On Sundays, we have what we call "Sunday FunDay" here at Casa de Hazaleus. We wake up, go to church, watch hunting shows, and eat "snacks" for lunch and dinner. Whether it be Jeff's amazing smoked salmon with crackers, crab dip and crackers, buffalo wings, guacamole ... it's Shaelynn's favorite day of the week. I remember doing this when I was younger and still living at home, having "Coffee Table Night", where we would pile finger foods on the coffee table for dinner.
Well, yesterday in church was a big day. It was the first time that a)we got to tell everyone about the upcoming baby and b) the first time Shae opted to stay with us in regular service rather than going into Children's Church.
Pastor Terry started the message telling us about his night with no electricity. He said you don't realize how spoiled you are using clocks, cell phones, microwaves, coffee pots, etc. until you cannot use them. Shaelynn leaned over to her dad and said "I get it! Without God, we have no power!" ... even a 6 year old gets it. Best. Day. Ever.
We have had a lot of great successes in our lives. Healthy children, great career, my amazing little soap company and dog grooming business, a beautiful home .... countless blessings. And it was all due to us giving the power over to God. We know it can all be taken away in an instant. We know we didn't get ourselves to this position. Heck, we know that we didn't even find each other ... it was all God's doing.
Pastor then said we should "Let the fragrance of our prayers rise to the heavens". This touched me. Several times I have made it a point not to ask for anything when I pray. God knows what I truly need, and he knows who and what is laying heavy on my heart, so I don't really NEED to ask him for anything. So, here is my challenge to all of you....
Pray without asking for anything. Simply give thanks for everything you have, and everything the Lord has done in your life. You will have such a different outlook on things if you take time to appreciate what has been given you.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
New Product Alert!!!
So, in doing my end-of-year paperwork (husband says I'm a procrastinator, so he's making me start earlier than usual now!), I realized that I had 157 special requests last year. These were requests for products that I *could* make but I just didn't do them regularly and had never put them on the website. Well, I figured if you were all asking for it 157 times, I should make these products regular members of the Soap Mom product party!
Okay ... here are the new products!!!
**Liquid Soap** for hands and body
**Soap Mom & Baby Line** An ultra-mild, fragrance-free line of products for pregnant women and babies
**Purse Sizes** Available in lotions and sanitizer
**Fizzing Milk Bath** (I have already added this one to the website)
**Pet Colognes**
**Linen and Body Refresher Sprays**
**MILK soaps**
I have a really busy weekend ahead of me, so I may not get products added to the website until next week. But I'll let you know when they are up!!
Today was really busy, but I did manage to get a couple gallons of my Hand & Body wash made! I'm waiting for new packaging to be delivered, if you order before the new arrives your soap will come in my 6 ounce lotion bottles with the screw-off cap rather than the flip top liquid soap cap traditionally used.
Okay ... here are the new products!!!
**Liquid Soap** for hands and body
**Soap Mom & Baby Line** An ultra-mild, fragrance-free line of products for pregnant women and babies
**Purse Sizes** Available in lotions and sanitizer
**Fizzing Milk Bath** (I have already added this one to the website)
**Pet Colognes**
**Linen and Body Refresher Sprays**
**MILK soaps**
I have a really busy weekend ahead of me, so I may not get products added to the website until next week. But I'll let you know when they are up!!
Today was really busy, but I did manage to get a couple gallons of my Hand & Body wash made! I'm waiting for new packaging to be delivered, if you order before the new arrives your soap will come in my 6 ounce lotion bottles with the screw-off cap rather than the flip top liquid soap cap traditionally used.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Soap of the Month!!!
Hello Friends!
I know I teased you by releasing the fragrance for the January Soap of the Month addition! It's a simply delectable vanilla almond fragrance. Just enough almond to not be overpowering, topped with the sweet vanilla buttercream natural fragrance that has been oh-so popular.
Well, I wanted to share a pic I took of your soap last week. This was taken right after pouring. You can see the yellow and cream swirls. The yellow swirls are the vanilla, and they will turn a gorgeous warm brown. I'll post a picture of the color change in a couple days (I'm a tease, I know!) I just love watching my soaps cure. As they cure, they often change color (because my soaps are natural I never use a color stabilizer - I let them do whatever they please!), and the scent typically becomes deeper and more involved. Also, older or "cured" soap has better lather, so that's always a treat!
For all of you fellow soapmakers out there, This is the WSP 12 bar silicone mold. Let me tell you the story behind this one! I used to use a loaf mold, and still do on occasion. As you know, the "ends" are not pretty, and it's not customary to sell them. So, I had hundreds of end pieces. I did package them as samples, kabobs, and Ugly Betty's, but for the discounted price, it was really a waste of my time (that time management was a tough one for me to learn). My wonderful hubby - the marketing and sales guru - caught me eyeing this mold one day. I told him that if I purchased these molds, my soaps would not be AS beautiful as before, but I wouldn't have end pieces to fool with, and time wasted cutting soaps. For him, it was a no-brainer, go with the slab mold! I hemmed and hawed (that's country for ... thought about it!) for awhile, and finally took the plunge and ordered these slab molds. I will NEVER go back! I can still adorn my soaps, and create swirls and layers to make them perfectly beautiful. They are VERY sturdy, I've made hundreds of batches in these molds and they have never given me any trouble. They are oven safe for those that like to gel your soaps in the oven, and they freeze nicely as well. I have saved so much time, and when you own a small business, time = $$$$ and headache with these molds. If anyone is on the fence about a slab ... I say go for it!
