Reviews - grace grits and gardening

Uncommon Goods Literary Scarf

December 11, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

This post is sponsored by Uncommon Goods. All opinions are my own.

When Uncommon Goods asked me to work with them on a product review, I jumped on board. Committed to the environment and sustainability, Uncommon Goods promotes handmade items and donates a portion of each sale to various non-profit groups. For those hard to shop for people on your Christmas list—you know the ones—you will find something in the company’s catalog because its filled with, yes, uncommon goods.

Looking for the perfect stocking stuffers? Uncommon Goods has a wonderland of choices HERE.

A personalized gift? Take a gander at these one of a kind ideas HERE.

There are must-have artifacts for the man cave dweller, the sports fan, gardener, geek.

Gifts to charm ladies of all ages.

You get the picture.

I’ve had my eye on this literary scarf for some time.

What a truly unique gift for anyone who loves the written word. Writer friends? Check. Voracious reader? Check. Anyone who wants to be stylish and warm this winter? Check.

First let me say, I am impressed with the texture. This infinity-style scarf is medium weight—not too heavy but substantial enough to keep me warm—and it’s soft like a well-loved t-shirt. The color, more eggshell than stark white, will go with most anything. The print is clear (much clearer than my fuzzy photo might lead you to believe) and includes not only passages from the book, but fun illustrations too.

The Literary Scarf comes in three styles: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights or Alice in Wonderland. (I am wearing Alice in Wonderland, one of my all-time favorite books.)

So seriously, before you drag yourself to the crowded mall, spend some time browsing the Uncommon Goods website. Click HERE to view the holiday catalog. Not only will you find uber cool gifts for everyone on your list, but the company promotes Instagram challenges, design contests, and includes an entire category of odd yet interesting things you need to know. Like whether or not men yawn more than women. And if cats can be allergic to people. Curiouser and curiouser, right? Because the company is uncommon.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

“Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds like uncommon nonsense.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

[tweetthis]Something uncommon for everyone on your #Christmas list! #LiteraryScarf @UncommonGoods #anythingbutordinary [/tweetthis]

Southern Christmas Gifts under $25!

November 25, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

(This Southern Christmas Gift post is sponsored by

P. Allen Smith, Bourbon and Boots and Bentley’s Batch 5. All opinions are my own.)

Once again, Christmas is rushing up on us, and I have a problem—I hate to shop. If shopping doesn’t involve plants, books, an antique/thrift store or the farmer’s market, I DREAD it. And because I dread it, I do most of my shopping on-line. For those of you who enjoy shopping from the convenience of your cozy home, I’ve rounded up these southern Christmas gifts, something fun for everyone on your list.

Everything is locally made in the South.

Everything is priced under $25. You don’t have to spend a pile of money to buy something perfect and thoughtful and full of southern charm.

Before you get started, I have two deals that will save you money on several of these gifts found at the online stores of P. Allen Smith and Bourbon and Boots.

Deal #1

Sign up today to receive news from P. Allen Smith and you will immediately receive a 25% off coupon code to use in his on-line store. Click HERE to sign up. Easy money! Your inbox will not be bombarded with tons of emails, I promise. Plus, once you do this you will be eligible to win one of ten $50 gift cards to Shop.PAllenSmith.com. The winners will be selected by random draw. Offer good through December 12, 2014.

Deal #2

Use the code bloggracegg14 for 5% off any purchase at Bourbon and Boots. Offer good through December 31, 2014.

Okay, now on to my Christmas gift list…

For the Dedicated Gardener:

As a gardener myself, I love these herb stakes made of natural wood. They come perfectly packaged in a whitewashed box and make a great little gift or stocking stuffer!

click to see more: HERB STAKES

For the Sweaty Outdoorsman:

If you’ve spent any time in the Ozark Mountains, you know the area is special. These 100% unbleached cotton bandanas are hand printed with eco-friendly water-based ink. These babies make me wanna go hiking.

click to check this out: OZARK MAP BANDANA

For Girls of all Ages:

How seriously cute is this? These state charm necklaces are made in Oklahoma but available in several different state versions. I bought the Texas one for my niece’s birthday last year. The chain is a simple antiqued brass and the charms come in a variety of fun colors.

Click to see all the options: STATE CHARM NECKLACE

For Thirsty Farmers:

Raise your hand if you know a thirsty farmer? Every farmer I’ve ever known is thirsty at the end of a long day in the fields. Could this gift be any more appropriate? At $10, buy one for each of your farmer friends. I bet they will crack open a cold one for you too.

