Jewelry (it’s cliché, but never, ever passé) is always a great gift to give a women but it is even better when it comes with a message.  Kathy Bransfield necklaces are a lovely combination of beauty and inspiration. Most of her pieces flip open to reveal a hand-stamped quote that can be held as a personal amulet to the wearer.
One of her pendants would be particularly perfect for Mother’s Day. It reads “My friend, My inspiration, My mother”.  What mother would not want this one!  Or what about a pendant saying “I love you” in Braille.  Kathy also creates pendants [...]

This painful recession has brought its own gift: a new awareness and consciousness about the things we buy. Indie was becoming important before, but its meaning is doubled now as we make efforts for unique, meaningful, made-by-a-real-somebody purchases. Here are some of my favorite shops that offer finds in those categories. Perfect online destinations for gift shopping for Mother’s Day:
I don’t need to mention – again – that I am a huge fan of Cambria Cove, the best and most beautiful gift catalog around. So much to choose from here, but I would immediately recommend the iPouch wallet, which I [...]

If your mom is like mine, she might need a little diversion from the habitual “mommy” gift that is usually a piece of jewelry, a luxurious scented candle, a spa getaway… Not that these things aren’t absolutely lovely, but here’s another idea, just in case Mom happens to be an art lover or simply needs a break from the bling thing.
How about some adornment for… her walls (home, office, cottage?). I mean, a hand-picked, original piece of art that will make her think of you every time she looks at it. There are some great online galleries where otherwise unknown [...]

I was introduced to Laura through my friend, Bernadette. Laura was wearing the most stunning sterling silver wrist cuff. She told me that she is actually the artist who made it. This woman has talent! Years ago (I am not to say how many), Laura enrolled in the oldest engraving school in the country in Pennsylvania. The school was established in the 1850′s and, until it closed its doors a few years ago, kept the integrity of teaching engraving the old fashion way, meaning no machines. Sadly, there are now only a handful of hand-engravers left in the States.
Taking a [...]

I know. Earth Day this, Earth Day that. Are we done yet? Unfortunately, I’m still in on the subject and am determined on fitting in one more Green, Earth-Friendly product line before the end of the week. Because I looooove it: the Sun & Earth brand of  home cleaning products. I first learned of this company through Alice.com, my now go-to source for all household product shopping. I was looking for alternatives to the usual natural cleaning product and the Sun & Earth brand popped up so I gave it a try, first with the fabric softener. I was so [...]

 
 
I write a lot about companies that do good things for our earth. I’m always thrilled to find a new one and am comforted by the idea of “good” companies, big and small, actively engaged in making Earth a better, safer, greener place.  As individuals we can also make small changes for the good of our planet. Here are a few ideas…

I have truly discovered the perfect sunscreen for everyone in my family. KineSYS. I love the microspray applicator. It makes the sunscreen so easy to apply as it prevents the sunscreen from overspraying and it helps provide an all over, uniform application. It is also fast drying and has no slippery oil or thick pasty feel to it. You hear people say in the promo video that it feels like air. It’s true!
Inevitably my girls will rub their eyes right after I apply sunscreen on them. With this product line, there are no more screams from sunscreen in their eyes. [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Contributing Editor
Prom is right around the corner.  Dresses are being bought and tuxedos are being rented.  Limos are being reserved and dinner reservations being made.  Now for the finishing touch: the corsage and boutonnière.  Artist Desicra handmakes boutonnières and corsages from paper and found objects.  They are beautiful, unique and will last longer than the traditional floral ones.  A wrist corsage with real flowers can cost around $50.00 (at least this is what my son paid last year for his date). This year, he is ordering a corsage from Desicra’s shop [...]

WE HAVE OUR WINNER! CONGRATULATIONS Tammi!
You have won the Juice Beauty Clear Skin Kit.
The winner was selected at random using the Random Integer Generator. This giveaway CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED but do subscribe via RSS or email to get updates on new giveaways as they get posted. Thank you all for playing!
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My son is a senior in high school. His school is all abuzz the upcoming senior prom in May. The other day, his girlfriend and I were talking about her hair and makeup for the prom. I told her about this great website that I learned about, [...]

I believe that my search for a cool, functional laptop bag has finally come to an end. Thank you Urban Junket for your T.O.T.E bag collection (T.O.T.E. stands for To Observe the Earth)!
The bags are not only super handsome-cute, they are also made of durable AND eco-friendly materials. Indeed, the bags are made from 70% recycled materials and eco-friendly dyes. RPET is used for all the lining materials. RPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate) is made from recycled plastic bottles that undergo high temperature washing and sterilization before being made into thread which is then dyed using non toxic vegetable dyes.

The laptop [...]