Little Golden Books by Eloise Wilkins

Some of my favorite vintage Little Golden Books were illustrated by Eloise Wilkins. I found this book, Baby Dear(1962) at a thrift today for .50 cents. It's a beautifully illustrated story of a little girl, her doll and a new baby. I was wondering if this book is currently in reprint and found a pack of Wilkins' most beloved books at Amazon which included Baby Dear.

Born and educated in Rochester, New York in 1904, Wilkins' drawings of people always remind me of German Hummels with their cherubic faces and soft muted colors. These old fashioned classics are a treasure!

More about Eloise Wilkins, the artist
and her published works here.

DIY Children's Kitchen Entertainment Center

I had linked to a craft site last year for this idea, and after seeing this, MJ of Making do with the not so new was then inspired to create her own children's kitchen from an old entertainment center. As you can see, it turned our beautifully and would make an awesome DIY, or rather BIY(build it yourself) Christmas gift for a little girl.

Go see how she did it here. Guess how much it cost her, $6.22! She's got a really neat blog - great frugal living tips.

Natural and Organic Inexpensive Stocking Stuffers

I'm really loving Vitacost.com. Their prices are so inexpensive, and shipping is a flat fee of $4.99. I've ordered from them before and was very pleased with the products and fast shipping. I don't know how they do it, but I'm grateful. I ordered my sister and her family Dr. Bronner's Certified Organic Castile Soap in the 2 ounce bottles for $1.49 each. She and her family are coming from overseas for Christmas, so she will need gifts that are on the small side to take back with her.

Dr. Bronner's Organic Pure- Castile Soap Tea Tree -- 2 fl oz

Dr. Bronner's Organic Pure- Castile Soap Lavender -- 2 fl oz

Dr. Bronner's Organic Pure-Castile Soap Peppermint -- 2 fl oz

I got a few for myself because I make my own hand and diaper wipes. These little bottles will be perfect to stick in my bag along with my cloth wipes. I don't use the soap full strength - just a few squirts in some water.

I also got some natural body(or home) spray - orange. It's purified water and pure essential oils - very nice to spray on your sheets, body, hair or in the air. Heritage Products Orange Water w/Atomizer -- 4 fl oz Update: This is very weakly scented. I will not purchase this again. Try the Home Health brand at Vitacost. The rose scented water(spray) was very nice - not too strong, and not too weak. I had to add my own orange essential oil to the Heritage product to even smell it a little.

BTW, in case anyone is wondering about the weird religious ravings on Dr. Bronner's soap bottles. You are not funding a bizarre religious cult. ; ) Dr. Bronner was a harmless eccentric and former mental patient from a brilliant German Jewish family. His parents were murdered by the Nazis, but he and his siblings escaped the same fate by immigrating to the United States before the war. His real family name was Heilbronner, successful German commercial soap makers before the war. Bronner has since passed away and his children carry on the business. More here.