The Winner of Heaven Sent Food and Fiber's Goats' Milk Soap is....

...Valarie!

Congratulations! Random.org selected Valarie as the winner of Heaven Sent Food and Fiber's Tea Tree Mint and Oatmeal Soap.  

Thanks for all who entered and shared your desires to learn back-to-basics survival skills.  I, for one, would like to learn to quilt so that I can transform all these memory-filled, past-their-prime t-shirts into works of art. Quilting bee, anyone?

Lastly, many of you asked for a reminder on how to support small farms and Heaven Sent Food and Fiber.  So, here's a note from Coleen:

Since you are signing up through the computer would you vote for our Dream Big Contest Idea? We are competing to win a $5,000 grant to purchase equipment for making socks from our yarns. This is one “warm step” closer to our dream of bringing a small fiber mill to Tahlequah to create agriculture-related  jobs and more options for farmers and ranchers. Go here to vote for our Dream! Share it on your page to have friends and relatives vote too. 

Voting opened today!

Friday Favorite: Heaven Sent Food and Fiber Goat Soap

On Tuesday, I told you I love Heaven Sent Food and Fiber, so I'm giving away a Valentine so you can get to know their amazing products, too.

Shopping is difficult enough without some research telling me everything contains toxins. Deodorant, soap, etc.  This stuff is supposed to be clean, right?  If you like natural and non-toxic products, I have a soap for you.  Plus, it smells good.

As some of you know, my hubby is very health conscious.  Heaven Sent Food and Fiber's goats' milk soap is the only kind he uses.  (I even went to a monastery and bought some of the monks' homemade product, but he would have nothing to do with it!)

Something you should know about this soap is that it's different from the kind you buy at a superstore. Since it doesn't have a lot of ingredients in it, don't expect suds.  It doesn't mean it's not working.  It just doesn't create all the bubbles...which brings up the question, what chemical causes those suds? Eek. Another thing to know about this soap is that it lasts FOREVER.

Would you like to win your own soap? It's easy!

First, select which soap you'd like to win.

Oatmeal and Honey
Lavendar Rosemary
Rosemary Mint
Tea Tree Mint and Oatmeal

Second, since Coleen's Thorton's farm is self-supporting, let me know what back-to-basics, Little House on the Prairie-type skill you would like to acquire.

Third, post your answers in the comment section below with your contact info, and check back on Valentine's Day to see if you won!

Lastly, if you're interested in supporting small farms, here's a note from Coleen:

Since you are signing up through the computer would you vote for our Dream Big Contest Idea? We are competing to win a $5,000 grant to purchase equipment for making socks from our yarns. This is one “warm step” closer to our dream of bringing a small fiber mill to Tahlequah to create agriculture-related  jobs and more options for farmers and ranchers. Go here to vote for our Dream! Share it on your page to have friends and relatives vote too. 

Check back on Valentine's Day to see who wins!

Friday Favorite: Giveaway and Getaways

I have some cool news: My blog was mentioned in the Muskogee Phoenix.  Earlier this summer I wrote about Glamping at Girl Camp on Oklahoma Women Bloggers, and it is a hot topic right now. Click here for your how-to-glamp guide.

You know how Hollywood always chooses younger, prettier actresses to portray real-life people?  The Muskogee Phoenix kindly does the same thing.  Valarie Olson's photograph was featured in the article this morning and showed our pal Moria Kinsey playing...me.

Here's a link to John Kilgore's article in the Muskogee Phoenix about Camping for those not so inclined to camp. Check it our for some great glamping websites.

Photo of the article: The lovely Moria Kinsey is playing me in the photo above.

If you are looking for a weekend getaway close to home, glamping might be just right for you.

Of course, if you don't want to leave the house at all, you can grab some Wailani's Body Scrub and have a mini Hawaiian spa experience in your own shower. Thank you to everyone who entered and shared your ideal weekend getaway.

And now...

through the magic of random.org...

I'd like to congratulate Peggy for winning the mango and green tea scrub! Thank you for telling us about your grownup slumber party experience.

Email your address to brandi at brandibarnett.com, and I'll mail your prize as soon as possible. Please drop by my blog and visit again soon.

