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Soapy Social Media Roundup

May 9, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy Mother’s Day weekend! I hope you’re able to spend some time with your mom or loved ones tomorrow. This weekend is especially fun for me because it’s my birthday week as well. I had a fabulous celebratory day; my friends and family all made me feel extra special. Today, I plan on spending lots of outside time with the kiddos and straightening our new, empty house (but that’s a blog post for another day). It has been so warm and beautiful here in the Pacific Northwest…it officially feels like spring!

Above, I spent some time this week in Jamisen’s classroom. It’s so fun to watch him interact with his classmates and teacher; it really makes me realize how fast he is growing up. I would love to be able to lead a crafty project with his class and have just the perfect project for little hands: bath fizzies. If you’re looking for crafty inspiration for yourself, check out my favorite pins, grams and tweets from the week below.

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I love this Rainbow Ombre Cold Process Soap by Kenna of Modern Soapmaking. The LabColors give a gorgeous, subtle bleeding effect.
This Healthy Mexican Salad is full of color and texture. Any salad with lots of avocado is alright by me =)
This tutorial for Color Beans for Play and Art looks like something Lily and Jamisen would love.
Plain wooden bowls from the thrift store are made modern again with a little paint in this tutorial.

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I love the sparkle that mica colorants give soapy projects. If you’d like to learn more about micas and how to use them, check out this Sunday Night Spotlight post.
Last weekend, Lily spent the day playing with her baby cousin Alise who is getting so big, so fast(!). The weather was so beautiful! On the right is the final design for an upcoming Soap Queen TV video. This drop swirl is scented with a blend of berry fragrance oils…I can’t wait to film!

Twitter:

I love the crisp layers in this Homemade Gardener’s Soap made by Simplistically Living. The exfoliants on top are perfect for removing dirt from gardening.
In 2014, Tory Burch’s company brought in more than $1 billion in revenue. Her story is so inspiring; click here to learn how she got started.
Have you heard of the YotaPhone? Released last year, the phone features two displays.
I’m a huge fan of eggs; they are a great way to add extra protein to salads. This article dives into the terms associated with industrial egg farming to help you choose the highest quality egg.
Want to turn your blog into a career? The Minimalist Baker has some great tips. My favorite? You gotta hustle!

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend! To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube and Snapchat. To watch my ‘stories’, which include sneak peeks into future projects, add me. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

April 25, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy Saturday! After the book photoshoot and Soap Guild Conference, I’m happy to spend a weekend at home. And by home, I mean the home of friends and family. Our house is still not safe after the boiler explosion and won’t be for some time. Jamisen’s birthday was this week, and we are celebrating tomorrow. I can’t believe he is already 4 years old! Time flies.

In soapy news, in an effort to update the nation’s regulations of personal care products, Senators Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Personal Care Products Safety Act. To read more about the Act, click here. If you would like to be kept up to date on laws pertaining to small businesses in the soap and cosmetic industry, join the Coalition of Handcrafted Entrepreneurs (COHE). The COHE enables the voices of small business owners to be heard with calls to action that will help lawmakers make more informed decisions.

Here in the office, the team and I have been busy creating new recipes for Soap Queen TV. If you have any projects that you’d like to see me tackle, leave a comment and let me know. I’d love to hear your suggestions. Currently we are working on a hot process tutorial, cold process, bath bomb and eye care product. Shown above is one of the test trials for a drop swirl soap, made with alkanet root powder and activated charcoal. I can’t wait to share the final projects with you! In the meantime, checkout my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from the past week.

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This Vegan Berry Crunch Bowl is the perfect way to use fresh produce during berry season. Yum!
I love the soft and simple colors in this Palm Free Fruity Cold Processed Soap. If you’re looking for more palm free recipes, check out the Palm Free In-The-Pot Swirl and the Layered Lilac Loofah Cold Process tutorial.
These DIY Watering Can Vases are an adorable way to showcase flowers. They would also be a thoughtful gift for Mother’s Day.
I love the beautiful packaging on these Hand in Hand Soap Bars. If only I could paint like that!

