The one that got away

Last year, a friend shared a great book with me on how to be happy, genuinely happy.  One of the great way to stay happy, according to the book, is to write letters of appreciation. 


I then started to write a few letters to those I'm truly thankful to, and I also made these soaps as a token of my gratitude. 


Now I wish I had made more because I just gave away the last one from this batch and I haven't had a chance to try them yet!


This doesn't happen very often.  Usually I try my soaps before I give them out, it's my kind of way of saying "I know this is good for you!".  

Olive oil, Coconut oil, Palm oil

Castor oil, Sweet Almond oil, Cocoa Butter

Made on 2009-09-13

Olive Oil Soap

Taking out an old bar of soap to use is like unwrapping a long-awaited present.

The anticipation starts when I pick up the soap from my soap room and quickly builds up during my short walk to the shower.

The feeling then gets replaced by the excitement as soon as I turn on the water.



And, the grand unveil!

I made these soaps more than two years ago, and now I only have one left.  I would've kept the last one a little longer if it's not for the tiny DOS on one side of the bar.  I guess that DOS is my signal to start enjoying the soap.


This soap has everything an old soap has to offer, and taking a shower now is like getting a quick home spa.  Unfortunately Hubby doesn't share the same passion with me.  To him, it's a "good soap", and that's it.

The original gel marks have long gone.  I hope this is of some comfort to soapers out there who wonder if these marks will ever disappear.


In fact, I think I love this bar so much that I think I'm going to make the same one and let them sit for another 2 years!

G20

When the world (at least the city of Toronto) is getting ready for FIFA World Cup, my hubby is getting ready for G20.  

In 2 weeks, world leaders will descend on Toronto, and security is on top of everyone's list.  Special task force units are flying in from all major Canadian cities, there will be military presence, the marines, the mounted police, and some private security staff. 


 This might be the biggest event yet for Hubby's career, but those riot videos on YouTube really scare the hell out of me.  I pray that all crazy fanatics are all glued to their TV to cheer for their own soccer team, too busy to come to protest!

Since I learned that corn oil can be used in place of olive oil, I've been using it and like the results. 


Late last year, I took out an one-year-old, 100% olive oil soap to use, and I was pleasantly surprised by it!  I wondered if corn oil could produce similar results, and hence this batch.  


Now it's been more than 6 months, I take out one just to see how it's doing. (More like my curiosity is killing me.)  It turns out to be pretty good!  It lathers quite well (which is very important to Hubby), and leaves skin a very soft feel. The real test will come in another 6 months when it's dead cold here in Toronto and the weather is super dry.  Can't wait to see how these soaps perform!

Made on 2009-11-08

Tiger Soap!

The weather in Toronto has been on the chilly side for the last few days.  It constantly reminds my husband and I an old commercial that goes, "winter, winter, winter, winter....... SUMMER! winter, winter, winter....... SUMMER!"   Oh yes, how short the summer is in Canada!

I laid my hands on an all-natural red colorant.  (A heart-felt thanks to a dear friend!)  If you've tried coloring your soaps red with natural colorants, you'll know how hard it is to come up with the beautiful red hue.  According to my friend, the color is extracted from red bell peppers and only fades a little as the soap cures.  I could've put in a little more because now it looks more orangey than red...

With this soap, I also tried a new swirling technique.   I LOVE the result!  The soap turns out so unique and stunning, even an always-humble person like me can't stop talking about it without a big smile on my face.  When Hubby saw them for the first time, his first response was, "Go take photos!"

100%  Lard 

Made on 2010-05-25