Day 4 Etsy Excellence! (((sniffff))) mmmmm you smell good!

True story: once before the days of being a Sadie Sadie Married Lady, mommyhood, etc. My Mister and I were staying in Chicago ( I believe it was) for a  tournament (he coaches youth boys soccer). We got a knock on the door-room service checking to see if we needed towels. I answer" we are good on towels" and a (quite) sturdy, young housekeeping employee exclaims (and she totally EXCLAIMED), "Daaaamn Girl! You smell gooooooood!"
no lie. It was my B&B Works shampoo (which they don't make anymore- smelled like donuts). Rob had been asleep.  As I closed the door, I hear him just bust up laughing.
To this day he still says it to me from time to time as our private lil funny-funny. ;)
Anyhoo..

Back then I was able to try different products and scents on a whim. I didn't have a married-two-kids budget. If I bought something and didn't like it, I threw it away or swapped with someone else. When Amalia came a long, times changed. She was allergic to the laundry soap we used and developed HORRIBLE eczema at 1 year old. She still has scarring on the tops of her hands. We've gotten it under control now but it changed the way I looked at our skin. I wonder if my acne flare ups could be due to me actually having sensitive skin as well. I decided to shop Etsy for skin treatments one day and found this shop. I don't bother to buy anything else. Sure, some of the items are more expensive than I have paid for other products in the big box stores. BUT! These products have no extra junk so you don't need to heap a huge amount in your hand to do the job!! Keep that in mind. Do not "glub glub" product onto your body. If you need to do that to get your body feeling clean (or your laundry-same thing!), the product isn't right for you. 

My Day 4 award for Etsy Excellence goes to a shop with soaps, lotions and other body yummies far more natural and FAR more handmade than Bath & Body!!

Recently featured on Channel 2 News in St Louis (whoop whoop!), Oh Sudz features Artisan Handcrafted Face, Body and Home Care. 

 

something for everyone on your list!

I swear by their acne system- it is the only thing that keeps my skin clear AND DOES NOT over dry my face. (Found Here)  I also use and adore this lotion for it's light scent and intense moisture:

Monoi oil Shea butter lotion

Other OhSudz goodness: (I can attest to it's wonderfulness)

I use this on Athan's dry lips and impetigo under
 nose- works better than his antibiotic topical

Gail's soaps are fabulous. I recommend the Goat's Milk as
 I received it as a sample and it was a fantastic exfoliant bar!


Goodbye my old Clean & Clear favorite lotion of the past 10 years...
 HELLO! Natural, plant based Aloe Vera Gel with nothing extra to re-clog the pores.
Before using this product, I would have a never-ending cycle of dry skin needing moisture-->breakout needing to be dried ---> dry skin, repeat. Not with this little bottle. My skin is totally balanced and happy now :)

 Gail, finding your shop was an amazing discovery for me! I no longer have to dread washing my make up off to see what cropped up while I was wearing it, THANKS TO YOUR STORE!

The confidence I have putting these products on my family is not something I was used to enjoying in the past.  I know exactly what is in these bottles and it's working!! I really love you for that!

Here is your award  ;)

Day 3 Etsy Excellence ! Limitless cuteness {Pink Lady Designs}

Looking for co-worker gifts or a little finishing touch to a gift your nearly done putting together?

PinkLadyDesigns is a shop that will tidy up your list in no time!!

She uses only the cutest designer fabrics and her prices are totally fair (something that is, sadly, not true for all of Etsy anymore)!

Some of my favorites in her shop right now:

zipper pouch quilted selvage fabric

Uses for the zipper pouch are pretty limitless! I confess that bags and purses are a serious addiction for me. I like to make sure I have coordinating wristlets and pouches to go with every purse I buy. Not too matchy, but  if the accessories inside my bag clashing with my new bag makes me feel really heebie geebie! 

*USES*

inside purse holding the gloss/balm you can't live without

hold your business cards, pen (and blank cards in case you need to write down someone else's info in a jiffy)

Inside a diaper bag! I use one to hold band-aids and a small tube of Neosporin. You can use a larger bag to hold that plus kids meds and cremes  too.

Holds your little beauties hair pretties!!

Give them to your littles to hold that lil stuff that is always on the floor (Squinkies anyone?)

Use them on your desk to hold that little unsightly clutter that accumulates but doesn't need an entire drawer.

Put a few lottery tickets inside one along with a hand creme or sanitizer- great gift for someone at work or a client too!

I hope I find this lovely in my stocking !!

