Garden Meanderings

Thanks and Black Small Cyber Sale!

2011-11-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

Cucumber Soap made for a garden club talk

I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday, hopefully with loved ones. My husband, three of my kids, and my friend, Janet, spent the holiday together, enjoying the delicious feast of turkey and trimmings, as well as good company. I sincerely thank Jesus for his provision and bountiful blessings.

Thankful is one of those things that is often hard to really be. If you're like me, and I suspect that you are, you find it easy to fall into complaining and self-pity, especially when things are not going the way we want them to go. Sometimes, it's just inconvenient or annoying; other times, things really are bad.

It's important to take a step back and think. Some of the best advice I've ever received was, "Don't sweat the small stuff." It's actually profound and yet, practical. If it's not small stuff, face it head-on. Either way, count the blessings you do have, and find a way to help someone else. That will help your attitude and eventually, your (our) circumstances.

Surely, you've heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You may also have heard of Small Business Saturday. Well, I'm rolling all three into one event.
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Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday Sale!

All three days, rolled into one

FIVE & FREE SALE! - Buy any 5 products and get one free

Note terms and conditions below:

*Sale continues until midnight EST, Monday, Nov. 28

*Free product is same or lesser value to products purchased

*Possible limitations due to my unlikely limitations in offering product, meaning if I can't get the supplies in a timely manner I may not be able to offer it to you. I don't anticipate it as a problem, but, just in case.

*Shipping for heavy objects, such as large terra cotta pots, incur higher shipping costs. I will email you with the exact shipping price.
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Not on my site, but also available:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.

Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above.

Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz., $7, 8 oz., $12

Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender,

and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Where Does the Time Go?

2011-11-07T22:30:00.000-08:00

Where does the time go? The last time I posted on my blog it was summer, and now here it is, mid-fall! Apparently, the fall hustle-and-bustle took its toll on me and my blogging. Now, instead of sitting in shorts and eating a peach, I'm in jeans and a sweater, eating an apple.

It was a weird summer, weather-wise, and autumn no different. I didn't get any Hydrangea blooms (boo hoo), but I have some flowers blooming now that one would never expect in NY in October. I'm posting some of those pictures, but I've also noticed Clematis, Centaurea Montana, and even a rose blooming. Honestly, I don't know if that's good or bad! Thankfully, my area was not part of that east coast ridiculously early and awful snow storm of last Saturday!

How about you? Does hustle and bustle describe you? Has your weather been weird?

About soap: I've been slowly working at labeling and shrinkwrapping my stockpile of soap. If you want something, go ahead and ask. I might have it ready, or I may have it ready in a hurry.

The Begonia is what is showy here

Coryadylis, usually blooms in May

Pixie Lily

Geranium

Another Begonia

Here is the current ad. Order Today!

It's gotten cold here in NY. Leaves are falling and we're getting our first hard frost. We're thinking chili, hot tea, and our favorite autumn scents, pumpkin and apple and spices.

To celebrate, we are featuring our two fall soaps:

Spicy Pumpkin Pie

Cinnamon Apple

They are available for just $5/bar, $1 off of our usual $6. Don't hesitate, though, they are available only while supply lasts!

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Not on my site, but also available:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.

Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above.

Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz., $7, 8 oz., $12

Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender,

and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Summer Love

2011-08-13T21:59:00.000-07:00

You might think this post will be about summer romance, but nope. It's about loving summer.

I do. I love summer. I love the warmth and sunshine, going outside without donning boots and coat. I really love gardening and watching my gardens growed, dressed in their summer finery of flowers, fruits, and herbs. I love eating summer fruits and veggies and using fresh herbs in my meals.

Indeed, every meal can be an adventure for the summer-hungry palate of a northerner!

Take tonight, for instance. I had a very healthy Lamb's Quarter (Chenopodum album) plant growing in one of my containers. Crazy? Maybe, but I'd be hard-pressed to agree. I cut it down to the soil and removed the leaves. Then, I steamed the leaves in a little water as you would for spinach. I sauteed it for just a minute in butter and then added lemon juice. Yuuummmm. Better than spinach.

Lamb's Quarters

Lest you think that Lamb's Quarter is a useless weed, consider this: it's high in fiber, vitamin A and a bunch of other vitamins, calcium, protein, potassium, calcium, and iron. Certainly worthy of vegetable status! I've even seen it for sale at the public market.

A closer look at Lamb's Quarters

What about you? What do you like best about summer? Do you ever eat weeds?

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A simple summer sale: Buy 5 products, get the 6th free! Your free item will be the least expensive one. We carry soap, lotion, scrubs, lip balm, everything a gardener needs.

Not on my site, but also available:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.

Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above.

Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7; 8 oz., $12
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender, and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Look for Soap and Garden on Facebook and Twitter. We just love gardeners!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soap and Garden - http://www.soapandgarden.com

Let's Talk Soap!

2011-07-15T22:44:00.000-07:00

Independence Day Fireworks. Looks like Globe Thistle!

Misconceptions regarding soap abound in our society. Gone are the days when all soap was truly, soap. Nowadays, anything that cleans is called "soap."

You see, real soap is a chemical reaction created when oils meet an alkali. Yes, modern soapmaking involves an alkali, a caustic soda, if you will. Before you recoil in horror, it's important to understand that like a relationship, the two meet, become closer, and finally marry. We soapmakers call this point, "trace." They're such a good match that they become a new product--soap; and not just soap, but a mild, yet cleansing product.

How does this differ from the commercial soaps you'll find in the store? Well, the short story is that commercial cleansing bars and liquids are usually at least partially synthetic detergents. If you didn't know that's what you were using when you bought soap, you likely are.

You might be wondering if it matters. The answer is, not if you only care if you're cleaner after using the product than before. If you simply want to wash up, then commercial soap might suit you best. But, if you want something more pure, you want soap. Since it's made with natural oils and fats, it's not synthetic, the only synthetics being the alkali (which changes on the molecular level once it's soap), some colorants (added at fractional levels), and scent, if it's not an essential oil. In addition, a by-product of soapmaking is the presence of glycerin, a humectant, in the final bar. Humectants draw moisture to the skin.

Real soap, in fact, has been used throughout the ages, being spoken of even in Biblical times. It is biodegradable. You can purchase beautiful soaps that you will enjoy displaying in your bathroom or kitchen. You can get soap in literally hundreds of scents, whether from essential oils (gotten from plant material) or fragrance oils (at least mostly synthetic, but used at a very small percentage of the total). Soap is biodegradable. Soapmaking is a time-honored skill that has been passed down by men and women throughout the ages, and although some practices change with the times, the basic concept remains.

What's not to like?

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A simple summer sale: Buy 5 products, get the 6th free! Your free item will be the least expensive one. We carrysoap, lotion, scrubs, lip balm, everything a gardener needs.

Not on my site, but also available:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.

Look for Soap and Garden on Facebook and Twitter. We just love gardeners!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soap and Garden - http://www.soapandgarden.com

Three Things I Loved About Portland

2011-06-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

Rhodies in Portland

I recently made a combined business/pleasure trip to Portland, OR. The Board of Directors strategy meeting for the HSMG was held there and involved me, so that was the business part (not to say it didn't include pleasure), and meeting my newest granddaughter was the pleasure part (it didn't include any business, unless one were to call changing diapers, work).

Of course, being the gardener I am, seeing the local flora was also on my to-do-in-Portland list. I wanted to visit the Portland Rose Garden and see what was growing in the area.

Isabella and Mommy

We came in a little early so we could spend time with our dd, sil, and grandbaby, Isabella. This is a totally unbiased opinion, of course, but she is nothing less than adorable! A mostly happy baby, she smiled and cooed and charmed her grandpa and me in a moment. We loved spending time with her.

She was very nice about taking me to the rose garden, as well. For those of you who don't know, Oregon is an ideal location in terms of climate for rose growing. The famous rose company, Jackson & Perkins, began not too far from me in New York, but moved west when somebody saw how well roses grew in Oregon. After visiting the garden, I could easily see why. And it isn't just roses that grow well there! Oh, no, the Rhododendron was absolutely spectacular, with large bushes just bursting with color, from white to pink to purple and red, and every shade thereof! I even saw one that was blue-violet, which I had never seen before. Our trip to the garden, with a baby in tow, was short, but not too short to fill my eyes and brain with breathtaking color and beauty!

A gorgeous rose in Portland Rose Garden

The strategy meeting, my first, went very well. Charting out the course of an organization is never an easy task, but necessary, and I believe that we made some strides and decisions that will benefit the HSMG members for years to come. I was privileged as a newbie to be in the company of some very smart and dedicated women, working to make the organization the best it could be.

Once we finished the meeting, instead of jumping on a plane for the east coast, we lingered in Portland and visited Multnomah Falls. It was awesome! Beautiful, majestic, picturesque, all could be used to describe the waterfall and area. Again, I enjoyed checking out the flora and took lots of pictures. Soon, it was time to head to the airport to begin our long trek home, and that's all I'll say about that! Well, except this note to myself: "Self, never, ever, book a flight with two stops again!"

Oh, wait. One more thing about the flight. It was overcast much of the time during our stay in Portland, so I couldn't see Mt. Hood until the plane went above the clouds after taking off. Wow! It was amazing! We saw not only Mt. Hood, but Mt. Rainier, St. Helen's, and Mt. Adams (I think).

I will say for home, though, it felt good to be back in the warm weather and sunshine! Photos of Multnomah to follow.

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Reminder: June is still bustin' out all over here, and so is our sale, but just through the 30th!

Here's this month's offer: With any $30 order, get a bar of soap free!

Not on my site, but also available:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.

Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above.

Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7; 8 oz., $12

Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender, and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Look for Soap and Garden on Facebook and Twitter. We just love gardeners!

Tell me the three things I loved about Portland, and get an extra gift with your order. :-)

Moon Over Miami

2011-05-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

View of Miami from my hotel room

I recently attended the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild conference in Miami, Florida. It was not only my first trip to Miami, but my first conference being a member of the HSMG Board of Directors. The conference was fantastic, offering attendees a variety of informative speakers, good food, and even a couple of great parties!

You might be asking yourself, "Do soap makers really have conferences? Are there enough of them to even have a conference?"

The answers are yes and yes. The HSMG boasts some 1,500 members worldwide, although the majority of members are from the USA. Over 300 of them attended the conference. Our members are either in the process of making a business selling soap or are in business selling soap. The guild exists to support those members, offering programs and services to promote them.

Each person who attended returned home inspired and motivated to put into practice what she has learned. Keep in mind that while most members are female, we do have male members, also. It's just difficult to be grammatically correct without excluding one gender or the other. But, I digress.

Our keynote speaker was Barbara Corcoran, of NBC's Sharktank, as well as appearing on the Today Show, showing homes for sale throughout the US. Barbara was in turn funny, a little crude, and motivating. She was also kind enough to sign her book and take photos with attendees. We certainly enjoyed her and gained tools to use in our businesses.

Other speakers helped us with business or with soapmaking techniques, and I for one, hope to swirl better, making soap with greater artistry. I will employ better business methods that I hope will help my business grow and will serve my customers better, all without losing that personal appeal.

I'll be posting more photos this week, so stay tuned!

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We northerners are just getting out in our gardens. It's muddy, but it's now time to transplant perennials and to sow outdoor seeds. It's also Lilac time! The lilacs are ending their bloom, but the scent is still heavenly.

We are getting dirty, so I've been making good use of my Gardener's Soap. It features natural "scrubbies" to help clean out the dirt, yet it's still moisturizing.

It comes in several types:

Classic: essential oils and exfolliants such as cornmeal and poppy seeds for men and women

Salt Bar: uses salt for exfoliation and a floral scent. Lovely lotion feel. Very pink!

Cedar & Sage: same exfoliants as Classic, but specifically for men

Garden Walk: fragrant floral for women, with exfoliants

Get 5 bars for 25.00!

Don't forget about our lilac-scented products! Get 10% off of any Lilac scented products totaling $20 or more!

Not on my site, but also available:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.

Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above.

Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7; 8 oz., $12

Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender, and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Look for Soap and Garden on Facebook and Twitter. We just love gardeners!

Sweet Violet

2011-05-04T22:01:00.000-07:00

Violet Flowers & Leaves

I picked a bowl of violets and their leaves a couple of days ago. I'd pick more, but it's been raining.

Did you know that violets are useful herbs? They are! They've been used infused in oil and as a tea for centuries, and are even known as an herb that inspires courage, which is rather interesting, since it was thought to help a person sleep. Ah, the dichotomies of life!

Assigned as a cure in the past for respiratory illnesses, it was taken as a tea or oil. It was used to fight insomnia and as a laxative, and contains an aspirin-like property.

Considering how prolific violet is, it's no wonder people used them extensively in the past; and yet, they are rarely used today. A pity, methinks.

It seems unfortunate to me that the violet's scent is so fleeting. If I pick a handful of flowers and take a sniff, I catch a momentary fragrance that never fails to delight. It's a light, refreshing floral, to my mind. I would be a very happy camper if I could bottle that scent!

