Category: Vintage Sara’s Soaps ‘n Such

Flip flops.  Soaps.  Jesus.  Motorcycles.  These four things don’t seem like they’d go together in any way, shape, form or fashion, yet I’m going to show you how they do, in fact, go together perfectly.

A few years ago, I introduced these adorable flip flop soaps, and they sold like hotcakes!  One of my soap buds said, “You could say people are flipping for your flops!”  Each bar is a hefty 5 3/4 ounces of luscious fragrance.  Two of the ones from my line are scented with exclusive scent blends I created just for these soaps.  The other two in my product line are Sexy & Sassy, a duplicate of Victoria’s Secret Sexy Little Things fragrance, and Blueberry Festival, a very true blueberry scent.  My daughter’s product line also includes flip flop soaps that you can choose.

So, there’s the soap and flip flops angle, but what about Jesus and motorcycles?  For thirty years, my dad has been an active member of Christian Motorcyclist Association (www.cmausa.org).  This ministry shares the love of Jesus Christ with members of the biker community – everyone from the Sunday afternoon bikers who enjoy their leisurely rides for the pure pleasure of doing it (and it’s FUN!) to the hard-core bikers whose lifestyles are marked by less-than-legal recreational pursuits.  For the men and women around the world who are in CMA, all they see is that every one of these people is a person who God loves and with whom God wants to be in relationship.  They go to bike rallies, swap meets, poker runs, biker bars and Rolling Thunder in D.C. on Memorial Day weekend.  I’ll repeat:  God loves all these bikers and wants to be in relationship with them, just like he wants to be in relationship with all of us.  Isn’t that good news?!  The members of CMA share this good news.

Every May, the first Saturday in May, is the Run for the Son, a 100-mile sponsored motorcycle ride.  If you Flip for my Flops, then you can also help me as Dad Runs for the Son.  From now until 30 April, the net proceeds from the sales of these Flip Flop soaps will go to sponsor Dad’s Run, and those funds go directly to ministering to primarily bikers, but to others as well.

Yesterday was International Women’s Day, and I saw that 100 years ago, Susan B. Anthony marched for women’s right to vote.  She voted in the 1872 election when it was illegal for her to do so – and was arrested for it.  She was a very badly behaved woman, and her face graces a U.S. coin and her name lives on in history.

Susan’s friend Elizabeth Stanton Cody advocated for fair and equal employment opportunities for women, again, not particularly popular with her male contemporaries.  Yet, in a rather dated high-school U.S. History book I have and refer to during my homeschool lessons, these two women who did so much for women today get the merest breath of a mention.

Sojourner Truth gets a bit more of a mention, with about half a page dedicated to her “Ain’t I a Woman” speech.  If you’ve never read it, I encourage you to do so.  It’s powerful, laying to rest any notions that women are inferior because of our gender.  In fact, my favorite part of that speech is when she points out that men had nothing to do with the conception of Jesus Christ – it was God and a woman.  Obviously, this speech by a woman – a Black woman at that – unsettled her male contemporaries and made this bristle.

I proudly follow these women.  I don’t have to have my name in the history books; in fact, I’m quite sure I won’t.  I am a woman who has born two children, earned two graduate degrees and has started her own business.  The children I’m raising – both girls – are growing in faith and knowledge, and are learning that they can do and be anything in the world they want.  This is my legacy – behaving poorly and raising two future women who hopefully will behave poorly, too.

What women in history – either your own personal history or the larger scale of world history – have inspired you to greatness through their own “poor” behavior?

With all the unrest recently in the Middle East as citizens of various countries are protesting their governments and fighting for democracy – even going so far as to risk their lives in many cases – I’ve thought about how good we have it here in America.  Our time of fighting for our freedoms and democracy has passed.  As I hear reports of so many people who not only have not had the democracy we take for granted, but who have also been living in abject poverty, I start comparing our problems in the First World to their problems in the Third World.  Let’s look at First World problems first:

• Can’t find the TV remote
• Lock keys in car
• Computer crashes
• Have to clean out the refrigerator
• Air conditioning runs out of freon on the hottest day of the year

Now let’s look at some of those problems the Third World faces:

• Debilitating illness because of diseases
• No food to eat
• No clean water to drink
• Child dies of starvation
• Living in daily fear of nation’s military

Looking at these Third World problems can make our “huge problems” feel quite manageable and certainly not like it’s going to be the end of the world.  We could have eaten that food we just threw out when we cleaned the fridge.  We can go to the doctor when we’re sick.  Government programs ensure our children will have food, even if we can’t afford to pay for it ourselves.  Our military fights for us, not against us.

