Celebrate the coming Fall at the Sharrott Winery Fall Festival

Join us at the beautiful Sharrott Winery vineyards for the Fall Festival. There will be amazing music with The Matt Noffsinger Band on Saturday and Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns on Sunday. The wine masters of Sharrott will be offering tastings of their award winning wines. There will be pony rides, face painting, terrific food - and craft vendors like us!


August 29 and 30th
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
RAIN OR SHINE

Stop by our booth and mention this post and receive a free gift!

See you then!

Dog gone wonderful - It's National Dog Day!

I love cats. I have a whole passel of them and treasure each and every one. But there's something about my dog - Rudy. We adopted him from the Animal Rescue Force a little over a year ago. He's my constant companion, always looking out for me and I for him. Although he does eat my tomatoes and comfrey, which is down right annoying. You can't stay mad at that face though.

Dogs are still the most popular pet in the US. And it's only fair that they are entitled to their own special day. Find a little time on your busy Wednesday, August 26, and celebrate National Dog Day.


Started in 2004 by Colleen Paige, a pet lifestyle expert, National Dog Day is for celebrating all the dogs in our lives - whether they are family pets, K-9 corp members, companion pets for the disabled, or guardians. Even if you don't have a dog, you can show your appreciation for mans best friend by donating to a local shelter.

Dogs give love, loyalty and (usually) obedience without question, just to be a part of our pack. It's a relationship that is almost as old as mankind itself.

Give a pup a pet and a treat and know that you're a part of something bigger - a day of celebration for all dogs, great and small.

Baby It's Hot Outside! So Spritz it Away!

Ah, the joys of summer. Sunshine, gardening, picnics, beach days - all wonderful parts of the season of the sun.

And then there's the humidity and the oppressive heat. Oh yes, it's a New Jersey summer. But there are a few ways to help you freshen up and beat the heat with a few easy herbs.

Summer Fresh Spritz

What you'll need:

Chickweed is considered by many to be a common weed. But it's really a cooling dynamo that's readily available in most yards. Naturally, you want to make sure you collect any chickweed from an area that is not sprayed or treated in any way.

Mints also provide a wonderful cooling effect, both in fragrance and skin care. Spearmint or Peppermint work the best, but any variety that provides that minty freshness will do.

Rose petals. Yes, those silky little petals are wonderfully refreshing and toning for your skin. Again - select fragrant blossoms that haven't been treated in any way.

Gather a big hand full of each of these herbs and rinse well.

Bring 1 quart of water to a boil. Turn off the heat and add the herbs. Cover and let sit until completely cool.

Strain out the herbs, press to get every bit of goodness out of them. Put the tea into a spray bottle and you have a terrifically cooling and skin soothing spritz to use when ever you're feeling over heated. Be careful using it around your eyes - mint could sting a bit. I like to put it in the fridge to get it extra cool and help it keep longer.

You could also take some and put it in a glass, add some honey and ice, and have an interesting refreshing tea. Although an herb fan and game to try more anything - I prefer the spritz.

Do you have any tips for keeping it cool? Feel free to share!

New Location, New Name, but Same Great Gifts

We've been lucky to find a great partner with Laura and The Beachwood Boutique. Our products have been at the store since it first opened. But things change. Oh, we're still with Laura - but they've moved!

The new name is We've Got Your Gift. You can find them at 45 East Route 37 in Toms River, between Main Street and Hooper Ave. Stop by and wish them luck - and pick up a few Celtic Chairde goodies while you're there!