Ever been to West Texas?

I've lived in Texas all my life but I'd never been to Big Bend until a few days ago! On Christmas Day we piled 7 family members & friends plus our ferocious but utterly adorable Daisy dog into a big honkin church van and headed west from Austin.

What werrrre we thinking? It was a long drive...and parts of it were isolated and desolate...but we saw some incredible scenery out there, like the prehistoric Indian rock art, 2 majestic canyons on the lazy Rio Grande River, a quirky ghost town called Terlingua (don't miss this!), Lajitas Resort, an explosion of stars at the world renowned McDonald Observatory, historic Fort Davis, and the stunningly beautiful Caverns of Sonora, among other things. Here's Mike and I on the grueling (for me) 3 mile hike we took up into the Chisos Mountains, where I promptly slipped and fell towards the end of the trail. Luckily, I limped away with only a banged up knee. Hey, I never claimed to be much of a hiker (but I OWN that mountain now!)

If I had it to do over again I'd slow the pace down a notch or two. You really need more than 5 days to see the rugged Big Bend area. But all in all, it was our best family vacation ever. I'll try to upload all the photos to an online album later. Right now I'm just trying to recover. Family vacations can be really hard work sometimes.

Happy New Year Y'all from Texas!

Wishing you peace, joy & light.From our family to yours,a wild soap bar

Power of Possessions

During this often stressful time of overconsumption and overspending, I wanted to share with you an article that's hung on my bulletin board for many years, author unknown.

Less is best. The less you have, the less you will have to take care of. Really! Material goods gobble your time and energy. Most people I know are slaves to their possessions and don't know it. Here are some facts to ponder:

* Possessions clutter. Casually placed possessions clutter tabletops, closets, counters and garages. Putting stuff away can take hours.

* Possessions cost more than the original price. You spend additional time storing, repairing, protecting, cleaning, and catering to them, and time is worth money.

* Possessions need cleaning. Do you enjoy washing, dusting, polishing, soaking, scouring and scraping? Even minimal cleaning is time consuming.

* Possessions create errands. How many times a year do you drive to buy, repair and clean your things? How many hours waiting in store lines and looking for parking?

* Possessions are worrisome. Fretting about breakage, loss, theft, fire, repairs and insurance premiums clutters our minds. Every item let go of is one less worry.

* Possessions need organizing. Things need to be alphabetized, color coded, sorted and grouped, for sanity's sake.

* Possessions get lost. The less you have, the less you have to lose.

* Possessions depreciate. Things that spot, rust, crumble, dent, fray and come unglued lose value. Invest in yourself, not things.

* Possessions are climbed over, hidden, apologized for and argued over. How much more do you need to know?

* Possessions encourage greed. Materialistic people tend to compete with their neighbors, brag, hoard and constantly desire more. They're seldom satisfied with what they've got.

Working hard to maintain an over-materialized lifestyle puts stress on your relationships and your finances. It's a major cause of divorce, bankruptcy, job dissatisfaction, and declining mental and physical health. Possessions have the power to own more of you than you own of them. Think about that. Maybe you should return some of that unnecessary "stuff" you get this year and save yourself the headache!

And The Winners Are...

PunkGardener, Cindy Hoyt, and Regina! Punk & Regina, please email me at awildsoapbar@gmail.com with your UPS shipping address so I can send you your free bar of soap! Cindy, I have your address. Thanks to everyone for participating. Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas from the Hanus Family Elves!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

what's your fav? win a free bar!

Hi folks. It's Friday, it's almost Christmas, it's warm here in Texas, and I'm feeling especially warm and fuzzy inside! Soooo...I've decided to give away our natural soap! (what else could I do?) Leave a comment here between now and Monday morning, naming your favorite wild soap bar and why you like it so much, and you'll be among one of 3 lucky winners to receive a free bar of your favorite soap! Don't post anonymously though or I won't know who you are. After the drawing on Monday morning, I'll announce the winners here and you'll need to email me with your mailing address. It's pretty simple, so stay tuned. Now...do tell!

Eat Well Guide

Even though I've added this to the sidebar, I wanted to draw your attention to this nifty little tool that will help you eat locally. I found several farms nearby that I didn't even know existed! Give it a try.

Where's Miguel?

A commenter on my last post directed me to this cool video about cork conservation. Check out their beautiful cork flooring here. Thanks Team Wicander!

Is Cork Screwed?

Now about those wine corks that I mentioned in my last post... If you're like me, you've probably never thought too much about all those bottles you've uncorked, but according to WWF's report titled Cork Screwed?, we should have! Unlike those fake petroleum based plastic corks that are gaining popularity, real cork is renewable, biodegradable, and sustainable. Real cork stoppers are made from bark harvested from cork oaks that have existed in the Western Mediterranean for thousands of years. The trees renew their bark after it's harvested. The wine industry plays a huge role in maintaining the economic value of cork and the cork oak forests. According to the WWF report, "Unless the commercial value of cork stoppers is maintained, and especially demand for cork stoppers, there is a risk that the Western Mediterranean cork oak landscapes will face an economic crisis, an increase in poverty, an intensification in forest fires, a loss of irreplaceable biodiversity and an accelerated desertification process." Wow. All that because we didn't pay attention to the corks on our wine bottles?

