Bathe with Your Favorite Holiday Beverage?

We've all encounter sweet, smelling soaps that smell exactly like our favorite foods. Very rarely do we come across something that smells like a beverage (except for Brambleberry's Champagne fragrance oil. Talk about sniffing something that ACTUALLY smells fizzy).

In celebration of this holiday season (for me it starts on December 1st), I went on the hunt for holiday-esque soaps. Upon my search, I came across two soaps that fit the bill, Eggnog and Absinthe. While Absinthe isn't exactly a traditional holiday drink, I couldn't resists the whimsical green coloring (and who says you CAN'T drink it at Christmas time?) These soaps come in delightful little tins that you can use long after your soap has gone down the drain. Pictures were taken from Perpetualkid.com.

Christmas is near!

The first sign of cold, I mean really cold, weather seems to alert my senses that Christmas is near. On an impulse, and despite my better judgment, I purchased a Gingerbread latté. Although it wasn't nearly as good as Pumpkin Spice, I still drank it, indulging in the spicy liquid grittiness that reminds me of Christmas in the city.
After a long hiatus, I feel energized and ready to roll.

Here is some soap porn for your viewing pleasure.

Images from soapylove.com

I'm am just in soapy-awe on how perfect these soap pops are. They are the very epitome of winter and makes the perfect stocking-stuffer. Debbie, from soapylove, also has some other really unique looking pops that are executed beautifully and flawlessly. My favorite? Clearly Lovely, which has a yummy, not overly sweet, raspberry scent. Check them out here.

image from SoStinkingSweet's etsy store

A beautiful blend of peppermint, strawberries with a hint of vanilla, this beautiful candy block produces fluffy fragrant bubbles, making this soap a real treat (without the calories of course)! Check it out here.

image from ElegantRoseBoutique's etsy store

These bath bombs clearly remind me of the first snow in December, when it was still soft enough to make into fluffy snow balls. A relaxing combination of lavender, orange and a hint of patchouli, these bombs are the relaxation you need after a wintery snow fight. Check them out here.

M.I.A.

I have to start off by apologizing to all of my readers for my long absence. It has been a very busy two months and I'm not sure where to really start off.

Firstly, my cat and companion of 14 years, Gato, got really sick. After a long surgery, they removed a cyst the size of a baseball from his belly.


After the whole cat fiasco, I finally got to go on my long-awaited trip to Puerto Rico. Which was warm, relaxing and lovely.



THEN, as soon as we come back, my live-in boyfriend gets laid off! So, like most people now-a--days we are struggling with the finances. If things couldn't get worse, my cat became sick again. After another vet visit (grand total to date on cat: $3,200.00), the vet's exact words were "I don't want to use the word terminal, but..." Yup, I was a weepy mess. My heart and my piggy bank were broken.

And lastly, last week (Oct 29th) was my birthday and people are still taking me out for birthday dinners!!

So, after all of this, I am back and ready to roll.

An Early Celebration!

Fall is my absolute FAVORITE time of the year. I love how the fresh cool breeze greets me as I walk out of the house, or how the air is faintly scented with the smell of spices and freshly sharpened No. 2 penvils. I love how I get to cuddle myself in cozy sweaters and then of course there is my birthday (Oct 29th), followed by my favorite holiday, Halloween!!!
There is so much to look forward to, I'm especially excited about going apple picking this year. I just love walking in between the groves, chatting with friends and eating apples right off the tree. Ah, bliss! There is something just comforting and wonderfully rejuvenating about this time of the year.
Technically it's not Fall till the end of the month, but this lovely weather has inspired me to greet it a little early. Here's some eye candy to get you in the mood as well!

Photograph from Anniepoo's etsy store

I ordered these soaps from Anniepoo's shop while I was doing my research. They are truly adorable and I can totally see them in a little basket in my bathroom. These soaps come in a set of three, are 3.5 ounces each and are scented with Pumpkin Spice (yippie!). I'm so excited, can't hardly wait to get them. You can purchase your own set here at Anniepoo's esty store. They maybe sold out right now (I snagged the last one), but etsy owners tend to restock their shops rather quickly-- so keep an eye out for it!

Picture from Smileyme520's Etsy Store

Fall is the perfect time for Chai tea. I tend to make my own using a blend of fresh ginger, cardamom pods, cinnamon, black peppercorns, cloves and black tea. It's the perfect way to kick start the season and keeps you feeling really warm and snuggly (or is that just me?). This soap pictured here resembles a wonderfully frothy cup of warm chai tea. Check out their etsy store here.

Picture from Misspottery's Etsy' Store

And finally a little something different. I saw this soap dish and I just thought "Wow, the very essence of Fall". This hand made and hand-stamped treasure is beautifully rustic and the perfect accompanyment for Fall soaps. Check it out here.

Hot Stuff

Picture from Spicy As Hell etsy store

Okay, this is a little bit of a change of pace, but I am a foodie at heart and so I have to let the world know about this INCREDIBLE hot sauce I found on etsy called Spicy As Hell.
It's definitely hot and not for the novice. Made with habanero peppers and a bunch of other goodies, this sauce has a kick that builds with each bite. It's also tasty and savory, which leaves you craving for some more. I'm not exactly a hot sauce fanatic, but I do like a kick to my foods and this sauce definitely has me addicted (just the other day I added some to my mashed potatoes).
Check out this sauce here or go to www.spicyashell.etsy.com

Soap Cakes

Picture from Gioia's Soap Blog

Making soap in big batches is truly economical and a wonderful idea. My good soaping friend, Georgette, made these wonderful, custom-made soap cakes for a client of hers (see above). I think they are absolutely beautiful and totally shabby-chic. You can sell them by the loaf... errr cake or slice them up and sell them individually like Platypus Dreams (see below):

Pictures from Platypus Dreams blog

Both companies are truly unique in their soap making styles, and are great for some well-needed inspiration. Visit Georgette's blog here and also be sure to check out her cute little dog, Gioia. Visit Platypus Dreams' blog here.

Lotion Candle/ Ren Faire

Ren Faire Food Area

This weekend was the first time I ever went to the Renaissance Faire and I have to say I had a BLAST. So much, that it's Wednesday and I'm still talking about it. Moodlet +7days (for you Sim 3 players out there).
While I was there, I took wonderful snapshots of people's shops. There were swords, paintings, clothes (THE CLOTHES, totally dressing up next year as a bar wench!) and soaps. I wasn't too interested in the soaps (a little plain looking), but a charming little girl lead me away from the Armory Shoppe into a nearby little pastel green-colored house. There she dipped her hands into one of the lit candle display and started massaging my hands while fabulously describing the product to me. Before I knew what was going on, I realize this cute little munchkin was really pitching her product to me. I believe the ending went something like this "and because I am a kid, you are going to buy the bigger candle". Too cute. Very charming and I wish I had her sales expertise.


The candle/lotion is Ah-mazing! It's made with soy wax, shea butter, jojoba, aloe, coconut, avocado, olive, palm and essential oils. The scent I bought is called Angel Wings and it just smells devine, sweet vanilla-ey and something else I can't quite put my finger on. When it burns, it burns at a tempurature slightly higher than your body tempurates and it feels close to body butter. They also have a variety of scents like Sweet Pea, Coconut Lime and even Dragon's Blood.

They seem to have a little site, but it looks like it's down. You can purchase directly by contacting amandaglowacki@gmail.com or you can place an order by calling 678-416-8904.