You might be wondering what I plan on using mine for. First, I make a batch of Violet Eye Cream every year. I love how it smells and how it makes the skin around my eyes feel moisturized and appear non-baggy.

For the last two years, I've made violet syrup. Yum! I wish I could think of more things to use it on, but alas, only ice cream for now.

This year, it's the eye cream, for sure. Then, assuming I can harvest more before their short season ends, I will make tea and try it in lemonade. One of my Facebook friends suggested that, so I hope I get the opportunity to experiment. Since I can dry it, I can create at my leisure--even though uttering the word, "leisure," makes me laugh!

If you're in a region where violets are blooming, go ahead and pick them, provided they are subjected to pesticides and herbicides or vehicle exhaust. Make a tea and allow yourself to sit and enjoy one of the plants that God gave us.

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May Ad

I would like to introduce you to my Classic Gardener's Soap.

It took me several tries before I found the formula and additives that made it a winner in my book, but I am very pleased with my final product. It's as natural as soap can be, with exfoliants to get the dirt out, but not harsh and drying to the skin--and it contains skin-loving essential oils, to boot! Both men and woman use this one.

Classic Gardener's Soap

If Classic isn't enough, you might like one of our other types:

Classic: essential oils and exfolliants such as cornmeal and poppy seeds for men and women

Salt Bar: uses salt for exfoliation and a floral scent. Lovely lotion feel. Very pink!

Cedar & Sage: same exfoliants as Classic, but specifically for men

Garden Walk: fragrant floral for women, with exfoliants

Get 5 bars for 25.00! Try it today.

Not on my site, but also available:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.

Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above.

Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7; 8 oz., $12

Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender, and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Look for Soap and Garden on Facebook and Twitter. We just love gardeners!

Into the Garden!

2011-04-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

It dawned glorious, sunny and warm, a treat for us in upstate NY as we experienced a difficult winter and spring. Wednesday was just lovely, and it was a pleasure to help in the herb garden at the Tinker Home in Henrietta.

The garden was the brainchild of my friend, Arleen, a number of years ago. She was instrumental in its design and implementation. She also did a great deal of the maintenance, keeping the garden spiffy and beautiful for park-goers to enjoy.

It was a lovely garden, with interest for both adults and children; but, due to circumstances, it quickly fell into the chaos that gardens do when left unattended. Occasionally, groups would come and do some weeding and tidying, but as anyone with gardens knows, a garden must be tended faithfully in order to keep it in check.

Along came a group of Master Gardeners, headed by John C. and Kathleen R., with a plan and an army of gardeners to renovate the garden. Hallelujah! Since I have an interest in and history with this garden, I was immediately enthused by their project, and offered to help. They have developed a plan for the garden and the work that needs to be done, and Wednesday was the first work day.

I am happy to report that in just a couple of hours, we were able to lay down cardboard and mulch on almost 1/4 of the garden's perimeter. I wish I could get that crew to come to my garden and work. Just think how fast it would go!

The work wasn't easy, but it felt good to be out in the fresh, warm air and sunshine and to work outside with the herbs. It gave me a spring in my step for the remainder of the day. I came home and took a shower, using my freshly made Classic Gardener's Soap. It took me several tries before I found the formula and additives that made it a winner in my book, but I am very pleased with my final product. It's as natural as soap can be, using exfoliants to get the dirt out, but not to be harsh and drying to the skin--and it contains skin-loving essential oils, to boot!

Classic Gardener's Soap

I'm so concerned about products for gardeners, that I now have gardeners in mind for all of my products and tailor them for gardeners using herbs and other wonderful things from the garden. Of course, any of them can be used and appreciated by those who claim to have brown thumbs, too!

Here's to hoping for many more of those beautiful gardening days.

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We are getting dirty, so I've been making good use of my Gardener's Soap. It features natural "scrubbies" to help clean out the dirt, yet it's still moisturizing.

It comes in several types:

Classic: essential oils and exfolliants such as cornmeal and poppy seeds for men and women

Salt Bar: uses salt for exfoliation and a floral scent. Lovely lotion feel. Very pink!

Cedar & Sage: same exfoliants as Classic, but specifically for men

Garden Walk: fragrant floral for women, with exfoliants

Get 5 bars for 25.00! Try it today.

Not on my site, but also available:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.

Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above.

Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7; 8 oz., $12

Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender, and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Look for Soap and Garden on Facebook and Twitter. We just love gardeners!

Get Outside!

2011-04-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year where I begin to get very excited. Why? Because I can finally get outside and into the garden. Even though I realize that I have an overwhelming amount of work to do trimming and weeding, it's yet energizing and refreshing.

Of course, I also regret not starting seeds indoors, but that's another story.

If you are like me and just getting outside, it's time to clear away all of the flower stalks that provided winter interest. I know some gardeners do it in the fall, but I prefer to complete it in the spring. This is also a great time to weed, but make sure you harvest the dandelions now, before they bloom! The greens are great for salads or cooked like spinach as long as you get them early. The roots can be dried and used, as well. Dandelions are very nutritious, providing us with vitamins A & K. In fact, people used to make a spring tonic with dandelions, giving themselves a shot of vitamins they had likely been lacking over the winter.

This is prime time for planting or transplanting perennials and shrubs, as well. Everything is small and easier to divide and plant, and the roots are already full of power to propel your plants into new growth, so they'll be growing into hardy and healthy specimens.

What are you working on in your garden?

With all of that work, you'll be getting dirty, and you'll need soap for cleaning up. Soap and Garden has just the thing--Gardener's Soap! We have worked on this formula for several years, wanting to create a soap that cleans well, yet isn't like sandpaper to use and keeps your hands in the best shape possible. The result is just that--cleansing without being harsh.

This soap comes in a few different varieties. First, is our Original, made with gentle scrubbies, rich oils, and skin-loving essential oils. It is great for both men and women.

Second, is our "Men's Only," a Sage & Cedar scent sure to appeal to any man. It includes the great oils and scrubbies found in our original formula.

Third, since we had something just for our male gardeners, we had to create something special for women, and so our Summer Garden Spa Salt Bar was born. Salt bars feature gentle exfoliation and a lotion-like feel upon use. It's also very pink!

Last, we offer a "In the Garden" bar that is a floral blend, admittedly, quite feminine and lovely.

All of our bars include great oils and scrubbies and are priced the same as our other bars, $6/ each or 5/$25.00.

If that's not enough, our April Showers sale continues throughout the month of April.

<"In the Garden"
<"Sage & Cedar"

Ladies Salt Bar >

April Showers Sale!

Yes, the April Showers have arrived in my region, and even though warm, sunny days are more to my liking, I take hope in the adage, "April showers bring May flowers."

I'm celebrating by offering you a Shower of Savings!

5% off purchases $20 - $30
10% off purchases $31 - $40
15% off purchases $41 - $50
20% off purchases $51 & over
(before shipping totals)

Save on everything for the month of April!

Featuring Body Glow, a wonderful exfoliant for the shower. It comes in a jar, so you can just scoop out what you need. Start with your hands, working up your arms, gently massaging your skin. Then, go to your feet and work your way up your legs. Finally, massage your torso toward your heart. Rinse. This product will not "oil up" your shower, but it will help remove those dead skin cells from winter, and clean those gardening hands for those in milder regions.

Soap scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, Spun Sugar, Daybreak* (spearmint & eucalyptus), Oatmeal, Milk & Honey in scented or no scent added, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Merlot, Peppermint Breeze*, Cucumber Mint*, Biergarten, Busy Bee, and Rice Flower. *denotes essential oils

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Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above.

Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7; 8 oz., $12

Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender, and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Look for Soap and Garden on Facebook and Twitter. We just love gardeners!

Getting Ready for Summer Fun--What You Need to Know

2011-04-16T20:43:00.000-07:00

I hope this isn't a topic that's a turn-off. My hope is, rather, that it will serve as helpful advice to my female readers.

Awhile ago, I read something interesting. It was a short piece explaining how, over the winter, dead skin cells build up in the armpit area. The result being that come summer, aka sleeveless season, if you look at your underarms, you'll see a darkened area where those cells are caught up in your deodorant or anti-perspirant. Not too attractive, is it? The article I read claimed that this was a particular concern of blonde-haired women, but I think it probably applies to others, as well.

What's the answer? Fortunately, it's quite simple. Give that area a good cleaning and some good exfoliation. I use soap with "scrubbies," such as a salt bar or something with seeds or pumice. Additionally, a good shower scrub, such as my Shower Glow (I know, a shameless plug) will make this an easy task.

Use it once or a few times, and you'll be ready for tank tops!

Now, if the weather would just cooperate.

Yes, the April Showers have arrived in my region, and even though warm, sunny days are more to my liking, I take hope in the adage, "April showers bring May flowers."
I'm celebrating by offering you a Shower of Savings!

5% off purchases $20 - $30
10% off purchases $31 - $40
15% off purchases $41 - $50
20% off purchases $51 & over
(before shipping totals)

Save on everything for the month of April.

Soap scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, Spun Sugar, Daybreak* (spearmint & eucalyptus), Oatmeal, Milk & Honey in scented or no scent added, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Merlot, Peppermint Breeze*, Cucumber Mint*, Biergarten, Busy Bee, and Rice Flower.

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Not on my site, but available: Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea. Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above. Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7; 8 oz., $12Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender, and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Look for Soap and Garden on Facebook! We just love gardeners!

http://www.SoapAndGarden.com

Is it Spring Yet?

2011-04-04T22:53:00.000-07:00

Although we will likely get snow before spring and summer slide in for certain, I can say with all certainty that spring has arrived in my corner of the world. My crocus are blooming, enjoying their place as the stars of the garden. My earliest daffs are swelling with buds and the promise that they will shortly be smiling at me with sunny faces. My tulips and hyacinths are no longer hiding their location.

Yes, it is spring and I am ready for it. My dogs are ready, too! Beau and Mickey go outside more often and they stay out longer. All is well--except for the old and too true adage, "after winter comes mud." Ugh. My pooches are tracking in so much dirt! We (I) clean their paws at the door, but they just seem to accumulate the mud until it looks as though they're wearing boots.

It is for them that I developed my Pooch Soap. It is a solid bar of soap with egg yolks and essential oils that help clean, relax, deodorize, and repel fleas. I love it because it's such a rich, creamy soap and it leaves their fur smelling good and feeling soft and fluffy. To be more specific, our Peek-a-Poo is fluffy and our Cockapoo, whom we like to describe as a lot of Cocka and not much Poo, is silky. It's more fun bathing them because I like the soap so much and the results, too! And believe me, it's happening often now.

Pooch Soap, like my others, retails for $6/bar. Tax for New Yorkers, of course is added on, as is shipping for those not local. Get yours today!

Pooch Soap that Beau is advertising

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Yes, the April Showers have arrived in my region, and even though warm, sunny days are more to my liking, I take hope in the adage, "April showers bring May flowers."
I'm celebrating by offering you a Shower of Savings!

5% off purchases $20 - $30
10% off purchases $31 - $40
15% off purchases $41 - $50
20% off purchases $51 & over
(before shipping totals)

Save on everything for the month of April.

Soap scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, Spun Sugar, Daybreak* (spearmint & eucalyptus), Oatmeal, Milk & Honey in scented or no scent added, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Merlot, Peppermint Breeze*, Cucumber Mint*, Biergarten, Honey Good, and Rice Flower.

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Not on my site, but available:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above.
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7; 8 oz., $12Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender, and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Look for Soap and Garden on Facebook! We just love gardeners!

http://www.SoapAndGarden.com

Spring and Body Butter!

2011-03-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

Spring is beginning to make it's appearance in my neck of the woods. Like a baby playing peek-a-boo, we see its happy face for awhile, then it's gone; but we know it will come back. Soon, spring will stop playing this silly game, and we will shed our winter coats, boots, and gloves. Oh, how we look forward to that!

I still find, however, that my skin is dry. It's just not warm enouogh or humid enough to keep things moisturized. How about you?

This is why I developed Whipped Body Butter, for deep, rich moisturizing. Made with a majority of Shea Butter, along with other nourishing oils, it moisturizes and makes skin sleek and supple. I just take a dab and rub it in, wherever I need it most--hands, knees, elbows, wherever. My friend Janet tells me she just loves it and finds that it's the only thing that helps her dry skin, ravaged by the effects of swimming in a chlorinated pool.

We agree that it sinks right in, feeling oh, so luscious, but not leaving the skin greasy. In the summer, I like to use it for my gardener's hands and feet.

It's quite likely you've heard of shea butter. It's been found to be a wonderful cosmetic ingredient from the African Karite seed. Traditionally a labor of African women, and a business for them, they take the raw material from the seed and process it to clean it and make it the product we use. I like to make my end product using mostly shea butter, but adding other skin-loving oils until I get a light, airy product. I add scent and keep some with no added scent, for those who either like the natural or simply want to avoid scents.

Use something you can feel good about, both for your skin and for the environment! Choose Whipped Body Butter today.

