Feature + GIVEAWAY!!

I haven’t done a feature post in a very long time and thought now would be a great opportunity to feature a lovely lady who I met through Etsy. She found me through the local sellers and we met up for tea and scones with another Etsian (who I will be featuring soon too). Sandi specializes in soaps, lip butter, and candles. I personally have tried out the lip butter and can tell you it is amazing (so much I bought 40 tubes!!!). You can also find her here (blog) and here (shop).

Tell us about yourself and what you like to do for fun.

 My name is Sandi Solis. I am 33 and currently living on Minot AFB, ND with my husband who is active duty in the Air Force.

I like to do just about anything that is interesting or brings forth creativeness, challenges, or inspirational thought and way of life.

One of the more random old-pieces of fun for me as a teenager and young adult was to drive on a road that I had never traveled before (like hours) then find my way back with no map. I found such freedom and exploration in this!

What is your shop's name & url? What do you sell there?

 My shop is Nioi. Recently, I am into cold-process (CP) soaps and it is a rather new craft for me. I also sell candles, lip butter, incense, room sprays, perfume oils, and bath salts.

How did you get your shop's name?

My shop’s name is quite boring if one understands the Japanese language! The word “nioi” means “smell” or “scent” in Japanese. And why Japanese you ask? Well, I love Japan, my husband is half Okinawan, and my minor in college was Japanese! Things of Japan pretty much consume my life and my mind.

 What is your favorite item in your shop?

I’m gonna have to say the lip butter! It took a few tries to perfect a homemade recipe, but I think the outcome makes for something incredible. I love how natural the product is. It’s fun to make and very versatile. The lip butter labels can be customized for any occasion! So cute!

Any funny mishaps when you started creating your products?

YES! At one of my very first candle parties in England, I mislabeled the scent “Sweet Pea”. Yeah, it was brought to my attention that I called the scent “Sweet Pee”!! Yikes.

What shop goals do you want to accomplish by the end of this year?

 I aim to have an actual open house at my home to showcase some of the products that have accumulated during the past months! I think around the holidays would be an excellent time to share. Perhaps I can start a network of wonderful homemade crafters to join in and offer our lovely products to the families on base… especially during the dreaded winters we have here, it will be very uplifting for all involved.

 What's your blood type? (inside joke, I'm not hoarding blood)

A- This means, according to a Japanese societal belief, that I am calm, patient, sensitive, responsible, overcautious, stubborn, and unable to relax. That pretty much sums me up!

Ninjas or pirates?

Ummm, Ninjas! My husband is part ninja. And so are my sons. Me? I’m related by marriage, so the bond is there. I do know some kickin’ cool pirates, but they are louder than ninjas and stinkier… Yes, definitely ninjas!

 What is usually your first thought when you wake up?

I need coffee. You know, this is actually a thought at night, too. Is it weird to crave coffee right before going to sleep at night? It’s almost like I’m excited to wake up because I know there will be coffee.

List 5 goals on your life’s to-do list:

1) Raise happy, healthy boys and family.

2) Live in Japan for a few years.

3) Regain my language ability in Japanese

4) Learn Tai-chi.

5) Get a teaching license (I want to be an International Peer Advisor).

 Have any hidden talents?

I can blow smoke out of my eye. I have faulty tear ducts and they are more open than they should be (caused by a bad surgery) so my eyes water uncontrollably sometimes. The cool thing is that when I smoked I could blow smoke out of my eyes! Probably not the smartest thing to do!

 

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GIVEAWAY!!!!

 

Here's the deets...

 

**3 winners** will get a 4-pack of Sandi's Halloween-themed Lip Butter.

 

Flavors include:

-Pumpkin Cheesecake

-Vampire Kiss

-Ghost Biscuit

-Caramel Apple

All you have to do is answer this question, on this post...

 

Vampires or Werewolves?

 
I will pick a winner this Sunday, October 3rd

gogogogo!! :)

**EDIT** This is open to my International readers as well :)

Journal Pages + Shop Update

I have been absolutely LOVING the I Heart Fall journal class. This is definitely my favorite class so far and everyday I look forward to making a new page. Here are some of the pages I've done so far.

Also, I updated my shop with lots of new Fall/Halloween Badges!! I tried a new technique and painted some of the felt. I love how they turned out! Great party favors!!! Oh and only a few more days left to grab your Sponsor Spot (3 left)!!

