Review: Ariel's Secret Garden

What is this?  A post from Kate Gene?

No, you are not hallucinating.  [Insert excuses for not blogging here.]  After (what's considered) a century of silence in the beauty community, I am back with a review of a wonderful company: Ariel's Secret Garden.

Ariel's Secret Garden is an Etsy Shop that sells delicious homemade bath treats.  Sherri and Ariel, the mother and daughter team behind the brand, sell fresh goat milk soap, pretty bubble bars, luxurious body frosting, and other fragrant goodies to pamper your skin.

I ordered a five ounce bar of Honey Crunch (their LUSH "Honey I Washed the Kids" dupe) during their summer sale.  My grand total, including shipping, came to $7.84.  A little over a week later, a weighty, sweet smelling envelope arrived in our mail box.

[The only item I actually ordered was the bar of soap pictured on the bottom, right.  Can you say "generous"?]

After eagerly tearing into my bubble mailer, my jaw dropped.  I received far more than I ordered.  Sherri and Ariel are notorious for their cute packaging and substantial samples.  Still...  I had only ordered one bar of soap!

Nestled safely inside layers of bubble wrap, I first discovered the samples:

Lavender Martini Soap Samples

Lavender and booze may sound like a strange combination, but together create a lovely aroma!  Although I normally prefer to use liquid hand soap, I used these samples every time I needed to wash up.  They left my hands feeling soft, smooth, and lightly scented.

Mulberry Soap Samples

Mulberry smells like a sweet, slightly tart, ripe mulberry.  It was my favorite fragrance of the bunch!  Like my Lavender Martini samples, they left my skin looking, feeling, and smelling wonderful!

Cherry Bomb Soap Freebie

As if the samples I received weren't enough, a whole bar of Cherry Bomb soap was thrown in.  It smelled exactly like a cherry sucker!  It felt fantastic on my skin, and had a very strong scent.  I prefer heavily perfumed products, and this more than met my needs.

Honey Crunch Bar of Soap

This soap smells rich and yummy.  It was the only bar of soap out of the bunch that was created using olive oil.  I typically prefer goat milk soap, however, this bar didn't let me down.

Everything Else

A coupon card, a personalized thank you card, and a Hello Kitty bag with an umbrella charm were also thrown in.  (I live in the rainy Emerald City; the charm is very fitting!)

I can't thank the ladies at Ariel's Secret Garden enough!  They are true professionals and very sweet!  I will definitely be purchasing from them again in the future.  Please check out their Etsy Shop, YouTube Channel, and blog.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

My Jewelry Store: EightSeventeen Jewelry

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My Etsy Wish List

If you are looking for a unique and handmade treasure, I highly recommend you head over to Etsy.com.  I have been a fan of Etsy for years, and am pleased to see the recent influx of YouTubers and Bloggers promoting the website.  Having grown up surrounded by entrepreneurs, I am all about supporting home based businesses.

After a recent "online window shopping excursion", I found three stores of interest that I thought I would share with you.  I have yet to purchase from any of them, but based on all of the positive feedback I skimmed through, I definitely will be in the future.

Original Tableaux by Nateara Barabas

When my adorable husband and I were in our late teens, we proudly displayed a matted and framed picture of cigar-smoking dogs playing poker in our home.  (Yes, folks...  We felt this "masterpiece" was worthy of not only a frame, but a mat as well.  Ha!)  We thought it was hilarious, thus making us hilarious for owning it.  Fortunately, our taste in decor has since evolved into something a little less...  caninepokeresque.

Although I appreciate all kinds of art, my eyes are always drawn to abstract pieces like the ones created by Russian artist, Nateara Barabas.  These amazing canvases give off a modern, urban vibe that would fit nicely into our home.  The flowers are feminine, but the deep, rich colors anchor the pieces, making them appealing to both men and women.  My husband and I absolutely love them!

[photo credit: http://www.etsy.com/shop/nataera]

[photo credit: http://www.etsy.com/shop/nataera]

Check out more of the extremely talented Nateara's work here.

The Ivory Magnolia by Dedra Harvin

Having satiny smooth and deliciously scented skin is of utmost importance to me.  Products, such as the ones sold at Dedra Harvin's Etsy shop, make my heart flutter.  Candied Blueberries, Pink Cotton Candy, and Blue Coconut Cream are just a few of her delightful scents.

When I wrote to Dedra (a.k.a. Dee), requesting permission to use her photographs for this post, she responded immediately.  Her warmth and kindness could be felt through her words, which is such a rarity these days.  Creamy, whipped, and looking downright edible, Dee's sweetly fragranced confections are a hit with her customers.  It's no wonder she has 100% positive feedback!

[photo credit: http://www.etsy.com/shop/theivorymagnolia]

This month, all of The Ivory Magnolia's watermelon scented goodies are 15% off.  How cute is her watermelon soap?

Click here to shop!



NYLightMetals by Regina Pierallini

"If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky?" - S. Lec

As some of you know, my hubby and family are Irish, so I feel a special connection to Ireland and its people.  For the past year, I have been on the hunt for clover shaped jewelry.  There is something so elegant and timeless about the four leaf design.  Unfortunately, the collections I have been swooning over cost more than I currently have in my piggy bank.  You can imagine my delight when I discovered Regina Pierallini's wallet friendly necklaces.

These are some of my must-have pieces for the Summer:

[photo credit: http://www.etsy.com/shop/NYLightMetals]

How great would these necklaces go with a cute summer dress?

Regina's store offers something for nearly everyone: pretty vintage baubles, sparkling jewels fit for a bride, cheerful candy-colored adornments, and more.  If she doesn't have exactly what you're looking for, do not hesitate to send her a message as she may be able to create a custom piece for you.