Sampler - $5.00
Jar - $9.00

Sobering Times

2011-03-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

As a departure from my normal light and informational banter, this post is serious, and there is no ad today. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, but I just felt that it would be inappropriate, given the circumstances.

The earthquake in Japan has jolted many of us awake. No longer are we completely lost in our lives, successfully ignoring the rest of the world. Yes, we saw and prayed for the other recent earthquake victims and other events, but the magnitude of this one in Japan just won't be overlooked or forgotten, even temporarily. If you're like me, you're simply overwhelmed by what's happened, by so many losing their lives, families being torn apart, losing everything suddenly, the fear for the nuclear plants, and more. It seems like nothing we can do is enough to help.

Now, this is where it gets personal. What I will say is who I am and what I believe. I know not all share it, and my intent is not to offend, but as the saying goes, "it is what it is."

The only hope I have is that even with all of this, God is in control and the Japanese people are in His hands. He loves them. My prayer is that God will show Himself to the survivors and that they will come to know Him, and that people from around the world will demonstrate that love by giving of themselves to help.

Monetary help is of course, at the top of our minds, knowing that it will be expensive to get help to the people, Nevertheless, billions of dollars are worthless without actual bodies going to help feed, clothe, protect, clean up, and rebuild, and prayer is always the most powerful action of all.

What can you do? What can I do?

It's March!

2011-03-02T19:49:00.000-08:00

March is by far not my favorite month.

For some of you, it's spring and you're getting out and beginning your gardening. It's cold and snowy here, and quite windy--not an exciting combination for a warm-weather lover like me, and certainly too early to do any gardening. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the increased sunshine and the longer days that are evident this month.

The Ides of March are coming up, but who cares, really? Only Shakespeareans, I suppose. Did I spell that correctly?

More interesting, perhaps, is St. Patrick's Day. Green beer, green clothes, green water (in Chicago, anyway), green everything! For most of us, whether true Irish or Irish-for-the-day, St. Paddy's Day is a day for at least a bit of celebration. If you're invited to a party or hosting one, you like to acknowledge your Irish heritage, or perhaps you just like a bit of holiday whimsy in your home, we have something. It is, of course, soap! A round soap with a shamrock design, scented in "Irish Mist," and sure to please, is a terrific gift for someone else, or to keep for yourself. Why not?

This attractive soap is packaged with green shred in a special box. You won't have to do a thing except hand it to the recipient. Possibly the best part is that it costs only $6.50! Get a bit of "the luck o' the Irish!"

What do you do for St. Patrick's Day? Leave me a comment.

Hurry, this is a limited edition soap, and you don't have much time!

It's Back!

2011-02-23T21:58:00.000-08:00

I have been gone for such a long time, too long, and it feels so good to be back!

Rather than launch into the discussion about why such a long hiatus, I'll just jump right into today's comments.

We have another new grandbaby in our family! Little Isabella Joy was born on Valentine's Day, just as her parents desired. Daughter Rachel and hubby Ethan post pictures on Facebook and Rachel sends me photos via her cellphone. From the looks of things, baby Izzy (or is she Bella, depends upon whom you ask), is doing well and is just adorable. Thank the Lord for a safe birth and Mom and baby both doing well.

What else is going on? Well, I have a cyber friend for whom I painted a custom bird bath. If you didn't know already, I make birdbaths, some small enough to be soap dishes, others larger, decorative pieces. They could even be used outside.

Anyway, this person's friend ordered it as a surprise, and I was happy to oblige. As it turned out, said friend became quite ill, and having that connection brought the person to mind several times daily, so I prayed for healing. I am happy to report that although weak, my friend is home from the hospital, and recovering. Thank the Lord for that, also!

Here are a couple of photos of the birdbath.

I could do one for you, too! For those ordering from my website, be aware that additional postage applies. The postage price in the shopping cart is not the price you'll pay. It'll be about $11 more.

Birdbath, soap dish: $12

Birdbath, large: $21

Order through the end of February, and get your choice of one bar of soap, free!

Perhaps you're thinking about St. Patrick's Day, and want a little luck o' the Irish in your home or to give as a gift. I have just the thing, a bar of shamrock soap. It is attractively packaged with green shred and in a decorative box, ready to give, and scented in "Irish Mist." Just $6.50 each.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday - What are you doing?

2010-11-26T13:14:00.000-08:00

It's probably poor marketing, but I'm going to do it anyway. I'm going to complain about American consumerism and Black Friday, which is enough, but is now moving into Thanksgiving Thursday.

We need hospitals on Thanksgiving. We need police and fire fighters. One could make a case for drug stores and even supermarkets for at least part of the day. We do not need department stores, and I am appalled at how many more are open on Thanksgiving each year. This date was set aside for US citizens to stop their daily activities, gather together with loved ones, and to be thankful, not to go shopping. I fear, however, that Thanksgiving Day will become just another Black Friday, the thanks part, all but forgotten.

I understand the importance of Black Friday and selling and buying. My son has a computer biz and I have my biz, both of which depend on sales. I've worked in retail for a few years now, and that brings even more understanding of profit and marketing, so I am not ignorant, but I have to say that the feeding frenzy in stores seems to show off the worst in us, and I am not proud of that part of being an American.

We all know that this is the season for buying, and there are few of us whose spending does not increase from pre-Thanksgiving until the after-Christmas sales. It's part of our culture, but let us not forget to be kind to others, love one another, see the big picture, and be good to ourselves and our families down the road.

Let's put reason back into the season!

What are your thoughts?

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Cinnamon Apple Soap

Pumpkin 'n Spice Soap

Now that I've put everyone off, LOL, here are my offerings for Black Friday - Cyber Monday specials. Order from now until Monday at midnight, only, to get these specials.

Order $10 - $25 in product and get one product ($6/under) of your choice, free!

Order $26 - $50 in product and get two products ($6/under) of your choice, free!

Or:

Order a gift set from $35 and up and get the set upgrade, free! No charge for container and packaging.

Order $70 and up get free shipping!

*All offers are before shipping. Specials cannot be combined.
**In addition, each order will receive an extra full size product, regardless of the order size

Just think: shop in comfort and have your gifts delivered. Easier on you, and handmade, too!
New 8 oz. lotion! Winter is coming, and so is the need to moisturize your skin. Do it with our larger size lotion. Scents include: Love My Lavender, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Spun Sugar, Gingered Orange, and Honey Good (with honey)!

Soap scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, Spun Sugar, Daybreak* (spearmint & eucalyptus), Oatmeal, Milk & Honey in scented or no scent added, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Merlot, Peppermint Breeze*, Cucumber Mint*, Biergarten, Honey Good, and Rice Flower.

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Not on my site:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above. (see special above)
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7; 8 oz., $12
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender, and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Thanksgiving thoughts 2

2010-11-23T22:40:00.000-08:00

So, I never got to this yesterday. I'll have to double up. It's not that I don't have a lot to be thankful for, after all. :-)

My daughter has just come back home from college for Thanksgiving, so I thank God for allowing her safe travels and for our relationship.

I also thank God for our abundance. It is hard for me to fathom, but it has been said that the poorest person in America is wealthier than most people in third world countries. It boggles my mind to think that as we work harder and push to get ahead because we "need the money," we are already wealthy. I'll bet everyone who reads this post has a roof overhead, warmth, clothing, enough food, and. . . toilet paper! Yes, toilet paper.

My daughter, Amy, spent several weeks some years ago on an island in the Philippines. When she returned home, she tried to describe life there, and one thing that came up was how many people had no toilet paper. Well, I don't know about you, but I consider that a necessity, not a luxury! Yet, it illustrates how rich we are; what what is basic to us, is not really essential if million of people throughout the world are doing without it.

In this vein, I am thankful that I can have the business that I do. I live in a country that allows me to make soap and cosmetics and sell it, and my result will be a direct result of what I put into it. I also have access to some of the most marvelous ingredients to make it. Few products are unavailable to me in the USA, where some of my friends in other countries find it very expensive or difficult to make and sell their product. What's more, I am assured of the quality safety of what I get, so I am confident that my customers are also safe. Now, that's something to be thankful for!

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SALE!

New 8 oz. lotion! Winter is coming, and so is the need to moisturize your skin. Do it with our larger size lotion. Scents include: Love My Lavender, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Spun Sugar, Gingered Orange, and Honey Good (with honey)!

November is the traditional month for giving thanks. I would like to thank my customers by offering 20% off of any sale $40 and up (before tax or shipping). Not to be combined with any other specials. This is your chance to pick and choose what you would like to save money on!

Soap scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, Spun Sugar, Daybreak* (spearmint & eucalyptus), Oatmeal, Milk & Honey in scented or no scent added, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Merlot, Peppermint Breeze*, Cucumber Mint*, Biergarten, Honey Good, and Rice Flower.

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Not on my site:

*Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
*Liquid shower gel: Natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00; 8 oz. $11 - In any scent listed above. (see special above)
*Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7; 8 oz., $12 *Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, Lavender, and any other scent I sell. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Thankfulness: Day 2

2010-11-21T23:39:00.000-08:00

Today, my son, Ethan, my daughter, Megan, and I went to Syracuse to visit my freshman-in-college daughter, Emily. We traveled back and forth safely, had a good visit to an exotic pet store, to CiCi's Pizza, and then to Five Below. I returned home to a rested and happy hubby.

In one day alone, I thought of so many things I am thankful to my Lord for. I already mentioned love, but I have to reiterate that I love my family! We had a good time together and that's a wonderful thing.

But here's the rest of the list:

A car to travel in and safety in travel

The comfortable, safe apartment my daughter is living in, with a nice roommate.

The amazing array of life of the animal kingdom, from anemone to zebra!

Bargains

Warm clothes

A husband and two dogs to come home to and who are happy to see me.

Computers

As soon as I publish this, I'm sure I will remember other things that I wished I would have shared, but if it inspires you to be thankful for what we consider ordinary things, then it's enough.

What would you like to add?

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Again, my November 20% off special applies, and I will be posting a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale. Just scroll down for November.

Thanksgiving thoughts

2010-11-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

I'm consumed right now with planning the perfect Thanksgiving dinner, work, and business, not to mention my family coming in early December. So consumed, in fact, that I'm forgetting why we're celebrating to begin with! Whoa. Take a step back and breathe.

Recall the story of Thanksgiving in the US. The pilgrims had suffered in Europe for their beliefs. They'd been run around with no real home and no real rights; so, when the opportunity came for them to go to the new land, a place they could call their own and live as they saw fit, they took it.

The journey across the Atlantic was miserable. In truth, they traveled at a difficult time of year, just before winter. Many were terribly sick and the conditions on the ship were ghastly. Once they arrived in Plymouth, it was already cold. Nothing was growing and nothing could be started. They had no shelter and had to quickly build basic places to live out of what they could find close by, and forage for any food they could, besides the meager rations they had brought with them. The winter was brutal, and many died. By spring, a great many of their number had in fact, died.

How did any of them survive? Because of the kindness of the natives. They brought food and taught the people how and what to grow, as well as teaching about their native medicines. The settlers realized this and were so grateful to the natives and to God for allowing them to survive that they held a huge celebration, using the very foods that saved their lives and by celebrating with the very people who assisted them in their time of need. They celebrated for three days.

Jesus brought help to the settlers in their most dire time of need, both in taking them to Plymouth and in the help of the native Americans who knew the land, and they were careful to give Him thanks for his provision.

I dare say that none of us have lived through the horrific experiences that the Pilgrims and company did. We have not known real persecution, sickness, hardship, or poverty as they did. We are so blessed.

I hope to list something I am thankful for each day until Thanksgiving. Yes, I am still busy, but too busy to thank God? I don't think so. Join me, if you like, listing something you are thankful for.

Saturday, November 20: I am thankful for love--the love of my family, my friends, and mostly my God, whose love is unfathomable. He loves you and me with a perfect love.

I wish I had a fitting image to post here because, as they say, "a picture says a thousand words." Alas, I have no appropriate photos and can't think of any copyright free pictures to post. If you have any ideas, please let me know!

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If you came to the blog to check out products and sales, please scroll down to my previous post for the November sale. And yes, I am planning something for Black Friday. :-)

November Fun

2010-11-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

What kinds of things do you do in November? At our home, we're preparing for the quickly approaching winter. The leaves are off the trees and in the yard. We attempt to capture any dry days for mowing the leaves, which we either toss in the composting or leave on the lawn to compost themselves.

I've planted all the plants I bought, which I am happy about, but neglected to get in those I wanted to overwinter. I had a nice geranium, some begonias, stevia, and more. If there's anything left tomorrow, I'll get it in, but if I don't, well, that's the way it goes.

We went to the Rochester Public Market yesterday and bought a bushel of apples and a large bunch of bananas. Guess what I'll be doing this week. Yes indeed, applesauce and banana bread!

What are you doing with your November?

