Here, pretty pretty!

So, another day of what I have actually slopped on in the last 24 hours. I have been going through an absolutely INSANE amount of stress, and so my skin has broken out a tidge. Nothing major, but I never was a zitty kid, so these things tweak me out. When this happens, I put Arcona Night Breeze Restore/Protect PM on before I go to bed. It has a type of pure oxygen that kills the bacteria that causes blemishes, antioxidants to help new cells form, and allantoin to soothe the skin. And 1-2 pumps is enough, and you only use it once or twice a week so it lasts FOREVER! In the morning my skin is restored and I'm back to gorgeous. Seriously, I had the beginning of a small pimple yesterday and when I woke up it was gone, with none of the harsh chemicals that other things soak into your poor skin. it doesn't burn, in fact it feels quite soothing.Totally recommended for those with problem skin that's also sensitive.

• Arcona is a holistic skin care line without any fillers, chemical stabilizers or petro-chemicals
• Contains Fumaric Acid, a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger
• Apply this product at night and awaken with clarified, brightened skin
• Effective for decongesting pores                   

This morning, I was in a bit of a hurry, so I used the Wal Mart brand face cleansing cloths that someone left in my camp when I went camping. Didn't want 'em to go to waste, but these things SUCK.  They come dry, so you have to wet them to even use them (thus negating the saving of precious water resources when camping in Texas heat) and then they lather SOOOOO much that you then have to use a plain cloth to rinse your face! Completely useless! Plus they leave your skin feeling tight and dried out and with a weird residue that I had to use a toner to get rid of. I don't care HOW poor you are- don't waste your money. No rinsing necessary my heinie.

Grrrrrrrr.

Luckily I have Grateful Body Restorative Sea Cell Serum to put things back in balance. This miracle in a jar was introduced to my by the All Natural Beauty Mall (who by the way are selling an AMAZING sampler right now that I'll tell you about in a seperate post, but you can check it out on your own through the link. Tell her The Beauty Pirate sent ya!) and I loved it so much that I bought a bottle for my mom. Right now, Grateful Body has a bunch of stuff on sale, so now is a great time to check them out. This is THE hands down perfect summer serum, since it's light and absorbs directly into the skin, providing a perfect base for your other skincare products. It leaves you feeling nourished and whole, and the herby scent is soothing. They actually have a feature where you can design your own skincare products to be custom made to fit your specific needs! HOW AWESOME IS THAT? 

Check out this info from their site:

Genuine Benefits

Because of the unique chemical composition of oceanic saltwater, sea plants that grow in this environment are filled with unique and essential micro-nutrients not commonly found on land.  As further evidence of the interconnectedness of all life, it is interesting to note that salt water from the sea and the human blood plasma are biologically similar - so it is not hard to appreciate the healing benefit of sea plants for the human body.  Skin, especially, is strengthened by this relationship.  Sea Cell Serum is the magic ocean potion for the skin, for no matter your skin type or age, you can experience the beautifying benefits provided by marine nourishment.

Three of the many beneficial ingredients are . . .

Sea Weed Extract - our exclusive, pristine blend of eight powerful, complexion-renewing plants of the ocean.

Rosehip Seed - The beautiful, wildcrafted rosehip grown high in the Andes Mountains produces a deep-red, cold-pressed oil that has a nutritional profile fit for a queen.  How do I love thee rosehip?  Let me count the ways...  You help regenerate my skin, reduce scars, prevent the advancement of wrinkles, assist cell regeneration, promote collagen/elastin levels, help retain my natural tone and color.  The royal decree?  I grant thee firmer, smoother, more youthful skin with greater elasticity and pardon thee from excess exposure to ye olde sun.

Yerba Mansa - Found in boggy marshes along the rivers of the southwest, the fresh root is wonderful to nourish 'mature' skin tissues.  Rounding out the Sea Cell Serum formula, this anti-inflammatory herb promotes circulation and has a gentle astringent action.  With its distinct fresh scent, yerba mansa is the Rio Grande's gift to firm, bright skin.

And check out the all natural ingredients!

Ingredients are 100% Natural & Synthetic-free:

• organic barley grass tea (Hordeum vulgare)

• seaweed extract of:

    bladderwrack  (Fucus vesiculosus)

    dulse  (Palmaria palmata)

    nori  (Porphyra umbilicalis)

    kombu  (Laminaria digitata)

    kelp  (Ascophyllum nodosum)

    wakame  (Alaria esculenta)

    sea lettuce  (Ulva lactuca)

• organic aloe vera leaf juice (Aloe barbadensis)

• organic sesame oil (Sesamum indicum)

• organic extra virgin olive oil (Olea europaea)

• organic tincture of:

    rosehip  (Rosa canina)

    red clover  (Trifolium pratense)

    chickweed  (Stellaria media)

    dandelion root  (Taraxacum officinale)

    nettle leaf  (Urtica dioica)

• organic extract of:

    parsley  (Petroselinum crispum)

    kale  (Brassica oleracea)

    yerba mansa  (Anemopsis californica)

• organic soy lecithin (Lecithin)

• organic essential oil blend of:

    rosemary  (Rosmarinus officinalis)

    guaiacwood  (Bulnesia sarmienti)

    hops  (Humulus lupulus)

    lavender  (Lavandula angustifolia)

• honeysuckle flower CO2 (Lonicera japonica)

• organic marigold / turmeric blend

• organic olive leaf preservative

• natural vitamin E (non-GMO) (Tocopherol)

• organic rice bran (Oryza sativa)

• vegetable glycerin (Glycerin)

• organic guar gum (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus)
• organic arabic gum (Acacia senegal/seyal)

• rosemary leaf extract (Rosmarinus officinalis)

WOW!This stuff is powerful. 

