Swap-O- Rama-Rama! What A Great Idea!!

Recently I have been doing some cleaning and de-stashing of all my arts and craft supplies. And I have tons of it. I've got beads that I am probably never going to use again. I also have fabric, trim, embroidery floss, and crochet needles that I bought (with good intentions) but never used. And now it is time to just get rid of it all. While I was trying to figure out what to do with all this stuff I made a tweet about it. And one of my fellow twitterers sent me a link to something called
Swap-O-Rama-Rama which is basically a bunch of clothing swaps/diy workshops that take place in my area . All you have to do is bring some clothes to swap, make a donation ($20 is suggested but not mandatory), and you can take part in diy workshops to make new items out of old clothes. And they have sewing machines, tools, silk screens, and overseers to help you make your items. Cool right? Plus they take donations of craft materials and tools so I am definitely going to contact them soon about donating. And I just might take part in a workshop too. I will keep you all posted.


Beads Destash-
Only the tip of the iceberg

Embroidery floss

Handmade Market!!

Hey everyone! I will be selling my jewelry at Handmade Market this Saturday 2/13 from 12pm to 4pm. I have a variety of items ($5-$50) for sale including all of the jewelry in my etsy shop and will put my shop on vacation that day. If you are in the Chicago area please stop by, say hello, and take a look.

New Lower Prices! And Free Shipping to U.S. and Canada!

I recently lowered prices in my etsy shop. I am also offering free shipping to U.S. and Canada for most of my items. Plus I just added international shipping so please and take a look . Also take a look at my facebook fan page and flickr to see other items that I have made but have not listed to my shop. I do have many of these items available and if you are interested in one please let me know via email (jasminsmitchell@gmail.com) or etsy conversations and I will let you know the price and we can discuss payment and shipping. Also, If you would rather make purchases through etsy, I will make a reserved listing for you. I hope you see something you like.

Repost: HFCS - A FavoriteThings not so Favorite!!!!!

I have decided to re post this blog post that I wrote some time ago because of an Oprah show that aired a couple days ago. Micheal Pollan was a guest on this show and he was talking about the documentary Food Inc and his new manual called Food Rules : An Eaters Manual.
Also, I have been seeing the commercials (posted below) pop up on tv again after not seeing them for a while.





















Over the past couple of weeks I have been seeing tv commercials and newspaper ads about High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS).
HFCS is a sweetener that is sweeter and cheaper than sugar and the food industry puts it in almost everything . It is in almost every processed and frozen food. It is also in many foods like bread, condiments, crackers, bagels-foods that are not necessarily sweet.




The HFCS ads are basically telling consumers that HFCS is just as good for us to eat as sugar. They also mention that HFCS has the same amount of calories as sugar and should be used in moderation like sugar. Plus they tell us that HFCS is made from corn-so how bad could it be right? Yeah it is made from corn but not that supersweet corn that our parents, and grandparents ate as children. It is made from GMO (genetically modified organism), hybrid corn that is developed by scientists. This hybrid corn is developed and grown specifically for processing into other products such as animal feed, ethanol, HFCS, and other products.

HFCS also metabolizes in the body differently that sugar. Sugar digests in the stomach while HFCS digests in the liver. Therefore the liver releases more triglycerides (fat cells) and that can increase the risk for heart disease. Plus, HFCS lowers the release of leptin which is a hormone that lets the body know it is full. This is how one can drink a soda or juice, eat a snack, and still want something to eat minutes later. Since the body is not satisfied one can eat all day and never feel full.

I personally have eliminated HFCS from my diet and and have been doing so for about 3 years. Once I started eating real, unprocessed, and minimally processed foods my appetite changed. I did not find myself craving sodas, and cookies like I did before. I lost weight and did not feel so hungry all the time. The healthier I ate the more I began to dislike the taste of "fake food". I replaced artificial sweeteners with raw sugar, agave nectar, yacon syrup, stevia (I use the green whole leaf stevia powder instead of the white powders). I replaced soda with blended fruit and seltzer. I replaced candy bars with real chocolate or carob. Chips, pretzels, and other snacks were replaced with healthier versions from health food stores. These changes made a big difference. And please note that for every unhealthy food or snack, there is a healthier version. And I am not saying it's ok eat tons of snacks as long as they don't have HCFS; these snacks do have calories. However, I believe that these healthier snacks satisfy hunger more than their unhealthier counter parts.

Therefore, I sincerely hope that consumers do more research about what they eat and do not depend on tv commercials and newspaper ads to tell what is ok for them. Although the fact that these ads are on may be a result of consumers doing research and rejecting products with HFCS. Maybe the food industry is starting to feel the pinch of people eating healthier . Maybe the industry sees that more people are opting to read ingredients, and nutrition facts instead of taking the marketing buzz words on the label as fact. I sure hope that this is the case.

