The New Man Candy

We have introduced a new scent with a masculine vibe for Valentine's Day. The recently released Man Candy is scented with the popular classic scent of bay rum. If, like me, you are unfamiliar with the smell of bay rum, let me share what I have learned. Even if you don't find all things soap and scent fascinating, it's an interesting story.

The use of bay leaves for fragrance began in the 1500s. Sailors sailing from the West Indies would take bay leaves and rub them all over themselves to help mask the stink a long voyage at sea would create. This was a common practice that went on for centuries.

As the exportation of goods grew, so did the profit from sugar. West Indian plantations began growing sugar cane to export to Europe. A few ingenious plantation slaves discovered that molasses, a by-product of sugar, could be fermented and turned into what we now consider a staple of the Caribbean: rum.

Brewers expanded upon the idea of fermenting molasses for great profit. Each brewer had their secret recipe for the best rum, which often included spices such as clove, citrus, and cinnamon. Eventually, a sailor discovered that bay leaves steeped in rum created a delightful "perfume" that was easier to apply than rubbing dry leaves all over one's body. The scent of the Caribbean was made, and the Bay Rum scent became popular among barbers and perfumers.

Today, the Bay Rum fragrance is associated with the manliest of men and is the most popular scent for beard care products. I find the smell intoxicating and have declared it one of my top ten favorite scents. It is exotic, warm, spicy, and fresh. Of course, The Bibbed Wonder asked to be in charge of naming this new soap. I agreed as long as it wasn't inappropriate. He heaved a sigh of annoyance and declared he would settle for calling it Man Candy. Which, by the way, is what he calls himself. He is my man candy. The man candy of the business, and everyone loves the sight of man candy in bibs. He's a lot. Seriously.

The soap not only smells fantastic, but it is wonderful for one's kin. We added aloe vera juice and Tussah silk fibers to our original cold-process soap recipe to create a luxurious, skin-pampering bar. Yes, this scent is considered masculine; however, I like it so much that it is the soap I am currently using in the shower. It is delightful.

On this bitterly cold January day, that is a step up from saying Arctic cold January day, stay safe, be smart, enjoy delightfully scented soaps, and keep washing your hands.

Brrrr

Welcome to Wednesday, dear reader. We woke up to a -10-degree temperature with a feels-like temperature of -21. That, dear reader, is nonsense. Nobody wants to attempt to stick their little noses outside. My obnoxious and rambunctious canine bff refuses to go outside, let alone go for a walk. I opened the door to let him out; he stepped toward the door, felt a blast of subzero air, and ran back to his bed. I feel that way too. The Bibbed Wonder awoke a little before seven, and I asked him to remain in bed because I wasn't ready to give up his body heat. He complied for a few minutes, but putting off the daily chores was impossible.

I am down to twelve chickens, including the roosters, so my few remaining ones will stay indoors today. I will make them a gruel of warm rice cereal, peas, corn, and mealworms. I will also put a few apples in the coop for them to pick at. Although they have plenty of room in the coop, I like to offer them treats to break up the boredom. The coop is chilly but not enough to create problems such as frostbite.

I look forward to moving the three remaining chicks Jenna gifted me at Christmas to the little green coop this weekend. They are now entirely feathered, and once the arctic air moves out, it will be safe to move them out of the heated garage. Three little hens create quite a mess in our now-clean garage. The Bibbed Wonder has been very gracious about welcoming them into the garage. However, they are wearing out their welcome fast.

Our goats are fairing well despite the cold temperatures. Everyone is snuggled in with deep bedding, closed barn doors, and water buckets inside the barn. The girls don't feel it necessary to go out in weather like this. Perhaps later this afternoon, when the sun is shining, they will go out to soak up some vitamin D, but for now, they are content to stay inside. I am happy to share that my dear Red, our geriatric nanny goat, is doing well despite this cold snap. She is taking her arthritis medicine like a good girl. Getting up is a bit painful for her, but once she is up, she is large and in charge, biting the other girls on the ears and nipping at the tails of the little goats. I am sure the goats are ready for this cold snap to end. The cold is unpleasant for everyone.

My bib overall-wearing wonder buns is my hero. He has graciously taken over feeding my chickens and geese, so I don't have to go out in the cold. You must respect, appreciate, and adore a man who makes himself uncomfortable for the ones he loves. He dislikes my birds but cares for them, so I don't have to risk an arthritic flare. That, dear reader, is love. He says he only does it so he doesn't have to hear my complaints. I mean, there is that mouth of his to contend with, but he really is a bib-wearing superhero.

