'Tis the Season

It's that time.. the most wonderful time of the year...

There's a lot I do enjoy about the Christmas season: the snow, using the fireplace & decorating.

I love this lighted nest I found at a local thrift store; the bird and owl I bought from a fellow vendor at a holiday boutique. I LOVE inexpensive and I love locally made items.

I also enjoy using items I have or that I can gather from outdoors to bring in the house to decorate.

I gathered all these pine needles the other day, glued & wrapped them around a stick I tripped over that I am sure the dogs were playing with.. added a string of lights, nothing fancy, but it's pretty and it's real.

What I do not enjoy is the commercialization of Christmas, the mall and shopping in general. I am on online and buy local kind of girl.

There is a certain kind of satisfaction that I get when I buy handmade or locally made items; that's partly what inspired me to start doing just that.

If you are like me and want to support a local businesses, I encourage you to not only order from me, but search online for other locally made items. Why not support our friends and neighbors? I think the big chain stores are doing just fine.

I have a neighbor (neighbors by me can mean 1/2 mile to a mile away) that just bought several items from me. She's doing all local gift baskets for her friends and family. She chose Co-Op Chicks for the personal and skin care type items (Some of Your Beeswax Lip Balm, Peppermint Hand Lotion & Lavender Lullaby Lotion.)

In each basket she's going to combine the items she bought from me with other items from local Missouri small businesses (a local spice company for all natural locally made spice mixes, wine from a local winery and so on..) What a great idea!

If you are thinking of doing the same or just want to stock up on the most popular items so far this season; be sure to check out Co-Op Chicks Eucalyptus & Peppermint Hand Lotion, Peppermint Hand Lotion, Eucalyptus Chest Rub, Some of Your Beeswax Lip Balm and the newest addition, Beard Balm. These have been the top sellers this season, with the Almond & Honey scrub and Coconut Peppermint Sugar Scrub at a close second.

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very prosperous New Year.

Here's a picture sure to bring a smile; it's from 2 years ago, but I just saw it again recently while going through pictures. He's grown SO much since this picture!