Are You Mistletoe-Ready?

Keep your skin & lips soft, smooth & mistletoe-ready with our healing, organic body balms.  Enriched with jojoba oil & vitamin E, they're the perfect stocking stuffers for frosty weather! 

The All Important Dish

Soap dish, that is.  You've gotta have a good one if you want to keep your handmade soap from turning into a gushy hump of mush.

Here's a sampling of some I've collected over the years. OK, the Old Spice shaving mug, the old aluminum travel case, and the antique dish washing wand aren't really "dishes"...but then neither are the cedarwood soap decks or the fossilized limestone soap rock. They all do hold soap though, so that works for me.

I found some alternative soap dishes here, some awfully cute ones here, and some gorgeous handmade ones here.

What holds your soap?

The Mindless Masses

This weekend millions of Americans will be camped out in parking lots, stampeding the malls, fighting at the registers and piling up their carts.  All so they can acquire more cheap, unnecessary, foreign made stuff, then try to impress their family and friends with it.  When George Carlin talked about "stuff", he was so right... a typical American house is just "a place to keep all your stuff while you go out and get more STUFF!"

Don't buy into it!  You don't need all that junk...and neither do your kids, your family or your friends. Give simple, eco friendly, or homemade gifts instead.  Then spend time making memories with someone you love this weekend instead of the mindless masses at the mall.  It's your call.

With Gratitude

"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way." 

- Native American prayer

  

At this time of thanksgiving and celebration our thoughts turn gratefully to you...our readers, our followers, our many faithful and loyal customers. Wishing you a peaceful and prosperous holiday season.

A Wild Soap Bar LLC

Maggie, Mike, Jory, Jackie, Cael, Tina, Aubrey & Caden Hanus

Identity Crisis

As if their soap was anything special!  humpfff!  They're jealous 'cause they can't make artisan soaps like these.  I mean I'd seriously like to take a bite out of that corn! (not sure I'd want to wash with it though)

Our natural soaps have never had an identity crisis either, but they're still world's ahead of Ivory in terms of skin care, scent, and visual appeal...not to mention social responsibility.  I'm just sayin...

So what's the weirdest/most artistic soap you've ever seen? Post a link here if you can so we can all take a peek.

11/11/11

Today, three 11s align for the first time in a century!  What will YOU be doing during that magical point in time when the clock reads 11:11:11 on 11/11/11?  Perhaps you'll be attending a service to honor our veterans. Maybe you'll be at your cubicle dreaming of lunch.  Or you might be lying in a hospital bed wondering how you're going to pay for all this.  No matter where you are, if everybody simply pauses to acknowledge their blessings and to hope for the future there'll be a lot of positive energy flowing out into the universe.  That's bound to stir up something good!

You can find all sorts of interesting facts, even strange weather phenomena surrounding this day, and the study of numerology  places great emphasis on it too.  But some attribute all the different phenomena to nothing more than a classic case of apophenia, or the human tendency to find meaning or patterns in randomly occurring data.  Depends on who you ask I guess.

When it comes right down to it, I believe 11/11/11 will be exactly what you make it.  You hold the key.  Now go out and make it a good day!

Gather 'Round for the Holidays

Tired of all the commercial hype? Looking for a simple yet meaningful way to spend time with family and friends this holiday season? Start a primitive new tradition this year...the Hunter Gatherer Party! 

Set out on a leisurely walk through the woods to gather dried naturals for your very own homespun holiday wreath. Take time to really soak up your surroundings. The gathering is half the fun. Look for grape vines (shown), pinecones, acorns, feathers, or moss...anything that catches your fancy.  The sky's the limit and you're the designer.

Once you get your found treasures home, put on some festive music, brew up a pot of mulled cider or wine, and let the natural beauty guide you.  A few spools of craft wire, some garden clippers, and a couple of hot glue guns are about all the tools you'll need.  Simple designs are often the most striking.  But there's no right way or wrong way, just your way. You'll soon have a lovely new wreath to adorn your front door that cost you next to nothing...but the memories. 

Ah yes, the memories!

Fabulous for Over-Forty Fennel

 Aside from it's culinary uses, fennel is used for its soothing, cleansing and toning effects on the skin.  It's especially good for mature complexions as it helps keep wrinkles at bay while improving circulation and fighting water retention and puffiness.  It's a powerful antioxidant that also exfoliates and detoxifies.

