The Gift Garden

1000 Facebook Fan Giveaway

2011-02-17T15:47:00.000-06:00

I am so excited about this milestone and appreciate each and every person who follows my page. To celebrate this event I thought a giveaway was in order. So I am giving away one of our new Slap Watches with Rhinestones.

These watches are play on the spring coil bracelets from the 80's and 90's. Our lucky winner will have the option of choosing a color. Options are light pink, turquoise, orange, hot pink, red, or black.

For your chance to win, you need to comment on my blog about your favorite fad or trend from the 80's or 90's. I will use Random.Org to pick a winner. The winner will be picked Friday evening. Good Luck!

Tulsa Blizzard 2011

2011-02-04T15:32:00.000-06:00

I don't write on my blog nearly as often as I should however I am getting extra time to do some of these "extra" activities due to the Tulsa Blizzard. This is my 3rd winter in Tulsa and by far the most extreme I have experienced. Tulsa had a massive ice storm in 2007 but I was vacationing in Hawaii and missed the whole thing :-). Well, I am here to experience this in all its glory.

On Tuesday, we recevied 14 inches of snow which essentially caused the city and state to shut down for 2 days. Banks, UPS, Fedex, airports, businesses, highways and roads were closed. Schools have yet to reopen. We were just starting to dig out and work towards getting back to normalcy and today we are getting another 3 -5 inches with more snow due next week.

This is what my home looked like this morning before todays round of snow. The sea of white is pretty but I am sure looking forward to all of it melting and getting into spring! Dreaming of sunshine and warmth!

Animal Rescue Night

2010-11-30T22:29:00.000-06:00

Personalized Diaper Gift Baskets

2010-06-11T17:02:00.003-05:00

Looking for a unique, special, and practical gift for a Baby Shower? We have the answer for you. A personalized diaper gift basket. Our baskets contain 30 diapers personalized with the name of the baby or a monogram, a theme, and colors of your choice. Want to see more? Check out our website dedicated to just the diapers here. These are sure to be a hit at your next shower.

In Search for a Gift for Dad?

2010-06-05T11:28:00.004-05:00

If your dad is like mine, I struggle with buying him gifts. He is a simple, easy going guy and pretty much has everything he needs and wants. He fusses at me when I buy him gifts as he does not want me to spend my money on such things, but I do it anyway. I at least want him to know I am thinking of him and care but there are only so many TVs, car detailing certificates, and trips to his favorite restaurant that I can do. So, over the past few years I have had to get more creative especially in my leaner times to find things that he would enjoy.

On thing he is getting this Father's Day is the Super Bowl History Paper we now carry at The Gift Garden. This is the compilation of Super Bowl stories written by the New York Times. He is an avid sports fan and loves reading the newspaper so what a perfect match. These papers are also available in OU, OSU, Golf, Daytona 500, and Crossword Puzzles.

Another item that Can can enjoy are travel mugs sporting their favorite team. We carry them in OU and OSU.

In addition you will find the Original Man Candles, including the newest scents of Baseball and the Poker Room, wallets, money clips, and more. You can even pick up a nice WoodWick car scent to freshen up his car.

Stop by and see us. Mention this blog post for 10% off your purchse. Spend 25.00 or more and get a complimentary Father's Day Pop Up Card as well.

Cooler Tote Weekly Blog Giveaway

2010-05-21T16:43:00.002-05:00

In celebration of a beautiful weekend of sunshine, we are giving away one of these fun and fabulous cooler totes. Who said taking your drinks and snacks to the lake or the park couldn't be fun and cute too.

The Giveaway!

This week were are giving away 1 Cooler Tote in the design of your choice. All you have to do to win is comment on this blog post!

Extra Credit!

You can earn multiple entries by posting about this giveaway on your:

• facebook page
• twitter page
• blog

Come back and leave a comment for everything you do! And thank you for spreading the word about The Gift Garden - we really appreciate it!

The Deadline...This giveaway contest will run until Monday May 24th at Midnight CST. The winner will then be chosen by their comment number via random.org and announced on this post on Tuesday May 25th - so be sure to come back and check to see if it is you!

The Coupon!

Now through next Friday May 28st we are offering 15% off on all our Summer products (Cooler Totes, Tunics, Bamboo Bags, and Flip Flops). If you would like to purchase some, please call us at 918-258-0472 or come to our store in Broken Arrow, OK. Just let us know you saw this special on Facebook or our Blog when you come into the store and you will get it!

Thanks for participating and Good Luck! Please also join us on Facebook for more great gift ideas and cool stuff!

Brigette

Wine-A-Rita Blog Giveaway Winner

2010-05-18T07:52:00.003-05:00

Congratulations Shannon, you are this weeks winner. You have your choice of Wine-A-Ritas. Please come in within 10 days to claim your prize.

Wine-A-Rita our Weekly Blog Giveaway

2010-05-14T12:30:00.005-05:00

I am happy to tell you that our Wine-A-Rita products have been restocked and the Peach Bellini is back!

The Giveaway!

This week were are giving away a box of Wine-A-Rita of your choice. We have Wine Glace, Peach Bellini, Senorita, and Cosmorita available.

All you have to do to win is comment on this blog post!

Extra Credit! You can earn multiple entries by posting about this giveaway on your:

• facebook page
• twitter page
• blog

Come back and leave a comment for everything you do! And thank you for spreading the word about The Gift Garden - we really appreciate it!

The Deadline...

This giveaway contest will run until Monday May 17th at Midnight CST. The winner will then be chosen by their comment number via random.org and announced on this post on Tuesday May 18th - so be sure to come back and check to see if it is you!

The Coupon!

Now through next Friday May 21st we are offering 15% off on all our Wine-A-Rita products. If you would like to purchase some, please call us at 918-258-0472 or come to our store in Broken Arrow, OK. Just let us know you saw this special on Facebook or our Blog when you come into the store and you will get it!

Thanks for participating and Good Luck! Please also join us on Facebook for more great gift ideas and cool stuff!

Brigette

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #7

2010-05-03T10:42:00.001-05:00

I thought for sure the egg would have been found over the weekend. However it is still up for grabs so here is the next clue.

Clue Number 7: Monday, May 3, 2010

Four thousand bucks is what it’s worth.
Sitting there on mother earth.
Will you be the one to win?
With R1L1V4D2I1S1N1.

Good Luck!

Rooster Egg Hunt Continues

2010-05-01T15:01:00.001-05:00

The Egg went missing for a few hours yesterday but
the Egg was NOT turned IN. A New Egg has been hid.

