somethinspecial.com

Scents of the Week - All Valentines Day Scents!

2012-02-13T08:24:00.002-06:00

Better Than Sex Cake: German chocolate cake is blended with semi-sweet chocolate chips and laced with crunchy toffee bits in this decadent treat. Vanilla creme and butterscotch syrup create a luscious undertone, while hints of almond and coconut complete the yummy blend. read & post reviews here

Butt Naked: Fresh green apples are perfectly blended with refreshing honeydew and spicy pear along with other scrumptious aromas to create a fragrance that is delightful. If you want a sexy, fresh scent that is different and bright...this is it. read & post reviews here

Dark Kiss: Dark, mysterious blend of voluptuous berries, tempting blooms, sensual incense and night musk for this daring and seductive fragrance. It is a modern tale of forbidden love that will unleash your most primal passions. Fragrance notes include Mirabella plum, black raspberry amber, peony, vanilla bean, sensual musk and fresh spun cotton candy. Our version of the Bath & Body Works scent. read & post reviews here

Fall In Love (Falling In Love): A fresh, sexy, clean aroma with fragrance notes of vanilla, jasmine, lily of the valley, musk & blackberry. Our version of Falling In Love by Philosophy. read & post reviews here

Honey Bee Sweet: Crunchy toffee notes mingle delightfully with sweet, dripping honey with hints of floral. Our version of Honey I Washed the Kids by Lush. read & post reviews here

Lick Me All Over: A tantalizing blend of tropical fruity fragrances, including orange, pineapple & cherry. read & post reviews here

Love Charm (Love Spell): An absolutely tantalizing fragrance composed of mandarin orange, bergamot & tangerine enhanced by hints of fresh peaches, strawberries & raspberries on an undertone of white musk. Our version of Love Spell by Victoria's Secret. read & post reviews here

Pink Panties: Swirling mixed notes of sweet citrus, jasmine, water lily, sweet pea and white orchid make for a delicate lacey scent to go with those pink panties. read & post reviews here

Pure Attraction: A soft blend of floral, musk, apple & fresh citrus. Our version of Pure Seduction by Victoria's Secret. read & post reviews here

Romance In Bed: An elegant, sensual scent that is sweet and enchanting. Blend of tender orchid, dewy freshia, amber and vanilla. read & post reviews here

Satin Sheets: A truly romantic, seductive of white and dark chocolate, violet, fresh jasmine, musk, blackberries, vanilla and just a hint of fresh green notes. read & post reviews here

Scandalous: Take a walk on the wild side with this mix of white blossoms, aromatic peonies, wild jasmine, red roses and fresh lavender. read & post reviews here

Sexy As Sin: This irresistible bouquet of gardenia, tuberose, sweet vanilla and exotic musk is sure to intoxicate your senses. read & post reviews here

The Perfect Man: Very complex but very pleasing, The Perfect Man fragrance begins with fresh notes of Japanese grapefruit, bergamot and lemon; followed by middle notes of peppercorn, ginger, jasmine, aquatic marine notes and a hint of peppermint; sitting on expensive base notes of natural patchouli, cedar, vetiver, labdanum and frankincense. read & post reviews here

Toxic Trance: An incredibly sexy, unisex fragrance which begins with top notes of green citrus notes, mellowed out with powdery floral notes that appear to glisten. The middle of the fragrance involves the infusion of neroli, violet, and herbs, with a bottom of powdery floral musk. read & post reviews here

Vanilla Valentine: This sweetheart fragrance is a perfect creamy blend of vanilla beans and sensual musk to stimulate the senses and arouse your passion for sweetness. read & post reviews here

All Valentines Day Scents on Sale in the eBay shop

2012-02-12T20:13:00.000-06:00

Pop Vocal Legend Whitney Houston Found Dead

2012-02-12T09:12:00.003-06:00

So very sad, she had a truly beautiful voice.

http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/pop-vocal-legend-whitney-houston-found-dead-034610653.html

New scent of the week: Ho Ho Ho

2012-01-10T17:29:00.000-06:00

Ho Ho Ho: Super sweet combination of chocolate drizzle, confectioners sugar, marshmallow cream, cookie dough, vanilla and chocolate chips. read and post reviews here

First Class Mail International, how it works

2012-01-09T09:40:00.000-06:00

I use First Class Mail International shipping for all orders under 4 lbs. because it's the cheapest. I know my customers don't want to pay an additional $20-$30 for Priority Mail International. The only problem is the tracking of a First Class Mail International package is frustrating.

Here's how it works, I will ship an order via First Class International and it gets assigned a Customs Tracking number, it will be 13 characters long, always ending in US. This is created when I fill out the customs paperwork specifying what the contents are, their weight and value in US dollars.

I then hand it to my postal carrier. The US Postal system then takes it to a central processing hub and puts it on a flight to the destination country. At that point it is handed off to that countries postal system and our tracking abilities stop. Once we hand it to a foreign country, we do not have access to their postal systems computer network (of course) and the receiving country is then responsible for getting it through their customs and into the hands for their citizen. They have the legal right to inspect any package coming into their country from a foreign destination and hold it in customs for as long as they want.

All makes sense, right? The big problem is that once it leaves the US Postal Services system, I have no way to find out where the package is located. So after a couple weeks, most customers are anxious to get the products they paid for, of course. And when the tracking shows the package is still in a US sorting facility, it raises a red flag. This only means that it has gone as far as it can in our tracking system and is now in the hands of the destination country.

I estimate the current delivery time for all international shipments to be 30 days. If you have a valid customs tracking number, then you know the package has shipped and is intransit. If you are anxious, just give your local Post Office a call and ask them to pull up the tracking number and if they can tell you how long it usually takes a package to get from the US to your country via First Class Mail International.

International shipping is a great concept and allows you to get things from other countries, but it also takes patience. I have had customers shipments show up as long as 90 days from the ship date and I've very rarely had a truly lost international package in the 8 years I've been shipping internationally.

Good things come to those who wait!

