Organics by Dana

I can’t can’t stress the importance of supporting domestic businesses enough. I truly believe, as an American citizen, it’s my obligation to support my fellow citizens and stimulate our economy.
Damn near everything I invest my money in is made in USA, right down to household items.
So naturally when I discovered Organics by Dana, I was immediately intrigued.

Organics by Dana is a small line of all natural air fresheners. Dana produces these air fresheners right here in my hometown Richmond, VA using a secret blend of essential spices and organic fragrances.

I currently own two of her 4 fragrances: Holiday Spice and Citrus Blossom . They both smell good enough to digest, and they’re remarkably effective in eliminating undesired odors with the added benefit of being environmentally friendly.
A little quote from the website:

for as long as I can remember I’ve had a great love for nature and especially the smells of the outdoors. I’ve also been fascinated with the powers of natural healing through the use of aromatherapy. Being of half Native American descent, it is through my grandmother, a medicine woman within her tribe and a natural healer, that I possess the passion to help others as she did. I am thankful to know that her positive energy lives within me to carry on our family traditions of the power of natural healing. After studying aromatherapy, I gained first-hand knowledge in what the natural healing benefits are through the proper use of these plants and root extracts.

Each fragrance is approx. $13.95 a piece – that includes free shipping. I believe a bottle will last you at least 90-120 days w/ moderate use. If you’re having trouble deciding on which scent to choose, don’t be afraid to reach out to Dana for advice. She’s extremely friendly and communicative. I personally recommend the Holiday Spice. But you don’t have to take my word for it, ha.

For more info visit her website.

Style Icon // Michael Caine

 

 

 

Reference Points // Dec. ’11 Pt. I

Indian Summer: A Holiday Mix

The holiday season has kept me extremely busy this year. Not only am I in the process of expanding the shop, but I’ve been working with L. Douglas Wilder Library on a preservation project in my free time. This has certainly been an unusual Winter for us in Virginia. I don’t believe it’s fallen below 50 [early mornings being the exception] once this season, but hey I’m not complaining.

As un-Winter-like as it may feel outside, the month of December still warrants heavy rotation of classic holiday tunes. With that said, I’ve compiled a little holiday playlist for your auditory pleasure. Download it, pour a glass of eggnog and get loose. Happy holidays!

1. White Christmas | Satchmo

2. Someday At Christmas | Stevie Wonder

3. Caroling, Caroling | Nat King Cole

4. Here Comes Santa Claus | Bob Dylan

5. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree | She & Him

6. Merry Christmas, Baby | The Beach Boys

7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus | Jackson 5

8. Silver Bells | Tony Bennett

9. Merry Christmas, I Love You | James Brown

10. My Christmas Tree | The Temptations

11. Little Drummer Boy | Bright Eyes

12. Silent Night | Joshua T. Pearson

Direct Download | Spotify Link

Reference Points // Nov. ’11

I finally took the time to sort through my saved items in Feedly. Here’s what I’ve found inspiring during the unusually warm month of November:

Wassookeag Moccasins

A lot of readers have shown interest in a Wassookeag Moccasin review, and being that I’m a real democracy, I obliged. HAHA…

Each pair of Wasookeag Moccasins are skillfully made in USA from from full hides of premium full grain leather.
Wassookaeg Moccasins are available in a variety of options: bullhide, buffalo hide and cow hide – deerskin lined or unlined, chocolate or tobacco. I chose to go with the Chocolate Deerskin Lined Buffalo Hide Soft Sole Moccasin.

Now, let me be clear when I say: these are the most comfortable pair of moccasins I’ve owned by far – the leather is very soft and feels comfortable on the skin.

See, I chose the deerskin lined model because I plan on wearing them throughout Winter. I wore them last night around town [barefoot], it was around 30-something outside, my feet were extremely warm.

It’s remarkable how quickly they got ‘em to me. That were at my door in less than a week. Unfortunately I can’t report on durability, I’ll have to let y’all know how they hold up throughout the coming months. They feel durable though, and they look sharp.

For pricing and sizing info visit their website.

Grand Ole Opry

Flat & Scruggs Grand Ole Opry was an extremely popular television series that was broadcast from 1955-1969 (almost 15 years).
As the title suggests, it was hosted by bluegrass legends Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs. The show was, for the most part, a series of performances from the two masters of bluegrass, with some help from their band the Foggy Mountain Boys with a campy cookie dough commercial sprinkled here and there.

Needless to say, it’s a pleasure to watch. Flatt & Scruggs could pick their asses off, and thanks to the invention of Netlix you can stream the entire series instantly.