My younger brother Erik has officially been on the job for 2 months. He has taken the helm at Otion, our retail store operation. It hasn’t been the smoothest of transitions from a no-managerial-oversight to a full-time, in-store manager but we’re through the uphill part and onto a nice plateau.
In his two months at Otion, Erik has installed new flooring in the soap bar area (faux tile – it looks great!), implemented staffing policies and hired a new employee for the store. He also has learned how to make many toiletries and Cold Process soap. Here is his latest CP soap on the right. The soap on the left was one of his first. He has come a long way in his technical expertise! He’s actually got a bit of a swirl motif with his latest batch. 
The color choice is interesting for a champagne fragrance. It’s certainly eye catching.
I had the privilege of co-teaching a private soapmaking party last night. Some of the gals flew in from Boston. It was fun to have a group of happy, giggling, laughing ladies to teach soap to. They were all friends. Camaraderie was easy going and the atmosphere was light.
Each partygoer got to make 2 different batches of Cold Process Soap. The recipes were the same except for the superfatting level. One used a 2% superfat and the other used a 10% superfat. 
All of the newbie soapers were able to personalize their individual CP bars with their choice of color, scent and exfoliants. It was quite a lot of fun!
Parties at Otion start at $14 per person. We can do parties customized to anyone’s interests – all natural, toiletries classes, lip balm, lotionmaking, massage melts, balms, soap, melt and pour – Otion can instruct in almost anything!
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Aw thanks Sandy. It's great to know that you get something out of reading this blog =) Yay! And you are going to love Jack's book (or at least, I think you will!). I read a few chapters last night before bed and I always get something new from him.
Hi Anne-Marie and Virginia,
I've been reading your conversation and find both of you inspiring. Virginia, in the midst of all that you have gone thru and are going thru, you still have the positive mind set to be productive and better yourself. Anne-Marie, you have been both a business inspriation and a personally inspiring person for me over the years. I have pondered buying Jack Canfield's Success Principles, and after reading your posts have decided to buy not only a copy for myself, but also one for my daughter and one for a dear friend. Thank you both for contributing such positiveness to my day and life!
Hi Virginia –
I am sorry I took so long to write back. I have no excuse but general busyness!
By now your book should have come in. I hope that you are loving it and finding value in it? Take it slow, in bite sized chunks. In my experience, it’s fine to focus on a couple chapters per month and take a few years to get through all the homework in the book.
Quiet time and meditation is pretty simple. I have a goal to do morning yoga (just 10 or 15 minutes) three times a week and a goal of sitting still, with no activity, for 10 minutes three times a week. I do these two things without fail, weekly. The quiet time makes me antsy but I use that time to reflect on my goals and imagine how I will feel when they are done!
I also do quiet business meditation time. This involves sitting for 30 to 60 minute stretches 4 times per week and reading business magazines and books. I keep a notepad beside me and jot down thoughts. I also ruthlessly pull articles from magazines to follow up on, share, or blog about.
As I have mentioned before, I am entirely too information overloaded (!!) so never manage to get through my reading stack. But, the business meditation time helps process through some of it.
I like trying to see macro trends in business and envision how BB can fit in with those trends.
Thank you for being a reader of the blog and your positive comments. It is inspiring to see your commitment to bettering yourself, even in times of adversity.
Anne-Marie
Hi Virginia –
I just saw your note! Thank you for such a lovely thoughts. Give me a day to get together a helpful response. I have company tonight and need to clean the house/cut up fruit/make preparations to be a good hostess!
=) Anne-Marie
Hi Anne-Marie,
I really appreciate your thoughtful reply. I could not wait but went ahead to google on the book you recommended. Now I have the table of contents of the book printed out sitting on my desk: http://www.thesuccessprinciples.com/TOC.html… until the book comes in! They have already given me some new perspectives. Happiness is a choice but I chose to victimized myself in that negative situation instead of re-developing and empowering myself in a new environment which was the most important and could have been exciting. I was lost. I also realized my failure in doing so in a way contributed to the “disastrous” relationship. If I was not comfortable with and love myself, I could not possibly reach out to love others. I was waiting for my partner to make me happy (and I thought he should do so because I gave up my career, friends and family to be here) and that drained both of us. In hindsight, we would not have been that disastrous a match only if I could see what I see now.
