Bath House Soaps

It’s been some what of a long week. Flying to the west coast and then back, can take alot out of you… Not to mention the toll the three hour time difference can take. Layovers are for the birds and conference rooms just leave you longing for fresh air and natural light.

When you are visiting a place like Disneyland it makes all those other things worth it. There is just something about the cast members, the resort properties and the parks that just make you happy. The attention to detail, even on an “economy” resort property like Paradise Pier, washes away that conference feel. Even the toiletries in the bathroom made the extra effort to make you feel relaxed.. Yes the little hotel soaps and shampoos.

Now, as you well know, I am a little biased when it comes to soaps. It makes me sad to leave my favorite bars in the shower at home when I travel. NOT many hotel properties offer a quality product when it comes to your basic toiletries. The shampoo is a crazy unisex scent or the lotion is sticky feeling and the bath soap or shower gel just dry out your skin. No worries about Disney my friends, they make sure they have your skin feeling good too.. From spa like shampoo and neatly packaged hand soap to soothing body butter and body soap with messaging nubs.

Your probably wondering what my deal is with such a detail that really doesn’t make or break a trip… Well having worked at Disney World for a semester of college, you really pay attention to things like that. Especially in the land were mickey was born (by the way… I was totally disappointed with how small sleeping beautys castle is… She has to be so jealous of cinderella)… I think the attention to detail found in the Disney culture can’t be found in many products these days.
One thing I know for sure is the Mickey shaped glycerin soap at the parks isn’t as cool as what the price wants you to believe.. Nine dollars? I may love Mickey but really… I think I would rather spend it on two bars of some hand made Bath House Soap.

Until next time… Or maybe the next flight,(since I have a layover for an hour)

Blog.  That’s a funny word. It actually comes from “shortening” Web Log. 

The terms we use are funny for the internet and Social media. Like, when you post something on Twitter, it’s a Tweet. (Not a Tweeter, or a Twitt…my dad has said some pretty funny ones actually).  Who comes up with this stuff and decides that’s what it’s going to be called, really?  How did the pound sign on a telephone become a “hash mark” in social media.  AND if you can believe this…the company I work for just joined the Social Media “ world” and hired someone to make sure the company has a social media presence.  Yes, that is what she does pretty much 24-7.  She’s checking Facebook, Twitter, tumblr, blogs; you name it, she’s on it. Posting, Tweeting, Blogging, reading, tumbling, emailing… AND SHE GETS PAID TO DO THAT.  I want to play on the computer all day and get paid. (Wait I do, don’t I…just in a different kind of play.  But you understand what I’m saying.)

Back to the blog. I was looking at other soap blogs to see what is going on in the world of soap. I have to say, there is some fun stuff out there. I learned there are all kinds of way to make soap,  (In my objective opinion, I don’t believe the other ways result in such a great product as Bath House soaps. Many are pretty cool, but many are missing that personal touch the soap lady gives to each and every bar) a million things you can put in soap, and you can make your soap in pretty much any shape. I’m starting to compile some blogs I like to check into.

Do you have one?  Let me know.   I find, right now, my favorite blogs aren’t really related to any certain topic, just more of the happenings in people’s lives (when it involves young children they are pretty funny), or the things that go through the blog writers mind.  Maybe this is really the first blog you follow…that’s pretty cool, I’m honored.  If not, I always love to hear your thoughts.  Feel free to leave comments, tell your friends, repost on your facebook wall or even TWEET about it  J.

Until next time…

I love spring cleaning.  Well I don’t like the cleaning part really…just how you feel when your all done.  Clean (I hope), accomplished, and ready to relax.   Making those check marks on the “Honey Do” list is probably my husbands favorite.

Last weekend I tackled the bedrooms. I was attempting to get that fresh air smell mixed with clean smell in the rooms (Kind of like…. Ocean Mist…sort of) I only accomplished that in the bathroom because I had a bar of it in there…but the rest of the rooms just smelled clean.  So, any way the reason why I’m telling you this is, in the midst of cleaning I found my Oatmeal Milk and Honey Lotion!  Boy, did I miss it! 

Now, I know that’s not really what you would call a spring fragrance (it’s actually part of the gourmand fragrance family…yes we learned that last time.  You my friend, are very observant.) So people might call it a fall or winter fragrance, I call it a year round scent because I’m pretty sure I could wear it whenever. 

Have you ever noticed how you like fragrances during certain times a year?  Yep, blame those cleaver marketing people who have figured out that certain fragrances bring back memories.  Okay, well it’s not always that simple.  Floral scents change with the seasons because of those flowers that are in abundance that time of year.  I’m sure you can figure out the as to what works best in what season and why. I bet you will be attentive to the scents you are into right now for the next couple days (Your Welcome).  Hopefully you don’t have allergies and can enjoy them?