When shopping for your holiday wines this year, remember to keep an eye out for real cork stoppers. The cork oak tree fairies will thank you.

Green Holly Days

Green is here to stay (finally!), so here are 12 tips for going green this holiday:

* use & give reusable shopping bags, gift bags, and japanese wrapping cloths
* buy a living tree, plant it after the holidays, and create a tradition
* choose locally grown, organic, and seasonal food for your celebrations
* give handmade or "made in the USA" gifts instead of "stuff" from china
* use reusable dinnerware, napkins, and tablecloths
* if you must use disposables, choose recycled paper products
* serve organic or biodynamic wines with real corks
* offset your holiday travel carbon emissions online
* turn your thermostat down and start a fire in the fireplace
* decorate with found items from nature instead of plastic
* burn beeswax candles rather than petroleum based paraffin
* remember that less is always more...relax and keep it simple

Happy Gratitude

Being thankful is about more than just gorging ourselves on a huge feast once a year. It's about focusing on love for family and friends and the everyday seemingly insignificant occurrences that bring joy to your life throughout the year. Gratitude is a state of mind, and even in these hard times, I'm sure we all have much to be thankful for.

Research has shown that gratitude elicits other positive emotions and that practicing conscious gratitude leads to increased happiness, more energy, and better health. So after gathering with family and friends to give thanks tomorrow, adopt a long range plan for mindful gratitude. Keep a gratitude journal, write thank you notes to those who've shown you kindness, or designate a special time each day to verbalize 3 things you're grateful for. Whatever you do, remember to pause throughout the day to notice that a small but precious gift has just been given to you ... because in order to be grateful, we have to REALIZE all that we have to be grateful for!

I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Thanks for reading my blog. Happy Gratitude!

Wake Up America

Here we are (hubby Mike, son Cael, his girlfriend Tina, and I) in front of the Federal Reserve Bank, just 4 of the 500 freedom loving patriots who attended the Houston End the Fed Rally this past Saturday (on my 53rd birthday I might add). I'm so glad I live in a country where I can still speak out against greed and unjustice. Did you know that the Federal Reserve is a private banking cartel who exists solely for profit, that it's neither Federal nor does it have any reserves, or that it has absolutely no right to print money out of thin air? Quite simply, it's a scam! It's corrupt, it's unconstitutional, and it's the direct cause of our current economic crisis. Isn't it time we END THE FED and stop lining the pockets of the elite banksters who own it?

If you're tired of the government lying to you and stealing from you... if you want REAL change... then turn off the mainstream media controlled by the power elite and tune in to Republic Magazine, the Campaign For Liberty, End The Fed, We The People, and Restore the Republic. The message may seem radical to some, but these people are not kooks and crazies. They're intelligent, honest, concerned citizens with families and jobs and mortgages and grocery bills. People just like you and me who're tired of being ripped off and they're not going to take it anymore. If we stand together we CAN make a difference and we MUST! Do it for your country. Do it for your children and grandchildren. But please... just DO IT!

It's time to turn off Dancing With The Stars people ...
WAKE UP AMERICA!

FED UP? END THE FED! NOV. 22

Facing economic crises not seen in this country in nearly 80 years, hardworking U.S. citizens are searching for real solutions. Recognizing the threat of unprecedented deficits, out of control government spending and more big industries coming to government with their hands out, informed citizens are calling for an end of the corrupt, privately owned Federal Reserve System which created this crisis and a return to limited Constitutional government and sound money.

Concerned citizens from all walks of life will be attending peaceful, non-partisan, educational rallies on Nov. 22 in front of the Federal Reserve Banks in 39 cities across our great nation. These rallies will generate public awareness of the need for sound money and they will provide information about current efforts in Congress such as HR 2755 to audit, reform and ultimately end the Federal Reserve Banking system.

The time has come to rise up against tyranny! Enough is enough.

END THE FED!!! See you there.

The Power of Soap

Oh sure...our handmade natural soap is undoubtedly luxurious, moisturizing, ultra fragrant, and mild. It's colorful, real ... even sensual. But we sometimes forget the true power of soap. Soap saves lives!

Diseases such as dysentary caused by dirty hands kill a child somewhere in the world every 15 seconds and half those deaths could be prevented by regular use of soap. It's pretty simple. Just wash with soap after toileting and before eating, and it doesn't even have to be "antibacterial" soap. The Center for Disease control has proven that all soap kills germs.

So in addition to the pampering and skin care attributes of our wonderful soap, I like the fact that we make a product that also has the potential to save lives and reduce suffering. OK. How many times do you wash your hands each day? How thoroughly do you wash? To be effective you should lather up for at least 15-20 seconds, diligently scubbing all surfaces of your hands, and then rinse well under running water. With the onset of the cold and flu season, now's a good time to start utilizing the power of soap. It does a body good.

The New Boss: Same As The Old Boss?

As I listen to the powerful words of Pete Townsend written 37 years ago, it really speaks to me today. The only thing missing from this acoustic version is Roger Daltry's scream! I'm pretty sure that Pete would disagree with me, but I'm thinking that the new boss really WILL be pretty much the same as the old boss in many ways. I hope I'm wrong. Believe me, I'm ready to listen to anyone who represents true change. I guess only time will tell...



Don't Get Fooled Again! by The Who

We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the foe, that's all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they all flown in the next war

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
No, no!

