The Beach Today

If you are ever so inclined to see the weather in my neighborhood, you can go here. They have updated photos every five minutes. This website is used by all the surfers and kite boarders in Jupiter so they know if they should pack up their gear and hit the beach. I am telling you, the surfers and kite boarders mean business.

Great day to be at the beach. I am here working and making sales calls.

Maybe later I'll go take a salty breath of fresh air.

Have a great day!

Desmond - Good And Evil

He is looking very angelic in this picture.

My son, age 7. His two front teeth are missing which I have such a weakness for. All he has to do is bat his eyelashes and grin with the gaping hole and - voila! Whatever he asks for is his. ;)

This one looks like Dracula or Gene Simmons (again).

Keep Yours Cool

Do you see my shea butter sitting between the peaches and white grape juice in my fridge? That is my personal baby stash. What could be better than working out in the summer heat, in the garden or on a roof, taking a nice shower and finally, the cherry on top: rubbing cooled shea butter on your freshly cleaned skin? It is so cooling and refreshing - makes me want to go sweat.

Pink Champagne On Bubbles

Pink champagne on ice. Mmmmm. Well, I created an alternative to alcohol in the morning. For those of you who want to bathe in pink champagne, I have Bubble Rubble available in that scent. So pretty,too. I am just loving this light bubble gum pink!


Don't they look like colorful marshmallows?

Sales Calls Days

Yick. Making sales calls is just about my least favorite thing to do. I get a weird feeling in the pit in my stomach and I just want to go under the covers and go to sleep. Phone call after phone call. Then, email follow ups, samples to send and then, do it all over the next day.

Again I say Yick.

My short term goal of getting into one day spa for every state hasn't quite materialized yet. My efforts really only just begun, because of the research that needed to be done first.

In any case, I will plug away and do it because I have to. I can't expect every part of my job to be fun every day, right? :)

Do Nails Breathe?

Way back when, I decided to get fake nails. I love the way manicured nails (short, long ones) look, so I got them done last year ...you can read about it here if you want. After having them for a couple of weeks, I happened to be talking to an executive in the nail industry who described the nail bed and the nail's breathing. She went on about the need for less toxic materials being used on the nails. I went to the nail salon to take them off a few days later, fearing that I was suffocating my hands! Eeek. Back then, it didn't make sense to me and it still doesn't, although now I found a nail professional that shares my opinion but backs it up with facts, which I think are interesting.

As much as I'd like to get the nails and have pretty hands again, my work just does not support the beauty of it all. I bust open big pails of butters and oils, am formulating sugar scrubs, cream, shea butters. I wear UN-latex surgical gloves when I need to mix with my hands and I am constantly getting into the dirt when I plant in my garden, so having nails makes absolutely no sense whatsoever for my lifestyle, but one day perhaps I will be less hands on in scrubs and dirt. :) Maybe.

Penny is the nail professional I speak of and she writes Sugarlicious blog and Zularis Naturals Natural Nail Care blog and if you are into nails and nail care, you should definitely read some of her posts.

She has given me permission to reprint her post on the topic of nail breathing. Thank you, Penny.

Busting Nail Myths - Do Nails Breathe?

I was talking with someone the other day about nail enhancements....AKA artificial nails. Seems they were having their enhancements removed to allow their nails some time to "breathe". Oh my....I could almost feel my head about to spin as I encountered what must be the number 1 nail myth around. It's bad enough when the regular person on the street thinks their nails are breathing. It's even worse when a nail tech thinks the same thing and passes along incorrect information to their customers.

The truth is your nails DO NOT BREATHE! EVER!!!! The only breathing taking place in your body happens in the lungs. Your nails are made up of keratin...a fibrous protein. This is the same stuff that your hair is made of....and your hair doesn't breathe either. Once the nail grows from the matrix (the part of your finger that the nail grows out of) it is basically dead. It does not feel, has no blood supply, etc. Which is why you can trim your nails as well as hair without feeling pain.

Because your nails do NOT breathe there is no logical reason for removing all your nail enhancements to give your nails a rest. The enhancement covers the dead portion of the nail so your nail will continue to grow out. At times, whatever material your enhancement is made of, may begin to age or breakdown after being exposed to various chemicals, etc. When this occurs the material covering the nail can become brittle, begin to discolor or even crack/flake off. Some people keep their nails too long and the constant banging on the nail can also cause problems with the enhancement. This is why it is important to regularly maintain your nails once enhancements have been applied. If a problem is caught early then your tech can re-balance the material rather then soak off the entire enhancement.

