Change of Size Label

   Just a heads up on my relabeling. I am going to change the name of the sample size soaps to 'small' instead of 'sample'. Samples are usually just that. A sample, a tiny piece of something to try out.
   I weighed the 'sample' sized soaps and they are at least 2 ounces. I was surprised at how many people like this size. I am ready to make more soaps in this 2 ounce size, but I will call them small, unless I think of a better word.
   So, sample size will now be called small. In the future, I will probably have a real 'sample' size soap. This size will come in handy for many things too. In the mean time, I will not have any actual sample sizes for sale any more. I will as soon as I get the mold in or come up with another way to make sample size bars. But the small bars will be available. They will sell for $2 a bar.

Experimentations Are Fun!

   Within a month, I have made bath fizzies , aka bath bombs, Castile soap, and now tallow soap. Because the bath fizzies do not have to cure, I am able to use them right away, but for the soaps, well, they have to cure before I can use them and that takes about 3 weeks. (I have cheated though one time)!
   I have been studying soap and researching different recipes and affects of ingredients that are in some soaps. One that is interesting is 'pine tar'. People who use soap made with pine tar rave about how well the soap does on their skin. I would like to use pine tar in my soap making, but there is one big problem. Pine tar contains an ingredient called, creosote. Years ago, people started making garden beds out of old railroad ties (not sure why this would have been considered a good idea?). After a couple of years, these experts changed their minds. The reason was, creosote was found in the railroad ties. No one wanted to make their garden beds out of railroad ties after that. At least I have not heard of anyone wanting to do that.
  Now, there is some pine tar that doesn't contain creosote, but it seems to be difficult to find. If I ever find it, I will buy some and use it in soap making. I want to make a product that has such good results as people say that pine tar soap does. In the mean time, I will keep searching for this pine tar.

Thank You and Notes

I want to thank all of you who recently bought some of my homemade soaps. I hope you and your family members are enjoying them! I have made a couple of observations on my soaps that I want to share. Whenever I make soap or soap products, I use the item as well, so I make sure that it is acceptable and enjoyable for you. I notice that when I use the glycerine soap, the bathtub is easier to clean out. Not sure why that happens, but it is a nice benefit. I was using a bath fizzy tonight and now I understand why women like these. They have oil in them which ends up on your skin and makes the skin smooth. But it can also get into the bath tub. I think we should have a warning on our soaps to be careful when we get out of the tub as soap or soap products can sometimes make the floor slippery. I would hate for anyone to slip on a bar of soap I made, or, slip while getting out of the tub because of the oil in the bath fizzy! I remember when I was little, hearing the story about John Glenn, an astronaut, slipping on a bar of soap! I think he ended up hitting his head and was unconscious for a while. We need to be careful when using soap for that reason mainly. I know in nursing homes, there are rails on the sides of the shower or tub. Those can come in handy when we get out of the tub. Please be careful when you get out of your tub! But do enjoy your soaps and fizzies! 80% Castile soap is curing. It is lavender scented so it will really smell nice. It kind of smells like my dad's shaving cream that he used to use years ago. I wonder if they scented shaving cream with lavender????

Lavender scented 80% Castile soap

Home Made Castile Soap

Ta da! Finished! I made Castile soap tonight and it smells yummy! I used lavender EO and it is made from 80% olive oil, 10% palm oil, and 10% coconut oil. I could have made it from 100% olive oil, but it would have no lather or bubbles from what I understand. I will experiment with this after it cures and see if it will cause the homemade laundry detergent to gel. I wish you could all smell the room! Think of lavender in your mind and maybe you can virtually smell it!

Lavender Castile Soap Just Poured Ready To Cure

Thank God For Rain and Lye Calculators

I am so glad it is raining today, for that means I can collect more rainwater to make soap with. Yes, I use rain water. You can use distilled water for making soap too, but there's something fresh about using rain water. I hope my pot fills up! I want to make a castile type of soap. I have a recipe for making laundry detergent, and one of the ingredients is a Fels Naptha soap bar, grated. I have used this and the laundry soap turns out great. I don't know what it is about this Fels Naptha soap bar, but if I am not mistaken, it is probably a Castile type of soap. Castile soap is made with olive oil and is a good cleanser. I have used soap scraps from my soap to make laundry detergent, but the detergent never gels. It gels if I use the Fels Naptha bar though. So, I will try this experiment as soon as I get the chance. In soap making, using a lye calculator is helpful. In order to find out how much lye to put into the water, you put the amounts and types of oils into the calculator, then when it processes the recipe, it tells you how much water and lye to put in. Here is a url for calculating lye and water for soap making: http://naturalsoapboutique.com/soapcalculator/ You might be surprised to know that all genuine soap is made with lye. Lye is very caustic and dangerous to be around. You have to use it properly or you could get hurt! But, something happens when lye is mixed with water, then added to oils that have been heated and cooled. After they are mixed together, a process called, 'saponification' takes place. The oils, water, and lye combine and form a mixture that looks a little like pudding mixture when thickened. After the mixture is thick enough to pour into molds, the soap has to 'cure'. It takes about 3 weeks for the soap to fully cure. The affects of lye are no longer found in the soap. Now it is a nice product that can be used on your skin (if it is made right!) and can smell pretty. There is technically no more lye in the product, which is a good thing. The lye becomes something else when combined with the oils.

Making Bath Bombs/Bath Fizzies

Last night, very late, I was making bath bombs, aka, bath fizzies. I personally would rather call them bath fizzies than bath bombs, but they are the same thing. I put lemon oil in them so they smell really good. They are supposed to fizzle when you put them in your bath water. These should be about 2 ounces as the mold that I put them in holds 2 ounces per mold. They are made from mainly salt, but mine have jojoba oil and lemon oil in them as well. Making these would be a great science project in school. http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Make-Bath-Bombs/?ALLSTEPS

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?