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These gorgeous rainbow soaps made by Soapwithhope are show stoppers! The even layers and vibrant colors create the perfect rainbow effect.

I’m so happy to finally have my Master CP/HP Soapmaker Certification from the Soap Guild in my hands! On the left, Courtney and I showcased the newest Handmade Beauty Box project on King 5 News, click here to see the video.

Twitter:

Do you enjoy your coffee from a Keurig? The inventor says he feels bad that he created it, click here to find out why.
If you’re a fan of red wine, you’ll love this study! It makes the claim that a glass of red wine is the equivalent to an hour at the gym.
This video made by fitness star Cassey Ho of Blogilates shows her “photoshopping” her body to conform to modern day beauty ideals. It’s a must watch.
Looking to make an impact on SnapChat? You may want to follow DJ Diplo’s lead.
A new study from the New England Journal of Medicine has good news about preventing peanut allergies.

To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube and Snapchat. To watch my ‘stories’, which include sneak peeks into future projects, add me. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

April 18, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

This week has been a complete whirlwind. The photo shoot for the upcoming book (coming in 2016) was both amazing and exhausting. Thirty-three cold process recipes were prepped and created in four days (39 if you count embeds!). That’s an average of 8 cold process recipes everyday. The team did a great job of prepping all the recipes beforehand; This enabled each recipe to be ready as soon as the previous was made. All the hard work paid off; each soap turned out amazing and I can’t wait to share the book with you!

This weekend I’m attending the HSCG Annual Conference in Indianapolis. So, if you’re here, come find me! I was so thrilled to run into Lela from Lucky Break Consulting, Ellie who has helped save 70 orphaned baby elephants with her soap, and Toushonta who spotted me in the airport after a long day of flying. I’ll be here tonight and tomorrow so if you’re at the show, please come say ‘Hi.’ I love talking soap!

Soap Guild Show Fun

Here on the blog, we have been sharing a collection of milk recipes including this Goat Milk & Oatmeal Cold Process Soap. This Buttermilk Bastille Baby Bar on Soap Queen TV shows you how to create soap using fresh buttermilk and carrot puree. Want more soapy inspiration? Check out my favorite pins, ‘grams and tweets from this week!

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I love the simple yet sophisticated look of this Palm Free Lavender and Vanilla Cold Process Soap by Humblebee & Me. The mica painting looks fantastic!
Speaking of beautiful purple soap, the color combination in the Flirt Gourmet Handmade Soap from River City Soapworks is so eye catching.
Purple tones also look stunning in food. Want proof? This Earl Grey Lemon Cheesecake is topped with frozen blueberries, giving them a lavender hue.
Mother’s Day is less than a month away. This Mother’s Day Matchstick Holder and Candle Gift is a clever and adorable way to show her love.

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If you follow me on Instagram, you know I was busy soaping up a storm making soap for my new book. Below is one of my favorite recipes, a Dandelion Zebra Swirl soap made with real dandelion petals and an annatto seed infusion.
On the left, is a negative space embed recipe colored with natural colorants. On the right is a soap made with pale ale instead of water. I was so relieved that the swirl design turned out for the shoot…that technique requires a steady hand and I was a little shaky!

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The article, “Secrets of Woeman Running Billion-Dollar Companies,” is full of great advice and insights into the pros and cons of being a CEO. In particular, I related to how hard it is to have true “balance.”
Being constantly creative is hard! If you need some tips on keeping your creativity flowing remember…no idea is too weird!
Love shopping online? I do! These three apps are online-shopping game changers.
The “experience economy,” is a term used to describe consumers growing love for experiences, rather than only services. Click through to learn more about wowing your customers with experiences. It’s what we try to do at Otion with our classes & crafters corner!
Jerome Jarre has mastered Vine and SnapChat with 7.2 million followers. The going rate for one Vine video is $25,000! But it wasn’t always that way; click here to read his fascinating story.