Vacation/Closing Notice

2012-01-06T18:08:00.000-06:00

I'm taking some time to recharge and relax from Jan. 26th to Feb. 7th. I'll be lounging at my sisters mountain top house in Escondido, CA where my biggest daily decision will be which beach should I visit today. Since her husband is currently deployed in Afghanistan (Marines), there will be much girl talk, mannies, chick flicks and good California wine. I'll also be hiking the beautiful coastline, taking a whale watching boat excursion, visiting Disneyland with the nieces and seeing another Bill Maher live HBO taping.

I will be closed and the web site and eBay shop will remain open for browsing & buying, but no orders will ship when I'm gone. I will be checking email. Shipping will resume when I return to work on Feb. 8th, 2012.

New scent of the week: Winter Garden

2011-12-27T11:08:00.002-06:00

Winter Garden: The fresh clean smell of winter air while walking down a snow-covered path. This fragrance begins with top notes of fresh lime and menthol; middle notes of Douglas fir and lavender; with full-body base notes of eucalyptus and pine. read & post reviews here

New idea for used up wax tart melts

2011-12-15T16:57:00.000-06:00

I just received this tip from Mimi in Florida, I've never tried it, but it sounds interesting:

hi - i read where you advised to refrigerate wax - then pop it out of the warmer...i have another suggestion that has worked good for me - - - when melted - soak it up with a paper towel...it will immediately soak quickly into the paper towel - then you can dispose of it or even use it to scent other things - such as push into a vase or any such container...then place in any room to scent the area....it still has enough scent to be able to reuse in that manner....

Thanks Mimi!!

BOGO Free on select items

2011-12-15T08:49:00.003-06:00

The holidays are here and I'm offering Buy One Get One Free on the following items:

Perfume Roll-Ons
1 Dram Sample Size Oils
Dry Oil Sprays

Sale ends Saturday, December 17th. Good on web site orders only.

Happy Holidays!

Holiday deadlines for USPS shipping 2011

2011-12-04T10:54:00.001-06:00

Lots of holiday weekend sales!

2011-11-27T10:52:00.001-06:00

Scents of the Week: Bellas Kiss & Edwards Temptation

2011-11-14T22:16:00.001-06:00

In honor of the new Twilight movie Breaking Dawn coming out this weekend, I'm offering 2 scents of the week:

Bellas Kiss: This Twilight inspired scent is a soft and innocent blend of violet, gardenia, jasmine, grapefruit, vanilla and white woods.

Edwards Temptation: This Twilight inspired scent is a mysterious and sensual blend of bergamot, rosemary, moss, sandalwood, mint and amber.

Holiday Christmas Bath & Body Gift Sets

2011-11-10T22:00:00.001-06:00

A bunch of different sizes & prices, perfect for anyone on your gift list. All handmade fresh in the USA!! Click pic for link.

New Scent of the Week: Pumpkin Cheesecake

2011-11-10T21:50:00.001-06:00

Pumpkin Cheesecake: The incredible aroma of cardamom, ground cinnamon, Vermont maple, pumpkin puree, carrot, whipped cream, rum, cream cheese, caramelized sugar, and French vanilla blended to true perfection.

New Scent of the Week: Absinthe

2011-10-24T21:17:00.000-05:00

Absinthe: An aromatic blend of just the right combination of star anise, fennel, spicy cinnamon cassia, nutmeg, melissa, fresh green herbal notes with base notes of amber and woods.

Columbus Day Sale All Stores 10% Off!

2011-10-09T12:58:00.001-05:00

If you have the day off, yay! If you don't have the day off, yay! You have a job!What's the best way to celebrate the anniversary of Christopher discovering our country? A sale, of course!

eBay store: All items are already marked down.
Etsy shop: Use coupon code COLUMBUS10 at checkout.
somethinspecial.com: Use coupon code COLUMBUS10 at checkout.

Enjoy the day!

It's my 13th eBay-versary! All store items 13% off!

2011-10-05T09:34:00.000-05:00

New Scent of the Week: Trick or Treat

2011-10-05T09:32:00.001-05:00

Trick or Treat: Trick! No, Treat! Begins with top notes of pumpkin, persimmon and apple; followed by middle notes of blueberries, elderberries, currants, orange and cinnamon; and well rounded with base notes of sugar cane and vanilla.

New Etsy Shop: Joyful Jewelry by April

2011-09-30T10:04:00.000-05:00

My mom has opened her first Etsy shop, Joyful Jewelry by April. She has been making beautiful handcrafted jewelry items for my family for years and after many requests of "where can I buy that"?, she's opened her own shop! Stop by and check it out, she'll be adding new styles often:

Black Magic Scent of the Week

2011-09-24T20:46:00.000-05:00

Black Magic: A magical blend of earthy sandalwood and ylang ylang, with a note of patchouli. Base notes of baby powder and vanilla.

Nice feedback & review from a long time customer re: Philosophy Amazing Grace

2011-09-19T22:03:00.002-05:00

I just received this great email, thought I'd share it with you:

Sue, I am "lakjaw" (elizabeth day) from ebay, who recently wrote to tell you that you do a better job at making "Amazed" than philosophy does, because, after re-selling the company several times, the intensity, quality, and even the scent, itself, is not the same. This is apparently holding true for many of their fragrances.

However, what I wanted to write to you about today was what I just saw on QVC. They just came out with a new trio of solid fragrances (Amazing Grace, Falling in Love, and Pure Grace), for a cost of $45. However, the kicker is that there is only 9/100 of an ounce (0.09) per tube! It looks like a pretty silver version of your clear tube, but they've not yet shown it actually in front of the presenters, so no one knows how little there is. It's less than what they used to offer in the little tiny lip-balm-type micro-tubs. That's a total of just a tad over 1/4 of an ounce, total, and while my math is nowhere near perfect, I believe it figures at about $167 per ounce!

While I previously praised you on the quality of your work, the praise is exponentially increased when one considers how much money you save us.

BTW, I also use, after asking you if it was okay, the solid "tarts" of soy wax on my extremely dry legs and arms because they are the only thing which will really help stop the itching which results from such a severe condition.

Again, thank you so very much for what you are doing, and I hope that you will be able to continue with your superb work.

