Contest and Give Away: Name this Soap!

This is a new Limited Edition Soap I am releasing for this summer! The scent is exotic tropical fruit of guava and passionfruit, and pineapple citrus with a hint of peach. I love the variation in the bars - all of these bars came from the same batch of soap! Available for purchase May 7, 2012

If you have an idea for a name for this soap please leave it in a comment below. The person who comes up with the name we choose will receive a free bar of this soap plus a 10 oz Sugar Whipped Soap of the same scent!

Details:
• Contest ends Monday April 30th
• You may leave multiple comments as long as the comment contains a naming idea for this soap.
• The winning name will receive a bar of this soap plus one jar of Sugar Whipped Soap in the same scent.
• An additional winner will be chosen at random to receive one bar of this soap.
• One prize per winner.

Soap Weekend Intensive 2012 Preview

I am so excited to be invited back to Otion to teach at the Soap Weekend Intensive this year! I will be teaching 4 scrubs (and am including a bonus recipe)! Also teaching are Debbie Chialtas of Soapylove,  Kat Hackney of Otion, Jill Heuser of Northwest Scents, and Anne-Marie Faiola of Bramble Berry, Soap Queen, Teach Soap and Otion. I can't wait to see Anne-Marie and family, Kat, Courtney, and Amber and finally meet baby Jamisen! 

I am working on recipes and here is a preview of one of the scrubs I will be teaching.

I know you are curious!

SWI will be held Friday June 15th through Sunday June 17th, 2012 

There is still room left!

To sign up go to the SWI page at brambleberry.com

Recent Etsy Purchases

I always love those rare occasions that I get to play dress up and buy a few new items to jazz up my outfit. I bought these silver pieces to complete an outfit I have in mind for a wedding I am attending in Hawai'i. I thought the orchids were perfect for the occasion. I love the more delicate silver pieces from this shop right out of L.A. and the prices are very reasonable!

 GoJo Design on Etsy

Aside from the beautiful crochet work and the pretty floral print, I think the white tube top pairing in the photo got me on this. I can imagine a perfect pair of dark blue jeans and some big silver hoop earrings would complete the outfit and I can't wait to find out! Check out the other gorgeous scarfs from this shop! Items ship from Turkey but it is worth the wait!

fairstore on Etsy

Retiring some soap - I'll miss you!

Despite my love for all of the soap that I make and have made, some things must be sacrificed in order to make room for the new. I am discontinuing these soaps in 2012, Apricot Yuzu and Sticky Fig are still available in limited quantities in the sale section of my shop. SALE

I will miss you!

 Apricot Yuzu

 Sticky Fig

 Milk and Honey

Tea Room

Italian Soda

New Stuff: Whipped Scrubs!

The benefits of daily exfoliation are widely known. When we exfoliate we help remove dead skin cells from the outermost layer of our skin, the epidermis, which the keeps skin clean, and helps reduce dry flaky skin. Exfoliation helps to expose newer skin cells and helps to unclog pores, allowing sebum to flow and keep skin moisturized. Exfoliation also increases blood flow to the surface of the skin so toxins can be more readily removed and exfoliation can help improve the tone, texture and evenness of skin color.

Available in Cinnamon Coffee, Key Lime & Grapefruit and Lemon Gingergrass. This product emulsifies into a creamy scrub when applied to wet skin. It will leave your skin feeling soft and hydrated without feeling too oily! 6 oz/ 170g. in a cute bail jar available at naiadsoaparts.com. 

98% natural.

Our Fragrant Cinnamon Coffee scrub is made with Natural Cocoa Butter, high in vitamin E and easily absorbed by the skin, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, and Coffee Grounds for a more intense scrub. With a sweet Cinnamon, citrus scent!

Our Key Lime and Grapefruit scrub smells like fresh squeezed Key Limes and Pink Grapefruit and is made with Organic Shea Butter. Shea Butter contains beneficial fatty acids thought to promote cell regeneration and circulation. Wonderful for dry and aging skin! The antioxidants in vitamin C from Grapefruit and Lime are said to reduce damage to the skin caused by free radicals.

Our Lemon Gingergrass scrub smells like Lemon Ginger Frosting and is also made with Organic Shea Butter. The antioxidant in ginger, gingerol is a powerful antioxidant that fights skin damaging antioxidants and Ginger and Lemon are both used to promote an even skin tone.

Recipes: Avocado Berry Smoothie

This morning I started my day with Key Lime and Grapefruit Whipped Shea Butter Scrub and an Avocado and Berry Smoothie to help my metabolism started after 8 hours of sleep! Eating a balanced breakfast including good carbs, protein and fat can help reduce the risk of weight gain, fatigue throughout the day and muscle wasting*. I need to keep up my energy for soapmaking after all!

This recipe only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start your day! This recipe is packed with protein and due to the avocado this does have a fair amount of fat but it is good fat and it will give you sustained energy until your next meal unlike quick burning simple carbs. For your reference I included nutrition info below.

Ingredients:

• 16 oz Pure Almond Unsweetened
• 2 scoop , 100% Whey Protein. NOTE - any protein powder will do. I used EAS Vanilla Whey Protein powder. If you use another protein powder nutrition info will vary slightly.
• 1 cup Strawberries, Fresh or Frozen
• 1 cup Blueberries Fresh or Frozen
• 75 g Avocado(about 1/2 fruit)

1) Wash the blueberries and strawberries. I like to wash fruit ahead of time and freeze it and use the frozen fruit in my smoothies but you can use unfrozen as well, or store bought frozen fruit as long as it is unsweetened whole fruit.
2) Slice strawberries if necessary.
3) In a blender add Almond Milk, Berries, Protein and Avocado and blend on high for ten seconds, and then in 3 or 4, five second pulses.
Serve immediately - 2 servings



Here is to happy healthy mornings!

*Resources: http://www.livestrong.com/article/385504-the-effects-of-eating-a-healthy-breakfast/
http://drerico23.hubpages.com/hub/3-Essential-Thyroid-Diet-Tips-For-Hashimotos-Thyroiditis-Sufferers
http://www.muscleprodigy.com/getting-started-nutritional-secrets-for-fat-burn-arcl-647.html