Help - My Soap Is Getting Messy!
My bar soap is getting messy but not in the way I expected. I need your help on behalf of the wonderful soap makers I recently met thanks to my bar soap challenge.
Soap makers, Joy at Kinderhaven Farms and Heidi at Vintage Fresh Soaps and Sundries, both mentioned an act that is going before Congress called the Globalization Act of 2008. It would impose disabling fees and paperwork on the owners of small soap and cosmetics companies to the point that most of them will be put out of business.
If you want to learn more, visit the Indie Business blog started by Donna Maria Coles Johnson. She is truly inspiring.
Take a moment to watch her video. But most importantly, sign her petition against the Globalization Act by scrolling to the bottom of the comments section and writing a simple sentence such as, “I do not support the Globalization Act of 2008!” Leave your name with your comment as your signature to the petition.
I can’t ignore the fact that my new soap friends may be put out of business. I want to do all I can to support them. Their mess is now my mess.
Speaking of soap.
Thank you to everyone who took time to write comments to my first Grandma Challenge called Give Up Your Soap. Your tips will be very helpful.
I felt so proud of myself as I replaced my liquid soap pumps with beautiful smelling bars of locally made soap only to be humbled by how difficult a seemingly simple challenge can be.
As soon as I posted my soap challenge, I got off my computer and excitedly instructed my three kiddos on how to wash their hands with bar soap. My 4-year old son, Jude, quickly discovered the easiest way to hold a slippery bar of soap was to cram it against his shirt as he attempted to twirl it around in his hands. His shirt was a soapy mess but he didn’t care. I had to laugh, shrug my shoulders, and be glad that he smelled good which is not always the case.
All that to say, when I post a Grandma Challenge, I want to hear your tips, stories, thoughts and anything in between. I especially want to know if you think a particular challenge sounds too difficult or just plain ole crazy. Tell me what you agree with as well as what you disagree with. It will help me think about each topic from every possible angle. I am only one person and so I can’t do that on my own. Your comments really help and keep me going!
Hey April! I love the story about Jude and the soapy shirt! That is exactly what would happen here, I’m sure! Although I’m sure at some point in my life, the soap will be launched from the soapy shirt and land in the toilet or something… I am working my way through a refill gallon of softsoap that I bought some years ago. We are almost to the bottom but have a long way to go yet! I just wouldn’t want to waste something we’ve already bought… but one day I will join you in the land of beautiful bar soap. =) Thanks for the petition link! Who thinks up these crazy ideas for legislation like this??
My biggest challenge with kids and soap is explaining that you get the soap off your hands with water, not with the towel. And don’t ask about toothpaste, I don’t like thinking about that.
Thanks for posting this April. It seems like a crazy thing to make strict government regulations for. I wonder if the commercial soap companies are getting nervous about the growing popularity of handmade products. They have big muscles to flex.
Going back to bar soap was a bit of a learning curve for my kids, but after showing them a few times they finally got it. I had a few messes to clean up in the mean time =)
April, I had a similar problem with my soap leaving a mess on the sink edge. I solved it by making a little soap dish out of chop sticks. You can see my soap dish at my blog here http://itsagreengreengreengreenworld.blogspot.com/2008/03/dishing-about-soap.html
People should read this.