To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube. And Snapchat! To watch my ‘stories’, which include sneak peeks into future projects (including all the soaping I’m doing this weekend), add me. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

April 11, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

This weekend the team and I are busy with the photo shoot for my new book. The book is all about natural soap making and is scheduled to hit market early 2016. I can’t wait to share it with you! If you follow me on Instagram, you have already seen plenty of sneak peeks into the projects. Check out the photos below to get an idea for what’s inside the new book =) Scroll down for more soapy inspiration via my favorite pins, tweets and instagrams from the past week.

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Jewelry looks even prettier in an eye-catching dish. This DIY Jewelry Dish includes layers of color to really make your pieces shine.
I don’t eat chicken very often, but when I do, I like it baked with plenty of fresh herbs. This dish of Baked Meyer Lemon, Chicken & Potatoes fits that bill perfectly.
This Zested Lemon Homemade Soap from Clean Line Soap Company was last week’s winner of the #SoapShare contest on Instagram. I love the subtle ombre and fresh look of these bars!
These Paper Flower Hair Clips are adorable. I can’t wait for Lily’s hair to get long enough for one =)

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Easter this year was super fun; the kids had a blast hunting for eggs and enjoying some candy. For breakfast, my sister-in-law, Cheriss, made bunny pancakes. Look at the smile on Lily’s face below…they were a hit!

I have practiced my column pour swirl technique this week. On the left is a column pour swirl made with Electric Lemonade Cocktail Fragrance Oil and lots of color. On the right is a cold process soap made with whole cows milk and a classic black and white color palette. Tutorials for both will be on the blog soon!

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Ford is working on their own ridesharing service; I wonder how it will affect Uber and Lyft.
Navigating the FDA’s website can be tricky. Luckily, they have been working on new articles that are easy to read and straightforward. Here is a list of some of their most helpful pages, via Marie Gale.
These tips for catching your readers eye via photography and design are fantastic!
I knew Christmas was a retail juggernaut, but who knew that Americans spend so much on Easter? Click here to find out how much.
A/B testing is a popular way to measure two versions of something to see which is more successful. This article has helpful tips on how to perform your own A/B testing.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

April 5, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

I hope you all are having a fantastic Easter Sunday! The family and I are taking Jamisen, Lily and Cousin Alise to an Easter egg hunt, and later will be dyeing eggs with LabColors. We are still living out of suitcases since the boiler explosion, but it is slowly becoming our new “normal.” The house we stayed at this week is near the beach, so the kids have been having a blast. Honestly, I think they will be sad to go home!

Now that Easter is “over,” I’m setting my sights on Mother’s Day and other spring projects. Next week, I will be sharing a collection of projects made with various milks, so keep your eyes out for those. In the meantime, here are my top tweets, pins and ‘grams from the week.

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How cute are these Colorblock Sugar Cookies? This technique would work well with so many different colors for various events.
Mother’s Day is coming up soon, and this Mother’s Day Melt and Pour soap would be a great gift.
This quote really speaks to me. If you stay humble, work hard and are kind to others, great things will happen!
Strawberry season will be here in no time; I can’t wait to make this Strawberry Spinach Salad.

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This little girl sure knows how to turn a rainy day into a day filled with laughter and fun. Below, Lily jumps in the puddles while dressed in her pink rain boots and adorable Hatley jacket.

Below on the left, is a column pour made with Island Escape Fragrance Oil and lots of bright colors. On the right, is a coconut milk soap with Lime Fragrance Oil and Coconut Lemongrass Fragrance Oil. Lime in the coconut…get it? 😉

Twitter:

I love trying new, fun food options. This list of March’s Top Food Finds includes chia cookie dough, gourmet popcorn and dessert tea. Yum! I ordered the tea. It should be here next week.
Feeling the need for some spring cleaning? Turns out getting rid of things is incredibly therapeutic.
Sometimes staying optimistic is hard. This Guide to Greater Optimism has some great tips to keep looking on the bright side.
If you’re looking for a little soapy business inspiration? Old Town Suds Trade Show Booth is unique and eye-catching.
If you are a font nerd like me, you understand that Comic Sans + Papyrus is a clear sign that the end is near.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

March 28, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy weekend everybody! This past week has been full of change. As the house gets worked on after the boiler explosion, we have been staying with friends and family. I feel so grateful to have a strong support system through this period. Luckily, the kids have adjusted well to the change of routine. Staying at other people’s homes has meant more time with the kiddos which has been great. Got to keep looking on the bright side!