So today after using my MD Skincare tinted moisturizer, I pulled out one of my handy dandy Lancome palettes. This one is a Color Design Sensational Effects EyeShadow palette with Filigree (shimmer) Impress (metallic) Designer (metallic) and Statuesque (Intense) 

I used Impress as a wet liner under my eyes then covered the bottom lid with Statuesque. I then blended Designer across the browbone and touched the Filigree shimmer into my tear duct area and blended into Designer. With the right blending, this turns into a greenish gold, opalescent shimmer.

I also love the blush in this compact, their Blush Subtil in Cedar Rose. It's a very light color that creates the slightest hint of a flush, as if your colors are naturally rosy and not made up. 

 You can find this palette all over Ebay in the $10.00 range. just do a search listing those specific colors together. It's TOTALLY worth it. 

Did you know that Maybelline has a mineral finishing veil? Caveat emptor- the jar it's in cracks like nobody's business. I dropped mine once and it literally split in half. I have it in transluscent, and it to has pretty good staying power for a drugstore brand, but it seems to rub off of my t-zone pretty quickly, requiring a lot of touch ups. I've used worse that were way more expensive, and if you're in a pinch and need something from the drug or grocery store, this is a fine choice, and it comes with a baby buki brush!

On my lips today, to complement the greenish gold of my shadow is Mary Kay's  oddly named Mauve Elegance. This is really more of a sexy, pouty pink that draws a lot of attention. You definitely want to use a lip liner with this to get that perfect cupid bow pout. It's not garish, just not shy, either. Something about this color has gotten me hit on by two of my students today!  This stuff is INSANELY long lasting, and only needs touchups after eating, and even then you still have a bit of color on your lips. Don't wear this if you're having an affair or being followed by the show Cheaters!  Another discontinued item that you can still find brand new all over the internet for cheapers. 

 So to go with my pink lips, I had to pull out a pink bottle of perfume- Versace Bright Crystal. Mama Mia. When I wear this, heads turn. Men, women, babies, small animals..... No one can seem to resist this stuff. I have a co-worker who LOVES it when I wear this, she says I smell like a very wealthy and dignified movie star.  YOWZA!  It's a floral, but with fruit and musk to keep it from being cloying.  SEXAY!

 

AND FINALLY_ I started doing my nails. i've been using Qtica Natural nail Growth Stimulator which works wonders. It truly does seem to be strengthening my nails. You use it as a base coat then reapply it every few days. They claim up to a 1/4 inch nail growth in just 14 days. So far, so good!

And the color I've put over it? Zoya's Trixie. Trixie is such a shiny silver that the husband said it looked like I'd used chrome touch up paint on my nails! I've had problems with Zoya polishes not lasting as long as some others, but their metallics and glittery ones hang on with the best of 'em. This stuff sticks! For a real attention grabber, you can't go wrong with this one- you'll get tons of compliments, trust me. 

let's get gussied up today, shall we?

Weeeeeeellllll, maybe it doesn't quite count as gussying up. I'm wearing a tan tshirt cut dress with sandals today, so I went for a more natural look.

I started out my day by washing my face with Origins Checks & Balances Frothy Face Wash. This cleanser is great for combo skin, as it doesn't strip your dry spots but effectively removes excess oil from your t-zone, leaving your face feeling clean but not 'tight'. A little goes a long way, as this IS very foamy. It's ophtamologist tested, so if you get any in your eyes you won't go blind. I prefer this one in the summer since it's such a balancing cleanser.

Checks and Balances™ Frothy face wash
When it comes to faces with dry and oily places, it takes a clever cleanser to balance the two. This gentle, frothy face wash carefully does both jobs without canceling each other out. Broad Leaf Kelp Extract discourages excess oil production, while Wheat Protein balances and protects dry prone zones. And Tourmaline actually makes water wetter to more easily disperse dirt and sebum down the drain. There’s also aromatic Bergamot, Spearmint and Lavender to add pleasure to the process. Skin feels comfortably refreshed after cleansing, never tight, pulled or parched.

Then I apply Cures By Avance Age Defyer Eye Cream. I got this from a previous BeautyFix kit and immediately fell in love. After cleansing your face, you apply this just under the eyes to brow bone, and no matter how tired, puffy or baggy my eyes looked (or felt) the difference is immediately noticeable. A tidge goes a long way, so despite the scary price tag, it lasts eons.