By design, fennel is an integral part of the therapeutic essential oil blend in our anti-aging Wild Carrot Complexion Soap.  Enriched with wild shea butter and wholesome goats milk, this fabulous-for-the-over-forty-crowd bar has everything going for it.  And you thought it simply smelled good? (licorice lovers...you KNOW what I mean)

It's Here! FINALLY!!!

Introducing our brand new website, with new and improved features we think you're gonna love! For starters, if you register, it'll save all your personal info. Forget about tediously typing out all that stuff every time you want to order. That'll free you up to linger a little longer on Facebook...or at least to fire off a few extra tweets. Sweet.

You can also save your shopping cart and return to it later, view your order history, retrieve tracking info, find the nearest store that carries our products by zip code, or sign up for membership on our new wholesale site with instant approval. You can even buy an email gift certificate if you want. 

We've worked really hard over the past several months to bring you these new features. So... what do you think?

The pH Myth

Contrary to popular belief, skin & hair are not affected much by pH. They contain substances (keratin & fatty acids) that adjust pH levels with which they come into contact. That coupled with the fact that a product's pH will drift during its shelf life, means there's really no such thing as a "pH balanced" product.  That's a hyped up marketing term created by the cosmetics industry to sell you more stuff.  Unless extremely high or low, the pH of a product will not adversely affect the skin and hair.            

Take real handmade natural soap for instance.  It's definitely alkaline (generally around pH 10), but if properly made, it doesn't present a huge threat to skin and hair like the makers of those commercial synthetic "soaps" would have you believe. Quite the contrary. A high quality, moisturizing ,natural handmade soap actually improves most skin problems!  (you know, the ones caused by those fake synthetic laden albeit "pH balanced" detergent bars!)  We've received countless testimonials over the years to prove it too.  Real results from real people...not profit driven corporations feeding you a line of bull.  Mildness does not equal low pH folks.  It just...ain't...so.

According to the late Aubrey Hampton, cosmetic chemist and natural products formulator, "A product's pH is not a danger to the body, but the synthetic chemicals used in cosmetics - often to alter the pH to please the ones who fall for the "pH balanced" story...ARE."

Just Say NO to GMO!

When we formulated our new organic body balms it was important to us to use certified organic oils, but we also wanted to use non-GMO corn starch since corn is one of the world's most prevalent GMO crops.  (Soybean is another one, which is one of the reasons we don't use soy in our products.  That and because it makes a softer soap.)  Awareness is growing about the dangers of genetically modified organisms and A Wild Soap Bar is committed to protecting our food supply any way we can.

October is Non-GMO Month. The focus is that everybody has a right to know what's in their food (and bodycare products) and to avoid harmful GMO's if they want to. Even if you don't believe in the dangers of GMO's, you should still get behind the core American value of the right to know.  When governments and monopolistic corporations conspire to keep you in the dark...you should be concerned.

The Right2Know March is Oct. 1st in New York and Oct. 16th in D.C.  The more people that can make it to these events, the more awareness it will create and that's all it takes to educate tons more people. We have a long way to go before GMO labeling becomes a reality, but awareness and education are the first steps, along with supporting companies and organizations that....

Just say NO to GMO!

Oasis of Calm?

Turn your bathroom into an oasis of calm!   On the surface it sounds so inviting.  But before you can kick back and relax...you know...you'll need to scrub down that tub first. 

What do people think when they peek behind your shower curtain?  I've done it my friend, and you know you've done it too!  The state of one's bath tub says a lot about one's life.  So better get rid of the ring! 

And while you're at it, declutter the joint too.  Cause all that extra stuff is weighing you down.  The expired medications.  The rock hard bath salts.  That pile of dirty clothes... they're ruining your zen.  Feng shui experts would surely poo poo it.  So pick it up, stash it, sort it and toss it.  Just do it.  It's for your own good.

ok NOW you're ready to build your oasis!  (By this time you've certainly earned it!)  Bring in the fresh flowers.  Light up the candles.  Lock that door and fill up the tub.  Step in.  Tune out.   TURN OFF.

aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

(but don't forget the wildly aromatic soaps at some point and the replenishing body balms when you emerge!)

Lost and Lonely Pines

Sorry to say there's still "a fire burning in them lost and lonely pines" (click above to hear the bluegrass song by the Lost Pines band)

With Love from A Wild Soap Bar

A Wild Soap Bar sprang into action today & donated 200 peppermint scented bath sized bars of natural handmade soap to our Central TX neighbors in need along with a monetary donation to the Red Cross of Central TX.  It felt good to help, even in a small way.  After months of relentless drought, record breaking heat, and devastating wildfires, I hope our handmade soap brings a little bit of pampering to everyone who receives it.  Enjoy!

