Shameless Plug: Helldorado Clothing

So through the miracle of Facebook I'm once again friends with my old friend Dustin. We met many years ago when we both worked at a restaurant together, where I was a subpar waitress and he was a busboy with a bad attitude. He has since given up his table-clearing career to focus on clothing design.

Dustin's company, Helldorado, recently set up a booth at an auto show near me, so I went to check it out. It's clothing just this side of inappropriate, but with a good dose of self-deprecating humor. Just like Dustin, actually. Don't know if I could pull it off at the PTA meeting, but I think it's great nonetheless.

Shameless Plug: Custom Sepia In the New York Times!

I was thrilled when Marianne Rohrlich of the New York Times contacted me a couple of weeks ago about a bridal registry article she was writing, featuring custom printed plates. My business Custom Sepia is in the Sunday--yeah that's right--Sunday 6/19/11 edition of the New York Times! Woo-hoo! Check out the article here.

Shameless Plug: Paintbox Soapworks

I'm not a girly girl, but one thing I do love are really nice bath products. I'm picky about the scents, though, and generally stay away from sticky sweet smells like vanilla or cinnamon bun (and if you give me anything patchouli...gag). I prefer fresh, and my all-time favorite is white tea. Or was.

Recently I ordered the gingermilk sugar scrub, and then soon after, the gingermilk lotion from Hayley at Paintbox Soapworks. Oh man. It's like no smell I've smelled before--well, aside from ginger...and milk.

It's my new favorite and my family is hoping the enchantment will wear off soon so I'll stop sticking my forearm in front of their faces and saying, "Smell me."

It also doesn't hurt that Hayley and I seem to have the same taste in music, and she names many of her products after alternative rock songs like "Dead Leaves on the Dirty Ground," "Big in Japan," and, best of all, a scent named after my all-time favorite band, The Smiths, called "This Charming Man."

Janet's Wish List (in case any of my followers or husbands are interested....)

Glycerin soap in a scent called Downpour.

White Cotton Sheets....I love these fresh, clean scents.

Big In Japan sugar scrub

Whoopsie...how did this link get here?

And by the way, Hayley had nothing to do with this shameless plug, except for selling me awesome products. I bought them and loved them so much I asked her for permission to brag about her. She graciously accepted.

Shameless Plug: By the Book Paper

Magnetic book marks that are way more stylish
than the library receipt I usually use.

Moving? Use these charming cards to announce your new address.

So much better than the ones at Target...

Mine would say, "Don't drop it in the bath, dummy!"

What a great way to keep your big day (and your gift)
in the forefront of their thoughts.

Blogging has sure opened my eyes--to new things to buy. (Isn't that great, honey?) Today I'm featuring items from my new friend Kristen's Etsy shop By The Book Paper. Since I usually have about four books going at a time, I'm always using receipts or tearing pieces of paper off to use as bookmarks. And who couldn't use a few more thank you notes? (Not that you'll actually getting around to writing the thank yous, but...baby steps.)

Kristen welcomes special orders and custom requests, so get that thinking cap on and give her a holler.

Shameless Plug: Imaginative Play Toys

Perfect for the little boy who dreams of a career in the construction field
(note the absence of a "middle management" playhouse).

Your child's name above the door and felt "mail" with your street number
is a great tool to help kids learn their address.

Today I'm plugging an amazing shop that happens to belong to my Etsy BFF, Julie. She sews playhouses out of felt that fit over your card table, and fold up when you need to use the card table for something boring, like eating...or playing cards.

Look at all the details she puts in--makes my
scissors hand tired just thinking about it.

If you really want to send the playgroup (or better yet, the playgroup moms) into a tizzy, get Jr. the "Palatial Playhouse", with a peaked roof that allows the kids room to play standing up.

If you're like me, a grunt type who doesn't mind the labor but doesn't have the creative vision to design one of these, you can buy detailed patterns and sew it yourself. Check out Imaginative Play Toys at missprettypretty.etsy.com.

Stylish Blogger Award

My very first follower Jennifer, at http://www.jennizart.blogspot.com/, who happens to be a very talented artist, has given me the "Stylish Blogger Award." Thanks Jennifer, and in the Stylish Blogger tradition (I'm sure you know), I will post 7 factoids about myself and then pass it on to other deserving bloggers.

1. I live in Sunny California but love cloudy, cold weather. When I asked my husband why we live here he said, "Because it's so expensive?"

2. Sweet peas are my favorite flower.

3. I know the letters of most of my friends' license plates, yet if you ask me what I did this weekend I won't remember.

4. My ultimate dream is to start an animal sanctuary for dogs and cats.

5. I usually paint my toenails blue.

6. I love Jack in the Box tacos.

7. I ran a half marathon in January, then came home and threw up.

Now to pass on the award:

http://www.queennmyownmind.blogspot.com/

http://www.orangiesattic.blogspot.com/

Shameless Plug: Custom Sepia

Every once in a while a company comes along that I really love, and today it's my own. A few years ago I was in charge of the silent auction project at my childrens' elementary school and had to come up with an item that had sentimental value but was functional as well. Since I'm not a "handprints on an apron" type of gal, I wanted something totally unique yet functional. I found a technique that allowed me to transfer the kids' artwork directly to a platter. The kids went to the playground and drew any tree they saw. I placed them all around the platter and fired it. The finished product looked phenomenal and the parents went crazy for it. A few months later I bought myself a kiln and 2000 plates, and Custom Sepia was born.

What to buy Mom or Grandma for their birthday, Mother's Day, or Christmas? Have each family member recount a special memory or favorite inside family joke and make her a set of plates. Totally food safe, but please handwash.

Here are a few examples of customer orders--a special recipe, a housewarming gift for a new couple, and a guest book signature platter that guests can sign. These look great displayed in the dining room after the wedding.

Did Junior write an adorable letter to Dad? Draw a picture of you as tall as a mountain? Was your husband dumb enough to put in writing that he'd always keep your car washed? Immortalize it forever on a plate. For more products, http://www.customsepia.com/ or http://www.customsepia.etsy.com/.