Here is a funny parody of one of the commercials

I'm Going Natural!!! Update: I'm Natural Now!

In my last post I informed you all that I was going natural. Well I am there now! On January 8, 2010 I cut my relaxed hair off and am now sporting a twa (teeny weeny afro). My decision to cut my hair on Jan. 8 was sort of on impulse; I initially wanted to wait until to February to do the big chop. However, I was looking in the mirror and just decided to go for it. Besides, I was tired of trying to blend the two textures (which I did unsuccessfully anyway and just resorted to wearing a tam). And I felt that I had enough growth to work with. So I snipped away and the beau trimmed it for me with his clippers.
I am very happy with my hair I'm glad I made this decision.
Here are few pics (taken with cellphone so a little blurry) of my hair:

My Chopped Ends

I'm Going Natural!!!

This post comes about 8 months late but I am going natural which means that will no longer get my hair relaxed (chemically straightened) and will wear my hair in it's natural state (kinky/coily).I got my last relaxer or touch up about eight months ago and I am transitioning which means that my new natural hair is growing in but I still have relaxed ends. I will soon cut these relaxed ends off and wear/style my natural hair .

My decision to go natural is pretty much based on how I have been living my life for the past couple of years. I have been eating healthier foods, using healthier products on my skin and hair. I try to eat and use products that have very little to no chemicals so I figured the next step would be to get rid of the chemical relaxer that I put on my hair.

This is sort of a big deal for me and for many other women of color who decide to go natural because many of us have had our hair straightened from a very young age. Many of us have been taught/told that our natural hair is too nappy or unmanageable and that straight hair is better or best. Therefore, many of us don't really know what our natural textures look like. Hence, the fear of the unknown. If you don't understand how one doesn't know what their natural texture looks like, I will explain.

I (along with many other women of color) got my hair pressed as a young girl. My hair was washed, put into a couple of big braids to dry overnight, and then pressed in the morning with a pressing comb. I got my hair washed and pressed about once a week or every two weeks. And for the summer my hair was braided up until it was about time to go back to school. Once I got to be about 13 years old I got a relaxer and have been getting touch ups every six to eight weeks since, or at least until now. Therefore, I never really saw what my natural hair "really" looked like or what it could do on its own; it was always either straightened or up in braids. And I must say now that I am seeing my natural hair, I am loving it. I have also been reading a lot of blogs, watching YouTube videos, and joining online communities that are geared toward natural hair and they are really helping me through my journey. And I am discovering all types of products and hairstyles . I am really excited and will share my experiences with you from time to time.

Note: The photo is a close up of my hair from about a month ago.

RIP Mrs. Eunice Johnson!!!!

Yesterday I received a text from my friend informing me that Mrs. Eunice Johnson had passed away. This holds significance to me because I worked as a wardrobe assistant (my first real job after college) for the Ebony Fashion Fair which is the largest traveling fashion show in the world. I met with and interviewed with Mrs. Johnson for this position and was sooo happy that I got the job. And over the years I have worked on and off as a wardrobe assistant for Ebony Fashion Fair and can remember Mrs. Johnson being very involved (even in her later years) in putting the show together. I made so many friends and have so many memories thanks to Ebony Fashion Fair so thank you Mrs. Johnson and may God rest your soul!!!

Here is a clip of an interview with Mrs. Johnson from the Ebony Fashion Fair website.

And please peruse the Ebony Fashion Fair site if you would like to learn more about Mrs. Johnson and her legacy. She was truly a trailblazer and pioneer in the African American community and beyond.

Happy New Year!!!

I know this comes late but I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year! And if you are like me and had a rather crappy 09', I know you're looking forward to a new year and hoping for great things to happen. So here's to all of us having a fabulous 2010 and setting, working on, and reaching our goals.

Smell Bent Perfumes Review !!!

I recently came across a new line of fragrances called Smell Bent (an indie, niche line created by Brent Leonesio). I checked out the fragrances online and they looked very interesting and out of the ordinary. The names, illustrations, and descriptions of the perfumes were humorous and witty. And the blends of scents/notes sounded a bit unusual so of course I had to try them. Besides I love trying products that are from indie companies ( especially those that think outside of the box and are a little offbeat).  I ordered about 6 samples and here are the ones I chose :

*Gelty Pleasures- sultry, spiced amber mixed with rich milk chocolate

Miss Panda-pikake flower, fresh soil, a bit of pink pepper and a twist of key lime

*Hippie Holidaze- a late night combo of tangerines, maple syrup and aged patchouli

Sunshine- sun warmed blood oranges over rich sandalwood, vanilla-drenched resins and a golden musk base

Commando-a motley crew of animal musks rounded out with a base of tonka bean absolute

