Apple Pie - A fall favorite!

The photo doesn't do it justice, I should have taken a photo of one slice so you could see the yummy inside, but alas...it's gone! From Betty Crocker's New Cookbook:

2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
dash of salt
8 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (about 8 medium)

Heat oven to 425 degrees F.
Mix sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in apples. Turn into pastry lined pie plate.

Sprinkle apple mixture with Crumb Topping: Mix 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar and 1/2 cup firm stick butter until crumbly. Cover topping with aluminum foil during last 10 mins of baking to prevent excessive browning. Bake 50 mins. Enjoy!

Re-Use Challenge

My friend and I decided to challenge ourselves to make cute gift containers by re-using stuff we already had around the house. I started with an empty oatmeal container. Using paper and supplies from her super fabulous paper and craftiness supply store: http://www.pollyspaper.com I turned it into a very festive gift box. What do you think? Are you up to the challenge?

Happy Thanksgiving And a Sale!

To celebrate the season, I'm having a special Buy One get One Half Off Sale this weekend! Friday, November 26 through Monday, November 29 (Black Friday through Cyber Monday) each item in my Etsy shop is Buy One get One Half Off (with the exception of Gift Sets). I will promptly refund through Paypal your lesser priced item(s). Happy Thanksgiving! http://soaprehab.etsy.com

New Holiday Soaps are ready!

I have a few new additions to my Etsy store especially for the holidays:

~Gilded Sugar Cookie smells like freshly baked sugar cookies with vanilla buttercream frosting. I topped each bar with a light dusting of golden mica for a festive shimmer. It's yummy!

~Peppermint Stick was made with pure peppermint essential oil for a crisp, clean, refreshing mint. Smells like cheerful candy canes and peppermint sticks and it's perfect for gloomy mornings or too much holiday shopping.

~O Christmas Tree soap is an exclusive blend that my husband helped me mix together (so he'd have something in the shower for HIM he said). It's a fresh, crisp green mix of real blue spruce, cedar, and fir essential oils warmed up with just a hint of woodsy sandalwood. Smells just like a forest of evergreen trees. Even though he helped design the blend, it's a wonderful green unisex scent.

http://soaprehab.etsy.com

Frugal Life Project: DIY: Metallic Pumpkins!

These are fantastic!!

Frugal Life Project: DIY: Metallic Pumpkins!

DIY: Metallic Pumpkins!
Cheap, dollar store pumpkins...


transformed into stylish, metallic pumpkins!

What do you get when when you take cheap, orange pumpkins and give them a fresh coat of paint? You get fun, stylish and totally cool fall decor! I got various pumpkin shapes from the Dollar Tree and sprayed them with metallic silver paint (around $2 at Walmart). They end up looking like something you'd buy at Pottery Barn - very modern and chic!

Season's Greetings

Soap Rehab will be closed from December 24-December 29. Wishing you all peace and hope during this holiday season. And lots of pie.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Feliz Navidad Soap Bar

New, limited edition holiday soap~ Feliz Navidad is a festive blend of crisp fir trees, citrus-y fruit punch, and sparkling cider. The greens and fruits are based around the Mexican celebration of the holiday: revoltijo de romeritos (wild greens), Ensalada de noche Buena (Christmas Fruit Salad with lots of oranges), Ponche (a hot fruit punch), sidra (sparkling cider) and Flor de Noche Buena (Christmas Eve Flower). All the warm, cozy smells of the season wrapped up in a cute soap!

Independence Day

Happy July 4th! I recently re-read the Declaration of Independence and found it so inspiring. Well thought out, clearly stated, and so impassioned yet uplifting. Here is an excerpt, but you can read the entire document and brush up on our Nation's infancy here: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Have a Happy and Safe Holiday!

Valentine's Gift Set Trio--Champagne and Chocolate

I just listed a new gift set for Valentine's Day! This set, themed Champagne and Chocolate, contains a Tiny Bubbles soap bar (champagne scented), a Tiny Bubbles Bath Soak (champagne scented fizzy bath salts), and a Chocoholic Body Balm (heart-shaped lotion bar, smells like chocolate truffles). These 3 products all come in a Chinese take-out box covered in candy hearts. What do you think of the new gift set? See more details at http://soaprehab.etsy.com.

What I got for Christmas part 2

Here's another gift I received for Christmas that I wanted to share: Rub a Dub Dub Soap Bar Earrings from CuteAbility. They are adorable, comfortable to wear all day, and have the added benefit of inquiring minds asking why I'm wearing soap bars on my ears. And I do like people asking about soap! :) They're also fun, adding a nice funky style to my everyday wear. I love unique jewelry pieces like this...makes jewelry a conversation piece. Check out the other fun jewelry from CuteAbility here: http://CuteAbility.etsy.com.

Happy Holidays from Soap Rehab!

Happy Holidays to all! May your season be merry and bright and filled with love and joy.

Favorite Holiday Songs

I saw an article recently with a list of the holiday songs the author was already tired of hearing. So, I thought I'd write instead about 5 of my favorite holiday songs!! We listen to a lot of Christmas songs this time of year. With the local radio station that plays them 24-7 and my husband's sincere love of music, we have plenty to get us in the mood of the season. Not feeling too cheery and bright and glistening with Holiday Spirit? Try these:

1. Sleigh Ride--cheery and fun!
2. White Christmas--mellow and thankful.
3. Silver Bells--Elvis Presley version. Classic Elvis. dreamy.
4. Christmastime is Here--easy on the ears, never gets old
5. Baby it's Cold Outside--with Dean Martin. sweet, fun, nice to sing along to

What's your favorite holiday song?

Shake Your Bon Bons Candy Giveaway!

Shake your Bon Bons is giving away some amazing treats this month!! Unique bon bon flavors, mouthwatering fudge, creamy butter creams, chocolate pretzels, and so much more.

From their blog: Visit the Candy & Baked Goods page of my website, pick out your favorite candy, and leave a comment on this blog letting me know your choice. One lucky reader will get the candy of their choice delivered in time to share with family & friends for the holiday. Or you can be like me, hide it under your pillow and hoard it like a squirrel! Winner will be announced on Friday December 19th. Good luck and Happy Chocolatey Holidays!

It's easy to enter, and there are several ways to get more entries, so check it out: go to http://www.shakeyourbonbons.com click on "Some Sweet Musings" on the right hand side, and scroll down to Tis the Season to be Giving.

New Stocking Gift Sets Available!

Check out Soap Rehab's new Gift Sets! Set includes: one full size Soap Bar, one 4 oz. Body Butter, and one 4 oz. Bath Soak all wrapped up in a very festive red stocking.

These gift sets are available in a variety of scents. If you would like a different combination of products, I'll be happy to do a custom listing just for you! http://soaprehab.etsy.com

Start De-Stressing Now?

Since we love to make a big fuss over the winter holidays here in the USA, it can sometimes lead to a bit of stress as well. Getting the right gifts for all the right people, party planning, meal planning, fixing up the house for guests, sometimes overnight guests (all the towels clean?), and so on and so on for almost a good solid 2 months. Add in a kid or so, other people's children, in-laws, spouses, ex-spouses, friends, and it can get pretty crazy. So I turn to some good ol' yoga to give me an opportunity to breathe, get centered, focus inward for just a few minutes, and reduce the freaking out. Sometimes I only get 15 minutes in, but it really helps. I have found a website that has been helpful in my stress relief program that I thought I would share, to try to help bring sanity and peace to anyone who might be interested in this method...www.yogatoday.com. Free yoga classes online, a new one each day. They are an hour long, but you can do as much or as little as you can fit in. A variety of classes are on the website so you can choose your focus or level. Of course, you should always check with your doctor first before beginning any physical activity. It's not quite the same as connecting with people in person, and getting one on one attention, but it's great to do when you can't leave the house, or are pinched for time. Relax and say "om". :)

How To Make it a Handmade Holiday

I have decided to buy handmade as much as possible this year for holiday gifts. So, friends and family, I can tell you right now your gifts will be unique, unusual, and handmade. In case you'd like to join me in this commitment to support small business, I have gathered a few sites that feature handmade items for your shopping enjoyment.

www.etsy.com -- I believe this is the largest site of its kind; many sellers offering a large variety of different items to choose from. Jewelry, bath and body, vintage, food, garden, art, cards, knitting, and much more.

www.shophandmade.com -- A newcomer, still in beta, but building a good steady base of sellers. Some vintage, candles, cards, bath and body, jewelry, handbags, quilts, etc.

www.1000markets.com -- Another newer site, building fast. It's a clean, nicely laid out site, but I'm still learning how to navigate it. I've seen some nice pottery, jewelry, clothes, art, and some unusual gift ideas.

http://en.dawanda.com -- Unusual name. Laid out in a way that feels very familiar. If you're a regular etsy buyer, I think you'll find this easy to navigate. Easy to search. Jewelry, art, clothing, bags, etc. Mostly European sellers, so check exchange rates, shipping, etc.

www.ebay.com -- There are plenty of sellers on eBay offering up their handmade wares. Check it out, sometimes good deals to be had.

www.craigslist.com -- Another site not usually thought of for handmade goods, but you'll sometimes find people selling their crafts here.

www.bigcartel.com -- A place for smaller shops...has 100 item limit. Makes browsing through shops easier. Find unusual music, art, clothing--not your grandma's craft store.

www.cafepress.com -- Here you can find original art made into T-shirts, mouse pads, bags, buttons, cards, etc.

www.indiecollective.net -- A collective of indie businesses listing links to their websites and a description of their wares. Some links are to sites at stores mentioned above, some are individual sites. All are indie-fab.

Happy Shopping!

Snow Covered Pine Cones Tutorial

Using white candle wax, break up into smaller chunks. Melt the wax in a double boiler or use an empty clean coffee or large veggie can in a pot of boiling water on the stove. Use extreme caution as the wax is flammable. Make sure you have enough wax that the pine cones can be fully immersed. After the wax is melted, you can use candle coloring to make colored pine cones if you'd like (red or green perhaps) or leave it white for the snow covered look. This is also when you can add essential oils or candle safe fragrances. Maybe a holiday inspired scent...peppermint, cinnamon, orange spice, or maybe a bakery scent like pumpkin pie. I think peppermint would be nice with the white, but there are lots of options out there for your favorite scent. Lower the heat. Using tongs, dip the pine cone into the wax. Hold over the pot and let the wax harden slightly. Re-dip until you get the amount of "snow" you'd like. On wax paper, sprinkle some white or iridescent glitter (to keep up the snow theme) and roll the pine cone in the glitter, or sprinkle the glitter over the top while the wax is still warm. You could get creative with the glitter, maybe use silver or gold, or any color you like! Leave the pine cones on wax paper until completely cool and hardened. These look nice in a bowl, basket or a pretty vase and would make a nice holiday gift.