The Skin You're In

In the beginning .....

2011-06-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

Our dream is coming true! In early May we began work on our house to "perk" it up so we could put it up for sale. The painting took two weeks as the painters recommended adding a texture coating to the walls and ceilings. This house was built back in the early 50's. The walls were plaster and with multiple "patch" jobs having having been done in the past due to earthquakes and other modifications, the walls were not completely flat. On top of that with the earth under our feet continuing to move here in Southern CA, we had newer cracks that needed repairing. The painters started with repairing the cracks and spraying on the texture coating. Next came the actual painting and then the final touches of baseboards, doors and trim.

This first picture is of our kitchen...how it used to be. No, that trash can wasn't always there, just when I was throwing a way a bunch of trimmings from doing labels. My desk is to the right of the bakers rack that held, not only our regular printer but a lot of soaping supplies and equipment. Just a little history on our trash can...it has an automatic lid with a sensor in the front so you never have to touch the lid of the can to throw the trash in...I'm gonna miss that trash can!!!

This is the same kitchen getting it's facelift with texture coating on the walls and ceiling, along with a beautiful coat of white paint.

This picture is looking the opposite direction from the actual kitchen area to the dining area. This was one long room because Mark and his dad had long ago removed the wall that separated the two rooms making it so open and beautiful.

Equipment, equipment and more equipment. This picture is the back bedroom with the big air compressor on the left of the picture...it was so loud!!! We won't even talk about the amount of dust for days and days, even after they had completed this job, the cleaning and dusting by us went on for at least a week.

This picture directly above is of the back bedroom...its turn to hold painting paraphernalia. The picture to the right is of the front bedroom. The painters repaired windowsills too...they were very thorough. We had taken off all the closet doors but we were afraid they would forget to go back and paint them, so Mark put all the doors back on...just in case.

Here are a couple pictures of me working hard on the computer. HAHA! I was probably just checking email and chatting with my family and friends on Facebook and the Etsy soaping groups I belong to. Hey, a girl's gotta keep in touch you know!!

We had to change where we hung out while the painters were here each day. When they were ready to do the next room, we moved elsewhere. Here, they had just started the kitchen, so they just wheeled me from the dining/kitchen area to the living room.

And once the kitchen was done, they wheeled me back in there. Instead of musical chairs, we were playing musical rooms.

The following pictures show the rooms as they were completed:

The wooden blinds were put back up, ceiling fan blades reinserted and what's left of the furniture was put back in place....AWAY from the walls...far away from the walls!

Our bedroom. Woe is me, reduced to living out of sterilite boxes and a mattress on the floor. We didn't have the new mini blinds put up yet and we did this with the mattress because we had to pick it up and place it against one of the paneled walls in other rooms while the painters were here. We needed to be as "mobile" as possible.

This is our bedroom finished and the angle is looking out through the hall into the living room. The color we chose for all the walls, except for the kitchen was called Navajo White which was kind of a light beige. All the trim and doors were painted in bright white. This affect really made the color pop out and the white on the trim pop out.

This is the main bathroom in it's completed state. It came out so beautiful! I took pictures of every room in the "before" stage but don't know what happened to them. Just take my word for it, the changes were amazing!

This used to be one of my soap storage areas. I had two shelving units in this closet that held completed products, complete with labels. It also held various molds and most of all containers. I had bags and bags of jars of all sizes, bottles of all sizes and lids, pumps, sprayers to match, all in their separate, sealed large zip lock bags. It was amazing how much "stuff" was in here when I started taking it all out. This was only one of two closets that held soaping things. I also utilized the bakers rack in the kitchen, one full cupboard, the entire utility room.

Ahhh, our front door. I also had a before picture of this but lost it in the shuffle. The door had scratches in the paint from our dearly departed fur baby Princess who would go ballistic when the mail carrier would put our mail through the slot in the door. Consequently the paint on the brass mail slot was also scratched. The whole door restored beautifully, as did the mail slot.

This final picture is of the mail hallway. It still amazes me the transformation of this entire house in just two weeks' time. We had done a few improvements as the years went by but nothing completely changed our feeling about this house until this painting was done.

Well, this blog post has been a work in progress for some time now and I think our story is about done. But actually our journey is just beginning because............

