All of the Holiday Mini Soaps are gone! Thank you all so much for your orders! There are still a few of the larger bars in the Holiday scents, so if you are interested in ordering, do it soon! 
 . . .and have a blessed and merry Christmas!

It's (almost) that time of year!

 Holiday Soap is Ready!

Want to bring the outdoors in, or enjoy the aroma of Christmas baking? Looking for the perfect gift idea? Let us help you enjoy the Holidays with the scents of Fresh Pine and Cinnamon Spice in our all-natural goat milk soap!

 Our Fresh Pine soap is scented with the essential oil of pine and the wintery smell of pine needles. It contains the same creamy goat milk and high quality oils of all our other soaps, and comes in two sizes; 1 oz. mini-rounds, or a 3 oz. large round.

Fresh Pine

 Our Cinnamon Spice soap is bursting with cinnamon and cloves and scented with natural cinnamon oil.  It has the warm, comforting smell of winter baking to top off the benefits of goat's milk and nourishing oils. It also comes in 1 oz. mini-rounds and 3 oz. large rounds.

Cinnamon Spice

Either soap can be purchased as mini-rounds (2 in a bag for $3.00), large rounds ( 1 for $4.00) or a gift set of 4 mini-rounds packaged in a reusable wooden crate for $8.00, as long as supplies last!

Gift sets

In addition, from Nov. 1st to Dec. 30th buy any 3 regular soaps and get one holiday mini-round free (as long as supplies last)! Happy Shopping!

A little bit of Spring in the Fall . . .

           "Spring Rain"
  our newest soap scent, is here and ready to go!
A blend of spearmint and eucalyptus,  "Spring Rain" offers a lovely sweet and refreshing scent. We are discontinuing our "Rosemary Mist" soap, and replacing it with this fresh new smell! Try some today, and add a little Spring to your Fall!




Coming Soon!. . .
  With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, Christmas trees are showing up in all the stores, and I am starting to hear snippets of Christmas songs even from my kids!
   Look for some special Holiday scents and gift boxes coming up really soon on Beautiful Earth to help you enjoy the Holidays!

Let's Be Real. . .shall we? And how about a deal to go with it.

It's right there. . . I can almost reach it, but not quite. It sits tantalizingly just out of my grasp, and try as I will it seems to evade me. It's that perfect scenario. You know, the one where I'm always organized and efficient. Things run on time, and time seems to wait for me, allowing me to have moments of inspiration and hours of pleasant research and successful projects to share and a never-needing-replenished stack of products waiting to be sold. It's too beautiful to be true, and it is. And so, it's now truth time. Time for the real truth that is. Because it's really true that every extra table in my house is covered with drying herbs waiting for me to jar and label them, (and there's even some in the fridge. . .)  and real garden produce sits in the freezer and on the table mocking me with its complacent patience. It's really true that I have hardly picked up an herb book in a month, and scarce have had a minute to mull over new projects and keep up with my hobby/business and blog because two separate family weeks traveling out of town followed by the start of school and the ensuing sports seasons have created a level of minor chaos for this Mama, even if it is enjoyable chaos in its own right. And it's really true that I work at the level of a real Mom, with piles of laundry and dishes, kids and dogs to care for, and food to cook. Someday - very soon I hope!- those great ideas in my head will become reality and I will even have time to let you all know about them, but for now, with apologies to those who perhaps have a little less of real life to deal with, and great thanks to those who choose to spend time with us, here's some stuff to look forward to at Beautiful Earth!

For the month of September we will be running a "5 for $20" package special (or "buy 4 -get 1 free")! You can customize your own package, and can include your choice of soap, salve or bug stuff tubes (2 tubes = an item). For example, 3 soaps, 1 tin of Triple-C salve and 2 tubes of Annie's Bug Stuff would make a great "buy 4- get one free" package. So have fun mixing and matching to create just the mix you need!

Also, there is a slight change-up coming in our line of soaps. Starting in the middle of September we will be discontinuing the "Rosemary Mist" soap, and replacing it with a new scent called "Spring Rain". A blend of spearmint and eucalyptus, "Spring Rain" is a light, refreshing scent that we hope you will enjoy as much as the beautiful air following a true spring rain. Pictures coming soon!