One company is making a huge difference to combat some of these Third World Problems.  Clean The World is an Orlando, FL – based company that’s working hard to reduce the number of deaths caused by cholera and diarrheal diseases.  It’s all in how you wash your hands.  Clean The World collects bars of soap to distribute in Third World countries; they also collect scraps of soaps and rebatch them into small bars of soap.  I’ve got a few bags of scraps that are slated for this mission, with big plans on the horizon that I’ll share as it gets closer to the time.

Do you want to help this fabulous organization?  The biggest help you can give them right now is to text “clean” to 20222 to donate $10.  Your money will provide soaps for 35 children for a month.

What are some First World problems you encounter, and how does thinking about very real Third World problems help you put them into perspective?

Over the past almost three years, I’ve created a variety of luscious soaps that incorporated some pretty unusual ingredients for soap – tea, beer, pomegranate juice and wine, to name a few.  For years I’ve heard about salt bars, also known as spa soaps.  They’re counterintuitive in nature; high coconut oil amounts in soap is very drying, and salt, of course, can cause dry skin as well.  Still, after hearing how awesome these soaps are, I just had to try making it.  I mean, seriously, if I can put Everclear in soap, I can put salt.

My first batch was gorgeous!  I colored it light sea blue and scented it with Seaglass fragrance oil, a light, fresh, clean scent.  The soap was thick and hefty, a solid six-ounce bar.  It takes around four weeks for soaps to completely cure and be ready for use, and waiting that long was hard, but finally, the cure period was over and I could use the little sniglet that I’d made.  I was thrilled with the results!  This soap wasn’t drying at all; in fact, it was very moisturizing with a creamy lather.  That little sniglet – maybe as much soap as you’d find in a hotel bar – lasted my husband and me a solid week with daily use.

Since this first batch had been so great, I decided to let that launch off a soap line of spa soaps.  This past weekend, I made another batch, this one a pastel salmon color and scented with a bright orange fragrance.  I’m deliberating on the next batch – light green and Cucumber Aloe fragrance, or yellow and Honeysuckle fragrance.  I only have enough salt right now to make one batch.  Future batches will include pink and Rose, lavender and Lavender and probably something else unisex.  We can’t deprive the fellas of these awesome soaps.

Which soap should I soap next – Cucumber Aloe or Honeysuckle?





With Le Boudoir products for couples, of course!  These high quality products are just what you need to add some sizzle to your Valentine’s Day.  If teasing and tantalization are your avenues to sensual pleasure, take turns dusting each other with Lick Me Off Honey Powder.

Next, a massage might be in order.  How do you prefer it?  Do you like your massages to be relaxing precursors to sleep, or is erotic massage more your thing?  Whichever style you prefer, Rub Me Right… There is just what you need.  This blend of seven premium oils absorbs quickly, gives enough glide for a good massage and is less likely to stain your sheets than other oils.  For those who like their massages to be more relaxing, I recommend unscented or Patchouli.  For couples using massage to explore each other thoroughly, Cherry or Vanilla flavored massage oil may interest you, since it lends itself to mouth explorations, too. 

When your Valentine’s Day heats up even hotter, you might find yourself in need of a little extra moisture.  That’s where Feel Your Bliss comes in.  Feel Your Bliss is a thick lubricating gel that stays where you need it without the stickiness associated with some commercial lubricants.  While Feel Your Bliss will warm things up a little bit, it features a low-heat formula that won’t burn more sensitive areas.

After the bedroom play is done, it’s time to move the fun to the bathroom for a quick – or not – clean-up.  Take it to the shower for a bit more fun, and make sure you get all clean with one of my soaps.  This natural Patchouli soap made with organic aloe vera juice is sure to warm things back up; patchouli has aphrodesiac qualities, just right for preparing for round two (or is it three now?).

Love and romance are in the air.  What tricks will you use to warm up a frosty Valentine’s Day?

Image by jimmywayne via FlickrWhile parts of our country are completely shut down due to insane blizzards dumping snow on top of snow and ice, here in southeast North Carolina, we’re enjoying some gorgeous weather, with highs floating around 70 under blue skies with some pretty nice breezes.  Morning rain sent my husband home from work, and our older daughter declared she wanted her daddy to teach her today.  No problem and see ya!  I got dressed, made a delivery, scooted by the bank and checked on another account.

