Desert Soapstone

Winners!

2011-11-29T18:49:00.002-07:00

3rd Prize: Small Footprints wins (1) 3oz bar from our shop.
2nd Prize: Anne JK won (2) 3oz. bars from our shop.
1st Prize: Salad for Breakfast won 1 pound of soap. Pick a scent from our shop.

Thank you for participating everyone. You should be receiving an email soon from us regarding where to send your prize(s).

Fall Handcrafted Soap Giveaway

2011-10-27T20:09:00.009-07:00

Phoenician Blu

Its time for another giveaway! This one is a soapy one. No scrubs allowed. We are streamlining things at DS Soap Company. We like focusing on what we love making most...Soap! So check it out. Give us your feedback and follow the hows and whats its below and win some sweet soap!

Cranberry Fig

The Prizes:
1 Grand Prize: One pound of soap, (4)4 oz. bars, you decide the scents from our shop.
2 First Prize Winners will receive their choice of 2(3oz.) bars of soap (you choose any bar scent from our soap shop).
3 Second Prize Winners will receive 1 (3oz.) bar of soap from our shop.

How to participate (you may do 1 or all of the below):
1. Post your favorite things from our website http://www.desertsoapstone.etsy.com on your FB page and then send us the links in a comment on this blog. = 2 entries.
2. Make a blog post about our giveaway on your blog and post the link in a comment on this blog. = 1 entry.
3. Make a post about our giveaway on your Twitter account and give us the link in a comment on this blog. = 1 entry.
4. Make a post about our above website and post the link here. = 2 entries.
5. Follow our blog. = 1 entry
6. Become a DS fan on FB https://www.facebook.com/pages/Desert-Soapstone/60275213527?ref=ts = 1 entry. If you are already a fan make sure we know so we can give you an entry.
7. Visit our website above and tell us what your favorite item is and what you would like to see more of and post it in a comment here. 2 entries
8. Join our mailing list. Send us a comment with your email address (we will not publish these posts. Please post this post separate from your other posts so I can include your other posts on the blog. 1 entry.

There is the potential to have up to 11 entries for this contest. We can't wait to hear from all of you and get to know you better on your FB pages, blogs and Twitter. So get busy, your prize awaits you!

Frankincense and Myrrh

Some New Things

2011-09-26T19:47:00.002-07:00

Hi handcrafted soap fans!
This has been a crazy year and although its not over yet, it is drawing to a close. We have had the privilege of meeting so many new people all due to our Etsy shop and we are so thankful for our new connections. We would like to bring you up to speed with the shop. We have brought scrubs back for a limited time, however you will always be able to get them at our Exfoliate site. We are behind on our gift packages as far as photos go as our camera was unfortunately dropped on its eye and broken. The future of our photos hangs in the balance...o.k. not really, but we are thinking we will have to wait until the end of the month for new gift packaging photos. Until then, here are some mediocre shots of some of our new soaps.

Please check back at our shop for more items in the coming weeks and don't forget our 100 bars for $250 deal. Psst... You can use coupon code SUPER10 for 10% off. This is a great package for staying under budget these 2011 holidays with your gifting and you can change it up and request any scent you would like. Did we mention how much people like handcrafted soap? Once you try it you'll never want to use store bought again!

So just a friendly hello and what's happening. Hopefully we will have some great photos of us and the soaps and the haps soon.

Smiles,
Kelli (Sass)

CFSC at it again.

2011-09-08T12:31:00.002-07:00

If the CFSC keeps at it, eventually they will find someone who doesn't read the whole truth and this bill they are pushing will get passed. Then all the healthy bath products you love will disappear, only to be replaced with the chemical laden sludge we find at the supermarkets. Get involved and check out this post by Kayla Fioravanti and follow her blog for more details.

http://essentialu.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/09/legislation-in-new-york-.html

New Clearance Section, Discounts and Incentives

2011-08-09T13:54:00.003-07:00

Greetings bath and body enthusiasts!

Now that summer is drawing to a close, its time to start pampering your skin again. To help you, we will be adding more and more clearance items to our new clearance section as we gear up for the new Fall and Winter scents and designs. Don't forget to check out our scrub site too as we will be adding some amazing scents for this upcoming holiday season.

Whether you buy clearance or not you can always use coupon code LOYAL20 at checkout for an additional 20% off whenever you shop at Desert Soapstone online. Feel free to tell your friends, but make sure they tell us about you. If they mention your name in the comments field at checkout when they spend $30 or more, you get a free bar of handcrafted soap as a reward for the referral.

So what are you waiting for? Luxurious, premium quality handcrafted soap awaits you.

A Word From One of Our Nation's Greatest Leaders: Abraham Lincoln

2011-07-29T14:08:00.003-07:00

Found this very interesting.

“[I]t is the duty of nations,
as well as of men,to own their dependence upon
the overruling power of God … and to recognize the sublime
truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all
history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the
Lord. … We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties
of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace
and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power
as no other nation ever has grown, but we have forgotten
God. We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved
us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened
us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our
hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior
wisdom and virtue of our own.”

-President Abraham Lincoln

Crazy Arizona Dust Storms

2011-07-20T09:16:00.001-07:00

Its Not The Midwife That is The Problem

2011-06-27T00:24:00.002-07:00

I had both of my children at home and wouldn't do it any other way if given a choice. I should be able to make that choice!

Happy Father's Day All You Dads!

2011-06-18T21:50:00.008-07:00

For some people their Dad is not much a part of their lives, but for me, my dad was everything. If it hadn't been for him, who knows where I would have ended up? He taught me to keep my word, love my neighbor, seek truth and was always there for me. My relationship with him as a youth was more important than I realized. When things were hard, my dad was always the one I would turn to. He taught me the life lessons that have lead to this beautiful life I now have. He was my rock in many ways and always corrected me if I belittled myself. He never hesitated to take the time with me that I needed. He taught me what a father should be and what I should look for in a father for my children. In fact, when I met my husband, his voice reminded me of my dad's and for some weird reason, the rest, was history. I have many fond memories of childhood with dad, getting ice cream, traveling across the country, gardening, washing windows and wrestling when I was younger. My dad still means the world to me. He is far away now, but when I get to see him again I am going to give him the biggest hug ever!

Take care of your father's. You never know what the future holds. May all you father's out there have an amazing day!

Gearing up for Independence Day

2011-06-08T12:12:00.003-07:00

July 4th is fast approaching and we are celebrating with soap!

How will you be celebrating?

The Desert Soapstone Daily

2011-06-05T07:24:00.002-07:00

We made a paper and want to share it with you. It is an anthology of things we subscribe to that you might find interesting too.

Subscribe or view it here.

June Hand Crafted Soap Sale is Afoot!

2011-06-02T10:09:00.004-07:00

Don't be missin' this crazy hand crafted soap sale. 35% off everything store wide.Use this opportunity to buy one of our bulk handmade soap packages for wedding gifts or your next corporate event. Click on our wholesale/party section for more details. Just visit us at our Etsy shop and use coupon code JUNESOAPSALE at checkout to receive your discount.
Get it while its hot! Sale ends Thursday, June 9, 2011.

Hand Crafted Soap Sale Coming Up.

2011-05-25T14:04:00.010-07:00

We're planning a site wide (everything on sale), 35% off sale in the early part of June. Will it be the first week of June? Not sure, you'll just have to keep checking. You don't want to miss this hand crafted soap sale.

Bulk hand crafted soap

Great for wedding gifts, showers, parties and events. Do you have an event coming up that you want to give out awesome gifts at? We have the perfect stash of sweet gifts. We can also customize labels if you are having a corporate or other such party and want your logo to get out there.

Soap Loaves
This is a great option for parties, events and weddings. Do you know someone who might need some ideas for their event or wedding gifts? We have specialized hand crafted soap options and thrive on custom orders. Hit us with your best shot by contacting us through our Etsy handmade soap site or leave a comment here.

Want to send a bar to a far away friend?
We can do it. When you check out as a buyer on our Etsy site, there is a comments field perfect for those special requests that we look for on every order we receive. So don't delay, buy your far away friend or family member that special gift. We'll even use ribbon and include a hand written card if you would like.

So many options, where to start? How about starting by "liking" us on Facebook so you can be up to date with the latest additions, sales and surprises we offer. Next, check back here over the next week or so and find out when this amazing hand crafted soap sale is going to take place. Third, ditch the dispenser. That soap is way bad for you and give Desert Soapstone a try. You won't regret it.

An old favorite. Enjoy!

2011-05-23T23:25:00.001-07:00

No, not really getting arrested!

2011-05-14T23:39:00.004-07:00

So we have decided to cancel the Muscular Dystrophy Association participation. The reason? Well, it had to do with their approach. The whole MDA Lock Up, getting arrested thing sounds a bit like crime glorification and since that's not our M.O. and our advisor advised against it because of the fake arrest thing and some of our customers were already confused, we decided to listen. Instead we will have to find something else to do in our community to make our business more well known so we can beef up our other charitable offerings. Isn't that what these things all about anyway? The businesses that participate win and so do the charities. So MDA, great idea to raise money to send kids to camp, bad take on the crime thing. We will be more than happy to help you in this endeavor should you come up with a new way. Maybe something like "Help Us Win The Keys To The City" type theme. This was our advisor's idea so we can't really take the credit. Anyway. It took 45 minutes to post that all around my FB and Twitter pages and write a blog post. It was so hard it makes those 14 hour days spent on the church fundraisers at the ball park seem like taking candy from a baby, but I digress.
If you happen to have any community involvement ideas that are popular in your neck of the woods, we would be happy to hear about it.

Mother's Day is Coming!!!

2011-05-02T13:51:00.007-07:00

What would we do without our moms? None of us would be here for one thing and even if your circumstances are such that that's the only thing you are grateful for, well, that's something big! For the rest of us that have awesome moms that would bend over backwards and do anything for us, we owe them a big thank you.

Most moms just want to make sure we are happy and healthy and don't require a gift. Mine for one will and would complain with any gift she gets because she would not want me to waste my money on her. Well, someday that will have to change and she will have to accept my help. Until then all I can do is say THANK YOU!!! I LOVE YOU MOM!!! You make my life better!

Some Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Evening Clutch by Biologyrose

What Mom doesn't need a Mom Mug.
Try this one by Misspottery

Jewelry
Check out this sweet Silverware Bracelet by MindyG

Soap! (of course) by Desert Soapstone
1940's Girl Handmade Soap
Enter coupon code: ILOVEMYMOM and get 20% off your order from now until May 10.

Mac vs Wild

2011-04-07T08:57:00.001-07:00

Vegan fans turn away from this post, but everyone else check out this video of my whacko friend, Andy. You'll either laugh your heinecken off or be disgusted.

Vegan fans turn away from this post, but everyone else check out this video of my whacko friend, Andy. You'll either laugh your heinecken off or be disgusted.

Living the Dream!

2011-04-01T13:18:00.012-07:00

Many of us in the soap making industry would love to open our own BBW type body shop. In fact many of us are gearing toward that and doing so by starting small and reinvesting all our proceeds until, one day, we have the right amount and launch. Well, I am unable to do this due to starting home schooling in the fall, assisting my work-from-home husband and let's not forget running an internet based soap shop.
So I guess you could say I am a bit envious of those able to do so, but not willing to trade my amazing life for one equally amazing.Caption: Stacie(L) and Me(R) )
That brings me to my friend Stacie, from Luster Canyon. I first heard of Stacie from my step dad. They work at the same company and Stacie had mentioned to him that she was making soap also when she found out that I was making soap. Small world. That was a couple of years ago and I actually met Stacie about a year ago when we both had booths at a local craft show. Since then I have watched from a distance, as Stacie built her business from the ground up. She first came to Prescott and opened a little nook at a local craft market. That took off and then the opportunity every soap maker dreams of came along. She found a great location at Bashford Courts, upstairs, right off the square in downtown Prescott. Right next to a booming restaurant called the Prescott Brewery. Stacie found a dream location to live her dream.
Her daughter Ashley, is the perfect employee and would do anything for her mom. Together, along with help from Stacie's dear husband, they have Caption: Stacie and Ashley
created Luster Canyon and Stacie has launched her dream career. I'm jealous a bit, but mostly incredibly happy for her. Seeing her live her dream and working so hard toward it should be inspiration for all soap makers and crafters the world over.
My purchase at Stacie's new shop.

They even carry sheets!

You can find Stacie at her Etsy shop, here, or if you are a local to Northern Arizona, visit the Prescott Square. Especially the upstairs portion of Bashford Courts, off of Gurley St. and get ready to slather on luxury. Kudos Stacie! May your endeavors thrive!

And The Winners Are...

2011-03-31T17:28:00.004-07:00

Everyone should be home from work now so...

First of all we would like to thank deeply, from the bottom of our heart, the pit of our stomaches, the all of us, every single awesome person that contributed to this giveaway. You all gave us a lot of names to drop in the hat and some more than others. You guys are amazing!!!

O.k. o.k. o.k. I know, you just want to know if you won...So here you go...

Names are posted by blogs and don't think of getting funny if you aren't the real winner because we have their email addresses and ways of finding out. Winners, you will need to email us back your mailing addresses or tell us by leaving a comment on this post.

(3) 2nd Place Winners Please tell us which bar you want from our shop.
-Rachel
-Trixx
-Lisa

(2) 1st Prize Winners Please tell us which bar(s) you would like from our shop.
-Robin
-Scott

(1) Grand Prize Winner
-Scott You lucky dog, you won twice!

It's Time For a Giveaway!!!

2011-02-28T08:47:00.012-07:00

It has been an eternity since we have hosted a giveaway. We have just been so busy with shop improvements (which are not visible to the general public yet) that we have been wiped out energetically.

Now its time to get my counting glasses on and step it up!

Winners names will be thrown into a hat, drawn at random and announced March 31, 2011.

See below for the many ways you can participate.

The Prizes:
1 Grand Prize: 2 bars of soap (you choose from our soap shop) and a scrub from Exfoliate.
2 First Prize Winners will receive their choice of 2 bars of soap (you choose from our soap shop).
3 Second Prize Winners will receive 1 bar of soap from our all natural line of soaps from our soap shop.

Lavender Sugar Scrub

Lavender Cold Process Soap

Sedona Glycerin Soap

How to participate (you may do 1 or all of the below):
1. Post your favorite things from our websites http://www.desertsoapstone.etsy.com and http://www.exfoliate.etsy.com on your FB page and then send us the links in a comment on this blog. = 2 entries.
2. Make a blog post about our giveaway on your blog and post the link in a comment on this blog. = 1 entry.
3. Make a post about our giveaway on your Twitter account and give us the link in a comment on this blog. = 1 entry.
4. Make a post about one or both of our above websites and post the link here. = 2 entries.
5. Follow our blog. = 1 entry
6. Become a DS fan on FB https://www.facebook.com/pages/Desert-Soapstone/60275213527?ref=ts = 1 entry. If you are already a fan make sure we know so we can give you an entry.
7. Visit our websites above and tell us what your favorite item is and what you would like to see more of and post it in a comment here. 2 entries
8. Join our mailing list. Send us a comment with your email address (we will not publish these posts. Please post this post separate from your other posts so I can include your other posts on the blog. 1 entry.

There is the potential to have up to 11 entries for this contest. We can't wait to hear from all of you and get to know you better on your FB pages, blogs and Twitter. So get busy, your prize awaits you!

For Those Thinking of a No Makeup Look

2011-02-21T23:43:00.003-07:00

Me before giving up the goop at 19 (I look much older here than without it).

About 13 years ago I threw my makeup bag away, for good, to embrace a no makeup lifestyle. The following article details the adjustments of going makeup free and hopes to encourage those of you thinking about natural beauty to take the plunge.

1. But Will Anyone Want to Marry Me?
This was the fear of taking the plunge into no makeup world while having a phone conversation with my awesome dad. "Honey, women wear makeup for other women. In all honesty, men hate it when you gals slather that gunk on your face." This was the response from the most dominant male figure in my 21 year old world. It wasn't too long after this that I realized he was right. To a young 21 year old, makeup was the way to be attractive and without the proper guidance this is the way most young women think today. That is, that being attractive on the outside is THE most important thing. Not to mention the fact that "natural beauty" is considered something you get by wearing paint on your face. I honestly blame the cosmetic industries for this societal pressure. Can I say I love, love, love the Dove campaign for natural beauty? Whoever thought of that should be handed the keys to the company.

2. Where! Are my eyes?
I remember, shortly after giving up the goop, I had begun a new job. I quickly bonded with Chrissy. The tall, blond, bombshell that had men ogling over her every move. Chrissy if you read this, I miss you! Anyway, after looking at her perfectly model-made face all day while we waited tables, we headed to the bathroom for a break. That's when I saw myself through new eyes. Wait. Where were my eyes? "I know they're here somewhere?" I thought. "I think its cool you have the confidence to do the no makeup thing," Chrissy told me as I looked crunch faced at myself. "I miss my eyes, " I said. "You just need to get used to it," she replied.

