Wednesday, February 29, 2012

I just won!

I just won a giveaway from Soap Obsessions bloggers Lynda and Jean!

I am going to receive two jars of Creme Fraiche made by Savor.

Fresh Snow ~ A bright and invigorating winter scent. Ozone, icy spring water and juniper comprise this scent.
Frosted Spring Orchard ~ Frost clinging to balsam fir and cedar trees with light orange, carnation, lily and a cooling touch of eucalyptus.
What a lovely gift! Some nice snow and then a spring scent chasing right afterward. What a perfect giveaway for this time of year. Jean even asked me to choose a few extras from a huge list! I am so blown away by these gals' generosity!

Thank you ever so much!

>

Friday, February 24, 2012

Fragrance Friday

The name Friday comes from the Old English Frīġedæġ, meaning the "day of Frigg"
But here at the xoxo-Jen blog, its cause for celebration! Its the end of the work week, and the beginning of the weekend! I thought it would be fun to share the scents we wear each Friday; and our thoughts about each.


Body Wash - I used bar soap today, from Tokyo Factory. Its called Black Kimono and reminds me of licorice! I love it. :)
After shower Lotion - Haus of Gloi's Mango Sticky Rice pumpkin butter. Which is being re-released on Monday!
Perfume - n/a
Hand Lotion - Haus of Gloi's MSR will be applied through the day. :)

What did you wear today?

Thursday, February 23, 2012

New Page!

I've just added a list of Indie polish shops as a static page on my blog. You can navigate there by clicking the link at the top of my blog labeled "Indie Polish Shops."
I was able to find a total of 91, yep unbelievable isn't it? Anywho, if I have missed any please do let me know and I will add it right away!

And here's the list to save you a click for now:


a-England http://a-england.co.uk/
All That Glitters http://www.etsy.com/shop/allthatglittersnails
Alta Costura Vernis http://www.etsy.com/shop/AltaCosturaVernis
Alter Ego http://alterego.storenvy.com/
Aphrodite Lacquers http://www.etsy.com/shop/AphroditeLacquers
Aqua Daisy http://www.etsy.com/shop/AquaDaisy
Atrophie http://www.etsy.com/shop/atrophie
BP Trading Post http://www.etsy.com/shop/bptradingpost
Buff and Shine http://buffandshine.storenvy.com/
Candeo Colors http://www.etsy.com/shop/CandeoColors
Candy Lacquer http://www.etsy.com/shop/candylacquer
Crowes Toes http://www.crowstoesnailcolor.bigcartel.com/
Cult Nails http://cultnails.com/
Dandy Nails http://www.etsy.com/shop/DandyNails
Daring Digits http://www.etsy.com/shop/DaringDigits
Darling Diva Polish http://www.etsy.com/shop/DarlingDivaPolish
Dollish Pollish http://www.etsy.com/shop/DollishPolish
Elemental Styles http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElementalStyles
Elevation Polish http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElevationPolish
Elixir Lacquers http://www.elixirlacquers.com/main.sc
Enchanted Polish http://www.etsy.com/shop/EnchantedPolish
Enkelini http://www.etsy.com/shop/Enkelini
Every Beauty Boutique http://www.etsy.com/shop/everybeautyboutique
f4 Polish http://www.etsy.com/shop/f4polish
Fever Lacquer - moved to-http://feverlacquer.storenvy.com/
Fixation Polish http://wishfulbb.storenvy.com/
Girly Bits http://girlybits.bigcartel.com/
Glamatronic http://www.etsy.com/shop/Glamatronic
Glitrix http://www.etsy.com/shop/Glitrix
Glitter Daze http://www.etsy.com/shop/GlitterDaze
Glitter Fest http://www.etsy.com/shop/GlitterFest
HARE (closed, but working on new shop) http://nailingit.tumblr.com/
Haze Glaze http://www.etsy.com/shop/HazeGlaze
Huemorista http://www.etsy.com/shop/Huemorista
Hufflepolish - now closed
Karine's Polishes http://karinea0a.blogspot.com/p/ordering-information.html
KB Shimmer http://www.etsy.com/shop/KBShimmer
KelBel Cosmetics http://www.etsy.com/shop/KelBelCosmetics
Lac Attack http://www.etsy.com/shop/LacAttack
Lacey Lou's Stockpile http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaceyLousStockpile
Lacquer Convention http://www.etsy.com/shop/LacquerConvention
Lacquistry http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lacquistry
Liquid Glitz http://www.etsy.com/shop/LiquidGlitz
Lush Lacquer http://www.etsy.com/shop/lushlacquer
Lyn B Designs http://www.etsy.com/shop/LynBDesigns
Lynnderella http://shop.llarowe.com/
Manglaze http://manglaze.myshopify.com/
Nail Potions by Kunimitsu http://www.etsy.com/shop/Kunimitsu
Nails By Laura http://www.etsy.com/shop/NailsByLaura
Nailventurous http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nailventurous
Nerd Lacquer http://nerdlacquer.com
Nostalgic Nail Lacquer http://www.etsy.com/shop/NostalgicLacquer
Once Upon A Polish http://www.etsy.com/shop/OnceUponAPolish
Paanduuh Polish http://www.etsy.com/shop/PaanduuhPolish
Pahlish http://www.etsy.com/shop/pahlish
Pams And Kin http://www.etsy.com/shop/PamsAndKin
Paris Sparkles http://www.etsy.com/shop/parissparkles
Phonailtic http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhonailticLacquer
Polished Components http://www.etsy.com/shop/PolishedComponents
Polished Perfection http://www.etsy.com/shop/PolishedPerfection
Polishous http://www.polishous.com/p/store.html
Pretty and Polished http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyandPolished
Pretty Polish n Things http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyPolishnThings
Rainbow Honey http://www.etsy.com/shop/rainbowhoney
Red Carpet Lacquer http://www.etsy.com/shop/RedCarpetLacquer
Rescue Beauty Lounge http://www.rescuebeauty.com/
Rockstar Nails http://www.etsy.com/shop/RockstarNails
RosieSparkle http://www.etsy.com/shop/RosieSparkle
Saban http://www.etsy.com/shop/saban
Shade Polishes http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShadePolishes
SoFlaJo http://www.soflajo.com
Sparkles by Julie http://www.etsy.com/shop/SparklesbyJulie
Spookybones http://www.etsy.com/shop/spookybones
Sweet Fairy Boutique http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetfairyboutique
SweetTwig http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetTwig
Tammi's Tips (Sebsgrrl0) http://www.etsy.com/shop/Sebsgrrl0
The Hungry Asian http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHungryAsian
The Muses' Alchemy http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheMusesAlchemy
The Nail Junkie http://www.thenailjunkie.com/p/my-spring-2012-polish-line-purchasing.html
The Polish Sage http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePolishSage
Tina and Lucy http://www.etsy.com/shop/TinaandLucy
Twee & Honey http://tweeandhoney.com/
Two Birds One Store http://www.etsy.com/shop/TwoBirdsOneStore
Utopia's Bows http://www.etsy.com/shop/utopiasbows
Victoriana Nail Polish http://www.etsy.com/shop/victoriananailpolish
Whimsical Ideas By Pam https://www.facebook.com/whimsicalideasbypam
Willow Tree Minerals http://www.etsy.com/shop/WillowTreeMinerals
Windestine http://www.etsy.com/shop/windestine
Wonder Beauty Products http://www.etsy.com/shop/WonderBeautyProducts
Zombified Nails http://www.etsy.com/shop/zombifiednails

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Monday, February 13, 2012

Tokyo Factory Soaps

Tokyo Factory at Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/TokyoFactory
I stumbled on this soapmaker, I don't really recall how because it was sometime in December. I fell in love with the soap photos on her blog site. The soaps were all so unique and since I am fascinated with Japanese culture and love their art style, I had to have these!

