tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23856197718727497832012-01-07T22:12:57.405-05:00Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.comBlogger1361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-78936520807979656242011-12-30T19:52:00.000-05:002011-12-30T20:42:30.015-05:00

Image by Brian Wilkins via Flickr A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. –Walt Disney It's that time of year - the time for looking ahead to the New Year, setting personal and professional goals and putting plans in place to make them happen.  I've been working on personal goals for weeks now, letting ideas float around in

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-6814592451594878692011-11-24T10:25:00.001-05:002011-11-24T10:29:45.568-05:00

Image via Wikipedia Here they are...  The Thanksgiving weekend coupon codes for the Sara's Soaps 'n Such online shop.  Coupons are good all weekend, plus shipping is free all weekend, Friday-Monday. Take 10% off any purchase - coupon code BlackFriday11 Take 25% off any purchase of $50 or more - coupon code SmBizSaturday11 Take 30% off any purchase of $75 or more - coupon code

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-57857681052832533652011-11-24T07:36:00.001-05:002011-11-24T07:55:58.565-05:00

What a great day!  It's still pretty early, but I woke up feeling grateful for the many wonderful people in my life. I woke up excited about seeing my family today, and I thought about how lucky I am to be 38 and to still have a set of grandparents alive.  I thought of how lucky my girls are - my older one especially - to have gotten to know three of their grandparents and how she'll have those

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-2772203431767244762011-11-10T15:03:00.001-05:002011-11-10T21:35:19.993-05:00

Image by Tim Green aka atoach via Flickr"God helps those who help themselves."  Not really.  I will recant that if someone can point me to the verse in the Bible that says that, but I know it's not there.  So where did this popular saying come from?  Thanks to my Facebook and Twitter friend Shila Laing, it comes from a fable, which you can read here, but I've also included it below. Aesop for

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-62826313059217965322011-10-25T21:00:00.000-04:002011-10-25T22:42:41.159-04:00

The call came yesterday from my dearest online friend.  Although we'd been friends for over 6 years and live just 4 hours or so apart, our friendship had been restricted to emails, chats, text messages and phone calls.  He told me he had a business day trip to make to a city near us and could we meet for lunch.  With less than 24 hours' notice, I had to arrange for child care, figure out where we

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0Burgaw, NC 28425, USA34.5521113 -77.92609834.5259558 -77.96558 34.5782668 -77.88661599999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-23196073611285552962011-10-12T23:06:00.000-04:002011-10-12T23:06:39.106-04:00

Unless you've been living in a cave for the past several years, then you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  This is the month to promote saving those girls, because women use them to nurture life and men...  Well, men just like them.  As women, it's our responsibility to keep the girls healthy, so please remember to do your monthly self-exams.  I usually do mine on or around the

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-78223636852067912412011-09-27T13:01:00.001-04:002011-09-27T13:08:36.346-04:00

It all started on Twitter.  Doesn't a lot of stuff nowadays? I started following this restaurant on Twitter - Chris' Cosmic Kitchen.  The owner's wife Kris was the social media person for this account, and on mine and Peter's 11th anniversary, we decided to eat brunch there before heading to the beach. At the same time, I'd connected on Twitter with a local gentleman, Craig.  Craig is a sweet

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-70354207095372368032011-09-19T21:07:00.001-04:002011-09-20T17:12:35.409-04:00

Last week was crazy here, dear readers, which is why I'm so far behind on the weekly blog post.  My weeks lately (in addition to the typical homeschooling) have included running some test batches of soap for Nature's Garden, potty training and putting together a large order for Duplin Winery.  It's almost Autumn.  I was thinking earlier today how it is that so many of my fellow Indies have time

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-71141857832473763232011-09-08T23:36:00.000-04:002011-09-08T23:36:47.011-04:00

Image via WikipediaPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed 7 December 1941 as "a day which will live in infamy."  It's on the calendars - if you get the right calendar - as "Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day."  Seventy years after the fact, and we still remember when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  We tell our children of what happened on that fateful day and what consequences it had for us as a

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-87021419415378996592011-08-30T20:33:00.000-04:002011-08-30T20:33:14.569-04:00

While I adore making soap (obviously), there are times when I simply must break away from soapmaking in order to be better at it.  My favorite non-soap craft endeavor is sewing.  I really like machine sewing pillows and gift bags, though I'll also cross-stitch on occasion as well.  I had three sewing projects in queue going into this week, and I'm proud to say that I've knocked out two of them.

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-91671847332381281992011-08-26T17:02:00.000-04:002011-08-26T17:02:20.752-04:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeThe sky is grey turning to black.  Rain's spitting on us, and the winds are quickly beginning to kick up.  Overhead, the variations of grey in the clouds show us how they're circular around us, moving counterclockwise.  Yes, folks, we're battening down for Hurricane Irene.  We've got nearly two cases of bottled water, we'll have more than a tank full of propane,

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-22608326539112363902011-08-24T12:27:00.001-04:002011-08-24T14:32:57.689-04:00

It hardly seems believable that Summer vacation is drawing to a close.  We're doing a year-around schedule for homeschool this year, so we've already been back to school for a month.  Yet, my Facebook news feed is buzzing with tears and joy from parents whose children are going back to school this week or starting school this week.  Those moms I met in our kindergarten year are wondering how they

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-89582634418151748482011-08-17T08:00:00.000-04:002011-08-17T08:00:05.382-04:00

