The Secret of My Success

Everyone has a base point, or a secret, that they start out with that ends up making a fantastic product. It might be a piece of wood, or a skein of yarn... mine is five basic ingredients measured, melted, hardened, and mixed.

So, for all of you who've enjoyed my lip scrubs, or those of you just curious, here it is in its natural state before flavor and colors are added.

"Master Mix" (19/365)

Not much to look at, huh?  But it makes such a wonderful product.  I'm very proud of how I, a non-chemist kinda person, was able to think up this recipe.  I make up a huge batch and store it in a plastic container, and take out four ounces at a time to make into things like Pink Icing, Choc•O•Rama, or Margarita.  Making such a huge master batch is such a timesaver, as I run out of a few flavors each week.

What helps your business run smoothly, or smoother?  And is there one special thing that all your creations grow from?

Got it at Goodwill

I have to admit, I'm not good at getting deals. I didn't inherit my mom's mad skilz, nor did I pick anything up from my MIL. The closest I got was back when I was 25 and saw an old wooden medicine cabinet out at the curb on our street; I took it home, repainted it and added new knobs, and now I have the best damn spice cabinet on the planet.

A couple of months ago we went to Goodwill and found this for $14.99.  Yes, $14.99 for this 24-inch piece of mottled glass that has lights behind it.  I've seen pieces like this at IKEA... always wanted one, now I've got one. :)

What's the best deal you've found?

"Get it at Goodwill" (18/365)

Calgon Would Be Better

Yeah, I said sometimes the pictures would be mundane. ;)

My life right now: a naproxen a day just so I can work and type.  The pain in my thumbs has spread across my hands.  I was so intent on making bigger batches of inventory that I wrapped labels around probably a hundred tubes; now I'm paying for it.  But I absolutely refuse to allow my carpal tunnel to make me give up yet one more thing I love doing.  I've got enough brains to figure out easier ways to make and package my lip scrubs, like "dipping" the tubes into the scrubs, and using a food processor to mix them.  I'm considering hiring OD to come over once a week and wrapping labels...

I realized yesterday that I've lived with daily pain for about seventeen years now.  Either tendonitis in my elbows, or bursitis in my knees, or Achilles heels, or carpal tunnel.  I thank God exercising actually eliminates the Achilles heel pain.  I don't know if it makes me strong or stupid to go through all this with almost no pain relief.

"At Least I'm Not Doping" (17/365)

Would You Like Fries with That?

Yesterday was a lazy day. OD usually visits us; as I have hair shorter than my husband's now, I don't have hair to play with anymore. So, I paid OD back for all the years when she was little, and she would sit on the couch, I on the floor, and she'd do my hair. Most often, it was a style I couldn't wear out the door, but who doesn't love someone, especially their daughter, playing with their hair?

Of course, I did OD's hair nicely, trading her tight curls for loose ones. But it started off with a "Darwin Award" moment, when I grabbed the HOT BARREL of the curling iron instead of the handle!! Lord, she's lucky I didn't drop it on her head. I have some tight skin on my middle finger, but I got my hand under ice water right away.

Afterward, we took her to lunch at Steak N Shake. Frankly, I got sick of the place awhile ago, and they couldn't get my Chocolate Fudge Brownie Shake right TWICE, but I do enjoy their tiny little fries.

"Yes, I'll Have Some Fries" (16/365)

Good Pizza

Yesterday was the day we usually go to the art crawl, but I am so sick of being cold (despite how much I love snow) that I asked Mr. Calm if we could just shine that on and find a new pizza place to try out.  We found a place with a 96% rating on Urbanspoon, and yes, the reviews were spot-on: really good pizza, and great service.

We started out with some cheese bread, which was delicious.

"Yumminess" (15/365)

After, we went home and watched "The Paperboy".  I highly recommend this twisted little movie.  It was nice to see so many good actors in top form (Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, and John Cusack in a really surprising role).  The only drawbacks were that Kidman and Efron's Southern accents weren't up to snuff, and Nicole Kidman is looking a little too plastic nowadays.  Actually, it might have been the character styling, but it was distracting.

Chilly Paws

"Someone Didn't Mind the Snow" (14/365)

Snow Day!

Crappy picture, I know. But imagine my delight to look out the window at 10 p.m. and see snow flying nearly sideways across my neighborhood!

"Wish it Would Have Snowed During the Day So I Could Have Enjoyed it" (13/365)