 We would love to hear from you this month, and if the new brew simmering in my crockpot downstairs turns out to be any good, maybe there will be more to tell you about soon enough, but for now, this is the real deal!

Itch?! Anyone?

 My answer is, "YES, yes, ME! I itch!" I don't react at all to mosquito bites, so I am attributing the large, itchy and swollen red spot which appeared on my leg yesterday morning to some other kind of bug- probably a spider, Bleh! Although I don't freak at spiders, and I leave them alone outside where they can eat all the bugs they want, the idea of those little eight-legged critters chomping on me is not entirely welcome. And let me tell you- putting up with the bite is not entirely welcome either. Besides being red and itchy, a larger area is quite swollen and sensitive. Even my shorts rubbing on it while walking the dogs this morning was enough to drive me crazy. Thankfully- the Bug Salve is READY! 

I have been using it for about 24 hours with good results! This picture is from this afternoon, and although still plenty red, the swelling has gone down and the itching is almost completely non-existent as long as I keep the salve on! There is nothing quite like putting your own products to the test, and I have been pleasantly pleased with the results. Although I had previously used it for mosquito and tick bites with good results, this was the first "big" bite that I had needed it for.

My bug salve is a combination of 6 natural ingredients that have been used historically not only for  controlling itching, but also as antiseptic, anti-inflammatory agents and pain reducers. They include plantain leaves, chickweed, cornflowers, calendula, white willow bark and tea tree oil.

Since no special name seemed to present itself during the making, the bug salve has been affectionately dubbed "Annie's Bug Stuff, " and I am happy now to share it with you! It comes in the same 2 oz. tin as the Triple-C salve for $7.50 or you can grab it in a handy little tube (chapstick size) for $2.50. For more detailed info on the herbs used, check out Annie's Bug Stuff on the salve page!

Hopefully your summer has been well-spent so far, enjoying the beautiful moments that nature affords us. With my kids home, and family outings, complete with a camping trip, fit in so far this summer I have been a little slower than I had hoped getting this ready, but at least I can say that it has been fairly well tested! If you are itching bug bites too, or maybe just interested in trying it out, you can place an order by emailing me at beautifulearthideas@gmail.com- I would love to hear from you!

The Salve Assembly Line. . .

 Now till the end of June all of our soaps and salve will be on sale for 3 for $12!

We have been in Salve-making mode here at Beautiful Earth in preparation for lots of outdoor summer fun! Triple-C Salve is ready for you now, and we are working on a new "bug salve" for bites and stings which should be ready in early July! Here's a little peek at what has been going on in our kitchen. . .

  

  

  

 

 . . .Made with olive oil, beeswax, and organic herbs, Triple-C salve is a natural way to help heal all those summer "ouchies"! Read more about it on our salve page, and e-mail us at beautifulearthideas@gmail.com if you have any questions, or to place an order! We look forward to hearing from you!

Well, there are towels drying on my clothesline, my windows are open to a beautiful breeze, many of the greenhouse seedlings are big enough to plant, the garden is mostly in, and the days are getting close to 80 degrees, so I know that May is finally here, and summer is really on it's way! While we are enjoying the May flowers, and looking forward to those barefoot June days, I wanted to let you know a little about what is going on here at Beautiful Earth Ideas!

 . . .a THANK-YOU!

First, a big "Thank You!" to those who came and saw us at "Spring Thing 2014"! We had a beautiful day with lots of sunshine, and it was great to see so many faces and meet new friends! It is my hope to be at a few local farmer's markets this summer, so if you missed us, just hang tight, and hopefully there will be another opportunity to come out and see us soon!

and GIFT BASKETS!


