Friday, February 26, 2010

Fuzzy Wuzzy Was A Bear Soap

Does anyone remember this soap from the early 1960's? I had a customer email about it and promised to do a post. She is looking for information on what makes the fur. Is there a chemist out there that might help shed some light on what makes the fur appear?

Here is the YouTube link for the original ad.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

We Have the Best Smelling Garbage on the Block

We've been on a pouring frenzy this week getting ready for the many upcoming soap gatherings and conferences. Each year we donate a large number of fragrance samples to fill goodie bags at these events. Even in tough economic times, GoPlanet tries to sponsor and donate to various events related to our industry. This week we poured over 600 plus fragrance samples. There was fragrance in the air and not just inside the building, but outside as well. Like in the big rolling trash bins.

The guys who pick up our trash tell us we have the best smelling garbage on the block. When pouring fragrance, sheets of paper towel are used to clean up any over-pours. The toweling is thrown into the trash along with any empty fragrance containers. It makes for very aromatic garbage. When you open the top of our trash bins you get an unexpected blast of lovely, fragrant garbage.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Arriving to Work on a Snowmobile?

With the winter storm blast we received late last night and early morning it left few options for getting to work on time (if at all!). Some employees opted to arrive by snowmobile.

Please be patient with us as we process orders and unbury ourselves from this latest Winter blast. We have limited staff due to peak snowfall and everyone is working double duty. This puts us a day behind. We're doing our best to work around Mother Nature; ultimately, she's in charge.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Yea, Though I Pass Through the Automatic Car Wash....


We've all read or heard the 23rd Psalms at one time in our life. My favorite part of the scripture reads.... "Yea, though I pass through the valley of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me." This suggests to me that there is a higher power hiding in the shadows to rescue me. A power that will lead, guide and direct me in the path I should be going if I stay on track. I will make it through the storm, the valley, or troubles I'm currently facing.

While my car eased through an automatic car wash the other day, I was reminded of this scripture passage and something clicked. Yes, I know it was an odd place to have an epiphany, but what can I say; I tend to have those weird moments. Anyway, sealed inside my car in this water coccoon with brushless "thingies" beating against my car I realized this:

A car wash is much like our valleys. We often find ourselves in the middle of a storm with waters (and thingies) beating against us and unable to see what's ahead (those would be the valleys). It can be frightening as the waters come crashing in. We tend to see ourselves as a victim as the force of the stormy waters propel us forward much like the conveyor belt of a car wash and it brings fear. Yet, suddenly, the waters cease. Just like a car wash, we find ourselves out of the thunderous beating waters. The storm stops. We are no longer on that car wash conveyor belt to no where. Instead we are thurst out into the the sunlight. We are cleaned, polished and blow dryed and ready to shine in more ways than we ever dreamed.

I am a firm believer that those "yea thou I walk through the valley (car wash) moments" can often bring the greatest times of growth. When we get past the crashing waters, the valley of "thingies" and the conveyor belt that seems to have a mind of its own... we might actually find we come out on top.

May you always come out on top in your next "car wash" life experience.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Melt & Pour Soap Making: Finished Taco Soap


Yes!! It's really soap. My daughter stopped by on her way home from work as I was adding the finishes touches to this taco soap. She was in awe at how real it looked.


OMG! I didn't even add the guacamole and sour cream as planned, and I'm still impressed with the soap. The ground hamburger, the cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions... very realistic. It's a way cool soap that weighed in at 3 ounces.

A tutorial is forthcoming, so be sure to check my blog and the GoPlanetEarth web site in the next week or so.


Friday, February 12, 2010

No Soap this Weekend, Just Water

I strung this clothesline in my family room for the grandkids. They arrive tomorrow morning for a surprise weekend at an indoor water park. The clothesline includes new shoes, swimsuits, and outfits for each grandkid. It's their Valentine gifts from NeeNee and Poppy.


My daughter and her husband left today for a weekend getaway in the UP (upper penisula) of Michigan to snowmobile and do a wilderness trip. We were assigned the duty of watching the grandkids while they have, what they call, a romantic get-away. Staying in a cabin with a potbelly stove for heat, no electicity in the middle nowhere, with only a snowmobile, doesn't spell ROMANCE! As for me, I'll be poolside at the indoor waterpark. Heated pool, room service, and lots of lovin' from the grandkids.

Before signing off for the weekend, I want to wish you a happy Valentine's Day! Life is good when you have love in your life. May you share sweet kisses and hugs with a special someone.

Melt & Pour Soap Making: Taco Soap


It's in the works! Our taco soap is almost ready for the tub. We have just a few more ideas we need to tweek before assembling the final taco.

Trying to get the ingredients to look realistic was a challenge. We think we've done a fairly good job our first go around. The cheese looks like cheddar and I was happy with the color.


After a few sleepless nights assimilating a design plan I was able to get colors that seemed fairly realistic. I'm not sure if anyone really knows the number of hours put into a new soap design. When we post a final tutorial on our web site, you have no idea how much blood, sweat and tears may have gone into the production. When we finally get it right...there's this big soap dance that we do. I'll have to video the dance steps!

I am hoping to have the taco soap finished soon. However, it won't be this weekend. Off to have some fun with the honey-man and grandkids. That's a whole other post.

Sunday, February 07, 2010

Annual Chilli Cook-Off on the Lake

Saturday was the annual chilli cook-off on our lake. The air was crisp and cold and the sky was a beautiful blue. The wind was a little biting at times, but tasting the 30 plus hot (and sometimes very spicy) chilli took the edge off the cold. Picture above is myself (center) and two of my long time employees.

I think the best part of the day was having my grandson on the ice with us. He had a blast sliding on the ice with all the other kids.


Here I am with my honey-man. I don't often get a whole day with him. It was fun to chat with neighbors, friends, and family. I will admit that walking back to our car was a little scary. There were some thin spots on the ice where the current was running rapid. Falling through the ice in single digit temps is my worst nightmare. It was a great day! The downside, I am sick today. Sore throat and achey, flu like symptoms. I'm going to kick back next to a blazing fire and watch the SuperBowl game.


Friday, February 05, 2010

LAST CHANCE: Yearly Fragrance Event ~ $1.25 per ounce.

Every year we close out fragances to add new ones. This means moving these discontinued fragrances off the shelf to make room for new. Hence, great savings for you!

We are offering incredible savings on these discontinued scents.

Your cost: $1.25 per ounce (which is below wholesale cost).

These scents are being offered in four (4-ounce) bottle assortments. Sorry, you don't get to pick the scent, but we promise a good selection of first quality fragrances suitable for soap (both CP and MP), candles, and toiletry base products (such as shower gels and lotions).

Here is a sampling of some of the fragrances ....

Cucumber
Country Garden
Citrus Spice
Apricot
Heavenly Musk
Peaches & Cream
Sun Ripened Raspberry
Rainforest
Paris Hilton Type
Melon
Clean Type
Hazelnut
Clove.....

and many, many more. Once sold, they are gone! So don't waste a minute more. Order these top quality fragrances at bargain bin prices by using the following link.

FRAGRANCE CLOSEOUT