Smile, Nobody Likes a Crab.

Recently, I went to Costco to do a little grocery shopping. While I was there I kept passing by a family (mother and four children ages 5-14ish). Each time I would pass them I would smile at them and maybe nod. The first few times I usually caught the eye of the oldest daughter (teenage) and she would never smile back. Not even a smirk. Once, the oldest boy was looking at me as I passed by them to get some milk, so I smiled. Literally, all I saw looking back at me was a blank stare. Finally, the mother and I made eye contact at the second to the last pass. I smiled, thinking surely SHE would have the courtesy to smile back. Nothing but a blank stare, as if I wasn't even there.

O.k. so I'm insecure and need to be noticed by all people. No, not really. I remember growing up in the 80's. If a woman went past me and smiled and my mother noticed, I was told to smile back. Not necessarily giving way to talking to strangers, but just paying forward a common courtesy. My mother was always friendly and kind toward people no matter where we went. She ran a beauty salon in the town I grew up in and I always remember her being kind, outgoing and helpful to all her clients. She taught me to be friendly and by her example, respectful, to those around me.

What is wrong with people today? Well, religiously I believe I know, but casting that aside (since that's not my job to say here), I think people are just down right selfish and inward thinking. If I bump into an elderly person when I'm out, and I smile, they almost always perk up and smile right back. Many of them have told me that just seeing a smile has brightened their day. They come from a generation that was taught to be cordial; That was taught to keep the negative away from everyone else and don't dump all over people; To smile, when you feel like frowning and keep others on a level higher than yourself.

Ahh to live then. I'm glad to be a part of history now, but my grandparent's time seemed much simpler. Life was life and people weren't made to think it was a Cinderella movie. When the Titanic sank people died, it wasn't a big saga of romance and adventure. It was a tragedy. Yet, one that people handled with stride.

I hope to raise my kids to be kind the way my mom raised me. Its not easy and I seem to stink at parenthood, but I am going to keep at it, and hopefully, when they're all grown up, they will smile at everyone they meet. I too, need to up the ante next time I'm out. You never know who you will cheer up just by being kind.

Insanity is Insane!!!

I'm writing to tell you that hubby and I are embarking on a life changing exercise program, either designed to kill us or to make us healthier than ever! Insanity is the name of the program and it was designed by the guys over at Beach Body, the company responsible for P90X. Why am I telling you this? To give myself some accountability. Hopefully, since I am sharing this endeavor with you, I will be more likely to take the bull by the horns and not let go. Here's a pic of us now. They claim that within two months you will be in the best shape of your life. 2 months! Can I do Insanity? Will I do it? Let's hope so...

Are Your Organic Products Really Good For You?

Eco friendly and green products are all the rage now days. What would you do if you found out that it was all just a marketing scam? Well, I'm not saying that the entire green movement is a marketing scam. That's a bit conspiracy theory for me. I do think there are a lot of companies that are taking advantage of the general populace and their fears of global warming and eco maintenance. I hugely support caring for the environment and being good stewards of what our creator has given us. Shouldn't that include keeping our bodies free from disease causing toxins? I am going to show you why buying an organic product just because it has the word "organic" on it, isn't always the healthiest choice.

1,4, Dioxane, A Carcinogen in a Bottle
We have to either tackle this organic beast with full knowledge or just don't bother to tackle it. Many of us tend to avoid store bought shampoos and such because they have SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) in them. We've heard that this product causes a range of things from hair loss to cancer, but did you know that most products with the "eth" sound in them (either at the beginning of the word or the end) contains a super ultra bad toxin known as 1,4 Dioxane? (Julie Gabriel, The Green Beauty Guide 2008)
This tiny little molecule (Photo courtesy Wikipedia) packs a powerful punch. It is the by-product of all these eth ingredients and therefore is not required to be on the ingredient label. This hugely cancer causing ingredient is gaining mega attention in the beauty industry and alternatives are beginning to be considered. This is good news considering the vast majority of organic products (in their well meaning desire to be healthy) have inadvertently (we hope) put these eth chemicals into their products not realizing the horrible 1,4,Dioxane molecule would suddenly manifest its ugly little self.

It Gets Worse
You know all those great baby products you just bought your sister for her baby shower? You know, the ones you get at Wal-Mart claiming to be gentle on baby's skin? Well, these products are the worst for this terrible ingredient. They purposely add this stuff as a way to make the soap less harsh for the new baby's precious skin. "Less harsh?" you ask, "I thought you said it causes cancer." Oh yes. It does, but at least the babies won't be bothered with a sudden eruption of eczema or pimples or, dare I say it, dry skin. Castile soap is the best for a baby. The pure olive oil kind. And no, I'm not just trying to sell you something. You don't have to buy mine. Dr. Bronner's brand is just as wonderful, but please, don't use that department store carcinogen in a bottle on your precious baby! Just use castile soap and rub olive oil or apricot kernal oil or (honestly any oil will work) on the baby after the bath to hold moisture in. If you want a nice smelling oil there are beautiful smelling essential oils you can add to the oils. Just be careful to use only the baby safe ones as some will harm baby. If you would rather someone else do it there are plenty of shops on Etsy that would be happy to oblige. Desert Soapstone just happens to be one of them.

What Products Contain 1,4 Dioxane?
This terrible stuff can be in anything from sunscreen (maybe that's why so many people seemed to get skin cancer after the media started to push the use of sunscreen (maybe that's just me)) to shampoo, from lip balm to mascara, toothpaste, hand cream etc..The list goes on and on. Just look for the eth in the ingredient list next time you go shopping. If its got an eth ingredient, its got 1,4 Dioxane.