Friday Favorite: Wailani's Body Scrubs

If you've ever spent any time with me, I've probably told you about a product or place I love.  Sharing my favorite things is one of my favorite things.

Want to know one of my new favorite things?  Wailani's Body Scrub

Golden Pineapple and Salty Hibiscus (courtesy of Wailani's)

Here's why:

1. The scents are inspired by Hawaii. If I close my eyes and breathe deeply, it's like a mini vacation in the shower...as long as my kids stay out of the bathroom.
2. The ingredients are all natural and pronounceable. Read: I don't freak I'm poisoning myself for smooth skin. No fear abides in this girl for coconut oil or Kona coffee or organic flower petals.
3. It's not super oily.  Some scrubs I've purchased use ingredients that are next to impossible to remove so that if I forget to put my contacts in before I shower (seriously, who does that?), I spend the day peering through lenses damaged from an oil slick.
4.  Lisa Czlonka, the founder, is a friend of mine who lives in Oklahoma and brought her childhood in Hawaii with her.  Clearly, she likes sharing what she loves with others, too.  I like to buy from "mom and pop" businesses, maybe because one puts food on my own table or maybe because it just seems like the right thing to do. Small business owners are in close contact with what goes into a product and how their clients feel about it.  That matters to me.
5. It's a great gift.  I'm not a great gift giver, but I play one on Pinterest. My mind keeps coming up with different gift baskets. 

The morning coffee for those who drink tea. (courtesy of Wailani's)

 Kona Coffee. I am not a coffee drinker. This scrub is the closest I will ever get to the coffee craze. Maybe it's the smell or the intense scrub, but I am alert and ready for the day after having my morning Kona Coffee in the shower. Unlike me, my husband loves coffee. So, I shouldn't have been surprised when he absconded it for his own use. Gift idea: Pair it with a gift certificate to a local coffee shop and some chocolate covered coffee beans to make any coffee lover--male or female--jittery with joy (and a little caffeine).

Golden Pineapple. Citrus smells make me happy.  This scrub is like opening the window to morning sunshine.  It has a smaller grain than the Kona Coffee so keep that in mind when you consider your preferences.  I'm glad to have both. I like using the pineapple on my legs because my skin is more sensitive, and I like using the Kona Coffee for my elbows and feet. Gift idea: The pineapple is often a symbol for hospitality, so the Golden Pineapple body scrub would be a nice leave-behind after being an overnight guest. For a new homeowner, pair it with bath towels.

Salty Hibiscus. Wow.  Just wow.  I'm extremely picky about floral scents, and I adore this scrub. I wish Salty Hibiscus came in a lotion and a candle and a laundry detergent and.... The smell is not overpowering, but it is distinctly relaxing and feminine. Plus, the scrub is a pretty pink and contains actual organic flower petals. Gift idea: A lovely gift for a girly girl would be Salty Hibiscus and a gift certificate for a mani-pedi or massage. In the spirit of Hawaii, why not toss in a bikini? Yes, I'm serious. Your favorite gardener might appreciate it paired with an actual hibiscus and gardening gloves.

Warning: You'll love being indulgent so much that you might get selfish. Case in point: Lisa gave me the coffee one.  Then I bought the last two with the intention of giving them away, but used them for myself instead. This works in your favor because some lucky reader will get to select a scrub of his or her choice.

Yep. I'm giving one away.

Want a mini vacation?  Here's how you can win one of Wailani's Body Scrubs in three easy steps.

1. Check out the different body scrubs here.

2. Comment below with which one you'd like to win. Leave your contact info.

And...here's where you earn it...

3. Give me an idea for a real mini-vacation.  Tell me your favorite place to go for a long weekend.

Contest is through next Thursday at midnight.  I'll announce the winner Friday, September 13, 2013. 

Lisa Czlonka, founder of Wailani's Body Scrubs

If you missed Lisa's Tasty Tuesday contribution to my summer salad virtual potluck, check out her Kalua Pig here.

Also,  Wailani's Facebook page has all sorts of healthy tips.

Go ahead.

You can enter the contest now.

Aloha!