FACEBOOK BOUTIQUE - SLATHERS

There have been some requests for Oil Slathers so I posted a few in the Facebook Shop! I'm waiting on an ingredient shipment and, at the moment, there are only a couple bottles of each scent in stock.

Oil Slathers are "sans-junk" mixtures of Grapeseed, Organic Sunflower, Avocado and Jojoba Oils with added Vitamin E. Designed for after you shower and before you towel off. Simply apply a small amount to areas that could use extra moisturization. They're great to use in place of lotion or along with it and they also make a lovely massage oil ... oh la la!

FACEBOOK BOUTIQUE - LOTIONS!

 

I'm super excited about the launch of our new Facebook Boutique last night! This shop will feature select items and special discounts exclusively for Mood Milk Facebook friends. Just click the SHOP NOW tab at the top of our Facebook page. If you're not our friend yet, what the heck are you waiting for?!?!

Just added to the boutique ... Lotions! Soaps and Bath Salts are also currently up for grabs. Plus, free shipping on all orders!

I'm still working on the Web Boutique. Once it's up and running the full Mood Milk product line will be available there.

3 BROTHERS GROCERY & DELI

I'm very happy to announce that mood milk products will be available for purchase at 3 Brothers Grocery & Deli in Hoboken, NJ.(@ 11th & Park) next week! The display is nearly finished ... just a few labels to print and bags of bath salts to fill. 

So, if you're in the hood, stop by, say hello to Blanca (the wonderful store owner)and snag yourself some of the first mood milk products on the market!

LADY (or LORD) OF THE SHOWER!

A royal vegetable oil soap scented with a powerful and uplifting blend of French Rosemary Oil, Champagne Fragrance, and Ylang - Ylang Oil. Topped off with a dusting of dried rosemary herbs. Appoint yourself Lady or Lord of your shower and indulge in your kingdom (ha!).

LITTLE BITS-O-PROGRESS

The mood milk website is under way ... www.MoodMilk.com! This morning I posted the place holder that will be up until the boutique opens. It's not much to look at just yet, but, exciting things are in the making on the back end. I can't wait for the shop to go live! 

< mood:impatient >

ANOTHER NEW BREW!

>SCENT No.004
>MOOD: PLAYFUL

Another batch of vegetable oil soap scented with a playful blend of Litsea Cubeba, Bergamot, Ylang-Ylang, and Cedarwood Essential Oils. It's also infused with an extra helping of moisturizing Avocado Oil.

A FRESH BREW

 

>SCENT No.003

>MOOD: RELAXED

A recent batch of vegetable oil soap scented with a relaxing blend of Lavender Population and Bergamot.

MAKING & NAMING & PACKAGING, OH MY!

IMAGE FROM PAPAYA! ART - 2010 WEEKLY PLANNER

Pheeew! Happy to finally have found the time to blog! I've been working my sweet petunia off over here to get things ready for Mood Milk's grand opening! Along with the natural vegetable oil soaps I'm planning to offer a few other items:

> bath bombs

> bubble baths

> shave cream

> lotions

> body spritz 

> lip balms

> candles

> room spritz

Making, testing, and naming the products as well as organizing all the business mumbo jumbo, designing the website, and developing packaging has kept me running in fifth gear. It's a lot to take on so I've made Emily Dickinson's advice my mantra ... "dwell in possibility, dwell in possibility, dwell in possibility" ...
< mood:focused >

*PROFILE: ROSEHIP*

Botanical Name: Rosa Rubiginosa 

Skin Benefits: Rosehip Oil is extremely high in essential fatty acids and is known to help treat dry, irritated, weathered skin. It is also suitable for treating burns, sunburns, scars, and stretch marks.

Absorption: Rosehip Oil is quickly absorbed by the skin and does not leave an oily feel.

Scent: Rosehip has a soft floral scent which is a sweeter, more "pink" aroma than straight rose.

LATEST BREW

 

>SCENT No.002
>MOOD: PEACEFUL

 

Fresh out of the mold today came my favorite batch of soap yet! This batch was scented with an Essential Oil blend of Frankincense, Rosemary, Pink Grapefruit, and Hungarian Lavender. The aroma is amazing! When I first smelled it a vision of walking along a path lined with dew covered grass and crooked old trees popped into my head *sigh*. The scent is slightly invigorating yet relaxing at the same time.    

*LOVE* FOR JOJOBA OIL

JOJOBA OIL (pronounced ho-ho-ba) is extracted from the seeds of Jojoba Trees. Even through it's commonly referred to as oil, the botanical extract is actually a liquid wax with a chemical make up similar to the oil naturally produced by human skin (sebum). It's believed that using Jojoba oil on skin can trick the skin into thinking it is producing enough sebum, thus balancing oil production. This makes Jojoba Oil a good moisturizer for all skin types. For oily or combination skin it controls the production of sebum and on dry skin it creates a moisturizing effect.   

