Lights, Loaves, and Holiday Soaps

 

Last week’s warm spell gave me the perfect window to hang my Christmas lights outside. It takes me a couple of hours to get all six hundred lights strung on the two trees and around the front door — yes, it’s bright, and I absolutely love it! ✨

I also received a complimentary copy of Food Network’s Thanksgiving issue and have been flipping through the pages in search of a new sweet potato recipe. I’m not a fan of the traditional sugary, marshmallow-topped version, but since I love sweet potatoes, I’m always on the lookout for something fresh and savory. I think I’ve found a good one!

The temperature has dropped sharply here in Missouri, so I turned on my little gas heater to cozy things up while I started styling “the soap house on the hill” for the holidays. It truly is my favorite time of year. The balance between home and shop life can be demanding, but in the best kind of way. After so many years of juggling both, I’ve learned to breathe deep and remind myself — you get done what you get done. Putting pressure on yourself to make everything perfect during the holidays can be overwhelming. I prefer to work hard, but rest well too.

I’ve been in full-on organization mode lately — fresh batteries in all the wreaths and trees, holiday bins cleaned out and sorted, and spaces cleared to make room for what’s to come. Our Holiday Soap is selling faster than ever before — if this pace keeps up, we’ll be sold out before Thanksgiving! That’s the beautiful (and sometimes challenging) part of handmade — once it’s gone, it’s gone. But I’ve come to believe that every bar ends up in the hands of the person it was meant for. It’s a handmade way of thinking that I’ve carried with me for nearly three decades.

I’ve also been putting together gift boxes and one-of-a-kind holiday sets at the shop. A Soap + Lip Balm Crate makes the perfect gift for teachers, family, or mail carriers — practical, affordable, and truly special. All three of those qualities seem to shine a little brighter this time of year.

I hope you’ve had the chance to snag a few bars of our Holiday Soap before they’re gone. Winter cooking is about to kick in at my house — roasted chicken, hearty stews, and plenty of extra sourdough baking. I love winter cooking… and yes, eating it too! Ha!

Keep the faith. 

Jill