♥ Say no to bare, boring walls!  Give your walls character! ♥

I’ve been slightly envious of those families that grace their walls with descriptive phrases and words, beautifully presented, ever since I first discovered that you could do such a thing as decorate your walls in such a way.  You see, I love words.  I’m a bookish girl, one that loves to write and express my thoughts with words.  So having words or my favorite quote on the wall appealed to me greatly.

Why was I envious?  Well, if you’ve ever searched a local store like Fred Meyer or some place like that, you know how difficult it can be to find exactly what you want.  You’re pretty much stuck with whatever they happen to have in stock, if they even have anything more than pathetic little wall stickers.  Little did I know how easy it is nowadays to find exactly what you want – and you don’t even have to sacrifice an arm or a leg for such cool and unique wall decor!

Enter Old Barn Rescue Company’s wonderful online store full of wall graphics.  Heaven!  Whatever you’re looking for, they are sure to have it.  They carry full quotes, personalized graphics such as “_______’s Room”, monograms, and much more!  If for some reason you can’t find what you want, they’ll work with you to customize something for free!

My Review: Thanks to Old Barn Rescue Company, I received the following quote from the bible for our walls:

I love this verse, and the way they have made it into a work of art.  Stunning!

So, the ordering process.  With each wall graphic and quote, you are able to choose colors, sometimes more than one, so that your wall graphic will coordinate with your current decor.  The color palette is extensive – I had a hard time choosing!  We don’t really have a color scheme in our home yet, so I just went with the colors I thought would look great.  Colors that will pop but also blend well into the background.  I went with Nut Brown.  The colors you’re able to choose from currently are in the picture on the right here.

Here is what I received:

It came rolled up nicely and is simply beautiful!  I have not placed this on the wall yet – I decided that I needed to find a big canvas to put this on so that I can take it with me wherever we go.  We live in a rental right now and I can’t bear to have to tear it off the wall before we leave since it’s not reusable.  So I’m on the lookout for the perfect piece of canvas or wood to place this on.  Note that Old Barn Rescue Company will do this for you if you don’t have smooth walls! When I am able to find canvas and put this verse on it and hang it on the wall I will update this post with the final photos.  :)

Placement: The instructions are very clear and easy to follow.  You can find them here online, but they will also send you a paper copy of the instructions with your wall graphic. Old Barn Rescue Company’s decals can be placed on any clean, dry, smooth, nonporous surface like your walls, windows, tiles, doors, or plastic.

Final Thoughts: I am loving what Old Barn Rescue Company has to offer, and I love the people I was able to work with, too.  Everyone is very nice and helpful – they’ll bend over backward to help you get exactly what you want.  I recommend them highly!

Interview with Adonna, Co-founder of Old Barn Rescue Company:

Please introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
Old Barn Rescue Company is a two-woman show. Jan is a wife and mother of 2 very sporty kids and I am a wife and mother of 3 very musical boys. We became fast friends while doing pilates religiously for 2 years.

How did you get started designing and selling decals?
When Jan’s dad had to take down their childhood barn we had him save a bunch of the wood (thus the name Old Barn Rescue Co.) and we just started creating in Jan’s basement with scabble tiles and buttons, old faucets and hooks that we found at estate sales. Along the way I started lettering on some of the wood. There was one simple saying that people couldn’t get enough of but I got tired of lettering (No more monkeys jumpin’ on the bed). So we looked into the whole idea of cut vinyl and were excited to have such a natural outlet for my lettering. I have been a freelance lettering artist for 20 years, working for American Greetings, Gibson and Current. So, one of the things that sets us apart is that most of our designs are not made with a typeset font but are actually hand-drawn making them little pieces of art in and of themselves.

Do you have a favorite decal?
My favorite design that we sell would have to be the “No more monkeys…” because I’m so glad I don’t have to hand-letter it any more! I know that Jan’s is “if I had a flower for every time you made me smile or laugh I’d have a garden to walk in forever” because out of all our designs that is the one she chose to put on her family room wall!

What is your greatest honor or accomplishment?
I think our greatest accomplishment will be when we hit 1000 sales on Etsy (any day now!). That, and the lifelong friendship we have forged along the way. We are a great team! We are so lucky to have each other to share ideas, frustrations and laughter . We definitely spur each other on!

