as well as yesterday. it seems my daughter shared her sore throat with me. but maybe because i lack a spleen its worse than what she had. or i picked up other germs while i was at the clinic, drug store and grocery store this week.
but apart from the sore throat ive also been running a fever that keeps me in chills one moment and sweating the next. and the body aches that i cant determine if its from being sick or from my fibromyalgia. either way i hurt like you know what and its worse than usual. thank goodness for walls to hold onto!
the kids are helping around the house like they did when i was sick before so at least they wont starve. lol my oldest came in to take my order as she took it upon hetself to order dinner, walk up to pick it up with a check i sign for her. eating food with my throat makes me cribge so i wil stick with a cold smoothie made with the frozen strawberries and bananas i keep in the freezer with non-dairy almond milk. such thoughtful thinking..... my son did bring me a small bowl of greek yogurt earliet and even offered to juice me an orange for the juice.
i didnt turn my computer on either yesterday or today so i will catch up on emails when im feeling a bit better.
krissy
posted from my cell phone so please ignore typos and other errors
Monday, May 27, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Updates on New Ingredients To Work With & 3 new Essential Oils
One of the things that I am proud of doing, and that is by not using any pre-made bases. Instead I buy all individual ingredients and I formulate my own recipes using those ingredients. Well I have added a couple of more wonderful ingredients to my stash to play with.........
That is including my shaving soap that are not made from a pre-made glycerin soap base like many other artisan soapmakers. Mine truly is homemade and made in the USA.
But first off before I get into those ingredients I've also added three new essential oils. I will enter them into my store once they have arrived. I know there are those that prefer essential oils over fragrance oils so I am adding some new ones that won't break the bank. Sadly some are extremely expensive and makes it hard to swallow the price. Some are $50 to $70 for 8 ounces and others are even higher than that! If I did acquire those essential oils I would have to add that to the price of product and few would be willing to pay that difference. However if you would like to buy your own essential oil I would use it to scent your own with it as I have just done recently for another customer with Rose Absolute Essential Oil. Just some food for thought for you.
* Lemongrass Essential Oil
* Grapefruit Essential Oil
* Tangerine Essential Oil
I have added the following extract which I plan on incorporating into an aftershave balm as well as a hand/body lotion and possibly a cooling menthol foot cream.
* Comfrey Leaves Extract
The extract is emollient, healing, anti-inflammatory, astringent, promotes tissue repair and is moisturizing to the skin.
* Horsetail Grass Extract
The extract is an astringent, healing, texturizer, elasticizer, high in silica, adds strength & sheen to hair and is good for the skin.
* Ivy Extract
Ivy has long been known to be an astringent, stimulant, anti-cellulite, anti-blotchiness and a wonderful skin healer.
* Sea Buckthorn Extract
This extract is used as an antioxidant, anti-aging, acne, anti-inflammatory, emollient,and cell healing and regeneration agent.
* Carrot Extract
This extract is high in vitamins A and E and beta carotene. It is an anti-inflammatory, soothing chapped and uncomfortable skin. It is thought to bring balance to the moisture in both skin and hair as a conditioning agent.
* Mallow Extract
This extract was cherished by the Ancient Romans for it's soothing and protecting properties to dry and sensitive skin. It is commonly used in skincare preparations to reduce inflammation.
But one other oil I also added was Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil. This oil I plan on also using in a shaving soap. But I am unsure if it should be a vegan shaving soap or a tallow one. If you have any thoughts or ideas to that please feel to leave a comment here. But I thought it would be a wonderful addition into a shaving soap just as the commercial made one that also uses this ingredient.
* Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil
This is a cold processed oil that has a dark red-orange color and is perfect or adding regenerative properties to your products. There is a stronger odor with this oil but it shouldn't prevent anyone from using this oil.
I will be needing a few testers for my new ASB and shave soap made with the sea buckthorn and other extracts. My current two ASB will remain in my store as the recipes are tested, tried and well liked. The same goes for my other shaving soaps, they will remain, but this will give one more option....... So if you are interested please drop me an email and let me know why you would like to be considered as a tester for me. Results will need to be posted on the shave nook forum for all to see.
That is including my shaving soap that are not made from a pre-made glycerin soap base like many other artisan soapmakers. Mine truly is homemade and made in the USA.
But first off before I get into those ingredients I've also added three new essential oils. I will enter them into my store once they have arrived. I know there are those that prefer essential oils over fragrance oils so I am adding some new ones that won't break the bank. Sadly some are extremely expensive and makes it hard to swallow the price. Some are $50 to $70 for 8 ounces and others are even higher than that! If I did acquire those essential oils I would have to add that to the price of product and few would be willing to pay that difference. However if you would like to buy your own essential oil I would use it to scent your own with it as I have just done recently for another customer with Rose Absolute Essential Oil. Just some food for thought for you.
* Lemongrass Essential Oil
* Grapefruit Essential Oil
* Tangerine Essential Oil
I have added the following extract which I plan on incorporating into an aftershave balm as well as a hand/body lotion and possibly a cooling menthol foot cream.
* Comfrey Leaves Extract
The extract is emollient, healing, anti-inflammatory, astringent, promotes tissue repair and is moisturizing to the skin.
* Horsetail Grass Extract
The extract is an astringent, healing, texturizer, elasticizer, high in silica, adds strength & sheen to hair and is good for the skin.
* Ivy Extract
Ivy has long been known to be an astringent, stimulant, anti-cellulite, anti-blotchiness and a wonderful skin healer.
* Sea Buckthorn Extract
This extract is used as an antioxidant, anti-aging, acne, anti-inflammatory, emollient,and cell healing and regeneration agent.
* Carrot Extract
This extract is high in vitamins A and E and beta carotene. It is an anti-inflammatory, soothing chapped and uncomfortable skin. It is thought to bring balance to the moisture in both skin and hair as a conditioning agent.
* Mallow Extract
This extract was cherished by the Ancient Romans for it's soothing and protecting properties to dry and sensitive skin. It is commonly used in skincare preparations to reduce inflammation.
But one other oil I also added was Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil. This oil I plan on also using in a shaving soap. But I am unsure if it should be a vegan shaving soap or a tallow one. If you have any thoughts or ideas to that please feel to leave a comment here. But I thought it would be a wonderful addition into a shaving soap just as the commercial made one that also uses this ingredient.
* Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil
This is a cold processed oil that has a dark red-orange color and is perfect or adding regenerative properties to your products. There is a stronger odor with this oil but it shouldn't prevent anyone from using this oil.
I will be needing a few testers for my new ASB and shave soap made with the sea buckthorn and other extracts. My current two ASB will remain in my store as the recipes are tested, tried and well liked. The same goes for my other shaving soaps, they will remain, but this will give one more option....... So if you are interested please drop me an email and let me know why you would like to be considered as a tester for me. Results will need to be posted on the shave nook forum for all to see.
Monday, May 6, 2013
A Couple Of New Fragrance Oils and an Essential Oil
I've got three new fragrance oils due to arrive tomorrow. (May 7th) I haven't smelled them as of yet, but I did buy an 8 oz size bottle of each one to test out.
Ancient Sedona: This fragrance is an Oriental Floral Amber. This sensual, deep scent was named for the famous city in Arizona, invoking days of old and a deeper, richer experience.It opens with green notes of Mandarin Leaf and Orange Blossom. Heart is heady night Floral, Bulgarian Rose and Vetiver. Dry down has sensual notes of Sandalwood, Bourbon Vanilla, Amber, Labdanum and Tonka Bean.
Kentish Rain: Rainy, salty mist green notes made up of basil, green leaf and ozone notes with added notes of muguet lily, rose and jasmine bring out the touch of violet in the blend for sweetness. Our perfumer added bottom notes of Sandalwood and tonka to round out the earthy, coast like feel.
Zanzibar Spice: This fragrance is a hint on the masculine side but women will love using it too. You’re nose will first pick up on the Mandarin Leaf, Agave Nectar and African Lotis then you’ll notice they’re perfectly paired with spices like cardamom, Nutmeg and Black Peppercorn. The dry base notes of Safari Sandalwood, Patchouli and Tonka Bean hold it all together for the perfect combination of “sugar and spice and everything nice”.
Then today while placing an order with another company I added Lime Essential Oil to my cart so that should be here before long.
Ancient Sedona: This fragrance is an Oriental Floral Amber. This sensual, deep scent was named for the famous city in Arizona, invoking days of old and a deeper, richer experience.It opens with green notes of Mandarin Leaf and Orange Blossom. Heart is heady night Floral, Bulgarian Rose and Vetiver. Dry down has sensual notes of Sandalwood, Bourbon Vanilla, Amber, Labdanum and Tonka Bean.