Hungry Hungry Hippies-freshly baked pot brownies dusted with cassia over an earthy dose of finely aged patchouli



When I received my order I did not waste any time; I opened it up and started sampling. And I thought the scents were wonderful and was pleasantly surprised by how well I enjoyed them. My favorites were/are Gelty Pleasures, Sunshine, Commando, and Miss Panda.  And I must say that I have never been big on patchouli but I had to see what pot brownies, cassia, and patchouli (Hungry Hungry Hippies) smelled like in perfume form; I thought it was quite nice especially after it dried down a bit. I purchased my samples at Luckyscent.com, which carries only some of the available scents, so I must go back to Smell Bent to order a few more samples
(Blimey Limey, Incensed, Mama Cassis, and Debonair). And I will definitely be getting full sizes of some of my favorites in the near future and they are only $20 for 8ml .

Lastly, I want to mention that $10 of every bottle of *Felix Navidad sold goes directly to an organization called Under the Bridges which helps to feed the hungry.

Visit Smellbent.com , become a fan on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter.


Note: Perfume descriptions & illustrations are from Smell Bent's website

*One of 6 Limited Edition Holiday Scents that will be available until Jan. 1, 2010

A New Fave Etsy Shop: Beija Flor Naturals

One of my new favorite Etsy shops is www.beijaflores.etsy.com (also Beijaflornaturals.com) which is filled with natural/vegan/vegetarian products for skin, hair, and body. I first learned about Beija on...can you guess...? Yup! Twitter again! @CaliBeijaFlor and I (@jazjewelz) were/are following each other (and please note that I follow all Etsy tweeps who follow me). And she made a tweet about one of her products. This product was the Amazon Antioxidant Treatment (4 Brazilian Butter Blend Plus Acai) which is a non-greasy moisturizing balm for face, body, and hair. And although I don't usually put straight oils or butter on my face, (because I had really oily skin in the past) except to remove makeup, I really wanted to try this product. So I ordered it along with the Agave Aloe Polisher w/Rosemary which gently exfoliates face and body.

Amazon Antioxidant Treatment



Agave Aloe Polisher w/Rosemary


When I received my order I tried the Amazon Antioxidant Treatment (on my face) that very night and the following night. And I must say that I really liked the results. It was moisturizing but not greasy at all. I did not experience any breakouts or any oiliness. And my face looked great in the morning; skin was smooth and glowing. Then, a few days later, I tried the Agave Aloe polisher which was really nice on my skin and not harsh at all like some other exfoliate rs/polishers. Overall I really liked both products especially the Amazon Antioxidant Treatment and I will definitely by more from this shop. In fact there are a few items I have my eye on now. Here they are:

Acai Mango Light Face Lotion

Cali Peach Pomade and Body Balm

Creme Brulee for Kinks, Curls, and Coils

Licorice Root Scalp Elixir

Follow Beija Flor Naturals on Twitter (@CaliBeijaFlor) for deals, specials, and discounts.

Hey Crafters/Artisans, I'm Trade Friendly!

FYI: I just wanted to let all the crafters/artisans to know that I am open to idea of trading items. I am mostly interested in natural bath/body/skincare products, clothing, and accessories (hats, scarves, gloves, wallets, etc...), and gourmet food items. I am open for suggestions too. Please check out the photos on my Facebook fan page and on my Etsy and Flickr see if there are any items that you might be interested in. Please contact me through etsy conversations, on write on my facebook wall to let me know your interests and then we can talk further. Thanks.

Yum Yum Candles!

Soy Tin Wax Candles


Soy Massage Candles


In a couple of older posts I mentioned that I once worked as a wardrobe assistant on a road tour. And where do people on road tours sleep? In stinky hotel rooms of course! Well.... Not all of the hotel rooms we're smelly but quite a few were. And that meant it was time to pull out the scented candles. So this is sort of where my love for candles started because I hardly ever used them before this tour. However, I use them all time and one of my new favorite places to buy them is Yum Yum Candle.

I first heard about them on Twitter (yes Twitter again) where I am finding a lot of new cool small/indie businesses. One of the popular beauty bloggers I follow on Twitter (@afrobella) mentioned Yum Yum so I decided to follow them(@YumYumCandle) and check out their online shop. And the first items I noticed were the soy massage candles which are the best of both worlds; fragrance for the air and your bod plus moisture. So when I placed my first order I got the soy massage candle in the Clean fragrance (also comes in Coco Lavender) which is light, fresh and indeed smells clean. I also got a soy wax candle in a scent called Cashmere which is warm, cozy, and a little woodsy. I really liked both candles a lot and I especially loved the scent Cashmere. In fact, I loved Cashmere so much that I asked Yum Yum if they could make a custom massage candle in that scent so I could smell like it; they made one for me and I am soo happy with it.

