THE BEST OF 2008

Ok, so I've gone back through all of my 2008 reviews and made a list of what I feel are the best products of 2008. And, here they are in no particular order.



The Ped Egg: If you don't have one, get one. This is perhaps one of the only "As Seen on TV" products that I've bought that is great. I hate my feet and hate the way they get all dry and peely in the winter. The Ped Egg works at getting all that off plus any calluses.
You can easily find it for $9.99 and they sell extra blades too.

100% Pure Organic Peppermint & Green Tea Toner:
All natural/organic ingredients in this baby. Following my Skin expert's advice, this stuff has great things for your skin. Put it in a small spray bottle and use that instead of a cotton ball. I've tried both of 100% Pure's toners and this one is the best by far. No alcohol or anything that will dry out your skin. Plus, it smells good too. $15 a bottle just about everywhere I looked online.

Dancing Dingo's Shea Butter Hand Cream:
One of the best hand creams I've come across. Mine was the basic lavender fragrance but it smelled divine. This kept my hands soft and moisturized for a long time. I usually only had to apply once or twice a day. $12 for 4 ounces at dancingdingo.com

Kelp & Sea Clay Mask from Manor Hall Soap Company:
Manor Hall always has great products. I love the Kelp & Sea clay mask and so does my skin expert at my spa. Everything it contains is excellent for your skin. Use after you exfoliate, and no more than once/twice per week. $9.35 per jar and a little goes a long way.

FLUID Swimmer's Salve Lip Balm from Epli:
One of the first place winners in my Best of Lip Balms contest from the summer. This lip balm goes on smooth and lasts for hours. All natural ingredients, no petrolatum or mineral oil here. Swimmer's doesn't really have a "flavor" per se, but for me it's a little minty, a little bubblegummy..hard to pin point it but I like it. $5 at Epli.

The Plaid Mushroom Original Lip Balm:
The Plaid Mushroom also won first place in my Best of Lip Balm contest. I tried both the cherry and the original flavor and they both were great. My preference is for the original flavor but your preference is your preference. But there are other flavors like Bubble gum, root beer and there are VEGAN choices there too. The Plaid Mushroom's lip balm held itself together even in the summer (no melting) and application was smooth as silk. Also lasted several hours. Prices range from $3 - $3.50 at The Plaid Mushroom.

Crater Lake Flutter Butter:
I will say it again, this is one of the best body butters that I have tried. It went on easily, absorbed easily and kept my skin moisturized all day. Plus there's tons of good scents including some great Pink Sugar blends (you ought to know me by now). And, you have several fragrance intensities to choose from too. I highly recommend the Flutter Butter. $10.45 for a 4 ounce jar at Crater Lake.

Barack Barrettes from One Plaid Aunt:
Ok, onto novelty items. I got a pair of Barack Obama barrettes before the election. I got so many comments on them..people were constantly asking where I got them. You can also get Michelle Obama barrettes, Obama ponytail holders, ornaments and calendars now. $10 for the barrettes at One Plaid Aunt.

Butt Freckles from Butt Freckle:
Ok, my favorite novelty item of 2008, the Butt Freckle. No real purpose but they are just so dam cute. Plus each butt freckle has it's own butt freckle on it's butt. Your average Butt Freckle is $6 but you can get a humongous one for $22. And, with names like Crusty Playdoh Butt Freckle, Grandpa's Pipe Smoke butt freckle and Swedish Meatball Butt Freckle..how can you resist.

Jewelry by UnderGlass:
Underglass on Etsy is one of my new favorite jewelry artists. I discovered her work via the Saturday Night Specials thread on Etsy and I now have several pieces plus I bought some for gifts. She has just so many unique pieces that you will only find here. From the snowflake necklaces to the Guitar Hero collection, there really is something for everyone here. Prices range from $5 (clearance) to $37.

So, there it is, my favorite products of 2008. Now I can start on 2009 :-)

Almost the New Year and New Stuff for Me :-)

Ah yes, Christmas is over. The frantic shopping, wrapping till 1 am on Xmas eve and baking those dam, I mean wonderful cookies all month long. But, at least we all have some new things to show off right?


Over this past month, I've won some blog contests, gotten a special discount code and of course gave my husband (and Secret Santa) some Indie items that I wanted. So all in all I had a nice Xmas season. Here's a little run down on some of the delightful things I got this past month.





















I received a nice 50% off discount via a blog giveaway to Nyblaque's Etsy store. Nyblaque is an Etsy jewelry store in which I found a most unique necklace that just kept getting my attention. It's call "Cornucopia" and as you can see by the picture it is such a cornucopia of things. Framed by this simple ebony wood rectangle, the simple golden circle is bursting with a variety of autumn colored gemstones.

Here's the description straight from Nyblaque's listing:



"This design was my expression of a cornucopia...filled with labradorite berries, mandarin garnet oranges, carnelian pumpkins and lemon quartz squash..bursting out of the horns' copper, brass and oxidated alumunum twisted and soldered handmade 20m "ring". Captured in a 35mm tiger ebonywood picture frame. "


It hangs from a very delicate chain and is a rather heavy pendant. I don't care how heavy it is though cause I think it's one of the best pieces I own. I can safely say, I have the only one :-) Now, this piece was originally priced at $50 but I was able to get it for $25 with my discount. I know this type of piece takes a long time to make, just look at the work that went into it, but I see this as a unique style for Nyblaque and I hope to see more of this style in the future.























I had also recently won another blog giveaway (it's been my lucky year what can I say) and in this one I received this necklace that I call my New Year's Eve ball, but it's actually called "Ice Princess" by Vandiva on Etsy. The necklace is on a very long chain, which is not usually my style, but when paired with a turtleneck sweater, it looks just right. The pendant is made of lead crystal, accented with pearls, clear crystal and opalite beads. The retail value of this piece is $49! I have actually had a piece of Vandiva's in my Etsy favorites for awhile called Rain Cloud which you can find on the first page of the shop. If you like chunkier styles, then I would recommend you take a look there.












This next Indie item, well it's not something I would've have bought for myself no matter how much I wanted one. My husband would've killed me if I bought one, so what better place to ask for one than in a Secret Santa! And, it's my Butt Freckle! Here's mine, ain't she cute lol. Butt Freckle is another wonderful Etsy store filled with, well these Butt Freckles. Tiny little friends with a lil charm (or freckle) on their backsides, as you can see in the next picture (butt freckles on Butt Freckles will vary). Butt Freckles range in price from $4 to $22 for xtra large ones. The purpose of said Butt Freckle? No purpose, you just have to have one cause they are so dam cute.








Lastly, I had this one on my Xmas list that my husband got to shop from. I had first seen these Flapper Hats on Rare Bird Finds and just thought they were gorgeous. The variety of colors, flowers and the like just made for a unique, conversation piece of a hat. You can find these Flapper Hats at Melissa Happy Stuff on Etsy. The hats cost $30 each and let me tell you, if you go and look at her sales..it's just pages and pages of these Flapper Hats. They are selling like hot cakes over there. The photo on the right is the exact one that my husband got me. The colors are perfect as they match the coat I wear.


So, lots of good stuff right? I'm very happy and very satisfied with all of these great Indie items. What did you all get for Xmas? Let me know.

Coming up soon here on Products..my list of the Best of 2008 (based on my product reviews during 2008).