Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day to all of you. I hope you have someone sweet to spend it with. I have my sweetie Ron here, and we will also have dinner tonight with a few other sweeties....Baby Girl Ashley, Oldest Grandson Joe, and Sister-in-Law Nancy with her sweetie Ed.

It's More Than Saying I Love You

We give on this day candy and flowers, But we never stop to say
thank you for the many hours. You have stood by my side and gave a smile, As if
to tell our hearts it's been worth every mile. No need to buy a teddy bear or
even a card, It's pretty simple and not at all hard. Just put your arms around
me and hold me tight, And say without words that in your heart all is right. You
may say I Love You throughout the year, But on this day you need to make sure.
The words so sweet and straight from your heart, That your life would be lonely
without my part. So put forth the effort and take the time, Look me in the eye
and say I'm glad you're mine.

Marai

Soap Making Process

I love to do craft shows and festivals. So I have been looking for what shows are upcoming in my area than I could join. I don’t have a huge list of criteria, but price is #1…. I mean I can only sell so many bars of soap, so obviously a $500 fee is not going to work for me. $300 is probably my absolute tops I will pay.....but the $50 ones make it a lot easier to get my money back.

So I found a craft show in an area about an hours drive....gorgeous area....so we thought it would be fun to do a show there. Well they want photos of me MAKING my products. I guess to prove I actually make them?? A little bummed on one hand…would someone really lie about such a thing? Second of all, what if grandma knitted something, could I not sell that for her??

So anyhoo, my biggest dilemma is this….when I make lotions I am usually home alone…which is how I like it. So taking a photo of myself isn’t such an easy task. Now when I make soap, hubby helps me….but it is an “all hands on deck” kinda thing, when that lye goes in I only have so long to work with to get the color and fragrance in and mixed well...no time to fiddle with cameras. So smart hubby that I have says….why cant you photo stage 1 of mixing the oils….aha you are sooo smart!! :) Then I thought maybe my online friends would like to see me at work?

So here I am in my pretty pink gloves hubby bought me, I have my goggles on and arms protected. Oils are melted and being mixed well for the lye to be added. This soap is Lavender and I like to put a purple swirl into it. So after all the hard work is done….

…here I am putting the final touches on the swirl.

Here are all my babies…3 batches…tucked in for the night. I leave them overnight in the oven (turned off) to generate their own heat, hopefully go through the gel phase, and best of all they are out of the way to not be disturbed.

Here are my logs the next day...and then all cut.

First Ever Failed Lip Balm Batch

I have been making lip balms for almost 3 years now. Started making them as I call myself a chapstickaholic. I am never far from lip balm. I have them in every room of the house, a few at my desk at work, a handful in the bedroom....and after losing a whole load of clothes to the lipbalm left in my pocket one time...my husband now checks every single pocket before doing the laundry. So suffice it to say....I LOVE LIP BALM!


Today I made 5 different batches of lip balm. As I was cleaning them up before labeling, I noticed one of the batches...just didnt look quite right. I twisted one up...hmmm...that will not work. See how soft it is?? The one on the right is the no good batch, the one on the left is how it should be.

I am a triple measurer...and even measure my entire batch to make sure it weighs the total. I cant figure out what went wrong. It was a new flavor oil, so all I can assume is that was the culprit....that flavor oil is now in my garbage.

Luckily these 4 batches were just fine. :) So I think I am ready for my show on February 20. I just may make an unflavored batch....then I will be ready...well as far as lip balms go, still have some work to prepare on the soap and lotions. :)

Are you ready for some Football???

Super Bowl Sunday! I am sure most are busy today gearing up for the big game. We try to watch what games we can throughout the season, but we always watch Super Bowl!


Who are you routing for...Colts or Saints?


I am routing for a good fun game!! :)

Chef Boyardee Pizza mix is mine and my husbands tradition. I make this every super bowl, adding fresh cheese and pepperoni slices...and then jalepenos on his half...pineapple on my half. Yummy Stuff!!


What are your traditions for super bowl?

Fun bit my own family trivia....21 years ago my niece was born on super bowl sunday!

Sheets are In!!

Luster Canyon is now carrying sheets.

100% Egyptian Cotton * 1,000 thread Count Sheet Sets.

$35.00 any size (plus tax and shipping)

We have a variety of colors in 3 sizes...Full, Queen and King. The colors are:

White

Taupe

Chocolate Brown

Red

Burnt Orange

Sage Green

Light Blue

Dark Blue

Dusty Rose

Grey

You can order from our website.
Any questions? Just drop us an email.

(And how gorgeous is the sign up above? Our oldest daughter drew that out for us!!)