A few weeks later I had gone on a camping trip with some comrades in the no makeup, natural beauty dept. As a result I brought photos to work for Chrissy to see as I had been interested in a certain beau(now my husband)and wanted her to see a pic of him. There were lots of people pics and all women were makeup free. "These women don't have makeup on!?" Chrissy exclaimed, almost exasperated. "Not one of 'em," I told her. She continued staring at the pictures as if trying to find a flaw. "These women are beautiful!" She shouted. "I never, never would have guessed they weren't wearing makeup if I didn't know you!" She said amazed. Wow! I was amazed at her amazement.

Me after giving up the goop at 21.

3. You have to have support:
Its like anything in this world, if you are going to decide to go against the grain you must have a support group. It can be as simple as someone like Chrissy just encouraging you and seeing your inner beauty radiating to make your outer body just as beautiful! I remember visiting some cousins in Oregon one summer and I decided to go without makeup one day. One of my cousins came around the corner and jumped when she saw me so as to indicate that I was a freak without the face. We laughed and I said, "I'm not putting it on today. You'll just have to introduce me as the sheet." I had no support that day and felt naked and ashamed all day. Crazy! I felt ashamed of my own face showing through.

So often we just think that if we look a certain way that we'll have it made in life, but in reality if we act a certain way that is far more likely and I don't mean act badly. If you want a great career, work hard for it. Don't rely on looks. If you are in love with Justin Beiber and you were ever fortunate enough to get close to him, be yourself. If he doesn't appreciate your humor or artistic side or sporty athleticism or brainy rationale then he is probably a shallow punk not worthy of your attention. I can't tell you how much more fulfilling my life became when I finally took the plunge and decided to be comfortable as myself. I couldn't have done it without people like Chrissy or my fellow no makeup wearing family of friends.

So I hope this has given you a bit of food for thought. Next time I'll talk about the benefits of going makeup free and how you can radiate and glow in your new no makeup lifestyle.

Introducing Exfoliate!

2011-02-10T23:57:00.000-07:00

Our new shop Exfoliate, and why another shop:
We've been taking these internet marketing courses and we're going to test them to see if it has been worth the money. They have told us not to put all our eggs in one basket unless it all falls under the same heading. For example, if you make handmade soap, like me, and you want to be successful at marketing soap on the first page of the Google search engines, you would have to sell only handmade soap. It gets a little tricky when it gets down to properly writing the page and etc.

Anyway, we figured, since we are going all natural, why not start a site for all natural body scrubs? So we are launching Exfoliate! Bear with us while we stock the shelves of our new little endeavor to add to all the others, soap maker, mommy, wife, screenwriter...I digress. Anyway, if you love sugar scrubs, we're the place you want to visit. If you have been a customer at our other shop, then you will be happy to know, yes, we still carry scrubs, you just have to change sites (Somehow this is supposed to get our ranking up. eh. We'll see).

The good news is, if you just want a sweet and amazing salt scrub, sugar scrub or other body polish, Exfoliate is your place. You won't have to wade through mountains of soap at our other site just to find that one perfect body scrub for you. Exfoliate will be offering an array of body exfoliation...stuff (eventually), but for now, enjoy these five or maybe 10 by the time you read this. We will eventually do a post as to why exfoliation is so great for you. In the mean time, take our word for it and Exfoliate today!
Smiles and All,
Sass, The Soapstress

The Flu is No Fun!

2011-01-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

"Great! Now I'm getting asthma." A tiny little cough had been plaguing me for two weeks, coming and going and making me think I was allergic to something one minute and asthmatic the next. Then, after a bit of personal stress, wine and not enough sleep, it became clear that the asthma I thought I was getting, was really my body naturally fighting off the flu until finally, my tissues and limbs succumbed to the evil virus and I found myself bedridden, calling my mom to come rescue the household from imminent death. (How's that for a run on sentence?)Wow! I haven't been this sick in years. My whole body felt like it was giving up on me. Its at these moments that you begin to realize that ultimately you don't care about anything. A giant spider could cross your face in the night and you would welcome it as long as you could go back to sleep.

Needless to say, the cough got worse. The whole family got it and my mother? So far no flu for her. I am so relieved. Its miserable and her help was so much appreciated I would hate to repay her with a stint in hades, no matter how short.

As for me, I've now had it. No doubt due to the close encounters with the nice people getting the flu shot to protect themselves. I now hope that I have enough antibodies in me to keep this little cuss far away for a while. Needless to say the workout routine has been derailed, but back on the wagon we must climb! Onward and upward. Keep moving forward.

Featured Artist: Luster Canyon

2011-01-07T10:48:00.001-07:00

As a soap maker myself, I tend to have stringent standards for the soap I use. Recently I had the pleasure of using a Sweet Pea scented bar of soap from my friend Stacie at Luster Canyon. Her soap met my standards very well. Often, when I use someone else's soap and wash my face with it, I am left with a tightness that I hate, because I know once my face has dried the dryness will ensue. Not with Stacie's soap. Her lather was soft and all over the place and my skin was left feeling not only clean, but moisturized as well. Not only does her soap pass the lather and face test, but it smells divine. She uses the perfect amount of fragrance so that you can still smell the scent on your skin after the shower. Furthermore, I didn't have to use lotion after my shower to keep my skin feeling soft. Her packaging is simple yet elegant, which is perfect for gift giving.
Bravo to Stacie of Luster Canyon. May your soaping days be plentiful and profitable!

Smile, Nobody Likes a Crab.

2010-12-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2010-12-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

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...

A Newer, Better Desert Soapstone is Coming

2010-12-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

So we've been doing mega reading and research on natural and not natural. My personal conclusions on the subject have become increasingly clear. When I got into the soap making business a few years ago, my intention was to create products that were unanimously safe for the whole family. Then (conquering music please), I discovered fragrance oils. I was quickly led away from my goals of creating the safest and best, only to slide in next to everyone else. Yes there are natural soapers too, but fewer than the fragrance oil soapers. Honestly, I personally don't think they are that harmful, but when my young son developed a terrible cough that would not go away and we removed all traces of fragrance from the home he suddenly got better. I just think there are some people that cannot tolerate some of the chemicals in them.

That brings me to another issue involved in this choice to naturalize the biz. I was talking to a friend of the family recently and he was telling me that apple seeds have arsenic, but not to worry, its only enough to kill the parasites living in our bodies. Therefore, needless to say, he eats the apple seeds. I was thinking, although good not to have parasites, maybe there is a reason the water companies alert us when there is too much arsenic in the water. Its a poison that can build up in our bodies and my personal feeling on the matter is, if its a poison, its a poison, end of story. Whether I put a little in my body or a lot, there will still be some effect from it at some point in my life so why take a risk? I'm thinking maybe this is part of why most people don't eat apple seeds and don't even know it.
What's the point?! You must be asking. Well, the point is, I don't want to dally around with what God made. He made plants with natural fragrances and gave us the ability to extract those natural essences for things like aromatherapy and well, soap.
We are so over sensitized to scents that when we initially make the switch we feel like we stink. We probably do, until our bodies get used to the lack of over fragrancing. Its kind of like when I first quit wearing makeup about 13 years ago. At first, I felt like my eyes disappeared and then all of a sudden I began getting acne, which I had never had before. Of course not! I had so many products on my face all the time there was no place for the poison to go. O.k. some of you may be rolling your eyes at this point, but in all honesty was Eve created with a little makeup bag? No. Instead she was taught the right way to eat, the importance of exercise and many other life enhancing habits. Let's get back to nature, back to reality and see if our health doesn't improve.

So the next step? For the next month we are going to be adding all natural soaps, body and room sprays, scrubs, and even deodorant to our shop. Literally remodeling the shop. We will be offering a few fragrance oil soaps in our clearance section until we run out, then our shop will be all natural. Join us in our quest to be healthy, both in the products we use and make and also in our daily lives.

Our next post: Insanity. The program we have started to either kill ourselves (hubby and me)or make us more fit than ever!

Are Your Organic Products Really Good For You?

2010-10-24T09:35:00.001-07:00

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.

And The Winner Is....

2010-10-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

We recently had a Twitter contest and the winner would win the Lavender Oatmeal bar of soap above. Well, we have a winner. The winner is Twitter user LLLSummer. Please leave a post here (we will not publish) with your mailing address. Also, please send us a note through Twitter (Desertsoapstone) so we know who you are when you post here. That way we don't have just anyone claiming to be you getting a free bar of handmade soap. Feel free to become a Twitter follower and tune in here for our upcoming Fall Giveaway!

New Soap Designs

2010-10-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-09T21:18:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-06T16:53:00.000-07:00

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!