Kentish Rain: Rainy, salty mist green notes made up of basil, green leaf and ozone notes with added notes of muguet lily, rose and jasmine bring out the touch of violet in the blend for sweetness. Our perfumer added bottom notes of Sandalwood and tonka to round out the earthy, coast like feel.
Zanzibar Spice: This fragrance is a hint on the masculine side but women will love using it too. You’re nose will first pick up on the Mandarin Leaf, Agave Nectar and African Lotis then you’ll notice they’re perfectly paired with spices like cardamom, Nutmeg and Black Peppercorn. The dry base notes of Safari Sandalwood, Patchouli and Tonka Bean hold it all together for the perfect combination of “sugar and spice and everything nice”.
I'm looking forward to smelling and using these!
Then today while placing an order with another company I added Lime Essential Oil to my cart so that should be here before long.
2 New Jars For Shaving Soaps
This new jar arrived last week. It is a generous 4 inches across and 2 inches tall. I put my DdC shaving soap in it, that's my faux MdC version and when filled the contents not including the jar weighed a whopping 10 1/2 ounces! Because it's so large you the customer gets to select if you want it filled with 5 oz, 6 oz, 7 oz, 8 oz, 9 oz or a full 10.5 ounces! The base price is $17.00 and goes up $1.50 per ounce to a maximum of $25 dollars.
But I also found a jar I had used some years ago for my shaving soap. So I'm going to bring it back. I just ordered it today and it was shipped out today via UPS. The tracking doesn't have an ETA yet. But it's a bit smaller and I've filled it with 4+ ounces of shaving soap. I took the one jar I found and filled it. It's a bit over 3" in diameter and is commonly used by other soapers as well.
Here is a photo of the two jars side by side so you can see the difference!
Both of these jars will be used for my Tallow & Lanolin shaving soap as well as my DdC (faux MdC) shaving soap. This way it gives you the buyer to decide what size jar you want as well as how full you want it filled. The more I put into the jar the more you save.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Bottles and Jars ~ Jars and Bottles
Today I received two of the three orders that I've made recently.
The first order contained the new bottles for my aftershave balm and also lotion. They are malibu bottles, this means they sit upside down so take advantage of gravity to get most of the product out of the bottle as it empties with use
.
The 2 oz bottles will be used for my aftershave balm while the 4 oz bottles will be for my lotions. I didn't order the 6 oz but I do have a few down the basement yet although they have black caps. But this is a stock picture that I found of the bottles that I purchased.
Then the second order that came today was for other purchased sample size bottles and jars.
I purchased some .5 oz bottles for pre-shave oil purchased samples. These are white bottles with a flip top cap to dispense the product.
The other bottle that came in that box is a white euro oval bottle. They remind me of the shampoo bottles offered in some hotels. They aren't as flexible as I would have hoped but I still think they will work quite nicely for samples of aftershave bottles. The size I believe is .89 oz, so will see how much they will actually hold by weight of my aftershave balm.
Last but not least I also ordered regular 2 oz jars to purchased samples of shaving cream. I also ordered 1 oz jars but they won't be here until next week. But will see how much they hold by weight of my shaving cream once I do a sample fill. As I know the cream doesn't have the same weight as it does volume for jars and the FDA requires products to be labeled by weight not volume.
I can't wait until next week when the rest of my order comes that is quite large with the majority of the bottles and jars that I purchased. I hope you like the new PC look as well as the offering of free samples with purchase as well as the option to purchase samples before buying a full size product.
The first order contained the new bottles for my aftershave balm and also lotion. They are malibu bottles, this means they sit upside down so take advantage of gravity to get most of the product out of the bottle as it empties with use
.
The 2 oz bottles will be used for my aftershave balm while the 4 oz bottles will be for my lotions. I didn't order the 6 oz but I do have a few down the basement yet although they have black caps. But this is a stock picture that I found of the bottles that I purchased.
Then the second order that came today was for other purchased sample size bottles and jars.
I purchased some .5 oz bottles for pre-shave oil purchased samples. These are white bottles with a flip top cap to dispense the product.
The other bottle that came in that box is a white euro oval bottle. They remind me of the shampoo bottles offered in some hotels. They aren't as flexible as I would have hoped but I still think they will work quite nicely for samples of aftershave bottles. The size I believe is .89 oz, so will see how much they will actually hold by weight of my aftershave balm.
Last but not least I also ordered regular 2 oz jars to purchased samples of shaving cream. I also ordered 1 oz jars but they won't be here until next week. But will see how much they hold by weight of my shaving cream once I do a sample fill. As I know the cream doesn't have the same weight as it does volume for jars and the FDA requires products to be labeled by weight not volume.
I can't wait until next week when the rest of my order comes that is quite large with the majority of the bottles and jars that I purchased. I hope you like the new PC look as well as the offering of free samples with purchase as well as the option to purchase samples before buying a full size product.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
New Jars and Bottles Ordered !!!!! ~~~ and some great jars for samples
While I'm not out of my amber jars yet that I use for my tallow & lanolin shaving soap I came to realize awhile ago that the company that I ordered them from has discontinued most of their amber jars and bottles. Well all of them that I use at least.
But because I was planning on ordering different jars for my DdC shaving soap that were a tad wider in diameter I decided to go ahead and order them to use for both shaving soaps. Once the amber jars are used up I will transition to the white jars for my tallow and lanolin shaving soap.
But I also wanted my entire line to match I decided to order other white jars and bottles while I was at it. But I will be keeping the red lettering with the prairie schooner wagon logo as it's very fitting to my business name and location to where I live. Plus I just love that time era, although I wouldn't want to live with the hardships they had back then but I still love reading about it.
I ordered white 4 oz jars for my shaving creams. To which I will be making more KISS shaving cream this week along with maybe a shea shaving cream as well for shea lovers. But my tallow shaving cream is in stock.
I also have had a number of requests for shave sticks as I use to offer them in the past. So once again I will be offering shave sticks. I went with the white push up tubes that have a screw on cap. I've ordered these in the past and they are really nice tubes. This is what they look like for those that are wondering.
I also ordered both 1 oz and 2 oz bottles for my pre-shave oil. I decided to also offer this in 1 oz bottles. It will have a flip top cap to make it easy to use. For those that travel a bit of electrical tape wrapped around the cap will prevent it from leaking in transit. Just a hint to throw out to anyone who travels with liquids. The electrical tape won't leave a sticky residue on the bottle.
I also ordered 2 oz and 4 oz Malibu tubes. The 2 oz will be used for aftershave balm and the 4 oz for lotion. The nice thing about this type of container which I used in the past (but with black caps) is that you use gravity to your advantage to get every last bit of the contents out. For those that travel a bit of electrical tape (which is very cheap) will keep it from leaking in transit without leaving residue on the bottle. Just wrap it around the cap a few times to prevent the flip top part from opening by accident. If you want to make double sure it doesn't open then while your wrapping it continue the wrap onto the body of the bottle. This is how it will arrive to you in the mail to ensure it doesn't open while in transit.
With all these new containers I will be looking at my prices to see if I need to adjust them based on the cost of my old containers VS the new ones. But while I am looking at that I will also be looking at my cost of materials (ingredients) in how much their prices have increased since I set my prices some time ago.
Last but not least I also ordered three smaller sized jars.......
I will continue to let the customer select their own free gift with purchase with a variety of items and scents to choose from but I am also going to add a selection of samples in larger sizes than the free ones that can be purchased. That way people can select them for travel or new customers can select them to try my products out before buying a full size product.
The 1/4 oz jar which is about 7 grams will be used for free samples of aftershave balm that can be selected as your free gift with purchase.
The 1/2 oz jar which is about 14 grams will be used for two things. It will be used for shaving cream samples that can be selected as your free gift with purchase. But they will also be used for those that want to purchase samples of aftershave balm. The purchased samples will have the option to have it made with the scent of the customers choice.
The 1 oz jar which is about 18 grams will be used for the purchased samples of shaving cream. However the actual weight of the contents will be slightly less than 1 oz from. I know this as my 4 oz jars by volume actually hold 3 oz of shaving cream nicely and could maybe accommodate a little more depending on the cream and it's age. Recently whipped cream contains more air so it takes up more volume with less weight. But the purchased samples will also have the option of the customer being able to select the scent of their choice.
For shaving soap free samples I cut up pucks to make those samples. But I have just listed the option to purchase smaller mini-pucks as I call them. I use my mold that has a diameter of 2.5 inches and they weigh about 38 grams when they are freshly made but once the excess liquid has evaporated out they will weigh about 28 grams or 1 ounce. Customers can also select their scent of choice for these as well.
http://prairie-creations.com/shop/index.php?cPath=136
I do offer them as 1 mini-puck, 2 mini-pucks and 4 mini-pucks. The price goes down per each mini-puck with the more you buy. I decided to do this because someone might want to purchase multiple ones for travel or to try different scents out before deciding on a larger puck or a jar. They are made individually just for you just like the larger puck.
