Presents ideas

It is with sadness that I have to tell you all the Some Kind Of Bliss will no longer be trading.  It’s gotten to the point where I need to invest some money into marketing to take it to the next level, and after much soul searching, I’ve worked out that it’s not what I want to do.

I thank you all for your support over the last couple of years.  In the future you will be able to buy directly from www.dickensandhawthorne.com.au which is great.

Any current orders will be sent as soon as possible.

Have a great day.

Sam

Set the mood for an evening of romance or give the gift all your friends will want with the Veloute range of soy wax candles from Dickens & Hawthorne. Indulge in the sheer opulence of the ‘Cashmere’ range and be transported away on wings of heady fragrance from an eco friendly product.

The opulence begins with a stylish package reminiscent of a fabulous Florence Broadhurst print. The raised velvet design gives you a hint of the indulgence lying within. The candles are a smart and stylish addition to any home or office.

Veloute candles are hand poured with wax made from soybean oil; which is an eco friendly renewable resource and is completely natural. Soy wax also has a lower burning temperature and smoke a lot less than a standard wax candle, which makes it the safer option for you and your loved ones. Never worry about cleaning up wax spills again- the candles come in their own stylish frosted glass holder and even if you do have a little spill, soy wax is water-soluble, making it a breeze to remove. With a burning time of 30 hours, Veloute candles are long lasting luxury that everyone can afford. To enhance the luxury, the Cashmere line has a range of complementary products so that you can layer the fragrance. Cashmere has a heady, sensual aroma, perfect for setting the mood for a night of romantic bliss. Candlelight is almost always associated with romance and teamed with the fragrance really sets the ambience. Cashmere Veloute candles are also great if you just feel like a treat for yourself. Everybody deserves a little Cashmere indulgence! Try them today; you won’t be disappointed.

Tried, tested and reviewed by Nikki Facchin www.facchsfinefoods.com

Replenish, renew and refresh your skin with the fabulous ‘Botanicals’ range from the J Burlington and Sons range. For skin that is stressed or dry, try the Ginseng & Papaya ‘Heal’ body lotion. Made from a soothing blend of cocoa butter and vitamin E infused with natural botanicals, your skin will thank you for it. Cocoa butter has long been known to soften and smooth the skin, and vitamin E is necessary to keep skin in prime condition. Papaya has an enzyme in it that also softens skin and nourishes, while ginseng has long been known for it’s rejuvenative and healing properties. Ginseng will also leave you with a feeling of vitality.

With the onset of winter and the colder weather in the southern hemisphere, skin needs and deserves a little extra help to remain smooth and supple. Ginseng and Papaya healing body lotion to the rescue!

The first thing you will notice is the refreshing vital scent of this luxurious lotion. It is non- greasy, and easily absorbed by the skin. Perfect for a girl on the go in her gym bag or as an essential in your daily bathroom ritual. Keep some on your desk at work to prevent the drying effects of air conditioning, or in your travel bag for after that long haul flight.

Team the lotion with other products in the range for a gift that says ‘I care’- for you and your skin! What better way to indulge that special lady in your life? Or indeed, to treat yourself to what you truly deserve- soft, luxurious, smooth and healthy skin.

Tried, tested and reviewed by Nikki Facchin www.facchsfinefoods.com

I’m sitting here in my living room surrounded by some of the most beautiful bath, body, home products that I have ever had, and I’m trying to decide what my favorite Some Kind of Bliss item is. (They’re all so wonderful!) The aromas surrounding me are a mixture of Middle Eastern, like the ‘Moroccan Fig & Cinnamon’ Fragrant Body Lotion (which makes me feel so exotic, mysterious and very sensual) to European perfumes of French Lavender (in a wonderfully rich moisturizing hand cream) and the subtle scents of Orange Blossom in the Aroma Sticks, that feels like it has just drifted in through the open window in the afternoon breeze.

This opulent body lotion envelopes me with the mystery of the ancient Middle East, hypnotically donning my belly dancing gear , dimming the lights, and seducing my husband with the heady, entrancing, sensual scent of ‘Moroccan Fig & Cinnamon’. Enriched with Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E & Lanolin will keep your skin soft, hydrated and silky smooth, perfect for this time of year. The aroma of ‘Moroccan Fig & Cinnamon’ will warm you to your toes. Why not team it up with any of the Scented Soy Candles from the ‘Dervish’ range, and bring the long forgotten Middle East into the bedroom and have a wonderful time!

Every time that I walk into my lounge room, I’m whisked away to a meadow where a gentle breeze is blowing, and on that breeze, the scent of Orange Blossoms is heading my way.  Nothing else can evoke this feeling except the ‘Orange Blossom’ Aroma Sticks. Some light relaxing music playing on the radio, a good book and the Aroma Sticks (not to mention no children around) and it’s the perfect afternoon or hour depending on who has the kids!

Now, if you’re lucky enough to have a wonderful partner/grandparents or friend (because sometimes it’s so hard to get time to yourself when there are little ones around) have a bath, but don’t use any old bath products. When it comes down to YOU time (me time too) look no further than ‘Floralia’s Freesia Bath Foam’. The delicately sweet perfume is perfect if you’re not one for heady scents. Combine it with the ‘Freesia Body Lotion’ and your skin will be extra soft. But beware; the bees may mistake you for the beautiful flower that you are!

In the shower is a lovely plump bar of soap from the ‘Kimono’ range. (I have succeeded in keeping the children from using it. Yay!) The delicate scents of White Tea & Thyme waft through the hot water and the lather is thick and silky leaving my skin lightly fragrant and soft. An accompanying body lotion would set things off nicely.

I love hand cream! I love Lavender! ‘Purity’ has combined the two! This richly nourishing and moisturizing hand cream leaves my hands feeling almost baby soft. Before my hands were always dry and cracked (too many dishes and no dish washer) plus this cold weather, with its drying winds, doesn’t do our hands any good either. Since I’ve been using this, even my family has noticed the difference in my skin. Now if only I could get my hands on a larger bottle…

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, you will fall into 1 of 2 categories (if you have a mum in your life)….you’ve bought the present or you are in panic mode.  I’d like to make life a little easier for you.  If you order a Gift Voucher online before 12pm on Thursday 5th of May, I will send you (or your mother if you prefer) the voucher PLUS a gift wrapped soap as a gift from me.  How great is that???  Then she has something to smell and use on the day, and can then shop at her leisure.

On another note, people have been asking me for more product blurbs – and I just don’t have time to do them.  So I have invited 3 fabulous friends of mine to try product and write me some info on the product.  What a great idea!!!  I free up some time, you get more info and it won’t be in my samey same language.

Here is Nikki’s take on her first product.

DICKENS & HAWTHORNE JASMINE & VANILLA ‘INFUSE’

With winter fast approaching, what better way to arrive home from a hard days’ work than to be greeted by the scent reminiscent of a summer evening in your very own home. Dickens & Hawthorne’s Jasmine & Vanilla Aroma Reeds will have you dreaming of balmy summer nights and forgetting all about the blustery rain and cold wind outside.

Aroma reeds are a fabulous and safe method of adding delicious fragrance to your home- no oil burner required as the reeds do the job for you via capillary action. No fussy plug ins or cleaning up the ashes and smouldering embers from incense. They really are a ‘set and forget’ delight. There are a range of fragrances to choose from to suit every mood, home and lifestyle. Try all of them or anoint each room with a bottle of your favourite ‘signature’ fragrance for a home filled with the heady scent of your choice. You can even buy occasion specific treats like ‘Christmas Spice’ Infuse to give your home the charming aroma of Christmas time.

Long lasting and very effective, Infuse aroma reeds are also an economical way to add a touch of luxury to your home. Aroma reeds also make a perfect gift. Your friends and family will think of you every time they walk into their home and catch a wisp of delicious fragrance in the air.

Do yourself a favour and make your home the envy of your friends and family. Or, be the person who gives the ‘perfect gift’ that keeps on giving, long after the box has been opened.

Why stop at Jasmine & Vanilla? Try them all! Your only problem will be to pick which room will hold which scent.

PS from Sam.  If you can check out Nikki’s website…….yummo  www.facchsfinefoods.com

So I think I’ve proven that I’m not very good at the blogging thing!!!! I have all the intention in the world, it’s just not matched with action when it comes to doing a blog post. The funny thing is, I now have about 10 pages of 1/2 written blog posts on my ipad – but they have never made the journey to here. I Samantha Leith do solemnly swear to get better at this.
There will be more to come in the next couple of posts, as well as the much awaited newsletter….but here is a sneak peak…..MILKWEED!!!! Isn’t it gorgeous.
Some product will be available on Monday and the balance in April. I’m very excited about this.

