A Day of Thanks

Thanksgiving is typically a family day of feasting and celebration, a day to give thanks for what we have and to dream about what we will be thankful to be blessed with in the future.

Thank you to all of my friends and family who have believed in me, and a huge thank you to everyone who has believed in my products and the business. I look forward to serving you in the future.

Thanks again, I truly am blessed. To share these blessings - I offer 25% off through Monday evening on everything in my shop. Shop till you drop and use coupon code THANX2U when you pay with Google Checkout! :D

A Brief Intermission

Well, Its happened finally. My computer is on its last legs. That darned overworked and underpaid video card is about to konk out on me. Luckily, more parts are on their way, it'll just be a couple of days until I am able to not crash long enough to work up a substantial post - so keep an eye on this space for something exciting coming! Until then - check out my friends websites: Suburb Moms and Wraps, Slings & Things. Those ladies seriously have it put together. I'm in total admiration of the work they're doing for moms everywhere!

Oh How it Screams...

... my face that is! I've been whinging and moaning all week about how my cheeks are dying without lotion. I ran out of the daily moisturizer I rely on during the winter months, and with the cool, dry wind blowing down here in Texas, my face yells at me every time I go outside.

Why spend $2 on a new bottle when I can make my own? So that's what I did... and now I want to share it with you. This lotion is a blend of avocado and hazelnut oils - the lightest non-comedogenic oils I could find, loaded with all the yummy nutrients that a face could ask for. I've added aloe to the blend as well, who doesn't like the aaaaah feeling of aloe anyway?

Also up on the website are my hand sewn cloth gift bags and all the gift set accessories you could possibly need for making the perfect gift set this holiday season. Let me do the wrapping and shipping for you, just email me - bodyluxe at gmail dot com.

The Mad Scientist Lurks Within....

I am in need of a great shaving cream. I'm so tired of forking out good money for that nasty stuff that dries my skin out so badly. Sooo what do I do? Make it myself!

I spent yesterday evening in the kitchen whipping up (no pun intended) this luscious cream soap. Yeah, its really homemade soap - just like the bars I've been doing. Oils + lyes + mix and blend and and and.. eventually if you do it right you get soap!

There is limited research out there that I was able to find - so a lot of it is coming out of my mind and what I've learned from making other types of soap. What makes this unique? Well, its super duper thick, for starters. I've added moisturizers and glide enhancers to make that razor do its thing without doing a number to my legs. Oh yeah - as of this morning its still 100% natural. It'll be something like 98% natural when its all done - gotta add preservatives coz no one wants green, fuzzy shave cream.

By the way - make sure you check out my Other Great Sites to See - those moms are making it work for them too, so pay em a visit and see what they've got to say. I'll tell ya more about all of them at a forthcoming time. I know you'll find something useful or find something to brighten your day!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Yesterday was a good day. It was a day to spend a ton of cash on Christmas presents. I'm having a blast shopping this year, a few gifts at a time and I'm bound to find everything I want. I love seeing the kids open their gifts and get excited about what's inside. It really makes me feel great about the season. I can't wait to get out the decorations, but I'll hold off until the first of December, I promise.

Anyway, when we got home we ordered a pizza and I started photographing the soaps that are going to be ready in about a week - I actually got further than I'd planned because I was able to get them all up on the website already.

Today's soap feature: Black & Tan Beer Soap - made with Guinness Draught

Why beer? It actually adds nicely to the lather of the soap - making it very creamy and nice feeling. The Guinness gives the soap a warm, earthy fragrance and I helped that out a bit by adding a complimentary scent, but just a touch. Besides, if you can't drink it all day long, you may as well bathe with it, its a great gift idea for the Irish, guys, beer lovers or Irish Guy Guinness lovers.

Also make sure you check out my new samplers, including the Build Your Own Soap Sampler!

Ornies, Ornies Everywhere!

We spent the day making ornies yesterday - cute little ornaments for our Christmas tree. It was an entire family affair and we had a great time. My hubby & I baked them in the morning before the kids woke up, then after some breakfast we dug into the painting. We've now got an entire pile of ornaments ready to be given as gifts, and still have enough for our own tree this year.

In case you're curious, here's the recipe we used:
4 cups of flour
2 cups of salt
1 bottle of cinnamon
2 cups of water

Mix dry ingredients together, then add water and stir. Its like a very thick pastry crust. If its not wet enough, wet your hands and use them to knead in the extra moisture. Take out in large hand-sized balls and roll flat on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch. Use cookie cutters or a knife to make your ornaments. Poke a hole in the top for an ornie hanger (I'm going to use red, white and green striped pipe cleaners) Place on baking sheet and bake for about 45 mins at 375. You want them to be rock hard and dry, even in the middle.

Once they're cool you can paint them - we used water based acrylic - the cheap stuff from the craft store.

It was great fun had by all and amazing to put all of us around a table at the same time again. I love doing fun and crafty things with the kids - especially when it means we can make memories together during these busy days.

Sewing up a Storm

From time to time I get these creative flashes, I become super motivated to make something useful with my hands. I guess that's what prompted my soapmaking journey in the first place. Today's creative adventure was not exactly with soap, but with soap in mind.

Sewing is a path I haven't persued in a while now, my machine has been boogered up for a bit. I was lucky enough to be able to borrow my mom's machine for a little while (amazingly enough she wasn't using it this week - I think that machine has more miles on it than I do!) What came from a few scissor snips and a few stitches really kinda impressed me....

Soap Bags! Yep, you read that right, soap bags. These little bags are made from velour (actually from some of my daughters' velour sweats that they'd not worn much and outgrown quickly if you want to know the complete truth). Its like a gift bag and washcloth together, more value for the money! The bags are like soap and washcloth all in one - a great way to hang onto that slippery bar, or combine all those annoying end pieces. Just put the soap inside and tie the bag, then wet it in the tub or shower and scrub! Once you're finished, squeeze it out and hang it to dry. Each bag will come with your choice of Old Fashioned Bar Soap as well, but don't forget to order extras for when your soap is gone.