After we were confident that most of the necessary work was done on our house, we called our realtor, Steve and told him we were ready to put our house up for sale. Steve had also sold Mark's dad's house after both his parents had passed on and we KNEW he would again work his magic. We listed the house on Tuesday, June 7th and by Thursday, June 9th it was already in Escrow. WHOOHOO! This will be a short escrow too because it was a cash purchase.

Now, on to find the motorhome of our dreams and begin our mobile journey.

Oh and not to forget...we still make soap and will continue to make soap in every RV park we settle in.

We can still be reached on Etsy at: http://www.TheSkinYourein.Etsy.com. XOXOXO

Ahhhhh....Autumn

2010-10-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

Can you feel it??? The nights are growing cooler, darkenss falls earlier in the evening and foliage is covered with morning dew. Although, here in Southern California, most days are still quite warm with warmer days throughout the coming weekend but you can still sense the changing season.

I belong to this wonderful Etsy Team called SAFE Team. This month our "challenge" was to formulate a soap using the colors of the region you live in. We have members from far and wide, including Canada and Alaska and even a member whose heart is still in her native Scotland, so the color diversity is amazing in the challenge entries of some of our members.

My entry for this competition is called Pumpkin Butter Autumn Harvest Soap. This soap was so much fun to make and even extended a bit more creativity to swirling in a few different colors in the top portion.

Pumpkin Butter Autumn Harvest

This hunger-inducing soap is made with Organic, sustainable Palm Oil, Distilled Water, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Castor Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Mango butter and Cocoa Butter. It is scented with a delicious variety of pumpkin pie spices, rich and delectable! The skin safe colorants of orange, yellow and burnt umber depict the colors of the leaves in deep Autumn and the brown represents the rich and fertile soil.

Here is the entire SAFE Team blog post for your enjoyment. When you click on the link below, after drooling over all the the magnificent entries in this challenge, please vote for your favorite by adding your comment.

http://etsysafeteam.blogspot.com/

For another breath of fresh Autumn scent, I'd like you to meet Autumn Faire Perfume.

Autumn Faire Perfume

Autumn Faire Roll On Perfume is easy on your skin because it contains Jojoba Oil, Essential Oils and a dab of buttery vanilla fragrance oil to round it all out. You'll smell a delicate blend of spiced oranges, mandarins, grapefruit, nutmeg, a dash of cinnamon, a pinch of Bitter Almond Essential Oil, Vanilla Essential Oil Blend and the icing on the cake is the buttery vanilla fragrance oil. Interesting combination, you say? The scent comes full circle from the first whiff to the gentle aroma that lingers on your skin.

Autumn Fair Perfume was my contribution to another one of SAFE Team's challenges for August. We were given the task of formulating a perfume blend, something I've dabbled in, in the past and one which rekindled my love for blending Essential Oils, Resins and some enticing Fragrance Oils.

A new shop in Zibbet

2010-04-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

Zibbet is a wonderful new selling venue that I discovered through my Etsy friends. Even though there were a few snafu's due to growing pains for Zibbet, they are now up and running on brand new servers. I highly recommend it if you are considering listing your handmade products in an on-like marketplace. Their format is easy to use and they even have the ability to set up gift certificates. Right now, Zibbet's $8.00/month premium accounts are selling out. They sold over 250 accounts in just four days and only 214 left at that price.

Here is the link for Zibbet: http://www.zibbet.com/theskinyourein/sell

Right now, if you sign up for Zibbet under my referral link above, the more people who sign up using this url, my selling account will be free for life. You can do the same!! But you have to hurry.

Time for a new Challenge

2009-11-24T12:46:00.000-08:00

Well SAFE Team is at it again and put forth another challenge to its members to design a soap around what the Holidays mean to you. Not only the soaps in this challenge stunning, but the descriptions and stories behind each entry is heartfelt and beautiful.

Please read each description and cast your vote for your favorite soap in the comment section of this blog entry page of the Etsy SAFE Team shown below....

http://etsysafeteam.blogspot.com/

Special Tribute to our Veterans and Active Duty Military

2009-10-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

In recognition of your service to our country, all veterans and active
duty military personnel are invited to eat free at Applebee's Neighborhood
Grill & Bar Restaurants this Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009.