Click Here for the Shop

Click Here for a Sponsor Spot

xoxo,

Lindsay

P.S. Awesome feature and giveaway Thursday!! :)

I Have My Own Lip Butter...

My amazing friend Sandi named a lip butter pack after me. What?? YEA!! As most of you know I have a tiny OCD with my chap-stick and when Sandi found me through Etsy, it was like when cereal was introduced to milk! As soon as I tried her lip butter I knew I found my lip butter supplier for life!! I was absolutely tickled when she told me she named a pack after me and couldn't wait to share with you guys. I am so obsessed with her lip butter, I stocked up for winter (40 tubes) and of course I'm sharing some with friends and family!

Introducing.... The Lindsay

Here's what it says:

"My creative friend, Lindsay, is a sucker for lip balm so I only feel it absolutely necessary to dedicate a flavor pack that represents her in my themed packs line! She is the spittin' image of Strawberry Shortcake meets Angelina Jolie and is a fine crafter of felted goodness."

In this pack you will receive:

Asian Pear

Sugared Strawberries

Gummy Bears 

Coconut

Click Here to see the Listing in it's entirety :)

Click Here for her shop!

I have an awesome feature I'll be posting on Thursday all about Sandi and her awesome lip butters, soaps, candles and more!! I will also be giving away lots of yummy goodies from her shop, and what's that?? Yes, there will be 3 winners!!!! so stay tuned!!!

Happy Monday!!

xoxo,

Lindsay

New, Cute Painting

By my cute, instant BFF Janel. We have been talking for months about her painting me something to hang on my wall. I wanted something that had me and my hubby's saying on it along with some clouds, so it went with the other 2 paintings. I got my painting last week and was overjoyed!! It came out perfect!!!

I was finally able to hang the ones I had sitting on my dresser since July (I wanted to wait until I had the third painting so it was complete) and they look gorgeous in my room above the t.v. Janel matched it perfectly to the other paintings :) Janel is great about offering custom paintings, you can e-mail her or catch her on her blog. 

 I would love a painting from each of my friends somewhere in my house. My friends are my favorite artists. I still have a few friends I need paintings from... *points to YOU* :)

xoxo,

Lindsay

P.S Only a few more Sponsor Spots left for October!!! You can scoop one up HERE :)

7 Years Ago Today...

I was blessed with this amazing little baby boy, who isn't so little anymore :( Today my Hayden turned 7. So like any other parent I let him skip school and took him to Space Aliens. We ate lots of food, some of us had too much chocolate milk *cough* Kaylee *cough*, played lots of arcade games, ran through the rain, then came home to presents, cupcakes, and games!!

Can we say yum? This is the fantastical desert they brought to him after the ridiculous amount of milkshake and pizza he consumed. It was bigger than his head.. Ice cream, brownies, candy, sprinkles, and much more!

Some cute instax photos I snapped (Kaylee had WAY too much chocolate milk and was pretty much in a daze)

Kaylee's *I'm about to do something that's going to get me in a lot of trouble face*.

This is where her chocolate rush came in....

Lots of arcade games played and tickets won :)

Lots of fun prezzies

We played some Trouble... and I lost *pouts*... (and not on purpose. Yes folks, it's shameful but I even compete with my kids...) j/k.. no really...

I love you Hayden so much more than I could ever put into words. These past 7 years have gone by too quickly and I wish I could freeze time so you'll stop growing so fast. You have grown into such a handsome, caring, hilarious, free-spirited little man. You will always be my baby boy :)

Happy Birthday Bear!

Love Forever,

Mama

Collections Compiled

First, I want to say how thankful I am from the support all over the globe. About 10 minutes after I posted my last post, I felt so much better. It was almost as if getting it out in the open helped me move past it. I went and hung paintings and then did an intense clean.  I felt like a million bucks afterwards and then came back to lots of e-mails and comments that made it even better. So thank you for being there for my good and bad days :)

Carol's Collections

Jackie's Collections

Andrea's Collections:

Brina's Collections:

Charity's Collections:

Taylor's Collections:

Thank you so much for playing along with me!! I grabbed pictures from everyone that linked me their collections :) I have lots of fun stuff planned for this weeks posts :)

Have a great week!

xoxo,

Lindsay