Jojoba Oil Highlights + Characteristics: 

> Provides hours of moisturization and will not evaporate like many water based moisturizers.

> Effective in balancing oil production in all skin types.

> Spreads well and absorbs into the skin well (non-greasy).

> Non-comedogenic; will not block pores.

> Natural carrier of Vitamin E and aids in wrinkle prevention.

> Natural anti-bacterial properties; is capable of eliminating some skin bacteria.

> Natural anti-inflammatory; helps reduce skin inflammations.

> Non-toxic and hypoallergenic; it rarely causes allergic reactions.

Jojoba Oil is pure MAGIC! Mood Milk *hearts* this natural elixir! Happy Valentine's Day!

MUNCHIES FOR OUR BRAINS

"A tidbit a day keeps the doctor away"...okay, that might be pushing it but tidbits of new knowledge certainly can't hurt, so, I've been making an attempt to learn a little about all the possible soap ingredients and essential oils everyday.

Tonight I had the thought that it might be nice to start posting informative profiles on all the possible ingredients here so we can learn about them together. Stay tuned...info on Jojoba Oil is coming up next!

I'd also like to take a few lines to thank all my friends & family who heeded my SOS when I started to feel out of my element with all of this. Your comments, emails, and phone calls mean the world to me. Thanks for showing me & Mood Milk so much love. Cheers to each of you and all your awesomeness!

INTRODUCING MOOD MILK!

I decided I really, REALLY like the name Mood Milk for my soap and I'm stickin' with it!

So, welcome to the new Mood Milk Blog! I hope you'll take a second and read the previous posts (migrated here from a blog of a different name) to get an idea of how I arrived at this point.

I've had a lot of fun this past month making my first few batches of homemade soap and, this week, I decided I'm going to try to turn my soaping into something a little larger. I decided on a name, created a logo, started a new blog, and signed up to sell on Etsy (even though my first few batches won't be ready until the end of the month!) I've been a busy bird creating a cozy little nest for Mood Milk.

My goal is to have everything organized and enough soap made to start selling by May. I hope I'm not jumping the gun or setting myself up for disaster. Man, I could really use some support! I think it might be time to recruit some followers. I'm going to go let some friends and family know what I've been up...

A NEW DIRECTION

 

IMAGE FROM PAPAYA! ART - 2010 WEEKLY PLANNER

After making my first couple batches of homemade soap it's pretty evident to me that I'm hooked. This is a great feeling because I started the new year with a resolution to find a hobby that I love. We're only one month into 2010 and I think I've already fulfilled my resolution. I've never before stuck with a New Year's resolution so I'm beyond excited that I've not only found a hobby but I've also accomplished a goal.

There is, however, a small problem. I've only made two batches of soap and I already have 28 bars more than I need! I was chatting with a friend the other night about this problem and she suggested that I give my soap a name and try selling it. I like everything about that idea except the actual sales part. I'm not a sales woman! But, I am descent when it comes to marketing, I really like graphic design, I've always wanted to run my own business, and this new hobby is going to leave me with more soap than I'll know what to do with. I have to get rid of it somehow and why not try to make some of my money back in the process? I think I may try selling my soap at some point this year. 


After tossing this new idea around for a couple days I've decided to amend my New Year's resolution: I would like to have a selection of high quality soap for sale by Spring! Oh man, what am I getting myself into now?!?!

For starters, I think I may have come up with a name for my soap. Drum roll please...Mood Milk! I'm not sure why I like this name so much. I just like saying it and when I look at my soap bars the name seems to suit them. Oh, my little Mood Milk's! I think what I like most about it is that using "mood" in the name will give me a cohesive way to incorporate the benefits of the essential oils into my marketing.

I'm going to think about Mood Milk a little more and, if I decide to stick with it, I'm going to change the name of my blog and try to come up with a logo.  What 'cha think about that? Are you feeling the name Mood Milk?

MAD ABOUT SOAPING

I. can't. get. enough. I made another batch of soap last night! This second attempt went much smoother than Saturday night's first run. Once again, I can't wait to make my next brew. I'm mad I tell ya, MAD!

I followed the same recipe as before but this time I used an essential oil blend of Rose hip & Jasmine for the scent and BrambleBerry.com's fuchsia coloring. I also tried my hand at making a swirl pattern in the mold. Even though I'm not a fan of pink, I think the bars (pictured above) turned out lovely, don't you? They also smell so freaking good! I stop and huff them every time I walk by ;)

Speaking of scent. I've been reading The Essential Oils Book by Collen K. Dodt and I'm fascinated by the therapeutic benefits of all the different essential oils. I want to learn as much as I can about all the essential oils and more consciously incorporate special blends into my future batches of soap.   

