Make A Statement! {Giveaway}

This giveaway is now closed.

In this day and age, branding is everything. Whether it's getting the word out about your growing business, increasing exposure for your blog, or promoting your mama/baby group, customized paper products are a fabulous tool to have in your arsenal. I was thrilled when I was contacted by UPrinting to host this wonderful giveaway for Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby readers. One lucky ducky will receive 250 customized labels or stickers of his/her choice. Perfect for professional use as well as making personal statements (like address labels or letter seals), these babies are limited only by your imagination!

Now for the prize details...
250 Stickers/Labels for One (1) lucky winner
Sizes: 2” x 3.5”, 2” x 4”, or 3” x 3”
Paper: 70lb
Label Matte Specifications: Full color front, blank back; 4 Business Day printing
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

To Enter:
Just leave me a comment indicating what you would like to use these for and that's it...easy, peasy! The winner will be selected by random.org on February 14th. What a great start to a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Just In Time for Valentine's Day!

Looking for a coffee mocha delight without all of the guilt and calories? Check out our new Love Ya' A Latte bar! Rich and delicious, this skin loving bar is brewed with loads of moisturizing organic cocoa butter and nutrient-rich organic shea butter. We then give it a healthy dose of emollient-rich organic oils, freshly ground organic cacao, and freshly ground fair-trade coffee beans for a truly luscious boost!

The perfect way to say "I Love You" to your sweetie this Valentine's Day!

Only For You, Patrice...

...would I reveal in photographic form the travesty that is my seizing nightmare (for those who may be a little lost, please check out yesterday's post below). Because you are such a skilled artisan and create some of my favorite eye candy, I will oblige your request for pics of my devastation. For your viewing pleasure...Enjoy (and feel free to offer condolences as you feel led!)...


The lumpy, chunky mess that is the top...so much for beautiful swirls & peaks!

This baby seized so hard and so fast I couldn't even bang, mash, or otherwise cajole it down into the corners properly!

For those who may be new to my little blog or passing through for the day, this was not the look I was going for, nor should it be taken as an example of my work (which can be viewed HERE). In fact, IMO, this is not how beautiful handmade soap is supposed to look at all. It is simply an unfortunate occurrence meant to sit here on my counter and mock me all afternoon until I finally decide if there is some way to miraculously salvage all of the fabulous skin loving oils and butters that went into this batch. And BTW, did I mention that it smells AMAZING? Fresh and clean and perfectly green with just a splash of citrus...ah, sooooo disappointing!

Tomorrow is another day filled with so many possibilities, but until then I can't help but hear the faintest laugh coming from the lump of disappointment sitting on my counter!

Aarrgghh!

It is with great unrest and a heavy heart that I come to you today, for the dreaded Soap Fairy has reared her ugly head on a huge batch of skin loving soap! I was playing with a new mix of essential oils for a spring bar (that I really love, BTW) and got caught today in a full on seize right in the middle of layering my 5 lb. loaf...I sat in utter disgust as I watched all of my beautiful oils and butters freeze before my eyes with nothing to do but wilt at the very thought of all of the costly goodies plucked from me. I put it to bed with hopes that it will be usable in some kind of rebatch (which it not something I find enjoyable), but I must admit feeling a bit deflated to say the least. I have a wholesale order tomorrow to work on...a tried and true recipe that will be easy to bang out, but never fear, I will be back to work on perfecting this refreshing concoction this weekend!

If at first you don't succeed...

Masala Baby's Spring Line

I first stumbled upon Masala Baby last October when I had the distinct pleasure of reviewing one of their adorable tunics (see the full review HERE). They've recently introduced their new spring line of dresses and they are too cute. I can just picture Ellia running around in them this summer (yes, I'm quite confident that in trying to keep up with her 3 brothers, she will be running by then!). You can check out these sweet little pieces for yourself now at Masala Baby. Get your spice on!

Images provided by Masala Baby, NYC

How Cool Is This?!

Compliments of Dawn Wells (of Gilligan's Island fame) and You Tube...Easy Peasey Potato Peeling!

Baby Blooms...Beautiful Flowers Anytime!

I recently finished an order for one of my Grande Baby Blooms and love the way it turned out! Whether it's the unrelenting snow we've been having or just the fresh, clean look of the bouquet, making it lifted my spirits and got me thinking toward spring. Now if our Ohio winter would just get on board!

Happy Monday!

Make the most of today and remember to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you...

Free Samples & Coupons Around the Globe

Being a Mama to 4 little kiddos, I'm always on the lookout for a great deal. Whether it be in the form of a discount, coupon, or freebie, I always get an odd adrenaline rush from getting a steal on products I love and use all the time (as opposed to finding coupons for brands or products that I have no desire to bring home to my family)!

I am thrilled to finally have found a site with deals on loads of quality products that I can share with my international friends as well. MySavings.com offers freebies and coupons on a wide range of items that cross international lines! Just click on the country flag at the top of the page to find bargains that apply to various locations, including the U.S., Canada, and Britain. Happy shopping!

