Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.
Sweet, pretty and simple — perfect for a night out. I love Lisa’s work, and you should too. u handbag is mainly a site to buy specialty purse-making supplies but if you move fast you can be lucky enough to get one of her lovely sample bags like this one. Sweet.
Not only do these look delicious, they are also lovely to look at.
Cherry Marshmallows by Mia Mallows.
Fleur de Sel Chocolate Caramels by Calabasas Candy Co.
Honey-Jasmine Lollipops by This Charming Candy.
Matcha Green Tea Brittle by bon bon brittle.
mmmm…
When you think of Valentines Day, what comes to mind? Giant heart-shaped boxes of candy filled with high-fructose corn syrup, artificial-colours and synthetic flavours? Surely there is a better way to say “I love you” without sacrificing our commitment to better eating! Thankfully, living the life organic doesn’t have to mean giving up sweet treats.
Meeting the demands of consumers looking for high-quality, scrumptious and “better for you” confectionery products, Beth and Vincent of Have it Sweet offer an incredible range of mouth-watering products made by hand with natural, organic ingredients. “We use local farm fresh cream and organic butter, all natural, non-GMO corn syrup, organic cane sugar, organic fair trade vanilla, Callebaut Belgian Chocolate, perfectly toasted organic nuts, organic spices and extracts and unrefined salt. We are completely and utterly preservative free and 90% of our products are gluten free.”
Vincent, the brilliant pastry chef and confectioner behind Have it Sweet’s original recipes, has worked tirelessly to create a veritable rainbow of flavours that will tempt your eyes and your taste buds, such as his unique Cinnamon Almond Nougat (above). Described by Beth as “a confection created by angels”, this soft, pink-tinted nougat is made in the French style and is filled with crunchy roasted cinnamon-sugar coated almonds. Made with all-natural ingredients (including the food colouring used to give it its rosy hue), this nougat will make your sweetheart say “Ooh la la!”
What would Valentine’s Day be without a little chocolate? The adorably-named “Love is in the Airamels” (pictured above) are blushing-pink Tahitian vanilla caramels layered with Callebaut Belgian dark chocolate. Made with Have it Sweet’s secret recipe and the finest ingredients, these are caramels like no other. Plus, they’re good for you! Loaded with anti-oxidant flavonoids, dark chocolate has been shown to lower blood-pressure and increase anti-depressant serotonin levels in the brain.
As light as air and swirled with natural pink peppermint, Have it Sweet’s Pink Peppermint Marshmallows are as pretty to look at as they are fun to eat. Free of dairy, gluten, soy and nuts, these all-natural fluffy delights are perfect for snacking, floating in a mug of cocoa, or as the star of the show in a chocolate-peppermint s’more. You can also indulge your darling’s sweet tooth all year round with a gift of the “Marshmallow of the Month” club. Every month for an entire year, your Valentine will receive an eco-friendly package containing the marshmallow flavour-of-the-month. February’s flavour is, of course, Pink Peppermint. Please see Have it Sweet’s shop for more details.
Not only are all of these confections a delight to behold, they will all arrive at your door in 100% environmentally-friendly packaging. From the parchment that wraps the treats, to the tape that seals the boxes, all of the packaging materials used by Have it Sweet are recycled/recyclable and eco-friendly. As Beth sweetly puts it, “Our packaging, ingredients and core values are a symbol of who we are a company and how we feel about the earth.”
Hot hot hot, dammit. These dresses are smoking hot. Affordable, stylish, and made by a human not a machine. Perfect for Summer wear — get some boots and start kickin’ it. By poshpanache.
Ruffles not your thing? No worries, I have a bonus link just for you. Sweet.
Due to family stuff and an emergency I didn’t get this post of Diana’s up before Christmas… Please enjoy it anyway – just looking at the delicious pictures should be enough :) -Erika
I love the holiday season as a whole. The hustle and bustle, the cheer and music, the time spent with family and friends in thankfulness and reflection. But Christmas — or any of the mid-winter holidays — can’t necessarily be called my favorite. That title goes to Thanksgiving. So, when it comes to the time committed to make the season bright, mine — though joyful — pales in comparison to many others’ on a strictly quantity basis. Generally speaking I’m just not motivated to spend a lot of time baking or decorating.
This year is the exception to the rule.
If I were pregnant my behavior might be described as nesting. Because I’m not, it’s mostly just crazy.
First came the insatiable urge to have not one, not two, not three… but six Christmas trees this year. (For the record I could only convince my family — as well as my morals and pocketbook — that two were really necessary.) Next it was the desire to construct myriad wreaths out of fresh pine boughs, string thousands of cranberries and popped popcorn kernels on thread, make vintage styled egg ornaments out of duck eggs, and then, finally, set in the need — yes, need — to bake! Bake, bake, and bake some more!
Cookies and cakes and cake pops and pies. Brownies and gingerbread and candies, oh my!
Except, if I’m truly honest with myself — and as a rule I try to be — I haven’t the time to bake all the things on my list. Or even half the things on my list. Though, you can be assured, it didn’t stop me from making it. Which means prioritization has been in order — a lot of it, and it’s been tough.
I can’t justify not baking the sugar cookie recipe that’s been passed down through our family for generations — the one that comes out moist, thick and cakey, just the way I like it. But perhaps the truffles and specialty cookies could be left to someone else — someone like Aunt Ida, Lillie Belle Farms and Laura of Laura’s Wholesome Junk Food; all Foodzie shop owners who sell the Pomegranate Cookies, Blue Cheese Truffles and Gingerbread Bites pictured, respectively.
Are you baking this holiday season? Share your recipes in the comments! Are you buying this season? What sweets are you ordering in?