Category: Life in General

Life in General, St. Louis Small Businesses

Made better by our Story

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Prim Goods logo

Prim Goods are products made with faith, love, and hope.  Prim Goods are products that are made with a Mother’s special touch.  Prim Goods are products that offer a future and a new beginning. They are products that are “Made better by our Story”.

Prim Goods are handmade products made right here in this beautiful state of Missouri. Prim Goods are handmade soaps, lotions, and balms that are made at Primrose Hill which is a faith-based drug and alcohol residential recovery center for women and their children also affiliated with Teen Challenge USA. In fact, it is one of the few centers in the US that allows women to bring their children to live with them during their 12 month rehabilitation.

When I had the opportunity to research this organization and it’s products, I became so very touched by their story.  Each and every product made at Prim Goods is signed by the woman who made it.  Each and every product helps to fund this non-for-profit organization. The cost is approximately $2,000 a month for a woman, and $100 a month for a child.  Mothers and their children usually come to Primrose Hill unable to pay for the cost so they rely solely on donations.Freedom Soap

Prim Goods provides a healthy work life that assists these women in discovering their new beginning and hope for a good future.  Soap making in detox may sound a bit strange until you hear their story – A Day in the Life of Making Prim Goods. Plus, the soaps and lotions are pretty awesome.  Both my daughter and I have two favorites.  We love the hand and body lotion – honey bunch.  We apply it after every shower. However, our favorite scent is Freedom which we have used in a bar of soap.  It smells so good!Made better by our Story

The St. Louis Cooks love to support local businesses and organizations.  Prim Goods is one organization with a true cause and purpose.  Every purchase made will help these women find their true purpose and calling in life.  The next time you are shopping for soaps or lotions, please consider supporting Prim Goods and these wonderful women that have been given a second chance at Primrose Hill.

Prim Goods are made with love and hope. They are “Made better by our Story”.

Prim Goods

Life in General, St. Louis Small Businesses

Gift Giving Anytime of the Year

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During the Christmas holiday season, we hear a ton about gift giving, gift ideas, and nice gestures.  It’s very rare that we talk about it in March.  I know we are gearing up for Spring season, warmer weather, and baseball, but did you know the best time to give a gift is when it is least expected?  That surprise present or gesture goes such a long way.  I love to surprise my corporate clients with a surprise thank you gift. I’m not a big fan of gift cards except for the convenience of them, so I would like to share my top 2 favorite gifting options that I use both personally and professionally.

1)    Harry & David is the king of the gift basket.  You will find anything and everything for that special someone.  Corporate giving with Harry & David is also ideal especially when keeping in mind your budget. There are gifts under $30, $50, and $75. Want to send a healthy gift to a friend or client, Harry & David’s fruit baskets are perfect especially their Classic Comice Pear basket which is what got their early start back in the early 1900’s.  Wine and cheese baskets, chocolate and wine baskets, gift towers, bakery items, special occasion baskets, and even plants are just a few of the options available at Harry & David. It’s my go to company for my work clientele.  I can easily stay within my budget based on the sales of my accounts.  Harry & David’s options are endless and I love it when I can get in on a special sale or offer like this one:

Enjoy 20% Off, No Minimum Purchase with code: SAVINGS (2/17-5/31/16)
Pick Your Occasion Truffle Gift Box
2)   I’m a HUGE fan of personalized gifts.  Anything and everything personalized is very special and usually gives that WOW factor. Monogram Online is your one stop shopping for everything personalized. I’ve used them several times, mostly for friends and family gifts. Their personalized necklaces are beautiful.  I always get compliments when I wear my silver name necklace.  You can find a variety of different jewelry items. Most recently, I purchased a silver name necklace for my daughter…shh….it’s a surprise.  However I must admit my all time favorite product at Monogram Online is their personalized cutting boards.  Considering we are the St. Louis cooks, cutting boards are a favorite item in our kitchen.  Not to mention, they are a very unique gift for that special someone who enjoys to cook!
Personalized Cutting Board

Next time you are pondering what gift to give your colleague, client, friend or family member, look no further then Harry & David and Monogram Online!

