Little JULES Necklace

Upon discovering the absence of a company creating jewelry for babies that actually fits their tiny limbs, mother and designer Tania Condon began making bling for babies, starting with her own son, Julian, whom she has since named her company after. Compliments abound and Condon realized she could take her talents to a new, entrepreneurial level, and that's just what she did.

Butter Cream Salve

The butter cream salve by Suki promises to relieve dry skin with natural ingredients and prevent further damage. They tout it working on everything from dry elbows to eczema and stretch marks. As I have no dry elbows, my eczema is currently under control and I lack stretch marks, I’m basing my review of this product on how well it healed my dry hands after working in a coffee shop all night. The salve works like ointment, and has a medicinal, greasy feel to it – much like Neosporin.

Is That a Hybrid or Are You Just Happy to See Me T-shirt

It’s reassuring that edgier girls, even when they become moms, can look to Rudechix tees for a little self-reverential, sassy fun. A phenomenon that hit big from its very first chops busting attitude tee in 2004 (“I’m Cuter Than You”), Rudechix is hotter and ruder than ever with a new series of to-die-for tee collections, including The Tattoo Line, The Environmental Line, The Bitter Waitress Collection and The Baby Surf Collection. The fantastically inventive Sherry Mattson, owner and president of the company, is all about creating something beyond the typically prosaic one-liner.

No Sweat T-Shirt

This product changed my mind about t-shirts on so many levels. With cap sleeves and baby ribs that hugged my curves I hardly knew I had it on. Not only is it comfortable, it washed beautifully! Made of 100% soft-combed, organic cotton and adorning the image of Rosie the Riveter, this product is fun and functional. The best part about wearing this shirt, however, is sharing the message: Bienestar International manufactures union-made footwear and casual clothing under the brand name No Sweat™.

Black Lily Perfume Oil

Holding the tiny brown bottle in my hand, I felt like an adulteress. After all, I had remained faithful to my own “signature fragrance” for the past five years. As I twisted the cap on Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s “Black Lily” perfume oil, I could still smell the hint of my own perfume on my skin. How could this nondescript bottle compare to the perfume I had already grown to love? Almost two weeks have passed since I tried the “Black Lily” perfume oil. Although I have not broken off my relationship with my signature fragrance, I am no longer a one-perfume woman.

"Decaf Tastes Like Ass" T-Shirt

The Rudechix line is all about honesty – letting your t-shirt/tank top/underwear say what you are too polite to say. Ranging from "I'm Cuter than You" to "Getting Tattoos When I'm 18" baby-wear, the clothes are funky, fun, and full of attitude. They are ideal for women who are tired of the old adage, "Sugar and spice and everything nice." When my t-shirt came in the mail, I was very excited.

Snake Oil Perfume Oil Blend

With the right concept, packaging alone can sell a product. Bath & body products are my favorite for this – in fact, my bathroom décor is mostly comprised of attractively packaged products. If the bottle looks neat, they've probably won me. “Snake Oil” is produced by the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, which carries a line of popular perfume oils aimed at goths. The label looks like a carnival poster, asserting, “Cures what ails ya. Accept no substitutes.” The advertising is ingenious: my fragrance came with an Ouija board-shaped magnet. But the contents are just as appealing as the bottle.

Facial Moisture Serum with Blue Chamomile

Although I am blessed with a complexion that is normally clear, in the past few months I've had some trouble with blemishing. I've tried anti-pimple potions before, though I steer away from most of them due to the harsh chemical content, as my skin is somewhat sensitive. I was interested to try Suki's facial serum, since it's made from all-natural ingredients and would, theoretically, be gentler on my skin. The primary ingredient is Jojoba oil, so it has a somewhat greasy consistency.

Votive and Glass Jar Candles

I admit, I am a candle junkie. I have tried all kinds of varieties: scented and unscented, expensive and inexpensive, domestic and foreign. (Really!) But the selections I've sampled from Three Sisters Candles are by far the best I've tried to date. Founding sister Sue Landwehr got the idea for starting the Oregon-based company when she was unemployed a few years back. Unable to fund her candle habit, she started making her own. And lucky for us that she did!

Mosaicii Makeup Bag

I don’t even own a lot of makeup, y’all, but when this make up bag came through my door, I knew I had to have it. Tanja Koch has an eye for fabrics and uses a diverse mix of vintage, mod, and retro patterns to create bags and wristlets that attract the hip and the fashion conscious. As if the interesting outer fabrics aren’t enough, the bag also has a beautiful, smooth, satin lining.

Comic Book "Girl Power" & "Ladies Night" Tees

Batgirl has been my hero since I was a small girl. As a young comic book geek, Batman was my favorite comic universe, and I absolutely adored Batgirl, because she had all the cool things that Batman had – but she was a girl. Supergirl was another favorite. I remember being four years old or so, and staring at the cover of a novelization for “Supergirl” the movie; it was frustrating, because I hadn't learned to read, but I liked looking at the picture. Needless to say, these shirts are a fun homage to my childhood heroes.

Protecting Women and Animals

As we enter into a year-and-a-half or so of political mayhem leading up to the Presidential election, we’re sure to hear a lot about top issues pertaining to women voters. Among them: healthcare. And while the issue of animal rights might not be specifically mentioned at the top of the list, it might as well be. After all, animal rights issues have a lot to do with healthcare—more specifically, women’s healthcare. If you’re not sure about this, take a look at Fem_Fatalities_.com. A very credible, robust, and thorough site dedicated to protecting women and animals.

Washington, DC: A Feminist’s Friend or Foe?

The great thing about Washington is that it’s a city with a job for everyone. As a native, I certainly held my fair share over the years: writer, administrative assistant, graduate student, usher, professor and cashier, to name a few. But it wasn’t until I was established in my academic career that the city became more of an obstacle to my personal peace and ambitions, rather than an ally.

Shea Butter Body Sorbet

Winter has delivered its annual plague of cracked heels for many of us. On the day I received this product, one of my heels had begun to crack despite my religious use of other products to prevent that problem. This sorbet (a much more fun word than lotion or cream), used along with another product from Kristine’s Shower, the Shea Butter Body Frosting, took care of that heel in about four days. It’s smooth, light and absorbs well into the skin. The only minor disappointment was in the scent – “Blackberry Blast.” The smell of other ingredients overpowered it just a bit.