Do you have a day job or hobbies that keep you busy aside from your Old Barn Rescue Company?
This whole endeavor is definitely our day job now. It is so fun to create we really have to force ourselves to go make dinner or go to bed! We love making one-of-a-kind pieces in this world of mass production. Our customers get that. They are always commenting on how fun it is to find our booth at a show or shop our website (www.oldbarnrescue.com and www.oldbarnrescuecompany.etsy.com) because it’s always full of fun surprises. We are thrilled every time we read our customer’s comments or see pictures of our vinyl on their walls. We really like to make people happy so we try to fulfill their orders as quickly as we can.

Tell us one little-known or interesting fact about you. :-)
In September of 2009 I moved from St. Louis to Spokane, Washington to be nearer to family. So now we do most of our work long distance using email, ichat and the occasional Southwest flight!

What would you like to share with my readers about your store?
We have recently updated our online store: www.oldbarnrescue.com where our wall graphics can be purchased and ideas of our upcycled wall decor can be viewed. Our upcycled merchandise moves quickly, between the art shows we participate in and a few stores in the St. Louis area that carry our items. We are also searching for a few stores in the Spokane area for these wonderfully vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces.

Now for a giveaway!

Old Barn Rescue Company is offering a decal of winner’s choice (up to $32 value)!

{Prize} Decal of winner’s choice from Old Barn Rescue Company (up to $32)
{Eligibility} Open to the US and Canada.

{Mandatory Main Entry } Visit Old Barn Rescue Company (either their main website or Etsy store) and look around, then come back here and tell me in a comment on this post which decal is your favorite!

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each unless otherwise noted:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• Follow the Old Barn Rescue Company Blog
• Follow them on Twitter
• “Like” them on Facebook
• “Like” my Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Page
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available!) – You can use the Retweet button in the top right corner of this post if you want.
  
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share this giveaway in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)
• Add my button to your sidebar
• Follow my blog, Subscribe to my blog by feed reader, and/or Subscribe to my blog by email (1 extra each)
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)

• +5 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and Old Barn Rescue Company.

Giveaway will be closed on August 23, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website (either in this post or in a new winner’s announcement post).  Winner will then have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will have to re-draw another winner.  Good luck, everyone!

Disclosure:  I was provided with the product reviewed above so that I could share my thoughts and experiences with you.  This post is 100% my own opinion and written in my own words, and was not edited or reviewed by anyone.  I do not feel obligated to write a positive review – I’ll always share my honest thoughts on products.

This review made possible by Mom Made That!

I dream one day of making my own quilt.  Right now I don’t have the skill or the patience for such a thing, but I hope one day I will have both!  Until then, there is always another option – purchasing a quilt!  Now I have purchased quilt-type bedspreads from department stores, but really – can you beat handmade?  I think not.

I would like to introduce you to Silly Mama Quilts, where you can purchase handmade lap quilts, baby quilts, quilted table runners, quilted bags and purses, and more!

What first attracted me to Silly Mama Quilts were the fabric colors and patterns.  Everything is simply beautiful, and I love the fabrics used!  Here are some of my favorites from the shop:

What We Like About Silly Mama Quilts:

• The shop is mom-run!
• They offer free shipping on all items.
• Customer feedback is 100% positive.
• Pricing is affordable!

Table Runner Review:

Thanks to Silly Mama Quilts, I was able to review a gorgeous quilted table runner.  I received it quickly and was immediately impressed with the quality of the fabrics and stitching.  This table runner is made to last a lifetime, and I have no doubt it will!  It makes a beautiful keepsake and is something I’m more than proud to have on my table.

The runners are all reversible.  I LOVE the fabric on the “back” side of my runner.  It looks so old-fashioned with little children in their country outfits.  I love that I can change the look of the room by flipping the runner over.  :)

The length of the runner I received is 13 x 47 1/2 inches, perfect for our kitchen table or coffee table.  There are other lengths available, but I prefer the long runners.  Though I would be more than delighted to own table runners of different sizes!  My dresser could use one… well, Christmas is coming!  Speaking of which, there are many holiday-themed table runners and quilts as well!

Final thoughts: I am so happy with what I’ve received from Silly Mama Quilts, and would recommend purchasing from there without hesitation.  I’m sure you will be just as happy with what you receive as I am with my quilted table runner!   The quality is exceptional and the sewing work flawless.

Buy It!

Quilted table runners from Silly Mama Quilts range in pricing from $8.00 – $35.00, and come in a variety of patterns and themes.  Remember that shipping is free on all orders!