And I do intend to continue with my superb work :) Thank you Elizabeth for your wonderful emails!

And a follow up email:

Sue, you are more than welcome to use my note in your blog. I just don't want the philosophy company attempting to quash you if they should learn about your work. They have ruined many others who have provided us with good versions of they very, VERY expensive products, and there are now many complaints by consumers that the fragrances, whether it's cologne, EDT, EDP, or lotions/creams/bath gels. mainly in Amazing Grace and Falling in Love, are not true, do not last at all, and some are just worthless. When they first came out with their body butter, not ONE of them had the fragrance right.

I don't know if I told you this, but instead of paying $20 for a small tube of their Amazing Grace deodorant/anti- perspirant, I simply use an unscented one, then use your "solid lotion" over it. It not only has a great fragrance which lasts, it also keeps the underarm area from becoming irritated. Your products really know how to multi- task!

Looking forward to more great products from you. Keep up the excellent work!

Elizabeth

eBay commercial - Left Out

2011-09-14T21:25:00.000-05:00

Funny.

Lovely review of the Halloween sampler set, thanks Deanna!

2011-09-13T19:58:00.000-05:00

New Scent of the Week: Berry Bewitching Brew

2011-09-13T10:22:00.001-05:00

This spooky, bubbly, Halloween treat begins with top notes of peach, apricot and blackberries; middle notes of mandarin, cinnamon and rose nicely balanced with just a hint of woodsy musk.

New Pumpkin Sugar Scrubs

2011-09-05T10:09:00.001-05:00

New, limited edition pumpkin sugar scrubs! Each scrub is loaded with all natural pumpkin flakes, green jojoba beads and a mini glow in the dark Halloween rubber ducky (ducky type will vary). You can choose from 4 different sugars and in either the whipped foaming or oil based version.

Anysoldier is a great way to thank our soldiers

2011-08-31T22:07:00.000-05:00

For over 4 years I've been sending items to soldiers found by the Anysoldier.com site. As I scanned what was needed, I saw that DVD's were in high demand to help pass their rec time. My sister had given me a big box of DVD's and I sent them overseas. The soldier who got them took time out of his busy day to send me a thank you email:

Ma’am,

I recently received a package here in Afghanistan from you and I wanted to take a quick minute just to thank you for your effort and time. It is great Americans like you who make it a little easier to make it through our days out here. This is my second year-long tour, last year I was in Iraq for 13 months. At 23 years old, its quite a thought that only five or six years ago, I was a high school student not knowing in which direction I would head next. Your support is much appreciated. We are going on month 7 out here and have 5 months left and we use EVERYTHING that folks like you send out. What we can’t use on my base, we repack and send to our lower level units who are right on the front lines taking fire. Like I said, your support is appreciated more than you can know and I think it’s the least I can do to send you a quick email to let you know.

Semper Fidelis.

I am so proud of these soldiers who go out and try to fight the good fight no matter what, they are away from home, their loved ones, in primitive conditions for months & years. They take orders from an inept government that can seem to get its act together, even though these are supposed to be the brightest minds in our country. They do it with hard work and dedication, without whining and complaining and blaming everyone else.

So please visit the site, send some items or even just a card to say thank you. They are worth it. Hate the war, not the warrior.

Scent of the Week: Stormy Nights

2011-08-31T08:24:00.000-05:00

Stormy Nights: A blend of hyacinth and heather, smells like a flower garden after a rain storm.

All U Pick Scent items 15% off in the eBay shop this weekend

2011-08-26T11:50:00.000-05:00

My first Turkish review :) Starts discussing my products at 8:53

2011-08-24T22:39:00.000-05:00

I do not speak Turkish, so I don't know if this is a good or bad review. If anyone can translate, leave a comment.

Scent of the Week: Orange Blossom

2011-08-24T20:05:00.000-05:00

Orange Blossom: This well rounded scent blends sweet, juicy mandarin oranges, muguet lily, fresh greenery notes and a touch of amber to orange blossom petals to create this beautiful fragrance arrangement. read and post reviews here

New Clamshell Scented Soy Wax Tarts similar to Scentsy

2011-08-19T15:45:00.000-05:00

NEW! Super scented all natural soy wax in a 6 cube breakaway bar. Very easy to use, just open the clamshell container, flip it over and push out a chunk of wax into your warmer. All soy wax products freshly blended and poured when you place your order, so you can be confident they have not been sitting on a shelf or in a warehouse for months.

What are soy wax tarts?
Tarts are a wax potpourri that fragrances your home for many hours. Unlike candles that burn with a wick, tarts are placed in a tart warmer and slowly warmed from a small tea-light or electric heat source below it, which can be either a hot plate or light bulb. Tarts melt at a cooler temperature than candles which allows the fragrance to diffuse more rapidly and evenly. We've found soy tarts melt cleaner, quicker and burn slower than paraffin tarts, lasting up to 50% longer. And by buying and selling soy wax, we all help support the US Soy Farmers of America. The soy beans that make up our soy wax is grown in the USA and our tarts are made in the USA. Also a vegan product.

To safely change or dispose of tarts, allow wax to cool and harden. Then place your tart warmer into the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Wax should easily pop out, if not, carefully nudge with a butter knife.

As with all my products, I never add any artificial dyes or colors. Very helpful if you accidentally spill the wax on any carpets or counters, as they will not stain. Believe me, I've been there, so I know how hard it is to remove not only the scent (which dissipates over time), but any colored stain. Especially on tile grout. Not a mistake I'll ever repeat :)

Stop by my eSidewalk sale this weekend!

2011-08-05T20:53:00.000-05:00

All kinds of great deals, BOGOs and double rewards points. New fragrances too!

