AND SO...here you have it!

Wasn't it just me...?...who a few weeks ago said I was gonna get better at this blogging thing? and lookee-lookee! a whole month went somewhere never to return! What's up with THAT !?!?

Happy December everyone! Welcome to the end of the whole year...and I sincerely hope every one of you is in a better place than you were in the beginning of the year...spiritually, physically and in positive understanding of where you are generally heading and/or want to head in the upcoming year. Yes, things have been rough for some, myself included, but the silver lining is still there...and God is good, ALL THE TIME...regardless!

I do have a lot of new listings in my shop.
I will share only a few so as not to totally bore you! I love stained glass windows...I have made a soapie version of that idea...very basic and nothing like a REAL stained glass window...but that's what it reminds me of. Don't you love looking through those windows...they are all dark until the light shines through them...kind of what our lives are like until the real LIGHT shines through...

Stained Glass Window Soap

I have provided a way to sample a few different "flavors" without having to take a loan out...

Sonata Sample Bag

There are 10 samples in each bag. The samples will vary from bag to bag and will not necessarily contain what is in the shop because I make over 100 different soaps. The little amounts of soap left over from pouring a loaf are what make up these mint-sized little goodies. These little guys are great for use in a guest bathroom!

Then there are the holiday cuties....snowflakes, gingermen, visions of sugar plums and trees!

Icy Snowflake Gingermen Sugar Plum Soap

Treasure Tree

There are other neat things in the shop and there is currently a special of BUY ONE GET ONE FREE and FREE SHIPPING! Don't know for how long...but check it out, if you are looking for a different kind of gift, stocking stuffer, gift for teachers, bosses, etc. or maybe just because you want to pamper YOURSELF! (You do deserve it sometime!)

Going to check out myself right now...and hope the next time we "meet" will not be too long from now!

Remember to make one purpose of your life be - to make a difference in someone else's life...that can start today. Give the gift of your smile and help bring some light into someone else's darkness!

Be blessed!

Oh bother!!!!

Said quote, I believe comes from the famous bear of Poohland. Today I will blog without photos...no batteries in the camera....you would think with a husband as a professional photographer that this could never happen...alas! I still haven't downloaded the photos from an Atlanta trip in February (the ones below came from my daughter's camera...which I like better than mine anyways...)

So...still doing lots of craft fairs...harvest fairs...holiday bazaars, etc, etc, etc. Oh...and ETC. I try to do one at least every weekend and sometimes do even two. This is the busy season coming up...and I am having lots of practice prepping for it! [Yes...I am a BIG fan of ... (dot dot dot)] My wonderful husband has faithfully chaufeured me around to these events and helped me set up. One Saturday it was raining buckets and he went home to change three times from getting drenched helping me set up (yup...it was an outside event). So..now I am a proud owner of a 10x10 EZ up canopy...live and learn (my market umbrella did NOT cut it that time!)

Oh yes...I had a couple weeks of Eeyore days when a bad shoulder froze up and became a full acute case of bursitis, tendonitis or some kind of itis...had to suffer for a few days waiting to get in to see an orthopedic doc to get a cortisone shot. I am much better now and can move as much as usual...though some days that's not much!

Just wanted to let you all know out there in blog land that all is well...and yes, all of the soap boxes. etc are STILL SITTING IN MY LIVING ROOM...waiting...ever so patiently waiting...for the next craft show event! Some things never change!

However, I am really glad - that my Heavenly Father NEVER changes! Although I am glad His mercies are new every morning! How 'bout you?




Be blessed...til next time...and do good!

HAPPY FALL BEGINNINGS!

The leaves are starting to turn here in good ole New England...my favorite time of year! I love the smell of the crisp air, ripe apples, pumpkin pie! I realize apples are available year round but there is something special about going to the apple orchard in the fall and having the air "ripe" with the smell of apples!



And yes...I COULD make a pumpkin pie anytime...but I reserve it for this special time of the year...to keep it special! (So don't rain on my parade!) Add to that...scuffling through the leaves like I did when I was a kid and sitting on my deck enjoying an aromatic fire... a season to be enjoyed. I just have to concentrate on its joys without anticipating the leafless trees and the cold, cold weather to come. However, I DO enjoy sweaters!


There are some soaps which will add to the fall season nicely...for instance, what fall is complete without cranberry? This contains cranberry juice with all its vitamin C skin tightening properites and the seeds act as an exfolliant.

Cranberry Crush

And who doesn't enjoy all the myriad of breads that we make during this season? The fragrance of baked goods that comes from the oven warm the "cockles" of our hearts! And wouldn't you know it...the smell of banana nut bread CAN be enjoyed while showering!

