tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73829330370343001862024-03-05T11:56:24.364-07:00SoapaliciousSoap, Craft Ramblings, and Random things About Life.Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-2586785117559813522011-05-31T11:46:00.003-06:002011-06-14T16:12:37.755-06:00You can Start to see the lightIt is easy to close the blindes and keep the light out,<br />
Out of your room, your feelings, your life.<br />
The negative thoughts wallow and grow in the darkness.<br />
It is easy to be where you are used to it,<br />
and not even be aware that the negativity is there.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Feeling it, being it, never to see the possibility.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJjx2HL-k1HqAwj4XZRk9_cfDw2Ba10CVIEAe73HTMIsRuhfYndqDZm0ACN413XwiFdfF813Y-3qhT8npTcSS0TUbxDuFnp2Yl7LnN73CkQLCAOFMNehw2BsbtJWKoahTVwWfy94BvB5a/s1600/48515487_e82cd0e29e_t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJjx2HL-k1HqAwj4XZRk9_cfDw2Ba10CVIEAe73HTMIsRuhfYndqDZm0ACN413XwiFdfF813Y-3qhT8npTcSS0TUbxDuFnp2Yl7LnN73CkQLCAOFMNehw2BsbtJWKoahTVwWfy94BvB5a/s320/48515487_e82cd0e29e_t.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You keep yourself from the light.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Everyone wallows in the bad, the negative,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">it catches attention, makes for great conversation,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">but it holds us all back.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Holds us back from our potential of being,</div>being positive and capable in our relationships, our minds, and our lives.<br />
You can let in the possibilities.<br />
<br />
And all you have to do is open the blinds.Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-54529681689019292622011-05-20T07:05:00.001-06:002011-05-19T12:58:03.180-06:00Cutest Little Critters<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I was perusing Etsy yesterday and came accross the cutest little soap critters. I just had to share them.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BloomDecorativeSoaps"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAAKOL4rqtnYSKpE7ATEh-T4rGi-Ia1xPCwAFPNVx90Nu32edBwXolQq_oVT2LKNwbEl3lwqhliMtbX60hCsQurUxN_JE7Qm_-F2812R-8leIeoOQqrYxAkcvkL2PgG-DDZFPOsrJvRcO/s1600/RabbitSoapbyBloomDecorationSoap.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HopisMyMuse"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyDR1d6Ji58JX2MaXrSaPFXlzKwo_Jzb_H0eA4gTJRuWLRVGM4v31qjZrDP2mDK0PdtRnufSPkM4jQHmp42ilHpXL_esT1DlgGLAc62O3dWfZD8Xqu13ji4RtnaV91BBKFgZUHwmLBmfY/s1600/KidsColorfulBubbleAmphibianbyHopisMyMuse.jpg" /></a><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4TvIK8RX-rqCW2PtagakogFMhyphenhyphenVF8pxLa-xgJYMuqDDuidwuQIoWl0k9RZJ0z1sH7cNl4-WzQa0Qb7uGSAzEfnuR_3U5mrnUq_P3011EToRFD5I4wO_YdsXUULtDayqBqfVwiGp12vvt/s1600/3DSoapSetbyTwinDreamCreations.jpg" /><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0eHY5-btxpAqS18l-W3DTaCJ7pKzlANdQq0YD8PgLhyphenhyphenGClSNPRIjaKtNbYIp51znxzNVFEYmP0RsLaQ4IdfruJyXyLWSrC6hD9W5gsJvP4ypAdIwP1_sdifJs6vVXMji8s65Tp4IWfwq/s1600/ScoobyDoobyMemoryKreation.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Pictured from top to bottom is Rabbit Soap by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BloomDecorativeSoaps?ga_search_query=Rabbit+Soap&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade">Bloom Decoration Soap</a>, Kids Colorful Bubble Amphibian by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HopisMyMuse">Hop is My Muse</a>, 3 Sheep Soap - Cotton Candy by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TwinDreamCreations">Twin Dream Creations</a>, and Scooby Doo Set of 12 Birthday Party Favors by<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Memorykreations"> Memory Kreations</a></div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-46664934325581631752011-05-19T11:52:00.001-06:002011-05-19T14:16:20.121-06:00Wow<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have been in college a long time, I mean a <em>really</em> long time. Feels like an eternity since I started. Oh, waite, it was a lifetime ago. I started college out of high school and took time off around my kids. My oldest is now getting ready to drive and my youngest turned two in December. Boy, does time fly. The whole graduation ceremony reminded me of one of my favorite quotes: </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The major reason for setting a goal is for what it makes of you to accomplish it. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What it makes of you will always be the far greater value than what you get." </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jim Rohn</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAAlZ-XHHmdXDhmr-Ixe3gkL_Tb01k4qh0RaTndcUnz6RTbBaO1TZm8x-QZucU9SNd5dh3JrpFG_OTK97aujdRWQM49BfN86W99kv6lyBTuGPBr2JuYgJ6sCCEovPkaY1gHeshgAIcdbm/s1600/GraduationMeandKids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAAlZ-XHHmdXDhmr-Ixe3gkL_Tb01k4qh0RaTndcUnz6RTbBaO1TZm8x-QZucU9SNd5dh3JrpFG_OTK97aujdRWQM49BfN86W99kv6lyBTuGPBr2JuYgJ6sCCEovPkaY1gHeshgAIcdbm/s320/GraduationMeandKids.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It was an absolutley beautiful day to have a graduation.</div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-62760409956034596902011-05-14T11:23:00.001-06:002011-06-02T18:48:49.225-06:00Vanilla Mocha Oh Yeah!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> This batch of soap surprised me. It could have gone wrong in sooo many different ways, and I honestly thought it did, a couple of times. I learned some things from this batch that I haven't learned from others.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1. Remember art class from so many years ago, it can come in handy.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2. When in doubt, cure and cut anyway.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3. You never know what your going to get.