Wednesday, July 31, 2013

All about the hair- big sales at Folica- up to 50% off

Take 50% Off Summer Essentials at Folica.com. Enter BYEBYE at checkout.


 Get 25% Off any purchase at Folica.com Enter HELLOFALL at checkout.


Get $25 Off orders of $75 or more at Folica.com



Up to 40% off Back to School Products

Giveaway - Lafe's Earthly Delight all natural Leave In Conditioner

ENTER HERE to win an Earthly Delight Leave In Conditioner from the fabulous Lafe's.



Earthly Delight Leave-in Conditioner conditions as well as detangles hard
to manage hair while providing protection from outdoor elements and heat
styling. Light enough to use every day, our Leave-in Conditioner will not
weigh hair down or leave residue build up on hair. Earthly Delight Leave-in
Conditioner leaves hair soft, shiny and manageable.


• PH balanced, safe for color treated hair
• No SLS, DEAs, TEAs, MEAs, mineral oil, petro-chemicals
• Cruelty free
• No artificial colors, fillers or fragrances

Ingredients:

Aqua(Water), Extracts of: Camellia Sinensis Leaf*, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root*, Aloe Vera, Symphytum Officinale Rhizome/Root (Comfrey), Nasturtium Officinale (Watercress), Commiphora Myrrha Resin (Myrrh), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower, Equisetum Hiemale Leaf/Stem (Horsetail), Urtica Dioica (Nettle), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Humulus Lupulus (Hops), Henna Leaf; Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernal Oil*, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Oil, Citric Acid, Caprynyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Hydroxylethylcellulose, Glycerin
* Certified Organic

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Jade Dumpling- Kawaii Cuteness!


Jade Dumpling 

Kawaii Mini Food Jewelry And Asian Inspired Home Decor

is absolutely on of the CUTEST shops on the market! Everything there elicits a girly squeal of delight out of me. Kawaii literally means cute or adorable, and Jade Dumpling is no exception. 

I originally got the mini sushi refrigerator magnets and was instantly smitten! They're just so darn, well, CUTE! 

So of course, I HAD to go back for more, thus the crab leg soup ring

And the Geisha Loves Sushi bracelet

These pieces are hand sculpted, so no two will EVER be alike. Absolutely one of a kind to impress your friends! Not only that, but these are superb conversation starters, people just HAVE to get a closer look.


I got to have a little convo with Susan The Magnificent (I'm calling her that, she did not give herself that moniker!), and here's how it went:

How long have you been doing this?
I have been a working artist & crafter for over 12 years. I teach at several local community colleges here in IL. I split my time between teaching and running my business.

What first inspired you to start Jade Dumpling?

I have always loved Asian art work and design. It has been a source of inspiration for years. Every year I change the dynamic of the shop with my creations. This year I had a great time designing a large line of kawaii (super cute) mini food jewelry inspired from Japan's culture. The Jade Dumpling however, is just one of my shops:

In my shops you will find a very wide range of items that I create! Right now I have 5 shops that I sell on Etsy. Each one I treat as a place to explore a theme or concept as a series. Each shop has a special meaning to me and represents an area of my life and interests. I try to test myself on choosing a theme and seeing how much I can explore the subject. When I need a break from the theme I switch to a different shop to shake it up and get a fresh perspective on my work. I invite you to stop by all of my shops to see the range of mediums I use as well as how I create fun, modern handcrafted items to help transform your living spaces!


Name one other handmade artist who's work you like:
Check out Pixiebell! I just love her and her husbands work. Just lovely.
www.etsy.com/shop/pixiebell?ref=pr_shop_more

Where do you look for inspiration?
I look for inspiration mostly from other artist's, far a way cultures and my environment. I love to garden and grow my own food, I am an avid reader and love to surf the net looking for beautiful objects to inspire me! I have a lot of interests, so I have found that having several unique Etsy shops keeps me engaged and active in the arts and also helps keep my work from getting repetitive.

What got you started crafting?
My mother was the craft one growing up. She would color with me when I was only 3 and would show me how to sew, and many other mediums. Later I earned a degree in education and specialized in Fine Art. I also am a fully trained graphic designer as well and use all these skill in running my business, but my mom is the one who started it all!


Of your pieces, which one is your personal favorite?
Honestly usually my favorite is whatever I am working on at the time! Some of the pieces take a long time to create, especially the artwork so you tend to get attached to whatever you are making. Right now I am in the process of making my yearly batch of noodle bowl candles. I only make them once a year for the holidays since they are very time-consuming. They sell out every year and even though they are fairly difficult to make, if I had to choose it would be them. Here is one from last year's batch.
www.etsy.com/transaction/65924906

I expect to have the new candles done around September 1st. Feel free to contact me to put one on hold. They go pretty fast once I list them!

If you would like to see my other shops:
www.UrbanStudioSupply.etsy.com = beads, jewelry supplies, fine art & craft supplies
www.CreativeHomeGarden.etsy.com = all wonderful garden themed items, garden art, specialty seeds
www.PowellDesignStudios.etsy.com = fine art and art prints
www.RubyKeen.etsy.com = embroidery hoop art, felt items and hand-felted gifts, handmade home décor plus some vintage (will be open for the holidays 2012)
www.JadeDumpling.etsy.com = Asian themed art, sushi themed items, minature food and kawaii

You can learn more about myself and my work by visiting my website:
www.PowellDesignStudios.com
There you can check out my blog, join my newsletter, get discount codes and links to my social media.

My current top Fancy Picks

40 Items now HALF OFF at E.L.F.!!!!

take 50% off on Editors Picks. Code: EDITOR50 - shop now

New Egg Special deals & Promotions

Free $50 Gift Card With Purchase SAMSUNG S24C750P Glossy Black 24" LED Backlight LCD Monitor - $229.99 + Free Shipping at Newegg.com, Offer exp. 8/3


 Get 10% off All Ultrabooks with code: AFULTRABOOK7 (except Marketplace, refurbished and open boxed items) at Newegg.com on 7/30!

Monday, July 29, 2013

HELP! My hands are dry! and L'Occitane discount code

I was asked for some recommendations recently and honestly, this one is near and dear. Because I work in a library, I wash my hands CONSTANTLY. If you realized how disgusting other people's hands are you would too. I also have a chipmunk bladder, so I'm in the ladies room like, every hour- more hand washing. Then I do the cash drawers and deposits for the drawers and copiers- more hand washing (more like scouring, there!) Needless to say, my hands get really unhappy dry.

So what do I recommend for super quenched phalanges?


Camille Beckman 5 Star Rated  

Camille Beckman glycerine hand therapy is a REVELATION. They have TONS of lovely scents- I'm using Mango Beach at work right now- but they also have an unscented option. It's crazy concentrated- the wittiest bit will get all of your hands and some arm too. I have a teeny jar about the size of a wonder ball that I keep of this in my purse, and it's lasted for over a month so far.  moisturizes and nourishes through the careful blending of Glycerine, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera, Almond Oil, and Botanical Extracts.  
You'll be amazed at how soft your hands are after using them- so soft, my hubby said my hands felt creepy when I asked him to feel them :-) 
(he's a strange boy....) 
I don't know how I went my whole life without having heard of them! I first got introduced to them through GoGo Girlfriend a few years ago and have not been without it since. A MUST HAVE for dry hands. Plus, it's not sticky or greasy; it absorbs totally within a few minutes. My dry hand holy grail. Oh! And even after a few hand washes, your hands don't feel all crazy dried out! 





BL MAR

NBW (Nature, Balance, Wellness) Natural Organic Beauty makes an AMAZING line of lotions. I love that they are so health and socially conscious in their product manufacturing guidelines. I've gotten to use the Love Me Lavender and the Marigold Magic. The LML is perfect for before bed, if you have a headache, or just plain want to destress and relax. The lavender scent is lovely and not at all overwhelming. I used some to massage my temples when I had a headache and I was in heaven. The Marigold Magic is their most lightly scented and is ideal for children and those who don't want a scent. They're fairly thick lotions, that's why I mainly use them for severely dry skin. Put this stuff on your hands and feet before bed and in the morning you will be amazed at how soft they are. A little goes a long way, so a bottle will last forever. 
 It contains Shea Butter to improve skin’s elasticity, Grape Seed Oil for antioxidant properties and Avocado Oil for its essential fatty acids. Vitamins C & E are added for their anti-oxidant properties which heal skin, promote cellular health and naturally preserve the product.
Paraben & Petroleum Free
Made with certified organic ingredients
Made with non-GMO ingredients
Vegan



Pura Botanica Lend A Hand Creme Smoother is a lotion I just recently discovered through Green Grab Bag. 
Smooth and soothe that hardworking skin with a blend of luxuriously hydrating ingredients, including aloe vera, vitamin E, West African shea butter and vanilla. Not only will your hands thank you, but so will the sea turtles that benefit, when a portion of the proceeds is donated to the National Save the Sea Turtle Foundation. Talk about lending a hand! Certified by the Natural Products Association. I recently did a video review of this stuff, and it is beyond awesome. Verry subtle scent so it's great for men and women. Super moisturizing and very concentrated. Because it's high in antioxidants, it also combats previous skin damage. 


3.2 oz. $4.25 or 5.8 oz. $6.75
And of course, there's always my super beloved Farm Hussy, purveyor of my favorite lotions on THE PLANET. SIX different kinds of lotion depending on your druthers, available in any of her 5 gazillion, custom blended scents. I just finished off a jar of Cream Of The Crop in the scent

Monster Truck - Custom Blend A smash-up scent of Green apple S'mores, tart green lip puckerin' apples with vanilla frosting creamed into a graham cracker crunch, that's Good Saturday Night Fun rolled into one!!

I swear, I think I cried a little when I used the last of it. Not only are head Hussy Julie's products UH-MAZING, but she's one of the sweetest people on the planet. Also, her sense of humor on her products is delightful in and of itself. Every person that I've turned onto her products is a lifelong fan. 

FINALLY, I'll throw in a big name gun for good measure here. 
L'occitane en Provence has been a staple for me for over a decade. Their hand creams have cult status for a reason. They're really moisturizing without being greasy or heavy at all- an excellent regular use lotion.  I just finished off a tube of the lavender lotion which is super duper relaxing for me at work. When I start to feel stressed out, I just sniff my hands! Time for a new tube.... Enriched with shea butter and lavender essential oil from Haute-Provence, this smooth, light-textured cream gently helps to nourish the hands leaving them softly perfumed.
Free $10 Gift Card + Free Shipping with any $30 Purchase Online. Use code FBANGELICA10

OUCH!




So I was talking with someone on my YouTube page about a scar over my lip and she stated that there must be a story there, so I'm posting this to show her what I was talking about.

Warning! Not for the squeamish!











Please note: I don't actually like the Backstreet Boys, my husband bought that at Thrift Town as a joke. No offense meant if they're your fave band. 

The place over my lip where the skin is abraded off healed oddly so that area over my lip is twice as white as the rest of my skin. I've got scars on the bridge of my nose, on my philtrum, my eye socket (where they dug out glass from my eyeglasses) and on my chin. I also have two scars a few inches long on my calf from where bike spokes broke off and embedded in my leg. When I took my first shower, the tub filled up with blood washing out of my hair like something out of Psycho. Oh, and I dislocated my shoulder and had to wear it in a sling for a week while my hubby had to bathe me. Fun times.

Ladies, let this be a lesson to you- zip your purse up BEFORE you put it in your bike basket!


So me and The Hubband decided to ride our bikes over to a friend's house who lived about 4 blocks away. Seriously. 4 lousy blocks. I had my purse in my bike basket, but because my bike is vintage, it's a bit of a bumpy ride and I realized things were bouncing out of my purse. Well of course the smart thing to do would be to zip it up. The not so smart thing to do would be to attempt that while flying at a pretty decent clip down the street. I hit a curb and went flying over my handlebars, face first. Hubband is pretty sure I actually did a flip in the air, but that could just be hysteria induced hallucinations. I finally came to a stop with my trusty face's assistance. Face, meet concrete retaining wall. Wall, meet face. There was actually a big pool of blood stain on the sidewalk there for a few years.

I actually look much better in this picture than I did a day or so later when I actually started to bruise and swell up. Yeah- it actually looked WORSE.

The front wheel of my bike looked like this
Bent Bike Wheel by tanvach via Flickr
Hubband straightened it out a bit then hung it from our kitchen ceiling to use as a thing to hang pots and pans off of (he's a glass half full kinda guy, my fella.)

So there you have it, Nilla! My squished face story.


You should have seen me BEFORE the shower.

I'm KIDDING! That was at a Halloween party. 

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

August Sneak Peek Into Wantable Beauty Box and Accessories/ Jewelry Box



Okay, so I am wetting myself over the brush that's going to be featured in the August box! (and pretty pretty please I hope I get the Whip Hand lip veneer!) If you don't want to miss out, you can sign up for Wantable HERE in time to get your August box!



August Makeup Box

Ready for a new look? We've got you covered with amazing products picked just for you by our experts! Just a few of these include bold brows from FACE Stockholm, sultry lips from Bésame Cosmetics, fancifully flushed cheeks from WhipHand Cosmetics, bright liner from Au Naturale, doll-like lashes from Michael Marcus, and precision brushes from Japonesque.
Our featured expert, Matthew Ambrosio is all about bold eyeliner this month! He suggests applying one liner shade on the top and the second shade on the bottom for a chic two-tone look. Keep it subtle with low key colors, or go for the bold with vivid tones.
Each box is valued between $80 and $100 and includes expert application tips and tricks.



August Accessories Box

This month our boxes are packed to the brim with style! You'll find edgy metallics in the form of watches, architectural cuffs, chic rings, and trendy earrings. Stunning jewel tones are paired with vintage-inspired designs in drop earrings, statement necklaces, and bold bracelets. We've also combined whimsical pieces with chic styling for unique pieces that you'll love to add to your collection. Discover these trends and more, all perfectly matched with your preferences.
Style Tip: Everyone's style is unique so try combining pieces for a look all your own. Pair necklaces of different lengths and don't be afraid to mix metals and colors. Pile on a mix of modern and vintage-inspired pieces for a nod to the past while still looking perfectly on trend.
Whether you're a rock goddess or free-spirited bohemian, we'll pair you with gorgeous pieces to complement your style. Get your very own personalized August Accessories Box and see what we have in store for you!

Monday, July 22, 2013

Get a FREE Klutch Club Box - Last chance!

Only 300 left!




Wondering what you might find in a Best of KLUTCHbox? The products will vary but there is definitely something for everyone! Each box guarantees over $75 of our customer's favorites: 
  • Beverages for all your needs: energy, relaxation, or concentration.
  • Lots of healthy snacks! You can munch on them at work OR throw in your car for afternoon carpool.
  • Supplements and vitamins to give your mind and body a competitive edge!
  • Time-crunched? We have workouts you can do at home, anytime. 
Plus more surprise products because you deserve it!



I've gotten 2 of their Best Of boxes, and they were both an awesome value.

How to get your FREE box: 

1. Put a Best of Box into your cart 
best of box

2. Use Code: ZZBACKTOSCHOOL during checkout and discount will be automatically applied. 

3. You just snagged a MAJOR deal- Enjoy! 

Last day to get 20% off a Wantable subscription and July beauty box sneak peek

Here ya go!

Wantable is something crazy exciting in the subscription business. Not only do they have 2 different boxes to choose from, a beauty box or a jewelry and accessories box, but you also customize what you'll get!

You go through a really detailed profile set up that asks you everything from will you go postal if you ever get a bronzer to just how adorable do you think skull earrings are. If you say you hate something, be it stud earrings or cream eyeshadow, you will NEVER receive that. On top of that, if you love statement pieces or glittery nail polish, you're waaaay more likely to get those. And they actually follow through on that! Crazy!

You know me, I'm all "gimme screaming crazy colors and wacky jewelry" since I have enough nude, subtle, classy colors from all the sub boxes. I need more stuff that screams at ya!

Through the end of today, you get a 20% discount off a subscription, too!

13-07_jewelry-sq    13-07_makeup-sq

The average value of the boxes is right at (and often quite a bit more than) the 100 buck mark, so score! The jewelry is really well made and the cosmetics brands are extremely high end to boot!

And ANOTHER Wantable box giveaway!

Enter Here

Wantable Giveaway at Leslie Loves Veggies

Enter to win a Wantable Beauty Box!

Enter to win!

the-stepford-guide-wantable-1