Banana Nut Bonanza

And with that ...a delicious "fresh-brewed cup" of orange hazelnut coffee and cream....of course!

Hazelnut Coffee & Cream

For those cold days when you want to think "warm"...try one of the newly created "drink" soap collection...so far, there is a Cocoanutty Cocoa which is a coconut "flavored" cocoa which comes complete with cute miniature marshmallows...who has cocoa without them? A Holiday Cheer apple cider punch with ice cubes and a cinnamon stick...told ya I love apples! Or...guess what? a Rootbeer Float...smells like the real thing and is appropriately topped with a scoop of vanilla scented "ice cream"...and don't forget the straw!


Or you can just relax with a good book in front of a fire...or maybe you are one of the lucky ones with an all seasons room or a skylight where you can just look to the skies and ponder the vastness of the stars...and the goodness of our Creator. That in itself...could take quite a while.....

Vanilla Dreams

And don't forget vanilla - Vanilla Dreams - a wonderfully homey scent married with lavender..the things dreams are made of...a lovely way to bring comfort to the end of a day.

There is always a time and a season for everything under the sun...this time, this season is one of thanksgiving. Enjoy it wholeheartedly, for it is a short season...but be thankful and full of thanksgiving, always. Make it a way of life.

Be blessed!

What do you wash with?

Do you think you are using soap?

Check the label.
Chances are the word "soap"
will never grace the packaging!
It isn't "allowed".....
because it is not real soap.

Most bars are labeled "bath"
or "beauty" bars.....
and most are synthetic petroleum based products.
(Care for a dip in an oil well?)

I often wondered why my skin felt like it was on fire after using commercial "soap". Petroleum based products clog the pores, besides being.....well, petroleum! Again, check your labels! Mineral oil, another petroleum by product, is in a lot of skin care products, especially lotions.
Skin is the body's largest organ so we should take special care of it - it will be with us for a lifetime. Thank God it is in a constant state of renewal, so all hope is never lost. We can all start catering to our skin today.

Another skin irritant used in many skin products is a detergent sudsing element called SLS or sodium laureth sulfate. This additive can be very drying to the skin.

Two other possible irritants in commercial "soap" are triethanolamine and propylene glycol. Triethanolamine is a frequent sensitizer used as a dispersing agent - also a detergent. Detergents strip the skin of moisture and its natural oils. Propylene glycol is now being replaced by safer glycols, so this is good for us how?

So what do I use?
Well... an all natural glycerin soap base.....
a vegetable oil based product (which can be labeled vegan) containing coconut oil, palm oil, castor seed and safflower seed oils.

These chief ingredients add significantly to the moisture enhancing characteristics of the glycerin soap itself, making the soap much kinder and nourishing to skin.

This is my starting point...my healthy start...to which I add a variety of skin-pampering "goodies" to create many kinds of soaps (all good for you) for lots of different purposes.

Kickin' Kiwi

The seeds exfoliate.

Homey Nutti-Honey

Oatmeal softens.

Many of the herbs and spices are naturally anti-bacterial,
antiseptic and many other "anti's" while smelling good too!

Italian Kitchen Soap

Melon Medley
And the ones containing the actual fruit puree or juice carry the benefits of all the vitamins and minerals as well. For instance, fruit contains high concentrations of vitamin C which clarifies and
tightens the skin.



And many contain more than one of these qualities because they are a combination of ingredients making them that much better to use!

Razzberry Oat

REAL SOAP.....
with real purpose.....
check it out at Sonata Soap!

So there you have it......your lesson is done for today....

but the question still remains.....

.........what do YOU wash with?

P.S. Take a minute to scroll to the bottom of the page
and "sign" my guestbook..... just for grins and giggles!

New Soap on Etsy

Hi all!
Again, apologies on being so remiss about this blogging thing...bear with me...I have been busy adding to my line-up on etsy (check it out to the left) along with opening two other "stores"...it all takes work and lots of time!

HARVEST APPLE CRISP
a deliciously fresh picked apple scent with skin softening oatmeal

I have also been working on some new recipes and new looks for some of my older recipes...a change is always good! Harvest Apple Crisp is scented similar to Bath & Body Works Country Apple...I just love that scent and searched high and low for a fragrance similar to it and here it is! It smells so crisp and not too sweet...I just love it! The ""floating" oatmeal (which is a great skin softener) gives it a snappy visual appeal.



COCOA CHAI TEA

chai tea with cocoa added
makes good stuff...smell!

RED LYCHEE TEA

rooibus tea in a sweet smelling mauve

I HAVE CREATED!!!!!