Wristlet Pouch in Wildflower

Pleated Purse Thyme Bloom

This size of bag is PERFECT for moms! It holds the essentials for a morning out and about but you don't lose your entire arm in the bowels of your bag! The smartest thing I've heard in a long time: put a few wristlets inside your bigger bag holding the important stuff you don't want falling out of your bag as you bend down to help a little person. 

Let me make this real simple on you ;)

ahhhhhh....

In addition to having the loveliest fabrics (and getting them in as soon as they are available may I add!)...she is a SUPER fast shipper and awesome at communicating the purchase thru with you!
Be sure to check out her entire shop for eReader cases and tons more very giftable lovelies!

Sandra, I love your shop and your Etsy Excellence!
Here is your award (teee heee):

Day 1 Etsy Excellence! Great places to shop for a handmade holiday

As you know I am bestowing this silly (but heartfelt!) award to my favorite Etsy sellers to help you out with your holiday shopping!!

Today's first seller, Laurie is a really big sweetie! http://www.etsy.com/shop/trinketsnh. Her site is FULL of supplies for crafters who like the occational tinker craft and more experienced crafters too. There are also many items on hand that can be packaged and given without having to do a thing. GREAT "Secret Santa"/co-worker gifts!!

I love to make bows for my little girl with her flower embellishments. Another idea. I've been making wreaths a lot the last few seasons and giving them as gifts (moms birthday, grandparents anniversary)... There are beautiful wreaths in her shop and if you want to venture out and make one yourself, there are lots of fantastic supplies on hand for that.  

Best of all she is a fast shipper and responds quickly to any questions you might have.

I love her and her shop!!

Laurie also has two blogs full of wonderful, bright inspiration:

 trinketsnh.blogspot.com & lauriestar.blogspot.com

Don't forget to visit her shop on Etsy and "add it to your favorites" to check back!

E T S Y excellence ! Excellent shops make me tinkle a tad...

As you know I am an Etsy freak. I can sit on my couch, in my pajama's, stalking my favorite shops and discovering new ones FOR HOURS. I am all for buying homemade/handmade/heartmade vs big box (pssht, took the homemade pledge on like day two) when possible. I will buy anything except edibles/medicine on Etsy before even considering an alternative.
Over the years I have accumulated 318 purchases and am currently "hearting" 27 pages of items (that's just under 650 items saved). I have an Etsy bumper sticker and gave extra's out to friends. I also bestow Etsy pins to only my closest peeps (I have 4 more waiting for that special moment ;).
I decided this year to feature my favorite shops and sellers beginning on Black Friday. I will also be awarding each featured shop this lovely to proudly display if they'd like:

teee heeee hheeeee !!

Giveaway- It's a good thing I love you so much

Because my makeup bag is getting yucky and I REALLY REALLY REALLY wish I could win this! Pouting aside, you deserve it too.

It all started with this post | click here. It dropped into my blog reader and I thought Loulouthi? Loulouthi? That's flower in Greek!! I love flowers and have been trying for about 4 years to garden. Each year I get better. More to the point, my dad is Greek. Fresh off the boat in the 70s... I had to have this gorgeous fabric... had to have it in a P U R S E !! Of course I went straight to Etsy. There were some choices but the fabric was still very new. I researched a messenger style because it would make our upcoming trip easier. I found this shop | click here and my heart sighed.  Here she is:

This is the Curve Appeal with hidden front pockets | Click Here. The hidden pockets are amazing! I love having my hands free and not lugging around an ugly bulging heavy bag!

Stephanie is wonderful! She was able to deal with my indecisiveness on fabric placement and helpful in determining which bag suited our needs. One of the reasons I like doing giveaways on my blog is that I know many of you WANT to promote handmade, want to have one-of- a-kind but don't have time to shop all over Etsy finding the fair, reliable sellers. My hope is that by acquainting you with sellers I trust, you will be able to have fun as you shop with confidence and love what you buy. Steph is one of those sellers. She is helpful and her bags are beautifully sewn. Steph has a new baby boy and lives in Uniontown, Ohio. She says her designs are inspired by her needs and fabrics that she loves. Each bag is well constructed, pleasing and practical. After a trip to Miami where she spotted tons of cute bags that were way overpriced, she decided to open AKRESSories (Kress is her last name) and it's good for us she did. Stephanie and her family love to glide down Lake Erie in their sailboat ( cool or what?!). This Fall in addition to all different sizes and types of bags, AKRESSories will include burp clothes, bibs and other sweet baby things.
She is giving one of you lucky peeps this lovely little doozie:

Large Zippered Cosmetic Pouch Makeup Bag Flat Bottomed Leopard Print. 
Features:
Zippered top bag 
Flat bottomed
Interfaced for stability. 