She's Cryin' WildFire

My husband and I decided to drive over to see the Bastrop fires after dinner...only about 15 miles from our house as the crow flies. Wish I'd brought the real camera.  I've never seen anything like it.  Fully three-fourths of the entire horizon was covered with thick plumes of smoke.  I stood there and tried to comprehend what was happening in my backyard.  I thought about all the homeless people that have nothing more than the shirts on their backs tonight.  I thought about all the poor helpless pets and livestock that were trapped somewhere and didn't make it out.  And then I thought about all those gorgeous old growth pines in Bastrop State Park that I've loved since I was a kid that I'll never ever see again.  I don't think I was fully prepared for what I saw.  I broke down and cried.

About That Jar of Vaseline...

 I unearthed this rusty relic from underneath a junk pile the other day and it got me to thinking.  Friend or foe?  Is Vaseline really as bad as I've been led to believe?  I know it's made from petroleum (a non-renewable resource that heavily pollutes) ...and admittedly, that's already a pretty big strike against it.  But does it actually cause cancer? 

One woman in Alaska (with super dry skin) seems to think that as long as it's been manufactured by a trusted brand it's harmless.  She did a bit of investigative work too and there's some interesting ideas in her article.  I enjoyed it.  But she relies mostly on information provided by the FDA and by Unilever itself, neither of which has ANY motivation to show the danger$ of petroleum product$.  Know what I mean?

Here's another article about mineral oil (which Vaseline is a form of) and I believe this guy's done his homework a little more thoroughly.  He concludes that properly refined mineral oil is perfectly safe for use on the skin too, but points out that it's not the least bit environmentally friendly.  I'll probably have to go with that stance for now.  He made a lot of sense. Though I won't be slathering it on my skin anytime soon.

One thing's for sure, there are a lot of whacky uses for Vaseline Petroleum Jelly.  Actually they're not that whacky either.  I know I've used some of them.  How about you?

A Busy Life

I know.  It's been eons since I posted to my blog.  Between running a business, building 2 homes on site, bringing new products to market, building a new web site, and well, just "life"....where does a person find time?  I'm keeping the grand kids today (one of my favorite jobs) so that's that.  Luckily big sister Aubrey (12) helps immensely with little brother Caden (19 mos).  Here's a few pics I snapped earlier.  A busy life is a good life!  Gotta go now.

B.S. BLISS

 If you could stick your nose in this jar of super scented 

mineral essence grapefruit eucalyptus dead sea bath salts

like I did...you'd probably experience this...

PURE. BLISS.

That's it.  I'm headed for the tub.  

But I'm curious...how often do you use bath salts?

What for?  And what are some of your favorites?

It's All About Our Fans

Snapped this photo of the rocks in our driveway and wanted to shout out to our fans!

All Work & No Play?

Does it ever seem like all work and no play to you?  I found myself thinking that far too often, so I finally set out to do something about it.  In my last post I boldly proclaimed that I wanted to be an artist someday...."when I retire".  Well what on earth was I thinking?  That day may never come and besides, I needed a creative outlet NOW.

So I carved  out a modest little studio space inside our already over-crowded soap shop.  (It's absolutely amazing what you can accomplish when you have ulterior motives.)   See what I mean?

OK, so it's not my dream space...but it's a little space to dream in.  There are no antique library card files to hold my enormous rubber stamp collection.  No eastern windows to bathe my work in the soft morning light.  No polished bamboo floors.  No sleek European furniture.  (Actually it looked more like Early Goodwill.)  But I did manage to find a bit of insight and inspiration there.  Mostly, I just had some fun.  After a few blissful hours in my humble new studio, I emerged with artwork in hand.  Success!

 

 Introducing.... my SoapBox series.  Beautifully embellished little paper mache boxes that hold...you got it....our natural handmade soaps!  Covered with rustic grass papers, tiny pressed plants, bits and beads and...did I mention dreams?  Find them for sale on our gifts & accessories page, but it's really not about the sales.  Nope.  It's ALL about the joy of creating!  Yes.  That's what these little boxes hold.  Cheers!

Just ordered this gorgeous coffee table book called Artist's Handmade Houses.  I've been telling everybody lately I'm going to be an artist when I retire (if and when THAT ever happens).  But hey, a little inspiration never hurt anybody, right?

