My Favorite Pot

lovingly used since 1996

Elizabeth of Gracefruit found a heavy cast iron pot she fell in love with and asked her readers to photograph their favorite pots and describe why they like them.

I have a few.

I like my easy going teflon frying pan that is lightweight and really easy to clean. I wish I had a 5 quart sautee pan like that. The one that I can cook anything in, though, is my Le Creuset large stock pot. My husband and I asked for Le Creuset when we were getting married. We got pots, pans and a teapot all in FLAME. Love it. It boils water faster and it cooks everything evenly. The biggest problem I have with the darn stuff is that it is heavier than a three year old and when you are trying to maneuver the thing around and your thumb gets caught in the handle while your turning it...well, it feels like it would be too easy to break my digits.

The other drag about the cast iron is that you can not leave the pots or pans soaking in the sink. They will leave a rust stain. Best thing to do is fill it on the stove and leave it there overnight to soak.

pot of water getting ready to boil and accept my bag of edamame
notice the teapot behind the pan


So what is your favorite pot?

Short Weekend Sale At Product Body!!

We are having a weekend sale at Product Body so if there is something you have been craving, get it now while the coupon is good! Use this code:

bigbadblog

Everything except gift certificates are on discounted if you use the code. 20% off !

Have a great weekend!!

I'm A Bit Like A Roomba

With holiday gift sets and scents brewing at work, I can say that I have been a little busy. Not only am I trying to get orders out, I am trying to THINK, which is difficult when I am in go-go motion. It's kind of like when you lay out your children's lunch bags, and as you fill each lunch box with the same items...plop...plop...plop, blip, blip, blip, then someone comes up to you asks you to check a math question. Okay. Stop. Think. Finish checking (which actually takes me a little time because I am not quick with the math), then before I zip back into my assembly line of lunch goods, I have to readjust my brain to that mode and it does take a few seconds to return to normal. I feel like sometimes I'm like a Roomba. Ever had one of those? Well I had one once until I ran it into the ground and burned out the motor I loved it so much.

A Roomba is a self propelled, self taught, space ship-looking vacuum cleaner. It used to be that I could turn it on, leave the house and return home with the first floor pretty close to being dust free, or hairball free, whatever. Unfortunately, half the time, the thing would get caught under the same chair and beep for 30 minutes before shutting itself off. I think mine was mentally challenged because it didn't LEARN to not go under that dumb chair every day. So I guess I'm saying I sometimes feel like a Roomba, because I'm moving along doing a fine job, I hit a wall, stop, do a turn, adjust myself and move along, and I keep doing that until I get stuck under the stupid chair.

Ever get information-laden and feel sopped up and need a moment to let it absorb deeper?

Lather Up The Troops

The Troops package has NOT gone out yet. I've been in touch with my contact in Iraq and it is between 80 and 130 degrees on any given day there. They have running water most of the time, but we aren't talking tubs and sinks and showers with heated water. Not a bunch of luxuries. So, with this in mind, I was trying to think of what products I could send that wouldn't melt. Initially I thought conditioning facial mask, that I could send in powder form, but my husband gave me that eye-rolling-you've-got-to-be-kidding-look. "You think soldiers are going to sit around and make facial masks for themselves?" Okay, he has a point. There are probably not many metrosexuals there and the ones who like to take care of their skin don't want to scream it from the roof tops. I get it.

So. I've decided I am going to make batches and batches of salt soap and ship it over along with washcloths and some other dried goodies. I really did think it would be cooler out there and our creams, butters and scrubs would be nice for them, but I will have to create this wondrous package with the unmeltables.

If you have any suggestions, please let me know. I'm all ears. The package will go out in about 6 weeks, when all the soap batches we make finish curing.

Posh Mama Award

We won in March! I know, I am so on the ball! Did someone say it's September?

See Posh Mama's website - A GREAT RESOURCE FOR MOMS

The Heat Remains

It's mid September and it is still 92 degrees in the middle of the day, and still over 90 at 5pm. For me, being from NY, September is a time for coolness and weather change, but here? Not even close. September can be the hottest month. Product Body will be offering our Whipped Shea Butter beginning October 1st. If it's still icky hot here, we'll just have to make due.