Handmade Soybean Oil Soap! A Luxurious Way to Save.

2010-10-02T23:48:00.000-07:00

Our soybean oil soap is a limited edition soy soap made from scratch to give you great value and a vitamin E rich bar of soap. 4 times a year...or at least twice a year, we use up all the half used bottles of fragrance oil and make soybean oil soap. We are benefited by cleaning out the cupboards and you, the consumer, are benefited by being able to by a luxury, handmade, 4 oz bar of soap at a 2 oz. price. Soy soap is catching on as a great way for soap makers to make a quality soap at a fraction of the price. In today's economy everyone is looking for ways to save and this is our way of saying T H A N K Y O U. Normally we make our cold process bars from olive oil or shea butter and cocoa butter, but we are taking a moment to offer an equally luxurious bar at a fraction of the cost.
P r i c e B r e a k d o w n:
Olive Oil Soap Bar 4 oz: $5.50
Shea and Cocoa Butter Essential Oil Soap 4 oz.: $5.95
Soybean Oil soap with shea butter and grape seed oil 4 oz.: $3.50
For further savings see our 4 for $12 post:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/57959916/4-pack-soybean-oil-soap-cold-process-soy
or 8 for $20 (all 4 oz. bars of soy soap):
http://www.etsy.com/listing/57960239/soybean-oil-soap-8-pack-cold-process-soy

Current Scent Options:
Violet Rush, Sands of Morocco, Bayberry Spice, Bamboo Sugarcane, Citrus Cilantro Sea Salt Bar, Lavender, Peach Zinfandel, Zanzibar, Fresh Snow. Please specify which scent you would like at check out.

Whether you are buying this soap as a gift or for yourself, soybean oil soap is a skin loving way to save. So start saving today!

New Cosmetics Bill to Kill Small Business

2010-08-07T22:25:00.000-07:00

Being a soap maker I am in the cosmetics industry. Recently I have been made aware that aside from my husband's architecture industry going belly up that now, the soap business I started 2 years ago may have to shut down. It looks like our family may be destined to wash windows the rest of our life (a noble profession I might add, but nevertheless, not a first choice).
This new bill being proposed threatens small businesses far and wide and the handmade industry. Maybe the founders of Etsy, Artfire, 1000Markets and such web companies could extend an arm to help us out. Here's a video link that will explain it all and a petition to sign to stop it.
If you like handmade, make sure we can continue to create and grow. Watch this informative short video from Donna Maria Coles Johnson explaining this new possible change in our freedom.
So are you mad? You want to fight it?
More info

Disclaimer: I don't normally get involved in politics, this is mainly for your information and education and to give you an option.

We're back to blogging!

2010-07-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

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.

And the winner is...

2010-03-30T21:55:00.000-07:00

Recently we started a Twitter contest to win the above bar of soap. When we started the contest we had a full supply and by the end of the contest (winner announced below) we had only the one bar of soap left that we set aside for the winner. We are excited to see such interest and have more of these soap bars in the works. Please keep checking our Etsy shop for its release.

The winner of this Twitter contest is:
Caitlin Perkinson of North Carolina. Caitlin please leave a comment to this blog post with your address...The comment will not be published, but your bar will be mailed.

Thank you to everyone who played. We will be making some new soap soon so stay tuned for the next contest.

Special Occasion Party Favors

2010-02-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

<-- 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

2010-01-20T21:34:00.000-07:00

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

2010-01-14T08:51:00.001-07:00

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

Fraser Fans...Niles Starts a Fire.

2010-01-09T23:17:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help posting this one. Soon I will post my own. We just got a flip.

Scotsman's Kilt

2010-01-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

This always makes me laugh.....

2010-01-01T00:03:00.001-07:00

Some more new items...

2009-12-20T18:48:00.001-07:00

...Hopefully these guys will make it to the website, then again, if we sell out before that happens (like we did with the last all natural soaps) then I guess we will just have to make more. We take requests (for the most part) and will be adding even more options in the near future. The last two months have been crazy, but it appears that things are slowing down a bit and that we will be able to focus on creating some new designs and scents that are all natural. Stay tuned for further updates.

Black Friday through Cyber Monday Sale

2009-11-26T22:48:00.001-07:00

****Discounts****
All bars (except bars in the "soap on a budget" section) are $1 off (reflected in price)
All Bars ship for $.75 (reflected in listing)
Scrubs are $2.50 off (reflected in price)
****Deals (That include above discounts also)****
Buy three of anything get one free (Tell us in comments what the 4th is)
8 Bars ship for $4 (buy 6 and you get two free)
Free lip balm with all orders!
Great Savings! Great gifts for the whole family! Great Fun! Great Rewards!
All prices reflect sale price so no messing around in Paypal. Buy and go.

Click here to shop.

Black Friday Is Coming...

2009-11-23T16:14:00.001-07:00

Will you be ready?

I've Been Listed!

2009-11-18T22:43:00.000-07:00

I've been listed on the popular bath and body website Bath and Body Find. Click on their name to find out who else has some sweet bath products...and while your at it, can you tell me why my Gardenia Patchouli Perfume Stick is so popular???

Scrubs Are In!

2009-11-11T23:21:00.000-07:00

Got rough and dry skin? You need to exfoliate and follow with a lube job. Our scrubs are made out of the finest shea butter and olive oil around. They are all all natural...except the Cafe Latte, but even that one is lip friendly. They come in Almond Poppyseed, Honey Mint, Lavender, and Citrus as well as Cafe Latte. Try a scrub today and notice a difference in your nasty winter hyde.

The Flu Shot

2009-11-02T12:15:00.001-07:00

Fall Travels

2009-10-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

Above: Geese in Shawnee Lake, Topeka, KS

I would like to apologize for not posting anything for a while. We are travelling across country on our annual family trip. This year we picked Ohio. Just saying that reminds me of the scene in Wayne's World when Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey are talking about getting magically wisked away to...Delaware. "Oh Yay...We're in... Delaware." But actually Ohio is pretty awesome. I would love to make it to Cleveland, but if it doesn't happen, oh well. Right now we are having fun in Sandusky and more pics will follow.
Oklahoma! What a nice rest area. Can you believe this?
The first Saturday away from home started like this.
But it ended like this.

New Items We Are Working On!

2009-08-27T15:26:00.001-07:00

When I started soap making it was because I wanted to get away from synthetic and get back to nature. I have since gotten caught up in all the glamour and glory of fragrance oils, but what I really love is working with essential oils. Recently I got an order from Cecilia's Day Spa in Prescott, AZ. The owner was requesting an all natural, scented only with essential oil, line of soap to carry in her spa. So we have been soap making and soap making and also waiting for a shipment and trying to keep ends from fraying, but currently we have an all natural black tea and spice soap, honey (which we will truly only know the value of once it has cured), and these two wonderful bars, rose geranium (green) and ylang ylang (pink). We are planning a lavender goat milk soap, lavender eucalyptus aloe soap and tea tree hemp soap to add to the line. These bars will also be offered on our Etsy shop toward the end of September and when they sell, we will make more. All in all our goal is to have set items we offer continuously to our customers. We are still in product development, but getting nearer to a bottom line. Feel free to keep letting us know what you want. We have taken into consideraton the comments left since our last giveaway and will be incorporating those ideas in with our new items. Since the architecture industry is currently down, my hubby has been getting his hands into the biz. He is most creative and I just know that what he comes up with will be incredible!!!

New Shop Section "Soap On a Budget"

2009-08-24T17:22:00.000-07:00

We have just added a budget section to our shop. This is not a sale section, but rather a section of slightly smaller bars that we can offer at a much more recession friendly price. All our normal bars are available in this new size so if you don't see your favorite, just send us a convo (email Etsy style) and we will make you a post. Happy shopping and er uh, sorry for being lax on posts.

Wholesale Private Label Soap Company

2009-08-13T13:07:00.001-07:00

We are so happy to announce the birth of Wholesale Soap! It is a place where party goers, gifters, retail shop owners and everyone can find bulk handmade soap for less. We work with you to create your custom order or you can order from the already exisiting list. If you need something more color or scent specific, convo us (email Etsy style) and we will get back with you.

Weekend Sale 08/05-10/09

2009-08-06T00:29:00.000-07:00

♥´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·´♥ Weekend sales are as follows
All glycerin bars are 20% off
All cold process bars are 25% off
All Scrubs are 10% off
If you buy 4-8 of anything shipping is only $5. You can mix and match this offer. Discounts given in Paypal.
Only at Desert Soapstone

July Giveaway Winners

2009-07-31T17:21:00.001-07:00

1. Salad for Breakfast won our Dragon's Blood bar. We are going to send her our newly designed Dragon's blood bar free.
2. Audrey won our Clean Cotton Bar.
3. cdziuba won our Fresh Water Bar also known as "Clean."