In other news, last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Central Soapers Workshop. It was a blast to see familiar faces and meet lots of talented soap makers. I left feeling incredibly inspired and energized. Keep your eyes on the blog tomorrow for a full workshop wrap-up =) In the meantime, scroll down to see my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from this week.

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These brightly colored and metallic Easter eggs are so festive and fun. I would feel a little guilty about breaking them open to eat!
This Skystone Artisan Coconut Milk Soap by Sunlit Soap features a gorgeous color palette and pink sea salt for exfoliation.
Easter morning is a great opportunity to make a delicious brunch. These Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls would be perfect!
The Baked Bath Salt Favors by Something Turquoise would make an excellent addition to any Easter basket.

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During the Central Soapers Workshop, I had the opportunity to demonstrate this beer cold process soap (on the left.) These adorable Lemon and Goat Milk Melt and Pour Bars (right) will be on the blog in the next few weeks. I love how bright and cheery they turned out!

The Soap Swap is in full swing with soap arriving everyday. This stunning Rainbow Twist soap made by Raven and Rain Soap Co. is one of my current favorites!

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Are you on SnapChat yet? I joined recently and it’s a lot of fun! You can find me on SnapChat as “Bramble-Berry.”
Donna Marie from Indie Business Network made an excellent blog post about what she took away from Central Soapers Workshop.
Google is currently accelerating its strategy to help consumers buy from local retail stores. It will be interesting to see how this affects Amazon in the future.
What makes soap foam? Check out this informative and interesting video on how it works.
These 5 Feminist Myths That Will Not Die are extremely thought provoking.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

March 14, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend so far. Ours started off with a bang. We’ve had an eventful couple of days in our household (more on that later!).

Lily is growing like a weed. I wouldn’t be surprised if she followed in her dad’s footsteps and was a runner…that girl is full of energy! She learns new words everyday. It’s so fun to be able to communicate with her better, and listen to her adorable renditions of big words.
Below are my favorite tweets, ‘grams and pins from the week. I’m also on Snap Chat now! To see my stories, my username is Bramble-Berry.

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Caramel and salt is one of my favorite flavor combination, so these Big Salty Chocolate Chip Cookies are screaming my name.
These Salted Caramel Cupcakes look equally delicious! I love that this recipe jazzes up a cake mix to simplify the process.
I love having photos of friends and family in my office. This DIY Photo Pen Holder is a clever way to add photos to your desk, without taking up a lot of space.
This Cotton Candy Goat Milk Soap by Platypus Dreams Bath and Body looks good enough to eat. The texture on top is a great touch.

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On the left is a Cinderella inspired soap, featuring melt and pour embeds and a hanger swirl. I can’t wait to see the movie. On the right, is the Mermaid Tail soap cut into bars. Be on the lookout for that tutorial next week!

I feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful place. Below, the family and I went exploring on the beach.The combination of fog and sun made for a gorgeous day.

Twitter:

Do you ever write a great blog post, only to see it get no attention or traction? Here are some tips to get noticed, and to get linked by other bloggers.
This tutorial for a “52 Things I love About You,” book is such a cute idea. I made something similar for my husbands birthday this week.
The #LikeAGirl campaign has so many inspiring stories. This blogger explains how she sells “like a girl,” and how it helps her business.
Did you hear about the US tourists who were caught carving their initials into Rome’s Colosseum? So awful and embarrassing.
This silly video is a great reminder that judging other parents is pointless. We are all on the same team!

Soapy Social Media Roundup

March 7, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy Saturday! The weather has been wonderful in the Pacific Northwest lately, which makes the weekends even more fun than usual. It’s so nice to spend more time outdoors with the kids. We’ve started walking around the neighborhood more consistently; sometimes those walks turn into wagon rides instead =). While I’m sad to lose an hour of sleep to daylight savings time tomorrow, I can’t wait for longer days!

