Wednesday, May 13, 2009

It's a Grumpy World....

Hello out there in Handmade World! I must seem like a stranger.... It's been ages since my last review. Sigh... but I'm here!!
I know you will just adore this new review.... Grumpy Girl Candles!!! Yes. "The" GG. She doesn't seem too Grumpy to me though. Naw... not a bit.

I came across her site and just HAD TO HAVE a few candles to burn. Her scent descriptions sounded so luscious and unique. Totally different from the norm you usually find out there. Just from her scent descriptions, you can tell this chick does her own thang... dances to the beat of a different drum, so to speak. That's ok. We like that. Different is GOOD. Well... it's pretty damn awesome in my book!
I decided to order a jar candle and some of her Bitchin' Little Cubes. The scents I chose? Hmmm.... you're going to love this:
Strawberry Moonshine
High Maintainence
Ghetto Princess
Hot Summer Nights

My order was in my hands in a week. I practically tackled the mailman when I seen him with that box! I opened it up and was surprised to see such pretty packaging! I felt like it was my birthday! Colorful confetti.... colorful polka dot tissue paper.... I even had a little card, thanking me for my purchase. Awww... I felt so special!
Now... on to the review...

I purchased the large mason jar candle in Strawberry Moonshine. Oh. My. Gawd. Very drool-worthy. Smells like fresh strawberries. REALLY FRESH STRAWBERRIES. No fake stuff here. I also got some Bitchin' Little Cubes in High Maintainence, Ghetto Princess, and Hot Summer Nights. High Maintainence smelled really good too, kinda like how a clean house should smell. Ghetto Princess smelled lovely also. More on the perfumey side... so if you're the type who likes girly, perfumey scents, then Ghetto Princess is for you. Hot Summer Nights reminds me of.... A Hot Summer Night! I smell honeysuckle and jasmine in this one. And for some reason, I think of John Travolta when I sniff this one (maybe because of the song Summer Lovin' from Grease! John Travolta was SO HOT!)

Ok... time to talk about the burn on that jar candle. I'm very anal when it comes to a good burn on candles. If the flame is too high, I get paranoid. Do not give me a torch. If the glass starts getting black with soot... I get paranoid. I'm happy to say, I did not get any paranoia torch burning episodes at all burning these candles! They burned very well, and I felt like these candles lasted FOR-EVA. Really. For-frickin'-eva! I got my money's worth with these candles. Let's talk about scent throw. Ooooh. Strawberry Moonshine had the most powerful scent throw while burning. It filled up my whole room, including the bathroom and the room down the hall. I LOVE THIS CANDLE. I truly do. Oh... and it was such a clean burn! Seriously! No wax at all left adhered to the jar. Nothing. No wax. No soot. This is THE cleanest burning candle I have ever experienced.





As for the Bitchin' Little Cubes... these babies were pretty awesome too in the warmer. I would break out two little cubes from the clamshell and add it to my electric tart warmer... and the smell would waft through the house within minutes. The scent lasted for DAYS. Yes. Two little cubes in the warmer lasted for DAYS... I say about four days. I keep my warmer on all day long, and only turn it off at night before bed. Every morning I get up, and turn that sucker back on. So I had a chance to smell two little cubes of my John Travolta tarts for four days. (Read above paragraph if you don't catch the John Travolta joke). :)
So... even though I suck at math... let's do some calculations and figure this out:
Ok.. you get six little cubes in each Bitchin' Little Cubes clamshell. Two cubes in an electric warmer lasts four days. So each full Bitchin' Little Cubes clamshell will scent your home for a total of 12 days if you use two cubes at a time. And at the price she has them for (I think they are on sale right now)... YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT. Seriously. Because these little cubes are some powerhouses. Some Little Bitchin' Powerhouses. :)



Oh... I just can't forget to talk about Grumpy's Pies. Yes.... these little things are da bomb. First of all, these pies are THE cutest little things! The look so realistic, and smell just as real too... you'll want to take a bite out of them! I purchased the blackberry, apple cinnamon, and strawberry pies. They came packaged beautifully! I took each one out and placed them on the counter to relish in the cuteness. I took big whiffs of each one, and they made me hungry. I gave two away as gifts, and kept one for myself. It was a hard decision on which one to keep for my own use... but I settled on the blackberry because I love blackberry... the scent make me think of when I was younger.... picking blackberries in the country fields with my family. I placed my blackberry pie candle on a candle plate... took my handy dandy candle lighter and lit it up. About thirty minutes later, I started smelling the scent of blackberry pie wafting through my kitchen. Smelled divine. I love these little pies!
Oh... and the ones I gave as gifts... THEY LOVED THEM! So If you're looking for something cute, special, and unique to give as gifts... these would do just fine. Who wouldn't love a candle, that looks and smells like a pie?