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
For I know that the hypnotized never lie

Do ya?

There's nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now the parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

"The Wasted Vote"

I can't begin to tell you how many times I've been told I will be "wasting my vote" by casting it for someone not named John McCain or Barack Obama on Nov. 4. But I've learned to just laugh it off, because I figured out many years ago that the two party system is a very bad joke. Instead, of citing the many reasons why I came to that conclusion,I'll give you a metaphor I read meant to inspire you to consider wasting your vote too.

Imagine, if you will, a world where bullets are very scarce. In fact, bullets are so scarce that there are some parts of the world where bullets don't exist at all. You happen to be lucky enough to live in a part of the world that has bullets. But not many. Because of the scarcity of the bullets, you can only get one by filling out the proper government paperwork and meeting certain age and legal requirements. In this world, you receive exactly one bullet, and only one bullet, every four years. And it can only be used on one day; let's call that day the second Tuesday of November.

You are told your entire life that it is a great honor to receive a bullet, and the worst thing possible you can do with a bullet is to waste it since it is so precious.

On that fateful November Tuesday, you go to the government approved shooting range. And once you step inside, it seems that there are really only two things you can shoot:

A Puppy Dog

and

A Baby.

Many people seem to relish the opportunity to use their bullets, and they never stop to think about what they are actually shooting simply because it is such an honor to have a bullet to shoot.

Others carefully contemplate the decision. They aren't really excited about either choice, but they can't stand the thought of having their bullet go to waste. After much thought everyone not associated with PETA shoots the puppy dog. These people choose their target for the same reason: it represents to them the lesser of two evils.

And now it's your turn to exercise the great privilege of firing that bullet. You know what everyone else is doing. Some are waving posters that say "Shoot the Baby"; others will order bumper stickers that night which read "Don't Blame Me; I Shot the Puppy Dog." Others just silently pulled the trigger, and never said anything else about it. It's a secret they will carry with them until they go the way of the puppy dog or the baby they met earlier that day.

What about you? Which would you choose?

If you chose "none of the above" and fired your bullet into the sky, would you really be wasting your bullet???

I don't know about you, but with all the greedy bailouts, the never ending debt, the endless wars, and the perpetual lies . . . I can't wait to waste my vote on a third party candidate tomorrow! See you at the polls.

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Soap!

Our freedoms are being eroded at a phenomenal rate. Our legislators are ignoring the Constitution daily. Our government is spending the economy into oblivion. Isn't there something wrong with this picture? If you agree that our country is desperately in need of a large dose of common sense exhibited by our Founding Fathers, then try our Give Me Liberty Soap, the first soap in our new soapRISING series. It makes the perfect little gift and $1 of the sale of every bar goes to support the Campaign for Liberty, a grassroots educational movement designed to restore our Constitution and take back our country!

The Dirty Truth About Bottled Water

Guess what? That "pure mountain spring" bottled water you've been gulping down is not so pure after all. Environmental Working Group recently released a disturbing report that reveals the dirty truth about bottled water. For many brands tested, the only difference between bottled water and tap water was the price. Some of them were even inferior to tap water! So why are we filling up our landfills with plastic water bottles, when we could just filter the water coming out of our own taps? Check out the EWG Guide to Safe Drinking Water. Then check out the Top 10 Drinking Water Filters and get yourself some real pure water.

Protect the Vote & Win Liberty Soap!

On the eve of one of the most historic elections of our time, increasingly we hear that states are illegally purging thousands from the voter rolls and various groups on both sides of the aisle are attempting to keep people from exercising their right to vote. Even more disturbing, our own Attorney General and Department of Justice are turning a blind eye to these despicable actions! Sadly, we can expect many more voter suppression tactics to pop up between now and Election Day. I've learned a great deal about illegal voting procedures from groups like Black Box Voting and Vote Fraud, and once you start looking into it, I'm sure you'll be as sickened as I was. Let's face it, if we don't protect our right to vote, we really have nothing left. We need to stand up to this fraud and demand that our government take action!

The right to vote is supposed to be protected by no less than SIX Constitutional Ammendments. Be the first to list all six here by posting a comment, and win a bar of our new Give Me Liberty Soap. (You must be a member of this blog to post a comment.)

Then be a patriot and sign the petition today! And stay tuned to this blog for more Liberty Soap giveaways.

Politically Incorrect Guide to Politics

Quite possibly the best thing I've ever seen on mainstream TV! Libertarianism 101. Watch all 6 clips on YouTube, then ask yourself...do I still believe in magic???

Maker Faire

Since I've been a "maker" all my life, I thought it would be fun to get out of the soap shop and take the family to the 2nd annual Maker Faire in nearby Austin, TX. Wow. I had no idea! Austin is known for it's quirky and individualistic nature....as in Keep Austin Weird...but this was one of the funkiest, rigged up, recycled, off-the-wall gatherings I've ever been to! We saw dueling robots, giant tesla coils that played music, a life sized mousetrap game, and an 80' six seater rattlesnake bike. My granddaughter had the pleasure of riding the air bikes



and trying on the psychedelic mind control glasses.



Where else could we have seen an intricate yarn covered car



or my favorite . . . the perfectly choreographed singing fishmobile!




We were all totally amazed and thoroughly amused by the creativity and ingenuity of the American inventor. Made soapmaking seem rather mundane and boring.

