News from BelleRinger PR

CHILD ADVOCATES NEEDED Many of us are familiar with foster care and group homes for abused, neglected, and abandoned children who are caught (through no fault of their own) in the over-burdened legal system. What some don't know about is Advocates for Children (or CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates), a non-profit organization that pairs these children with adult volunteers who spend time with them. These kids have social workers who represent them in the legal system and many have attorneys, therapists and other professionals who work with them. But what few of these children have is an adult who will be a constant presence in their lives, a person who will spend time with them on a regular basis. Child Advocates are court-appointed volunteers who fill that need. They spend a minimum of 10 - 13 hours a month with the child they work with, doing everything from going to the zoo, the movies and the library, to ensuring that the child receives any special assistance that may be n...

A BOOK FOR EVERY PARENT'S SHELF I just have to share this book with you - and hope you tell a friend about it. As a child-free woman I've always wondered how parents explain tattoos to their children. It can't be too difficult if Mom has one on her ankle or Dad's is on his arm. But if, like James in Mommy Has A Tattoo , a child only sees them on strangers it must be more difficult. Author Phil Pawde saw the need and wrote this darling book. He and his friends believe in teaching children to respect individuality in others and sum up their mission by "Teaching Tattoo Tolerance". Visit their site and read the story behind the book - it may sound familiar to some of you. (And make sure to look at the photo of Phil and his tattoos.)

WHEN YOU NEED A SASSY 'DO I love this picture of Breanna with her horse. I also like Breanna's hair. That pretty cascade of feathers and ribbons she's wearing is a Sassy Tail . They're all the rage with girls, tweens and teens. Even Cheetah Girl Sabrina wore one on her latest concert tour (you guessed it - she wore the Cheetah Grrl design!). Sassy Tails was founded by Kim Madden and her daughter, Heather, a budding fashionista. Heather was tired of pedestrian bows and worked with her mom to create these fun hair accessories. There's a great variety of styles - some with feathers, others beads - to choose from. My favorite is the hip Classic Camo- too bad I don't have enough hair to wear one . . .

UNABLE TO PART WITH YOUR FAVORITE VINYL? No need to - with the help of JB Hoffman you can carry it with you! Their handbags and totes aren't only for music lovers - the eco-friendly folks also love them. The tote gussets and handles are vinyl and its fabric lining has two pockets and a 9" zip enclosure. The choice of LPs available is extensive and includes The Beatles, Diana Ross, Elton John, The Wiz, Supertramp, Sonny and Cher, Elvis and more. Or send in your own for a custom tote.

WISHING FOR WARM WEATHER . . . I started dreaming about Spring the moment I saw this cute little birdie by indie designer/artist Chika. Her felt animals and creatures are more unique and detailed than the other offerings I've seen. The colors and shapes will help fight the cold weather blues. You can see all of the darlings at Chikagraphy . My favorites are the dachshunds - what's yours?

A BAG TO BRAG ABOUT Tired of your kid's artwork cluttering the refrigerater? Do you want to keep it forever but don't know where to store it? Does your little one need to be reassured that yes, Mommy loves his/her art? A custom bag from Scribble Couture may solve these problems. Each one is as unique as the child who designs it; the artists take your child's artwork and embroider it onto the item of your choice. Choose from a tote, clutch, or bag made of leather or a leather/canvas combination. It's guaranteed to be noticed - hopefully by a gallery owner!

NOT YOUR TYPICAL FAUX FRUIT I've never been a fan of artificial fruit or vegetables - no matter how nice the presentation. (Though the glass pumpkins I blogged about on 10/7/06 almost changed my mind.) However, these stunning hand-crafted clay pomegranates by Canadian artist Silvia Dotto will make some of us re-evaluate our preferences. She is known worldwide for exquisite serving pieces which feature highly-detailed clay medallions on functional pewter bowls, trays, and platters. Silvia's signature work is used and collected by afficionados world-wide. It certainly qualifies as art and must be seen to be fully appreciated.

FOR A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP Some ladies in a certain age range find keeping dry a nasty problem. Yes, I'm referring to uncomfortable hot flashes and night sweats. But wildbleu has come to the rescue with sleepwear to keep us dry and comfy. The company's proprietary HRT fabric wicks moisture - it draws it away from the body -and feels like the soft cotton we love to sleep in. The jammies are cute - lots of fun styles and comforting colors. And the company also makes sheets. Let me know if you've tried wildbleu's sleepwear - I'd love to hear your comments.

FUNKY SHOES FOR HIP BABIES AND KIDS The folks at Soft Star Shoes appreciate how unique each child is. And how much they may dread wearing shoes. However one look at the Taz (pictured here) may give your most stubborn little friend second thoughts about how much fun shoes can be. The company prides itself on making soft soled shoes that that help build strong feet in babies and toddlers. Each pair is handmade of the highest quality materials. And the choices please even the most discriminating fashionistas. You can design your own shoes from the sole up - from leathers, styles, soles, decorations - or choose from styles already in stock. Caution - your child's passion for shoes may surpass your own!

CHOCOLATE WITH A CONSCIENCE . . . Valentine's Day is a great excuse to share my passion for chocolate. There's a definite advantage to looking at pictures and blogging about this wonder food - it ends up on the page rather than my hips. However, it can be difficult to share my rapture without actually tasting the treats. That said, I must share my latest find. These artisan chocolates from Lillie Belle Farms are more than beautiful - they're certified organic and made with ingredients from fair trade sources. Don't miss looking at their chocolate paintings and sculpture; it's not only exquisite it's edible. Have any of you eaten Lillie Belle's goodies? Please share your experience with me!