Thank you to everyone who has purchased me in the past and those who will purchase in the future.
Krissy
But because I was planning on ordering different jars for my DdC shaving soap that were a tad wider in diameter I decided to go ahead and order them to use for both shaving soaps. Once the amber jars are used up I will transition to the white jars for my tallow and lanolin shaving soap.
But I also wanted my entire line to match I decided to order other white jars and bottles while I was at it. But I will be keeping the red lettering with the prairie schooner wagon logo as it's very fitting to my business name and location to where I live. Plus I just love that time era, although I wouldn't want to live with the hardships they had back then but I still love reading about it.
I ordered white 4 oz jars for my shaving creams. To which I will be making more KISS shaving cream this week along with maybe a shea shaving cream as well for shea lovers. But my tallow shaving cream is in stock.
I also have had a number of requests for shave sticks as I use to offer them in the past. So once again I will be offering shave sticks. I went with the white push up tubes that have a screw on cap. I've ordered these in the past and they are really nice tubes. This is what they look like for those that are wondering.
I also ordered both 1 oz and 2 oz bottles for my pre-shave oil. I decided to also offer this in 1 oz bottles. It will have a flip top cap to make it easy to use. For those that travel a bit of electrical tape wrapped around the cap will prevent it from leaking in transit. Just a hint to throw out to anyone who travels with liquids. The electrical tape won't leave a sticky residue on the bottle.
I also ordered 2 oz and 4 oz Malibu tubes. The 2 oz will be used for aftershave balm and the 4 oz for lotion. The nice thing about this type of container which I used in the past (but with black caps) is that you use gravity to your advantage to get every last bit of the contents out. For those that travel a bit of electrical tape (which is very cheap) will keep it from leaking in transit without leaving residue on the bottle. Just wrap it around the cap a few times to prevent the flip top part from opening by accident. If you want to make double sure it doesn't open then while your wrapping it continue the wrap onto the body of the bottle. This is how it will arrive to you in the mail to ensure it doesn't open while in transit.
With all these new containers I will be looking at my prices to see if I need to adjust them based on the cost of my old containers VS the new ones. But while I am looking at that I will also be looking at my cost of materials (ingredients) in how much their prices have increased since I set my prices some time ago.
Last but not least I also ordered three smaller sized jars.......
I will continue to let the customer select their own free gift with purchase with a variety of items and scents to choose from but I am also going to add a selection of samples in larger sizes than the free ones that can be purchased. That way people can select them for travel or new customers can select them to try my products out before buying a full size product.
The 1/4 oz jar which is about 7 grams will be used for free samples of aftershave balm that can be selected as your free gift with purchase.
The 1/2 oz jar which is about 14 grams will be used for two things. It will be used for shaving cream samples that can be selected as your free gift with purchase. But they will also be used for those that want to purchase samples of aftershave balm. The purchased samples will have the option to have it made with the scent of the customers choice.
The 1 oz jar which is about 18 grams will be used for the purchased samples of shaving cream. However the actual weight of the contents will be slightly less than 1 oz from. I know this as my 4 oz jars by volume actually hold 3 oz of shaving cream nicely and could maybe accommodate a little more depending on the cream and it's age. Recently whipped cream contains more air so it takes up more volume with less weight. But the purchased samples will also have the option of the customer being able to select the scent of their choice.
For shaving soap free samples I cut up pucks to make those samples. But I have just listed the option to purchase smaller mini-pucks as I call them. I use my mold that has a diameter of 2.5 inches and they weigh about 38 grams when they are freshly made but once the excess liquid has evaporated out they will weigh about 28 grams or 1 ounce. Customers can also select their scent of choice for these as well.
http://prairie-creations.com/shop/index.php?cPath=136
I do offer them as 1 mini-puck, 2 mini-pucks and 4 mini-pucks. The price goes down per each mini-puck with the more you buy. I decided to do this because someone might want to purchase multiple ones for travel or to try different scents out before deciding on a larger puck or a jar. They are made individually just for you just like the larger puck.
Thank you to everyone who has purchased me in the past and those who will purchase in the future.
Krissy
Shipping Solutions.......
I've been hashing over the issue of offering free shipping for some time. A lot of sites offer it, but I also wanted to do what was best for the customer.
For awhile the first class shipping option on my site wasn't working. That is what first started me to think about what to do for smaller orders. All it took to get it back up and going again was to contact the USPS to let them know that the module was still being used and was needed. I sure wish they had sent me notice of this fact before I sweated over it. When it was down I was thinking the free shipping option may be the way to go for smaller orders.
While free shipping really isn't free I would have had to adjust prices to pay for the shipping so I wasn't losing money on the small profit I do make on my items. But that got me thinking about some customers who do order, four, six or more items at once! That would be costing them more, and while the profit would have been nice for my pockets, I just wasn't comfortable with that fact.
The flaw with first class postage is that packages must be 13 ounces or less to be mailed with those rates. But on my website when I list an item, I enter a weight for that item. The weight entered is that given item in for example as a general rule would be a bubble mailer envelope. So when the carts adds up the weights to figure shipping costs, it also doubles up on the packaging material causing it to figure a package weight that is heavier than what it would be in reality. Does that make sense?
But I think I may have found an honest solution to the problem! In looking on the admin pages of my website, I came across a bit of information that wasn't with the shipping information. In another part I could enter what is known as a tare weight. This means I can enter the weight of the bubble mailer that I typically use for first class packages, and then adjust the weights for each item listed. For each item listed I would not enter the weight as the shipping weight with the packaging used but as the actual weight of the item without any packaging. So when the cart figures shipping it will add up the actual weights of the items in it, add the tare weight which is the bubble mailer and it will have a more accurate shipping weight. Then if the package is 13 ounces or less the customer can select if they want their package mailed first class or priority mail flat rate. I have added a handling fee to the cost first class postage to cover the cost of shipping materials used. But that is typical of most companies as well. But it's still cheap first class postage!
So over the next week or two I will be working on adjusting all the weights listed for all the items in my store!
Awhile ago I also reduced my flat rate shipping from $7.50 to $6.75 so I hope that's appreciated as well. This way I have the same $1.50 handing fee to both first class and priority mail rates which goes towards the cost of packaging materials, labels and tape. But also toward credit card or paypal fee's when orders are placed as well as the general cost to keep my website up and running.
I also have added free shipping on orders $75 or more!
For awhile the first class shipping option on my site wasn't working. That is what first started me to think about what to do for smaller orders. All it took to get it back up and going again was to contact the USPS to let them know that the module was still being used and was needed. I sure wish they had sent me notice of this fact before I sweated over it. When it was down I was thinking the free shipping option may be the way to go for smaller orders.
While free shipping really isn't free I would have had to adjust prices to pay for the shipping so I wasn't losing money on the small profit I do make on my items. But that got me thinking about some customers who do order, four, six or more items at once! That would be costing them more, and while the profit would have been nice for my pockets, I just wasn't comfortable with that fact.
The flaw with first class postage is that packages must be 13 ounces or less to be mailed with those rates. But on my website when I list an item, I enter a weight for that item. The weight entered is that given item in for example as a general rule would be a bubble mailer envelope. So when the carts adds up the weights to figure shipping costs, it also doubles up on the packaging material causing it to figure a package weight that is heavier than what it would be in reality. Does that make sense?
But I think I may have found an honest solution to the problem! In looking on the admin pages of my website, I came across a bit of information that wasn't with the shipping information. In another part I could enter what is known as a tare weight. This means I can enter the weight of the bubble mailer that I typically use for first class packages, and then adjust the weights for each item listed. For each item listed I would not enter the weight as the shipping weight with the packaging used but as the actual weight of the item without any packaging. So when the cart figures shipping it will add up the actual weights of the items in it, add the tare weight which is the bubble mailer and it will have a more accurate shipping weight. Then if the package is 13 ounces or less the customer can select if they want their package mailed first class or priority mail flat rate. I have added a handling fee to the cost first class postage to cover the cost of shipping materials used. But that is typical of most companies as well. But it's still cheap first class postage!
It seems like a win-win for everyone!
So over the next week or two I will be working on adjusting all the weights listed for all the items in my store!
Awhile ago I also reduced my flat rate shipping from $7.50 to $6.75 so I hope that's appreciated as well. This way I have the same $1.50 handing fee to both first class and priority mail rates which goes towards the cost of packaging materials, labels and tape. But also toward credit card or paypal fee's when orders are placed as well as the general cost to keep my website up and running.
I also have added free shipping on orders $75 or more!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
I'm considering offering Free Shipping, What Are Your Thoughts?
