Salty!

winner: JanetFaye








I already wrote about the fabulous winter beauty fixers offered by Bella il Fiore. I recently got ahold of a lanky glass bottle of their Champagne Wishes Mineral Bath Salts from the Sugar Blossom bath collection and thought I should probably tell you about them, too. Do you need to recharge? Is your daily "me time" relegated to the half hour or so you spend in the bathroom? Do you love luxurious bath products? If those all sound like you, Champagne Wishes will be right up your alley. The floral, powdery scented bath crystals are infused with skin-strengthening vitamin E and, like all Bella il Fiore products, its slender glass bottle looks lovely on your princess vanity. Or bathroom counter…



Other products available in the Sugar Blossom bath collection are the daintily packaged Love Me Tender Bath & Body Oil and Happily Ever After Bubble Bath. You deserve them!

To enter and win a bottle of Champagne Wishes Mineral Bath Salts from the Sugar Blossom bath collection, please visit Bella il Fiore and comment on this post with your favorite finds.


Entries will be accepted through November 26th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know. You may also leave an extra comment with your favorite non-Tea Party post from any of my co-hosts' blogs! Just visit Angie, Candice, Cheryl, Kathleen, or Kristin, read a bit, and leave the URL in a separate comment– that's up to five extra chances to win in each giveaway!

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Spoonman

winner: Seahorse Lady







I love it when form and function intersect, creating a thing of beauty that also serves a purpose. Jonathan's Spoons are truly utilitarian pieces of art. For almost thirty years, Jonathan has been carving wooden spoons from wood. He has refined his designs over the years, coming up with serving pieces and kitchen tools that are as beautiful as they are functional. The ten-person Jonathan's Spoons workshop in Kempton, Pennsylvania uses locally available cherrywood, noted for its fine grain, warm color and durability.



Kathleen introduced all of us to Jonathan's Spoons and we were thrilled to try them out in person. I received a Kitten Tail Spoon and a Honey Stick. From the moment I unwrapped them, I could tell they were quality items. The wood is light but strong and the shape of the handle is so graceful it begs to be held! I am smitten with the Kitten Tail Spoon, especially, because I love stripes and cats and tiny things…



The stripes are flame blackened on each piece and almost seem like they occur naturally in the wood. I would love to have a full set of tableware made like this because they are so lovely to hold! The whole Cat Tail Collection is just magnificent. I would love to get the Cat Tail Salad Set one of these days.



The Honey Stick is also lovely, with tiny holes like the cells of a beehive meant to trap and transport your honey. My husband is an artist and loves to carve wood. Generally he is a total snob about craft vs. fine art but even he was impressed by the craftsmanship of Jonathan's Spoons. He spent quite some time staring at the honey dipper, contemplating how the holes were achieved… And Roo and Jasper assumed these were meant for them because of their small stature. But no, they are all mine! I snatched them out of my kids' hands, I must admit. The Honey Stick is ingenious, a mess-free way of serving honey at the table, sans honey bear!



To enter and win a two piece set including a Kitten Tail Spoon and a Honey Stick, please visit Jonathan's Spoons and comment on this post with your favorite finds.


Entries will be accepted through November 26th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know. You may also leave an extra comment with your favorite non-Tea Party post from any of my co-hosts' blogs! Just visit Angie, Candice, Cheryl, Kathleen, or Kristin, read a bit, and leave the URL in a separate comment– that's up to five extra chances to win in each giveaway!

Get another extra entry (and get into the Tea Party mood!) by putting our button on your sidebar (code is below, just copy and paste):

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Tea: Mightier Than The Sword

winner: Super Blogger Girl!








For the final day of our Tea Party, I thought it would be fun to review some actual tea. Tea has come a long way since the plain old Lipton's tea bags I grew up with. There are endless varieties and countless places to find them. Where to start? Let me introduce you to Mighty Leaf.



What began as a teahouse on Fillmore St. in San Francisco has evolved into an innovative and eco-conscious company with the heady goal of "infusing life into an ancient indulgence." Mighty Leaf offers a staggering menu of handcrafted tea blends, with tea leaves sourced from all over the globe.



"But I am a tea novice!" you exclaim. No worries, Mighty Leaf has various sampler sets available to allow you to try several varieties of tea without having to narrow your choices all by yourself. I received the Abaca Tea Box and was wowed by its good looks and, of course, by the delectable teas inside.



The Abaca Tea Box is handmade by artisans in Asia from sustainable tree-free Abaca plant fibers and cogon grass. Mighty Leaf is committed to supporting the artisans' community and has sponsored annual scholarships for two children to attend school. Each Abaca Tea Box contains 30 whole leaf biodegradable Mighty Leaf tea pouches (they look like little silk bundles!), five each of six tea blends: Darjeeling Choice Estate, Orange Dulce, Green Tea Tropical, White Orchard, Chamomile Citrus and Rainforest Maté. My favorite was the very indulgent Orange Dulce, a full-bodied, fragrant brew reminiscent of creamsicles…



To enter and win an Abaca Tea Box, please visit Mighty Leaf's menu and comment on this post with your favorite tea blend.