This cold snap is far-reaching. My friend Brandi lives in St. Augustine, Florida. She sent me a message saying it was 41 degrees last night. Although 41 degrees would feel like a heatwave right now, it is cold for Florida. I wrote thank you cards for our orders yesterday, and each one ended with the words, stay warm whether it went to Florida, Pennsylvania, or the Midwest. I hope you are fairing as well as we are in this cold. However, I can say everyone here is greatly looking forward to warmer temperatures.

On this bitterly cold January day, stay safe, be smart, keep warm, appreciate those who make your life better, care for your friends with feathers and fur, and keep washing your hands.

Tuesday Spotlight: The Facial Soaps AND The New Miracle Milk Face Balm

Today, my dear reader, our new Miracle Milk Face Balm with hyaluronic acid is available exclusively on the website. I am so excited for you to try our latest creation. It is rich, creamy, and oh-so-moisturizing. I won't bore you with a long description. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of hyaluronic acid, check out yesterday's blog. I will reinforce my belief that hyaluronic acid is a true game changer in skincare and moisturizer. For the first time ever, we are releasing a new product at a 20% discount. This week only, save 20% on our new Miracle Milk Face Balm with hyaluronic acid. I hope you are as in love with its benefits as I am.

This week's special coordinates with our new face balm. Our spotlight shines upon our three facial soaps, created for all skin types. The new year often brings promises to practice more self-care. Taking better care of yourself and your skin is as simple as adding simplistic luxury items and removing harsh ingredients, chemicals, and damaging fillers. In the U.S., we have been led to believe that artificial ingredients, petroleum-based ingredients, and chemical-based fillers have added benefits. Fun colors, lots of high, fluffy foam, and strong, overpowering chemical-laden scents are acceptable by industry standards. What is not common knowledge is that many of these ingredients have the opposite effect of what is desired. The ingredients considered safe are actually damaging, drying, and, in some cases, dangerous. One does not need a list of ingredients a mile long to create something healthy, nourishing, and beautiful with skin-loving benefits.

Our products always begin with our first ingredient, fresh raw goat's milk. Our girls are not "pushed" to produce more milk. We follow nature and the girl's natural cycle. Our girls are not given anything to push them to produce more. More milk production can be achieved with a healthy, natural diet, comfortable living conditions, and the opportunity to live the fulfilling life a goat was meant to live. Our girls are loved, cared for, appreciated, and coddled. A healthy, happy goat does not need to be pumped full of medications and synthetic feeds to make milk. When the girls begin the natural healthy cycle of "drying off," we adjust our inventory. You may notice that our inventory of moisturizers is lower at this time of year. That is because our girls are readying for the upcoming baby season. It is not normal or healthy for a female to make milk year-round. The girls need to rest, restore, and rejuvenate to be healthy.

Along with our fresh, raw goat's milk, we use old-fashioned, tried-and-true cold-process soap-making techniques, incorporating a blend of solid fats and skin-loving oils. Olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, avocado oil, lard, and canola oil all add cleansing, conditioning, moisturizing, and lathering benefits to our soaps. The ingredients in our soaps can be found in the average kitchen pantry. With each of our soaps, there are often additions with added benefits. These additions are what set apart our collection of facial bars.

The Rose Clay Facial Bar was created for more mature skin. French rose clay gently exfoliates, draws toxins, helps brighten, and fights the elements contributing to aging. I chose to add rose geranium oil to this soap because it is wonderful for clearing, brightening, and fighting free radicals.

The Activated Charcoal Facial Bar was created for troubled skin. Activated charcoal products relieve acne, rosacea, and other skin issues. The charcoal balances oily skin, helps fight future breakouts, aids in clearing current breakouts, draws toxins, and gently exfoliates. We have added tea tree essential oil to this bar for its antimicrobial properties.

Lastly is our Shea Butter Facial Bar. The Shea Butter Facial Bar was created for those who suffer from dry skin. Shea butter is deliciously thick and moisturizing, creating a gentle, unscented moisturizing bar that is perfect for those with sensitive skin.

This week, save 25% on all three facial bars. No promo code is needed to save; the savings will be applied at checkout. Now is a great time to stock up on a favorite, try something new, or purchase an affordable gift for someone special. I gently encourage you to add what I call a little jar of moisturizing magic to your order. You will love how our Miracle Milk Balm makes your skin feel.

On this dangerously cold January day, stay safe, be smart, try our new Miracle Milk Face Balm, and take good care of yourself. You are worth the effort. This week, I will close by saying, "Keep washing your hands and face."