The Joy of Soap

Shower Together with Two in the Shower Tea Tree Handmade Soap

Everyone who has taken a shower has an idea. It's the person gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes a difference. ~Nolan Bushnell

Several times over the past week I had conversations with many people about a recurring topic - people with an idea or ideas who do something with them, and people who have ideas who do nothing with them. Why do some people act on their ideas, and other people choose to just dream?   

There are numerous answers to this question: fear, not knowing how to move from idea to production, resources (human and financial), knowledge, lack of dedication, laziness, and simply being content with having an idea. 

 What works best for me in moving from idea to reality? I think best, vet ideas and piece together action plans when cleaning or gardening. I won't go into detail about why this works for me (if you really want to know just ask), and I am curious about what works for other people. My husband has always worked through ideas and projects while showering so after last week I decided that perhaps I could partner my love of cleaning with showering, commingling my best thinking process (cleaning) with my husband's best thinking process (showering). ... 

What better soap to use than Two in the Shower Tea Tree. This vegan handmade soap begins with a base of organic oils and uses therapeutic grade lavender and tea tree essential oils. Lavender essential oil is soothing and healing, and is also known to relieve tension. Tea tree essential oil also provides healing and anti-bacterial properties. The added green tea powder provides a fun design to the soap while bringing anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties as well. Good clean fun.

 

Enjoy and remember,

Pamper Your Skin

Indulge Your Senses

Tell us what inspires you to dream.

 

Whimsical Wednesdays

There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva. ~Josh Groban

Here at The Joy of Soap we are always looking for ways to recycle and reuse products and packaging and love this folding soap dish handmade from recycled chopsticks:

You can find this handmade dish at Uncommon Goods. The artist  lived in China for several years and decided to do something about the huge numbers of wooden chopsticks that are thrown away. Before becoming soap dishes, the chopsticks are boiled in black tea to give them a medium brown color. 

Photos of your favorite funky bath and beauty items are welcome. Please share them with us at joyofsoap@gmail.com

Pamper your skin   Indulge your senses

   
 

Feeling Frisky Handmade Soap

All women are flirts, but some are restrained by shyness, and others by sense. ~Anonymous

The first soap we created at The Joy of Soap, and our most popular, is Feeling Frisky. The most common words used to describe this soap are 'fresh scent', 'mild', 'refreshing' and 'soothing'.
We agree.

The combination of citrus essential oils is pleasing, light and mildly stimulating. No overpowering scents with this soap.

The calendula flowers petals provide some color and a gentle, soothing exfoliant.  

 


*We only use therapeutic grade essential oils

Pamper your skin   Indulge your senses

 

Whimsical Wednesdays

There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva. ~Josh Groban

I love vintage home goods, and found this adorable soap dish by PrairieCoastArt on Etsy:

I just love the floral design and handmade look. 

Photos of your favorite funky bath and beauty items are welcome. Please share them with us at joyofsoap@gmail.com Pamper your skin   Indulge your senses

Manly Man Soap

Life is too short to be little. Man is never so manly as when he feels deeply, acts boldly, and expresses himself with frankness and with fervor. ~Benjamin Disraeli

When many men find out that I make soap they look at me funny, and try to think of something to reply besides "oh" or "huh, interesting". I am used to this response so now I make sure to provide them with a sample so they can try handmade soap and experience for themselves just how much better it is than commercially made soaps.

Manly Man was made specifically with our male customers in mind. It has a very mild 'clean' scent, and the added finely ground pumice provides mild exfoliation. The sweet orange essential oil adds a faint citrus scent along with anti-bacterial properties, and the tea tree essential oil adds an additional anti-bacterial property to this handmade soap.

And, yes ladies, this soap is gentle enough for
you too.


*All of our soaps are made using therapeutic grade essential oils

Pamper your skin   Indulge your senses

Whimsical Wednesdays

There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva. ~Josh Groban

I love this idea for a soap dish. It's nice to look at and self-draining which is important to help your handmade soaps last longer.   If you're handy directions for making this can be found here: http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/funky-soap-dish/pictures/index.html Photos of your favorite funky bath and beauty items are welcome. Please share them with us at joyofsoap@gmail.com Pamper your skin   Indulge your senses

Elizabeth's Wild Hair Shaving Soap

Anyone's life truly lived consists of work, sunshine, exercise, soap, plenty of fresh air, and a happy contented spirit.~Lillie Langrty

With the warm weather and sunshine I will have to consider shaving my legs more than once a week now.      ....sigh....
It's funny, when I lived in New York City I would shave my legs regularly without fail because I used to wear skirts all the time whether it was warm or freezing cold outside. In the winter I couldn't stand the sight or feel of stubble poking through my tights, and in the summer, well, you know.... I am not a fan of hairy legs. You may be, and that's good for you, but not so much for me.