I'm thinking of offering FREE SHIPPING on my website and I wanted to get some feedback from customers before I did anything. I really would appreciate any feedback you might have on the subject before a final decision is made. So take the time and use the comment section or drop me an email letting me know your opinions.
While Free Shipping is a nice term, the reality is that it's really not free. The shipper regardless of who the company is, being USPS, UPS or Fedex needs to be paid before they will take the package and deliver it to the address on the package. If I did this then I would need to increase the price of each item to cover the cost of the shipping. The amount added would be based on the packaging used to mail the product as well as the postage rate for that package for first class postage and a small handling fee to cover the other stuff. Tape, labels and printer ink etc. I would include the cost of the packaging material because that is something I would need to purchase for first class postage. Priority mail packages I get from the post office however if you have purchased from me you may need a knife to get into it. I do take the time to cover the entire package with clear packing tape. I do this to prevent from the contents inside from poking through the package materials. Especially for the boxes that fit into the flat rate legal envelope.
With the free shipping option the package would be mailed first class or priority mail depending on the weight of the items/package.
I've had a poll up on my website for some time now and the results are 8 say yes and 5 say no.
I do see both sides of the coin with this option. It really makes it nice for the buyer who wishes to purchase just one or two items, but it's not as cost effective for someone who buys multiple items. Especially if the items are mailed flat rate which 99% of my orders do fit into a flat rate options which costs approximately $5.25 on average give or take depending on the type of smaller flat rate used. They do vary by I think .20 or so for some of the small flat rate options. I don't use the larger flat rate too often, and when I do it's because of a larger order and I absorb the different in price from what is charged and the postage paid.
One of the issues with first class postage is that packages must be 13 ounces or less to be mailed this way. But when multiple items are purchase it combined the weight that I enter for the item. That weight is the weight of the item in it's package when it's ready to be mailed. So when multiple items are purchased it doesn't know that there is extra weight figured in for packaging not being used. Does that make sense? I have returned first class postage to my site. I needed to update my account with them as I've been using it for quite a number of years. But that has been done now.
However in looking at the new cart that my site will be transferring to, I may be able to enter a tare weight. This means that that is the package weight so I can enter product weights as they actually are. Which may by pass the issues of that extra packaging figured in as stated above. I'm not changing companies for my site, but my gal is working on this right now for me. And it should be finished in the next week or two. I'm making the change because of Chinese "hackers" trying to access my site and using up a lot of bandwidth I sometimes have down time towards the end of the month. So this will be a much better cart and will help with that issues. But there are several other perks to this site such as being able to use a point system with items purchased which can go towards free stuff on your next purchase! You can see the new site here but it's not ready to go yet as it's still being worked on. http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php
I would like to be able to get shipping down as much as possible. I know when I buy online and because of where I live I do that on a regular basis! I don't like to pay more for shipping than I have to and I know how frustrating to know your being ripped off on shipping because I know the costs.
So I'm trying to think of various options, that my customers would like to see.
Currently I offer first class postage for smaller packages, plus I have reduced my flat rate (priority mail) shipping price from $7.50 to $6.75 so that's a .50 cent drop! And I have currently added free shipping on orders over $75 as well.
While Free Shipping is a nice term, the reality is that it's really not free. The shipper regardless of who the company is, being USPS, UPS or Fedex needs to be paid before they will take the package and deliver it to the address on the package. If I did this then I would need to increase the price of each item to cover the cost of the shipping. The amount added would be based on the packaging used to mail the product as well as the postage rate for that package for first class postage and a small handling fee to cover the other stuff. Tape, labels and printer ink etc. I would include the cost of the packaging material because that is something I would need to purchase for first class postage. Priority mail packages I get from the post office however if you have purchased from me you may need a knife to get into it. I do take the time to cover the entire package with clear packing tape. I do this to prevent from the contents inside from poking through the package materials. Especially for the boxes that fit into the flat rate legal envelope.
With the free shipping option the package would be mailed first class or priority mail depending on the weight of the items/package.
I've had a poll up on my website for some time now and the results are 8 say yes and 5 say no.
I do see both sides of the coin with this option. It really makes it nice for the buyer who wishes to purchase just one or two items, but it's not as cost effective for someone who buys multiple items. Especially if the items are mailed flat rate which 99% of my orders do fit into a flat rate options which costs approximately $5.25 on average give or take depending on the type of smaller flat rate used. They do vary by I think .20 or so for some of the small flat rate options. I don't use the larger flat rate too often, and when I do it's because of a larger order and I absorb the different in price from what is charged and the postage paid.
One of the issues with first class postage is that packages must be 13 ounces or less to be mailed this way. But when multiple items are purchase it combined the weight that I enter for the item. That weight is the weight of the item in it's package when it's ready to be mailed. So when multiple items are purchased it doesn't know that there is extra weight figured in for packaging not being used. Does that make sense? I have returned first class postage to my site. I needed to update my account with them as I've been using it for quite a number of years. But that has been done now.
However in looking at the new cart that my site will be transferring to, I may be able to enter a tare weight. This means that that is the package weight so I can enter product weights as they actually are. Which may by pass the issues of that extra packaging figured in as stated above. I'm not changing companies for my site, but my gal is working on this right now for me. And it should be finished in the next week or two. I'm making the change because of Chinese "hackers" trying to access my site and using up a lot of bandwidth I sometimes have down time towards the end of the month. So this will be a much better cart and will help with that issues. But there are several other perks to this site such as being able to use a point system with items purchased which can go towards free stuff on your next purchase! You can see the new site here but it's not ready to go yet as it's still being worked on. http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php
I would like to be able to get shipping down as much as possible. I know when I buy online and because of where I live I do that on a regular basis! I don't like to pay more for shipping than I have to and I know how frustrating to know your being ripped off on shipping because I know the costs.
So I'm trying to think of various options, that my customers would like to see.
Currently I offer first class postage for smaller packages, plus I have reduced my flat rate (priority mail) shipping price from $7.50 to $6.75 so that's a .50 cent drop! And I have currently added free shipping on orders over $75 as well.
Friday, February 8, 2013
It's time for a silly moment singing my variation of the gummy bear song....
No I haven't quite lost all my marbles yet..... But it was time to give my three dogs a treat. But not just any treat as there are quite a number of them that should be avoided like the plague!
One of the dog treats that we offer our crew is Yummy Chummies!!!!! But I call them Chummie Yummies. I got them awhile back as a sample with my order from doggiefood.com and I've been back to buy more since.
http://www.doggiefood.com/yuchgodogtr.html
All three of our dogs just love them. There are a lot of dog treats that should be avoided, especially those that contain a lot of wheat flour and are just flavored with a meat flavoring and may or may not contain any or very little actual meat. Dogs don't digest grains so why give it to them. Dogs need meat! When I think of that I think of that little ol' lady from the 80's saying "Where's the beef?"
Other treats that MUST be avoided are chicken jerkey type treats. There are very few brands that are okay, blue buffalo is one that is okay to offer and I think Wellness may also have one. The reason they should be avoided is they contain chicken from china and sadly these treats are killing our dogs and the FDA can't figure out why. So that is why there isn't a recall on them, but the FDA has put out some warnings but that is all they can do until they figure out the actual reason. Some brands to avoid are Waggin Train, Canyon Creek and Milo's Kitchen Home Style dog treats.
If you want to give your dog chicken jerkey treats, just buy some chicken breast that is boneless and skinless from the grocery store where you buy your meat. Cut it into thin strips and bake in the oven. You can google an actual recipe if you look it up. Better yet, just give that chicken cut up into small pieces RAW to your dog as a treat! Less work involved in that process and it's much better for your dog. We now have two of our three dogs on a RAW diet also known as the prey model raw diet. They absolutely LOVE it, but if it's not done correctly it's even worse than a really bad kibble dog food. But raw bits of meat of any type is wonderful for your dog as a treat! Just watch them gobble it up! Next time your out shopping check to see what is on sale and stock up. If it's meat with bones, just cut around the bones so there is a good bit of meat around the bone and offer it to them as a snack. Raw bones including chicken bones are good for dogs. Avoid cooked or even smoked bones for dogs. I give that particular treat outside, even in the winter. Just on nicer winter days because of the cold. They love pork chop bones and ribs as well as they are often on sale around here. Feed the best that you can afford. To learn more about the dog food (for meals) that you offer check out this site. http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/ Please consider changing if your current food is rated a 1-3 star food. As questions on the site as well by many people who are experienced and know their stuff.
okay off that soapbox, no pun intended.....
There are several types available but with 3 dogs, a little bag just doesn't cut it with our crew. I buy the big 2.5 pound bag for them and I choose to buy the 95% salmon variety.