AaahSome Tea Time

With the onset of cooler weather (well, not much cooler here in Texas, but I can pretend can't I?)... I've decided to start drinking more hot tea. Not just "regular" teas or Camelia sinensis, but also herbal teas, because all teas contain powerful antioxidants and phytonutrients. And who couldn't use an extra dose of those 2 things in their life?

An afternoon tea break could be just the ticket to regroup during a stressful day, but internal consumption isn't the only way to take advantage of tea's magical powers. Teas can be used in other ways to relieve stress and that's what I want to turn you onto right now. Here's a few quick ideas to get you started.

* Brew up a strong pot of herbal tea and duck under a towel tent for a detoxifying facial steam, then toss the tea into your bath water and take the plunge.

* Put your favorite herb tea blend in a spray bottle in the fridge and use it for a moisturizing facial spritzer or fragrant afternoon pick me up.

* Soak tired smelly feet in warm black tea to reduce odor and soften callouses while relieving the stress of your overloaded day.

* Put up a do not disturb sign and throw a handful of herbal tea bags in the bathwater for an easy no-fuss tub tea escape.

* Place 2 cool tea bags over tired puffy eyes and lie down for 10 or 15 minutes while listening to soothing music or practicing visual imagery.

* Soothe a painful sunburn by soaking in a tepid green tea or mint tea bath, then air dry to prolong the glorious cooling effect.

* Tend a small organic herbal tea garden during your leisure time, so you'll have plenty of fresh tea leaves to keep pampering yourself with.

If you have a favorite tea time ritual, do tell.

Zirklz Are Back!

My 9 year old granddaughter and I just finished a shiny new batch of zirklz marble magnets just in time for the holidays. These are the coolest things ever and they make fantastic gifts! She donates $1 of every sale to Kid's Cafe to fight hunger right here in the U.S. Kids helping kids. Isn't this what we should be teaching our kids and grandkids?

The Do-Something Congress

In its embarrassment at being called a "Do-Nothing Congress" the 110th Congress took decisive action and did SOMETHING. The majority of Americans, including myself, were NOT impressed. How much more abuse are we willing to take before we do something?

Join The Campaign for Liberty. Inform yourself. Work for change, both locally and nationally. Defend the Constitution.

Stand up for your rights...before you don't have any left.

Become a Do-Something American!

FED UP? END THE FED!

With the passage of the enormous Wall Street bailout bill, we have just witnessed the largest theft of the American taxpayer of all time! Congress should be ashamed of themselves! Now we must work for government reform to end the corrupt, illegal, and unconstitutional Federal Reserve System that caused this financial crisis and who will continue to run our dollar into the ground unless WE put a stop to it. And I think I speak for most Americans when I say that we the people are finally FED UP!

The End begins Nov. 22 (which happens to be my birthday) and I can't think of a more appropriate way to celebrate my birth rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness than to gather in the streets and demand change. The time is now. The heist is over.

Every Fed Bank. Every Fed Office. 38 Cities. One Purpose.

END THE FED!
Be a part of the solution.

Bail Your Self Out!

My friend Donna Maria wrote an inspiring article about business entrepeneurship on her Indie Business Blog yesterday. It's good solid advice for these changing times. Take responsibility. Pull up your boot straps. Start a home based business & bail your OWN self out! Now that's a rescue plan I can really get behind.

wall street bailout smacks of cronyism

i just read the text of the wall street bail out plan being considered by congress. i am appalled at the powers given to the secretary of the treasury in this act! of course he wants congress to act quickly ... before the american people have a chance to figure out what hit em!

this shady legislation is unconstitutional and it's ripe with opportunity for even more cronyism and abuse by the power elite that control this country. the greedy crooks on wall street who got themselves into this terrible mess should suffer the consequences of bankruptcy ... not the american taxpayers.

i urge you to write your congresspersons today asking them to stop this dangerous legislation in its tracks. if passed, it will bring about certain destruction of the dollar, mega hyper inflation, and even more pain and suffering on the american people.

don't be fooled by our government's assurance that if we pass this legislation everything will be ok. everything will be ok for the powerful elite (bernanke, paulson, the rockefellers, the rothchilds ...) no doubt, but i assure you everything will NOT be ok for you and me! this is a temporary "fix" to a huge problem created by the federal reserve that's been mounting for decades. even if by some stroke of miracle they don't pass this legislation, we still won't be ok. too much damage has already been done. by its very nature, the situation MUST get worse before it can get any better. there IS no easy and painless solution to the mess we're in. but if we stop the bailouts now, the duration of suffering will be shorter, and we can begin the road to economic recovery sooner. at this point, it's the only sane thing to do. to stop the addiction, we need to remove the drugs!

please find out who your congressperson's are and demand they oppose this legislation. it's time to wake up americans and start defending our constitution. inform yourself. take off the rose colored glasses. don't lie down and let them erode even more of our precious freedoms! the time to act is NOW. join the campaign for liberty. do something about it. if you don't, well, you're just part of the problem.

a wild soap bar heads to the islands!

our newest retailer, the bonaire gift shop is located on the small tropical island of bonaire, one of the best kept secrets in the southern carribean. do i feel a business trip coming on? yeah baby! the fact that they sell gourmet wine & liquor (among other things) doesn't deter me one bit. who knows...if i make it to the bonaire shopping district, i may even smoke one of their fancy cigars after i dine in one of those world class restaurants!