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ah, art class, not just time to screw around but to learn the color wheel, complimentary colors, and that your cly sculpture can explod in the kiln. To me I thought it was just fun and never thought I would retian some of that information. I also never realized that the complimentary color thing would help me in soap making. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Most of my soaps are made with a lot of olive oil, which has a yellow greeen hue to it, and I use palm oil (sustainable and Orangutan safe, of course) which also has a lovely yellow hue. So when I was mixing the lye into the oils it did not occur to me that the cocoa powder I used would turn the mixture green, instead of the brown I was so longing for. The complimentary colors of the color wheel popped into my head and I added the slightest bit of red oxide. And would you know it?!?!?! Brown. Deep beautiful chocolatey brown. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The whole batch got layered with a coffee strip, I used real coffee grounds for the stripe and for a gentle exfoliating factor but I did not realize that it would smell funny. Like a slightly foul conatiner of left over noodles stuck in the back of the fridge foul. Ewww! I thought I had killed the whole batch, it was setting up and there really was no other alternative. So, it was wrapped and left to cure, smelly or not. I forgot about it, for like a week. When I finally got around to cutting it, it smelled...good. Like chocolate vanilla coffee with a little musk added in. Kind of weird but better than I had thought it was going to. I cut the loaf into bars anyway. Now that it is pretty much cured, it smells fabulous and I find myself sneaking a sniff whenever I get the chance. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkP3UvrgSLh0I2hhk7yHnjN31lpr-GpoIZU734JgRQ6szk0KvY1hqJjz2Yt0ehpehgLsAa_mj3iXmmRAqunzrxCxqLtsKC68QzVVjJiklA0HHBtV6XRZmIdFJCL7LnzGKVqG0GVfS5Xpj/s1600/chocolateCoffeeSoap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkP3UvrgSLh0I2hhk7yHnjN31lpr-GpoIZU734JgRQ6szk0KvY1hqJjz2Yt0ehpehgLsAa_mj3iXmmRAqunzrxCxqLtsKC68QzVVjJiklA0HHBtV6XRZmIdFJCL7LnzGKVqG0GVfS5Xpj/s320/chocolateCoffeeSoap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Like a chocolate bar with a hint of coffee. Vanilla Mocha Oh, Yeah!</div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-1440941704953053492011-04-18T08:49:00.002-06:002011-04-18T08:55:32.089-06:00Little Information and another experiementThe little information part is easy, I am taking any baking I do and putting it on my other blog. <a href="http://foodylove.blogspot.com/">Foodylove.blogspot.com</a> I think it should go there rather than here. :) Makes sense to me. There. Done.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now on to the experiement. The thing that I did was a thing I have not done before but thought about many times. Mixing Melt & Pour and cold process. Sounds easy, right? Well, I found out I was kind of wrong and well...kind of right, but I had a few other things happen I had not thought about.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I made my cold process soap like I always do and mix it at about 95 degrees F., added my fragrance at trace and tried to layer the M & P before I swirled it. I thought it would just swirl right in and that it would turn out like I was thinking in my head.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sounded good to me. Except I did not take into consideration two things; </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> 1) My fragrence oil accelerated trace and,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">2) M&P gets hard at lower temperatures</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">The accelerated trace was no big deal, I have salvaged many a batch from the dreaded sieze. But I was feeling a little sheepish for not realizing that the cooler temperature that I mix my CP at would have such an effect on the M&P. I went to swirl like I usually do and stuck my knife into the batch and it was met with hard melt and pour. Ooops!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Overall, the batch turned out really well and it smells fabulous! Not quite the swirl I wanted but....a success afterall. (I do love the marble effect.) Next time, I'll try soaping at highter temperatures and swirling between layers. Wish me luck.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-MdqSXcbP8u7tOh_SstST775PZFi8LBSe386OPRGl-v0Z_dnOHxEwK1M6v8sF-G6OneuLBUhAl6tRn1VeSGwvm2-RrgbzFXjgCWXoQbOb6uhzx2XNybFYwdsnwekmJN3qEr_z1RuksTT/s1600/merlotSoap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-MdqSXcbP8u7tOh_SstST775PZFi8LBSe386OPRGl-v0Z_dnOHxEwK1M6v8sF-G6OneuLBUhAl6tRn1VeSGwvm2-RrgbzFXjgCWXoQbOb6uhzx2XNybFYwdsnwekmJN3qEr_z1RuksTT/s320/merlotSoap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-62004006086753132422011-03-27T09:43:00.001-06:002011-03-27T09:52:05.049-06:00Sugar Scrubbie ExperimentThis ones too hard, this ones too soft, and this one is too oily!! Sugar scrubs that is. I found a recipe for them on the <a href="http://www.soapqueen.com/">SoapQueen</a> ( I do love the Soap Queen) and have always wanted to try to make sugar scrubbies. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I printed the recipe and gathered all my gear to try them the next day. The recipe wasn't bad I just thought it was a little oily and wanted to "adjust" the recipe to my taste. So I conducted a wee little experiment in order to find a recipe that was jjjuuussstt right.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_SKKY9LrgoTmy3E0UXGl45DYUvv9AOE7ilEWFVA9YdBKJfCoXZBPCPH32hQSG26YBWCFRJBQvwNHZSwtOA5TKbcSTd-RsVhFibc6eHq6aEC3FZH93bFWY84AUcjhtcT-BiV7CxeiX8s0/s1600/SugarScrubExperiement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_SKKY9LrgoTmy3E0UXGl45DYUvv9AOE7ilEWFVA9YdBKJfCoXZBPCPH32hQSG26YBWCFRJBQvwNHZSwtOA5TKbcSTd-RsVhFibc6eHq6aEC3FZH93bFWY84AUcjhtcT-BiV7CxeiX8s0/s320/SugarScrubExperiement.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, I probably should have used the same fragrance oil and mica for each one, but I am working under the assumption that the different fragrances will not reall have an effect since there is not a huge chemical reaction like making cold process soap.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I made three batches with different amounts of ingredients. The blue/green is the original recipe, it can be found <a href="http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/melt-and-pour-soap/solid-bath-sugar-cubes-tutorial-2/">here</a>. This is one is for comparison. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The purple scrubbie is made with: </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> 2 oz. clear M&P soap </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> 1 oz of oil, I used Olive Oil </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> 6 oz Sugar </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> 25 drops FO and </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> 1/8 tsp. lavender mica</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Then the gold scrubbie is made with:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">3 oz M &P soap</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">1.5 oz Olive Oil</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">6 oz Sugar</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">20 drops FO</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">1/8 tsp gold mica</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">After cutting and comparing each one I truely do prefer the the gold one. Hands down!!! It's jjuuusssttt right!! It cuts well, I think the extra M & P helped and it does not have the oily feel that the other ones did. Now I have to remember with my next batch to thuroughly pack them into their molds. then it will be perfection!</div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-25611983606016873672011-03-11T16:13:00.000-07:002011-03-11T16:13:37.566-07:00Boy Does Time FlyO.k. So it has been a while since I have posted anything. I haven't been ignoring soap, actually the opposite, but I have, dispite my best intentions, gotten busy and unfocused.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Life got in the way. It seems at times that it does that. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
So it is time to get back on the wagon and talk about some of my favorite things. SSSOOOAAAPPP! Amongst other things. I should do it more often. This is something I do because I love to share. My schedule will match my intentions and I'll post more often. Since life is a work in progress, along with this blog, I will make the time for it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hootie and Owlivia Soap Set - U Get 1 Hootie Soap and 1 Owlivia Soap - Cotton Candy - Great for Gift Giving - Party Favors - Baby Showers - All Occasions" height="158" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_170x135.144170438.jpg" width="200" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade/bath_and_beauty?q=the+pink+dotted+owl&noautofacet=1&page=2">The Pink Dotted Owl</a> on Etsy</div><div style="text-align: center;">Everyone meet Hootie and Owlivia</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">I love owls, they are wise, majestic, and slightly mysterious. Except these two; they are just the cutest soap owls. Love It!</div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-39357275505511003242010-11-16T11:10:00.000-07:002010-11-16T11:10:40.900-07:00Thanksgiving; The forgotten holiday<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thanksgiving is the forgotten holiday. After Halloween, things seem to jump right to the winter Holidays with out even a look back. I find the Holidays come earlier every year, I mean the shelves are stocked with stocking stuffers, Christmas candy, and presents before Halloween is even over.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJlTzM6Z4PRvlmc8sthCEAf4XUF19Wou64L0U7RXHXrZdBMC3xtMc5TiPlbzoJn6EliX7_8WtkLdBlcZKM2DySCgVbObKvdo7gN87xFvPIMKZpxn5mkI4bLUPqJjzIvOa-zt985s4aYZO/s1600/ThePrayingPaisleyThankfulWallHanging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJlTzM6Z4PRvlmc8sthCEAf4XUF19Wou64L0U7RXHXrZdBMC3xtMc5TiPlbzoJn6EliX7_8WtkLdBlcZKM2DySCgVbObKvdo7gN87xFvPIMKZpxn5mkI4bLUPqJjzIvOa-zt985s4aYZO/s1600/ThePrayingPaisleyThankfulWallHanging.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Praying Paisley Thankful Wall Hanging</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It seems there is no reason to celebrate Thanksgiving if you can't give everyone in your family the most expensive gifts for Christmas. If you watch the news, there is no reason to be thankful, it is all negative gloom and doom. But I am thankful. For all kinds of things, I am thankful. Thankful for the ability to write here, and the roof over my head, the sun, the moon, the seasons, the snow, heck, I'm thankful for indoor plumbing. Thankful for the beautiful mountian town I live in. I am grateful for my husband, and my children and my dogs that bark too much. There is so many things to be thankful for and a lot of them we take for granted. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong><em>That is why Thanksgiving is such an important holiday because it is not about the stuff you get, it is about appreciating the stuff you have.</em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwsRzCOTv3b6esaHcd3BiVNJUtNgZOsV21y3jYSnPSraUExEu9Rlqmn_IiTVpRnRWLtGs01jokeP4bPZfgpK0C2ejPXeFQwv3rp5OPCul2IEpCr0C0NTOCLdc1PlGWb8DCSD5zrdnL2mL/s1600/ImCraftySoThankfulforYou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwsRzCOTv3b6esaHcd3BiVNJUtNgZOsV21y3jYSnPSraUExEu9Rlqmn_IiTVpRnRWLtGs01jokeP4bPZfgpK0C2ejPXeFQwv3rp5OPCul2IEpCr0C0NTOCLdc1PlGWb8DCSD5zrdnL2mL/s1600/ImCraftySoThankfulforYou.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Im So Crafty Thankful for You</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXaR9437_vpQuMR0SUCLmr0DHzE4fXvL9mzF5ly14U8B_xeUxxokBbcb_zNDN-PdOnGMXbW9V3U2gty_4wtBZHqX_kSwYgykrcqCsTUfpLCE1U6ZV1_N5-Jm1qbwBLjriLR3Wc0I6u_D6/s1600/SatinandBirchCornicopiaSoapforthecook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXaR9437_vpQuMR0SUCLmr0DHzE4fXvL9mzF5ly14U8B_xeUxxokBbcb_zNDN-PdOnGMXbW9V3U2gty_4wtBZHqX_kSwYgykrcqCsTUfpLCE1U6ZV1_N5-Jm1qbwBLjriLR3Wc0I6u_D6/s1600/SatinandBirchCornicopiaSoapforthecook.