Caring for Your Handmade Bar Soap

Love your natural handmade bar soap but hate the gloppy goo that forms at the bottom of the bar in the shower? Use a slotted soap deck to allow your favorite bar to dry out properly between uses and prolong the life of your soap!

That slimy, gloppy, goo is actually loaded with skin nourishing glycerin, which forms naturally during the cold processed method of soap making. It's typically removed from commercial bars and replaced with synthetic gunk, chemical additives, and detergents. By properly draining your handmade soap on a slotted soap deck between uses, you can help keep that skin-loving glycerin in your bar and out of the drain. If you share your shower with other family members, it's also a good idea to store your soap (on its deck, of course!) on the counter or bathtub when not in use to keep the water spray of the shower from whittling it away when others are washing up :)

Happy Friday!

Petunia Outlet Haiti Relief Sale!

Petunia Pickle Bottom's Petunia Outlet store is hosting a fabulous sale today and tomorrow only. 25% of all proceeds will be donated to The Hands & Feet Project in Haiti, which works to house and raise orphans in Haiti as a family. Stop by today, pick up a fabulous bag (or other great gear!), and lend a hand in helping this wonderful organization provide both immediate relief as well as prepare for the onslaught of newly orphaned children resulting from this devastating catastrophe.

Not My Usual Thing...

I tend to focus on things of a light-hearted nature on this blog...great product updates, fabulous giveaways, little snippets of my own day-to-day. It's designed for family entertainment with an emphasis on my lovely ladies (and occasional awesome gents)...a place to sit back and relax. I stay away from politics and other subjects of a heavy nature because, well, that just isn't the purpose of this particular blog. That being said, I came across this video and found it interesting. Regardless of your personal political views, I think it has something for everyone. What's your take?

Compliments of Mack Hayes and You Tube

Time For A Shout Out...

A big shout out of thanks to Kim for letting me bend your ear this weekend. You're the best!

Sa-weet Valentine's Giveaway!

Be sure to head on over to The Clack House Handmade Candles & Tarts blog for your chance to enter to win 6 of these super sweet Pink Sugar Cupcake Wax Tart Melts!

Photo compliments of The Clack House Handmade Candles & Tarts

It's All Good

Thank you to everyone who weighed in on my post about the recent batch of Love Ya' A Latte. I am thrilled to report that after a second (3rd, 4th, and 5th) look, it's not as bad as I first thought. In fact, it's kind of growing on me. I realized that there is not, in fact, any ash on the top and that the somewhat bumpy appearance actually looks more convincing as a frothy latte foam than a completely smooth top would. I appreciate those who took the time to comment and will try to post some pics this weekend (and by all means, feel free to let me know if I'm crazy for thinking this is actually a keeper!).

Happy Birthday!

A deeply heart felt Happy Birthday goes out today to my Hubs...love of 18 years, hubby of 10, best friend, lover, confidant, and wonderful Daddy to 4 beautiful children. I love you for now and for always!

Handcrafted Soapers Mount Up...

...to please give your professional opinions (and perhaps some much needed sympathy!) regarding one of my recent CP batches. I've been working on a new spring line as well as a couple of select Valentine goodies. I recently made a delicious batch of Love Ya' A Latte...chock full of shea and cocoa butters, freshly ground chocolate, and freshly ground coffee beans (mmmm, mmmm, good!). I added a layer of rich white castile "foam" and whole coffee beans to top it off. I'm very pleased with the look overall except for one big pimple on the face of this beauty...the ash and appearance of tiny bumps all over the lovely creamy foam!

Like many of you, I despise the thought of all of my luscious oils going to waste, particularly when the soap itself is perfectly decadent. So I fear I am left with the following options:

1. Slice it up and carefully cut the layer of ash from the top of each bar, thus losing the cute whole bean ornamentation
2. Chalk it up to a test batch and use it here at home and as samples for family and friends
3. Sell it at a discount as an "ugly" bar (though I really don't like the idea of putting any "misses" up for sale...then again, I love to get a great deal by purchasing the "uglies"!)
4. See if I can somehow remove the top layer of ash, mash in some new coffee beans while it's still a little soft, and hope that they stick (I have my doubts, but here is where I'm relying on those of you with loads more experience than me!).

So have at it talented sudsy artisans...weigh in with your opinions for the best solution to this boo-boo :)

The Makeover Revealed!

Cocoa Creamy

Sweet Lavender

Ta Da! So what do you think? I decided to update my basic cocoa butter bar with some funky swirls and freshly ground organic unsweetened chocolate (both mixed in and on top). Sweet Lavender has all of the same goodies inside (including the best French Lavender essential oil!), but I decided to switch it up on top. Instead of dried lavender buds, I topped this baby with some castile curls of lavender and lemongrass for a super fresh update. Both are behaving nicely and should be ready to roll in the middle of next month.

Mama Loves the PedEgg!