dive under the crystal clear water here. bonaire, take me away ...

republocrats

all the reason in the world to vote for a third party!

y*IKE*s

so ike came and went and he left behind quite a mess! and we didn't even get one drop of rain here in central texas. pooey. i didn't make a hurricane ike soap cuz i decided it would have to be ugly by nature, so what's the use? speakin' of ugly, here's what happened to some of the rain lily soaps i made last time. now that's ugly!

these are the ones that seized up before i could get them in the mold properly. i hate to admit it but even soap masters screw up sometimes. you heard it here first folks. nothing wrong with these. they're just a little "cosmetically challenged" that's all. the good news is that if you order $30 or more on our website who knows, you just might get one of these beauties for your free soap. yikes! don't be scared, it's good soap. i promise.

tribute to a rain lily

right now we're expecting hurricane ike soon (which hopefully means rain! lots of rain!!! and not much else). the last time it rained here in central texas, it was during a severe drought, so i got the bright idea to make rain lily soap in honor of the rare tropical occurrence. rain lilies are fragrant fragile flowers that only bloom for a short time right after a rain. (how do they do that anyway?)

so i gathered up a bunch of those beautiful rain lilies (and yeah i felt a little guilty for plucking them out of their rightful place in the freshly rain-soaked ground, but they were plentiful, and they were on my property, so i did it anyway)... then i steeped them in warm organic extra virgin olive oil for a day or so. i used that infused oil to make a gorgeous castile (97% organic extra virgin olive oil) soap scented with a soft, floral blend of pure essential oils. it didn't come out exactly as i had planned. actually it came out nothing like i had planned visually... but it was the thought that counted. a celebration soap made with fresh rainwater and real rain lilies, two things we see far too little of here. that's all that really matters. if you're feeling dry, get your moisturizing ionically charged castile rain lily soap here.

don't think i'll make a hurricane ike soap ... stay safe neighbors. our thoughts are with you.

Today 100,000+ Members, Tomorrow America!

As Dr. Paul put it... our Rally For the Republic "reaffirmed for me that the movement on behalf of our philosophy is blessed with brains, talent, and verve." Join our peaceful movement of liberty! A remarkable dawn is just beyond the night, but we need YOU!

read more | digg story

freedom flag contest

we're back! what an incredible experience! as soon as we left the airport, one of the very first things we saw was this huge flag spray painted onto the embankment of the freeway. while i'm sure it was meant for those attending the republican national convention, i took it as a sign of what we were about to embark upon . . . the peaceful but powerful freedom movement that's sweeping this country. a.k.a. the campaign for liberty. after 3 days of being immersed in the historic rally for the republic, my 2 sons and i returned 100% energized and ready for the challenge. hope is on the way. the r3VOLution continues!

so in honor of the rally which was designed to call the GOP back to its roots, we're giving away 3 yucca root shampoo and body bars to the first person who comments on this blog and tells us what the official mission statement of the campaign for liberty is. you see . . . here at a wild soap bar, we're not just cleaning up stinky bodies anymore, we're cleaning up our stinkin' government too!

the r3VOLution continues in minneapolis!

as my two sons and i prepare to fly to minneapolis tomorrow for ron paul's rally for the republic i feel a renewed sense of hope for this country. a peaceful rEVOLution is sweeping the land and i'm so very proud that my family and i will be a part of it! if you're not familiar with dr. paul's mission of hope or his unwavering stance on personal freedom and limited constitutional government, i ask you, what do you have to lose? you owe it to yourself to check it out. real change IS possible but first, american's need to wake up and realize that they are allowing their freedoms to be taken away by big money and big government. and there's no REAL difference between the republicans and the democrats! i seriously hope you'll give dr. paul's revolutionary message some thought... because "it might just be that freedom is popular!" - ron paul

this video sums it up rather nicely i think... the times they are a changin.

soaps du jour anyone?

our new anise fig and peppercorn soaps du jour are fresh off the drying racks, and i can't stop sniffing them! (in case you didn't know, soapmakers are often caught sniffing their own soaps, it kind of takes the pressure off a long day at the soap shop and lifts spirits when the workload is heavy). these 2 new soaps may not have quite the eye appeal that some of the others do, but their out of the ordinary scents make up for it. no problem.

with notes of sharp black pepper, freshly squeezed lime, garden basil and a hint of bay leaf, spicy peppercorn makes a hot statement. this is NOT your grandmother's fuddy duddy bar, so don't even bother if you're into ordinary.

sweet anise fig, another unique scent you won't find lying around just anywhere, is filled with juicy, ripe, freshly picked organic figs and a complex anise & sweet orange essential oil blend... the perfect marriage of sweet, fruity and spicy. (this one holds a place of honor in my old clawfoot tub right now)



you can check out all of my original soaps du jour here ... (but if you do try them, remember to come out of the bath before you get all wrinkled up!!!)

sweet tooth

there's a fabulous new natural sugar substitute on the market (it's actually been around forever) with zero calories, zero carbohydrates, zero chance of a spike in blood glucose levels, and zero aftertaste. it's stevia, aka stevia rebaudiana for all you latin freaks, whose leaves are up to 40 times more potent than sugar and who sports an impressive list of health benefits. though its approval as a food additive is still pending (but expected to pass), this latin american herb has long been sold as a dietary supplement in health food stores. it's far more healthful than sugar and all those toxic artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (nutrasweet), saccharin (sweet'n low), and sucralose (splenda). yuck.