Silly Mama Quilts Online…

Follow the Silly Mama Quilts Blog
Follow them on Twitter

Silly Mama Quilts is offering a $20.00 credit to their online store to one lucky winner!

{Prize} One winner will receive a $20.00 gift certificate to the Silly Mama Quilts Etsy shop!
{Eligibility} Open Worldwide!

{Mandatory Entry } Visit Silly Mama Quits and look around, then come back and tell me in a comment here what your favorite item is!

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each unless otherwise noted:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• Follow the Silly Mama Quilts blog/follow Silly Mama Quilts on Twitter (1 extra each)
• For 3 extra entries: “Like” my Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Page
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available – you can use the button in the top right corner of this post)
  
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share this giveaway in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)
• Add my button to your sidebar
• Follow my blog, Subscribe to my blog by feed reader, and/or Subscribe to my blog by email (1 extra each)
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)

• +5 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and http://sillymamaquilts.etsy.com.

Giveaway will be closed on August 17, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website (either in this post or in a new winner’s announcement post).  Winner will then have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will have to re-draw another winner.  Good luck, everyone!

Disclosure:  I was provided with the product reviewed above so that I could share my thoughts and experiences with it with you.  This post is 100% my own opinion and written in my own words, and was not edited or reviewed by anyone.  I do not feel obligated to write a positive review – this website is about honest experiences with products!

Make Your Walls Beautiful With…

Trafalgar’s Square Children & Animal Art

There is such a delightful sweetness to the artwork at Trafalgar’s Square.  Each painting, whether featuring woodland creature or child or both, is full of atmosphere and a childlike wonder.  I think their simplicity is what I really love – you’re focusing in on the characters and really thinking about what is happening in the picture.  Lovely!

A sampling of prints you’ll find at Trafalgar’s Square…

Besides prints, you can also purchase little buttons, mirrors, and note cards featuring her art, and even adorable plush animals!

Trafalgar’s Square is honored with 100% positive customer feedback!

My Thoughts…

I received three 8 x 10 prints from Trafalgar’s Square for review purposes.

The print on the left went into my kitchen so that I can look at it often, and the one on the right in my own bedroom above my bed.  :)

I didn’t leave my little girl out, though.  She received a personalized print like the one below!

Is that adorable or what?

And how awesome is it that it can be personalized?  And not only with your child’s name, but her hair color and she can even change the dress color!  What an awesome gift idea!

Shipping: I received my prints quickly and found them to be in perfect condition and ready for framing.  They were protected in a clear sleeve and bend-resistant mailer.

Print Quality: The prints I received are top quality.  They are printed with Claria inks on Premium Epson matte paper (both of which are tested and guaranteed smudge, scratch, water, and fade resistant for up to 90+ years).

Framing: The really nice thing about the white background and simplicity of the artwork at Trafalgar’s Square is that many of her prints fit perfectly in larger 8.5 x 11 frames as well as 8 x 10 frames.  Here’s what the print in my kitchen looks like right now in an 8.5 x 11 frame.  Later I may repaint the frame a corresponding color, but for now I love the way the black sets of the picture.  Lovely!

Final Thoughts: We absolutely love our prints and wish every little girl and boy could wake up to these precious little characters every morning!

Make Your Walls Beautiful Now!

At Trafalgar’s Square, prints range anywhere from $8.00 (for a 5 x 7) to $16.00 (for 8 x 10).  Start shopping here!

Deal Alert!

Buy any 3 prints and get 2 free!
Details can be found under the announcement section at http://trafalgarssquare.etsy.com.

Enter to win a print of your choice from Trafalgar’s Square !

{Prize} Print of winner’s choice from Trafalgar’s Square.
{Eligibility} Open to the United States.

{Mandatory Entry } Tell me in a comment which print you would choose from her store if you won!

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each unless otherwise noted:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• Add Trafalgar’s Square to your favorites on Etsy! (Requires an Etsy account)
• For 3 extra entries: “Like” my Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Page
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available!) (50-follower minimum) You can use this sample tweet: Trafalgar’s Square charming Children & Animal Art Print #Giveaway! http://bit.ly/aAJdL4 @kindred_spirit #etsy
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share this post in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)
• Add my button to your sidebar (make sure it links to kindredspiritmommy.com!)
• Subscribe to my blog by feed reader and/or Subscribe to my blog by email (1 extra each)
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)

• +5 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Giveaway will be closed on June 30, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website (either in this post or in a new winner’s announcement post).  Winner will then have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will have to re-draw another winner.  Good luck, everyone!