Ok... in conclusion... I say go.
www.grumpygirlcandles.com

She has an Etsy Shop too!!
www.grumpygirl.etsy.com

Go now. Go see Grumpy Girl. And buy some John Travolta Bitchin' Little Cubes (ok, ok... it's really called Hot Summer Nights). And get some candle pies. And don't forget the mason jar candles.... Tell her Pink Diva sent ya, and get 15% off your purchase. Mention my blog (Pink Diva Reviews) in the comments section!
Thanks Grumpy Girl!

Monday, March 16, 2009

The next review coming up soon!

Hey hey everyone!

Our next review should be up shortly.... sometime this week if the stars are in alignment and everything works out as planned. ;)

I had the pleasure of speaking to the owner of the company for this next review, and she's just excited about the review as I am! And keep a look out... because we might have a giveaway planned for this next review! Giveaways= FREE STUFF. You can't get any better than that!

I'll post more info on this fabulous giveaway along with the next product review.

Until then... keep buying handmade products! Support your fellow indie businesses and crafters!

Peace,

Pink Diva

Monday, February 23, 2009

KBShimmer on Etsy- Our first ever review!

Well, it's finally here. Our first ever Pink Diva Review! Woohoo! I'm so excited! I had fun doing this first review. I was on Etsy one night, skimming away at all the handmade products, and came across KBShimmer's Etsy Shop. While there, my eyes came across some very beautiful handmade cold process soaps. I just knew that these soaps would be Pink Diva's first ever handmade review! I placed my order, and that very night, I received a shipping confirmation. Talk about fast! Shipping was prompt, and when I got my order in... I couldn't wait to rip open that box!

First up....





Kaleido-Soap Shea and Cocoa Butter Cold Process Soap

Look at these beauties! I knew I had to have one of these puppies when I seen it. Just the colors itself pop out at you... so vibrant and cheery. The swirls that were achieved in this soap are a work of art. Upon first sniff, I detected notes of sandalwood and musk. But there's more. Uh huh. I kept sniffing. Is that... jasmine? A little bit of gardenia? The scent description in KBShimmer's Etsy shop said this soap has notes of orange, banana, peach, and raspberry, but I swear, I don't smell any fruits at all in this one! I smell.... sensual. Exotic. Lust. Sex.

Yes. I said Sex. :) Trust me... it smells fabulous. When I brought this baby in the shower, the scent bloomed into a fragrant explosion once it hit the water. This one had gorgeous lather... very bubbly, but yet still creamy. I'm a sucker for lather. I just have to have good lather.

I think I soaped up about four times with this bar before I finally pryed it away from my hands. This soap also rinsed off my skin very well... leaving behind a bit of moisture. I'm not the type of person who likes to feel "squeaky clean". In the past, I have used soap that rinsed "too clean" and left my skin feeling dry and tight. Not this one. Nope. Feels oh so nice. Awesome bar of soap.


I was only going to do one review on KBShimmer's Soap... but this next one is my favorite, and I just had to add it here to the review.


Hibiscus Passion Shea and Cocoa Butter Soap
Oh my! Can you say Scent-Gasm? This one is my favorite soap! The scent is so lush and tropical, it just whisks you away to an exotic location (yeah, only in my mind I know... but a girl can wish can't she?). When I first sniffed this one, I couldn't get enough of it. It smells like tropical flowers... straight from Hawaii. Honest! It's not too floral though, I can vouch for that... because I'm really not a floral lover. I love floral scents, but some do not agree with me too well. But not this one! Very agreeable I say! Again... this bar made a gorgeous, very worthy lather, and rinsed well and clean...just like the Kaleido-Soap. Oh... and it sparkles! The micas used as colorant in this soap give off a pretty sparkle when the bar is wet. How cool is that? Again... another awesome bar of soap!


I have to mention the ingredients of these soaps... just to give you an idea of the nourishment your skin is getting...

Olive Oil, Lard, Coconut Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Fragrance, Castor Oil, Micas.


Now... before you go boo-hooing about Lard....

Pig Fat is a wonderful thing. In soap. It makes a wonderful, high end luxury bar. If you have never tried soap with lard in it... you are truly missing out. (Sorry vegans! I mean no harm!)