My friend Ginger of Neos Creations challenged me over the weekend, after hearing about our plans for our firstborn's eighth birthday celebration, to write a blog post about how to do a kid's birthday party on the cheap.  Since I really didn't have anything better in mind to write about, I decided to take her up on her challenge. In this day of large bouncy houses, local bands and everything else

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-25050558592088238272011-08-07T17:50:00.000-04:002011-08-07T17:50:16.356-04:00

Image via Wikipedia I read a great book this past Spring called The Various Flavors of Coffee, a delightful book by Anthony Capella, about - what else? - that black liquid ambrosia that gets so many of us going in the mornings.  Coffee!  It's a fascinating, fun read with delightful characters and, as a person who lives by the nose, amazing descriptions of the nuances of scents and flavors in

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-8845849695935940602011-07-27T23:31:00.000-04:002011-07-27T23:31:00.331-04:00

I can't remember where it was, but sometime last week, I saw a challenge issued in a blog.  This author's assertion is, those of us in business and with business blogs tend to blog almost exclusively about business.  He further challenged to take a day and write about yourself, opening yourself up and sharing parts of yourself that your public may never see.  This isn't a bad challenge, and

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-64502513256745191112011-07-24T22:02:00.001-04:002011-07-24T22:18:01.040-04:00

Image via WikipediaOne of the joys of being a small business owner is being able to take a full day off to play - go shopping, go to the beach or just bum around the house in my pajamas.  Last Thursday, despite the 100-degree temps, the girls and I headed down to the beach.  We love going to the one at Ft. Fisher - ample free parking and lifeguards, as well as showers and bathrooms.  Perfect,

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-2658731835868588252011-07-13T08:00:00.000-04:002011-07-13T08:00:20.720-04:00

My recent blogs have dealt with how to fail and succeed in business, and next week I'll most likely swing back to serious, but I felt the need to post something a little bit lighter.  The third Saturday in June, I vended at the NC Blueberry Festival.  It started with this soap... You simply can't visit the Blueberry Festival without indulging in some delicious, locally grown blueberries.  Plump,

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-81906223952585633912011-07-06T08:00:00.001-04:002011-07-06T08:44:54.845-04:00

I've been looking at feet lately - namely, those of my girls.  (It's crazy where I'll find inspiration for blog posts sometimes!)  What I've observed has some good guiding principles for business. Observation #1:  My baby likes to walk around in her big sister's shoes and in my shoes - mainly her sis's.  How can one apply this to business?  Have shoes in which those coming behind you want to

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-78014843112723075152011-06-29T08:00:00.001-04:002011-06-29T09:17:23.180-04:00

In last week's blog post, I outlined four ways to ruin a good small business.  This week, I want to look at the positive - ways to grow a good small business.  Part of this post is inspired by an email interview my daughter, the head of Girly Arts Made by ME, completed yesterday.  (When the interview is due to air online, I'll post it here.  And on Twitter.  And Facebook.  And maybe on that

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-11706879804691368762011-06-24T19:11:00.001-04:002011-06-24T19:27:29.621-04:00

Sad but true, the inspiration for this week's blog post came from observing the business practices of an area business. Being a small business owner has made me extra-sensitive to the business practices of other small businesses.  I feel that observing what they do well and what they do poorly can provide some powerful vicarious learning opportunities to me.  If a business is doing something

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-51272992597180497152011-06-16T22:28:00.001-04:002011-06-16T23:00:41.385-04:00

Saturday's the day - my biggest show of the year.  This Saturday is the North Carolina Blueberry Festival.  Peter and I are busy putting the finishing touches on production, and tomorrow will be the mega-wrapping day.  Much of our wares are already wrapped and labeled, but there's a little bit left to go.  What's new and great this year?  We'll be selling a limited edition Blueberry Festival soap

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-11561651319854863282011-06-08T08:00:00.008-04:002011-06-08T08:00:03.964-04:00

For those customers who don't mind if their body care products are vegan-friendly or not, I like what beeswax does for certain formulations, such as lip balms and lotion bars.  It gives it a silky glide that's incomparable.  There are many places online to purchase beeswax, but since the North Carolina state insect is the honey bee, then I personally prefer buying my beeswax from local beekeepers

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-66558351136469965342011-06-01T08:00:00.003-04:002011-06-01T08:55:14.174-04:00

Last week at this time, my husband, older daughter and I were in Orlando, hanging out with a Mouse, many Princesses and a whole bunch of other characters.  We had a wonderful time, and while we were in Orlando, we had to get in a visit to Clean The World, a nonprofit organization that provides soap, lotion, shampoo and conditioner to people in places all over the world where diarrheal, skin and

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-29893397316258286902011-05-11T08:00:00.001-04:002011-05-11T08:00:11.050-04:00

Peter and I were invited to attend a Derby party Saturday night.  Unfortunately, our sitter had a family emergency of her own, so we weren't able to attend.  Despite that, though, I was determined to make my hat nonetheless, and I could always wear it to church.  So, this week's blog post will be showcasing my non-soapy creativity. I started off by placing whisper pink tulle over a white hat

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-77207484016606130872011-05-01T15:20:00.001-04:002011-05-01T15:20:52.331-04:00

Image via WikipediaWe spent yesterday visiting with my parents, paternal grandparents and aunts.  It was a lovely visit and well worth the drive there and back.  My grandpa served in the Army during WWII, and it's only been in the past few years that he's really begun to speak of that time in his life and to share his pictures and memories.

