We have made and sold over 275,000 bars of handcrafted soap in the last 5 years. I don't know if it seems like a lot to you, but it is interesting to consider that every bar was mixed, molded and cut with equipment that we made as well. This has been a truly interesting ride and with each passing day it gets more interesting. Our goal is to be making 275,000 bars each year, very soon. But, as we get closer to the time of year when we seem to count our blessing a little more, I find that I am thinking about all of the people who have purchased those 275,000 bars or our soap. Six years ago we hardly knew any of the people we now call customers. They are people from all walks. I guess you could categorize them by affluent, blue collar, middle class, white, black, gay, straight, etc... We have learned so many life lessons from this business, but the most important one we've learned is that while these people may be "affluent, blue collar, middle class, white, black, gay and straight", they have become our friends. Friends that we did not have 6 years ago. Friends that give their confidence every time they make a purchase. Friends that have told others that we were here. Friends that we love.

Innovation from The Soap Makery: The Soap Filled Luffa

Did you know that skin is the largest vital organ of the human body? Maybe you've never considered skin to be a vital organ. Consider what it would be like to be without it. That thought alone seems to validate that it truly is vital. In an age when we have so much information about health issues at our finger tips, we still seem to know so little about skin health. For example, did you know that typical human skin has pH in a range 4.5 to 6? Do you know what an acid mantle is and what protection it provides for you? These are some very basic skin care questions that when answered properly, will provide you with truthful information about the products you use on your skin and prepare you to make better choices. There are many small soap crafting businesses around that create wonderful products, but none more innovative than The Soap Makery and it's soap filled luffa. This product is all natural from top to bottom. Luffa is actually the dried inner fiber of a gourd. Many people have mistakenly assumed that luffa comes from the ocean. The inner fiber is extracted by hanging the gourd in a dry environment, such as a barn or basement, after it is has been harvested. As the gourd drys, the outer skin begins to pull away from the fibrous middle, eventually leaving only the sponge remaining. Then the sponge is shaken to remove its seeds and washed to remove any remaining soil. This where The Soap Makery goes to work. A 12 inch luffa sponge is inserted into a mold specifically designed for this product. The mold is sealed on one end and then, one of the 30 luxurious plant based soaps is poured directly into the luffa fiber. The soap permeates the luffa fiber entirely, filling out to the inner lining of the mold. When the soap has hardened, a soap filled luffa cylinder has been formed and is removed for cutting. Finally, the soap filled luffa cylinder is cut into 1" thick disks and shelved to cure for about 3-4 weeks. When cured, you have an amazing combination of a mild exfoliating sponge embedded in a luxurious, all natural soap. This product is great for people who work with their hands and desire a soap that will not dry, combined with a perfect natural "scrubbie". All soaps crafted by The Soap Makery are formulated to have a cured pH of 4.5 to 6. Sound familiar? It should. As mentioned earlier, human skin has pH in this range and for that reason these soaps will not destroy the acid mantle, a barrier created naturally by our body to protect us from over exposure to rain, wind, sun and pathagoens. For more information about these and other unique and innovative products, contact The Soap Makery at www.thesoapmakery.com.

Gratitude

Gratitude. Perhaps the most important concept we humans must learn, next to forgiveness, as we make this journey. Being thankful. For what, you say? To answer that, I am reminded of a question that I read recently. "If your life always feels difficult, what are you comparing it too?" If we constantly compare ourselves to others, then our feelings of well being may become dependent upon the people to whom we are comparing ourselves and our lifestyle. For example, if we compare ourselves to people that we perceive as wealthier or prettier, we will likely begin to feel as though we have been slighted in the beauty and abundance categories. If we compare ourselves to the homeless people we pass on our way to work, maybe we feel a bit more fortunate. Who taught so many of us to evaluate our "lot in life" by comparing ourselves to others? Madison Avenue? Our parents? Why didn't someone teach us to pay attention to the moments when we are so fully engaged in an activity that we loose track of time. Ah Ha! Time seems to be a big factor in evaluating how we feel about how happy we are. How much do we spend working for more money verses taking time to play with our children. Ever heard the statement "I wish I had more time to..." ? We all have. And, you can fill in the blanks. But, this may be a wakeup call for all of us. When you truly begin to ask yourself "what makes me happy"?, will more work and more money be in your top five? Want to get to the heart of it right away? Tonight, ask your kids what they think makes you happy. Make sure you are sitting down when they answer.