Endless Summer

Hi! Hello!

Endless summer – sounds like paradise, right? I grew up in the Midwest where dreams of summer got us through the long months of freezing winter and the endless months of mud we called spring. Living my adult years in Seattle, dreams of summer got us through the endless months of dreary drizzle too. Those short months of welcome sunshine and warm weather is the season we anticipate most. It holds all our memories of the good life - fun outdoor activities, feasts with friends in the open air, road trips.

We know summer is the favorite because where does everyone go for vacation? Warm, sunny places that feel like summer – Hawaii, Mexico, tropical paradises. It’s a way of life as much as a season. It feels like a fresh breeze in your hair, smells like the beach, and tastes ripe, juicy and fresh. Bite into summer, it’s delicious.

SUMMER SEASONAL SOAPS

Summer is a picnic of bright juicy fruit, cool crisp greens, and ripe jewels from the garden, set out on a blanket at the beach, or in a field of sunflowers. We’ve put all of that on the menu! It’s a hamper of the best of summer – cool, refreshing, fruity, light, sweet and delicious. These are only available for the next few months and are made in limited production. ($6.00 each)

CUCUMBER MINT – Equal parts crisp, fresh cucumber slices and cool, refreshing, tingly mint – it’s a perfect match. This soap is light and clean, exactly what you want in your summer shower.

WATERMELON SUGAR – Sweet, ripe, fresh-picked watermelon, juice running down your face – it’s the very essence of summer. The fragrance is true watermelon, softly sweet and fruity, and pure joy and refreshment in a single bar of pretty pink soap. You’ll be singing that happy Harry Styles song in your shower, or maybe all day . . . Watermelon Sugar High.

TOMATO & BASIL – Every year I plant my little patch of heirloom tomatoes with high hopes that I’ll have an abundant harvest of ripe, red gems to pick warm off the vines for salads, sandwiches or a quick snack. Basil plants scattered around the veggie beds add the perfect pairing - together they are summer food heaven. This fragrance is unmistakably that alluring tomato leaf scent, the stuff that makes your fingers bright green, with sun kissed tomato and aromatic basil leaf. This bar is a light tomato soup color with a really fresh leafy green scent.

BEACH HOUSE – Many moons ago I introduced this little charmer, which over the years has become the most beloved soap of summer. It even inspired an aromatic spray, which is now a regular on the menu. A dreamy blend of salty ocean air, pretty lavender, and a sprig of mint and rosemary - this scent is clean and light as a breeze. With a Zen-like calm, its soothing marine fragrance and beautiful translucent sea glass color transports you directly to the spa. My imaginary seaside cottage has a little pile of these in every room.

And I have one more special soap on the menu this year . . .

SUNFLOWER FIELDS – The sunflower fields in the Sacramento valley (where I live) are one of my favorite things about summer here. Over 50,000 acres of fields are planted with sunflowers for seed production. It’s the happiest sight to behold – the rows upon rows, field after field, of bright, yellow flowers with their faces basking in the sunshine under clear blue skies.
(Learn more here: http://sacramentovalley.org/stories/sunflowers-in-our-valley/)

And the fact that it’s the symbol of Ukraine made it the obvious choice for a summer scent this year. Many of the sunflower seeds grown in this area go to growers in Ukraine where the crop is grown for oil. Watching the devastation and suffering of the people there is heart breaking and the need for humanitarian support is constantly growing. I am donating all the profits from the sales of these Sunflower Fields soap bars to Global Giving for their Ukraine fund. (Learn more here: GLOBAL GIVING

SUMMER SPRITZING

Summer is the perfect season to indulge in one of the aromatic sprays. Keep a bottle in the fridge for a little spritz of icy cool on your neck or décolletage. Spray a little bit of happy on your summer sundresses, fresh sheets, steamy car seats, or stinky dog. This superhero stuff goes anywhere and everywhere, making the world smell a little more beautiful, one squirt at a time. (4 oz bottle, $7.00)

I’ve got a full list of beautiful spray scents, but there are a couple especially perfect for warm weather.

BEACH HOUSE – A match to the soap, it’s a dreamy blend of salty ocean air, pretty lavender and green herbs, clean and light as a breeze. Calming, cooling and oh so fresh, it can take your hot, stuffy, anything directly to the beach in one spritz.

COCONUT LEMONGRASS – Tropical creamy coconut with a squeeze of tart lemon, you’ll be dreaming of Piña Coladas and relaxing poolside with an umbrella drink in your hand within seconds.

MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS AND CARE PACKAGES

If there’s one thing we learned the past couple of years, it’s that nurturing ourselves and taking care of each other is essential. Moms are super heroes at this, even if we’re no longer kids, or already have kids of our own. How about giving her a happy little gift of pretty smelling soaps and treats that she can pamper herself with? It’s way better than brunch, though nobody said you can’t do both. We’ve got all shapes and sizes of totes, care packages, ribbon tied boxes, the works.

This is the time for grads, Dads, birthdays, and lots more occasions for sending a small, thoughtful, handmade gift. Maybe a Soap of the Month Sudscription with 2 fancy soaps in the mail at the start of each month? You know what I say about the gift of soap. You’re not hinting,” ugh, you smell bad.” Gifting good soap means “you're special and you're worth it.” “You enjoy the finer things in life on a daily basis”. “I love you and want to pamper you.” All good stuff.

Summertime and the living is easy peasy. Swimsuits all day. Flip flops and ice pops. Tunes blasting and open road. Let’s dive into this! Last one in is a rotten egg!!