Available at Dermstore



Then it's time for Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refresher. Particularly in the summer, my skin gets oiler and my pores look like inner city potholes. A teeny bit of this makes my pores disappear so my foundation or tinted moisturizer doesn't sink into my pores for the 'peachhead' effect. It also keeps my skin from getting oily longer and gives a bright, refreshed feeling. Your skin looks and feels like silk, and with this, I can happily use nothing more than a tinted moisturizer and look fabu.

What the awesome prep work does is allow me to use something light on my face to make everything all smooth and even toned without the official Texas Spackle Face. Nothing is more hideous in the summer than seeing someone's face slide off! I also need SPF though, because I'm combustible. I have been loving Dr Dennis Gross MD Skincare All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer! I got this from my Skincare RX Beauty Cache and will be sad to see it all used up! It has medical grade ingredients and provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. it blends beautifully without the streakiness that a lot of cheap tinted moisturizers have. You look just like yourself but better (like a personal airbrush!) It doesn't have a stinky sunblock smell, either.
It's even available in 6 shades to suit everyone!

So now the basics are out of the way, but first I gotta make sure I don't stank. I received a sample of Secret Clinical Strength to try out, and had mixed results. I did put it to the test by standing outside as Pam The Dairy Cow made a visit to the kids at my library and I stood outside for almost an hour. Upon checking, i really didn't shed a DROP of sweat. The weird thing was, that it doesn't seem to affect SMELL, so at the end of the day, I'm dry as a bone but have more pit aroma than using my Evan's Garden all natural powder deoderant (see a previous entry for my rave review.) What's the point if you still smell? That ain't right.















So since I was going for a lighter look today, I pulled out my Signature Club A Caviar Super Hold Eye/Cheek Color. This is a multipurpose cream stick that is a neutral beige that can be used on eyes or cheeks and blends beautifully. I highly recommend using an eye primer with it though to avoid the massive creasing common to cream shadows. I used my Laura Geller Eye Spackle to hold it in place and to also add a bit of highlight in my tear duct area. It's a subtle blendable color that adds depth to the eyes and can be applied with a light or heavy hand, depending on your druthers. This brand is generally available from HSN, where they run constant specials on the caviar kits. (They currently have a HUGE kit available including this for $39.95 with a retail value over a hundred bucks.)

Now, I can only do subtle to a certain point. I had to have some POP somewhere! That's where Loreal Endless Lipstick in Crimson Joy comes in. I have NEVER worn this color without getting stopped by people to ask what I'm wearing. A woman at my work assumed it was MAC and was astounded that I bought it at the grocery store! It is TRULY endless wear, I can put this on at the beginning of a night out and hours and hours of appalling rebellious behaviour later- my lipstick looks as fresh as a field of daisies. And it doesn't dry out your lips! This stuff is INCREDIBLE! It's also a perfect red for those with cool skin tones. It doesn't make your teeth look yellow, and it has enough blue in it to look classy, not slutty. LOVE IT!

New Endless comfortable 8-hour lipcolour
Can a lipcolour last 8 hours without torturing your lips?  Now it can, in one perfect stick.

• For the first time, anti-fading colour and lip-saving care are combined in L'Oreal's patented Soft-Seal™ technology.
• Unlike traditional long-wearing lipcolour that leaves lips dry, Endless keeps lips soft and supple.
• One stick.  Zero touch-ups.  24 shades.
• Up to 8 hours of comfortable stay-true colour.

And lastly, for my smelly fou-fou. I have been carrying around this tube of Jento Soaps Scent Stick in Rose Petal that I got thanks to Sampler Village.And they're CHEAP! Like a BUCK FIDDY! It has natural ingredients and smells SOOOOO much like real roses. It's not an overwhelming old lady scent, either- it's subtle and slightly head turning. I see people walk by me and look around confusedly as to where the roses are. It doesn't last forever, but because it's a solid stick, you can carry it with for easy reapplication throughout the day without worrying about it spilling in your purse (lost one of my favorite perfumes that way and came VERY close to tears.)

So there you go, my pretty pretties!

Handmade Lip Lickers Make Me Wanna SMOOCH!

I have been LOVING me some handmade lip balm lately! I put on some cherry chapstick the other day and had to wipe it off because I've gotten so spoiled that it felt like I'd melted a candle onto my mouth. INTO the trash it went, even though I hate to waste, but I can just never go down that road again. So what are some good alternatives that I've been rockin' lately?

From S Type Creative I LOVE their handmade chocolate fudge lip balm! It smells amazing, and the smell of chocolate is a proven aphrodisiac ;-)It's long lasting and smooth and deeply penetrating.

Delightful and emolient. Our handcrafted lip balm smells terrific and lasts for hours without being greasy or waxy. Includes organic dutch cocoa which is reputed to be an antioxidant. Regardless of it’s alleged health properties, it smells great!
.15 oz oval natural tube.
Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil (and) Cetyl Stearyl Alcohol (and) Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil (and) Beeswax (and) Hydrogenated Castor Oil (and) Glycine Soja (Soybean) Lipids (and) Lauryl Laurate (and) Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax (and) Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Dutch Cocoa, artificial fudge flavor.