So while I give them their chummie yummies i sing my variation of the gummy bear song. It makes me laugh..... and one of my dogs does remind me of a little fluffy bear so that's why I also sing the chummy bear song to him when he gets his treat.
You have to admit the tune is catchy, upbeat and fun to sing......
Thanks to my kids for finding this on youtube some time ago and sharing it with me.
.... now it's time to get back to work in the kitchen.... I'll update later what I'm making today! And it's NOT food like yesterday!
One of the dog treats that we offer our crew is Yummy Chummies!!!!! But I call them Chummie Yummies. I got them awhile back as a sample with my order from doggiefood.com and I've been back to buy more since.
http://www.doggiefood.com/yuchgodogtr.html
All three of our dogs just love them. There are a lot of dog treats that should be avoided, especially those that contain a lot of wheat flour and are just flavored with a meat flavoring and may or may not contain any or very little actual meat. Dogs don't digest grains so why give it to them. Dogs need meat! When I think of that I think of that little ol' lady from the 80's saying "Where's the beef?"
Other treats that MUST be avoided are chicken jerkey type treats. There are very few brands that are okay, blue buffalo is one that is okay to offer and I think Wellness may also have one. The reason they should be avoided is they contain chicken from china and sadly these treats are killing our dogs and the FDA can't figure out why. So that is why there isn't a recall on them, but the FDA has put out some warnings but that is all they can do until they figure out the actual reason. Some brands to avoid are Waggin Train, Canyon Creek and Milo's Kitchen Home Style dog treats.
If you want to give your dog chicken jerkey treats, just buy some chicken breast that is boneless and skinless from the grocery store where you buy your meat. Cut it into thin strips and bake in the oven. You can google an actual recipe if you look it up. Better yet, just give that chicken cut up into small pieces RAW to your dog as a treat! Less work involved in that process and it's much better for your dog. We now have two of our three dogs on a RAW diet also known as the prey model raw diet. They absolutely LOVE it, but if it's not done correctly it's even worse than a really bad kibble dog food. But raw bits of meat of any type is wonderful for your dog as a treat! Just watch them gobble it up! Next time your out shopping check to see what is on sale and stock up. If it's meat with bones, just cut around the bones so there is a good bit of meat around the bone and offer it to them as a snack. Raw bones including chicken bones are good for dogs. Avoid cooked or even smoked bones for dogs. I give that particular treat outside, even in the winter. Just on nicer winter days because of the cold. They love pork chop bones and ribs as well as they are often on sale around here. Feed the best that you can afford. To learn more about the dog food (for meals) that you offer check out this site. http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/ Please consider changing if your current food is rated a 1-3 star food. As questions on the site as well by many people who are experienced and know their stuff.
okay off that soapbox, no pun intended.....
There are several types available but with 3 dogs, a little bag just doesn't cut it with our crew. I buy the big 2.5 pound bag for them and I choose to buy the 95% salmon variety.
So while I give them their chummie yummies i sing my variation of the gummy bear song. It makes me laugh..... and one of my dogs does remind me of a little fluffy bear so that's why I also sing the chummy bear song to him when he gets his treat.
You have to admit the tune is catchy, upbeat and fun to sing......
Thanks to my kids for finding this on youtube some time ago and sharing it with me.
.... now it's time to get back to work in the kitchen.... I'll update later what I'm making today! And it's NOT food like yesterday!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
A day in my life being a mom...... when a kid needs treats for school activities
Today I needed to be a mom rather than work on business projects.
Today is day 3 of feeling pretty good with limited pain unlike the last month where my pain was really bad. The break is kinda nice and I hope it lasts!
But before I did anything I delivered a bag of Taste of the Wild (grain free) dog food and some canned dog food as well to donate to the Uffda Fund that our vet runs. They take animals that are homeless or where owners can't care for them anymore and find new homes for them. If you don't know what your feeding your dog, please check out the dog food advisor and see how your dog food rates. It's really important to change food and feed a 3-5 star food. Feed the best quality that you can afford. The site doesn't rate each food on their personal opinions but instead each food is rated based on it's guaranteed analysis and it's ingredient list. I just wanted to mention that quickly...... Then off to the drug store to pick up a refill for my meds before I began my day and got busy.
The other day Kylie told me that SADD (students against destructive decisions) were doing concessions for the ballgame tonight and she needed to bring a pan of bars.... Well I knew right away what I wanted to bake for this event, but I needed a few things. The day before yesterday I got what I thought I needed..... But I realized yesterday that I didn't have a key thing for this project to take shape. So I ended up going back to Devils Lake last night to get a coupler for the large frosting tip, only to find they didn't carry the larger one! Ugggg why sell it then! So I settled for buying a frosting tool instead hoping it would work and I could pull off the design in my head.
After using this tool today, I know I want to get another one! Both will be clearly labeled of course and stored in their own containers. But I want another one of these to use for soap and top some cupcake soaps with some whipped soap! How fun would that be! It's simple to use and comes with several tips but the larger metal wilton tips also fit it as well. That gives it a few more uses.
Fast forward to this morning.... I thought I really needed 2 days to pull off the design I wanted to do so I went on pinterest to look for ideas.
This was the first idea that I saw, but I'm not to overly fond of oreo's myself.... But I am going to tuck this idea away for another day.
http://www.bakedperfection.com/2011/07/chocolate-oreo-cupcakes-with-cookies.html
Next I saw this idea.
http://www.brandysbaking.com/2011/08/rolo-cupcakes.html
http://www.yourcupofcake.com/2012/09/snickers-cupcakes.html
I had 27 to send up so I hope they sell well for them!
I also happened to have this cupcake stand that I bought to display bath bombs at the local farmers market but I never used it for that. So I brought it up from the basement so Kylie could use it to display them for the sale. That would make them look even better.
I found this image online of the wire rack that I have. I think they will look fabulous and inviting!
Today is day 3 of feeling pretty good with limited pain unlike the last month where my pain was really bad. The break is kinda nice and I hope it lasts!
But before I did anything I delivered a bag of Taste of the Wild (grain free) dog food and some canned dog food as well to donate to the Uffda Fund that our vet runs. They take animals that are homeless or where owners can't care for them anymore and find new homes for them. If you don't know what your feeding your dog, please check out the dog food advisor and see how your dog food rates. It's really important to change food and feed a 3-5 star food. Feed the best quality that you can afford. The site doesn't rate each food on their personal opinions but instead each food is rated based on it's guaranteed analysis and it's ingredient list. I just wanted to mention that quickly...... Then off to the drug store to pick up a refill for my meds before I began my day and got busy.
The other day Kylie told me that SADD (students against destructive decisions) were doing concessions for the ballgame tonight and she needed to bring a pan of bars.... Well I knew right away what I wanted to bake for this event, but I needed a few things. The day before yesterday I got what I thought I needed..... But I realized yesterday that I didn't have a key thing for this project to take shape. So I ended up going back to Devils Lake last night to get a coupler for the large frosting tip, only to find they didn't carry the larger one! Ugggg why sell it then! So I settled for buying a frosting tool instead hoping it would work and I could pull off the design in my head.
After using this tool today, I know I want to get another one! Both will be clearly labeled of course and stored in their own containers. But I want another one of these to use for soap and top some cupcake soaps with some whipped soap! How fun would that be! It's simple to use and comes with several tips but the larger metal wilton tips also fit it as well. That gives it a few more uses.
Fast forward to this morning.... I thought I really needed 2 days to pull off the design I wanted to do so I went on pinterest to look for ideas.
This was the first idea that I saw, but I'm not to overly fond of oreo's myself.... But I am going to tuck this idea away for another day.
Next I saw this idea.
http://www.brandysbaking.com/2011/08/rolo-cupcakes.html
Oh my what's not to like about that! And rolo's.... yummy good! Don't you just want to sink your teeth into that?
So I went to the grocery store armed with my shopping list with back up plan B and C if necessary. Since plan A will have to wait until I have at least two days to accomplish it. Since I live in a tiny town you just never know what the grocery store will carry sometimes or more often than not, what it doesn't carry. I wasn't sure if they had a larger package of rolo's or not. Well they didn't so I ended up picking up a package of mini reeces peanut butter cups to top them with instead.
I began my baking....... Well I learned not to overfill my cupcakes because some got to high and weren't so nicely shaped. But have no fear those will be be frosted for the kids and hubby to enjoy.
For the cake part I cheated and I used a boxed cake mix. That made my life a tad easier! So if you want to make your own, just use your favorite cake recipe or a box mix. I just made the cake mix as directed on the package and didn't add anything additional to it.
While my cupcakes were baking I happened to come across this idea.
So I went with the concept and did my own thing a little.......
Once they have fully cooled, and this is important then you can mix up this next part. I went with the recipe on the top part for the caramel buttercream frosting that was on the rolo cupcake recipe.