  Second, Beautiful Earth is now offering Customized Gift Baskets to anyone local. These can include the soaps of your choice, a soap dish and/or salve. Perfect for birthdays, Mother's Day, or any special day, these baskets are great fun to make, and pretty to look at. Here are the basics and prices for each basket:

1. Small basket: 2 soaps of your choice + 1 soap dish =$22.00

2. Medium Basket: 2 soaps of your choice + 1 soap dish +
                                                               1 Triple-C Salve  = $26.00           

3. Large Basket: 3 soaps of your choice + 1 soap dish +
                                 1 Triple-C Salve = $30.00

4. Sampler Basket: 8 half size (2 oz.) soaps, (one of each variety) +
                                    1 Soap Dish = $35.00

**Interested? Send me an email at beautifulearthideas@gmail.com and we will get started at finding the basket that is right for your needs!

The Newest News from Beautiful Earth. . .

SPRING!!!
 I am always so happy when there are finally daffodils blooming in the garden and seedlings growing in the greenhouse. There is something about spring air that rejuvenates the heart, and I am looking forward to all the new opportunities spring is bringing our way. Here are just a few of them-


On the Road. . .

You can come see us! This coming Saturday, April 12th, Beautiful Earth Ideas will have a table set up at "Spring Thing", a family friendly fundraiser at Roanoke Valley Christian School in Roanoke, VA. Come see our soap and salve for yourself, and check out our various handmade gifts that are not available on-line! We would love to chat with you! A whole host of other family friendly activities await you, so come join the fun and visit us Saturday! It all starts at 9am! See you there!

"RUGGED" 

is our newest soap to be added to the list! A woodsy clean scent with spice undertones, it was designed especially for men, and will have a permanent place on our shelf!

. . .a New Recipe. . .

I am always working on ways to improve our soap, and "rugged" will be the first soap available to you that uses a new recipe! We have not changed the oils that we use, just the ratios that we are using them in, and the result is a slightly harder bar with even more lather! We are very pleased, and think you will be too! In the future, all the batches of soap that I make will have the new oil porportions in them, but you can try it now with "Rugged"!

and "ROSES"!

Due to its high popularity, we have decided that our "Rose" soap will now be a regular on our soap list! It has a lovely floral scent, and it will be available permanently beginning the first of May!

Thanks for catching up with us! Now- go enjoy that beautiful spring air!

Soap Dishes!

SOAP DISHES!! 

SOooo. . .Maybe not everyone gets excited over soap dishes, but when I found these wooden soap dishes handmade in the US, I was very tickled!! They are really beautiful! Perfect for your natural soaps, they allow the water to drain away enabling your bar to last as long as possible! We are very happy to make these available now to YOU at $4.00 each! OR, from now until April 15th, buy 5 bars of soap and get one free! (one free per customer)

Interested? Email me your order at beautifulearthideas@gmail.com!

Salve, Misconceptions, and Miracles?!

SALVE!. . .I'm a little slow this month, but very happy to be able to say that Triple-C salve is now ready for you all! This little bit of herbal goodness comes in a 2 oz. tin, for $5.00. With the continuous cold weather this year, the salve in our home has been in fairly high demand. Chapped lips, dry, cracking hands, and chapped cheeks have benefited from it's use as well as the normal cuts and scrapes. We look forward to sharing it now with you! Order it anytime- send us an email or call- and we will be happy to get some to you! If you haven't already, check out our salve page to learn about the herbal ingredients and potential benefits of Triple-C salve!


**Also, Rose soap is now on sale for Valentine's Day while supplies last! Let it fill your home with it's heavenly scent!



And don't let the winter blues and sickies bog you down with a bunch of. . .