Winners please contact me with your addresses through my etsy shop.
www.desertsoapstone.etsy.com

Thanks to all who participated and please keep us book marked as we will be having another giveaway for the month of August.

This Week's Sale Item

2009-07-27T15:46:00.000-07:00

Gardenia Patchouli Soap
$2 off all Gardenia Patchouli Soap Bars. This week only!!!

Recession Proof Your Income

2009-07-27T01:06:00.000-07:00

Watch this short video and then make a post here when you want me to contact you with more details. Please make sure I can follow your blog or I can't contact you. Or you can leave your email and I will not post it for the world to see, but will contact you privately. My husband is an architect and we have had to replace his income. We know what it is like to have nothing and be on the verge of less.

You do not want to miss this opportunity!

This is a new link as the last one did not copy right.
http://www.fortunehitechvideo.net/video.php?uid=4aqkuu6o6uki68c6

Smiles,
Sass

Make Your Own Sushi

2009-07-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

My husband and I love sushi, but the problem is, I could be a vegetarian real easy. I can't stand raw fish, meat or poultry...to handle that is. So when I ended up trying sushi (raw) for the first time and loving it, I knew I had a problem. Who can afford to go out to eat once a week, let alone once a month and further, who can afford sushi? O.k. so I have just informed you that I am not rich, but at least you will see from below that I can still appreciate the finer things in life.

Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked rice. Cook and set aside.
Nori sheets
cup of water
avocado, sliced
cucumber, cut in 3-4 inch slices
cold smoked salmon
cream chesse sliced into 1/4 inch thick lengths. You want them long and 1/4 inch thick.
lemon sliced paper thin
wasabi
soy sauce

Directionals:

1. Lay 1 sheet of nori flat and spoon about 2-4 TBS of rice onto the sheet. Wet your spoon in the water and smooth the rice onto the nori, gently pressing down and bringing it to the edges. You want to cover about half the sheet of nori leaving a small gap at the top (the side near you).
2. Put a slice of avocado (you may need two) and make sure it covers the length of the nori. You want to repeat this action with the salmon, cucumber and cream cheese.
3. Roll. Gently start rolling by pulling the gap end over the ingredients to meet the nori at the edge of the rice. Wet the nori at the opposite end of the gap and continue rolling until the uncovered nori is completely stuck to the rest of the roll...Am I making any sense?
4. Cover with slices of lemon.
5. Slice into 6 rounds using a sharp knife. Make sure to wet the knife as it will glide through the nori better. Also make sure to cut away from yourself.
6. dip in wasabi and soy and eat.

July Giveaway!!!

2009-06-30T23:10:00.000-07:00

Hello soap fans and friends. We have been thinking it over and have decided to make the July giveaway 3 bars, one bar to 3 separate winners. Since our country's flag is a 3 color flag we have decided to go with good old red, white and blue. Kicking off the red we

have dragon's blood. A popular scent made of natural resins that also have been known to have healing properties when digested. Please don't eat the soap if you are a winner! For the white we have chosen clean cotton. Another super popular scent and one of our top sellers. And for the blue we have a fresh water scent that will make your bathroom sparkle with springy clean.

How to enter: You may enter as many times as you see posiible from the below:
Go to our shop by clicking here.
1. Tell us what you would like to see in a comment = 1 entry.
2. Blog about us and post the link here = 2 entries
3. Put a blurb about us on your facebook page and send us the link in a comment = 1 more entry.
4. Twitter us to your Twitter universe and post the link here too. = 1 more entry.
5. If you can think of any other way to promote us and you do, send us that link =3 entries.
You see, there is a possibility of 8 enries.
Remember if your posts generate a $15 dollar purchase from my store you get a free bar, so make sure to tell people you sent them to me. onaroll.etsy.com has already earned herself two free bars for her efforts and there wasn't even a giveaway.
Please don't forget to check back here on July 31 to see who the lucky winners will be.
All entries will be hand written and placed in a fish bowl with your user name and drawn at random.
Until then...happy posting.
Smiles,
Kelli

Sale Item the week of June 29-July 5.

2009-06-29T16:54:00.001-07:00

All Cold Process Soap on sale. $1 off all cold process bars. That's 20% to you math whizzes. Take a look at Desert's shop. We just added Oatmeal Lavender Cold Process. Oh man! A scent you are bound to fall in love with and a Desert Soapstone original. Later this week we will be unveiling the giveaway for the month of July!!! Its getting exciting around here.

Interview with Innereye

2009-06-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

Desert Soapstone Interviews Innereye: Art and adornment from Arizona.

Q. Is Arizona your place of birth?
A. Arizona is my place of birth and I have lived in many parts of it.

Q. Have you done much travelling and if so where is your favorite destination thus far?
A. We got to go to Italy for our honeymoon which is the highlight of my travels and also the first time I was out of the country besides Mexico.

Q. What inspires you in your work?
A. I am inspired by so many things. Working in both jewelry and visual art I can use my inspirations in various ways. I am very inspired by the Southwest, its history and its people. I am inspired by adornment practices from people all over the world and how ancient the practice of adorning ourselves is. I am also interested in myths and how we can create our own based on what goes on around us...there's more but I'll leave it at that!

Q. Do you find it hard to balance a day job and your Etsy shop?
A. I find it hard to balance my day job just in that I would much rather be at home in the studio. Also there are lots of other things that take precedence in a day like yoga class and fixing dinner..

Q. You have mentioned that the Etsy Storque article series, "Quit Your Day Job" has been motivational. Is there a specific article you remember the most?
A. I think the one I remember the most is a ceramic artist who described her process as "white knuckle determination", unfortunately I can't remember her name, but I've since adopted that sentiment!
Q. What are your business goals?
A. My foremost business goals are to be able to not have another source of income besides my artwork- working artist!! Aslo I would like to have more products available such as printed blank journals, stickers,etc...
Q. We have talked about putting together an Etsy only craft show here in Prescott. Where would you like to see this going?
A. I really believe in the power of a collective because it doesn't feel so overwhelming to have to shoulder everything yourself. Ideally we will be making a profit, but the non-monetary aspects of sharing tips, networking and general support can lead to so much more.
Q. Aside from your Etsy shop, where else can my readers find you online or locally?
A. Locally I sell jewelry at Snap Snap an awesome used clothing store my friend Sadira owns on Montezuma downtown, also I sell jewelry at the Ian Russell Gallery which is located in the old Firehouse Plaza also downtown. If in Jerome you can see my visual art at the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery. Also I have a blog (that needs to be updated today) www.innerarizona.blogspot.com

...And the winner is...

2009-06-22T16:18:00.001-07:00

Cibaria is the winner of the "Blackberry Amber Soap and Samples Giveaway"! Cibaria, please go to our shop and convo us your shipping information. YAY for her and thanks to everyone who participated. We will be having another giveaway this July. Please keep us on your watch list to find out what it will be. We will also be posting many new soaps to our shop soon so keep checking back and feel free to tell a friend. If you do and they spend $15 or more in my shop before shipping you get a free bar. Onaroll has made a post about our shop on her blog and already earned herself 2 bars of soap. Thank you Onaroll.

Blackberry Amber Glycerin Soap Giveaway

2009-06-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

Giveaway:
Look through our shop and then come back here and leave a comment under this giveaway post and tell us what you like the best. Also leave a post on your blog about this giveaway and post your blog on your comment here...that way you can advertise too. :) The lucky winner will receive a free Blackberry Amber Glycerin Soap Bar and random samples. So pass on the word and let's get this party started!
The winner will be selected on Monday, June 22 using random.org

Artisan Look: Uniqueness in Jewelry

2009-06-11T13:15:00.000-07:00

Pearl Vision

Recently Desert Soapstone received an order for a Gardenia Patchouli Perfume Stick. I like to check out the buyer's shops (if they have one) and I was very impressed with Artisan Look. I have to say I have not seen jewelry this unique (and rather inexpensive for the quality)in a very long time. In fact this jewelry is so unique you would expect to see it in a Sundance Catalog for 10 times the amount charged. O.k. Artisan's a million times
Because You're Worth It
better....times 2. Shhh, don't let Redford hear that. Their prices, however, are very reasonable and they will even work with you on payments, offering a generous payment plan. Although, with prices like these, you should not need it.