Click for all those hardworking farmers: TRACTOR BOTTLE OPENER

For the Crafty Seamstress:

I don’t sew, and I love this pincushion. I do have a junk drawer with straight pins just laying around waiting to stab me. This little treasure will wrangle all your pins and be stylish doing it. Just think how much someone who really sews will appreciate it.

Click to view: ANTIQUE-STYLE PIN CUSHION

For the Stylish Imbiber:

In a word, cool. These flasks are pocket sized, stainless steel and covered with synthetic leather. The images range from deer and fish to guns and mustaches. Perfect for tailgating and other southern hipster activities.

Click for more coolness: HIPSTER FLASK

For Sweet Eating Book Hoarders:

This book by Arkansawyer Kat Robinson includes everything you ever wanted to know about pie in the Natural State. And she will sign it for you too. An autographed book always makes a delicious gift.

Click here: Arkansas Pie

For Squealing Babies:

If you’re a Mama, you appreciate the beauty and simplicity of the onesie—THE newborn wardrobe essential. Plus, doesn’t every child deserves to start out life with a Merle Haggard-ism on his or her chest? Absolutely.

Click to try: MAMA TRIED ONESIE

For Fashionable Dogs:

Nothing says southern like a bit of gingham flair. All the fashionable fidos agree.

Click to sniff: GINGHAM DOG COLLARS

For the Hot Grillmeister:

Elevate your barbecue with this bold, rich sauce made from an old Texas family recipe. Better buy all three because each is wonderfully different. Isn’t life too short to eat less than stellar barbecue sauce? I think so.

Click to buy pronto: BENTLEY’S BATCH 5 BARBECUE SAUCE

For Dirty Men Everywhere:

What do these three things have in common—gravel roads, gunpowder and home brew? They all lead to fun times and big trouble. Clean your man up with this soap handmade in Little Rock.

Click for fun: MEN’S BAR SOAP

For the Ornament Collector:

Show your state pride with these wire ornaments that aren’t just for Christmas. Hang them from your doorknob, rearview mirror, wherever. If you have a family divided like ours (Razorback and Longhorn), you will need more than one. Currently available for the folks who love Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

Click for more info: SOUTHERN STATE ORNAMENT

For the Hostess with the Mostest:

Ahhhh, this candle is light and refreshing like a sip of sweet tea. Hence the name. Any southern hostess would be happy to receive it. And really, you can’t have too many candles.

Click to buy: SWEET TEA CANDLE

For Santa Claus:

Let’s talk about Santa. He works hard all year with a bunch of elves way up at the frozen North Pole so that he can pack his cramped sleigh and deliver a bundle of soon forgotten toys down your sooty chimney. Doesn’t he deserve chocolate? Real chocolate. Chocolate with moonshine? Yes, yes he does. He’s tired of slice and bake chocolate chip cookies. He told me so.

Click for Santa: MOONSHINE TRUFFLES

So that’s my list. Check it twice and don’t forget to use the coupon codes mentioned above.

Happy on-line shopping!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis url=”http://wp.me/p58902-182″]#Southern #Christmas gifts under $25! #shoplocal @PAllenSmith @BourbonandBoots @TieDyeTravels @BentleysBatch5[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

White Christmas Cartoon Song – The Drifters

my Firmoo Sunglasses! (review)

June 4, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

(Firmoo.com provided free sunglasses for this review. Opinions are my own.)

I don’t do many product reviews, but when Firmoo asked me to try out and review sunglasses of my choice, how could I not? In the South, a girl needs a good pair of sunglasses. Plus I recently broke my favorite aviator style glasses, so the timing was perfect.

My choice was easy-peasy. I selected these oval cat frames (below) because I love the shape AND I adore the turquoise-blue trim along the frame bottom. (My favorite color.)

Firmoo.com is a large on-line eyeglass company with hundreds of choices including plastic, titanium, mixed material, memorial material, reading, prescription, bifocal, computer, progressive, designer, specialty, polarized, retro and more. They even have nerd glasses. And Elton John glasses…

The website is fun. You can search by frame shape, upload your photo and do a “virtual try-on”. It’s like playing dress up.

my virtual “try-on” session

My glasses arrived quickly. I am pleased with the quality. The frames feel sturdy and balanced. The lens tint is perfect.

This cute case was included, along with a dust cloth and teeny tiny eyeglass screwdriver. I consider the screwdriver a nice touch, because I can never find one when I need one.

Full disclosure—the glasses are not made in the USA. I discovered this when my international package arrived. According to Firmoo.com, manufacturing in Asia keeps overhead down. Just curious, is this a deal-breaker for you?