Tuesday Spotlight: Foaming Hand Soap/Surprise Release of Honeysuckle Foaming Hand Soap

This week's spotlight is on our luxurious Foaming Hand Soap. I am quite proud of this creation. My bib overall wearing wonder buns knocked it out of the park when he perfected this recipe. The base of our Foaming Hand Soap begins with our fresh, raw goat's milk and is filled with rich, luxurious oils such as shea butter, pumpkin seed, olive, castor, and jojoba oils. It creates a soft, foaming lather that leaves your hands feeling silky smooth.

With the spring warm up this week, we could not resist releasing our honeysuckle scented foaming hand soap. It smells of warm spring days, sunshine, and good times. This week, you have the rare opportunity to save 25% on all Foaming Hand Soaps. Yes, even the honeysuckle scent is on sale! Now is an excellent time to stock up on a luxurious staple, try something new, or purchase an affordable gift for someone special. No promo code is needed to save; the savings will be applied at checkout.

On this beautiful spring day, stay safe, be smart, enjoy the savings, and keep washing your hands.

Click to Shop Foaming Hand Soaps

Beginning To Let Go

As The Bean grows up and becomes more responsible, she is willing to take on a more significant role with our small family business. The Bean has been an integral part of our business since we began when she was seven. My outgoing, gregarious daughter is a natural salesperson. Where The Bibbed Wonder and I struggle with live shows and selling our products, The Bean naturally eases into the role. I admire this about her. She does indeed make me proud.

On March 29th, The Bibbed Wonder and The Bean will travel to the Butler Country Club to participate in the Soroptimist International's Spring Fling. Until now, we have been reluctant to participate in smaller shows because our time is focused on caring for the goats, farm responsibilities, soap duties, and our weekly farmer's market in Ligonier. There aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish what we need to do here and take on smaller shows. The Bean will get her driver's license in late summer, and she is willing to participate in smaller shows on her own once she has gotten her license.

On March 29th, she is doing a practice run with her dad. They will take Sue-B, my affectionate name for my new Subaru Forester, drive to Butler, set up for the show, peddle our wares for four hours, tear down our display, repack Sue-B, and drive back home. Eric insists that Jordan does everything; he will merely attend to lend a helping hand if needed. Once The Bean is comfortable with the process, has her driver's license, and we feel comfortable with her going on her own, we will allow her to pick and choose the shows she wants to participate in, and then her earnings will be half of what she sells. Knowing my daughter, with the opportunity to earn more by selling more, she will knock sales out of the park. She is financially motivated.

I view this agreement in a mostly positive light. However, I am very apprehensive about my baby driving some distance to participate in shows by herself. I know she is capable, competent, and has a good head on her shoulders. She has been a miniature professional since age seven, but the thoughts of her going alone fill me with worry. I have seen with my own eyes the way men prey on young girls who are alone at these shows. When we went to the Murrysville Farmer's Market, one vendor in particular would circle around the young female vendors who were alone like a vulture. These young girls are sitting ducks, can't leave their booth, and are often too intimidated or embarrassed to put these lechers in their place. It was infuriating to watch. It reached the point that The Bibbed Wonder or I would go over and stand with the young woman when we saw the lecher standing at her booth.

When I first started attending The Ligonier Country Market, I had a few uncomfortable encounters, mostly with older men. These men seem to become emboldened when they see a woman alone. I have never had an issue when Eric is with me, and I appreciate his support in attending live shows. However, thinking about Jordan attending a live show without us causes me great concern. I am sure she can convince one of her friends or Pook-A-Dook to attend them with her. These are all things we can figure out as we go. With her background in Tae-Kwon-Do, her surly attitude, ability to give withering looks, and confidence to speak her mind, I know she will be okay. It's just the thought of some lecher preying on my baby that causes me great stress.

Despite my concerns, I am excited about the opportunity for her to participate in these shows. I think she will gain confidence, build her character, encourage her to be more responsible, and gain invaluable experience. She is an asset to our company, and I can't wait to see what she can do with this opportunity. It's just letting my favorite little human go out into the world alone that causes me anxiety. I must take baby steps to become more comfortable with her independence. This summer we will begin looking at colleges, and wrapping my mind around her going away to school also causes me great anxiety. Like it or not, my baby is growing up. I want to encourage her to dream big, follow her heart, and do everything she wants to do in life. I never want to be the parent that holds her back or tries to control her, but letting go is hard.

On this beautiful spring day, stay safe, be smart, encourage young people to be independent, believe in their abilities, be there for them, and take baby steps in letting go. If you need to be their champion or protector, step up, even if they aren't your child, and keep washing your hands.

Foodie Friday: French Onion Rice

Image courtesy of All Recipes

Welcome to Friday, dear reader. We made it through another week. Today, I will share a recipe for an easy and delicious side dish, French Onion Rice. Last night, I made sirloin tips with mushrooms, onions, and green peppers, served with French Onion Rice, and buttered corn. The French Onion Rice was the highlight of the meal. Even The Bean, who is very picky, enjoyed this side dish.

French Onion Rice

• 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed French onion soup (such as Campbell’s)

• 2 cups beef broth

• 1 1/4 cups uncooked long-grain white rice

• 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

• 3/4 cup shredded Gruyère cheese

• 1/2 cup pre-shredded low-moisture whole-milk mozzarella cheese

• fresh thyme leaves

Gather all ingredients. Preheat oven to 425 degrees with rack in center position.

Place French onion soup, beef broth, rice, and sherry vinegar in a 10-inch oven-safe skillet, and stir until evenly combined. Place sliced butter evenly over rice mixture. Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove and discard foil, and continue baking at 425 degrees until rice is cooked and most liquid is absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.

Increase oven temperature to broil with rack about 6 inches from heat source. Sprinkle evenly with Gruyère and mozzarella cheese. Broil until cheese is melted and golden brown and rice crisps up around edges of skillet, about 5 minutes.

Garnish with fresh thyme leaves and serve immediately.

On this chilly Friday, stay safe, be smart, enjoy delicious food, and keep washing your hands.