The Big Move

I've been MIA from this little blog for a while now, but with good reason.  We've been preparing for a move.  We just closed on our first house yesterday and are ecstatic!
(Also - minor detail, but my parents also moved our of their home of almost 20 years on Christmas Eve - busy busy!)

The big move it today and we're still waiting on a confirmation from the movers!  Wish us luck!

A Thousand Words : Photo 4

Photo four: One of the coolest restaurants I've ever seen.  Couldn't afford to eat here though. It's at the Aria in Las Vegas (where hubby and I spent the weekend!)

Holiday Gift Project - Soap

I am not a soap maker.  This holiday gift project will not teach you to make real,  from scratch soap - I prefer to leave that to the soap professionals.  But regardless this was an easy project that pumped out lots of yummy smelling holiday gifts.

Supplies:

Soap Base: I used goat's milk base and got it at A.C. Moore

Essential oils

Tea

Oatmeal

Soap Form: 2' piece of 2" PVC pipe with (2) caps

Build the molds.

The hardware store should sell two foot lengths of PVC pipe.  I used 2" pipe.  The hubby cut mine in half for me, it can be done with a hand saw.  If you don't have one, ask someone at the hardware store top cut it for you.  When putting the end caps on I "greased" the pipe with dish soap first, don't make them too snug or you'll never get them off.  Line the molds with parchment paper before adding the soap.

Place the molds upright in large vases or mugs.  

Make the soap: follow the melting directions for the soap base your purchased.  I microwaved mine in throw away microwave save containers.  For the PVC molds - I used 16 oz of soap base for each.  Add all of your mix ins after the soap is melted.

I made two different kinds:

Bar One:

Goat's Milk Soap Base

Chamomile Vanilla Tea (1/4 cup of the dry tea)

Essential Oil - per package instructions

1/2 cup of oatmeal

Bar Two:

Goat's Milk Soap Base

Vanilla Chair Tea (1/4 cup of dry tea)

Vanilla Extact (1tsp)

Essential Oil - half of package instructions

After you add your mix in - pour into the molds.  It needs to set overnight.  When I was done, this is what I got:

I packaged them in glassine bags I purchased on Etsy.  And stuck them with my favorite Paper-Source Stickers stamped with a fun craft stamp.  I think they'll go over well this Christmas.

 Are you gifting handmade items this year? Please feel free to link a tutorial to your holiday gifts!

Cyber Moday

Today is the last day to take advantage of the 20% off sale at Miss Meghan Elizabeth

Coupon Code: givethanks2011

What I'm Pinning: Thanksgiving!

This time next year I hope to be hosting Thanksgiving in my home! for the very first time.  (we haven't moved yet.)  This is some of my tablescape inspiration from Pinterest:

Source: u-createcrafts.com via Miss on Pinterest

Source: williams-sonoma.com via Miss on Pinterest

Source: cottageandvine.blogspot.com via Miss on Pinterest

Source: blog.camillamolders.com.au via Miss on Pinterest

A Thousand Words - Photo 3

Photo 3: A Roasted Chicken (to get you in the mood for tomorrow, smell it already?)

Miss Meghan Elizabeth: Sale Details!