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-91814693612356042612011-04-27T20:50:00.000-04:002011-04-27T20:50:03.832-04:00

Tomorrow's the day!  Oooh, we're sooo excited!  I simply must make room in the living room - dump peanuts, crush boxes (thank goodness tomorrow's trash day), pick up some clutter.  The cute guy in the brown uniform is coming!  He'll be grateful that this week's box will be light - mostly lip balm tubes, caps and replacement items from an order mix-up (not like last week's huge pail of palm oil

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-76437947314791029942011-04-20T08:00:00.001-04:002011-04-20T08:00:11.393-04:00

If you haven't heard by now, IT'S HERE!!!  It's bright!  It's sunny!  And it's made especially for little girls on the go.  What is it?  It's Sun On The Go, my daughter's fabulous new set of girly essentials. This set is made for little girls on vacation.  My daughter said that little girls needed their own products when they're traveling, and that was the catalyst for this epiphany.  She

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-66305673524844081742011-04-13T22:59:00.000-04:002011-04-13T22:59:47.171-04:00

About two weeks ago, as I was preparing for that big show at Camp Lejeune, my daughter walks up to me where I was wrapping soaps and says, "Mommy, I want to add a lip balm to my line, and I want to name it this, flavor it that and package it like this."  Once I picked my jaw up off the ground - I was very impressed by her well thought-out presentation - I said, "Sounds like a great product!  

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-40516026368053595872011-04-06T08:00:00.001-04:002011-04-06T08:00:03.236-04:00

This past weekend saw me spending a considerable amount of time on base at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC, working the Hidden Talents Craft Show.  The show was pretty disappointing; lots of people, lots of browsers, but few buyers.  I discovered on Sunday as I was in a c-mart getting gas and munchies that I figured out what was going on.  The federal government has failed to pass a balanced

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-5950594454707224382011-03-23T23:26:00.000-04:002011-03-23T23:26:12.864-04:00

First it was Spa Soaps.  Then it was Mediterranean Spa Salts.  Then it was a Mediterranean Spa Scrub.  These all have come together in a delicious Mediterranean Spa Collection that's waiting for you to create a relaxing spa retreat in your own bathroom. First, pour yourself something to drink.  While wine is relaxing, water does a body good.  This is your spa experience, though, so savor

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-23337142277592155302011-03-16T08:00:00.002-04:002011-03-16T08:54:47.809-04:00

Flip flops.  Soaps.  Jesus.  Motorcycles.  These four things don't seem like they'd go together in any way, shape, form or fashion, yet I'm going to show you how they do, in fact, go together perfectly. A few years ago, I introduced these adorable flip flop soaps, and they sold like hotcakes!  One of my soap buds said, "You could say people are flipping for your flops!"  Each bar is a hefty 5 3/

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-55905993841043709822011-03-09T08:00:00.001-05:002011-03-09T08:00:09.631-05:00

Yesterday was International Women's Day, and I saw that 100 years ago, Susan B. Anthony marched for women's right to vote.  She voted in the 1872 election when it was illegal for her to do so - and was arrested for it.  She was a very badly behaved woman, and her face graces a U.S. coin and her name lives on in history. Susan's friend Elizabeth Stanton Cody advocated for fair and equal

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-9582179355942981592011-03-02T08:00:00.002-05:002011-03-02T08:00:22.814-05:00

With all the unrest recently in the Middle East as citizens of various countries are protesting their governments and fighting for democracy - even going so far as to risk their lives in many cases - I've thought about how good we have it here in America.  Our time of fighting for our freedoms and democracy has passed.  As I hear reports of so many people who not only have not had the democracy

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-32442173541773627592011-02-16T08:00:00.000-05:002011-02-15T23:09:32.809-05:00

Over the past almost three years, I've created a variety of luscious soaps that incorporated some pretty unusual ingredients for soap - tea, beer, pomegranate juice and wine, to name a few.  For years I've heard about salt bars, also known as spa soaps.  They're counterintuitive in nature; high coconut oil amounts in soap is very drying, and salt, of course, can cause dry skin as well.  Still,

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-64801982322282710612011-02-09T08:00:00.004-05:002011-02-09T10:33:51.980-05:00

  It's February, and despite the groundhog's prediction of an early Spring, we're still deep in the throes of Winter here in North Carolina.  Valentine's Day is five days away, and it's a great time to heat up your Winter.  How...? With Le Boudoir products for couples, of course!  These high quality products are just what you need to add some sizzle to your Valentine's Day.  If teasing and

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-85401196864011188432011-02-02T13:53:00.000-05:002011-02-02T13:53:53.853-05:00

Image by jimmywayne via FlickrWhile parts of our country are completely shut down due to insane blizzards dumping snow on top of snow and ice, here in southeast North Carolina, we're enjoying some gorgeous weather, with highs floating around 70 under blue skies with some pretty nice breezes.  Morning rain sent my husband home from work, and our older daughter declared she wanted her daddy to

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-16982197602245935432011-01-02T20:30:00.000-05:002011-01-02T20:30:25.846-05:00

Party No More Having missed last year's Flotilla, we missed the encore of the previous year's party, missed seeing the people and just missed the whole experience that IS our Flotilla weekend.  Apparently, a lot had changed in two years.  With two little ones, one of which would be ready to go to bed soon after the Flotilla ended, my husband and I decided we'd tag team the party so we'd each get

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-71726511002874293472010-12-08T18:06:00.000-05:002010-12-08T18:06:49.628-05:00

Image by katiescrapbooklady via FlickrNostalgic Memories As our weekend began, it dawned on me that the Inlet Inn, which we just started patronizing in 2006, has fit so seamlessly into our tradition.  I do miss the beach house - lots of space, outside shower, beach right outside the door (and over the dunes), the option to cook meals as we wish - but the Inn is very nice and a relaxing escape