Here Comes the Sun

Somedays you wake up and the world is just bursting with possibilities.  Like the day I took the first photo with my new iPhone 4 (below).  It was the misty morning view from the inside of our log home, the one we're in the process of moving out of.  The one we're fixing to...gulp...tear down.  And then rebuild on the exact same spot.  

Tearing down your home of 30+ years can be stressful (ya think?), so to ease the transition, I took some of my favorite artwork and turned it into yard art near the travel trailer we're calling home.  The idea came to me a little late....since I had already packed up most of the things I could have used.  For instance, that blue bottle collection would've made a killer bottle tree. And I could have dangled some more of my stained glass & wirework pieces amongst the trees.  But I'm not about to backtrack...so these will have to do.  Familiar suns & moons greet me everyday now on my walk between the trailer and the soap shop.  

I'm super excited about the possibilities to come.  It's a new day...a new dawn...and I'm up for the challenge. (at least today, anyway)

What exciting possibilities are you looking forward to?

Hey, are you in.?

To in.gredients I mean? The nation's first package-free zero waste grocery store is scheduled to open later this year right here in ATX!  Woop!!!  Can you tell we're super excited?  Besides the obvious food based perks (supports organic farmers, reduces waste, boosts the local economy, nurtures community, etc)... we think the concept has HUGE potential for locally made zero waste package-free body care too.  In addition to a slice of fragrant handmade soap, imagine stopping in for a spoonful of locally grown fresh fruit mask, a pinch of facial scrub based on local honey, or a scoop of relaxing bath salts fortified with healing native plants.  (We've got the perfect natural bath and bodycare company in mind to provide those local goodies too!)

I mean, instead of just eating local....shouldn't we be bathing local? 

Let's face it.  We can't continue on in the same insanely wasteful and over-consumptive lifestyles we're used to...trucking exotic stuff half way around the world and then tossing the packaging after just one use.  That's insane.  The time for smarter in.gredients has come. Who knows, maybe other stores will follow suit? 

Now, if we can donate to the cause, so can you.  We're definitely in.  Are you?

The Mighty Mesquite

You'll know the mesquite bean pods are ripe when they rattle and take on a reddish tinge (but as you can see, some hungry critter already figured that out...chomp).  Mesquite beans have provided nutritious food for animals and humans throughout the arid Southwest for centuries. The abundant wild pods provide protein, sugars, carbohydrates and minerals.  The flavor varies considerably from tree to tree, but when you find a sweet one, you've got a good friend for life.

We use wild mesquite bean meal in our natural and organic Mesquite Bean Soap.  It lends a scrubby texture to the bar and enhances the scent as well.  Most people never thought of making soap with mesquite beans, and that's exactly why we developed a recipe for it about 15 years ago.  Our soaps are anything but ordinary.

If you're feeling adventurous too, you can learn how to cook with mesquite bean meal.  Gather & grind the raw pods yourself or buy the processed mesquite flour here (much simpler).  A quick search on Google provides recipes for mesquite bread, cookies, and even mesquite cola!  That's a new one on me.

Sounds delicious, don't you think?

Cleaning Up on Soap Suds Row

I can always count on Texas Co-op Power to bring me interesting articles about rural life, homesteading, and days gone by.  My thoughtful husband tossed the June issue on my desk yesterday because he knew I'd be particularly interested in this little gem called Clean Living on 'Soap Suds Row'.  It chronicles how in 1802 the U.S. Army put the "lowly" laundresses (also known as washerwomen) to work on the harsh Texas frontier.  It all sounded pretty unfair, until I learned that while the soldiers whose uniforms they cleaned made only about $13 a month, an industrious laundress could earn up to $40 a month! 

Put that in 'yer pipe and smoke it boys!

Remembering Aubrey Hampton

I hadn't heard.  Aubrey Hampton, founder of Aubrey Organics, died on May 9 in Tampa, FL after a short illness according to this blog.  The natural ingredients guru contributed so much to our industry that I felt compelled to honor his life here.  I'd never met Mr. Hampton personally, but when I spotted his pioneering bible Natural Organic Hair and Skin Care at Half Price Books in the late 80's I remember snatching it up thinking....some fool gave THIS up?  Wow.  Their pain, my gain!   I still have that book in my reference library today.  I also remember being thrilled when my friend Donna Maria, founder of Indie Beauty Network, had him on one of her informative Beauty Calls, and I was even lucky enough to catch one of his rare TV appearances a few years back.

