Etsy Soap Porn

Opium Poppy Seed by Beautiful Soaps on Etsy.


Soap and Shave Cube With Chrome Stand by ShopRedLeaf on Etsy.


Pink Buttercream Marshmallow Cake Goats Milk Soap by CozyMoments on Etsy.



French Macaron Soap by naiad on Etsy.



Warm Pumpkin Spice Cupcake Soap by treatsoap on Etsy

Maui Rise Salt Soap by Magic Hands on Etsy.



Hazelnut Chocolate Soap by adoration soap on Etsy.



Pink Grapefruit Whipped Soap by pink parchment soap on Etsy. (I just bought one this morning)

I think this is the best soap porn on my blog yet!

My New Soap. Finally!

I have been struggling with getting my butt into the kitchen again to make some soap. I think it's been over a month, so to get myself pumped up again, I asked Trish, of Suds To Love to ask her hubby if he would make me two soap molds and I'd pay him for his time and work. He hand makes them for Trisha and I was hoping he would take me up on it.

He agreed.

Ok, so I ordered two, please make them whatever size I say, so this week, I get a fat box from Trisha. Yes! My molds. I opened them up and look what I got. Above is the 4 lb soap mold and the one below with the orange soap poured into it, is the 2 lb. soap mold. Obviously, I couldn't even wait to photograph them both before I soaped due to my incredible excitement. Trisha also sent me 4 soaps of hers (which all smell so good!). I urge Trisha to open up an Etsy shop. She is a soap making addict and she will run out of room at her home if she doesn't start selling those soaps soon!

The sugary brown soap below is the soap I just made and put into the 4 lb. mold. I will reveal the fragrance when it is time, because it might be part of something sugary from Product Body for the holidays.

Patience, pretty.



My husband asked me to make him a loaf of orange scented soap so here it is. It looks like custard to me. I sprinkled orange peel powder on the top.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!!

Friends Of El Faro - A Message

I blogged about an incredible non-profit organization, Friends Of El Faro, who works with orphaned kids in Tijuana and. I have blogged about it here and here.

This is their message:

Our mission is simple – to show up and help improve the lives of the children of Casa Hogar Sion in anyway we can. Long term, our goal is to purchase land and build them a new home. In the mean time there are hungry children to feed, to shelter, keep safe and send to school.

My cousin Leslie and friend/customer Gena are both in the video.

Spread the word around, because these children need homes. And a chance.

Look What I Got - Dirty Loves Clean

So cute, so well done, so New York...

Dirty Loves Clean

The soap review will come once I've had a chance to use them I have run out of room in the shower, but since I just bought a suction cup soap holder at Wally World today, I'll be bringing one more soap chap in tomorrow!!

I just love getting clean!

Soap Slump

I have to get back on the soaping saddle because I miss it. Too busy, too busy....

In the meantime, check out Marr Williams' Smelly Chick's blog to see more soap porn.

I Ordered It

Graham Cracker fragrance oil has been discontinued as you already know. Boy, was I bummed until I found out I could get 10 pounds of it. Some of you are in on my purchase. Well, I ordered it on Friday and am waiting for it's arrival. My guess is that it will arrive some time next week.

Yay!

So for those of you who contacted me about buying a 16 oz. jar, I will be emailing you sooooon...

Lining Your Soap Mold

This is a very informative video that helps demystify lining molds. (I still have trouble even with step by step instructions, but it's better than squishing the paper all flat and getting wrinkly soap...) I've watched it several times. She is very patient.

Courtesy of www.how2soap.com

If you have a tutorial you'd like to share, please email me and let me know. I would be happy to share your knowledge with the rest of us. jo at productbody dot com

Happy soaping!

Sunday Soap Porn

I have found such beautiful soaps.... Some Sunday Soap Porn for your eyes. They are all Etsy Soap Makers.

Pink Parchment Soaps:

Raspberry Parfait

Country Cottage Soap:

Pumpkin Pie Whipped Cream Soap

Melon Berry Soap

Dirty Sanchez (haha):

Recovery

Perusha:

St. John's Wort

Mooka Soap:

Sambuca Shea Butter Soap

Tower Of Yum

Ginger papaya soap

Isn't this beautiful? Sherrie of Birch Bark Soap not only makes great soap, but her photography is moving, to say the least. You can tell in this picture that she has a toddler. Can't you? She has been playing too many games of blocks and legos before shooting this tower of yum.

Out of the blue, Sherrie sent me a couple of soaps. So sweet of her, I have to say. Shipping from Nova Scotia is no cheap thing. I got one of these half-bars and truly love the way the colors work together. The warm tones and mild scent were calling me from my desk. It sat there right in front of my keyboard for over a week. It quickly became my meditation log, erect and geometric. I would look at it and get a smidge of peace and move on with my hectic day.

