Nature's Notebook Review

Nature's Notebook was born of a spiritual connection to the ocean and its beaches. Drawn to the soft sandy edges of the sea, artist Courtney Noelle has always felt inclined to inscribe words or names, thoughts or dreams into the ever-changing landscape of the beach. Something about its tumultuous fate, an uncertainty that parallels our own lives, makes sea sand the perfect tablet for expression.

And what better way to capture that expression, the memory and the magic of the beach forever, than in a photograph.

Courtney Noelle began sharing these captured moments with friends and loved ones through gifts and cards. Soon, people were talking about these special snapshots, encouraging Courtney Noelle to make these gifts available to anyone. Touched, and eager to share this passion with the world, Courtney Noelle began Nature's Notebook an online collection of photographs and cards using the seas' tranquility to express love and emotion.




My brother and his fiance both love the beach. Therefore, I knew that this would be the perfect and unique gift for them when they get married. The first and last photo in the Who Heart Who (3 Photos) ($120) has their name written in the sand. I know that both will be thrilled to receive this gift. Not only because it showcases their love for the beach, but their love for each other as well! This memorable keepsake is bound to be treasured for years to come. You can have this done up in color or black & white - whatever suits your style! You can get this frameless for $30 less or get the Who Heart Who (3 Photos) in Black, White or Silver. You can have your Wedding/Anniversary Date added for an additional $12.

The product in this review was provided to the reviewer for keeps and the purpose of writing a review. This in no way effects the quality of the review provided. No monetary exchange occurred in exchange for the writing of the review. The views expressed in this review are strictly that of the reviewer. All reviews provided here are the work of the reviewer and remain completely unbiased.

Mountain Mamas Kitchen Candles Review

Claiming that their candles are not your mama's candles, each candle at Mountain Mamas Kitchen are hand-poured with love. You can be assured that they use earth and creature friendly ingredients. Their candles are made with soy wax and have cotton wicks! They even double scent their candles to make your candle burning experience even more pleasant. You can even re-use their containers after the wax has depleted. Mountain Mamas Kitchen are proud members of the 1% for the Planet.

Their Sprout Candles are definitely one of the most unique candles out there. It is more than just a candle to burn. You can also use it to plant wheatgrass seeds (that is included) after the wax is long and gone! Also, there is no need to use soil. Just add water and watch it grow!

Give back and enjoy life with their beautifully scented candles!

I love burning candles, especially when I am eating dinner or pampering myself with a bubble bath while surrounded by my favorite candles. It is one of my favorite ways to relax and unwind! I enjoy different scents as well. My favorite type of scents are floral and gourmand. I'm the proud recipient of the ALOHA IN-A-CAN ($12) and CHAMOMILE candle ($22), and I can assure you that these are one of the best candles I've come across so far!



The ALOHA IN-A-CAN reminds me of a resort at an exotic location. I keep it confined in my bathroom and kitchen since coconut is one of my favorite summertime scents. I never get acclimated with the scent like I do with most candles. It is one of those scents that stay with you. It is absolutely delicious!



The CHAMOMILE is just as lovely. I enjoy drinking Chamomile tea due to its relaxing properties, but I don't believe I've ever used a Chamomile candle before. It has a strong, yet pleasant scent that reminds me of a flower garden. If you love feminine and romantic scents, you will love this one! The container features a quote (The Earth Laughs in Flowers!) from an American philosopher, essayist and poet - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The product in this review was provided to the reviewer for the purpose of writing a review. This in no way effects the quality of the review provided. No monetary exchange occurred in exchange for the writing of the review. The views expressed in this review are strictly that of the reviewer. All reviews provided here are the work of the reviewer and remain completely unbiased.




KNOCKED-UP IN-A-CAN - Pickles & Ice Cream, $12


SPROUT $28


POLICEMAN IN-A-CAN - Smells Like a Fresh, Strong Man, $12


POPCORN IN-A-CAN $12


CABIN IN-A-CAN - Cinnamon Stick, $12

Pillow Talk with Heidi Devlin Design

Have Faith Pillow $32


I Do Pillow $24


Keep Calm and Carry On Pillow $28


Chandelier/French Settee Pillow $32


PARIS/Chandelier Pillow $28


Compass Pillow $28

Five Ways to Add Drama to Your Room Without the Cost

Similar to adding the right accessory to an outfit, adding certain design elements to a room can take it from plain to put-together. Two designers, Jamie Gibbs of Jamie Gibbs and Associates and Elaine Griffin of Elaine Griffin Interior Design and author of Design Rules: The Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator provide five practical tips to add drama to a room, while still leaving you with money leftover for the right accessories.

1. Flowers: “You don’t have to tear down a room and build it up from a perfect blueprint to have a great space. There are certain things you can add to any room to leave guests wowed without much effort or cost. Flowers are a great first step” says Elaine Griffin. Add flora in eye-catching colors like bright pink, purple or yellow to brighten up any interior. To add extra flair, choose a vase in a complementary color and mix types such as yellow roses, snapdragons and hot-pink gerbera daisies.

2. Print Rug: “If a room is too simple, make the rug your focal point. It can often set the style and is inexpensive enough to be bold. For the pattern, try graphic, animal or stripes” says Jamie Gibbs. Use a large rug that covers most of the room and experiment with the shape of the rug as well as the pattern. Rather than the standard square or rectangle rug, try a circle or oval shape. While handmade rugs can become very costly, there are several inexpensive machine woven styles at various retailers that pack all the punch and are still affordable.

3. Pillows: “Pillows can be the most cost-effective way to add color and texture to a room. Try silk, suede and even linen. Mixing color and materials is key for a dramatic and styled room” advises Griffin. To save money, go to a local fabric store and buy several striking fabrics to make your own pillow covers. These can easily be swapped seasonally or by mood.

4. Wall Art: “Painting in bold colors is not the best idea. It is often expensive, time-consuming and when too exotic, people usually get overwhelmed and want to change it after only a few months. A great way to have a splash of color and add pattern to your walls without the cost and time, is by using WallPops wall art.

It is non-commitment decorating that is fun and can be easily changed” says Griffin. The peel-and-stick wall art comes in dots, blocks and stripes in various colors and patterns that can be arranged to create patterns, stripes or cover an entire wall. New styles have recently been added including:

Bali: a black-and-white intricate design with an ethnic/tribal feel.

Carnivale: a red, orange, yellow and brown circular pattern with blossoming floral patterns inspired by Brazilian margaridas

Esprit: a colorful, modern floral print

Habitat: a nature-inspired leaf print with popular colors like teal, chocolate brown and a grassy green

Go Wild: a black-and-white zebra print

Twister: a violet, tan, deep cerulean blue and olive green retro pattern with free-flowing swirls and dots with die-cut stripes

“The great thing about these patterns is the fun colors and the on-trend design. Wall art doesn’t have to be color-coordinated to the room, you don’t want something that is neutral but you don’t want something that clashes, it offers a range of color within the design that allow you to go in very different directions” Gibbs says. Also available, Wall Art Kit that include several pieces of wall art and WallPops Dry Erase Sheet, Dry Erase Monthly Calendar and 4-Piece Calendar Sets that serve as great organizational tools.

5. Mirrors: “A mirror can not only add space to a room but also style. Look for large mirrors in vintage stores and flea markets with interesting frames. Place the mirror so it is one of the first things you see when you enter the room or place several mirrors together to create an accent wall to add depth and design” offers Gibbs.

By adding these elements to a room, you can go from basic to dramatic without spending a lot of time and money.