I received three prints from Trafalgar’s Square so that I could share my thoughts on them with you. This post is 100% my own opinion and in my own words.

Make Your Walls Beautiful With…

My daughter has had an obsession with wall stickers ever since I bought a set for her to play with from the dollar store and let her decorate her toy box to her heart’s content.  So when I heard from CuteyBaby that they would love to be a part of my wall art series, I was excited – both for myself and my precocious 2-year-old.  And for CuteyBaby! :)

CuteyBaby has a wonderful selection of wall decals that are perfect for a boy’s or girl’s room, nursery, teen’s room, and even your own room!

Cool Fact:

CuteyBaby will customize decals for you in color or size for only $10-20.  They also are are able to create new designs and themes on request!

A Mom’s Thoughts…

Thanks to CuteyBaby, I was able to review their “The Bees Knees” wall decal set.  This features a small hive and mini bees, bees and  ladybugs of all sizes, and flowers galore!

(This is not the entire sheet, just a sample)

Ease of Application:

These are so simple to remove from the sheet and stick to the wall!  Our walls have a slight texture, so I wasn’t sure how well they would stick.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that they stuck firmly to the wall but were also easy enough to remove and re-apply if necessary.  And since my lovely little girl helped me stick these to the wall, there was definitely some re-applying going on.  ;-)  But Emma had fun and that’s all that counts!

The Results!

Here’s what we came up with:

We enjoyed making Emma’s crib swarm with cute bugs.  :)

And her bookshelf is blooming!

What we love:

These decals brighten up Emma’s room and crib, and are super easy to apply and remove – perfect for a house that is being rented such as ours.  :) They’re also very nice quality and hardy! I thought for sure that Emma would tear off some of the ladybug antennae with her attempts at sticking them to the wall and crib, but they stayed on!  That’s awesome.

What we don’t love:

I wish there was more grass and flowers rather than bugs – there were so many bugs I still haven’t applied them all!  Emma might feel differently, though… she’s been carrying ladybugs around the house like they’re her little pets.  ;-)

Final Thoughts:

We are very happy with and recommend CuteyBaby wall decals!

Buy It!

Browse the CuteyBaby decals at the official CuteyBaby website and at Amazon.com here!  Many of the wall decal kits start at $25, though most are in the $49 range.

I received the product reviewed above in order to share my thoughts on it with you.  This post is my own opinion.

Make Your Walls Beautiful With…

“I enjoy painting girls of unspecified age, that look girly and serious at the same time. I was always fascinated with what may be hiding behind a phenomenally simple expression, what story might that person tell if he/she was given the chance…I like making up quirky scenarios about their life, but in the end it’s always them that make me go one way or another.”

When I first discovered The Little Fox, I was simply captivated.  I spent time looking at every single piece of art, the faces of each girl seeming to have something to say to me.  I love that there is so much depth to the paintings, don’t you?  I know I could find a place in my home for all of her prints, and I would be thrilled to own an original (yes, she sells her originals!).

A sample of what you’ll find at The Little Fox…

The Little Fox is honored with 100% positive customer feedback!

My Thoughts…

I received two lovely 8 x 10 prints from The Little Fox for review purposes, and boy are they gorgeous! I absolutely love them!

Shipping: Although I’m in the U.S. and The Little Fox is based in United Kingdom, I received my prints swiftly – she ships within two days of order!  Not only that, but she has an amazing refund/exchange policy:   “Sometimes mailmen will treat your order less than kindly, resulting in it reaching you in a less than acceptable condition. Therefore, If you are, for any reason, unhappy with your purchase from The Little Fox, please let me know and I will be more than happy to make it right via refund or exchange.” My prints, thankfully, arrived in a sturdy mailer in perfect condition and ready for framing. :)

Print Quality: I’m extremely happy with the print quality!  Both of my prints look just like original paintings!  All of her prints are printed on archival acid-free matte paper with archival pigment inks.  They are signed and dated.

Framing: I purchased 8.5 x 11 frames for these prints. I only had to trim a little bit around the edges before framing and they fit perfectly, setting off the painting and frame with a white border.  I love the way they look, and I really love the paintings together on the wall:

Final Thoughts: I couldn’t be more thrilled with both the art and the quality of the prints I received.  They truly have made my walls beautiful.  I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend buying from The Little Fox – in fact, I’m going to make an order before the end of the month for two more prints!  My bedroom is in dire need of some of her lovely art.  :)

Make Your Walls Beautiful Now!