Rosemary & harvest goodies from the Agricultural Fair at Genesee Country Museum

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Below is a photo of my new 8 oz. lotion. I am offering it in the following scents: Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Gingered Orange, Love My Lavender, Honey Good, and Spun Sugar. At $12, it's a great deal!

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SALE!

Let's Talk - Pumpkin Butter

2010-10-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

Recently, I discovered pumpkin butter. I tasted some, and immediately thought, "I'll bet I can find a recipe online, and make it myself!" I was right.

I bought a pie pumpkin and got googling, unprepared for the variety of recipes I'd find. Through all of my research, I learned a few things about pumpkin butter. It can be prepared in many different ways, using many different spices and sweeteners. I'll share what I learned, so you don't have to spend time googling.

Although you can start out with canned pumpkin, fresh pumpkin is best, so get one while the getting is good. Find yourself a good-sized pumpkin. Considering the work involved, you'd might as well get some quantity for your efforts. In fact, if you want, get two pumpkins, or even three! I ended up with 4 1/2 cups of pumpkin from my gourd.

Prepare your pumpkin. This involves some method of getting your pumpkin peeled and in small enough pieces to cook down. I put mine in the microwave for about five minutes so that I could cut it in half. Then, I scooped out the seeds and goop in the middle and roasted the pumpkin for about an hour, at 325 degrees. Yours may take more or less time; but to test it, just poke it with a fork, and once it's soft, it's done. Next, I scooped the pumpkin out of the shell (very easy) and glopped it into the crockpot.

I happened to want heat that cold morning, so the oven method sounded appealing. You may want to do something different. You can cut it up and peel the skin and then put it into your cooking utensil. You may also cut the pumpkin into quarters or smaller, and cook it on the stove in a little water.

Back to what I did. Once my pumpkin was in the crockpot, I added:

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (1/4 t. would be better, I think)

Again, you may adjust the spices according to your tastes. I think cardamom would have been a marvelous addition, but I didn't think of it at the time. I would have added ground cloves, but I didn't have any, hence the allspice. (Note to self: put cloves on the list before Thanksgiving!)

Add sweetener, if desired. You may add up to 1 1/4 c. of white sugar, brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup. I put it a measly tablespoon of honey. My family would prefer more, so I'll be doing that. The sweetener really does bring out the flavors.

Add liquid. You can add water, apple juice, or apple cider. I added a little water, then went to the store and bought apple juice concentrate. I used probably 1/4 cup and added water. The amount you use will depend upon the consistency of the butter. In the end, you want it very spreadable, but thick enough not to be runny. The trick is to add a little and keep adding until you get the desired consistency.

Cook on low to finish cooking the pumpkin. The amount of time will vary according to how cooked the pumpkin was and how much you're making. Keep an eye on it, though, stirring every hour so it doesn't burn.

The final step is to puree' the blend so you're not eating stringy stuff. I used a stick blender right in the crockpot, which is the easiest way to do it, using the least amount of equipment. If you don't have a stick blender, try a mixer or a blender. You might have to add more liquid if using a blender.

Voila! You have yummy, nutritious pumpkin butter!

Variations: Add apple. Yum.

Cook on the stove, or throw the whole mess into the oven (once the pumpkin is scooped and peeled,of course. You could even make it in the microwave, I imagine. Just put a loose lid on it.

Here's my point on pumpkin butter. There are so many variations in pumpkins and in tastes that printing just one recipe would be a disservice, to my way of thinking. Once you try it, you'll see that it's not one of those foods that has to be prepared just so. There are also variations in the taste and size of pumpkins that the result would never be the same twice, so no need to bother measuring carefully--and you won't hear me saying that often!

Let's talk for a quick second about canning. If you look, you'll find instructions for canning pumpkin butter. At one time, the USDA did condone canning pumpkin. This is no longer true. It's been found that the pH of pumpkin varies too greatly for reliable canning, so do not can your pumpkin butter. It will keep for up to a month in your fridge (although I have my doubts), or you can freeze it. I am storing mine in small containers so we can use it quickly enough that I don't have to worry about its keeping.

Love pumpkin? Now, you can get soap made with pumpkin! Limited quantities available. Get it while it's available, just $5/bar. Add it to my October special, Honey Good soap, also at $5/bar. Just email me that you read the pumpkin butter blog.

See the previous blog entry for more information.

http://www.SoapAndGarden.com

It's Been So Long!

2010-10-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

Every word of the title was capitalized to emphasize just how shocked I am at how long I went without writing my blog. Yikes!

Writing is one of my favorite activities, so to go this long without, well, it's like fasting. I'm glad to be back. :-) I have a pumpkin in the oven, roasting for pumpkin butter, and I'm ready to go.

So much has happened--getting daughter Emily off to college, going out of town to take care of our grandsons while our daughter Beckie and her husband, Matt, move to a new (nice) home, canning, September perennial planting, a wonderful women's herbal workshop in Binghamton, and furiously collecting data and writing the "Raves for Faves" article for the Saponifier, among other things, have kept me busy. I can't say I've been sitting idle!

I think I'll catch up in short bursts rather than a long, droning essay, and I'll begin by cluing you in on some great information about polyphenols by my buddy and fellow soap and bath and body maker, Cindy Jones. Poly what? Don't give up yet, it's not too technical. You'll enjoy the short article, and be glad you got the information.

Without further ado, http://www.facebook.com/notes/cindy-jones/phytochemicals-what-are-they/439386781570
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October Special!

New, Honey Good Soap - Made with honey and goats milk and honey scent. You'll love how it feels! Just $5/bar for the month of October.

Other soap scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, Spun Sugar, Daybreak* (spearmint & eucalyptus), Oatmeal, Milk & Honey in scented or no scent added, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Merlot, Peppermint Breeze*, Cucumber Mint*, Biergarten, and Rice Flower.

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Not on my site:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00. In any scent listed above. (see special above)
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz. (see special above)

Honey Good Soap

It's Still Summer!

2010-08-29T20:44:00.000-07:00

It's right around the corner and approaching much too quickly for me. What is it? Yes, autumn. You see, summer is my favorite season, with warm weather, sunshine, and growing gardens. I can get dressed and walk outside without deciding which coat or jacket is most suitable for the weather and my outfit. I can watch gardens bloom, and let my dogs in and out with little worry about what they're tracking in. Walking throughout my yard, and most pronounced at nightfall, I smell the symphony of floral and herbal scents wafting through the warm air.

What's not to like? Yes, I admit, it's hot and the grass and weeds grow faster than I can care for them. It's only for such a short time, however, so I bask in the sunlight, and take shelter in the air-conditioned house when necessary, and attempt to keep up with the Garden of Weedin'.

My campaign is this: while others are saying that it's autumn as soon as Labor Day ends, I will insist that it's summer, right up until fall officially begins. Then, and only then, will I grudgingly admit that it is, indeed, fall. Unless it's hot, in which case, I may not even admit it then. Perhaps I'll wait until our first frost hits if it's after the first day of autumn. Or maybe after the killing frost, when I can deny it no longer, I'll finally concede to summer's end. Or not. Depends upon the daily temperatures.

What's your favorite season, and why?

I thought you might enjoy a couple of photos taken at Genesee Country Museum & Village from our excursion there just a couple of weeks ago.

How did August come and go so quickly? Here we are, sending kids back to school already. Gardening hasn't let up here, with more than adequate rain ensuring grass growth as if it were still June. I know you're all busy in your gardens, also, getting your hands dirty and sweating in the hot summer sun. Feels good, though, doesn't it? The hard work of harvesting and preserving the crops is here, keeping us all busy! It's worth every bit of effort, though.

Need a great soap to clean up with? We offer 4 varieties of Gardeners' soap so that you're sure to find at least one you like. We carry our Original, with ingredients to really help clean, but yet gentle to your skin. It contains skin-loving essential oils, too. Next, we have soap just for men in a masculine Cedar & Sage scent. Third, we offer Summer Path, a delightful blend of summer garden scents. Finally, we have a Gardener's salt spa bar that we call, Petal Power. It is a floral blend.

Get a set of all four bars for $24, shipping included! It's a great opportunity to try all kinds. Just email me and mention TEH Sale. SALE lasts through August 31st, only! Sept. 1 begins a new sale, so be sure to visit me on Facebook to find it, or email me privately.

Other soap scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, Spun Sugar, Daybreak* (spearmint & eucalyptus), Oatmeal, Milk & Honey in scented or no scent added, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Merlot, Peppermint Breeze*, Cucumber Mint*, Biergarten, and Rice Flower.

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Not on my site:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00. In any scent listed above.
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, Gingered Orange, and any scent listed for bar soap -- Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you know that many people in the world cannot afford the basic necessity, soap, and that many become ill and die simply from the lack of something we take for granted? We at Soap and Garden participate in efforts to provide people with life-saving soap.

Vacation!

2010-08-22T21:38:00.000-07:00

Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon

It was time for our annual summer trek to our home town of Grand Rapids. We went to our daughter's home in the Chicago area first, however, because her kids are so cute. :-).

We then visited old friends, Terry and Renee', for a wonderful dinner in Indiana, finally ending up in Grand Rapids to visit more family.

We went to the gorgeous beach of Muskegon, MI one day to soak up the sun and cool off in Lake, MI. Lake Michigan beaches are amazing!

Great nephew, Caleb

Sailboat on Lake MI

Can't resist visiting a garden center! Emily took photos.

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August Sale!

How did August come so quickly? Marshmallow, Anise Hyssop, Catnip, and other late summer herbs are blooming here, along with Black-Eyed Susans, Japanese Anemone, and a few straggling daylilies. Gardening hasn't let up here, with more than adequate rain ensuring grass growth as if it were still June. I know you're all busy with your yard and garden work, also, getting your hands dirty and sweating in the hot summer sun. Feels good, though, doesn't it? The harvesting of all your efforts is rewarding, too.

Need a great soap to clean up with? We offer 4 varieties of Gardeners' soap so that you're sure to find at least one you like. We carry our Original, with ingredients to really help clean, but yet gentle to your skin. It contains skin-loving essential oils, too. Next, we have soap just for men in a masculine Cedar & Sage scent. Next, we offer Summer Path, a delightful blend of summer scents. Finally, we have a Gardener's salt spa bar that we call, Petal Power. It is a floral blend.

Get a set of all four bars for $24, shipping included! It's a great opportunity to try all kinds. Just email me and mention Blog Sale.

Gardener's Salt Spar Bar in Petal Power

Other soap scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, Spun Sugar, Daybreak* (spearmint & eucalyptus), Oatmeal, Milk & Honey in scented or no scent added, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Merlot, Peppermint Breeze*, Cucumber Mint*, Biergarten, and Rice Flower.

Not on my site:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.

Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00. In any scent listed above.

Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7

Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Order Today!

Cucumber Recipes

2010-08-17T18:45:00.000-07:00

I tried and tried to post several times, to no avail. Here I try again.

Remember how I promised more cucumber recipes? Well, here they are:

From Becky, a soap supplies vendor: Becky's Cucumber Cocktails: http://birdworms.com/2010/07/24/cucumber-cocktails/

Me, just in case you missed it previously: Beth's Cucumber/Watermelon Salad:
http://soapandgarden.blogspot.com/2010/08/cucumbers-cucumbers.html

Cindy, a soap and cosmetics maker, author, and product tester:
Cindy's Tzatziki: http://sagescript.blogspot.com/2008/09/cucumber-spread-tzatziki.html

Janiece, a fellow Soapmaker: Janiece's Tomato Cucumber
Salad: http://swisherhill.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/tomato-cucumber-salad-for-a-lazy-day/

Karen, with a great site and biz for gardeners: Karen's Cucumber Dill
Sauce: http://thegardenchick.blogspot.com/2010/08/cucumber-blog-party.html

Maryanne, wholesale soapmaker and jewelry maker: Maryanne's Creamy Cucumber
Salad: http://torchsongstudio.blogspot.com/2010/08/cucumber-blog-party.html

A renowned herbal shop and site in PA: Nancy's Chilled Cucumber
Soup: http://therosemaryhouse.blogspot.com/2010/08/cucumbers-culinary-blogging-party.html

Tina, publisher of The Essential Herbal, a great magazine for herb lovers:
Tina's Cucumber Lime Salsa: http://theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/2010/08/got-cucumbers.html

Let me know which ones you try and how you like them!

Cucumbers, Cucumbers!

2010-08-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

I hope that you enjoyed the links for the zucchini recipes, and that they helped you use the bounty from your garden. Now, it's time for cucumber recipes!

I'm posting one of my faves, and soon I'll post links to others' recipes.

Have fun!

Cucumber/Watermelon Salad

Although the combination of cucumber and watermelon might sound like a strange one, the result is delicious and refreshing.

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
pinch of cayenne pepper
4 cups watermelon cubes
2 cups cucumber slices
One Vidalia onion, sliced thin

Combine the vinegar and sugar and bring to a boil. Stir and cook until thickened. Cool. Add cayenne pepper. Place watermelon, cucumbers, and onion in large bowl. Pour syrup over and stir. Chill and serve.