I'M HOOKED

Oh my goodness, I wish I would have taken video of my first soap making experience. It was hilarious and so much fun! Ian and I were laughing the entire time. I'm only one day past making my first batch and I'm foaming at the mouth do it again.

From my first attempt I learned I'm going to have to buy a few more supplies as well as some important lessons for next time: 

1. Respect but don't fear making the lye (mixing the sodium hydroxide & distilled water.) I was irrationally afraid of this first step, because sodium hydroxide is quite a chemical, but doing it once put my mind at ease. The fact I wore double "safety goggles" (my glasses + bug-eyed sunglasses) made me feel better too. I think I'll keep practicing this safety precaution. 

2. An electric stick blender is a must have. I don't know if my arms can handle stirring a mixture for 45 minutes again. A stick blender will also considerably speed up the necessary mixing time.

3. Do not stir too hard. As the minutes ticked by I tried to stir harder and harder in hopes of speeding up the time needed for trace to develop. This made no difference and became super sloppy. I lost a good amount of my mixture down the sink drain. 

4. A mixing bowl with a pour spout would also be helpful. Pouring the mixture into the mold was a little difficult without a pour spout and I lost more of my mixture on this step.

Other than that everything seems to have worked. I won't know for sure for another 4 to 6 weeks because that's how long the soap has to set before use. If everything goes according to plan, over the next few weeks the saponification process will play out perfectly and the pH level of the soap will be safe.

Now we wait...again...This process requires so much patience but I think that is one of the things I like about it. In this era of instant gratification overload, the soap making process is kind of refreshing.

ZERO HOUR!

The time has finally come for me to give soap making a try, tonight is the night. I can't believe how excited I am about this!

Ian and I just finalized the recipe I'm going to use (check out my previous post, Lend Me Your Brain, for more about that.) We also set up all my ingredients and supplies in the kitchen. There's nothing more to do except dive in.

So, here goes...*eeeeeeee*

LEND ME YOUR BRAIN

Well blog, it looks like today may be the big day! After nearly a month of hunting and gathering I finally have all my soap making ingredients and supplies.

The only thing I'm still lacking is a recipe. I encountered a number of recipes on my hunt for knowledge but every one of them incorporated additional, optional ingredients I don't have. They were also calculated for batches that make at least twenty 4 oz. bars. I'm pretty sure my 4 lb. mold will only hold enough mixture to create sixteen 4 oz. bars. Math has never been my strong suit and my palms are starting to sweat just thinking about it. I really don't want to mess this up and waist ingredients. My bank account may never forgive me for that!

It's time to ask for the assistance of my husband and renaissance man, Ian (he does calculus for fun, I'm not joking.)

Here's what I know about my recipe so far:

I have a 4 lb. mold and the ingredients I have to include for saponification are:

> Distilled Water

> Sodium Hydroxide

(these two will be mixed to create the lye solution)

> Olive Oil

> Palm Oil

> Coconut Oil

In addition, I would also like to include a bit of these

> Jojoba Oil

> Litsea Cubeba Essential Oil

> BrambleBerry.com's Oyster Mist Colorant

I also have some conversion charts (that look like a foreign language) which are supposed to help me figure out my recipe. It's safe to assume Ian will look at them and have everything translated and calculated within the hour. Bless him!

To help make up for my math deficiency, please allow me to explain that big word, saponification, I used above. This is the fancy term used to describe the chemical process of making soap. It refers to the way in which the base (in this case sodium hydroxide) reacts with the acid (in this case the vegetable oils) to produce the end result: soap and glycerin. And, for bonus points, it's important to understand that if you calculate your amounts correctly then there will be no harmful, excess lye in your final product. It should be completely converted to soap during the saponification process.

How 'bout them apples?!?! [chuckle] Keep your fingers crossed...Ian's starting to work on the recipe now!

NEW LOVE ???

After opening my packages the other night, like a seven year old on Christmas morning, I immediately decided to start reading my new book. I just finished the first of what I suspect will be many readings of The Natural Soap Book by Susan Miller Cavitch. What a great resource! This book has inspired in me a greater respect for the soap making process and 100% natural soap. I found the author's passion for the importance of natural soap both intriguing and justified. She also brings a wealth of practical knowledge to the table on the subject and quickly filled in those gaps I had about what to do next on my journey.

The more I learn about making soap...the history, the benefits of natural ingredients, the creative abandon the process allows...the more I love it. I hope I still feel the same way after I finally get through my first attempt! Could this really become the hobby I've been searching for? If not, I'm at least proud of myself for sticking with my New Year's resolution this long (see New Year + New Adventure post.)

