Save 15% on Scout & More at Artisans Gallery Through April 22nd!

 

Fun and Functional Storage Solutions from Scout

Some of you may have never heard of Scout brand bins and totes and for this post, you will thank me.

You. Are. Welcome.

Scout is a brand developed by Bungalow (their Twitter is @scoutbybungalow ) in answer to the question,

"Why can't I find a fun, colorful, sturdy yet stylish tote bag?"

Thus the Deano Tote Bag was born. The Deano eventually got married to a box and they had babies and named them Mighta Bin and Hang-10 Bin.

Hang-10 Bin in Navy Jones

What I love about Scout bins and totes:

(Note: these are in no particular order. Not sure why I had to point that out I just felt like I did.)

1. Many (most?) are splash resistant and in fact, you clean them by hosing them down!

2. The fabric is sturdy yet very lightweight and some of my friends have been known to pack totes and bins in the bottom of their suitcase to keep things organized on vacation!

3. COLOR COLOR COLOR and fun patterns and such cute designs bin and...

4. Scout bins and totes make my clutter look pretty!

5. Affordable storage! (bins start at less than $20 and totes start at less than $30) Just ask my friend Linsday who had a "bintervention" on the Nate Berkus show.

Artisans Gallery has the largest selection of Scout products (both online and in-store)

Artisans Gallery is the most incredible gift shop ever. This gem has managed to not only thrive, but EXPAND their business in what many people refer to as "this economy". How? Good thing my friend @Jodifur asked during the blogger preview!

Artisans has a loyal customer base that they serve both in the store and online. I have found gifts at Artisans for women, kids but also for men! Of course I always find a little something for me too.

Coupon Code for Scout and more valid at Artisans online and in store!

Now through April 22, 2011 you can get 15% off of EVERYTHING by using

Code: ART15 when you check out!

Shop online at Artisans or visit their store in Maryland.

ALSO

Shipping is FREE for online orders over $60 (and just $6.99 for orders under

Some ideas of who you may be browsing for:

Teachers

Coaches

Yoga insructor

Kids birthdays

Mother's Day

Father's Day

I've-had-a-helluva-day

You get the idea. And if you don't I have a few photos of some of the goodies Artisans sells in addition to a huge Scout collection.

Above: coctail napkins, paper coasters, Friends frame, and Webkinz magnetic bookmark

Above: veggie dip, caramel coffee, mulling spices, fun pyramid tea, and the best darn pecan praline this side of the Mississippi!

Above: bracelet made with paper beads that support women-owned businesses in Africa, yummy smelling soap and candle, fancy nail file, and my favorite brand of lotion, Thymes.

Janine

Disclosure: I participated in a blogger Scout preview event at Artisans. I received good bags of product as a thank you for coming to the event. I also purchased product at the event. Since I like long disclosures I will tell you what I bought but you have to promise not to tell the girls! I bought my mom a tote and the girls each got a bag (waterproof YAY) to use at the pool this summer. Can't wait to show you! Also, all opinions are my own and this post was neither approved nor reviewed prior to being published.

Fashion Friday: I'll be Getting Gorgeous this weekend!

While I'm not a style or fashion blogger I do have a weekly Fashion Friday feature and I also have some very fashionable friends (Audrey and Vera) so....

I am headed to NYC this weekend for a fabulous event called Getting Gorgeous where I will get the chance to meet and connect with a variety of fashion and beauty brands including:

Degree - as in the people who will hopefully get the sweating thing under control
@DegreeWomen

Tide to Go - I have one in my purse right now!
@TidetoGo

Hanes - met them at last year's GettingGorgeous and LIVE in their socks!
@HanesComfort

Simply Orange Juice - I'm a no-pulp girl so we'll see what they have
#SimplyOJ

Flip Out Sandals - Sooo excited to see these up close and find out where to buy this summer!
@FlipOutSandals

Sarah Potempa - celebrity hair stylist (yay!) and she has a Fashion Friday column too! (http://sarahpotempa.com/)
@SarahPotempa

Dream Water - I will love this stuff if it can help me get my mind to stop whirling and fall asleep at night
@DreamWater

Goody Hair - I have been a Goody hair products girl since I was a teenager so I'm excited to see what new things they have happening!
@GoodyHair

Miraclebody - love the jeans I got last year and I hope there's a swimsuit that will help disguise my problem areas
@miraclebodyjean @miraclesuitswim

Shopafrolic - Sisters Liz Lange and Jane Wagman have joined forces to help the fashionally challenged get up to speed on great deals, tips and tricks, and some sage advice (check out the buy / don't buy column)
@Shopafrolic

BJ’s Wholesale - I'm a Costco gal but I'm open to switching or doing both if they have some good stuff
@BJsWholesale

Sandals Resorts - I was a fan of these all-inclusive resorts during the BC (before children) years but who's to say we don't deserve a mom/dad getaway soon?
@SandalsResorts

Amy Tara Koch - she is in the business of helping pregnant women stay stylish but I'm wondering if she has advice for women having multiples? I was HUGE and "style" was not a word that even "fit" into my maternity wardrobe.
@AmyTaraKoch

Lifetime Moms - as an affiliate I'm already a fan so I'm excited to see them again
@LifetimeMoms

Weight Watchers - I did Weigh Watchers years ago and actually really liked it. A good reminder that I need to better track what I eat all day long so I'm really interested to see what they are bringing to GG.
@WeightWatchers

Hair Room Service by Michael Duenas (@HairRoomService) - oh I hope they can help me with this hair!