I adapted my recipe from this one: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/~bcohen/cucumbers/recipes/watermelon.html

Cucumber Water
What a great way to cool off on a hot summer day! Just add slices of cucumber and ice to fresh water. Give it about an hour to infuse before drinking. If you'd like, you could also add lemon slices, mint, and/or anise hyssop. What can you think of?

Cucumber Soap

Using any soap formula you like, simply substitute pureed cucumbers for the water. I like to remove the seeds before I puree' the cukes, but it's not necessary.

Soapers Weekend & Legislation

2010-08-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

I went to a gathering this past weekend of soapmakers and chandlers, most of whom were from New York. We had one from New Jersey, one from Pennsylvania, and one from Russia! It was so much fun to see old friends again and to make new ones. We had garage sales, watched product demonstrations, ate a delicious lunch, won prizes from our favorite suppliers, participated in an ugly soap contest, and enjoyed a couple of swaps. We sorely missed our friend, Kim, and spoke of her often, but managed to enjoy ourselves in spite of our sadness.

On another note, legislation has been recently introduced that, if passed as it stands, will place severe restraints on small cosmetics businesses. The requirements in the bill are onerous to small business, effectively forcing most of them out. It is my opinion that big cosmetic businesses are in favor of the law, not because it will make cosmetics safer, but because it will squeeze out competition. In fact, I believe that's why it was sought in the first place. The safety of the American people is not really even a concern, but just a ploy to get public support. If you'd like to read more and sign a petition against this legislation, please go to http://www.personalcaretruth.com to read more about the situation and to sign if you agree. My thanks to all who do.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

How did August come so quickly? Marshmallow, Anise Hyssop, Catnip, and other late summer herbs are blooming here, along with Black-Eyed Susans, Japanese Anemone, and a few straggling daylillies. Gardening hasn't let up here, with more than adequate rain ensuring grass growth as if it were still June. I know you're all busy with your yard and garden work, also, getting your hands dirty and sweating in the hot summer sun. Feels good, though, doesn't it? The harvesting of all your efforts is rewarding, too.

Need a great soap to clean up with? We offer 4 varieties of Gardeners' soap so that you're sure to find at least one you like. We carry our Original, with ingredients to really help clean, but yet gentle to your skin. It contains skin-loving essential oils, too. Next, we have soap just for men in a Cedar & Sage scent. Next, we offer Summer Path, a delightful floral blend. Finally, we have a Gardener's salt spa bar that we call Petal Power. It too, is a floral blend.
Get a set of all four bars for $24, shipping included! It's a great opportunity to try each kind. Just contact me and mention blog Sale.
Other soap scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, and Spun Sugar, Daybreak* (spearmint & eucalyptus), Oatmeal, Milk & Honey, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Merlot, Peppermint Breeze, Midnight Merlot, Cucumber Mint, Biergarten, and Rice Flower. *denotes essential oils only
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not on my site:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00. In any scent listed above.
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender, plus the scents listed above. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you know that many people in the world cannot afford the basic necessity, soap, and that many become ill and die simply from the lack of something we take for granted? We at Soap and Garden participate in efforts to provide people with life-saving soap. Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful week!

See me at http://www.soapandgarden.com or find me on Facebook: Soap and Garden.

More Zucchini Recipes!

2010-07-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

Here are the rest of the zucchini recipes that I promised. Just an interesting tidbit: I was in my Wegmans store yesterday, and the zucchinis are being called, "green squash." I wonder why. Any ideas? Please post, because I'm curious. :-) Anyway, happy cooking!

Zucchini Fritters - from Rebekah, who runs a soap supply business:

http://birdworms.com/2010/07/21/zucchini-fritters/

Zucchini Bread Recipes - From Tina, who publishes The Essential Herbal Magazine.
http://theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/2005/07/couple-zucchini-bread-recipes.html

Zucchini and Orzo Salad with Basil - From Maryann, who sells soap wholesale, and also makes jewelry:

http://torchsongstudio.blogspot.com/2010/07/zucchini-orzo-salad-wbasil.html

Stuffed Zucchini: From Pat, who sells handmade potpourri and other herbal and sundry items:

http://www.patriciarose-apotpourriof.blogspot.com

Zucchini Pizza - From Karen, who sells cool garden items:
www.gardenchick.com/garden-blog/2010/07/zucchini-blog-party.html http://www.gardenchick.com/garden-blog/2010/07/zucchini-blog-party.html

Calabacitas: From Cindy, who sells goods she makes, sells books she's written, and tests products for safety:
http://sagescript.blogspot.com/2010/07/calibacitas-blog-party.html

Yummy Zucchini Brownies

2010-07-28T07:40:00.001-07:00

It's a blog party! A bunch of us bloggers are posting our favorite zucchini recipes, and who doesn't need more ways to use the prodigious zucchini? One of my best recipes follows.

Yummy Zucchini Brownies

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

3/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 cups zucchini, grated

1/2 cup extra-virgin coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 - 1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10 x 15" jellyroll pan. In a large mixing bowl, measure out flour, salt, soda, cocoa, and sugar. Combine eggs, zucchini, coconut oil, and vanilla. Blend into dry ingredients. Stir in nuts, if desired. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.

This is a quick, easy treat for your family or friends!

Keep an eye out for links to other delicious zucchini recipes.

Sadness & Joy

2010-07-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

I had been busy getting ready for the upcoming CNY Bubbles & Blazes Gathering. It's both stressful and fun for me to plan an event and execute the details in getting there, step by step.

Immersed in my preparations, I was floored just a short time ago to receive an email from Abbie, informing me of the death of Kim Hughes, a fellow b&b artisan. This news really stopped me in my tracks. Kim was young and full of personality. We all enjoyed her at our gatherings, with her southern accent and witty comments. To hear of her passing was surprising and sad.

What can we learn from this? A couple of things that came to mind for me were these:

Most importantly, what is your eternal destiny? Do you know? I believe with all my heart that Jesus died for my sins, died, and rose again so that I had the opportunity to accept that and be forgiven. He did that for anyone who will choose Him.

While we're still here, live like you won't always be here. Love other people, don't carry grudges, forgive others and yourself, work hard and have fun, hug your children, live a life that you don't regret, make sure your life is going in the right direction.

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I know that Monday is usually my day to post my sale, but it just wouldn't be right to post it today. Please see my last post if you need anything and please check back.

Wandering Wisteria

2010-07-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

Our new Petal Power Gardener's Salt Bar

Be sure to check out the great July sale at the bottom!

You can't blame me. I'm a northerner. I knew it grew like crazy in the south, but I would see small, well-behaved wisteria trees here in NY, so I thought it would be a beautiful addition to my garden. It took years to do anything, and finally bloomed after about 7 years. Suddenly, it took off, spreading runners everywhere! I didn't realize the full extent until I discovered it growing into the house siding today. Yikes! I got my clippers out and began pulling and clipping it out.

I got everything I could, and will pull more wisteria out of the siding once it dies. I also hunted for and pulled runners out of the soil, as close to the original trunk as as possible. This one is going to need constant checking!

Does Wisteria have any herbal usages? I'll have to do some research. Maybe I should make wreath bases with the vines.

What about you? Have you ever planted anything you've regretted?

It's time to harvest the catnip. I've got Jewelweed infusing and drying, and lemon balm drying. Love lemon balm tea, and using it in lip balms. I really should cook one of my daylily blooms and see what it tastes like. Have you ever eaten them?

What are your flowers and herbs doing now? I'd love to hear.

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Celebrate your independence by making your own sale. Take 50% off any one item with a $30 order (before shipping). Just let me know which item you want 50% off of. Check out www.SoapAndGarden.com, and see me on Facebook.

Soap scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, and Spun Sugar. (*essential oil), Daybreak* (spearmint & eucalyptus), Oatmeal, Milk & Honey, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Merlot, Peppermint Breeze, Pina Colada, Gardener's regular, Cedar & Sage,and Petal Power Salt Bar, Cucumber Mint, Biergarten, and Rice Flower.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not on my site:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00. In any scent listed above.
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

You must email me to get the savings. Simply mention GMB.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Did you know that many people in the world cannot afford the basic necessity, soap, and that many become ill and die simply from the lack of something we take for granted? We at Soap and Garden participate in efforts to provide people with life-saving soap.

Time Flies!

2010-07-13T20:34:00.001-07:00

Yikes! So much has taken place since I last blogged. My daughter graduated high school, her grad party is an event of the past, my other daughter and her family came to visit have have returned home, and everything that was blooming in June is gone and deadheaded, LOL.

I thought you might enjoy a couple of photos of my family.

First photo: we got to the grad. ceremony early, so we had a lot of time on our hands for silliness.

Second photo: Emily with Ken and me before the ceremony. Em was almost too tired from her trip to Kansas City to go!

I want to add more photos to this post, but it's not letting me, so I'll post the ad and quit for now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Celebrate your independence by making your own sale. Take 50% off any one item with a $30 order (before shipping). Just let me know which item you want 50% off of.

Soap scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, and Spun Sugar. (*essential oil), Daybreak* (spearmint & eucalyptus), Oatmeal, Milk & Honey, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Midnight Merlot, Peppermint Breeze, Pina Colada, Gardener's regular, Cedar & Sage,and Petal Power Salt Bar, Cucumber Mint, Biergarten, and Rice Flower.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not on my site:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00. In any scent listed above.
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.
Shower Glow: 10 oz./$10 in any scent I carry.

You must email me to get the savings. Simply mention Blog.

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June Blooms

2010-06-21T20:30:00.000-07:00

5 for $25! Only $4 shipping for 5 bars! Don't miss out on this one.

Top news for me is that my daughter, Emily, is in Kansas City, MO, competing at Skills USA. They are allowing the first place winners in each state to compete against each other this week. I am so excited for her, I can hardly stand it. She is part of the photography division, and has worked very hard to get where she is. Stay tuned for the outcome! She is also participating in her graduation ceremony on Friday, if all goes according to schedule.

The garden has been fun and challenging. My hubby is helping me reclaim an area of the yard that is overgrown. We live by a woods, so it came to my fallow garden, and now must come out. As a result, we both got poison ivy. We learned that it's imperative to come in and wash thoroughly as soon as you know you've had contact. Do not wait until you are finished with your job. Yuck.

On the fun side, things are growing and blooming like crazy. I've harvested Heal-All, Lemon Balm, and Anise Hyssop. God's natural order of plants is astounding! The great thing is that I purchased a Nikon Coolpix camera on the advice of aforementioned daughter so I can take pictures of everything. My previous camera broke just before the HSMG Conference, so I was without. I'm enjoying the new camera, but it has lots of bells and whistles that will require a learning period in order for me to use it to its full capability. Posted are flower photos, of course. :-)

As far as soap is concerned, I've added two new scents of gardener's soap. The first is Cedar and Sage, which is for men, and the second is Summer Path, for the ladies. Cedar and Sage is very masculine, and one that women like to smell around their men. Summer Path is decidedly feminine, what all that summer offers--grass, herbs, and flowers, rolled into one bar. In the photo above, Cedar & Sage is on the left, and Summer Path, on the right. Of course, we still offer our original bar, with marvelous essential oils that love skin.

So, what are you growing? To take advantage of the sale, please tell me what you're growing. Perhaps you'd like to include what you'll do with it, or your successes or challenges. I can't wait to hear from you!

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Soap Sale! Get 5 bars for $25! + only $4 shipping

Scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, and Spun Sugar. (*essential oil), Daybreak (spearmint & eucalyptus)

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Not on my site, but available for purchase are: Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea. Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00 Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7 Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you know that many people in the world cannot afford the basic necessity, soap, and that many become ill and die simply from the lack of something we take for granted? We at Soap and Garden participate in efforts to provide people with life-saving soap.

Thank you for reading, and God bless you.

Lovin' Summer

2010-06-08T21:47:00.000-07:00

Why do I like being out in my garden? It is peaceful, the most noise coming from the bird songs around me. I am alone with my thoughts and it gives me time to pray and to contemplate. I love the fresh air, the sunshine, the scent of "green," and whatever flowers are blooming at the time.

Today, I smelled lovely Valerian flowers. What a stark contrast to the dirty sock scent of the roots! I'm wondering if I can use the flowers or leaves in tea or some other herbal preparation. I'll have to do some research on that one. Many of my hardy geraniums are blooming, a welcome sight, for sure. Sweet Cicely, always one of my favorite herbs, is beginning to form seedheads. Soon, I'll have to deadhead so I won't have so many volunteers next spring, although the seeds are tasty to munch on. Roses are blooming with their welcome, heady sweet scents. They are always pleasurable to me, and I must make a point of gathering petals tomorrow. I use them for various purposes, from potpourri to cosmetic oils to syrup.

I have been reading on The Essential Herbal Yahoo Group about rose syrup. Mmm . . . If you love herbs, join the group! It exists for the magazine, "The Essential Herbal," which is a treasure trove of information, recipes, and ideas. Check it out!

