Purchase Your 'Bracelets for Breast Cancer'

I haven't made many blog posts in the last month. A close friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has underwent a double mastectomy and the pathology report was not positive. Chemo and radiation treatments will begin to control cancer cells that have migrated to the underarm lymph nodes.

My friend is a young, otherwise healthy 42 year old mom. She has a daughter who is eight. I can't begin to imagine the fear and anger she is feeling (and not necessarily expressing), or the courage she will need to fight this disease. However, one thing I know for certain. My friend is a fighter. Her last text message to me read, "I'm not going anywhere!"

The bracelet shown was made by my assistant, Jenni. They are made from recycled aluminum pop can tops threaded with your choice of satin ribbon.

GoPlanetEarth is selling these bracelets as part of a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness. We are donating 40% of the profits to breast cancer research in the name of my friend (who wishes to remain anonymous).

Bracelets measures 6, 6.5, 7 and 7.5 inches in length.

Cost per bracelet:

$8.25 (6" and 6.5") includes first class USPS shipping



$9.00 (7" and 7.5") includes first class USPS shipping




Select from the following ribbon colors:

Dark pink, light pink, yellow, blue, green, red and purple

Jenni also makes neck chokers and headbands using the pop can tops. Please email her for pricing and reference this post.

A New Tradition: Prayer Bears

This Easter my grandkids are starting a new tradition. After Easter service, we are going to a local Caretel facility to visit with nursing home residents. The kids are taking a dozen or so of these Prayer Bears to gift to those they visit.

I am replacing the cards that came with the bears with a personalized prayer card that includes a photo of the grandkids and a message that reads, "Whenever you are lonely, sad, or sick. We are praying for you."

If the facility allows, I will take a photo of the Prayer Bear recipients. The grandkids will have a matching Prayer Bear for each one they gift.

The matching bears will have a photo with the resident's name and photo. At bedtime, we will prayer for each of our Prayer Bear friends.

Teaching our children a culture of sharing starts in the home. I want my grandchildren to understand that those perceived as a burden (such as the elderly) can be our greatest blessing.

Newsprint Bags: Pre-Buy

A few days ago I posted about these newspaper bags made by street children in India. The story and message behind this organization's endeavor to house and educate school-aged street children is quite touching.

After personally speaking with someone from this company via phone, I am convinced my decision to import these bags is a good choice. Yes, yes, I know it's not an American made product. But knowing this program is helping children abroad is worthy of my support. Hurrah! Accolades to this organization for finding a creative and ingenious way to generate income for shelter and education. LOVE IT!!

Here's the PRE-BUY offer on these bags. Pre-buy deadline is March 9, 2013, 11:59 PM, EST.
Pre-payment required. Limit is 50 bags per size and shipping address must be within the continential USA. All bags have jute handles. There is a NO return policy on this pre-buy.

Orders ship week of March 11, 2013

Size #1:
11 1/2" long x 9 3/4" wide x 3 1/4" side gusset

25 bags = $26.00 USD plus $12.60 S/H
(cost per bag with shipping = $1.54)
Total cost: $38.60



50 bags = $49.00 USD plus $14.25 S/H
(cost per bag with shipping = $1.26)
Total cost: $63.25





Size #2
8" long x 5" wide x 3" side gusset

25 bags= $22.50 USD plus $9.95 S/H
(cost per bag with shipping= $1.29)
Total cost: $32.45



50 bags= $41.00 USD plus $13.50 S/H
(cost per bag with shipping= $1.09)
Total cost: $54.50

A Special Note of Thanks

A while back I posted about Kids Saving the Rainforest which is a wonderful organization that I firmly believe is worthy of attention. Well, as promised in my post, GPE did ship the free soap supplies plus some. Here is the email I received over the weekend:


Dear Denise!
Thanks so much for sending the soap making materials! We just got them when we got to Miami! They are absolutely wonderful! It felt like Christmas morning opening them. We are all so grateful and excited, we can't wait to get back to Costa Rica to start making them.

We will keep you posted as to how it goes and we can't wait to order more from you and pay for them!!! We are very grateful to you!

Thanks so much,
Jennifer and KSTR

To Jennifer, I say this. Your gratefulness is noted and it is refreshing to have someone take time to express it by sending a note of thanks. I hope Jennifer keeps all of us posted about the soap making endeavors of Kids Saving The Rainforest.

Emails like this (and many other wonderful emails we recieve from customers) is what motivates our company to offer the best possible service.

Donating for a Cause: The Advocacy Fund - Protect your Soapmaking Business

For those of you who may not be familiar with the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild’s (HSMG): It is an established and functioning non-profit trade association whose mission is to promote the handcrafted soap industry; to act as a center of communication among soapmakers, and to circulate information beneficial to soapmakers.

In the past three years there have been many threatening legislative proposals. The three most recent pieces of federal legislation have been the FDA Globalization Act 2009 (HR 759), Safe Baby Act 2009 (S 925) and The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 (HR 5786 – still pending).

Legislative Advocacy Committee

The HSMG Board of Directors has decided that the time has come to strengthen thier policy positions and take an even more pro-active stance in advocating for the handcrafted soap industry, especially since a large portion of the industry makes soap that falls under cosmetic regulations.

