Baby It's Cold Outside

We are in the middle of a real cold spell! Normally it barely gets below freezing. Tonight it's supposed to be down to 15. It's been that cold since last Friday and we've had winds to go along with it too. I've been staying snug and warm inside getting sewing projects finished for customers. They are finally done and I get to move on to some fun stuff now.

Today I made Cottage Rose soap and lotion. Tomorrow it will be Blue Bonnet. I have a couple more batches of soap to make but not sure what scents yet. I think that Peppermint Candy will be one - that is our new favorite scent around here. Maybe some Citrus Basil as I haven't done that one in a while and it's a favorite with the guys.

I got the tree up on Saturday and it has been a fight ever since trying to keep Sophie out of the tree. She knocked it over 3 times in less than 24 hours. Today I made a "moat" of aluminum foil around the bottom of the tree. She hates foil. That worked really well - until Sophie figured out that if she got on the back of the couch and leaned way over she could reach the tree. Out came the water bottle but it's a constant battle. She is one determined cat!

Steph and I have been having the nicest evenings. Sunday night I was sewing and she was laying in my bed. I put White Christmas in the computer and we watched that together while I finished some things. Tonight we watched Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - you know the old one with the clay looking characters?? Steph loves those old Christmas programs and so do I!

I haven't even started any shopping yet and need to get a little done. I have to get for Steph and for the grandsons. The adults are going to just wish each other Merry Christmas this year as everyone's finances are so tight. I kind of like it that way anyway. It makes more of the focus on Jesus and less on the presents.

I've saved the very best news for last! I am going to be a grandma again! Missy is pregnant with her third child and the baby will be here in July. Since I have two grandsons you can guess what I'm hoping for - a granddaughter! I can't wait until Missy is far enough along to find out the gender so I can start making things for the baby. Her youngest is 11 so it's been a while since we've had to think about babies around here. We're just thrilled to pieces. I'm already thinking about blankets, burp cloths, bibs, and anything else that I can possibly sew. This is going to be such fun.

I hope that you all are keeping warm and enjoying the Christmas season!!

Hugs,
Kay

Amazing Grace

Body Moisture Lotion - Finally!!

I have been wanting to add a skin lotion to my line for a long, long time - over 6 months. It's finally done!! I have to admit that I tend to obsess about things - it has to be just right down to the packaging. I've tried and tested until I feel like I have a wonderful product to offer! It's 96% natural and made with a paraben free preservative.

This lotion is thick, creamy and feels so good on the skin. It's made with my favorite shea butter, grape seed oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, aloe juice, and lots of other ingredients that are good for your skin.

I have two scents right now - Oatmeal Milk & Honey and Peppermint Candy. We are in love with the Peppermint Candy! I got that scent for Christmas but may keep it all year long. I'll be adding 3 more scents later in the week - I'm not telling what they'll be. You'll have to check my Etsy shop to find out!!!

Can you tell I'm excited about this??

Hugs,
Kay

Happy Thanksgiving

I pray that you will have a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving Day!!!

Hugs,
Kay

New Soaps

I have been making soap like crazy this week - trying to get ready for bazaars and Christmas sales in my Etsy shop. I am so excited about the new scents that I have, especially the Christmas scents. I am finally going to be offering body moisture lotion - made with shea butter, cocoa butter, avocado oil, grapeseed oil and other ingredients that are good for the skin! These two new soaps will be in my Etsy shop on Sunday. Christmas scents and Body Moisture will be listed the day after Thanksgiving. Please stop by to see what's new!

This pretty pink soap is called Grace. This scent is comparable to Philosophy's Amazing Grace - a blend of lemon, rose, cinnamon and musk. Such a light, bright clean scent. I can't get enough of this.

Key Lime - I don't think there's any description needed for this one! Juicy and tart, just like key limes.

I've also set a flat rate of $5 shipping for the Christmas shopping season. You'll only pay $5 no matter how much you buy!

More fun stuff to come!!

Just When You Think You Know Someone

Here's my sweet daughter Stephany. She is very artsy, dresses funky, loves black, has 2 piercings in her lip, and loves to listen to weird music (what teenager doesn't love weird music)! For a long time all this bugged me no end - especially the piercings. But I came to realize that you have to pick your battles. I've come to accept that Stephany is her own person and loves being different.