Measurements:
7.5" from side to side
5" from top to bottom
2" gusset

All you have to do is "like" her on Facebook by going to: http://www.facebook.com/akressories1
(click the "like" square) then leave a comment with your email address (or it doesn't count) and include a nice compliment about Stephanies shop on her Akressories Facebook wall. Stephanie will choose a winner based on the sweetest compliment by the end of the week. Of course you could be really sweet and heart Stephanie's items in her Etsy shop too. Go ahead and leave a little smile or heart or nicety on her Fb wall since you'll be there anyway. But all you need to do to be entered is "like" and compliment with email and your in the running.
Check back with us on Friday to see who won! Thanks for playing!!

Adorable {*Local*} Shop!

I give you, AlibeanBaby at Etsy.com !!

This little honey of a shop has ALL the cute boutique fabrics and styles. Funky, sweet, dressy, casual, twirly, comfy,etc but best thing of all... it's local !!

Which one is your favorite?!

KittyCandy Giveaway!!

Welcome!! It's giveaway time!!

This giveaway comes to us from this gorgeous shop !! who is she? Owner Nina says this about her shop: "I decided to open up my shop on Etsy because it is a fun and unique community that includes people from all over the world, all with one thing in common. We love handmade!" how did she get started making such lovliness? She started making accessories for her own little beauty, Natalia and then friends and family and eventually decided to have some fun selling online. She strives to offer hair pretties that are affordable and well made. Each item is made with meticulous care and attention to detail. I can attest to that. I bought a mommy/daughter set for Amalia and I and LOVE them.
Here we are modeling this set for you: (ignore that I look pretty yuck)

Her shop is full of tons and tons of cute stuff. Bows to match all the outfits in your daughters closet! I am tempted to buy her bows and style outfits AROUND them!! 

I love this:

 and this

Nina is giving away this bow set to one participant!! Valued at $7.50

since we didn't have a lot of participants, we are going to try this again:

This is a US contest only.

Winner will be announced FRI AFTERNOON via this blog and email

{leave us a comment here (box below) telling us your favorite item in the KittyCandy Bowtique and your email}

Bonus Entries:

 Follow Pish Posh Style on Blogger

Friend Pish Posh Style on FB

"Heart"  your favorite item in the bowtique @Etsy

"Heart" the KityCandy Bowtique @Etsy

create a separate comment for each of the above items to better your odds!!

Questions? Email me!!

If u are a frequent Etsy shopper, be sure to click the hearts while visiting the KittyCandy Bowtique to save the shop as a favorite shop and save your favorite bows!

Nina and I will randomly select a winner on FRIDAY afternoon and notify the winner here on the blog or via email  so let's get started!

Thanks for participating!!

Piccadilly Circus Designs {Etsy Shop Gift Certificate!!}

This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all of you who visited, here, facebook and the shop. We appreciate your time and participation! 

Erica is our winner! Erica, PicCircus (Suzanne) will be contacting you regarding your winnings ;)

Today is my first giveaway and I am SO excited!! Suzanne at PicCircus Designs has graciously gifted us with a $50 gift certificate good on anything in her shop!!

WOW.

Isn't her shop adorable and totally fresh?

She is a mom to three kiddos and she started her shop in search of a creative outlet. Um...it's hopping!

She stays up late, fueled by coffee and reports that her creative side flourishes when the kiddos are asleep.

She and her family live in live in Manhattan Beach with husband and kids ages 3, 5 and 7. She says " I've always been creative but am fairly new to Etsy. I started my shop about a year ago with hair clips, just as a hobby. I started making shirts for my kids and then friends started asking me to make some for them and it just grew from there. My favorite part about Etsy is that you can find so many wonderful handmade things from all over the world. My most popular shirts are my birthday numbers and custom initial shirts but I'm planning on adding some new, fun birthday designs soon!

I would like to encourage your readers to sign up for my mailing list and to like my fb fan page b/c that is where I usually announce my special sales....once I reach 1,000 fans I will be having a 24 hr. sale where your entire purchase is 50% off!"

So let's give her some style snaps and get this party started!!

Here's how you'll enter:

-Like  http://www.facebook.com/PiccadillyCircusDesigns

-Sign up for the newsletter for sales and announcements (like her 1,000 fans sale!) this can be found in her shop announcement 

-Follow this blog if u don't already.

-Fan Pish Posh Style on Facebook

-Post this giveaway to your wall

-Come back and comment that you did the above steps and verify we have  your email information and your favorite item from this adorable shop.

A winner will be chosen and announced at Random on {Friday, May 6 around 3pm CST}

Thanks to Suzanne and thanks to you for stopping by !!