4 sticks real butter, room temp
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 cup caramel syrup
1 1/2 pounds confectioners (powdered) sugar, sifted
I creamed the butter in a mixing bowl. Then I added the vanilla and the salt and continued to cream it for a bit more.
Instead of 1/3 cup of the caramel syrup I used a 1/2 cup of it. I used the smuckers brand one. If you spray your measuring cup with a bit of non-stick cooking spray the caramel syrup will slide right out when you pour it. I didn't measure the powdered sugar, but just added enough until the frosting was a nice thick consistency and would pipe nicely. But you can measure if you want to. If you use additional caramel sauce like I did you may need more than that 1 1/2 pounds of powdered sugar.
I used that Wilton frosting tool shown above and used the tip that was like the top left corner with the pink frosting. I wanted the grooves in the frosting for the chocolate syrup to get hung up on. Oh yeah! Yummo.....
Next for the ganache that gets drizzled over the top.
4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla
I did mine in the microwave. But I heated the whipping cream in a 4 cup glass pyrex measuring up for 30 seconds at a time until it was hot. It didn't take long, this may vary depending on your microwave. I have a pretty big one. I used a whisk between to stir it well, I didn't want hot spots in this.
Once it was hot, I removed it from the microwave oven and mixed in my bittersweet chocolate. Stir with a whisk and let it sit for a few minutes until the chocolate melted. I ended up buying unsweetened chocolate in the squares since my grocery store didn't have the bittersweet so I just used that and just added a bit of sugar to compensate. I read on line where you add 1 tablespoon sugar for each ounce of unsweetened chocolate to make bittersweet chocolate. I did add a tad more than that but not much. You don't want this to be a sweet chocolate with all the sweetness from the rest of the frosting and the cake. Followed by adding the honey, corn syrup and vanilla. Also spray your measuring spoon with non-stick cooking spray to make it easier to get the honey and corn syrup out of it. I did use a regular hand whisk to mix it all up and it made a great ganache. I drizzled this over the top of the cupcakes using a regular table teaspoon.
I ended up going back up to the store again because I saw the idea of putting a cut up chunk of snickers on the top so I got 2 bags of mini snickers. I didn't even use one bag but I didn't want to run out. I think a whole mini-snickers would have been to much and the half was just perfect! I cut them on the bias as well and I think that added to how they looked.
This is what mine looked like! The ones I made with the reject cupcakes that were less than perfect I did add a drizzle of the caramel syrup onto of the chocolate ganache. Not much, just a drizzle! Topped with my snickers. The kids and hubby are going to be happy tonight with their dessert after dinner. The hubby and I are going to eat a RAW meal tonight so I guess that almost defeats the purpose of doing that when you eat something like this after it! Oh well we don't often have dessert or sweets around.
I had 27 to send up so I hope they sell well for them!
I also happened to have this cupcake stand that I bought to display bath bombs at the local farmers market but I never used it for that. So I brought it up from the basement so Kylie could use it to display them for the sale. That would make them look even better.
I found this image online of the wire rack that I have. I think they will look fabulous and inviting!
So instead of Plan A I went with Plan D and I was really happy with the outcome!
When you go somewhere where there are baked goods to choose from for dessert or a snack do you have a favorite that catches your eye first?
Editing On 2-8-2013 to add that they ALL sold and sold rather quickly. Someone commented saying how nice the stand was and it made them look even better. Others thought they were store bought cupcakes, but wondered where they were purchased. Now that's a nice compliment to get! One guy bought four for himself, saying they were rather small. *cough*cough* they were your standard sized cupcake piled high with frosting! While one of Kylie's classmates really thought I needed to make treats for their class at least once a week. I got a laugh out of that one! But I was so pleased to find out how quickly they sold and the compliments received. I didn't want the same boring pan of brownies that are always present at these events. I wanted something with a little class and I nailed it. That was my goal to have something that looked like it came from a nice bakery somewhere fancy in my little small town. So if you make these yourself I hope yours come out as nice as mine, and they are very simple to make as well. ~enjoy~
Friday, January 25, 2013
Almost Fresh Lemonade
Lemonade is something we drink year round around our place! In the winter it's not just good cold, but it's also good warmed up and served hot especially if your chilled to the bone and need to thaw out. But in the summer it's wonderfully refreshing on a hot day!
I call mine ALMOST fresh lemonade because I actually make my own concentrate from lemon juice. Sometimes buy the name brand lemon juice and other times I buy the generic brand. I usually do buy the generic because it's cheaper and it works equally as well in this recipe. You know the stuff that comes in the green bottle. But if you have access to lots of real actual lemons that are inexpensive you could squeeze lemons as well to acquire the needed lemon juice. But here in North Dakota we don't exactly have lemon tree's around here.
It's super simple to make.
Almost Fresh Lemonade Concentrate
1 cup Water
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1 1/2 cups Lemon Juice
This can be made on the stove top or the microwave oven.
Mix the water and the sugar together and heat until the sugar is fully dissolved stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice.
When cooled pour into a container that has a lid and pours easily. Label if desired.
To Use:
Mix 1 part lemonade concentrate and 3 parts water. Stir.
But if that is not to your liking, mix to your own taste using more or less water.
Garnish with a lemon wedge if desired.
I made a label for our bottle of lemonade concentrate and it looks like this.
When we travel since I can't drink bottled soda anymore because it has too much carbonation and makes me physically ill, I often buy FUZE or Pure Leaf Tea instead. Well since these two drinks comes in nice hard plastic bottle instead of throwing them away we remove the labels, wash and refill them. Then use them as a refillable drinking bottle. I like to use them around the house instead of a glass, because you just never know if a dog will knock one over and vola` no mess. Or I can just grab it and go as well. I often fill these bottle with the lemonade concentrate but I often dilute it quite a bit so there is just a hint of the lemon and it's mostly water since I don't care for drinking plain water and don't want the empty calories of all that sugar. But real sugar is better than high fructose corn syrup that is found in many store bought lemonades. And this is super simple to make that even kids can mix their own up or you can make a whole pitcher of it.
Well my son Case (12) has a trip school Robotics meet tomorrow out of town, and their coach said they could eat their breakfast on the bus or at home but they should eat in the morning. Well I told Case he had to have breakfast at home but he could take a snack for the road. He wanted to take a couple of granola bars and a bottle of our almost fresh lemonade. So I made him his very own label for his "recycled" reusable bottle!
~enjoy~
New Scents Added To The Drop Down Options
I've added some new scents to the drop down options on my website. I thought these would be scents that you would enjoy. There are others that I bought in smaller quantities to test out that I plan on adding at a later date.
But these have just been added to my store for all to enjoy........
In Masculine Scents............
Forrest Pine ~
The pure pine scent you love for the holidays – Christmas trees in the snow. This is clean and energizing; breathe deep, and imagine you’re in the woods on a snowy evening.
Homme L'Occitane type ~
A masculine blend of lavender, nutmeg, cinnamon, tonka bean and musk.
In Floral Scents...........
Frangipani ~
The Hawaiian floral – a lush sweet tropical flower. This is a strong clean floral that is unique and loved by many.
Scottish Heather ~
A delicate floral that will send you back to the Scottish moors. Imagine standing in a field of this delicate flower as the mist rises – relaxing and fragrant.
Orange Blossom ~
A bit of orange (just a squeeze!) with a bold, clean white floral top note.
Ylang-Ylang ~
The ultimate floral, soft and sweet with a note of jasmine. Considered a potent aid to romance!
Tassi Lavender ~
A beautiful lavender scent. Tassi Lavender is a fragrance oil rendition of the Tasmanian Lavender Essential Oil. A clean lavender scent with a very floral profile. While there are undertones of herbs and wood, the primary notes are sweet, soft florals. Fine lavender can be somewhat ozone-like in a clean sense, certainly not medicinal or camphoric. You may know these types of scents as flower garden duplications.
Other Scents............
Country Spice ~
Fresh spices, from the tang of clove to the warmth of cinnamon – a baker’s dream.
Milk & Honey ~
Creamy, fresh white scent (mmm…milk!) and sweet honey straight from the comb. A perfect, farm-fresh mix.
Huckleberry ~
This is a powerful berry blend that will always be reminiscent of Grandma's homemade preserves. * Caution: Be careful using this one in bear country.
But these have just been added to my store for all to enjoy........
In Masculine Scents............
The pure pine scent you love for the holidays – Christmas trees in the snow. This is clean and energizing; breathe deep, and imagine you’re in the woods on a snowy evening.
A masculine blend of lavender, nutmeg, cinnamon, tonka bean and musk.
In Floral Scents...........
The Hawaiian floral – a lush sweet tropical flower. This is a strong clean floral that is unique and loved by many.
A delicate floral that will send you back to the Scottish moors. Imagine standing in a field of this delicate flower as the mist rises – relaxing and fragrant.
A bit of orange (just a squeeze!) with a bold, clean white floral top note.
The ultimate floral, soft and sweet with a note of jasmine. Considered a potent aid to romance!
A beautiful lavender scent. Tassi Lavender is a fragrance oil rendition of the Tasmanian Lavender Essential Oil. A clean lavender scent with a very floral profile. While there are undertones of herbs and wood, the primary notes are sweet, soft florals. Fine lavender can be somewhat ozone-like in a clean sense, certainly not medicinal or camphoric. You may know these types of scents as flower garden duplications.
Other Scents............
Fresh spices, from the tang of clove to the warmth of cinnamon – a baker’s dream.
Creamy, fresh white scent (mmm…milk!) and sweet honey straight from the comb. A perfect, farm-fresh mix.
This is a powerful berry blend that will always be reminiscent of Grandma's homemade preserves. * Caution: Be careful using this one in bear country.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
NOW 2 Sizes For Shaving Pucks!
I have brought back the larger diameter puck of shaving soap! It's been added to my website already.
They both will have the same weight but the difference is in the diameter of each puck.
The small puck has a diameter of about 2.5" across while the large puck has a diameter of 3" across. While that might not seem much to some, it may to some depending on how they use their puck or store it.
I've taken the following photo so you can see the difference........
This option is available on my aloe and the beer Tallow and Lanolin Shaving Soap. Plus my savings listings where you can save 10% when you buy a puck and ASB set, as well as the set of four pucks.
I have made 6 larger pucks and listed them in my RTS (ready to ship) section for Aloe Tallow & Lanolin Shaving Soaps. They are as follows........
Rosemary Mint
Home grown garden rosemary mingling with cool peppermint and spearmint leaves makes for a very awakening combination of herbs and mint.
Mayan Magic
Fresh orange and crisp aldehyde lead to a warm blend of woods and musk to create this sensual fragrance. Hints of rose are balanced with patchouli, cedar wood and sandalwood for warmth. A highly textured blend of musk notes is sweetened with hints of vanilla for the fragrance signature.
Cool Citrus Basil
This is a zesty and clean fragrance infused with cool citrus and fresh basil leaves. Refreshing and Energizing! A Bath and Body Works type fragrance.
Clubman
Reminiscent of the old time barbershop because it was a common product used by barbers. This is bursting with top notes of orange, bergamot and mouth-watering lemon with green nuances throughout. The floral heart of jasmine, orange flower and geranium dance with lavender and is completed with a warm musk background.
Oak Leaves & Acorns
Rustic pine, wild violets and fall leaves are the center of this intriguing new scent.
Black Cherry
An extremely strong aroma of ripened sweet black cherries.
They both will have the same weight but the difference is in the diameter of each puck.
The small puck has a diameter of about 2.5" across while the large puck has a diameter of 3" across. While that might not seem much to some, it may to some depending on how they use their puck or store it.
I've taken the following photo so you can see the difference........
This option is available on my aloe and the beer Tallow and Lanolin Shaving Soap. Plus my savings listings where you can save 10% when you buy a puck and ASB set, as well as the set of four pucks.
I have made 6 larger pucks and listed them in my RTS (ready to ship) section for Aloe Tallow & Lanolin Shaving Soaps. They are as follows........
Home grown garden rosemary mingling with cool peppermint and spearmint leaves makes for a very awakening combination of herbs and mint.
Mayan Magic
Fresh orange and crisp aldehyde lead to a warm blend of woods and musk to create this sensual fragrance. Hints of rose are balanced with patchouli, cedar wood and sandalwood for warmth. A highly textured blend of musk notes is sweetened with hints of vanilla for the fragrance signature.
Cool Citrus Basil
This is a zesty and clean fragrance infused with cool citrus and fresh basil leaves. Refreshing and Energizing! A Bath and Body Works type fragrance.
Clubman
Reminiscent of the old time barbershop because it was a common product used by barbers. This is bursting with top notes of orange, bergamot and mouth-watering lemon with green nuances throughout. The floral heart of jasmine, orange flower and geranium dance with lavender and is completed with a warm musk background.
Rustic pine, wild violets and fall leaves are the center of this intriguing new scent.
Black Cherry
An extremely strong aroma of ripened sweet black cherries.
PIF is now OPEN, closes February 4, 2013
I've just listed my first PIF that will be hosted on my website.
This PIF is open to those that have purchased from me in the past as well as those who have not ordered from me before. It's currently open to all US addresses at this time.
If you would prefer unscented (no added scent) please request that in your entry and it will be honored should you be the winner. I offer this because I realize that there are those that can't wear scented products because they react to them, their place of employment frowns upon it or they just prefer unscented products.
This PIF will include the following items : Aloe Tallow & Lanolin Shaving Soap in the following scents. There will be four (4) winners!
These are sample pucks and when freshly made weigh a bit more than 1 ounce. I used the same mold that I do when I make my small pucks so they measure about 2.5" in diameter.
- Green Irish Tweed
- Lime
- Rosemary Mint
- Sweet Grass
If you are a current customer I would like to encourage you to post a review of the products that you have tried and used. That way others will know about the pros and cons of the product itself. If you purchased a RTS (ready to ship item after it's purchased I do move that listing into the sold section for it's type of product so that reviews can be left for those items. I do ask that you not to get to focused on the scent since scent is a personal thing and what one person likes another person will not like. It's subject to personal opinion so focus on the quality of the product and how it functions for what it's supposed to do instead. Thank You.
Personal Updates AND 2 New Ready To Ship Shaving Soaps Added
WOW it's been a long week. Last week I didn't get a lot accomplished because I was nursing our dog back to health. Well it's not as bad as it sounds, but our one dogs did injure himself and needed a bit of attention. He was trying to jump up on our higher than normal bed and didn't make it. He fell backwards onto his hip and thankfully it was just a sprain and not broken or dislocated. So I had to coddle him and carry him around a bit. When he went outside (to attend to business) he only could walk so far, and needed to be carried in. Or so he thought, but it was quite painful for him. Monday he started walking more normal and today he's back to running, although it is still sensitive. But he won't even attempt to jump up on my bed anymore, he won't even go close to it and stands in the doorway and yips, because that's where he sleeps at night. By my feet so I have to lift him up there yet. But I did bring up from the basement the step stool that my dad made my oldest daughter when she was a toddler so she could wash her hands at the sink herself. It's well crafted and made from solid wood and has two steps to it to put by the bed. Later when he's gotten over his shell shock I plan on teaching him to use the step to get up onto the bed instead of jumping. We have had the bed for over a year and this is the first time he did this and it scared the daylights out of me. I hope it's the last time because Jack is my cuddle bug. He's not a big dog, just a terrier mutt about 20 pounds. I'll get a photo of him later to add.
Yesterday my daughter called me from school because she remembered that she signed up to take treats to the basketball game concessions after school! Yikes, that put me in a pickle because as I was planning on working on orders I ended up baking cupcakes instead. I made white cupcakes (thanks Duncan) then I frosted them with red frosting (school color) that was doodled on with a piping frosting tip and sprinkled a bit of regular white sugar on top. But I did make the frosting from scratch as I can't stand the stuff in the jars in the stores! They did turn out very nice looking at least. But did you know that cupcakes cool very quickly when placed out in the garage when it's ten below zero out. Thank goodness because they cooled nice and quick so I was able to get them frosted and up to the school without being too late. She needed them by 3:30 when the game started, but they actually got there about four. But it was worth it!
Here is the frosting recipe that I used.
3 sticks + 2 tablespoons Butter, softened
3 cups Powdered Sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons Milk (I only used 1 tbs but I used half and half instead)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract*
* real vanilla is best. I made mine just before Christmas by using real vanilla pods in bourbon. I'll post the recipe and instructions in another post.
Whip the butter with a hand mixer on medum high speed for six minutes. The butter will turn a nice light yellow color and the butter will be very soft and creamy.
Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk adding one tablespoon at a time until it reaches the desired consistency. This is a very light and creamy frosting and whipping the butter first really makes a big difference on how it tastes. It's much better than just whipping the butter for a minute before adding the powdered sugar. I want to say it doesn't coat your mouth with the butter when it's whipped for that six minutes. I'll be using this recipe more often!
I didn't get pictures of the cupcakes because I was so busy trying to get them done and out the door.