Scent of the Week: Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

2011-08-02T21:51:00.000-05:00

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini: A warm, tropical aroma that embraces the state flower of Hawaii; a bright yellow Hibiscus. read and post reviews here

10 Cosmetic Uses for Everyday Foods

2011-07-28T11:21:00.000-05:00

Getting egg on your face can be a good thing By Aida Mollenkamp

The folds in a chef’s hat are supposed to symbolize the number of ways that chef knows how to prepare an egg, but we’re sure there’s at least one missing: as a facial mask. Many common foods can be used as cosmetics with surprisingly good results. So no matter your motivation (you want to save a few dollars, up your green quotient, or just find a novel way to pass the time), here are 10 cosmetic uses for food that are just as good, if not better, than their store-bought counterparts. (A word to the wise: If you have sensitive skin or processed hair, try these remedies on a small patch of skin or hair first.)

1. Egg White Mask. You can either save your leftover egg whites for an omelet or angel food cake, or use them for your next facial. Just one white, beaten until smooth, is enough to cover your face. As with other masks, let it dry completely, then rinse off. It will leave you feeling refreshed, and your skin will be noticeably more taut.
2. Oatmeal Face Wash. Oatmeal has calming properties that soothe the skin and help reduce redness. It can be used in a variety of ways, from a body wash to a mask, but the most basic is this simple face wash: Mix together equal parts warm honey and lemon juice, then stir in three parts instant oatmeal until it turns into a paste. Apply to your face, then wash off with warm water.
3. Vinegar Hair Cleaner. Swap your conditioner for vinegar twice a month and you’ll get rid of any nasty buildup, as well as improve your hair’s silkiness and shine. Seriously. Don’t use dark or expensive vinegars; stick to cider or white wine vinegar for less strain on the wallet and better results. But don’t do this more than a few times a month or you’ll risk drying out your hair.
4. Honey and Brown Sugar Scrub. Fill a jar about two-thirds full with honey, add a scoop of brown sugar and one halved vanilla bean, and mix. Keep this in the shower and use it as a body scrub that will leave you smelling nice and feeling smooth.
5. Lemon Juice Lightener. Beach-goers have been doing this for years to lighten their locks. Just combine the juice of half a lemon with a handful of leave-in conditioner (which is less goopy than regular conditioner), spread on your hair, and comb through, then wash out. (Note: Highlighted or color-treated hair should be spared this homemade remedy, which could make your hair look brassy.) Many people also apply lemon juice directly to age spots to bleach them out, though this should be avoided on sensitive skin because lemon juice is highly acidic.
6. Coffee: Scrub and Shine-Maker. Your leftover coffee grounds can clog your drain or, if you’re feeling adventurous, be used as an invigorating scrub. For more details, check out this CHOW Tip. Needless to say, avoid doing this if you have sensitive skin. Leftover brewed coffee can also be mixed with some coffee grounds and conditioner to help increase shine in dark hair.
7. Tea Bag Eye Rejuvenator. The quintessential home cosmetic remedy is using cucumber slices on the eyes to reduce puffiness. While that certainly works, brewed black tea bags are even more effective. Place them on your eyes (which should be closed, of course) and let the tannins work their magic—about five minutes should do the trick.
8. Baking Soda Teeth Cleaner. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with a quarter teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide for one of the most basic forms of tooth care that exists. It’ll clean your teeth (some would argue better than store-bought toothpaste), but you’ll be missing out on the minty freshness. Of course, you could just go totally au naturel and gnaw a bit of spearmint for that.
9. Oil Moisturizer. Take a page from many a Mediterranean grandmother: Olive oil works fabulously as a lotion. Use too much and you’ll smell like pasta, but in small doses it works wonders as a daily lotion or massage oil. If olive oil isn’t your thing, sesame oil (regular not toasted), peanut oil, almond oil, and argan oil work too.
10. Cornstarch Bath Powder. Superabsorbent and extremely fine, cornstarch is the kitchen equivalent of baby powder and can be used in the same way. Combine it with a few leaves of a nice-smelling dried herb (rosemary, lavender, or sage, for instance) and pulse it in the food processor until evenly mixed. Sift out any large stray leaf bits, transfer to a container with a shake top (like an old baby powder bottle), and use to freshen up anything from your body to your sneakers.

Link to original post http://www.chow.com/food-news/55097/10-cosmetic-uses-for-everyday-foods/

Do my tarts work in the Scentsy burners? A customer review...

2011-07-28T11:11:00.003-05:00

I had a customer, Roberta, recently ask me if my tarts would work with the Scentsy burners. Since I do not own one nor have I tried it, I asked her to give it a shot and let me know. Here is her response:

Hi Sue:

Your Dragons Blood soy tart melted nicely in my mid-size Scentsy burner! If you do decide to mention something about this in your Ebay listings (at least one of your competitors does) you might want to know that Scentsys come in 3 sizes with 3 different wattage bulbs - 25, 20 & -I think- 15. I have the 20 watt size. I'm sure your tarts would work in the higher wattage one, not sure about the smallest which is sort of like a night light that plugs into the wall.

Anyway, I'm going to be ordering more of your products on Ebay, if not now, then in the next day or so. You sent me a nice little sample of your shea butter cream plus a 10% off offer on my next order, and those things really mean a lot! Thanks very much, Sue.

-roberta
--------------------------------------------------

So, YES, they work in the 20 watt Scentsy burners. Thank you Roberta!!

Check out Jennys blog giveway for a gift certicate to somethinspecial.com

2011-07-27T08:48:00.000-05:00

Are blogs supposed to post about other blogs? I don't know the internet etiquette, but I do know that Jenny has been a long time customer and has offered a contest to giveway a gift certificate to my shop!

Here a link to her newly redesigned and very cute pink blog:
http://jennybucket.blogspot.com/2011/07/ready-set-giveaway.html

Go check it out, enter and tell her I said hi!

Sue

Vanilla Banana Scent of the Week

2011-07-25T18:16:00.000-05:00

Vanilla Banana (Vanille Banane): A concoction of rum, warm vanilla pods, banana cream and hints of orange, kind of like a Banana Colada. Our version of Vanille Banane by Comptoir Sud Pacifique. read and post reviews here

Sign up for the scent of the week newsletter here

Weekend sale in my eBay shop, check it out!

2011-07-23T11:37:00.000-05:00

600 likes on my Facebook page! Yippee!