You’ll find original paintings, prints, and note cards available for purchase at The Little Fox.  Prints range from $12 – 16.00, very affordable!  If you stalk her shop faithfully, you might even be able to purchase one of her dolls or pendants based on her paintings as well!

BOGO Deal Alert!

You won’t want to miss this!  From now until May 31, 2010, if you purchase one print you’ll get another one FREE!  This is in celebration of her one-year anniversary on Etsy.  :)  I will definitely be taking advantage of this and I hope you do, too!  Make sure you read her Shop Announcement box and read all of the details.

Enter to win a print of your choice (Value: Up to $16.00) from The Little Fox!

{Prize} Print of winner’s choice from The Little Fox.
{Eligibility} Open Worldwide!

{Mandatory Entry } Tell me in a comment which print you would choose if you won!

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each unless otherwise noted:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• Add The Little Fox to your favorites on Etsy! (Requires an Etsy account)
• Follow The Little Fox on Twitter!
• Subscribe to The Little Fox‘s Blog

• For 3 extra entries: “Like” my NEW Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Page
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available!) (50-follower minimum) You can use this sample tweet: Enter to win a beautiful print from @TheLittleFox http://bit.ly/adSQv6 #Giveaway open worldwide! @kindred_spirit #etsy
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share this post in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)
• Add my button to your sidebar (make sure it links to kindredspiritmommy.com!)
• Subscribe to my blog by feed reader and/or Subscribe to my blog by email (1 extra each)
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)

• +5 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Giveaway will be closed on June 16, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website (either in this post or in a new winner’s announcement post).  Winner will then have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will have to re-draw another winner.  Good luck, everyone!

I received two prints from The Little Fox so that I could share my thoughts on it with you! All opinions expressed are my own.

Make Your Walls Beautiful With…

Amber Alexander’s Whimsical Animal Art!

Amber Alexander’s artwork is, in my opinion, perfect for a child’s bedroom or nursery!  Her fanciful creatures are sure to inspire the imagination of both young and old.   You can’t help but fall in love with the characters in her paintings, and imagine endless tales of what they could be doing and thinking!

Take a look at some of her available prints:

Getting to know Amber Alexander, the artist behind these whimsical imaginings!

Please introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
I’m Amber Alexander. I live on 5 acres in the country in Vermont with my husband and two high energy, crazy standard poodles.
How did you get started with your art and what pushed you to start selling prints?
I have always been artistic, but only in the past couple of years started to explore selling my art. I used to draw, but never really painted until I created my Etsy Shop. I joined Etsy after I learned to needle felt a couple of years ago, and sold a couple of animals right away. After that, I picked up a paintbrush and started painting and never looked back!
Do you have a favorite piece of your own art?
A couple: “Stood Up” (the rabbit just looks so put out, yet proud) and April in Paris (love this guy because he is so happy looking, and curious!… he can smell the parisian pastries…. mmmmmmm)
What is your greatest honor or accomplishment?
When someone emails me and tells me how much my art makes them smile or laugh. That is THE best.
Do you have a day job or hobbies that keep you busy aside from your art?
Art is my day job.. but aside from that, I run, I bike, play with the poodles and garden!
Tell us one little-known or interesting fact about you.
:-) hmm. Okay. I used to drive a dump truck ( I was pretty young) – one of those huge ones with a 3 foot wide steering wheel. I had to stand up in the truck to turn the wheel.  The other thing is that I dream of writing and illustrating my own children’s book. I recently illustrated one for a Vermont publishing company- Radiant Hen. The title is “Ninny Nu’s Organic Farm” and it’s about animals running a farm and trying to do “the right thing”
What would you like to share with my readers about your store and artwork?
I’m happy to hear from people, I love to make people laugh and smile. I am a huge animal lover and try to express my love and appreciation of their lives through my paintings.

Amber was kind enough to send me two of her gorgeous 8 x 10 prints and two of her paintings as note cards for review:

Framing: I had no trouble whatsoever in framing my lovely prints.  They fit nicely in the 8.5 x 11 frames I purchased as seen below.  If you framed them in 8 x 10 the white border wouldn’t show, but I enjoy the effect with the black frames.