My peeps need the hydration!

Whipped Sugar Scrub With Sugar On Top

Everyone here really liked the sugar scrub scented with Brown Sugar + Fig, but we won't be using in the Product Body line because we have created our own scent blends for the holidays. What does that mean for the few sugar scrubs we made that are sad not to have a home? Put them on my Etsy shop, of course! This scrub is emulsified and not drippy at all. Washes off cleanly and is more than 99% natural (scent is a fragrance oil).

It's hard to start preparing for the holidays, but it's necessary. I still am loving my pink grapefruit, yuzu, lemon and sweet vannilla mango scents at Product Body. I don't care what people say, I love those citrusy and tropical scents year round. They aren't seasonal for me.

Now That Is Big

These look normal, right? uh-uh. The little one is 4.75 ounces and the big ones are 12.50 ounces. They are bigger than a tennis ball! In fact, they are almost the size of a softball! I recently got this great stainless steel mold to make these huge balls of fizz. I'm thinking they make great gifts. Hmmm. Maybe I'll sell them on Etsy.

These are scented with Brown Sugar and Fig. Oh yummmmm. Perfect for the holidays....

On The Rise Award

Thank you to whoever voted for Product Body at stylebakery.com for the Reader's Choice Award for "beauty product designer". How fun is that?!?

Zucchini Muffins A La Nina

I was very constructive yesterday, which is a real feat for me on Saturdays in general, but yesterday, I made some creamy formulations for Product Body and also cooked in my kitchen with my daughter, Nina. I decided to make zucchini muffins, because A) I love zucchini bread and B) it gets actual vegetables into my family, fat and sugar and all.

I took a recipe from Smitten Kitchen to use as a base and created my own recipe from it.

They ended up r e a l l y good.

not martha

I think I love Megan Reardon who writes not martha, which is a blog I love and read every day. She wrote all about Product Body today and I am super excited, thrilled and still catching my breath from her blush-inducing comments!

See about not martha's give-away and Read her review of Product Body here!



....there is much more in her review...this was just a screen shot.

Don't you love Megan, too??

Thank you!!!!!

Wick Size Does Matter

Has this ever happened to you? This is called tunneling of the candle. This occurs when the wick size is incorrect for the wax that is used. The core of the candle will burn straight down, eventually suffocating the flame due to lack of oxygen.

I thought I bought the right wick size for the container I used, but the wick that was recommended by the vendor was for beeswax not soy wax. I hate wasting wax, time and shipping costs.

Back to the drawing board...

On a good note, the scent is wonderful! It was a creamy floral.

I'll let you know when I make candles that are burn proof. ;)

It Might Make You Fat

Tartlette's Raspberry Dreams...



Tartlette is one of my favorite foodie blogs. Helen, who makes everything and takes these amazing photographs, generously granted me permission to share her images with you. Please go visit her site to see what she's up to and tell her I say hi. Fair warning: it might make you fat.

Another Experiment

I can't tell you the new scent we will be introducing for the Fall/Winter holidays, but it's good!

Smell The Roses 3

Life is crazy busy for everyone. I am trying to remind myself to continue noticing things. My weekly series (maybe closer to monthly) is called Smell The Roses. This will remind me to do just that.

Here is my third installation:

Pink Pink Pink

Guess I've been in the pink mood.

Lightly scented Pink Grapefruit Parfait Soap

Still a few left in my Etsy shop...when they are gone, they are gone

Watermelon Splash Sugar Scrub

Bubble Bar in Sexy Laundry Day (made them yesterday and they are almost gone!)

Fun pink...maybe I'll keep going with the theme. Share your pink things with me!

jo at productbody dot com

Last Days Before Troops Donations Get Packed Up

On the 3rd of July, my company, Product Body, set up a way for everyone to pitch in to add additional products to a huge yummy box of Product Body products to be shipped to the troops in the Middle East.

