vsimonds's Profile

Bio

After 100s of requests--from people who have found my profile via Etsy feedback sections--I'm actually going to start my own blog. Soon I will be able to offer you photos and descriptions of all of my favorite things on a constant basis. A daily treasury of sorts. Until it's up and running regularly, please refer to my favorites section here on Etsy for new "finds"--updated daily.

While baby blog is under construction and I have not begun any "real" posting yet--it does have a few test posts and is located here:
http://www.presentpost.com/

The running theme will be "gift giving at it's finest" and I will chronicle the actual gifts I buy for the different characters in my real life.

I will also be working toward "giving away" one of every single item/product that I post about. So, as things start, you'll notice that I am able to "give-a-way" every other item I blog about. But, as I gain more of a following, I hope to offer at least one of EVERYTHING I do a blog post on.

So, it's definitely worth taking a peek and becomming a full fledged "follower" if my taste gels with yours. I pull winners names at random from the comments they leave after each post. So you cannot be entered into any drawing without posting a comment. Blog graphics are currently being designed by Kaleigh Wiese of The Little Black Dress. You can see her work here:
http://kaleighwiese.wordpress.com/

I MUST share some amazing shops with you. Here are the seller's that are just plain old SPECTACULAR and I cannot HELP but tell you about them:

MiaJoie: the complete and total CUTEST baby shoes and accessories (even clothing from time to time) that you will EVER see! Hands down my greatest discovery here on Etsy!!! There is NO competition, no competitors, not even a remote resemblance to her "charm" anywhere AT ALL. Not even the other baby shoe makers, here on Etsy, (not going to name-names but, you know who you are) that DIRECTLY copy MiaJoie's creations--not even THEY can come close to her divine inspiration. She IS the real deal. The ONLY real deal.

Moving on....to more AWESOMENESS:

Cakeboxcookies: Ummm....ya....you might even say, this woman is SO talented, that it's a tad bit cruel. It's cruel to those of us that WANT to eat her cookies literally DAILY! Why must she taunt me the way she does? I had the BLESSED experience of stumbling upon this shop--see here an example of her products:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29118770
You can feel my pain now, right? Well, I ordered some...of course--how could I not? And, well, they ARE as good as all her feedback says they are--and not only that--I actually think she can say "Best in the WORLD" on top of it all. The woman's God's gift to cookies! They're GIGANTIC too! Oh my gosh...I need one right now. Order them--even if you don't have an occasion for it--TRUST ME, you WILL thank me! They were so good that I had to sit down to leave her feedback WHILE I was still chewing my first bite. :) Unreal. Just Unreal!

dimmalimmshop: WOW this is fashion forward for little tikes! You can't beat the wearability and functionality of these awesome creations. Pair these darling "big people" clothes with some MiaJoie shoes on your little one and you'll be the talk of every single Mom on the playground! Amazing prices too--by the way! I don't know how they stay in business! Check out this little tennis skirt:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28139833

MiChiMa: OH MY GOSH--the color, the design, the genius idea behind ALL of her creations...please see the most DARLING toddler gifts EVER! Here's just one (she makes ALL kinds--numbers, without magnets, personalized items using these):
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28948808

KaleighWiese: If you need any kind of card, business graphics (brochure, post card, business card), invitations--wedding, birthday--ANYTHING like that--you cannot (and should not) go anywhere else but to Kaleigh. She designed my son's birthday invitations: in mere minutes she had the first proof to me with a Thomas the Train theme...literally the most charming arrangement and fresh idea I'd EVER seen!! She has now bailed me out of not one--but, TWO marketing emergencies in my business (one a phenomenal post card the other; the most detailed and well designed brochure I've ever seen--Both of which I am SO proud of!!). I cannot recommend Kaleigh highly enough. She specializes in completely custom cards, unmatched graphic design, and unbeatable prices! What she has done for my business would have cost me over $1,500 if I'd gone with a design firm. It was a fraction of that cost--a very small fraction--for Kaleigh to do it--and to do what turned out to be a BETTER job than a firm could have done. Thank you Kaleigh! You have done more for me than I can ever appropriately thank you for! This woman has more talent in her pinky than some of the biggest New York design mavens combined. You won't believe the genius...things you or I could not even HOPE to come up with!

Miapella Organics: This shop is the creme de la creme of baby products and healing ointments and salves. You will not find a better deal (try the baby gift pack: 3 in 1 to save big bucks on their top three baby products!) I have recently started using their "hair pudding" and it has changed my life! It is the sole reason that my hair is no longer falling out in massive chunks! The deep conditioning that hair pudding provides is unmatched and it smells like white chocolate too! Just decadent, yummy, luxurious goodness all rolled into one! Do buy some...