A unique "tea collection" of soaps. Each are in an all natural soap base and all contain tea which is rich in anti-oxidants and therefore, very good to your skin. The chai contains unsweetened cocoa which is rich with these as well. The tea leaves add a slight exfoliating action to the soap. Each of them are different in their own way and are scented differently. I have a green Matcha Tea Treat which contains green tea and a White Tea Ginger which contain delicate white tea leaves. Check out the links to etsy.

PEPPY LEMON POPPY
exfoliating poppy seeds in an intense sweet lemon slice of heaven

I also brought back a former bar that I had discontinued...but I was missing it so much that I couldn't resist having it make a come back. I love poppy seed muffins (but alas...they are fattening...) so this is the non-fattening version that can give you all the sensory scent pleasures without all the calories! The poppy seeds add the exfoliating feature to rid the skin of dry, dead skin cells. It is scented with a shortbread scent accented with three very lemon-y essential oils of litsea cubeba, lemon verbena and lemon. That's a lot of lemon in one place, for those of you who love lemon. Lemon, any citrus for that matter, is great for eliminating odors. So this makes a good deodorant shower bar or a great kitchen bar to aid in eliminating onion, garlic or fish from the hands. Either way, a pure delight to experience!

Check out the rest of my creations at www.sonatasoap.etsy.com ....some old some new. "Talk" to you soon...be blessed!

Happy Holidays! Aromatherapy anyone?

So...Happy Passover, Happy Easter (Resurrection Day), Happy Mother's Day and Happy Memorial Day...might as well lump them all together since I already missed most of them and skipped posting for many weeks! So Happy Holidays!


Now...let's talk about aromatherapy...aromas affect us and our bodies in many ways. Our nose will tell us if food is bad before we eat it and most of our enjoyment in eating our food comes from smell (80%). Who doesn't LOVE the smell of fresh baked bread coming out of the oven (hello...Elena)? Or brownies (hey ya...Carissa)?


We enjoy the smell of food without even eating it! And it's not just food. We all know what that favorite "man" cologne (or perfume, for you guys) does when we catch a whiff! All these smells become personal or learned through association. And did you know that our whole planet has been estimated to boast somewhere in the neighborhood of over 400,000 different odors? So, yes, something could be said about what we expose our sniffers to.

The sense of smell...it all has to do with the wonderful way our noses are designed. We sniff on purpose, catch a whiff, or maybe we don't...whether we realize it or not, our noses are always CONSTANTLY smelling, pleasant or unpleasant aromas. We can smell SO many things that we don't even have the language to describe some of them. We may say things like, it smells like...it kinda reminds me of...it smells like how "xyz" tastes...(and by the way, as a side note, animals are able to smell thousands of times better than we do...)

Odors or aromas enter through the nostrils, as we all know, and reach the olfactory bulb which has a direct link to the brain. That's the simplified version. A wonderful invention, really, don't you think? The brain, of course, becomes the "interpreter". And those scents become part of history within our memories.

Aromatherapy originally made use of the two senses of smell and touch. Aromatic or all natural essential oils would be applied or massaged into the skin and depending on the oils used, would cause a positive reaction within the body according to its need, hence, the therapy part of the equation. And yes, the more natural the ingredients used, the better for the body. So, further down the line I will get into essential oils and their properties and reputed aid to certain ailments.


However, for all intents and purpose, I would like to submit to you that any aroma that is pleasing to you personally can have a positive cause and effect response for you . So, start sniffin' and start paying attention to your reaction to those wholesome sucks of air and you will find out what really pleases you...


... so that you can quite easily take therapy by aroma any time you like!

Well, hello!

Hey, I know you! (Maybe I don't....)

I just know it's taking me forever to start this blog and to make simple decisions...the colors just don't seem to please me...what can I say? So, bear with me as I continue to get it all together...I have basically been regrouping and revamping everything...revising price lists, redoing cards and logo...just making a fresh start since I have been more or less dormant for three years since becoming a "professional coffee barista"/shift supervisor at Starbucks...(the job is also called "family insurance for 20 hours a week...). I still have to finish up the website too...oh bother!!!
Right now I am on my sister Amy's computer in Atlanta with some free time with no housework


to do waiting for her to get ready and, hence - the start of the blog! Carissa (my youngest) & I are attending a Foursquare Women's Conference and it is good to see both my sisters and their families who I have never personally been able to visit cuz of the all the l'il "chillins" I have (four, count them, four!) Well, Amy's ready...got to go now.........Atlanta calls!


Here, for instance, is the CNN building where most of the events we attended is located...note the stair handrails to give you an idea of how massive this thing is! Inside there are shops and a food court on the ground level and the entrance to the huge Omni International Hotel where the conference took place. It goes up fifteen floors (our church group had the bird's eye view from
the fourteenth floor).