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-61196132977532054752010-12-05T19:27:00.001-05:002010-12-05T19:29:10.541-05:00

The Tradition Begins This article begins a multi-part series on our trip to Beaufort, NC to see the Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla.  This is an annual tradition for our family, and this year in particular brought back a wave of memories and quite a bit of nostalgia. Beaufort (pronounced bo' - fort -- long "o") is a charming port town along the North Carolina coast, pretty much the farthest

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-71651664145749504472010-10-31T22:37:00.002-04:002010-10-31T22:51:41.061-04:00

I'd like to announce a fantastic new game for the month of November!  This game will be taking place at my Facebook page and will be my own version of "Name That Tune."  Here's how we'll play... Every week in November up until Thanksgiving, I'm going to post a snippet from a Christmas song on my Facebook page.  It'll start easy - 5 notes - then gradually get harder.  I'll choose Christmas music

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-1486232327962585332010-10-25T17:50:00.001-04:002010-10-25T17:51:13.874-04:00

Image via WikipediaThis recipe featured in the CoastViews Magazine Blog and was brought to my attention by Monique, a Facebook friend.  I tried it for the first time last week and, while it didn't hit the palate as we were anticipating (more on that in a bit), it's still a very delicious soup. You'll need: 3 tablespoons butter 1 medium sweet onion, chopped 4 medium carrots, chopped 3 medium ribs

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-37826976602726970062010-10-22T18:40:00.001-04:002010-10-23T14:43:02.169-04:00

I whipped up another batch of pumpkin doozies today; after all, I had to find something to do with the leftover cream cheese frosting.  I made the original batch with whole wheat flour, since that's what we have in the canister.  They were a gorgeous brown and had a rich flavor as the nuttiness of the flour accented the pumpkin. We're running low on whole wheat flour and I didn't feel like a run

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-56758071363055792282010-10-21T21:13:00.001-04:002010-10-21T21:26:54.993-04:00

Image via CrunchBaseAlright.  It's taken me a while, but I simply have to confess, I'm sucking at this blogging thing lately.  What is it?  Time?  Maybe.  Lack of things to talk about?  Yeah, more than likely.  I'd say that both of these are hindered by my laptop being out of commission.  It's like this:  I'm the world's worst for not turning it off.  I'm homeschooling my older daughter all day,

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-43128085504332113832010-10-02T22:20:00.002-04:002010-10-03T20:51:29.758-04:00

Last month, I discovered that my Great-Grandma used to make her own soap.  Dad says that stuff would dry up poison ivy in twenty-four hours!  Yeah, it was that strong.  It shouldn't surprise me that Grandma made her own soap.  After all, in the early 20th century, pretty much every good farm wife made soap for the family, for bathing, laundry and washing dishes.  I'm impressed, though, because

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-40458025180674870742010-09-27T18:57:00.002-04:002010-09-27T19:00:02.438-04:00

Massage oil, available scented, unscented or flavored. My own highly exclusive oil blend In case you didn't know, I have a fabulous line of products for couples that I call Le Boudoir.  I enjoy making these (and product testing, of course!), because couples should have all natural (or mostly natural) products specifically designed to enhance their love life.  My husband feels that one of my

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-50501014597549900332010-09-21T23:22:00.002-04:002010-09-21T23:32:46.993-04:00

I mentioned in another blog post about meeting a friend from Twitter this past Saturday.  Sarah is a talented artisan in her own right.  A graduate of Meredith University with a degree in Art, she is artsy and gifted in ways I can only dream about.  I think a part of me may be slightly envious that she has the time to do all these great crafts.  She not only showed me her fantastic flower hair

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-43894492295364328822010-09-19T22:34:00.000-04:002010-09-19T22:34:38.086-04:00

I joined Twitter Spring of 2009.  To be honest, I'd heard about it but thought, I really don't have time to do any social networking.  Besides, what networking?  I'm a hugely pregnant work-at-home Mom getting ready to move; it's not like I'm going to meet anyone.  I now laugh at my naivete, because I've done a LOT of networking and have met quite a few people with whom I first connected on

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-23884653499487895032010-09-18T20:44:00.000-04:002010-09-18T20:44:02.495-04:00

As a small business owner, mom and homeschool teacher, I'm very seldom "off."  I wake up in the mornings and hit the ground running, keeping up with my two girls.  Then we start homeschooling, and once that's over, I'm still Mom but also hustling to catch up on business matters, often working right up til dinner, pausing for dinner and to put the girls to bed, then getting back to work, often

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-36112301463500366952010-09-06T18:34:00.000-04:002010-09-06T18:34:18.617-04:00

A little over a month ago, I posted my reasons for opposing the Safe Cosmetics Act; you can read that article here.  I have no problem with safe cosmetics; that's why my colleagues and I make our own as much as possible, and we make them according to cGMPs (Current Good Manufacturing Practices), as set forth by the FDA.  In this video, I discuss how the passing of the Safe Cosmetics Act (H.R.