Besides being impressed by his incredible working knowledge of natural and organic cosmetic ingredients, (way before green was "in" I might add)....and what to avoid, I remember that he was a snappy dresser which gave him a certain touch of class.  Most importantly though, he was a profoundly gifted teacher.  A man of great vision.

Thank you Aubrey for your huge contributions to the world of natural cosmetics!  I hope you know how much you inspired myself and others.  And I hope you're able to stir up a few organic creams and lotions in that big laboratory in the sky.

The Green Thing

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should
bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the
environment.

The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. The former generation didn't care enough to save our environment!"

He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day.  Back
then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the
store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and
refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really
were recycled.

But they didn't have the green thing back in that customer's day.  In her
day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every
store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb
into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.

But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby's diapers because they didn't have the
throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling
machine burning up 220 volts - wind and solar power really did dry the
clothes.

Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always
brand-new clothing.

But that old lady is right; they didn't have the green thing back in her
day.

Back then, they had one TV or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room.
And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the
size of the state of Montana . In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by
hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you.
When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the
lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by
working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that
operate on electricity.

But she's right; they didn't have the green thing back then.

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a cup or
a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water.

They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and
they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole
razor just because the blade got dull.

But they didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to
school or rode the school bus instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour
taxi service.

They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to
power a dozen appliances.

And they didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from
satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza
joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks
were, just because they didn't have the green thing back then?  - author unknown


(This really hit home with me...does that mean I'm getting old?)

Tear Down Those Walls!

This dandy little 24’ travel trailer is going to be our home away from home for the next year or two (hopefully not three!) while we tear down our existing owner built home and rebuild it ...say what?  Most people look at me like I’ve gone stark raving mad when I say this.  And maybe I have...but something's gotta give.  Yes, it looks perfectly charming and utterly picturesque to the untrained eye, but it's not so much when you get up close and personal with it.   It definitely has issues.  Never ending issues.

So pardon me if I’m not around as much as I'd like to be.  With 2 businesses to run and 2 major construction projects underway ...we're going to have our hands full to say the least.   Remember, we're helping our son build his house right now too.   Don't worry, we plan to switch off between the two.   When you're on the "pay as you go plan" it kinda works out that way anyway.

Thankfully, we’ve learned a whole lot over the years.   I still don't want a big house, but I do want a nicer house.  And this time we’ll get it jussst right.   I’m sure of it…because there'll be no next time!  We're not getting any younger ya know.

So do YOU think I'm crazy?   What's the biggest project you've ever tackled?  How'd it turn out?

Herbal Soap Eggs

I've been thinking about egg soap a lot today.  After all, it IS Easter.  So I was traipsing around the interweb and I unearthed this little jewel (along with some extraordinary eggs facts and this gorgeous photo).  The soapmaking instructions are pretty iffy...but what a marvelous idea!  (Those plastic jello egg molds got nothing on this baby!)  I'd actually add some ground herbs to the recipe...and I'd throw in those moisturizing eggs yolks for good measure too.

~HERBAL SOAP EGGS~

Ingredients:
3 eggs
half a cup of distilled water
2 spoonfuls caustic soda (potash)
half a cup lard
1 tea spoon essential oil of clove
1 tea spoon essential oil of cinnamon
half a cup rapeseed oil
1 tea spoon turmeric powder
1 spoonfuls water

Preparation:
Making the moulds: Punch a hole on both sides of the eggs and blow out the contents. Enlarge the hole on the widest part of the egg to enable you to fill the eggs. Wash the scales and let them dry at a moderate temperature in the oven. Close the smallest holes with tape.
Preparing the soap: Pour the distilled water in a bowl. Add the soda and stir well with a wooden spoon. Melt the lard in a saucepan and add the soda liquid. Mix well, the lard will turn slightly pink, but after a while turns white again. Now add the essential oils and the in water dissolved turmeric powder. Mix real well and now slowly pour, using a funnel, the liquid into the egg. Do so by pouring during 10 minutes a small quantity at the time into the egg, the liquid will reduce in size whilst drying. Leave the eggs for 36 hours to dry. Now carefully break the scales and leave the egg-shaped soap for about 2 weeks to dry in a well ventilated place. Remove after that period the white powder that has formed on the outside and pack in silk paper. 

Taken from Old Soap Recipes.  Enjoy!

How Will You Honor Your Mother?

Earth, that is.  Here at A Wild Soap Bar we try to make every day Earth Day by reducing, re-using and recycling.  But even with all the little things we do, we can still do better.  Much better.  We all can. 

