From Summer Bliss to Holiday Hustle

There's a hint of crispness in the air where I live, tempting me to banish my portable AC back to the closet. As much as I’d love to reclaim the corner of my living room, a pang of summer nostalgia holds me back. 

Before I bid farewell to this lovely season, I'd like to share some exciting news. I'll be taking a short trip to visit my granddaughter the first week of September. To ensure uninterrupted service, I've arranged for assistance to handle orders during my absence.

Many of you are already immersed in back-to-school grind, juggling work schedules and reluctant students. Before you can catch your breath, the holiday season will be upon us, starting with Halloween.

So, while I savor these final summer days, I'm also secretly plotting my holiday strategy. It’s a strange juxtaposition: air conditioner sitting in the living room, and Christmas prepping in my soap studio.

I've overhauled my holiday prep this year, and so far, it’s a game-changer. Last year's investment in larger soap molds has been a total win. Less frequent, bigger batches mean I've stayed stocked all year. Each batch is still very much part of a small operation as evidenced by this video of me making the popular shampoo bar.

While I'm on the topic of my Shampoo Bars, I'd like to spotlight one of the ingredients I use for it. At the beginning of the video I'm pouring oils into a pitcher. One of these oils is rice bran oil. 

Rice bran oil is extracted from the germ and husk of the rice grain. It is an excellent ingredient for cosmetics, and hair and skin care products due to it's high concentration of fatty acids including vitamin E. Fatty acids can nourish hair and scalp, and may help with hair growth, thickness, and shine. They also help prevent dandruff, breakage, and dryness, and reduce hair loss by counteracting inflammation.

I purchase this oil and most of my ingredients from a local supplier here in Portland, Oregon. It is kosher, non-GMO, and never tested on animals.

As always, I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my passion with others and for the continued support of my wonderful customers. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer!