Thursday, August 23, 2018

Soapy Friday: 2018 Fall Soaps

The thing about making high-quality, artisan, cold-processed soap is that it needs a minimum of 4-6 weeks of curing time before it's ready to be used. So, you have to plan ahead, which means you are making fall and winter stuff in the summer.

Fall Soaps for 2018
I don't mind it. I'm sick of the hot weather and making fall and winter soap puts me in the mood for cooler times ahead.

I've made 3 different fall soaps this week, which will all be ready by early-to-mid October. I'm feeling chilly already!

"Falling Leaves"

This soap turned out EXACTLY like I was hoping it would. In fact even better. I used my triple-butter luxury recipe for this soap, and it is scented with a citrus-spiced-berry fragrance that makes me want to go pick pumpkins and Christmas trees at the same time!

Falling leaves and autumn glory

"Eucalyptus Spearmint Sea-Salt"

This is another one of my triple-butter luxury bars made with activated charcoal and white and pink Himalayan sea-salt. It has a very invigorating eucalyptus and spearmint fragrance, with hints of ozone and sea spray. This soap makes me think of taking a long walk along a winter sea shore with a wool sweater wrapped around my shoulders.

Eucalyptus Spearmint Sea Salt Soap 

"Country Bumpkin"

Not only is this soap gorgeous, it's made with real pumpkin! Pumpkin contains Vitamin A and C to help soften and sooth the skin, while boosting collagen production to prevent aging. Better than pumpkin spice, this soap smells like fresh-baked pumpkin pie with an extra dash of cinnamon!

Pumpkin Pie anyone?


Monday, August 20, 2018

Gratuitous Kitteh Monday

Ugh...I've been up since 4 a.m. and I'm dragging butt.

One of the smoke detectors in this house decided to go off and announce "FIRE!" at that glorious hour of the morning. It's one of those newer detectors where it not only belts out that annoying chirping alarm, but it speaks to you as well.

I was out of bed in a hot second, and then it stopped as soon as it went off. I searched the house from top-to-bottom before going back to bed. Of course I didn't go back to sleep because I kept imagining the worst...what if there's a fire in the attic that I can't see? Do I smell smoke? What is that noise outside?...it was the rain.

Sigh. This house is cursed. Probably the batteries need to be changed in the detectors, as I'm sure they've never been changed ever.

Of course hubby slept thru the whole thing...how can they do that?  Anywho, Miss Thang has no problems sleeping, especially if there is a beam of sunlight involved.

Sunny Thang

Friday, August 17, 2018

Soapy Friday: Cream Laundry Soap


Ya’ll…YA’LL…I have been super busy this week making this amazeballs, natural Cream Laundry Soap. Yes. Laundry soap! 

Cream Laundry Detergent...and the angels sang
It’s made with 100% cold-processed coconut oil soap, washing soda, Borax, essential oils and fragrance oils, and it totally kicks ass! Or should I say it kicks dirty laundry’s ass! Blended with lavender and lemon essential oils, and a touch of an April clean fresh fragrance oil, it smells like heaven had a baby with a mountain stream and then bottled it up in this here jar.

Sooo lusciously creamy!
How do you use it? Why I’m glad you asked dear friend! You simply put 1-2 tablespoons of this luscious cream detergent in your washing machine drum BEFORE you throw in your clothes. Turn on your machine, and VIOLA! If you have a stain, just rub some of this amazing stuff into the stain (scrub with a toothbrush if extra bad) before washing, and step back to watch the magic.
  • No more gunky liquid detergent dispensers.
  • No more stepping on spilled powder detergent on the floor that SOMEONE didn’t clean-up. AHEM!
  • No more enshrouding yourself with synthetic detergent residue every time you get dressed…OH AND YOU’RE A TOTAL BALLER FOR NOT POLLUTING THE PLANET!
All natural super hero
Does it work? Ya’ll…YA’LL…I’ve been a laundry nerd waaaay before I was making soap. My nemesis is grease stains. It works ya’ll. It friggin’ works like a dream. And dare I say my clothes actually FEEL softer too?

I don’t have a stitch of dirty laundry in my house, as I’ve been testing this baby all week.

Drops mic.

Friday, August 10, 2018

Soapy Friday: Back to Life...Back to Reality

Sorry to have so much silence on the soap-front, but hubby and I just got back from a desperately-needed vacay to Louisville/Ohio last night. The week before this, I was in Boston for work.

We had ourselves an old-fashioned summer road trip and drove instead of flying. Partly because we wanted to have a slower pace, and partly because I wanted to stop-and-shop at some soap supplies stores in Ohio.

Louisville, KY

We love it here and will return again-and-again. We stayed at the brand new Omni Resort in downtown Louisville. They DID NOT disappoint! 

I mean they even FRAMED a Ryan for me!

"Hey girl...sweet dreams before you go to sleep."
Hubby went to a classic car show; I stayed by the pool.

Poolside...drink in hand...not a care in the world
Of course there was bourbon to be had at one of the many distilleries nearby (this one is Jim Beam).

Decisions, decisions...

Ohio

We had a lot of fun in Ohio. I was in seventh-heaven and did some major damage shopping for soap supplies at Wholesale Supplies Plus and Nature's Garden. 

Nature's Garden
Fragrance Oils from Nurture's Garden
Wholesale Supplies Plus
The Hilton where we stayed in Ohio did put a Ryan in the room, but it's funny they actually put his name on the printout....as if THEY didn't know who he was. LOL!

Ryan who?
We did some other sight-seeing at The Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. Hubby also went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Let's rock!
We were here for almost 6 hours...worth it!
Aaaaand now we're back to reality. The kittehs missed us terribly and were very high maintenance for our very patient pet-sitter. Now they won't leave my side.

They are both with me in my office...snoring away on the floor and this stool. Kitteh snores are the best!

From here on out, it's soap, soap, soap!

We're staying right here!

 

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