Today I'm making a commitment to recycle our household glass.  We don't use much, but that doesn't mean it's ok to toss even a little bit in the landfill.  Glass is infinitely recyclable!  I desperately wish we had curbside pickup, or even a recycling center within 20 miles for that matter, but I can't afford to use that as an excuse either.  For now, we will continue to "hoard and haul".  How will you honor your Mother?  

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

An Antidote to "Stuffism"

What exactly do you DO with all that memorabilia you've collected over the years?  Move it?  Wash it?  Dust it?  File it?  Have you ever stopped to think about all the time required to maintain all that useless stuff?  I mean, do you really need that Mickey Mouse bobble head you got at Disney 10 years ago? 

Chances are....probably not.

Besides not purchasing all that junk in the first place, I think this blogger's found a pretty good solution in the digital memory archive.  Of course this technique is only for sentimental stuff that actually deserves archiving.  So much of what we store in our homes these days could be recycled, re-gifted, passed on or even burned. 

I just removed 3 large trash bags of worthless stuff from my kitchen. And it felt GOOD.  Now if I could just apply this archive principle to all those faded out, scentless Soap Shrine soaps I've been hoarding over the years.  No offense to any of the wonderful, talented soapmakers who created them, but quite frankly....most of them are all washed up.  (the soaps, NOT the soapmakers)

The New Wild Soap Sampler is Born

It's finally here!  Brand new packaging for our popular Wild Soap Sampler.  While the corrugated cardboard tied up with raffia and a tag was awfully cute...putting together hundreds at a time was not that much fun.  So we designed a new package that would still showcase our beautiful natural soaps, while being much easier to assemble ....saving valuable time ....and greatly improving morale in the soap shop too!  We hope you like it.  After all, time is money and we're always looking for ways to keep costs down.  To kickstart its debut, the new Wild Soap Sampler is on sale right now.  So go ahead...."take a wash on the wild side!"  (It tells you to right on top of the box.)

What's in My Crockpot Now? Wild Weeds!

No, I'm not stalking the wild asparagus (not for food anyway).  I gathered up this bunch of fresh late winter weeds to make some healing Wild Weeds Oil.   It's OK.  It's legal.  And I make up a fresh batch every spring.  This time I've got a brand new product in mind...but it's still on the drawing board so I'll keep it under wraps a little while longer.  This Wild Weeds Oil will be an integral part of it though.  Stay tuned for more on that later.  (You can still get some of our infamous Wild Weeds Body Balm if you hurry.)

So let me tell you a little bit about the skin care properties of these wild green goddesses.  They grow practically everywhere, whether you want them to or not, so they're easy to find (and affordable too).

Pictured here from left to right are:

Cleavers (Galium aparine) - Also known as catchweed or bedstraw, cleavers is anti-inflammatory, astringent, and a general detoxifier.  The fresh plant juice is used as a medicinal poultice for wounds, ulcers, seborrhea, eczema, psoriasis, and many other skin problems. They're kind of obnoxious because they stick to everything...but deal with it.
Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) -  This invasive "weed" is both astringent and antioxidant.  The fresh bruised leaves can be applied to external cuts and wounds.  It's not used much in herbal medicine, but it was growing in with the other weeds, so what the heck.
Plantain (Plantago major) -  This perennial "weed" contains high amounts of beta carotene (Vitamin A) which is used to improve all sorts of skin conditions.  It's anti-inflammatory, astringent, emollient, cooling, antimicrobial, and an antitoxin.  One of plantain's most common uses is as a poultice for stings, bites, sunburn, scrapes, wounds and rashes.  In a pinch, you can chew up the fresh leaves and put them directly on the affected area for quick relief.
Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) - Wild Carrot or Queen Anne's Lace has been use medicinally for thousands of years.  It's known to be analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiseptic and antifungal.  An essential oil distilled from the fragrant seeds is used in many anti-wrinkle creams.  What's not to love about that? 
Chickweed (Stellaria media) -  This naturalized "weed" is high in vitamin C, antioxidants and vital minerals.  It's also emollient, demulcent, analgesic, soothing and healing.  Chickweed is used to treat skin irritations such as itching, inflammation, rashes, and sores. You'll see many chickweed salves on the market today.


Now I'll bet you didn't know you had all this good stuff growing wild in your lawn and garden.  To make an infused oil, let your fresh plants wilt for a day or so to remove most of the water that can cause your oil to spoil.  Put your crock pot on the lowest setting, cover the plants with any good vegetable oil (I use organic extra virgin olive oil) and let them steep for 24-48 hours.  It's important not to burn the plants, so check the temp to make sure it's not getting too hot.  Under 100 degrees is ideal.  You can also put the jar out in the full sun for a week or so.  When it's ready, your oil should be a beautiful deep green color.  Store any oil you don't plan to use within a month or two in the refrigerator.  And that's about all there is to it.  Of course you should always make a positive ID by an informed naturalist before using any wild plant. Never EVER gather more than 1/3 of what you find and don't gather ANYTHING if it's on the threatened or endangered species list.  Duh!

Just remember...one woman's weeds are another woman's medicine!  (and who likes to weed anyway?)

A Fresh Kinda Music

I've ALWAYS wanted to play the eggplant...and you?

Healthy Hair, Naturally

The success of our  100% natural Yucca Root Shampoo & Body Bar Soap has been phenomenal.  So we'll be unveiling a brand new Shampoo & Body Bar soon (more on that later).  For now, let's focus on what to do AFTER you shampoo.  Natural hair rinses can help you achieve a healthy head of hair and can also remove build-up and promote shine.  I recommend you  use them at least once a week.  Here's a few easy recipes to try at home.  Let me know which ones you prefer, and how they work for you.

Irish Potato Peels - conditions & darkens gray hair & highlights brunette, bring to a boil 1 C fresh potato peelings in 2 C water, lower heat & simmer 5 minutes, cool, strain and pour over hair, leave on

Blackberry Leaf - treats dandruff and enhances all hair types & colors, pour 2 C boiling water over 1/4 C herb, cool, strain and use as a final rinse, leave on

Parsley Leaf - treats dandruff, pour 2 C boiling water over 1/4 C herb, cool, strain and use as a final rinse, leave on

Tomato Juice - removes odors, use full strength, rinse off with warm then cold water

Apple Cider Vinegar - promotes shine & removes build-up, mix 1/2 C with 2 C water & add several drops lavender, tea tree, or mint essential oil (optional), for all hair types & colors, leave on (the smell disappears when dry) or rinse off with cold water

Lemon Juice - promotes shine & removes build-up, mix the juice of 1 lemon with 2 C water, for all hair types & colors, use weekly, leave on or rinse off (especially on dark colors) with cold water

Baking Soda - promotes shines & removes build-up, mix 2 TBS with 2 cup water, massage onto hair & scalp, rinse with warm, then cold water

Stinging Nettle Leaf - promotes shine and strengthens hair, pour 2 C boiling water over 1/4 C herb, cool, strain and use as a final rinse, leave on

Flat Beer - for extra body & shine, let 1 C beer set out uncovered for 24 hrs, pour over hair (the smell disappears when dry), leave on

The Texas Plus House

If you've been following this blog for a while, you know that our youngest son Jory's been building his own house just south of the soap shop for about a year now (in his spare time, whatever that is).  It's been going a little slower than planned, but they say good things come to those who wait.  Well it's been an amazing journey so far!  The amount of dedication and perseverance he's put into this project has been nothing short of miraculous.  Countless hours of research on the internet.  Pouring over technical diagrams and videos late into the night.  Hashing out complex mathematical calculations that would make Einstein's head spin.  I honestly don't know how he does it all.  I think he realizes he bit off a lot to chew, but he's making good on his dream for himself and his soon-to-be new bride.  And I'm convinced he'll succeed.  Because a quitter, he is not.

Click here to tour the Swedish Plus House he's modeling his home after (without any real building experience and without any blueprints whatsoever I might add).  Of course the interior will be different, but they're keeping the see thru stairs (one of my favorite features).  The wide apertures of the house crisscross to form a mathematical plus sign.  This house is more than the sum of its parts.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just a tad jealous.  I do hope they can find a good housekeeper who does windows though!  Jackie, I'd be shopping around for a good squeegee if I were you.

All You Need Is Love (all together now)

And that about sums it up folks...Happy Valentine's Day! ♥ ♥ ♥

You MIGHT Be A Soap Geek ...

• if you know that the Obama Bar was NOT a lounge in DC.
• if you approach strangers in a store and begin to share your knowledge of the soap making process.
• if your thought bubbles are actually soap bubbles.
• if the most exciting thing you've done lately is participate in a soap swap.
• if you'll drive 30 minutes or more just to get your favorite bar.
• if you get excited when you start to smell the soap aisle in the grocery store...and it's still 2 aisles over. 
• if the person in front of you at the check out has commercial soap on the conveyor and it's all you can do to keep yourself from snatching it and running away, telling them how bad it is for them...and handing them a business card. 
• if you get excited in the hardware store when you pass the drain cleaner (lye).
• if olive oil isn't just for cooking any more. 
• if everything you look at in a store instantly gets a mental scan for whether or not it can be used to make soap.
• if you feel disgusted knowing you used Dial all those years growing up. 
• if every container you see could be envisioned as a soap mold.
• if you know what "superfatting" is, and know it has nothing to do with fast food.
• if you Google "soap" and get upset when All My Children gets returned in the results.
• if you see a new fragrance and wonder if it's soap safe.
• if lye burns begin to feel good after time.
• if you pull up to the drive-in window and the teller asks "What's that smell?"
• if you become more intimate with your gas mask, than with your spouse.
• if soap scum seems innocuous.
• if you get a "my soap is better than your soap" complex.
• if you can't pick up a soap bar without studying the ingredients.
• if everything in your garden and kitchen becomes potential soap ingredients.
• if you can identify the ingredients of any soap based on scent or appearance alone.
• if you sing to your soaps in the shower and they sing back.
• if you always remember your first true soap love: A Wild Soap Bar.  ;o)
• Many thanks to our loyal Facebook Fans for helping out with these.  Feel free to post a comment below and add your own, because if you're reading this blog post....you just MIGHT be a Soap Geek too!

A Wild Soap Bar Goes Organic!

 

So why are we going organic?

Because organic matters!

Natural was nice, but let's face it, organic is even better.  All of our handmade natural soaps & healing body balms now contain 100% certified organic base oils.  Our great products have always left your skin feeling perfectly nourished and superbly moisturized, but now they'll also leave you with a crystal clear conscience.  Because what we leave behind for our children and grandchildren matters.  

The new soaps are wearing smart new eco-friendly boxes too and new packaging for our other products is underway as well.  We don't have the new soap pics up on the website yet, but we're working on it.  And to top it all off, our prices will remain exactly the same!

We just raised the bar!  Don't you think?

Thanks For A Job Well Done (...it's a GIVEAWAY!)

Last fall our Woof Wild Natural Dog Shampoo Bar Gift Sets were featured in the barking section of BellaDog and proud dog owners everywhere sat up and took notice.  More recently, The Herb Companion's Feb/March 'List of Likes' recommended our spicy Sassafras Soap to herb lovers sprouting up across the globe.  You can register to win some of the fabulous products they liked here! 

Being featured in numerous national publications over the past 16 years has no doubt been glamorous and fun, and we're forever grateful for the opportunity...but...it's the heartfelt testimonials from loyal fans like you that really hit home with us!

I'll bet you remember all too well the last time you blasted a company for its shortcomings, but when's the last time you paused to send a word of thanks for a job well done?

Comment on that thought here and be registered to win one whole LB of our Natural Soap Odds & Ends!  Link back to this post to double your chances!  Follow this blog to triple your chances!  Drawing held at noon CST Fri. Jan. 21st & the winner will be announced here.  U.S. addresses only.

NOTE: Anonymous entries will NOT be entered for the giveaway.  We like to do business face ta face.

The "A" List

A Wild Soap Bar's premium soaps are always on the "A" List!

Aromatic.

Artful.

Authentic.

Awesome.

But did you know we're also:

Aeonian - long lasting

Aceologic - therapeutic

Aesthesiogenic - sensational 

Afflated - inspired

Alible - nourishing

Allogeneous - different

Antibromic - deodorizing

Apotropaic - designed to turn away evil

(Okay...just kidding about that last one!)
Did you learn any new words though?

Soap Powered Microgreens? Sure, Why Not

Seeing how our master soapmaker aspires to be a backyard farmer someday, we've seen a lot of rigged-up farm related stuff around the soap shop over the years (a three story earthworm farm and brewing compost tea to name a few), but this simple little idea is pretty cool.  He used the heat generated by the soap making reaction to help sprout several flats of nutrient rich microgreens...

 

 

 amaranth, curly cress, and mizuna. 

Similar to sprouts (well, sorta kinda), microgreens are super easy to grow on a sunny windowsill and can provide a powerhouse of nutrients during the cold winter months and beyond.  They make tasty additions to soups, salads and casseroles.  Want to try it?

To learn more, read

Microgreens: A Guide To Growing Nutrient Packed Greens