Be sure to follow me on twitter (http://twitter.com/twincident) to see live tweets and photos from Getting Gorgeous on Saturday!

Janine

Disclosure: I am attending Getting Gorgeous on Saturday, April 2nd and this post actually qualifies me to enter to win a prize package but..that's not why I'm writing it. I'm writing about Getting Gorgeous because a) I need Fashion Friday content, b) I'm so amazed at the event my friends Vera and Audrey have pulled together and c) I'd like to recognize brands that see the value is what we as bloggers and web writers and online influencers do. All ideas are my own and this post was neither approved nor reviewed prior to being published.

Studio Jewel Makes Valentine's Day Shopping Easy and Affordable

Guys, listen up... (and by guys I mean men and women)

Valentine's Day Shopping Should Not Be Stressful!

You are shopping for someone you love and while you want to impress, you also don't want to break the bank. Not these days. I can give you one place to go and there is STILL time to get that treasured gift and keep it

Quick

Easy

Affordable

Studio Jewel from The Bead Girl

Studio Jewel has Great gifts for HIM or HER as pictured above.

Recently my friend Lisa, aka @thebeadgirl and the genius metalsmith behind Studio Jewel gave me my very own ring for my birthday:

I have received tons of compliments both online and off. I was thinking the copper version Lisa did with the heart in the center would be a fabulous Valentine's Day gift! I realized she had so many other great items including the related cufflinks pictured above that it screamed...BLOG POST!

So, as a thank you to Lisa for my ring and as a public service announcement to all of you scrambling to get that Valentine's Day gift before next Monday

Shop Studio Jewel.

Also, check out the Haiti Relief Necklace that has won several awards (ok, they are my own awards but I get tons of compliments on this necklace and my friend Leticia over at TechSavvyMama does too)!

Janine

Disclosure: I received a ring from Lisa for no other reason than because she felt sorry for me that I a) could not be at Blissdom with her and my other buddies and b) was without power on my 40th birthday. Also, she's really cool and nice and just a good Internet friend. She knows nothing of this post, didn't see it, approve it, pay me for it. I'm just spreading the love of her store and her mad crazy jewelry making skillz.

Holy Mother of all that is creamy and delicious

Did you know there are two AMAZING food delivery businesses in the DC area?

And I'm not talking groceries (but I did talk grocery delivery in this post and that is pretty effing fabulous).

I'm talking about SOUP and DESSERT ordered online and delivered to your door

Amen!

Last week at the Momzshare event I was able to sample (and by sample I mean eat 4 servings and nearly stuff myself) two delicious soups from The Soupergirl and a selection of desserts from Treet.

image placeholder - yes, pretend there is an image here of this most amazing lentil soup (mmmm)

vegan brownies from Treet

More Treets and The Soupergirl table in the back

The Soupergirl uses fresh, local produce to create artistic vegan soups and delivers them in compostable containers making her green and healthy! Here's how it works:

1. get an email Monday morning with the souper menu

2. place your order by Thursday evening

3. receive your soup the following week

Treet buys their ingredients from local, organic farmers...so the butter is from grass-fed cows, and the eggs are from free-range chickens. But Treet also has vegan menu items and gluten-free choices too! The taste? Incredible. I'm assuming gluten-free means fat and sugar free, right? (lalalalala I'm not listening if you are telling me something different).

Here's a link to the Treet menu so you can start shopping.

And here's a fun photo taken of me, Melanie and Amy doing a human version of the Momzshare logo (just because):

Be sure to order extra for me!

all images via the Momzshare pool on Flickr

Janine

Bonding through A Love of Science

Welcome to Team Whymommy's Virtual Science Fair! Today we are celebrating a very special woman by celebrating her love of science.

Here's why:

Science is cool

Susan is amazing

Experimenting and exploring science with your kids is a great opportunity to bond

And now I get to bond with some fellow bloggers to show support for a woman who has changed the way I think about family time. That is, I appreciate every little moment...even the annoying ones.

No, onto science

Our favorite science activity as a family is searching for shooting stars.

The best thing I ever did was get a fire pit from Lowes. This fire pit has replaced TV on many Friday nights.

Twins ready to toast marshmallows and look at stars

Last year we woke the girls up in the middle of the night 2 nights in row one week (yes, school nights) during a meteor shower just to give them a glimpse of it. And now it's become a regular thing. We sit outside, enjoy the fire, and look for shooting stars as we discuss planets and stars.

The Twofer know many of the planets in our own solar system. They even know the ones that have rings. But the size and scope and beginnings of the Universe are tough to grasp and so a night outside with the fire pit always leads to many more questions that we can answer.

And that's the part I love. For without questions, we wouldn't learn. Without exploration, whether it be in space or inside the human body, we wouldn't have knowledge. And without science we can't fight find a cure for cancer...or at least give it a little kick in the ass.

Now, who wants to come over for the next fire? Bring marshmallows and a telescope.

Janine