As a side note: people sometimes also refer to their skin breathing as well. Actually what they are talking about is the fact that the body controls it's internal temperature through perspiration. If you didn't sweat then your internal temp would rise and damage your organs. Nails do not sweat either....but that's another popular nail myth to be tackled in another post.

The WEENUS Test

This is what I have to say about getting older.

I like the wisdom, experience, humility, the friends I have made and time I've been here, but FE! to all the ickies I am beginning to notice: the grey hairs popping up on my head (the top of my head no less. Couldn't it start near the BACK of my head first, so I don't have to look at them every time I look in the mirror?), the lack of skin elasticity I am starting to notice, the weird *snap* in my ankle I hear every time I walk... step, *snap* step, *snap* step, *snap* - what is that anyway!!?? ...the fact that gravity is actually beginning to annoy me, the significant decrease in me taking risks, the fact that I can't ride roller coasters now without imaginating my death with great detail as I fall from the ride, my realization that death is inevitable and everyone dies, the undeniable lack of glances I receive from men, and the complete absence of needing to show my I.D. for any adult goings-ons. There are so many other things I can't even think of right now.

So here's a scary test. I have been told by an 11 year old that the skin on your elbow is called a WEENUS (yeah, I know) and that it is a true indication of one's age. Oh, really? Well, if you straighten your arm and pull the fattest piece of that skin away form the body, the speed in which it retracts tells you RIGHT THERE if you are old. If I pull mine out, I have to kind of push it back, because it doesn't snap back very easily. It is slow going. So apparently I failed the young WEENUS test. I am officially old. Whatever.

I must roll with it.

OK, so these are my birthday hopes for the next year: I give my children all the love and support they could possibly need, I make more true friends, I eat more veggies, I focus, I stop to smell the roses, I make more money, take more pictures and I remind myself (thanks to daughter Nina- the 11 year old who came up with the old telling test in which I FAILED) that "yesterday was the past, tomorrow isn't here and today is the present - so treat it like a present, a gift." My daughter shared that with me a few days ago, and even though it may sound cheesy at first, it makes a lot of sense.

So happy birthday to me!

Yay that.

SEXY Laundry Day

We are testing out a new scent that we are digging. It is a wonderful scent in soaps, but comes off a bit more floral in body products.

The new complex and secret scent is called: SEXY Laundry Day.

Description: Fresh and clean with notes of exotic flowers...jasmine and ylang ylang.

If you'd like to test it and give us feedback, you can. It is available on Product Body only in the Trial Sized Crush On You (for now). If we get a great response, we may keep it for a long time....

I think it is a perfect Summer scent that isn't fruity or coconut-y.

Day Spa Challenge

Product Body has a new goal of getting into one day spa per state. That is a small goal, but one that is UBER important to us. The spas that we supply to have been so happy with our products. They use bulk scrubs, shea, cream and Mama Bomb for treatments and then sell retail jars in the front.

Product Body products are being used/sold currently in day spas in these states:

Florida
Illinois
Maine
Massachusetts
Missouri
Oklahoma

Not enough... We have to step it up a notch or two...or three.

So, if you know of any spas you love that Product Body would be a good match for, let us know, or let them know, and Product Body can continue to grow!

Give Credit Where Credit's Deserved

My last post, "A Care PackageTo The Troops" needs an addendum. The brain behind the idea...

Our new intern, Alexandra, has been helping out here at Product Body and doing a great job. She is 14 years old and wanting to learn this bath and body business. (How lucky for us!) They recently moved back to the Tequesta/Jupiter area a couple of weeks ago.... how lucky for us that Alex wants to be involved in our operation?!

Yesterday, I asked her to think of something (promotion, sale, etc.) to highlight Independence Day in some way. She came up with the idea of sending a care package to the troops and then letting our customers have the opportunity to participate with their purchases. All Alex - what an awesome idea!! I have been thinking about the troops for a long while. I get choked up every Sunday when I watch This Week With George Stephanopolis when they run the list of all the fallen soldiers; In Memoriam.

Gives me chills every time.

Thank you, Alexandra for coming up with a great idea and giving me the opportunity to give back to the hard working young men and women who probably would LOVE a shower filled with treats from Product Body.

Smart girl. :)

A Care Package To The Troops

We've decided to send a care package of our products to the servicemen and women stationed in the Middle East in the hope that it can provide them with a few moments of relaxation and luxury. Who wouldn't need a little pampering after being in the desert in one outfit, with one bar of soap?