Family, Kids, Life in General

Gingerbread Houses

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Gingerbread Houses

Making gingerbread houses is one of our favorite activities over the holidays.  In years past, we’ve made them from scratch.  By that I mean, we used graham crackers for the base of our house, purchased our own icing and candy to decorate.  It wasn’t always an easy task. Well this year was different.  I bought the Wilton Gingerbread House Kits with everything included.  Wow!  I don’t think I will ever go back.  The kits are so easy!  I purchased them at Michaels for $8.99 per kit and used a coupon – not a bad deal at all.  I also purchased some additional candy because we like to include Holiday M&M’s on our houses.

Ingredients:

  • Wilton Gingerbread House Kit
  • Additional Candy of choice (optional)

Directions:

  1. Have fun!

I highly recommend this activity with the kids.  Get a little messy, let the creative juices flow, eat some icing, and have some fun!

DSCF5338

Enjoy!

Family, Life in General, St. Louis Small Businesses

Get Out and About this Holiday Season

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Christmas and New Year Wishes

I can’t believe Christmas will be here in five more days.  I say this every year because as I get older and busier, time goes faster and faster.  However, you can’t let it go without getting out and about in your city.  Our favorite time to go see the holiday lights is the week between Christmas and New Years.  Although I love the hustle and bustle before Christmas, it’s a little crazy busy especially with three active children and two working parents.  Of course, my number one source for checking out lights and holiday activities in St. Louis is Kids Out and About in St. Louis.

Check out their holiday page for all kinds of activities throughout the holidays especially light displays, tree farms, holiday shows and events throughout the St. Louis area.   Attached is a link to their holiday page –  http://saintlouis.kidsoutandabout.com/content/master-guide-december-holiday-fun-and-around-st-louis

Kids out and About is a great resource for family activities. For those of you not located in St. Louis, you can also find this great organization in many other cities throughout the US and they continue to grow.

Get connected with them! Get out and about with your families this holiday season!

Kids out an about Logo

The St. Louis Cooks wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

More recipes and local St. Louis business features to come…Stay tuned!

Drinks, Life in General, St. Louis Small Businesses

Great Perks at The Breve Coffee Company

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Coffee Beans

Good Friends and Good Coffee! Two of life’s greatest perks taking place right here in St. Louis!

Tis the season with a cup of joe from my dear friends at The Breve Coffee Company!

Their story is unique. It’s one of passion and hard work. Owner and founder, Kevin Wiesehan, an aeronautical engineer at Boeing Aircraft was transferred to Seattle to work with a supplier back in the early 90’s.  Both Kevin and his wife, Holly (my good friend from high school) lived in Seattle for three years.  Yes, Seattle…the coffee capital of the world! Kevin was working 100 hours a week and soon became a coffee drive thru junkie.  He loved it, and the entire coffee concept. This is where it all began…the idea, the passion, and the dream to one day bring this idea to the Midwest. He did just that.

On March 5, 1995, Kevin opened St. Louis’ first Espresso Bar in downtown St. Louis in the Paul Brown Building.  This was seven years before Starbucks even came to St. Louis!  Later in 1995, they introduced St. Louis to the first Panini press sandwich.  It wasn’t easy building the business, but in time the people kept coming back.  The quality and the passion was there in every cup of coffee because Breve Coffee only uses the finest coffee beans. Those coffee beans are grown in the mountainous regions of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Java, Sumatra, Columbia, Kenya, New Guinea, and other remote areas. Breve Coffee has a unique distinction of quality because of their true small batch roasting and temperature control all done right here in Pevely, MO at their Roastery.

Today, The Breve Coffee Company, has three locations 1) Lobby of the AT&T Center, 2) Lobby of the PNC Building in Clayton, and 3) Lobby of SSM St. Anthony’s Hospital. You can also find their coffees sold in some local stores.  If you are not located in St. Louis, look no further then their awesome website where you will find all their coffees including great Christmas blends perfect for holiday gift giving! Their website includes a wealth of information about all their coffees, how to purchase them, pictures of the locations, menus, hours, and so much more. Check them out at www.brevecoffee.com or contact them directly via this link…https://www.brevecoffee.com/contact.html

Don’t worry if you haven’t experienced Breve Coffee yet, better latte then never!

The St. Louis Cooks love to support and promote small businesses.  I hope that you will too!

Cheers!

Breve Logo