The Succulent Wives are taking a little (very little) time off this summer. While we are still actively working on bringing you new content and ideas every week, we have also decided to bring back some of our favorite posts from the archives, those that are still timely, relevant, useful and that deserve to be revisited. Thanks for allowing us to recharge. We promise that we will be coming back with more new ideas and recommendations for cool stuff than you’ll know what to do with…
By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
We wrote about the movie, Waiting for Superman, two years [...]

If you are anything like us, you would rather poke yourself in the eye with a silver monogrammed butter knife than have to buy at gift from one of the generic bridal or new baby gift registries. So what if they need “it”? Let someone else be beige and get “it” for them.
We much prefer unique, handmade and bespoke gift ideas. Like custom dinnerware from Dishique Boutique, a company started by adorable Chicago couple (see them here) Megan and Jason who wanted to offer high quality and unique dinnerware for entertaining.
As a wedding gift idea for the new couple, we [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor

When I first met Taylor Greenberg Goldy, I asked her to speak to the person in charge of ChariTotes. Little did I know that this young, bright, 17 year old was the brainchild behind ChariTotes Design-A-Bag!
What a great story this is: When Taylor was volunteering at her local hospital in the pediatric ward, she would spend time with children who had cancer. She came up with the idea for an activity that would have them decorate their own canvas tote bags with markers, crayons and stickers. The kids loved doing this so much that she [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor

Here in the United States, the month of March is dubbed Women’s History Month, but today, March 8, is globally known as International Women’s Day. You did not know this? Well, I don’t think you are the only one. Although it is an official holiday in almost 30 countries world-wide, with some countries giving all women the day off, as in China, Madagascar and Nepal, it is not that well known here in North America.
Believe it or not it has been around (known as International Working Women’s Day) since the early 1900′s. It started more [...]

As a petite woman, Pam Starobin knew what it is like to sit at a table with your chin barely over the the edge or at the movies when, inevitably, someone would sit directly in front of her blocking her view. She understood how kids felt and wanted to make a booster seat that made them feel all grown up. She came up with a lightweight booster seat that carries like a backpack.
SittingTallerKids partnered with Nomi Network, an organization that promotes enterprise and education to end human trafficking, to help in making the backpacks. Nomi Network trains women in Cambodia, [...]

Anne-Marie and Audrey van Petegem met Robin Smalley, Director and Co-Founder of mothers2mothers, at BlogHer 2011 in the Johnson&Johnson room. She shared stories of the women and the babies that mothers2mothers helps, the role that Johnson&Johnson plays in financially supporting global health issues and the bright future for women with HIV and their children. The energy, passion and dedication that Robin has towards these women and their babies is nothing short of being heroic. She found her true calling after she left the high profile world of being an award-winning television director/producer for shows such as Entertainment Tonight, Lifestyles of [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Last week we wrote about some very cool back to school bags for everyone from preschoolers to the college bound teenager. Now it is all about the lunches. It is important to get the right accessories to make lunchpail lunches something to really look forward to when the lunch bell strikes. A new study has reported that if lunches are above 40 degrees for more than two hours, the lunch should be thrown away. It also states that the insulated bags does not guarantee the lunch will still be cold when ready to consume. Let’s [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
We love to support companies that do great work here and abroad. By now, we are all now quite familiar with (and wearing) Toms Shoes and we love the great work the company does around the world (Did you know that Toms does eyewear now, under the same One-for-One principle).  In fact, we wrote about them three years ago already. Here are some other shoe companies that also do great work in their own way, whether it is helping the environment, fighting poverty or helping women.
 
For the Young Ones
Chooze Shoes – Here are some perfect [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
It is that time of year again when all activities focus on preparing the kids to head back to school. We have already covered a SpendSmart Debit Card for teens and Dorm Room Art that uses Facebook and Twitter, so now let’s talk essentials: a good, practical but stylish bag for school. In the past we have reviewed some great bags that would work well for high school and college students too: the CARMAZZI 1Bag, Urban Junket Tote, U.S.E.D. Seatbelt bags, and Tilley’s Intrepid Bag. Still, here are a few more ideas that might help [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
We have given GoPicnic ready-to-eat meals a mention in our Concert in the Park story but felt that this great product deserved to be featured on its own. Created by Julia Stamberger, in 2006, while working as the Business Development Manager at United Airlines. She saw a need for an alternative to the costly but poor quality in-flight meals (you know the kind. Ewww.). The GoPicnic solution? Healthy, ready-to-eat boxed meals – that are no bigger than a hard cover book – that also reduced waste and required zero prep time, thus increasing flight attendant efficiency [...]