We are continuing the CLUES & the HUNT. GOOD LUCK

Clue Number 6: Saturday, May 1, 2010

Be careful now, these clues are shifty.
Try all of these for an extra fifty.
O1T1R1C3E1N1C3 is what to use.
Thank the sponsors when you get the clues.

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #5

2010-04-30T10:52:00.001-05:00

Clue Number 5: Friday, April 30, 2010

Don’t let a word lead you astray.

Some are from another day.

Try C³E¹D¹O¹T¹R¹U¹.

The last two words scored twenty-two.

Good Luck!

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #4

2010-04-29T10:47:00.002-05:00

Clue Number 4: Thursday, April 29, 2010

“It’s too hard,” some always say.
But this year’s easy, we all can play.
Don’t look now you’ve got word three
with C3E1N1O1A1R1T1.

The numbers are the scrabble points but they would not list properly here.
Any questions, give me a call.

Good Luck!

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #3

2010-04-28T16:38:00.002-05:00

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #2

2010-04-27T12:54:00.002-05:00

This is the infamous egg that is being hunted for.

Clue #2

Use the star, the first word’s double.

Two times eight or you’re in trouble.

Print a board from the Chamber’s site.

Practice ‘til you get it right.

You can download your scrabble board here.

Good Luck!

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #1

2010-04-26T12:04:00.001-05:00

Hey! Hey! BA, what's up this year?

Rooster Days are drawing near.

S¹C³R¹A¹B³B³L¹E¹D² egg is what we'll play.

Make a Memory At Rooster Days.

Use the board shown with these clues.

Official rules for points we'll use.

Start with C³O¹E¹A¹K⁵O¹L¹

Not all are needed as you can tell.

Good Luck!

Balancing it All!

2010-04-25T10:48:00.002-05:00

I have a lot going on in my life as most of us do these days. It can be difficult to find balance between home and work. Sometimes I do better than others and most recently I lost balance and all the balls came crashing down. This was a good reminder and reality check that I need to regain some balance in my life.

I usually shift all the way to work and become a workaholic and that just does not work. My eating habits get worse and worse because I don't take the time to plan and prepare and just turn to fast food, my home becomes disorganized and chaotic because I have not taken the time to clean and take care of paperwork, etc..., my social life becomes none and so forth.

I have been working on regaining the balance yet once again. Here are some things that I find important and necessary to keep focus on regularly to maintain a healthy, happy, life:

Take Care of You - Drink water, eat healthy, get exercise, get adequate rest, make time for you.

Your Outlook - Maintain a positive outlook, don't engage in gossip (it is toxic), reconcile with your past so you can enjoy the present and the future, live, laugh, love, and learn.

Relationships - take time to maintain your relationships with your partner, friends, and family.

Take time to smell the roses - we only have one life, time goes by so quickly so stop and enjoy it.

I have not mastered this but I am working on it. I find I feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally when I keep my life in balance. I am even struggling with this today as I have work to do and orders to fill (as always) but my sister wants me to hang out with her and go get our nails done. I have been on the work mode so long it is hard to not do it but I know that it is Sunday and should be able to take the time off without feeling guilty.

So I will take time to play today and enjoy the day and the quality time with my sister. :-) What steps will you take to create balance in your life?

The 3/50 Project

2010-04-17T12:19:00.002-05:00

We Have a Winner

2010-04-05T19:16:00.003-05:00

Our winner for our Facebook Friday Giveaway for a pair of Snoozies is.....

Kris Beyer

Pink Zebra is my favorite! (maybe because I'm a "Claremore Zebra") Have a great Easter!

Fri at 4:09pm · · Report

Our winner was chosen via Random.org

Congratulations! Please contact me to claim your prize:-)

A Moving Story

2010-03-24T20:30:00.003-05:00

This story was shared with me yesterday and I was very moved by hearing it so I wanted to share it with you here.

Jenny's Necklace

Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl.

One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50.

How she wanted that necklace, and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for the necklace. And don't forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. "Okay?"

Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her.

Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day, and sure enough, her grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday.

Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls.

How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere-to kindergarten, bed and when she went out with her mother to run errands.

The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower. Her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green!

Now Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?"

"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said.

"Well, then, give me your pearls."

"Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said. "But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?"

"Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Goodnight, little one."

A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you."

"Well, then, give me your pearls."

"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, Daddy," the little girl said to her father.

"No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."

Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. "Here, Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand.

With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box.

Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing.

What are you holding on to, the "fake or the real pearls"?

Makes you think doesn't it????

Wine-A-Rita

2010-03-18T20:19:00.002-05:00

The wine theme continues with Wine-A-Rita. Make a margarita type beverage with your favorite wines for a delightful new beverage.

We will be sampling these during our girl's night on March 23, 2010. These will be a fabulous addition to those spring and summer parties. I am looking forward to trying to CosmoRita and the Peach Bellini the most.

Facebook Friday Giveaway Winner

2010-03-12T21:12:00.007-06:00

This week we were giving away one of our new iphone skins. We have 13 designs available to choose from.

The winner of this weeks giveaway of the iphone skin of there choice is...........

Elisabeth 'Sach' Spivey

Oh I love these! My Iphone needs one! My favorite app is Gowalla!

Wed at 5:19pm

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 5 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations Elisabeth. Contact me and let me know your selection and I will get it sent off to you!

First Attempt at a 4 Part Swirl

2010-03-09T15:50:00.003-06:00

Today I attempted my first 4 Color Swirl in a batch of Cold Process Soap. I was inspired to attempt this feat by a post on my favorite blog by the Soap Queen herself here. I thought her batch was just amazing and I have done 2 color swirls but never 4 and thought I would jump in and give it a try.

I can definitely say it was a bit of a challenge.

Definitely requires more planning and organization than I had today.

Definitely, no answering of the phones in the middle of trying to do this either.

My colors came out vibrant but I am hoping it is not too much color. My swirls aren't as clean as I would have liked but I must say not to bad for the first try. I am trying my best not to peak at the batch as I have put it to bed. I can't wait till I can get it out of the mold and see what the final results will be. I will keep you posted.

Wine Anyone???

2010-03-03T22:40:00.006-06:00

A new wine theme seems to be developing in the store. We have a variety of shirts like the one pictured below with fun sayings like: You Had Me at Merlot, Sip Happens, Group Therapy and more.

And of course, hats to match the shirts.

Even something for baby....."I'll try a glass of the house white"

And the newest addition......Woozies.

Woozie is a wine glass sleeve made from top quality neoprene which insulates your wine glass and feels soft to the touch! It is fun, functional and comes in wonderful Woozie colors! Woozie is stretchable, washable, foldable and reusable.