So for the month of July, every time anyone makes a purchase on our website that totals $40 or more, we'll add another product to the box. If you want us to include a message from you, just put it in the comments field during checkout. We'll also list (first name, last initial and hometown unless you tell us otherwise) the name of every customer that helped make the box bigger.

So help us make them happy! They deserve it.

Suspect And Fugitive

I am inspired. I found a great blog created by an amazing artist who makes temporary food art from the most common things. You MUST check out Suspect And Fugitive and also go see the entire collection of amazing portrait art on flickr.

"suspect and fugitive is a year long project where i make an item a day out of suspect (questionable) and fugitive (non archival) materials."


Here are some of my personal favorites...

Andre The Giant made from pez candy:


Inigo Montoya made with Hello my name is labels:


George Washington made with mouthwash:


Clint Eastwood made with dye on dryer lint:


Cheetos Britney Spears:

Win A $500 Shopping Spree

We'd love it if you voted for Product Body in the bath and body section.
Who doesn't want to win $500 in stuff?

Summer So Far

Desmond (age 7) on his skateboard

Sea Grape in the sun

Montage of crazy glass blowers after a dip in the pool:

The Heat Of The Summer

It is just too hot already. I think we will be taking Tangerine Dreams and Whipped Shea Butter off of our website for the Summer months. We currently have a heat warning, so order at your own risk, da da da, but the whipped goods, if melted in the heat is really unrecognizable. I will sell the balms, because if they melt slightly, one can just keep them cool and use them once hardened again, but the whipped stuff? It will only take up half the jar. Yes, it is whipped to double it's size.

Trust me - we tested it. I put the two whipped butters in a postal box, taped it up and stuck it in the sun for an hour. Not surprised, the butters were completely melted and looked half full in the jars (or half empty depending on the way you look at it). It was 88 degrees in the shade. Yea, Florida.

I have a few left on the shelves that I made on Friday, but when they are gone, they're gone from the site until September. If you need to get some on your skin, you'll just have to come to my house because it is air conditioned and chock full O' Shea. You can also take a dip in my pool.

A Little Window Shoppe Giveaway

Little Window Shoppe is having a giveaway and Product Body products are the prize!  It is a really cute site started by Emily, a very nice gal who lives in Utah with her very cute family.  She finds fun and interesting things for her readers so they don't have to go through the internet to find things to buy.  She does the window shopping for her readers.  A slice of brilliance right there.

So go enter her giveaway, but more importantly, check out her site.  

Queen Of Scrubs?

Kristen Kelly of Beauty Addict did it again.  She wrote another wonderful review of our Sugarfoot on her blog and I am blushing once again from her praise.  If you want to read the entire review, go here to read "The Two Sugarfoots (Sugarfeet?)".  Here are a couple of highlights I snagged:

...I'm just gonna come out and say it: Joanna Schmidt is the Queen of Scrubs.

...packed to the gills with scrubby bits. This is key for me these days, especially after my recent disappointment with that useless L'Occitane scrub.

...And like all of Product's products, it feels and smells absolutely heavenly. It comes in two scents, but really, who cares about Ruby Red Grapefruit when you can have COOKIE?

Thank you, Kristen!

***Kiss***

Scoutie Girl Features Product Body

I love Scoutie Girl.  There are so many amazing indie businesses that get featured, and I admit, I have bought from many of them.  Jan finds some amazing products.  Today, she found us, and we are thrilled!  Please go check out the Product Body feature here and if you have never checked out her blog, I urge you to make Scoutie Girl a daily read.  It is truly a gift resource you'll never miss with.

Thanks, Jan!

Shea.....mefully Good For Me

One of my favorite products is shea butter.  I am a dry cookie, so I must moisturize everyday.  My loyal standby is whipped shea butter.  Slather, drink it up, feel supple.  This is the reason I got into this business to begin with.  Dry skin and painful cracks made me delve into research and development.  I remain a self healer, thank goodness.  Because honestly, if I didn't have a million body products surrounding me in every room of the house, I don't know how I'd survive.

Better Photos Of The Bubble Bars

My daughter, Nina, helped me make the bubble bars yesterday.  She chose the colors and scents and I think she's getting quite good.  You see how I groom her?  One day.... maybe she'll take over.  :o)

Delicate Rose Flower and Strawberry Banana Marshmallow Bubble Bars

Today, I made more bubble bars, and I am so happy with how they came out.  Instead of hand forming them, I decided to slice and I love the way the texture pours out.  When I photograph them in natural light, I'll be putting them on my Etsy Shop.  I love playing with bath goodies!