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-58170035442415653742010-09-02T09:00:00.000-04:002010-09-01T23:36:46.344-04:00

After writing this post regarding "illegal" pesticides in the form of bug repellents - all natural ones that haven't been tested by the FDA or the EPA - a newish friend Lisa, co-CEO of Personal Care Truth, messaged me with some great information regarding these products. I'd found some - what I'd thought was good - information on a supplier's website.  This lady is smart, heavily involved with

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-34412038816366338482010-09-01T22:36:00.001-04:002010-09-01T22:47:37.316-04:00

Originally typed 29 July 2010 Each day, my girls and I walk at least a mile-and-a-half.  Well, I walk, the baby rides in her stroller and my older daughter who's six rides her bike.  She likes to be the leader, and since she tends to ride on my heels, I let her.  Walking with her has taught me a few valuable lessons in leadership. (1)  A good leader will make firm decisions.  We take turns

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-20802027371830459072010-08-25T17:10:00.000-04:002010-08-25T17:10:43.657-04:00

There are many soapmakers and cosmetic manufacturers out there who make all natural bug repellents.  These are products in either spray or solid form that repel bugs, normally made up of an all natural blend of alcohol and essential oils (for the sprays) or a butter/wax/oil blend with essential oils (for the sticks).  They're generally fabulous products - all natural, DEET free, safe to use on

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-20193729703876079442010-07-29T17:51:00.002-04:002010-07-29T18:01:36.856-04:00

We, of course, want to use safe cosmetics.  I can agree that we want to avoid certain things: Deodorant that makes your arms stick straight out to your sides. Luxurious night cream that turns your face green with orange and purple spots. Eye cream that makes them look buggy. Shampoo for fine, thin hair that ends up making your hair fine and thin. So why am I so opposed to the Safe Cosmetics Act

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-82160793959033256452010-07-21T17:51:00.002-04:002010-07-26T08:58:02.686-04:00

I am normally very intentional about not tying any of my political views to my business, but us small business owners who make cosmetics could be in serious trouble, so I want to get the word out for you to support us and am going to try doing so in the most nonpartisan way possible. What's the deal?  Reps. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc. introduced to the

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-40421963984644412422010-07-21T11:48:00.000-04:002010-07-21T11:48:25.577-04:00

The Sunday after Mother's Day, our six-year-old daughter told us on the way to church that she was ready to say the sinner's prayer and invite Jesus into her heart.  She'd been grappling with this decision for a few months by this point.  At the end of the service, her daddy and I knelt with her at the altar by the wooden cross that stands over our church's Open Door service while she said the

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-70277682273214134742010-07-20T23:09:00.002-04:002010-07-20T23:20:24.204-04:00

Last Wednesday my baby and I drove down to Southport to meet with a potential wholesale customer and to deliver some soap samples to her. While we were there, we took the time to walk around and visit some of the other shoppes at Olde Southport Village, a charming collection of cottage shoppes. I noticed a tea shoppe and tea room there, and thinking of a good source for Christmas presents for my

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-86941923112162103842010-06-17T22:40:00.001-04:002010-06-17T22:50:40.726-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, a local media outlet aired a "gotcha" story against Yahweh Center, a non-profit Christian organization that serves children, including some with learning, emotional and behavioral disorders.  It seems like a disgruntled former employee wanted her 15 minutes of fame.  Yet, I'm concerned what this bad media exposure would do for this center at a time when they're already

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-46671559922588748502010-06-07T16:20:00.000-04:002010-06-07T16:20:54.546-04:00

I've learned a lot of things from my husband over the years, but one thing which stands out, especially in the current insanity that's our life together right now, is the importance of working smarter, not harder.  For me - and for him - this means finding the right tools which would allow us to maximize efficiency and minimize labor.  I've recently found two gems that do this for me as I make

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-24685726819965343392010-05-27T21:35:00.000-04:002010-05-27T21:35:49.643-04:00

He's a quiet man, unassuming, passionate in his love for God and God's people.  His name is Mike Cogdill, and I've had the pleasure and honor of knowing Dr. Cogdill since I was a smart-mouthed sophmore in college.  Even with that less-than-stellar beginning, he still gave me his blessing as I prepared to enter Divinity School at Campbell University Divinity School, of which he was dean. Upon

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-65148775332476571882010-05-23T08:35:00.001-04:002010-05-24T10:21:17.988-04:00

Yesterday my husband and I celebrated our eleventh anniversary.  This past year has certainly been a wild one, what with moving into our first house, making our "big move" at the same time to a completely new part of the state, and having a new baby.  Our day began with brunch at Chris's Cosmic Kitchen in Wilmington, traversed down to Kure Beach for a bit of water therapy and a walk on the beach,

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-85723898281110237332010-05-21T10:07:00.000-04:002010-05-21T10:07:47.324-04:00

It happened twice this week, rather out of the blue.  The first time was Tuesday when a friend saw something I posted on Facebook.  I was venting about my older daughter's teacher and used a description that she was afraid her daughter would see.  It caught me off-guard, but what she said was, "She looks up to you, and seeing that would crush her."  Wow.  I absolutely adore this young lady. 

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-56875734103663489672010-05-20T11:38:00.000-04:002010-05-20T11:38:54.026-04:00

Confession...  I'm a huge crime drama junkie - My week runs through all the CBS "howdunits" from Monday night with CSI: Miami to Thursday night and The Mentalist.  (Numb3rs is off the air and I gave up on Sunday nights - couldn't stay up.)  Last night I was watching Criminal Minds, which is like a dark chocolate dream to this former Psych major, and was fascinated by the whole emphasis on social

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-70707014034998512432010-05-16T07:55:00.000-04:002010-05-16T07:55:23.164-04:00

Sixty-four... what?  Bars of soap?  Sometimes!  Bottles of lotion?  Possibly.  Tubes of lip balm?  Nope. Sixty-four ounces of water daily.  This is my favorite and easiest fitness trick.  I start with 16 ounces when I take my morning pills - eight for my multivitamin, another eight for my Claritin.  This is a hard goal to reach when it's 35 degrees and cloudy outside.  After all, who wants to

