Want to win all of this fabulous swag??? (It’s a $142 value!)  Just tell us about a woman who has influenced your life and why…anybody from Mother Teresa to your first grade teacher…and you’ll be entered for the random drawing on March 31st.  You can send us an email (thehappywomanstore @ gmail.com) with the subject line: WHM Giveaway; you can contact us on our site or you can follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/hpywoman.) with a DM including your entry info.

You’ll get a Billion Dollar Bar, The Happy Woman Tee, Flying Wish Paper, Girl’s Night Out Bath Truffle Set, Chick Soap, Take Your Dreams off the Backburner Tile, Erin Smith “Book Club” canvas.

You’re 3 (or 21) today, Coco Jo!  You have brought more joy into two middle-aged lives than you could possibly imagine.  And, thank goodness for your Aunt Laura….or we would be saying “Happy Birthday Sparky” today.  We love all of your dogiosyncracies — your habit of turning your nose up at tasty tidbits, your dislike of the cold & snow (you got that one from your mom), and your love for the UPS guy.  We’re so glad we have you in our lives!

I love this line because it features the 4 F’s: Fashion Forward Fair Trade.  Designed by  two talented best friends turned businesss partners, this  sweet line is manufactured in India by women who are paid well for their work and who also have a voice in the operations of the business, from beginner sewers to marketing directors.  Many of the designs feature color-blocking techniques that have been used in India for generations but, sadly, are starting to be left behind.  Look for hand-woven tops, dresses, and skirts in our Suttons Bay store in May. 

We found some really groovy new products as we made our way around the country shopping our shoes off! We found this line in Chicago and the artist is from Michigan — Sault Ste Marie! She makes sweet little plates (like the one shown above) as well as pendants (you can see one example below). Everything is ceramic, hand painted..and she is a dynamic ball of energy…so you know her work has some of that love in it, too. The plates will be on line soon and the pendants will be in our Suttons Bay store in May.

Send your sister, your daughter, your BFF, your best bud at work a little something for Valentine’s Day this year!

Save 10% through 02/14/10. Use promo code FRIEND at check out!

Well, look no further. Play the Plastic Makeover Game on www.oxygen.com. It’s good for hours of enjoyment as you try out celeb hairstyles, a smaller nose, and wrinkle removing on yourself, your friends, your frenemies. Game on.

There are a myriad of places and reasons to use Flying Wish Paper (I mean, let’s face it — who doesn’t need a flying wish now and again) and this year, I’m using it for my New Year’s resolutions. In years past, I have resolved and then failed and then felt guilty for failing….ya da ya da…you know the drill. This year, my resolutions will become intentions. My intentions will be written on wish paper and then released when I light them. That’s it. Poof, they’ll be gone. I’ll do my best to fulfill my intentions, but it’s really out of my hands now.

It all started 5 years ago with this red and white tin that was tucked in with my Christmas gifts from my mom and dad. One bite of this creamy, chocolatey, minty, crunchy delight and I was hooked for life. Had I never really tasted the exquisite delights of peppermint bark before? Sadly, no. But, I decided to make it a life long goal to make up for lost time. This one’s from Williams Sonoma.

These squares from Ghirardelli are good if you’re in a hurry. You can tuck some of these in your purse and experience bark bliss on the go. Slightly different from Williams Sonoma, the peppermint crunch is on the inside! Little niblets of cool are sandwiched between white and milk chocolate for a barky delight.

Finally, the latest bark I’ve tried, I discovered in a local cheesecake bakery. Look at the thick chunks of chocolate and notice how much peppermint is sprinkled on top (these are two things a bark specialist takes note of). The chocolate isn’t flavored with peppermint — all of the minty cool comes from the crunch on top.

So, there you have it: my Christmas addiction. Thank God, you can only find it once a year! Merry Christmas everybody!

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