Have you had your coffee yet?

Now you can get even more of your favorite wake-me-up fix first thing in the morning!



Yes, this is Coffee Cake Soap! And...it's really fabulous! I'm not just saying that because it's my creation. No, it really is good!

I've blogged about this bar before, but for some reason every time I make it I love it more and more! It's not that strong, but instead just right. Almost chocolately...



With cocoa (yes like the stuff you drink), activated charcoal, and real coffee grounds this bar is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



For those of you coffee fanatics this is the bar for you! It's also a great exfoliator because of the wonderful grounds!



Trust me...this is one you don't want to miss!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Honeysuckle Sweetness

I had planned to make this Honeysuckle Soap, and then I got a special request for it! That made it even more awesome!



Creating new scents is always an experiment. You never know who might like it or whether it's going to be a hit!

And, let me tell you...this is going to be a hit! It's so lovely! Some paprika, poppy seeds, yellow Brazilian clay, and a little pumpkin puree! It smells just like honeysuckles, which reminds me of my childhood!



I'm sure certain fragrances remind you of things too.



Speaking of memories...Dynamo and I were out at my parents' house the other day and the farmer had just turned up the peanuts. It gave me a flashback to my childhood instantly as it always does. I remember that smell and can see my Grandfather and dad in the field picking and completely covered in dust. Back then the bus driver would drop me off at whatever field they were picking at! That smell reminds me of fall.



Any scents out there that bring back good memories for you?

More pumpkin...

Pumpkin Spice soap has been quite a hit this season! It really is amazing!!



I just can't keep it in stock! This soap is wonderful with the pumpkin puree and the cinnamon and the Yellow Brazilian Clay!!



It's very fragrant without being overpowering!



One customer said that it made her whole bathroom smell so good all day!



I'm really loving this soap and am using the pumpkin in some other creations coming up too since it's such an awesome addition to the soaps!

Mountain Bike Monday - Let me take you on a night ride!

Last Tuesday evening we all gathered at Poco for a night ride! Yes, in the dark!



The ride was setup as a beginner to intermediate ride! Dynamo had been trying to get me back out on the trails for a night ride ever since the year before when I went out.



It's not that I was afraid...just a little hesitant. The last night ride that we went on wasn't as beginner as I'd hoped. It was raining, of course dark, and we rode Lakeview backwards! The combination of factors made me a little unsteady. But, I made it through then and I knew in good weather conditions I could do fine. Plus, I've had more practice since then!



We all got our helmet lights and handlebar lights setup and broke into two groups, beginner and not beginner! Then, we headed out to do Lakeview backwards!



We had a little time to get acclimated before the trails got really dark. I wasn't afraid at all. There were about 16 people out for the ride, so it's not like we were alone!

It was hard to get pics at night, but here was one!



We had a lovely time and met some really nice people. I'm looking forward to our next night ride! Everyone is so encouraging and helpful. No one rushes and everyone stays together! It's a privilege to get to ride in the park at night because it's otherwise prohibited. The only night riding is an organized ride with the Friends of Poco group or other arranged ride.

Then, on Saturday we met up with Carmen. We met her at the Tuesday night ride and she told us that she wanted to go riding if/when we went!



On our way to the trailhead we had some minor adjusting on the pedals (thank goodness for Dynamo). Then, we had a great time riding and chatting!



I told Carmen it was nice to have new material to photograph! She laughed!



She was a good sport about me and the camera!



We stopped a few times to take pics in new places and just had a relaxing ride getting to know each other!



It's always nice to meet other mountain bikers, especially ladies!!! Carmen is really funny and made us laugh a lot!



Even though the day was really hot, it was quite a bit cooler in the woods!



We are excited to have new friends to ride with! It was a great time!



Hope your weekend was great!!

Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey - A Favorite!

The favorite...



Many people who have never tried my soaps ask which one to start out with. I always recommend the Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey or the Lavender Oatmeal.



The reason I suggest these bars is because they are mild in fragrance while being excellent for moisturizing! Oatmeal is excellent! This bar has ground oats that provide extra good stuff for your skin!



Most of my soaps are made using the same basic recipe of oils. What changes are the fragrances and the extras. The oats are a favorite of mine to use. I have very dry skin so this recipe was formulated to help those of us with dry skin. You will find that you most likely won't need to use lotion when using my soaps. Sometimes, though, in the winter, it's just too much for just the soap to handle.

In the works will be a new lotion that you can put on at nighttime in addition to using the soap to soften and moisturize your skin! So, if you're new to my soaps the Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey bar is the one for you to try!



Never be afraid to message me if you have questions about anything. Oftentimes we can discuss your particular issues and I can recommend a bar to fit your needs. I use lots of clays and activated charcoal in my soaps as well as pumpkin (my new favorite). I find that those extras really do help remove impurities and make your skin softer and smoother.

So, I've always got plenty of Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey on hand because it's just the go-to bar!

Southport Vacation Part 2

Our first full day in Southport we planned as a beach day! After a delicious breakfast and lunch and bike ride around town we hit the beach...



The sun was shining and the temperature was great!



We went over to the end of Oak Island and set up camp!



There were a few people fishing and relaxing, but it was really pretty quiet!

We even saw a tandem kayak (excuse the feet in the pic)...





The day was lovely and relaxing. We headed back to the B&B, got changed and headed to dinner at Joseph's Italian Bistro, one of my favorites! The view from the deck is of the marina. Just lovely and so quiet!!



The next day we grabbed the bikes after breakfast and rode around town most of the morning stopping and shopping!



We hit Burney's, home of the original Cro-Nut!



They were quite good!



So were the red velvet cupcakes...



After the pedaling and eating we headed to Caswell Beach. Time for another selfie!



And, as if I don't see enough snakes at home, there was a guy flying a snake kite...Really?



The weather was again beautiful and we napped and listened to the waves!



We headed down to the waterfront in town and searched for shells, sea glass, and pottery! This is a tradition for me to hunt daily!

Before dinner that evening we snapped a pic in front of the Inn (well, we tried)





The last night we ate at The Pharmacy and then the next day we grabbed some goodies from Burney's to go and headed out of town. I wanted to make a quick stop at Jonkheer Jewelry in Wilmington since I'd missed it on the way down.



I'd purchased some earrings made by Mitzy in the past and wanted to see her studio and shop! We got lucky and got to meet her, her son, and her two dogs. What an amazing visit with an amazing artist! She's so friendly and a very talented metalsmith! Her pieces are so unique and artistic! Be sure to check out her work here!

Before leaving Wilmington we ate lunch at the Blue Water Grill and grabbed two more ice cream sandwiches at Wrightsville Beach!



We had a lovely time together and enjoyed relaxing. If you're ever in the mood to just slow down a bit, Southport's the place for you!