Sponsor Spotlights

This week's Brand Huggers Sponsor Spotlight is for a company that helps you make a bold statement with a great cause. Calico Dragon Bags are made by women in China with home based businesses. A portion of their proceeds go to charities that whole save animals. They have small and large totes that all feature a different message supporting animals. Click on the logo below to learn more about this company or shop for one of their great bags.

Sponsor Spotlights

This weeks Sponsor Spotlights are:

THE BASKET LADY is owned and managed by mother-daughter duo Carol Littman and Kelli Katch. Coming from a family with deep roots in the design and distribution of decorative products for the home, both Carol and Kelli have a keen sense of style and design. During the earlier part of the 1900's, Carol's grandfather manufactured and distributed hand-painted decorative trays, many of which were used as wall art. Her father was a pioneer of imported home decor from around the world and one of the first importers of Italian ceramics, much of which he personally designed and can still be found actively traded on Ebay. Besides ceramics, his business included many other product categories, including baskets, which gave Carol her introduction into the world of wicker. 

Naturally occurring vegetable oils and butters contain indigenous nutrients, antioxidants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and antibacterial agents that petroleum-based oils just don’t have. Natural oils absorb into the skin and do not feel greasy. They also come from replenishable sources, which is a great environmental concern. Skin Free offers products for after chemo or radiation therapy, anti-aging, clays and masks, diabetes and much much more.

Pepperpot Fan: A Review

I had the privilege a while back to work with a wonderful woman from the Gift Wrap Company.  I was in awe at the Pepperpot photo album and baby record book that I reviewed.  And now I am thrilled to announce that I am working with her again for a second time.  This time, I have a few other things to show you.  I hope you love them as much as I do.


These come at a perfect time for me because I know two people who I am very close to that are due to have a baby in September, and a third states away who is also due in September (You think one of them will give me a girl to spoil?)  And these items will make for beautiful gifts that they can cherish for a long time.


Let me first talk to you about the photo album.  As you may remember from my last review, the quality is fantastic.  I LOVE Pepper pot for their quality.  But their designs are cute too.  Check it out:

Now tell me that isn't adorable.  It's perfect for a gift for a surprise baby or for multiples.  And there is a whole set of these Patterned Pals baby items.  There's brag books, a baby record book, note cards, and even gift wrap.  This collection is just so cute.  And the inside is full of 50 acid free pages and leaves room to journal for 200 photos.


Wanna see the brag book?  Of course you do :)

 

I love that the pages are exactly the right fit for the photos, so it looks nice and clean and the photos don't fall out.  It's super cute with the flowers and the snail.  And it's great size for a purse of hand bag.  I think it's really nice.


And if those weren't cute enough, check out these note cards:

The top flips open to reveal blank insides, so you can use them however you see fit.





Disclaimer: I received these products to review and was not paid for this review. My review is 100% my honest opinion.

***CSN Stores Review***

I told you all a review was coming for CSN Stores and today, it has come. CSN Stores allowed me to choose any item for $35 or less. They had so many stores to choose from. I could have chosen kids toys or womens shoes, organizational products, or even exercise equipment. I could have chosen almost anything I could think up.

But I was desperate for some new pans, so I decided to get the Farberware 3 piece skillet set and the Rachael Ray "Veg-a-peel" potato peeler. It really took no time at all to get to me after I ordered it. And I was really impressed with the way the pans looked. They just looked really durable and good quality.


So I used them a few times in the past couple days. I tred them in the dishwasher and I tried them on the stove. Best pans I have ever had, no joke. In fact, I am throwing out all my other pans. These pans aren't like other pans that seems to just have a slight surface coat of non-stick on them. These pans seem like they ARE non-stick. They are a cinch to clean. They are good in the dishwasher, but personally, I think I will just wash mine in the sink. It's not like I have to scrub them.

I tried cooking bacon and the pan stood tough, so it will take hot grease. And as you can see, when I cooked the ham patties, they slid right off, no problem. These pans are excellent!


But was the "Veg-a-peel" as good? Well... the brush is cool. It kept from having to rinse the potatoes twice. And the digger thing on the end, that's a plus. As far as the peeler itself, it's a good peeler. Not the best I have ever used and not the worst. I guess it depends on your preference.










It didn't make me feel like I was about to slice my finger open with every peel, but on the other hand, it was a bit difficult to use. I had to strain a bit to get it to slide across the potato. But it seemed like the blade itself was sharp and up to the job. Over-all, a good peeler. I'd say it was worth the money. I think if I do any online shopping in the future, I'll check out CSN Stores first and see what they've got.

