Savor France With These Fine Savon de Marseille Soaps From O'Soleil

O’Soleil has the feel of a Parisian boutique. 

Isabelle, the owner of O'Soleil, is French and grew up in France. Her sophisticated style and delicate touch are evident throughout the Montclair, New Jersey shop. At  O'Soleil, you’ll find beautiful and unique clothing, elegant home decor and unique jewelry from both French and American designers.

And then there are the  Savon de Mar-seille Extra Pur Soaps by La Compagnie de Pro-vence. I am drawn to them like a moth to a light. 

The handmade soaps are arranged artfully on two shelves. On the top shelf, the all-natural Savon de Marseille Extra Pur liquid hand soaps seem to glow within their chic glass dispensers. While the exquisite Savon Extra Pur bar soaps with their contemporary, colorful packaging have the brilliance of a box of French pastels (see above photo.)

“You’ll find Savon de Marseille soaps in French pharmacies,” Isabelle tells me. 

French pharmacies are a destination, unlike our ho-hum American chain pharmacies. A place where you can buy luxe beauty products. 

Savon Extra Pur Soap is gentle and is ideal for sensitive skin. It is made from 72% palm oil and it is a wonderful moisturizer. 

Since 1688, French law decreed that only soaps made  in and around the Marseille area, using traditional techniques and containing only the purest ingredients are privileged  to bear the mark "Savon de Marseille." 

Fragrances include: Figure (fig), Pamplemousse (grapefruit), Olive Lavende (lavender), Verveine (verbena),  Fleur d' oranger (Orange Blossom), Rose, and Pure (unscented).

I’ve fallen hard for the Pamplemousee. I like its wholesome, clean bouquet. After my shower, I feel fresh. I love how the soap’s weight in grams is engraved into one side of the soap.

Modern and natural, with a dash of French histoire! What more could you want.

100 gram Savon de Marseille soap: $7.00
250 gram Savon de Marseille soap: $10.00

500 ml Savon de Marseille Liquid Hand Soap: $22.00

O’Soleil: www.osoleilfrance.com/7 South Fullerton Ave., Montclair, NJ  07042/973.783.4444

Unique Letterpress Paper Goods from Parcel

I enter the wondrous world of Parcel much like Alice following the White Rabbit down the hole. This is what I discover in this delightful paper shop in Montclair, New Jersey.

All things dear fill the shop that the owner collects--precious porcelain figurines; ribbons of every color; European sweets in old-fashioned candy jars; alphabet tiles from vintage games; paper and ephemera, curiosities and collectibles, craft materials, retro party favors and so much more.

In addition, the store presents a distinguished line of Parcel Paper Goods--letterpress journals, notecards, holiday gift cards and an amazing 2010 calendar. 

I am hooked. 


I have a slight obsession with letterpress stationery and Parcel’s designs are beautiful. I like the textured feel of the letterhead paper, it has a warmth and history to it.

Letterpress technology dates back to its invention by Johannes Gutenberg and Parcel gives the old, a modern sensibility.

I want to share with you some of Parcel's letterpress designs that wowed me.

Hand letterpressed and embellished Holiday Gift tags and stickers

These cards have an old-fashioned appeal

$12.00 for 13 Holiday Tags 

2010 Calendar: 2-color hand letterpressed pages 

A year of art..

in a box...

Incredible detail...

Easel style folder

2010 Calendar: $24.99

Books/journals with hand-letterpressed covers. 

These gorgeous covers are inspired by vintage scientific and botanical imagery. Includes a faux bois (fake wood) pattern--available in fuschia, lime, orange and chocolate brown. Pages are unlined.

Custom-designed books: $11.00-$22.00 

Parcel also creates custom paper-cut silhouettes, personalized silver charms, custom invitations and boxes of inspiration--from garden themes to faerie wonderlands--filled with craft and millinery materials and vintage ephemera. Charming.

P.S. 

For an incredible journey, sneak a peek at Parcel's website. When I stumbled upon the site, I knew I had to visit the store. It gives the impression of a magical stage show. The curtains are pulled open to reveal an enchanting scene. A well-dressed rabbit--looking as if he stepped out of the pages of a 19th century children’s picture book--moves through a fantastical realm--red mushrooms with white polka dots; a burst of calla lillies; a grand castle; a pair of golden doves entwined; a pine forest. Birds chirp and chimes sound--a sweet melody in a music box.

Parcel: http://shopparcel.com/559 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, NJ 07042/973-744-7700

In the following month, I plan to single out some unique items from Montclair shops that would make fabulous gifts. And lucky you, you won’t even have to leave home as you can order everything on-line.  You can check out a previous blog post where I highlighted hip hats for babies at Minnow, a trendy children's clothing store.

Your Baby Will Rock with These Hip Caps from Minnow!

Momma can dance and baby will rock 'n' roll! Especially with these hip and trendy pinkaxle hats from Minnow, a stylish children's clothing shop, in Montclair, NJ. 

What could be cuter and more dangerous than a baby rocker with a Mom tattoo? 

Or how about a wicked guitar cap for your sweetie?  She might surprise you with some amazing guitar licks (she's secretly been practicing.)

Your babe is sure to have a ton of groupies.

pinkaxle Styles Available at Minnow:

Lips

Peace Sign/Motorcycle

Skull

Mom or Dad Tattoos

Guitar

Sizes: 

Newborn

0-6 Months

Small

6-12 months

Medium

12-24 months

Price: $20.00

Besides contemporary children's clothes, Minnow also sells accessories, toys/gifts and home decor--with an urban vibe.

In the following month, I plan to single out some unique items from Montclair shops that would make fabulous gifts. And lucky you, you won’t even have to leave home as you can order everything on-line.  

Check out a previous blog post where I highlighted Hip Chic a shop specializing in cool for tweens and teens.

Minnow: info@Minnowkids.com/32A Church Street, Montclair, New Jersey

Photo credits: baby photos from pinkaxle

Dress Up Your Dog for the Holidays With a Festive Collar and Leash!

Okay, dog owners. You can't forget your lovable poochie, this holiday season. Not with these oh-so-cute doggie accessories, toys and beauty products from The Banyan Tree. The store is selling 3 different styles (see above) of an adjustable dog collar and leash: "Naughty or Nice Dog Bones," "Festive Stripes," and "Polka Dots." The collar comes in a variety of sizes. Your well-dressed dog will be the ultimate Fashionista on the block. After all, your best friend deserves the very best. 

Collar/$10

Leash/$19

Plus how can you pass up these beauty accessories made especially for your dog. The Banyan Tree is offering two different packages of soap, each containing 3 bars: the wonderful "Peppermint/Cranberry" and "Mint Glycerine." Both will give your lil' darlin' a delightful fragrant scent. 
Soaps: $12 each

And what about some doggie holiday toys? Three mint-flavored Mini-Pet balls with little sayings. For boys: Stud... Good Boy... and Ho Ho! For girls: Princess... Diva... and Ho Ho! The charming package even has a hook so you can hang it on the tree. 

Mini-Pet Balls: $9.00 for the set (not for dogs over 12 pounds)

The Banyan Tree is an elegant shop in Upper Montclair, NJ that features decorative gift accessories for the home. When I visited the store, I planned to showcase some of their home accessories. That is until I saw the tempting display of dog merchandise under The Banyan Tree's cheerful Christmas tree. 

The amazing tree is garnished with garlands of sparkly red dog bones. Woof!
Dog-boned Garland: $15.00


In the following month, I plan to single out some unique items from Montclair shops that would make fabulous gifts. And lucky you, you won’t even have to leave home as you can order everything on-line.  You can check out a previous blog post where I highlighted hip Jonathan Adler ornaments from Montclair's ColorStoryHome.

The Banyan Tree: http://www.banyantreeshop.com/Contact.html/208 Bellevue Avenue, Upper Montclair, NJ

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Contemporary Holiday Ornaments from Jonathan Adler: Tres Chic!

My sister and I were kicking around Montclair, New Jersey yesterday. We were doing a little preliminary holiday shopping. Montclair is just 13 miles west of New York City and it’s a great, hip town to shop. Lots of eclectic stores, like ColorStoryHome. 


Take a look at these adorable 2009 Jonathan Adler ornaments we found at ColorStoryHome. So modern... so cute! 


J’adore the poofy poodle. Ooh-la-la! Chic on the tree. 

ColorStoryHome offers 5 Adler animal designs: the lovely poodle, penguin, whale, elephant and dove. All the unglazed porcelain ornaments come in his cool blue signature box. 


In the following month, I plan to feature some unique items from Montclair shops that would make fabulous gifts. And lucky you, you won’t even have to leave home as you can order everything on-line. 


ColorStoryHome: www.colorstoryhome.com/$24 for each ornament/toll free: 877-744-8424/31 Valley Road @Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ  

Photo credit: ColorStoryHome

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I Heart: Tokyo Milk Soap

The packaging for the Tokyo Milk soap is beautiful.

The dainty dragonfly sparkles with gold dust.

I don't think I'm going to open it. I like to just look at it. I smell the Parfumerie Dei Fiori through the wrapper.

Exquisite.

I guess I've always been this way. I've bought books for their covers. I've fallen in love with a design on a t-shirt and I'm suddenly handing my credit card to the sales clerk. I still have my chocolate Easter Bunny preserved in a box. He's so adorable, I can't devour him.

When I was a kid, my family visited the National Zoo. I bought a huge sun-colored lollipop imprinted with one of the pandas. The lollipop sat in my bedroom gathering dust. This greatly annoyed my sister. She couldn't understand why I didn't eat it. She wanted it. She had finished her lollipop immediately after it was bought. I should have given it to her. I threw the panda lollipop away after I realized 5 years had passed. But the memory was more important to me than the taste. If I left it in the wrapper, then it was always there.

I smell the soap again.

Semplice: www.semplicehome.com/ $11.00 for an 8oz. bar/ The home design and gift store also sells Tokyo Milk perfumes. / 465 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