So Now What?
Well, that's up to you. You can do what I did and replace your shampoos with your own handmade castile soap (I rinse with a 1 Tbs. vinegar to 1 cup water solution to keep my hair shiny and no, I don't smell like apple cider vinegar head)and start making your own bar soap or or or or...You can buy handmade soaps and castile soap. Whole Foods Market has a pretty nice selection, but Etsy has an even greater selection. Desert Soapstone is also willing to customize an order for you for less than what it would cost for 8 bars at Whole Foods and that includes shipping.
Cancer is creeping up on America! Let's squash the causes so we don't have to find that impossible cure! Organic products can be good, you just have to look for the right ones.

New Soap Designs

I just want to thank Anne Marie at Bramble Berry for finding someone to build us these sweet Baltic Birch Molds. This frankincense and myrrh cold process olive oil soap (great for gift giving) is my latest soap design using the 36 bar mold and I couldn't be happier.

Some new designs and scents for cold process soaps are on the horizon such as:
Lemon Verbena Sea Salt Bar
Soapy Clean, which smells just like Love's Babysoft
Bonsai
Prickly Pear fruit soap
Pink Sugar
and more
Frankincense and myrrh soap available soon here.

A Revealing Journey of Struggle and Hope

Hanauer family exhibit->

Dear Faithful DS Fans,
I am inspired by a woman that has used the brains our great God has given her. This woman has decided to unlock the secrets of her family's history by writing a book that hopefully, will get the attention of more than one documentary film maker. I met her while she lived next door to me and over a 5 year period, I got to hear more and more of her new finds. Her name is Terri Brahm and her family's history takes place during WWII. Like so many WWII dramas, Terri's history is a love story of hope, courage and discovery. It is written in real time format, as if the reader were the actual researcher putting together the nuggets of rich history. This family history is vital in a world full of so many lies about what has happened during WWII. Her book documents the goodbye of her grandparents; When her grandfather was taken away from her grandmother and father and turned over to Auschwitz. Her years of tracing this history have provided military documentation that she has graciously included in her book. It details amazing protection her family had received, intriguing prewar family history and a vivid portrayal of one amazing family's survival and new beginning. Terri is self publishing this book and as a result, makes no money from the sale of each copy, yet she is driven to get the truth of her family's rich history out to the world. Please, take some time to visit her blog here. And if you have the means, please help support Terri in her quest to tell the story of her family's survival of the tragedy we all know as, The Holocaust.
Information on how you can purchase a copy of this book can be found here.

DS is gearing up for fall with seasonally inspired fall soap

The first of our Fall soap collection (and Winter), Orange spice glycerin soap bars. A decorative soap addition to our general soap line, get this fall soap while you can. Stay tuned for more fall soap and winter soap selections such as, cinnamon stick, caramel apple crunch, winter forest and cranberry fig. To see some of the above choices in our whipped soap base click here. To see this orange spice glycerin soap bar click here.
These will be around for a limited time so get your fall soap while you can!

We're back to blogging!

I am such a blogging failure, I apologize to everyone for being a bum...actually life called and I had to step away. Now I am back and hoping to blog at least once a week if not more. I will try and make it interesting. Now its late and I must get some shut eye, but thought I should share our latest sale.
New Sale! Up to 30% off
The condition to receiving the discount are, you have to go to the FB link below. "Like" our fan page and leave a post and then come back here and paste your post from our FB fan page in the comments field of your order. You will not receive the discount if you don't do this.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Desert-Soapstone/60275213527?ref=ts
You will receive 30% off big bars, 10% off 3 oz. bars or smaller and 25% off all orders over $30 (not to be coupled with other discounts). You will also receive flat rate shipping prices when applicable:
(8) 3 oz. bars $4.80
(8) 4 oz. bars $4.80
(4) 6 oz. bars $4.80
Sale ends August 4.

Special Occasion Party Favors

<-- Custom Designed Baby Shower Favors

This week has been crazy for party favors around here. All of them were for baby showers and all of them different according to what our customers needed. What fun we had making them! Maybe this economy has created another baby boom? I don't know what is was but we are grateful for the business and the opportunity to create. We also had the chance to create some scrub samples for a local salon and will be adding the sample size to our Etsy shop soon. Thank you everyone who follows and spreads the word about our business. We truly do appreciate your feed back and interest. We have taken your requests into consideration and have added a rose scented facial bar made with activated charcoal, an oatmeal lavender bar and we are adding a "Simplicity" section where you can find simple colored bars at a greatly reduced price from our more detailed bars. We have also added a wholesale/party section where you can find a number of products for your retail shop or party. Once again thank you for the follow and input. We hear and we apply what you have to say.
Oatmeal Lavender Soap

Super Soap Sale Jan. 20-24,2009

Just click on this link here. Go to the "Sale" section and if you buy three bars you get a fourth free. All bars have been marked down $2 in the sale section. Happy shopping!

Guy Kawasaki: A Human Resource

I just read an article about Guy Kawasaki in Success Magazine and am blown away by the talent and humility he seems to have. Here is a man that is responsible for authoring 9 books on designing your own success. Working for Apple made him realize it is not who you know, but who knows you that really matters in the world of business. He is known as the Macintosh evangelist, but is responsible for other success producing companies such as www.garage.com and Truemors, among many other things. He mentions how so many people are so busy going after the whales that they forget the plankton. Instead of seeking the attention of the big guys, aim to please little guys. The interview gave him a people over money appeal. Something that is the most vital thing. After all, if we aren't in with people, we have no business.

Some books authored by Kawasaki that may be of interest to entrepreneurs:
Reality Check
The Art of the Start
Rules for Revolutionaries
How to Drive Your Competition Crazy
Selling the Dream
The Macintosh Way