A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN A COURSE OF A FEW MONTHS

Wow! I have been gone for quite sometime. I have been dealing with a lot of issues of the last 6 months and I am excited to get back online.  My mom went to be with the Lord in May.  I have been working on the last few items of her estate, and now I am ready to get back to business.  I am still making and selling soap.  And I plan on expanding in the area of beauty products.  I look forward to hearing from you all!

WORKING FROM HOME

I am so excited about working from home. It is a challenge since we are a homeschooling family.  We are still learning to balance everything. 

Lots of ideas are being tossed around. My daughter, Jackie, would like to do some home shows.  Well, I have a lot of product to make today!

I have an open house in the works.  I am attempting to line up several other vendors in the area. I will fill you in on the details soon.

TOXIC BABY PRODUCTS

Two chemicals considered harmful to babies remain in Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo sold in the United States and some other countries, even though the company already makes versions without them, according to an international coalition of health and environmental groups.

Now the coalition is urging consumers to boycott Johnson & Johnson baby products until the company agrees to remove the chemicals from its baby products sold around the world, including in China and the U.K.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has unsuccessfully been urging the world's largest health care company for 2 1/2 years to remove the trace amounts of potentially cancer-causing chemicals — dioxane and a substance called quaternium-15 that releases formaldehyde — from Johnson's Baby Shampoo, one of its signature products.

Johnson & Johnson has said it is reducing or gradually phasing out the chemicals.

"Johnson & Johnson clearly can make safer baby shampoo in all the markets around the world, but it's not doing it," said Lisa Archer, director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

The campaign's new report, "Baby's Tub is Still Toxic," is set to be released Tuesday, when the group was launching the boycott via its Web site, http://www.safecosmetics.org.

The updated report was based on an examination of label ingredients for Johnson & Johnson baby products in 13 countries.

On Monday, the campaign sent Johnson & Johnson a letter, signed by about 25 environmental, medical and other groups representing about 3.5 million people in the U.S. and other countries. It urges the company to publicly commit by Nov. 15 to removing the chemicals from all personal care products worldwide.

In response, Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are safe and approved by regulators in the U.S. and other countries, but that it is gradually phasing them out of its baby products. It said it is also reformulating baby products to reduce the level of dioxane below detectable levels. But it did not say whether it would respond to or meet the campaign's full demands.

The letter, addressed to CEO William Weldon, was signed by groups including the Breast Cancer Fund, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, American Nurses Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Green America.

According to the report, obtained by The Associated Press, one of the suspect chemicals, quaternium-15, is a preservative that kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde. Formaldehyde, used as a disinfectant and embalming fluid, was declared a known human carcinogen this past June by the U.S. National Toxicology Program. Formaldehyde also is a skin, eye and respiratory irritant.

Quaternium-15 is still an ingredient on Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo sold in the U.S., Canada, China, Indonesia and Australia, but the campaign's research this summer found it's not in the same product sold in at least eight other countries, from the U.K. and Denmark to Japan and South Africa.

The second chemical, 1,4-dioxane, is considered a likely carcinogen. It's a byproduct of a process for making chemicals more soluble and gentler on the skin.

The campaign's May 2009 report, called "No More Toxic Tub," stated that studies by an independent laboratory it hired, Analytical Sciences LLC, found that 1,4-dioxane was contained in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo, Oatmeal Baby Wash, Moisture Care Baby Wash and Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash.

According to the report, the company has since launched a baby shampoo called Johnson's Naturals, sold in the U.S., that does not include 1,4-dioxane. But original Johnson's baby shampoo, which costs about half as much, has not been reformulated for the U.S. market, according to the campaign.

Analytical Sciences tested multiple J&J baby product samples from the U.S. for the first report, finding low levels of the chemicals. After that, according to Archer, consumer groups in South Africa, Sweden and Japan contacted her group to note that quaternium-15 was not being used in products in their countries.

Archer noted that some of the countries where the products did not contain the harsh chemicals had bans on them in personal care products, but others didn't.

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Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/11/01/group-says-carcinogens-exist-in-popular-baby-shampoo/?test=latestnews#ixzz1cT7gOBXg

Lotion Bars

I am making my lotion bars today.  If you have never tried a lotion bar, I highly recommend it! They can be a bit pricey, depending on the ingredients. I use a high quality, Shea butter. The benefits of Shea butter are amazing. Shea butter really penetrates deep into the skin to help restore and maintain the skins elasticity.
It will not block the skins pores, unlike many commercial products that contain petroleum products. It is also rich in vitamins A, E, and F.  I do add organic Beeswax to my bars. This adds to the luxury of this bar, and the price.  The Beeswax forms a barrier to protect and keep in all the moisturizing benefits of the the butter. This is especially nice with the changing weather. Great for hands exposed to water.  What good is a lotion if it goes down the drain every time you wash your hands? I also add some other nice essential oils such as Ylang Ylang, Lavender, and even a splash of Jasmine.  This also make a nice, natural  perfume bar.

A one ounce bar sells for $18.00 plus shipping

I AM STILL HERE!

I want to update you on some things I am working on.  I have been so busy. I don't have time to post right now, but will soon. Just wanted to let you know, 'I am still here, just busy'.  Busy can be a good thing. 

BA BA BLACK SHEEP....

I made some yummy Goats Milk Soap.  I tried some new molds. Let me tell you...I have about six pounds of funny looking soap. My husband said I could call it "Rustic Goats Milk Soap." I don't think so.  I put the rest in my regular molds and they turned out beautiful.  I think I will 'hand mill' the other six pounds. 

Did you know, Goats Milk is great for your skin?  It helps to keep that youthful appearance.  It helps with all sorts of skin ailments.  It's ph is a near match to human skin. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals.  The protein found in goats milk helps to nourish the skin.  Glycerin is naturally occurring  in goat milk soap, so it is extra moisturizing!  Who doesn't like that. I made mine unscented, however I might add some lavender essential oil to the next batch.

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE!

Imagine my surprise when I went on Etsy.com and found that my soap was showcased!  Yep! You can see for yourself at http://www.etsy.com/people/GildedLegacy?ref=af_shop_tre.

This soap is made with Shea Butter and other quality oils. There is nothing artificial about this body bar. It is moisturizing and has great bubbly lather. It is scented with Geranium Rose and a hint of Orange Citrus. Geranium Rose essential oil has a sweet floral scent with a distinct richness that is quite enjoyable.
You will feel spoiled with the richness of this wonderful bar. Currently, this is a 3.5oz bar.  I will begin making this a 4.5 oz bar.