Naturally LeLa  has been a real head turner. I'm hooked on their lip balm and there's so much other stuff on their page I want to try! Check out the link and see for yourself- you'll be agog if you like imaginative and creative bath and body products. They have a chocolate face mask! Check out what I just saw on the site: 
I have two AMAZING offers running right now:

15 on 15

15% of any order placed, and PAID FOR, on June 15th, July 15th, and August 15th

USE CODE: BLOGMANIA15 in notes to seller and you will receive an adjusted invoice.

AND

FREE SHIPPING FRIDAYS
EVERY FRIDAY FROM JUNE 18 - SEPTEMBER 18

RECEIVE FREE SHIPPING on any order placed, and paid for, when you use the code FREESHIPFRIDAY
Good excuse to try them out, eh? i love the tasty lip balms, I have the sweet and sassy Peach Fuzz & Ginger Buzz and the invigorating and refreshing Sunshine. Bonus- the packaging alone is enough to make me smile!
Benefits: Natural Sun Blocker, Moisturizing, Deep Soothing Penetration, Healing, Uplifting, Sweet and Sensual, Aroma Therapeutic

 

Farm Hussy  

can apparently do no wrong, because their C.A.D.D. (Cock-A-Doodle-Don't) lip balm is super flavored, smells lovely, and is another super rich, long lasting lip emollient. I have the Boonze Farm Tickle Pink. I love their hysterical product packaging! (I do wish their web page was a little easier to navigate though....) 

The husband is glad I now have around Crema de Coco from Diosa Botanicals because he doesn't like to use flavored or scented balms, and he enjoys the straightforwardness of this one, so this is what he reaches for. Coconut oil has been receiving a lot of attention lately as people are discovering it's wonderful properties for both the inside AND the outside of the body, something that the UA theater chain knew when we used coconut oil to pop our popcorn and were consistently voted best popcorn! These folks make their handmade lip balm using WILD HARVESTED coconuts! WOW! I need to move, all I can wild harvest around here is pecans!

The main ingredient, organic Coconut oil, is HANDMADE IN MONTEZUMA, COSTA RICA. Coconut oil naturally contains 7 SPF.

The coconut oil I use as a base in this lip balm is 100% hand made and organic from wildharvested Costa Rican coconuts. The oil is carefully slow toasted over a fire all day.

This is basically an unscented lip balm, but you will be able to enjoy the lightly toasted aroma of the coconut oil.

This lip balm is 100% plant based. The flavor from plants. This balm will not give you chapped lips, it leaves lips silky and lush. Won´t melt in yer pocket and one tube lasts forever!

Coconut Oil is an amazing healer. It is an emollient and leaves skin radiant and glowing. Coconut oil has a light amount of SPF. A light body, hand and face oil, coconut oil does not clog pores. It is an anti-bacterial, a mild insect repellant, and a skin cell regenerator. As many medicines grow in the place where they are most needed, coconut oil is a coolant for the skin that blossoms right from the steamy tropics.

Last but most certainly, definitely not least is the Lip Whip from Stinky D's. I have it in Orange, and if you watch my Sampler Village Summer Fun video review on my You Tube channel, you'll see first hand how exuberant it makes me! Seriously, it makes me totally dork out and swoon.

So take a chance and support indie businesses! You get high quality products made with sincerity and sticking it to "the man" at the same time :-) Besides, it always feels cool to pull something out of your bag and have people ask "wow, what's that?" Be a trendsetter- shop handmade!
Please note this will never make me stop buying Lancome ;- )

Oh, wait! Duh- Cherry City's  Happy Hour Lip Balm in Margarita makes any hour happy hour! Again, watch my Sampler Village Summer Fun review to see just how much I love them- or better yet, watch my review of many different items available from Cherry City! (reviews on You Tube, link to my channel on right hand top side of my page)

Their current special- I review the Lush Locks spray in the aforementioned video. I LOVE IT!

Sense Beauty Giveaway

GO HERE to enter to win a full size Daytime Protective Emulsion SPF 15

Jenulence Mineral Makeup Giveaway!

Go Here  to enter to win Jenulence mineral makeup! I've reviewed some of their products before, and they are awesome!

Hot Tools giveaway

GO HERE to enter to win a $140 Hot Tools professional curling iron!

E.L.F. is having a 50% off sale on Mineral Makeup!

elfonomics - be beautiful for less. In today's economy why pay more? Shop e.l.f. Cosmetics for Affordable Makeup.

New Deals at Haute Look including the MUST HAVE toothbrush sanitizer!

Haute Look
currently has one of the wackiest hair tools from InStyler I've ever seen and the super cool Vio Light toothbrush sanitizers!

The amazing rotating hot iron that straightens, curls and styles faster than you ever dreamed possible.

