Thursday, March 31, 2011

Pastels - New Product - More Snow? NO

Hi Everyone! 

I can`t believe my eyes! It really is snowing out. I`m not really surprised though, I`ve seen it snow many times over the years in March and April. The weather people act like its so unusual. They build it up out of proportion.
The tulips and daffodils don`t seem to mind.



Well, moving on, today I`ve decided to feature all these wonderful spring pastels that I`ve found in different shops on Etsy. I did a blog on pastels a while back, but I`m doing another one because I think everyone needs another boost of Spring. I know I do. So anyways here are my finds of the day.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/70512550/peppermint-candy-buttons-sample-15

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71198468/vintage-inspired-spring-easter-banner

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71162588/pastel-mini-marshmallows-6






Enjoy my choices!

Here are a few more pictures of the snow, its pretty, but we need SPRING now Mother Nature!




Finally before I finish this blog up. I`d like to share my new item with you.
My vegan orange chamomile balm contains all natural ingredients that will sooth and comfort all those dry spots you might have. From hands to heels it will soothe and soften the skin. You can even use it on your face for dry spots.

Thats It For Now!
As Always
Keep It Clean!
JoAnn


Au Naturelle

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Seeing Red - New Finds On Etsy - My Shop Of The Week Pick

Seeing Red!
I just love the color red, it goes great with all my white ironstone. So I decided to go on a hunt on Etsy looking for great red accessories to put on my wish list. While I was hunting I found a wonderful scarve, some great cupcake holders, this beautiful red EAT sign for my kitchen, gorgeous art work, this bird feeder tray that I just have to have, a great metal box, candle holders and last but not least. This great red leather handbag.

Here are some of the great ones I found. Etsy is loaded with wonderful shops and great finds. Tons and tons of talented crafters and artists of every field imaginable.


I`ve decided that I will feature a Shop Pick Of The Week on every Tuesday. My choice for this week is a shop called AntiDevil Wood Shop. Filled with many fine, exquisitely done wood products. This artist rates a 10 on my scale of 1 to 10. His shop is full of fun, unique and useful wood items made in different types of wood.
I`ve provided a link to this shop, you really need to check it out. Here are a few pictures of some of AntiDevilWoodShops` products









Anti Devil Wood Shop






Finally for today I would like to show a great treasury one of my products is featured in.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d90bd4a6f4a8eef660f51dc/monday-musings
Thats it for today!
As Always
Keep It Clean!
JoAnn


Au Naturelle
http://www.etsy.com/shop/aunaturelle




Monday, March 28, 2011

New Products

Honey Of A Scrub
Vintage Blossoms Note Cards



Chilly out, feels more like January then March. Spring is having trouble getting here in Connecticut.


Vintage Blossom Gift Tags
I`ve spent the last few days working on some new items for my shop. 
I have a few of them pictured . 


I also have a few new items that I will be listing in the coming week. One of them is an all natural deodorant and the other is an anti-aging glycerin cream for your face. Be watching for these products.


Also if you are just following me tonight, I have a special offer available for any one that purchases the Honey Of a Scrub. You can receive $2.00 off your purchase by using coupon code SCRUB at checkout.


Tonight I also have another all natural household cleaning recipe to add  for Spring cleaning. This recipe is for an Automatic Dishwashing Soap (similar to name brands)

Homemade natural formula will safely cut through grease and sanitize your dishes as well.

1/2 cup liquid castile soap
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3 drops tea tree extract
1/4 cup white vinegar

Combine water and liquid Castile soap. Stir and then add lemon juice, tea tree extract, and vinegar. Stir until blended evenly and store in a squeeze bottle.

Use 2 tablespoons per wash in a standard-size dishwasher.


NOTE: Do not substitute conventional liquid soap for the castile soap unless it is a "low sudsing" soap. Regular soaps will produce too many suds and overflow the dishwasher.