After viewing a few more photos in her gallery, I looked around her blog for a shop link. I found her shop on Etsy, only to see that it was closed and she was planning a trip to Japan. Her note said she'd return in February, so I waited and stalked and waited and stalked.. and the soaps began to appear in her shop, one by one. -gasp- I had already made a wishlist and committed it to memory so I was just waiting for all the ones I wanted to be stocked all at once. As I waited, one of the ones I wanted most had just sold out! I about freaked and then kept watching for a bit to see if it was restocked. After an hour or so, the bar I wanted most had not yet made another appearance, so I thought perhaps I would just ask. What do I have to lose, right?

I contacted AYU, the (awesome!!!) soaptician, and she replied to me really quickly and was so kind and super sweet. :)
She happened to have one bar left and said she would list it for me. (squee!!) So, I placed my order within minutes of our convo on Feb. 9th and it has arrived to me today!
Here it is in all it's beauty, the much coveted (by me) Black Kimono Soap photos and review. :)


What's behind here?!


Soaps turned on their sides with ingredient labels facing up! Also a little packet on the side with a note and something else inside.


Everything laid out, wow she packages well! Two bars per cello bag. Two of these soaps are for my coworker, we saved on shipping by ordering together!


After opening the cello bags, I found that each bar is heat sealed in plastic with a silica gel packet to seal in freshness, and then its wrapped in paper, with a ribbon around the back and sticker on the top! My gosh what a perfect wrapping job! It must take eons to wrap hundreds of bars for her shop!


Japanese Black Kimono Soap - A Beautiful Japanese BLACK KIMONO Soap. One day, I wanted to make some pretty Japanese soaps and came up with "KIMONO Soaps". KIMONO Soaps have been very popular with our Japanese customers. This soap contains Shea Butter which is rich natural plant butter and has moisturizing and softening effects to skin. Also we used Organic Coconut Water to make this soap extra special. Coconut Water is known to moisturize dehydrated skin. It is called "Natural Sport Drink". This soap has a luxury blend of Rosewood, Geranium and Clary Sage scents. Very lovely!
--The bar is a beautiful rich black, is a good size and feels creamy to the touch. I washed my hands with it and it makes grey bubbles! The lather is really nice, has big bubbles and took little effort. The bar smells like fresh black licorice to my nose! The smell of licorice brings back so many of my wonderful childhood memories. After drying my hands, they feel really soft as if I'd put lotion on them.


I haven't opened the rest of the bars yet since they're sealed and I don't think I will be able to use them quickly enough to warrant opening them all. So below are some photos of the naked bars, which I've borrowed from her Etsy shop, along with her descriptions.


Sakura Sake Soap - This soap contains luxury Macadamia Nut Oil which has moisturizing and softening effects to skin. It has our popular Japanese Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) scent. Enjoy!


Organic Green Tea Sake soap - This soap contains luxury Macadamia Nut Oil which has moisturizing and softening effects to skin. It has light clean & fresh Lemongrass and Green Tea scents.



Lavender Chamomile Soap with Chamomile and Shea Butter - A Truly Luxury Lavender Chamomile Soap with Chamomile & Shea Butter.
Chamomile is known to be used for many skin products. It has skin healing and antioxidant properties. We also used Shea Butter which is known to have moisturizing and softening effects to skin. Also we used Organic Coconut Water to make this soap extra special. This soap has a luxury blend of Chamomile and Lavender scents.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Monday, February 6, 2012

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Fragrance Friday!

The name Friday comes from the Old English Frīġedæġ, meaning the "day of Frigg"
But here at the xoxo-Jen blog, its cause for celebration! Its the end of the work week, and the beginning of the weekend! I thought it would be fun to share the scents we wear each Friday; and our thoughts about each.


Body Wash - BBW Exotic Coconut: This takes me away to warm summer days where the sun shines bright and the waves gently wash over the sparkling sand.
After shower Lotion - BBW Dark Kiss: I absolutely love the sweet yet sultry notes in this fragrance. I used up the last of a trial sized bottle this morning. Yay!
Perfume - Bpal Pink Snowballs 2011: Lovely sweet roses and vanilla. I think this is a perfect February scent!
Hand Lotion - Haus of Gloi's Who Needs Love Pumpkin Butter: The perfect treat for a Friday. Espresso dusted dark chocolate truffles filled with raspberry jam. I reapplied this a few times throughout the day and enjoyed it immensely.

What did you wear today?