One Step Ahead...

I always pride myself on being one step ahead of the game (or at least on pace). Case in point: I received my download of the Jan/Feb '09 issue of Saponifier Magazine the other day, and one of the articles was Product Reviews. I was surprised to see that one of the products being reviewed was Brambleberry's Holly Berry fragrance oil. I was so excited because I bought this FO back in November as my one true Christmas fragrance. It's a limited edition FO, so I'm not sure how long it'll be around. The reviewer used her Holly Berry in body cream and MP soap, but I used mine in CP soap. The scent itself is a combo of holly, pine, and red tart berries with supporting notes of cinnamon and cardamom. There was a disclaimer that the soap would discolor to a peach/gold after 8 hours. That would have been so cool, but it didn't happen for me. My soap stayed the red and green I colored it. I really smell the cinnamon and pine more than anything making it perfectly unisex. I sprinkled a little gold soap glitter on it for effect. Believe it or not, I haven't used this one yet. It's going in the shower tonight. Bottom line: It is a nice addition to your holiday/winter collection.

I'm Getting Better!

For those of you who regularly read my blog, you know I often lament about how I suck at pillar candle making. Well I'm happy to report that I'm improving-slightly. I ordered a new type of wax that I've never used before, and I'm quite pleased with it. I went to At Wix End to originally order a drill bit for my pillars, but I not only got that, I bought a 5 pound bag of this wax. I love it because it's a one pour wax, meaning you don't get those pesky sink holes. I hate those damn things! Secondly, the finished product yields this beautiful snowflake effect. I scented this candle in Blackberry Nectarine from Candle Science, but the color doesn't really reflect it. I was testing the wax after all! I give this wax 4.5 stars out of 5. Like all soy and palm waxes, you get that powdered fluff which gets all over the place. I wish they'd package these types of waxes in a container. Those plastic bags they pack them in aren't worth a damn. The tiniest little hole will get that powdered stuff all over the place. Looks like a huge bag of cocaine to me!

I'm off to make a few more candles. Stay tuned...

My New Year's Resolution? I'ma Do Me!!!!

Happy New Year, Everyone! I'm so thankful to make it to another year because there was a time not too long ago that I didn't care if I lived or died. 2008 was a year of transition for me. It was my first full year without Spencer. I started new job, and I started blogging. I was trying so hard to fit in and keep up with The Joneses that I lost myself. I was information overload-Etsy, Twitter, MySpace, Ning, you name it. I saw all these wonderful sites and talented crafters that I wanted to copy them and be like them-even if it wasn't me! I wasted so much time, money, and effort trying to be somebody I wasn't. If I saw a soap maker who made cool swirls or used a certain fragrance, I had to do it too. Well, no more! It's 2009, and I declare this the year of ME!!!

I resolve in 2009 to be true to myself at the expense of myself. I vow not to compare myself-mind, body, spirit, and talent-to anyone else. I will take advantage of every opportunity presented to me even if it results in failure. I am so tired of living in the "what if". I will continue to perfect my craft and share what I know with others. I will be nicer to people (that's gonna take a lot of work). And lastly, I will learn to love myself again. Whew! I've just set the bar so high, I feel faint....

Talk to ya'll later.