I have reviewed Birch Bark's soap before and I am happy to say that her soaps are still great. I like the ginger papaya, but kind of wish it had more scent because it smelled so nice and faded a bit once it got wet and rubbed up. This soap has great lather, smelled delish and was stunning to look at. Sherrie is a real artist. Soapmaker, photographer, soapmaker. :)

Sherrie, thank you for sending me soap. You know how much I LOVE that!! Good for you for spreading your wings and trying new things. (That sounds like a Hallmark card) Give a squeeze to Philip. What a cutie!


Read Sherrie's blog and see more of her great photography.

Does My Car Define Me?

Good question. For way too long I have been a snob on so many levels. Have I been so shallow all my life that I compartmentalize everything and everyone?

\kəm-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tə-ˌlīz, ˌkäm-\

Function: transitive verb meaning: to separate into isolated compartments or categories

Yeah, it looks that way. It looks like I'm shallow.

I never wanted a minivan. Now I don't mind them so much because they make a lot of sense, but I still don't drive one. I'd much rather waste more gas and not hold as many people. I like having to open and close the door manually because I'd rather not slide the very convenient side door open on the minivan I don't own with my handy dandy remote key controller.

I look better driving my truck, face it. So. My question to me. To you. Is... is your vehicle a defining factor or is it just "practical"? I sort of said before, the ease of driving a minivan far exceeds the coolness of driving my 2002 Explorer truck, but I have noticed way too many boring cars in the parking lots these days. Where are the Chevelles, Chargers, Challengers, International Scouts, TR6's... You see, I like muscle cars and cool convertible trucks (old Scout) what can I say? So are the cars defining who drives them, even a little?

Rationally I say, of course not. What I look like doesn't tell anyone who I am. It should be the same way with cars, food, clothes, but when I see a steaming mullet or worse, I can't help but think, "what are they thinking?"


If you want to see more on mullets, go here to: Cut Mullet Sell Fireworks

Carrot Orange Soap Review

Folks, I have been working on Brad to write this review, but he just hasn't so here goes mine. It won't be nearly as funny. Welcome to my life. I'll never be smarter or funnier than my husband.

But I'm nicer.

Suzanne Graham sent me her Carrot Orange soap and it was AWESOME. By far a winner! Unfortunately it was a small bar, so I couldn't really spend the time I needed to with it in order for me to have a love affair. Not only was the packaging lovely, the smell was divine! It smelled citrusy, with a hint of one of my favorite roots.

"Freshly squeezed organic carrot juice and pulp pack this soap with vitamin A and beta-carotene for soft, healthy skin. The orange essential just makes it smell yummy!"

So true, it smelled SO yummy. Freshly squeezed carrot juice and pulp were in there. I love that! It was orange in color and now I want a whole bar all for myself, but Brad will force me to share even though he shirked his responsibility of NOT reviewing the Carrot Orange Soap.

Run out and get a bar. Only glitch: she is in Canada. That just makes it more expensive to get a hold of. Well worth it. You can email her to place an order, and she's setting up an online store very soon....

SUZANNE GRAHAM FOR YOU WEBSITE

Suzanne and baby

Graham Cracker Update

Last week I asked for some partners in crime. I have to buy ten pounds of graham cracker fragrance oil and I just don't want that much. Maybe 3 pounds. I need one or two more takers. Worked great for me in my graham cracker and coffee soap a few months ago.

Going once, going twice. When it's gone it's gone.

Friday Soap Porn :: Vegans, Close Your Eyes

I just found these soaps at Goat Milk Therapy, and I think they are really pretty and creative looking. Honestly, I don't think I've used soap yet with goat milk. So vegans, I apologize...

Wild Ginger

Chocolate Raspberry Cake


Orange Chiffon Cake

A Death. A Memorial. A Personal Note.

You may know me as "the husband," or Brad, or you may not know me at all, but I am in fact Joanna's husband Brad and I'm hijacking Joanna's blogs for a moment (this is being cross-posted to both The Soap Bar and the Product Body Blog) to share something with you all:

The "death of someone close" she mentioned in these pages was her step-father, Harry, who has been with Joanna's mom (who raised her) since Joanna was only eight. Harry passed away on July 31st. His memorial service is today.

Over these days, I've watched Joanna cope with Harry's illness and death with incredible grace, and strength, and sensitivity. I've watched her put her own grief to the side in order to be there for her mom and others. I've watched her struggle and succeed at being a strong and steady mother to our children, even while she had to deal with the loss of a father. In short I've seen, as I have always seen in Joanna, the kind of person I hope my children grow into.