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzADARuWom38ZhrCNcyfR1gKMHipC3bF_DbwP9w1xxA7BdP3DILlmbKL0N2wDKHf-srBjuZZcFDX-2MGbfrEY_c9u640IWWb5_SVKdtZhPfAdp8BguaONOVs_grYfyuyr8s_XN2vxGwtEr/s1600/SolsticeScetsCandiedYamSoap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzADARuWom38ZhrCNcyfR1gKMHipC3bF_DbwP9w1xxA7BdP3DILlmbKL0N2wDKHf-srBjuZZcFDX-2MGbfrEY_c9u640IWWb5_SVKdtZhPfAdp8BguaONOVs_grYfyuyr8s_XN2vxGwtEr/s1600/SolsticeScetsCandiedYamSoap.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Satin and Birch Cornicopia Soap Solstic Scents Candied Yam Soap</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxx3dlsW89gMNWS_fsNH9twb8pqF6DrF0HKkGNlH4kXrqugAJaA3uAspOsPlBdLOR_1h8MZoHts5xDX9qOIkQX4ZiHSzIgykwKuNsQ_ZIuZU0stnSsHNFRCaGs83P1XuL8qYk7w3DOtUk/s1600/LauriesTutuBoutiqueLittleTurkeyTutu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxx3dlsW89gMNWS_fsNH9twb8pqF6DrF0HKkGNlH4kXrqugAJaA3uAspOsPlBdLOR_1h8MZoHts5xDX9qOIkQX4ZiHSzIgykwKuNsQ_ZIuZU0stnSsHNFRCaGs83P1XuL8qYk7w3DOtUk/s1600/LauriesTutuBoutiqueLittleTurkeyTutu.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurie's Tutu Boutique Little Turkey Tutu<br />
Isn't that just the sweetest thing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-56535545955126695862010-08-01T09:08:00.004-06:002010-08-01T10:18:45.697-06:00Soooo ImportantI usually do not title my posts with exclamations and pressing things but this one is important for all lovers of handmade soaps and cosmetics, especially the small businesses manufacturing them.<br /><br />The Safe Cosmetics Act....not so good.<br /><br />This is the second (or is it third) that the government has recently tried to make it more difficult for small businesses to stay in business. It seems that the government, all though with good intentions, is trying to save us from ourselves and kill small business for fun and profit by passing more regulations that require more time and money from those of us trying to run small business.<br /><br />You can decide for yourself by reading the full legislation <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h5786ih.txt.pdf">here</a>.<br /><br />Write your representative and tell them no on the The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 (H.R. 5786).<br /><br />Here is a copy of the letter I composed (with the help of <a href="http://soap-queen.blogspot.com/">The Soap Queen</a>)and sent to my representative here in Colorado.<br /><br /><br />Dear Representative John Salazar,<br /><br />I am writing to express my concerns for H.R. 5786, The Safe Cosmetics Act. I make lip balms, soaps, and lotions and sell them at my local Farmer Market and festivals. I make less then $5000 per year. I sell them to pay for my daughter's new clothes and my son's snowbaords every year. what I make enhances my families income and helps the quality of our life, puts money back into my community, and helps deter the effects of the downturn in our economy.<br /><br />I make soaps from common ingredients that you can find in your kitchen. For example, I have a great bar of soap that I make out of four ingredients: olive oil, lye, water, and essential oils. H.R. 5786 has a lot of extra reporting requirments that would be virtually impossible for me to comply with. I am just one woman in a kitchen. I do not have a huge staff to help with this paperwork nightmare. I often change formulations based on the season and consumer demand. Being nimble is a huge advantage for me and if I have to submit a new safety and ingredient affidavit for every product that will take away one of my key advantages. This legislation is unnecessary because it is already illegal to manufacture unsafe cosmetics and disclosure of ingredients and contact information is already required. Buying handmade and homemade toiletries is a prefferable choice for many consumers; these handicaps to small business like mine, could put me out of business and take that choice away. Please don't take away that choice. Please do not support H. R. 5786. It is well-meaning but it is written in such a way that I will not be able to stay in business because I will not be able to keep up. Estee Lauder started at her kitchen table. Please do not take that oppotunity away from me.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Cass Smith<br /><br /><br />Make the decision for yourself and take the time to write your Representative. Help small business' do what they do best, business.<br /><br />You can also check out the <a href="http://www.opposesca.com/">Oppose SCA </a>website and sign the petition to Oppose the SCA <a href="http://personalcaretruth.com/2010/07/safe-cosmetics-act-where-does-it-go-from-here/">here</a>.Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-41911160031785706712010-07-24T09:14:00.002-06:002010-07-24T09:20:03.815-06:00Love thisI was testing out this new fragrance I bought from Brambleberry, not to mention it was a good time to practice layering. I did not really think it was going to real well. But I love this. The storm that is busy brewing over that ocean matches the fragrance well. Ummmmm.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2VeZjRot4j4_PDyhzFIZ_J9aYJHNYURjrc-wlRNPnEstAc3l8stBXEu4H4pR3xoP9i0Vo4Q9PVUGSDe0Ym7Rg7niS3Zx6hXUAfYSp7psKOWYWjinOlsMDMJ20_Dv3g1jwnL3j9eQ6mfD/s1600/stormy-waters.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497492045530020130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2VeZjRot4j4_PDyhzFIZ_J9aYJHNYURjrc-wlRNPnEstAc3l8stBXEu4H4pR3xoP9i0Vo4Q9PVUGSDe0Ym7Rg7niS3Zx6hXUAfYSp7psKOWYWjinOlsMDMJ20_Dv3g1jwnL3j9eQ6mfD/s320/stormy-waters.jpg" /></a> I call it Stormy Waters. <br /><br /></div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-5192942741766556042010-07-09T09:25:00.003-06:002010-07-09T09:34:09.720-06:00Who killed the doll?