Give away!

*--*--*--*--Wanna win a trio of our 2oz candles?--*--*--*--*

Rebecca from www.soapdeli.etsy.com is hosting a giveaway of 3 of our 2oz candles in ADDITION to one of her awesome bars of soap (some of which seem to be vegan friendly) on her blog http://soapdelinews.blogspot.com/.  Stop by the blog for more info and to enter the giveaway.

Also...... a great big shot out and thank you to Creepy Queen Magazine for posting an interview with me in the hot products section of the Creepy Queen blog! Go to http://creepyqueen.com/category/hotproducts/ to read the interview.

Independence Day

Leaving NYC and moving 75 miles north doesn't always seem like it was a good idea.  The lack of vegan restaurants, the snow and simply being an hour and half away from NYC can really get on my nerves.  Then the 4th of July comes around.  When the 4th comes  I remember why we moved to the Hudson Valley.  Our little town here closes the main streets to vehicles allowing children to have the run of the place all afternoon and most of the night.  I usually skip the afternoon festivities of parades, animal contests, races and street vendors.

But I always show my face for the fireworks. This years fireworks display did not disappoint, in fact I think those in charge of the pyrotechnics might have stepped up their game some. There was definitely a few new kabooms added last night - much to my delight!

After a few hours in the a.m. preping orders to ship I spent the rest of the afternoon cooking for Mike and the kids. I made a very Patriotic potato salad for lunch.  I combined purple (hoping they'd pass for blue) potatoes, red plum tomatoes and sliced sweet white onions.

 I parboiled the potatoes whole leaving their skins on.  (Leaving the potatoes whole with skins on helps them retain their vibrant purple color, if you peel them first they will turn an ugly grayish color during the parboiling process.)  I peeled  and quartered the potatoes. I sliced the onion and quartered the plum tomatoes. I added some fresh chopped Italian parsley and tossed everything in an olive oil vinaigrette dressing.

I'm still not sold on Purple Potatoes.  Visually they definitely add something, but they are rather costly and I'm not certain I like the texture of them.  I find them to be kind of grainy, actually mealy might be a better description.  Without a doubt I prefer red skinned or good old fashioned white potatoes.

I also made Philly Cheese Stake wraps with a homemade cashew "cheddar" cheese sauce.  I sauteed Tofurky Philly style steak deli slices (http://www.tofurky.com/)  with sliced onions and peppers until everything was browned and crispy. Before I wrapped up the sauteed stuff I smothered everything in "cheddar" sauce.  I firmly believe that creamed cashew's can replace just about any dairy product.  We finished the 4th with a very patriotic dessert. An apple pie?????

HELL NO! An extra super chocolatey chocolate cake. As far as I'm concerned chocolate beats apples any day of the year, even the 4th of July.

Sale Time!

I'll be listing several sales the next few days.  The first of which is up and running.  I've listed 5 of my 2oz candles for $12.00 plus $5.00 flat rate shipping.  My 2oz candles make great gifts.  They're also great for traveling with.  There are dozens of scents to choose from, and I'll be adding a few new ones over the weekend.  http://www.mrstattooedgeek.etsy.com/

My iterview with NUOK & The Jersey Shore Saga: Friggin' Twilight

A few weeks back I was interviewed by the very lovely and very patient Fran from the Italian blog NUOK. The interview is up on the blog now. If you ever had any questions about me or Tattooedgeek this interview probably answers all of them.


http://www.nuok.it/2010/06/today-in-new-york-mrs-tattoed-geek/



And, well this just cracked me up!

Balms away!

I am so happy to share with you the newest additions to the Tattooedgeek Inc. product line.

The first addition is my new series of fragrance oil rollers.  My fragrance oil rollers glide on smooth, absorb  almost instantly into your skin and smell wonderful!  I'll be adding more fragrances over the next few days. You can expect to see a matching fragrance oil roller  for every one of my candle scents as well as a few new surprises.

