So much excitement I can hardly control myself!!

Amazing things are happening over at the Sweat Shoppe. My website is getting revamped and should be up and running at the end of this month, and I am taking some time from Roller Derby to put things in order like I should have been doing all along.

It will be a challange, but I think an important one.

I have one month. one month of NOT skating to get my house organized and Bubbly Creations running properly again. This time, I have help from my BF who is giving me (and you!) the new website for my birthday, and time to get my bottom off the ground and out of the slump its been in.

I am excited, I am motivated, and I have a support system in place to keep me on track.

Here's to another new beginning!

Just a few more days!

...and Manly soap will be completely cured and ready to go! Shoot me an email if you would like a sample!

gina@bubblycreations.com

The juices, they are flowing

I started my first batch of beer soap today. I'm pretty excited about it. Not only is it a deviation from my usual recipe, but it's a deviation from my usual recipe. Something I haven't done in YEARS since I made Huckleberry soap with a synthetic scent instead of my usual essential oil. Or maybe it was when I added flax meal.

Regardless, I have been dreaming up soaps, but not actually taking the leap and making them. And for that, I am a little ashamed. I told myself after I finished Milton Hershey's biography that I was going to stop being afraid to fail.

The first step to acheiving that goal? Beer. Whoda thought?

Now, here's an odd nitch...

There are many, many Mommy Bloggers out there. There are many Mommy Business Bloggers. But Single Girls with a Boyfriend who has a Kid Buisiness Bloggers? holy crap. If they are out there, they are likely hiding from thier title!

I learned this weekend though that they don't have to be your kid. They can be any kid. what you are doing is just as interesting and they want to help just as much.

I'm a huge believer in child labor. That, I think, is why people have kids. So they won't have to do the dishes anymore. But a 4 year old, she brings a whole new element. She's too little to reach the sink. (for now...)

It's so easy to tell a kid to go play. That you are busy. To think she can't help because what you are doing is for sale and therefore has to be perfect. Or that what you are doing is too dangerous.

I learned that there is always something they can do. So they can feel a part of things instead of feeling like an outsider who "can't". I put that kid to work stuffing samples in plastic bags. And she was awesome at it. Was she slow? yeah. but she's FOUR. And free labor, so who am I to complain?

And, they're off!

New home, new phone number. New zest for business!

I never thought I would need a man to help keep me motivated, but I'm fortunate to have found one that seems, so far, to be incredibly supportive. He even helped me make a batch of soap and is excited to experiment and make some more.

That's right. Soap. I made some. There's a whole batch of lavender on the curing racks and a customer waiting to buy a few bars. So exciting. So much on the horizon. I had better stop talking about it and go re label all my samples because I know a roller derby league who might appreciate some freebies to put in the gift bags for Saturday's bout. It's not my league, but it is our sister league! Hooray!

Where have I been?

I've been... Lazy for lack of a better term. Although I have been very, very busy.

Since September, BC has moved to what will hopefully be it's permanant home-Or at least until we outgrow it! I closed escrow on my very first house which is, appropriately, turquoise. I love every square foot.

Although I admit much of my delay in returning to business has been about laziness, I am proud to say that I am back on it and with the fervor I had in the beginning when I was actually profitable.

I have learned a lot about how I let fear get in my way, namely, my fear of failing. Right now, I am learning from Milton Hershey how you can't be afraid to experiment even if it means that you might fail. Hershey spent months and money researching and experimenting until he managed to perfect the recipe and technique for milk chocolate. He didn't worry about the cost, he didn't worry about the failures, he knew that if the swiss could do it, so could he.

I'm not looking to make chocolate, to build a zillion dollar empire complete with my own town, but the lessons are the same. I have to stop being afraid to try for fear of the time and money lost. I am going to start using my resources. and DO it. Other people do, so can I. For goodness sake, the materials don't do me any good sitting on the shelf!!

We have a winner!

It came to me in the shower, actually, after a massage and a jacuzzi and some very relaxing conversation with dear friends.

I made up my mind, not our of your wonderful suggestions but out of my own head. I'll still send stickers.

Then I called my little sister Pie. And SHE said she had some suggestions and wanted to join in the naming party but couldn't leave a comment. 

Since I hadn't closed the contest, I asked her to tell me what she was going to suggest. She could only remember one.

"Just Soap"

I cried. I cried because it was perfect and true and EXACTLY what I had decided. My hair stood on end. 

So Pie wins the prize. 

But I still need you all's address if I don't have it. Which, I'm pretty sure is just you Sensei.

There will be another contest within reasonable amount of time. Stay tuned!!