Goji Gourmet the Superfood Cookies!

While I am not opposed to a treat every now and then, I am very conscious of what I will allow my family to eat. My daughter has a massive sweet-tooth and sometimes she needs a little snack when she gets home from school. I know that Goji berries are nutrient-rich fruits that are high in antioxidants and provide vitamins A, C, and B-complex. They are also rich in iron, beta-carotene, selenium, germanium, and include 18 amino acids (a source of complete protein). I found Goji Gourmet while looking for treats that included these super berries. Goji Gourmet makes five different kinds of cookies including: Goji Almond Oat, Goji Cherry Cacao, Goji Chocolate Chip, Goji Ginger Walnut and Goji Orange Mintchip. The cookies have No preservatives, are all-natural, no refined sugar added, low calorie,mostly organic ingredients, energizing and handmade. They are truly a treat and your children will not get that blood sugar spike and drop like with refined sugar items.

Goji Gourmet is committed to using Superfoods such as almonds, oats, oranges, ginger, honey, and walnuts to ensure that your sweet snacks still contribute to your overall well-being.
Our mission is to provide preservative-free (no icky chemicals!), low-sugar (we love antioxidant-packed buckwheat honey instead of refined sugar), low calorie and carbohydrate, nutrient-packed treats for you and your family to enjoy anytime of the day!

Do they taste good? You bet! They are delicious and addictive! We no longer have any other kinds of cookie in the house. I like the nutrition my daughter gets from these cookies and she loves the taste! We all win with Goji Gourmet!

MJ's Herbals

I feel pretty fortunate for the people I meet through this blog. One of my all-time favorite conversations and new friendships is with MJ of MJ's Herbals. MJ's Herbals carries salves that are lovingly handcrafted by MJ herself. She was inspired by her Sicilian grandmother who often used herbal remedies for ailments. MJ realized the healing power of plants. MJ studied plant science in high school and college. She then studies herbalism and holistic healing through her own research and apprenticeships with masters in the field. Her line is true to the belief that simple, organic ingredients can help with life's ailments. She currently handmakes five different salve: Lavender, Arnica, Calendula, First Aid and Breast Balm.
I have the Calendula Salve, and from the minute I opened it, I have been carrying it with me everywhere. The small jar holds huge healing powers.

MJ's Herbals salves have more of a creamy, silky feel - something MJ herself perfected over years of formulating. MJ's Herbals Calendula Salve is an exceptionally effective remedy for inflamed skin, slow healing wounds, skin ulcers, & irritations. We use it for puffy eyes and dry, itchy skin. Although calendula is strong in action, it is gentle on the skin and ideal for baby skin care needs. Feel the healing power of these beautiful garden blossoms! 1.0 oz. (from Spiritbeautylounge.com)

The Calendula Salve has been used in our home for everything from rashes, to soothing my daughter's chronically itchy winter skin. A little goes a long way and we see results withing in minutes rather than hours or days. I love that the salves are certified organic, and I feel safe using them on my daughter. The salves are wonderful, but even more healing is knowing the love and care MJ puts into every pot. I truly believe MJ has the gift of healing and she uses the most natural ingredients nature has to offer to help her use this gift.

For Your Comfort

Bumps and bruises are a part of childhood, but as a momma, I still cringe when she gets them. Sometimes these ailments need a little more than a kiss or some ice, and that is where Grampa's Garden products save the day. Grampa's Garden has a huge selection of warm packs, cold packs and aromatherapy items that are there to soothe any ailment. We are absolutely in love with the Bunny Wrap. We can use it as a warm pack or a cold pack. It is super cute and irresistible. Bunny Wrap helps to quiet the tears and soothe the soul. I use it to soothe my sore shoulders, and it gets rid of bellyaches fast too! I love the natural soothing scent of cinnamon too! The unique design allows it to be used all over wherever you may have a "boo-boo". I used it as a mask the other day, which gave my daughter a real laugh.

If your child has sensory issues, be sure to check out the weighted animals and blankets.

Grampa's Garden is blooming with so many items you will not be able to choose just one.

