June, now it is the beginning of August and already a jacket is in store for the morning. Where is summer??? All this talk about global warming really seems like nonsense here in the District... this summer has been so cool and bearable. Nice, but short. Too short. Much too short. Where are the sweltering days of high humidity that make it uncomfortable to leave the air conditioning even just to walk to the car? We have been outside pretty much every day this summer without any real thought. Sure, it's hot, but it's not uncomfortable. I'm not ready for jackets. I hate jackets. It's one extra thing you have to take with you and it also means cold weather. Yuck. I don't think there should be only 2 months a year that you don't need them. I think there should be only two months a year when you do need them.

the world of eBay

I have recently decided to give a shot at selling some of my company's products through eBay. I've uploaded the first few items - a couple of bath and body products and some tutus. They are sold at discounted prices from my regular site (little pink pansy). In any case, if you want to check them out, here are the links to them. Also, if there is something you see on the little pink pansy site that you'd like to see on eBay, leave a comment and I'll see what I can do.



Green Tea Aloe Vera Body Wash - 8.5 oz

Enjoy ultimate gourmet skin pampering with our Aloe Vera Body Wash. This extra thick pH-balanced foaming body wash is SLS-free containing aloe vera extract, vitamin E, and a select blend of natural botanicals. The mild formula is designed to moisturize and lather beautifully in the shower or tub. Enjoy fresh, gentle cleansing with a burst of fragrance. Packaged in a shower-safe plastic squeeze bottle.

**Also available in "Vanilla Vanity" scent



Paraben-Free Foaming Baby & Toddler Wash - 6.6 oz

A gentle, soothing body wash and shampoo mild enough to cleanse delicate baby skin and leave it feeling touchably soft. Includes organic aloe, vegetable glycerin, and botanical extracts for rich lathering that will not dry sensitive skin. Our unique bottle makes it easy to dispense an instant luxurious lather with one hand while you hold onto your little one with the other. Does not contain SLS, parabens, artificial dyes, or icky anesthetizing ingredients.



Hand & Body Lotion for Kids - 8 oz.

Kids get dry hands too. Non-greasy and fast-absorbing so it won't slow them down! NO mineral oil and NO lanolin - so there is no worry with allergies. Comes in a kid-friendly plastic bottle with pump.






Handmade Tutu - fits up to 3T - beautiful embellishment

Enjoy watching your little princess or ballerina dance around in this one-of-a-kind handmade tutu. This one features red and pink tulle with a hot pink daisy embellishment and white streamers. This style is super sassy and fun and makes a wonderful gift or treat for your favorite little girl. Designed with an elastic waistband and will fit from baby to 3T and up.






Handmade Tutu - fits up to 3T - pink & pretty

Enjoy watching your little princess or ballerina dance around in this one-of-a-kind handmade tutu. This one features various shades of pink tulle with pink floral embellishments. This style is sweet and innocent and makes a wonderful gift or treat for your favorite little girl. Designed with an elastic waistband and will fit from baby to 3T and up.

Movie Review: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Last night I went to see The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 with some friends. It was a great excuse for a girls night out. The movie itself was far better than I thought it would be. I saw the first one (never got around to reading the book) but wasn't expecting much of a sequel. There were definitely a lot of really cheesy parts but I laughed and yes, I'll admit it, I cried a bit too. The characters are likeable and in this movie, they're a few years older and more mature and really exploring their personalities. A great movie to see with friends but don't try to drag your boyfriend/husband to it - he will not enjoy it.

As a side note... on the way home, I passed a dead skunk (I didn't actually see it, just smelled it). It occurred to me how often this has been happening lately and I actually did see one in the road the other day. But isn't it strange how we so often smell them but rarely see them? I never think about them anywhere but as roadkill. Why don't we ever see them in the woods? Are they private little critters? I can guarantee you that I've spent entirely too much time thinking about this in the past 24 hours but I'm sort of intrigued. Skunks are a mystery to me other than Pepe Le Pew, though I do have one friend who had one as a childhood pet. Just my random thought of the day. It's the little things....

Reminder about DQ Blizzards

Don't forget to stop by Dairy Queen today and buy a Blizzard! Proceeds go to the Children's Miracle Network.

Yum Yum

FREEBIE!!! GIVEAWAY!!!

Pop on over to my other blog to enter to win a bag tag in our giveaway!

These tags are fantastic for just about every need - luggage, sports bag, diaper bag, bookmark, hostess gift, etc. and we are giving one away to a lucky recipient. Drawing will be held next Wed., August 13th. Click here for more details or to enter.

Also, during the month of August, all orders at little pink pansy will also receive a complimentary bag tag so get shopping!

Tuesday's Tips (SPECIAL)

Oops, totally forgot today was Tuesday and didn't do the Tuesday's tips. However, I just received word that on this coming Thursday, August 7th, all proceeds from the sale of Blizzards at Dairy Queen will go to the Children's Miracle Network (click here for more information). What could be a better excuse to eat ice cream?? (as if I ever need an excuse for this!) So hit the DQ and share a frozen treat with a friend or loved one. Calories don't count if it's for a good cause.

Living in an online world

The world is getting smaller. We are getting more connected yet less attached.

In our online world, we are members of a multitude of online groups, both for fun and for work and for school. I know I am personally a member of about 6 or 7 groups through Yahoo and Google, not to mention 2 or 3 other networking sites. This is great and gives me a pulse on the outside world and a fantastic way to relay information to lots of people at once. However, I feel like in our online world, we have lost the sense of intimacy and personal relationships that were once abundant. We have many more "friends" or "contacts" but fewer heart-to-hearts. I love that through the virtual world we can quickly, easily, and freely keep up with our loved ones far away but I think that through this method, in a sense, we keep everyone far away. Don't get me wrong - I love my computer and email - it is a way for me to keep up with all my friends and not have to worry if Olive is screaming in the background or I can write to them at hours I would never dare use the phone. But I do think this adds to the frantic-ness of our lives and not feeling as connected to those around us. I would love for the world to re-establish that sense of personal connections but since it seems lost, I will do what I can to make my virtual connections as meaningful as possible.

Where would you like to live?

Dennis and I often ask each other, "if you could live ANYWHERE in the world (regardless of jobs etc.), where would it be?" This is a fun little game. I think of all the great places I'd love to live and where would I want to really put down roots. There are so many great locales that I think would be fun for a few years (or places that would have been neat in the pre-kids days) and there are places that I would want my children to grow up. I'm curious about where others would want to go if it were as easy as packing a suitcase and heading out.

Here are some of my thoughts on dream spots... San Diego (which we almost did a year ago), Arizona, Hawaii, fun to go to Colorado or Maine or Boston or New Hampshire or something for a year or so (but I hate the cold so this would have to be short-term). More realistic for me is anywhere in the South, especially if it is within driving distance to my family and an easy day trip to the beach would be a bonus. Anywhere they have lots of outdoor activities and great year-round weather. That's my ideal spot.

But for now, I'm finally adapting to life here in DC (it has only taken 3 years). It's just always fun to think about the what-ifs. Please post a comment and tell me where you'd like to go!

TGIF

I'm glad it's Friday. This week went by in a flash. We've been very good this week and walking several mornings with our neighbors (and today we treated ourselves to coffee too!) Here's a picture of little Olive and her cohorts. She is the giant one (ok, well she is older than the other kids but it's so funny to see her looking so big!) Isn't this just the cutest picture?

I'm glad it's almost weekend. This is tax-free weekend in Virginia on school supplies and clothes and shoes (great b/c Olive needs some new kicks and maybe some new duds for school). Save a few dollars anyways ;)

Have a great weekend!