Green Winner & $20 Pear Tree Giveaway!

Today's a giveaway kind of day. As promised, I'm sharing the winner of the Green Giveaway that I ran in honor of Earth Day and I have another giveaway from Pear Tree Greetings that I nearly forgot about for April. I'm not trying to get all crazy with the giveaways but I thought it would be nice for someone to win $20 worth of stationery vs. just skipping it this month altogether because of my forgetfulness.

The winner of the Method Wood for Good spray, free eco-friendly method cleaning product coupon, and other goodies is 'ldelangel'-Congratulations! I didn't use random.org this time because we only had 6 entries from 4 different people and with 3 entries from ldelangel alone I figured she really wanted to win it. I've tried reaching you via your blog and facebook page but am unable to contact you, 'ldelangel' could you please e-mail me with your address so I can mail your gift? Thank You! :)

This month's Pear Tree Giveaway is $20 to spend any way you like and includes free shipping anywhere in the U.S. I love their note cards and address labels but they also offer graduation announcements and baby shower invitations too! Speaking of grads, if you know of one, have them enter Pear Tree's graduation contest HERE to win up to $6,000!

A reader,Trish,  recently left a comment on this blog post about Pear Tree's products, this is what she wrote:

"I just received my Pear Tree invitations and they are wonderful! The color, paper quality, and print far exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend this company." ~Trish

Now, it's your turn to experience Pear Tree!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

1. To enter, let me know you're a public follower and tell me what you are most in need of such as thank you cards, wedding invitations, party invitations, moving announcements, etc.

2. For extra chances, share this giveaway via your blog, Facebook and/or Tweet about it! (each worth an extra entry)

*Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and don't forget to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blog, so I can contact you if you win!

GIVEAWAY CLOSES: May.1 @ 10pm EST

NUMBER OF WINNERS: One

PRIZE: $20 to spend at PearTreeGreetings.com (includes free shipping)

RULES: The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on 05/02/11.

OPEN TO: I apologize to my international friends but it's U.S. addresses ONLY for this giveaway.


Good Luck! Shop the Pear Tree website now and get special discounts. Thank you to the always generous Pear Tree Greetings for providing this wonderful giveaway prize!!

Manners Monday: Perfume Etiquette

We’ve all been there-sitting next to someone at a restaurant or stuck working next to a colleague who has sprayed far too much perfume. We’re all aware of how obnoxious it can be and yet there are still so many fragrance offenders that leave perfect strangers in a cloud of scent that they cannot escape!

We generally think of our perfume as enhancing our overall appearance and others will enjoy the olfactory experience as much as we do, but it’s not always the case. What if we’re in close proximity to others who dislike or are allergic to the perfume or cologne we are wearing?

Like everything else a classy woman puts on, a perfume should also be carefully selected to fit the lady wearing it.

Perfume Etiquette Tips


1. Choose the Right Perfume- Fragrances are similar to clothing in that what works well for one person may not suit another. Applying perfume or cologne should be done so that it allows the scent to interact with one’s body chemistry, resulting in a personalized version of the scent which allows your perfume to complement you.

2. Less is More- Use restraint when applying perfume, a small spritz goes a long way. An overwhelming amount of perfume can not only distract others from their work but also be responsible for headaches or nausea. Remember that while you may become used to the scent of your own perfume, it can be very obvious to others. The smell of perfume is magnified in enclosed or crowded areas, as well as in the sun or under warm lights. Follow the old adage of less is more and refrain from re-applying more than once a day.

3. Pair your Perfume with the Venue - A fragrance should also suit the occasion. In general, heavy perfumes are best reserved for a night out. Choose a lighter scent for daytime wear. Certain occasions in life call for discretion and modesty and should not be burdened by overbearing odors. These include hospitals, funerals and when around babies or young children with developing lungs. It is best to keep your scent very light for interviews where your experience should be on display, not your chosen scent.

4. Apply it in Private – As with all other aspects of personal grooming, the application of perfume should take place in a private area such as your home or, if need be, in your workplace washroom. It is impolite to subject others to a toxic cloud of scent, so rethink the idea of spritzing if you're going to be in close proximity to others or in an enclosed space.

5. Resist the urge to Compete – Similar to the notion of eliminating the use of scented candles at the table during a wonderful meal, if you're attending an event where aroma is an important part of the experience such as dining out or wine tasting, avoid competing with anything edible.

6. Perfume is not Body Spray - While it has the ability to mask odors immediately, spaying perfume as if it were body spray, in an attempt to cover up an unpleasant scent, such as body odor, alcohol or cigarettes will only create a toxic bomb of scents that negatively interact with one another to create something unbearable.

7. Fragrances have an Expiry Date- After about a year or two, fragrances start to turn rancid and their once beautiful notes can become harsh, musky or very overpowering. No matter how much you’ve invested into the perfume or how much you love it, it’s time to replace it. There’s no sense keeping something that doesn’t help you put your best foot forward.

Perhaps the most important thing for a classy woman to remember is that, like many of her other attributes, her perfume should be an intimate experience and is something she shares with those whom she has close contact with or plans to have. These select people should have to lean in to breathe in her intoxicating fragrance. The lingering of her scent should be subtle and intriguing.

What is your favorite perfume and how do you ensure that your perfume is ‘just right’ before leaving the house?

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Happy Earth Day & Green Giveaway!

Happy Earth day! I love celebrating our planet and while today is a day that gets a lot of attention, I try to do my part every day. If we all introduce small and easy changes daily, we can make the biggest impact, and also show others by our actions how to live a more green and healthy lifestyle.

As some of you may know, Method is one of our newest sponsors. I was so delighted when they contacted me as I've been a loyal user of their fun, eco-friendly products for the past 6 or 7 years. I instantly fell in love with their yummy scents, people and earth friendly ingredients as well as their large range of products. If you have not explored the world of Method, I highly recommend it! Click {HERE} to see their collection. While all items are available online, you can find most at Target or Whole Foods.

A few weeks ago a case of these babies arrived at my door:

Thanks Method! I was asked to share their Wood for Good product with others, it is just one of their speciality surface cleaners. Wood for Good cleans and polishes wood furniture and smells like almond-it's HEAVENLY! Since Method had shipped the box of 4 bottles to me, as much as I wanted to give them all away to some of you, I wanted to keep things green by choosing friends or family members locally to avoid more fuel via shipping. I gave a bottle to 'J' and one to 'L' to try out and report back to me. Here is what they had to say about Wood for Good:

{L} said..."I love the fresh almond scent of the cleaner, makes you feel like you're baking or enjoying dessert instead of cleaning! I felt that it did a good job of removing light stains and dust/dirt and I liked that it came in a spray bottle instead of an aerosol can. I can see that the product will last me a while because a little goes a long way. And lastly, it comes in nice packaging and message on the bottle is entertaining and funny, which is always a nice bonus!"

{J} said... "WOW-the scent is awesome! I've never used a cleaning products that has smelled so good. I have both antique furniture as well as some modern pieces and it left both looking clean and shiny. We have hardwood floors and since I loved this so much that I want to try Method's wood floor cleaner next! I love knowing that this is safe for our cat and us as well as the planet."

Method wanted me to keep a bottle for myself but the final bottle will go to one of you in celebration of Earth Day! It will arrive along with a free Method product coupon to buy something of your choice and a micro-fiber cleaning cloth for one lucky winner who loves green cleaning as much as I do! (*While this is a wood cleaner, they have a separate cleaner for flooring, this is strictly for wood furniture.)

Become a public follower or tell me you already are one and leave me a comment here and tell me what green efforts you make in your home. For additional entries, like me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter or blog about the giveaway and leave a comment for each. I'll be shipping this out to one lucky winner in the U.S. and will draw the name on Wednesday, April.27th at 11pm EST. Good Luck!

I wish you all a peaceful and blessed Easter!



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Natural Cleaning Solutions

Last week while I was guest posting about Home Staging at Karen's blog, Strictly Simple Style, one of her readers enjoyed my post and asked if I would be a contributor to her blog for Earth week. So, instead of posting here, today you can find me at Sandra's blog, 'Healthier and more Prosperous Living' writing on the topic of natural cleaning using 3 simple kitchen ingredients.

I hope you will pop by to meet Sandra and get inspired to go green just in time for some spring cleaning!

I also have a deal for all of my U.S. readers. In honor of graduation season, my sponsor Pear Tree Greetings wants everyone to have thank you cards on hand. They are graciously offering a set of 6 generic thank you cards (2 each of the 3 shown above) for just $1 which includes free shipping! This offer is good for April.20th and 21st only until midnight and there is a limited 5,000 supply, so hurry!



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Living Well: Maximizing Your Wardrobe

In celebration of Earth Week, I'll be covering practical and easy ways to live well by becoming more green and saving money in the process. Classy women care about their environment and are mindful of their budget. So, today's post is all about re-discovering and shopping your existing wardrobe to keep both money in your wallet and needless garments out of landfills. It also solves the problem that most women proclaim which is, "I have nothing to wear!".

A couple weeks ago I wrote a post on getting organized and the importance of keeping an organized closet, which is essential to ensuring your don't end up buying duplicate items and reminds you of clothing and accessories that you may have forgotten about.  Karen of Strictly Simple Style commented that she had heard about a great tip which is shopping your own wardrobe and after mixing things up, taking photos of the new outfits you've created which makes getting dressed a cinch. I actually snap photos on the camera I'll be traveling with to maximize what's in my suitcase so I can travel lighter and get more mileage out of each article of clothing. Somehow though I hadn't used this photo trick for day-to-day dressing. Thanks Karen for the tip!

Mr. Polished and put together himself, Tim Gunn, has teamed up with Tide to create this fun 3-minute video where he shares easy tips on how to maximize what you have and look great while doing it!

Favorite Ways to Maximize My Wardrobe:

1. Multi-purpose items-A tunic or a casual dress can double as a bathing suit cover up in a pinch and can also be worn with  leggings.

2. Belts- They instantly change or update a dress or outfit. Keep a couple skinny belts and a couple chunky belts on hand (brown, black and gold are the best colors to invest in).

3. Go Short- If jeans shrink and become too short, wear them with flats only or if they are past that point, have them taken up to become capris or roll them up and cuff them yourself.

4. The Casual Cuff-Cuff the sleeves on a blazer for a more casual and relaxed look with jeans.

5. Layers create Length-If a favorite long-sleeved or short-sleeved shirt becomes too short to wear, layer up. Use a longer, pretty tank top with lace detailing along the bottom to be worn underneath in either the identical color for an elongated look or a contrast color to mix it up.

6. Refresh with Accessories-One of the fastest ways to change the overall look of an outfit is with accessories. Whether it be a set of pretty bangles, a different pair of shoes or a scarf to jazz up a simple tee or a statement necklace, there are many ways of creating a whole new look with what you already own.

What are your favorite ways of maximizing your existing wardrobe?

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