Misconceptions!. . .
Natural cold and flu remedies now adorn the shelves of drug stores, grocery stores, and even Walmart. I am sure you've seen them. Maybe you've tried them. And maybe you have already given up on them because, like I hear from so many people this time of year, "They just don't work for me." The truth is, natural medicine and holistic healing DO work. Many times the problem is our own misconceptions. While it is true that there are products out there labeled "natural" that are not really what they claim, and may not have any positive benefit to your health, there are many readily available products which could be of  great benefit to you or anyone else. Problem is, we expect a little bit of magic. Pop one pill, watch the symptoms disappear, and then go on our merry way. If we are honest, we want total relief, and we want it now! But natural medicine and healing aren't a drug. They are a way of life. A philosophy even. They are time and effort, and even work (dare I say it!) They are sometimes inconvenient and time consuming, and therein lies the basis of the line I so often hear. "But it just doesn't work for me." True, if you need Vitamin D, zinc probably won't work, and if you need to jump start your bodies immune system with an activating herb, a cup of calming chamomile tea probably won't do what you hoped. The great news is that something WILL work. By "work" I don't mean that your symptoms will disappear in six hours and not return. That drug-induced misconception keeps many people from pursuing natural health. Natural healing works WITH the body. It works at the source, and not just covers the symptoms. Look instead for things like shortened stages of illness, somewhat milder symptoms, a clearer mind, renewed energy or the ability to sleep peacefully and rest well. These are signs that your body is healing. It will take some research on your part. It may take more than one try. Natural medicine has to be used more frequently and for longer periods. So I just encourage you. Try again. Be willing to learn. Get some good books ( a list of some good ones is at the end of this blog!) , and spend some time these winter evenings continuing your own education. Thankfully we are never too old to learn, and never to old to try new things. And sometimes it seems that natural medicine does more then just heal, sometimes it seems to even hold a few

Miracles?!. . . .
A few years ago I co-taught a nutrition class beside a man who had been sent home to die with stage 4 lung cancer. Only 20 years later he wasn't dead. He was teaching a class with me. I know if you asked him, he would say that it took work. That it took faith in God, time, effort, and for a while, all the energy he had. But in the end it paid off. God blessed, and he was healed. I have even experienced this myself. After the birth of my third child, food intolerances that I had developed unknowingly were causing me crazy thyroid issues, among other things. My thyroid was working way too fast. I was underweight, undernourished, and my heart-rate was sky-high most of the time. After spending time in the hospital, going through a few tests and talking with several doctors, it became clear there was nothing wrong with my thyroid, and none of them really knew what was going on. Rather than take medicine we weren't sure would even work, just to keep the symptoms at bay, I began to research. After a good bit of time, effort, and trial and error, I found an herb that worked. Only one, but it did what was necessary. It slowed my body down, and calmed my heart enough to allow me time to figure out what the real problem was. When I was able to pin-point and remove the problem foods, the thyroid difficulties and rapid heart rate went away and stayed away. Six years later, I am still getting better. Still gaining ground, and regaining health. But I am also ever-so-thankful. For a God that I believe gave wisdom, and the One herb I needed. That I tried, and stuck with it. That it worked and is still working.

So, look up. Get up, even. Try again, maybe. I think you may just find that it can work for you, too.


Here are a few places to start:
Simple and easy ones. . .
The ABC Herbal, by Steven H. Horne
No More Antibiotics, by Dr. Mary Ann Block
Herbs for Common Ailments, by Anne McIntyre
A little more thorough. . .
Mommy Diagnostics, by Shonda Parker
What You Don't Know May be Killing You, by Don Colbert, M.D.
The Green Pharmacy, by James A. Duke, Phd.
Detailed and reference material . .
Let's Eat Right to Keep Fit, by Adelle Davis
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, by James Balch, M.D. and Phyllis Balch, C.N.C.
Prescription for Herbal Healing, by Phyllis Balch C.N.C.
Natural Remedies Encyclopedia, by Vance Ferrell and Harold N. Cherne, M.D.

and there are sooooo many more! Happy Reading!

2014

Happy New Year
from all of us here at Beautiful Earth!

I love the idea of a NEW year. It's fresh and clean and so full of possibilities! Here are some great things to look forward to in 2014 here at Beautiful Earth:

*Green thinking! Return 5 (or more) soap bags for 15% off your next order!

         Because we value this earth we live on, it is our goal to package our products as earth-friendly as we can! To help keep costs down we are offering a 15% discount off your next order when you return 5 or more soap bags. Starting January 1st, save your soap bags and save money!

*Some "Roses" for your Valentine! Our natural goat-milk soap will be available in a beautiful Rose scent at the beginning of February and go as long as supplies last! Plan now to shower your Valentine with some of our fragrant "Roses"!






*Triple C Salve!  Our 1st salve will be available February 1st! It will come in a 2 oz. container, perfect for your purse, pocket, car, or cupboard! Check out our salve page to read about it's benefits, and see how it can help your family live naturally in 2014!