Nostalgia Organics: Joyful Living Blog

Be the first to have it! Giveaway with Green Your Decor! Last chance to enter.

Nostalgia has a brand new collection launching called, Lemon Flour. Yay! Overflowing with sweet lemon and floral notes, this collection will have you skipping through the day (we hope)! We're hosting an entire Lemon Flour party just after the new year. So look for our official launch of this collection in the coming weeks. But, in the spirit of gift giving this holiday, we thought it would be fun to offer a few items from this new collection in a giveaway! Last giveaway of the year!

We teamed up with the super fabulous Green Your Decor to offer Lemon Flour and two other favorite items from the new Henrietta line. Can we send these to you? Head over to Green Your Decor and enter to win. Hurry now ... chance to enter ends at midnight tonight! 

xo Here's to a little sunshine your way!

Spring is sprouting! New stockists. New catalog.

 
Now, I know it's only January, but it feels like spring is definitely in the air around here! It's been sunny, beautiful weather in Scottsdale and I've been working through drafts of Nostalgia's first product catalog for spring / summer 2011. Yay! So I thought I'd share a small peek at the cover ( ... so far).  I've always had a soft spot for birds, but baby chicks melt might heart just as much (and sweet little girls in pigtails, of course!). The catalog will include our entire range, including our newest products, too.

I also wanted to share some of the lovely new stockists offering Nostalgia's soaps and toiletries. Please stop by Shen Beauty (Brooklyn, NY), Tellus360 (Lancaster, PA), Neo International (Honolulu, HI), Room6 (North Vancouver, BC), Bubble Pop Beauty (Sault Sainte Marie, ON), Blossom Lounge (Unionville, ON), Newspaper Taxi (Newtown, Australia), and loveko.se (Sweden). Let them know you're excited to see us! We're so over-the-moon-excited to be offering our collection with these stores.

Beary Special Arrivals! New Children's Line. New Baby!

 

I've been keeping mum about a few things that I'm excited to share today! First, after nearly a year in development, I'm delighted to introduce Nostalgia's Sunday School collection for delicate little fingers and toes. 

 

Named Sunday School after my favorite day of the week and the day in which our family most often plays, laughs and discovers together. Also called Sunday School for the pure, fun-loving and sunny sentiments the name presents to me (and I hope to you, too).

Sunday School is a soothing, extra-gentle collection for those with sensitive, delicate skin. Created for babies and children, but loved by the whole family, too. The collection overflows with nourishing, plant-based ingredients and contains no petrochemical, synthetic surfactants, synthetic preservatives or artifical colors or fragrances. Only pure, wholesome goodness. 

 

Sunday School is inspired by my own concerns as a mother. I want only the safest and purest for my children. Bath and body products are no exception. Through much trial and error (and soothing a child with eczema), I discovered the most effectiveness with nutrient-rich, plant-derived ingredients and none of that extra "stuff." Pairing down the ingredient's list to include only natural and time tested, botanical care is the foundation for the Sunday School collection. 

 

Sunday School was also created with a healthy dose of childhood-charm and eco-friendly re-purpose. The Sunday School Soap Sack Soap arrives in a reusable fabric sack with our signature cheery bear print. The label unfolds to a sewing pattern to create a heirloom bear and an "upcycled" sweet little apron for the bear. Oh joy!

 

Last, but certainly not least - the second bit of news! The creation of Sunday School grew along side my belly over the last year. Yay! With much joy, we recently welcomed a new baby boy to our family. This sweet little bundle (pictured here - cuddling his heirloom bear) along with my older son (3-years-old) are the true heart behind Sunday School. The seed to develop a children's collection was planted with the love of my children and exciting news of my pregnancy. I couldn't be more smitten to finally welcome the baby and introduce our Sunday School collection to you. 

Sunday School is now available on esty and at nostalgiaorganics.com early next week. Also, stop by and visit us  - and see the entire Sunday School collection - at the fabulous Curated Holiday Market at Poppytalkhandmade.com through November 19th.