Had a little too much fun or a little too much wine and ended up with a spill on your shirt? Clean it up with vinegar. Spots caused by wine can be removed from 100 percent cotton, cotton polyester and permanent press fabrics if done so within 24 hours. To do it, sponge white distilled vinegar directly onto the stain and rub away the spots. Then clean according to the directions on the manufacturer's care tag.

Sweet Treats for your Valentine!

2010-02-13T10:43:00.003-06:00

During the holiday season last year, a customer of mine was telling me about some candy she was making. It sounded like a yummy recipe and so easy and quick that I had to try them out. It was simple, and everybody loved them. So if you need something to add on for your special someone this Valentine's Day, this would be easy to do.

All you need is: Package of mini pretzels
Package of Rolos. I found the rolls easier as they are not individually wrapped
Nuts of your choice. I used cashews but you could do pecans, peanuts, etc.

Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.

Place pretzels on your baking sheet

Place 1 Rolo on each pretzel

Place in preheated oven for 4 minutes. When you take them out of the oven, add your cashews or whatever type of nuts. When I put the cashews on top I also gently pressed them down into the chocolate.

Enjoy!

Valentine's Day is Just a Few Days Away

2010-02-08T21:32:00.006-06:00

The big day is just 6 days away. Have you found something special for that special someone? If not, here are a few tips to help you.

While flowers and chocolates are a staple gift for Valentine's Day, don't be afraid to do something different.

Be creative and think about the things your partner likes. Cook them their favorite meal and serve via candlelight, bake them their favorite dessert, create a CD of special songs for them. Options are unlimited. However, if you run out of ideas or time we can help.

At The Gift Garden, we have cards, teddy bears, chocolates, planters, gift baskets and more. Find her favorite candle by WoodWick, add to her Miche bag collection with a new shell, or pick up more of her favorite bath and body products.

Just be sure to tell your Valentine just how special they are to you and enjoy your day together!

Freezing Rain, Sleet, Snow & More

2010-01-29T12:00:00.009-06:00

I have lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma for almost 3 years now. One thing I can say about Oklahoma is that we experience all types of weather and the weather can change dramatically in short periods of time. I have experienced a day where we were in the 70's mid-day and by early evening we dropped to the 20's.

Yesterday, we were going through various forms of precipitation. We has rain, freezing rain, sleet, and now we are progressing to snow.

Fortunately, the ice storm part was not as bad for us in Tulsa as was predicted. Other areas like Oklahoma City were hit much worse.

I still came in to the store today as there is always so much work to do. The roads were surprisingly really good this morning. I had to take pictures as this is my first experience with the ice from freezing rain.

My dogs were not too happy about it this morning. The grass was covered in a glaze of ice and with every step they took they sunk into the grass and seemed disoriented by it all.

In 2007 this area was hit really hard but I was off vacationing in Hawaii and missed the whole event.

Seeing the ice form the way it does is just fascinating to me. Mother Nature can do so many things. I just wanted to share a few pictures of what things are looking at here today.

We are supposed to get about 3" - 6" of snow today. It is always so pretty as the snow falls.

Soap Donations for Haiti

2010-01-19T15:44:00.002-06:00

Soap is in great need. As I am a soaper, this cause is close to my heart. I will be collecting donations of hot process, cold process, melt-and-pour, handmilled, half used bars of soap as well as shampoo (opened or unopened) at my store or you can send donations direct to:

Clean the World
8026 Sunport Dr. #306
Orlando FL 32809

All items are rebatched and sterilized before they process and send out. Without hand washing, the broken sewers, plumbing, and toilets in Haiti will lead to diarrhea-related bacterial infections, which sadly effect children the most and lead to 5 million deaths annually. You can help!

Donations accepted Monday 10 -5, and Tuesday - Saturday 10-6 PM

What's New at The Gift Garden for 2010

2010-01-14T20:48:00.002-06:00

As we have begun a new year, I took some time to step back and evaluate the business and consider what direction I wanted to go in for the new year. I have decided to put a few things on the back burner and really focus on the gift shop. What this means to you as our customer? Better product selection and dedicated service.

I have been working diligently since the holidays to find new, fun, trendy, exciting, and affordable gifts and I am very excited about what is coming to the store. I am working to expand the selection of everyday gifts along with new additions for baby, housewarming, and wedding.

I will be posting updates here as the new products arrive as well as working on getting them loaded to our website. I thank you for your continued business and support.

Welcome in the New Year

2010-01-04T21:47:00.002-06:00

It is hard to belive another year has gone by let alone another decade. As this new year begins many of us have followed with tradition and established New Year's Resolutions. Once again I have done this for myself. I have many on my list and I have decided to share them here.

1) Lose 100 lbs. I will do this by eating better, getting exercise, and attending Weight Watcher meetings.

2) Be more diligent about using Social Media including my blog, twitter, Facebook, etc...

3) Update my website with products at least once a week.

4) Clean and organize both my home and work offices and address all paperwork within the next 90 days (there is a lot of piles).

5) Read more books. At least 1 book a month. These books can be business related or just for simple enjoyment.

6) Spend more time with my family. Plan at least 1 activity a month to spend time with my family doing something other than eating out.

These are my goals that I plan on focusing on this year. I am making a big poster with these items listed so I can put it up in my office for a daily reminder of what I want to accomplish. I will do follow up posts to let you know my progress.

What are some of your goals for 2010?

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T16:25:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to take a moment and wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Winning Numbers for Buy Broken Arrow

2009-12-18T16:11:00.002-06:00

BUY BROKEN ARROW
WINNING TICKET NUMBERS

The winning ticket for $10,000 #2042956 and was given out at Reasors – S. Elm

The winning ticket for $3,000 is #0518253 and was given out at Reasor’s E. Kenosha

The winning ticket for $2,000 is #1234040 and was given out at Baby Emporium

The winning ticket for $1,500 is #0794058 and was given out at Lowe’s

Don’t throw your tickets away.
If any of the prizes are not claimed by
Wednesday, December 23 at 3:00 p.m.
The Chamber will draw again!!!!

See What You Can Make!

2009-12-14T15:02:00.003-06:00

These are soaps made by Courtney, 11 years old, here at The Gift Garden. She did such a great job. Hard to believe she is a first-time soap maker. Come in and see what you can make!

Gingerbread Man Soap

2009-12-02T15:57:00.001-06:00

This is a sample of one all wrapped up and ready to go.

Gingerbread Men Soaps

2009-12-01T17:28:00.003-06:00

Today I made these adorable Gingerbread Men Soaps. They are super cute and fun. They are scented with a yummy Gingersnap Fragrance. They are being packaged in a clear acetate box tied off with tulle. I will try to post pictures of them packaged tomorrow. Just $4.00. Makes a great stocking stuffer.