What's your favorite kitchen gadget?

Disclaimer: I received these products to review and was not paid for this review. My review is 100% my honest opinion.

Why was I not told?

I was lucky enough to also stumble upon annbb awesome shampoo a couple weeks ago. Now, I love Suave anyway. It's inexpensive and does wonders for my hair.

But this stuff.... it's mint scented. Now who doesn't love mint? And it's not fabricated mint like mint cookies and mint ice cream. It's the real thing!

I especially love it because it takes me right back to childhood when my family and I used to go collect mint leaves from the frog pond and brew tea from it. Man, those were the days.

And if you hadn't noticed, it has the pump. I wasn't excited about the pump until I realized that it really does come in handy in the shower. For example, it is useful when you are all soaped up and realize that you need a little bit more shampoo, or when you are trying to fight with a child who hates having their hair washed. They never hear the pop of the cover, and so they never see it coming.

But lets talk about how my hair feels. Amazing, that's how. Usually the "new shampoo effect" wears off after the first few times of using the new shampoo. But I have been using this shampoo for several weeks now and my fair still feels great. Light and airy, soft and silky... just wonderful.

For more info on Suave Professionals Rosemary and Mint shampoo and conditioner, visit their site here.

What's your favorite shampoo scent?

Toys for Keeps Wooden Pull Toy Review

Have I ever told you that I love wooden toys?  If not, I think it's high time that I did so.  Wooden toys and metal toys, they are very reminiscent of the 'Good ole days', aren't they?  Back when the games that sucked you in all day had more than one player and a neighborhood lemonade stand didn't seem like a dangerous idea.  I wish my kids could grow up like that.  But I am trying to get them more of the good quality non-battery operated toys because they are better for the planet, and usually better for them.

So I was psyched when Toys for Keeps agreed to let me review one of their Bumble Bee wooden pull toys.  If you don't know about Toys for Keeps, you should check them out on Etsy.  They have plenty of good quality wooden toys that kids can love for a long time.  In fact, they can be passed down.  I remember playing with a puzzle game much like the one below that my grandfather had for years.

Let's face it, it takes us MUCH longer to replace batteries in the toys than our kids probably like and in some cases, we sabotage the toys purposely to get rid of them.  "Aw, the batteries go dead?  I'll replace them when we get more batteries", sound familiar?  So why not get a toy that they can enjoy without batteries?  Less noise, less complaints, less fuss altogether.  And quality, let's talk about quality.

Look at this bee!  It's hand painted.  The string is nice string, not too long or short, too thick or too small.The string doesn't just end like with most pull toys, but has a cork-like wooden handle at the end for easier pulling.  And even the axles are wooden, encased in wooden blocks for protection.


Here are some of my other favorites over at Toys for Keeps:

Barnyard with Animals.

Monkey riding a tricycle.

So what is the story here?
Impressed?  Oh yes, definitely.
Pros:  Wooden and nostalgic.
          No batteries or irritating noise.
          Safe.
          Cute and durable.
Cons:  Not a thing.
Get again?  Absolutely I would.
Satisfied/Recommend?  Yep!

Little Darling Ruffled Bloomers and Matching Romper Review

Ruffled Bottoms.  Need I say more?  Who doesn't love ruffled bottoms on babies?  Okay, I suppose some might not, but I do.  I adore it!  And for those of you who love it like I do, Little Darling has the fix you need.   The ruffled bloomers and the rompers over there are insanely cute.

Baby Bee has the Bumble bee ruffled bloomers and matching romper set.  When I got this in the mail and opened it, I was so impressed.  The quality is amazing!  The ruffles on the bloomers are a nice material and not sloppily done.  The colors were strong and crisp.  The material used for the ruffles is the same material used for the bumble bee applique on the romper.

Little Darling has boy and girl clothes.  I just love these Mario and Luigi twin rompers!  I would definitely dress my twins in that if I had twins.

Little Darling also has baby changing mats, mobiles that can be customized, and head bands.  It is definitely a place worth checking out I think.

So, do you want the dirty truth?

Impressed?  Oh my goodness, YES!
Pros: Seems really durable, good material.
         Cuter than heck!
         Fits nice, comfy.
Cons: It might be a touch pricey compared to some, but we can't vouch for the quality of others.

Satisfied/Recommend?  Yep, I would.
Get again?  With this kind of quality, I sure would :)

Did your child have a mobile on their crib?