Now, it's confession time. I nearly always wear gloves when I garden. Surgery several years ago on a sliver that went right to the bone on my thumb pad convinced me they were a good idea. Today, however, I didn't follow my own rules, and was amazed at not only how dirty my hands could get, but how the mud dried them out! Ugh. Of course, I have the advantage of a good supply of my own gardener's soap, which helps me clean my hands well, without being drying. A good washing, including a brush for under my nails, and my hand lotion, and my hands don't look too much worse for the wear.

Still, gloves are on the agenda for tomorrow. . .

What's up this week on the business front? Our 5 for 25 sale continues. Get five bars of soap for just $25.00, plus only $4 shipping! You'll save $1 on each bar, and a bunch on shipping. What a deal!

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Not on my site:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender*, plus any other soap scent listed above. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.
Body Glow - A delightful exfoliant. It does the job without taking your hide off or drying out your skin. $12/jar

You must email me or message me on Facebook or my blog to get the savings. Simply mention BLOG.
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Donations made to Missionary Flights International and Cleantheworld.org., bringing soap to people who can't afford it, fighting disease in third world countries.

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Early Summer!

2010-05-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

Summer has arrived early in the Finger Lakes region of New York. We've had temps in the 80's, and even 90 one day, and it's still May! For a few minutes, anyway. LOL It's done amazing things. The lilacs were almost done for during the Lilac Festival, things are in bloom that I've never seen bloom in May before, and we've had the a/c on. I never allow a/c before June.

The long term effects, I don't know. I do know that we need rain, though. And, I do know that most of us are thoroughly enjoying this warm and wonderful weather!

Many of us are getting outside to work in our gardens and so we're getting dirty. We have a soap for that. In fact, we have a bunch of soaps for that, both solid and liquid.

Buy 5 soaps for $25 + $4 shipping!

We have: *Love My Lavender, Gingered Orange, Summer Rose, Fresh Clean Herbal, Rice Flower, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rochester Lilac, *Daybreak (spearmint & eucalyptus), *Gardener's Soap, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Spun Sugar, and *Groovy Patchouli. I also have a few Midnight Merlot soaps left.

To get the special, just contact me by email (beth@soapandgarden.com), through Facebook (Soap and Garden), or when you leave a comment here, and I'll take care of you.

Order today!

Not on my site:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender*. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz., plus any other soap scent listed above.

If I'm successful, you'll see photos from the HSMG conference.

HSMG Convention

2010-05-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate to have attended the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild annual conference in Denver, CO. Not only was it my first trip to Denver, but it was my first HSMG conference, as well.

I have to say that it was a terrific experience from beginning to end. Well, I could do without the flying, but even that was without incident.

Keynote speaker was Carol Moseley Braun, "a recovering politician," as she describes herself. Her address was very inspiring, as she is an accomplished woman from humble beginnings.

We then were offered sessions on soapmaking techniques to business to the science of soapmaking.

It was hard to make choices as to which one to attend! I attended one by Ann-Marie of Brambleberry, on liquid soapmaking. While I've made quite a few batches of LS, I wanted to see what she had to offer, and am excited about trying out thickening my soap with salt water instead of borax. This will be a great thing for those, as few they may be, who are sensitive to borax.

Stay tuned. More tomorrow!

Favorite Herbs

2010-04-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

*Please note: Soap and Garden is closed for business from April 27 - May 1. Questions will be answered and orders filled in the order they were received beginning on May 2. Thanks for your understanding.*

It's no secret that I love herbs. I love to grow them, I love to cook with them, I love to make home herbal remedies for my family, and I love to make soap and cosmetics with them. One of my passions is gardening, and I love herbs because most of them grow well for me, they're beautiful, and they smell/taste great. I love to use them in soap and cosmetics because they either contribute to better looking skin or they provide color. I'm going to spend some time introducing some of the ones I like using the most and why, but it's important to say upfront that my usage in my product line is limited to color and cosmetic value, not medicinal value.

It's interesting to note also, that herbs contain vitamins and minerals that make them a nutritious part of any diet, as well as delicious! Using them on the skin may impart qualities that make you look and thus feel, more beautiful--or handsome, as the case may be.

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) - I grow this outside in the summer, and inside in the winter. Because of our northern clime, I can't grow enough to supply all my needs, but I do use it in soapmaking and a few other things. Aloe is native to East Africa, Spain, Indonesia, and the Caribbean, and has been used for thousands of years, and is still used as a laxative and for burns. In soap and cosmetics, Aloe is emollient.

Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) - This is an herb I can grow, but again, I supplement with purchased product as the root is a little difficult to harvest and deal with. Marshmallow is native to cool, wet regions, and of course, grows best in those areas, still. It was mentioned back in the 4th century for coughs, and yes, it was used to make the original marshmallow confection, as well as eaten as a vegetable (roots). Soaked in cool water, the mucilage is extracted, and that's what I use in soap and lotions to make them even more smooth feeling.

Pot Marigold (Calendula) - Not to be confused with the common garden marigold, Tagetes, Calendula is a wonderful herb. It's a beautiful annual to grow, the flowers are edible, and it has numerous cosmetic uses. I love how soft the petals are. Historically, Calendula was used for general health; in fact, the English and Germans ate it all winter long to boost their health, and to heal ulcers and liver ailments. I have grown Calendula in the past, and appreciate how easy it is to grow, harvest, and dry, as well as its uses in my products. The leaves can be ground and added to soap or left whole and will keep their color where most other herbs will turn black. It will add some yellow-orange coloring, also. Calendula contains mucilages, and will make soaps and other products feel better on the skin.

May special - Gardener's Soap - It's time to get out in the garden! If you're like me, you're just beginning to get out and survey what needs to be done and getting started at digging out weeds and dividing perennials. Our Gardener's Soap will help you wash off that dirt and grime.

For the month of May only, get two bars for $10 + shipping. Save $2.

or. . . Spend $50 (before shipping) and get a free bar of soap

or. . . Spend $70 (before shipping) and get a free bar of soap and free shipping

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Not on my site: Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea. Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00 Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7 Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

http://www.soapandgarden.com
Find me on Facebook: Soap and Garden

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers!

2010-04-19T18:30:00.000-07:00

After a week of colder, rainier weather, we seem to be in for another week of sunshine. Temps are expected to be more seasonable, in the 60's, which will be good for the blossoming trees and flowers. And there are many blooming flowers and trees! We have yet to see tulips, but magnolias, Bradford Pears, Redbud (a personal favorite), and others are in their glory.

I watch my lilac bush every day, observing the flower cluster developing, anticipating that distinct scent when it blooms. Of course, I'm hoping it doesn't bloom before our Lilac Festival in mid-May! It's always more fun when the lilacs cooperate with the festival dates.

For my job, I am taking classes in floral design, so I am posting a picture of the two-tiered arrangement I made. What fun!

To continue on with my favorite oils, I'd like to feature a few of the ones I haven't mentioned yet--fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, and rice bran oil.

Fractionated coconut oil is a unique one. The solids are removed, making it a colorless liquid. Besides containing many of the properties of coconut oil, it has the following benefits: it remains liquid, it lasts virtually forever, and it "glides" nicely for massage, with the added advantage of not staining sheets and clothing. Besides massage, I like using FCO for lotions, whipped body butter, body spray, and cream.

Jojoba Oil - Pronounced, "ho-ho'-ba," this oil is actually a wax pressed from the seeds of the jojoba plant, found in the US Southwest. Jojoba is closest to human sebum, and as such, is thought to help regulate the skin's natural oil flow, benefitting both oily and dry skin. I use it in a wide variety of products, such as creams and lotions, lip balm, moisturizer, and body spray.

Rice Bran Oil - A light oil which rarely elicits allergic reaction. It is high in vitamin E and many other antioxidants which benefit the skin. Women in Japan having been using RBO for centuries in their beauty treatments. I like to use it in soap and many cosmetics. Lotions and creams and lip balm, as well as hair products, are greatly improved by the addition of rice bran oil.

Now, on to business:

It's time for the April showers so we can have May flowers. It's also time to be showered with savings!

Make your own sale:

10% off of any 3 items
20% off of any 6 items
30% off of any 9 items
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Shea Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, and Spun Sugar. (*essential oil)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not on my site, but available by contacting me are:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

You must email me to get the savings. Simply mention: April Showers B.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2010-04-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend, my garden club went on an excursion to Lamberton Conservatory, a lovely, but all too obscure place in Rochester, NY. It was a beautiful spring day, sunny and temps in the mid-60's, so we took a walk through the Poet's Garden, as well.

My daughter with the artful eye took some photos.

Enjoy!

This week, the 3 A's!

2010-04-05T19:12:00.000-07:00

The weather here in Rochester, NY, has been amazingly summer-like. We've broken two temperature records, and it's been warmer here than in some parts of the south! I, for one, am not complaining. :-) What has your weather been like?

I've been pointing out the qualities of the various oils I use in products; and this week, I'd like to discuss the three A's, Sweet Almond Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, and Avocado Oil.

Sweet Almond Oil - Light, yet moisturizing, nourishing, almond oil is often used in massage and skin care. It's sweet, nutty odor is appealing, but subtle so that it doesn't interfere with other ingredients. High in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, D, and E, SWO is used in all face and body products.

Apricot Kernel Oil - Related to the almond, AKO is also a light and moisturizing oil, and is used in virtually all skin care products. Rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B17 and E, it is particularly useful in aging, dry skin, or inflamed skin. It's non-greasy feel is particularly appealing.

Avocado Oil - Like olive, Avocado oil is pressed from the avocado fruit, itself. It is thick and rich in vitamin A, making it a valuable contributor to products for anti-aging. Positively indulgent!

Blog readers: this week only, take 10% off an order of $25 or more! Just mail me the code, GMAP4. Sale ends on April 12th at midnight. To get what you want, don't delay.

The following products are not on my site, but are available:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Donations made to Missionary Flights International and Cleantheworld.org., bringing soap to people who can't afford it, stemming disease in third world countries.

http://www.SoapAndGarden.com
beth@soapandgarden.com
Facebook: Soap and Garden

Herbs of Spring; it Has Sprung!

2010-03-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

Today was beautiful. It was sunny and warm for the northeast, so I had the chance to check out my gardens, such as they are. In this region, perennials are just waking up from their sleep and poking their leaves up as if to check things out. If it's warm and sunny enough, they seem to be thinking, they'll burst forth into the song of spring and grow amazingly fast. It makes me wonder; if I stood looking long enough, could I watch them grow?

I welcome them back, the mints and Sweet Cicely that will soon flavor tea and fruit salads, the thyme, chives, sage (I hope), and perhaps even parsley that will enrich my cooking with their fresh flavor. I see the Bouncin' Bet, aka Saponaria, that I struggle to control every year, and it looks so harmless! I've used it in soap, but want to experiment with it more, and my chance is coming up soon.

Some of the "weed" herbs, such as Dandelion, Chickweed, and Plantain, are showing themselves. Maybe I'll actually get to the Dandy before it gets too bitter and use it in salads and stir-fry. I often miss those first, tender leaves, the ones that taste best and must be harvested before it flowers, but not this year! Of course, I'll also dig them out afterward as I have a love/hate relationship with them.

I haven't seen them yet, but I'm looking forward to the violets. They are one of my favorite spring herbs. They're edible, and I also infuse them in oil for an eye cream. Last year, I made a wonderful syrup with them, and look forward to doing that again.

I only wish my camera was working so that I could capture that fresh spring look. They're small and unintimidating, clean, and promising. They won't last that way for long!

Yea, spring!

This post is part of a blog party hosted by Cory at Aquarian Bath, http://aquarianbath.blogspot.com . Check it out!

Spring Herbs

2010-03-31T19:56:00.001-07:00

It's an herbalist's blog party, and it's coming up at the beginning of April! Check it out.

Here it comes!

2010-03-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

One thing that an upcoming holiday means to me is a busy week at work. With Passover and Easter here or approaching, we are getting more than the usual amount of flowers and plants in that have to be taken care of. I gear up for it, and so I'm ready.

More importantly, however, as a Christian, Easter is a major and joyful observance. I saw a sign that said something like, "Jesus didn't stay on the cross with nails, He did it with love." He had all the power to prevent his death, but he willfully submitted for you and me. We celebrate His resurrection from the dead. It's a day of triumph for Christians that Jesus overcame death and was victorious, and because of that, we have victory and eternal life. Not only that, but it's open to all who believe. Now that's something to celebrate!

Now, for the business side of things.

I started a discussion about oils last week, pointing out the need for our bodies to use fat, both internally and externally, and specifically talked about sunflower oil.

Today, I'd like to highlight the "C" oils that I use. Note that I am not suggesting medical advice or that my products heal. They are meant to either clean you or make you look better.

Coconut oil - In soap, coconut oil lends hardness and lather, as well as white coloring. It's "foundation" oil, used in virtually every batch. What's good for the skin in coconut oil? Well, it's emollient and moisturizing, and is made up of conditioning fatty acids, poly-phenols, and even vitamins K and E, as well as minerals.