Buy Broken Arrow Campaign

2009-11-04T20:21:00.003-06:00

We are excited that this is the second year that The Gift Garden is participating in the Buy Broken Arrow Campaign sponsored by the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce. Support your local businesses this holiday season and get tickets that enter you in to a drawing in which you could win $3000, $5000, or even $10,000. Drawings will be held on December 18th. Stop by participating businesses and get your tickets!

Taco Salad Recipe

2009-10-26T13:26:00.003-05:00

This is a recipe that was given to me years ago from a friend. I just made it at home this weekend and thought I should post it here. It is great for potlucks too. I have never had leftovers when taking this to a potluck and would usually do a double recipe. I even used this for a Halloween potluck as we were tasked with bringing food that orange and black. To create that, I mixed everything according to the directs and right before serving a sprinkled a layer of the crushed Doritos on top and then added some sliced black olives.

1 bottle Catalina salad dressing
1 head lettuce
2 lg. tomatoes, chopped
1 med. onion, chopped
1 med. green pepper or green onion, chopped
1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. shredded Cheddar cheese
1 pkg. Nachos or Doritos, crushed or broken
1 pkg. taco seasoning (optional)
Olives are also optional

Brown beef with taco seasoning and allow to cool.

Combine all other ingredients except chips in a large salad bowl. Toss like a regular salad. Add ground beef and chips just before serving. Pour Catalina dressing over all or serve alongside.

For a lower calorie option substitute ground turkey for the ground beef, use light versus regular cheese, use light Catalina versus regular, and use Baked Doritos.

Enjoy!

Health Care Expo

2009-10-16T08:46:00.002-05:00

Saturday, October 24th from 9 am to 4 pm at Neinhaus Park Community Center. Lots of free screenings, kids activities, and more. For more information click here.

2010 DRNA Calendars

2009-10-10T08:53:00.003-05:00

As you may know, I am a doxie mama of 3 and a foster mom of 1. I foster rescues for Dachshund Rescue of North America (DRNA). The new 2010 calendar for DRNA has been released. They are available for $18.00 and can be purchased here or in my store. Proceeds from the sales of the calendar help to pay for medical expenses and care of these precious and needy rescues. They will also make a great gift or stocking stuffer for any dachshund lover in your life.

Soap Making App for the IPhone

2009-10-09T08:24:00.007-05:00

I must say I was thrilled to find that there is a Soap Making Application for my IPhone. How great is this? Leave it to Brambleberry to be the creator of the app.

I have been playing around with this quite a bit lately and I am loving it. It is easy to use and even comes with 3 recipes to help get you started.

There is an extensive list of fats, oils and butters to choose from. You can choose your percentage of superfatting and the size of your batch. You can even email the recipe. The only addition I would like to see in future updates would be an area for notes so I could keep information about fragrances and colors I used in the batch...etc. Otherwise, I could not be happier. Creating new recipes made even easier. Get yours for just $4.99.

Autumn Harvest to Benefit Madonna House

2009-09-18T08:09:00.000-05:00

The 16th annual Autumn Harvest Arts & Crafts Festival benefiting Madonna House of Catholic Charities will be Saturday, Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bishop Kelley High School, 3905 S. Hudson Ave. in Tulsa.

The Autumn Harvest Festival is sponsored by the Madonna House Auxiliary, an organization with more than 600 members that support the Madonna House residential maternity home dedicated to helping pregnant women, new moms, and newborns.

This organization assists women through lodging, nutrition, linkage with health care, professional counseling and child care education, as well instruction leading to a GED or support toward post high school education.

I have a booth at this craft show. I hope to see you there!

Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce Expo

2009-08-21T11:51:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is the Chamber Home & Business Expo. I will be exhibiting there along with many great businesses in Broken Arrow. Come down and check it out. Lots of great door prizes and a chance to find out what is happening in Broken Arrow!

Saturday, August 22 , 2009
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Nienhuis Park
3201 North 9th Street
Broken Arrow, OK

First Batch of Cold Process Soap

2009-08-20T10:42:00.002-05:00

Last week Cheryl & Molly (sisters) came in to make their first batch of cold process soap. They had previously taken a class with me but were a little leery of doing it all on their own. So they came back in last week and Cheryl made a batch scented with an essential oil blend of Lavender, Chamomile, and Vanilla with Lemon Balm herbs and Molly made a beautiful batch of Pumpkin Soap. Next, they want to do goats milk soap. I think they may be hooked on soap making!

Vault Key Stop

2009-08-10T11:33:00.001-05:00

Come by the store this week or on Saturday from 11 - 1 for your chance to enter to win a key to open The Vault at Big Splash.

You may get the key that opens the Vault! Some lucky key holders will have the key that opens the Vault of cash, trips, electronics, and a SmartCar!

Any purchase of $15.00 or more at the Scent Station enters you to win!

Pumpkin

2009-07-16T15:46:00.002-05:00

Last fall I made a Pumpkin Soap. In that soap I used actual pumpkin in it. I intended for this soap to be a seasonal soap and did not plan on bringing it back until this fall however some of my customers did not agree with this plan so I finally broke down and made a fresh batch of my pumpkin soap today. Some may ask why pumpkin?

Pumpkin is actually quite good for your skin. The valuable benefits of pumpkin are the high content of vitamin A and beta carotene, two potent antioxidants provide important nutrition for the skin. Pumpkin also contains lots of anti-oxidants, vitamin C, as well as zinc and beneficial alpha-hydroxy acids.

Beyond putting it in soap you can make facial masks and scrubs with it as well.

Fish in a Bag Soaps

2009-07-10T12:39:00.005-05:00

I truly believe that bath time should be a fun time for kids. I know as I child, I hated bath time. Then again it was not that fun. It was like a chore. Now I want bath time to be relaxing and soothing. But if I was a kid again and had to take a bath I know these Fish in a Bag soaps would be lots of fun. Just peel the soap out of the bag and once the soap is used up your child will be left with the fish toy. Please supervise your children with the soap and/or toy.

Bath Bomb Cupcakes

2009-07-07T20:27:00.002-05:00

Today was frosting day for the bath bomb cupcakes that I previously made. I have such fun decorating them and adding special touches like body-safe glitter or various colored jojoba beads.

Wicked Sale Event

2009-07-01T17:51:00.003-05:00

Join us Saturday, July 11th at The Gift Garden. From 10-6 we will have some Wicked Sales going on, free hand spa treatments, refreshments, and chances to win tickets to see Wicked opening night in Tulsa.

Too Cute Cupcakes

2009-06-25T15:14:00.003-05:00

The picture above is a cupcake. They put two cupcakes together and decorated it. I thought these were just adorable. Of all places they can be found at the Walmart Bakery for only $4.00. What a great way to brighten someone's day.