<div>My kids do some pretty crazy things sometimes, so when I saw this on my kitchen floor, I had to laugh, even though it was kind of funny and then again kind of not. What are the chances that I'd have a CSI crime scene on my tile.:)</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491928626200872514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr5p313TWMbA3BZNyQsj_oA724denJ3EyrXpVzXSZzccObnoeJEj87Ggjwy1tr7mFe28f-JcwUr0Ra1IkVkRKeOzHgNj-dSMZG8lSeweRBslzIg2Ky0FqFg8_O2uDyQ7EQV86I2DVZa9-/s320/poordoll.jpg" /></div><div>As it turns out the red smudge is from a strawberry my little one squished into the tile and then just so happened to drop her dolly right next to it. Looks BBBBAAADDDD! </div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-14900411777320211632010-06-30T09:40:00.003-06:002010-06-30T09:57:06.697-06:00At 9:30 at nightThere is a major sweet tooth in my household. Cookies are usually gone with in a day or two, especially if they are homemade...yummy. I am always looking for new recipes to try, so last night after a desperate search through the cupboards, I decided it was necessary...at 9:30 at night no less...to make brownies. It is not like they are hard to make, they just take a little time to mix and <em><strong>a lot</strong></em> of time to bake.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Of course, I can never just make a resipe, I always have to alter it in one way or another. I wanted raspberry brownies. OOOOOHHHHH......AAAAHHHHHH! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So I took a plain brownie recipe and mixed in aswirl of raspberry jam before I baked them....o.k. I'll say it again. OOOOOOHHHHHH.....AAAAHHHHH......mmmmmm. They smelled so fabulous, and oooey gooey goodness when they were cut into. </div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488595642881373682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiQ7g9sFAwe5aIW5Wkq6wBz0PhH7eCJcGawLg_7wNvhW8qcjuHBTgCDFuMy2vrKTL-ebOy_nca5zl9mKJ1-ZDcCsTQASNRMW4PbS1MJNb3V-VyfuNoOAq4VP-BaXVl4wzPNw7SlNXFz5F/s320/Brownies.jpg" />I'll be altering this recipe again, maybe I'll try orange marmalade, apple butter, or plain old strawberry next time.<br /><div></div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-3413111151905175912010-06-25T08:06:00.003-06:002010-06-26T12:28:35.070-06:00Porn to brighten your day.Inspiration is all around, everywhere that I look these days. I think that the summer wild flowers blooming has a lot to do with it. So I thought I would show some soap porn that makes me think of summer.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxvct3qkPkZgslq8wLKKr47H39RQtOXcBq0CiFZInTVzTeBbTaelq9YEWkMg_GhUQgP4RKUs9NRWLvklmoHiVNy486ji9d-utlePTjb7fTFMuhBQBHDE66GB6TCuA7ogYkpC2oJVTObKS/s1600/PoppyPartySoaps_naturallyLela.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 155px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486342002913422418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxvct3qkPkZgslq8wLKKr47H39RQtOXcBq0CiFZInTVzTeBbTaelq9YEWkMg_GhUQgP4RKUs9NRWLvklmoHiVNy486ji9d-utlePTjb7fTFMuhBQBHDE66GB6TCuA7ogYkpC2oJVTObKS/s320/PoppyPartySoaps_naturallyLela.jpg" /></a> Poppy Party Soaps by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Naturallylela?ga_search_query=Poppy+party+soap&ga_search_type=category&category=bath_and_beauty&ga_page=&order=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title">Naturally Lela</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKr6T9Z2oDJXkkxeAP2iGnN3aut4hMlONpPdW-bzCOXJn2haJ9YiOjVIiFWoVzYontPOgqI7aKsn-fGoZNIzTwILWHAXeQO_OMins_I454-q23vIBKE1AMoT80_-QwvmD-FgCVpu7nL4z/s1600/BaileeBerryExfoliating_Mountianmamachic.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 155px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486341997906662802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKr6T9Z2oDJXkkxeAP2iGnN3aut4hMlONpPdW-bzCOXJn2haJ9YiOjVIiFWoVzYontPOgqI7aKsn-fGoZNIzTwILWHAXeQO_OMins_I454-q23vIBKE1AMoT80_-QwvmD-FgCVpu7nL4z/s320/BaileeBerryExfoliating_Mountianmamachic.jpg" /></a>Bailee Berry Exfoliating by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/mountainmamachic?ga_search_query=Bailee+Berry&ga_search_type=category&category=bath_and_beauty&ga_page=&order=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title">Mountian Mama Chic </a></div><br /><br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 208px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486737774776996802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cuvDHj2VRNeb36-ScGD7EXsjfHCU6VMv3q5TUZbD27quprVy65_7UXIY0ix_xZerLrYrrfi2NtbdQEvyIbJ9U-x5rA959tXxnEMVS2bhSIsK3uGh6TyyTSGA2BoekIkRI1X4-9J5UQJa/s320/SweetgrassSunSoaps_LuxuryFalls.jpg" /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/50178221/sweetgrass-sun-soaps?ref=cat2_gallery_14">Sweetgrass Sun Soaps </a>by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/luxuryfalls">Luxury Falls</a><br />What could be more summer than this!?!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwh_SzH-RRUajlvk546U4khoHG3h6d2ZTTrestNC7exUdjYyyaVpBEM_u4U58AbmV938OIbU7AyTHm_srctaXBfyMCfJN3M6O8qm-mpSkCD-hMBSO0PSjoWCmMuf440XosZOTK3ri35dj/s1600/Spellbound_sherrisscentsandsoys.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 155px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486341993554193506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwh_SzH-RRUajlvk546U4khoHG3h6d2ZTTrestNC7exUdjYyyaVpBEM_u4U58AbmV938OIbU7AyTHm_srctaXBfyMCfJN3M6O8qm-mpSkCD-hMBSO0PSjoWCmMuf440XosZOTK3ri35dj/s320/Spellbound_sherrisscentsandsoys.jpg" /></a> Spell Bound by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sherrisscentsandsoys?ga_search_query=Spellbound&ga_search_type=category&category=bath_and_beauty&ga_page=&order=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title">Sherri's Scents and Soys</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-1284975690536319582010-06-24T10:40:00.004-06:002010-06-24T10:40:00.724-06:00Words for your Brain<div align="center">Be careful what you think...</div><br /><div align="center">Your thoughts become your words,</div><div align="center">Your words become your actions,<br />Your actions become your habits,</div><div align="center">Your habits become your character.