Below is my interview with Ev from Artisan Look.
Q. Who is Artisan Look?
Artisanlook is one of our 4 etsy shops. Artisanimpact is the name of our company and also the name of our first etsy shop artisanimpact.etsy.com
the other 2 shops are silvercrush.etsy.com and artisanfield.etsy.com

Q. Who is your target audience?
Buyers that appreciate unique handmade jewelry.

Q. I noticed from your Etsy shop profile that you travel to Israel a lot. Would you like to tell us about that?
We are 3 Israeli partners, Ilan, Oded and me,Ev. Oded and Ilan, the designers live in Israel, I moved to Montreal 3 years ago. we sell the jewelry from Montreal and divide our time between Israel and Montreal.

After Thought

Q. Where would you like to be in 5 years?
We are working on building our brand and sell in more Galleries across Canada.

Q. What brought you to Etsy and how has it been beneficial?
I heard about Etsy from a friend and decided to open a shop. We love the artists community and the marketplace is great. The buyers love our designs and we have a lot of repeat customers.

Q. What are some other ways you sell your unique jewelry?
We sell also on our own website www.artisanimpact.com and in Galleries.
My Favorite

YART SALE

2009-06-10T23:14:00.001-07:00

Yard+Art=Yart Sale. This is turning into an annual Etsy thing.
It takes place June 10-14. We are participating in this great sale.
Go to our "Sale" section to claim some sweet deals!

Also for all you online sellers here are some links you may appreciate for marketing:
http://www.4-every-1.ws/

http://www.searchwiz.com/index.html

http://www.cyngoseek.com/

Sunbather's Companion

2009-06-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

Ahhh summer! One of my favorite times of year along with spring, fall and...o.k. I like them all. But summer is a very hot time in Arizona. A time for hanging out at the local pool, or like most Phoenician's: hanging out by your own pool. Time for basking in the sun and getting that all important tan. A time for Desert Soapstone's latest addition to our product line. Available only in the summer months. Sunbather's Companion. A creamy, coconut whip of all the things that your skin needs this time of year available in any of our fragrance options. To grab some of your own click here. To refer a friend click here.

Arizona Camping

2009-05-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

The Memorial Day Weekend was a great success in the sense of wilderness training. We set out for the camp experience on Friday, eager to get to the high desert, we packed everything from the coffee pot (we didn't have a percolator) to the umbrella, but we forgot panchos and enough tarps to cover our tents let alone underline them. Hoping for good weather, we set off, only to find a rainstorm looming on the horizon. We forged ahead only to be soaked in the night with monsoon like rain that drenched our tent and all that inhabited it. That was Friday and Friday night, but to our great excitement and surprise that was the beginning of a great weekend. The dry Arizona air quickly dried all our bedding and matress pads as well as our tent. The rain cooled the temps enough to require a nice camp fire each night until we set home Monday afternoon. The rain also enabled us to have a fire in the camp. You can't have s'mores without fire and camping without s'mores is just not complete. Attached are the beautiful flowers my daughter and hubby picked for me by the lake. Hopefully time lends to more camping in the coming months as this was a great start to what looks to be a great summer!

Memorial Weekend Sale

2009-05-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Sale: Friday, May 22-Monday, May 25, 2009

Buy 3 bars for $10- see post under "Sale" section
Spend $20 get 10% off before shipping awarded in Paypal
Spend $40 get 20% off before shipping awarded in Paypal
*all orders come with surprise gift

All Natural All Oceanic

2009-05-20T16:56:00.000-07:00

Introducing Oceanic. This soap is best described as clean and fresh with a vacation attitude. It reminds me of something you would find in a pricey beach resort or a cute boutique near Martha's Vineyard. A little east meets west in this fabulously coastal splash of sun, surf and sophistication.

The Batik Collection

2009-05-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Introducing the first of many in the series of our Batik Collection. The above bar is scented with essential oils and has a distinctly lemon ginger aroma. These all natural bars are inspired by batik art and can be found online at Desert Soapstone.

Anne Marie explains color

2009-05-18T00:35:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone in cyber world. Desert Soapstone just wanted to share a little about our color preference with our readers and buyers. We prefer the natural (as you see under our profile)colorants in our soap making. We are very concerned about anything that may be harmful to your health as well as our own. In this video you will see a demonstration and a little bit of info on the art of making soap. Thanks Anne Marie! But also we would like to point out that we use oxides, ultramarines and herbs for our colorants and never use FD&C colorants (not that these are entirely bad, but some don't like them)in our soap making. So if you are like us and prefer the natural over the unnatural, but still like to smell good, have a look at the video and see a little bit into our world.

Baby Shower Soap Favors

2009-05-17T22:17:00.001-07:00

O.k. so my awesome sister got married a year ago and they are about to have their first baby. A girl, who will have a rock star name...Not going to say it here for the sake of privacy. But anyway, my sis's baby shower is this weekend and unfortunately I have to miss it (loser, I know). So in my stead I am sending down 32 pieces of soap for party favors that I hope her cheerful supporters will be able to relax and enjoy once they return home with a belly full of cake and excitement for the little bundle to arrive.

Anyone having a shower or party and in need of party favors or gifts should visit my Etsy shop and send me a convo (email, Etsy style) and I will be happy to customize to fit your needs.

Attention Wine and Soap Snobs

2009-05-13T21:16:00.000-07:00

We have done it! It was a first attempt at something we have been wanting to do for a long time, but could never find the time to just play. Yes, we have taken the cheapest Trader Joe's wine we could find, Two Buck Chuck(Charles Shaw to you non Trader Joe's people) and made it into soap! We had a leftover bottle that turned to vinegar so we decided why cook with it when you can make something that lasts 50 times longer and smells great? Rustic was the goal and I think we achieved it. It was a simple process really. We let the fizz go flat, added a little this to that, and when we were all said and done we had a big bowl of phat. O.k. so I'm not as cool as I think, but at least I have great smelling soap and even better, a lodged cork waiting for freedom.

Pitseel: For the best veggie food ever!

2009-05-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

BBQ Ribs

Recently I encountered Pitseel. Another Etsy shop of course. I found her one night while having a bout with insomnia. She had made a forum post and I commented and she bought some soap and I in turn checked out her shop. Wow! I found a plethora of exciting and mouth watering foods that at first glance would appeal to even the hardest of die-hard meat eaters. But at second glance I see that her shop is a vegan's haven for everything from BBQ "ribs" to Hot Wings.
Hot Wings->

Where was this girl when I was in highschool? I admit, I am a full meat eater, but yet, not die hard. I still have my tofu fu moments.
Yes, that's tofu fu. Vegans and carnivores alike, give Pitseel a shot. You won't regret it.

Pitseel, an etsy shop dedicated to vegan culinary delights and showing major signs that she's going to be around for a while.

After all, she took a chance on me and ordered the 8 bar variety pack before even trying a single soap sample.
8 Bar Variety Pack

Arizona: Mingus Mountain

2009-05-07T21:25:00.000-07:00

Above: Watson Lake, Prescott, Arizona
For those of you who haven't been to my etsy shop and read my profile, my husband and I love to go out and be in nature and hike and drag the whole family with us, that is, if they will go.
Most of my readers have no idea what kind of exciting things there are to see in Arizona. Once I was visiting with a friend from out of town and she asked me, "So what's in Arizona besides mobile homes and dirt?" Her question only indicated to me that she had obviously never been here. Unlike the popular Hollywood images, Arizona is anything but mobile homes and dirt. Its rivers and streams, canyoneering dreams and monsoon frenzies, verdant (green for you simpletons), yes, verdant, blooming and beautiful. Actually, if you want to get technical, Arizona consists of at least 5 of the 6 major earth biomes. In fact out of the freshwater, marine, desert, forest, grassland and tundra, the only one Arizona doesn't have is the marine biome. Since Arizona doesn't have ocean front property (yet) I'll have to just write some entries on our other biome trekking. The pictures in this entry don't do Arizona justice, but stay tuned and in between the soap entries I will include some of our latest journeys.
Today we went hiking on Mingus Mountain in the middle of Arizona. Near Prescott, Mingus Mountain is home to the famous Jerome, Arizona and a number of hiking, biking and camping trails. Since this mountain is practically in our back yard we decided to trek it and go where, many have gone before, but where we have never gone before. O.k. so maybe once or twice before. Like earlier in the year when we went up on Mingus to throw snow balls at each other and see who could come the closest to a Sonny Bono on the pine trees. We've lived here the majority of our lives and had no idea there was a lake, er uh, pond up on top of this mountain. We found some interesting botanical features like the cacti growing out of the rock and the moon coming up over the trees at dusk. I have also included (for the skeptical) a picture of our weekend hike at Watson Lake. Yes, there is water in Arizona!

