Soap Bar Contest Winner!

Winning from the Soap Bar blog!

Joanna from The Soap Bar blog, and owner of Product Body had a terrific giveaway- and I was the lucky winner! Being a soap maker this was a great win too!

My package included: 2 loaf molds, 3 Brambleberry fragrance oils i.e., Honey Ale, Raspberry Porter, and Pumpkin Lager--

AND two of Joanna's decadent perfumes oils: Sexy Laundry Day & Iniquity. Oh my-- I LOVE both- my fav is the Sexy Laundry Day--it's rich- almost sweet- clean- yet earthy. The Iniquity- dark chocolate, sandalwood and almonds!

Real "Suds to Love"...

Tower of Handmade Soaps from "Suds to Love"

Made with skin loving ingredients like: Cocoa butter,

shea butter,palm kernel oil, & castor oil...oh-la-la!

When Trisha from Suds to Love emailed me to ask if I'd try some of her soaps, I course I was excited to say, "Yes." I had been following her informative trials of soaps making & as a bonus watching her family grow from two adorable pups (Roscoe & Howie) to her newest pup precious little Ellie Mae. What I didn't expect was the GRAND package that arrived in my mail box. Before I even opened the mailbox door~ I knew the package arrived!

Pure fresh soap heaven all wrapped up, & what I thought would be 1 or 2 bars of soaps turned out to be 8 bars! Now I haven't "soaped" yet with the bars, but if they are anything like they look...

Wonderful handmade soaps...all mine!

Trisha-ya nailed several things...the packaging was simple, but ohhhh so adorable with mixed papers matching the scent in hand, the swirls, the fragrances & their names.

Names like: Honeysuckle, Black Pepper Lime, Sweet Mango Sorbet, Niagara Falls, Champagne Energy, White Truffle Raspberry, Washai Green Tea, & Iced Carrot Cake.

It was more than a delight to open this package, especially since a lot of these scents were new to me. A fav? It would be really really hard to say, but here's a glimpse of some of them: Honeysuckle~ right off the bat reminded me of my grandmother's honeysuckle bushes in Leominister, Mass., Niagara Falls~ darn can't nail that fresh scent, but I may use this one first, & Iced Carrot Cake- Trisha-don't change a thing on this one, it's perfect, White Truffle Raspberry- looks like thick fudge, smells like sweet candy! And I will admit I have never seen black soap, which was the Black Pepper Lime one~ and no I didn't sneeze & I can smell the hint of lime.

Well Trisha~ What an amazing package! I really was floored, and sooooo gracious of your generosity. Many many thanks!!!! And a big HUG to you!!!
Suds to Love shop opening???

Sunset under the willow...

Sunset under our willow...

Our carriage house was built nestled underneath...
This picture was taken tonite. It was twenty-two years ago in that very spot that my husband & I would park our car (okay station wagon with wood paneling) on our empty lot & be in aww... of the view~ dreaming of building our home. That view was perhaps what sold us on this lot. In those years alot has changed, but it's nice knowing somethings will never change...

The sunsets Under the Willow are still magnificant.

Happy Father's Day...Dad

Coach "Dad" & me...


Father's Day Story to my Dad...


When I was in high school I was part of a pom pon squad. I was captain both my junior & senior year. The first year NO one wanted the position & the second year I was elected.


My junior year we had competed in a pom pon competition and were horrified when we placed 13 out of 14. That night my dad took me aside and asked if I wanted a "winning" team the following year. I thought~ of course I did, but it hardly seemed likely... I wondered what my father had in mind...after all he was a West Point grad....and he said he would be our "coach."



First he set rules of practice: 1. NO practicing in dresses, 2. Sneakers or saddles shoes, 3. There would be warm ups (lots), 4. We would practice (DRILLED) everyday~ and that meant through our summer vacation, 5. We would have committees for everything, and IMPORTANTLY 6. We had to be DIFFERENT...he said this would set us apart from the rest...


Coaching...


We drilled & marched on our high school track what seemed like miles everyday...


So with the embarrassing defeat in mind, and my Dad's West Point determination we practiced, NO let me correct that ~we drilled, we actually started to work as a team, and we found what would make us DIFFERENT.

As you can see, NOT all practices were fun for me....

In the beginning we couldn't get our legs going in the same direction, same height...we looked terrible...


But finally we all started to "get it". Kicks the same height...(me on the front left)


Back in the 70's all pom-pon squads used pom poms to entertain~ marching, swirling the poms during all sport events... Then our "routine committee" came up with the DIFFERENT that is still being used today...We simply dropped our poms during the routine, and went into a high kick routine. This simple change was the DIFFERENT that made a difference...





