Holiday Vacation

Just a friendly reminder that we'll be closing up shop beginning tomorrow for a much needed holiday with family :) All orders received from Dec. 18th - Jan. 2nd will promptly be processed upon our return on Jan. 3rd. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and many blessings in the New Year!

Just in Time for Christmas!

Just a friendly reminder that today is the last day to order for guaranteed delivery by Christmas!

Pillow Pets for Less!

If you're like me, you've got someone special (or 4 someones in my case!) with one of these fluffy friends on their holiday wish list.  And, as always, because they are so hot, no one is having a sale on them...well not entirely true.  The official Pillow Pet site is currently offering them for $15.95, which is $4 off of their advertised retail price of $19.95.  However, you still have to pay $5.95 in p&h, which puts you right back around the $19.99 that local stores are charging for them.

Just when all hope was lost for a bargain, I have a little Holiday Cheer to spread for my deal lovin' mamas (and daddys!) out there.  Grab your Pillow Pet from Bed, Bath, & Beyond, add one of their timely $5 off coupons, and you really can get these babies for $14.99 (normally $19.99 at BB&B).  Have an out of date coupon burning a hole in your pocket?  Never fear, BB&B will still honor it (though they are slowly going to start honoring expiration dates in the future).  Tried this first hand myself over the weekend and scored one for each of my 4 littles for only $14.99 ea.  Did I mention that you can use 1 coupon per item...not 1 per transaction like some chains...bonus!

Friday Food for Thought

The customer

is always right

and 

nice guys don't 

always have to finish last!

~ Marshall Field & a re-interpretation by Moi!

Happy Holidays!

Oh My Cupcake Heaven!

I do believe I've found the perfect compliment to my holiday teacher's gifts thanks to Our Best Bites.  Check out these decadent Peppermint Fudge Cupcake Jars!

I can't help but salivate over that layer of ganache, tucked neatly between the creamy frosting and moist, rich cake!

*Photos property of www.ourbestbites.com

Ellia C. Naturals Giveaway!

Be sure to stop by Life On The Mom List to see the super cute bachelorette party favors I created for Alana and get your chance to win your very own set of goodies!

Up for grabs:

1 Lemon Lavender Soap Pop (pink/white)

2 Lemon Lavender Herbal Tub Tea Sachets

1 oz. Travel Size of Lemon Lavender Mama Meringue

You'll also get a chance to read Alana's hilarious re-cap of her party planning woes...definitely worth reading!

'Tis The Season For Shopping CSN Stores!

With more and more online venues offering fabulous holiday savings, it's now easier than ever to complete your holiday shopping from the comfort of your own home.  Armed with jammies, fuzzy slippers, and a hot latte (with extra whip!), I decided to check in with one of my go-to sites, CSN Stores, to see what's hot this Holiday Season.  With over 200 stores, it's easy to find a little something for everyone's wish list.

 A sophisticated suede briefcase for the office.

 A delicious cotton candy machine for the party fanatic.

A nostalgic retro kitchen for the budding chef.

A pair of stylish leather boots (or faux, depending on your preference) for the shoe lover!

With a variety of super sales going on throughout the Holidays, CSN Stores can help make your shopping a breeze!

*Disclaimer:  These opinions are solely my own based on my personal experiences with CSN Stores and may vary from others.  CSN Stores will be providing me with a gift card for writing this post.

2010 Best Handmade Gifts for Women!

A big Thank You to Missy of The Marketing Mama for naming our Goody Gumdrops cold processed soap as 1 of 2010's Best Handmade Gifts for Women!

Stop by and pick one up for someone special on your Holiday list today!

10% Off Now Through Monday!

Now through Monday, enjoy 10% off all Ellia C. Naturals products using discount code:  CYBERWEEKEND!

Black Friday Super Cyber Sale!

Don't forget to stop by today and check out the Super Cyber Deals at Ellia C. Naturals!  Combine your savings with our exclusive Newsletter coupon for an even greater deal!!