This early spring is a pleasant surprise, but I understand that’s not the situation for the entire country. To those in the snow, I hope you’re all staying warm! If you’re looking for a little indoor inspiration, my favorite tweets, pins and instagrams will give you some quality internet-surfing time =)

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I love the bright colors in this Honey Lime Rainbow Fruit Salad. I can’t wait for berry season!
These colorful DIY Tile Coasters look easy to create, and would make a great gift.
This Lilac Soap by P.S. I Love Soap Co. looks amazing! The swirl in the center is really unique.
Lily and Jamisen have a ton of fun with this DIY Rainbow Pom Pom Magnet Board. We printed it out and just laminated it and do color matching with it.

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I’m thrilled (!!!!!!) with how this Mermaid Tail Cold Process turned out. I’m giving it the weekend to stay in the mold…I can’t wait to unmold it on Monday! This petal technique was made popular by Kenna of Modern Soap Making.

Speaking of mermaids, I had fun mixing up mermaid inspired eye shadow this week (left). On the right are melt and pour bars made from scratch using Kayla Fiorvanti’s book, “How to Make Melt and Pour Base From Scratch.” It was a fun, interesting process.

Twitter:

Love Easter candy? Now you can drink it; Peep-flavored milk is here and it’s available in three flavors.
This man shares his results from a 7-day work week experiment. Turns out, a day of rest is more important than he thought.
I try my best to exercise everyday. This list of six invisible benefits of exercise really stresses the importance of being active.
Is it possible to make your brain as plastic as a child’s? The brain is constantly changing and growing, but childhood is the best time to learn.
These 23 Tools and Resources to Create Images for Social Media will have your site looking great in no time!

Soapy Social Media Roundup

February 28, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Every now and then a little silliness in life necessary, don’t you think? I’m glad my team agrees. Below (right), the team and I pose for a fun picture during a Boys and Girls Club Bingo Fundraiser. It’s awesome to spend time together outside of the office, especially when it’s for a good cause. A few of us even won at Bingo!

In more “serious” business news, I had the opportunity to speak on the latest Indie Business Network podcast, “Women, Wealth and WOW!” hosted by Donna Maria, click here to listen. In addition, I’m giving two talks at the Central Soapers Workshop in Kansas City along with other talented soapy experts on March 21st. If you can’t travel to Kansas City, the workshop also offers a virtual registration option. I hope to see you there! I was also a guest on the Business Bootcamp Podast this week. You can listen to that here. Now, let’s get to my favorite tweets, pins and ‘grams from the week.

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This Cashew Coconut Nana Ice Cream with Chia Pudding and Blueberries looks amazing! Blueberries are one of my favorite fruits, possibly, actually, THE favorite.
The bit of construction that this DIY Beaded Pendant Light requires might be worth it. The end result looks so chic yet simple.
Who knew that you could create crystals with borax? This DIY Borax Crystal tutorial shows you how.
This Blackjack Inspired Tuxedo Salt Soap by Kenna of Modern Soapmaking, uses sea salt and charcoal to create a sophisticated design.

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The team and I have been obsessed with everything mermaids recently. Below, mermaid-inspired nail polish shades are in the works! Be on the lookout for mermaid inspired projects on the blog soon.

Below (left), I demonstrate the “frozen spoon trick,” during the Handmade Beauty Box virtual craft party. You can watch that entire 18 minute LIVE crafting session here (don’t judge; it’s hard to talk and demo with no editing or script!) =) This handy trick is a great way to test lipstick colors before pouring into containers. On the right are a box of yummy macarons that the office snacked on. Have you tried making macarons before? They are tricky, but so worth it!

Twitter:

Looking for a laugh? These awkward vintage tech ads are hilarious.
I was so excited to talk about Handmade Beauty Box on Fox News recently! It’s my first time on national news. Woot! Woot!
This short film about nearly stingless jellyfish is mesmerizing and beautiful.
Which traditional money tips should you follow, and which should you ignore? This article on Woman’s Day has some great tips…including one from me =)
We hear diet advice from nutritionists all the time….but what are they actually eating?