Inside there is a lobby where there is a food court & various shops & the entrance to the huge international Omni Hotel. The escalator goes up to CNN & the canopied verticals are decks to hotel rooms. Elevators run outside straight up the side outside the hotel. Kinda scary if you don't like riding in elevators...



Oops! Look what I found! (As if we don't know that THEY are EVERYWHERE!!! I immediately got my iced venti four pump melon passion tea lemonade (and yes! they STILL had melon syrup unlike all us poor deprived Connecticut Starbuckians!) Although here I think I'm holding a tall caramel macchiato...(you didn't really think I only got ONE drink while I was around here?!?)



Olympic Park is there where they held the summer? olympics a few years back...the five rings were on the ground with hidden spigots which would jet stream water out in intervals...or perhaps..all at once!!!...it was fun trying to dodge them - as unpredictable as they were....

...or get caught in the middle!!!! I didn't get wet...others weren't so lucky!!!

We visited the Coca Cola bottling plant and saw how it is done...received one freshly bottled coke, enjoyed a 3D virtual movie, got to see many bigger than life decorated coke bottles and had fun in the tasting room (as seen above) where we got to sample hundreds of coke products from over seventy different countries around the world...talk about gastric burn!


On Friday of the conference, Carissa & I signed up to help our with a home makeover outside of Atlanta. Our chariot (?) was driven by a church volunteer . We were in a group with a mother & daughter from Ohio and a mother & daughter from Tennessee.


We got to help a disabled woman with yard work and some spring flower planting. She is wheel-chair bound with slight muscular dystrophy and fibromyalgia among other ailments and still caring for her three grandchildren as her daughter has problems of various natures. We weeded, raked, planted and listened to her story and prayed over her and her grandchildren. She blessed us greatly with her story of endurance, faith and appreciation. It was beyond a doubt a memorable experience...


Friday afternoon we went to a couple of lectures. We chose to go to Kim Coleman's who spoke on witnessing through humor...right up my alley! (We all know how HILARIOUS I can be...)
And then I had to go to Lisa Whelchel's...does anyone out there remember the Facts of Life???
www.sitcomsonline.com/thefactsoflife She played snobby Blair...she looks pretty much the same. She's been married to a Foursquare pastor for twenty years and has three kids.She was gracious enough to pose with us.

(DUDE! Can anyone tell me where my hair is at? Ugh!)

There were many great speakers and singers at the conference and a lot of personal stories that affected us all deeply. The theme was about how everyone has a story to tell...including ourselves and we need to share it!


Later that night we all got together to celebrate Meghan's birthday at a Mexican restaurant in the CNN lobby...we froze next to all those windows! (The weather alternated between warm in the high 50's to in the 40's with lots of wind!)

Then we were able to spend some time with family. I have two sisters who have lived in Atlanta for over twenty years and I've never been to visit....(all those kids I had to tend to and all...) so it was good to get together with them and their families for a couple of days. (We stayed at my sister Amy's house.) We went to an international farmers' market where they have all sorts of exotic foods in huge quantities for " not so much money"...it was great! Very colorful and active...and by the way - it was indoors.

We also went to visit Stone Mountain. It's a huge mountain made out of granite just sitting there...where a sculptor (same one that did Mt. Rushmore...forgot his name...) started a carving. The entire bas-relief runs the length of a football field to give you an idea of how immense it is....

They also had a lot of old-fashioned shops there, like the Old West. In one we watched a glass blowing demonstration And in a city where they hardly have snow, they had a section that had snow and a huge multi-sectional slide to sled down. It was nice to "stroll" through, picturesque.

We got together with both my sisters and their families for dinner and it was good to see everyone. It had been three years since Elena & Cristi's weddings since we had seen some of them.

Me and my sister Lynn in front and Amy in back.

Carissa, me, Amy & her husband Steve

Lynn, Zak, Max, me, Carissa and Lynn's husband Jim

Me & the nephews, Max and Zak

We had a great time, a wonderful break, time with family, spiritual encouragement and inspiration and a visit in an area new to us. A time to remember with fondness in all areas...

So, that is Atlanta in a nutshell...the start of my blog (why didn't I start simple...? At least I finally decided on the colors...) And now it is the beginning of May (started in February) and I'm just finishing it up (shame!)...and MY photos are still in the camera, not even downloaded due to dead batteries...so we have Carissa to thank for all the photos! One thing started... now on to the etsy web store...I'll let you know when THAT'S ready...ha!

Toodles! Keep the faith...God loves YOU!