Yesterday we had to go to Battle Ground so Steph could get her new glasses ordered. I figured since we were out there I'd take a side trip to Old Town and visit the Vintage Gathering Christmas Emporium. This kind of event is something that I absolutely love and have not done enough of it for a long time. Anything vintage, cottage, shabby, pink and roses is right up my alley.

Steph and I stepped inside the store and both of us went crazy! I knew that Steph liked some things vintage - she loved her sister's store in Camas when she used to go there. But yesterday I saw a side of Steph that I never knew existed. She told me that when she gets her first apartment she wants to decorate it in cottage and vintage style!! Then she Tweeted that she'd love to have an antique store some day! A girl after my own heart (actually she had my heart from the first minute I laid eyes on her)!

On the way home we talked about how much fun it would be to have a store again. I told her that it was a big undertaking and the finances just weren't there for it right now. However, we could start junking again, re-do treasures, do sales, and maybe have a booth somewhere. Stephany was so excited! That's all she's talked about since yesterday. How much fun is this going to be to have a "partner in crime" to go to sales with!

Just when you think you know someone - especially your own child - they go and surprise you. This is going to be such fun!!

Going Back To Work

I'm going back to work! Debbie, my boss (and friend) at my old place of work, emailed me to see if I'd want to come back. I called her this morning and said yes! It will only be 2 days a week but that's ok. Next week will be my last unemployment check and I will be starting back next Wednesday! God's timing is so good!!

I could get another extension on my unemployment but I just want to work. I need to be out in the world and working my brain. I will be working on Wednesday and Friday - the schedule will be great as I will have time to work on my soap business here at home the other days.

The best part is that I don't have to go get a work wardrobe because I can wear jeans! Yay!!

Busy Weekend

We survived whatever it was that we had - I don't think it was the full blown flu - and are getting back in the swing of things. The weekend was busy but good.

I feel like I've been living in my kitchen for the past two days. On Saturday I finished up rearranging cupboards and got everything put away. You could actually see the top of the dining room table! Then I found one more box of dishes! I'm not sure where I'm going to put these so I'm going to have to do some rearranging again. I need a hutch or a cabinet as there just isn't enough storage space in my kitchen.

I made baked potato soup and Amish bread for dinner on Saturday. I love that soup and it is so easy to make. There are lots of leftovers so that's what we'll be having for dinner tonight. The family wanted chocolate chip cookies but I was just too tired so those would wait until Sunday.

Sunday we went to Steve's grandma's to help her get some boxes unpacked and sort through her closet. We stopped at Burger King and picked up lunch. She gets so tired of eating the food at the retirement center. It was so cute to watch her eat her cheeseburger and fries - she cleaned up every bite. When we got home from Grandma's I finally got the chocolate chip cookies done and settled in to watch my Sunday night TV programs.

There's lots to do this week as I have some purses to finish up and get more soap made. I got a few more fragrances in the mail on Saturday so this week I'll be making Citrus Basil, Bluebonnet (one of my favorites, and a new men's soap called Leather Jacket. It smells so yummy - kind of a mixture of leather and men's cologne - very masculine.

We're going to have a great week and I hope you do too!

Hugs,
Kay

The Flu Came Knocking

The flu finally came knocking at our door. Steph started getting a sore throat on Friday and today is the first day that she feels better. I started with a sore throat yesterday and don't feel any better today. I'm praying that it won't get any worse!! I'll be back when we're all well around here!

Hugs,
Kay

November

I absolutely love the month of November!! The earth is settling down into it's winter sleep, the holidays are just around the corner, and I get to celebrate my favorite holiday - Thanksgiving!!

I love to plan and cook the whole meal. If I could, I would have a whole house full of people to share the day with me! The more the merrier. It is so wonderful to have this holiday where we can focus on what we are thankful for, eat a wonderful meal, and just the enjoy each others company. No gifts to fuss about, no parties to worry about, no pressure - just pure enjoyment.

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. But it has become such a commercial holiday that, to me, the true meaning has been lost. If I could have my way about Christmas it would be 1 gift for each person and the day would be focusing on each other.

I feel sad sometimes that Thanksgiving has gotten lost between Halloween and Christmas. But it doesn't get lost at this house. I refuse to buy anything Christmas related, put up decorations, or even think about gifts until the day after Thanksgiving. It's my own personal way of savoring and remembering this beautiful holiday!

I hope that you will enjoy every single day of November and especially Thanksgiving Day. May you month be filled with blessings and happiness.