ok, that's all well and good, but did you know that our very own tooth savior soap for teeth contains stevia? i suspect it's one of the ingredients that's made our tooth soap SO popular. if you haven't tried some you should definitely check it out. with premium herbs like wild white oak bark and organic aloe plus detoxifying french green clay, we're proud to say that our 100% safe & natural tooth soap really performs (and if our sales and re-orders of this phenomenal new product are any indication of that, we KNOW it does)!!!

just to avoid any confusion though, we do want to point out that our tooth savior soap for teeth is NOT sweet like all those sticky icky bad-for-your-teeth commercial toothpastes. it just leaves your mouth feeling fresh and uber clean. what's not to like about that?

Democrats & Republicans Letting You Down? Join The Campaign for Liberty!

palm oil soap - who's responsible?

when it comes to unsustainable palm oil plantations (see my previous post) and the massive destruction they cause, i don't buy into the common argument that palm oil soap isn't a major problem, so we should be able to continue using palm oil in our formulas ... because soapmakers are obviously SOME of the problem, therefore they're part of the problem. no? nor do I agree with the futilistic attitude that everything causes destruction of something somewhere so we might as well just do what we want. this seems terribly indulgent & irresponsible to me. we have choices. we have brains.

of course no one can make ALL the right choices, that's impossible, but we can certainly all make SOME of the right choices. so pick a few that seem relelvant to your life and get to it. palm oil deforestation is just one of the many areas that adversely affect our world, but one that is particularly pertinent to soapmakers. don't you think?

the problem with palm oil

on wed. I got blasted with over 1600 emails sent out by rainforest action network supporters condemning our use of palm oil in our soap and actually threatening to sticker our products with warning labels in stores! EXCUUUUSE ME? we've been using sustainable certified organic palm oil from s. america grown on reclaimed land that was clear cut 30-40 years ago in our soap for several years now and before that, we were using NO palm oil in our formulas for that very reason! they were preachin to the choir and boy was I hot!

2 days later, after numerous emails, several blog posts, a couple of restless nights and one not so nice phone call, I was finally removed from that list. i shudder to think about the damage it's done to our business. hopefully, something good will still come of it. they're planning a new campaign to highlight businesses like ours that DO use sustainable palm oil. (and hey, I got a highly targeted email list that no amount of money could ever buy! hehehe)

so I made amends with the R.A.N. today (after all, we both want the same thing right, and they were wrong and they apologized) and as I lick my wounds...I encourage everyone to read and learn about the major devastation and destruction that conventional palm oil plantations are doing to the rainforest, the people that live there, to the orangutans, and ultimately to all of us. the problem with palm oil is real.

at risk plants

a wild soap bar is a member of united plant savers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of north american medicinal plants. in fact, we donate a portion of our profits every year to UpS because we believe that this earth is covered with useful medicinal plants for a reason. periodically united plant savers publishes two lists of medicinal plants that need help and attention. so if you see any of these plants growing in the wild, take care not to harm them. and if you can sow some of them in your own garden, all the better!

At Risk
American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Echinacea (various Echinacea species)
Eyebright (various Euphrasia species)
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
Helonias Root (Chamaelirium luteum)
Lady’s Slipper Orchid (various Cypripedium species)
Lomatium (Lomatium dissectum)
Osha (Ligusticum porteri and other Ligusticum species)
Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)
Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)
Sundew (various Drosera species)
Trillium/Beth Root (various Trillium species)
True Unicorn (Aletris farinosa)
Venus’s Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)
Virginia Snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria)
Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa, other Dioscorea species)

To Watch
Arnica (various Arnica species)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Cascara Sagrada (Rhamus purshimia)
Chaparro (Casatela emoryi)
Elephant Tree (Bursera microphylla)
Gentian (various Gentiana species)
Goldthread (various Coptis species)
Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) (in Hawaii only)
Lobelia (various Lobelia species)
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pendatum)
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
Oregon Grape (various Mahonia species)
Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens)
Pink Root (Spigelia marilaandica)
Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata)
Spikenard (Aralia racemosa and A. californica)
Stone Root (Collinsonia canadensis)
Stream Orchid (Epipactis gigantea)
Turkey Corn (Dicentra canadensis)
White Sage (Salvia apiana)
Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria)
Yerba Mansa (Anamopsis californica)

Stop the FDA Globalization Act of 2008! Protect the rights of small personal care companies. Watch the video, then sign the petition before Aug.5.

Rally for the Republic Aug. 31 - Sept. 2

We're leaving the soap shop and heading to the Rally for the Republic on Aug. 31 through Sept. 2 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sponsored by Ron Paul's Campaign For Liberty. This is not a pleasure trip (although we expect it to be fun!) This is not a business trip (although we expect it to benefit our business in the long run!) This, my friends, is a deeply personal trip, a higher calling of sorts. When we see the nation we love entangled in corruption, power struggles, rampant overspending, and greed, we think it's not only our right but our DUTY to stand up and say "enough is enough". It's time to get back to the sound wisdom of our Founding Fathers. It's time to start taking back our Republic!

This historical event will take place in conjunction with the first 2 days of the Republican National Convention and it is designed to be a clear call to the Republican Party to return to its roots of limited government, personal responsibility and freedom, and the protection of our precious constitutional rights. But the Rally is not just for disgruntled Republicans. It's also for Libertarians (our party of choice), true Democrats, Independents and all concerned Americans. Together we CAN make a difference!

The mission of the Campaign for Liberty is to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, constitutional government, sound money, free markets, and a non-interventionist foreign policy, by means of educational and political activity. Won't you join us in Minneapolis? Where the r3VOLution continues!!!

soapberry natural laundry soap

berries that make suds? how cool is that? if you have sensitive skin you should be all over this one. soapberries, aka soap nuts, are from the Sapindus mukorossi tree, and they contain loads of natural saponins (stuff that suds!). you simply tuck a few in the muslin bag that's provided and toss them in the washer and voila . . . soft clean clothes without all the nasty petro chemicals. one bag of our new soapberry natural laundry soap will do between 35 - 50 washloads (depending on the temperature of the water and how dirty your clothes are) so these little berries are pretty economical too. when you're done, just dump 'em on the compost pile. it doesn't get much more eco-friendly than that folks!

almonde soap du jour (ooh la la)

seems like forever since I wrote about soap, so let me get back to my roots for a while. the new almonde soap is fresh off the drying racks, and let me tell ya, it was sooo worth the wait! full of moisturizing coconut milk, exfoliating coconut shreds, real vanilla, and an intoxicating almond aroma that will blow you away! it also smells just like freshly juiced cherries because both almonds and cherries contain the same aroma chemicals. (not petro chemicals silly, the naturally occuring kind) so don't wait too long to try my almonde soap. with only 24 bars in existence, it could vanish rather quickly.

A New Artisan Economy

According to Intuit's Future of Small Business Report: "The coming decade will see continuing economic transformation and the emergence of a new artisan economy. Many of the new artisans will be small and personal businesses — merchant-craftsmen and women producing one of a kind or limited runs of specialty goods for an increasingly large pool of customers seeking unique, customized, or niche products."

If you're already getting unique natural soaps and body balms from a wild soap bar, then pat yourself on the back . . . you're a trend setter!

The Wrong Policy, The Wrong Law, The Wrong Time

Please sign the petition to stop the current draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, proposed legislation that would put thousands of small Indies out of business by forcing them to pay outrageous registration fees and comply with mounds of burdensome paperwork. Members of the Indie Beauty Network agree that consumers need protection from harmful cosmetics, but this is the wrong policy, the wrong law, at the wrong time!

greenwashing

"greenwash (green'wash', -wôsh') - verb: misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service." aah yes, going green. it's all the rage now. . . but how can you tell if a company is really making a difference or simply jumping on the greenwashing bandwagon to make a fast buck? all too often, the latter is true.

the greenwashing index helps consumers evaluate environmental marketing claims and holds businesses accountable for what they say in their ads. and co-op america's responsible shopper provides you with the real stories about abuses by well-known companies, gives you actions to promote corporate responsibility, and helps you green your life and world.

but for a different kind of "green wash" . . . try our horsemint, wild weeds, or new opuntia natural soaps. that's the only kind of greenwashing we ever promote. ;o)

fireworks, hot dogs, & liberty!

a good example of what NOT to let your dog do today. . .



but seriously folks . . . although america has strayed somewhat from the infinite wisdom of our founding fathers, it is my sincere hope that one day soon we will fully restore the freedoms & ideals set forth by our constitution. long live liberty! happy independence day!

new shower curtain smell sucks!

Why? Because it's caused by toxic chemicals! PVC shower curtains contain high levels of harmful phthalates, organotins, and VOC's (volatile organic compounds). Now there's really no such thing as a good VOC, but the ones wafting off of your PVC shower curtain are really nasty. In fact, 7 of them are considered hazardous air pollutants by the EPA! cough...cough...gag

The good news is that Sears, Kmart and Target are voluntarily phasing out their toxic PVC shower curtains. And loads of cool smaller green companies carry safe alternatives such as organic cotton or bamboo curtains. Visit Co-op America's National Green Pages to find out who's selling 'em and ditch that stinky plastic air polluter! (so you can truly enjoy the incredible aromas of our wildly aromatic safe and natural soaps instead)

working for you!

you've seen the outside of our new manufacturing facility in previous posts, so i thought you might like to get a glimpse of the inside too. this is the new packing area where your orders are filled. that's jory in the forefront and chris behind him. without these guys, you'd never get your order. they do a fantastic job! to see the soapmaking area, check out our you tube video at the bottom of the blog.

kid safe chemicals act

got chemicals? the environmental working group found 287 chemicals in umbilical cord blood samples of 10 newborn american babies: 133 linked to cancer in animal tests, 151 linked to birth defects, 153 that can alter the hormone system, 185 associated with infertility and reproductive problems, 130 that affect the immune system, and 157 that are toxic to the nervous system. right now, 80 percent of new chemicals are approved by EPA in just three weeks - very rarely with any consideration of their potential risks to children. the kid safe chemicals act would fix this. join one of the most important environmental campaigns in history . . . because your kids & grandkids are worth it!