I loved the print of the bear, cat, and rabbit having a tea party so much that I put it in my kitchen above the stove.  I love looking at it while I cook!  It makes me smile, even if I burn something.  ;-)  It also gives me something different to watch rather than a pot of water that, as you know, will never boil as long as you’re looking at it.  ;-)

Emma gets to look at the mama bunny with her two baby bunnies every night before bed.  :)

Make Your Walls Beautiful With…

Kim’s Cottage Art

“Hours pass like minutes when I’m painting…”

I have a natural love for houses with character, mainly because my mom has always loved them.  Growing up, she was always putting together those puzzles with quaint little old-fashioned neighborhoods.  There were horses pulling carriages, children playing outside happily, and couples sitting on the porch.  The type of setting you really wish you could live in!

That’s why I’m drawn to the beautiful cottage art found at Kim’s Cottage Art.  I really want to be sucked into her paintings like on Mary Poppins and somehow find myself a part of that beautiful world!  Wouldn’t it be lovely to sit at one of these cottage porches and enjoy the scenery?   :)

Especially a cottage at the ocean like these:

She has also created similar cottage paintings showing the beauty of the cottages during every season and holiday, too.  Browse her cottage prints to find the perfect set for your wall!

Getting to know Kim, the artist behind these beautiful paintings:

Tell us a little bit about you and your family!
My name is Kim Leo. I live with my husband Andy and our dog Teddy. We think he is part terrier and part clown. He makes us laugh everyday.
How did you get started painting and selling your prints?
I have been drawing and painting ever since I was a little girl. I was aware of color and how different colors made me feel at a very early age. I truly enjoy painting. I strive to paint happy scenes that celebrate simple pleasures of everyday life. Offering prints of my original work allows me to share my art with many more people. I think prints are a fun, affordable way the collect and enjoy art.
Besides art, what else do you love to do?  What are your hobbies?
I love to find flea market and yard sale treasures.
What would you like to share with my readers about your store and artwork?
I hope that my artwork brings a smile to your face. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I am having the time of my life!

My Thoughts

I received two lovely 8 x 10″ prints from Kim’s Cottage Art to review.  They arrived in a sturdy mailer in a clear acid-free protective sleeve in perfect condition and completely ready to frame!

Framing: I decided to put both prints in one 8.5 x 11 frame and switch them out seasonally.  The winter one for winter and the summer one for summer.  I love this idea!  Here’s how it looks on my wall:

Kim recommends that you frame these prints using an 11 x 14 frame and custom matte; however, I decided to use an 8.5 x 11 frame and just let the white border show.  I really love the result!

Print Quality: As stated in the listings, both prints are printed on 80-lb acid-free archival paper.  The ink is moisture, scratch, and fade-resistant, and Kim signs, titles, and dates each print.

Make Your Walls Beautiful Now!

Kim sells both original paintings and prints.  Her paintings are very reasonably priced and her prints range from $9.95 – 12.95, also very affordable.  Browse her cottage art prints!

Deal Alert! She offers FREE SHIPPING on all of her prints!

Enter to win a print of your choice thanks to Kim’s Cottage Art!

{Prize} Print of winner’s choice from Kim’s Cottage Art.
{Eligibility} Open to residents of the United States.

{Mandatory Entry } Tell me in a comment what you love from Kim’s Cottage Art!

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each unless otherwise noted:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• Add Kim’s Cottage Art to your favorites on Etsy! (Requires an Etsy account)
• For 3 extra entries: “Like” my NEW Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Page
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available!) (50-follower minimum)
  You can use this sample tweet: Enter to win a beautiful 8 x 10 print from Kim’s Cottage Art! http://bit.ly/cSS5Xv @kindred_spirit #etsy
  
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share this post in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)
• Add my button to your sidebar (make sure it links to kindredspiritmommy.com!)
• Subscribe to my blog by feed reader and/or Subscribe to my blog by email (1 extra each)
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)

• +5 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Giveaway will be closed on June 14, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website (either in this post or in a new winner’s announcement post).  Winner will then have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will have to re-draw another winner.  Good luck, everyone!

I received two prints from Kim’s Cottage Art so that I could share my thoughts on it with you. All opinions expressed are my own.

Does your purse look like this?

