BESTeam Feature :: You Are My Sunshine

My first thought when looking at the front page of You Are My Sunshine's Etsy shop was, "holy cow, these items are beautiful!". You Are My Sunshine is operated by Nina who resides in Florida (hence her blog being "Nina In Florida") and offers handmade fabric flower brooches, fabric flower hair pins, rings, earrings, bracelets and statement necklaces. The shop name was derived from a truly touching origin:

"When my sons were little, I would sing them to sleep with the nursery rhyme "You Are My Sunshine." Now that they are older, cuddles consist of discussions about anything and everything important to an eight and eleven year old.Yet, as sleep overcomes them and their eyelashes finally fall onto their soft, smooth cheeks, their lips relax into innocent worry-less smiles and their ninja warrior/transformer gyrations settle into peaceful, lyrical sighs, I look at each one and still think, “yes, my love, you are my sunshine.”

That is so sweet I had to include the direct quote from her Etsy shop! Nina's "about me" on her blog also has a wonderful and interesting look into her life growing up to now that is definately worth reading!


The items available in You Are My Sunshine's shop are all from the imagination and passion of Nina with loving care and attention. Recycled and reclaimed fabrics as well as vintage and new components are used to make the beautiful items.

These are three of my favorite items from her store. {pictured above}

{1} Fabric Flower Rose Flower Brooch in Watermelon

Made of repurposed, handstitched fabric this brooch is would be a great shabby chic compliment to your favorite cardigan or top!

{2} Lavender Sachets Mint Green In The Garden No. 1

Simply adorable. You get two lavender sachets containing sweet smelling

lavender buds from France. Perfect to liven up any drawer or closet!

{3} Necklace, Like A Monet Painting in Blue and Yellow

I've always loved the combination of blue and yellow together. If you saw my parent's house there would be no doubt this is true (almost every room is either blue, yellow or a combination of the two!). The yellow flowers are so cheery they will be sure to bring sun to any day.

Please be sure to head over to Etsy and check out these and many other great items from You Are My Sunshine {click here} You can also find Nina in the following locations:

For vintage goodies:mysunshinevintage.etsy.com

Blog : http://www.ninainflorida.com

Flickr: http://youaremysunshine-etsy.flickr.com

Facebook: http://youaremysunshine.facebook.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/mysunshine4etsy

BESTeam Feature :: Just the Goods

I seem to be the person who has accumulated various lotions and bath gels I've received for holidays. They sit on my linen closet shelf in their plastic packaging containing who knows what sort of ingredients and dyes and not much thought goes into the product other than "I wonder what I should do with all of these shower gels?!" The products offered from Just the Goods make me wish my shelves were filled with their product instead (actually they probably wouldn't even last on my shelves because the products look just that awesome!)

Just the Goods offers handmade, affordable, natural and cruelty-free cosmetics. I love what they stand for so much I'd rather not paraphrase, but let you read for yourself their own words about their products:

"Every day indulgences shouldn’t cost the earth or our health. It is affordable to look and feel great without unnecessary exposure to petrochemicals, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and artificial fragrances, dyes and flavours. Everything we make features “just the goods” and nothing else. Most of our items are made without animal-derived ingredients and we are striving toward a 100% vegan selection.

And what’s the point of wasteful packaging, anyway? Most of our products come in re-useable canning jars and the price for these items includes a $1.00 refundable deposit that you can use toward your next purchase. To facilitate shipping and to support different types of products (i.e. lotions, toners, lip balm, etc.) we also offer products in re-useable HDPE plastic bottles, which is considered one of the safest forms of plastics."

How cool is that?! As if the attention to a great product isn't enough, the fact they are conscience of the packaging has won me over. The current product line-up includes shaving solids, body butters, natural toothpaste, bath melts and some facial skin care items. Be sure to check back as deodorant sticks, moisturizers, aromatherapeutic fragrance oils and solids and more will be coming soon!

