I don’t know about you, but I am not a fan of water.  I don’t get in the pool, I don’t swim at the beach, I don’t even like baths (but don’t tell anyone – my job as Glynne’s Soaps Sales Manager might be in jeopardy!)

Even though I am not a fan of the water, there are some dogs that love it!  So for them there is this great group called Carolina Dock Dogs.  They are having an event this weekend over at Battleship Park called the Battleship Splash.  Dogs will compete in various events revolving around jumping into the Cape Fear River after a lure.  They have contests for the farthest jump, most air and others.

The Battleship Splash is sponsored by my favorite hotel - Dog Club of Wilmington, and on Saturday from 10-3 there will be vendors set up with all sorts of different things for you and your dog.  Of course, Glynne’s Soaps will be there, along with Aunt Kerry’s Pet Stop and lots more.

This is a can’t miss event with tons of different things to see and do.  When you get there, tell ‘em Wrigley sent ya!

Did you ever cut pictures out of a magazine and paste them to a poster board for inspiration?  Or file them away as ideas you’d like to use later?  Do you remember what happened to that folder?  I remember having many of them….food ideas, craft ideas, decorating ideas, all sorts of ideas.  And I kept them filed away in a drawer, rarely if ever looked at them and finally threw them away. Sometimes I remember, vaguely, something I had cut out and wish I could put my hands on it.  But they are long gone.

Well, never fear, now there is a way to save all those great ideas without taking up space in a drawer.  And they can be organized easily too.  This online tool for storing all those things you’d love to do is called Pinterest.  You’ve probably heard of it.  It’s now the third largest social media site on the internet.  If you don’t yet have an account, or you have one and aren’t quite sure what to do with it, here are a few tips.

If you don’t have an account, you need an invitation to get one.  Just leave a comment on this post and we will send you an invitation.  Once you are signed up, you can create your profile; add a picture and other “about you” information.  Then you can start pinning.

Your categories are called boards, and you can create as many as you want. Some popular categories include “recipes”, “Places to go”, “wedding ideas”, and “fun stuff”.  Once you create your categories, you can add pictures of things you find interesting that fit in those categories.  There are different ways to “pin” pictures to your boards.  The easiest is probably to add the “Pin It” button to your bookmarks bar.  The instructions to do that can be found here.  You can also download pictures to your computer and then upload them to Pinterest.  That works best for pictures that you didn’t find online.

You can then follow other users whose ideas you like.  You can follow everything they pin, or just certain boards that interest you.  And Pinterest is like other social media sites where conversation is key.   If you like something, leave a comment or repin the picture to your board.

It’s a lot of fun once you get the hang of it.  You will be amazed at the great things you find.  And they are tremendously easy to retrieve when you need them.  You can check out our Pinterest page here.  Make sure to follow us!

I had a woman come to our booth at the Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning and say, “My daughter says I need to switch to natural soap because of the dangers of parabens in commercial soap.  Why?  And how do I know if my soap contains parabens?”

In case you are wondering the same thing, I will tell you what I told her – Parabens are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in many cosmetic and skin care products.  Parabens mimic estrogen which is thought to play a role in breast cancer.  There also is some evidence that parabens disrupt development and growth by mimicking hormones, fooling the body.  And, since there are paraben free products out there, why not avoid something that could possibly lead to cancer or other health problems.

The safe alternative is to use products that do not contain parabens; unfortunately, you can’t look at a list of ingredients and immediately see the word “paraben”, since there are many different chemicals that are types of parabens. The six most commonly found parabens are:

1. methylparaben
2. ethylparaben
3. propylparaben
4. isobutylparaben
5. butylparaben
6. benzylparaben

The safest thing to do for the health of your family is to avoid products that contain one or more of these ingredients, and purchase natural products, like Glynne’s Soaps whenever possible.

A few weeks ago, “How To Tuesday” was all about making your own laundry soap, I thought today could be a follow up to that with one way to make your own fabric softener.   We normally don’t use anything, but mostly because of the overly perfume smell and the not so friendly chemicals.