From our family to yours - have a wonderful Sunday, friends - laughing, loving and learning! P.S. Keep an eye out for some fabulous upcoming Sunday School giveaways on this here little blog. xo

Kiss Kiss Little Angel - New Holiday Soap by Nostalgia

 
Carve up the pumpkins and savor those candy apples before Autumn slips away! Only 74 days until Christmas and 52 days until Hanukkah begins (loving xdaysleft.com for all the count downs). Can you believe it? My minds been on snowflakes, peppermint sticks and wee little angels (OK, and caroling ... humming a little Frosty the Snowman along the way) - preparing our holiday soap for the upcoming season. 

I'm delighted to introduce you to, Angel Kiss, our newest soap. Angel Kiss arrives gifted in an angelic print of gold and winter blues on 100% post-consumer recycled paper finished with a satin ribbon. The peppermint ribbon aroma will certainly put you in the holiday spirit while the moisturizing blend of coconut, olive and extra cocoa butter nourish and care for your skin.

The soap is available for early order here, but will also be available from many of our beloved retailers and at nostalgiaorganics.com shortly.

Cheers to enjoying the Fall festivities and the begining of a magical holiday season!

Nostalgia's newest soap and reusable packaging ... tweet tweet

 
Introducing Nostalgia's newest soap sack soap from our original Mud Pie blend of peppermint, cocoa butter and real chocolate. Visit our store and take a peek. Gifted in a sweet little fabric of birds and blossoms with a label that unfolds to a "flying bird" pattern - this soap sack is really a treat! P.S. Wishing you a restful and cheery weekend.

New News! Nostalgia Organics now available at Urban Outfitters

We're excited to announce Nostalgia's Soaps & Toiletries are now available at Urban Outfitters! Stop by and take a peek. Psst ... they're offering complimentary free shipping on any beauty purchase through midnight (EST) June 8, 2010. Let em' know you're happy to see us!

Cookies, Cheer and My Potholdeer

Some of my fondest holiday memories are in the kitchen with my mother baking. Every Christmas my mom would bake sugar cookies and we'd all gather around the table to decorate them. Stars, reindeer, trees and bells, and butter cream frosting in every color. We'd finish each cookie with sprinkles, candy or confectioners' glitter. Then, I'd safely guard my favorite two and place them on a pretty dish with a note for Santa.

I look forward to decorating cookies with Michael for the first time this year. He loves to play with my rolling pin and homemade dough - so I think he'll enjoy this tradition as much as I do.

 

This year my new potholdeer (ho ho ho!) will lend a hand in our tradition. I made my potholder from our holiday soap bundle packaging. Each bundle includes the pattern tucked inside the sack. The reindeer printed sack can be reused in many ways (gift giving, storing goodies, etc.), but the pattern is super simple and fun to follow, too. And, the pattern can easily be modified to make all kinds of creative potholders. I used pink bias tape to finish the outer edge of the potholder above. But, rickrack or another type of trim would be neat, too. Mine's not perfect (I arm wrestled with the bias tape a bit), but it was a fun way to spend 20 crafty mintues. Yay! And, when I showed Michael, he said "is this for me?" with a gianormous smile. 

I love the holidays and the years and years of memories mixed together in family traditions. So I raise a glass to creating more moments to cherish and to discovering the spirit in crafting something heartmade this season.

Blissful Weekend at Blissfest

We had a delightful time at Blissfest this weekend. We met so many wonderful people and the booths were incredible. We strolled about and oogled over the treasures (and there were many). And, we loved greeting the sunny faces that visited our booth and chatting over all the goodies we brought along.

 
The festival overflowed with vintage beauties, colorful heirlooms and talented artisans.

We dressed our booth in towers of cake plates, colorful bowls and little vintage sweeties placed here and there. We even hung colorful vintage aprons from our canopy for an extra bit of fun. But, the main attraction was the display of our cheery collection. Joyful soap lined the tables, aromatherapy balms posed on plates and lip balms perched merily on stacks of vintage books (yes ... lip balms! yay. more on that soon).

