Natures Beauty Box | Review && Giveaway

If you've been around for a while you know that I am a huge advocate of shopping small and local.

I try very hard to get the majority of my gifts handmade or made in the USA.  After all, I have my own small business and truly appreciate all of the support it receives each year from you as well as local friends and family.  (If you want to check out my new inventory for Christmas gifts, click here).

Now that I'm pregnant, I'm really trying to go green with my cleaning supplies, body products, etc.  I want baby boy to have as natural environment as possible.  If he is anything like me his skin will be super sensitive!

So, when my girlfriend blessed me with amazing gifts at my baby shower a few weeks ago, I knew I had to share them with you, but also share a little more about her company, Nature's Beauty Box Boutique!

Vittoria makes 100% natural beauty and body products for the whole family.  She blessed me with a beautiful gift basket with many of the items new moms and babes need: diaper rash cream, body butter, nipple cream, headache ointment, lip balm, and so much more.  I have already used several of the products and I can tell you they work wonders and smell fantastic.

Not only did she bless me with amazing gifts, but she has offered to give away a fantastic gift package to one of my readers by entering the Rafflecopter below!  And, if you are interested in buying gifts for family or friends, she is even offering all readers a 10% discount with the code: LULUSMIMI 

The gift package includes:

1 pink cotton candy chapstick, 1 pain and headache roll on relief, and

1 coconut body butter sample

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lulu's Mimi Addition

I made this for my girlfriend's little boy.  He turned 1 last weekend.  It's hard to imagine how quickly little ones grow up and turn into small adults carrying on conversations with real words and walking around with nothing to hold onto.  I thought this was a perfect gift to grow with him as he continues to grow.  It ties to the headrest in the car (either the back of the front seat or to the middle seat) so that your little one can grab out books, coloring books, crayons, etc. to be entertained while riding in the car.

I'm hoping to add these to my list of regular items I sell through Lulu's Mimi at craft fairs.  My questions to you:  Is this something you think could become popular?  How much would you be willing to pay for something like this?  I've not found anything like it for sale on the web of this quality.  I was unable to locate a tutorial or pattern so this is entirely my creation.  Food for thought...

One of the biggest issues I have with creating new items is what to charge and whether or not they will sell. I appreciate any and all advice you are willing to share!

Thank you for being you!  

Shopping Local

I have to admit that I never really thought that much about shopping small or local or handmade before I became a vendor myself.  I always admired the wonderful craftmanship and detail that went into items at craft fairs, but I must (shamefully) admit I sometimes would think things like:

"I can get something similar at Target for cheaper."

"I could make that myself."

"That is riduculously priced."

I hate to think back on those times that things like that ran through my head because I know people have looked at my table at craft fairs or shows before and probably thought the same thing.

Fact of the matter is, you can't get the same thing at Target or Walmart for cheaper.  You can't make many of the things you see yourself.  And most items are priced extremely reasonable for the amount of time, money, and TLC involved in each piece.  

What I have realized is that you truly do get what you pay for.  Anything handmade is better than something manufactured.  Hands down. 

Supporting your local boutique is much more rewarding than the local mall.  Shopping the local farmer's market is much more satisfying than the local Walmart.  Truth be told, shopping local/small doesn't just benefit the vendor.  It benefits you as the customer.

Think about it, everyone loves American Eagle, JCrew, Madewell, and Old Navy.  So often in Blogland we see many repeats.  I'm not knocking this - I love these stores as well, but when I shop at them I'm in danger of wearing the same thing as someone else.  Luckily, it is usually styled differently, but if I really want to stand out, shopping local boutiques is the way to go.  I'm almost guaranteed that no one is going to have that same Everly blouse from Pink and Blue.

Items I've purchased at craft fairs or farmer's markets have always lasted longer than similar items I've purchased from department stores or Walmart.  Handmade typically equates higher quality.  Handmade typically means unique as well.  When something is handmade, there is never a true duplicate.  

Giving and receiving handmade gifts are the best.  Somehow they seem more heartfelt.  More thoughtful.  Than just buying an item from a regular store.  Maybe that's just me...  Like there is a story behind the gift that makes it even more extraordinary.

If you've had the mindset this season that I once had, I encourage you to give shopping small a try.  There are fantastic online boutiques, local craft fairs, and shops all around.  A few of my favorites:

Kiki La'rue

Fab'rik

Clothes Hound

Caroline G Boutique

Do you shop small? 

Lulu's Mimi Shop

I have an announcement to make!!

But first, enter to win my giveaway here.

Lulu's Mimi Shop is now open for business!!!

I have had so many people asking me about my shop for Lulu's Mimi and I kept dodging their inquiries because, well, quite frankly, I'm nervous about the whole thing!!

This is something I've never done before and while we're being so honest, let me just go ahead and tell you I don't like doing things I'm not good at and I don't know yet if this is going to be good.

If we're all being honest, I think no one likes to do things they aren't good at.  Right?

Now that the holiday craft fairs I had signed up for are over, I feel like I have time to invest in setting up shop and taking orders.  I was so blessed throughout the holiday season with my Small Business Saturday show as well as the two shows I did last weekend.

I posted this picture on Facebook last week before my craft fairs to advertise some new patterns I was debuting at the show.  Literally, within two hours I had five people messaging me to place orders for this very scarf.  I realized at that point that I needed to stop procrastinating, making excuses, get on the ball in regards to Lulu's Mimi Shop.

So, consider this post my personal invitation to click on the link and visit Lulu's Mimi Shop.

Feel free to contact me if you have suggestions for product, a request for a personal order, or any general questions about Lulu's Mimi.

As stated above, I am excited and nervous for this adventure.

My top priority is to spread the love that has been so unconditionally given to me through each item that I make.  It makes my heart smile to put a smile one another person's face.  If the items in my shop are able to do that, what more can I ask?

Please, keep in mind, it is a work in progress and not all items are currently in the shop.
I will be updating weekly!

**If you haven't registered to win a handmade traditional Christmas garland, today is the last day!!
Click here and sign up!!**