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-2196500070158659652010-05-14T09:00:00.053-04:002010-05-14T09:00:00.751-04:00

My six-year-old daughter was home from school this past Monday, getting over a stomach bug.  I'd given her a soapmaking kit I got at the HSMG Conference the previous week and told her that she could now fly almost-solo in making her first soap.  After the squeals and hugs and "Oh, Mommy, you're the best!"s, she asked, "But not with lye, right?  Because I'm not old enough to do lye soap."  Nope,

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-64176645388358567012010-05-13T10:53:00.000-04:002010-05-13T10:53:59.915-04:00

A well-known Viking-heavy credit card commercial asks, "What's in your wallet?"  I ask you, "What's in your cell phone?"  I had the time and extreme boredom required to clean out my cell phone the other day.  There were text messages going back over two years that needed to be deleted or moved.  I did this partially because, with the number of texts I'm sending and receiving lately, it doesn't

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-80637199583418091832010-05-10T14:52:00.000-04:002010-05-10T14:52:17.545-04:00

While I was at the HSMG Conference last weekend, I took advantage of the opportunity to sit in on two sessions, both of which were very chemistry-rich.  Let me preface this by saying that just being in these sessions was a matter of extreme self-discipline and personal challenge.  You see, while chemistry is now pretty much my life, I did horrible at it in high school and college, earning C's at

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-84574265445363116122010-05-02T10:48:00.001-04:002010-05-02T10:50:00.848-04:00

I am having a simply fantastic time at the Handscrafted Soapmakers Guild annual conference in Denver, Colorado!  I'm not sure where to start.  If any of you, my customers, live in Colorado, I must say that it's a simply gorgeous place to visit and the people here are incredibly friendly.  I know you're proud to live here.  This was my first trip to Colorado - shoot, it was my first trip west of

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-78211802952286371952010-04-10T16:10:00.002-04:002010-04-10T16:12:15.300-04:00

I talked about these soaps months ago, telling you how spectacular they are for skin with their great scents, fluffy lather and skin-nourishing properties.  Now that they're off of consignment and back in my hands, I get the thrill of showing them off.  They are beer soaps. All that's left of the beer in these scrumptious, hefty bars is the extract of the hops, the flower used to give beer its

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-81457364406950942932010-03-06T16:23:00.000-05:002010-03-06T16:23:13.687-05:00

Am I the only one who's tired of Winter and has the hands and feet to prove it?  Oh my gosh, they're so dry and chapped, even with frequent applications of superior moisturizing lotion!  This dry, cold air is wreaking havoc on my skin, just as, I'm sure, it's doing to yours, too. But there's hope.  According to the calendar (if not the meteorologist), Spring is a mere two weeks away - give or

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-21141805165120791122010-02-18T17:58:00.001-05:002010-02-18T17:58:11.108-05:00

It has no frills, no fuss, no anything except for all-natural, vegan-friendly goodness.  It's Just Plain Soap.  I created this soap a couple of years ago to meet the demand for a moisturizing soap that's well-suited for people who are sensitive to particular fragrances.  Many people who claim they're "allergic to soaps" aren't allergic to soaps so much as they're allergic to the synthetic

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-19904699599697589222010-02-04T22:36:00.001-05:002010-02-05T15:46:31.308-05:00

An earthquake hit, and hundreds of thousands of people died. An earthquake hit a small island nation, and thousands more were injured. An earthquake hit, and hundreds of thousands more are without homes, without clothes, without food, without water. Then the call came - twice.  The first came through the WSP Soap and Candle forums via a post echoing an article in Saponifier magazine.  The

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-25212129656541519562010-01-30T22:47:00.002-05:002010-01-30T23:04:28.669-05:00

From the moment we're born, touch is a major part of our lives.  We're wrapped snuggly in a blanket and placed in our mother's arms, where we're warm, secure and happy.  As we grow into children, that need and desire for touch doesn't disappear; it manifests itself in holding hands with our friends, hugging our parents (or, in my older daughter's case, hugging anyone who'll stand still long

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-3554535459600438282010-01-24T22:00:00.000-05:002010-01-24T22:00:24.561-05:00

...But I need your help first. Massage oils in scents is easy - unscented, lavender, rose, patchouli, vanilla and maybe some custom blends. Massage oils in flavors is a bit more challenging, and this is where I need your help.  Please take just a moment to vote in the poll to the right here ------> Yeah, that's it... And let me hear your opinion on what flavors you'd want to use in a flavored

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-72251307754269494782010-01-15T22:12:00.000-05:002010-01-15T22:12:25.262-05:00

I saw on another site today yet another soapmaker who doesn't like preservatives, who thinks they're evil and so forth.  That's well and good, and I applaud those who firmly believe in creating all natural products and can do so safely.  There's an easy way to make all-natural products which won't need a preservative:  Make them without water.  Such products as lotion bars, soaps and lip balms

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-28505606540101579982010-01-11T21:51:00.002-05:002010-01-11T21:54:35.786-05:00

I encountered this recipe in an unassuming email from Allrecipes.com back in the fall, and have, since then, played with it and tweaked it to make it my own.  I think the best incarnation of this recipe to date was the last batch I made, and here's the recipe for it. You'll need: Ingredients: 2 cups butternut squash (1/2 large one) 1 large sweet potato (can also use white, but sweet gives you