And now for the Balms!  I'm adding dozens of  new lip balms to the shop.  My lip balms are super moisturizing and come in lots of great flavors.  Most are flavored with pure essential oils and a touch of Stevia for a bit of sweetness.  Needless to say both of my new fragrance oil rollers and lip balms are completely vegan, they are also free from all petroleum by-products.   

Great Gifts for Girl Grads!

Graduation time is here and I thought I'd highlight some great gift ideas for the Graduation Girl in your life.  Give your Grad the gift of luck with these inexpensive picks from a few of my favorite Etsy shops. 

Crazy Lucky Dice

http://www.pulpsushi.etsy.com/

Silver Lucky Horseshoe Studs

http://www.rocklove.etsy.com/ or  http://www.rocklove.com/

Lucky 13 Antique Skeleton Key Star Necklace

http://www.bellasmiles.etsy.com/

(FYI: Bella Smiles is a vegan owned and operated shop)

Lucky Cat Glass Pendant

http://www.kawaiisakurajewerly.etsy.com/

Lucky Love is a Devil Tattoo Pinup Girl

http://www.pinkytoast.etsy.com/

Cute Cupcake Magnets

http://www.rubbishtees.etsy.com/

If your Grad is dorm bound help ward off the home sick blues with these super cute felt magnets.  I mean seriously, what girl wouldn't feel lucky with a  cute little cupcake magnet on her mini fridge smiling back at her!

 

**P.S. (everything listed is $30.00 and under!)  

Growing Pains

Almost two whole month have past since I updated HSVH last. My blogging time has fallen victim to Tattooedgeek Inc., which by the way I'm pleased to report has been doing well.  My sales are increasing, especially wholesales orders.  I've had the pleasure of working on several sets of wedding favors including my favorite, the Sugar Skull Lip Balm favors pictured below. 

I was asked to create a custom aftercare kit for a local tattoo parlour. The kits include a 2oz cruelty free rosemary and lavender glycerin soap.  Rosemary essential oil is excellent for minor skin abrasions, it helps stimulate healing.  Lavender essential oil is a natural antiseptic.  I've been told that over 50 of the kits have already  sold.

My daughters and I were able to vend in Brooklyn on May 1st & 2nd as part of the Brooklyn Lyceum's Spring Food and Craft Market. We brought my new line of 3.5 inch pocket mirrors to the Market.  I brought 27 mirrors and came home with just two.  The mirrors will make their shop debut sometime this week. 

I love vending in Brooklyn, it's always a great experience.  Not only was the Spring Food & Craft Market fun, but I also got to meet customer/fellow etsyian and vendor Darlene from Ursula and Olive ( http://www.ursulaandolive.com/, http://www.ursulaandolive.etsy.com/.)

Just as their banner promises, Ursula and Olive offers up really fun and bold  geeky goodness in the form of necklace pendant combos, earrings and a few other awesome products, all extreamly well crafted.  We brought home one of Ursula and Olive's Mr. Spock necklaces, next time I'm getting the "Snape is sexy" pendant. (And now you know where the geek in Tattooegeek comes from.)

Food has been another causality of Tattooedgeek's recent growth spurt. There has been many a 9:00p.m. microwaved Amy's burritos as of late (we like the breakfast ones, they're vegan and really good.)  Michael's birthday provided a much needed respite from all of the frozen vegan food.  I put aside work and made Lemon Pepper Seitan Medallions with steamed string beans and a wild rice blend.  I formed the Seitan as if I was making sausages to get the medallion shape.  I dredged the medallions in organic corn starch then fried them until golden and crispy.  I then smothered the medallions in the Lemon Pepper sauce.

Not being much of a cake person myself, I opted to make super chocolaty cupcakes. Nobody complained!

I really need to figure out how to manage my time better.  One decent cooked meal a month is completely unacceptable.   Any suggestions?  How do you handle family, work, food, homework, cleaning etc....