Fun in the bathroom

When I was little, my cousin and I would hide out in our grandma's bathroom and play in order to avoid pesky brothers and sisters. We'd stay in there for hours playing Monopoly and using entire cans of Aqua Net hair spray to do each others' hair. When our family would ask what we were doing in there and if we ever planned to be come out, we'd tell them we were "just pooping." I am sure we weren't fooling anyone, but it kept intruders at bay a little longer.

Although Lindsay and I didn't camp out in the bathroom this weekend playing boardgames and styling each others' hair, thanks to a few new products I picked up, I still had an enjoyable time of hanging out in the powder room. Here's why:

I HATE our bathtub. It is so shallow that my toes stick out of the water when it's full. (I wear a size 6 1/2, small feet by most standards!) We found the Bottomless Bath at Bed, Bath & Beyond and I tried it out yesterday. Amazing! Added about 4 inches to the depth of my bath water. Now I can sit in there and not freeze because more of my body is out of the water than in. Totally worth the $6. Word of caution though, if you have kids, this is probably a bad idea. The tube was quite full and could easily splash over if you're not careful.

Burt's Bees Lemon & Vitamin E Bath & Body Oil. Love it. I'm usually not all about bath oils. Too many of them are greasy or too strong smelling and leave the bathtub all filmy. The fresh, bold - but not overpowering - lemon scent woke me up and put me in a good mood. My legs feel so soft and my skin looks radiant. I can't wait to go home tonight and have another bath! It did make the tub a little slippery, so be careful, especially if you fill the tub to the brim by using the Bottomless Bath above!

I also bought an Almay eyeliner in deep jade. I have never worn colored eyeliner on days besides Halloween and St. Patrick's Day but I think I'll be wearing this a lot. "Deep Jade" would lead you to believe its green but it's not at all. It's a very dark turquoise or peacock color and the result is very subtle, not gaudy or costumey at all. This shade says it's recommended for hazel eyes, but I have very dark brown eyes and it makes them look almost golden. So pretty.

*Note: I am not being paid in any way to review or recommend any of these products.

Vampire Vino

Justine at Just Nibbles did a little write up on my Halloween wine bottle labels available in my Etsy shop. Check it out. For more Halloween fun, read my Halloween related posts.

Lunch in style

 

I found these amazingly cute and eco-friendly lunch totes at Sugar B's shop on Etsy. They are the grown up version of that plastic or tin super hero box you carried in elementary school, (mine was New Kids on the Block!) only these are much better. I love her fabric choices and off-center placement. My favorite is the pear or the carrot; I can't decide. What's your favorite?

They measure 13 inches high and 12 inches wide and are made with natural unbleached cotton and quilters cotton. The inside is lined with water resistant fabric and insulbright batting to keep your food cold for hours. They are even simple to clean: just wipe with a damp towel or hand wash and line dry. The top closes with elastic cord and a super cute wooden, vintage button.

As I was talking to Sugar B owner, Maylee, she told me she's from the same metro area that I am. I'm very happy to be able to support another Iowa artist and seamstress! Maylee also has tote bags and baby bibs with the same style and quality as the lunch totes.

Lydibug Designs on Etsy

Lydibug Designs is a skilled seamstress on Etsy, but that isn't uncommon. What makes her stand out is her impeccable and unique ability to pick great fabrics and coordinate unusual patterns. She sent me the Funky Flowers mini-wallet (top picture) and I love it.

Lydibug lists these mini-wallets for holding business cards, gift cards, money and credit cards. I took it to a concert with my I.D., debit card and cash and it worked great and I could see the envious looks from others every time I took it out. However, I found a new use for it on a day-to-day basis. It is the perfect size to hold my iPod nano with headphones. I tuck it into my purse, without worrying about it getting scratched up or the battery running low from buttons accidentally getting pushed. These would be a great little gift for a girlfriend, daughter, coworker or teacher. The wallet is 2.5”x4.5” when closed and is reinforced with soft and sturdy interfacing. It closes with a pearl and metal snap.

Lydibug Designs also sells bibs, diaper wipe cases, checkbook covers, list organizers, id badge holders, purses, phone charms and keychain wristlets. Her Etsy shop lists coffee cozy sleeves, car seat strap covers and scrabble tile pendants as "coming soon."

Recycled bike inner tubes

Yet another amazing find on Etsy. Pale Pink uses recycled bike inner tubes to make a variety of items, but my favorite is this journal. I love that some of the printed text from the inner tube is displayed on the book. She has journals/notebooks in a bunch of different colors and several sizes. What an awesome idea for a gift to an environmentally conscious or bike fanatic friend! She also makes rings, necklaces, hairpins and wallets out of the inner tubes.