Soap Making Party

2009-06-15T20:37:00.004-05:00

On Saturday we had a party at the store and the activity of choice was making soap.

To facilitate things I used that signs and tags from the summer issue of the Soapylove ezine. It made things so easy. Everyone was able to follow along with the steps and made beautiful soaps. The tags made packaging the soaps as favors so simple and nice. Get your summer issue with the full instructions and templates here.

Personalized Diapers

2009-06-10T21:17:00.002-05:00

Looking for a special and unique idea for a baby shower? We can now create personalized diapers for you. They can be done in a variety of fonts, colors, and with a wide selection of graphics. Above is a sample of a finished basket to show the basket will arrive. Shipping to all states is available. These will soon be available on our website.

Door Prize Winners

2009-06-08T13:41:00.001-05:00

Thank you to everyone who attended our Open House on Saturday. We did drawings during the afternoon and the following won prizes:

Susan Gunyon
Meagan Rhodes
J. Renee Williams
Suzanne Jackson

Congratulations to the winners!

Bath Bomb Cupcakes

2009-06-04T17:02:00.003-05:00

Today I was making Bath Bomb Cupcakes. These were so much fun but I won't discuss the mess I made making them. They are available in Buttercream & Snickerdoodle, Raspberry Cream, and Sweet Thang. The scents are delightful. Treat yourself to a fun bath time.

Plumeria Soaps

2009-05-28T15:47:00.002-05:00

Today I was making soaps. I made some loofah soaps in Oatmeal Milk & Honey and Mulberry scents. Then I made these fun Plumeria soaps. They are also scented in Plumeria.

The Original Man Candle

2009-05-22T17:22:00.003-05:00

Now in stock. With scents like Pot Roast, Draft Beer, French Fry, Garage, Golf Course, Fishing Dock, Cup O Joe, and Football, you are bound to find a perfect match for the man in your life. These would make great Father's Day Gifts too.

Open House

2009-05-19T17:12:00.004-05:00

In honor of our new location and our upcoming 1 year anniversary, we are having an open house. This will be at our store on June 6 from 12 -5. Other vendors will be there along with friends, food, fun, and prizes. Further details are posted in the store and will be sent out in our newsletter. I hope to see you there!

Dove Release

2009-05-12T15:07:00.006-05:00

This morning at the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce Leads Group I attend we had a presentation by Tina of Webster's Wings. Her company does dove releases for various events and we were treated to one of her releases at our meeting.

I must say it was quite nice and if I have a wedding I would love to have doves released. Nice job Tina.

I am back open and having a contest to celebrate!

2009-05-01T15:24:00.004-05:00

I am finally back in business and very happy to be. So I figured that I should have a contest to celebrate that and Mother's Day which will soon be upon us. So please join us in celebrating by participating in our contest and win a very special basket for your Mom. See the details on the above contest to read all about the prize.

Good Luck!

The Sign Went Up - Yeah!!!!

2009-04-27T22:20:00.003-05:00

I am a little delayed in posting this but on Saturday the guys came and put up the new sign for the store. I was so excited. Like a little school girl. The reality of becoming official. For my customers, you know this is a long ways from the sign I had at the last location. The Osage Neon Crew did a great job.

The Move In Progress

2009-04-24T21:41:00.004-05:00

The move is well under way. After 1 year at the last location, I completely grew out of the space. It was good that I started where I was as I was not really sure all of what I wanted to do. Over the past year, I was able to drill down my business and where I wanted to go with the store. So when I was searching for a new location, I kept my business goals in mind. The ability to also custom build the new location has been truly wonderful.

This picture is of my back room. This is where I will have my office as well as all my tools and supplies for making baskets, diaper cakes, and all my other creations. I know it does not look like much now but it will. I will take more pictures over the next few days to show the new store in progress.

The front section of the store will be the gift shop. I kept the bar that was in the store for our "scenting station." This is where we will custom scent our bath and body products for you. I also will have an open area for people to come in and make their on glycerin soaps. The finale is a party/class room. We will be able to have groups, parties, and various craft classes taught by various teachers.

I am so excited about all that is to come.

Fresh Batch of Cool Water Type Soap

2009-04-20T21:21:00.003-05:00

This is a fresh batch of Cool Water Type soap I made today. The fragrance was all over the shop and smelled just wonderful. I can't wait to unmold and cut this soap tomorrow.

Making Silky Cream

2009-04-17T16:45:00.002-05:00

I was busy making lotions and creams this morning. The cream I was making above is definitely one of my favorite products. This cream is very light, non-greasy, absorbs quickly, and contains yummy ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and liquid silk.

BBQ Basket

2009-04-13T16:21:00.002-05:00

Here is a BBQ Basket that was just made. This basket contains a BBQ Grill Tool Set, OU Grilling Sauces 3 pack - 1 Bottle of Albert's BBQ Sauce and some BBQ Peanuts.

Kid's Basket

2009-04-11T19:30:00.002-05:00

This is a custom kid's basket. It is filled with construction paper, markers, coloring books, crayons, puzzle books, sidewalk chalk, Play-Doh, Bubbles, and even a Yellow Rubber Ducky for bathtime.

Baby Basket

2009-04-10T17:46:00.002-05:00

This is a baby basket made today for a customer order. I will be posting more basket samples of the work I do so you can see the types of quality baskets I can create for you.

Easter Baskets Galore

2009-04-09T17:05:00.002-05:00

I have been busy in the shop with Easter. These are some of the custom baskets made today.

Soapylove

2009-04-08T15:08:00.003-05:00

I am so happy. I got some Soapylove in the mail today. I am a frequent ready of Soapylove's Blog and I was lucky enough to win one of her contests. The prize actually was a copy of her eZine. (These are great. I am learning so many new soaping techniques) Since I already had gotten my copy she was kind enough to let me choose a soapsicle as my prize. I chose Clearly Lovely as it is my personal favorite. Debbie suprised me with one of her newest designs - Pink Grapefruit.

Pink Grapefruit smells wonderful. I was even impressed by her card. It was a handwritten card in the cutest envelope that even has a little Soapylove pin on it. Very, very cute. You can purchase her Soapsicles in my store or online here.

Go Girl Soap

2009-04-07T19:56:00.004-05:00

It has been a while since I have been able to make some soap. I sure do enjoy getting in a making it though. These pictures are part of a custom order I did today.

This picture shows how the soap was packaged.

Dogs in Color

2009-04-06T15:31:00.003-05:00

I was going to the post office when I saw these dogs and had to stop. They were out from a walk from the groomers. They had one more that was blue but he was gone before I could get his photo. Aren't this gals super cute. I love the Hot Pink!