Lard gives a beautiful feel to soaps... and produces a hard bar. It also gives a fluffy lather to soaps.

Seriously. Try it. I promise you'll love it!



KBShimmer is offering 20% off for Pink Diva Review Readers!
Just mention "Pink Diva" in the notes to seller/buyer notes message box!
Thanks KBShimmer for the great offer!
Until next time bloggers... Peace.
Pink Diva

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Let's Roll Babe!

Let me explain a little bit more about Pink Diva Reviews. Me... The Pink Diva Reviewer, (teehee I love that name!) will be reviewing and blogging about handmade items. Yes, handmade items that YOU make. Handmade items that YOU sell. Hey... let's face it. Everyone needs a little boost sometimes. And this is why Pink Diva Reviews was created. To give you, the indie business/crafter... a boost. What kind of boost you ask? Hmmm....

#1 A boost in your confidence. We have all experienced the blahs, the blues, or whatever you prefer to call it.... with our businesses or crafting. Either we don't get the sales we need/want.... or we get bad feedback from a tester on a product we were sure would be a hit. Or it could be any other particular thing that is happening in your life to bring you down. We all need that boost of confidence. Confidence in ourselves. And confidence in our products.

#2 A boost in website/shop traffic. Being a handmade product review site, I will be getting tons of traffic (I hope!)... traffic that will bring customers to your site. But since Pink Diva Reviews is brand spankin' new, I will need your help too to tell everyone about this review site. Tell your friends. Tell your friends to tell their friends. Tell everyone you know about Pink Diva Reviews. Bookmark me. Add me to your favorites. Visit me often. Follow me. And in turn, the more traffic I get... the more traffic the business getting reviewed gets. We will also be looking for websites and shops to feature their banner at the bottom of our blog. Each banner that is featured will have the spotlight for one entire week. This is all to help you. So... with a boost in website/shop traffic... comes.............

#3 A boost in sales!! Woot Woot! Oh yeah! This is what we need to aim for! A boost in sales! More traffic to your site means MORE SALES. More sales means... more $$buckaroos$$ for you!

So this is our plan at Pink Diva Reviews. To help the struggling indie/crafter businesses. To give a little boost. A little pat on the back. We all need it.

Now, to tell you about the "rules" of Pink Diva Reviews.

I will never email and ask you for free stuff, or samples, or whatever... like some review sites do. Some of the reviews I will do will be from products that I purchase myself, with my own funds. (Wow, how cool and unselfish is that??!! lol)
But with so many handmade sites out there, I'd have to be a millionaire to do the reviews I want/plan to do.
There are some sites that I haven't come across yet (I'm telling you, do you know how many handmade sites there are out there???), so if anyone out there wants me to review their products, feel free to shoot me an email. Again, I won't ask you for free stuff. But if you are REQUESTING for me to do a review and blog about your products, I will need something tangible to review right? :) So the rules are... if I find you first and purchase from you... it costs you nothing. If you request for me to review a product, all it costs you is a small sample plus shipping to me. I will never spam you... asking you for free stuff. That's just not my thing.

I'm sure that in time, I'll come up with more creative ideas and more fun stuff to do on Pink Diva Reviews. And if you have any ideas, don't be shy... let me know! Give me a holla!

So... what will I be reviewing you ask? Hmmm.... candles, bath and body products, jewelery (did I spell that right? jewlery? jewelery? Oh well...), pottery.... heck... anything! If you make it... I'll review it! As long as it's handmade by you, it's all good.

So, let all this sink in and by the time the next blog rolls around... the first review will be here! Yay! I'm so excited!

Peace,

~*~~Pink Diva~~*~

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Pink Diva Reviews Coming Out!

Pink Diva Reviews is where you can find up-to-date reviews on handmade products. From scented candles, to bath and body products and everything in between.

I know how important it is for indie/craft businesses to get their product out there to the public. I hope that my reviews on handmade products will give consumers the push they need to start purchasing more handmade items, and at the same time, give indie/craft businesses more sales and the traffic that they need.

So lo and behold, Pink Diva Reviews was created. Created for you, indie crafters! For you!!
If you would like Pink Diva Reviews to review your product, give us a shout out! Our email is
PinkDivaReviews @ aol . com (remove the spaces). Please feel free to contact us if you would like us to do a review and blog about you and your product!!

Stay tuned, our first review should be coming up soon!

Peace,

Pink Diva