Castor Oil - You may remember castor oil as something nasty tasting that was somehow good for you. And yes, it's true. It doesn't taste good, but it's good for you. It has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as anti-viral and anti-bacterial qualities, and is also good for dry skin, in that it not only moisturizes, but helps balance the natural sebum. In soap, it makes for great lather, also, so I use it extensively.

Cocoa Butter - This fat has been used in skin care for centuries. As if the chocolate aroma wasn't enough to make you want to use it, consider this: it's thick and emollient, and melts on contact with the skin. People have traditionally used cocoa butter for dry skin, and for making scars and burns less noticeable in time. It contains cocoa mass polyphenol, instrumental in skin protection and moisturization.

Look for oils like this in your skin care products. Go natural!

We are still unveiling our new Body Glow shower exfoliant. It is a mostly-solid sugar/salt and oil mix that you use in the shower to gently exfoliate your skin. We've worked and worked on our formula, creating one that, while moisturizing, isn't greasy and doesn't make the shower slippery. It feels and smells great, and really does the job.

Just wet your skin, massage it gently, first on the hands, to the arms, then feet, legs, and finally, the torso. It's easy to rinse off, and your skin will thank you!

It's only $12 for an 8 oz. jar. Scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Shea Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, and Spun Sugar. (*essential oil)

Just $10! But only through April 3rd. This is the last week for the introductory price, and then it goes back to the normal $12 price. Exfoliation never felt so good. Try it today!

Not on my site:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Order now!

Donations made to Missionary Flights International and Cleantheworld.org., bringing soap to people who can't afford it, stemming disease in third world countries.

Beth Byrne
http://www.SoapAndGarden.com
Be good to your skin!
http://www.soapandgarden.blogspot.com

Garden Meanderings: Oil, Good or Bad?

2010-03-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

Garden Meanderings: Oil, Good or Bad?

Oil, Good or Bad?

2010-03-23T20:00:00.001-07:00

Life is swimming along for me, more accurately, it's like an olympic race! On the work front, I'm taking a series of classes to further my floral skills. It's total fun for me, being a flower and botanical lover, but it does take time and makes my week just that much more jam-packed. I'm very thankful for the opportunity, nevertheless.

Getting down to the skin business. . . How do you feel about putting oil on your skin? Do you cringe at the thought, or does it feel good just thinking about it?
Read on and learn more about oils and skin care.

You may never have given it a thought, but a general question when talking about oils for skincare arises. What is oil/fat's purpose? Why do we need it?

If you've heard the terms, lipid, fatty acids, Omega 3's, and even anti-oxidants, you're hearing about fats. Internally, fats contain vitamins that help heal, prevent cancer, and so on. They even help fill us up so we may not eat as much. Unlike the low-fat/no-fat mantra of the 80's and 90's, we now know that fats serve a purpose and we need them in moderation.

The same is true of our skin. Fats provide anti-oxidants and other nutrients to our skin, and also fulfill other essential functions in good skin care. They are nothing to be afraid of, even for those with already oily or acniede skin, although certain ones are better for individual skin types.

Now, we can talk about individual fats and oils, and I'll feature just a few at a time so that you can get to know them.

Sunflower Oil - One of my favorite, sunflower is wonderful because it is light with very little odor, making it ideal for many body products. In addition, it contains tocopherols (vitamin E), conditioning fatty acids and carotenoids that make the skin more supple, help prevent wrinkling, and aid in healing. It is also considered non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores. Sunflower oil is beneficial for all skin types, as well. Incidentally, studies were conducted that found sunflower oil to help prevent preemies from getting infections in their delicate, thin skin. What's not to like?

I use sunflower oil in many of my products, such as soap, lotion, body glow, and others. It's probably the one I use most. It makes a very conditioning soap, a light, ungreasy lotion, and with all of the goodies in it, it's a perfect all-around oil.

Sooo. . . this week, I am asking you to comment on my blog. Tell me what your basic reaction is to using oils on your skin. Did you learn anything from the post?

This week's special

March is Body Glow Month. Get this luscious salt/sugar and oil mix that will remove those dulling dead skin cells and moisturize besides! It is formulated not to be oily, so you won't slip and slide in the shower, you'll just sing about how good your skin feels and smells. Sale is good through March 31st.

You pay just $10 for an 8 oz. jar.

Scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Shea Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, and Spun Sugar. (*essential oil)

Buy today!

Just check out my website at www.SoapAndGarden.com and then send me a message at beth@soapandgarden.com to order if you want something that is not on my site, such as the new body glow. I'll get you a total and then we can get your goodies out to you.

Not on my site now, but available are:
Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.

Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $5; 4 oz. $8

Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7

Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Have a wonderful week, and thanks for reading.

Oils and Skin

2010-03-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that Beau-dacious is coming along well, healing from his eye injury and subsequent surgery. He goes to the vet tomorrow for another check up, and I fully expect good news. :-) I'm just hoping that he can now get a hair cut, as he is looking awfully fluffy!

How about you? How are you looking now that winter is becoming spring? This is the time that we begin to assess our bodies, hair, and skin. Do we need to lose weight? Need a new haircut? Is the skin looking sluggish and dull? Although I offer products only for skincare, there's no denying that many facets of care are important in helping us look and be our best.

To look as vivacious and beautiful as we can be, we need to take care of ourselves. We need to take care of our physical needs by eating right, exercising, and getting adequate rest. We also need to take care of our spiritual needs.

Building from that, we can use cosmetics to care for our skin and to enhance what we have. Careful cleansing is an important first step, morning and night.

Exfoliating regularly is next. Once a week is usually adequate for dry skin, and twice for normal or oily skin, as more dead skin cells build up on oily skin.

Toning is a third, sometimes neglected step. It helps close the pores, so to speak, and removes the last vestiges of makeup. Toner should also add skin conditioners that will work on skin during the day.

Finally, moisturizer is essential, as it helps hold in the moisture from your skin. Sometimes, younger women, or those with oily skin will opt not to use moisturizer, thinking that they don't need it. A good moisturizer that is developed for your skin type is a vital part of your skin care routine. It can actually help regulate oil production, increasing it in dry skin, and lessening it in oily skin. It can help prevent wrinkles, and it can condition your skin while you're wearing it, all the while making your skin look better.

I do offer a facial soap for $6, and now. . .

We are unveiling our new Body Glow shower exfoliant! It is a mostly-solid sugar/salt and oil mix that you use in the shower to gently exfoliate your skin. We've worked and worked on our formula, creating one that, while moisturizing, isn't greasy and doesn't make the shower slippery. It feels and smells great, and really does the job.

Just wet your skin, massage it gently, first on the hands, to the arms, then feet, legs, and finally, the torso. It's easy to rinse off, and your skin will thank you!

It's only $12 for an 8 oz. jar. Scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Shea Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, and Spun Sugar. (*essential oil)

Just because this is the week of the Lucky Irish, I am extending the introductory price THIS WEEK -- just $10! Exfoliation never felt so good.

Not on my site, but available, are:

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender, as well as our regular scents. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Donations made to Missionary Flights International and Clean the World.org., bringing soap to people who can't afford it, thus, helping to stem disease in third world countries.

Have yourself a wonderful week!

Progress!

2010-03-08T20:02:00.000-08:00

Last week, I shared the story of my puppy's eye damage and subsequent surgery. He came home with a "button" on his eye to keep his 3rd eyelid open; so, for last week, his name was "Button-Eyed Beau."

I am happy to announce that today, his button was removed, and the vet thinks he is making good progress toward healing! Now, if I could figure out how to get Tobey to be friendly, things would be terrific. Other progress includes our weather. We went from having a good-sized winter storm to having sun and temps. in the 40's. It's feeling like spring is actually approaching, and I am ready. I even saw daffodils and Iris poking up from the ground. I'm practically giddy.

I've decided to hold over the introductory offer on Body Glow! For this week, it's $10 instead of $12. This is a great time to try it. Start getting your skin spring-ready.

Don't forget about the Luck o' the Irish gift pack of soap and your choice of scent body spray. It's only $10, but you'll have to order soon to get it by St. Paddy's Day.

Photos, What a Day, and New Sale!

2010-03-01T19:53:00.000-08:00

Yea! It's March! Spring is coming! Yea!

I'm including a couple of photos of our trip to NJ. I really think I have the cutest grandchildren, and am showing a photo or two of them to prove it. :-) Two of my daughters are also in the photo, and they're cute, too.

*having trouble loading photos, so I will try again later.

What a day--should be entitled, What a Couple of Days!" We have a problem. Our older dog, Tobey, has decided that he hates our puppy, Beau. He attacks without provocation and goes for blood. This time, he succeeded in either biting or scratching Beau's eye, right through the cornea. It was bad, and Beau needed surgery to save his eye.

I was a mess, but with lots of prayers and a good vet, Beau came through surgery with the vet hopeful that he will keep his sight in his eye, or at least keep the eye. I'll go pick him up tomorrow and bring him back home, where I have to somehow keep him separated from Tobey and Mickey. Yikes. His healing is expected to take 4 - 6 weeks.

In happier news, I'm offering an introductory discount on our body glow. It is a salt/sugar/oil mix that is gently massaged on the skin to exfoliate it. Why do we need to exfoliate, you might ask? It's because our skin cells die regularly as we manufacture new ones. Some of those skin cells flake off, but not all of them, especially in certain conditions--oily skin, winter skin, little friction to help rub the cells off, not enough phytonutrients to help keep our glowing complexions, and finally, age. For some reason, the younger the skin, the more efficiently the skin cells come off, but as we age, they become more stubborn, and we need help.

The sugar in the scrub becomes a sort of peel and gently coaxes those stubborn dead cells to come off. The salt adds vital trace nutrients, and both of them aid in exfoliation. Oil is added to moisturize the skin so that it doesn't dry out completely. An emulsifier is added to keep the product from separating and works also, to make the product less oily, both on your skin and in the shower to help prevent slips and falls. On top of everything else, it smells good!

The regular price is $12, but for this week only, it's just $10. Now is the time to try! It comes in the following scents:

Love My Lavender*
Groovy Patchouli*
Gingered Orange
Rice Flower
Mint Medley
Spun Sugar
Fresh Herbs
Blackberries & Vanilla
Rice Flower
Rochester Lilac
Romantic Rose
*denotes essential oils

Don't forget St. Patrick's Day! Get a shamrock soap in Irish Mist, and a body spray in your choice of the above scents, attractively gift packaged in a festive box. Get this set at the attractive price of only $10! Give it as a gift, or gift yourself. I won't tell.

Get your own Erin go bragh, lassie or laddie!

New product - Yea!

2010-02-22T20:39:00.000-08:00

We have a winner in our blog comment contest. It's Cindy Jones, for her excellent comment about including elderberry in our first-aid kit. Thanks Cindy!

Another great announcement is the introduction of a new product. After many trials, we have a Body Glow for the Shower to unveil! It's a salt/sugar, oil exfoliant that is mostly solid, but soft enough to scoop, and the oil doesn't leak out. It feels great on the skin, and rinses off well, leaving you moisturized, but not oily. The shower won't be oily, either. It comes in our standard scents, Love My Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Spun Sugar, Rice Flower, Fresh Clean Herbs, Lilac, Black Raspberry & Vanilla, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, and Mint Medley*. *denotes essential oils You'll love it!

A special introductory offer to my blog readers is $2 off each jar of as many Body Glows as you like. Hurry, because the offer only lasts through Feb. 28.

For those wanting to know, our road trip to NJ was a success. Traveling was easy, with not a flake of snow on the way there, and only a little on the way back. We had such a good time with our daughter, son-in-law, and our two little grandsons, that it made for great memories.

Road Trip!

2010-02-14T21:42:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is over! Between florist work and getting ready for a sale at my daughter's school, I am ready for a break. Soooo, since my girls are off of school for the week, we are heading to NJ tomorrow. One of my other daughters lives there with her hubby and two sons.

I can't wait to see them!

In thinking what to pack, I want to bring things like an herbal first aid kit. I'd put in an ointment for cuts, another for bruises and sore muscles, a sleep pillow and/or eye pillow, ginger caps, chamomile tea, and a few other items, such as elderberry syrup. For those of you who use herbs, what would you pack?

I only make herbal preparations for family, but love to make and use them.

When I return, I plan on making some salt/sugar body glow, a product that exfoliates while you shower. Finally, I have hit upon what to me is the perfect formula. It feels and smells good!

I'm including a photo of my St. Patrick's Day gift set: Get a shamrock soap and body spray in your choice of the following scents: Love My Lavender, Rochester Lilac, Gingered Orange, Groovy Patchouli, Sandalwood & Vanilla, Romantic Rose, and Black Raspberry & Vanilla Bean. It's just $10 all set to give to a special Irish, or Wish-I-Were-Irish lass.

Of course, I can't fill any orders until the end of the week when we return.

Valentine's Day

2010-02-08T20:01:00.000-08:00

No doubt you've heard the story of St. Valentine and how the day came about. Romantic or not? Tell me what you think.