I am sure the dogs are thinking why me. What us humans do to our animals. But I have to admit it is adorable and if I had a dog that I could do this to, I would.

Easter Baskets are on the Way

2009-03-31T17:39:00.003-05:00

I am starting to put out the selection of Easter Baskets. The one pictured above has bubble bath, and bath pouf, a tooth brush & soap travel case and a individually wrapped cookie. I have a variety of baskets to choose from. Prices are $6.00 and up. The basket above is $16.00.

Winter Wonderland

2009-03-28T20:32:00.002-05:00

So much for Spring. Mother Nature had other plans for us today. We had a winter wonderland. Hopefully it will all melt tomorrow and that this will be the last winter storm.

Olive Squalane

2009-03-27T16:41:00.002-05:00

As I continue to work on expanding my offerings of bath & body products in my store, I must share my latest find. I most recently discovered Olive Squalane and I am in love with it. After doing research and hearing all the great qualities this oil has I had to try it. I started by making an all natural lotion that includes olive squalane. After the first application of the lotion, I was thrilled. I tend to have dry skin and this made my hands feel so moist and soft. I now use it as an all over body lotion and my facial moisturizer.

I will be soon offering this lotion as well as Olive Squalane in its 100% concentration that can be used as is for a moisturizer and more. These are some of the reported benefits:

Heals chapped /cracked Skin
Helps prevent UV damage to skin
Helps skin to retain moisture
Helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles
Imparts relief to dehydrated and ultra-sensitive skin
Softens the most rough-textured skin and leaves no oily residue
Helpful in counteracting conditions of eczema, psoriasis, and post-operative skin.
It can be applied throughout the day to soften dry, scaly spots.
It can be used under make-up for a flawless application and as a base to maximize the effects of moisturizers.
Squalane is also an ideal addition to nighttime facial treatments or other formulations.

Those that have been testing my samples have had great feedback and have noticed a difference in their skin. Especially those using the pure Squalane. I look forward to having this available for you to try very very soon!

Margaret Hudson Program

2009-03-25T13:14:00.003-05:00

I had the privilege of taking a tour of the Margaret Hudson Program School in Broken Arrow this morning. The program committed to educating pregnant and parenting teens and their families to be healthy, self-sufficient, contributing members of the community and to educate the community about the challenge of teen pregnancy and parenting.

I was very impressed with the facility and the opportunity the program provides to pregnant teens and young mothers. They can take their babies to school with them and know that they are well cared for while they study and finish their high school education. Seeing all the beautiful babies was a very special treat.

I will also be speaking to the girls on Career Day in May on opportunities to start their own business. In this world that we live in, opportunities to start businesses are so available. It is possible to turn your favorite hobby, talent, or skill into a viable business that creates an additional income for your household or it can be pursued into a full-time career. I am looking forward to sharing with these girls.

Cup of Coffee Networkers

2009-03-20T12:23:00.007-05:00

One of the best things that I have done to help grow my business is Networking. The opportunity to get out, meet people, share my business and what I do is very valuable. Not only do they get to know about my business, they get to know me. Building relationships is necessary when building a business. I also meet great people that can help me with my business. Therefore, when I heard of Cup of Coffee Networkers I was ready to participate.

This group is 100% free. A location is set up and hosted so people can come together and network. There is nothing to pay or join. Just come and network. If you want to get a cup of coffee or tea it is purely optional. New clubs are starting up all over. Check out the website here for times and locations. You can also get information about starting one in your area.

I will be hosting the new Broken Arrow group on Monday evenings from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. We will be meeting at Stonewood Coffee & Tea. Come out and joins us. Bring lots of business cards.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T16:55:00.002-05:00

It was my intention to make St. Patrick Soaps and post them here. Well I made the soaps however I was not really focused on the task and what was to be cute soaps turned into a soaping disaster. Therefore, no soap pics. The cute little leprechaun will have to make due.

Catching up with Technology

2009-03-16T17:31:00.003-05:00

Ok, I am trying to get up to speed with all of the current technology. I have been trying not to but see that it is no longer realistic or beneficial to me or my business to do so. Therefore, I am now up an running on Facebook and I just set up my profile on Twitter. I can't say that I am fully proficient on either at this time but it is a work in progress. I added a link for Twitter on the blog today and if I figure out how to do so for Facebook, I will do that too.

Cat Litter????? I Don't Think So!

2009-03-13T13:20:00.002-05:00

While I was getting ready for work this morning, I had the news on as usual. On the morning show (a national morning show at that) I was listening to they had a guest come on and give some suggestions on things you can make and do at home to save money. This particular tip was on making an exfoliant at home instead of buying an expensive sugar scrub from a retail store.

I can appreciate the idea, however not the recommended ingredient. She suggested you use your cat litter. Yes, I said cat litter. She said just to add some water to it and use it as an exfoliant for your face & body. I about fell over. I don't care how tight money may be we do not have to resort to using cat litter to exfoliate. You can find many economical brands, including a Shea Butter Sugar Scrub we carry for $8.00. However, if money is tight, and that is more than you can afford to spend, you certainly can make some at home that would work.

These are ingredients you would most likely already have in your pantry.

Take 1 part sugar to 1/2 part olive oil. Mix together. If desired, you can add extra oil. This will make a nice simple scrub that will do the job. And you did not even have to disturb the kitty.

New Diaper Cake Design

2009-03-11T15:49:00.004-05:00

This is a new design I created today. I think it is fun and cute. Hope you like it.

This product is also available here.

Sand Art

2009-03-09T07:39:00.007-05:00

I found myself watching this and was completely mesmerized as she transformed each picture. This is done by Ilana Yahav, a world renown sand animation artist. Using only her fingers, Ilana draws with sand on a glass table. On her website you can watch her video clips and contact her. http://www.sandfantasy.com/.

Here is one of the videos.

Diaper Cupcakes

2009-03-07T21:44:00.002-06:00

I have been making and selling diaper cakes for quite some time now. Today I started doing some experimentation with some new diaper creations for the shop. These are diaper cupcakes. I think this would be cute for decorations at the shower and then can be given to the mom-to-be to use. A 6-pack is 9.95. They will also be available in blue for boys.

The Lease is Signed

2009-03-06T20:24:00.003-06:00

After a month of negotiating and anxiously awaiting this moment, the lease is finally signed on the new space. My lease ends in my current location at the in of May. I am excited about the new location as it is much bigger, it will have a full class/party room, and it is easier to access with lots of parking. I am so excited to take The Gift Garden to the next level. I look forward to continuing to offer a great selection of gift items, customized party favors, handmade diaper cakes, and once moved I will be adding my line of bath and body products. I expect to be open in the new location by May 1st. Until that time, it will be business as usual at our current location.