2011-07-22T10:02:00.000-05:00

Somethin Special | Promote Your Page Too

Coconut Craze Scent of the Week

2011-07-19T17:33:00.000-05:00

The fragrance this week is Coconut Craze. A summertime scent craze of lemon, orange, pineapple and lime; rounded-out with caramel and coconut, on a base of buttercream, coconut milk, vanilla bean and musk.
Read and post reviews here.
It's on sale all week, give it a try!

Sign up for the scent of the week newsletter here

Chicago storms, power outage, hot weather, blah

2011-07-13T14:12:00.000-05:00

I just came out of an almost 3 day power outage and I can tell you, I don't like life without electricity. It was tough. The nights were hot and if you didn't have a generator, you got to listen to your neighbors loud generators through your open windows all night long. All our cell phones had spotty reception, most calls could not be completed and barely any internet access. Text messages were sent sporadically and sometimes hours after sending. Recharging phones had to be done in the car. Food was spoiled in freezers and fridges, trees were down everywhere and most businesses, including grocery stores, fast food and gas stations, were closed.

The upside is we all hung out together and were assured that if something bad ever happened long term, we can all count on each other. Strangers became pals in this shared experience as we traded snippets of info about downed trees, no info from Com Ed on restoration times and general chit chat.

So, maybe, it wasn't that bad :)

July 4th Raffle Drawing Winners!

2011-07-09T10:01:00.000-05:00

Margie Blake, NY
Latoya Taylor, VA
Susan Clark, TX
Jenny Norman-Dahlen, CA
Barbara Louviere, LA
Lenee Rider-Wilson, GA
Michael Richardson, CA
Marcia Wheatcraft, MS
Nisa Hertzog, PA
Heather Blake, GA

All winners have been notified via email. Congrats!

BOGO 1/3 oz. Dry Oil Body Perfume Spray 7/5 ONLY!

2011-07-05T13:18:00.000-05:00

BOGO Soy Wax Tart Melt 3 Pack 1 Day Deal! Happy 4th!

2011-07-04T13:47:00.000-05:00

Two new summer fun gift sets just added!

2011-07-02T09:31:00.000-05:00

• Summer Skin Glow Set: Sugar Scrub, Shea Butter Cream & Dry Oil Spray
• Sprays Set: 4 oz. Dry Oil Spray & 4 oz. Body, Room & Linen Spray

All orders placed from 7/1 to 7/6 will be entered in a raffle giveaway!

2011-07-01T11:23:00.000-05:00

All orders placed on the web site, Etsy and eBay from 7/1/2011 to 7/6/2011 will be entered in a raffle to giveaway 10 gift sets! The prizes are 5 car air freshener gift sets and 5 sampler pack gift sets (4 packs). Drawing will be held on Thursday, 7/7/2011, winners will be contacted and names posted on this blog. Good luck!

Scent of the week - All 17 summer scents!

2011-06-29T11:27:00.000-05:00

All 17 of the summer scents are on special until 7/6/2011!

Beachy Baby Scent of the Week

2011-06-21T11:13:00.002-05:00

Our fragrance this week is the Beachy Baby scent. A unique blend of tropical fruits, exotic flowers and fresh sea spray. One sniff will transport you to a luxuriously scented white sand beach during a spectacular sunset. It's on sale all week, give it a try! read and post reviews here

Sign up for the scent of the week newsletter here

Canada Post suspends operations

2011-06-17T09:02:00.000-05:00

An ongoing labor dispute between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has escalated to a full lockout. Canada Post has announced that, effective today, mail will not be accepted or delivered across Canada until further notice.

The lockout impacts all shipments to and from Canada handled by Canada Post, as well as shipments into Canada via postal carriers such as USPS or Royal Mail.

My Canadian buyers will not be getting their orders until this is resolved. Please contact me with any issues.

More information can be found on the Canada Post web site.

Sun Your Buns Scent of the Week

2011-06-13T14:33:00.000-05:00

The fragrance this week is Sun Your Buns. A twist on a tropical treat - bananas with tangy pineapple, juicy peaches and sweet coconut milk infused with vanilla. It's on sale all week, give it a try!

Vanilla Sandalwood Scent of the Week

2011-06-07T09:38:00.001-05:00

The fragrance this week is Vanilla Sandalwood. The beautiful combination of luscious, rich vanilla and earthy Indian sandalwood. read and post reviews here
It's on sale all week, give it a try!

Sign up for the scent of the week newsletter here

Mom & Dad Goose take the family for a walk. Summer's finally here.

2011-06-01T23:22:00.000-05:00

Vanilla Blossoms New Scent of the Week

2011-06-01T08:41:00.000-05:00

The fragrance this week is Vanilla Blossoms. A harmonious blend of French vanilla, fresh air notes and summer flowers. Begins with top notes of dewy fresh air, coconut cream and ripe pineapple; followed by middle notes of ylang ylang, star jasmine and Moroccan roses; sitting on base notes of French vanilla, Egyptian musk and exotic sandalwood. read and post reviews here
It's on sale all week, give it a try!

Sign up for the scent of the week newsletter here

New Anysoldier campaign June 2011

2011-05-30T22:15:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day is the perfect day to announce that I'm launching a new anysoldier campaign. I'll be choosing one Marine & one Sailor for care packages. If you'd like to participate, just buy some of my items, tell me not to ship them and I'll add them to the care packages. Items needed are shower gels, lotions and body sprays.

I have 3 siblings deploying at various times and I've spent a week on an active duty Navy ship (USS Princeton) and I know how hard they work and how much they enjoy getting packages on ship or in country.

Any questions? Let me know.
Thanks,
Sue

Eucalyptus & Mint New Scent of the Week

2011-05-25T11:21:00.000-05:00

The fragrance this week is Eucalyptus & Mint. A blend of soothing eucalyptus & clarifying spearmint creates a relaxing aromatic experience. Our version of Eucalyptus and Spearmint by Bath and Body Works. read and post reviews here
It's on sale all week, give it a try!

