Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Mother's Day Gift Guide


Maybe you already know exactly what to get for your Mom or the woman who's been just like a mom to you this Mother's Day. Lucky you!

This guide is for the rest of us. We want to get something special, memorable and perfect -  in other words - we have no idea what to get.

Lots of guides focus on jewelry, or spa vacations or even things like monogrammed lawn chairs, which seem a trifle beyond the reach of us ordinary mortals.

And most Moms don't really need more little china figurines, or engraved playing cards or other beautiful, fragile little items. The best gifts are the ones that help make every day life a little easier and more pleasant.

Nothing is better than the gift of your time and companionship.  Maybe offer to help sort out a closet, paint the bathroom or plant flower pots together!  You'll never regret the time you spent doing something special with her.

But if you still want to wrap up a little something - make part of the gift spending time together, or giving her a little break.  We've got some great items and ways to make them even more special.

Whatever you choose, don't forget we always offer free gift messages, and lots of items are already gift-wrapped.  If not, gift wrap is only $5.

Here are 6 great gifts for Mother's Day:


#1.Mini Stone Massage Set
A lovely little gift to tuck in with a home-made massage gift certificate from you. Great as part of a "take care of you" gift basket.  Includes a travel size 95% Shea Butter Balm and little massage stone with instructions. ($11)

     
#2. Zen Weekend Retreat Robe Set
A bit of a splurge - but the set includes a soft waffle weave spa robe, relaxing music cd, a dozen tealight candles and a journal, all packed in a lovely Pandan box with lid. Offer to take over her responsibilities for a weekend and let her just relax and enjoy - either away or at home.($95)


#3. Velour Shower Wrap in Regular or Full-figured 
This amazingly soft wrap closes with snaps instead of velcro and is perfect to pop on after the shower, while putting on makeup, etc.  It's a great way to make her feel pampered and special, and best of all, it's machine wash and dry. $50 - $54



#4. Help a Girl Moisturizing Set
This set includes a tube of our Nourishing Hand Cream, and a tube of our Hand, Nail & Cuticle Salve, both scented with Kiran Forest - a fresh, green scent she'll love.  The set comes in a pretty pandan box, tied with a green ribbon and silk flower.  Best of all, 10% of the sale price is donated to the National TTT Society, which helps send girls to camp. ($25)


#5. Modern Design Waffle Weave Bath Towel 
Get her a couple of fresh new waffle weave towels to spiff up her bathroom.  In White, Cream, Espresso, Sage Green, Orange and Slate.  Many people use these towels for first time while traveling in Europe, so  tuck in a travel book about Italy, too! ($28)    

#6. Complete Healthy Feet Kit 
This is such a great set because it has little jars of our foot soak, foot scrub, foot cream and shea butter balm, scented with Kiran Forest and packed with our famous terra-cotta Foot Scrubber.  Include a gift certificate for a home pedicure!  She'll love it. ($25)

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Green Acres in Reverse? Celebrate Earth Day by Becoming More Self-Sufficient!


Something amazing is happening. A sort "Green Acres in Reverse Movement" seems to be taking hold. Do you remember the sophisticated urbanites from the tv show - Oliver and Lisa, who brought the city to the farm? Well, the farm is coming to the city this time around.

From humble beginnings in backyard gardens, Urban Agriculture is spreading into every city and suburb in the country.  Not content just to grow vegetables, urban farmers are keeping bees and chickens - harvesting golden, local honey and fresh, delicious eggs. 

Another new trend taking off is fruit and vegetable gleaning.  In gleaning, folks offer excess fruits and vegetables growing on their property free to "gleaners".  Even home canning is experiencing a resurgence, especially among foodies and locavores.  Part of the appeal is knowing where the food came from, what’s really in the jar and that food can stay delicious without refrigeration. 

It all comes down to doing more with less, which explains a lot about the new popularity of drying clothes naturally. 

The old-fashioned clothesline is making a comeback, because it’s super eco-friendly and leaves clothes smelling as fresh and clean as the summer wind.

So celebrate Earth Day this year by setting up your own clothesline. It’s easy and can be done almost anywhere.

(My grandmother dried all her clothes on a clothesline.  As a kid, I loved running through the cool, damp sheets and clothes.  Even in the dead of winter, clothes would be hung out to dry and then finished in the basement.  My mom said the dry winter air pulled most of the moisture out of them, but on freezing days I'd sure be tempted by the clothes dryer!)

Most everything can be dried on a clothesline, but the thick terry towels we’ve grown accustomed to can take forever to dry.   

Waffle weave towels, which dry quickly indoors – even in damp bathrooms – dry amazingly quickly on a clothesline.  Their flat weave exposes much greater surface area to the wind and sun, hence the quick drying time.    

Make a fresh start this Earth Day and try a waffle weave bath towel.  We have two great styles:  Classic and Modern and eight colors.  Once you get used to them, you won’t want to use terry again.

There are so many great ways to do more with less - and if Oliver and Lisa could do it, so can you!

Monday, April 2, 2012

True Confessions: My 3 Sneaky Tips for Real-Life Foot Care!

Ssh!  Between you and me - I have a confession to make!  Although I am surrounded by racks and racks of fabulous foot care products, my feet aren't always perfect or anywhere close.  Shocking, I know...

Because I do sometimes fall off the foot care wagon, I have a few never-fail, sneaky tips for foot care and I've decided to share them with the world. 

Here are my three favorites:

 Sneaky Foot Care Tip #1:  

A dab of Shea Butter Balm rubbed into heels will make the white lines and dry spots "disappear", so you can wear sandals even if your feet are dry.  Lasts for a couple of hours.

Sneaky Foot Care Tip #2:

I may not remember to take care of my feet every day, but I always watch a little tv - even if it's just the news. I've started keeping a jar of Nourishing Foot Cream in a drawer by the sofa, so even if I'm couch potatoing - I can still moisturize!

Sneaky Foot Care Tip #3:

If you are a barefoot gardener (I am) you can save yourself a lot of scrubbing later on by slathering Shea Butter Balm into cuticles and under your nails before you start.  That way any dirt that gets into your nails comes out much more easily.  In fact, I keep an extra little container of Shea Butter in the garage with my gardening gloves and tools so I won't forget.


So, now you know some of my best-kept secrets.  Remember - knowledge is power, so if you have a great sneaky tip, be sure to share it!