Handcrafted Books Means Handcrafted Fun

If you have ever taken a long drive, or traveled anywhere with your little one, you know that you need to bring certain things along to amuse them. For us it has always been coloring items. My daughter loves coloring (so do I!), and it has been a saviour at airports, in airplanes, in restaurants and even long card rides. It could also get kind of messy. We would try to carry as many crayons, markers and books as we could, but I had to find a better way. I searched etsy.com and found Handcrafted Books by Michelle Saber. Her work is exquisite, and her fabric choices are a dream. I love that she makes kid items that are so unique and not too childish. I knew we had to have one of her Coloring Book and Crayon Totes. She was so friendly to work with, and the final item is gorgeous. We can fit a few coloring books, crayons, colored pencils and markers into this fabulous tote. I have to say, I wish I had one for myself. Creator Michelle told me one client plans to use hers when she babysits to keep the kids entertained. This item can go from childhood to adulthood easily because the fabric is just the right touch of whimsy and design. The craftsmanship is outstanding, and I know this will be one item we will have for years to come.

If you are looking for some Easter Bunny goodies, make sure you check out Handcrafted Books by Michelle Saber (be sure to check our her other designs too!) and give yourself, the parent, a much deserved quiet plane, train and automobile ride; give your little artist a lifetime of creativity and traveling fun.

Take Me to the Mountains

If you are anything like me, then the smell of all those artificial air freshners and soaps really do not make you happy. I love natural scents and was thrilled to find Juniper Ridge. All of Juniper Ridge products are made from the mountains and deserts of the west. They are natural and smell amazing. From room spray to soaps and even tea, you really feel like you are surrounded by beautiful mountain tops and pine trees. This is my idea of relaxation and "fresh" air. Juniper Ridge donates 10% of the proceeds of its sales to protecting wildlife.
The Room Spray we have is Cascade Glacier, which the company describes as a " mountain forest in a bottle." I could not describe it better. It smells like it did when I used to hike in the woods of New Hampshire as a child. It is a natural, clean scent. My father, an outdoor kind of guy, instantly asked where I got it and how I could get him some. My daughter says it smells like "canoeing" (something we do every summer on the river surrounded by mountains and pine trees). No artificial scent here. It does not mask odor, it eliminates it and does not overpower.

The soaps are organic and wild harvested. The Siskiyou Cedar is described as ginger, wool blanket and deep forest. My husband cannot get enough of it. After a shower, our bathroom smells amazing. My favorite is the Steep Ravine, which is notes of redwood, bay leaf, oak moss and sea mist. I feel so clean! The soaps are moisturizing and as natural as the trees they get their infusions from.

The teas are a real treat! You can choose from Douglas Fir Spring Tip or White Sage and Wild Mint. All of the teas are sustainably harvested and organic. We have the White Sage and Wild Mint. Sage and Mint are both fantastic for soothing tummy aches, aiding indigestion and promoting relaxation. I keep trying to tell my family to save some for camping, because nothing will be better than watching the river flow while sipping this tea.

Juniper Ridge takes me to the mountains and I just cannot get enough!

Kitchen Carvers

You may notice, I have been posting a lot more about cooking. It is truly a family sport in my house, we all pitch in. we get excited about cooking. I learned a long time ago, that in order to make cooking enjoyable and easier, we need the right tools. I am really dislike plastic, and I feel metal often scratches my cookware. I use wooden cooking tools whenever I can. My new do everything tool is the Kitchen Carvers Spurtula. The child of a spoon and spatula marriage, the Spurtula replaces your wooden spoon and spatula because it does it all. I use mine to make pancakes, and to mix my quinoa and rice to perfection. It does everything. It is American-made and so wonderful. They come in maple or cherry wood. You have to get this for your favorite cook. It is the go-to tool in our house.

B.I.C. Bands

It seems that I am always running around these days. I am frantic to get my holiday things done before my daughter is home again full-time for her vacation. To add to the fun, I have taken up exercising again. That means my wavy hair goes haywire. I sometimes have mere minutes to grab something to tame my Rosanna Dana hair and get out the door. I choose BIC Bands. They actually stay in (no slipping) and keep my hair looking cute and tame. I can even exercise in them!

BIC Bands were started as a fundraiser by Sandy for her run with Team In Training. She was looking for a way to raise the necessary funds to run her first half marathon. She donated the profits to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. OVER $1000 was raised through the sale of B.I.C. Bands!
Sandy now makes B.I.C. Bands to give back to people in need.

B.I.C. Bands~ Because I Can Bands ~We raise funds because we can…for those who can’t so that one day they will!

Each month they donate from the sale of every band to a different charity.
How amazing is that?! My daughter loves her B.I.C. Band (which Sandy kindly made smaller-sized for my little one). It is is literally the only hair accessory she ever walks out of school still wearing at the end of the day. No more slipping, or frustration, and you are helping to give back. Everyone wins with B.I.C. Bands.

They also make a fabulous stocking stuffer (just saying).

Carefree Clothes for Girls

I admit that my sewing skills could use a lot of work, but I love making things for my daughter. I had heard about a book, Carefree Clothes for Girls while looking for easy, fun patterns. I like my daughter to have a little whimsy in her clothing, but could not seem to find anything that would work for my skill set. Carefree Clothes for Girls has everything!

The twenty patterns in this book—from simple dresses with ruffled sleeves to blouses with crocheted lace and pants with sewn-on legwarmers—are of simple construction, yet full of the personality and details that little girls love.

With beautiful photographs, clear step-by-step instruction, and detailed diagrams, this book offers a treasure trove of whimsical outfits for girls ages four to seven. Full-size patterns are included in four sizes so that you can make the perfect fit.

My grandmother helped me to make the Dress with Contrasting Patches. My daughter loved being able to pick the fabric. There are so many patters in this book that I am just itching to get started on.

Made to Play!

It must seem like I am harping on this, but winter is fast approaching. My daughter has a wonderful vivid imgination, but she does get bored, especially when we are home-bound with 14 inches of snow on the ground outside. This year, I am ready for it. I have tons of ideas and crafts planned for maximum fun. Made to Play! by Joel Henrigues is full of ideas for projects made from paper, cloth and even wood.

Overall, the projects here are meant to stimulate imagination, build confidence through success and enjoyment, and enhance the bond between family and friends through the creation of unique, artistic handmade toys and crafts.

Many if not most of the projects in Made to Play! can be done using scrap materials, which also means less waste for you. My dad and I made the Small Wooden Animals (which fit into a mint tin. I had him cut them out from a piece of scrap wood and I used a simple wood-burning tool to make their faces and spots. My daughter and I made the Animal Finger puppets together, and we had out own puppet show. We now bring the Small Wooden Animals with us on outings because they are so compact, yet provide hours of fun.
I love having more ideas in my arsenal for making everyday full of creativity and fun for my little one.

The Rhythm of Family

I have lived on the East Coast most of my life. I really love the changing of seasons, but until I had my daughter, I am not sure I really fully appreciated them. Once you have a child, you start to see the world through different eyes. Everything becomes new. Her first fall, snowfall, rainfall suddenly became special to me too. Now, we try to really mark each season, and I am always looking for new ways to do this. Perhaps one of the most beautiful and meaningful books on this subject is The Rhythm of Family by Amanda Blake Soule and Stephen Soule. This book explores living a simpler life and helping children to really enjoy spending time outdoors and enjoy the passing seasons. It is split up into the twelve months of year and each chapter begins with a lovely anecdotes, memories and thoughts by the two authors about that time of year. It helps parents and children to "live in tune with the cycles of nature."

The Rhythm of Family explores what we learn and can gain as parents and families by encouraging and experiencing creativity and nature exploration with our children, the seasons can provide us with a rhythm that brings us close to the earth, and closer to our children.

Each month also explores a nature-related activity, from ice wreaths in winter, to growing sprouts in February and even recipes for September. We were so excited about The Rhythm of Family that we have already done quite a few of the activities. We grew our own sprouts from sunflower seeds, made a postcard block, created beautiful stamp-work using parts of nature (trees, branches) and even dyed our own wool for a doll I am making with golden beets from our garden. This book has inspired so much creativity and actually has us excited for the impending cold spell because we cannot wait to make the ice wreath. We love spending the time together and exploring the ideas and activities that make the seasons and family so beautiful.

Microcrafts

As we get closer to the winter months, I find myself searching out books about crafting and creativity. We love making things in this house from cooking to sewing and just all-around creating. I find it best to keep little idle hands busy doing something fun (it keeps them out of mischief). Microcrafts byMargaret McGuire, Alicia Kachmar, Katie Hatz, and Friends is the perfect book for our needs.

Microcrafts introduces readers to a world of miniature arts and crafts-each of the 25 projects are no larger than a spool of thread! Simple step-by-step instructions, color photographs, and hand-drawn illustrations provide everything you need to craft scraps of fabric, yarn, and recyclables into tiny treasures.

You do not have to be an advanced crafter to have a ball with this book. All you need is a dose of creativity and imagination. I love that you can literally use items you find around your house, making it eco-friendly. I made my daughter a few of the monsters and a little cat. She loves getting into the car after school and finding these little friends on her car seat. Better yet, they make the perfect traveling companions and are great playthings when you are out and about. We recently took our "gang" to the doctor's office and out to eat. All good things come in micro-packages.

Potter's Crackers

We are cracker crazy in our house. We love honey, cheese, tahini, you name it, and we love having delicious ways to serve our favorite toppings. After reading labels on supermarket crackers, I became a little discouraged. There are also only so many things I can manage with my dehydrator. On my search for delicious, healthy, tasty crackers I stumbled upon a big winner...Potter's Crackers.

Potter's Crackers are made by Potters Fine Foods LLC. The company was started by Peter Potter Weber and his mom, Nancy Potter, in 2006. Pete is a food science graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Nancy previously owned the New Glarus Bakery (New Glarus WI) for 25 years. The two of them saw the specialty cheese industry in Wisconsin exploding with exceptional cheeses and no deserving cracker to accompany them. They combined their passion for good food to make a cracker that truly delivers the flavors of Wisconsin to you.

Potter’s Crackers are handmade with whole grain, and are produced with Wisconsin milled whole-wheat flour and local milk and butter in Madison Wisconsin. Lots of their ingredients and produce come from small, local farms. Potter’s Crackers offers 10 year-round varieties of crackers and produces seasonal flavors throughout the year to reflect what is available in the local farmers’ markets.

We got to try a few of their wonderful flavors including Apple Graham, Sweet Potato Onion, Garlic & Baby Onion, Long Island Flax, and Hazelnut Graham. We will honestly never be able to eat ordinary crackers again. You can taste the love in Potter's Crackers. My favorite are the Graham crackers, and surprisingly (or maybe not), my daughter's favorite crackers are the Sweet Potato Onion and the Garlic & Baby Onion, both of which are so delicate and delicious. Forget the toppings, these crackers are too good to cover up.

Yum-Yum Bento Box

I promised a post a Bento, and here it is. Yum-Yum Bento Box by Crystal Watanabe and Maki Ogawa is full of fun, easy ideas to bring your usual boring lunchbox from meh to wow! Crystal Watanabe makes bento boxes for her two preschool-aged children; her Web site “Adventures in Bento Making” is a popular forum for bento makers worldwide. Maki Ogawa is a mother whose bentos have been featured in many Asian magazines. She lives in Japan. In Japan, Bento Box lunches are a healthy lunch where mothers and fathers get to express their creativity and their love for their children. I was so intrigued, I had to get this book. It is full of easy step-by-step recipes that are so simple. I thought it would be so hard to make the fun foods I saw in the book, but they were so easy, and fun. I am intrigued by the creativeness of the adorable Bento Box Lunch designs. They really are an art-form.

Chapters include instructions for classic bento boxes and character-driven bentos (called Kyaraben), plus shopping advice, general tips and tricks, and much more. Stop wasting money on prepackaged lunches-and start making beautiful, healthy bentos!

I have to say I was pretty impressed with my first attempts. They look (almost) like the picture. I think Yum-Yum Bento Box is perfect for adults and children alike. Who could not use a little more whimsy (and healthy, fresh, food) in their lives?

Steiff...Years of Quality and Smiles

I have a love/hate relationship with most stuffed animals and toys. I find that what I see on the shelves at the local toy stores are not the best quality and I cringe when my daughter begs for one. I still remember going to my aunt's home as a child. She had the most gorgeous stuffed bear imaginable. I always begged to play with it, and she kindly let me pretend to have a tea party with "Paddy" the bear. Paddy was a Steiff. At the time, I had no idea what that meant, but now I know it means quality and the best of the best of the plush toy world.

Steiff is the world’s oldest plush manufacturer. Steiff was in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, a seamstress who was limited to sewing with one hand due to polio. Steiff is best known as the company that invented the Teddy bear.

In 1902, Richard Steiff, a nephew of Margarete and a gifted artist/inventor, presented the idea to Margarete. At first, she was not enthusiastic. But with Richard’s persistence, she finally relented. And the rest is history.The famous “Button in Ear” trademark, introduced by Franz Steiff, another of Margarete’s nephews, in 1904, distinguishes every Steiff Teddy bear or animal.

Steiff plush are made with woven plush, while nearly 100% of the world’s output of stuffed animals is made with inexpensive knitted plush. Woven plush can be as much as 12 times more expensive than knitted plush. That’s one of the reasons Steiff products cost more, but they last so much longer! And Steiff are still made in the century-old manufacturing facility in Giengen an der Brenz, Germany using traditional hand labor.

If you have even been to an auction or antique store, you are bound to see at least one Steiff. They really last forever. We have a few and could not be happier. My daughter is partial to her Trampili Elephant (EAN 064395) (as pictured with her maniacally smiling because I agreed to let her take him to school for show-and-tell). Trampili (renamed Holly is also her bedtime pal). Her Unicorn Starly with Handbag (EAN 105052) has become the perfect accessory for play dates. My personal favorite is the Jona Teddy Bear (EAN 001055) because he brings back fond memories of Paddy and playtime as a child. He is small enough to carry around, but for now, he holds a place of pride in my daughter's dollhouse.

I truly believe that quality always outweighs quantity. I am willing to spend more money to get something I know my daughter will have forever (and maybe someday she will be making another little girl or boy very happy by letting them play with Trampili, Starly and Jona).

To get the latest Steiff news be sure to check out the Steiff Facebook page, and
join the Steiff e-mail list.

Smiling Tree Toys

Children have the most incredible imagination. With simple blocks, they can turn your living room into a safari, NYC, even a jungle. I am always preaching about the value of heirloom toys for good reason. I love watching my daughter play with the wooden village I had as a kid. We strike a balance in our home, and our daughter often combines her wooden and plastic toys to have 2x the fun!

A new favorite in our home is the helicopter from Smiling Tree Toys. Parents, Justin and Kathleen began their toy-making business in 2010 when they returned to the U.S. after serving two years with the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa. They now call rural southwestern Minnesota home, and enjoy nothing more than creating toys for your family and theirs. Smiling Tree Toys donates to the Peace Corps international youth projects for every toy sold. They use gorgeous maple and finish projects with organic flaxseed oil and local beeswax. They have everything from wooden vehicles to teething toys and blocks.

My daughter really digs her helicopter. I cannot get her to sit still long enough to even snap the picture. All of my attempts look like blurs because as she explained to me, "I am trying to fly my friend to the moon." The quality is outstanding and knowing these pieces are handmade makes them all the more special.

Holztiger Brings Back Imagination

We definitely have a mixture of toys in our home. I try to buy lots of wooden items, and toys that allow my daughter to really use her creativity. That means toys that are not battery-operated with flashing lights. Holztiger is the perfect collection of handcrafted wooden toys made in Europe. They have every kind of figure you could imagine, from animals to fairytale figures. They are made from either solid beech or maple hardwood from sustainable forests and are hand-painted with water-based paints and have a water-based clear coat on top so they are moisture proof for little hands and mouths. They edges are always nicely rounds with no rough spots, so even younger children can safely play.


We got the Snow White and Seven Dwarves. My daughter spent a whole day giving them a live concert and then acting out one of her favorite bedtime tales. The quality of these figures is really amazing. They are sturdy enough to stand-up to even the toughest child, but the detailing is so fine. I look forward to adding to our collection (and watching them become an heirloom toy).

Belle & Boo

Hop through the fields and burrows...run through wet meadows...take a dreamy ride on the tube and meet Belle & Boo. Belle & Boo are a delightful girl and her bunny from the fabulously creative mind and hand of Mandy, an extraordinary Etsy seller. Everything from prints, wall stickers, bags, tape, wrapping paper and even an activity book fill the Belle & Boo shop. Mandy and Kate, two gals from England bring you the most delightful characters that warm your heart and home. I found them while looking for some decor for my daughter's room. I am a full-fledged Belle & Boo follower now. The drawings are so delightful and really capture the essence of childhood moments. I got the print (pictured at top) "I grew this for you." I am in love! We were going to hang it in our office area, but I selfishly feel the need to see it at all times, so family room it is. I plan on scooping up many more prints in the future and my daughter is dying for a wall sticker. I say I am going to get the activity book for my daughter, but we all know it is most definitely for me (and maybe I will let her play too).

do T do, Delicious Treats for You

I love hard candies! I always feel a bit bad eating candy, but when I was pregnant, hard candy helped me through some very long morning sickness-filled days. I have read about dietary approved essential oils being used in candies, but did not really know where to find them. I figure I use essential oils on my skin, hair etc. so consuming them could be pretty amazing. do T Do is a fabulous Etsy seller that has wonderful concoctions using essential oils. do T do says:

DōTERRA (CPTG) Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils represent the safest, purest, and most beneficial essential oils available today. They are gently and skillfully distilled from plants that have been patiently harvested at the perfect moment by experienced growers from around the world for ideal extract composition and efficacy.

These DoTERRA Drops and Sneaky Suckers are Dietary Approved Essentials Oils! I DO NOT use artificial candy oils or preservatives.

So what do they taste like...pure deliciousness. We got to try the lemon, lavender, peppermint and Slim and Sassy doTerra drops. My daughter was a huge fan of the lavender, which surprised me. We also love eating lavender and lemon together. I actually really love the Slim and Sassy. The Slim and Sassy contain cinnamon, grapefruit, lemon, peppermint and ginger oils so they were perfect for curbing my appetite as cinnamon is a natural appetite suppressant. I cannot wait to get more! I also dig the fact that these delicious drops are all handmade fresh upon purchase.

Boil Me Up Some Pasta, Nice and Hot!

Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola is one of the classic children's books of all time. Since I was little, I was delighted by the tale of Strega Nona ("witch grandmother") and her magic pasta pot that could boil pasta with a few magic words. I was equally enchanted when her helper Big Anthony tries to use the magic pasta pot with disastrous and hilarious results. Tomie dePaola's illustrations are charming and fun. When I had my daughter, it was one of the first books I bought. We enjoy reading it so. My daughter also loves it because my maternal family is Italian and my daughter and her Great-Nona spend a lot of time together cooking delicious pasta dishes and family meals. My daughter even named her "pretend" cat Strega Nona.
We read it so much, but as is often the case with storybook characters, unless she is imagining it, she could not really act out the Strega Nona story. Until I found Etsy seller, Crunchy Family Rising. Crunchy Family Rising is a fabulous Etsy shop full of wooden handmade goods. I found the Strega Nona playset and am over the moon with how beautiful it is. This hand-carved set is made from poplar and then woodburned and hand-painted with non-toxic watercolor paints. It is finished with a homemade beeswax.

My daughter has not stopped playing with this (as evidenced by the uncooked pasta surrounding the set). We all think it is fabulous, and it is currently at our kitchen table where she plays with it before and after dinner. Crystal, the creator of all of the toys in the Crunchy Family Rising shop said:

I'm inspired, in a large part, by my two children. They're so creative and their imaginations have no limits. I love to listen to them play while I'm working and they don't think I'm paying attention. Some of my creations have been requests from the kids, and some items are things that remind me of their personalities. I started making toys because I wanted to be able to provide my daughter and son with beautiful toys made of natural materials, but couldn't afford to buy them. My husband encouraged me to sell my creations, and now I'm pleased to offer handcrafted, natural toys that other families will enjoy as much as mine has.

Her work is meticulous and so well-done that it truly is a work of art. I cannot wait to get more items from Crunchy Family Rising. For now we are cooking away with Strega Nona.

Visit Crunchy Family Rising and get 10% off with code: gratitude.

The Candied Flower

I am and have always been a bit of a sugar fiend. In order to not eat an entire box of chocolates, I often stick to hard candies and lollipops (always brushing right afterwards...hee, hee). I limit the sugar my daughter has, but I also allow her the occasional lollipop or candy because I never want her to be the kid who goes sugar and candy crazy because she never got to have it. I am picky, and that is why I am always on the search for yummy candy treats that are handmade.

The Candied Flower is an Etsy shop where you will definitely find something delicious. Aymee of The Candied Flower makes all of her own lollipops, cookie and cupcake treats. She was inspired by the Victorians who often put flowers into their treats. Each lollipop we got was a true work of art. The Candied Flower says:

Every single flower we crystallize is either organically grown in our garden or sourced from reputable and local purveyors of organic flowers. We guarantee that every one of our blooms is also free of harmful chemicals, and pesticides.

My favorite flavor was definitely the Coconut Pansy, while my daughter was delighted by the Ginger Lollipop (which coincidentally also settled her stomach when she had a little to much salad). The Candied Flower has gorgeous presentation and is the perfect way to satisfy this sweet tooth. Handmade really is better!