As you may recall, Applebee's launched a pilot program last year on
Veterans Day offering free entrees to military service personnel and veterans.
Because the response was so overwhelmingly positive, Applebee's is extending
the invitation throughout the country this year.

We would appreciate your help in spreading the word. Please help us share
details across your various communication channels.

All U.S. veterans and active duty military with proof of current or former
military service will eat free at all Applebee's nationwide on Veterans
Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009.

Proof of service includes: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S.
Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings
Statement, Veterans Organization Card, photograph in uniform or wearing
uniform.

For additional details, visit: www.applebees.com

New Challenge....

2009-10-15T18:18:00.000-07:00

Well our SAFE Team, Soap Artisan Friends of Etsy (SAFE) team is a group of soapmakers committed to excellence and best manufacturing practices on Etsy, is at it again! We were given a challenge to make a soap with an Alice in Wonderland theme. You know, at first I thought this would be easy. Lots and lots of ideas flew through my head like the tornado in Wizard of Oz. It wasn't so easy though!

Go Ask Alice....

My challenge entry was inspired by a picture on the website for the upcoming movie, Alice in Wonderland, due out in March of 2010. The gallery picture on the Disney website showed the beautiful row of talking flowers as only Tim Burton can conjur up.

In the 1985 movie classic Alice has a conversation with talking flowers and then meets The Red Queen, who was taking the place of one of the pawns or children of the White Queen on the chess board. Alice plays a pawn and the Red Queen tells her that only if she becomes a queen may she go home.

I could only think that my soap had to include lots of brilliant color and my own rendition of the talking flowers. The first stage of this cold process soap was to make the flower faces and to me that was the easy part! The second stage consisted of another batch of cold process soap, swirled with four different colors and then the flower faces inserted into each bar.

There are lots of great entries in this challenge and please make sure you drop by the SAFE Team Blog and post a comment, choosing the soap that you think is the winner.

http://etsysafeteam.blogspot.com/

Labor Day Sale

2009-09-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

There's only a little over a day left to get in on the big Labor Day Sale at The Skin You're In on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5216308

We are offering 15% off your shopping cart total through midnight Monday, September 7th on anything and everything in our Etsy shop.

The Holidays are fast approaching and this is a great opportunity to pick up some early Christmas presents.

In the next few weeks we'll be loading up our shop with lots of warm and fuzzy treats for cool Autumn days. New scents include spicy Cinnamon Pumpkin Sugar Baby Body Polish Squares, Fizzy Bath Bombs and a new soap called The Drunken Pumpkin...a new beer soap made with pumpkin puree, lots of amber dark beer and scented with the same wonderfully spicy Cinnamon Pumpkin fragrance.

On the road again...

2009-09-06T19:27:00.000-07:00

Sang with my best singing voice...NOT! The old gentleman in the picture above probably has a better singing voice than I do!

Mark (my husband) and I love to take drives. Now, some people, when you tell them that you took a drive think that means you drive somewhere, not too far, turn around and come home. That's not us. We take those drives where we get up at the crack of dawn, watch the sunrise on the road somewhere and be as far away as possible by the time we're hungry enough for breakfast. We've been known to go to Death Valley just to eat an early lunch at the restaurant at Furnace Creek and then drive home...uh, in the middle of Summer.

Our best day driving is about 600+ miles round trip and we always come home, rarely ever staying away for the night.

One of our most favorite drives is up the beautiful California Coast, meeting the first glimpse of ocean between Oxnard and Ventura, traveling up past Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and finally to San Luis Obispo. Then we head to the scenic Hwy 1 and take the coast route all the way! It's lovely and no matter how many times we've taken this drive, it's still breathtaking! We usually take time to stop in San Simeon (the home of Hearst Castle) and have breakfast at a nice little restaurant there called The Cavalier. There's a turn out on the road where you can stop and look at elephant seals napping on the sand, playing in the ocean waves or even big bull males showing each other who's the toughest.

Another favorite stop is to what I like to call Raging Waters.