Maybe you should go look.  ;-)  I’ll wait…

*twiddling thumbs*

What?  It not that bad?  Okay, I’ll take your word for it.  ;-)

But seriously, don’t you think you could be a little more organized?  Check this out, for instance:

Isn’t that much better?  That blue thing inside the purse is called a Joey Junior Purse Organizer, and boy is it something we all need!  I should know – I’ve been in those situations where you’re digging inside your pit of a purse and wishing you could find ___(insert whatever item is seemingly lost forever)___.

Joey Junior changed things for me, and I have to tell you about it!

First of all, I should tell you that Joey Junior sent me product samples free of charge so that I could write up this blog post and share my honest thoughts with you about my experiences.  Thank you, Joey Junior!

The first product I want to tell you about is the Joey Junior Mini Purse Organizer.  This little organizer is awesome!  It is made so that you can place it in your smaller purse with your most vital items inside it.  It stands upright outside of your purse, and has a place for your wallet, pens, sunglasses, cell phone, credit cards, makeup, cash – pretty much anything that you want to have accessible.   The fabric (ultra suede!) is soft and won’t scratch your eyeglasses (I love the way it feels!), and there is even a clip for your keys as seen in the photo on the left.

It is available in 7 different colors/patterns, and can be purchased for $14.95 for classic fabric and $19.95 for the ultra suede.

Does it have my recommendation? YES!  I absolutely love this organizer and recommend it without hesitation.

Next is the Joey Junior Original Purse Organizer!

This organizer is perfect for your mid to large size purse or bag!  It comes in 9 different colors/patterns, and is available in classic fabric or ultra suede.  I really love this one – just look at what it did for my deep, hard to keep organized backpack purse:

I really love this organizer, especially because I can adjust it to fit into any purse that I decide to switch to!  And because all of my items are already in the slots, it’s super easy to move everything from one purse to another.

What I love:

• It stays upright and in a circular form thanks to velcro, and this also makes it easily adjustable to fit different purse sizes.
• There are six roomy pockets.
• Keys are secured on a tethered clip.
• Soft fabric doesn’t scratch sunglasses or eyeglasses.

Purchase: The original purse organizer can be purchased for $19.95 for classic fabric and $24.95 for ultra suede.

Does it have my recommendation? Definitely.  I’m very pleased with how nicely my purse is organized now that I have a Joey Junior organizer!

And we can’t forget the foldable purse hanger!

This chic little accessory is easy to throw into your purse, attractive, and is a great way to keep your purse from touching the dirty floor!  It can be used in restaurants (hang it on your table), while you’re visiting a friend, or it can be hung near the door so that you’ll always have a place for your purse.  I love the fact that you can use it to hang your purse under the table while you’re at a restaurant – I always hang mine on my knee and it’s annoying!  I’m glad I don’t have to do that anymore.  :-)

The foldable purse hanger holds up to 17 pounds, and grips the surface with a non-slip pad.

Purchase: You can buy the Joey Junior Foldable Purse Hanger for $19.95 at Joey Junior.

Does it have my recommendation? Yup, another recommendation!  Not only is it classy, it is useful and easily compacted and stored.  Love it!

Discount Code

Use the code JOEYJR2010 for 5% off your order of 2 or more products!
Free shipping on all orders of $30.00 or more!

I would like to thank Joey Junior for sending me the products reviewed above so that I could share my thoughts with you on them.  This review is 100% my own opinion and in my own words.

If you read my blog regularly, you know that I love green and organic products.  I didn’t really care too much before my daughter was born, but as soon as that adorable little bundle was placed in my arms, that all changed.  Soft, sensitive skin.  Trusting, innocent eyes.  A complete helplessness that placed a new sense of responsibility for my decisions on my shoulders.

As it came time to start baby-proofing the house, I took a look at the cleaning products under my sink.  I couldn’t leave all those poisonous chemicals around – I couldn’t take that risk.  Even if I kept them up high and out of reach, the fumes are so strong and unpleasant.  I just didn’t want them around.

So I purged my cleaning supplies and began looking for natural, non-poisonous alternatives.  Which eventually led me to…

EcoStore USA!

Ecostore USA is popular for its gentle but effective household, baby, body, and pet products – all made with “no nasty chemicals.”  And I was happy to be given the opportunity to try two products from their line so that I could share my results with you!

Baby Shampoo

Ecostore USA’s baby shampoo smells SO good!  I always start with smell because that’s the first thing I notice.  It’s not too strong at all and has a lavender/citrus combination that is positively delicious.