 

Some of my favorite chicks were there (even my delightful friend, Heather, came along to help out!)

 
I think we may have been the "potpourri" of the party from all of the natural soap aromas and fresh flowers (loved these tiny spray roses) that dressed our booth. We heard again and again, "boy it smells good over here!"

 
I enjoyed introducing our collection to many for the first time. Seeing the joy on people's faces as they picked up and smelled each product and adored the special ribbons and trims - so neat!

 

Although I must admint, I was a little petered out by the end of this magical day. It was a long night before the event - packing and finishing up my to-do list. I was just about done crossing my T's and dotting my I's when the sun began to rise. Phew. lol!

I thought of this chicken as we were breaking down the booth. Someone told me earlier in the day that he looked like an unhappy little fellow. I thought he was cute. But, I guess he does look a bit peeved. Maybe he was just petered out, too. aww!

 
 
A big thanks to all the super new friends we met along the day. Thanks for chatting with us about our washroom goodies and all the sweetness in life. It was such a delight to meet you on a sunny day at Blissfest! Please keep in touch.

Hope you all had a blissful weekend, too! xoxo

Terms of Endeerment: Something cheery for you deery

 

A sneak peek at our holiday gift collection. Yep! The holidays are nearing. Can you believe it? My favorite time of year. And, according to these neat little widgets there are fifty-seven days until Christmas and forty-four days until the beginning of Hanukkah. Yay! So cozy up with a caramel apple and nibble away at those pumpkin seeds before autumn slips away.

 
This limited edition collection arrives in this sweet, little prancing reindeer print available only through the holidays or while supplies last. If you look closely, you'll spot Rudolph and his shiny red nose frolicking amongst the deer. I hope this fun loving print brightens your smile and spirit this day!

The soap sack bundle includes three of our seasonal and most beloved soaps: peppermint, clove and sweet orange. Heartwarming aromas like candy cane and mulled cider overflow from the sack when you untie the pink satin ribbon. Plus, this gift of goodness arrives with an extra special something tucked away in the sack. But, I'm saving that little bit for another post. Squeal!

 
Then there's the single, paper wrapped soap of the same print available with the season's most adored soap: the sprightly peppermint soap. This jolly, colorful treat is wrapped with love and ready for giving. I designed the label with a little extra room for writing the deer recipient's name. See mine to Ellie Anne? Best part, no extra tags and gift wrap required. Yay! This makes gift giving easy peasy.

Cheers to the start of a magical, holiday season. May much love and laughter be upon us!

Tending to the little things

 
Hello, it's me! I wanted to poke in and say hi. I've been tending to all sorts of little things around here. Mostly little things I put off week after week and rearrange into neat little to-do piles every now and again. Well, the now came (thank you DillyDally).

We've been setting up a new accounting system. Ga! The last version of QuickBooks we had was from like 1997. Hello, new shiny 2010 version! And well ...with Barry's love of tracking every little detail (he's one of those finance birds) - we had some major upgrading to do. Not my favorite, but happy it's moving along quickly. On my side of the world - however, I'm working on several things I do love. I finished working on a holiday soap bundle. The bundle will be offered in a new cheery holiday fabric. It's really sweet, especially if you're fawn of reindeer ( oh, I'm funny today). I'm patiently waiting (toe tapping) for our strike-off to arrive. Once the fabric is ready, it shouldn't be much longer to show and tell. Yay! And, the bundle comes with a little pattern to craft some holiday cheer, too.

But, the most important little thing? Nursing Michael back to his old bright-eyed, energetic self after a week of being sick (nothing serious - thank goodness). But, poor little guy. I hovered over him like a mother bird. I'm including a recipe for a soothing bath soak I use with my little bird, too. It's made with gentle essential oils in dosages safe for children older than two. Happy to report he's feeling much better - back to his old sassy little self. And, I enjoyed nesting with him, I must say. He's my favorite little thing to tend to. xoxo