You mentioned “meditation/ quiet time practice”. May I know how that has helped you or helping you in your life or in achieving your life/ business goals?
It was truly thoughtful and genuine of you. Thanks again! I am currently resided in New York and if you would be here for long weekends or vacations in the future, I would be very glad to take you out! 🙂
I will continue to enjoy my soap experiment, dream big and act on it 🙂 I saw the nice goodies bag you put together and I hope I could make all those one day as well. By the way, I saw that your blog is nominated as the Best Hobby Blog – perhaps they also have the Best Women Empowerment Blog? You deserve a nomination also in that department.
Virginia
Hi Virginia –
You are so sweet to post such an inspiring note. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to be without your family or friends, in a new country, and feeling like you made a mistake.
I’m so happy that you’ve found a hobby that is making you happy. Many years ago, when I was a correctional officer (working graveyards to boot!) I found soap to be the one and only thing to look forward to in my day as well. One week, after a particularly difficult week, I quit my job and started to sell soap – to do my passion. It wasn’t easy. It’s still not easy. I took a huge risk that only the young without a family can do, but ultimately it worked out for me.
My favorite book that I would recommend to you as you rebuild your life is the book by Jack Canfield, “The Success Principles.” I read it 4 or 5 mornings a week and try to make his suggestions part of my daily meditation/quiet time practice.
His ideas are basically goal setting coupled with positive thinking but he lays them out in a compelling format, with inspiring quotes and tales to add to colorful lessons in the book.
If you do pick it up to read, please let me know what you think.
And in the meantime, enjoy your newfound hobby. I’m looking forward to hearing more from you as you progress in your craft and start making positive steps for a small business.
Anne-Marie
Hi Duvall Family –
Yes, a drive from California might be a bit much (!) but if you were coming up to Washington for a long weekend to do all the fun things that the state has to offer, Otion could be just a stop in the trip.
You could hike Mt. Baker, go up to Vancouver, visit Pike Street, go visit the Falls … Washington/Oregon/Vancouver BC is a really nice loop to do.
Or, you could buy the Cold Process DVD and Susan Miller Cavitch’s book “The Soapmaker’s Companion” and be off to a very fine start for your CP soaping hobby/addiction! =)
Anne-Marie
Aw, I wish you were closer. I’d love to set up a party. Every time I mention my soap to anyone or sell my soap, the first thing I hear is “I’d love to learn how to make it.” The closest class we have around here is 6 hours away and they teach the old fashioned method. I love the swirlies. Your brother did a great job for a newbie soap maker 🙂
How cool is that….Way to keep it in the family! Looks like Erik is on his way to clean future!
Have always loved Bramble Berry & the service 🙂
Thumbs up Anne-Marie!
and THANK YOU for taking the time to check out my little blog you were my first comment (((GRINS)))
Anne-Marie~No wonder your the best…you have managed to even squeeze in a picture/& an update about your new manager/brother Erik! Terrific! You are lucky to have your brother involved…he will be a priceless asset.
And there’s a pic about a soapmaking class to boot~ Of course they would be laughing & giggling, because they are clearly learning about something they will love creating! I better take up running…I don’t know where you get your energy? Does the west coast have more hours of the days, then here on the east coast? That must be the answer :)…
I am getting myself a plane ticket to WA! All the soapmaking looks so much fun to do in a group where everyone shares the same passion. Anne-Marie, I thought I would tell you this – thank you very much for creating this soap queen blog. Your blog and your energy inspire, motivate me and keep me going! I quit my job in my home country and moved here for my boyfriend only to find out that we were a disastrous match! Devastated, without a job, without anybody, your blog has been the greatest encouragement to help me realize again I could be strong, find a new goal for my life and exel. I am currently experimenting with melt & pour soap. I really enjoy it and hopefully I will be able to sell them in my home country. Thanks again, Anne-Marie.
Your brother’s soap looks really neat. I have been intrigued by CP but haven’t had the guts to try it yet. I would love to have a party at Otion but the 12 hour drive kind of puts a damper on that. I guess I will just have to look into local resources for classes.