So, when researching how to make all natural fabric softener, I discovered two things.

1. People don’t really know what all natural means.  I found a plethora of instructions on how to use the least expensive hair conditioner in the store for your laundry.  And yes, this is frugal, but it’s not natural.  The conditioner for your hair can contain just as many harsh chemicals as fabric softener.
2. Sometimes the answer you are looking for is what you would have least expected.

So, what is this all natural remedy for softer clothes?  Vinegar!  I know, your first thought is the same as mine and as Gayle’s.  ”I do NOT want to smell like a bag of Salt & Vinegar potato chips all day!”  But, if you don’t use too much, the vinegar smell will not survive the rinse cycle. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for an added scent.  (Stay away from citrus oils as they can stain clothes)

Here is the magic formula -

Add 1/4 – 1/2 cup vinegar (use white vinegar because balsamic or apple cider could stain your clothes) to the fabric softener dispenser.  If you want, you can add 1-2 drops of essential oil at the same time.

I have noticed a difference sine I’ve started using vinegar in the laundry.  The clothes are softer and the static cling is much less.  And I have not noticed any vinegar smell.  Give it a try, then leave us a comment on how it worked for you.

The Research & Development Lab of Glynne’s Soaps has been busy lately.  And, we are pleased to announce three new products that are the result of this research (playing).

Air Therapy – an all natural aromatherapy spray that will leave your house smelling great and clear your mind as well.  It comes in two scents:

1. Rain (Lemongrass & Bergamot) – encourages relaxation and calmness, and leaves you free of unnecessary fear and anxiety
2. Aussie Rainforest (Eucalyptus) – used for centuries to increase brain wave activity and counter physical and mental fatigue

100% Soy Candles – these 4 oz candles are made with 100% Soy Wax and lead free wicks.

1. Bug Off – made with the same essential oils that are in our popular lotion and soap, now in a candle to sit on your porch or deck.
2. Morning Dew – a new blend for us, this candle is made with Lavender, Cypres, Sage and a touch of Orange essential oils.
3. Citrus Zing (Orange and Ginger) – a wonderful fresh scent that will brighten any room
4. Hipp”E” (Patchouli and Clove) – if you like patchouli, you will love this candle

Bath Salts - made with sea salt to soften and hydrate your skin. We also add Epsom salts to ease stress and decrease aches and pains, and baking soda for the softest skin possible.

1. Aussie Rainforest – the eucalyptus essential oil is great to relieve sinus or respiratory problems.
2. Rain – made with lemongrass and bergamot essential oils for a calming, stress reducing formula
3. Tranquility – there is nothing like Lavender and Chamomile to help you unwind and the end of a tough day
4. Rejuvenation – the best thing to ease sore muscles or headaches is this peppermint and eucalyptus combination

You can find all these products and more on our website, or you can come visit us at the Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market.

Doesn’t mom deserve the best this Mother’s Day?  Give her a gift basket filled with Glynne’s Soaps products, or even a gift certificate.   Use the coupon code MOTHER to get 25% off your web site order between now and May 13th

Last Saturday was the kickoff for the 2012 season of the Carolina Beach Farmers Market.  Located around the lake in Carolina Beach, this market is the perfect place to spend your Saturday mornings this summer.

There is a wide variety of vendors offering everything from local produce to freshly made cinnamon rolls.  You can also find skin care, photography, jewelry, yard art and a host of other items all made locally.  Visit their website for a complete list of vendors.  And of course, Glynne’s Soaps will be there.

As you are out enjoying the beach weather, please stop by and say hello!  Wrigley would love to see you!

We are ready to get started

Sunday was a first for Glynne’s Soaps.  A few weeks ago we were contacted by a local mom who was interested in a theme party for her daughter’s birthday.  She wanted someone to make soap with the kids. It was an interesting prospect but because we make an all natural from scratch product and not a melt and pour soap, it wasn’t something we could accommodate.  However, we suggested an alternative – Lip Balm! It’s still an all natural product we make from scratch, but after some research and working out some logistics, it was all set.

