The Soaping Diaries

     Entry One : Monday, January 22, 2018

It was nearing the end of 2016 when my curiosity was piqued about the idea of making my own soap.  John and I had started veering towards a more natural lifestyle for a number of reasons that year.  Mainly due to how drastically we had to rethink the items we used in our home after bringing our boys into our family.

Let me elaborate.  Our boys are birds.  We are the proud parronts to a Platinum Lutino Cockatiel who we renamed Astraeus, and a Congo African Grey named Smokey.  Both of our boys are rescues.  

What most people are unaware of, is how highly sensitive birds are to toxins in the air.  Hence, taking a canary into the coal mines.  They breathe differently than mammals.  More efficiently than mammals.  But it leaves them more susceptible to dangerous inhalants.   Most aerosol items can kill a bird the size of Astraeus.  A single scratch in Teflon cookware can leach enough toxin into the air to kill a bird.  

We started to realize most, if not all, things that are dangerous to our boys are dangerous to us as well.  We just tolerate it slightly better than the typical family pets of dogs and cats.  (People are now coming to understand the dangers of some common household products around mans best friend.)  So I replaced cookware and I started making my own household cleaners as well as buying natural items that I could not make myself, like dish soap.  I also learned how to make my own laundry soap.  

I research and research.  I want to rid our life of all unnecessary chemicals and additives and hormones.  It's not only possible, it typically saves us money as well.

Soap.  We all need it and use it.  

It was when I started making laundry soap that I began to ruminate on soap in general.  To make laundry soap, you need soap.  And all the recipes I found and read about talked about what kind of soaps you would want to use.  Because, if you aren't looking to make laundry soap as an effort to rid your laundry of unnecessary chemicals, you probably were not looking into finding recipes on making it yourself.  So obviously, you would want to use soap that doesn't contain a lot of the things you are looking to rid your wash of!  Well, if I can buy soap that is pretty basic and without unwanted chemicals, then can't I just make it myself?  Then it would be more natural as well as handmade.  

So I bought a couple books on Amazon.  When they arrived, I was overwhelmed with what I read.  I needed to take so many things into consideration!  I needed to have the proper tools and space to make soap.  Can I do this in my home as a parront?  I set the books aside.  Time went by.  Substantial amounts of time.

I'm a creative.  This whole soap making thing sounded too fun to pass over.  It was nagging at me daily; this idea that I could be a natural chemist and make something good.  (Alright, I really fancied the term alchemist over chemist!  But lets consider the outcome and the century....no, maybe alchemist is realistic.  Handmade natural soap could be considered gold!)  I get giddy at the mere thought of the words apothecary and alchemy.  And in a way, the chemical reactions, even though explainable, seem to be magical all the same.  

So I started more research into soap making.  As longs as I took the proper precautions, I could make soap in my home.  So I started collecting the necessary tools and ingredients.   It took too much time for someone as impatient as myself.  But I'm proud to say that I did it.  

I made a two pound recipe of cold process soap on October 31, 2017.  It took five weeks to cure.  I tested its pH in secret.  What if I'd failed?

I was ecstatic and elated and every other positive word in the dictionary.  I was full of pride.  My soap was pH neutral and perfect for use!  I did it.  And I needed to do it again.  I was hooked.

I gave away bars of my soap as holiday gifts.  Then I decided I needed to make shower steamers.  You can make them and use them the next day.  I tried melt and pour soap, also able to use the next day.  After a few batches of shower steamers and another batch of the same cold process recipe, I am waiting on the final shipment of supplies/ingredients to make bath bombs.  They are going to be decedent.  

Since I am 100% passionate about this hobby, I am starting The Soaping Diaries.  I will share this journey and the knowledge I gain along the way.  I hope you'll follow along!

Dead Space

As we are getting ready to draw a close on April 2017, I find I have not posted any updates in quite some time!

There are reasons:  Some of it is that I started a new job, and have other pressing commitments.  However, some of it is laziness.  Hey, I try to be an honest person!  Laziness is my biggest flaw, flat out.  Trying to quash it from its existence in my life may be a bit too big of an ask.  But I'm doing my best to keep it at a minimum.

Currently, I am working as a senior portrait photographer for Lifetouch.  When I am scheduled to work, it's crazy hours where I have be out of the house early and don't return until late in the evening.  I really enjoy it though!  I get to travel to different high schools and colleges/universities and work with different people all the time.  Every day is an adventure.  Each student I photograph is different, and it makes my work continuously different.

John & I have also started a new enterprise!  You can find Resplendent Relics on Facebook and Etsy; and you can find Triple Moon Relics solely on Etsy.  They are both still a work in progress, but I am happy to report we had our first two sales this past week!

I have been wrapped up in music over the past several months.  AFI released The Blood Album, and Dreamcar has their debut self titled album available for pre-order with immediate digital access to three tracks!  311 album Mosaic has also been pre-ordered via Pledge Music.  And I recently found myself immersed in Biffy Clyro.  Over the winter months I was also getting myself back into singing!  Singing has always been one of my passions, and I dabbled here and there but never thought too seriously about it.  It didn't work out with the group, different people wanting different things.  But I intend to continue working on vocal technique and finding a good fit in a group who is looking to perform.

I have also been vacationing, recovering from injuries, and learning some new poi techniques/tricks as well over my extended absence here.  John & I are getting excited for the summer weather so we can go out and practice poi, slack line, and hopefully, hula.  Flow arts are a great total body exercise as well as being cathartic and meditative.

What have you been up to?  I'd love to hear from you!

The Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Recently, John and I traveled to a dear friends' out of state wedding.  I was stoked about the weekend and who wouldn't be!?!  Upon arriving, we would be getting ready to take a Jazz Dinner Cruise around the lake with the happy couple.  Plus, three days at an amazing resort would be just the vacation we needed.

I booked our stay at the resort three months in advance under the wedding block reserved for the joyous event.  I saved for the trip well in advance and intended to pay it all off in cash the moment we returned home.

Please, do not stay at The Abbey Resort.  Do your best to not be enticed by the commodities they offer, for they all come at a very steep price.

Let down #1 was that my accommodations were only discounted at the event rate for one night, not all three.  This greatly exceeded my price expectations for our stay here.

Let down #2 was that none of the rooms reserved under the wedding block were near each other!  We were all scattered about various buildings and floors.  We were all under the impression that we would be on the same floor in the same hall.

Let down #3 What do you mean there is an extra daily fee for enjoying the resort!?!  Yes, there was a daily fee on top of the expensive room rate for being at the resort which was for things including but not limited to access to the pool.  It did not, however, include any breakfast or even a bottle of water.

Let down #4 was that for the price of admission and accommodation, you received sub-par service and low quality items.  Wait staff that did not know what the bar stocked or did not stock; bar tenders and servers alike, that didn't seem to want to serve anyone and moved at a snails pace; well spirits at top shelf prices with the cheapest mixers available, etc.

There are other things I could go on about.  But what it boils down to is that at the end of my stay we felt like we were not treated as guests, or even as people, but as walking dollar signs.  No one went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and special.  I have had much better experiences at regular hotels and when I plan to stay at a resort I do expect to be treated better and receive better. for the amount of extra money I spend.  Instead, I drove home feeling like I was robbed for an experience I thought would be so much more than it was.  I could have gone on a five day cruise to the Caribbean for what I spent to stay at this resort for three days.

I did complete the online survey which I received via email from the resort.  About a week later, I received a reply email entitled: Concerning your stay at The Abbey Resort. 

"Thank you for recently staying with us at The Abbey Resort. We value each guest, as we know that you have a choice when deciding where to stay while here in Fontana on business or pleasure.

I had a chance to review the survey that you recently completed. I was concerned to hear about your experience with our hotel. We strive to accommodate our all of our guests and their needs, and I was disappointed to hear about the problems you encountered. I know that does not change your experience but I hope that you can feel confident that we heard your concerns and they will be discussed at our next Management Meeting.

Thank you again for your feedback, we truly appreciate knowing about our guest's experiences so we can celebrate our successes and address our challenges to better serve you in the future. We look forward to your return when you are in the area again."

What are you thoughts and opinions?  Have you had a horrible experience somewhere?  Have you had a fabulous experience somewhere?  Please share!