A Beautiful Day

2009-03-05T21:20:00.005-06:00

Today was a great day. Warmer weather finally broke today giving hope of Spring. I could hear the birds singing outside while I was working inside. It was wonderful.

I was also able to experiment with some more mineral make-up. Today I worked on formulations for Mineral Veil. I think I have 2 that I like.

This week I also worked on foundations and blush. I hope to make some of these items available for sale in the near future. At the end of the day, I went to take out the trash and was pleasantly surprised to find this cute little critter in the yard.

I was lucky to get the picture as I had to run back inside and get my camera. I came back out and it had not moved. The rabbit sat so patiently while I took the picture. Too cute.

Goals and a Reality Check

2009-03-03T19:56:00.005-06:00

In the beginning of the year I set many professional and personal goals. I was inspired by the start of a new year and the great 8 part series done by Anne-Marie at the Soap-Queen Blog. The other day she posted a check up to see how we were doing on our goals. What a reality check. I thought I was doing ok but after looking back at my list, I am not doing very well at all. Here are the list of goals I posted (I have more but these are the ones I posted):

1) Go back to weight watchers and attend meeting each week and resume work on my weight loss goals.

2) Get excercise back in my life starting with 3 times a week and increase to 5 times a week

3) Clean and organize my work room and office (I loose so much time looking for things)

4) Continue to work to pay down debt. Specifically to reduce credit card debt by 50% in 2009

5) Actively market my business. Contact at least 10 prospects each month for wholesale business.

6) Post to my blog at least 3 times a week

7) Bring my website up-to-date and maintain

8) Get my Etsy shop going.

Having this brought to my attention will hopefully help me get back on track. Yikes.....I am so off base. Well posting it here will also help with accountability. Ironically, this weekend, I picked up a book called Dream It. List It. Do It. The book shows us how to make dreams come true through the use of a life list. There website is 43Things. com where we can list goals, share our progress, and cheer others on. So now I have again listed my goals, shared my progress or lack thereof, so now it is on to cheer. Sometimes we have to be cheerleaders for ourselves too.

Time Flies!

2009-02-28T17:43:00.008-06:00

I can't beleive how quickly the month of February flew by. After the craziness of Valentine's and doing the Women's Expo in Tulsa I got sick. After recovering from my cold, I had to catch up with all that I had fallen behind on over the previous two weeks. I am finally getting my head above water. Going thru the craziness has helped me to refocus on my core goals for the business and what my long-term goals are. By prioritizing and drilling down, I am hoping this will help me to be better organized and productive.

I am happy to say that I had a great Saturday at the shop. The store was slow but it gave me time to play. I made a batch of hot process soap and also got to work on some breakaway melts. The melts will soon be a new addition to my product line.

I was going to post some pictures with this but for some reason it isn't working so I will have to do that another time.

Cookie Bouquets

2009-02-05T10:58:00.003-06:00

So far, cookie bouquets are the popular item this Valentine's. We have several differnt cookie options available. A six cookie bouquet is 29.95. We can do a dozen as well. The website is having a problem processing orders, which we are working to fix, so feel free to call in your order at 918-258-0472

Valentines Gift Baskets

2009-02-02T16:44:00.005-06:00

As Valentine's Day is fast approaching, I am hard at work on creating gift baskets to share on that special day. I just started loading baskets to my website today so please take a look. I will be adding more daily. Click here to be taken directly to the Valentine Basket page.

Orca Soaps

2009-01-28T17:35:00.003-06:00

Well, I did get my wish for sun but no heat. The sun is out today which is a nice change but it is only about 24 degrees. Schools are still closed today and from what I am hearing they will be closed tomorrow too. I got cabin fever and went to the shop today and was making the Orca soaps you see above. The molds for these are an exclusive design for Brambleberry. I love this mold so much. If you a mold like this click here.

In Need of Sun

2009-01-27T13:57:00.003-06:00

This is what my neighbor- hood looked like this morning. It is about 20 degrees and we have had freezing rain, sleet, and snow since yesterday. This morning we had a lot of sleet which is what you see in the picture but it is supposed to transition to snow. Most businesses and all schools are closed due to all the ice on the roads. The temperatures tomorrow are not to get above freezing so it does not look like we will thaw out until Thursday. I so need some sun.

Vote for the Best Swirl Soap

2009-01-26T11:45:00.005-06:00

Saponifier magazine is having a contest for the soap with the Best Swirl. The winner's soap will appear on the cover of the March/April cover. Click Here to vote.

There are some amazing swirls. It was hard to pick just one.

What A Day!

2009-01-20T12:55:00.004-06:00

Like many of you, I have been watching the news all morning and reading updates on the web. I am looking forward to going home tonight to watch the inaguration that I was not able to see live. The positive vibe that you get from the posts, the journalists, and mostly the vibrant and excited crowd that showed up to be a part of this historic day is definitely wonderful to see and feel. I know it has made me feel uplifted and hopeful. I am realistic that one man can't change it all and it certainly won't happen overnight but I do feel confident that with his leadership he can help spur much needed change. We all need to do our parts as well. Yes We Can!

Martin Luther King Jr Day

2009-01-19T10:47:00.004-06:00

On this day, I am reminded of the sacrifices and the perseverance of those whom came before me. I am thankful for their journey and all that is because of all that they did. We cannot forget and we cannot stop. We must continue to work to carry those efforts forward in an effort to continue to make this world into the beautiful place we dream and wish it to be. Tomorrow, when Obama is sworn in, we will be part of a historic moment that truly represents the progress that has been made. I am thankful to be able to be a part of these times and I hope that everyone takes time to not just enjoy the day off but to take at least a moment to appreciate why today is special.

Valentine's Soaps

2009-01-15T19:55:00.004-06:00

I made my first batch of M&P Valentine's soaps yesterday. These are scented with Strawberries & Champagne.

I have 3 batches of CP soaps curing for Valentine's Day Soaps. I did those in Strawberries & Champagne, a Love Spell type, and Heaven.

Party Favors

2009-01-14T21:33:00.011-06:00

Over my Christmas break one of the projects I worked on were some of my party favor samples. I wanted to have actual samples on hand for viewing as well as getting pictures done to be able to use on my website, marketing materials, and more.

Well, I got the project done and here are some photos for the favors that you can order at The Gift Garden. These are pictures of my Fortune Cookie Soaps, Aroma Bead or Bath Salts in the tubes, as well as body wash, bubble bath, hand sanitizer, or lotions can be used in the small bottles. All are available with custom labels. I will have these posted to my website along with others shortly.