Looking for a certain fragrance to enjoy this weekend?  Come visit Bath House Soaps at The Spring Crafters Showcase on April 21st at Tam O Shanter from 10-4.  If you havent already you can ogle over that Cucumber Wasabi Cilantro soap I’ve been talking about.  Seeing it in person of course is the only way to really appreciate the Soap Lady’s talent!

Until next time!

Welcoming to Soap 101.  This is a very hands on class with little class room time and lots of Lab time.  No text-book is needed for this class, just you!

Todays subject is Glycerin soap.  What exactly is glycerin?

According to Wikipedia it is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations.   Glycerol (aka glycerin) has three hydroxyl groups that are responsible for its solubility in water and its hygroscopic nature. The glycerol backbone is central to all lipids known as triglycerides. Glycerol is sweet-tasting and of low toxicity.

Now, let’s think about this. If you pull out your makeups, your shaving gels and creams, your lotions or really anything you put on your skin, you are going to find this substance in some form or another in them.  Then you look at things like tooth paste, shampoos, liquid medicines, even a lot of the foods we eat its in there in some form.  It’s a safe product that helps preserve the moisture is some products. 

If you recall back in grade school, we made snow globes in baby jars with this stuff.

You’ll even find that many dermatologists recommend using glycerin soaps especially to those with sensitive skin.

This versatile, low acidic substance is also a product of the soap making process.  Most of the Soaps you buy at the grocery store are missing glycerin.  Why?  Well, most of the soap you find on the shelves is produced with many detergents and chemical that help the product to have a longer shelf life.  They also dry out your skin.  Which in turn means you will have to buy lotion (made from the glycerin they should have left in the soap) just to get relief.  It a crazy vicious cycle.

Anyway, in short, glycerin is the good stuff your skin wants.  It helps it stay moisturized naturally (no chemicals or detergents). 

I could tell you why you should use Glycerin soap, but I think you have figured it out by now…but if not check out what the Soap Lady says here.

What questions do you have about glycerin and glycerin soaps?   Leave me a comment, we will answer in our next class.

Looking for the newest in glycerin coolness?  Check out the Cucumber Wasabi Cilantro  the design is nothing you have seen in a Bath House Soap before or any soap for that matter and it like nothing you smelled before too!

Next class: Goats Milk…

Class Dismissed.

My daughter (Addison aka Addi) and I stopped over to check out the soap kitchen last night.  Things are really coming along.  Three of the counters are finished and in place, the walls are painted and the sub floor is in. The refrigerator arrived yesterday, as well.

While I was checking out the progress, Addi was helping out with soap packaging:

Maybe she is the next apprentice?  We will see.  I think we will put her soap knowledge to the test this weekend at the show.  Looking for something to do this weekend…come test her! 

 ”Spring Festival of Crafts 2012″ 

So, the Soap Lady, and the Soap Boy…they have been married forever.  They have a pretty cool bunch of kids (well, 3 to be exact, but all of our friends tend to be their kids too).  There is myself, the “favorite OLDEST” daughter, Linsee, the “Middle Child” (who most of the time lives up to the title) and then my “Baby Brother”, Kyle.  Kyle isn’t really a baby anymore, but he will always be my “baby Brother”.

We all like to come in the kitchen and see what mom is whipping up in her soap molds.  Or sneak into the soap inventory, just to grab a wonderful whiff of our favorite scent.  We all have our role in Bath House soaps as well.  Kyle is the packaging, shipping and receiving department during the busy season.  I also see him as an aspiring soap apprentice.  Linsee is the entertainment department.  Which includes dancing at trade shows with a bubble machine (her best show is at the Apple Butter fest on Main street, be sure to visit in October, it’s always a good time.)

Then there is me.  I like to give my creative advice (even though Mom doesn’t really need it) for a while I was the international sales rep. I havent sold the soap outside of the US but it sounds pretty official. I also put my Marketing sense into everything.  I wouldn’t call myself the Marketing department yet, but maybe some day.  Baby steps. Let’s start with this blog. WARNING: I was not an English major by any means.  I sure can talk, though.

I’m excited to share all the “soapy” and interesting things in the world of Bath House Soaps.  There could be a few family stories to appear and I always love to talk about the things people say about the products.  If you have questions about anything, like whats the stuff in the soap? (No, it’s not candy.  DON’T EAT IT!) Feel free to leave a comment.  And if it’s a really good post, share it with your friends, they deserve to be as cool as you!

Check back often.  I promise some education, entertainment and just good reading.

Until next time,

Brittinee (Favorite OLDEST daughter, favorite oldest sister and someday Bath House Soaps Marketing department)

There’s one week left to pickup Januarys scent of the month, Sandalwood w/ Goat Milk for $3.95 http://www.bathhousesoaps.com/Sandalwood-Handmade-Glycerin-Soap-Goat-Milk-p/25-0013.htm