The kids were able to each make three lip balms, choosing from four different flavors; orange, mint, vanilla or raspberry.  Then they got to design and color their own custom labels.  I think everyone had a great time, I know I did.  Even some moms got in on the action and made a lip balm for themselves.

It was a great activity and in the process we were able to talk to the kids about the importance of all natural products and staying away from the chemicals that are in many soaps, lip balms and other products.  And they got some fun stuff to take home that they designed themselves.

After such a successful outing, we will be adding parties to Glynne’s Soaps list of services.  It’s perfect for almost any age, and we can do many different products including lotions, bath salts, sugar scrubs, candles and, of course, lip balm.

If you or someone you know is interested in discussing details for your next party, just give us a call.  We are happy to help you figure out what would work best for you and your group.

I don’t know about you, but frequently we are busy all day and evening and finding the time to cook a good dinner is all but impossible.  Many evenings we have been saved from eating out or eating junk by using the crock pot.  A few minutes in the afternoon (or morning) and dinner is ready and waiting.  You can reduce the time it takes even more by getting all the ingredients together ahead of time and freezing them.  Then on the day you need it, just take out of the freezer, place in the crock pot and Voila!  Dinner will be ready with just a minimum of stress.

One recipe that we enjoy is “Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings”.  It’s very easy, and can be made ahead of time.  Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons butter
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can chicken broth
1/2 onion diced
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/8 cup milk
1 can Grands Jr. flaky refrigerator biscuits

Directions:
Place chicken in crock pot
Add butter, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, and onion
Cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 8 hours.
Remove chicken and break into pieces with a fork, return to crock pot
Put cornstarch in a bowl and mix with milk, add to crock pot and stir well
Cut each biscuit into fourths and place in pot
Cook an additional 30 minutes

You could add other ingredients if you wanted.  Peas, mushrooms, corn or anything else that you think sounds good.  And this dish can easily be made ahead and frozen.  Just put the chicken, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, butter and onion in a freezer bag and write the directions on the outside (that way you don’t need to look for them on the day you  are ready to cook).

So, with just a small amount of work, you can have a good healthy dinner, even on your busiest day.

Wrigley with our Azaleas

Because of our mild winter and warm spring, the azaleas have been in bloom here in Wilmington for a few weeks already.  In fact, the blooms at our house are mostly gone.

But that won’t stop this weekend’s Azalea Festival.  All the activities will go on as usual, including the street fair, which is where you will find Glynne’s Soaps.  We will be in our usual location, on the river side of Water Street near the City Market.

We will be debuting the four latest additions to the Glynne’s Soaps product line; one new lip balm along with three completely new items that you won’t want to miss.

Set aside some time to come enjoy downtown Wilmington this weekend.  We look forward to seeing you!

There is a place downtown that we spend quite a lot of time at.  They have good food, a great atmosphere and a super staff.  It doesn’t hurt that every time we open a menu, we see “Glynne’s Soaps” on the first page!

Front Street Brewery makes excellent chicken nachos, ribs and french fries, along with other things.  We frequently enjoy half price appetizers in the afternoons.  The staff is very friendly and accommodating.  The location is great – right downtown with outside seating so you can enjoy people watching while you eat.  The outside seating is Wrigley’s favorite part of eating at Front Street Brewery.

Wrigley enjoying lunch at Front Street Brewery

While you are downtown enjoying some fried pickles (another one of my favorites) you can also purchase soap and lip balm made using some of Front Street Brewery’s signature beers.  Scottish Ale and IPA  are used to make soaps that are extremely moisturizing and great for your skin.  They also smell wonderful and make a great gift for anyone who enjoys beer.  The lip balm flavors include Raspberry Wheat and Scottish Ale.  The Raspberry Wheat is  full of raspberry flavor and the Scottish Ale tastes like the ale with a touch of chocolate to enhance that aspect of the flavor.

The soaps, lip balm and beer are locally made with only the finest ingredients.

If you find yourself downtown, have a meal at Front Street Brewery and take time to enjoy some of what downtown Wilmington has to offer.