Christmas Countdown and Free Stuff

Christmas isn't about gifts and receiving. We all know that. But...it is really fun to receive. And it's really fun to give. Sooo, what if I told you that you could win a bunch of gifts for yourself and maybe even a few to give away as gifts? Now, that's fun.

So I've pulled together...you guessed it!...12 different companies to bring you some really awesome gifts. You can enter each day and encourage your friends to enter so you can split the prize! It's up to you whether you keep them all for yourself, give them all away, or do something in between. 

The Gifts

Most of the companies you'll see listed below are local in my area and many of the items are hand-crafted! I'm so excited to be able to support their businesses and share their products with you and your family. Be sure to check them out! Cheeks ‘n Bums – a Sanitize Those Hands and a Balm Stick ($17.48 value). Enter coupon code "10FOR12" for 10% off through December 31, 2013. Jessica's Crochet Creations –a medium-sized, pre-lanolized wool soaker in a gender neutral color ($33 value). Mention Growing Up Triplets and receive 10% off of all wool soakers and longies, and 5% off of all other creations through December 31, 2013.

Diaper Donks - one-size hybrid fitted diaper ($28 value). Get free shipping with the code "12DAYS" through December 31, 2013. DoTerra with Joy – a doTERRA Introductory Kit which includes a 5 ml bottle of dōTERRA's Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint essential oils as well as an introductory audio CD and booklet, and suggested uses of the included oils ($26.67 value). Receive a FREE 5ml bottle of Wild Orange and a Living Magazine with the purchase of an enrollment kit, through December 31, 2013. 

Hoplet House –pick from one of their personalized t-shirts or onesies (custom designed for each order) and one of their personalized, custom-made prints - perfect for a nursery or room decor ($23.99 value).

Use coupon code THANKYOU10 for 10% off any purchase through December 31, 2013.

Inspired Simply – an 11x17 personalized "Family Rules" print and an 8x10 Christmas Wall Art - Rejoice in the Hallowed Manger Ground print ($32 value). Enter coupon code SIMPLY10 for 10% off through December 12, 2013.

 

ItWorks with Emily – a bundle of the defining gel and greens supplement (trial sizes, $15 value).

Lemongrass Spa with Kristen – Lavender Mint Salt Body Polish (8 oz., $16 value).

Premier Designs – the beautiful Starlet bracelet ($45 value). Buy 1, get 1 50% off (equal or lesser value) through December 31, 2013 (use access code BLING to shop).

Soaps for Life - 5 hand-crafted soaps made with a variety of goat's milk oatmeal, cedar, orange and more ($15 value).

Two Chicks and a Bar – two holiday bar soaps (choose from Cinnamon Balsam, Spruceberry, Apple Cinnamon, Lavender Sparkle ($15 value).

Young Living with Kylene – a 15 ml bottle of Orange (Citrus sinensis) Essential Oil and a Cinnamint Lip Balm ($19.73 value).

Receive $10 off the Premium Starter Kit (while supplies last).

The TOTAL VALUE of the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway is $286.87! Whoa! That's a lot of love, fun, and awesomeness to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What are you most excited to win?

Glycerin Soaps Last Forever (Almost)

  I just want to bring a report from a couple of my friends about one of the types of soaps I gave them. They told me that the soaps last forever. At least it seems that way. The soaps they are referring to are the glycerin ones. Glycerin soaps do last a long time. If you want to invest in a soap that lasts longer than other soaps, choose glycerin.

