spend a little...save the world!!!

In keeping with Suzi's awesome freecycle story theme, I thought this week would be a fabulous time to toss tips regarding recycling perfectly good items.

Every person, whether they are a mama or not, understands how quickly we out grow or simply become tired of items in todays "throw away society." This is especially true when it comes to childrens toys, clothes and even the decor in our homes.

Being a mama of four myself I stored items for the longest time, hoping to reuse them or give them to friends. However, being a mama of four has also taught me that I need to watch my pennies. With this new found knowledge I began checking out ways to help others find awesome, barely used items for an extremely reasonable price and in return I made a little money to put toward those new items my babies were growing into. The fabulous thing about the internet is that no matter what end of the spectrum you are on, the tosser or the catcher, there are many places you can check out to find a bargin or to make a little extra cash and recycle something rather than add to our already overflowing landfills with items that are still be produced...thus the adage "One persons trash is another person's treasure."

A few good sites to check out are ebay, craigslist, and as Suzi mentioned...freecycle. Click the links to read the particulars regarding buying and selling with these options, but i have a few fabulous tips to help you be successful at recycling awesome finds.

Tips for sellers to get the job done quickly:

* Be honest! If an item has a scratch put that in the ad, you will save yourself alot of time if you list any and all imperfections, how old the item is, how long it was used, the original selling price, etc. The more information the better.

* Take lots of picture. Details, details, details ladies.

* Make the shipping cost clear. Another time saver, many people looking for a deal will add the cost of shipping into the overall price of an item. For large or bulky items consider having the buyer pick them up, it may take longer to find a buyer but you wont have to charge crazy prices for shipping or look all over then world for and unusual size/ shaped box. ALSO when you meet someone, for eveyone's safety go with another person and meet in a public area, do you really want a stranger coming into your home where your babies are.

* Clean up!!! No one wants to spend their hard earned money on a bouncy seat with stains on it, now matter how great a deal it is!!!

Tips for buyers to snag a fab price:

* Search! Try all three of the sites recommended and feel free to recommend your own (I love to find a great deal!)

* Pick up. As with a seller, if you are looking for a new crib search in your local area first can you imagine what it would cost to ship something like that across the country. IMPORTANT - make sure you go with another person and meet in a public area, safety first ladies

* Combine. If you see an item you love check out the sellers other options, chances are you can find a few things and save on the shipping by combining them into one package and many times if you are purchasing quanity the seller will offer an incentive discount.

Now if you are a saver...grab your digital camera and hit the basement my friend!!! You never know what treasures you may be hoarding. For the buyers out there, just remember, anything you can buy second hand instead of brand new is helping save our enviroment by keeping it our of the landfill and cutting production of more "junk." What is the shelf life of one of those plastic jungle gyms anyway?

Don't forget all it takes is one small change to save the planet!!!

Have a fabulous week!!!

up to 75% off sale items + FREE SHIPPING!!!

stop by and check out the clearance sale going on at pretty little pumpkins!!!

we are currently offering up to 75% off sale items and as a special offer with coupon code "ship75" you can receive free shipping with any order!!!

shop spring and summer arrivals and stock up on some hip little items for fall and winter!!!

water conservation...

The heat of the summer is already upon us and luckily for the east coast the weather has been quite mild, however we are getting forcasts for heat and humidty in the very near future.

Water is an extremely funny thing. During the hot summers months many places are drought prone with their rivers, lakes and reservoirs drying up and are warned to conserve their water usage, but even in areas that are flood prone, as has been widely in the news recently, though these areas are now being inundated with water they are also warned to conserve their fresh water due to the contamination from the overflow of spillways and sewers. I thought this week would be a fabulous time to throw out some hot little tips for using water wisely...and maybe we can save a little money for our gas tanks.