Now, I call it that just because I can never remember the actua l name until I say "Raging Waters", then I know to say Ragged Point. A very picturesque location completely with a beautiful hotel overlooking the cliffs and raging ocean waters. Also available is a nice snack shop, the ever-present gift shop (every place just has to have one!) and another very cozy restaurant. But...the thrill to us of Ragged Point is the scenery. Sheer cliffs overlook often angry seas but don't worry, you're protected by lots of fencing! LOL! On the better weather days, there is a path you can take that leads down to a very small beach below. Mark and I have taken that path and although very rugged, we managed to get to the bottom even after passing up some couples half our age who just couldn't seem to make it. Haha! Getting down there was NOT the problem. Climbing back up was!!!

Our next stop on this trip was Big Sur, specifically to the Big Sur Campground and Lodge. After paying the typical state campground fees, we walked for about an hour all around the campground, along the banks of a beautiful stream flowing through and then back to the Lodge to have a very welcome meal...we were really hungry by then.

Next stop...home! Yup, all in one day!

On the road again...can't wait to get on the road again...Thank you Willie Nelson!

If I Were a Bar of Soap...Mini Me!

2009-08-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help myself! See, it's like this, I am a member of a wonderful group of bath and body artisans called SAFE Team and every couple of months we are presented with a challenge. I hope you've seen my other soap challenge entries in the past. This challenge was really tough...If I were a bar of soap. Since I couldn't lie and do something "sugar and spice and everything nice", then I had to figure out what I loved the most, aside from my family of course. Well, here's the write up in my Etsy shop and a link to the SAFE Team blog.

SAFE Team has done it again! We have these very challenging challenges every few months and this challenge was no exception. Our task at hand...if I were a bar of soap! Hmmm!

Aha, this idea came to me from my love for chocolate, my love for all things fluffy and light and my love and NEED for coffee.

I chose a soap making process I had not done before, whipped soap. For this recipe I used Deer Tallow, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil and Castor Oil. The darker layer is scented with a rich Chocolate and Amber Fragrance Oil and colored with dark cocoa powder. The creamy colored layer is only scented with a Colombian Coffee Fragrance Oil and the white layer is not scented or colored.

And because this soap is whipped, it floats!

This challenge was so much fun and you will thoroughly enjoy ALL of the entries by the SAFE Team members

Below is the link to the SAFE Team Blog. Please scroll down to the very last soap entry and click on "comments". Please leave your comment for the soap entry of your choice.

http://etsysafeteam.blogspot.com/

Fresh off the curing rack...

2009-08-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Here are a few new soapies and other new items...

Spicy Plum...yum!

I made this cold processed soap as a holiday soap but I think it will be available year-round. The scent is described as a berry blend with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. But I describe it as delicious!

Spicy Plum soap is made the cold process method with Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Shea Butter, Skin Safe Colorant and Fragrance Oil. The top layer is left unscented and sprinkled lightly with purple Jojoba Beads.

Country Junction Beer Soap with Glacial Clay...

I love making soaps with beer. The lather in beer soaps is so rich and lavish and the scent of this soap will have you hopping back in the shower again and again! Ingredients include Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Olive Oil, Soybean Oil, Beer, Castor Oil, Glacial Clay and Colloidal Oatmeal. The scent I chose is a combination of Sandalwood and Vanilla and it is yummy, yummy. If you think this soap is just for a man, please think again. The vanilla scent adds a softness that is beguiling! This would also make a great soap for shaving and is also available in the perfect round shape to fit into a shaving mug. Rectangular soaps are also available.

Lapis Glass Glycerin Soap...

This glycerin soap was so much fun to make. With the change of each color, I tilted the mold in another direction, making it look like stained glass.

The fragrance, called Lapis Lazuli, which means "sapphire" is eclectic, modern, earthy and has even been described as mystical with touches of rose, lilac, Egyptian musk and vanilla.

This soap is truly a sight to behold but please don't just look at it, use it too!

Sugar Baby Body Polish Single- Use Sugar Scrub Cubes~~~

Now that's a mouthful, isn't it!