Below I have chosen three of my favorite products:

{1} Vegan Peppermint Ginger Foot Butter

This sounds like the perfect way to end a long day of work. I'm almost more relaxed just thinking about it ;)

{2} Lip Balm and/or Tints

A perfect way to treat your lips with the start of colder weather. These are not vegan, made from lanolin, but vegan options are coming soon. With flavors like peppermint, lavender, sweet orange or sweet fennel your lips will be sure to be happy!

{3} Vegan Extra Moisturizing Shaving Cream Solid

For the men in your life, this shaving cream came about as a solution to Just the Goods' partner developing persistent razor burn and bumps. After the source was discovered to be the harsh and clogging petro-chemicals in conventional shaving cream a quest to develop an alternative was started. From experimentation came this milder, moisturizing soap infused with essential oils. Plus, the wooden shaving brush is included in the listing!

For these products and others be sure to visit Just the Goods {click here}. Also check out these other Just the Goods sites:

Twitter! http://twitter.com/justthegoods

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/justthegoods
Blog! http://justthegoods.wordpress.com
Their very own website: http://www.justthegoods.net

BESTeam Feature :: Little Peach Fuzz

Button bracelets, sequin earrings and a tutu for your cat. Wait, a tutu for your cat?! Yes, this and many other accessories and jewelry can be found at Little Peach Fuzz's Etsy shop. There is a beautiful variety of styles and colors at a very affordable price that will be sure to please anyone and make like "Just Peachy".

Known by co-workers as "Martha Stewart", owner of Little Peach Fuzz, Rachel, dove into jewelry and hair accessories after a close friend requested a hairpiece for a friend's bridal shower. Any creative outlet helps her and she learns from online tutorials, trial and error and other people.

Do you have a special occasion you'd like that perfect accessory to give as a gift? Are you a soon-to-be bride and wanting the perfect piece of jewelry for your bridesmaids? Little Peach Fuzz offer wholesale items! With a minimum order of $50 with an order of $50-$99: 40% and on a order of $100+: 50% off.

These are three of my favorite items from her store. {pictured above}

{1} Nesting Bird Necklace

This necklace has a double hanging, double a-line design of black waxed cord. I love the bird and bush metal pendant!

{2} Pink Floral Wooden Pendant Earrings

Once again my love of pink is quite evident as these were one of the first things that caught my eye and made me swoon. A light pink and mauve floral print scrapbook paper is adhered to round wooden pieces sealed with a shiny glass like, water resistant finish.

{3} Crocheted Beaded Necklace

Simple, beautiful and multi-functional this necklace can be worn extra long, doubled around the neck, tripled around the neck, as a bracelet, anklet, or even as a decorative headband. So versatile at such a great price!

If you love these items as much as I do, head over to Little Peach Fuzz {click here} and be sure to check out her blog as well :)

BESTeam Feature :: Sandyvern

Get a head start on some perfect stocking stuffers or treat yourself with something from Sandyvern's homemade soaps and things! The soaps are made from scratch using "the old-fashioned cold process method of combining various oils, butters, and lye in just the right amounts to create a luxurious soap". Extensive time and effort is put into each batch of soap to assure you will be getting a finely crafted, one-of-a-kind product. You can also find molded soaps, whipped shea butter, lotion bars and lip balms. All sound like the perfect things to stock up on with winter approaching!

Aside from the mentioned products, Sandy also offers stitch markers and earrings.

So who is the woman behind this wonderful shop? Sandy was born in Massachusetts and seems to be quite the animal lover not only running a small pet/barn sitting service, but has quite the assortment of animals herself. Sandy has a Border Collie Australian Shepherd Cross, a kitten, 3 bearded dragons and 2 parrotlets!! I enjoyed discovering we share a common interest in a love of horses :) Her free time is spent reading, knitting, crafting or hanging out on the computer. She is a self taught crafter who sees something and says "I think I can make that!"

Remember the holidays will be here before you know it so be sure to head over to Sandy's Soaps and Things {click here} and get a head start :) To learn more about Sandy's crafts and animals head on over to her blog www.theadventuresofsandyvern.blogspot.com.