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-56119825691319876242010-01-10T14:41:00.000-05:002010-01-10T14:41:51.730-05:00

I mentioned in this blog post that I had Corona beer going flat in the garage, but couldn't mention what I was going to do with it, because it was too close to Christmas.  Well, that beer became part of the Ultimate Buffett Soap and was a gift for my aunt, who joined us at the Summerzkool tour last year when Jimmy came to Raleigh.  The Ultimate Buffett Soap featured Corona beer, hemp seed oil (to

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-90909010320569335672009-12-27T22:43:00.000-05:002009-12-27T22:43:45.660-05:00

You know who you are. You live in or near Swansboro, NC and you really seem to enjoy browsing my site.  I have Google Analytics on my site to help me see from where my site traffic is, and I keep seeing Swansboro show up on the map and graph.  I don't mind; really, I'm glad you found my site and you keep checking back to see what's new.  I guess what always brings my attention to "Swansboro" on

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-21152513035770884822009-12-03T19:11:00.001-05:002009-12-03T19:12:09.384-05:00

What's the deal?  How about 10% off your total purchase and FREE shipping?  Pretty nice, huh?  What a great way to maybe buy a couple more stocking stuffers!  Or, perhaps you're looking at that one particular item and thinking, Ya know, my sister-in-law/admin/boss/office mate would love one of these, too, and I wish I'd gotten one.  Well, now's your chance!  I'll happily send you the coupon code.

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-44519645808640204292009-11-10T21:24:00.000-05:002009-11-10T21:24:55.443-05:00

I've talked about them for ages now, it seems, and I know everyone's waiting for a peek.  They are the beer soaps.  I first debuted them at Onslow Oktoberfest, held in Jacksonville a few weeks ago.  They didn't sell great, I'll confess.  We only sold three bars of them , but considering how slow traffic was that day, I can be satisfied with that.  Peter had made up a batch of soap using Guinness

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-8212155531180787572009-11-06T22:13:00.000-05:002009-11-06T22:13:55.189-05:00

Simply put, we're fanatical recyclers.  Everything from the usual milk jugs and aluminum cans to shampoo bottles, deli containers, styrofoam cups and buttery spread tubs...  If it's got that triangle on it, it's going in the recycle bin to be put out by the curb on trash day.  For some reason - maybe too many episodes of CSI? - I find myself wondering what someone would think if they went through

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-21941747665656239222009-10-11T22:01:00.002-04:002009-10-14T17:14:22.806-04:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Breast cancer claims so many lives each year, though new strides in treatments are saving lives that ten years ago might have been lost.  That doesn't mean this devastating disease has been eradicated, though. As a breastfeeding mom, I have gone from seeing my breasts as men might, as something beautiful and sexual, to seeing them as God made them to be

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-45962729882960984012009-10-11T21:23:00.000-04:002009-10-11T21:23:32.849-04:00

I was already drafting this blog article in my head when I came across a link to this article on Twitter.  Apparently, I'm not the only who's noticed that misleading and false advertising has become par for the course in American marketing. About a year ago, I posted an article challenging Dove's claim that soap leaves soap scum on your skin; you'll find that here.  Soap doesn't leave soap scum

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-24748318229944031772009-10-10T22:24:00.001-04:002009-10-10T22:26:58.476-04:00

Two weeks from right now, my first show of the season will be a wrap. Yep, that's right - my first one.  I'm only doing two big shows this year, and I haven't hooked up with any monthly markets since we moved; that's by choice.  I'm excited, though.  Preparing for a big event like this takes so much work and organization.  Then there's setting it up, my husband Peter and me coming together to

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-42144094012156930422009-09-15T21:15:00.001-04:002009-09-15T21:18:01.113-04:00

On a not-so-quiet street in a peaceful town, there's a row of shops facing the imposing stone structure of the county courthouse and the green expanse of the courthouse square.  Nestled in amongst these shops, situated between a florist and a lawyer's office (or a realtor's office, or both - there are signs for both, anyway) is this charming shop called The Court Jester Antiques and Stuff. Owned

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-70425994596164256542009-09-03T17:29:00.000-04:002009-09-03T17:29:04.300-04:00

In July, I posted about the two new soaps I had on the rack, Beach and Patchouli.  They've finished curing and are ready for purchase.  Since I've been spending the past month getting re-used to having a baby in the house, I haven't really done more with these soaps than stand and admire them, picking them up to sniff them and show them off to visitors.  These soaps have enjoyed a longer cure

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-15326163228323953162009-09-02T18:51:00.002-04:002009-09-02T22:14:14.241-04:00

I am pleased and delighted to announce the birth of my beautiful baby girl!!! Hannah Ilyssa was born Friday, 31 July at 3:46 p.m. She weighed 7 lbs., 11 ozs. and was 19.5" long. And did I mention she's beautiful? Her daddy, big sister and I are all thrilled with her. She's a good baby [I hate that expression, like there's such a thing as a "bad" baby?] and is beautiful, just like her big sis

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-75207978420566534532009-07-24T21:11:00.003-04:002009-07-24T22:37:34.216-04:00

I'm so excited about my newest soap batches - Beach and Patchouli! They're not ready for purchase, yet, but I just have to share them with you. (You can pre-purchase if you wish to guarantee you get one of these beauties.)First, Beach... This scent is a duplicate of the Bobbi Brown scent of the same name and also reminds me of Coppertone Kids. This soap is luxurious, with a luscious lather

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-45349307996660648652009-07-24T17:59:00.003-04:002009-07-24T18:18:46.895-04:00