That being said .... my top selling bar soap for December was Oatmeal Milk and Honey.
I'm offering that soap @ buy one get one free until the end of January. No coupon is needed, I'll simply include your extra soaps with your order. Enjoy friends!!
And for your laugh of the day ... here is Shaelynn after we rubbed her head with pillows. We are easily entertained! ;)
I know I teased you by releasing the fragrance for the January Soap of the Month addition! It's a simply delectable vanilla almond fragrance. Just enough almond to not be overpowering, topped with the sweet vanilla buttercream natural fragrance that has been oh-so popular.
Well, I wanted to share a pic I took of your soap last week. This was taken right after pouring. You can see the yellow and cream swirls. The yellow swirls are the vanilla, and they will turn a gorgeous warm brown. I'll post a picture of the color change in a couple days (I'm a tease, I know!) I just love watching my soaps cure. As they cure, they often change color (because my soaps are natural I never use a color stabilizer - I let them do whatever they please!), and the scent typically becomes deeper and more involved. Also, older or "cured" soap has better lather, so that's always a treat!
For all of you fellow soapmakers out there, This is the WSP 12 bar silicone mold. Let me tell you the story behind this one! I used to use a loaf mold, and still do on occasion. As you know, the "ends" are not pretty, and it's not customary to sell them. So, I had hundreds of end pieces. I did package them as samples, kabobs, and Ugly Betty's, but for the discounted price, it was really a waste of my time (that time management was a tough one for me to learn). My wonderful hubby - the marketing and sales guru - caught me eyeing this mold one day. I told him that if I purchased these molds, my soaps would not be AS beautiful as before, but I wouldn't have end pieces to fool with, and time wasted cutting soaps. For him, it was a no-brainer, go with the slab mold! I hemmed and hawed (that's country for ... thought about it!) for awhile, and finally took the plunge and ordered these slab molds. I will NEVER go back! I can still adorn my soaps, and create swirls and layers to make them perfectly beautiful. They are VERY sturdy, I've made hundreds of batches in these molds and they have never given me any trouble. They are oven safe for those that like to gel your soaps in the oven, and they freeze nicely as well. I have saved so much time, and when you own a small business, time = $$$$ and headache with these molds. If anyone is on the fence about a slab ... I say go for it!
That being said .... my top selling bar soap for December was Oatmeal Milk and Honey.
I'm offering that soap @ buy one get one free until the end of January. No coupon is needed, I'll simply include your extra soaps with your order. Enjoy friends!!
And for your laugh of the day ... here is Shaelynn after we rubbed her head with pillows. We are easily entertained! ;)
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
What a busy day!
I've had a busy day! The neighbor kids came over to play today, I need to get used to multiple kids around since we'll be having another in August! I'm just so used to Miss Shaelynn doing everything herself, she's spoiled me!
I did make it into the soap room for a bit. Finished up todays orders, and the beautiful Soap of the Month Club soap for January is almost done curing! I'll get a quick pic for you before I ship them all off to their new homes!
I have stopped for a bite of dinner. Shae had leftover pizza (yesterday's pregnancy craving), and I had an omelet in a bag. HERE is the recipe, I made mine with spinach and green onions ... *hint* this is yummy but it took mine about 15 minutes to cook all the way through. AND, make sure your pan of boiling water is pretty big, otherwise you'll melt your plastic baggie and have a big eggy mess! Turns out eggs don't sit well with the baby-in-waiting, so now I have to find something else to eat.
After kiddo goes to bed I see myself going back downstairs to make more soapy goodies! I've got to get stocked up for Farmers Market season! I'm going to need 1,000 bars of soap and 500 bottles of each product to get started ... whew!
I did get my invite to Pinterest today! I can see how it can be addictive! HERE is my first board. Dogs, cattle, soap ... pure Kansas goodness. Yesterday evening we saw an owl out right behind our back deck. He was SO very beautiful, but by the time I got my camera situated he found a snack and swooped off with it. Hubby suggested I turn the Pugs loose and donate one of them for his snack. He's just kidding (I think)!!!
Beca
I did make it into the soap room for a bit. Finished up todays orders, and the beautiful Soap of the Month Club soap for January is almost done curing! I'll get a quick pic for you before I ship them all off to their new homes!
I have stopped for a bite of dinner. Shae had leftover pizza (yesterday's pregnancy craving), and I had an omelet in a bag. HERE is the recipe, I made mine with spinach and green onions ... *hint* this is yummy but it took mine about 15 minutes to cook all the way through. AND, make sure your pan of boiling water is pretty big, otherwise you'll melt your plastic baggie and have a big eggy mess! Turns out eggs don't sit well with the baby-in-waiting, so now I have to find something else to eat.
After kiddo goes to bed I see myself going back downstairs to make more soapy goodies! I've got to get stocked up for Farmers Market season! I'm going to need 1,000 bars of soap and 500 bottles of each product to get started ... whew!
I did get my invite to Pinterest today! I can see how it can be addictive! HERE is my first board. Dogs, cattle, soap ... pure Kansas goodness. Yesterday evening we saw an owl out right behind our back deck. He was SO very beautiful, but by the time I got my camera situated he found a snack and swooped off with it. Hubby suggested I turn the Pugs loose and donate one of them for his snack. He's just kidding (I think)!!!
Beca
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)