ron paul's campaign for liberty

if you value liberty and justice, if you believe in the constitution, if you're sick and tired of big government's lies and corruption and you want REAL change for america. . . join ron paul's campaign for liberty. even though dr. paul has bowed out of the presidential race, the revolution continues because "it might just be that freedom is popular!" - ron paul

be deet free

warm summer weather usually means mosquitoes and other biting insects abound. most commercial bug repellants contain deet, an effective but harmful pesticide/repellant that has been associated with skin irritation and even neurological side effects! why take chances when you can be deet free?

of course the best way to avoid pests is to stay indoors when they're active or to cover exposed skin with loose fitting clothing, but in the real world, we know that's not always possible. try wild bug balm. this pleasant smelling, safe, truly natural and effective bug repellant doubles as food for your skin with its ultra moisturizing and conditioning properties. plus it meets all of EPA's minimum risk exempt requirements (meaning the ingredients are SO safe, they don't need to be regulated by the EPA). what's not to love about that?

with active ingredients of geranium, mint, cedar, lemongrass, rosemary, and thyme essential oils in a base of certified organic coconut oil, unbleached beeswax, and natural vitamin E, you can feel confident that you're not exposing your family to more harm than good when you go out to enjoy the wide open spaces. you may have to apply our wild bug balm a little more often than deet based repellants, but isn't that a really small price to pay? we certainly think so.

opuntia soap is hot for summer

prickly pear cacti (opuntia spp.) are well adapted to harsh desert climates where they thrive in extreme conditions day in and day out. now modern science has shown that prickly pear cactus extract helps skin resist stress while enabling it to actually repair itself! wow. i always knew the stuff grew everywhere for good reason.

my fabulous new opuntia soap is saturated with fresh wild prickly pear cactus gel. i picked and processed it myself. and in case you haven't figured this out...the anti-aging implications of this glorious green cactus goo are enormous!

spiked with shards of our other prickly pear soap, scented with a refreshing spearmint essential oil blend, and enriched with skin loving rice bran oil, my newest wild ideas soap is destined to be a summer favorite. don't wait too long to check it out though, it's already flying off the shelves. it's hot.

whole foods premium body care

we did it! we qualified!!! for whole foods' new premium body care standards that is. big deal? heck yeah. BIG deal! only bath and body products that are the purest, the most natural, the safest . . . the very BEST have this honor bestowed upon them. pseudo-naturals, fakes, and greenwashers need not apply.

let's face it, a wild soap bar has never used synthetic fragrances, dyes, harmful preservatives, or toxic petroleum products in anything we've ever made. not once. but until now, we've had to sit on the shelves of even natural foods stores with those who do and just "take it". i mean what's a truly green product to do? with so many unscrupulous companies out there claiming to be "all natural" it's becoming increasingly more difficult for the consumer to make any sense of it all. it's a mess really.

so thank you whole foods for trying to weed out the imposters. it's about time somebody started separating the wheat from the chaffe! to find a whole foods market or wild oats that carries our natural products, look here. so far we're only in texas, arkansas, oklahoma, louisiana and missouri . . . but we're workin on that. if you have a whole foods market near you, go in and ask them to carry a wild soap bar. it can't hurt. then purchase products with the premium body care shelf logo. these are the companies that are going the extra mile for you and your family.

what about crocs?

i have to admit . . . i own a pair of purple crocs (my favorite color), and i absolutely LOVE wearing them! they're so darn comfy! but i've been thinking lately. . . what impact do these shoes have on the earth? do they have any post consumer waste content? are they fair trade? what's their carbon footprint?

according to the manufacturer they're not rubber. they're not plastic. they're PCCR - a proprietary closed cell resin that's antimicrobial (could be harmful?) and molds to your foot. since it's proprietary, i can't find much info on this stuff. my gut instinct tells me that this is a petroleum based product that wouldn't win any environmental contests. but if you can shine any light on the situation, please share.

the good news is that crocs has a program called soles united where they take worn out crocs and recycle them into brand new crocs for people in impoverished countries. recycling is always a good thing, and of course helping people in need is too . . . but if they're not made in an eco-friendly way in the first place . . . is this really a good thing?

i found an interesting debate on treehugger. so what do you think? what about crocs???

greet the day with new sunrise soap

how can you NOT fall in love with this beautiful two-layered naked soap scented with an energizing lemon eucalyptus essential oil blend, hand stamped with "sunrise" for all the world to see, and whimsically handcrafted by a wild soapbartender just for grins? it's minimally packaged in earth friendly glassine bags because where packaging is concerned ... less is always more! check out my new hot off the drying racks sunrise soap du jour. get yours today before the sun sets. (ps cocoa bean soap is ready to go too)

a grateful mother

this is my youngest son jory, one of our master soapmakers, showing off a partial day's work. not bad huh? this is about 150 lbs. of soap. an average day for soap making. these loaves will be cut into small one ounce sampler sized soaps. that's a lot of cuts! i could never do this without jory. so here's to you kid! you are absolutely the bomb!!!

now this is our other son cael. he helps out sometimes on the weekends and we're always glad to have an extra set of hands. big hands too. he cuts labels, washes soap rocks, makes soap sample boxes . . . or whatever we need. it's great to have your kids nearby and to be on good terms. i realize that not every mom has that good fortune. i've gotta be one of the luckiest mom's in the world.

happy mother's day to all.