Found hiking trail art

2011-05-21T12:56:00.002-05:00

Hawaiian Pikake Scent of the Week

2011-05-16T20:57:00.001-05:00

The fragrance this week is Hawaiian Pikake. A lovely blend of pikake (a fragrant Hawaiian flower), jasmine and gardenia. read and post reviews here
It's on sale all week, give it a try!

Lotions Sale Ends 5/15, Double Rewards Points Too!

2011-05-11T10:24:00.001-05:00

My little brother, Jason Faunt, in the local newspaper today. Check it out.

2011-05-10T10:08:00.001-05:00

Northwest Herald | City has fostered nationally, internationally known talent

Pink Coconut Scent of the Week

2011-05-09T23:58:00.001-05:00

The fragrance this week is Pink Coconuts. Pink Sugar is ready for the summer beach scene with a tropical boost of coconuts. read and post reviews here
It's on sale all week, give it a try!

Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World

2011-05-03T09:32:00.001-05:00

Country Clothesline Scent of the Week

2011-05-03T08:45:00.000-05:00

The fragrance this week is Country Clothesline. The aroma of fresh powder, light musk and just a hint of daffodil and tulip spring flowers. Our version of the original Downy fabric softener scent. Read and post reviews here.

Mothers Day Gift Sets now on SALE!

2011-04-28T08:25:00.000-05:00

One Thousand White Women

2011-04-27T09:18:00.000-05:00

I'm listening to this now, anyone read it? What did you think?

Sugar Leaf Scent of the Week

2011-04-25T22:15:00.000-05:00

The fragrance this week is Sugar Leaf. A surprisingly soft and sweet blend of vanilla sugar, sparkling citron, apple peel, sheer floral, sensual woods and creamy musk.

Spring Scents sale in the eBay shop

2011-04-23T16:23:00.000-05:00

11/22/63 Can't wait...

2011-04-23T16:07:00.003-05:00

Make your own sugar scrubs

2011-04-23T14:01:00.000-05:00

I know you all love sugar scrubs and it's always fun to try something new, so I've added the option to let you choose which 50/50 sugar mix you want.

You can combine the finer brown sugar with the coarser, scrubbier demerara sugar. Or combine the white sugar with turbinado. And so on!

Available for both the oil based scrubs and the foaming whipped scrubs.

April Showers Scent of the Week

2011-04-18T12:33:00.001-05:00

The fragrance this week is April Showers. A sweet, fresh scent that includes a blend of sweet flower house blooms and ozone.

Aroma Reed Diffuser Oils

2011-04-14T12:58:00.000-05:00

My costs have over doubled on this product, so I'm pulling it from the sites until I find a suitable, cost effective alternative. This was a slow mover at the old cost, so I'm assuming that it will never sell if doubled. Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks,
Sue

I just like this picture. That is all.

2011-04-12T12:17:00.000-05:00

Back open for business after cross country move

2011-04-11T17:48:00.000-05:00

All venues are up & running!
somethinspecial.com
Etsy shop
eBay shop

Thank you!

Pink Sweets Scent of the Week

2011-04-11T13:57:00.000-05:00

The fragrance this week is Pink Sweets. Yummy notes of cotton candy, vanilla and caramel with fresh bergamot, orange and a touch of berries, muguet, strawberry and plum on a bed of dry fig leaves, musk, anise and slight woods. Our version of Pink Sugar by Aquolina. Read and post reviews here.

Closed for cross country move as of March 27th

2011-03-26T13:54:00.000-05:00

I am officially closed for my cross country LA to Chicago move as of 3/27. I plan on re-opening on 4/11, I'll be restocking my inventory all that week. See you in the Windy city!

eBay store & web site sales ending soon

2011-03-19T12:07:00.000-05:00

All the eBay store sales are ending tomorrow night, so stock up before I close down for my move on 4/1. I'll be open and shipping in stock products until I hit the road and officially close on 4/1.

Web site sales will be running until I leave or I run out of inventory, whichever comes first!

If you have any questions, you can find me at sales@somethinspecial.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

Scent of the Week suspended until after the move

2011-03-17T17:45:00.000-05:00

I'll be suspending the scent of the week until after the move from LA to Chicago, should resume around mid-April.

Elated Scent of the Week

2011-03-08T18:30:00.000-06:00

The fragrance this week is Elated. Classified as a refreshing, flowery fragrance. This feminine scent possesses a blend of floral jasmine, lilly of the valley, carnation. Our version of Happy by Clinique.
Read and post reviews here.
It's on sale all week, give it a try!

T-31 days until blast off

2011-03-01T10:39:00.000-06:00

Since my mom is flying out here to California to ride back with/make sure I go to Chicago, I'm starting to reduce my inventory for the big move back. She gets here on March 29th, we'll finish packing and hit the road on April 1st. We'll be in Chicago sometime in April, depends on where we stop on the way (Vegas?).
I'm starting to run sales on March 1st, I'll send out newsletters as they launch. Now is the time to grab some deals and try something new.
If you have any questions, email me at sales@somethinspecial.com

Thanks,
Sue

Clean Crisp Air Scent of the Week

2011-03-01T00:39:00.001-06:00

The fragrance this week is Clean Crisp Air. Looking for a fragrance that reminds you of fresh clean air filled with hints of greenery and soft florals? Look no further! Clover, ivy, baby's breath, periwinkle, lily of the valley and fresh air. read and post reviews here

It's on sale all week, give it a try!

Cashmere Myst Scent of the Week

2011-02-25T01:24:00.001-06:00

The fragrance this week is Cashmere Myst. Sensual, with exotic spice notes, this sexy fragrance has notes of saffron, pimento berries, white pepper, and a lovely blend of floral, patchouli and vanilla. Our version of Cashmere Mist by DKNY Donna Karan. read and post reviews here

Out of stock items...

2011-02-21T14:30:00.000-06:00

As I prepare for my journey back to Chicago next month, you will see products & fragrances begin to go on Out of Stock status. I'm allowing slow moving inventory go on back order so I'll have less to move across country (again!). If there's something you desperately need before my move (which is around March 29th), send me a detailed email or message me on Facebook and I'll see what I can do.

I never post Youtube videos, but how cute is this? Calming the baby beast.