Spring Madness

Not too long ago, my Baby Boy was sitting at deaths' door.  He lost a quarter of his weight, wasn't eating, wasn't moving, always sleeping and keeping to himself.  It's a horrible story about coming to mistrust in doctors that I don't really want to get into right now.  But it all started a downward spiral.  I am happy to announce that Astraeus is doing much, much better!  He's back to his chipper self, with the exception of some feather loss.  He's singing and carrying on, he's excited to see people again, and he has gained back all the lost weight!

After this ordeal, it was great that the weather was warm and the sun was high in the sky!  John & I took a good friend and his lady out to Nockamixon State Park for a round of disk golf.  It turned into nature adventure!  We saw frogs, toads, butterflies, snakes, and turtles throughout our hike of the back nine.

Then the weather turned cold and rainy again.  I'm not going to complain, this is standard for Spring in my neck of the woods.  Even though it's expected, it can get you down to a place where you don't want to leave the comfort of your blanket on the couch in front of the tele.  It was a tough week of struggling to find the motivation to move!  Life happens sometimes in a way we don't like.  This past couple weeks felt like everything was working against me.  However, I did make some progress towards goals and I need to celebrate them, no matter how small.  

THAT is how we survive, by celebrating any reason we can think of.  I took some online webinars about running a photo business.  I finally ordered business cards!  We watched Deadpool for the second and third time ;)  I cuddled with my boys, Astraeus and Smokey.  I sold my last in-stock large canvas print!  I made a To-Do List so I can track my progress, and feel more accomplished in working towards my goals.  

I have an amazing support system, especially my John.  Everyone needs to have one person who will be there to tell you that things will get better.  If you don't, you just haven't realized it.  Think about who you know and how they make you feel.  I bet that one person will stick out for happiness, or for great advice.  I also have a great mom.  I know I can call her any time, day or night for whatever emergency I have.  She makes time to be there for me when I need her.  I am lucky and grateful.  

If you still don't know who you can turn to when you need encouragement, please feel free to turn to me.  Or at least to a Facebook Group I admin: Saving Someone, One Talk at a Time.  This crazy weather gets us all from time to time.  If you need a support person, we are around.  You need only ask.

Adventure: New Hatchy

When John and I moved in together, he had a new hobby: raising and breeding insects. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of seeing several insects I normally would not have had the chance to see up close. I love tiny creatures.

The other day, we had a new hatchy: Hyalophora Cecropia! I know that sounds scary, but really it is quite beautiful. This is a moth native to PA. We had a male hatch, we released him after a couple days. Then another male hatched. The day he passed away, a female hatched from her cocoon.

It is sad that they did not hatch together so they could mate. We set the female outside at night in hopes that her pheromones will attract a mate. However, either it is too early in the season or we are no longer a region of their natural habitat as no mates have come to her yard.

Most moths are nocturnal, so you wouldn't see them about in the day like you see butterflies. But they are just as beautiful.  

Say hello to the Cecropia Moth.

 

Getting Started

I grew up with a love of art and creating art.  For a long time my passions were drawing and painting.  My parents always fostered and nurtured my creativity and urged me to continue with my art.  They always told me I could be whatever I wanted to be when I grew up, even an artist.

But there were too many things I wanted to try and do and see, so I struggled for a long time with finding myself and a path for life that would be happy.  I have had many adventures along the way to where I am now.

Among them was my move to Chicago, IL to attend Harrington College of Design for a degree in Digital Photography.  I graduated with an AAS in August of 2011.  I was about to be turning thirty.

By this time I had spent several years away from my family, and when I graduated with my degree I decided to move back to Pennsylvania and cultivate my family relationships.  I wanted my niece and nephew to know me, and I wanted to know them!

With bills needing to be paid, and struggling to find employment in my field near my family, I settled for a job outside of photography after four months.  I threw myself into my new work, striving for success and advancement.  I did advance quickly, and so I stayed with this company for four years.  I was completely miserable working behind a desk for eight hours a day.

I am no longer with that company, and have set out to launch my photography business: Karmic Images this May 2016.  I am excited and freaked out to be giving this a go.  I love photography.  I love food.  I love to travel and have adventures.  I love my boys and my family.

This blog is where I will keep my story of trying to live life to the fullest and not starve in the process of starting my business.  I hope you'll tag along for the ride!

Astraeus aka Baby Boy

Smokey aka Sweet Boy

Mid-Atlantic Air Museum
World War II Weekend
A-Day June 2015