Grandkids, Getaways, and Growing the Shop

This year is already flying by, and it's been filled with more than just work! March brought a magical first for me: a yoga retreat in Nicaragua, which was also my first time visiting the country. Then in April, I spent time in Connecticut helping out with my granddaughter while my son and daughter-in-law got their house ready to sell. I'm so looking forward to having them back on the west coast this summer!

Alongside these personal adventures, I've also been busy with my shop. You might recall that I introduced new scent varieties for my Coconut Oil Free Shampoo bar in February, and it's been such a hit that I've added another scent, Lemongrass Ginger! It joins my other lovely options: Unscented, Basil Cedar, and Lavender Orange.

There are also some beautiful new square handmade ceramic dishes in the shop, courtesy of my talented ceramist friend. These are perfect for the square solid dish soaps or any of my square soap bars.

On the subject of square soaps, I heard the call for a lemongrass body soap and got right to work! You'll now find a Lemon Sugar soap in my Etsy shop. Sugar is a wonderful addition to soap, boosting lather, acting as a humectant, and helping to create a longer-lasting bar.

Not all changes involve new products, though. I regularly review my offerings to see what isn't performing well or is challenging to ship. Earlier this year, I made the decision to discontinue the bath salts and shower steamers. I'm also planning to discontinue the large rectangle shaped solid dish bars once they sell out.

Your continued support of my small business is deeply appreciated – it truly means everything. Like many others, I'm keeping a close eye on potential tariff impacts on my ingredient availability and costs. It's hard to say what the coming weeks will bring in terms of pricing. If anything in the shop has caught your eye, now might be a good time to treat yourself! I'll be sure to keep you updated as things evolve.

New Year Updates and Two New Products

Life took an unexpected turn at the end of last year. Just before Christmas, I lost my mom. While her passing wasn't a surprise, the grief is profound. For the past five years, she's been a constant presence in my life. Those of you caring for elderly parents understand the constant worry, the endless to-do lists, and the ever-present awareness of their needs. Even when I wasn't directly caring for her, she was always on my mind. I still instinctively reach for my phone, half-expecting a call about a pharmacy run or a fall. I know these feelings will fade in time, replaced by cherished memories of the vibrant woman she was.

Sharing this feels important, but I also wanted to share some exciting shop updates. Since the Coconut Oil Free Shampoo bar has been so popular, I've added two new scents: the earthy Basil Cedarwood and the refreshing Lavender Orange, both available now on my website and Etsy shop.

My ceramist has also been busy creating beautiful new bowls designed specifically for my 3" round solid dish bars. These bowls feature a raised, patterned center, similar to my handmade plates, to keep the bars dry. They offer a lovely alternative to the plates and are available in several colors on Etsy.

Like many small businesses, I'm facing rising ingredient and shipping costs. I've absorbed these increases for the past year and will continue to do so as long as possible. I recently restocked my supplies, so I anticipate holding prices steady for the next month or two, at which point I'll reassess. Please note, I always offer slightly lower prices on my website.

Finally, a couple of travel notes: I'll be taking a short break from February 28th to March 8th for a yoga retreat in Nicaragua, and then visiting my granddaughter on the East Coast from April 5th to 14th. My shops will remain open during these times, and I've arranged for help with shipping. I'm also busy stocking up on products to minimize any potential sell-outs.

Happy New Year! A little belated, but I wanted to personally thank you for being a part of the Lora's Beauty community. Your support means the world to me.