2011-02-17T19:42:00.000-06:00

Just read 703 by Nancy Makin

2011-02-16T18:40:00.001-06:00

What a great book, get it read it. It's not your usual "I had trauma and ate to avoid my feelings then lost all the weight" story, but rather an introspective journey through her life with a very relevant and personal realization at the end. Thank you Nancy for sharing your story!

Adobe Photoshop 7.0 on Windows Vista

2011-02-15T21:12:00.001-06:00

I recently bought a copy of this to run on my laptop. I did the install, typed in the code on the CD to verify I'm legit and when I tried to launch it, I received this wonderful error message:

Could not complete your request because of missing or invalid personalization information.

I will do just about anything to avoid calling tech support, including endless google searches, uninstall & reinstall, disable virus/registry editors/malware scanners and posting on forums.

I found a fix, simple, easy, thought I'd share it with anyone who needs it. Copy the executable to your desktop (create a shortcut), right click on it and run as administrator. Hopefully I've just been able to save someone hours of contemplating computer murder.

Honeysuckle Scent of the Week

2011-02-15T18:29:00.000-06:00

The fragrance this week is Honeysuckle. A honeysuckle blend with hints of jasmine, rose & lilac. read and post reviews here

Toxic Trance Scent of the Week

2011-02-07T22:20:00.002-06:00

The fragrance this week is Toxic Trance. An incredibly sexy, unisex fragrance which begins with top notes of green citrus notes, mellowed out with powdery floral notes that appear to glisten. The middle of the fragrance involves the infusion of neroli, violet, and herbs, with a bottom of powdery floral musk. read and post reviews here

Top 10 Reviewed Fragrances

2011-02-05T14:01:00.002-06:00

Info gathered from my fragrance review blog, click the scent to see the reviews:
Pink Sweets
Amande Coco
Cleanest
Sun & Sand
Hello Lemon Sugar
Vanilla Insanity
Pink Coconuts
Honey Bee Sweet
Butt Naked
Amazed

Scandalous Scent of the Week

2011-01-31T23:54:00.000-06:00

The fragrance this week is Scandalous. Take a walk on the wild side with this mix of white blossoms, aromatic peonies, wild jasmine, red roses and fresh lavender. read and post reviews here

Valentines Day Gift Sets SALE!

2011-01-29T12:24:00.001-06:00

If you prefer to shop my eBay store, here's the LINK.

Honey Bee Sweet Scent of the Week

2011-01-25T14:03:00.001-06:00

Our fragrance this week is Honey Bee Sweet. Crunchy toffee notes mingle delightfully with sweet, dripping honey with hints of floral. Our version of Honey I Washed the Kids by Lush.
Read and post reviews here.

I need your input, please take my survey

2011-01-25T00:26:00.000-06:00

It's not very long, just 12 questions, most are multiple choice. Your feedback will help guide my 2011 product offerings:

https://app.icontact.com/icp/sub/survey/start?sid=2314&cid=228817

Thank you!
Sue

bleepingcomputer.com

2011-01-24T15:59:00.003-06:00

I somehow picked up a nasty trojan last month, it was a search redirect virus called Win32:cycbot-z. Anytime I'd google or yahoo search for something, it would redirect me to an ad site. After trying to troubleshoot it myself, I ran across bleepingcomputer.com and thought I'd give them a try before I ripped all my hair out, wiped my hard drive clean and reinstalled everything.
I created an account and posted on their board "Am I infected? What do I do?". A board member named trollocks had me run TDSSKiller and post my logs. After it was determined I needed deeper scans, they moved my posts to the "Virus, Trojan, Spyware, and Malware Removal Logs" board.
This is a free service, so they are very busy, as you can imagine. After obsessively checking my initial posts a couple times a day, about 6 days later a board member named gringo_pr started working on my issue. Two days later with much some scanning, posting and interaction, my laptop is all cleaned up and working great.
Gringo was professional, patient, courteous and very, very thorough. My entire experience with bleepingcomputer.com was excellent. Once again, this is all free and the people who help you are all volunteers.
After your computer is fixed and running smoothly, they close your issue and very professionally ask for any kind of donation. I was more than happy to click on over to PayPal and send a little something that my budget could handle.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com

Do you watch Parks & Recreation?

2011-01-22T01:18:00.001-06:00

OK, so what do you do for a living?

2011-01-19T10:52:00.003-06:00

I'm often asked, "what do you do"? People are often perplexed at how I fit into the buying pool/marketplace.

Somethin Special provides a wider buying option in addition to the traditional bath & body over the counter (OTC) products.

When you buy from a big name bath and body supplier (Bath & Body Works, Victorias Secret to name a few), your only choices include whatever fragrance and product that a purchasing agent and/or marketing director chose to put on the retail stores shelves. Most of these choices were made a year ago. With Somethin' Special, you get to choose from a large variety of fresh made products in the sizes you want and in the fragrances you want. And get it within a week.

I've also been classified as an e-tailer (internet only direct to consumers) and an indie business (indie is short for independent). Small also means nimble and quick to respond to marketplace demands and bring new products and ideas to market. You don’t have to be big to be good.

Nothing is sitting on my shelves for more than 3 months, even though all my raw materials have a 2 year shelf life. For some of my items, I buy all the ingredients and packaging and make them fresh from scratch myself, such as:
oil based sugar scrubs
massage oils
perfumes
dry oil sprays
body, room & linen sprays
soy wax tarts
wickless candles

For other items I buy the bases in small, fresh batches, blend in any additional ingredients and fragrance:
soap based sugar scrubs
lotions
creams
butters
solid lotion
shower gels
reed diffuser oil

And let us not forget the fragrances. I only offer DEP/phthalate free fragrance oils. I have a constantly rotating and expanding list of 160 scents. I am obsessively picky about the quality of the bases and fragrances I’ve chosen, I only buy from trusted suppliers that have the same freshness obsession that I do. I also make sure the ingredients are as natural as they can be, but they must have some preservative chemicals in them to keep the nasties from growing in them, such as mold & bacterias. All natural is great until you open a jar of cream and see green moldies on it (reminds me of my early attempts at making my own lotions). I constantly google new products to try and continually test the quality of my stock items.

Who chooses my scents and products? My customers. Your feedback and requests create and guide my product list.

Also, I'm a big fan of Bath & Body Works, I've been a customer of theirs for years. I love walking into their stores and seeing all the colored bottles and smelling the wonderful smells. I enjoy providing a similar products, but with a different buying concept and a wider range of choices. Fresh made. Did I say made fresh? I admire Lush too, but they are pricey and I have rarely bought from them.

There are many talented bath and body etailers who provide beautiful products and I love to stop by their web sites and have bought from them, such as Cheryl from Toadstool Soaps. She has a great conditioner (see review here) that makes my hair silky soft. Cleanse Your Soul, Bathed & Infused, Crater Lake Company, Pink Flower Scents, Mad City Sue, Lemon Bay Soap, Dr. Sweet Tooth, I Luv Fragrance, The Body Bakery, Margarita Bloom & much more.

One last note, I know how hard we all work and it bothers me when I see a long time, great quality etailer go out of business, because I've seen the love and care they've put into their business. I've often thought of how fun it would be to gather all these businesses under one roof for a great big scented bath and body mall. But for now, we'll have to accept the virtual roof that is known as the internet.

Vanilla Valentine Scent of the Week

2011-01-18T01:08:00.001-06:00

The fragrance this week is Vanilla Valentine. This sweetheart fragrance is a perfect creamy blend of vanilla beans and sensual musk to stimulate the senses and arouse your passion for sweetness. read and post reviews here

Sexy As Sin Scent of the Week

2011-01-11T15:11:00.000-06:00

The fragrance this week is Sexy As Sin. This irresistible bouquet of gardenia, tuberose, sweet vanilla and exotic musk is sure to intoxicate your senses. read and post reviews here
It's on sale all week, give it a try!

Need some inspiration? Valentines Day Scent List...

2011-01-08T14:58:00.002-06:00

Better Than Sex Cake: German chocolate cake is blended with semi-sweet chocolate chips and laced with crunchy toffee bits in this decadent treat. Vanilla creme and butterscotch syrup create a luscious undertone, while hints of almond and coconut complete the yummy blend.
Butt Naked: Fresh green apples are perfectly blended with refreshing honeydew and spicy pear along with other scrumptious aromas to create a fragrance that is delightful. If you want a sexy, fresh scent that is different and bright...this is it.
Champagne Flurries: These delightful citrus flurries capture the essence of wild oranges drenched in rich, heady cognac. This seductive fragrance will tempt the inner vixen in all of us. Top notes of orange blossom and citrus; middle notes of leafy greens and lily; bottom notes of musky woods. Our version of Champagne Snow Showers by Lush.
Fall In Love (Falling In Love): A fresh, sexy, clean aroma with fragrance notes of vanilla, jasmine, lily of the valley, musk & blackberry. Our version of Falling In Love by Philosophy.
Fishnet Pantyhose: Vibrant ozone notes and sparkling citrus tones lead to the fruity signature of this fragrance. Crisp greens balance with an apple accord to entice the senses. Sweet undertones of vanilla harmonize the blend. Our version of Snap the Whip by Lush.
Lick Me All Over: A tantalizing blend of tropical fruity fragrances, including orange, pineapple & cherry.
Love Charm (Love Spell): An absolutely tantalizing fragrance composed of mandarin orange, bergamot & tangerine enhanced by hints of fresh peaches, strawberries & raspberries on an undertone of white musk. Our version of Love Spell by Victoria's Secret.
Midnight Romance: This sensual and romantic fragrance begins with top notes of spicy bergamot and Kaffir lime extract; followed by middle notes of African violet, balsam fir and jasmine; sitting on base notes of muguet lily and musk.
Pure Attraction: A soft blend of floral, musk, apple & fresh citrus. Our version of Pure Seduction by Victoria's Secret.
Satin Sheets: A truly romantic, seductive of white and dark chocolate, violet, fresh jasmine, musk, blackberries, vanilla and just a hint of fresh green notes.
Scandalous: Take a walk on the wild side with this mix of white blossoms, aromatic peonies, wild jasmine, red roses and fresh lavender.
Sexy As Sin: This irresistible bouquet of gardenia, tuberose, sweet vanilla and exotic musk is sure to intoxicate your senses.
Stiletto Blonde: This fragrance is packed with seduction! Sultry notes of white flowers mingled with the ever-present violet note ending on a warm muskiness. Our version of Sex Bomb by Lush.
Toxic Trance: An incredibly sexy, unisex fragrance which begins with top notes of green citrus notes, mellowed out with powdery floral notes that appear to glisten. The middle of the fragrance involves the infusion of neroli, violet, and herbs, with a bottom of powdery floral musk.
Vanilla Musk: The rich aroma of creamy french vanilla with warm white musk.
Vanilla & Pearls (Vanilla Lace): A rich, sensual blend of vanilla and orchid with hints of amber and musk. Our version of Vanilla Lace by Victoria's Secret.
Vanilla Valentine: This sweetheart fragrance is a perfect creamy blend of vanilla beans and sensual musk to stimulate the senses and arouse your passion for sweetness.

25 reward points for each review posted this weekend!

2011-01-07T11:12:00.000-06:00

Reviews are a great way to share your opinion, I find them very helpful when making a buying decision. Post your reviews on somethinspecial.com this weekend and you'll get 25 rewards points for each review. Ends Sunday night at 12 midnight PST, points will be awarded on Monday.

New Scent: Vanilla Spectacular

2011-01-04T10:35:00.002-06:00

Just added - Vanilla Spectacular: Indulgence at its best...Vanilla Creme blends with buttery, rich caramel and sparkling brown sugar to wrap you in snuggly warmth and comfort. It's true, I am a vanilla fragrance addict.

Candy Cane Scent of the Week

2011-01-03T13:59:00.000-06:00

The fragrance this week is Candy Cane. A wonderful combination of fresh peppermint leaves and sweet ripened strawberries, on a dry down of vanilla. read & post reviews here
It's on sale all week, give it a try!