To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube. Annnnnnd, Snapchat. Yup. I’ve joined up. To watch my ‘stories’, add me. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

February 21, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

The exciting news this week was my visit to the Starbucks Roastery in Seattle. It was an amazing Disneyland experience – the Disneyland of coffee that is! I was so inspired by the visit that I’m pretty sure there’s a blog post in there about branding and experience. I instagrammed (and even vined!) the visit up.

These are the top pins of the week. Follow me here:
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These Spring in Bloom Paper Lanterns by Lia Griffith look so delicate and sophisticated. I can see these lanterns at a spring wedding or birthday party.
Speaking of spring celebrations, this Vegan Blueberry Lime Cheesecake would make a great party dessert. I love how colorful and fresh it looks.
This Crystalized Handmade Soap by Royalty Soap looks good enough to eat with colorful swirls and a textured top.
I try to keep my desk organized…buuuutttttttt it doesn’t always happen. With spring cleaning around the corner, this DIY desk organizer looks like a great way to keep things neat.

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Sometimes it takes a few tries to get a recipe just right. Below are the first two attempts of the Luck of the Irish Hot Process Tutorial. I’m really happy with the lighter, fresher green tones in the final tutorial.

Speaking of colors, this Create a Rainbow: Mixing Colors in Cold Process Soap blog post demonstrates how to make a rainbow of colors using only three pigments. On the left are a batch of soap for the local Umpqua Bank. They have been a huge supporter of Handmade Beauty Box, and soap is the perfect way to say thank you.

Twitter:

If you are a chocolate lover like myself, Nestle products are working towards removing artificial flavors and colors by the end of 2015.
Can less sleep actually be better for you? Several studies suggest 7 hours of sleep may be better than 8.
If you use “selfie sticks” to take the perfect selfie, some art galleries are joining the movement to have them banned.
Taking the temperature of squirmy, energy-filled kiddos can be hard; these temperature-taking stickers are a life saver!
Working on getting fit before summer? The best time to work out may require you to wake up extra early.
I hope you are all having a great weekend, and enjoy Oscar Sunday tomorrow! To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

January 31, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Can you believe tomorrow is the 1st of February already? Time flies when you’re having fun! Yesterday the team and I filmed several videos for Soap Queen TV and the new Bramble Berry YouTube channel. Look out tomorrow for a behind-the-scenes post into the shoot. We filmed two cold process recipes, along with a colorful and sparkly melt and pour soap. Below is an Instagram photo of the melt and pour project. Based on the Rainbow Hearts Melt & Pour project, this soap was updated slightly to feature more hearts per bar.

Today we did a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activity day and of course, are in the midst of prepping for the Super Bowl tomorrow. Do you have fun Super Bowl plans? Jamisen is starting to pay attention to the sport, while Lily simply enjoys wearing her Seahawks gear. I picked up some cute Seahawks cookies from a local bakery to celebrate and those are sure to be a huge hit. On Friday, some of the Bramble Berry team showed their support with plenty of blue and green; go Hawks!

If football is not your cup of tea and you’re looking for some fun crafty projects for the weekend, check out my favorite pins, ‘grams and tweets from the week below.

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This Mulberry Frost Soap by Soap & Restless and Shieh Design Studio is a showstopper. The colors remind me of a peacock, and the embeds add interest to the swirl.
Speaking of peacocks, the tutorial for these DIY Peacock Feather Wine Glasses makes the process look simple and easy.
This Glitter Heart Bunting tutorial creates incredibly sparkly heart garland that would be perfect for a Valentine’s Day party.
Made by Otion Soap Bar, this Palm Free Waterlily Orange Soap uses straws to create negative-embed space. If you’d like more tutorials featuring negative space embeds, check out the Misty Maritime Moon Cold Process Soap.
I’m putting this Tiny Sparkly Rose Gold Heart Ring on my Valentine’s Day wishlist =)
This Granola-Crusted Yogurt Fruit Tart by Honestly Yum looks so impressive. It would make a great light option for family brunch.