I have been fast and furiously doing some website improvements over the past few weeks, in addition to unpacking boxes and bags, keeping up with my very social little girl, obeying the various people who keep telling me to put my feet up and trying to do as much around the house as possible. You'll notice it's in the midst of a face-lift, though the work's not completely done, yet. Just a few

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-6122843557821772132009-07-16T14:04:00.002-04:002009-07-16T14:24:49.369-04:00

If you're a soapmaker - or even if you're a devoted hobbyist of another sort - you know that one of the greatest satisfactions for you is getting into your work or hobby, in creating once more. Three weeks ago, I HAD to make soap. I needed (and still do) to make soap to restock my inventory, but in the meantime, my desire was simply in making something for myself, in pushing the boundaries and in

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-68644214048029503842009-07-04T07:58:00.003-04:002009-07-04T08:25:07.018-04:00

There comes a time in every family's life - sometimes sooner, sometimes later - when the rental game is just not cutting it anymore and God presents the perfect opportunity to move. That happened to us last month. Well, obviously, when it comes to moving, it's not just a matter of deciding one morning, "I don't want to rent anymore" and then being in a new home the next day. Our process started

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-59197533333843731792009-05-20T11:14:00.003-04:002009-05-20T12:03:45.156-04:00

It's not secret that I LOVE creating soaps. After all, anyone can melt soap base, add some color, a bit of fragrance, pour it into a large mould, slice it, wrap and label it and voila. Hey, it's easy, it's functional and it yields the ability to make larger quantities of handcrafted soap with minimal labor. But to create a lovely but still functional bar of soap... Or even just to create a lovely

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-91410386687241141682009-05-19T12:24:00.004-04:002009-05-19T12:41:19.515-04:00

I have Google Analytics installed on my website, which allows me to see where the site's hits are coming from. It's amazing when I can see that people in Paris, London, Moscow, Dublin and unknown, unremembered corners of various foreign countries are hitting MY site and looking at MY wares! Another thing that Analytics does is, it shows me how many hits come from certain places and how many of

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-44213315498010361772009-04-08T18:33:00.004-04:002009-04-08T19:13:37.518-04:00

Yeah, whodathunk it? The soap production is slowing down a little. I'm making some handcrafted soaps in preparation of my show next weekend, but, despite the oils and lye calling to me from my storage area ("Sara... Ohhhhh Saaaaara" - See, there they go again), I'm resisting the urge. One, I'm seeing the end of my lye and don't want to place a bulk order this close to our move. That's just a

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-79784018383132727862009-03-20T23:24:00.005-04:002009-03-22T13:27:51.699-04:00

Late February and March have been busy months for me as I've been keeping up with my honey products and learning/practicing/perfecting my swirls. Some batches have turned out great, others are nice and then there was that batch that nearly seized on me. Hey, it doesn't matter how it gets into the mould, as long as it comes out as good soap.I've been receiving some tremendous help and guidance

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-15973662309140994202009-03-07T18:29:00.005-05:002009-03-07T19:02:59.950-05:00

Ya know you want to. Yep, that's right. You want to grab a tube of my newest lip balm, Bee My Honey, a fabulous honey and shea butter all-natural lip balm. Shea butter contains vitamins A & E, both of which are great for the skin, and it also has sun protection properties. Honey lends its sweetness to this nourishing lip balm, and its humectant property also draws moisture from the air to

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-4881068056006549112009-03-02T20:01:00.003-05:002009-03-02T20:14:09.330-05:00

Now that the sun has set and the temps are rapidly dropping even farther below freezing, the beautiful winter wonderland will become a giant sheet of ice. Our schools are delayed by two hours tomorrow, which is what I was expecting. We'll hit some trouble spots where it's shady, but I don't anticipate a whole lot of hassle. I'm just glad that DD won't have to make up yet another day of school,

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-81150704783813968462009-03-02T12:57:00.004-05:002009-03-02T13:12:13.948-05:00

What a great, fun day! After a few days of grousing and griping about our seemingly never-ending winter, we got hit with our second snowfall in as many months - pretty unusual for NC weather. Well, my choice was to either sit inside where it's warm and bemoan the snow (though enjoying its prettiness, albeit out the back door) or live in the moment, bundle up and head outside with my husband and

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-62882176513667006582009-02-26T18:33:00.005-05:002009-02-26T19:45:21.899-05:00

What a great treat for me and for new customers! Last Spring, a sweet family bought some soaps from me - all bee-themed, containing honey, and two of them were moulded in my honeybee and comb mould. Back in early January, I guess it was, the father contacted me about participating in a Bee Festival in April. He's a beekeeper and was interested in the fact that I use bee products in my soaps.

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-60792628071478527212009-02-14T19:16:00.002-05:002009-02-14T19:49:14.157-05:00

As you know, I'm all about creating great and wonderful and new things. OK, admittedly, not everything comes out great and wonderful - some soaps turn out ugly or maybe just not at all what I'd planned. There's one creation I'm working on, though... One thing that's great and wonderful and precious and miraculous. Check it out...Yes, sir, that's my baby! :) I'm 15 weeks along and enjoying the

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385619771872749783.post-60806970296724484902009-02-11T11:16:00.003-05:002009-02-11T11:40:04.217-05:00

It came about because of a Tweet a soapmaking friend posted to Twitter, then it snowballed from there. I received some information about a credit card processing company that provides a virtual terminal that will enable me to accept credit cards at markets, shows and on my website. Well, I already could accept credit cards on my website, but they had to go through Paypal. For a while, I've had

Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.com3