So Simple So Sweet Card Review

I keep my cards.  Every year, I try my best to keep them safe and put away so that I can look at them from time to time and remember certain years.  Those memories are so much easier to recall when the card stands out.  A plain card might be remembered, but it is hard to attach it to the event or the year.  However, when I see a cool card, like the one The Streaker got for her birthday, it is hard to forget.

The card is from So Simple So Sweet on Etsy and she has a great selection of cards different occasions, from anniversary and new baby, to birthdays and thanks.  Her cards are so cute.  I love that the lady bug is removable in it's own pocket.

I also love that the pocket is sewn on with embroidery floss.  It really gives it a great look and a personal feel.  I felt like the card was made just for my daughter :)  I just adore her whole collection of cards.  Check some of these out:

So Simple So Sweet also makes finger puppets and puppet gloves as well.  Like this glove story of Daniel in the Lion's Den and many others.  They are a great idea for story telling and interactive play.

The puppets are held to the gloves by magnets that are fixed to the end of each finger and he has plenty to choose from.  I particularly like the Train Friends, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Noah's Ark.  She has some really cute characters and sets are just $7.  You can also check her out on Facebook, there is an Etsy tab on the left.

Down to business:
Impressed?  Heck yeah I was!
Pros: Intricate and cute.
         Hand sewn, great quality.
         No more expensive than your average birthday card at $4/card and $1 shipping.

Cons:  Actually, none.
Satisfied/Recommend?  Yes, and I already have.
Get again? Yup, sure would.

Do you save your cards?

A Child's Wonderland Woven Headband Review

Girls look adorable in headbands.  It's a fact.  So of course, being a mother of four girls, I have seen my share of them and my favorite by far is the woven head band.  They can be so pretty and after watching a video tutorial on how to make them, I have an even bigger love for them.  Those ribbons can get confusing!

A Child's Wonderland on Etsy has an array of woven bands.  And that is where I got this absolutely adorable bumble bee head band.  It's woven from 4 different ribbons (white with a black outline, white, yellow, and black).  It has a big black bow on top, topped by a corker bow using the same 4 ribbons and then a small bumble bee accent.  Isn't he cute?

I love the colors, I love the bee, I love the bow on top.  I also love the other bows and hats that A Child's Wonderland has to offer, like these:

After seeing this Black and Red Paw Print Woven Headband, I can totally envision a beetle juice headband :)  I love the colors together and all the little paw prints.

Perfect for a Halloween party!  I think this Mickey Mouse Pumpkin Head hair clip is adorable!

And this White Baby Kufi Hat with Pink Panda Ribbon is so sweet, I'd love to know where the little accent animals come from, they are the perfect addition.

So let's get to the Nitty gritty:
Impressed?  Yeah, I was.

Pros: The headband seems REALLY sturdy.
         It's adorable!!!
         Competitive pricing at only $8.50 compared to others at $10.50 and up!
         Also at least $1 cheaper in shipping than some others we've seen.

Cons: Construction seemed a touch hasty with visible glue and some fray at the tips.

But at that price, we aren't complaining.  The glue is not visible while being worn and the fray took 2 seconds and a lighter to fix.

Satisfied/Recommend?  Heck yeah, I love this band!  And Baby Bee looks precious in it.
Get again?  Who knows, if she comes out with a lady bug or butterfly band, I might just be stopping by :)

So tell me, what is your favorite kind of band?  Do you wear bands yourself?

Lets Talk Tutus

A while back, The Streaker won a tutu from Nellie Bugs Tutus & More for a valentine that she painted. I was so excited! Each of my kids have their own color, and The Streaker's is teal. So she chose to have a teal and black tutu, which works out perfectly, as I plan to eventually get one in all the girls' colors.

I've made tutus before, so I had a pretty good idea what to expect. But I could not have been more wrong. I'm pretty crafty when I want to be, but these tutus blew mine right out of the water!!! I was completely amazed at the quality and beauty of it.

The waist band is a black shiny ribbon capable of changing size to fit a bigger or smaller child at any time. It's not an elastic waist, which means no weird gaps between tulle. And there is so much tulle there, you almost get lost in it's layers! Speaking of layers, check out this Pumpkin Tutu, it's adorable!

And one of the best parts? They are actually affordable. Even I could splurge on one. There is one tutu on the web site for as low as $8.99!!! And Nellie Bugs doesn't sell just tutus, they sell hair bows and hats, even wings. I highly doubt that you will be even slightly disappointed when you visit Nellie Bugs. So go ahead.