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The Chinese Spring Festival is coming to a close and while I’m sad to see the celebrations, fireworks and bright signs disappear, I’m also looking forward to having my normal (and quiet) life back next week. As I write this post, the leftover food of a family celebration sit in […]

Freebie Friday!

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Recently I caught the worst cold ever. I have been miserable. I had this cold for several days with no improvement in sight. I mean, the box of tissues and my pillow have been my best friends. Andee wasn’t even been able to talk me into a movie. (I can […]

The Flu, a Chinese Hospital and a Toast

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I will admit, I loved the soap we made yesterday. If fact, as soon as I could, I started to use a bar. Yes, that means I didn’t quite let it cure all the way, so it was a little soft but it is so very good! I couldn’t resist. […]

Coffee Oil Lip Balm

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Okay, I admit I am a complete and total Java junkie. However China is a predominately a tea drinking culture. Don’t get me wrong, I love tea. I just happen to be craving coffee and it kills me because here in a Beijing a simple cup of joe is a […]

Coffee Oil Soap

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Can you believe it? It is Friday! I love Friday. I love how it wraps up the workweek and how it signifies the start of a weekend. Whether you prefer your weekends quiet and peaceful or hustling and bustling with activity the weekends are perfect to spend a little quality […]

Freebie Friday!

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Jerry and I went shopping today to get more vegetables and a whole chicken to make chicken soup. I’ve been fighting the flu and while I have some energy, I still don’t have much. Chicken soup is great because it provides nutrients and fluids that the body needs. Did you […]

Thinking about carrots

Want to know your zone? Check this chart! Your zone is listed by your ZIP code’s first 3 digits on this Zone Chart!

New Zone Chart

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We have some 16 fl ounce bottles that are a size 24. These are HDPE and a bullet shaped bottle. The bottle height from foot to base of the neck is 7-1/4 inches. We have many cases of these bottles and our construction project for our work area is about […]

Bottles must go!

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I finally found my test batch bottles! They were hiding in the only suitcase that I hadn’t gotten to yet! I’m so glad that I can now review these lotions. To briefly review, I made test batches using the Granny’s Favorite Lotion recipe. I made five batches of lotion using […]

Humectant Comparison in Lotion, Final Results

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Our new calendar is in the warehouse now. I am so relieved. We changed this calendar a bit and made it a foldable type that fits under your keyboard, or on top of your keyboard if it is a lap top. YEA! Now you will know when the holidays roll […]

Calendars and Freebies!

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I hope everyone has has a good week and I know I’m glad it is Friday! This week has had me running with packing, moving, and unpacking again. I’m completely moved and mostly unpacked. I’m loving the new apartment as I now have more space. (Including space for soaping!) Now, […]

Freebie Friday!

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We get a lot of questions about curing soap. The typical thought of our callers is that soap is dangerous until it has cured for 3 to 6 weeks. This is dangerous thinking! Soap is a fantastic chemical reaction between a fat and an alkali. The resulting product is a […]

Curing Soap