Modish

Cupcakes!

It's my birthday and I love me some cupcakes, so I hope you'll join in the festivities with these awesome (unfortunately inedible but still adorable) cupcake themed goodies:

1 :: pink cupcake, original watercolor painting by Something Different!
2 :: Cuppington the Cupcake necklace by Metal Sugar
3 :: raspberry flowers glass cupcake by  Malmsey's
4 :: faux very cherry pink cupcake by Jenni B Originals
5 :: handmade soap cupcakes by Soap Store
6 :: cuppie and armadillo original watercolor painting by Cakespy

For the Mums: Gardening goodies

This last Mother's Day gift idea post is inspired by my own mama, an avid gardener and bird lover who would surely enjoy any of the gifts below- in fact, I bought her the bird feeder for Christmas last year!  For your own flower pickin' mamas, hopefully some of these suggestions will hit home:

1. Egg bird feeder by Jim Schatz (beautiful! My mom loves hers!)- $135
2. Birdhouse stakes made from salvaged house parts, by Dryads Dancing- $42/set of 3
3. English garden rose dream (made from polymer clay! wow!) at Petal by Petal- $80
4. Flowers for mom vase by Beth Mueller at Uncommon Goods- $32
5. Campy planters by Perch Design- $72
6. Garden organizer by Milk Pail- $27
7. Purple tit print by Bird Nerd- $20
8. "Suprise Mi!" deluxe spa set (for after a long day of gardening!) by mi SPA- $125

Scrub-a-dub-dub

Nettie Davis, Los Angeles based celebrity manicurist, has been questioned for years on the secret scrub she uses- it smells delectable, it dissolves completely, it exfoliates yet leaves your skin feeling moisturized and supple- what is this good stuff??  Why, it's Nettie Scrub! 

Handmade by her, this all natural sugar scrub lives up to its claims and is a new welcome addition to my weekly shower routine.  I have the lemon flavor made from sugar, grape seed oil and pure lemon essential oil- it smells like a lemon drop, is not too rough for sensitive skin, and leaves me without the need to slather on lotion once I'm out of the shower.  It's good stuff.  Read more about it on the Nettie Scrub site, which is still a bit under construction but you'll be able to find shops where you can purchase it, including the Nettie Scrub etsy shop!

Treat yourself

There's nothing better than lathering up with a delectably yummy smelling, luxurious body wash, like the one I've had the pleasure to try out recently by bobe:

It's a bath mousse, which is something I've never seen before (I'm used to bath gels and soap) but I like the change- it's light and airy and lathers up on a loofah just like gel body wash and leaves a light scent on your skin, along with a nice layer of moisture.  It also works well as a shaving cream!  And the scent is just delightfully chocolatey- I got "After 6."  Whether your aim is to invigorate and awaken, or calm and relax yourself, you can find the perfect scent for yourself, from Apricot Creme to Chocolova' to Lemon Biscotti- there's tons to choose from!  Check out all the goodies and find your favorite at bobe bath essentials!

Modish Trendwatch: Geodes!

Geodes, geodes, it's all about geodes- what are geodes exactly?  In short, they're crystal formations or banding that occurs naturally within geological rock.  In the long term, they're sparkly, shiny, immensely beautiful gifts from nature that have hit it big time in the design world this season- from jewelry to housewares, geodes are making a comeback (they were also super cool for awhile when I was a kid!) and there's no reason to wait until the big box stores catch on- you can support indie designers and shop geodes the modish way!   

{Geode necklaces, handpicked in Uruguay, by Natural Historie}

{Agate photo frames and Coaster Set by Anna Rabinowicz at Uncommon Goods}

{Geode Link Necklace and Sword and Stone Necklace by Erica Weiner}

{Hand carved agate druzy rings by Zula Surfing}

{Burlap Geode Jerkin by Heir Apparel}

{Agate Slice Necklaces by Piebell}

{Glycerin Soap rocks by Soap Creations}

{Geode earrings by Ampersand by Ali}

{Living in a Material World necklace by Erin Gotz}

So there's a little sampling of geode goodness from the indie world to keep you stylin' this fall.  Do you make geode jewelry?  Know of a cool handmade geode creation?  Share them with us in the comments below!  Nothing's better than nature and hands coming together to form beautiful creations like these!

Salve yourself!

Looking for some luscious smelling, yummy tasting, lip moisturizer to get you through a long gossip talking day?  Look no further than Frost Fish Cove Soaps! 
Made from a blend of natural oils, shea and cocoa butter, beeswax, lanolin and vitamin E, these lip balms are not only yummy, they're nourishing as well!  Plus, they contain absolutely NO artificial sweeteners- they're naturally delicious!  I received the strawberry cream scent and it smells so good, I find myself reapplying it all day long just for a little aromatherapy pick me up!  Find your favorite scent, along with lots of other delectable products, at Frost Fish Cove Soaps!

Detox rocks!

I think that some of the best gifts to give (and receive) are gifts that pamper, because we too often forget to pamper ourselves, yeah?  Biggs and Featherbelle has got us covered on the pampering front with lovely, colorful gift boxes filled with health minded bath goodies, like this Detox Box!

This $30 gift box includes a sampling of goodies that will help clear your mind and detox your body- there's an achy muscles massage bar, muscle soak, detoxifying bar soap and a dry skin body brush to exfoliate.  A perfect gift for the marathon runner/yogaholic/pilates teacher/avid dog walker in your life.  Find this kit at Cut & Paste, and check out more gift ideas at the Biggs and Featherbelle shop!

*Oh, and while we're on the bath and body front, you can find more great handmade b&b products from indie designers all in one spot in the anise & currant gift guide!

Little butt

Nothing's better than washing your butt with, well, a butt!  (except maybe someone else washing your butt for you...or maybe not...)  Um, anyway, what the hell am I talking about?  This!
This here friends is Isis, made by Artizan Soap!  It's a gen-u-wine bar of skin soothing, moisturizing, yummy smelling, soap!  It fits nicely in the palm of your hands, and suds up like it's made for royalty.  Part of the signature series, this particular soap (which I just sampled myself this morning) is a face soap featuring buttermilk, honey and oatmeal- the same concoction that Cleopatra is said to have used in her baths!  Although it's face soap, I can attest that it works great as body soap as well (oops!) and even encourages boys to use it!  These would make perfect bridal shower gifts or stocking stuffers, eh?  eh?  Find more irresistible body bars at Artizan Soap!

It's Monday mornin, time to get Naikid!

Next time you hop in the shower, you'll definitely want to get Naikid first- Naikid, a healthful, handmade soap company is just the ticket for a refreshing cleansing experience.  I received a bar of the "butter" soap in my Sampler this month, and have been using it ever since! 
It contains a host of butters that are nourisihing for the skin, like kokum and shea butter, along with skin softening avocado and coconut oil.  The best part is, it is unscented, which is good for me so as not to compete with the smell of my lotion and perfume, and especially good for boys, like mine, who don't like foo foo la la smelly soaps and would rather wash with water alone than something that {shudder} smells "girly."  Naikid stocks many simple, non-frilly soaps in either no scent or light refreshing scents that are boy approved.  Check out the entire line of natural soaps and find something that works for the whole family! (even your dog!) 

Soak it up

Maybe you're tired, you've just driven 9 hours straight back home and your back aches, your mind aches and your eye twitch won't go away (still!  it's been like 8 days people!)  So, what do you (did I) do?  Grab your latest Lucky, ready an outfit made entirely of fleece, and relax in a yummy, silky bath with Prairieland Herbs' Milk and Honey Bath Salts.
Think of the most delectably yummy fresh baked cookie you've ever smelled, and then think about that sugary goodness being ground up into healing little sticky morsels of flavor, and then (yes, it gets yummier) think about soaking your worn down, achin' bones into the silky warmth of a bath made from those little crystals and, while the droolingly delicious fragrance of the steam wafts into your nose and between your toes, think about closing your eyes, settling back and letting this run on sentence finally come to end.  Aaaaahhhhh....that's nice.  I had such a lovely experience as that last night, and you can too with just $7 down and a hop on over to Prairieland Herbs!  Now, anyone know how to make my eye twitch go away? ; (

Here comes Santa Claus...

Christmas has come mighty early this year with a delectable body scrub from Margarita Bloom: Sugar N Spice & Everything Nice.  You may be the Cobwebs & Mice & Everything Scary type of gal or perhaps the Head Shake & Sigh & Everything Attitude lady, but either way, you deserve to slip into a little bit of bath time luxury. 
This Gingerbread Foaming Brown Sugar Scrub sounds like a recipe for relaxation.  You can almost smell the yumminess oozing off this picture!  Loaded with macadamia butter, sunflower oil and dark brown sugar, this sweet smelling treat will also leave your skin feeling soft and supple.  Find this in the Bakery Collection, or if you're more of a Mai Tais & Massages & Everything Exotic kind of girl, check out the You Go Girl and Spa Collections.  Margarita Bloom's got all of us different ladies covered from head to toe!  Maybe some kind elf with stuff my stocking with this scrub this year.  Ya hear that?  Kind elf?  You out there??

Sushi smells good?

Unless you're in the minority like me, the non sushi loving minority that is, you probably think about sushi almost daily, you craaaavvee sushi, you want it, you gotta have it and nothing else can fulfill your urge.  Well, I don't have the cure, actually I have something that may increase your cravings- your wallet may not thank me, but your tummy will.  Feast on this: Sudsy Sushi Soaps from Soap Cafe! 

Don't worry, they smell yummy, not like fish, ew.  You'll get a little platter of 6 glycerin rolls with a garnish of soapy wasabi, uh, yum!  If you're like me and you plan your meals for the day during your morning shower, you can start your cravings off right from the get-up-and-go!  If you're not a fan of the fish, these would make a great gift for a sushi obsessed friend, and I know you have one of those.  Find these at Pixelgirlshop, or peruse the Soap Cafe for more soapy delights, like soap donuts!  (Mmmm, donuts...)

Happy Chocolate Hump Day!

So, that's a really weird title for a post.  I apologize.  I also apologize for bringing you yet another chocolaty delicious thing that, unfortunately, you cannot eat.  I'm sorry!  But, I assume you will love integrating some chocolate into your life, whether it's through your belly or not.  This one is through your scalp (eww?) No, not eww.  Yum...Check out this chocolate deep conditioner from London based, Anita Grant.   
Apparently, she figured out that chocolate is not only good for your state of mind, it's also great to moisturize your lucious locks!  You just mix these cubes with a hot liquid (yes, there's some prep involved) and make a sort of chocolate mud mask.  Then apply to your head, and let the detox begin!  (if only detox always involved chocolate.)  Check the site for more detailed instructions and happy customer testimonials, and let the mud bath begin!

Yummy for the tummy.

Literally.  This soothing body scrub from mi-spa will smooth your rough elbows and make your soft belly skin even softer.  Made from raw turbinado sugar and mochi flour, I'm sure this succulent scrub probably tastes as good as it feels (although, I don't recommend eating it, even though you may want to =)

It comes in four Japanese inspired scents: Sake, Peony Blossoms, Lychee and Yuzu, each made to lift your spirits and leave you smelling sweet.  So, before you bare those knees in your new spring skirts, smooth 'em out first with this Sugar Mochi Body Polish.