FOR THE DIY DIVA Haven't we all seen the tiny little hammer/screwdriver with the pretty floral handles? Or the miniature tool kits in plastic pink cases? Here's a elegant twist - a full tool set in a floral brocade carpetbag . The handy kit contains a coordinating hammer, tape measure, box cutter, pliers, scissors and screwdriver. This chic bag may ensure that any man in your life doesn't find practical tools to 'borrow'. Tell me - would this qualify as an acceptable Valentines' Day gift?

PUTTING OLD WELLIES BACK TO WORK Designer Maxim Velcovsky (Qubus Design) plays with form and function in delightful vases made from rainboots. Workers in the Czech Republic cast porcelain over the rubber then hand detail each piece (take a look at the treads on the soles!). These fun vases come in plain white or this traditional onion design. I'm not sure how to select a left vs. a right boot - I've always bought them by the pair. Very cute decor for an entry or sunroom. (Seen on A+R .)

CARE TO JOIN ME FOR A DRINK? Ever fret about drinking alone? Tired of soulful eyes silently pleading to join you? Some of you may share an experience similar to mine - dog accidentally spills a beer, takes a sniff and a sip, and a beer drinker is born. But there's no need to guiltily sip solo anymore. Thanks to the folks at The Dog Star Brewing Company your faithful companion can safely join you. Happy Tail Ale is an all-natural beef-flavored ale that's non-alcoholic, non-carbonated and fortified with both Glucosamine and Vitamin E. Interestingly, the company is located in California's beautiful Napa Valley, home of many of the most celebrated wineries in the States. (By the way, the doggie in this picture looks almost exactly like my Frankie!)

TRUE KEEPSAKE JEWELRY I have wonderful memories of my great-grandmother and the afternoons we spent playing dominos. The heat and humidity made us retreat to her 1930s-era kitchen where we sat at the table sipping icy soda while contemplating the tiles in front of us. Her old fan was so loud that we sometimes had trouble hearing the baseball game; the radio was always tuned to a baseball game. This domino charm from Chocosho may seem kitschy but sometimes it's the odd or quirky that reveals a precious memory.

HELLO FELLOW CHOCOLATE FANATICS I'm finding so many goodies to share with you in my quest for the perfect chocolate that it's hard to know where to start. Today I came across Moonstruck Chocolate's web site. Reading the description of their chocolate-making process and ingredients hooked me - importing carefully selected cocoa beans, hand-rolling truffles, ensuring a cocoa content of 67 - 70% . . . But the serious drooling began when I looked at the presentation and packaging of these gourmet goodies. This "hand made Thai silk box contains 12 heart shaped hand painted truffles and is packaged with a small book of poetry." Awesome. Or the Chocolate Novel - 15 pieces of heaven in a gold and black book-shaped box. How much better can it get? Send me the name of your favorite chocolatier!

FOOT MASSAGE ANYONE? I found this versatile beach stone doormat while searching for interesting home stuff. We just repainted our house and a new doormat is required to complete the look. This one is made of actual river rocks that are polished and rounded before being hand-applied to indoor/outdoor carpet. The folks at Acacia Catalog mentioned that it makes a great food massager. If so, think of the $$ you can save at the spa! It's also one of those all-natural and environmentally concious products we feel so good about buying.

FOR THE FUSSY FELINE IN YOUR LIFE Many of you know me as a dog lover but I try to show a little love for the feline species. As the owner of a canine who suffers from 'separation anxiety' I understand the lure of independent cats who care for themselves. But I've been told that their notorious reputation for being fussy eaters can be challenging for their owners. (My solution to this problem - let them eat mice!) Here's a buffet set I saw at Muddy Paws that gives fickle eaters a choice at dinnertime. Though it means more dishes to wash at least your kitty will have a selection of dinner entrees to whine about.

A NEW TAKE ON THE TRADITIONAL BOOK BAG Bookworms like myself - rejoice! Caitlin (one of the coolest Indie designers around) at Rebound Designs has crafted a nifty purse for those of us who must take a book with us wherever we go. Similar in concept to cigar box purses, these are made with hardback books. Caitlin's purses range from Freud tomes to the nostalgic Alice in Wonderland pictured here. She's also more than happy to make a custom purse - send her your favorite book and she'll whip up a novel (bad pun) one for you!

DRESS-UP FUN My niece went through the ubiquitous Barbie phase recently. Nothing against Barbie and her anatomically impossible body (not to mention that hair!), but my childhood obsession made me cringe when I had to play with her again. How I wish I'd known about these charming little mice. They and their eight outfits come in a little wooden box; maybe our budding stylists will want to put their clothes away! I found these cuties at PADiLLY - a great site that's full of high-quality, fun, and educational European toys.

WHAT'S A CHANCHITO? This, my lovelies, is a Chanchito , a cute little three-legged pig. These clay treasures are from Pomaire, Chile, where natives give them as tokens of love and goodwill. Do any of you remember the pig decor craze of the early '90s? Followed by Cow Parade? We're currently loving birds but could Chanchitos take us back to pigs? Let me know what you think. (Another great find by Orange Lola.)