STELLA MARIE SOAP COMPANY IS LIVE!

The site is up and running! If you or someone you know loves soap and bath goodies, please visit me at stellamariesoap.com! I accept all major credit cards through Pay Pal and I can ship anywhere in the world. (end of personal plug)

Saw the Celtics demolish the Knicks last last at the Garden. Oh, my. There was a humiliating 50 point gap in the score for a good part of the game. I am hoping to get a House jersey under the tree this year. Love that guy. Same number as Timlin.

Speaking of the Red Sox - can you even imagine how lethal the Sox would be with Santana in the rotation? It makes me feel like we are becoming the Yankees a little, though. I almost prefer being a scrappier team.

Getting There ...

The online store is almost ready! I am waiting for the PayPal approval which takes 3-5 days. I really want to launch on December 1st. If you want to check out a beta version, you can go to: stellamariesoap.com

Check out this stack of buttercream soap I made last night.

Apple

Calling this one "The Bad Seed." It's apple soap with apricot seed exfoliant.

MANGO SOAP

This is what soap looks like when it is cooking. It can get pretty crazy.




The finished mango poppyseed goodness.



Here are the soap labels I put together. You really can't see the paper well in this picture, but it's handmade and it has some nice flecks and stuff in it.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Before I forget, I would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! I will be in the throes of meal prep and possible soap making tonight (mango poppyseed soap is next up on the list), so time will be limited.

(It's currently 4:09 and our employer hasn't let us out for the holiday break. What a bummer!)

Enjoy your holiday! Let us all be thankful for ANOTHER World Series victory and 3 more years with Mike Lowell!

No, It's Not a Dessert!

Behold! Bars of chocolate mint!


(drying out on a plate ...)

LOWELL

Mikey is staying! Hurray! (Kerry, I guess the petition was a success!) 3 years, 37.5 million buckeroos. Not a bad deal, to be shoo-wah.

I made mint chocolate soap tonight and people ... I'm not much a self horn tooter, but I've got to say that I've got pretty high hopes for this one.

Undefeated Record Finally Comes To Hault

I really thought the Celtics were going to magically pull out another win yesterday. At one time, they trailed by 20 points. With less than 4 minutes on the clock, they actually took a 1 point lead. But, it was all for naught. Orlando squeaked by with the win, 104-102.

The Patriots, though the world outside of New England could care less, are still undefeated. Buffalo isn't much of a match for anyone, let alone the Pats. The Bills really got a walloping (56-10). Not being much of a football person myself, it doesn't mean all that much to me.

36

Today, I turn 36. The older I get, the less I care about birthdays. They just remind me of all the things I've never accomplished.

Here are a couple of good quotes a friend sent me on the subject of aging.

Inside every older person is a younger person -- wondering what the hell happened.
Cora Harvey Armstrong

Old age ain't no place for sissies.
Bette Davis

Da Bomb

I just finished making my 1st batch of bath bombs. They are scented with lavender fragrance oil and I've added lavender buds with a hint of color. I just want the absolute bare minimum re: color. Why? Because after you've relaxed in the tub, the last thing you want to do is clean a ring of purple around it! It's very unattractive.

Here are the bombs, drying out next to one of my paper lanterns.

Salt Scrub With Spatula

I got my cosmetic spatulas in today! I tied one on to a jar of lemon grass salt scrub. I really want to make sure that anyone who buys one of my body scrubs has something to stir it with before each use. It's a quality thang.

So, for those of you not in the know, I've settled on "Stella Marie Soap Company" as my company name. It's a combination of my two grandmothers' names - both very strong, determined women who have had a huge impact on the person I am (and the person I would like to eventually become).

My citric acid came in today, too, so it's a bath bombin' I will go!

P.S. A-Rod is such an ass. I think the Yankees are total suckers to give this guy a 10-year deal. I hope this Lowell thing doesn't turn into another Varitek deal nail biter.

P.P.S. The Celtics are totally unstoppable!

Blood Orange Soap

I just finished slicing up my 2nd batch, made last night. Blood Orange! I used color and swirled it around. I like the result, but I think I might go heavier on the orange next time. The red is very powerful and it looks really good.

I used 3.5 ounces of fragrant oil and I think I could have gone with more, but the scent is very sweet. Just a little more subtle than I was going for.

Cut Bars

I am pretty psyched with the final product, but I think I might add more scent next time. They smell awesome, but they don't leave a scent on you after you use them.

They bubble up pretty nice and because it's an olive oil based soap, the wash is very moisturizing. Seriously! I am using a tester bar in the bath to see how it performs in the shower.

1st Batch - Hot Process

Well, this is my first batch of soap from scratch. It's rosemary mint scented with rosemary mixed in. Not much, just a bit. This is very exciting for me. I washed out my slow cooker and it began foaming - beautiful suds that I made myself! I have to wait 4 hours before the soap will be ready to release from the mold.

Can't wait!

Cy Young Update

What a stinker for Josh Beckett. He really deserved to win it this year. If post season play was a factor in the selection, there's just no way he wouldn't be the winner.

I am a little nervous about the Mikey Lowell situation, but hopefully this is just his agent taking the time to shop around and come back to the table with the Red Sox. I am guessing that if he gets a better deal, the Sox will be willing to add an option to the 3 year proposal.

If it doesn't work out with Lowell, which would be my first choice, I think the Sox should go after local boy Carlos Pena. He's really breaking out. Put him at first, move Youk to 3rd. The Devil Rays would be asking for a lot in return (probably pitching), so it might not be worth it. Who knows?

I am sick again. Not liking this one bit.

Body Scrub Pics

So, here are a few shots of my 2 body scrubs.