How to Carve Your Thanksgiving Turkey

Ever wondered how to get a perfect looking platter of turkey for your Thanksgiving holiday table?  It's all in the carving!  Here are some handy tips, compliments of Saveur Magazine, to help you create the perfect presentation.

1.  Steadying the turkey with a carving fork, remove the leg at its joint with a sharp knife; separate the drumstick from the thigh. 

2. Slice the thigh into strips parallel to the bone; slice the drumstick while holding it upright. 

3.  Remove the wing at its joint (you may have to dig a little). 

 

4.  Make a long horizontal cut at the bottom of the breast (this will allow the breast meat to fall away easily when sliced). 

 

5.  Using an even, downward stroking motion, cut the breast into slices.

6.  Repeat with the turkey's other side; arrange slices neatly on a serving platter. 

 

Wishing you all a Blessed & Happy Thanksgiving!

* All images and instructions compliments of www.saveur.com

$250 Giveaway From GameStop!

Looking for the pièce de résistance of Holiday giveaways this season?  Well hold onto your hats because TodaysMama and GameStop are giving us a chance to win some insanely cool prizes (happy dance time)!

TodaysMama and GameStop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you (squeals of holiday delight!!). 

1. What is your holiday wish for your family?  That we are all grateful of our blessings and that we pass on a blessing to another family in need.

2. What is your Christmas morning tradition?  We usually travel to TX to visit family for the holiday and often wake in a hotel for the last leg of our trip on Christmas morning.  We cuddle up in bed, have a wrestling match or 2, put on a holiday cartoon, and fill our bellies with pancakes before heading out for the rest of the road trip :) 

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be?  My practical side says a house cleaning service for a year!  However, if I'm being truly decadent, I would say a 2 week vacay to Figi with white glove service in a cute little villa on the water :)

 4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?  We have lots of family traditions.  We bake Holiday cookies, make a gingerbread house, count down the days with our Advent House and Christmas Helper (similar to Elf on a Shelf), and sip hot cocoa in front of the lit Christmas tree with the room lights off...love, love, love!

5. What games did you play with your family growing up?  Rook, PIT, UNO, Rack-O, Spades

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?  Even though we live far away, Christmas with family is still top priority.  We make the trip from OH to TX every year yo carry on this most important tradition!

7. Where would you go for a Christmas-away-from-home trip?  I would love to show my children Christmas in New York...so beautiful and nostalgic!

8. Check out GameStop and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year?  A PS3 for hubs (who touts its use as an "entire entertainment station" over its simple gaming feature...uh, yeah!), a Wii for everyone (ours, ahem, was broken a few months back), and some of their awesome sports games to go with it :)

Be sure to stop by today and enter for your chance to win!

Black Friday Goodies...Today!

Black Friday came early for me this year, and I am thrilled!  Every year I gear up for the rush of great bargains to be had on Black Friday, and I usually make out pretty well.  My kids are just getting to the ages where they have true preferences when it comes to their gifts, so in years past, my Black Friday escapades were primarily for items for the house or adult gift-giving.  Last year I learned that it's a whole different ballgame when you get into Black Friday toys.  People can be ruthless!  So much for manners and pleasantries...if you aren't careful, you can spend more time watching your back than the deals on the shelves you happen to be passing.

Needless to say, I am still planning to brave the madness next Friday, but I scored a couple of fabulous deals today that I just had to share!

First up, for Miss Bean, we have Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Blu Ray & DVD (combo pack) for $9.99...yes, $9.99!  This set is listed at Target (and other like retailers) for $29.99.  I found a $10 off coupon on Disney Movie Rewards (which I highly recommend joining - for free - if you have kiddos in the Disney movie age ranges).  I also had a Target coupon for $5 off any Blu Ray listed at $16.99 or more from the 11/21/10 Target circular.  Armed with my handy coupons, I was ready to pay $14.99 at checkout, but much to my surprise, when the clerk scanned everything, the Target coupon alone reduced the price to $19.99, followed by my $10 manufacturer's coupon for a total of $9.99.  Super score (remember, this is for the Blu Ray/DVD combo and I got it for $10 less than the MSRP of the DVD alone)!

