Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I hope you all enjoyed your mini-holiday, St. Patrick's Day. It was a pleasant one for me. The weather was warm and sunny, where it's often cold and snowy. It felt just like spring. I know that I can't allow myself to be fooled; winter will return before spring comes in earnest, but it was nice pretending for a couple of days.

We had lots of latecomers at the store, hoping for shamrocks or green carnations, but unfortunately, I had to turn them away, because we sold all we had.

We took an out of state trip to visit our dd, sil, and grandchildren. Their church dedication was on Sunday, so we wanted to be there. We had a good trip, loved spending time with all, and are happy to be back home. :-)

Now, I'm busy finalizing some tax work, paying bills, and working on projects for our garden club. There's always plenty to do!

In honor of St. Paddy's Day, and everything green, here's my special for March:

Your purchase of $10 or over (before shipping) scores you a free bar of any green soap! I carry Sweetgrass, Daybreak (spearmint & eucalyptus), Fresh Cut Grass, Lemongrass, Fresh Herbal, and others. Just ask!

If you'd rather, you can get a glycerin soap with a 4-leaf clover or celtic knot in green, with your choice of scent--Irish Mist, Peppermint, Spearmint, Lemongrass/Lime, Green Apple, and Fresh Herbal, in addition to the above soaps.

Not on site, but available:

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
Limited Edition Soap: Lavender Patch, a lovely blend of lavender and patchouli. Very few bars left, $6.50 ea.

I am working on the perfect shower scrub, and having fun doing it. :-) I'll post pics of kids and product soon!

February is almost over

I am not a fan of February, Valentine's Day notwithstanding. In spite of its mere 28 or 29 days, it drags on and on. It's cold, people are sick, and it's dreary. Historically, Feb. has not treated my family well, it seems, or maybe it's just my own bleak outlook. I remember years back when two of my kids had chicken pox for the first two weeks, and the other two had them for the second two weeks. Four years ago this week, we had to put our dog, Riley, down because of chronic health problems. Friday, we had to put down one of our beloved kitties, Fred.

Fred looked like a Siamese cat, but his mother was a commoner, and so were the rest of the kittens in this litter. I wasn't looking for a cat, but when I heard he was Siamese, I changed my mind.

We were never sorry we got Fred because he was such a sweet, lovable, mellow guy, and very handsome. It was hard making the decision to put him down, but we didn't want him to suffer just so we could have him longer, so we opted not to go ahead with medical procedures and let him go. We are taking comfort in the fact that his suffering did not last long and we have many happy memories of him hanging out with the dogs, looking for lovin', and enjoying my gardens.

He will be missed.

In celebration of the fact that February is on its last leg, I'd like to offer a sale. Here it is:
End of February sale! It's February, it's cold, your skin is dry. You need something heavy-duty to bring back the moisture and make your skin supple again. Buy an 8 oz. jar of whipped body butter and get a free bar of soap!

Please email me or leave, "Feb.Butter" in the comments section to get your free bar.

Not on site, but available:
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
Limited Edition Soap: Lavender Patch, a lovely blend of lavender and patchouli. Very few bars left, $6.50 ea.

Visit http://www.soapandgarden.com/ today!

Groundhog Day & Super Bowl

Super Bowl - I am a poor football fan, I must confess. In fact, I chose to root for the Cardinals because I liked their colors better than the Steelers'--pathetic, I know. We all went to our computer shop to watch because we have a huge t.v. screen there. So, I watched. It was a good, close game, to be sure, and I found myself disappointed that my team didn't win.

On to the other big happening of winter. . .

Was it any surprise that Punxatawney Phil forecast 6 more weeks of winter? It certainly wasn't for me, even though I am ready for spring! Still, we in northern climes have to think long and hard about what we like about winter. Here is what I came up with:

*Being inside, hopefully cuddled with a hubby, child, or pet and maybe even a roaring fire.
*Looking through seed and plant catalogs and dreaming about a lovely, lush garden without doing all the work.
*Working on new formulas or products, or perfecting formulas for what I already make. Since I love to produce and experiment, this truly is a delightful time.

I've been working on a body exfoliating scrub, and have made some I like and others I don't like as much. By spring, I hope to have my final product ready to unveil. My most recent one stays solid in the jar, but scoops out easily, feels great on my skin, and lathers just a tiny bit. I like that it doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy, just moisturized. This one includes sea salt, organic sugar, oils, milk powder, and oat powder, as the major ingredients. Sound good?

Groundhog day special: Get a free bottle of lotion with a $25.00 purchase! Of course, shipping doesn't count as part of the $30. Your choice of fragrance.

It's Cold!

We had one nice day last week where the temp. rose to a balmy 40 degrees. Rochestarians were reveling in it. I even saw some in shorts! Things are back to normal now, though, temps mostly in the teens.

How do we endure it? Our town's garden club taught a seminar tonight on starting seeds indoors, and I realized that many of us just wait it out, dreaming of spring. I'd go on about the sun caressing my skin with warmth and feeling the grass under my feet, but I don't want to torture myself. Instead, I'll congratulate those of us in the north on our patience and longsuffering.

We did have a good turnout, and the students seemed to enjoy absorbing the information and planting their seeds, so maybe winter isn't all bad. Besides, I can always take a nice, warm bath. . . . ah. . .

