I am thankful for....A wonderful husband that makes me laugh everydayA family that shares their funny stories with mePhone chats with friendsWell behaved puppy dogsHaving money in the bankA warm houseA fire to sit next to - either inside or outsideMy yoga matFood on the tableBright colors to wearFragrance oils!Creative people who share their gifts with the worldBarnard Griffin's Rose de Sangiovese to share...Happy Thanksgiving to you all - may you share this day with those you love the most! Read Full Story

I have an extremely talented cousin who designs the most exquisite jewelry. Maybe you are looking for that very special present for a friend or family member or perhaps that one special piece to finish your outfit for New Year's Eve. Because most of you who visit my blog understand artisan work, I think you can appreciate her style and level of craftsmanship. Karin Worden JewelryShe may just have that one perfect item for you to make it a very special holiday.... Read Full Story

I have these beautiful cloth napkins that were made in India and I just noticed a little tag on them. The tag says "Imperfections are Natural". I love that! It is so true! I get so hyped up about getting everything done, doing everything well, and not calling any attention to my self by making sure that everything works out they way I think it is supposed to. For some reason I feel like if I do something wrong the world is going to fall off of its axis. I have spent all week stressing out abo... Read Full Story

Here is my latest soap - and I'll tell you, it is heavenly.... it is made with calendula infused olive oil and shea butter. Calendula is a skin calming herb and of course shea is a yummy moisturizer. I made this batch unscented because I really wanted to test the recipe and not be distracted or have a scent interfere with how it came out. Although, I'm not quite happy with the calendula petals on top... it kind of looks a mess... or like it needs a haircut... oh well, live and learn. Read Full Story

Another lovely Sunday cooking up a storm! Have I told you recently how much I love to go grocery shopping? It is one of my happy places. I love imagining what we can make for the week and feel challenged to think up new and exciting ways to present the regular stuff.Today I made chicken pot pie, apple pop-overs, and homemade chicken stock. Yum! The house smells amazing! And if we didn't destroy all of it by devouring it at dinner - I would show you a picture.... So, if I was doing the choosin... Read Full Story

It's been a fun few weeks. I was in CA for a training class and had the opportunity to go with a friend to Napa for the weekend. It was absolutely beautiful and the vinyards were in full bloom. We did quite a few tastings and had a wonderful time. There is nothing to compare to the wine, food, and level of service you get all over the valley. We tasted at Sterling, Hess, Darioush, Acaciaand Rubicon Estate. All of them lovely and all so unique! We ended the weekend at a fantastic vegetarian re... Read Full Story

when you get to be a lazy soaper? Speckles in your soap! Don't be afraid - it isn't unsaponified lye. (For you non- soapmakers, that means lye that hasn't been eaten up by the oils that can burn your skin).I've been using the heat transfer method in my soapmaking because it is fast and easy - But I've also been using a recipe with a lot of solid oils. Duh! (Smacks myself on the forehead) So there we go - speckles. Now that I have a microwave and a single burner in my soaproom, there really is... Read Full Story

One of the great things about this new little town that we live in is that it is fairly close to Crater Lake National Park. Although my dad has a home not too far away from Crater Lake, I have never actually been there. It has always been mythical in my mind.When I was young my best friend Karen, who always seemed to know all sorts of stuff that I didn't, told me about Crater Lake. How it was so deep that no one really knew how deep it was... And that the water was so clear you see all the wa... Read Full Story

The new flooring in the office - looks great huh! Coconut Cream Soap (shea) - looks good, feels good, smells icky! Definitely not going out for sale Read Full Story

Our "Booty for Boobies" party was a great success! With the help of those that donated and the matching funds from our company we succeeded in donating almost $4000 to the Race for the Cure. sneaky b* (that's me!) donated 9 gift bags full of scrubs, soap and other fun things for the raffle. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported us.Don't mind the beer in my hand - I have the shirt to prove that I got up the next morning and participated in the race :) Read Full Story