By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
When a company’s motto is “Nothing wasted. Everything gained“, you know that they take a serious stand on green living.
Preserve makes stylish, high performance, eco-friendly products for the home – from personal care to tableware to kitchen products – all at a reasonable price. All their products have innovative designs, bold colors, are eco-chic AND 100% recycled.
Preserve only uses #5 plastics for recycling. Many communities do not recycle #5 plastics so Preserve partnered with Whole Food Markets to create a Gimme 5 bin (#5 plastic containers) at each of their stores making it easier to [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
As you know The Succulent Wife’s team loves a good story. And there’s even more to love with a company that has a motto that goes “Every day we strive to turn discarded items into beautifully designed and functional products”.
Rewined Candles is the brain child of Adam Fetsch. When Adam worked as a sommelier in a popular local restaurant in Charleston, SC, he observed cases and cases of bottles just being discarded. Not recycled in any way, shape or form. Just simply thrown out in the trash. Seeing beauty in the wasted bottles, he came [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Admittedly, I love this time a year. And what is not to love! The outside is looking all anew with trees budding, flowers blooming and the freshness in the air is intoxicating! As I open my doors to bring in the sights, scents and sounds of the outdoors, I look at my home and see that it is tired looking, stuffy and drab.
It is definitely time to refresh, rejuvenate and reorganize the inside of my home. And I want to do it quickly and inexpensively. So, I went looking for versatile and budget-friendly ideas to [...]

By Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chief Wife
I must admit, our winter here in Chicago has not been unbearable this year. I might even have been easier to manage than our coming spring season. I’m fearing rain, lots of heavy, cold rain. And soggy dogs. And doggy footprints all over the just-cleaned floor.
I have, you guessed it, a clever find to the rescue. It’s called the Dirty Dog Doormat (I’m sure they mean “dirty” in a nice way).
The DDD (let’s call it that for short) is made of microfiber which, as you know, is the greatest dirt catcher in existence. As the company [...]

Eeeeek! Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and you just realized that you still have a few people you need to buy for!! No need to panic. Here are some great ideas that keep on giving up to a full year (although monthly, three, six and nine month subscriptions are also available) – showing them that you did not forget them after all. Whether you put a card under the tree of send them an e-card from afar, these gifts will thrill anyone on your list. And, p.s. you may just want to treat yourself! We’re totally ok with that.

 
Not Another Bill [...]

 
Last but most certainly not least is our final Gift Guide for the season: The Stocking Stuffer Gift Guide. For many, stockings are the best part of Christmas. Don’t you love finding those little gems for each member of your family, especially those that do not cost a fortune?
Here are some great finds to fill everyone’s stockings:

 
FOR HER

 
Hopscotch Necklace – Do not let the price fool you. This chunky geometric wooden bead necklace would be a stylish complement to a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Buy from Fleet Collection. $16.00

 
Password Book – If she is anything like me, I [...]

Last year we did a Pet Gift Guide – Because We Love Them and we still do love our pets! But just because you have pets does not mean that your home has to go to the dogs. We have chosen (among other things) some great gift products that your (four legged) loving companion will love and that might also just add a great statement to your home. Plus, some fun games to play with little Fifi or Fluffy. We should really rename this gift guide the Gift Guide for Pet Owners. Enjoy!

 FOR DOGS

 
What Dogs Dream Bed – Designed not [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
You may feel a bit like Micheal Jackson but these Magic Hands makes cleaning so much easier. Zip through the house wearing these gloves and it will sparkle. They are like a latex glove and sponge all in one!
Simply add the cleaners right to the gloves and see how counter tops, dishes, sinks and the entire bathroom will gleam. You can get into all those nooks and crannies by using your fingers. You can even plunge your hands into boiling water and your hands will not feel a thing. They will stay dry and protected [...]

By Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chief Wife
Evenings are getting longer. And c-c-c-cooler. And though we have a fireplace in our house, we are notoriously lazy about lighting it up. We love the coziness effect, the warm ambiance a beautiful fire creates, but between you and me, it’s sooooo much work. And I’m just thinking about the getting the firewood in the house part…
So, I’m thinking of going instant. As in Instant Fireplace.
No, I’m not talking fireplace DVD here (cute, but where’s the heat?)
No, no, no. I’m talking a fireplace with real flames and capacity to heat up the place a little. And [...]

By Tara Riceberg, Guest Contributor – Party Planning & Entertaining
Throwing a Halloween party doesn’t have to be spooky. With these tricks, your guests will be treated to a frightfully fun time!

Pre-shop the stores for inspiration and for budgeting your money. It only gets expensive when you don’t have a plan and buy things spontaneously or last minute.
Create a subtheme to really focus your party and planning. Imagine “Halloween Party” becoming “Antebellum Gothic” (what would have become of Scarlett had Rhett not returned?) – Replete with moss covered columns, dead roses, faux silver platters and tons of candlelight. Decorate with three [...]