So, what do I do next? Most importantly for this stage I learned from my reading that I still need a few more supplies. I could use some of the cookware we already have but I'm sure that would not make the house chef (my husband Ian) very happy. I'm on my out now to get the rest of what I need:

> distilled water
> olive oil
> large glass or stainless steel mixing bowl
> 2 rubber spatulas
> 2 instant read thermometers
> wax paper
> rubber gloves

I'm sorry bank account, things will ease up soon!

SPECIAL DELIVERY

 

I just arrived home from work and, OH JOY! My order from BrambleBerry.com is here! I would write more but I have two giant packages to dive into... 

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

 

Still waiting on my order to be delivered. I checked the FedEx website and the tracker told me my package is in Portland, OR. Please FedEx, hurry across the country as quickly as you can! 

GETTING CLOSER

I'm one step closer to making my first batch of homemade soap. I'm so excited! I just submitted an order with BrambleBerry.com and faxed them a signed waiver so they can ship me the sodium hydroxide. I guess I'm going to have to sign and fax a waiver every time I order lye. This chemical thing is still a bit bothersome but I'm sure I'll get over it. 

I went a little nuts with the supplies and probably ordered more than I'll need for this first batch. The Soap Queen sucked me in! 

I ordered Bramble Berry's Cold Process Soap Kit which claims to include everything I'll need to get started (except Olive Oil and Lye). The kit also includes The Natural Soap Book by Susan Miller Cavitch. I hope this book helps fill in some gaps I still have about the soap making process. A few beginner recipes would be extremely helpful. 

Along with the starter Soap Kit I also ordered sodium hydroxide, a digital scale, a 4lb log mold, a cutter for my 4lb log mold, a few suction droppers, oyster mist lab color, an essential oil sampler kit, The Essential Oils Book by Colleen K. Dodt, and some sleeve & tray soap boxes. Over kill? My bank account certainly thinks so! 

Now we wait for the delivery...

THE HUNT IS ON!

Holy information! I've been searching the net for how to make homemade soap and, I admit, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. There are a million different recipes and all the ones I've found thus far seem a tad too advanced for me, the novice. I'm even having a hard time finding exactly what tools and supplies I'm going to need.

The few things I know for sure are that I'm going to be making cold-process, all natural vegetable oil soap. Cold-process means I will not be using heat for anything. This came as a nice surprise since I assumed I'd have to use the stove. I should note that my stove and I are not the best of friends (my wonderful husband does all the cooking in our house.) I also know I will not be using tallow or lard as ingredients. I've gathered that tallow and lard were the main ingredients used back in the day but modern studies have shown them to be pore cloggers. That's no good! Plus, I'm not keen on using animal products. Vegetable oils are much more beneficial to the skin and easier to find.

I've also learned that I'm going to have to use sodium hydroxide (lye) in this process. The thought of using a chemical is a bit unnerving because I'm pretty sure I caught something on fire in my high school chemistry class. One good thing is that by the end of the process the lye will be completely dissolved and therefore will not harm the skin. 

BrambleBerry.com came up during my hunt for soap making knowledge. This is a fun, user friendly site that seems to offer many of the ingredients and supplies I'm going to need. Bramble Berry was founded by a woman that calls herself The Soap Queen. I get the sense this chick is going to help me sort a few things out!

NEW YEAR + NEW ADVENTURE

IMAGE FROM  PAPAYA! ART -2010 WEEKLY PLANNER

Here goes...

It's 2010 so in honor of the new year and my insatiable hunger to find a hobby, I've resolved to start two new adventures: one, making homemade soap; and two, blogging about my soap making dabblings.

How did this soap making idea come about? Well, to my surprise, my mom's wonderful friend, Terri, has apparently been making homemade soap for years. This past Christmas she gifted me one of her amazing homemade bars. Prior to opening Terri's gift I had never come into contact with homemade soap. When I unwrapped the gift it was love at first sight, first touch and first smell! I couldn't wait to use this soap!

My first shower with this intriguing gift further fueled my love. I was captivated by the texture of the wet bar, its soft lather and the lingering scent. Plus, as I later settled into bed, I noticed that my skin was left feeling soft, residue free and moisturized. The difference between the homemade soap and my usual Aloe Vera Lever 2000 was astounding. There really is no comparison except maybe life pre-hairstyling flatiron vs. post-flatiron. I knew after my first shower with Terri's soap that it would be hard for me to ever buy or use a synthetic soap again.

The more I thought about it the more I realized just how impressed I was with this soap. It's 100% natural, it was made (from the heart) in a loved one's home and it worked better than any soap I'd ever used before. The whole thing just "struck a chord" with me. Then, EUREKA! if Terri can make such a quality bar of soap in her home then why can't I? I can't (yet) find any reason not to give it try. So here goes! I hope this will become my long-sot-after hobby, I hope my intrigue turns into passion, I hope this blog keeps me on track and, mostly, I hope I can home brew an equally as impressive bar of soap as Terri!

Let the fun begin! Cheers to 2010 and new adventures!