New Logo!

 

New Logo!   I JUST LOVE IT!!

 

Find it on a few new items, plus coming soon....special packaging and the Casco Bay Collection!!

 

 

Bradbury Mountain

My hubby and I really like to hike and soo look forward to the snow melt and Spring to finally lace up our boots and head up a mountain or down a trail.   We have a great little mountain near us, Bradbury Mountain, and as soon as hubby gets in from work, we put on our boots and head over there.  This whole month there is a "Hawk Watch" on the mountain.   Bird counting every day!  When we hiked up there one night this week, we found 2 people with high powered binoculars and a scope and a very impressive count of all the birds that they had seen. 

 

Here is the blurb from the State Park website about it:

 

Daily hawk watch on the summit of Bradbury Mountain. Come and join an expert as she tallies the hawks, eagles and other raptors as they return from the southlands after a long winter. Learn why the watch is conducted over Bradbury and how to identify the birds from the ground.

 

Here are the pictures that I took of them on the summit.

 

It's a pretty view at the top.  At the edge of the horizon, that is all ocean!  On a good day you can see out to Eagle Island, (only accessible by boat) also a State Park.   And next stop after Eagle Island, England!   That's it folks, all Atlantic Ocean stretched out to the East. 

Bundled up but smiling!

 

A very impressive bird count! 

 

Make Your Own Taco Seasoning

My husband loves Tacos, but we don't eat them that much.  We are on a watch-what-we-eat-diet right now and don't need the fillers (hubby is Gluten intolerant and I am sodium sensitive).  So in an effort to eat better and remove highly processed and over salted items from our diets, AND eat more of what we love, I have started making my own Taco seasoning.  For Taco salads, we rub it on chicken thighs before grilling, sprinkle it on chicken breast before popping them in the oven and of course, mix it with ground beef/turkey for Tacos.  Here is the recipe that I am using, easy-peasy to make and store in your kitchen cabinet. 

 

http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2012/09/homemade-taco-seasoning.html

 

 

Homemade Taco Seasoning

 

Source: Allrecipes

 

Ingredients:

 

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

 

In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container. Yields about 2 3/4 tablespoons.

To use:

 

Use about 2 tablespoons of the taco seasoning for every 1 pound of meat. Use more or less depending on your preference. Brown meat and drain the fat. Add your taco seasoning along with about 1/2 cup of water. Simmer and stir until water is absorbed. If you want more of a sauce throw in about 2 tablespoons of flour with the water.

Working With The Girl Scouts

I had the wonderful and truly rewarding opportunity to work with a local Girl Scout troupe the other night. 

They are working on a trio of badges that all teach about the roles women can play in society.  They had a short lesson from the Girl Scout leader and had some homework to review and then we moved onto making some little "role model" dolls.  This is where I came in.  I volunteered to help the leader with some crafty projects and this was it. 

I borrowed a Girl Scout book and made a few dolls on my own, to practice and see how the easiest way would be to explain how to make the dolls to 10 & 11 year olds.   2 local businesses, both  run by women, donated yarn.  The Craftin' Scot and Bessie's Farm Goods, both of Freeport. Thank you!!

 

These were my example dolls for the girls to use as a guide. 

Here they are singing during their opening ceremonies.  Please note that I was trying to take pictures very inconspicuously and not disturb them, so they are not all in focus!

Reading from the book

.

Working on the dolls.

 

 

Finished products!

 

 

Note that this doll (below) even has a green Girl Scout sash on!

 

The girls even started telling me what each of their dolls "was".  One girl was very excited to make her doll a lawyer and we even helped her make a briefcase out of felt for the doll to hold.

The girls sang this amazing song!  It brought a tear to my eye.  Thinking about all the possibilities ahead for these young girls.

Can a Woman?

by Iris Hirsch of GS Central Maryland
Tune: She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain

Can a woman fly an airplane?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman build a building?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman fight a fire?
Can a woman change a tire?
Can a woman lead a choir?
Yes she can, yes she can!

Can a woman be a lawyer?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman fix an engine?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman be a drummer?
Can a woman be a plumber?
Can she play ball in the summer?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Can a woman be a doctor?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman drive a tractor?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman lead a nation?
Can she run TV station?
Can she head a corporation?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Just you wait until we're older
Then you'll see! Then you'll see!!
We'll be women in tomorrow's
History, History!
As we grow up through the years
We'll sing out loud and clear
Can we start the process here?
Yes, we can, yes we can!

Beer.

I fellow market vendor starting brewing beer and made it into a real, follow-the-rules company and now sells this beer at market alongside their greens.  They are Funky Bow Beer.   I love that they tried something new and went for it.  I picked up my Growler (a Growler is a 1/2 gallon or 64 oz.) of beer this weekend!