So consider this a different sort of obituary. One that honors the feelings of someone left behind, to give her a moment of attention, and love, and support.

Shortly after Harry died, Joanna said this to me:

"Harry was the only person in my life when I was growing up that I never felt judged by. No matter what I did, no matter what mistakes I made, he was always supportive."

THAT is no small fucking thing, people. And you, my beautiful and amazing wife, most certainly deserved it.

So Harry, if somehow you're reading this, thanks. Thanks for giving the woman I love, the woman I would do anything for, something so valuable and rare.

Carrot Orange Soap

At Suzanne Graham For You, you can have it your way. Just like at Burger King, except these won't give you high blood pressure and make you fat.

I got a box filled with 4 small logs arrived from Canada some weeks ago and there are a few things you should know.
a) I love the packaging. The hand stamped names on natural colored tissue paper is brilliant and simplistic, which I love.

b) I like the flexibility when buying her soaps, because you can buy full and half sized bars. You can custom fill a box with any combination.

c) They smell fantastic!

Suzanne sent me these yummy half bars:

ki-lime:



banana baby:



breezy fruit:



and carrot orange:


I am enjoying them all so much I am ready to order more. The next ones I am ordering are:



gin + tonic and mangia cake (no pictures are available for these yet).

Back in December of 2007, my husband, Brad, wrote a review of a soap made by Simply Soap. If you haven't read it, you really must. Well, he hasn't raved quite as much about a soap since then. I have asked him to write up something, and he has been busy and is procrastinating. This post should light a little flame under him. ~~~ burn ~~~

Let's just say that the soap ROCKED and the teeny weeney tiny sliver that remains is really almost a memory. We need more. Immediately....

So, soap review of Suzanne Graham's carrot orange soap to come...Brrraaaaaad...?

Need A Cohort. Or Two. Or Three.

Calling all soapers.

I need to purchase Graham Cracker fragrance oil before the holiday season and the only way I can is to buy 10 pounds of it 10- 16 oz bottles. MMS wants about $195.00 for 10 bottles. I would like 2 of those pounds, perhaps more. Anyone want to go in on this? It is a wonderful and not too sweet confection scent and soaps beautifully. It smells like a graham cracker. Each bottle would be what it costs me plus shipping from Florida. Email me at jo at productbody dot com if you are interested.

Luv 4 Country Soap

Handmade Canadian Soap Company: Luv 4 Country Soap
Bryna created Luv 4 Country, based in Ontario, Canada.

I received a package from Bryna that included Detoxifying Charcoal soap and Peachy Queen soap along with a jar of shaving cream. First of all, how cute was it to include a shaving cream to me? My leg shaving issues continue and the thoughtful inclusion was lovely. (Thank you, Bryna!)

As you can see, the soaps are lovely to look at. The charcoal swirls are fantabulous, don't you think? The bar is black black and gorgeous, although, I can not use it because it is patchouli based and I'd be getting a divorce if I tried it, so I think I will include it in a give-away soon.

To all of you who don't know, patchouli is my husband's least favorite smell, so he has asked me to refrain from using that scent in this house. So be it. I know you'll understand.:)

It is still a beautiful bar and I would recommend it to any hippie or patchouli lovin' soul. (I kid. No judging here).

To the shaving cream.... Bryna sent me a jar (I think it is 4 ounces?) and it was very creamy and a nice switch from soap or Gilette, which I despise the smell of. She sent it in Key Lime although it smelled a tad antiseptic, it worked great. Nice slide/slip and it washed off cleanly. My legs were clean, hair free and not irritated. Yay!

Shaving Cream $10.00

Detoxifying Charcoal Soap, $5.50



Peachy Queen Soap, $5.50

Her soap was nice, lathered quickly with long lasting bubbles and smelled peachy ;) It didn't smell like a candy peach, or a real juicy peach, but more like soapy peach. I liked it very much and think the color combination is spot on! Pink and yellow are happy colors and perfect for Summer!

Canada gets a squeeze! Thank you, Bryna.

Wednesday Soap Porn To Hold You Over

I love all of the Canadian soaps so far, and just yesterday received another package from Canada. I will have to wait on the new one, it wouldn't be fair to budge the rest of the soaps that have been waiting so patiently in an orderly line.

A little porn for you while you wait for the soap reviews...

Pegasus Soaps Whipped Huckleberry



Handcrafted natural soap on Tikidibou





Rose Soap on Hot Process Soap Notes by gracefruit (Elizabeth!)