News from BelleRinger PR

LET'S CELEBRATE! This is a VIP (Very Important Post) - it's my 100th post! Congratulations to me! If I've learned anything while blogging I've learned to relax and have fun. Sure, everything I post is going out into cyberspace where zillions of people can pore over it for years. But who really cares? As long as I can post a pretty picture and spit out a few coherent sentences I'm happy. A pink cake like this would make me even happier. It's one of the creative yummies you can see at Coolest Birthday Cakes where you can find recipes and pans for cake designs ranging from Dora the Explorer to lambs and alligators to monster trucks. Like everything else on the Net - there's something for everybody.

PRETTIER AND PRETTIER Plus size clothing is becoming big business (terrible pun intended). Which is good! For too many years there were too few choices for ladies of a certain size who wanted to look stylish and sexy. One of the companies leading the market in providing quality apparel is Plus Size Plum . Deborah, owner of the business, is a champion for larger women who want to look chic. Her many years modeling and working in high-end retail give her a keen eye for quality fashion. Some of the items I noticed on her site, these chemises , look like they can easily do double-duty. Pair this one with a cardigan and you have a perfect outfit for an informal party. (Would you describe the gorgeous black gown pictured here as cool and classy or just plain hot?)

UNIQUE - AND ECO-FRIENDLY - GIFTS Ever wonder what happens to those discarded bottles you see on the side of the highway? If they're found by Nicole at Paloma Pottery they're destined to become art. By fusing recycled and crushed glass into pottery she creates jewelry (the pendant on the left is my favorite piece), candleholders, tiles - and much more. Nicole gives shoppers over 30 products to choose from - each available in a choice of eight colors. Two of her best-sellers - these ring holders make perfect birthday or shower gifts. And the price is very friendly - only $26.75 (it's also available in a smaller size for $23.00).

A TRUE SMART BARGAIN You never know what you'll find on Smart Bargains . I scan it periodically looking for great steals and deals. This particular find just begs to be shared! I'm not a fan of licensed products; being a walking ad has never been my thing. But this Hello Kitty sweater may change that. Soft heather gray. Lightweight cashmere. Vee neck. 62% off the original price - it's only $119.99. I know what the next charge on my AmEx may be.

ALREADY SHOPPING FOR FALL Fall and winter styles are already out. It's time to go shopping! Gray's one of the hot colors this season - it's a great addition and/or substitute for black. And it doesn't hurt to have neutral colors with all of the bright jewel tones. I've been loving Harveys Seatbelt Bags since I saw the first one. Here's one of their newest styles - notice the gray with black. The bag comes in a variety of contrasting colors and styles - here's a peek . I also like this bag from the Treecycle collection - the subtle shades of gray and light brown give it a sophisticated look. The Treecycle bags have hemp lining with eco-friendly ink.

CHANGE CAN BE GOOD Today I received an email from one of my favorite blogs, The Daily Obsession , that had a link to their new web site. Wow. It's as clean and sophisticated as the blog itself. What's with the pretty swimsuit picture you ask? Follow this link to see TDO's rave review - and you'll see what the new site looks like!

DESIGN*SPONGE LETTERPRESS GUIDE Today's post at design*sponge included a marvelous directory of letterpress studios. In addition to giving us the scoop on many creative designers, Grace provided the information so that it can be sorted in a variety of ways; custom work, pre-made, e-commerce enabled and many more. Anybody who isn't familiar with letterpress stationary should definitely take a look at these sites. I'm always amazed by the creativity of the designers. Whether you're looking for something with classic fonts in a basic format, fun and funky, ultra-hip or modern, there's a designer out there who's making it. The card pictured on this post is a Bird and Banner creation. Other fun stuff to look at - Zeichen Press cd sleeves , Birdwood Press scrolls , and Invited Ink's Backstage Pass collection.

MY FAVORITE HAND SANITIZER Hand sanitizers can sometimes be hard on dry skin; the chemicals contained in many of them is death to eczema-prone (ick) skin. Thank goodness for EO's organic skin and hair care products. I've been using their organic lavender hand sanitizer for the past month and absolutely love it. The aloe vera and safflower oil actually soothes and moistens hands, combating the organic alcohol that cleans them. I also love their hand soap ; a great plant-infused antiseptic that contains no alcohol. The company also makes hand and body lotions and oils, shower gels, and lip treatment. Available at Body of Grace (which offers a 15% discount on most EO products).

GOOD GREEN FUN What's a Stemcil you ask? The latest in fun for kids and adults alike! These pencils are made of recycled newspapers (vs. beautiful cedar trees) and have scented lead. Give your still life a strawberry scent or draw a picture of a bubblegum-scented dog! As someone who's trying to 'go green', I'm always on the lookout for fund and innovative ways to do so. Stemcils fundraising programs are great for enlightening kids while helping them raise money for their schools and groups. (Who wouldn't like to buy something other than a sugar-laden candy bar or more wrapping paper?) And there's even a Home Kit that allows you to scent your own Stemcil. A great rainy day or birthday party activity! Thanks to Great Green Goods for the find .