These delectable little treats are so easy to use and large enough to treat your whole body to a wonderful, sugary polish. If you've ever used a sugar scrub then you will love these little sugar scrub squares because there's no jar to worry about tipping over in the shower or bathtub. Each square comes individually wrapped, just take one out, unwrap and enjoy. Each sealed container holds 6 Sugar Baby Sugar Scrub Squares.

~~~~~~

Also, check out our new assortment of Bath Bombs on Etsy, 1000 Markets or our regular website. I keep adding new ones all the time, so if you love bath bombs, check back often. We also are happy to do special orders for special occasions.

Big SAFE Team Weekend Sale

2009-06-18T11:51:00.000-07:00

If you love bath and body products, you won't want to miss the HUGE weekend sale going on over on Etsy.com. SAFE Team artisans have all gotten together and joined hands for a weekend sale spectacular from Friday, June 19th through Sunday, June 21st.

Here is the link to the SAFE Team Blog to find out all the details and the list of participating shops:

http://etsysafeteam.blogspot.com/

Our shop, The Skin You're In, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5216308, will be offering 15% off everything! Stock up now for the warm summer months ahead and keep your skin happy!

SAFE Team members are committed to the art of soapmaking and safe manufacturing practices. SAFE stands for Soap Artisan Friends of Etsy. Each and every member of this fabulous group are experienced and knowledgeable artisans. SAFE Team is an eclectic group of wonderful, skillful, kind and loving people who are passionate about making the best bath and body products you can find.

To Celebrate a Life

2009-06-12T17:38:00.000-07:00

The soapmaking community lost a most dedicated member recently and it is fitting to honor her memory here today. Below you will find a message posted on one of the many soaping forums that so many of us are a part of.

It is with a sad heart that I make this announcement.

Patrice lost her battle with cancer on May 28, 2009. Her husband, Bob, told me:

“With her last breath came a look of complete calm and just the faintest most perfect smile.
Her smile, her laugh, her bright shiny eyes, her incredibly curly blonde hair ... were all
sights to behold and yet none of these defined her. Her love, support and passion were limitless.”

Patrice was incredibly talented … as a soap maker, scent blender, formulator, and teacher. She
freely shared her knowledge, and helped many of us learn so much. She impacted many people in many different ways because of the woman and friend she was.

Patrice fought hard to win her battle, and never gave up hope that she would be victorious.
Elixir Botanicals was her dream, a concept and business that she loved and was very passionate
about. Part of her “battle plan” was getting the warehouse, creating the website and Yahoo
Group, and stocking multiple extracts rather than just doing buys. She fully intended to
resume business as usual with Elixir Botanicals once she had won.

I ask that you honor Patrice’s memory by emulating her example … seeking and sharing knowledge, helping others learn, being passionate about what you do, and giving your love and support to those who need it.

We cannot be Patrice because she was a unique individual, but we can be like her in
everything we do, letting her inspire us each and every day.

I know she will be very much missed by so many of us.

Patrice asked that in lieu of flowers," please perform a random act of kindness in my memory".

Carol Barber
DP Naturals

******

The following quotes came from Patrice's husband Bob, as her final thoughts...

"Do not be sad that I have passed, celebrate that I lived." ...Patrice

"The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave" ...Patrick Henry

Anyone can steer the ship when the sea is calm.

~ Publilius Syrus

She will be missed!

In Loving Memory.....

2009-04-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

William Clayton Dixon was born on October 4, 1922 in Louisiana. He was a sweet and wonderful man and we loved him dearly. He was my father-in-law. Dad was 86 years old and on Monday, March 30th he joined his loving wife, Helen and the other members of his family in Heaven.

This is in your honor, Dad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnm-4kSLKdI

And this is for Dad and Mom. One of their favorite songs in Church:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13eBCf1gIgc

Luck of the Irish

2009-03-10T19:56:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick's Day is Tuesday March 17th and will you be wearing your green? We'll be having a wee bit of a sale on St. Patrick's Day to help you keep a little green in your pocket. How does free shipping on all products sound to you? Good, cuz that's what St. Paddy wants and that's what St. Paddy gets!

Even though my maiden name is Campbell, which sounds pretty Irish to me, my heritage is actually Scottish and German, with a dash of Irish and French to round us off. Here is a little history of St. Patrick's Day:

St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. But for all his celebrity, his life remains somewhat of a mystery. Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false, the products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years.

On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

To help you celebrate the occasion, here are a few Irish toasts:

May your fire be as warm as the weather is cold.

******

Health, and long life to you
Land without rent to you
The partner of your heart to you
and when you die, may your bones rest in Ireland!

******

As you slide down the banisters of life may the splinters never point the wrong way.

******

May you get all your wishes but one,
So you always have something to strive for.

******

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

******

Here's to your coffin...
May it be built of 100 year old oaks which I will plant tomorrow.

*****

May your neighbors respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.

******

May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.

******

An old Irish recipe for longevity:
Leave the table hungry.
Leave the bed sleepy.
Leave the bar thirsty.

Irish Soda Bread with Raisins

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 cups all purpose flour
5 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into cubes
1 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 8-inch-diameter cake pan with nonstick spray. Whisk flour, 4 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in large bowl to blend. Add butter. Using fingertips, rub in until coarse meal forms. Make well in center of flour mixture. Add buttermilk. Gradually stir dry ingredients into milk to blend. Mix in raisins.

Using floured hands, shape dough into ball. Transfer to prepared pan and flatten slightly (dough will not come to edges of pan). Sprinkle dough with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.

Bake bread until brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool bread in pan 10 minutes. Transfer to rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

5 pounds corned brisket of beef
6 peppercorns, or packaged pickling spices
3 carrots, peeled and quartered
3 onions, peeled and quartered
1 medium-sized green cabbage, quartered or cut in wedges
Melted butter (about 4 tablespoons)

Place the corned beef in water to cover with the peppercorns or mixed pickling spices (in supermarkets, these often come packaged with the corned beef). Cover the pot or kettle, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 hours or until tender, skimming occasionally. During the last hour, add the carrots and onions and cover again. During the last 15 minutes, add the cabbage. Transfer meat and vegetables to a platter and brush the vegetables with the melted butter. Serve with boiled parsley potatoes, cooked separately. (The stock can be saved to add to a pot roast or stew instead of other liquid.

And what could be better than a good ol' Irish drinking song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tguqJMUcSGI&feature=related

(Warning: May be a little risque to some...but very funny)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We're Having a Sale!

2008-12-01T17:40:00.000-08:00

Not just a Cyber Monday sale, but a Cyber Week-Long Sale and you get to choose your discount! Would you like 25% off your shopping cart total or free shipping anywhere in the continental United States on either our website at http://www.theskinyourein.com/ or our Etsy Store at http://www.theskinyourein.etsy.com/.

Isn't it nice to have choices!

On Etsy you'll find two different Gift Baskets. One is a beautiful basket containing a 4 ounce lotion, your choice of a 2 ounce Olive Cleansing Oil or 4 oz Dry Facial Masque, two soaps of your choosing, delicate single use Rose Petal Soaps, one Lip it Up Lip Balm in your choice of flavors and a very nice body powder in your choice of fragrance. You can mix and match your fragrances or stick with a single fragrance theme.

The larger Gift basket is called Happy Holidays Build a Basket. You tell me what you want in your basket and I'll put it together for your and customize it as you wish.

Build A Basket for Him:
2 Soaps, any men's scent(s) you choose.
1 - 8 oz. Skin Deep Lotion in corresponding scent or different scent.
1 - 8 oz. Foaming Body Polish..yup, men love this too!
1 - 4 oz. Body Spray in corresponding scent or different scent.

Build A Basket for Her:
2 Soaps, any fragrance. You choose from our available soaps.
1 - 8 oz. Skin Deep Lotion, any scent you choose.
1 - 8 oz. Foaming Body Polish, any scent you choose
1 - 4 oz. Body Spray, any scent you choose

Scent Suggestions:
Green Tweeds
Cherokee Creek
Sandalwood
Beer Soap for Him Fragrance Blend
Beer Soap for Her Fragrance Blend
Pomegranate Passion
Heavenly Heather
Chocolate Pumpkin Bread Fragrance Blend
Goat's Milk & Lavender Soap with Lavender & Vanilla Essential Oil Blend (Limited Soap Quantities Available)
Frankincense & Myrrh Essential Oil Blend (Soap will be available first week in December)
Baked Apples & Spice
Oatmeal Milk & Honey Essential Oil Blend

Lip it Up Lip Balm Gift Set