Instagram:

This past week has been full of colorful projects for a fun promotion starting in February. Below on the left, is a cold process soap made with Ultramarine Blue Pigment and Ocean Rain Fragrance Oil. On the right, is a chamomile soap made with Yellow Oxide and Chamomile Bergamot Fragrance Oil. I can’t wait to share these tutorials with you!

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Teachers are incredibly valuable, but are notoriously under-payed. What happens when teachers are paid more? Amazing things!
“Life audit,” refers to an exercise in self-reflection that helps uncover core values and goals. This article dives into when, and why to do a life audit.
I’m over-the-top thankful for the life I lead, but one can never be too grateful. Here are five ways to incorporate thankfulness into your daily life.
Photoshop in the media is out of control; just look at these before and after photos of Kate Middleton on the cover of Woman’s Day.
I can be my own worst critic. If you’re like me, here are tips on how to smack down your inner critic.

I hope you are all having a great weekend, and enjoy Super Bowl Sunday tomorrow! To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

January 24, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

This weekend is full of family, friends and of course a little crafting. Today I spent some time working on a fun Valentine’s Day tutorial that I can’t wait to share (look out for that project tomorrow). I’ve also been doing some meal prep for the upcoming week, while the kids eat their weight in pomegranate seeds. Tomorrow the family is visiting a new trampoline park in town; it’s full of trampolines for all ages, foam pits and obstacle courses…the kids are going to love it. What are your fun plans for the weekend?

These kiddos can’t get enough of pomegranate seeds!

If you’re looking for a weekend projects, the blog has been full of tutorials featuring clays and other natural ingredients. Many of these items are currently 20% with the code, CLAYCLEAN. These items are on sale until January 29th at midnight, PST; click here to see all sale items. Next week, keep your eyes on the blog for a hot process tutorial, as well as a rebatch project. Looking for more crafty ideas? Check out my favorite social media finds from the past week, including pins, instagrams and tweets!

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This minty blue soap topped with orange and red poppies is absolutely stunning. Created by Handmade in Florida, the inside of the soap is even better!
I love tea of all kinds, and this Thai Almond Milk Bubble Tea by Love and Olive Oil looks like a yummy variation of the typical cup.
Speaking of delicious variations, this Roasted Moroccan Carrot Salad with Chickpeas is hearty take on the average spinach salad.
With Valentine’s Day less than a month away, it’s time to start making love inspired gifts. These DIY Cement Valentines are an adorable gift idea, and look easy to make.

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This month I’m spreading my soapy wings and practicing the Butterfly Hanger Swirl for the Soap Challenge Club hosted by Amy of Great Cakes Soapworks. I’m thrilled with how it turned out, and can’t wait to try this technique again.

Last weekend the kids, Chris and I had a great time watching the big football game (go Hawks!), and spending some time in the rainy outdoors.

Twitter:

When attempting to accomplish any goal, you’re bound to question yourself throughout the process. Instead of questions that create doubt, ask yourself these 5 Questions Success People Routinely Ask Themselves. They are great motivating tools!
We have all heard about detoxing, but Does Detoxing Really Work?
Starbucks is making some big, awesome changes for their employees in 2015. The company is increasing starting-pay rates as well as loosening their strict dress code by allowing employees to show tattoos.
This New York City condo sold for $100 million…is the view worth the price?
If you don’t have a blog, these tips on How to Use a Blog as the Cornerstone of Your Content Marketing might persuade you to start one =)
To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

January 10, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

With the new year in full swing, it’s safe to say I have hit the ground running! The past few days have been spent planning and making goals for 2015 for business, personal and family. If you’re curious, you can read more about my personal goals for the next few months here. After a whirlwind of a week, we’ve got an action-packed weekend planned with multiple play dates and crafts galore. We’ll enjoy lots of time at home with a crafty projects and lots of toy trucks.