We'll continue our January special, purchase any 5 products, and get the 6th free. The 6th product will be equal to or less in price than the other 5. Go to www.soapandgarden.com to order, or email me at beth@soapandgarden.com with questions or local orders.

Leave a comment on my blog and be entered into a drawing for a free bar of soap! Eligible for US residents only, please.

Relaxing Bath Herbs

We're in for severe winter weather later this week. The temps will drop, wind will come, and we'll get snowstorms. Tomorrow will be spent in preparation for the rest of the week--shopping, trying to get the packed snow shoveled up, especially on the stairs that my dogs use, and filling the car with gas. What could put me in the mood for a nice, warm bath better than cold winter weather?

Here is my final post on relaxing bath herbs.

~ Vanilla - simply relaxing and pleasant. I don't know that vanilla will perform any therapeutic function for your skin, but if you like vanilla, it will be pleasant and will probably provoke memories of times past that you treasure. Chopped vanilla beans are just the ticket!

~ Hops - Surprised? Not only are hops used in beermaking, they have herbal use, as well, as a relaxant. Their scent is not unpleasant, and will contribute much to that totally wonderful "I-have-not-a-care-in-the-world" feeling.

~ Passionflower - Desipite its name alluding to something quite the opposite of relaxation, that is what it is known as. You'll love this distinctive flower if you ever see it blooming, and you'll love it in your bath.

What do you want in your bath?

Reminder of January special: Order any 5 products, and get the 6th free! The free product is equal to or lower in price than the other 5.

More about bath herbs!

It's been a busy holiday season and beyond for me. I hope yours has somehow been less hectic!

We did get to visit our daughter, son-in-law, and their children, including the new baby. It was a wonderful visit that made me wish they had announced that they would soon be moving back to Rochester. I can always wish, can't I? We also took a detour to visit family in MI, which was also a very happy time. Not the driving, the company, LOL.

I had a medical procedure performed on Monday that has to be repeated in four weeks. Sigh.

My dad turned 80 years old today. What a milestone! I spoke with him by phone this evening, and he was in a very good mood as my mom invited the in-town family to a nice restaurant dinner to celebrate the momentous occasion. Wish I could have been there.

I don't know how, but somehow, this all brings us to the topic of baths and particularly, herbs to use in the bath. Maybe it's the fact that a nice bath makes us feel healthier, beautiful, and relaxed. :-) Let's delve into a few more herbs that can be used to enhance our bathing experience.

* Rose petals - These can be used either dried or fresh, although you'll want to use more of them if you choose fresh petals. The scent alone is both relaxing and delightful. In addition, the rose has been used for centuries as an aphrodisiac because of the heady perfume it exudes. Rose essential oil has been recommended to help prevent wrinkles and scarring, as well as a help for adult acne. What's not to like?

* Rose hips - Did you know that the hips are an excellent source of vitamin C? Think antioxidants!

* Calendula - Also known as Pot Marigolds, this cheery annual's rays are well known for their healing and soothing properties. I use it when I make butt balm for my grandbabies, as well as a general skin healing, soothing salve for a large variety of skin issues for my family. It's easy to see how soothing and beautifying it would be for the skin. The rays on the fresh flowers are as soft as rose petals, just in case you're thinking about growing it.

Don't forget the January offer. Buy 5 products, and get the 6th one free!

It's 2009!

It's hard to believe that another year has gone by, already. I'm working at catching up on all I've fallen behind with during the holidays, and will be setting goals for the new year. This month, I'll be catching up record-keeping for tax time. What about you? What goals do you have for 2009?

Right after Christmas, we drove to see our newest baby, Giovanna, as well as her siblings, Noah and Frencesca, and their parents, David and Amy. We had a good trip, and enjoyed them all very much. It's great to be home, though.

I would be remiss if I didn't add how spoiled I was by my family today, on my birthday. They helped clean up, shopped, and cooked a delicious dinner for me, and I had a wonderful day. They even got me some sweaters, one a periwinkle cashmere. How nice!

Now, I'm energized for getting back to normal and accomplishing what I set out to do this year; one of which is convincing my readers to take a bath. But, don't take an ordinary bath, take a bath with something that helps your skin, or just smells lovely.

We've seen how bath salts, oils, milks, oats, baking soda, and cornstarch all play a part in a therapeutic regime. Now, let's see how herbs can help.

* Chamomile has been used historically for skin healing and for relaxing. Do you remember Peter Rabbit's chamomile tea? Use this herb in a bath for its cosmetic value, and relax at the same time! If you have ragweed allergies, however, use it with caution, as they are of the same family.

* Lavender is a classic bath herb, thought to have both cleansing properties as well as relaxing properties. It also has been used historically for skin healing. Just like chamomile, lavender is an ideal bath herb, and most people love its scent.

* Comfrey has little scent to add, but does contain allantoin, a cell-regenerating ingredient. This herb is a plus for any bather!

Now, add lip balm to the list of products that are not on the website. For just $3/tube, you can protect and moisturize your lips with many terrific flavors.

Throughout January, I'd like to extend this offer:

Buy any 5 products, and get the 6th free! If the item is not on my site, just email me, and I'll take care of things for you. All products are included, and the free item will be the one at equal or lesser cost than the other 5. Shipping is not included.