All Things Irish - Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

One of my favorite holidays, St. Patricks Day, is almost here.  It's a day when we get to celebrate all things Irish - from little green leprechauns to shamrocks. 

St. Patricks Day has always been a special day for us. It's the day after David and I celebrate our wedding anniversary - March 16th.  We remember celebrating on our honeymoon at an Irish Pub and, as the years went by, we gave our kids Irish names.  First Caitlin, then Brian, named after Ireland's King Brian Boru and finally our dear Irish Colleen.

This year has found us busy making Irish Soaps.  These soap favors are for a lucky Irish lass, ordered by a daughter for her mother, who is celebrating her 90th birthday on March 17th.

And, as St. Patrick's Day nears, we remember wrapping and mailing 150 Guinness Beer Soaps for an Irish Wedding that's taking place on St. Patrick's Day.

Our largest St. Patricks Day soap project was making 500 Dublin Mint Soaps for Seasons Box in Canada.

All set for labeling.  Anyone want to join in and wrap soap?

Making progress!

Oliver can't resist the ribbon.

Almost ready for the shipping boxes.

Ahhh, I think it's time to celebrate with an Irish Coffee.

May you enjoy a delightful St. Patrick's Day,

Christine Kennedy

http://www.allthingsherbal.com/

Making Soap Loaves & a chance to win one!

I love baking bread - almost as much as I love making soap.

Often, I just don't take the time to do it.

Wouldn't it be fun to combine the two together and make a loaf of soap!
 

 

I decided to try out three different kinds of soap loaves - Poppyseed Carrot, Lavender with a Lemon Twist and, always a favorite scent combination, Almonds and Oatmeal.

Yum, these loaves smell good enough to eat....here's a photo of the finished loaf of Lemon Lavender with a sprinkle of lavender buds across the top.

 

I'll take you through the process of making these loaves.  First, I melted all the oils and herbs together in a large pot - coconut, olive, palm, cocoa butter, shea butter, soybean, sunflower- all 100% plant based oils that are good for your skin.

Next, I added the lye water and stirred and blended until the soap became thicker.  One way to describe it would be to say the soap now has a cake batter consistency.

Adding in more goodies - some oatmeal.

Next, it's time to add in the essential oils.

Here I'm pouring some of the soap into a smaller bowl and adding cocoa powder for a beautiful swirl of chocolate brown.

I lined my mini loaf pans with freezer paper to protect them and then poured the soap in.

Pouring the soap when it was nice and thick helped get the swirls on top. I think it makes them look more like a real loaf of bread.

A final touch - a sprinkle of poppy seeds along the top of the loaf.

After curing for a few weeks, the Poppyseed Carrot Soap naturally darkened to a deep brown.  The vanilla in the scent combination I created is the culprit.  It does make it look more like a loaf of bread though, perhaps a dark rye or whole wheat.

Let's take the loaf of the Poppyseed Carrot Soap and cut off a slice to use.

I love the look of these soap loaves, a bit like the loaves of bread in a bakery!

You can find our soap loaves, a limited few, on our website under Special Purpose Soaps.

Or, you can win one!

Today through Monday, March 4th we are doing a give-a-way.

For a chance to win either the Poppyseed Carrot or the Almond Oatmeal Soap Loaf,  just leave a comment on this page.

We'll select a winner by random, contact the winner through email and mail your soap loaf out to you. I'll also announce the winner on our facebook page. Good Luck!

Staying Soapy,
Christine Kennedy

simple ingredients, extraordinary benefits

http://www.allthingsherbal.com/

Winter Warm Up ~ Homemade Starbucks

Isn't January - when it feels more like the dead of winter, instead of the middle - the perfect time to treat yourself to a Starbucks coffee?  I've always enjoyed their Caramel Mocha Lattes or anything that combines coffee with peppermint and chocolate.  Just a few heavenly sips and I daydream about how to replicate one at home.

Well, $ave yourself some money and try my homemade version.  It's not as hard as you might think and it is delicious!  Just take my advice and enjoy them in moderation.

For making individual Starbuck treats, one of the best investments I've made is buying a French Coffee Press.  These are available at Target for around $20 and can be found online or at many superstores for even less.  I found mine, pictured below, at TJ Maxx for $16.

A French Press is perfect for making just one or two cups of coffee.  But, you can also use an espresso maker or just brew a batch of double strength coffee in your drip coffee maker.  Let's get started on our DIY Coffee Treat:

Take 4 Tablespoons of your favorite coffee beans and finely grind in a coffee grinder.

Add the coffee grounds to the French Press.

Pour 1 cup of very hot water over the grounds. 

Place the cover on, leaving the plunger pulled up, and allow the coffee grounds to steep

for at least four minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.

Heat 1 cup of milk until it is steaming. I used a glass measuring cup in the microwave, but you may also heat the milk in a small pan on the stove.  Froth the milk with a whisk or, if you have one, a small electric whisk until it is nice and foamy.  In a small bowl, mix together 1 Tablespoon of cocoa powder and 1 Tablespoon sugar.  Add to the hot milk.  Again, whisk well until the powders are blended in.

Now, grab your coffee mug and place 1 Tablespoon of caramel sauce in the bottom of the mug.  If you are using a french press, push the plunger down slowly to compress the grounds and release that great flavor. Add the hot whipped milk mixture and the fresh hot coffee to the mug and stir well.

Top with whipped cream, a generous drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce.

Once you've finished, it will be time to remember my earlier advice about moderation.  Otherwise, you'll want to make another right away.  Then, maybe, another. ; )

Christine Kennedy

simple ingredients, extraordinary benefits

http://www.allthingsherbal.com/

Pinterest Inspiration!

Now that all the busyness and preparation for the holidays are over, I'm hoping to set aside some time to enjoy surfing the net.  And, pinterest makes it so much more fun.  Here are a few ideas I've found to help welcome in 2013 and start the New Year off right.  (I've included all of the links back to the original blogs/websites.)

 

Get Healthy in the New Year!

 

 

 

Get organized in 2013.

 

 

 

Plan ahead for the next holiday!

 

 

 

Dream of Spring...

 

 

Look for a warm/comfy sweater to keep you warm the rest of winter.

 

 

 

Be inspired by vintage cards!

 

 

 

 

May your New Year celebrations be filled with joy, family, friends, humor, patience, love and of course, good food and drink.

 

Christine Kennedy

simple ingredients, extraordinary benefits

http://www.allthingsherbal.com/

Soaps of Christmas Past and Present

I love the Christmas season and getting our home ready for family celebrations.  Some of this I must get from my mom, who beautifully transforms her whole home into a Christmas dream.  Her living room features an angel tree and angels surround the mantel and continue down the hallway to the porch, which is Santa's retreat.  It showcases Santa Clauses not only from different time periods but designs.  Scents are also a part of the season.  My mom is a champion cookie baker and has been known to fill the downstairs freezer with many batches of cookies.
Most of my holiday creative energy is spent thinking about Christmas Soaps.  Here's a look at some of our favorite scents and designs of Christmas's Past.

 

And here's a few special soaps from Christmas Present.

Wishing you a very joyous and blessed Christmas season!

Christine Kennedy

simple ingredients, extraordinary benefits

http://www.allthingsherbal.com/