Above: Moonlight on Mingus Mountain

Above: Cactus growing out of rocks, or so it seems.

Tenth Street Saks: An Upscale Oasis

2009-05-03T18:42:00.000-07:00

Recently my coin purse I bought from Desert Dancer in Cottonwood, Arizona broke. Desert Dancer is a perfume, soap, candle, everything shop that I grew up visiting as a child. I loved my coin purse and had it for years. It reminded me of my youth. I remember that I paid around $6USD for it and was hoping to go back over to Cottonwood soon to get another one. Then I remembered I made the Handmade Pledge on Etsy.com and decided to make my purchase from an Etsian. As you know, if you are an internet shopper, sometimes what you get is great quality and you always go back. Other times what you end up with would be better off buried in your garden than anywhere near you. Well I decided to step out and order from a company I was not familiar with. The above is what I purchased. I have to admit, I expected a cheaply made, very hard-to-fit-anything-in pouch, but for $6.75 what did I expect? Let me be corrected right now. When I got my package from Tenth Street Saks, it was inexpensively mailed. This is important to me when I order online. I hate it when I order something and the thing inside comes in ten layers of fluff that I had to pay for. Kudos to Tenth on their mailing technique. So I open the envelope and inside I find this soft suede like, but smooth like leather, easy to open, perfectly sized for my cards, cash and change, coin purse that I can easily hook to my belt if I don't feel like carrying around my purse. For $6.75 (and that included shipping) I got an American made replacement for my long loved and much used simple coin purse that I think was made in South America. Way to go Tenth Street Saks. I hope your business takes off and I see your stuff in shops like Desert Dancer around the world.

Polka Dot Moon Features Desert Soapstone in Latest Contest

2009-05-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

Contests are a big part of the Etsy diet. Many artisans have contests on their blogs to intrigue new followers and make new friends. Often it is a brilliant way to network. Desert Soapstone has offered to donate a free gift to the winner of Polka Dot Moon's latest contest (to be posted 4am, Sunday, May 3, 2009).
For anyone interested in entering this sweet contest, the winner will receive a free 4 oz. Kumquat Scrub and 4 oz. Kumquat Shaving Soap. Please visit http://www.polkadotmoon.blogspot.com for more details!

Major Sale in The Desert

2009-04-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

Only at www.desertsoapstone.etsy.com

MOTHER'S DAY SALE April 20-May 10.
3 for $10 all soap bars See Featured Post
3 for $15 all 4 oz. scrubs
3 for $25 all 8 oz. scrubs
$1 off 3 pack of lip balms and 3 pack perfume sticks

Buy all three and savings is awarded in Paypal on scrubs and sticks. Bars: shipping is accurate in 3 bar post. Any over shipping charges from scrubs will be refunded in paypal with savings.

Our interview and project with smiss00

2009-04-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

Recently I ordered some hair thingy mo-boppers from smiss00.etsy.com. We decided to add them to soap and use this opportunity to get to know smiss00 a bit better. Below is our interview with this upcoming etsy artist and a picture of the fun project we made using one of smiss00's creations.

Q. How long have you been crafting?
A. I've been crafty for as long as I can remember. As a kid I made lots of little crafty things and then got into cross-stitch when i was older. I put some of it to the side for a while but I recently got into the button crafts and having a blast with it!

Q. Why Hairties?
A. I saw a many hair accessories being sold on etsy and I thought it looked like a fun thing to make!

Q. How did you hear about Etsy?
A. My homegirl NemesisProductions

Q. Do you sell through any other medium and do you have a blog?
A. I also have a shop at artfire (smiss00.artfire.com), and my blog can be found at smiss00.blogspot.com

Q.What is the most challenging part of crafting?
A. Finding the time to do it! Sometimes crafting is just not what I feel like doing when I get home from work!

Q.What are your goals for smiss00?
A. I just want to make things people enjoy, but it would be fabulous if I could
become rich doing so! lol

If you are interested in checking out some unique hairties for a gift or yourself please visit www.smiss00.etsy.com. You will like what you find. If you are interested in the above Honey scented soap visit me at www.desertsoapstone.etsy.com

Another cosmetic data website

2009-03-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I was searching for a safe emulsifier for my body butters so I can add water and they won't be so oily. In the process I found this site for checking your cosmetic care ingredients. It is similar to the other one I posted, but it is always good to have more than one source. Its looking like I am still on the search.

What happens when Desert Soapstone and TBS Creations unite!

2009-03-10T10:03:00.001-07:00

Recently I ordered some bobbi pins from TBS Creations, an Etsy based shop. My purpose was to make the Tween soap I saw on the SoapQueen Blog by Anne Marie Faiola. I couldn't find any Bobbi's that would work in town and then I remembered I took the handmade pledge on Etsy so I better keep it. Once I began cyber shopping on Etsy I found a plethora of items meeting my criteria and settled on TBS Creations as they were the most visually appealing for the task at hand. Voila! This is what happens when soap meets hair thingy mobobbers and they unite. The scents are Pear Glace (green) White Ginger and Amber (purple) and Plumeria (pink and black). If you are interested in these soaps please visit Desert Soapstone. If you are a crafter that would like to combine our arts convo me from Etsy conversations or add a comment below. What can we do next??? Thanks TBS Creations!

A Great Photographer

2009-03-09T22:52:00.001-07:00

Frankincense and Myrrh.--->

Recently my husband and I found ourselves in the studio of local Photographer, Christopher Marchetti. To see his work click here. It was somewhat of a spontaneous thing. Our son's first birthday had rolled around and we needed pictures. My husband hates "canned" photographs from Wal-Mart or Sears, which usually means we are winging it on our own on some back beaten path near a stream or cliff. Not a great idea with a little one in tow. Chris had been the photographer for many of the shots you see above and for many of the shots on my Etsy site. To shop click here. Not only is he a kind person full of great stories and vibrance, but he is talented too. Able to shoot things from actors and food to architecture and nature. He is able to capture the energy in everything. He says the camera does it, but we all know it takes a special person to get the shot just right. I call him a friend and he has treated me as such. So if you see a bad or questionable shot on here, you can be sure I didn't see him that time and that it was just me trying to figure out how to use my camera.

Latest Custom Order from LeenTheGraphicsQueen

2009-03-04T01:09:00.000-07:00

Above you see some of Leen's work. Judging by the photo I think it is safe to say she's incredibly talented. To see more of her stuff go to www.LeenTheGraphicsQueen.etsy.com

Hello fellow bloggers, ETSY fans, soap lovers, friends and yadda yadda yadda. Above you will see I am posting about my latest custom order. LeenTheGraphicsQueen.etsy.com ordered some mechanic soap for her hubby. We are so pleased with the way this soap turned out that we would like to permanently add it to our collection. Here you see the Grime Reaper soap. It is ideal for gardener's, mechanics and chefs alike. It contains pumice for that hard to get grease, coffee for the garlic hands you need to get rid of before dinner and lemon and orange oil not only for scent, but as an added degreaser. We hope once this 8 bar pack is cured that Leen will love it as much as we do.

A great site for checking your bath ingredients

2009-02-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!
I have been neglectful in my blogging, I apologize. Today is a short post, but I wanted to tell you all about this website http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com It is a great place to search for the ingredients listed on your shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc... You will be amazed at the harmful things people put in their products just to save a buck or make a buck or make a lather or a wrinkle cream...yadda yadda yadda. Knowing what you put on your body is as important as what you put in.

Customer review from buttonhead.etsy.com

2009-02-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

Latest Custom Order: Arabian Spice

2009-02-02T23:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a peek at our latest custom order. Arabian Spice with poppyseeds. The customer mentioned having tried a wonderful bar of soap in Jerusalem that had poppyseeds in it and was of a spicy nature. We are hoping he is overjoyed with our latest creation. Maybe he will let us interview him later. he he.

Bramble Berry's latest post about the Glabalization Act

2009-02-01T01:11:00.000-07:00

http://soap-queen.blogspot.com/2009/01/fda-globalization-act-09-update.html

FDA Globalization Act of 2009

2009-01-29T23:38:00.000-07:00

Thankfully us little guys have a lot of bigger guys going to bat for us.
http://essentialu.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/01/fda-globalization-act-of-2009.html

"Individually, we are one drop. Together we are an ocean." Ryunosuke Satoro

Thank you bigger guys!

