Limited Edition Valentine Bath and Body Sets

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching, and we have some limited edition gift sets available on Etsy and Artfire for the occassion. Just use the side bar photos to enter our shops. Most sets feature a limited edition Celtic heart soap. We only have a few of these.

Fields of Lavender Bath and Body Valentine Gift Set for Her - features a lovely reusable chocolate brown and pink striped box containing a Celtic heart soap, aromatherapy bath/massage oil, and soy candle in a tin.

Shaving Valentine Gift Set for Him - features old-fashioned shaving set in a reusable chocolate brown and pink striped box containing a natural shaving soap, a soap container with lid, and shaving brush.

Valentine Celtic Heart Soap Sets - features 3 natural glycerin Celtic heart soaps in a clear heart shaped box. Sets come in different scents. These fun sets can be given to teens and kids as well.

We make custom gift sets as well. Feel free to email us at bonniebath@bellsouth.net with your request, or contact us thru Etsy or Artfire.

FOR OUR BLOG FOLLOWERS: 10% off any boxed GIFT SET in our shop, including custom sets $18 and over before shipping and sales tax. Use the following code at checkout: ValentineBlog. You may need to put the code in a message to seller. Code expires Feb. 10th.

Our Hearts Go Out to Haiti

I usually place some sort of memorial on this blog for tragedies, and Haiti is no exception. Words cannot express the unfathomable suffering this country must face. Between the massive death toll, the endless injuries and amputations, and the destruction of a city, it is hard to tell a country to hold on and you will get through this. Since words fail me, simply know I care.

On a slightly personal note, I had the opportunity of getting to know my neighbors directly across the street from my home under the most tragic of circumstances. I live in Boca Raton, FL where a number of Lynn University students set off to Haiti to do humanitarian work. The earthquake struck the Montana Hotel in Haiti and 4 young girls and two professors went missing. The others in the group were safely returned home.

My neighbor is Courtney Hayes, one of the students that did not survive the earthquake. She left a mourning family and fiancee. Although her body has not yet returned home, her parents informed my husband that a Navy seal found a lifeless body in her crumbled hotel room. She is believed to have died instantly. Although, I knew this girl merely with hellos, I can't help but be broken hearted for the young man left alone across the street.

To all those lost to this earthquake, may you rest in peace. To all those suffering in this catastrophic tragedy, may you find peace.

South Florida Scottish Festival

Well we didn't do too well at the South Florida Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Not because of our products, they actually sold well considering no one came to the event. You see, here's the situation. Down here in sunny S. FL, the one day of our festival took place looked like this...

Felt like this...

At one point, I thought I had developed this (it was a false alarm)...



Which all led to this...

Floridians don't really own warm clothes. In fact, last year was the first time I owned a jacket since grade school. So when you pair steady rain with temps in the 30's with a wind chill leading to temps feeling like they are in the 20's, you will only get the most die hard of Scottish festival fans - not many. We did have some fun, met some great people, and walked away with enough money to cover our vendor and advertising fees. I will chock that up as a success considering when I showed up, I thought there was no way I could sell anything.

Homemade Cleaning Product Recipes - Part 3

Laundry Detergent

2.5 oz grated bar soap (use your scraps)
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda

Mix. Use ½ cup of mixture per load.

Lime Deposits (tea and coffee pots)
½ cup vinegar
2 cups hot water

Allow to soak. Rinse with water.

Mold/Mildew Remover (Recipe 1)

1 part hydrogen peroxide
2 parts water

Mix, place in spray bottle, and use directly on mold. Allow to sit for 1 hour and rinse.

Mold/Mildew Remover (Recipe 2)

lemon juice OR vinegar

Apply directly on mold using a spray bottle.
Allow to sit, then rinse clean.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1 cup borax
½ cup lemon juice

Pour into bowl. Allow to sit for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse.

Window Cleaner

2 tsp vinegar
4 cups warm water

Use a cotton cloth to apply to windows, buffing streaks.

There are many other combinations and useful tips for cleaning using natural ingredients. A quick search on the Internet will provide countless other recipe variations.

Homemade Cleaning Product Recipes - Part 2

Dishwasher Soap

1 part borax
1 part washing soda

Use 2 tbsp of mixture per load. Use vinegar as a rinse agent.

Disinfectant

2 tsp borax
4 tbsp vinegar
3 cups hot water

Apply with a dampened cloth.

Floor Cleaner

1 cup vinegar
1 gal hot water

Apply with a damp cloth or mop.

Furniture Polish (Recipe 1)

3-4 drops lemon essential oil
½ cup warm water

Apply with damp cloth. Then buff with a soft, dry cloth.

Furniture Polish (Recipe 2)

¾ cup flax seed oil
¼ cup beeswax
1 tsp lemon essential oil

Melt wax and oil. Allow to slightly cool, add lemon essential oil. Pour into a tin or jar to solidify. Apply a thin layer to wood in circular motions, then wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth.

More recipes to follow.

Homemade Cleaning Product Recipes - Part 1

All-Purpose Cleaner

½ cup vinegar
½ cup baking soda
½ gallon water

Mix and use to clean bathroom and kitchen surfaces, including tile, fixtures, windows, and mirrors.




Bathroom Cleaner

1 cup baking soda
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
2 tbsp liquid soap
1-2 tbsp lemon OR tea tree essential oil

Mix dry ingredients. Add liquid soap essential oil and blend well. Wet surface and sprinkle a small amount of powder. Gently scour surface with a damp cloth. Rinse well. Do not use on fiberglass or metal.

Carpet Stain Remover

1 part vinegar
1 part water

Mix, place in spray bottle, and use directly on stain. Allow to sit for a few minutes and clean with a soft cloth with warm, soapy water.

More recipes to follow.

Cleaning the Home

Natural home care products are typically made with inexpensive ingredients and are very easy to make. Some of these products include window cleaner, furniture polish, laundry and dishwasher detergent, and more. These products are excellent cleaners, sometimes more effective than harsher chemical versions. They are also eco-friendly and gentler on the environment than store brand chemical cleaners. Most are non-toxic and safer to use than chemical products. When cleaning, you should still wear rubber gloves for your protection.

Cleaning the Home

The top ingredients for cleaning naturally:

· Baking soda . Used to clean, deodorize and scrub surfaces. It rinses well and is non-toxic.
· Borax . Used to clean, deodorize, and disinfect. Can be used on painted surfaces.
· Citric Acid . Used for de-scaling shower heads, faucets, and more. Use with care.
· Cornstarch . Used to clean windows and carpets and polish furniture. Non-toxic.
· Essential Oils . Some oils disinfect, kill bacteria, freshen, and even repel pests.
· Lemon Juice . Kills bacteria, cuts grease, deodorizes, and freshens. Non-toxic.
· Hydrogen Peroxide . Natural bleaching, disinfects, removes stains, and is non-toxic.
· Isopropyl Alcohol . Disinfects. Use with care.
· Soap . Used to clean almost anything. Non toxic.
· Washing soda . Cuts grease, removes stains, and cleans bathroom and kitchen surfaces. Use with care.
· White vinegar . Cuts grease, sanitizes, deodorizes, and removes stains and mildew. Non-toxic.

Homemade cleaning recipes to follow.