Savor: I have a NEW favorite bath and body shop--a former chef turned soap-er, Lisa is one of MOST CREATIVE women in decadence that has ever lived. I cannot recommend her highly enough...in fact, one of my very first blog posts will be about Savor and I will be giving away not just one of each product I highlight--but, a minimum of 5 of each b/c I SO adore everything she makes. Her "Crema" (body butters) are absolutely breathtaking. They feel so cool on the skin--almost as though they've been cooling in the fridge--but, they are that way naturally. So, SILKY--true silk--that they melt into your skin on contact but leave it completely refreshed and moisturized. And the scents she comes up with--only Essential Oils or fragrances that are safe enough to use on the face--but, their combinations smell like DIVINITY! And, I haven't even begun...Creme Fraiche...oh---my----GOSH. Whipped Soap--sometimes with Jojoba beads, sometimes with sugar, sometimes with salt---some flavors I adore: Chocolate Cardamom, Graham Cracker, Raspberry Granita, Coconut Mochi, Sweet Cake, Banana Pancakes, Mud Pie, Canoli...the list literally goes on forever. There are endless to-die-for scents. Please see my blog (coming in September) for bountiful give-a-ways of these, and many other, of her products!

Soycology: You WILL NOT find a better deal! I say that because you receive 10oz of extra-long burning soy with the delightful and almost surreal smells of it's scent artist, Melissa. She knows a thing or two about scents--and let me tell you--I LOVE (and buy in excess) all candles. I've never loved and NEEDED them the way I do now that I've found Soycology. Do yourself a favor and order Tomato Vine. I was skeptical at first--and I am now a monthly buyer! It's refreshing and happiness-inducing all at the same time. Her candles will delight you and you will not buy candles anywhere else once you've tried hers.

thebrickkiln: Every occasion for gift giving that I have now includes one of their little personalized dishes. ($13) I'm planning to announce to my husband our next pregnancy (whenever that happens) on one of their dishes. I don't know what it is about these things, but, people always stop to read them and take notice. If you want to say something important--say it on a brickkiln dish! Mother's Day, Father's Day, our Anniversary, Birthday....you name it--I've celebrated with a personalized dish in the gift and it's always the biggest hit of all! It makes you look so thoughtful and loving...and it costs pennies. You can't buy that kind of value! :)

RockerByeBaby (coolest baby gear and baby blankets in this country!!) This store boasts clients like Jessica Alba, Tori Spelling, Angelina Jolie, etc...but, more importantly--she is a genius!! You would THINK that these creations cost an arm and a leg--but, they do not at all and they are so generous both in rare fabrics and size that you receive for the price! To boot: she sells these darling and very needed little baby/toddler head rest pillows that cradle their little heads in the car seat...something I wish I had when my son was younger. Guess he could still use one! Check her out--her store will speak for itself, it needs no help. How did I exist before RockerByeBaby?

HarvestMoonPaper (BEST handmade cards and custom orders--can do incredible micro-glitter works of art. She is in this business because she loves what she does, not to make money.)

MadHelmeteer: Cutest baby hats--most unique on Etsy.

MothtoaFlameStudio: Pretty unbelieveable quality. A true oasis of excellence...incredible gift tags--superior quality and uniqueness--lots of sparkle. She's expanded to gift-wrap--a major guilty pleasure of mine--and while the pricing may take you aback at first--wow is it WELL worth it--the quality and the sheer size of these gift tags are unparalleled. When my first order from her arrived in the mail--I was blown away. The "Blessings" gift tags -- with German glass glitter--were 6" long....very substantial. :) Do visit--even if just to dream....my Mother begs for gifts from this studio for all birthdays, Christmas' and everything in between. Perfect for that classy lady in your life!

southernsassypants: the original (!)sweet personalized minky pom pom pillows and personalized baby gifts with minky pizazz. Thank YOU for allowing me a window to your behind the scenes processes! You've made it possible for me to afford some way cool merchandise and you are SO fun to "chat" with. This woman has an incredible energy and kindness about her. You are so kind! Her creative work speaks for itself. THIS is a true artist!

Moondogfarm: Felt heaven! You made and shipped those Valentine hearts to us all the way across the country in time for our photo shoot for Dad! You MADE his Valentine's Day present.

A very sincere and special thanks to the sellers listed above. You are my all time favorite people/stores!!

God Bless you all and please contact me with any ideas you have for me for the blog that I'm working at "launching" here shortly.

Also, I truly love and admire ALL of you talented and fantastic artists here on Etsy. However, I do not accept "free merchandise" in exchange for blogging or writing about your shop. I genuinely buy and test out every single thing I hail as "phenomenal" prior to writing about it for other buyers. I do all of my own research and I actually purchase the items I write about. You can bet that I've had my fair share of disappointments while buying things I've only seen in a picture--but, that is the beauty of writing to let people know about the legitimate "finds".

As much as I respect and admire all of you who sell on Etsy, please do not contact me about "sales" that you are having in your shop. By simply saying, "This is not spam" when you write to me, you do not negate the fact that what you are sending me is spam. Spamming buyers is against Etsy's guidelines. Please abide by the rules that have been put in place so that we all might enjoy this vast and amazing resource that is Etsy.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Tory
(vsimonds)