Rebatch

2009-01-09T17:14:00.003-06:00

Today I rebatched some soap I made last week. The fragrance seemed non-existent. So I am hoping to save the batch. I just did a sniff test and I think it will be ok. Just the appearance won't be quite as pretty but at least it will smell good.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-01-07T20:30:00.002-06:00

This week has been quite busy. I have been packing up and putting away all the Christmas decorations, cleaning out my work room (what a task that has been), finishing inventory, and starting preparation for Valentine's. It just seems as the work is never ending and there aren't enough hours in the day. It is a good thing that I love what I do.

I have also been inspired by working on my goals for 2009. There is a lot happening at the shop so I will give you a sneak peek of some of what I am working on over the next 2 months. Last year I introduced my bath & body product line however by the end of this month I will be introducing new product labeling to go with the line. There will be a wide selection of baskets available for purchase for Valentines. I will be offering bath/spa baskets, as well as stuffed animals, chocolates, and more. On Valentine's weekend, I will be launching my line of mineral eye shadows at the Tulsa Women's Expo. The initial line has 15 colors ranging from warm & neutral to fun & bold. I will also be adding room sprays and fragrance body oils to my product offering.

I am working on updating everything on my website and hope to have that all finished by the end of the month. I will keep posting updates as well.

Happy New Year

2009-01-05T08:57:00.005-06:00

I am excited to start a new year. I have spent the past week working on some goal setting and planning and I am very excited about 2009. One of my goals is to be more consistent with posting on my blog. I am committed to posting at least 3 times a week. On my blog I will work to keep you up-to-date with everything going on at the shop, new products, where to find us, as well as various soap projects, and more. I will also continue my monthly newletter.

I wish everyone the best for 2009. I thank you for your support and patronage in 2008. I look forward to serving you in 2009.

Buy Broken Arrow Campaign

2008-12-22T20:00:00.006-06:00

Thank you for all those that came by the store and participated in the Buy Broken Arrow Campaign sponsored bythe Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce. The drawing for the winning tickets took place today. Click here to see if you won!

If you don't have the winning ticket now don't throw your tickets away just yet. If the winner has not claimed their prize by 12/30/08 new numbers will be drawn.

Good Luck!

Snowflake Soaps

2008-11-21T14:30:00.003-06:00

I made these soaps this morning for a donation to a gift basket for a local PTA. These are fun and easy to make. Moving me more into the Christmas Spirit.

Bath & Body Products

2008-11-19T19:40:00.004-06:00

I have a great passion for making soaps and various bath & body products. I have gradually been introducing various products in my gift shop, The Gift Garden, and at local craft shows. Since I enjoy making these products so much and the feedback I have been getting, I decided that I should make these items as a separate product line. Therefore, these items will no longer be packaged and sold under The Gift Garden. Now they will be sold under Distinctly You. This is our new logo.

I chose this name because I want my products to be about you. While I will have some pre-made items like my cold & hot processed soaps and glycerin soaps other products will be custom made. You will be able to choose colors and fragrances making the products distinctly yours. I am working on a web-site devoted to these products and hope to have my Etsy store up and running very soon.

Cupcake Soap

2008-11-18T14:57:00.003-06:00

I have to say wow for this soap. I was browsing through Etsy and checking out different soaps when I came across this one. This looks so much like the real thing and it is scented with White Chocolate Cherry.....yum.

Check out other great creations by Crazy K Bath & Body here. I am off to go buy some of her soaps.

Aroma Bead Ornaments

2008-11-17T16:24:00.005-06:00

As promised, I am posting the rest of the information on how to turn your Aroma Beads into ornaments.

After making the beads, choose metal cookie cutters in the shapes and sizes you want. For mine, I used Christmas Ornament shaped cutters.

Place the cookie cutters on a metal non-stick cookie sheet. Fill the cutters with a layer of beads. Make sure the bottom is completely covered. You will then bake them in the oven at 350 degrees for approximately 5-10 minutes. The beads will melt together making your ornament. Do not leave the beads unattended.

After taking them out of the oven, let them cool completely and then remove from the sheet and cutters. You can place in the freezer to expedite the process.

To finish them off, I used a nail to make a hole in the tops and put in an ornament hanger. You could also use string or ribbon.

The Gift Garden

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Animal Rescue Night

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Wine-A-Rita our Weekly Blog Giveaway

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #7

Rooster Egg Hunt Continues

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #5

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #4

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #3

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #2

Rooster Egg Hunt Clue #1

Balancing it All!

The 3/50 Project

We Have a Winner

A Moving Story

Jenny's Necklace

Wine-A-Rita

Facebook Friday Giveaway Winner

First Attempt at a 4 Part Swirl

Wine Anyone???

Sweet Treats for your Valentine!

Valentine's Day is Just a Few Days Away

Freezing Rain, Sleet, Snow & More

Soap Donations for Haiti

What's New at The Gift Garden for 2010

Welcome in the New Year

Merry Christmas!

Winning Numbers for Buy Broken Arrow

See What You Can Make!

Gingerbread Man Soap

Gingerbread Men Soaps

Buy Broken Arrow Campaign

Taco Salad Recipe

Health Care Expo

2010 DRNA Calendars

Soap Making App for the IPhone

Autumn Harvest to Benefit Madonna House

Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce Expo

Tomorrow is the Chamber Home & Business Expo. I will be exhibiting there along with many great businesses in Broken Arrow. Come down and check it out. Lots of great door prizes and a chance to find out what is happening in Broken Arrow!

Saturday, August 22 , 20099:00 am - 4:00 pmNienhuis Park3201 North 9th StreetBroken Arrow, OK

First Batch of Cold Process Soap

Vault Key Stop

Pumpkin

Fish in a Bag Soaps

Bath Bomb Cupcakes

Wicked Sale Event

Too Cute Cupcakes

Soap Making Party

Personalized Diapers

Door Prize Winners

Bath Bomb Cupcakes

Plumeria Soaps

The Original Man Candle

Open House

Dove Release

I am back open and having a contest to celebrate!

The Sign Went Up - Yeah!!!!

The Move In Progress

Fresh Batch of Cool Water Type Soap

Making Silky Cream

BBQ Basket

Kid's Basket

Baby Basket

Easter Baskets Galore

Soapylove

Go Girl Soap

Dogs in Color

Easter Baskets are on the Way

Winter Wonderland

Olive Squalane

Margaret Hudson Program

Cup of Coffee Networkers

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Catching up with Technology

Cat Litter????? I Don't Think So!

Saturday, August 22 , 2009
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Nienhuis Park
3201 North 9th Street
Broken Arrow, OK