My First Promo Offer

   As I have mentioned, I will be at an Arts and Crafts Festival on November 16th, held at Metro Life Church on Winter Park Drive in Casselberry. Recently, I have made a lot of soap and have some new varieties available. Two new ones are lemon soap and sheep's milk-oatmeal soap. They will be available at the arts and crafts festival along with all the other soaps and homemade items.
   The promo I am offering is this; For the goat's milk-oatmeal soap bars that are $3.50/bar, I will sell them at $3 a bar. The Fancy Soap that is $3/bar will sell for $2.50/bar. Here is the promo code:
Jesus is the Lamb of God. Either tell me the code or write it on paper and show it to me. Offer good on November 16th at the Arts & Crafts Festival at Metro Life Church. Some of the proceeds from the goat's milk-oatmeal soaps will still go to Sanctuary Ministries, a ministry designed to serve women who have chosen to go through their pregnancies and deliver their babies in spite of the many reasons they could have used to have an abortion.
   Other soaps available will be:
Volcano Soaps (4oz., 5oz. and sample sizes)
Lemon Soaps (contains lemon rinds - 4 oz. bars and sample sizes)
Sheep's Milk Oatmeal Soaps - (4 oz. bars and sample sizes)
Glycerin Soaps (last a long, long time- various sizes and shapes)

   Other items that will be available are:
Crocheted Afghans
Doll House Items
Knitted Christmas Stockings
Cat and Bird Toys
Girl's Bracelets

 

Soap Plant - Chlorogalum pomeridianum

  Here's a different way to make soap. I haven't tried this yet, but I find this fascinating. I am so intrigued by this plant that I would consider growing my own if I could find some seeds or bulbs. This plant grows a nut like fruit (although it isn't in the nut family) that is used like soap. It even has some of the ingredients that soap has, built into the plant. How amazing! The Native Americans used this plant for soap. How cool is that?

New Business Card

Here is the pic of my new business card

Goat's Milk-Oatmeal Soap, 5 oz. bars or 4 oz. bars?

  I am about to make Goat's Milk-Oatmeal Soap and will pour it into a mold when it is finished mixing. I can cut the soap to make it 4 ounces or I can cut it up to make it 5 ounces. I wonder which one is preferable? Either way, the soap will sell for $0.875 an ounce. I don't have to cut it up until Monday. Four ounce bars are $3.50 and the five ounce bars will be $4.25 ( a little discount) or, if they come out too uneven in size, I will sell them by the ounce. I haven't decided on a price for sample bars, but probably will go with $1.50.
   Some of the money made from the Goat's Milk-Oatmeal Soap goes to Sanctuary Ministries, a ministry that serves pregnant women who refuse to have an abortion.

Exciting News About Soap Wrapping

   I am getting ready to sell my soaps, but they have to be wrapped, which always produces more than one dilemma. When soap is being cured, it needs to be exposed to the air, and once it is cured, it should not be covered with anything that would keep air out.
  I have a few options on wrapping soap, but each one has a problem. I usually wrap my Goat's Milk-Oatmeal Soap in wrapping tissue, which provides the air it needs to have around it, but, the soap is completely covered in tissue and you can't see the finished product. To some people, that really doesn't matter though.
  In wrapping Fancy Soaps, the goal is to have the customers be able to see the shape of the soap, with all its unique details. If you wrap Fancy Soap with tissue, you can't see it, although the scent might still come through because the tissue is porous.
  One thing I have noticed is how some people sell their soaps with just a paper band around the bar of soap. I have been doing that and really like that idea, however, it is hard to put a band around the Fancy Soaps because of all the details that don't fit evenly under the band. Plus, it covers some, of not most, of the design of the soap!
  So, another idea is to wrap the Fancy Soaps with cellophane or cling wrap. But, as I already pointed out, covering soap with anything that is not porous will keep the air from circulating around the soap, and it could cause the oils to turn rancid, if left too long in the cellophane. But, I have overcome that problem! Tonight, as I was trying to wrap some odd shaped soaps, and being rather unsuccessful at it, I decided to wrap a rectangular shaped soap, but, I am leaving the sides open. I am not being a cheapskate when I do this, so when you see my soaps with the sides left open, you will know why.
  Leaving the sides uncovered helps keep the air around the soap bar more easily, plus, it lets you smell the scent of the soap. Also, if it is covered with cellophane, the design of the soap will show through! It looks very pretty and yet it will not suffocate.