I knew it would eventually happen...

Oh, the joys of soapmaking!

I have yet to find a local source of lye that does not include little metal shavings to prevent people from using it to make meth (Lye is the the saponification agent in soap..aka: what makes soap turn to soap...and apparently also a key component in meth manufacturing). Soooo, I've had to buy it from vendors on the internet. Normally I don't have an issue with the shipment, they scan it through xrays and see neatly labeled bottles and its on the way.


THIS TIME.....I actually still keep giggling when I think of it....


They opened my package....





Because it looked like a shipment of cocaine!


I'll have to get a picture up in a bit but imagine the package going through the xray, the bored scanner is picking his nose and swatting flies, tired of seeing the same ol' socks from granny or mp3 player, when all of a sudden...a brick of cocaine pops up on your screen. BINGO!

4lbs of lye was put into a big gallon baggie, sealed and taped shut, and then wrapped in multiple layers of plastic wrap. Now I don't know about you, but I've seen plenty of mob movies and cops episodes to see how the smugglers bundle coke, and this matched it to a T.



I just really hope the postal inspector didn't take a wiff or a little taste since lye will burn your skin off when mixed with moisture. Literally.

Sweaters, sweaties, sweatahhhh

I'm a sweater kind of gal.

My office is extremely cold. EXTREMELY. Think..penguins even shiver cold. So obviously, I'm forced to wear lots and lots of sweaters (even in summer) at least 5 days a week. I've grown to love these cozy toppers. All colors, all lengths, all styles.

Today, the outfit consists of black kitten heel-height pointy toed wedges, dark grey tweed trousers, berry pink basic crew neck longsleeve, all topped by a royal blue button up boyfriend cardigan. Besides my mother's diamond earrings my dad gifted me at my wedding so I would have a piece of her with me (she passed away about 10 months before my wedding), and my wedding rings, I am not wearing any jewelry. Horrible statement from a jewelry maker huh?

Anyways, LOVE sweaters, and I'm so excited its almost fall so I don't look like a crazy running errands on my lunch break @work in a sweater. Here are some of my favorites for fall:

Bright and super soft. Can be paired with blacks and whites underneath, or go bold with hot pinks, bright yellows, or maybe a turqouise. Mossimo Black From Target.. I'm wearing it today actually :)

Completely unexpected. Takes the classic cardigan and skews lines and cuts for something way more fun and youthful. Element "Institute" via Zappos

Classic cashmere in a modern shape. Halston Heritage Silk-Cashmere Dolman via Berdorf Goodman

The "I Would Trade My First Born for This Sweater" Sweater lol :) Moschino Long Houndstooth via Zappos

And to break away from the obvious grey kick I was on, a nice bright choice. The Danielle Cardigan by *LA Boutique

And finally, the "I'd have to sell a kidney, and liver, and spleen...possibly a lung" cardigan. Oscar de la Renta Cashmere Cardigan via Neiman Marcus

I did something a little different...

I was having a "soap day" and wanted to do something different than before. I made a few of the usual...

Love Spell type JUMBO bath bomb

Juicy Grapefruit bar


Fruity Loops Breakfast Cereal Bar



And then for fun, I combined my hot process soaps with chunks of yummy scented glycerin soap. I assumed the glycerin would melt inside the hot process soap while it baked in the oven (I use a "in-the-mold hot process method where it bakes in the oven to cure), but was pleasantly surprised when it did not! My husband decided he wanted 'Pineapple Orange
soap and hey....since its summer still for a little bit, that sounded good to me!


Pineapple Orange hot process and glycerin bar


The lesson in this is: try, try, try. If you have an idea, even if you think it might fail, try it! Do you think Thomas Edison got the light bulb right on the first try? Highly unlikely. How are you to further your craft, develop your technique, brag about your secret...unless you try?

Fishing is for....girls

While discussing proper coverage at work tomorrow (which is my hard earned, 'every other Friday' off), I announced I was going fishing and told my other 2 coworkers they could decide between themselves who was going to vie for the overtime. To that, the male co-worker who had his eye on the overtime asked, very surprised, "you fish?!" Under normal instances, it would have just been a regular question from anyone like "how's the weather," but the tone in which he asked, and from previous sexist and ignorant statements he's made, I took offense.

"Yes," I proclaimed.

"You like, clean and gut them and filet them too?" he asked.

"Yeah, I could probably name at least 3 ways to skin a catfish, and I'm sure I'd be able to clean a shark if I was asked to."

"What about your husband? He doesn't clean the fish for you?"

"Why would I need him to do something I can do myself? I can fish, I even have a fishing hole in the Everglades named after me...as in, officially on a map...for pulling in the biggest fish to date. As far as I know, no one has broken that record to date. I also like football, beer, and I drive a sports car. Did I just shatter your stereotype of women?"

"..........uh, hmm so you have a spot named after you? Thats cool. How big was the fish?"

"27.8lb grouper...caught when I was 16."

With that, I turned on my heel in my adorable purple Prada flats and let my skirt whip around behind me.

"And I cleaned it all by myself..." I yelled out behind me.


I am just constantly blown away by this guy. He is a sexist homophobe that literally must have been living in a cave before he started working here about 2 years ago. In the world in his mind, I imagine women run around all day barefoot and pregnant, and there are no gay people...oh, but lesbians are hot so they'd be allowed. Women are around to make babies and make dinner, and have no brains or hobbies of any interest. I find myself constantly challenging his narrow minded statements. I don't know if its because he's from a different decade (he graduated high school in the 80s, I was born in the 80s), or if it was how he was raised, or if he's just not tolerant of people different from him. Maybe he's just dumb. I hope for the sake of his 4 daughters, he can one day realize that girls can do anything guys can do...

Only better.
And in cuter shoes.