Next up, 2 great activity storybooks for Sweet Face's Tag Reader...Toy Story 3 and Pixar Pals Puzzle Time.  And the best part, I didn't have to do a thing!  Regularly priced at Target for $13.99, I scored these gems for $9.99 a piece (in store sale).  Not too shabby for just showing up at the store today :)

I also picked up a couple of board games, armed with some handy coupons compliments of www.target.com, and a couple of storybooks for the kids.  Then, it was off to the grocery store.  I usually like to go fresh to the fryer with our turkey (yes, we fry our turkey every year and it is super moist and oh so delicious!).  However, fewer places seem to be carrying fresh this year, so rather than hoof it out to no man's land the day before Thanksgiving, I decided to buy frozen.  Which leads me to my final deal of the day...

This mama landed a 19 1/2 pound bird for $9.50!!  A big Thank You to Giant Eagle for an incredible sale that will keep our little bellies fat for many meals and left over creations!

An early Happy Thanksgiving to you all!  What deals have you scored in the pursuit of merriment?

Oh My Cupcakes!

New to the Ellia C. Naturals lather line-up...made to order Cupcake Soaps!  We're baking these sweet treats up daily, so be sure to stop by and check out our lip-licious list of flavors.  Perfect for stuffing those Holiday stockings!!

New Items On Sale!!

 

Beat the Black Friday rush and get in on some incredible deals now!  Visit our Sales link for some yummy nummy stocking stuffers!

Win Goodies From Ellia C. Naturals!

Be sure to stop by and visit the super sweet Tracy, of Sweet Harper fame.  She's currently hosting Sweet Harper Holidays filled with oodles of goodies from an uber talented selection of small biz mamas, like Monkey Toes Shoes, Bundled, The Playful Table, Bugaboo, JensenHaus Designs, and more!

Take a lookey today and get in on your chance to win a Slice-O-Suds Gift Set & $15 Gift Certificate to 

Ellia C. Naturals!

The Sweet Smell of Scentsy {Review}

I love the smell of a fabulous candle with a great throw (the area over which a candle casts its wonderful scent).  Particularly in the Fall and Winter when the fresh air of the outdoors is not really practical, I enjoy filling the house with warm, cozy scents that impart a relaxed, snuggly feeling through and through.  So, when presented with the opportunity to review a full size Scentsy Warmer and Scentsy Bar of my choice, I jumped at it!

I have admired Scentsy products from afar for some time now, but just never took the plunge.  Recently, I had the distinct pleasure of testing out their Tannenbaum Warmer, which is stunning.  Decorated with a festive Christmas tree nestled among a winter tree-scape of evergreens, this warmer is finished in a neutral color palette of deep sage and cream.  Unlike some other warmers I've seen, I love that the Tannenbaum adds to the decor of my home as well as the aroma.  Another difference between this warmer and others I've seen is that the Scentsy Full Size Warmers work off of electricity by way of a small light bulb, cord, and on/off switch.  A nice alternative to an open flame for mamas of curious little ones!  The base does, however, get warm with extended use, so it's still a good idea to keep it out of immediate reach of children.

As for scent, I selected the Christmas Cottage Scentsy Bar.  A true treat for the senses, this bar combines a cozy blend of Valencia oranges, raspberries, cloves, and spices for a warm, festive aroma.  As for throw, I would say this particular scent has a medium cast.  I currently have it on a shelf in my kitchen, which is open to the rest of the first floor.  I can easily pick up the smell of this yummy bar throughout the kitchen and into the dining area, but it does not permeate the whole first floor like some of my stronger scented traditional candles do.  That being said, Christmas Cottage is also not a knock you in the face kind of scent.  It's warm and cozy and not at all pungent, which I love.  Overall, I am very pleased with my selection.