Here's how it works: when you run the InStyler rotating hot iron through your hair, the first set of bristles gently sort and separate your hair strands. Then the rotating heated polishing cylinder gently glides over your hair, smoothly polishing, straightening, and styling each strand. Finally, the second set of bristles puts the finishing touch on your hair, leaving you with shiny, silky, hair. It's truly amazing. And the best part is, because of the InStyler rotating hot iron's patented design, your hair won't get smashed and baked by the super-intense heat of a flat iron or other "hot" tools. In fact, the InStyler rotating hot iron uses less heat than traditional hot tools, and delivers better results. How? Because the InStyler rotating hot iron's gentle heat in conjunction with the rotating motion of the polishing cylinder literally polishes your hair strands individually so it doesn't need extreme heat to get amazing results.

Your toothbrush cleans your teeth, what cleans your toothbrush? VIOlight is easy to use and safe and effective. Independent tests prove that VIOlight gets rid of up to 99.9% of bacteria living on your toothbrush. VIOlight uses a germicidal UV bulb--the same technology used in hospitals--to kill germs.

The Original VIOlight was designed by Philippe Starck and is the first toothbrush sanitization system made to look like it belongs in your home, and not a laboratory. VIOlight Countertop Toothbrush Sanitizer and Storage System will sanitize up to four toothbrushes at one time which prevents cross contamination of bacteria from one toothbrush to another. VIOlight is versatile enough to meet all your family needs. The germicidal UV bulb is rated to last over 2,000 hours, and only needs replacing every one to two years, depending on use. Almost all toothbrushes can be used including most electric toothbrush heads. It comes with a skid-proof bottom and a removable drip cup for easy cleaning.

Sampler Village Summer Fun Lavishly Samplicious Box

This is Sampler Village's Lavishly Samplicious Summer Fun box- every Villager for the month is represented.All text in peach comes from the seller's description. Any promotions available are listed as well. My video review to follow tomorrow! (Give a gal a break, eh? )

Update: here's the video

Summer Fun Lucky Charm from Pernilla's Something Swedish
I wish it had scanned better- this charm is absolutely stunning!

Unscented Body Butter with Organic Sage and White Ginger-Body Frosting from Strawberry Tops Spa Shoppe

Soybean and Coconut oil superbly blended for the perfect fluffy finish. Perfect for dry, cracked heels, hands elbows and knees. Cornstarch adds the perfect finishing touch for a cornsilk finish!!!! Topped with organic rubbed sage and organic white ginger for the perfect harmonious blend. All natural and unscented DOESN"T mean UN-sexy...Feel good, feel beautiful, FEEL SEXY.

Buy 1 get 1 offer- purchase one item and at checkout enter the name of the 2nd item in notes to seller and include coupon code SVDiscount

  

Sparkly hair clip from Claire's Closet unfortunately I wore it before taking it's picture and took a nap with it on and apparently got some foundation on it. Oops! Use discount code MP20 at checkout to receive 20% off!

La Dolce Vita provided a soy tart melt in Sweet Pea and Whipped Sugar Scrub in a version of Pink Sugar

Description

Foaming Body Scrub
Scented in PINK SUGAR TYPE a fruity blend of cotton candy, lemon drops, caramel and raspberry jam.

Comes in a 16 oz plastic jar with white lid.
PARABEN FREE

Available in many different fragrances just ask!

Exfoliate your dry dull winter skin.

Our Foaming Sugar Scrub is loaded with pure cane sugar and enriched with moisturizing Shea Butter and topped with lots of sugar sprinkles.

This foaming scrub has a rich and creamy consistency and will leave your skin clean, soft and moisturized.


The Soap Addict provides Oatmeal, Lavender & Honey soap.

Description

A classic, subtle scent with ground oatmeal and shea butter for a luxuriously soft and moisturizing shower. A customer favorite – even the guys will love it!

Approximate bar size = 4 oz.

ALL of my products are completely free of:
Parabens
Phthalates
Artificial fragrance
Artificial color
Preservatives

Ingredients: olive oil, palm oil, coconut oil, sodium hydroxide, avocado oil, shea butter, ground oats, honey, lavender essential oil Mention sampler village in the notes to seller and receive a free goody with your order!




Lavender Greetings handmade birthday card. 30% off any order with code Sampler30















KopyKatAromatics sent in 2 perfume sample vials of their super concentrated fragrance copies, 1 in Seraph and one in a mystery fragrance 'cause the fist part of the name rubbed off :-(
Islander, maybe?













Flower bouquet wine charm from SunMoonStars

Description

Customized favors for Weddings, dinner parties, rehearsal dinners, Baby Showers, Bridal Showers, birthday parties, anniversaries or any festive event.
Can also be used as seating or place cards.

Please contact me and include your email address, approximate number of charms needed, and date needed.

We work together to create your unique personalized party favors.




A sample of Paradise Essentials' Garden Path soap comes with a "buck back" offer. say Sampler Village at checkout and get a crisp new single tucked into your order!

Description

Garden path scented handmade cold processed soap.

This soap is handmade not melt and pour, using the cold process method. Bars are 4.5 oz and over, largest to go first.