Thats it for tonight!
As Always
Keep It Clean!
JoAnn~




Au Naturelle
















                                                                                      

Saturday, March 26, 2011

New Listings

Hi Everyone!
Its been a busy day here at Au Naturelle.
I`ve listed some new items in the shop. One of them being this wonderful clay cleansing scrub loaded with jojoba beads. It contains aloe vera gel and coconut milk powder giving it a gentle wonderful scent. It also contains white kaolin clay, rice powder and cornstarch for exfoliation along with light and dark jojoba beads for moisture.


Another new item in the shop is my Honey of A Scrub, a great all around scrub with honey, almond meal, spa salt, turbinado sugar, vitamin E and apricot kernel oil.

This scrub is $2.00 off with coupon code SCRUB at checkout. The coupon is good until April 30th. the refund is given through paypal.
Finally I have a couple of new card sets,
In The Garden

And Vintage Blossoms


Thats about it for tonight, be watching for some cleaning tips in the next few days also with an all natural household cleaning recipe.


Until then,
As Always
Keep It Clean
JoAnn

Friday, March 25, 2011

Soap

More and more people are trying and using

 handmade

 and handcrafted soaps and products due to the fact

 that

 there is more and more information available to the

 average consumer about what is being used in

 products

 that you buy in the stores. And also there side effects

 and

 long term effects.

*****

 A little info on store bought soap;

commercial soaps are

 not as "clean" as you might think. First of all,

commercial

soaps contain harmful FD&C dyes, which are known

 to

 cause cancer, chromosome damage, hyperactivity,

 hives, etc. Furthermore, name brand soaps spend

 more

 money on their packaging than the actual soap (not

 to

 mention advertising expenses). The naturally-

occurring

glycerin, a moisturizer, is also removed from 

commercial

 soaps (so the bars are harder and longer-lasting). 

This is

 why we can't wash our faces with commercial soap, 

and

 instead need to now buy an additional product

 (presumably offered by the same company) to wash

 our

 faces. Another danger of store-bought soap is that

 animal testing is still being used.  Possibly even more

 disturbing is that many

 name brand soaps are made with animal by-products

 (tallow, lard). Not only are these by-products full of

 toxic

 growth hormones, but they clog pores. 

***** 
(This information is available to any consumer, all

 you

 have to do is a little research.)


Check out my shop on Etsy for all natural soaps and

 products.

Au Naturelle 

And

While you are there, check out all of the other many

 fine 

shops!



As Always

Keep It Clean!

JoAnn
















Wednesday, March 23, 2011

More Spring Cleaning Tips And Recipes

Spring is taking its time getting here on the East Coast, but what would New England be without its changeable weather.


I`d like to share a few more tips for spring cleaning.
This one is with baking soda. Baking soda can be used on a wide variety of material and surfaces. You can use it to clean stainless steel, it cleans stains from crockery from tea and coffee. You can also make a paste of baking soda and water to remove stubborn stains from laminate, marble or plastic surfaces. (Always test first.)

And heres` a great tip for those of you with children and crayons. Baking soda will remove crayon from wallpaper,  just sprinkle on a wet sponge and apply to surface.

We depend on all those cleaners in the detergent aisle of the store too much, it can be as simple as a box of baking soda.

I would also like to share my donation to the relief efforts in Japan, 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale of my candleholder with beeswax candles will go to the Red Cross .





Now moving on, my recipe of the day you will need to have a few essential oils on hand for this one.

An all purpose bathroom cleaner that not only wipes away dirt and grime, but also kills germs and bacteria.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon Borax
  • 2 cups hot boiled Water
  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap
  • 3 tablespoons white Vinegar
  • 15 drops Lavender essential oil
  • 10 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
  • 5 drops Tea Tree essential oil

Directions

  1. Pour the water into a large glass pitcher with a spout. Add the borax and stir until it's dissolved.
  2. Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then pour it into a spray bottle. Add the remaining ingredients and shake well to mix.
  3. To use, spray onto bathroom surfaces, then wipe clean with a cloth or sponge.
Thats it for today,
As Always Keep It Clean!
JoAnn