Hello friends! If it's supposed to be spring, why is there so much snow and freezing weather?

Just a little later in March is the official arrival of spring. Mother Nature is working her magic, even if it's under snow flurries this past week. Patience, grasshopper. Renewal, new life, warmer weather and brighter days are on track and about to pull into the station. Before you know it, all manner of leaflets, sprouts, blossoms, birds and bees will bust out in all their glory. Trusting the process, watching intently and then delighting in the tiniest of signs - that anticipation and excitement is one of spring's special gifts, lifting our hearts and moods.

NEW! SPRING EQUINOX SOAP

If you've followed me even for a minute, you know I'm all about the seasons. The beauty of the natural cycle, the ways we celebrate and honor all the ways our planet revolves around the sun, from spring through winter, this has been the focus of my fragrances and products since the very beginning.

This year I'm creating a new soap scent for each of the equinoxes and solstices, just a very limited batch of specially fragranced bars to mark the official first day of the season in the solar calendar.

Spring Equinox is March 20th, when the sun's direct rays cross the equator, giving us equal amounts of daylight and night time. It marks the official first day of spring.

Spring Equinox is my first of these special soaps, a new scent for spring. The fragrance is a fresh, green blend of cucumber, grass, honey, bamboo, geranium, sage, oakmoss, and sandalwood. My own description of this fragrance is pure leafy green.Like if it was possible to bottle up the smell of a whole street of freshly emerging leaflets and buds on the trees. It's dewy and earthy, grassy fresh and distinctly "natural" - meaning having my nose plastered right into a plant, kind of natural. Longing for spring right this very minute? This scent is the smell-track to your dreams. Very limited quantity available. ($6 each)

SPRING SEASONAL SCENTS

In case you were off in Hawaii or something and missed it, the new menu of spring scents was announced last month. All of the fresh new scents are in stock and ready to blossom in your shower: Jasmine Honeysuckle, Lilac Garden, Sweet Dreams, and Tahitian Petals. Starting your day awash in the scent of beautiful flowers and clean freshness is living the good life. Your winter weary soul (and skin) will thank you.

HELPING HAND SOAPS - HALF OFF!

I've got just a handful left in stock of the Helping Hand Soap Sets: Winter Holiday Edition and I've dropped the price to 50% off! Just $6.00 each while they last.

NATIONAL "I WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY" DAY

Did you know this was a thing? It’s National I Want You to be Happy Day on Friday, March 3, giving each of us the opportunity to brighten someone’s day through simple acts of kindness and selflessness Putting a smile on someone’s face tends to put one on ours, too. I don't know a single person who couldn't use a kind compliment, love note, tiny gift or favor - just a million ways to let someone know you care and want therm to be happy. Shhhh, it's a secret, but giving you advance notice that I'm going to have a one-day flash sale on the site that day. Check my Instagram or Facebook accounts to see what's happening on Friday, March 3.

SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE

It seems like everyone is talking about how important sleep is to health and wellbeing lately. Everyone needs to have deep rest to thrive. But there’s been an epidemic of sleeplessness lately. People are tossing and turning, and it’s not that they don’t want to sleep, they just can’t. Day to day stresses, worries about the news, constantly being plugged in, there are many reasons why so many of us are struggling.

Turning off and tuning out the things that keep us wired is probably most important. Our nervous systems need to be in a state of calm to drift off more easily.

Essential oils, or aromatherapy, can be helpful too. The top one is lavender, and chamomile is beneficial, soothing and calming our nervous system, lowering anxiety, and quieting our minds while we breathe them in deeply.

Both of those oils are the base of our Sweet Dreams aromatic spray and we’ve created a soap with the same essential oils for this spring season.

Soft, calm and peaceful lavender with gentle chamomile flowers relax the mind and soul. This ethereal, exquisite blend helps you to drift blissfully to sleep. While this is obviously perfect for evening soaks or showers after a long, stressful day - this dainty blue bar can help you start your morning with a calm focus and clear mind too.

Best of all? it’s an all natural bar, meaning there are no chemical ingredients. Essential oils for scent and natural blue oxide pigment for color.

March to your own unique drummer this month. Breathe in the renewal of spring. Find happiness in the tiniest moments. And above all, rest deeply, dream sweetly and bring your best self out to play.

Heidi Risse

Spring interrupted for this snow blizzard.