This batch was made from scratch using a special formula of lye and a specific weight of calculated oils to provide lots of lather and lots of mildness. Raw ingredients were used the old fashioned way. These bars retain their natural glycerin and each batch is enriched with Shea Butter and Olive Oil. This soap is not made from a base, it is not melt and pour. These bars are cured specifically according to the cold process method.

All my soaps are plant based, never lard and I only use high quality scenting oils. I use a bar from each batch for my quality control. Please try to keep your soap completely dry between uses to keep it hard and long-lasting.

Why use handmade soap? Commercial soaps are made from chemicals, additives that not only dry out your skin but can lead to rashes or irritations. They remove the naturally occurring glycerin out of their soap. Handmade soap is made by combining organic ingredients in a chemical reaction that leaves the soap environmentally safe and good for your skin.

The process retains the natural glycerin and provides moisturizing every time you shower up. The soap does the cleaning, the glycerin does the moisturizing. I combine the finest ingredients and most delightful fragrances to make a long lasting quality bar. Delightfully and affordably indulgent…

Treat yourself as well as you treat others!


Kitty Crossbones makes custom promotional products and sent in Adorable little buttons to showcase their work. I got really lucky and won a random drawing on Sampler Village and am getting my own design on a set of stickers! Mention Sampler Village & receive 10% off your order (excluding supplies, instastamp, and 1,000 quantity items)

This solid scent stick in Rose Petals came from Jento Soaps (I've been using this all week, and will review it in a separate blog. Suffice to say, I quite like it....)

Sweet Rose Petals * - Closest I have found to a real rose scent. You will be covered in rose petals. 
 FREE 4oz bath size bar of soapwhen you place an order. In the comments box of the shopping cart type Sampler Village and the scent of soap you would like.




Marilee Jane Designs is back with their super cute cup cake toppers. Sakes alive, her stuff is all freakin' adorable! A set of 6 of these fellas sells for $12.95 on her Etsy page, and would be an adorable party keepsake.



Cherry City Bath & Body included a full sized tin of their Margarita Lip balm. (A $6.00 value!) I've reviewed the Cherry City line before, which you can see the video of HERE on my YouTube Channel.

Any hour is happy hour with our Happy Hour Lip Balms! Made with healthy vegan ingredients and SPF 15 (Happy Hour Lip Balms do not contain alcohol). Available in five thirst quenching flavors: Margarita, Strawberry Daiquiri, Tequila Sunrise, Pomegranate Martini, Mojito, and Jamaican Rum....Cheers! FREE After Five roll with purchase  (a $10 value). Enter code SAMPLE VILLAGE in the comment box at checkout, along with your choice of scent. They are constantly running specials, as well, so you'll likely find some other freebie or bonus offer waiting for you.

Gumdropz gave us a FULL SIZED CreamCake Solid Lotion Bar in Coco Cabana

Description

Our Beach Bums Summer Line Collection Coco Cabana CreamCake Solid Lotion Bar is a super concentrated lotion. Contains only Coco-butter, beeswax, jojoba oil, and a very light fragrance. Works nicely on roughest driest areas such as hands, elbows, and heels. Works nicely on cuticles also.

This listing is for a one ounce round tin. This will last a very long after the lazy days of summer have passed since it's so concentrated. Perfect for your purse, desk, or beach bag.

Coco Cabana is a blend of Orange, Apple, Coconut. Takes me away to warm summer days laying out by the pool with a frozen fruity drink in hand.


These are also perfect for Birthday thank you's as guests are leaving, Pool Party goodie bag treats!, Baby Shower, Baby Announcements, Wedding Shower, or Bachelorette Party gifts for your guests. We can make custom labels for your occasion. Bulk quantity pricing is available please convo me if you would like a quote and a custom listing.

CreamCakes tins will arrive shrink wrapped for your protection.

Contains: Coco butter, beeswax, jojoba oil, fragrance.

An aroma bead ornament from Polka Dot Scent 
Shoppe in Clean Cotton

Description

Aroma Bead Ornaments are custom made decorative air fresheners. They are perfect to display in your home in a closet, bathroom, or small space enclosure. They are also great air fresheners for your car. The scent will intensify when heated by the sun or hair dryer. The fragrance may last up to six months depending on fragrance, use, and exposure.

From Diosa Botanicals comes a tube of Crema de Coco lip balm.

Description

The main ingredient, organic Coconut oil, is HANDMADE IN MONTEZUMA, COSTA RICA. Coconut oil naturally contains 7 SPF.

The coconut oil I use as a base in this lip balm is 100% hand made and organic from wildharvested Costa Rican coconuts. The oil is carefully slow toasted over a fire all day.

This is basically an unscented lip balm, but you will be able to enjoy the lightly toasted aroma of the coconut oil.

This lip balm is 100% plant based. The flavor from plants. This balm will not give you chapped lips, it leaves lips silky and lush. Won´t melt in yer pocket and one tube lasts forever!

Coconut Oil is an amazing healer. It is an emollient and leaves skin radiant and glowing. Coconut oil has a light amount of SPF. A light body, hand and face oil, coconut oil does not clog pores. It is an anti-bacterial, a mild insect repellant, and a skin cell regenerator. As many medicines grow in the place where they are most needed, coconut oil is a coolant for the skin that blossoms right from the steamy tropics. 

I was really excited for this one, because I've gotten so hooked on coconut oil lately....

S.V. Soaps sent in a sample of their lovely Almond Biscotti soap.

This fragrance is positively edible! It is an amazing compilation of all things good, edible and coffee time! With a mixture of toasted almonds, sweet cake flour and drizzled chocolate, this fragrance will have you drooling and wanting to eat pastries!

This bar is light brown with thin lines of chocolate and crushed oatmeal through out. The top layer is covered with chocolate swirls, chunks of beige and chocolate soap and dusted with ground oatmeal.

Ingredients:

Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Oil, Cocoa Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Olive Oil, Fragrance Oil, Iron Oxides, Distilled Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Cocoa Powder, Ground Oatmeal

 This HUGE highly detailed card from A Penny For Your Thoughts 

also comes with confetti for inside the card. The coupon code enclosed has unfortunately already expired before I received my box. 

Beagle Bites 
smell good enough that I want to eat them! I relented and gave one to my dog Boomer, making him a happy dog indeed!

From Cooper's Fancies are 2 Chocolate Almond Cake Balls.

Description

Cake balls are a newer dessert gaining in popularity. If you haven't tried one yet, you've come to the right place. These little shots of flavor are incredible!

I did some research and development before coming up with the final product. It was well worth the wait!

This adorable sugar cookie came from Sweet Spot to show off the quality of their custom made cookies!

From Tracy's Home Canned Goods comes some more of her amazing rock candy, this time in Cran-Raspberry, Grape & Tropical Punch. I have RAVED about this stuff before, so seriously- check her out.

Description

This old time favorite is making a come back in a new and fun way! With all the over processing and preserving our foods get today, this is just back to the basics! Only a few simple ingredients lead to a great tasting treat! This will make a great gift or just enjoy yourself. There is over one pound of candy in each quart jar ! All orders will be made up fresh for you. I have lots of flavors and tons of fabric for the tops! Or, I can put the candy in small baggies or individual portions for a great place setting for a party or wedding !Just ask if you would like to see something special! As always, Gluten Free! Cherry and spearmint are my favorites! This is a great way to sweeten your tea ! 

 Check out this groovy cookie from Ob La Da!  

Description

When trying to come up with a name for these cookies on our Facebook page, we came up with Lucy in the Sky with Cookies, Flower Power Cookies, Scooby Snacks and "Damn Hippy" Cookies. Ha!

However my dad referred to them as Kaleidoscope cookies, and that just sounded RIGHT.

So here you go: Kaleidoscope Cookies are homemade sugar cookies topped with rainbow swirled lemon icing. These suckers are about the size of 3 cookies, so keep that in mind. 

 From the Craft Complex is a 4 pack of Blooming Brew Black Tea W Flowers & Fruit. 

Description

This is a wonderful blend of black bergamont tea blended with fruit and flower flavors. A very crisp and fresh tasting tea.

The tea tag and sticker on back of packaging is hand stamped. The tea itself in encased in white muslin.

Farm Hussy  has  included an awesome little goodie bag to celebrate summer with a lollie, a pool bound duckie and a  little flip flop keychain to tie it all together. They've included TWO full sized products, Boonze Farm Tickle Pink lip balm and Devine Bovine Butyere in Pina Cowlada (man, I love their product names!)

Mea Culpa Body and Bath sent in a big ol' slice of their Goat's Milk Soap in Beach.

Description

This soap is gentle, lathers beautifully and is going to leave your skin nice and hydrated. Treat yourself and your senses with the best, while taking care of your body.

Castor oil adds moisturizing;

Safflower Oil is a highly moisturizing oil with an exceptionally high amount of Oleic acids, deeply soothing and one of the best choices for skin moisturizing;

Glycerin is a humectant, drawing moisture to your skin, allowing it to remain hydrated and soft. Beyond hydrating your skin, glycerin is also known to be a natural remedy for yeast and fungal infections, such as eczema and psoriasis. It is especially good for sensitive skin. Glycerin soap does not contain synthetic ingredients that will cause skin irritations. It keeps your skin looking AND feeling healthy and soft.

The low pH level of goat milk is close to our skin’s own pH. Goat milk also contains alpha-hydroxy acids, which are known for their restorative and rejuvenating qualities

From the always estimable Gingerbread Cupboard is a huge popsicle styled tart in Mango Peach Splash. 
Inspired by the great taste of V8 Splash's refreshing blend of delicous fruitty flavors of ripe mangos and juicy peaches

 From Fun & Funky Retro Magnets is this HIlarious magnet with the image of a fun retro Beatles toy!

 This Mucho Mango Mini Cupcake Bath Bomb from Yummy SCENTsations 
was probably a lot cuter before USPS mauled the box, but it still smells yummy!

Description

This scent is just perfect if you love any and everything mango! It is my all time favorite. Reminds me of Mangoo smoothies YUMMY!

Bath Bombs are filled with oils your skin will love and scents the will delight you senses! 

Strange Fruit  sent in a lovely little stitch marker for all of you knitters and crocheters out there.

There's a packet full of gift tags from Gabriella's Sweets

Susie Qs Bath and Body sent in a good sized bar of their Black Irish soap.

Description

Black Irish is a clean, sporty, marine type with notes of lavender, fir and bergamot, a light floral/herbal and woodsy, sandalwood and musk. Very sexy man's scent.

These stunning earrings from Cody Gardner (Mud in Hand) were provided by S Type Creative, who also gave us their handcrafted Chocolate Fudge Lip Balm 

Naturally LeLa again has my heart with their lip balm, this one in Sunshine. 

Benefits: Natural Sun Blocker, Moisturizing, Rejuvenating, Stimulating, Deep Soothing Penetration, Healing, Creamy Delicious

Lip Smack Sugar Scrub

comes with an offer for a FREE full sized Lip Balm with Smack Scrub Lip Sugar Scrub purchase! Enter samplerpromo in notes to seller during checkout. 

Description

Searching for soft, sexy, kissable lips? Look no further! This fun Lip Sugar Scrub will exfoliate, soften and condition your stressed out flaky lips. Your lipsticks and stains will love you for it (as will your significant other)! Refreshing Peppermint Oil will leave your lips feeling tingly and revitalized.

How to use the Lip Scrub:
It’s quite simple, really! Apply just a dab of the lip scrub to your lips and scrub away in a circular motion. Rinse and instantly feel the difference. Use your lip scrub 2-3 times a week for ultra soft, conditioned lips.

What is in it?
Lip Smack Lip Scrubs contain all natural ingredients that even my Vegan friends can enjoy. Sugar crystals~Shea Butter rich in Vitamins A, E and F~ Sweet Almond Oil rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and E.

So tasty you will want to lick it right off your lips! But please refrain yourself from doing so. 

Stinky D's

Orange Lip Whip is yummy!

GoGoBadger makes cloth and photo image collage magnets

Cakes and Kids

sent in a fondant cake decoration
Sampler Village Mayor for the month, Bella Bejeweled 

 sent this whimsical ring and is offering free shipping thru the month of June with the code SVMayor at checkout.

The Vintage Chest Barkery

is back with treats for your pup, peanut butter biscuits. You can save 20% on orders of $15 or more with the code SummerFun in the discount box till July 31.

Purrfect Gifts  sent in a sample of their treat filled greetings (perfect for putting in that Father's Day gift!)

Sampler Village

threw in as a thank you some cotton candy flavored salt water taffy (there were 4, but I sorta already ate one)

Fun Favors

sent in a pack of graduation themed cupcake toppers

 This flip flop soap in Ocean Rain  comes from  Uniquely Pampered and with the code SBOX0510 you get 10% off your first order till Jan 2011!
I use all-natural, glycerin soap that is vegan, hypo-allergenic, and doesn't clog pores. My soap is great for sensitive skin. Your soaps will be shrink-wrapped to preserve the scent until you open them.

  Anam Cara Candles 
sent in triple scented soy scent tarts (mine is sadly a little smooshed) . Mine's a yummy hydrangea.

The Sugar Pink Cupcakes

sent us soy cupcake tart melts (I did not scan the tarts themselves as I didn't want to get wax on the scanner!) 
made with Natural Soy wax. Maximum scented in Pink Sugar cupcakes, Aquolina Pink Sugar Type. A delectible sweet treat! The sugary aroma comes from ingredients you remember from your childhood, like vanilla, caramel, and cotton candy.

Grammys Soap Bakery 
is here with a BIG ol' bar of Wacky Watermelon soap. 

SBS Teas

 is last, but certainly  not least. I've written a review of them previously, and have made it abundantly clear how much I love them! They included an Earl Grey De La Creme sachet, Twilight loose tea, and 2 personal tea bags. Enter the code SVMD at checkout for a 15% discount on your orders thru 7/31.
Our wonderful, flavorful Earl Grey de la Creme in a convenient tea sachet.

Ingredients: Delicious Earl Grey blend with a hint of creamy vanilla flavor and blue mallow blossoms.

Now enjoy the very same fine teas you love with tea bag like convenience. These innovative tea pyramids are designed to give full leaf tea room to properly unfold. Exquisite flavor and aroma are released in a way previously only possible when brewing loose tea. It's the perfect solution for any discerning tea-lover who is travelling or pressed for time. Our superior quality teas and the ultimate in brewing convenience - make delicious tea available even on your busiest days.

End escaping tea problems with these ecological, re-usable drawstring cloth tea bags!

These also make excellent sachets for drawers or herbal baths. They measure 3"x5"

This delightful tea can be enjoyed while reading the Twilight Book series and will help you get into the mood of the stories.
Ingredients: Certified Fair Trade black tea, organic chamomile and organic lavender. Contains caffeine.  
WHEW!