Here is an explanation of the promotion...from our blog post "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."

There are four more days of shopping at Product Body in order for your donation to be included. All purchases over $40 will be qualified through August 31st.

We will be announcing the troop's name and location as soon as that is cleared for us to do. Thank you for your support.

Really.

Word Verification

Not that I have loads of extra time on my hands, but I read my share of blogs every day. I like to leave comments if it makes sense because as a writer of two blogs, reading comments makes me feel that people are in fact reading, not just mistakenly landing here.

I just counted: 52 regular blogs I visit daily. (Impossible!) I spend about an hour reading and commenting and about 30-60 minutes constructing posts. I don't do this all at once. mind you, but my interest lies in many places and it's nice to feel connected with people.

The one thing I hate, though is word verification when I'm leaving a comment on somebody's blog. First of all, The swirly words aren't always easy for me to read. Makes me feel dizzy and like I should be wearing a helmet to figure out the code so in case I tip over. See the picture of the handicapped person? That's me. All challenged.

It just makes everything take LONGER. I have a job, people! I understand the word verification "system" eliminates auto commenters (why would anyone have that job? Point being to annoy??) So, I took my word verification off both my blogs months ago and I get one spammer a month which is easy to discard. So fellow bloggers: please help out an easily disoriented, have no extra time for extra energy spent gal living in Florida. The heat already is a challenge.

See? I can't even speak English anymore!

Coconut Banana Bread. A Tale Of A Food Trade.

I have raved about Leslie Green of The Hungry Housewife in my Lowel Ego Light Post here. I first noticed the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cupcake way back when (here and here), then most recently, Leslie's Banana Bread French Toast post which put me RIGHT OVER THE EDGE.

Well, what else could I do then to email her and ask her if:

a) I could come over for breakfast.

or

b) Do a trade.

Sadly, she responded in her email that she wasn't much of a "potions and lotions" gal. Well, geez, I don't know if I've ever met anyone NOT into products. No tantalizing Leslie with my only positve trade-able asset? Hmm. I couldn't drive to Tampa for breakfast. A fast friendship was growing, but a drive was not happening. Sorry Leslie, I know how much my presense would be appreciated because I'd eat ALL of your fattening leftovers and save you from yourself. (Yeah, I read Fat Jeans)

I must be able to offer something she might like. She seemed reluctant, but would do a trade and maybe she'd use the cream before bed. She didn't want to interfere with her perfume. Not a product junkie? Huh. My new goal: To make Leslie a Product Body junkie. For life.

Then her box arrived. As I was ripping the package open, it occured to me that her baking could be a flop and how was I suppose to be nice about it if it was inedible? Then my thoughts went to: Oh no! What if she hates my products? This whole trade could be a nightmare.

This is what I found in the box....

Beautifully wrapped....


Beautifully baked....

Moist and smelly good. When I cut into it, a coconutty banana scent wafted up and knocked me right onto my very own slice of heaven. I am in love - It's official. Two breads arrived and I was doubly pleased. It is the best banana bread I have EVER eaten. And I make a pretty mean loaf. Who thinks to put coconut into banana bread? It's pure genious and I thank my lucky stars that I stumbled on The Hungry Housewife and bookmarked it on the day that I did.

Sadly, I only have one loaf left and I think I am not sharing it with anyone. More fat on my hips, better to knock you over with, my dear.

How cool would it be to have a monthly trade with a new friend? She sends me a treat and I send her a treat. We could even get a theme going every month to see how creative we could get. The more I think about it the more I love the idea.

Leslie wrote about the trade, too. Maybe she will turn into a "potions and lotions" gal after all.

Reminder: Sale Ends Friday

On Monday I wrote a post giving away a BIG coupon. For Hurricane Fay, I decided to give away a coupon for 25% off everything (except gift certificates). The Hurricane sale I wrote about is for all blog readers and their friends. Time is running out so use this coupon:

hurricane

at Product Body.

Be smooth. Be soft. Stay clean.