As I said before, one of them is called Lemon Head. It's a salt scrub with lemongrass essential oil and other secret ingredients. :) The other is a sugar scrub called "She Smells Sanctuary." It is a basil mint scented scrub. I've labeled them both so you can tell them apart. With the sugar scrub, I added a layer of unrefined sugar on the top.

This Post Has Not Yet Been Rated

I've just completed 2 batches of body scrubs and one, which I am calling Lemon Head, is very heavy on the lemon grass. I am going to be diluting it tomorrow. In the meantime, I have been doing some searches re: how to cut it (or what to cut it with) and I found this entry from a page called, "Adulteration of Essential Oils."

PEPPERMINT: The most adulterated oil.

Naughty, naughty, naughty and so, so bad.

GREEEEEEEEEEEEEN

We went to see the Celtics play last night.

Wow.

I don't really want to call myself a fair weather fan, even though this was my first ever Celtics game. I have been trying for the past 2 seasons to get myself more involved in basketball, but baseball somehow becomes all-consuming. Even during the off-season. But, geez, with Kevin Garnett it's impossible not to watch the Celtics play and feel totally and utterly satisfied. I am now torn between a Garnett jersey or a House (as in Eddie "The House is on Fire" House - I've just learned his nickname) jersey. I think I'm going with House because he's just slightly lesser known. They both kicked serious ass last night, though.

The Garden is a pretty awesome place. I'm not used to so much technology during a sporting event. And yes, I am a total sucker for the cheesy movie clips and old Auerbach footage. One of the biggest perks of the Garden is that you can get a friggin' clam roll! And I did! I also was asked if I wanted merlot or cabernet when I ordered a glass of red. A choice? Amazing. It was like being at Camden Yards. We've got one more game scheduled, but I want to try to get tickets for more. The only downer was having to inhale the wafts of horrible cologne emitted by the gentleman in front of us. Pee-u!

The C's are currently the only undefeated team in the NBA.

Soapdate

That's Soap + Update for those not in the know.

I got my glorious scents last night and WHOA does this wholesale fragrance manufacturer know their business. I am thoroughly impressed with all 20. I actually had dreams last night that my lack of scientific experience caused my first batch of hot process soap to fail miserably. I am hoping for the best in my waking life.

I am now waiting for the lye to arrive. And some dyes, a professional-grade mold and a slicer. I did receive the containers I will be using for the body scrubs. Very clear basic plastic with aluminum lids. I can use any of the fragrance oils in the scrubs and the bath bombs, so that's a bonus. I would like to use the same for all so there is consistency and so that I might be able to bundle the products into sets.

Ahhh, soap.

Re-Sign Lowell

My good friend and fellow Sox fan, Kerry Q., sent this to me. If you would like to see the Red Sox ink another deal with our boy, Mike Lowell, feel free to sign the petition!

(photo courtesy of mikeyadams.com)

Schilling: One More Year

Do you know why I love Curt Schilling? Besides the fact that he was willing to sacrifice his own health and well-being to bring a championship to a championship starved city? Besides the fact that he's one of the most dedicated ball players the Red Sox have ever known? Besides the fact that he would never pitch for the Yankees because of his principles? I'll tell you. He gets Red Sox Nation. He gets our fierce loyalty and he doesn't take an ounce of it for granted. The experience of retiring in Boston means more to him than an extra 6 million dollars playing somewhere else. Don't get me wrong, I really do like the Phillies, but I'm glad he chose the Sox. I've lived in Philly and as die-hard as their fans are, I never did get the sense that there was anything like "Philly Nation." The team is on an upswing now, so maybe something like this will happen. I sure hope so. I think Ryan Howard is the cat's meow.

Anyway, this post is about Curt Schilling.

Can't wait to see you take the mound next year, number 38!

What a Crock of Crap

Just when you think A-Rod couldn't be any denser, he comes out with this statement. As if he thinks Red Sox Nation and front office can't see right through this lame, schoolyard move. Do you think that Yankees are really going to fall for this, too? All he's doing, folks, is trying to get the Yankees to offer him more money to stay. It's the oldest trick in the book. Geez, you'd think he could be a little less obvious about it. We don't need a short stop. And if we resign Lowell at 3rd, we'll get a great defensive player and guy who knows how to hit the ball in key situations. Unlike Anti-Clutch A-Rod, the man who has the most meaningless numbers in the majors. I haven't checked what his stats are vs Lowell with runners in scoring position, but I'd be willing to bet that it's lower. Additionally, it would be interesting to know what A-Rod's numbers are when the game is on the line. Someone should conduct THAT research. If he can't win a meaningful game for the Yankees, what makes anyone think that he will suddenly do it for another big-time ball club? Don't worry people, Mike Lowell is a better deal for the Sox. Financially and otherwise. Let some other team get suckered into picking up his contract AND his bullshit.

I will say that the Yankees are probably not going to fight very hard to keep him, so my prediction is that he won't be back in NY next year.

The rumor mill is officially open for business!

Soap Update

I did it. I just bought a million scents online. I also bought lye. Can't make soap without it. I've got a lot of stuff left on my list to go, but I think I got the ones that you can't buy in stores out of the way. I know what you're thinking: But, you can buy Red Devil Lye at your nearest grocer! I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but this product has been discontinued.

I was going to jump right into a cold process method, but I decided against it after doing some research on the hot process (not to be confused with melt and pour, which is what I have been doing up to now). With hot process soap making, you are still starting from scratch, but since you are cooking your soap, the saponification process is sped up and you don't have to wait 2-4 weeks of curing before your soap can be used. It's actually the most ancient soap making method known to man. So, hot process it is.

I have the basic descriptions for 20 varieties of soap and I have to say that I am very excited about starting this whole thing. I am going to make these plus some bath bombs in time for the holidays. I am also going to start an online store as soon as I have the products available, so look out for that. I will keep you apprised of my progress.