Dog 'poo!

Being the handmade soap addict that I am, I decided to check out Etsy when my last jug of dog shampoo ran out. I shopped around and found several products that I was interested in, but I was a bit concerned about the moisturizing effect of these soaps.

I know most people love dogs with soft hair, but I've got a wire-coated dog with a thick, oily coat. I asked a few sellers about whether they'd consider their dog 'poo to be conditioning, and only one came back to say that they couldn't claim the soap to be conditioning. Score!

(forgive the hair on the bar -- I took the pictures post doggie bath!)

Well, my girl needed a bath a few days ago, and I got to try out wwizebody's dog soap. I must say that I'm QUITE impressed with it!

What I love:

1. Size and shape of the bar make it easy to hold on to when wet.
2. Amazing lather made it a quick job to soap up the dog. A few swipes was all it took! The liquid shampoo concentrate I normally use doesn't suds up that much and takes a lot of work to get distributed.
3. The fresh smell wasn't overpowering but still managed to compete with the wet dog smell. It's been three days, and she doesn't smell like dog, yet! The fragrance from the soap didn't held in her coat, but she's not supposed to be an air freshener. :)
4. The great cleaning power! My pup's coat is shiny, clean, harsh, and not grubby feeling. No second wash needed with this stuff!
5. Less waste, if nothing else, makes this bar a great choice. Usually, I use about a cup of diluted, harsh-coat concentrate each time I shampoo my dog because the lather isn't very good. With this bar, the edges are barely rounded, and I don't have to worry about accidentally spilling the bottle!
6. It rinsed out easily and cleanly. 'Nuff said.
7. It's not conditioning, but it doesn't seem to dry out skin. No itching, no scratching, and no flaking. Hurrah!
8. The convenience. Usually, when I go out of town, I carry a premixed bottle of 'poo for her, in case she gets skunked, rolls in something nasty, or just gets filthy. There's nothing worse than finding you haven't mixed enough or having to clean up the ruptured container. Now, with air travel like it is, the liquid is pretty much impossible, and it's equally impossible to find in most locations. This little bar is a great size and it's SOLID -- perfect for travel.
9. The price. I have no doubt that this bar will last many more washes and be much more affordable, in the long run, than the concentrate I normally purchase.

A post without plants -- PixiePotions

A post without plants?? Hard to believe, I know, but I thought I'd share my experience with a fellow etsy seller, PixiePotions.

She contacted me with a trade, and I checked out her shop and found some things that I was interested in. We agreed to the trade, and I sent out my box. I got the box from her quickly and well packed.

The products are all very professionally and functionally packaged, which immediately caught my eye.

The lotion stick is very cool. It makes putting on lotion easy, and I don't have to worry about getting my hands oily or greasy. And the scent! The Winter Solstice lotion stick has an amazingly earthy, spicy smell that is almost dominating. I have it next to me, right now, and can't resist opening it, every now and then, to get a sniff.

I couldn't pass up the Orange Chocolate Truffle lip balm. I knew I would love it when I picked it out, but I didn't realize quite how luscious it would be. Another yum! It smells like chocolate with a hint of orange and has a great texture. It's light but does it's job with tastiness. It leaves a darker sheen on my lips than most of the lip balms I've used, too. Everyone I've let sniff it has said 'Wow! That's chocolate!' She states in her description that it's 'made with real fair trade dark chocolate', and, boy, can you ever tell. Definitely a must for any chocolate lover.

The Mint Magic Gardener's Soap was an extra she threw in, but it's something that I'd definitely buy. The scent is fresh and soft -- very refreshing and soothing. It's got a lovely, silky texture and gives a really nice lather.

Needless to say, I definitely encourage you to check out her shop! She's got some neat products that might appeal to those who are looking for a break from the mainstream lavender and honey scents (not that there's anything wrong with those!)