First tip - lawn waterings, we spend so much money keeping our little patch of heaven lush and green it is unthinkable to have it turn brown and dusty, if you cruise across the grass and leave footprints this is a good sign you really need to plump up those blades with a good soaking water, not just a quick spray with the hose but a nice sprinkler visit for a least thirty minutes per area. The best time to water is actually in the evenings after the sun has gone down, mornings are a good choice also, but when the sun gets hot the water can be evaporated so try to go with evenings when the cool down and dew can work with you.

Tip two - Although it seems faster and easier to spray off your patios and walkways with the garden hose opt instead for a push broom, it takes a little more work but think of the water you will save and the fabulous work out you will receive in return.

Tip three - Along with the grass, check with your local nursery or online to find the best plants for your area, whether you have droughts or an abundance of water if you choose native plants they tend to fare better and require less maintenance.

Tip four - This tip may seem like common sense to most people, yet in my house I feel myself repeating it almost every morning to my darling husband...only run you dishawasher or clothes washer when they are totally full and if you have a water-saver cycle, use it. Don't forget to re-adjust the water level with every load to match the size of the actual load AND many of the newer dishwashers do not require you to pre-rinse dishes before you pop then into the washer.

Tip five - If you or you husband can do it fabulous, otherwise enlist the help of a plumber to regularly check your toilets, faucets, and pipes for leaks, and if you find one have it fixed as soon as possible.

Tip six - Check into water-saving shower heads, toilets and faucet aerators which can also help cut your water usage. Our local water company advertises that they will actually send you a shower head for free or a low price if you can not afford to buy a new one.

Tip seven - Though many newer toilets are low-flow, if you have an older one look into placing something inside the tank to cut down on the amount of water that needs to be replaced with each flush. You can use almost anything, a brick sealed in a plastic bag works well, however as long as it does not float you are cool.

Tip eight - such a no brainer, yet again between four kids and my husband i hear these words crossing my lips at least 5 times a day..."Turn OFF the tap while brushing your teeth!"

Well I am off to shut the tap off while I brush my teeth, remember all it takes it one small change to make a big difference!

Have a fabuolus week!!!

unconcious mutterings

Free association is described as a "psychonanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to gain a better sense of self.

That's an admirable goal, but for the purposes of this excercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique. Each week I'll post ten words to which you can respond to with the first thing that comes to mind.

"Rules are, there are no rules." There are no right or wrong answers. Don't limit yourself to one word responses; just say everything that pops into your head.

1. Intimidated ::


2. Brush ::


3. Masquerade ::


4. Procedure ::


5. Tattoos ::


6. Square ::


7. Tuck ::


8. Boyfriend ::


9. Badass ::


10. Thousand ::

too beautiful to not read...

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?'
The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'

Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'

The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.'

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could.'

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said :

'Dear Mom,

I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You'. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.
Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.

Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. To night I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore the cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.

clean me!!!

Wash your hands!!! How many times have you told your kids that? From the time my kids wake up in the morning until they go to bed at night i am constantly reminding them to sanitize themselves. Why is it so hard to remember to do so after using the potty for a three year old?!?!

Well for starters the faucet is impossible for such little fingers to manuver. To remedy this prediciment I have started looking into hand sanitizers, you know, the waterless kind that you simply squirt on and rub in. Though not a thorough cleansing it does the job until I can start the dryer and make the trek from the basement up to help them do it properly.

Sadly though I have seen the news reports of kids becoming deathly sick from ingesting commercial products due to the alcohol they are made from, and I also get concerned because if you are killing bacteria (a good thing right?) and humans are made from and actually thrive on bacteria what else are we actually killing?

I found a fabulous recipe for an all natural hand sanitizer that you can tweak to suit your own preferences, remember this is not to take the place of regular handwashing but it does help out in those situations where you need a quick clean.

What you need to get started:

100% pure aloe vera gel
witch hazel
tea tree oil
peppermint oil

Then to create it just:

Add 1 cup of pure aloe vera gel into a bowl

Slowly mix in 1-2 teaspoons of Witch Hazel. (you do not want the consistency of the gel to become too thin)

Add 3-4 drops of tea tree essential oil, and 3-4 drops of peppermint essential oil.

Slowly stir ingredients together.

(If you find the consistency to be too thin, add more aloe vera gel a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency)

Store in any desired container and use as you would any other hand sanitizer

*The ingredients in this mixture are safe and natural to use on your body. witch hazel, tea tree oil and peppermint all have antiseptic and astringent properties to them, which make them great for killing germs and also healing small cuts and wounds. The aloe vera gel will help soothe skin and keep skin from drying out


**Tips & warnings
You can add other scented essential oils to the mixture for a more pleasant scent such as lavender oil or rose oil and if you find the tea tree oil and peppermint oil scent to strong, use lesser amounts

Witch hazel and tea tree oil can cause excessive dryness in people with sensitive skin, if you find this occurring, limit the use of your sanitizer to a few times a day

I send my kids to school with a small container in their backpacks and keep pumps in each bathroom.

Stay fresh and have a fabulous week!!!

Unconscious Mutterings

Free association is described as a "psychonanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to gain a better sense of self.

That's an admirable goal, but for the purposes of this excercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique. Each week I'll post ten words to which you can respond to with the first thing that comes to mind.

"Rules are, there are no rules." There are no right or wrong answers. Don't limit yourself to one word responses; just say everything that pops into your head.

1. Notification ::


2. Cheat ::


3. Top Ten ::


4. Draft ::


5. Unbelievable ::


6. Cheap ::


7. Spontaneous ::


8. Harass ::


9. Lipstick ::


10. Transpire ::

unconscious mutterings

fair trade clothing

A few weeks back I did an article on the importance of organic clothing, I should have mentioned the importance
"fair trade" plays in the garment industry. Many of the organic lines coincide with free trade but i never really understood what it was or it's importance until I started researching for my own boutique.

Fair Trade guarantees a minimum price for producers so they can earn a decent, living wage and break the cycle of exploitation and poverty. It has been defined by the four Fair Trade Organizations as "a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers, especially in the South. Fair Trade organizations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising, and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade."
~make trade fair

The four organizations involved are known by their initials as FINE:

Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) whose main responsibility is to collect data and ensure the audit of all Fairtrade-labelled products from the producer to the sales floor.

International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT) is a global network of Fair Trade organizations that work to improve the livelihoods and wellbeing of the poor people in developing countries, and to change the unfair structures of international trade.

Network of European World shops (NEWS!) NEWS co-ordinates the co-operation between World Shops all over Western Europe.

and finally

European Fair Trade Association (EFTA) was established in 1987, and is an association of 12 Fair Trade importers in 9 European countries, they facilitate co-operation and co-ordination between their members in the areas of trading with suppliers in the south, advocacy and campaigns work, monitoring of fair trade and marketing fair trade products.

Now that I have covered the technicalities , I would love to tell you in plain speak why fair trade is important to all of us:

Fair price: farmers group receive a minimum price and an additional premium for certified organic products.


Fair labor conditions: workers enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited!


Direct trade: importers purchase from Fair Trade groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.


Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest revenues.


Community development: Fair Trade farmers and workers invest earnings in social and business development projects like scholarships, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.


Environmental sustainability: harmful chemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations

Check out the Fair Trade Association for some great information and check out Make Trade Fair and sign the petition that "represents the voices of millions of people around the world who are calling for decision makers to make trade fair."

Have a fabulous week!!!

i say...you think

Free association is described as a "psychonanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to gain a better sense of self.

That's an admirable goal, but for the purposes of this excercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique. Each week I'll post ten words to which you can respond to with the first thing that comes to mind.

"Rules are, there are no rules." There are no right or wrong answers. Don't limit yourself to one word responses; just say everything that pops into your head.

1. Loneliness ::


2. Traffic ::


3. Chaos ::


4. Burp ::


5. 500 ::


6. Movie ::


7. Coma ::


8. Bark ::


9. Stare ::


10. Angelina ::

Unconscious Mutterings