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 autoimmune diseases are a very real, daily problem. Soaps, shampoo and conditioner provide needed hygiene measures that help prevent the spread of diseases. The lotions help soothe the skin, offering relief to open sores among people suffering with HIV/AIDS-related conditions.
I first became acquainted with Clean The World through the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild after the earthquake that ravaged Haiti in January 2010. Since then, I've been connected with them through Twitter and Facebook, and Jeremy Chambers, their social media specialist, and I have gotten to know each other through tweets and phone conversations, and he's helped me discover new ways to help support this great organization. When I knew we were going to be in Orlando, Jeremy arranged for us to meet and to tour their offices and warehouse.
This table of soaps greets visitors. There's a painted turtle soap on the right-hand side that's adorable!
Jeremy took my husband, daughter and me on a tour, and we were able to meet some of the people behind the scenes at Clean The World. I'm sorry I don't remember all their names; I'm horrible with names, though I remember all their faces. One of those we met was Paul Till, co-founder of Clean the World. (Check out his smile. You just get the sense that he always exudes this calm joy.)
Left to right - My husband Peter, older daughter Mary, Paul Till, me
After the grand tour of the offices (physically, nothing elaborate or extravagant - "cube hell," mostly), Jeremy took us into the warehouse, which was a marvel of organization and contains a mind-numbing amount of soap. See for yourself! Check out the end for opportunities to support this amazing organization, even with something as simple as a text message.
Watch this space, because there's going to be some more opportunities for you to help support this awesome organization, and check out their website at www.CleanTheWorld.org to see everything they're doing.
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 doesn't really like the soaps and shampoos available at most commercial hotel chains, and who can blame her? Usually what they are passing off as soap is a very drying detergent bar, and the shampoo has no conditioning properties at all, making hair brushing after a day in the wind and water a truly miserable experience. Sun On The Go ensures little girls have their own moisturizing soap and conditioning shampoo, as well as a yummy after sun lotion.
This set contains four fabulous products. As the girl enjoying this set comes back from hiking in the mountains or riding the waves at the beach, she starts her bathing experience with cheery yellow conditioning shampoo. Not only does this product clean all the dirt and sweat out of her hair, but it'll also help reduce tangles. Next, she'll wash with our homemade body wash, a fabulous castille liquid soap. After bathing, she'll moisturize her sun-kissed arms and legs with Sun On The Go After Sun Soother, a premium lotion made with organic aloe vera juice to make her skin feel cool and softer. As she's running out to the afternoon's and evening's fun with her family, a swipe of Sun On The Go Lip Balm will please her pucker with its juicy tropical fruit flavor and very moisturizing balm. Each product has a scrumptious, robust tropical fruit fragrance or flavor (as applicable) that will make your senses dance.
Sun On The Go is available for an introductory price of $12.00. That's 20% off the regular price. I'm sure you know a girl who'd love one of these. Surrounded by boys? We're currently developing a similar product just for boys.
One of the joys of my business is how I keep coming up with new and great (well, I think they're great, anyway) products that will bring only good things to my customers. I believe that every person - man, woman, young and old - deserves high quality bath and body products. No one should have to settle for inferior products that are produced overseas in sweatshops and that are bad for your skin. Sensuality is also important and often terribly overlooked. When people hear the word "sensuality," they think it's dirty somehow, referring to carnal pleasures only. While carnal pleasures can indeed be very sensual, I'd like to encourage you to open your mind to envision what else falls under this umbrella of "sensual pleasures."
Sensual pleasures are all those things we enjoy perceiving through our senses. What do you delight in seeing? Your spouse? A sunset? Your child at play? The mountains in fall as they're burnished with brightly colored leaves? What do you like to hear? The sound of rain on the roof. The ocean lapping gently at the shore. A well-played piece of classical music. What tastes good to you? The way a bite of cheesecake melts on your tongue. The spices in a perfect piece of fried chicken. A juicy, red, ripe strawberry, just picked off the plant and still warm from the sun. None of these are bad things, and enjoying them isn't bad, either.
While my products do engage you visually, their highest appeal comes in their scent and texture. Or maybe they take you to a new level of sensuality, more of a psychic sensuality - that satisfaction and contentment that comes only in knowing you're doing something special for yourself. What smells good to you? What feels good? Can you imagine using a naturally scented product that captures you, wrapping you in aromatherapy benefits? Envision how soft and silky your skin would feel after using a shea butter and sugar scrub. Sink into a warm bath, fragranced with a deluxe herb blend and nourished with goat's milk. These, too, are good experiences.
I offer experiences like this. When was the last time you actually enjoyed the soap you bathe with? When did you last like the way it treated your skin and made you feel? How long has it been since lotion was more of a luxury than a need to treat dry, damaged skin? Do you even remember the last time you allowed yourself the time to take a tub bath? I invite you to enjoy bath and shower time again. Treat yourself to mini spa treatments as you use my Revitalizing Body Polish, a luxurious shea butter and sugar scrub. Enjoy a 30-... Oh, go ahead, put the kids to bed, tell your spouse to give you some privacy and make it an hour-long vacation as you soak in an aromatherapy bath with a bath tea bag, allowing all your stresses and troubles to drown themselves in warm water, only to be swept down the drain with the bath water when you're done. Bathe with soap that wakes up your senses, giving you a little boost for the day ahead. You really do deserve it.
Sara's Soaps 'n Such began ten years ago as a business venture for a broke Divinity School student. Now it's a growing business featuring handcrafted soaps, all-natural soaps and homemade body products. I prefer body products that are as natural as possible, and my high-quality products reflect that commitment to the earth and my customers' well-being. It's the essence of Good. Clean. Fun.