How are your going with your Christmas shopping???? I’ve done some – well all the kids in the family mainly.  I’m a bit of a dag most of the time – some would say a little ocd (not to insult anyone who actually is), but at Christmas I am as mad as a hatter!!!!

I even have a little spreadsheet that I use, to keep track of what I need to buy, how much I want to spend, any ideas for presents and when I have actually brought them…it’s very simple, but I’ve attached a photo here for you to get the idea.

At Christmas time, I colour coordinate my wrapping to how I’ve decorated my tree – which ties back in to what colour scheme my lounge room currently has….ok, now I do sound crazy.

Anyway, what is the point of all this I can hear you ask – well, I would like to take some of the stress out of Xmas for you!!! Just about everyone could do with a gift set from Some Kind Of Bliss, so we are adding an extra feature.  You can select a gift set, price point and range (if you want) and we will do the rest for you.  The gift will arrive wrapped (you can also choose cello or covered wrapping), so you can mark off another gift on your list.

My promise to you is the the gift will have a value of at least 10% more than what you paid for it (not including the basket etc which I throw in at no charge).  So if you say a Veloute gift set valued at $50 – you will get a minimum of $55 worth of product. How good is that!!!!!

Sam

Ok so this week, I’ve been to the Australia Gift and Homewares Trade Fair. It’s a smallish fair at this time of year, but I still found some great stuff for Christmas hampers etc. This year we are going to see some major colour in some of the sets. Very exciting. I’m really looking forward to the Sounds of Summer Set that will be in a gorgeous multi coloured tub filled with the fabulous Memisis Sari range. Stay tuned.

Can you believe we are in May already?!  I know I can’t.

We did lots of corporate gifts last year (hampers etc), but it was just via word of mouth.  This year I thought I should get serious, take photos, advertise and actually get organised before the end of November.

So where do I start?

So far questions include how many hampers do I offer, do I include alcohol (which means getting a liquor license), what are the best price points, what are the best storage containers, how early do I buy the chocolate incase of extreme heat?  WOW I had no idea this would be so complicated.

I’ve been looking at what feels like millions of hamper sites out there in cyber space, and they have all started to look same same.  I really want the Some Kind Of Bliss Hampers to be unique….but then it’s not about what I want, it’s about what the customer wants.  Oh, this makes it very hard.

I would love feedback on this dilemma – so please email me shopping@somekindofbliss.com or add a message on Facebook, or comment here.

My aim is to have 15 different hampers at various price points.  These will all be online by 1^st of July 2010 – so I better get busy.  Now is when my time management skills really need to kick in.  I could just delegate I guess, but I’ve never been very good at that.

So Mother’s Day is almost here.  It’s that time when we are meant to pamper, appreciate, love and thank our mums.  Over the years we have given our Mother everything from wireless headphones (very sensible when on a ride on lawn mower), clothes, magazine subscriptions, fancy dinners etc etc.  Now I’m a mum – all I want is someone else to make decisions for me, a sleep in and all my home chores done.  However, as I teach my daughter ‘I want’ doesn’t get when asking for things…..so I’ll add a pretty please.

Seriously, I’m sure all mums don’t want or need much for Mother’s Day, but it’s tradition to be given gifts, and I am one for tradition.

There are websites everywhere, dedicated to Mother’s Day and its meaning.  There are even more websites that do nothing but sell Mother’s Day Gifts.  WOW.  I won’t go that far, but I have created a couple of special Mother’s Day Gift Sets for you to thank your mother with.

You can even have the gift wrapped and sent directly to your mum – a great option if you live on opposite ends of the world.  Just add a note in the comments field and this will be done for you.

If you are going to be spending the morning with your mum can I suggest the following……..

• Champagne with a touch of mango puree
• Fresh fruit salad
• A good cup of coffee (or tea)
• 2 slices of wholegrain toast
• A couple of slices of her preferred protein (smoked salmon, ham, bacon)
• Scrambled eggs (don’t scrimp here – add cream for extra flavour)
• The newspaper – unread by anyone else (nothing worse than a scrumpled paper to read).

With the scrambled eggs, make sure you do them in a pot over low eat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to give it that smooth texture.  Be extra careful not to overcook them.

Now the tricky part for me is teaching my 4 year old how to do all of that!