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Archive for April, 2010

{Find} Silhouette Necklace

April 30th, 2010

il_430xN.132859005 Isn’t this fantastic?! I can only imagine how thrilling it would feel to carry the silhouette’s of all the faces I love close to my heart. This beautiful keepsake is made by LuckyMeBeads on Etsy.

It instantly made me think of (Nie Nie) Stephanie Nielson – she needs one of these! Love it! – Daria

Random acts of gardening with VisuaLingual Seed Bombs

April 29th, 2010

I caught sight of VisuaLingual Seed Bombs on Cool Mom Picks and had to feature this fun gift idea on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish. With springtime around the corner (a very big corner in Utah), some random acts of gardening are just what Mother Nature ordered!

VisuaLingual

VisuaLingual sent me a bag of their Midwest Seed Bombs to review on the Daily Dish.

VisuaLingual SeedBombs

This “bird-, bee- and butterfly-friendly wildflower mixture” includes, get this, Upland White Aster, Prairie Aster, Cornflower, Siberian Wallflower, Shasta Daisy, Lance-Leaf Coreopsis, Plains Coreopsis, Sulphur Cosmos, Wild Cosmos, Sweet William, Purple Coneflower, California Poppy, Perennial Gaillardia, Indian Blanket, Baby’s Breath, Wild Annual Sunflower, Dwarf Sunflower, Dame’s Rocket, Candytuft, Blue Flax, Scarlet Flax, Perennial Lupine, Russell Lupine, Baby Blue Eyes, Evening Primrose, Red Poppy, Mexican Hat, Prairie Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, Gloriosa Daisy, and Sweet Coneflower. WHEW! That’s a lot of seeds packed into five gumball-size “bombs” of dirt!

VisuaLingual SeedBombs

You can purchase your seed bombs in the fall and winter as long as you keep them cool and dry until all danger of frost has passed in the spring. (I live in Utah and it snowed just this morning, so that could be July at the rate we’re going!) Once there’s no danger of frost, “plant them as usual.” Um, that last part is what has me scratching my head.

The five seed bombs come packaged in a muslin bag (made in the USA) and screenprinted by hand. Included inside is the full list of seeds. What’s not included is some simple directions for planting or placing the seed bombs. I’m sure most green thumbs would find it a no-brainer, but for those of us garden-challenged, a few simple steps would be helpful. I have no idea how deep to plant the seed bombs or whether they need to be in full or part shade. Do I place the bombs a few inches apart or a few feet? Help a novice gardener out!

I do love the idea of a summertime surprise, which is what you’ll get with these little goodies. And VisuaLingual Seed Bombs would make an awesome gift for the gardener in your family. Or even a fun gift for the kids—my son would love anything involving dirt and the word “bomb” as would just about any kid of any age, including my husband. With VisualLingual’s Midwest Seed Bombs (and a few easy directions) even I could get into practicing random acts of gardening!

VisuaLingualVisuaLingual also has some beautiful tea towels, coasters, trivets and prints. You could put together a really fabulous gift set for Mother’s Day from this Etsy shop alone!—Emily

* Promotion! VisuaLingual is offering Daily Dish readers 25% off their entire purchase! Simply enter code Boutique Cafe when checking out. Offer expires May 12, 2010, so don’t wait too long to order your Seed Bombs!

We’re Sew Connected!

April 27th, 2010

SM1005 Boutique Cafe has been featured in the Spring 2010 edition of Stitch Magazine! Scoot on out right now and snag your own copy (it’s hotter than the Ellen/Oprah Mag for sure).

See us in the Sew Connected section, and please leave a comment to let us know you’ve seen the article. We’re super excited! – XO Daria

Ellington’s Bella Hobo: A simply breathtaking (multitasking) handbag

April 27th, 2010

Ellington HandbagsIt has been far too long since I’ve been able to review a chic diaper bag (my fave is still my Amy Michelle Gladiola), but that’s okay because I no longer give a true, dedicated diaper bag a full-fledged test drive. Yes, I still have one in diapers (even the world’s blingiest crown won’t get her out of them) but my youngest are now old enough I can survive on much less. It’s been a long time coming, trust me!

Ellington Bella ToteAs nifty as it is for me to be out of the diaper-bag phase, I still need a handbag that can multitask as well—or better—than I do. Though I don’t require room for multiple changes of clothes, bottles, pacifiers, Cheerio-filled snack cups and board books, I do require space for a couple fruit snack packets, one Hot Wheels, a few Smarties (less messy than suckers) and my Envirosax reusable tote.

And then I want to be able to use that same bag to hold my HP Vivienne Tam netbook, old-school notebook, pen, extra business cards and other necessary gear when I head to a networking event or conference.

Oh, and then I want that same handbag to transition to a chic, fabulous accessory for a night on the town. Not a small order but not impossible, especially for Ellington Handbags, and more especially for Ellington’s Bella Hobo handbag.

First, a little bit about Ellington (I think I might need to work for this company):

When we’re not at work, we’re musicians, writers, and artists; sailors, cyclists, and marathon runners; moms and dads and aunties and uncles; cooks and gardeners and avid knitters. We think life is an adventure, and a good handbag should carry whatever you need, wherever your adventures take you. We create each bag to be your perfect companion; the one you want by your side every day, whether you’re picking out veggies at the local farmer’s market or boarding a plane to Budapest. Just enough pockets, but not too many. A strap that fits on your shoulder as if it was made just for you. Luxurious leathers and fabrics that feel good, look good, and wear well. But what about style? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. We know that looking good feels good, so we focus on classic-chic designs that you’ll feel good carrying not only for a season, but for years and years.

And now for Ellington’s Bella Hobo. Gosh, I’m in heaven just writing about this handbag! The company sent me the Bella Hobo because of its multitasking abilities all hidden inside the yummiest Italian leather. Now, they didn’t say “yummiest Italian leather” but I’m saying it. It was yummy the moment I opened the box:

Ellington Bella Hobo

Ellington Bella Hobo hardwareYou can’t tell from this picture but this handbag smells fabulous. You can ask my husband’s friend who walked through the door just after I opened to box because I had him take a whiff of that fab Italian leather. An architect with an eye for good design (and not afraid to comment on a woman’s handbag), he too thought it a chic and stylish accessory. Seriously. I’m not just saying that.

I couldn’t wait to test this bag’s ability to handle all this blogger needs when attending an event. I loved that it had not only super sturdy handles with awesome hardware but an optional shoulder strap, which comes in handy when holding a child on one hip and the hand of another. I filled it with the necessary items and still had room to spare if I’d wanted to throw in another couple hundred business cards. (Okay, I’m not THAT popular but a girl can dream, can’t she?)

Ellington Bella Hobo

Sort of clockwise from top left: small leather notebook; reusable tote; sunglasses case; wallet; netbook; business cards; business card holder #1 (this one holds customer appreciation cards and gift cards); power cord for netbook; keys.

What you don’t see: cell phone and expo tickets (outside pocket); business card holder #2 (other outside pocket); two lip glosses (inside pockets); pack of gum.

Ellington Bella Hobo toteAnd yet even chock full of expo goodies, this handbag doesn’t look like it’s “working.” And it would look just as fantastic if it were hiding diapers and wipes (and that extra change of clothes). No matter what’s inside, you’ll look like you’re ready for a day of shopping and lunch out with girlfriends—or better yet, a day wandering around the streets of Rome or Milan. Perhaps that’s the next test run I should take with my Ellington Bella Hobo handbag...

Ellington Ramoli toteEvery Ellington handbag is beautiful, classic, chic, unique…and yummy. And so are the prices. Most of their handbags retail for under $200, which is a steal considering the craftsmanship, design and that supple Italian leather. Don’t want to spend that much on a handbag for yourself? Mother’s Day is around the corner; let your husband finally get his Mother’s Day gift-giving right!—Emily

* Promotion! Ellington Handbags is offering Daily Dish readers FREE SHIPPING with code BCAFE! Simply enter the code at checkout to receive your discount. (Or have your husband enter the code at checkout so you can have the happiest of Mother’s Days.)

Show your wacky side with Kitsel’s Wacky Package tees

April 20th, 2010

Kitsel logoI adore children’s tees with a sense of humor—and I’m not talking about your typical run-of-the-mill, cutesy tees you find at big box retailers. I prefer a unique, tongue-in-cheek, the “where did you get that shirt!” kind of tee, and that’s what Kitsel offers with its new Wacky Package collection.

A little about the Wacky Package collection:

Wacky Packages, a series of collectible stickers featuring parodies of consumer products and well-known brands and packaging, were first produced by the Topps Company in 1967 and were a collecting phenomenon in the 1970s.

GatoraidWhen it comes to children’s apparel, retro—if done well—is one of my favorite styles. Kitsel sent my little George the Gatoraid short-sleeve tee. Unfortunately my little guy is a bit on the scrawny side; sadly, the tee was too big for him so I don’t have any cute pics of him sportin’ that fab Gatoraid tee.

Let me tell you, it makes me really sad because that Wacky Package tee is awesome and I want him to wear it now! Not only is it super soft but its unique design, vintage look and humor make it one of the coolest tees George owns. I’m tempted to wash it in super hot water and dry it on the regular setting to see if it shrinks, but since 10 Again’s t-shirts are vintage washed I doubt it will do much good. DANG!

TriksMy other favorites in the collection are the Triks and Slacker Jack tees. Of course with the older kids I’m sure the faves would be the Kentucky Fried Fingers and Burpsi Cola tees. Along with the Wacky Package tees, Kitsel has a fabulous collection of children’s apparel, accessories and baby gear. I’ve done a bit of browsing and I love some of their infant onesies…almost enough to have another baby…almost.—Emily

* Promotion! Kitsel is offering Daily Dish readers 15% off their purchase. Simply use code “boutique” when checking out. This offer is good on all orders over $25 but cannot be used on furniture, jewelry or Petunia Picklebottom items and cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer expires April 23, 2010.

Patricia Bravo at Quilt Market {+ GIVEAWAY}- Show #122

April 19th, 2010

In continuing coverage of Fall Quilt Market, our guest correspondent Bari J. interviews the amazing Patricia Bravo from Art Gallery Fabrics. Patricia shares her beautiful fabrics, gorgeous new patterns, and some brilliant Grab N’ Sew Kits that make it sooo easy to jump in and enjoy! Find out even more about our guest Patricia Bravo on her Blog here>>6a00e553bbe52e88340120a965db8c970b-150wiplaymat_200

GIVEAWAY:
Patricia Bravo and Art Gallery Fabrics are giving away 1- “My First Playmat Pattern Kits” for one lucky Boutique Cafe listener!

To enter simply comment with a valid email address in order to be included. We’ll draw the winner on April 27th, at midnight!
To earn additional entries you can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway:

• Visit artgalleryfabrics.com and leave a comment here telling us your favorite design.
• Follow PatBBravo on Twitter and leave a comment telling us you’re their newest follower.
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Special thanks to Bari J Ackerman for her incredible coverage of Fall Market! We love you Bari!

**Interested in sponsoring an upcoming episode of Boutique Cafe? contact us at info@boutiquecafe.com for more details
UPDATE!! Winner Announced. Congratulations to Eve (@shopgurl)! You have won the Patricia Bravo Playmat Kit. We will be contacting you to get your shipping information. Thanks to everyone for helping us share and get the word out!

** Click button below to view video coverage, or view it on our YouTube channel right here>>

click to listen to Podcast in MP3 audio format

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Kinderbliss offers heavenly children’s clothing & accessories

April 15th, 2010

When I heard Kinderbliss was a new online shopping boutique by Angela Edgeworth, the same woman who founded pediped Footwear, I knew it would be a fabulous site. I have reviewed pediped a handful of times on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish and I am a HUGE fan. I couldn’t wait to dive into Kinderbliss and see what all the buzz was about!

Kinderbliss_homepage

Kinderbliss_JakeTo kick start my experience, Kinderbliss sent George a pair of pediped’s Jake shoes in yummy chocolate brown. These are now our go-to shoes for church on Sunday and any other time his grungy favorite tennis shoes won’t pass the dress code. Like all pediped shoes, the fit is comfortable, which is super important when you have a son who is picky about socks and shoes (and tags and long sleeves and the list goes on). George’s Jakes are super good-looking—I wish I had a photo but we’re lucky to make it to church only 10 minutes late let alone have time to snap a few pics!

Kinderbliss_boypediped shoes aren’t the only stylin’ things you’ll find on Kinderbliss. The boutique is full of princess-worthy dresses (and yes, even a tiara!), golf-course-ready duds and everything in between. Here’s a note from Angela:

The idea [behind Kinderbliss] was to capture the spirit of childhood, in all the beauty and fun, because we all know childhood only lasts a short while. Kinderbliss isn’t just any store, it is a place where you can find unique and beautiful items for gifts and for children. I have always loved buying apparel and toys for my girls because I know that my time to do this is limited. Soon, they will be picking out their own clothes or shopping on their own, but until then, I get to dress them the way I like!

Kinderbliss_girlKinderbliss even has an Ideas & Inspiration page so you can get some, well, ideas and inspiration about super cool outfits for your little one. How fun is that!

I pretty much want to buy everything on the site whether or not it comes in my little ones’ sizes; unfortunately the prices are a little bit high for me. But for a special occasion I’d certainly take my time browsing Kinderbliss. It’s a given I’d find the perfect outfit, accessories and all!—Emily

Fashion-forward reusable totes from Envirosax {giveaway}

April 13th, 2010

Ever since I reviewed Knock Knock’s Forgettable recycled reusable totes I’ve been much better about remember to take my reusable shopping bags with me into the store. Yes, I occasionally forget but that’s okay because I need those plastic shopping bags for garbage can liners. Hey, I’m all about recycling if it keeps small garbage cans clean!

Envirosax_logo

origamiUnfortunately I’m not very good at thinking to bring one with me when I pop into a non-grocery store like Walgreens or OfficeMax or hit the mall for some quick shopping. That’s why I love Envirosax’s line of reusable totes—each one rolls up super tight so you can keep it in your handbag at all times. Envirosax pretty much leaves you without an excuse when it comes to remembering a reusable tote!

But a bit about the company first because this company is so impressive:

Envirosax bags are lightweight, portable, waterproof and each one holds the equivalent of two supermarket plastic bags thanks to reinforced seams.

We believe in environmental sustainability. Plastic bags clog drains and cause flooding. They pollute rivers and streams, killing animals and destroying plantlife. They take years to photodegrade and have a very short life span. Envirosax provide a compelling alternative to the plastic bags which are doing so much damage to our planet.


The company also donates a percentage of sales to charities and non-profit organizations dedicated to preserving the environment AND provides extensive sustainability education resources for educators, parents and children. Yeah, the bags are cool but the company is even cooler!

animalplanet4Envirosax sent me the Animal Planet Bag 4 (bird) to check out for this review. Um, the picture doesn’t do it justice. This not-so-little reusable tote (you’d never guess its size from that tiny little tote-roll) is about 20” by 17” and seriously chic; the print is as stylish as they come. It is well made with a weight capacity of 44 pounds. Um, that means I could carry George in it if I wanted to!

I love Envirosax’s Animal Planet line but I’m also loving their Mikado, Origami and La Boheme collections. Oh, and their Kids and Organic series are awesome as well. You’d be hard-pressed not to find at least four or five bags you simply can’t live without. And I almost forgot to mention Envirosax designs custom bags, which make a wonderful gift for customers and clients. How cool is that? (Almost as cool as my Animal Planet Bag 4…almost.)—Emily

*** Giveaway! Envirosax is giving away one reusable tote from their Origami, Midnight Safari or Oasis collections (winner’s choice). ***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway:

•  Visit Envirosax.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite design.
•   Become a fan of Envirosax on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
•  Follow Envirosax on Twitter and leave a comment telling is you’re their newest follower.
•  Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 20, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

  • Congratulations to Melanie C., the winner of the Envirosax giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

Give your kids a little Lunchbox Love {giveaway}

April 8th, 2010

Say PleaseWhenever my mom made my lunch she always included a handwritten note on a napkin. I looked forward to her “Have a great day!” or “I love you!” sentiments; they were a nice reminder that no matter how difficult the test or scandalous the gossip, someone somewhere was thinking about me. Perhaps that’s why I love Lunchbox Love, a line of fun, upbeat, “warm fuzzy” notecards from Say Please, Inc.

Say Please was started by life-long friends and fellow moms Judi Willard and Mary Fuller because they were tired of seeing products peddled for kids and adults with messages like ‘My favorite accessory is my dad’s credit card,’ ‘’Boys are stupid,’ or ‘I’m a Biotch.’” I couldn’t agree more! Lunchbox Love means there’s still hope for those of us who feel sayings like “I’m your biggest fan,” “You can do anything you set your mind to” and “I love your imagination” are far more powerful (and far less tacky).

Because “positive words can change someone’s day, a life, and eventually the world,” I couldn’t wait to try out a few cards on my girls. Say Please sent me four volumes of their Lunchbox Love for Kids notecards. The cards have uplifting, inspirational sayings on the front and fun trivia facts on the back. Plus they have the cutest graphic design going on—all bright and cheerful!
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Say Please Lunchbox Love

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My girls don’t usually take a cold lunch to school so I had to get creative with my Lunchbox Love notecards. I paperclipped one card inside their planners, which I knew they’d discover when they got to school…
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Say Please Lunchbox Love notecards

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...and then I taped one to their bathroom mirrors so they’d see it first thing in the morning.
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Say Please Lunchbox Love notecards

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Say Please Lunchbox Love notecards

The next morning I heard the girls all twitterpated about the cards on their mirrors and comparing what each one said. (Note to self: make sure the uplifting, supportive notes sound equivalent or it could backfire.) Fortunately I’d chosen relatively “equal” cards knowing full well my girls would compare. The mirror idea turned out to be perfect because one daughter woke up in the middle of the night after a bad dream, went to the bathroom and saw the notecard. She told me it helped her feel happy and made it easier for her to fall asleep.

I absolutely ADORE Say Please’s Lunchbox Love collection. And I mean really and truly love them. Writing on napkins gets a bit tricky if you only have a ballpoint pen—and your brain is mushy at 7am in the morning. At $3.99 per volume (10 pre-designed cards plus 2 blanks), sending your kids to school with words of encouragement is as easy as trading your Oreos for chocolate milk! If they don’t take lunch then slip one in their backpack, Nintendo DS case or sock drawer. Plus with Lunchbox Love for Girlfriends, People You Work With and Those You Appreciate, you can spread encouragement everywhere you go!—Emily

* Promotion! Say Please is offering Boutique Cafe readers 10% off their order. Simply enter code LBL4ME when checking out. PLUS you can get free shipping with any four (4) Lunchbox Love volumes!

*** Giveaway! Say Please is giving away one (1) set of four (4) volumes from the Lunchbox Love for Kids collection! ***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway:

Become a fan of Lunchbox Love on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
Follow Lunchbox Love on Twitter and leave a comment telling is you’re their newest follower.
•Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 15, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

  • Congratulations to Ashley R., the winner of the Lunchbox Love giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

I want my Chili’s…Chili’s new menu! {giveaway}

April 6th, 2010

(Read to the tune of the classical “I want my new baby back, baby back, baby back, baby back…Chili’s baby back ribs {barbeque sauce}”) And yes, you’ll want some of Chili’s new baby back ribs. Just ask Nathan who inhaled half a rack of them during our recent visit to Chili’s.

NOTE:
I totally spaced bringing my camera and had to take all photos with my lame cell phone. For honest-to-goodness mouthwatering photos check out Chili’s online menu.

I love any excuse for a date night so when Chili’s sent me a $50 gift card for the sole purpose of trying—and reviewing—some of the tantalizing dishes on their new menu, I was all over it. I called in the reinforcements (my mom, sister and brother-in-law) and we headed to Chili’s location in South Jordan. The first thing we always order is Chili’s bottomless chips and salsa. I mean, who doesn’t order chips  and salsa within seconds of sitting down? But this time I noticed something I’d never seen before: bottomless tostada chips with the option of a house-made salsa-ranch for $.49 extra. Um, has anyone else ever asked for a side of ranch and then mixed their ranch and salsa for the sole purpose of downing a full basket of bottomless chips in record time? Yeah, me too! So I ordered this new little dip and anxiously awaited its arrival (top right corner in photo below).

Chili's new menu

I’m here to say it was well worth the wait, which wasn’t long at all, thank heavens. I could drink gallons of that house-made salsa-ranch and then bathe in it before bed, it was THAT good. In fact, next time I’m there I just might ask if I can buy it by the bottle and take some home with me. To die for!

Then it was entree time. True to my mom and sister’s “I stick with what I like; I’m not brave enough to venture out of my comfort zone” restaurant mentality, my mom ordered her favorite quesadilla (thank you, Chili’s, for making it even though it was no longer on the menu) and my sister ordered the Triple Dippers with double Big Mouth bites (no onions) and spinach & artichoke dip. BORING!

Chili's new menu

My brother-in-law did his duty and tried Chili’s new Shiner Bok BBQ burger. He thoroughly enj0yed it though he wished it had been a bit spicier. My husband ordered the Shiner Bok BBQ full rack of ribs with a side of mashed potatoes and Chili’s new spicy coleslaw. The ribs were a hit as I mentioned in the first part of the post while the coleslaw was a bit too jalapeno for his taste.

Me? I ordered the new Steakhouse sandwich: seasoned sliced sirloin with provolone, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions, arugula and horseradish cream on warm flatbread. The verdict? YUMMY! The steak was cooked perfectly and I loved the fresh arugula mixed in with the mushrooms and onions. The flatbread was so much nicer than a bun or French roll, and the horseradish cream gave it just enough kick to make it fun. It was pretty messy, so plan to go through lots of napkins, and I don’t see it being a leftover-friendly meal due to all the juices and the soft flatbread. But don’t worry; you’ll clean your plate (though you may leave a few fries).

Other items that tempted me were the Texas cheese fries, smoked chicken taco and of course their new brownie sundae. Unfortunately we stuffed ourselves with so many chips we didn’t leave room for dessert. Next time I’m ordering dessert first! All I know is I’m heading back to Chili’s very soon for more of their bottomless tostada chips with house-made salsa-ranch and for their always friendly “Welcome to Chili’s” greeting.—Emily

P.S. Follow @ShoutOut2EatOut and visit ShoutOutToEatOut.com and enter to win a $50 Chili’s gift card by uploading a 10- to 30-second video telling Chili’s why you don’t want to cook tonight. (It shouldn’t be hard finding a reason!)

*** Giveaway! Chili’s is giving away one (1) $50 gift card good at any location! ***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

•  Visit Chilis.com and leave a comment telling us what menu item you’d most like to try.
•  Become a fan of Chili’s on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
•  Follow Chili’s on Twitter and leave a comment telling is you’re their newest follower.
•  Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
•  Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL to your blog post.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 13, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

  • Congratulations to Deborah T., the winner of the Chili’s giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

PurGood is pure goodness for your little one {giveaway}

April 1st, 2010

PurGoodAll of my children seem to have dry skin but my youngest two were hardest hit. Fortunately we have a water softener in our home, but even then I have to be careful what kind of products I use during and after bath time so they don’t scratch themselves silly when their skin starts to itch due to excessive dryness. And living in arid Utah doesn’t help!

I am a big fan of organic skin care products, especially those created with little ones in mind. That’s why I was super excited to test PurGood’s baby wash and body lotion on George and Livi. They’re almost out of their Gabriel Couzian products and I’m in the market for new (and more affordable) options.

First, a bit about PurGood:

PurGood is committed to providing organic, eco-friendly products made from socially and environmentally responsible resources. Our intent is two-fold, to provide a safe product for our loved ones while being good stewards of our earth.

I’m all about two-fold missions, especially when they support people and planet! PurGood sent me samples of their Baby Wash & Shampoo and Baby Lotion to review on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish. My first impression? How clear the baby wash was—and I mean clear. It kind of takes you by surprise when a baby wash/shampoo lacks color…and I kind of like it!

We tested the baby wash a few times and it’s a winner. Though not as powerful as bazillion-dollars-a-bottle Gabriel Couzian, PurGood did NOT dry out my children’s skin, which is saying a lot. Most off-the-shelf brands, even those geared toward dry and sensitive skin, don’t do much for their borderline exzema. To find a brand that is organic and effective AND affordable is awesome! Even better, PurGood’s baby wash and shampoo uses organic ingredients gentle to the skin and is free of “artificial colors, fragrance, parabens and sulfate and is made with pure fruit and vegetable extracts.”

PurGood’s baby lotion was just as impressive. It absorbed quickly and kept my babies’ skin moisturized throughout the day. Even without artificial fragrance it still smelled rather nice. (Sometimes products without those artificial ingredients smell a bit unpleasant.) PurGood’s baby lotion is not only free of artificial fragrances but also artificial colors, parabens and sulfate and like the baby wash, is made with pure fruit and vegetable extracts.

What else is there to love about PurGood? It’s concern for the environment:

  • PurGood containers are recyclable: “We believe that recycling on a daily basis is a way in which each one of us can do our part to help the environment.”

  • The company uses only recycled packaging materials including biodegradable packing peanuts.

  • PurGood uses minimal packaging for our products so you have less to throw away when they arrive.

I’ll be out of my samples soon, but at around $12 a bottle, I’ll be including PurGood into our daily (okay, almost daily) bath time ritual. Oh, and it’s even more of a no-brainer purchase when you learn two moms are behind the design of the products and concept for the company.—Emily

*** Giveaway! PurGood is giving away one baby wash/baby lotion gift set! ***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

•  Visit PurGood.com and tell us what most impresses you about the company and/or its products.
•  Become a fan of PurGood on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined. (Feel free to leave a comment on their fan page telling them you found them via Boutique Cafe!)
•  Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 8, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

  • Congratulations to Lacey K., the winner of the PurGood giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!
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