The photo is of a soap I just finished for a wedding shower. It actually took a total of HOURS to do this soap. It wasn't the soap itself, but it was the darn tag. I wanted to print the tag myself and it just takes time getting the right fonts and the right colors and the right wording...but I enjoy a challenge, because on the other side of every challenge, when correctly and properly embraced, is a deeper knowledge of the subject and a tip or a change that could bring me to a higher level or have a deeper compassion for a friend or open a door that I normally would not have had opened if I was not ready for the challenge a second time. Now, when I do another wedding shower (or wedding favor), I have it in my hand within a few minutes to do. The hostess wanted it to be rough cut around the edges, but I COULD not get a rough cutter in Branson, and besides, the paper is so thick on this bugger that a rough cutter may not have done the job. Plus, the nature of the background already looks rough cut. So, I just cut the hang tags with a paper cutter and then corner cut the four corners with a romantic corner cutter. Oila! It turned out great. The one thing that has been a big blessing is since we have moved to Branson, the doors keep opening and opening for my soap. I've made the soap for five years, but never could see how to package it or how to produce it in too much bulk, so I didn't ever get that inspired to put it into a bunch of stores. When faced with a need for 1200 bars in January, it was just another one of those "challenges". It took a lot of extra time and dedication, but in the end, the challenge (being a larger challenge in the soap department than ever before), opened up all sorts of doors. They came off the hinges. Suddenly, I'm able to make lots of soap, which I have done, and boutique owners are requesting colors and flavors which has opened MORE doors. I was always concerned with producing hundreds of bars, and now, I see the need for testing fragrances, and for making up small batches in different fragrances for certain occasions, so I need different molds for this type of deal...but God is just working out every single detail along the way, with time to spare. He's so good. Today I made homemade sweet rolls for tomorrow's "Pink Friday". All ladies are invited! It's the first Friday of the month and I host a little ladies breakfast from 10AM to Noon and it's just food and fellowship. But, as I was making the sweet rolls, I could not get my mind or my eyes off of the soap and I realized that I have the grace to make soap, and make it every single day and make it in colors and fragrances....and it's definitely a grace. I didn't realize how big of a deal it was to me until the doors started opening and I realized how enjoyable the whole process is. Oh, and if you have a fat friend who LOVES sweets (she doesn't have to be fat...I am quite thin and would love this gift), check out soapcafe.com That girl makes soap cherry pie, doughnuts, chocolate bunnies, all in soap!!! What a cool and fun gift to get and give!!! I'm working on some chocolate soap myself and will produce photos when the final product is ready. Thanks everyone who likes my soap for liking it...it has so encouraged me to continue on this journey that has seemed like a strange "happenstance" along parts of the way, but has been a huge blessing in my life.
The drive through car wash is the best idea of a monster that we can come up with . Especially a "day" type monster. It's loud. It's wild. You feel a little "stuck" and can't go anywhere while your car is stuck in its' mouth. And then, after many tears and sometimes hysteria, the monster calms down and spits you out, drying your hair a bit as you go, and all is well in the world. 
