So Very Thankful!

I am so very thankful. This has been a great year for me. Since starting Flowery Branch Essentials in June 2009 I have made well over a hundred sales between my shop on etsy and craft fairs. I am so proud of the positive feedback and great things my customers are saying about my products and service. This is a learning adventure and I hope to offer even more affordable products in the upcoming year.
I love to hear what you have to say, so if there are any recommendations for items you would like to see or scents please drop me a line. My email is customercare@fbessentials.com

Thank you to everyone that has helped make this a great year!

My First Craft Fair!

I am so excited and nervous! I have my first craft fair this weekend. I am really worried about having enough items and my presentation. It will be 5 hours and I am just really not sure if I have made enough of everything. I'm sure this is totally normal to feel this way and I just have to remember that this is a fun learning experience. It will be great to get consumer feed back and find out exactly what people want. I'm just guessing as far as scents and what will sell. Wish me luck!

The Reason Your Skin Feels Dry After Using Commercial Soaps

Ever wonder why your skin feels so dry after using a commercial soap that says, "moisturizing" on the label? Here is why, glycerin is a natural by product of making soap (combining oils with lye). Glycerin is very special. It is a humectant which in plain English means that it draws moisture from the air. So if you bathe with soap your skin is coated with glycerin and therefore draws moisture to your skin.
Commercial soap makers discovered that instead of leaving the moisturizing glycerin in the soap they could remove it and sell it as a separate product! Now from a business stand point that it great, double the profit from one product. Plus, now you need to buy lotion because your skin is dry.
Handmade soap is different. The glycerin is left in and a lot of the time extra is added. Those who experience the rich smooth moisturizing lather seldom go back to commercial soap.

Easy Rejuvenating Facial Scrub Recipe (Vegan)

Here is a wonderful facial scrub recipe that is all natual and you probably have the ingredients in your kitchen already.

1 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup white cornmeal
1 tsp dried ground ginger


Pour all ingredients in food processor and pulse until ingredients form a powder. Keep sealed in airtight container. Zipper bags work well.

To use: Dampen face with warm water. Pour dime size amount on finger tips of damp hand. Rub hands together to form paste. Apply to face in circular rubbing motions to gently exfoliate. Rinse face with lukewarm water and pat dry.

It is not a good idea to exfoliate the face more than 2 to 3 times per week.

Doing Wholesale

Well, I am now taking F B Essentials to the next level and will start selling my line of products wholesale! It has already been picked up by one boutique! I was thinking about doing this when opportunity came knocking at my door. Now I have to kick it into high gear and create my liturature and policies. It is a new day and a new chance for opportunity!

Super Excited about planning my WEDDING!!!

I am so super duper excited about planning my wedding! I never thought I would actually get to make my own invitations, favors etc. I thought I would always be making the for others. Now I can't wait to get started! If you have any ideas or invitation templates(preferrably pocket fold) feel free to leave a comment.

Becoming an addiction

I think this whole soap thing is really becoming an addiction. I eat, sleep, and breathe soap! I am constantly intoxicated by the sweet, sensual scents. My skin is forever lathered with some sort of soap , butter or lotion. Anything to feed my new addiction. Every time I think I've found my favorite scent I try a new one and well it's better than the last. Yep, I think it's becoming an addiction... I'm a soap junkie!

New Shipment in!

I'm so excited! I just got a new shipment of delicious smelling fragrance oils! Can't wait to make them into soap and lotion!!!

I LOVE SMALL BUSINESSES

I absolutely love working with small businesses! I have to give a big thumbs up to http://www.elementsbathandbody.com/ I placed a couple of orders within a day of each other and they were so wonderful and refunded one of my orders shipping charges and put my orders together!!! Thank you Elements! A large company would NEVER have done that!

ARE YOU WHERE YOU THOUGHT YOU'D BE?

Wow, this mornng I woke up to a song that took me back to 1997! It seems like it was yesterday. It is amazing how so many things in your life can change. I guess you never really know where you will end up. In 1997 I graduated as an Operating Engineer (I operated big stuff like bulldozers). Now I'm a SAHM with a handmade soap business. I can't think of two more opposite career paths. I also never thought I would be able to have another child, so now I have an 18 year old and a 20 month old. Who knew! Are you where you thought you would be?