[photo credit: http://www.reginapierallini.com/]

Check out Regina's Etsy store here, her website here, and be sure to tell her I said hello!  She is a complete doll!

Now if only I could find someone to make me a grill...  I need to have my people to call L'il Wayne's people.  Ha!

Have a great day, everyone!

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P. S.  Don't forget to enter my International $180.00 SkinCareRx Microderm Giveaway!

Cupcakes in the tub? Yes! [REVIEW & GIVEAWAY **** CLOSED ****!]

After a long, FML-type of day, my adorable hubby knows just what I need to turn my frown upside down.  While some women light up at the sight of that infamous blue Tiffany box, I go gaga over a different kind of package: the kind that holds a baker's dozen.

This works, too:

Ha ha ha!  Just kidding. 

So, I was browsing Etsy, searching for a birthday gift, when I stumbled across myotherprincess' shop.  My jaw fell to the floor.  Bath bombs that look like cupcakes?  Yes, please, and thank you!

The first order I placed was for my best friend.  Her birthday bath bombs sat around our house for days, and had several "close calls" with our tub.  I couldn't risk purposefully accidentally using my friend's gifts, so I purchased the following goodies for myself:

♥ BIRDS OF PARADISE BATH BOMB CUPCAKE FIZZY ♥

Retails for: $5.50

PROS:  This bath bomb smells soooo GOOD!  Strawberries, pomegranate, and vanilla goodness are blended perfectly into this life-sized sweet treat.  Once dissolved, it lightly fragrances your water and turns it a pretty blue hue.  This bomb is perfect for someone who is seeking a yummy fragrance, but doesn't want to be overpowered by it.

CONS:  It's almost too cute to use.  And, despite being a professional cupcake eater, I had a bit of trouble getting the paper off my life-size cupcake.  Ha ha!  It was no biggie, though; I was relaxing in a sea of fizz within minutes of my order arriving.

♥ STRAWBERRY COTTON CANDY CHUNKY LAYERED GOAT'S MILK SOAP ♥

Retails for: $3.75

PROS:  This soap smells INSANELY GOOD.  I am a huge fan of super sweet, fruity, candy-like scents, and this soap is no exception.  It smells of freshly spun clouds of pink sugar and sweet strawberries.  It's extremely strong, which I love, and will linger on your skin for a bit after use.  It lathers with the tiniest splash of water, creating massive amounts of suds and bubbles.  And last, but not least, this soap moisturizes like a dream.  It is honestly the most moisturizing soap I have ever used!

CONS:  None for me!  If you're not a fan of over-the-top sweet scents, you're not going to like this soap.  (To give you an idea of the type of scents I tend to gravitate towards, here are a few perfumes I love to wear: any of the Escada eau de toilettes, Clinique Happy, Marc Jacobs Daisy, and BBW's Black Raspberry Vanilla spray.)

♥ BLUEBERRY CARAMEL PINK SUGAR CHUNKY LAYERED GOAT'S MILK SOAP ♥

Retails for: $3.75

PROS:  See above.  This one also smells DIVINE.  It is the perfect blend of warm sugar, butter, and blueberries.  I cannot keep my nose away from these bars of soap!

CONS:  Child, please!  By now you should know I have nothing negative to say about myotherprincess' products!  ;)

**********

Miranda, the gal behind myotherprincess, is a total sweetheart!  Some of you may have seen me chatting her up on Twitter or on her blog, both of which I recommend you check out!  (Insider Tip: She often tweets about specials!)  She is super crafty and also sells pretty paper products - as well as clothing for babies and little girls - on her other Etsy site: PaperPrincess34.  Miranda's customer service is great, extra surprises were thrown in with both orders, and shipping is lightning fast.  I have nothing but positive things to say!  

P. S.  She and her brother must have been raised by Martha Stewart; her brother sells wood creations on Etsy as well: http://www.etsy.com/shop/youngwoodcreations.

Now, on to the fun part...

♥ MINI-CUPCAKE BATH BOMB (SET OF FIVE) GIVEAWAY ♥

Miranda kindly offered to give away some of her products to one of my followers, and I jumped at the opportunity!  (Can I enter my own giveaway?  I kid, I kid!)  One randomly selected winner will receive a five pack of her best selling mini-cupcake bath bombs!

But wait!  There's more!

To sweeten the deal, I'm throwing in a couple of goodies, too:

♥ St. Tropez Radiance Mousse

♥ a mark. Brighten Every Day Kit

**** I KNOW IT'S A LOT TO READ AND DO, BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW ALL THE RULES OR YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED! ****

TO ENTER:

♥ You must be a follower of my blog, as well as Miranda's. 

♥  Post this giveaway on your blog and/or in your sidebar, and leave me a comment so I may see your handiwork.  :) 

♥ If you are under the age of 18, please get your parent/guardian's permission before entering as I will need to collect your full name and mailing address.

♥ This giveaway is open to U. S. and Canadian residents and ends on my birthday: May 15, 2010 at 12:00 AM (PST).

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES:

♥ Add Miranda on Twitter and Facebook.  Please let me know if you've done so by leaving a comment below.  Earn another entry by tweeting about our giveaway!
 ♥ Those of you who had valid entries prior to 4/30/10 will receive an extra entry for following the original, complicated rules! :)

Thank you, Miranda, for your generous donation!  The winner will be announced on my blog, so stay tuned!

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*photo credits: http://www.etsy.com/shop/myotherprincess, www.meetmark.com, & Google*