Other things I love:

- It doesn’t irritate baby’s eyes!
- It lathers up easily and gives you a lot of nice bubbles.
- It is gentle but thoroughly cleans.
- A little goes a long way!

My only complaint is that it comes out a little faster than I would like.  So I think I’ll put this shampoo in a bottle with a pump dispenser so it will last longer.  And yes, that is my only complaint!  I love this shampoo and would be delighted to purchase in the future.

All clean - and no nasty chemicals! :-)

All-Purpose Household Citrus Spray Cleaner

This lemon-scented spray cleaner is my new favorite!  I looove citrus cleaners – and harmless citrus spray cleaners are even better.  :-)

When you spray a liquid cleaner, you are releasing it into the air and breathing it in, so it’s really important that you find something with no toxins.  That’s one reason I like this cleaner.  It doesn’t make me feel like I’m going to pass out or I have to run out for a breath of fresh air while cleaning.  And it does a great job getting the dirt and grime up!

So Would I Purchase?

Yes!  I would love to try other Ecostore USA products, and will happily purchase their products in the future.  I’m very satisfied with both the all-purpose cleaner and the baby shampoo!

{Prize}  $25.00 Gift Certificate to Ecostore USA!
{Eligibility}  US Only – Winner must have not have won an Ecostore USA giveaway in the last six months.

{Mandatory Entry } Visit Ecostore USA and look around, then come back here and tell me which product(s) you would like to try!

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• Subscribe to the “No Nasty Chemicals” newsletter by Ecostore USA (right sidebar)
• Fan Ecostore USA on Facebook
• Follow Ecostore USA on Twitter
  
• Add my button to your sidebar (make sure it links to kindredspiritmommy.com!)
• Become a Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Fan
• Follow my blog, Subscribe to my blog by feed reader, and/or Subscribe to my blog by email (1 extra each)
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available!) (50-follower minimum)
  You can use this sample tweet:  “No Nasty Chemicals!” Win a $25.00 gift certificate from @ecostoreusa and @kindred_spirit http://bit.ly/cu1zQs
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)

Giveaway will be closed on March 5, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website – good luck, everyone!

I would like to thank Ecostore USA for sending me two of their excellent products free of cost in order to write a full and thorough review.  This review is 100% my own opinion, my own experiences with the product, and in my own words.

See full review, giveaway, and disclosure policy here.

Gone are the days of “blah” aprons.  Looking cute in the kitchen is totally possible, and you have so many options nowadays!  One of my absolute FAVORITE online places to shop for cute aprons now is Flirty Aprons.

Oh. My. Word.  I could rave endlessly about my new apron!  You know how some aprons sag on you or just make you look wider than you are?  You won’t find that with Flirty Aprons – it must be the way they design them.  Mine looks awesome on me!  Really, I don’t even mind telling you how awesome I look in it.  ;-)

Okay, let me show you:

I know, I know, that’s just the top half, but I’ll have to get a full-apron photo later.

Why I ADORE Flirty Aprons:

• They’re cute, modern, and fashionable.
• They’re SO comfortable, easy to adjust the first time – and you don’t need to keep readjusting.
• Flirty Aprons has a great selection and adds new designs all the time!  You’ll want more than one.  I’m just warning you.  ;-)
• Same-day shipping.  Fall in love with an apron and get it sooner rather than later!
• One size fits all!
• 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee.
• They  have a print for every personality – animal prints, dots and stripes, all color combinations!

They even carry men’s aprons and children’s aprons!

My Thoughts:

I received the Zebra Print Apron thanks to Flirty Aprons and I absolutely love it!  It is designed very tastefully.  From the bows on the pockets to the solid black trimming, it is just gorgeous.  Like a sophisticated Audrey Hepburn style with a bit of a wild flair to it. I found it to be very well-made, easy to wash, and it holds up well to the splashes and mess of cooking.  Sometimes apron fabric is thin and fluids from cooking leak through to your clothes, but you don’t have to worry about that with this fabric.  It has great coverage, and ties behind the neck and around the waist.

Conclusion:

I can’t recommend Flirty Aprons highly enough!  And at $29.99, I think this is an excellent deal for an apron that will last a very long time and that you’ll look great in!

I would love it if you would use my affiliate link here to order a gorgeous apron of your own!  :-)

I would like to thank Flirty Aprons for sending me one of their aprons free of cost in order to write a full and thorough review.  This review is 100% my own opinion, my own experiences with the product, and in my own words.