The Leapin' Lime swirled bars are scented in Delicate Rose Flower.

The blue and pale blue bars are scented in Strawberry Banana Marshmallow.

My Girl

Nina (right) graduated from elementary school on Friday and will now be going to middle school.  She is 11 years old and middle school is coming at the perfect time.  Hormone crazed and temperamental these days, she is excited to move forward and grow up.  I don't envy the teachers now that I have been through the last few months with Nina.  She is an angel, but when the hormone surges, I am living with an alien, or, more like Sybil.  

This face will show up more and more, I know it.  The "what are you doing, Ma?!" look.    I suppose you could put anything in the place of "doing":   wearing, talking about, laughing at, trying to do....?

A few weeks ago, the fifth grade had Field Day, and Brad and I went to help out, be supportive, because, let's face it, how many more of these things will she want us to attend?  Anyway, I was having fun, Nina won two events in a row, and I did a cheerleader move or two, Brad and I also tried to create an "N" with our two bodies and I think she was definitely a tad mortified.  Wouldn't you be?  Thing is, I do not see myself as old at all, so doing stuff like that seems natural.  I don't go out of my way to embarrass.  

Mostly.  

I do know it freaks her out when I break out in dance when we're out in public and a song comes on that I like.  So I break out and she looks around, fearful that someone has seen me and she screams in a whisper, "Maaaaaaaa-m!!"  That is fun, I must admit.

She'll remember Field Day and think about her parents cheering for her and having fun and the embarrassment will shed eventually.  I mean, she's got cool parents.  Who wouldn't be thankful for that?  ;)

Handmade Bubble Bars

Aren't these fun?  I made them last night.

I make Bubble Rubble for Product Body, and it is hunks and chunks of bubble bars broken up and sold in a jar.  I have been thinking more and more about minimizing packaging as well as offering single use items for less.  I decided to try them out as single bubble bars and put them up on my Etsy shop.  So far my Etsy shop has pulled in ZERO dollars.  Each bar is 3 ounces, scented with essential oils of lemon and orange and I'm charging only $4.50 each.  One bar will create huge amounts of bubbles for one bath, but can be broken up for two.

Puzzling.  I think the products I'm offering are so cute!

A Note About Sunday

A grandmother speaks a little about her grandson...

a story about Desi 

 I have the coolest grandson in the world.  he is handsome and athletically superior in every sport he engages in.  he looks like a surfer guy, but lately hasn't been too keen about the ocean  (since watching Jaws on tv).  anyway, further words of adoration: he is beautiful, has long hair now, which he whips to the side by a movement of his head,  he is fantastic at soccer, biking, skate board, and hasn't done too badly on ice skates.  he practices golf at my house and can hit a mean softball.

 

the other night we had a birthday party for his Poppy and he spent hours in the pool.  it was late, school was the next day, and his mom asked him to take a shower before dinner.  he had been in the shower a long time and i walked in to check to make sure everything was okay .  when i opened the shower door there he was lathering his whole body down with Crush On You.  I knew he had learned well in his home and has the softest little body on earth.  Oh, by the way, his mother is Joanna.   Diane

(My mother is a wonderful grandma and my kids adore her.  She doesn't have a lot of strength in using her caps consistently, does she?)  ;)  I kid, Ma!

No More Drippy Scrubs

Velvet in Sweet Vanilla Mango.

Butter Scrub

I really like how the new scrubs are like thick smoothies or granitas.  We are considering offering in the Sugarfoot container (8 oz. of scrub).  

Can I get your opinion?  Would you rather drop about $20 or $30 on a scrub, not really caring about the size?

Please discuss....

;)

More Bombs...

I think they came out pretty good considering I've only been at this bath bomb making for a couple of months.  My favorite from the 68 bombs I made is the Yuzu with calendula petals (below).  They remind me of mellow yellow Easter eggs.   Or sugary candy....like sugar coated jaw breakers, but the size of a croquet ball.

 
These are some of them wrapped and ready to go.  Some of the others that went out in the order was Riceflower & Shea, Red Lychee Tea, Lavender and Dark Chocolate Almond.

I was having a heck of a time getting the right balance of everything.  Practice does make perfect and I kept at it, and it paid off.  Phew.  Now my fingers feel raw and my arms are definately feeling "the burn".