My customer isn’t having a good day, because her delivery van is broken down and the repairs are high.  As I was driving home, I saw it up on jacks at one of the local repair shops, and it really hit me how many businesses around town are named after people – Brittney’s Blooms and Blossoms (my customer).  Adam’s Car Repair.  Calvin’s Computers.  Harold’s Car Sales.  It’s charming to me, and a business like Sara’s Soaps ‘n Such just seems to fit seamlessly into this nook.

I guess this is one of the reasons I like living in Burgaw, besides the fact that it’s just 30 miles from the ocean.  It’s the kind of town where everyone knows your name, especially if you use it in your business.

Party No More

Having missed last year’s Flotilla, we missed the encore of the previous year’s party, missed seeing the people and just missed the whole experience that IS our Flotilla weekend.  Apparently, a lot had changed in two years.  With two little ones, one of which would be ready to go to bed soon after the Flotilla ended, my husband and I decided we’d tag team the party so we’d each get a chance to go.  Since our baby settles easier without her sister in the room, Peter suggested I take our older daughter to the party, socialize a bit, come back and he’d go.  It was a good plan and so she and I set off for the lounge, eager to see our new friends again.

That didn’t last very long.  The Wilmington crew had undergone some pretty interesting changes.  There were a few familiar faces and welcoming smiles, but the tenor of the group had changed significantly.  The old group was warm and friendly, and they drank some, but mainly because it was there.  This new group drank to get drunk (not our thing) and engaged in some behaviors that we’re just not into.  Whereas the old group engaged our daughter in conversation and made her feel welcomed, this group kept saying, “I can’t say what I WANT to say” with a pointed look in the direction of my little girl.  She heard and felt the exclusion; she took her plate to a quiet place to eat, then told me that she was ready to go back to our room.  I’d had enough, so we headed back and my husband went to the party.

It got interesting at that point, and it was while he was there that we discovered the lifestyle preferences of this new group of people.  He had gotten his plate and two ladies – cougars both – approached him to invite him to join them in their room.  I don’t think I need to go into greater detail than that.  He decided at that point he needed to come back to our room.

We’ve decided not to even try to party with this group again.  It would’ve been nice to have the opportunity to enjoy a Christmas flotilla celebration with these folks, but we much prefer the old group.  That was a very baby tradition, so it’s not one we’re going to miss.  It also won’t take away our enjoyment of a great parade of boats or the lovely Inlet Inn.

Image by katiescrapbooklady via FlickrNostalgic Memories

As our weekend began, it dawned on me that the Inlet Inn, which we just started patronizing in 2006, has fit so seamlessly into our tradition.  I do miss the beach house – lots of space, outside shower, beach right outside the door (and over the dunes), the option to cook meals as we wish – but the Inn is very nice and a relaxing escape for us.

My memories took me to the “notable” experiences of our Flotillas.  In 2006, I was sporting a seriously cute pedicure a la my husband to go with the orthopaedic sandal I had to wear as my broken foot continued to heal.  That made navigating through Beaufort a bit of a challenge, but it wasn’t bad.

Two thousand seven was pretty bittersweet.  We were glad to be there, but I’d just found out the week before that I’d miscarried the baby we had conceived, and I was waiting to see if my body would get rid of it naturally; if not, my D&C was scheduled for the Monday right after the Flotilla.  It was hard sharing in my daughter’s excitement, knowing the sibling she wanted was resting dead within me.  That year, though, we discovered a model train exhibit, and my oldest daughter simply loves model trains, having gotten one the year before for Christmas from Santa Claus.

In 2007, we ended up with a room on the third floor.  The Inlet Inn has three floors – the first two have balconies, the third has window seats.  We spent a lot of time sitting in the window seat as a family, sipping decaf coffee flavored with Hershey’s candy cane kisses, and it was that year that something new started that still continues to this day.  Our daughter said, as the three of us sat in the window seat, “I want Kisses.”  So, we gave her kisses – lots of them, but not the chocolate variety.  Every time after that, when she said, “kisses,” we’d give her kisses.  Since a window seat and a smallish window is no way to enjoy the Flotilla, we went up to the Widow’s Walk Lounge to watch the Flotilla.  Imagine our surprise to discover a whole bunch of people up there!  They were sweet folks from Wilmington, and they invited us to join them for their Christmas party – simply pot luck dinner.  We declined because we were still very full from dinner and we didn’t have anything to share.  (I’m a born-and-bred Southern lady; you don’t go empty-handed to a pot-luck meal.)