The Soap Kitchen

2009-01-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

For my buyers and my followers I thought you may be interested in the area where your soap is created. Here in my kitchen I slave away to produce the lathery goodness you all return for. O.k. so slave is a bit strong. Strive to produce maybe? Um, o.k. how about pretend to be loathing the experience, but really love it completely? O.k. that will work.
I'd like to thank my friend MacLaine of Lochbuie Scotland for the sweet soap plug. I'm glad his family has found my soap and feels it is pleasant. I would hate for the Malodorites to attack again.
Now I must get going. I have laundry to fold, orders to fill and a bed with my name on it for a 30 min. spot of rest and then back at it...

I Don't Sleep

2009-01-29T02:23:00.000-07:00

I would like to sleep, but I don't. I go to bed thinking I am going to sleep and I do, for about 30 minutes. Then I am up and this is what I do. Its the quietest thing in the house. I can't make soap...too loud. I can't watch t.v....to loud. I could read, but even though I can't sleep my eyes are crossing.

Sometimes I remember back to the adolescent young thing I used to be. A time when I thought my writing was...deep, and I laugh my heineken off. I'm starting to think deep is for SCUBA diving and mud pie. I had a friend in high school who I have recently reconnected with. He wrote this long letter and I couldn't understand half of what he said in his silly attempt to be...deep. Maybe I should tell him to dig a pool? O.k. deep is really, Benjamin Franklin. That guy was deep. Half or more of our modern conveniences today were initially created by him...or discovered anyway. Winstons Churchill...He was deep. The only guy in the free world that saw the destruction being catapulted Britain's way and the only guy strong enough to give the world what for. Those people are deep. They didn't ramble (as I am doing now) they had a purpose and a point. I have admiration for their dedication to country and mankind in general. It takes real character to be someone like that! Churchill reportedly only slept 3 hours a night. If I only sleep 3 hours a night I can barely stand to sit up let alone conquer nations. Having said that I think I will give it another shot. Sleep that is, not conquering nations.

Our first referral gets a free bar

2009-01-26T18:43:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank EllaJeanGifts for giving me a referral. Her friend, leenthegraphicsqueen, spent $15 or more in my shop and now EllaJeanGifts gets a free bar of soap. Thank you very much. If anyone would like to purchase various baby items please visit EllaJeanGifts.etsy.com and for various decorative decals for your home please visit leenthegraphicsqueen.etsy.com

2009-01-25T00:43:00.000-07:00

Create your own travel map or travel blog

Travel Info at TripAdvisor

Shop Policy

2009-01-22T23:32:00.001-07:00

It is shop policy to award any new buyers in my shop with freebies in their bag, but even better is to award referrals. It is my shop policy to award a free bar of soap to anyone who can send me a buyer that spends $15 or more before shipping. So pass the word along and make sure they give me your name when they order so I can reward YOU.
www.desertsoapstone.etsy.com

Burnt Sugar (caramel) Cake Recipe

2009-01-21T22:57:00.000-07:00

Burnt Sugar Cake Bake at 350*-30 min.

Ingredients for Cake Portion
1/2 C. Shortening
1 1/2 C. Sugar
Cream the above.
2 Egg Yolks
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 1/2 C. Cake Flour
1/2 tsp. Salt
2 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 C. Water or Milk
2 Stiff beaten egg whites added last
Burnt Sugar syrup...see directions and ingredients at bottom of recipe

Directions:
Cream shortening and sugar. Beat in egg yolks until light and fluffy. Add water, dry ingredients, burnt sugar syrup and last beaten egg whites. Bake in two 8" waxed paper lined pans at 350* for 30 min or until you can stick a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean.

Burnt Sugar Syrup
Burn 1/2 C. sugar in heavy skillet. Add 1/2C. boiling water and boil until thick like molasses.

Frosting
On stove top in small pan
1/2 C. Butter melted. Add 1 C. packed brown sugar and 1/4 C. milk. Stir until it starts to boil (I don't bring it to boil untill all ingredients are well mixed and sugar is dissolved). Add powdered sugar until right consistency to spread. As usual wait for cake to cool before frosting.

In the words of Nacho Libre: "Its the best."

Why Handmade Soap?

2008-12-24T12:02:00.001-07:00

I was just reading the latest issue of Grit magazine and they are doing a whole spread on soap and soap making. One of their soap facts was about the average person coming into contact with over 100 chemicals in their morning hygienic routine before breakfast. 100 chemicals. That's crazy. Its no wonder we have people with cancer and immune disorders and alzheimer's and...You get the idea. So I am proposing that everyone look into the more natural. Like Hand Made soap for instance. It is definitely more decadent than buying a bar of Irish Spring and some handmade soap makers (like me) give discounts for bulk purchases similar to the way Costco gives discounts. You can always try your hand in making your own, but if you are a busy person this option may not be the best bet.

Although hand made soap does have sodium and or potassium hydroxide in it at the start of the process, once the soap has cured, these chemicals have evaporated out and what you are left with is a bar of salt capable of washing away the dirt, grime and bacteria. Yes, I said salt. When you mix one of the above chemicals with oil you get saponification and this process turns the once acidic oil in to the more alkaline salt, we call soap. By using handmade bath and body products you can potentially decrease your chemical exposure by more than 50%. You have to be careful though, even though some products are home made they may still have chemicals like sodium laureth sulfate and laurel sulfate, propylene glycol and phthalates. All of these you should avoid if you are looking for a healthier morning routine. By using a handmade shaving soap for example you can avoid triclosan which is a popular antibacterial ingredient. However, by using products with triclosan we are adding to the problem by creating antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. By using a hand made shaving cream you also avoid parabens (check labels to be safe). Parabens increase estrogen and have been found in breast cancer tumors. It is a known carcinogen and is in much of the store bought beauty items. Why? It is a preservative. But really, if you buy your handmade soap from a reputable person they will stand behind their products and if they are superfatting (making the bar more luxurious by adding more oils and less lye) then they will most likely be adding something like grapefruit seed extract as a preservative. This can extend shelf life to a year. If it is not superfatted then the bar can get away with no preservative and may last up to 6 months. Most of us don't have soap in our closets that long.

So do yourself and the rest of mankind a favor and buy natural handmade soap. Its better for you, your family, the environment and your sanity because you will know you are using a product that will benefit not only you, but the person that made it and the world around you.

www.desertsoapstone.etsy.com

Our health: Is it really safe?

2008-12-23T01:17:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been informed about a slew of chemicals in the flu vaccine. Something that has been touted in the media as a necessity in life, has recently been shown to me to be nothing more than a detriment and a way for people to be duped into unknowingly spreading an infectious disease. Most people that receive this vaccine are oblivious to the fact that it contains such chemicals as Ethylene Glycol (vehicle antifreeze), Carbolic Acid (Toxic poison), Formaldehyde (cancer causing fluid used for embalming the dead), Aluminum (has been linked to alzheimer's disease and cancer), and Mercury (a well known heavy metal that has been linked to brain, nerve and immunity problems and has been the leading cause of autism in the U.S.). Oh, you don't believe the last one? Well, recently I was looking through a box of items belonging to my grandmother when I ran across a book marker with the face of John F. Kennedy on the top. The bottom portion of this bookmarker (a public service announcement geared toward a cure) was claiming that we needed to find the cure for autism. Interesting that this would come out a decade after vaccinations were made the norm in the 1950's and this bookmarker was being distributed shortly after Kennedy's inauguration in Januray 1961. This decade of vaccinations was enough time apparently, for the problem to become obvious, but not the cause. Maybe it is just me, but I find it infuriating to see vaccination stands set up at the local Wal-Mart knowing full well, that what these unknowing people are about to put into their bodies is nothing more than a poison designed to send them rushing into the emergency room with chronic symptoms of the flu when all they really needed to do was load up on Lemons!

I'm so proud

2008-12-16T22:48:00.000-07:00

Natural Fabric softener

2008-12-16T21:29:00.000-07:00

Recently I was reading a nature-y type magazine. It happens to be one my mother bought a subscription for us to. Its a great magazine and they have ideas that are outstanding by way of downsizing your household expenditures and living on less and loving it and natural solutions in our unnatural world. One of the solutions I found interesting and quite unique was to use White venegar as a fabric softener. I had to try it. Being all excited about the new essential oils I had just ordered I wondered if I could spike the new Vinegar solution with a little lemongrass eo to make my clothes smell extra clean. The article said to put 1/4 cup of vinegar in your "downey" dispenser or fabric softener dispenser and wash. I added a few drops of eo and said with my fingers crossed, "I hope I don't blow up the dryer." I didn't and I had very nice smelling clothes. No spots or marks from the eo and no static. I think my clothes looked and smelled fifty times better than with the store bought, break your bank account brands. So the next time you are thinking about washing clothes try using 1/4 cup of white vinegar instead of fabric softener and see what you think. Now, next time I might venture out with a fragrance oil...Dare I?