Scentsy offers a variety of gorgeous warmers, including Full-Size Warmers, Mid-Size Warmers, and Plug-In Warmers.  All are designed with home decor in mind and include Holiday varieties, sports themes, and college affiliations.

Scentsy also offers a variety of scents, including Cranberry Spice, Central Park Pralines, Autumn Sunset, Citrus Sun Tea, and Hemingway (for men).  I love that they have scents that appeal to both men and women and varieties that span the spectrum of fruity to flirty to cozy to relaxing.  My Full-Size Warmer is large enough to hold an entire bar of yumminess, and when I want to try out a different scent, I just pour the warm wax back into its original container.  It will solidify back into bricks for use at a later time.  How's that for eco-friendly?!

You can get your own array of Scentsy products HERE just in time for the Holidays.  Perfect for gift giving, they carry a little something for everyone, from full-size products to those designed for when you're on the go.  Prices vary depending on which products you order, but warmers range from $15-$30 and Scentsy bars, to go with your warmer, generally run $5.  Join the Scentsy team during the month of November and receive a free set of Mini Testers to get your business off to a great start!  Just send Kimberlee an email at Escentialstars@yahoo.com, to let her know you heard about Scentsy from Jen at Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby!

* Disclaimer:  I was provided with a Full-Size Warmer and Scentsy Bar for the purpose of performing this review.  I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review.  All opinions stated are my own and based on my honest experience with these products.

A New Addition

Our custom Herbal Tub Tea Favors have been such a hit lately that I've decided to add them to our line-up permanently.  Enjoy a luxurious spa-quality experience in the comfort of your own home!

You can currently find them in the Party Favors section of the site.  They will also soon be added to the general Ellia C. Naturals section under For Her!

Bubble-n-Scrub: Gift Set Goodie!

 

About a month ago a friend of mine gave me this great little "soap bag" to try.  She swore by it for her bar soaps (still a die-hard bath poof gal for her liquid soaps!) and thought I would like it too.  Like is a bit of an understatement...I love this handy little guy.  It's like a washcloth and soap deck all rolled into one.  Made from all natural unbleached fibers, the reverse side of the bag has the texture and weight of a great spa washcloth.  The more open weave on the front of the bag allows your bar soap to drain between uses, preserving the life of your favorite soapy sweets!  To top it all off, because you drop your bar into the convenient little sack, you can use it down to the last luscious drop, then just drop in another gem...no wasting the little nubs at the end of the bar!

Needless to say, I loved my ECO Bag so much that I contacted the company.  As a result, I am pleased to introduce our newest little gift set...the Bubble-n-Scrub!  Suds up your soapy sweets and scrub your grimies away :)  

* Bubble-n-Scrub should be listed and ready for purchase later today :)

Friday Food for Thought

Happiness is not 

the absence of problems 

but the ability 

to deal with them.

~ Anonymous

Adventures in Odyssey: Cause & Effect

During busy days of running errands, going back and forth to school, and hustling to and from extra curricular activities, we love to pop in a good "book on CD" and let our minds wander into some great adventure.  Recently, we've been listening to Adventures in Odyssey:  Cause & Effect.  Though geared toward children slightly older than my own, I must say that these stories captivated the attention of all riders with the exception of my 18 month old (who was understandably more intrigued with the trees and cars passing by the window!).  These particular disks contains both inspirational stories and child-appropriate mysteries.  The boys were particularly fascinated by the mysteries.  In fact, they got so into the story plots and life lessons that they began asking to listen to them during their limited  television time (you can imagine my surprise!) and while doing other activities throughout the day.