Entries will be accepted through November 26th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know. You may also leave an extra comment with your favorite non-Tea Party post from any of my co-hosts' blogs! Just visit Angie, Candice, Cheryl, Kathleen, or Kristin, read a bit, and leave the URL in a separate comment– that's up to five extra chances to win in each giveaway!

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Panda Party!

I hope you've been enjoying our Tea Party this week! One more day to go and it will be a lot of fun, too. (I saved the actual tea giveaway for last, don't ya know…) It's been fun having so many visitors, I hope many of you will continue to stop by from time to time. And aren't my co-hosts fun? I wish we could be doing this in real life, too!

I came across this super-duper-spectacular china on Babygadget today and had to share, since this is by far the coolest tea set I have ever seen:





Can you believe it's Wedgwood?! Yes, that Wedgwood, but it was specially commissioned for the FLASH restaurant at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. The artist is Will Broome, a UK illustrator who is apparently very fond of pandas. When I first met Bob, he was doing a lot of paintings of cartoony panda bears (they were the forerunners of his current life sized panda bikini girls), so this pattern really makes me nostalgic. I never did register for china… this is honestly the first set I've thought was really "me." I wish I could afford it! If anyone has a Wedgwood hook-up, let me know!

Jelly Pong Pong!

winner: Heather (non-blogger)








Jelly Pong Pong might have a sillier name than my blog. In keeping with their whimsical moniker, this UK-based cosmetic line likes to have fun and play by its own rules, encouraging every woman's "innate eccentricity." Glamour is the goal and Jelly Pong Pong intends to achieve it by any means necessary! The whole line is produced in Italy with environmental responsibility and a cruelty-free doctrine.



If you are a fan of lip gloss, I highly recommend their Lip Cushion. These little pots contain a sweet jelly that is almost a pomade for your lips. It is only slightly sticky and lasts FOREVER, imparting a terrific shine. It's available in two translucent shades and is marvelously subtle.



The Crystallizer is a black pearl containing four micro-shimmer gemstone powders (Light Amethyst, Tanzanite, Firestone Ruby & White Crystal) that combine to create a radiant iridescent shimmer. It sounds a bit like fairy dust but the effect is much more refined than glittery.



The Venus Magical Pearls are tiny beads of pigment that can be used as a highlighter, bronzer, or eye color. You swirl your fingers over the "pearls" lightly to apply the color but if you crush them, they magically transform into another shade! It's cosmetic alchemy…



Jelly Pong Pong has recently launched the Dainty Doll collection, which is exclusively available at online fashion megaplex ASOS. I am totally enamored with the adorable packaging, although Dainty Doll is geared toward porcelain-skinned beauties, not olive-skinned girls like yours truly. Of course, that works out in your favor if you are pale-faced since I received several Dainty Doll products that sadly will not work on me…



To enter and win a trio of Dainty Doll items (Foundation in ivory, Shadow & Base in Desert Rose and Plumping Lip Gloss in Rosebud), please visit Jelly Pong Pong and comment on this post with your favorite finds. The eyeshadow and lip gloss would probably work on many skin tones, but the foundation is pretty much just for palefaces– it's the shade on the right in the picture above.


Entries will be accepted through November 26th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know. You may also leave an extra comment with your favorite non-Tea Party post from any of my co-hosts' blogs! Just visit Angie, Candice, Cheryl, Kathleen, or Kristin, read a bit, and leave the URL in a separate comment– that's up to five extra chances to win in each giveaway!

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Pretty as a Peacock

winner: Sandy








Peacock Republic is a purveyor of EcoLuxe soaps. I was lucky enough to try their liquid hand wash and facial/body bar soap recently and I knew I had to share it with you as part of our Tea Party. The products I received featured the exquisite Chai Tea Latte fragrance, a spicy, sweet scent perfect for cool Fall days… it actually warms me up! The cinnamon-gingery undertones also remind me of the holidays ahead.



Other proprietary Peacock Republic fragrances include Mint Bliss, Lemongrass Love, Lavender Hill, and the evocatively-named Fields of Grace, which is a blend of calendula petals, sage, spearmint and lemongrass. All are available as liquid hand soaps in a pump dispenser or bar soaps wrapped in plantable handmade paper that has been embedded with wildflower seeds.



Peacock Republic also offers handcrafted clay bowls and sculptural installation art.



To enter and win a set that includes one liquid hand wash and one facial/body bar soap, please visit Peacock Republic and comment on this post with your favorite finds. Let me know which fragrances you prefer in your comment, too.


