This was our fourth Christmas without gifts, our fourth Christmas to celebrate experiences and our family. Three years ago was Galveston and Moody Gardens. Two years ago was Waco, Cameron Park Zoo, and the Magnolia Silos. Last year was Ox Ranch and Drive Tanks in Uvalde. This year was a little limited... to a handful of things that I could squeeze into my tight budget... thanks to our sad camper…
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Can't tell you how excited I am that we're included in a handful of HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES and FAVORITE THINGS LISTS this Christmas season!!!!!!! Two lists are with people that we've been working with for years, so it wasn't a surprise. But three were out of the blue. And they had the sweetest things to say in their posts (and in their private messages to me about their…
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The online shopping world is saturated! The Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals are everywhere! Why in the world should you worry about shopping small, supporting Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday? Why should you bother buying handmade? First, let's start with the overall umbrella of shopping with small businesses: 1. Small businesses give back (more) to your community When you support a local business, you’re also supporting your town, city, and…
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Perfect fall temps, some sun, gorgeous day! A big, dusty, airy barn. Delicious food, homemade pies. The cutest goody bags for all the vendors (including chips, granola bars, and Halloween candy). Hay bales, pumpkins, mums, banners, dream catchers, feathers, and marquee signs. Vendor booths that looked like little shops. Antique, eclectic, upcycled, and handmade items everywhere. It was a vintage wonderland!!! A shopper's dream!!! …
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Our fresh, new, sudsy, moisturizing, refreshing, yummy bar soaps are in the shop... and now available!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In case you don't know, bar soap was always in my business plan. From the very beginning of the business (five years ago)! But after researching recipes, equipment, safety concerns, and real dangers of making soap, I put it on the back burner while the kids were young. But as of this summer, what…
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Had a blast at the 2nd annual Good Vibrations Music & Arts Festival yesterday! My day started with packing up everything in the shop, driving out to Sunken Gardens Theater, and setting up my booth. It was humid. But with the sun behind the clouds, it did stay the perfect temp. Probably couldn't have asked for better weather in Texas September. And my booth space? Aaaaaaaaaaah! (picture angels singing) I…
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Have you seen the beautiful salt lamps in our shop window? We've been carrying them for the last year. Why, you ask? Because... 1- We had space to fill in our new location. 2- I wanted to add more products that fit in with our natural living goal. 3- I loved their beauty and their health benefits. I did a lot of research leading up to carrying…
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Worst fair (for us) ever! But we had a blast! ;) A few weeks before, we started gathering up the boys' best photography. Got them ordered, framed, titled, and turned in by the early deadline. {Evan ended up with a 3rd place ribbon, two 2nd place, and two 1st place ribbons. No Best of Show. Ben ended up with a 3rd place ribbon and several 2nd places. Definitely disappointed that…
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I can't believe how much I have coming up in the next few months! So many new things, so many fun things. Just.... so many things!!! I decided to get all of it mapped out in a blog post, so you can get the details and join in on the fun too.... Handcrafted Wholesale Market Thursday, September 13th 4:00pm-9:00pm Brick at Blue Star A night of Texas-owned, handmade businesses,…
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We are back from our annual South Padre trip! (the week that I look forward to all year) I've been posting pictures for days, and I've been trying to answer lots of questions. Here's the scoop, in case you have more... We have found that six days is good for us. That's one day of packing up, driving the five hours, and spending an evening in…
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