Here is another really cute Holiday gift idea. This is a five pack of Lip it Up Lip Balms tucked inside a cute little purse that a friend made for me. You pick the lip flavors you want included in this gift set. Great for stocking stuffers or a thoughtful gift for someone special on your gift list. So far these are just listed in my Etsy Shop, but tomorrow they will be listed on the website too. I will also have some available in bright non-holiday theme colors. The are listed for $8.95...what a sweet gift!

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

Martin Luther King

It's Sunday Night

2008-10-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday night! Those used to be dreaded words when I had a full-time job away from home. By Sunday afternoon I'd start getting that feeling in the pit of my stomach and those words would start flowing through my mind, "I really don't want to go to work tomorrow!"

I'm very blessed that I don't have to say those words any more! I do work at home though and sometimes this work is harder than any day job I ever had to deal with. Harder, yes but never hated! My days now consist of medical transcription or entertainment transcription if there is work to be done. Next comes checking email for orders on either the website or the Etsy store and fulfilling those orders as soon as possible which usually entails making up any lotions, creams, scrubs or lip products that are ordered. I make the lotions and creams usually about once a week or once every two weeks depending on orders ensuring that these are always fresh and always available. Sugar Baby Body Polish is the same...made to order so it's always fresh.

Orders are packaged and mailed usually within 48 hours and packaging supplies are always re-used from supply orders I've received. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Newest Goodies

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This beautiful soap stamp was designed by John and Anhoki of Anhoki's Place. I love this new stamp and just had to show it off!

This is one of the newest soaps we've had fun with. It's called Irish Tweed...I think! Not sure exactly what to call it yet but I'll get to that part sooner or later.

We sure have fun creating new soaps. Don't really know what comes first, the chicken or the egg? What skin benefits do I want from this soap? Sometimes an idea for a soap springs from the fragrance I want to use or the herbs and clays I want to play with. Other times I see something that entices me, like fresh fruits or a beautiful ripe avocado. Sounds funny, but avocado is very good for your skin and it makes a beautiful green soap that is creamy and delicious.

Lotions are the same for me. I love making lotions and creams or anything emulsified. Emulsified is when a certain type of wax is added that helps to bring the water and oils/butters together. We all know that oil and water don't mix, so we add an emulsifier to bind the two together. There are so many "goodies" you can add to a lotion or cream to make it so beneficial to your skin. This is the fun part to me. Investigating what additives can be added to help certain skin problems, such as acne prone skin, dry or mature skin types.

My first blogging day!

2008-09-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

Today's Quote

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

-Dr. Seuss

Who would ever mind a nice little quote by Dr. Seuss!

Since this is my first day back to blogging in quite some time, I thought I'd share that it's also my birthday...52 years old today. You know, birthdays are funny things because when I was younger, I disliked being the center of attention and didn't really want anyone to know it was my birthday. Since I turned 50 it's all been different. Not such a big deal...it's just a number, right? I feel good, I'm young at heart and I've got family and friends who love and care about me...who could ask for anything more.

Today is a day of fooling around. My son came to visit my husband and I and we had a really nice time. Tomorrow is another story...back to getting some products made and doing some things to promote our website. Until tomorrow!

Totally Enjoy The Skin You're In

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Welcome to our first official blog. Our website is fairly new, as is our Ebay Store. Our website is www.TheSkinYoureIn.com and our Etsy store is www.TheSkinYoureIn.Etsy.com

We make all of our products in our home kitchen using fresh oils, butters, essential oils or fragrance oil. Here at The skin You're In we try to cover the needs or desires of our customers by offering products that are vegan, no animal byproducts and scented with Essential Oils or naturally unscented. We also make products that do contain tallows, lard or palm oils and scented with Essential Oils, Fragrance Oils or, of course, naturally unscented. The choice is yours!

We also offer gift baskets for those special occasions when you want to totally pamper a cherished family member or friend. A wedding coming up in the near future? Look to The Skin You're In for all your wedding favor needs, from single use rose petal soaps, to bath salts, guest-sized soap bars, lip products...or what do you want? We'll do our best to provide party favors you and your guests are sure to love.

When visiting our website, www.TheSkinYoureIn.com, please sign our guestbook. We'd love to hear from you.