Summer or winter, my preferred footwear whenever feasible is none at all. This mama definitely likes to run around sporting bare tootsies, free as a bird with nothing to trap my precious peds. However, choosing a barefoot lifestyle does have one major drawback...the inevitable formation of little callouses, generally centered around the greatest pressure points of my walking pattern.

Fortunately, this mama's mama was lookin' out this Christmas when she decided to get me the Ped Egg as a little stocking stuffer. Not typically a fan of infomercial fare (particularly because the items rarely perform as depicted), I must confess that I love my new PedEgg! A little morbid looking at first, the "blade" attachment is sharp enough to perform at higher levels than any pumice stone I've tried, but not nearly as sharp as the weapons wielded during a custom pedicure at my favorite spa. My favorite feature? The attached reservoire to catch all of the little filings...no messy cleanup! As one who likes to keep a nice pedicure going even in the winter, the PedEgg gives me an economical choice when professional pedicures are not feasible or cost effective. A big 2 thumbs up from this mama :)

No compensation or test product was received for this post. These statements are based on my opinions and experiences only. Photo provided by product insert.

Peppermint White Hot Chocolate

So, I've decided to throw up my hands this weekend and say "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em"! The snow keeps on falling and the temps are staying low (with a wicked wind to boot!). No warm up in site, so here's the plan...Let's Make Some Slammin' Hot Cocoa!! I'm not a huge fan of white chocolate for the sake of white chocolate, but add it to a yummy cocoa or latte and I'm a sucker for it :) Here's my recipe for a good ole cup o' cocoa...it takes a little more time, but is well worth the effort.

Peppermint White Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:
2 cups of heavy cream
6 cups of whole milk (if you're gonna go for the heavy cream, you might as well finish it off right!)
6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
6 oz. white chocolate chips
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp peppermint extract

Garnish:
whipped cream
crushed peppermint candy

Melt butter and chocolate chips in a double boiler over low heat until silky. Add the heavy cream, milk, vanilla, and peppermint extract and stir thoroughly to combine. Leave over low heat until desired temp is reached, stirring occasionally. Pour into mugs and garnish with whipped cream and crushed peppermints. Enjoy!

Our View From The Backyard

Another 8-10 inches last night...yikes! Looks like we'll be snuggling in for the weekend :)

Cajun Comfort Pasta...Mmmmm!

Given the unending barrage of snow we've been having lately, I felt the need to pull out one of my all time favorite pasta recipes for a little yummy numminess! Comfort food at its finest, this is my take on Cheesecake Factory's scrumptious Cajun Jambalaya Pasta.

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp quality olive oil
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into bit-size pieces
6-8 oz. peeled and deveined shrimp
Cajun spice blend to taste (you can buy a pre-made blend in the spice section of your favorite grocery store or make your own)
1 each medium red, yellow, and green pepper cut into strips
1 medium sweet onion cut into strips
1 Tbsp blanched, minced garlic
1/2 tsp sea salt
pepper to taste
1 Tbsp Old Bay seasoning
1 tsp dried chili pepper
3-4 med-lg Roma tomatoes, petite diced
2 cups chicken or seafood stock (preferable to broth)
1 lb. linguini or other pasta of choice
1 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley

Place chicken in a clean mixing bowl and combine with cajun seasoning. Toss evenly to coat (I prefer to use my hands to achieve a good even coating). Let stand 15-30 min if time permits. Heat butter and olive oil in a large saute pan (can use all olive oil if preferred, but it's soooo yummy with the butter!). Add chicken and saute until half done. Add peppers, onions, and shrimp if raw (wait until the end to add the shrimp if pre-cooked). Cook until shrimp are half done or veggies begin to wilt (if adding shrimp at the end). Add garlic, salt, pepper, Old Bay, dried chili pepper, and a bit more of the cajun spice to taste.

Add diced tomatoes and stock to the pan and stir gently until combined. Continue to cook until chicken and shrimp are done and veggies are tender. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley.

Prepare pasta. You can place pasta into serving bowls and spoon the jambalaya mixture over top; however, I prefer to combine everything in one pan and let the pasta absorb some of the yummy juices of the sauce for about 15 minutes.

This is a wonderfully easy dish that tastes even better the second day...Enjoy!

Another Day, Another Snowfall

Beautiful to look at, fun to play in, exciting to catch on the tongue...ok, I'm ready for spring!

Image courtesy of Free Photos

Back To Work!

HAPPY 2010 to all my fabulous followers (and visitors too!)!!

After a gloriously relaxing vacation with family in the south, it's time to get back on the grind (unlike the fuzzy guy above, I've decided that, much to my chagrin, I really cannot sleep the entire winter away!). I'm very excited about some wonderful goodies I have in store for everyone this year and I must give a BIG shout out to my customers...they are an incredibly eclectic mix and come up with the best ideas and suggestions!! For now, I leave you with the promise of fabulous treats to come and a prayer for many blessings to you all in the New Year!

Image Source: www.s.wsj.net