Entries will be accepted through November 26th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know. You may also leave an extra comment with your favorite non-Tea Party post from any of my co-hosts' blogs! Just visit Angie, Candice, Cheryl, Kathleen, or Kristin, read a bit, and leave the URL in a separate comment– that's up to five extra chances to win in each giveaway!

Get another extra entry (and get into the Tea Party mood!) by putting our button on your sidebar (code is below, just copy and paste):

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C'mon, Get Happy!

winner: Becky (non-blogger)






Today, my Tea Party posts are all about pampering and soothing. The Happy Company's motto is "Tools for Healthy Living" and they do, indeed, offer a whole arsenal of pampering products. I was lucky enough to try a couple of their most popular items. The first is the Soothing Gel Eye Mask, which features a knitted pink cover with a gel insert that can be chilled in the refrigerator for maximum refreshment. It can also be used without the insert as a sleep or relaxation aide.



The other item I tried is the Warming Scarf. This fleece scarf features grain-filled inserts around the neck and in two pockets that retain heat when microwaved. This is a great find for winter chills and I think that it would be a much-appreciated gift.



Most of The Happy Company's offerings can be chilled or heated for therapeutic relief. Many feature aromatherapy benefits. They're great for gift giving and a great way to pamper yourself, too!

To enter and win a Soothing Gel Eye Mask or Warming Scarf, please visit The Happy Company and comment on this post with your favorite finds. Let me know which item you prefer in your comment, too.


Entries will be accepted through November 26th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know. You may also leave an extra comment with your favorite non-Tea Party post from any of my co-hosts' blogs! Just visit Angie, Candice, Cheryl, Kathleen, or Kristin, read a bit, and leave the URL in a separate comment– that's up to five extra chances to win in each giveaway!

Get another extra entry (and get into the Tea Party mood!) by putting our button on your sidebar (code is below, just copy and paste):

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Snuggle in a Slanket

winner: Smiles Across Miles



The Slanket is one of those ideas you initially think is silly but upon further inspection, you wonder how you ever lived without it. It is essentially a fleece blanket with sleeves but its simplicity belies its supreme coziness. I am certain I am not the only one who has struggled with keeping a blanket over my shoulders while trying to read a book or flip channels with a remote… the cold chill in the air means it's Slanket season!



Now, I know this Tea Party is supposed to be lady-centric, but I'd like to point out that there are now kid-sized Slankets available, too. Roo is constantly making me drape blankets around her, so a Slanket Kids model would be a great gift for her.



To enter and win a Slanket (a $45 value), please visit their website and comment on this post with your favorite color. Let me know if there is a special color or print you'd like to see on a Slanket.


Entries will be accepted through November 26th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know. You may also leave an extra comment with your favorite non-Tea Party post from any of my co-hosts' blogs! Just visit Angie, Candice, Cheryl, Kathleen, or Kristin, read a bit, and leave the URL in a separate comment– that's up to five extra chances to win in each giveaway!

Get another extra entry (and get into the Tea Party mood!) by putting our button on your sidebar (code is below, just copy and paste):

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Why The Chicken Really Crossed The Road

winner: wwe11 (non-blogger)




The answer to this age old question? To get some Chicken Poop, of course! That might not be 100% accurate since chickens don't technically have lips and therefore cannot slather them with the goodness that is Chicken Poop. Poor chickens!



Chicken Poop is a microbrewed lip balm that can soothe the craggiest of lips. No, it doesn't contain any poop! Just non-GMO soy, jojoba, sweet orange, lavender, and bees wax. Jamie Tabor Schmidt created Chicken Poop and named it after a childhood memory: Jamie's grandfather threatened to smear her dry lips with some chicken poop if she didn't stop licking them…



Friends tell me they've seen it all across the country, but Chicken Poop holds a special place in my heart because it's a local Wichita-made product. Jamie's adorable daughter is in Roo's class at school, which makes me even happier to support her mompreneurial efforts. Her line is growing, too: Good Gravey is a solid lotion in a tin (perfect for travel!) and Kill it Dead Natural Defunkifier (So People Think You Take Baths) is a spray deodorant for body, home…anywhere you need to stop stink from growing. There is also a variety of Chicken Poop apparel (think cute tees and headgear) and a new Chicken Poop Outdoors balm.



To enter and win a huge pile of Chicken Poop, including a baby doll t-shirt and ten tubes of Chicken Poop (5 original Chicken PooP & 5 Outdoors), plus stickers and samples, please visit Chicken Poop and comment on this post with your favorite finds.




Entries will be accepted through November 26th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know. You may also leave an extra comment with your favorite non-Tea Party post from any of my co-hosts' blogs! Just visit Angie, Candice, Cheryl, Kathleen, or Kristin, read a bit, and leave the URL in a separate comment– that's up to five extra chances to win in each giveaway!

Get another extra entry (and get into the Tea Party mood!) by putting our button on your sidebar (code is below, just copy and paste):

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