Above, Jamisen hauls sweets in his toys. Marshmallows and monster trucks, what more could a kid want? If you have any great ideas for toddler inside games, I would love to hear them! The weather this week is surprisingly clear, but the rain is sure to return. My “Toddler Fun,” Pinterest board is full of ideas, but I’m always on the lookout for more. Speaking of Pinterest, check out my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from this week below.

Pins:

From left to right, clockwise:

This stunning butterfly swirl soap made by Handmade in Florida is stunning. The butterfly swirl is one I still need to perfect…practice makes perfect!
Dainty and delicate, the Crepe Paper Cherry Blossom Branches created by Lia Griffith are a great way to always have fresh looking flowers in the house.
Made with quinoa, red cabbage, carrots and edamame, this Asian Quinoa Salad looks incredibly fresh and tasty.
Made with Epsom salt, Champagne Fragrance Oil and La Bomb Colorants, this Mimosa Salt Scrub by Otion Soap Bar

Instagram:

Below are just some of the soapy projects the team and I made in 2014. I can’t wait to see what fun projects 2015 brings!
On the left, Lily cuddles up to her daddy. These two have been inseparable lately, and it’s so cute. On the right, this Rose and Primrose rebatch project is a a great way to make cold-process soap without having to handle sodium hydroxide. If you subscribe to our newsletter, you’ve already received the tutorial in your inbox. If not, it will be on the blog later this month!

Twitter:

This year, both UPS and FedEx are changing how they charge customers for lightweight shipments in large boxes. Read more about that here.
You’ve probably heard the rumor that cellphones give you cancer…but is it true?
During your free time, how do you spend it? These graphs looking at an average day of unemployed men and women are surprising and interesting.
Sometimes multi-tasking is completely necessary, but it can also kill productivity. Here are 5 tools to combat multitasking and get your focus back.
Does a watermark actually prevent image theft? Kenna from Modern Soapmaking argues “no.”

To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

January 3, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy first weekend of 2015! I hope you had a fun and safe New Years Eve. My night was rather quiet; the family played some board games and enjoyed a low key dinner. New Years day was spent visiting a children museum. Jamisen and Lily had a blast, we will definitely be visiting the museum again soon. The 2015 cutie below is my sweet niece, Alise. She is growing so fast!

In soapy news, the team and I have been busy creating some fun recipes with using clays. Keep your eyes on the blog for those projects, and be sure to sign up for our Newsletter to find out about upcoming sales and promotions (hint hint!). If you enjoy sneak peeks, check out the Instagram shots below to see what we have been working on, along with my other favorite pins and tweets from the week!

Pins:

Left to right, clockwise:

I love how fresh this Roasted Beet, Pear and Quinoa Salad looks. Beets add such a nice pop of color to any dish, as evident in the Goat Cheese Beet Dip I made several months ago.
These Marbled Clay Ring Dishes are stunning! The tutorial looks surprisingly easy as well.
It may be too late to create these Tissue Tassels for a New Year celebration, but they would make adorable birthday party decor.
With black, white and purple swirls, this soap created by Petals Bath Boutique really wows. The addition of glitter on top gives a touch of glam.

Instagram:
I have been working a lot with clays recently (look for these projects soon!). Below is cold process soap created with sea clay, hydrated chrome green and pink sea salt on top. The soft swirl was made using the in-the-pot swirl technique, a great swirling method for the beginning soaper.

So many fun soapy projects this year! Below is the bakers rack in the soap lab filled to the brim with soap and other handmade goodness. Soon we will be clearing off the rack by donating the soap to local charities.

Twitter:

Have you ever wondered why there is no such thing as vanilla essential oil? This article offers a great explanation.
Sometimes it feels there is simply not enough time in the day. By using these tips, you may find you have more time than you thought.
Let’s make 2015 the year of happiness! This article gives a list of things proven to make us happier, including strong relationships and giving.
Full of protein, antioxidants and vitamins, a new plant-based burger will be hitting select Whole Foods in January. Can’t wait to try these!
Looking for a few good reads? Here are 10 reasons why you should pick up a classic.

I hope you’re all having a great weekend! To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube.