Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Declutter Challenge: Week 3

Ok, so week 3 was late getting going. I had several ideas...shoes, jewelry, baby stuff, but it all seemed like a lot to go through in an already hectic week.

So, Saturday morning, I'm sitting at my desk and I see the stack on old phones I keep meaning to donate. SO...I donated them. I took them to the store and dropped them in the little bucket for old phones to help soldiers and their families. I also took the accessories for some of the phones we've had. It may not seem like much, but it is one more thing off my desk. Which by the way is in desperate need of a good cleaning...but that is another story.
Box of old phones with chargers and accessories. The thing on top is now in the Goodwill box, it isn't a phone :)

Phones are gone and my Declutter Challenge is still going strong!

Have you joined me yet? If so, what have you gotten rid of? If not, what are you waiting for!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Take A Bath

I love baths. I mean, they are wonderful. Sit back in nice, warm water to soak all your cares or worries away. Ahhh...just thinking about it makes me want to take a bath.

Are you looking to enhance the relaxation? Here are a few ideas to help you out:
  1. Put the kids in bed (or lock the bathroom door and deal with the devastation later).

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Declutter Challenge: Week 2

This week was actually a pretty easy pick. The challenge was finding the time and working past a certain 16 month old that was trying to be helpful. I didn't just get rid of one item this week, but I'm counting it as one because it was all in one place. It was a black hole that just kept sucking things in. Nothing could escape for long and it was starting to overflow! No, it wasn't the kitchen junk drawer...

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

S.O.A.P! Yes, Please

It is that time again! Bramble Berry is looking for their next S.O.A.P peeps and I am trying for it (again). Why do I keep trying? Because I LOVE BB! Plus, it is hard to be upset that I don't get chosen when there are so many talented people all trying. Not the point!

My favorite BB fragrance oil is...Applejack Peel!

Declutter Week #1

This week I choose something that was my mom's. First, you should know that she passed away in 1998. It has been awhile.

When she died, we packed everything into boxes and put it in storage. There it sat for 12 years. I pulled everything out and went through most of it 2 years ago. I found an old dipstick in there. Really? Apparently, it was sentimental...or something like that.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Declutter Challenge

I have taken on the "Declutter Challenge." I am going to get rid of the clutter in this house! I don't care what it takes...ok, we won't go that far, but I'm cleaning up.

Like most people, I have more stuff than I need. I am not a hoarder. I am also not in denial about not being a hoarder. I am simply a person who has a lot of stuff. Some of it was given to me and has sentimental value. Some of it was passed down to me and has sentimental value. Some of it is stuff I bought for a project that has not been completed. Some of it is baby stuff that needs to be dealt with. Some if it...well, you get the picture.
Resharing an old office clean-up.

See, I do know how to declutter!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

10,000 Times

In the book that I am reading, his first principle is that any business can grow to 10,000 times its current size. 10,000 sounds crazy to me! I'm also not sure that I want to have a business that size, but I do like what he talks about.
Sometimes the possibilities are endless...

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Loving Yourself

As a middle school teacher, I am often saddened by the very low self-esteem of some of my students; girls in particular. I am constantly hearing them talk about how they wished they looked like this, their hair was like this, they had this, or how they wished so-and-so would notice them. It breaks my heart to realize how little they think of themselves.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

The Most Successful Small Business In The World

One of my goals last year was to read some small business books to help my business grow. I didn't do it. Why not? Because I made excuses and let the small, everyday things become my routine. In some ways, I was happy to spend time on those small things. Every small moment I have with my family is precious and we spend those moments growing as a family. In others, I didn't focus on my business and I didn't let it grow; I got caught up in my routine.

I am currently reading this (see title) book by Michael E. Gerber. The only reason I chose it was because it was at the library. I picked up several small business books. The only reason I chose to read this one first is because one smells strongly of cigarettes and the other is too big to read while in bed. I read the foreword and was intrigued. I read the introduction and got excited. I have read the first chapter and it really made me think about my business and how I run it (or it runs me).

This book introduces "The Ten Principles" for successful businesses. He also discusses why most small businesses are never anything but small businesses and most don't succeed. I was so excited by the first chapter, that I pulled out my notebook and started writing what that means for me. As I go through the book, I would like to share my thoughts and how this will change me or change the way I think about Honu Naturals.

Is anyone interested in joining me?

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Valentine's Day Soap

I bought some of BB's Fired Up Fuchsia and I've been trying to figure out what soap to use it in and I decided on a Valentine's Day soap. I know that most of what we see is a pretty pink or red (see last year's soap), but I decided to do something a little differently this year.

I chose to use a scent blend with amber, musk, vanilla, and sandalwood. Plus, a vanilla color stabilizer because that has "discoloration" written all over it! For my colors, I used Fired Up Fuchsia, Rose Kaolin Clay, Brick Red Oxide, and some titanium dioxide.

I made my soap and only mixed to a light trace. Then, I poured a small amount of scented soap into three plastic cups for different colors. The main portion was colored with Fired Up Fuchsia (which looks really orange in the pictures, but is hot pink!).

I poured some of the main soap into my mold.

 I poured about half of my three other colors in a swirl pattern. Some of it sank, but I wanted it to reach the bottom, so I wasn't worried.

 Then, I poured the rest of my fuchsia soap. I poured my other three colors carefully, so they wouldn't sink this time.

 I used my handy-dandy bent hanger to swirl the soap up and down.
 Finally, I used a skewer to to gently swirl the top. I love the colors! The red oxide and titanium dioxide look great. The rose clay looks more brown than rose, but I really like it.
Want to see what it looks like all cut up? Stay tuned...

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Moisturize

Over the years I have heard several people say that they don't moisturize their face after cleansing because they don't want to clog their pores. This seems to be a general misconception about moisturizers. If you choose a moisturizer that is designed for your skin type, it will not clog your pores. In fact, with the proper moisturizer, your skin will look positively radiant.