</div><br /><div align="center"><em>Character is everything</em>.<br /></div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">Not sure where this comes from, saw it on a crafters sign at a farmers market years ago, it has stuck with me ever since.<br /><br /></div><div align="center">Words worth thinking about.</div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-12850191097539302162010-06-22T09:25:00.003-06:002010-06-22T10:14:48.694-06:00Chocolate Chip Cookies!!I am always up to try something new, especially when it comes to the old standby chocolate chip cookie recipe. I found this recipe on a fabulous foodie blog. So I whipped this one up last night and baked a few this morning. OOOOOhhhhhh mmyyyyy.....<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485628656678548994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDqhSgIterrnDEkZCnF9V1tahDJvUEdwsKk3J-ZCZfNqoNhE2zLnAVFNacsidyUFvIutQNlKeAb-l3_0PY2f1Jt2E2w6pnDaVivBR91T8klC3PEyNgbOlx8VWv8vR7Z5NqHuMi-bfK3DM/s320/ChocoChipCookies.jpg" /> <p align="center">I think I have eaten too many already!<br />You can find the recipe <a href="http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/jennies-chocolate-chip-cookies/">here</a> for your own devouring session.</p>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-77994732477643763862010-06-17T09:40:00.002-06:002010-06-22T10:40:14.586-06:00Orangalicious, Finally!Love to get ready to make soap, whether it is a new batch or not it is always an experience. It is like a science experiment and you not quite sure what the end product will look like. So I was elated when this batch turned out the way it did.<br /><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 204px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480803521067878818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCgaqFaLWq1gu3sr3pcoVDYFJ0f2D-hPTfYZ65CajRseT1yN4xngPbOkEA_h1BHH5p0t165JGr9j7QoybtYP2vwsbF12_-NhHfaYOaitTFH9CqqKCSXo48AQZa7xOVX041znm4fVQZsMi/s320/ingrediants.jpg" /><br /></div><div>Here are just a few of the ingredients plus, a few that I had lying around. "The Gathering" of ingredients, as I like to call them.<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 218px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 165px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483775862630469394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVPmTnFTi6mFuQgw3o5d3sO3l3WerPPcbIhBs7DvpBrEt-bvOYWNhBgsYXM8fagTVWcnZ4Kq7fOobbCF75VEXdTf53o1HhnFDcoJZ7gT1WjTk8Vg51TYkLSn2S_XrGLpMmcQO9XDHuh6X/s320/Coppermica.jpg" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 216px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 157px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480803533558968370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PN7Sjox8SIZL-6GHcTGMAzOfcRtKDJW93gJKfO1GaaPsVajcSH9VEXxLg2TchharEP2T3c1up1Z56ubijXTqn9MvVsPFi6afX-QqexdREy5XgIcZQG_YRlMZmSBnnAta34oezpeRC_N2/s320/apricotblush.jpg" /> The colors I used are micas, copper on top(love this) and apricot blush(love this even more) on the bottom. I love my colors intense and they both embody the fragrance I put into the soap.<br /><div><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 198px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 193px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480809714943202130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBb0-M69CUZyoDL4q872CtItMSXrKX-3LTxxlzBl-5f2Dut6iQ7-mDrK6REMI9pPs9Oaw569HTIQzaggUXi0o4UEllwvlY0saLRcoIq-ltSCXTyb1RrlO40i6zyiHxz0cIcmYDKRvRsLlZ/s320/Beautiful+loafjustpoured.jpg" /> MMMMmmmmm....love how pretty the colors swirl ont he top of the mold. This is the first test of a new mold I made, trying to get the dimensions just right for the size and shape I was going for. The shape was right but the length was not quite there and it did not fit the whole batch of soap, so I improvised and used a plastic container that worked well. You can see it in the back kind of hiding.<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 192px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480809728885420834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wu3eBfHexUBzMQydk0pwQuKzgULCsEGbsXfe-7UGeyZ5_ZGD1b7BfC3JSE65c7s36I_pvhlgEYe0zoZrQEjvV9pqIrPuLKwwqU-wzIoEsl-9jer7ZFwM-Dm6PtscT8MQ1Nv9TWMKulDb/s320/crackedtop.jpg" /> I had read about soap growing and cracking, this was my first experince with it. Duh, I forgot to insulate the top well so it grew and cracked. Boo hoo :( The picture does not show how much it really did grow but I did manage to stop it.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483781127068509346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCtEsoi4kb1keMKCzLDkdZdnSP4CkDej-K3oD9Xym6mFl2pa2IiZ2iun7TUBfulMUUOO0fmhxOPEMTndpt0V1GG6uZiVxnLJrck1ha0ExDoPltZxYdPd02ynB8ZiyGr3HfO9KmlgKX4BX/s320/Orangalicious2upclose.jpg" /><br />Beautiful! I am delighted with how it turned out and the aroma is fabulous. i wish I could have smell -o-web or something so you could smell it through your screen! Orange rounded out with a little grapefruit, so energizing!<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-40826351180231206292010-06-14T10:58:00.000-06:002010-06-14T12:55:53.828-06:00Summer is finally here!!I live at a high altitude, so winter seems to last forever. When the temperature turned cold and snow fell in October, I danced out of bed to watch it fall. When it snowed in the end of May I almost cried.<br /><br />When summer finally hits here (picture me jumping up and down for joy) it's like the return of a long lost love, stars returning to your eyes and a day-dreamy like haze flows over you. The sun warms your soul as the wind caresses your skin and your mind can think of nothing else but being in it's warm embrace.<br /><br />So, needless to say when summer hit the valley last week, I did not hesitate to get out and get a tan, hike, run, and work on the garden. So much for unpacking and organizing but it is getting there (slowly). Winter can still overtake the warm weather so we get out and enjoy it whenever we can (especailly since it snowed yesterday).Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-55659127611290997892010-06-09T08:11:00.008-06:002010-06-09T10:58:40.814-06:00Funky soap.<div>It is funny how life can get shoved into fast foreward in the blink of an eye. It seems just yesterday I was posting about my giddy-ness over getting my shipment of soap stuff, I was so excited and impatient(ooooh, making soap!) </div><br /><div>So, when I got my package I was laughing and smiling like a little kid in a candy store. Plans for soap making had been in the works for a week or better and they stayed there until last Saturday when I finally had a chance to make a batch with my new toys.<br /><br />And was I disappointed? Yep, I was. I was tinkering with a new recipe and a new ingrediant that traced soooo fast. It was like custard in no time and and no time means weird sloppy batch of soap. Smells fabulous, feels wonderful, oh, and bubbles...lucious bubbles....looks... not so hot. Kind of bland for my taste but should work fine. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480795442491580290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3GZtkVarymI_khFQBBEHv31E7CjDp791DByCFn-JH23eBMdSop-zC_eBydoUB3LZb0QGDlx4HAnCTv7Kuz9AuWAIkxZdJPP5087v8HP3lOKWGzyndYcgqXNVNRyT_kd01d3DmR6NWByF/s320/BlackberrySage.jpg" /><br />My colors are usually more vibrant, those were going to be green and dark purple along with that beautiful black. Oh, well, geuss I'll just have to make more!Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-87458549903290085792010-05-26T12:18:00.013-06:002010-05-26T16:13:12.251-06:00A little crafty boxI got a random hair the other day and decided that the "storage" that we had in my daughters room for her books was just not happening. It honestly was the box we packed them in when we moved here a month ago. Since she is little and is climbing on everything I was not sure that a bookcase was such a good idea, she pulls just about everything over on herself. I found baskets and all sorts of plastic containers and fabric lined boxes...there's an idea... though not one of them screamed "little baby girl." Since my daughter is getting to an age where she doesn't need all her baby blankets, I thought it would be cool to cover a box for her books with a couple.<br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475646290637118642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RvIYCeL7fjPJTO0q0F9sxhUFUEgBF-OKy6LTtErmmC26UDUKAeEmdSDZWTq5Dknr0gs_lqt20xIhKIRkPlIxNoOqebtX2bopyJ0lxrQguOKwio4LKKztqoqdBl-ci95H5CYpWoJVLgfl/s320/box+and+blanket1.jpg" /> Her old receiving blankets were perfect, though I did use about one and a half blankets to cover the box pictured.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475648889437359586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BnbXniXGlTfEhKl35gwDXcRBGqm2aZW7vCs7CrmuEcGXmYTgmCqH6fsxH3AXYFXRmVVG0ZBAKNLr7BbwAvVP8SyUkrWdTek8gD9VkD8POeXtdDIwfbzBCe1MzlGs0HriT51Xo3vVRstn/s320/measuring+to+cut.jpg" />I started by measuring and cutting the blanket on the outside of the box, this way I was sure to know that it would also fit on the inside of the box. By the way, I love duct tape, for all kinds of things, this time it just happens to be holding the blanket in place while I work on the other side of the blanket.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475694403885725938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_TjajsTzPK5HAhzXFSNWEnzw_Mag6Gb_Yk4ytbuP15HUINCTbLfF1wMtet2ZWHp0XIrkKBd6sYPYza5bhiHM3eJ1zdirm8keMmVxQWyP_kYmKuGzft-NMk0XyV96wRPxhfwoKU1kXhZL/s320/two+of+each+size.jpg" /> <p align="center">I cut two long pieces, one for the inside and one for the outside, that fit from the top of one side of the box across the bottom and up the other side. Then I cut squares that fit each end of the box, again one set for the inside and one for the out.<br /></p><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475648878759329826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOHp4yO9X87TvZsWSMreEB3jyi5cJNwld6g68FAQdpjIoDcU2B0G53Lo-Sn8-ANGqq3c43XB1pzUbuzkpe2Q3g7L10WVHijKAi8EAi16sSonEmtd35VVohMDXKeXRvy1sZ_MliQNCAetK/s320/fold+inside+the+box+and+glue.jpg" /> Then, I fit the long piece into the inside of the box, trimmed the extra, and glued down the creases in the bottom first with a white school glue and weighted it with a good sized text book, who knew they would come in so handy. After that dried, I pulled the top over the sides and glued those, using my friend duct tape to hold it in place. I folded over the edges to the side squares and glued them before I glued the squares in place on the box. Those were also rolled over the top of the box and glued.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475648883530271746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-excPHffAlwy9qsmXPo9NEhjDPDLCduPX_Li6RfKF3MF0cxGXVAo2z0zsQI9NarbrpCev8JC-wm0544dG5IC-eDjFzi8olxZFfuZKwUvWm9zgTppAdpetDvS4UTj70bOZzcGNxt3176rW/s320/folding+in+the+outside+edges.jpg" /> Then I repeated almost the same thing for the outside except I folded in the rough edges to give it a more finished look. Yep, again with the duct tape.<br /></div><div align="center"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-EqAtDaiGv4RJUstDYsLzd2MUg6cbORPzvHiP_iF2QW8vnPmsZpOVqAAK5e5NzMz65zbwl4htIY9kZdJCGm-1U1mU06Bx26nETrAkq-Sj09X8C3PP8gg34BPi6eMidrSUL79RAqO_OC1/s1600/finished+box-last.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 273px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475648868766706178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-EqAtDaiGv4RJUstDYsLzd2MUg6cbORPzvHiP_iF2QW8vnPmsZpOVqAAK5e5NzMz65zbwl4htIY9kZdJCGm-1U1mU06Bx26nETrAkq-Sj09X8C3PP8gg34BPi6eMidrSUL79RAqO_OC1/s320/finished+box-last.jpg" /></a> Here is the finished product, turned out nice, if I don't say so myself and it is the perfect size for baby books. Looks nice in her room too. Love getting organized (Well, trying to, anyway.) </div></div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-69386832256911231102010-05-23T09:11:00.008-06:002010-05-26T12:57:11.693-06:00Soap porn Sunday!