 

 

Braised Red Cabbage

My husband loves cabbage.   And bacon.  So, I found this recipe on Pinterest (do you Pin?  Follow me here:  Casco Bay Soap Co. on Pinterest )  by Jamie Olivier.  Delicious.  I made a few changes.  Just eliminated the apple as hubby doesn't care for Apples in much of anything except Apple Pie.  He liked this soo much, I made it for 5 weeks in a row, once a week. Then I had to stop.  Well, I just made it again and he gobbled it right up. 

Here it is, Braised Red Cabbage with Apples, Bacon and Balsamic Vinegar

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/must-try-red-cabbage-braised-with-apple-bacon-and-balsamic-vinegar

 

 

Photo from Jamie Oliver's website.  Visit the site for the full recipe.

New REDUCED Shipping!

Find shipping on my website reduced to only $6.25, Nationwide! I will send soaps anywhere in the USA, in a USPS Priority Box (so it should get to you in about 2-3 days) for only $6.25.  You can fit about 20 soaps in one of these boxes, so order away! 

 

 

Laundry Detergent is not include in this offer.  Please email me for a shipping quote.  

 

Shop, shop, shop away!!

 

Casco Bay Soap Co.

I Am....

A little inspiration for Monday. 

I heard this recently:  Whatever follows "I am"  will come following you.

Think about it.  Think about it for a minute.  What are you saying?    I am tired?  I am fat?  I am bored?  I am broke?

Send out the positive vibes!  Start sending the right message out and turn it around!   All of us have issues, but focus on our assets, find the courage to believe in yourself.  Be the hero of your own life.  You can do it! 

]

I Used To Do This...

So, I used to do this...

 

Fix the pant legs of models while on location in Florida.  Among other things....like prop shopping, ironing clothing, painting walls, decorating sets, making beds, booking dog models and soo much more.  I was a Photo Stylist.  This picture is from sometime in the late 90's, a black and white Polaroid that the photographer took to check lighting before the actual shoot.  This was in a park just outside of Miami in December.  I had left snowy Connecticut and my mittens behind and was enjoying the warmth and strange sight of Christmas lights on Palm trees while working a couple weeks on location for a discount retailer creating the photography for a weekly sales flyer (remember those?) and promotional poster for the stores.  I was working at the nations first digital photo studio.  It was state of the art, way ahead of it's time and awesome.  We had 6 photographers and 3 photos stylist, in house printing, art directors the whole works.  We photographed 30 page weekly fliers, promotional posters for the stores, a few yearly catalogs, signage and some packaging.    I was mainly in charge of the Home Fashions Department.  I had a HUGE prop room, ironing table that was 4'x8' and massive sets to build and work with.  I also crossed over and would work with the models, booking the hair and makeup, setting up scheduling and food styling too.  I did this for over 5 years with this company, and for 4 years before that with another.  I styled bags, luggage, bedding (LOTS of bedding), towels, shower curtains, furniture, rugs, packages of candy, clothing, underwear (on and off the models), camping tents, pet products, crafts, Halloween costumes, toys, sports equipment and on and on and on.  It was great.

Around The Studio

Hello.   I know that I haven't been posting in a while and some of that is because I have been blogging since 2009...what else should I blog about?  Have I run out of content?  Is anyone even out there, reading this?  I don't know.....

 

I post several times a day over on Facebook, you can find me there.  Although the content is less, there is more action. 

 

Casco Bay Soap Co. on Facebook

 

But none-the-less here are some pictures from around my studio I thought that I would share. 

 

@ My worktable....ribbon, some labels etc.

 

 

Gift tags ready to cut up and use.

 

Bars and bars of soap curing.  The back soap is Day At The Beach, front soap is "Casco" Bay Rum and there are a few round shaving bars too.

 

More soaps curing.  Blue at the top right is Sea Mist, there are a few of my new "50 Shades" soap and then Citrus Scrub bars.  Plus round shaving soaps and some Sea Urchins.

 

This 5 pack of soap will be part of a Farmers Market giveaway coming up soon. 

 

My new "photo booth".  I made this about a month ago and have been experimenting with new photos of soap etc.  I really like it. What I like best is that I have a dedicated area for shooting soaps.  No need to dig things out of a box and set up etc.  The table that this photo box is on is on wheels too, so I can easily move it around and/or out of the way.   I found the idea on Pinterest (you can follow me there too).

 

I hope you enjoyed some of the pictures, I will try to get some more up soon.  See you soon! 

 

Cookies!

Because there is more to life than just soap....from over at What Megan's Making: http://www.whatmegansmaking.com/2012/10/giant-chewy-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies.html Giant Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!

 

I hope to make these this weekend, I love a chewy chocolate chip cookie!

 

Giant Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups brown sugar, packed
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups rolled oats
2 eggs
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon milk
1 (12 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat together brown sugar and butter until well combined. Add oats, eggs, molasses, and milk and beat well. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop dough and drop about 3 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-14 minutes, or until just starting to brown around the edges. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets then remove and cool on racks.