So, when I do shave I use Elizabeth's Wild Hair Shaving Soap.

This handmade soap is made with our signature blend of organic base oils (olive, palm and coconut) with castor oil to help bring out the lather, and therapeutic grade peppermint essential oil.

What makes it special is the use of pumice and willow bark powder. The pumice helps exfoliate and lift the hairs, and the willow bark powder is a great astringent and anti-microbial ingredient.

A little clay is also added and is not only a gentle exfoliant, it helps to provide a silky and creamy feel to the soap.

If you're wondering who Elizabeth is well, wonder no more. She is my extremely knowledgeable and helpful acupuncturist, and you can visit her website to find out more about her and her business, Dancing Grass Medicine.

Elizabeth mentioned one day that she had an idea for a shaving soap, and we took her ideas and ingredient suggestions and developed this great soap.
 
My husband uses it every day to shave his face, and will even take it when traveling.  Thank you Elizabeth!

Pamper your skin   Indulge your senses

   
 

Romantic Rose Petal Bath

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul ~Judy Garland

I realize that I am late for Valentine's Day planning at this point - very late indeed. It's the thought that counts, right? I have been meaning to plan something special for Valentine's Day, and truthfully you can try this idea at any time and for any occasion.

 

Picture yourself and your loved one soaking in a warm bath surrounded by rose petals, perhaps sipping champagne and enjoying a few quiet moments together.... nice.

To prepare your rose petal bath you will need a dozen roses.
Remove the inner petals from 2-4 roses and boil in a small pot of water (keep covered) for 10-15 minutes.
Cool and strain the petal water.
Prepare the bath, set out towels and light a few small candles.
Remove the remaining rose petals and set next to the bath.
Pour the petal water into the bath.
Add bath oil (if desired).
Enter the bath and relax.
Scatter the rose petals around you in the bath.

.... Enjoy ....

Of course, if you can, you may substitute true rose water for the boiled rose petal water although you will still want the effect of the rose petals in the bath.

Reminder: Sharing the love for February and Valentine's day with 15% off all products in our online store through the end of February! Use Coupon Code: 1265062197 in the checkout screen.

Herbal Remedy: Soothing Sore Throat Ginger Tea

A good listener is not someone with nothing to say. A good listener is a good talker with a sore throat ~ Katherine Whitehorn

Thankfully I have managed to escape the flu this season, and I hope I haven't just jinxed myself  by putting this in writing - yikes! I have, however, been struggling with a cough and nasty sore throat for a few weeks now. When you tell people you are not feeling well and share your symptoms most folks are quick to tell you their favorite remedy for what is ailing you. Usually I listen to what they say because I like to think that I have an open mind when it comes to experimenting with cures whether they be pharmaceutical or natural. Plus I am willing to try almost anything to feel better.

Ginger is one of my favorite natural remedies and treatments when I have a sore throat and a stomach ache, and ginger has a long history of use as a medicinal and a culinary herb. Ginger was such a precious commodity that the Romans started taxing it around AD200, and around this time Ginger began to be used in Chinese herbal medicine. Ginger has a warm, spicy scent that I personally love, and ginger blends well with many other spices. Aromatherapists use ginger to help with digestive complaints, poor circulation and painful joints and muscles. 

Fresh ginger is often used in southeast Asian and Chinese cooking while dried ginger can be found as an ingredient in chutneys and curry powders and pastes. In non-Western medicinal practices both fresh and dried ginger is used for different purposes. An extract from ginger root contains protein, minerals, Vitamin A, and niacin and also has mild analgesic and antibacterial properties. You can find ginger in natural beauty products, including our Ginger Snap! handmade soap, as well as creams and hair conditioners as ginger is useful in promoting circulation.

As a treatment for my sore throat several friends and colleagues have suggested that I brew some ginger tea, and I will usually make a big pot of tea to last throughout the day. Accompanied by rest, reading in bed and snuggling with the cats this tea always brings me back to good health.

Ginger Tea
Ingredients
Fresh ginger root
Fresh lemon (if desired)
Honey (if light sweetness is desired)

Start boiling water
Cut off a few inches of fresh ginger and peel the skin 
Cut ginger into small chunks, and place into the bottom of a teapot or mug
Pour boiling water over the ginger and steep for 4-6 minutes

Pour into mug, and add fresh squeezed lemon and honey to taste

Enjoy!

What are some of your natural remedies?

NOTE: If suffering from gallstones, or if pregnant or nursing, consult a health care professional before taking large amounts of Ginger.