To this end, a Legislative Advocacy Committee has been formed and the Board has approved the official Legislative Advocacy Statement, including a clear delineation of advocacy policy and positions. HSMG is now in an active search for a suitable professional advocate (lobbyist) to work on our behalf in Washington.

Advocacy Fund

As the HSMG is supported solely by membership dues, they have established an Advocacy Fund and are seeking donations from both members and non-members to defray the costs associated with hiring a professional advocate and related expenses. All monies donated to the Advocacy Fund will be used solely and only for advocacy related activities.

GoPlanetEarth hopes that HSMG members, non-members, companies and consumers interested in preserving the industry will show their support by making donations. All monies collected will specifically fund the hiring of a professional advocate and related expenses. Make a donation today!

GoPlanetEarth has donated to this fund and we hope you will too! No matter the amount, when the funds are all pooled, it adds up. Here is where you can send your donation:

Legislative Advocacy Fund

A Noteworthy Organization: Kids Saving the Rainforest

Yesterday our company received an order from a customer who was purchasing supplies to make soap for a worthy cause. She is going to be making and selling soap to help save the Rainforest in Costa Rica. All of the profits for this soap making adventure will be donated to Kids Saving The Rainforest organization.

What Jennifer doesn't know (but will very shortly) is that GoPlanetEarth will be donating all of the supplies ordered plus the cost of shipping to help with her soaping project. I think what really bent my heart to this organization was my grandson, Carson. He just completed first-grade and one of the project topics in his classroom was Rainforests. He was very intrigued about them and also was very concerned that they were in jeopardy. I am going to make sure that Carson knows his NeeNee made a donation to help save the rainforest in Costa Rica.

If any of you are looking for a way to get your kids involved in a worthy organization, I encourage you to visit KidsSavingTheRainforest.org. This organization offers so many ways to get kids involved so they can make a difference in helping to preserve our environment for generations to come.

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.

Operation Christmas Shoe Boxes Ship Today

Today, we started shipping Operation Christmas Shoe Boxes to Samaritan's Purse. There are no words to thank the many customers who generously donated $$'s for this worthwhile Christmas project. Each shoe box is filled with toiletry items, small toys, school supplies and other personal items and shipped to needy children around the globe.

We will continue to collect donations via our shopping cart until December 15. Any additional monies received will be sent in the form of a monetary donation to help under-privileged countries purchase basic medical supplies.

Missy, one of our long-time employees wore her "Pay it Forward" bracelet today as she packed the boxes. My staff jumped in 100% to support this project and are excited to track the boxes to find out their final destination.

Send a Christmas card to our soldiers!

Here's an opportunity to show your apprecation to our military personnel this holiday season.

1) Select a postcard

2) Personalize a message

3) Send


Thanks to Xerox for their "Let's Say Thanks to Our Troops" Christmas card program.

Donating for a Cause

A good friend phoned last night to ask if she could stop by before I started my work day on Wednesday. I hadn't seen her in a while and wasn't sure what the visit entailed.

My friend and her husband owned a very reputable Kitchen and Bath company in our area. Through the years, their company has done a tremendous amount of work for me on both a personal and business level. Last summer, their company went out of business. The economy was so distressed that they couldn't stay afloat. Like so many, they are living paycheck to paycheck (if there is a paycheck that week) and looking for ways to pay for their son's upcoming college education plus all the expenses that go along with having a high school senior. Oh, and did I mention the family has no health insurance? The job she was able to find at a local credit union pays minimal wages with limited hours and no benefits. Her husband is taking every odd job he can find but there is little work in Michigan for even the most industrious worker.

Why am I sharing this? Because this dear friend who is struggling to keep her home from going into foreclosure, put food on the table, and find a means to just pay for health care basics (like a mammogram) was asking for help. Not for herself, but for others.

Her current employer is offering a Home for the Holiday Home Giveaway. This project will provide two area families with quality homes (mortgage FREE)! These are foreclosure homes that will be brought up to code and are receiving structural and cosmetic improvements. The purpose of my friend's visit was to see if my company would be willing to donate.

How selfless! Even in the midst of her own hardship, she is working to make sure the needs of others are met. It was a reminder that the happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply, and give until there's nothing left to give.

Yes, our company donated!

New Mold to Support Asperger/Autism Syndrome

In late February 2009, Mold Market will release a puzzle piece soap mold named Mattie Mo. Not only is this a fun mold for adults & kids alike, it also supports those with Autistic and Asperger Syndrome.

In 2003 my nephew was diagnosed was Asperger Syndrome. He's an incredibly gifted child, but exhibits deficiencies in the social skills expected for his normal age group. Asperger children display autistic-like behaviors that can range from mild to severe. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest, but can show exceptional skill or talent in a specific area. This is the case with my little nephew... he shows exceptional talent beyond his years. Thanks to the wonderful support of family, he was able to start Kindergarten classes within the mainstream school system. The program he attends makes modifications and adaptations to his special needs which enables our little Mattie to find balance in daily living activities. I am blown away by his abilities and skills. He truly wins your heart.

When you purchase a Mattie Mo Puzzle Piece Mold, Mold Market will donate 10% of the retail mold price shown (on your receipt) to Autism Speaks.


I hope you will join GoPlanetEarth and Mold Market in supporting this important organization throughout 2009.