From the Publisher:
It’s all-new Adventures in Odyssey episodes in volume 52, Cause & Effect. Join Eugene and Matthew as they investigate why the clock tower at City Hall seems to be counting down to a mysterious deadline. Could it have something to do with the anniversary of a lost love from twenty years ago? Barrett couldn’t be more excited about getting the lead role in the school play. But when his first practice is interrupted by a mysterious booming voice, Emily Jones must investigate the “phantom of the school play.” Also, perfect for the holiday season, are stories on Thanksgiving (“A Thankstaking Story”) and Christmas (“Grandma’s Christmas Visit”).
Adventures in Odyssey is fun and exciting audio entertainment that teaches quality character traits and ignites the imagination of all who listen. Imagine, Discover, and Grow with Adventures in Odyssey.

You can purchase you own copy of Adventures in Odyssey:  Cause & Effect for only $16.49 on Amazon (regularly $24.99).  You can also stay informed about more great offerings from this publisher by following @TyndaleHouse on Twitter and Tyndale House Publishers on Facebook.

Pretty in Pink & Green

I had so much fun working on this wedding shower!  The hostess decided to mix things up a bit by taking her vibrant color palette of hot pink and lime green and pairing it with the deep, earthy, herbaceous, festive scent of peppermint.  Flirty and fun and oh so yummy!

Vibrant pink & white striped soap pops...the perfect treat for game prizes!

 Individual Tub Tea Party Favors for relaxing after the day's festivities :)

A Very Merry Baby Shower!

My younger cousin and her husband are expecting their first child (a little boy!) this Christmas.  Yesterday was her baby shower, so I thought I'd share the festive little creation I put together for Baby Logan and his new family!

The top of this Very Merry Diaper Cake was actually a baby bouquet filled with cotton baby socks for little Logan.  The front of the top layer was the perfect resting place for our friend The Gingerbread Man after a long day of being chased!

Another shot of Gingy and the festive topper :)  I made sure to fill this little treat with all goods things a new mama might need...loads of diapers, burp cloths, onesies, Munchkin Meringue, and Smooth As Buttah to pamper mama and sweet baby Logan!

 I was solo for this outing (a rare treat!) and it was so nice to sit and talk with family and friends that I haven't seen or visited with in a while.  The perfect end to an already great weekend.  

Congratulations Carla and Matt!  I hope you love parenthood as much as I do!!

Friday Food for Thought

Success means having the courage,

the determination, and the will

to become the person 

you believe you were meant to be. 

~ George Sheehan

Impressed With Impress!

Photo property of Impress Rubber Stamps

I had the distinct pleasure recently of winning a fabulous prize from Impress Rubber Stamps through a giveaway hosted by the always incredible TomKat Studio.  In fact, fabulous seems like such an understatement to describe all of the amazing goodies I received. 

For starters, the prize itself was a super generous $100 gift certificate to Impress...YOWZA!  I spent a full 2 1/2 hours browsing their beyond wonderful product line.  The site was easy to navigate and filled with incredible items.  They even have a link loaded with ideas to get your creative juices flowing.  Here's a peak as some of my fabulous finds!

2 1/4" Tree Branch Punch, Floral Medallion, and Small Papercut Snowflake

Extra Giga Scalloped Circle (a whopping 3"), McGill Fancy Square Punch (love!)

 

 Instant Eyelet Setter and Slot Punch Tool Set

Yes, I know, I went pretty heavy on the tools and punches, but just think of all of the amazing things I can create with these babies!  And, as if the prize itself was not incredible enough, the lovely ladies at Impress really took things over the top by including these vibrant pigment stamp pads by Fresh Ink.

 

 

36 gorgeous colors in all...and did I forget to mention that these were in addition to my actual prize?  Not part of the gift certificate, just the delectable frosting on the dessert!!  I've only just begun to dabble with my new toys and am so excited to see what fun goodies I can create with them.

 

A BIG Thank You to the ladies at Impress and Kim from TomKat Studio...thanks to you, Christmas came a little early for me this year :)