<div align="left">The title kind of seems like it contradicts itself, doesn't it?!?! I thought I would share some of my soap porn today. I was jones'n for some sudsy images.<br /></div><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="right"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 155px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474495601583180706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenJwXUUbgQum2TIdomA784z0nCd5PJHRFrztiISrsHdoXfTnVpNYnaZsUkHI66SVkgCL01RMin49K5c9r74PCbltENU8zXadkNh-KQ9VGf02iwpsBMYU2LX8NF4hoqxdc_UtXWDFfE1uw/s320/AniseCloveVegan_DeshawnMarie.jpg" /> <p align="center">Anise Clove Vegan Handmade Soap<br /></p><p align="center">By <a href="http://www.deshawnmarie.com/">DeShawnMarie </a></p><p align="center"><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 155px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474496967689947714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_e-sbS-nDBWsQe2D_7T6Cb1jkOB9Px0hSZwyyyGfe7VE7QHGRz3aQ8uceZrd68aQn9yHb31Y5VNLpC8XyJ_hyS4-fVAQk_b6gGfHgJypYvn59LMlIFKQqs8Tur7Jo0e0Zhyruj6WbMxC4/s320/Lulu_thedirtyhousewife.jpg" /><br /><p align="center">Lulu, Limited Editition, goats milk soap<br /></p><p align="center">by <a href="http://www.blogger.com/http//www.etsy.com/listing/47528577/lulu-goat-milk-soap-phthalate-and-sls">The Dirty Housewife</a></p><br /><p align="center"></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 155px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474501386748153346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uahDSejOg2DoaN0Ss1-oXMJt1y1e3_Zs0gkot1tWiibAnrXE-H0S9n8j4o2Zo8muW0d5W7VK7UA00rVvw4OGprDTBJlnP2ZQAHLTgN6xP13XkswKYKRXSLzgpNpiOfT-AQgpAmd0RUeb/s320/LemongrassSage_sherrisscentsandsoys.jpg" /> <p align="center">Lemongrass Sage<br /></p><p align="center">By <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/46113204/lemongrass-sage-handmade-soap-cold?ref=sr_gallery_2&ga_search_query=Lemongrass+sage&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title">Sherries Scents and Soys </a><br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 155px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474502739383151170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJbYD0kvefqBzQEhwgUCO4isW90frBdNXvWC7ilg8Y18alSFxdwGkOnOj6n1I8jrLex4o31BayOjpr5eDss1QCJjdozuiSStlGq-B03f-yP-A1Tn0DV06GOM5riAcFVolcuMFlOxdtNxB/s320/Blackcherryvanilla_angelkiss.jpg" />Black Cherry Vanilla.....mmmm</p><p align="center">by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/26217635/black-cherry-vanilla-cold-process-soap">Angels Kiss<br /></a></p><p align="left">Love these, just makes you wanna jump in to the shower and rub them all over...mmmm.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"></p><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-20044140850232878102010-05-22T09:05:00.005-06:002010-05-26T13:01:44.212-06:00FearIt is amazing what fear can do.<br />Many great ideas go to waste, innovations never happen, and life upgrades go un-upgraded.<br /><br />When I left my last job in a casino, it amazed me that one of my co-workers said they envied me because I was going back to school and getting a new job and they could never leave there for fear. Fear of what? Fear of failure and change.<br />Taking on something that was different from her norm was too frightening to her. It's not that she didn't want to...fear was keeping her from other possibilities.<br /><br />A new position for me just opened up, it would be great experience towards my goals, and the idea of taking it on <em>SCARES </em>me, right down to the particles of my being. The idea also makes me want to do something and I realize the possibilities, and that excites me. So, I hold on to the excitment and the possibilities and leave the fear in the back somewhere because without it the others would not exist.<br /><br />Fear just needs to grabbed by the horns and embraced. Fear leads to anxiety and excitment, the need to take action and getting something done.<br /><br />One of my favorite blogs that I stumbled upon just recently for my life tool box is all about <a href="http://fearlessstories.com/">fear</a> and over coming it. It is inspiring to read and makes you want to go out there and "get'em."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em><span style="color:#990000;">Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood</span></em>.</span></span> Marie CurieCassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7382933037034300186.post-52059326364254086552010-05-20T11:10:00.002-06:002010-05-20T11:30:21.077-06:00Patience is NOT a virtue!I started this blog to kind of share the wonderful soapings, crafts, baking, and other entertaining things that I love to do. I embrace many philosophies and I will share those, too. For the most part this blog is about my passion of soap making and how exquisite and beautiful it can be...bubbles...lather...slippery....mmmm...ssooaapp!!<br /><br />I have been soaping for many years now, around seven or eight years, I guess. I love it. My first batch started with only olive oil, water, and lye. Boy, has it has come a long way since then. Colors and fragrances, and failed batches. I actually never experienced defeat with a batch until a year ago and of course after the first failure there was a second right after and a third...well, you get the point. Recently, I have been neglecting my passion for more educational pursuits and realized that I was jones'n for some creative lather. Hence, I am hope'n the blog will help keep my creative side tame by sharing my creative suds here (plus, creating more often).<br /><br />I ordered some fabulous supplies, I have run out of my stock and need to reload, and am waiting patiently for the truck with my box to appear. I am almost antsy with anticipation, but patience is a virtue, right? Wrong! it is a necessity, in this case at least. <br />So, I will be waiting, patiently or otherwise to see the ingredients to my next experiment in suds.Cassandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039727616191766noreply@blogger.com0