Off to a competion...we were even drilled to stand, look, wear our hair...we learned to be a team. (Me on the right)


So with lots of hard practice, determination, change in attitude, updated uniforms, and a DAD that knew we could do it...We took the state by storm the following year~ winning every competition we set our foot on, and changing the look of pom-pon performing to this day.
Performing...
Our "story" was noted so much in our state, that we had a book published by Orlino Castro, titled RPH 30 (Robert Peary High School~ 30 girls), about this story of determination and becoming champions.



The book...


A page from the book. Practice does make perfect...



Our "story" was noted so much in our state, that we had a book published by Orlino Castro, titled RPH 30 (Robert Peary High School~ 30 girls), about this story of determination and becoming champions.




Dad proudly holding one of our winning trophies that year...




The last page of the book... It reads, "The toughest thing about success is that you've got to keep on being a success. Talent is only a starting point..."

Looking back how lucky was I to have a DAD so involved, so determined, a person who really believed that the impossible could be possible. I treasure those memories...thank you DAD.

Wedding Day Pictures...FINALLY!

Here comes the beautiful bride...She's ready but first...

Her Bridemaids start up the hill here and...
here...Dear friends forever from childhood & college...

The flower girls wait patiently with my sister before their descend...

Now it's their turn! They are instructed to run up the hill...They spread their wings as the "Fairy Dance" music from Peter Pan fills the air...

At six years old & three years old...this is soooo much fun!

Almost there! They would soon be bouncing in the castle moon bounce...

The Bride is glowing... She is escorted by her Granddaddy & Father...A gentle wind wisped her veil away... I wonder where it landed?? You'll see later (smile)...

Half-way up, her Stepdaddy took her the rest of the way with her Granddaddy...So special to have so much love surrounding her...

Finally the Bride & Groom together...with Reverend Richard, a childhood friend of my son...

I'll have to ask...what was said at this moment...

Exchanging of the rings...

Their "First Kiss"...

The Wedding Party...minus the cutie pie ring bearer...here

and here...

Oh there's the cutie pie ring bearer...nephew of the Bride... and hey~ now he has a "new" Uncle!

Now some fun pictures from the wedding...It really was the mood!

Taking a ride...

I think he's having fun!

Her too!

Yep, the Bride & Bridemaids all wore flip-flops...

So that's where the veil landed...Right on my youngest son's/best man head...Does that mean he's the next to get married? (BIG smile, wink, wink, wink)....

This picture almost made my cry...Behind them is our Willow tree that we planted little over twenty years ago...I could have never dreamed back then what had just taken place on our property...we are so blessed.

And Finally...

J & J ...Just married

May 24,2008

I love this picture too...

The night is still...

I am posting this the night after the wedding...just one picture of our front gazebo & a newly planted birch tree...some flowers still adorn the area of the ceremony...

Tonite it is quiet & peaceful ...Only a few frogs can be heard from our pond in the backyard...

The newly wed couple spent the night in our carriage house & have left to go home...Other family members have also left. Our newly married couple will take their well awaited honeymoon trip in the near future...

Life is good..

Picture Perfect....

The starting of 240 guests walking up our front lawn to be seated...

It was quite a site... I will never forget. My son (the groom) & myself watchful from our front living room window...we both needed some Kleenex...

Inside the tent...the chairs would come down after the ceremony...

On the tables were beautiful peonies that were fresh picked from a neighboring yard & wedding favors of handmade soaps...

Flip flop handmade soaps in chocolate & banana flavors &

Cambridge Rum was also a choice...

I am still waiting for pictures of the bride & groom to come in....BUT I was able to capture the bride's wedding gown...I will hold it for her until we see the new couple very soon...She was just stunning & I can't wait to share the photos with you...

Yes- the weather was good...NO it was beautiful, the day was beautiful & we have just added a new member to the family... We are blessed...

Wedding Countdown...10 days

Final (finally) ten day Wedding Day countdown...

Lots goin' on today....

My normally dedicated "Soap Kitchen" is filled with Wedding this...Wedding that...clean up/organizing begins tonite....What a mess!!! What's inside for the wedding???

Main house front door wreath made by a dear friend, Cindy....done.

Two carriage house door wreaths complete, again Cindy...done.

Fifty antique light blue and clear mason jars filled with sand, one tea light, with a tulle bow added for the tables...done. (Stole this idea from Pottery Barn 3 for 30.00)~ my parents had an antique business and gave me cases of these antique glass treasures (Yipee!)...

Rest of front porch cleaned, etc...except now my front side yard looks like a....

Yard Sale! I'm not surprised no one stopped by to "buy" something.... (smile)

An unexpected vistor came by and stayed with us on the porch...a frog~ perhaps a toad....

And in 10 days a large white tent will be placed, in our front yard, by that lonely tree you see in the middle... to celebrate the wedding that will take place on our front porch gazebo... Think~I hope the weather will be nice on the wedding day...

See you tomorrow...off the do some very needed cleaning...then take a soak with~ see here.