We made our reservations for 2008 very early and scored a room on the first floor.  The view was good, the balcony was nice and the bittersweetness of the year before was replaced with hope, anticipation and a reason for me to decline the offer of wine or beer at the party.  I remember asking one lady if there were any non-alcoholic drinks available, accompanied with a small rub on my belly.  We went to see the model trains, walked the wonderful downtown area, our daughter talked to Santa and we watched the Flotilla from our balcony, eating homemade macaroons and Toll House cookies as we watched the parade, ending our day with our new acquaintances from Wilmington.

We missed last year’s Flotilla weekend.  It broke my heart having to cancel our reservations, but a new house and a new baby left us strapped for extra spending money.  I made a point, though, of going ahead and booking our reservations for this year’s Flotilla, determined we’d go.  Missing it had left us maudlin with an empty spot in our traditional Advent memories.

The Tradition Begins

This article begins a multi-part series on our trip to Beaufort, NC to see the Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla.  This is an annual tradition for our family, and this year in particular brought back a wave of memories and quite a bit of nostalgia.

Beaufort (pronounced bo’ – fort — long “o”) is a charming port town along the North Carolina coast, pretty much the farthest point north in that section known as the Crystal Coast.  There’s a rather large historic district containing numerous old homes, some private residences, some bed and breakfasts; and the historic district culminates at Front Street, which runs parallel to the Intercoastal Waterway and features numerous shops, antique stores and restaurants.  Along Front Street is the Inlet Inn, our choice of accomodations for the weekend, with its balconies overlooking the water and prime viewing space for watching the Flotilla.

As we arrived for our weekend away, I remembered the beginning of what would become this Christmas tradition.  The year was 1996, and my now-husband and I had just started dating not even two months before.  I told him I needed a topper for the 4-foot tall tree in my apartment, and he started telling me about this shop at Atlantic Beach that has a whole room of tree toppers.  I looked at him and said, “Christmas By The Sea?”  He was surprised I knew the shop, and we discovered that our families had been vacationing on the same island for pretty much our entire lives.  We got up early on Saturday and struck out, excited about our day trip.  While we were there, we discovered to our surprise that the Flotilla was going on that night, so we hung around, browsed the shops in Morehead City and Beaufort, and watched the Flotilla in both towns, hauling it the three miles from Morehead to Beaufort, arriving just in time to find a parking spot and stake out our spaces along the boardwalk where we could see the boats.

The next several years, we stayed at his parents’ beach house at Emerald Isle, always making the trek between Beaufort and Morehead to catch both Flotillas, enjoying the shops, sometimes picnicking as the weather permitted, and I enjoyed some of my most deeply spiritual moments and meaningful encounters with God while standing on the end of my in-laws’ dock overlooking the beach late at night.  Yeah, I still miss those moments of simply God, the ocean, and me.

In 2005, my in-laws sold their beach house.  I was unemployed for most of the year, and by the time I’d gotten a job, we figured it was too late to try to get reservations, so we missed that year.  The following year, I made reservations at the Inlet Inn, excited because, while I loved the beach house, I’d also rather envied those who would sit on their balconies sipping wine while watching the Flotilla from the floors of the bed and breakfast.  We’ve been pleased with our stay here year after year and already have reservations for next year.

Stay tuned for more posts about our weekend and my reflections on it.  I’ve also got a video of the Flotilla itself.

I’d like to announce a fantastic new game for the month of November!  This game will be taking place at my Facebook page and will be my own version of “Name That Tune.”  Here’s how we’ll play…

Every week in November up until Thanksgiving, I’m going to post a snippet from a Christmas song on my Facebook page.  It’ll start easy – 5 notes – then gradually get harder.  I’ll choose Christmas music of all kinds – traditional, contemporary, carols and secular, but I won’t use obscure songs.  Your challenge is to name that tune!  The winner each week will receive a coupon good for $10.00 off an order at Sara’s Soaps ‘n Such.  You can only win one time, but don’t let that keep you from playing.  There’s only one little catch:  You must “like” my Facebook page.  But really, how hard is that?  (And I promise, it’s not all “buy my products”; there’s actually very little of that.)

So, cruise on over to Facebook and get ready for some fun and the opportunity to WIN!  Contest starts Tuesday with the first snippet.

Related articles

• Popular Merry Christmas Songs (rock-kool-dadie.blogspot.com)