Needless to say I am pleased with my candles and look forward to getting more.
I must also mention that they offer other home fragrance products such as Reed Diffusers and Room & Linen Sprays and they also have seasonal items and holiday gifts.

Follow Yum Yum Candle on Twitter and become a Facebook Fan to get info about deals, discounts, and new products.

I Got Free Juara Skincare Samples!

I have a little joke about Twitter being my enabler because I am following sooo many bath/beauty/skincare companies. And these companies usually tweet often about their products, sales, discounts, etc..., and I usually end up buying something sooner or later (depending on my budget). Well, one day @JUARAskincare made a tweet about free skincare samples and of course I emailed them quickly. And a few days later got a package with 5 generous samples:
Lime Puree Cucumber Clarifying Mask
Candlenut Hand and Body Balm
Sweet Black Tea & Ginger Mattefying Moisturizer
Rice Facial Cleanser
Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner
I have only tried the hand and body balm so far; feels nice, light, and has a warm nutty scent.
I will be trying the rest soon!
You can visit their online store at http://www.juaraskincare.com/

I Got Smells Goods!

Over the past couple of weeks I have gone on little shopping spree. And what did I buy on this spree? Smell goods of course. And it just so happens that the company I bought my products from is called Smell Goods 98. I came across Smell Goods 98 on Twitter and Facebook and decided to browse their online shop. I saw plenty of items that I wanted to try and although I did not buy anything right away, I kept them in my mental wishlist (yes I have a mental wishlist and I don't forget items that I'm interested in ). So, one day I was on Twitter and the Smell Goods owner, @smellgoodslady, made a tweet about one of her products. This item sounded like something I wanted to try so I ordered it along with a few other products. And here is what I got:

Rubdown
A multiple purpose (massage, hair,scalp, moisturizer) herb infused oil.

I really like this oil and have used it on my hair, scalp, and body and it is quite hydrating. I chose the citrus scent.


Mojito Sugar Smoother
An exfoliant made with sugar, marine minerals, and fruit oils.

This exfoliant has a nice balance of oil and sugar and the lime/mint fragrance is just right.


Signature Oil Sample Pack
A sample pack of the Signature oils- you get to choose 12 fragrance sample vials for $6.

This a quite a steal and a great way to try before you buy and there are lots of fragrances to choose from. So far the Sheba fragrance is my favorite.
Note: Every Wednesday you can buy 2 fragrances and get one free



Raw African Black Soap
A deep cleansing and nourishing soap made from palm leaves, dried plaintain leaves, cocoa pod powder, and kernel oil.




Um... all I can say is...Where has this soap been all of my life? I have used other black soaps and black soap products (that are actually black in color) and they have never done anything for my skin; Raw African Black Soap is a whole different story . After only a few uses I noticed smoother, clearer and more even toned skin. Also, I used it as a shampoo and my hair was squeaky clean. And I must mention that it comes in chunks (see above photo) so I would recommend cutting or breaking it into small pieces because a teeny, tiny bit goes a long way. Oh, and it it quite the value at only $8 for a pound.
Note: I'm serious when I say a little goes a long way. I use a very, very small crumb to wash my face at night and a small chunk to wash hair.

Overall, I am quite pleased with my purchases and will definitely get more Smell Goods in the near future. You can browse their online store and see what suits you and there are plenty of trial sized items if you'd like to try before you buy.
Also, follow them on Twitter and become a Facebook fan for info and discounts.

My Latest Creations!

Here a few photos of some of the jewelry I've made lately. I've been using a lot of leather (recycled from other items), brass and copper ( because their much cheaper than other precious metals), and other materials that I have had for some time but have never used. I did have these items available for sale at the last craft show worked but, they did not sell *sadface*
And I am not sure If I want to list to Etsy right now either. We shall see what happens! Please let me know what you all think. And if anyone is interested in any item just let me know in the comments, on Etsy conversations (jazjewelz.etsy.com), or on my Facebook Fan Page.

Labradorite, Leather, and Sterling Silver Necklace


Flourite and Copper Necklace



Leather, Agate, and Sterling Necklace


Rainbow Foourite and Sterling lariat



Black Tourmaline and Sterling Necklace


Leather and Chrysoprase Earrings



Leather, Brass, and Chrysocolla Necklace


Leather, Agate, and Brass Necklace


Leather, Carnelian, and Brass Necklace

It's Been Almost a Month? WOW!

I can't believe it has almost been a month since my last blog post (which was on 11/17/09). And I actually made about 3 posts on that day, one of which explained how busy I was, therefore not having anytime to blog. Anyway, I'm back-at least for now. I am done with craft shows until Feb. so I am taking a jewelrymaking hiatus and will therefore have bit of free time to blog. So be on the lookout for some new posts about new favorite things, wish list items, my latest creations, and other random stuff. See ya around.