It All Starts With Once Upon a Time.....

and suddenly you are whisked away to a magical, mystical place and time. Myths, legends, and fables not only teach us, they enchant us in a way that makes us remember them throughout our years. They are to be celebrated and shared. Why not do it now, because today is

Tell a Fairy Tale Day. 

I have always loved fairy tales. My father would read stories to me from Grimm, Aesop, and Hans Christian Anderson. It's always delightful to see movies made from treasured stories, but there is a different type of magic in just telling the story.

Telling a tale takes time, and often practice. But you can do it. I've come up with a few Fairy tales myself - including ones for our Queen of the Pirate Sea Waters and Oil of the Robber Clan. All great fairy tales take a first telling, when the idea starts. After a  few more tellings, characters will begin to take form and start to take on the challenge of their tale. Who knows, you may come up with the next Peter Rabbit or Peter Pan. 

If you aren't comfortable enough to just tell a story yet, try reading some of the classics. You may be surprised at the darkness in Grimm's Tales - surprised and probably delighted. Hans Christian Anderson tales have a sweetness, and sometimes sadness, who's lessons apply to life in any time. There's Aesop, Baum, and even modern fairy tales like Stardust, the Never Ending Story, and of course The Princess Bride. (If you've never read the book The Princess Bride, treat yourself. It is wonderful!)

Let the Craft Faire season begin!

We're getting an early start this year! We're delighted to be a part of the first ever Valenzano Craft Faire and Wine Tasting. Held in the beautiful Grand Ballroom at the vineyards property in Shamong, it's bound to be a day to warm your heart. Come by and visit and get some of those wonderful skin care goodies your skin is craving this time of year.

Mention this post and you'll get a free gift!

Light and Fluffy Shave Foam

My son has always been a connoisseur when it comes to shaving. He liked straight edge razors when he was in his teens. He had soap mugs and shave brushes in all shapes and sizes. So when he asked me if I could make him a shaving cream, I had to jump at the chance.

It took some experimenting, and with that were some disasters. Some were way too oily. Way, way to oily. And there were others that had no foam at all, or felt too dry. We went through a lot of combinations - but we came up with a winner.  The final version  includes pure Castile's soap blended with clarifying hydrosols, skin refreshing essential oils, and carrier oils. JP's Shaving Foam is light and fluffy. It puts a light thin, protective coat on your skin with just a fine foam. It's doesn't even need to be washed off after your done shaving. Just a light rub in and you're good to go.

JP's Shaving Foam is great for men and women. The scent is very light and fresh. My husband, who gets 5 o'clock shadow at noon, loves this. I love it as well. It even feels nice using it under my arms. 

Next up, finding the right combination for a shave butter. 

And if you have any suggestions for products, just let us know. That's how we come up with the best products!

A Very Happy 2015 to You All!

Happiest of New Years

Welcome 2015

This New Year is still young - may it be filled with love, laughter, friendship, and merriment! 

Your story for this year is just beginning - make it a good one.

 

The Secret of the Salve for Gardener's

When we started our business, we came up with many wonderful creations. One of our earliest and most popular is our salve for gardeners. Steeped with the treasured little calendula plant in every step, it is the perfect balm for chapped and cracked, hardworking hands.

But this salve for gardeners has a little secret. It is based an the wisdom of herbs and healing shared by Airmid, a goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Her family were healers and surgeons to the gods. Airmid's gift was regeneration. She knew the secret of all of the herbs, one for each day of the year and the different parts of the body. Her recipes and blends have been passed and shared through the ages, her lessons on herbs whispered from the people and plants to all that could hear. We listened, and we heard.

We infuse Calendula, a champion with healing properties and infused it in to oil that is the base of this soothing salve. To that we add comfrey, rosemary, sage, basil, hemp seed and other oils, aloe, and a luscious blend of other herbs and oils. These combine to aid with the healing of nicks, scratches and cuts, all while softening and soothing your hardworking hands. Airmid had a fondness for gardeners, since they tend to her favorite plants - the herbs. 
 
We love to garden and get our bare hands good and dirty. That's why we've created this gardeners salve with the Airmid in mind – Airmids Salve for Gardeners.

You'll also find that it is a wonderful rescue for cuticles and knuckles that are becoming dry and cracked from the cold weather. It's always with me to give a quick treatment after a frosty encounter. 

The secret is out - but the softness and soothing continue!