I thought we'd get photos of product uploaded, but it was not to be. The promise is for tomorrow. You'll have to order right away, of course, if you want something mailed.

It's your turn to talk to me. What plans do you have for Valentine's Day?

The sale is posted again below:

Premium Valentine's gift set: You get one full-sized soap bar, a 4 oz. bottle of luscious body lotion, 1 oz. dry body/linen spray, and rose bath fizzy. Comes in Romantic Rose, unless you request another scent. Beautifully packaged in red. All this for $20!

Petite Valentine's gift set: This lovely set includes a full-sized soap, 2 oz. luscious body lotion, and bath fizzy. This one is also beautifully packaged, ready for gift-giving, and scented in Romantic Rose, unless you request another scent. Just $12 for this set!

Conversation Heart Soap Set - This cute set includes scented soaps that look like oversized conversation hearts. They are packaged three in a row in a clear box with filler. They're adorable, and only $10!

Soap & Heart Petals: soap dipped, scented hearts and petals, nestled on colorful shred in a corsage box. Ready for gift-giving. It's a great little something for a wife, girlfriend, friend, anyone you'd like to bestow a novel, but inexpensive gift on. Romantic Rose scent. Only $5

Scents: Fragrances: Sandalwood and Vanilla, Patchouli, Gingered Orange, Romantic Rose, Blackberry Vanilla, Rochester Lilac.Valentine's Day is almost here!

February is for Lovin'

2010-02-01T18:33:00.000-08:00

Here we are, it's February already! January flew right by, don't you think? There are a couple of things I like about February. The first is that it's a short month. The second is that soon we will notice the days getting longer. Those are great things! The best thing of all, though, may be Valentine's Day.

I'm not a terribly romantic, pink and hearts kind of person, but V-Day is a bright spot at this otherwise cold and sometimes dreary time of year. I've got some celebration tricks up my sleeve to help you with your special day.

One idea is to surprise your spouse to an overnight stay at a nice hotel. Include dinner and a spa day. Who wouldn't feel romantic?

Not in your budget? Choose one of the above and you'll still be a hero--or heroine. Perhaps you're on a budget this year, or your situation doesn't allow you to go out. Don't let that dampen your enthusiasm! Some of our best Valentine's memories were in years when we didn't have extra dollars for mini-vacations.

Here is an idea that you can alter to fit your preferences: Fix your favorite meal. Set the table with a nice tablecloth and napkins, candles, flowers, whatever sets the mood. One year, hubby and I dined in the dining room while the kids dined in the kitchen. We ate shrimp cocktail, and other favorite dishes, and chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert. I don't remember what the kids ate, but it was easy to make, and something they all liked. They watched a movie afterward, while hubby and I had nice conversation by ourselves. Everybody was happy, and thought the day was very special. It was actually quite romantic.

The point is, really, to make Valentine's Day special and romantic, whether expensive or inexpensive, elaborate or simple.

If you have some great ideas, please comment. We'd love to hear them.

Make someone's Valentine's Day with special bath and body gifts. As you might imagine, I've got a whole line for you. Descriptions follow and pictures will be posted tomorrow:

Premium Valentine's gift set: You get one full-sized soap bar, a 4 oz. bottle of luscious body lotion, 1 oz. dry body/linen spray, and rose bath fizzy. Comes in Romantic Rose, unless you request another scent. Beautifully packaged in red. All this for $20!

Petite Valentine's gift set: This lovely set includes a full-sized soap, 2 oz. luscious body lotion, and bath fizzy. This one is also beautifully packaged, ready for gift-giving, and scented in Romantic Rose, unless you request another scent. Just $12 for this set!

Conversation Heart Soap Set - This cute set includes scented soaps that look like oversized conversation hearts. They are packaged three in a row in a clear box with filler. They're adorable, and only $10!

Soap & Heart Petals: soap dipped, scented hearts and petals, nestled on colorful shred in a corsage box. Ready for gift-giving. It's a great little something for a wife, girlfriend, friend, anyone you'd like to bestow a novel, but inexpensive gift on. Romantic Rose scent. Only $5

Scents: Fragrances: Sandalwood and Vanilla, Patchouli, Gingered Orange, Romantic Rose, Blackberry Vanilla, Rochester Lilac. Special requests possible. Essential oil: Lavender, Lavender Patch (lavender & patchouli), or Romantic Herbal Blend (notes of Palmarosa, lavender, and Clary Sage marry to create a provocative blend), or anything on my site,
www.soapandgarden.com

I couldn't resist posting a photo of my Midnight Merlot soap. It's at the top of the page. :-)

Winter Musings and Haiti

2010-01-25T19:51:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling almost guilty these days with the weather we've been having in the Finger Lakes region of NY. We haven't had that much snow, and except for about a week, where the weather was frigid, it's been deceptively warm. In fact, it was rainy today. It's been strange for the whole country, for sure.

The weather certainly calls for nice, warm, relaxing baths and showers, does it not? Remember your beauty prescription of one bath per week! Just a fifteen minute soak, followed by a slathering of body butter, lotion bar, or lotion, will keep your skin in tip-top shape. At the bottom of this post, you'll see our inventory reduction sale that will make it even more tempting.

It's been almost two weeks since the earthquake in Haiti ravaged the already suffering nation. The poorest in the Western Hemisphere, without a government for ten years, Haiti is wallowing in its own poverty and hopelessness. The death toll continues to rise as aid from other nations rush in to help. Mobilizing virtually an army of medical, food, recovery, and other personnel is no quick or easy feat. Traveling around on impassible roads is a difficult challenge. The images we see are staggering--people, including children, who are injured, have lost their families, and are just plain hungry, even some gangs and looters getting what they can. It's so hard to watch.

We might ask ourselves, what possible good could come out of such a situation? I see the goodness of many countries who sent people to help; I see record donations to organizations who are in a position to help Haitians. I see people singing to the Lord, in spite of losing all that they have, especially family and friends.

Perhaps, in the future, with the sudden international attention to Haiti, they will get help in forming a viable, stable government. Perhaps the infrastructure that may come will put citizens in a place to make some inroads into the desperate poverty that has existed. Most importantly, perhaps this tragedy will cause people to seek God and follow Him. Maybe. . . we can pray.

As for me, we as a family have donated funds, as have so many others. My business, Soap and Garden, is donating soaps through Mission Flights International, which will fly in much-needed supplies to the Haitian people. I will, on an ongoing basis, donate soap to Clean the World.org, a charity determined to save the lives of people in 3rd world countries, simply by supplying them with soap!

Did you know that soap is an unaffordable luxury in poor countries? We throw away thousands of pounds of soap each week from hotel bathrooms, and many of us throw away our soap ends when the bar gets too small to use at home. As a soapmaker, I have an abundance of soap--ends, trims, oops! bars, and leftovers that I can donate to this cause. I have to say that it feels good to make something that is of so much use to those who need it. We tend to take soap for granted, but it is in actuality, a necessity, and I am so glad to help.

Maybe we can help you, too! The ad for this week follows:

We're marching from January to February. These are the months for a warm, relaxing bath or shower! To help, this is the last week of our Inventory Reduction Sale: Anything in stock is on sale!

10% any sale up to $25
20% any sale from $26 - $50
First come, first served!
Not on my site are: Cinnamon Stick Bundles: A bundle of cinnamon sticks with true cinnamon scent, wrapped in ribbon.
$5.00 each Herbal Bath Teas:
Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - $2/ea. Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz.
$6.00 Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz,
$7 Foaming Soap:
Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

http:www.soapandgarden.com

Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful, blessed week!

Pictures above: playing around with bath whip. This batch was Roseberry with strawberry seeds for exfoliation. Yummy!
My crew headed for the Bills game in early January. Brrr. . .
Puppy Beau wishing he'd been invited to partake in our Christmas brunch.

Some pics and my friend, Rita

2010-01-18T18:27:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of pictures of my booth at my November show.

Since Christmas, I've been working on Valentine's Day products and liquid soap. I'll post pics asap.

Many of us in the soap/toiletry world have lost a good friend today in Rita Scheu. She fought a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. Now, however, I rest in the thought that she is pain free, her tears are wiped away, and she is with Jesus forever. She left a family, however, that has the task of picking up the pieces and moving forward without Rita. My prayers go forth for them.

It's been a long time!

2010-01-11T19:47:00.001-08:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted! Shame on me. I'm hoping all had a happy holiday season. We did. Nothing was terribly exciting once our dd's and families left in early December, but it was all warm and happy. :-) Now, here we are in cold, bleak January. What good is there to day about it? If you like cold and snow, you're loving it. If not, you're probably ready for spring. I am! Even so, I would be remiss not to admit that the snowfall we received this even was beautiful--that light, gently falling snow that sparkled like diamonds. Everyone should experience this once in his lifetime, I think. To hold a single snowflake in your hand is a wondrous thing. I've posted a couple of photos of deer in our neighborhood this fall and winter. What do you do in January? Take down Christmas or other holiday decorations and give the house a good cleaning? Do you make resolutions and goals for the new year? What makes January tolerable for you? I start it out with a bang since my birthday is on the 1st. Sorry about the tax thing, Dad and Mom.

In my business, I realize how much easier accounting will be if I reduce my inventory. Hence my Inventory Reduction Sale, which is in full swing! To get it, you'll just have to contact me with your order, email addy, and "IRS" code. Clever, isn't it?

Here's the sale:

We've survived the holiday season. Celebrate with a nourishing bath or shower and wonderful smelling products that will help you look your best!

Inventory Reduction Sale:

Anything in stock is on sale!

10% any sale up to $25
20% any sale from $26 - $50

First come, first served!

Not on my site are:

Cinnamon Stick Bundles: A bundle of cinnamon sticks with true cinnamon scent, wrapped in ribbon. $5.00 each

Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender, as well as any scent listed on my site. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Thanks for reading, and have a blessed New Year!

Early Christmas!

2009-12-14T19:50:00.000-08:00

One of my daughters and her husband decided to travel back home to NY from Oregon for Christmas. They found that the best time for them was in early December, so they came for an early celebration. Her twin sister and family came here from NJ, so we did it up just as if it were the 25th instead of the 12th.

What a wonderful time we had! We got to see two of our grandchildren for two days, and loved every minute of it. Having little ones around for gift opening is so much fun, too. I wish it didn't have to end.

In the spirit of the season, my December sale continues:

This December season is one of giving, and so I would like to give to YOU. With any $25 purchase or more, before shipping, that you make as a gift for someone else, I will include a gift for you. Just tell me what you want, and if I have it in stock, it's yours. If I don't have it in stock, I will ask for your 2nd choice. Get a gift for each $25 you spend!

The last day for sending out orders is Dec. 18th. Any orders that come in after that will be sent as I have time, but won't make it for Christmas.

Not on my site are:

Cinnamon Stick Bundles: A bundle of cinnamon sticks with true cinnamon scent, wrapped in ribbon. $5.00 each
Bath Salt Tubes: Sugary Spruce, Sweet Snowflakes, and Cranberry Spice layered in a tube and tied with a bow. Great gift! Only $4.00 ea.
Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

See www.soapandgarden.com!

December!

2009-11-30T20:57:00.000-08:00

December has arrived already! We've gotten through Thanksgiving, and are careening into the December holiday season. It's a busy time for most of us, and I am certainly no exception. I must admit, though, that I love the holidays, from Thanksgiving until New Year's. I must also admit, however, that I do get stressed over the busy schedules, more hours at work and at business, and fitting in decorating, cookie baking, and everything else that comes with it. I may never find a comfortable balance between all that I want to do and keeping things manageable. I feel like I have Martha Stewart desires without her helpers! How about you?

With my girls, I started the small project of painting our foyer. For a small project, though, there's a lot to do--move everything out, find all of the equipment needed, wash the walls and spackle, prime, and paint. I was hoping to do it all in one day, but now I hope it can be finished in two! This was something I should have done in September rather than late November, but here we are, nevertheless. Are you ever guilty of putting off a project, and then doing it at the worst times?

We all know that for those who celebrate Christmas, shopping is an important part of the season, and I would like to make it more enjoyable for you. Order online and skip the mall!

Here's the sale:

December is a month for giving, and I'd like to give to my customers. So, with any $25 purchase for someone else, (not including tax or shipping), you'll get something for you! Just tell me what you want when you place the order, and if I have it in stock, it's yours. If not, you'll get a 2nd choice, but it must be an in stock item.

In addition, Tuesday ONLY, get a free gift with any purchase!

Not on my site are:

Cinnamon stick bundles: A bunch of cinnamon sticks, about 12" long, with authentic cinnamon scent, and a little allspice for good measure, tied with ribbon. Just $5.00 each!
Bath salts: a tube scented with Sugary Spruce, Sweet Snowflakes, and Cranberry Spice, and tied with a festive ribbon. Perfect stocking stuffer. Only $4.00! (Pictures on last post)
Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Thanks for reading, and have a blessed week!