Get Outside!

 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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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., $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!

Is it Spring Yet?

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!

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

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers!

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)
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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.
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Herbs of Spring; it Has Sprung!

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!

Oils and Skin

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!

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.

Beau Update and Spring Splendor

Spring Splendor is at its peak here in Rochester. The crabapples and Forsythia have already shed their flowers, but Magnolias, Flowering Quince, and my favorite, Redbud, are still wowing us with their beauty. As for bulb flowers, most of my Daffs have only leaves as reminders of their previous glory, but the tulips are beckoning a closer look.

As I walk around my yard, amazed and appalled at the proliferation of the dandelions (I know, they're good for us), I see old friends returning from previous years as well as perennials I planted last fall making their debut. All of these are exciting to me, but also very special are the lilacs.

Rochester, NY boasts the largest collection of Lilacs in the world, I am proud to announce. Whether it be tall or dwarf, red violet, lavender, pink, or white, you'll find it here. At least once during the festival you'll likely find us wandering around Highland Park, drinking in the heady scent. The park is home to many other wonderful types of vegetation, as well, and is well worth the effort to get there.

This is when I pity southerners, who can't grow the cold-loving lilacs. I admit that it's nice to have something on the warmer south!

In celebration of lilac month, I'd like to announce a sale.

It's Lilac Festival time in Rochester! The lilacs are in full bloom and are not only lovely, but are perfuming the air with their gorgeous scent. For the month of May, a free bar of Rochester Lilac soap will be included in any order of just $15 or more. If you don't have lilacs where you live, here is your chance to "stop and smell the lilacs."

Additional products in lilac scent include bath salts, bath milk, body spray, lotion, and liquid soap/shower gel.

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.

Foaming Soap: Comes in scents listed on site. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.

Now, for Beau news: the kid is growing, still very cute, playful, and not housebroken. It seems that he'll be one of those little guys who is so ugly that he's cute, LOL. Check out the photos. His final name is Beau, btw, but I call him, "Beaudacious," because that describes his personality. ;-)

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!