But last night I did work on some orders that I had so I could get them out in the mail today!!! Yay! I've decided to increase the batch size of my Tallow & Lanolin Shaving Soap that I make. Normally I made smaller batches more often. But my last batch earlier earlier in the month I did increase it some from the size I normally made. But last night I made it even bigger! The total weight of the batch made to over 13 pounds! That's a LOT of shaving soap and it will save me quite a bit of time. Since the whole recipe is based on percents the batch will be exactly the same regardless if I only used 500 grams of oils or as this batch was 3,000 grams of oils. I have a special way that is long and drawn out technique to prepare the shaving soap that I make into the scented pucks that are desired. Because of it's time consuming process I have chosen to fill those orders that are made to order (called custom on my site) shaving soaps. While I am working with it I make extras to list as ready to ship (RTS) shaving soaps.
Each batch of shaving soap is given a batch number and a born on date. That's the date in which the batch of shaving soap was made, not the date your particular order was scented. I keep the actual recipe sheet of that particular batch in a binder for future reference if needed. On each package of shaving soap, either puck or put into a jar, that number and date goes onto the side. I decided to do this because a number of years ago I was falsely accused of selling shaving soap that was lye heavy. That means that there was too much lye in the product. That was simply untrue and was a ploy to hurt my business. The person also refused to send the soap back at my expense to me so I could test it myself and instead chose to post it all over any and all shaving soaps as further attempt to hurt my business. Also there was no one else who came forward with the same accusation and my batches at that time were very large to accommodate a lot of customers as I was just starting to sell my shaving soap and getting caught up with orders. Similar numbers go onto other products as well, but are on the actual label.
The mold that I use for my pucks has 6 cavities in it, (I used 2 molds) and I needed to make 10 pucks for customers so the two left over cavities didn't go to waste. I used them to make pucks to add to my store in the ready to ship section for the Tallow & Lanolin shaving soap made with aloe.
http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php?cPath=40_121
At the time this is written I currently have 25 listings of shaving soaps that have already been made up and are ready to be shipped! You will find scents here that are not in my current listing for something different and unique.
Or I can make a custom one for you that is made to order with one of the numerous scents that I carry.
http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php?cPath=40_122
But if you prefer your shaving soap to be made with Blue Moon Beer, I do have several that are ready to ship. The scent does not smell like beer but it has it's own unique scent that can morph any scent added to it. This happens to be my husbands favorite shaving soap at the moment. The beer does add to the lather of the shaving soap in a very positive way. So the beer isn't added just for label appeal or looks.
http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php?cPath=40_123
At the time this is written I currently have 3 listings of shaving soaps that have already been made up and are ready to be shipped. That have been made with my Beer version of my Tallow & Lanolin Shaving Soap. The scents currently there are ones that I have as a part of my normal stock with the exception of the beer scent.
I can also make shaving soap for you with the beer in any one of the scents that I carry.
http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php?cPath=40_124
The two pucks that I made up and added to my store are............
Both made with the Aloe version of my Tallow & Lanolin Shaving Soap
French Lavender Essential Oil ~
Lavandula Angustifolia imported from France. Lavender essential oil is native to the Mediterranean region and is cultivated in France, Spain and elsewhere. It has been used for aromatic purposes by the Romans in washing water and baths. Lavender essential oil has uses in culinary, cosmetics and medicine. It is effective to cure headaches, especially when related to stress, to clear depression associated with weakness and depression. Externally, lavender essential oil has been used as a stimulating liniment to help ease aches and pains of rheumatism.
Link To French Lavender EO Shaving Soap
Lemongrass & Sage ~
A fresh clean perfectly balanced mixture of lemongrass and sage. Top notes of ozone, zesty lemon, grape, muguet and lemongrass. Middle notes of jasmine, rose and sage. Powder and musk at the base completes the fragrance.
Link To Lemongrass & Sage Shaving Soap
This afternoon I'll be working on a PIF giveaway on my website. I'll make another blog post about that once I have it ready to go!
http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php?cPath=119
Yesterday my daughter called me from school because she remembered that she signed up to take treats to the basketball game concessions after school! Yikes, that put me in a pickle because as I was planning on working on orders I ended up baking cupcakes instead. I made white cupcakes (thanks Duncan) then I frosted them with red frosting (school color) that was doodled on with a piping frosting tip and sprinkled a bit of regular white sugar on top. But I did make the frosting from scratch as I can't stand the stuff in the jars in the stores! They did turn out very nice looking at least. But did you know that cupcakes cool very quickly when placed out in the garage when it's ten below zero out. Thank goodness because they cooled nice and quick so I was able to get them frosted and up to the school without being too late. She needed them by 3:30 when the game started, but they actually got there about four. But it was worth it!
Here is the frosting recipe that I used.
3 sticks + 2 tablespoons Butter, softened
3 cups Powdered Sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons Milk (I only used 1 tbs but I used half and half instead)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract*
* real vanilla is best. I made mine just before Christmas by using real vanilla pods in bourbon. I'll post the recipe and instructions in another post.
Whip the butter with a hand mixer on medum high speed for six minutes. The butter will turn a nice light yellow color and the butter will be very soft and creamy.
Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk adding one tablespoon at a time until it reaches the desired consistency. This is a very light and creamy frosting and whipping the butter first really makes a big difference on how it tastes. It's much better than just whipping the butter for a minute before adding the powdered sugar. I want to say it doesn't coat your mouth with the butter when it's whipped for that six minutes. I'll be using this recipe more often!
I didn't get pictures of the cupcakes because I was so busy trying to get them done and out the door.
But last night I did work on some orders that I had so I could get them out in the mail today!!! Yay! I've decided to increase the batch size of my Tallow & Lanolin Shaving Soap that I make. Normally I made smaller batches more often. But my last batch earlier earlier in the month I did increase it some from the size I normally made. But last night I made it even bigger! The total weight of the batch made to over 13 pounds! That's a LOT of shaving soap and it will save me quite a bit of time. Since the whole recipe is based on percents the batch will be exactly the same regardless if I only used 500 grams of oils or as this batch was 3,000 grams of oils. I have a special way that is long and drawn out technique to prepare the shaving soap that I make into the scented pucks that are desired. Because of it's time consuming process I have chosen to fill those orders that are made to order (called custom on my site) shaving soaps. While I am working with it I make extras to list as ready to ship (RTS) shaving soaps.
Each batch of shaving soap is given a batch number and a born on date. That's the date in which the batch of shaving soap was made, not the date your particular order was scented. I keep the actual recipe sheet of that particular batch in a binder for future reference if needed. On each package of shaving soap, either puck or put into a jar, that number and date goes onto the side. I decided to do this because a number of years ago I was falsely accused of selling shaving soap that was lye heavy. That means that there was too much lye in the product. That was simply untrue and was a ploy to hurt my business. The person also refused to send the soap back at my expense to me so I could test it myself and instead chose to post it all over any and all shaving soaps as further attempt to hurt my business. Also there was no one else who came forward with the same accusation and my batches at that time were very large to accommodate a lot of customers as I was just starting to sell my shaving soap and getting caught up with orders. Similar numbers go onto other products as well, but are on the actual label.
The mold that I use for my pucks has 6 cavities in it, (I used 2 molds) and I needed to make 10 pucks for customers so the two left over cavities didn't go to waste. I used them to make pucks to add to my store in the ready to ship section for the Tallow & Lanolin shaving soap made with aloe.
http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php?cPath=40_121
At the time this is written I currently have 25 listings of shaving soaps that have already been made up and are ready to be shipped! You will find scents here that are not in my current listing for something different and unique.
Or I can make a custom one for you that is made to order with one of the numerous scents that I carry.
http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php?cPath=40_122
But if you prefer your shaving soap to be made with Blue Moon Beer, I do have several that are ready to ship. The scent does not smell like beer but it has it's own unique scent that can morph any scent added to it. This happens to be my husbands favorite shaving soap at the moment. The beer does add to the lather of the shaving soap in a very positive way. So the beer isn't added just for label appeal or looks.
http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php?cPath=40_123
At the time this is written I currently have 3 listings of shaving soaps that have already been made up and are ready to be shipped. That have been made with my Beer version of my Tallow & Lanolin Shaving Soap. The scents currently there are ones that I have as a part of my normal stock with the exception of the beer scent.
I can also make shaving soap for you with the beer in any one of the scents that I carry.
http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php?cPath=40_124
The two pucks that I made up and added to my store are............
Both made with the Aloe version of my Tallow & Lanolin Shaving Soap
French Lavender Essential Oil ~
Lavandula Angustifolia imported from France. Lavender essential oil is native to the Mediterranean region and is cultivated in France, Spain and elsewhere. It has been used for aromatic purposes by the Romans in washing water and baths. Lavender essential oil has uses in culinary, cosmetics and medicine. It is effective to cure headaches, especially when related to stress, to clear depression associated with weakness and depression. Externally, lavender essential oil has been used as a stimulating liniment to help ease aches and pains of rheumatism.
Link To French Lavender EO Shaving Soap
Lemongrass & Sage ~
A fresh clean perfectly balanced mixture of lemongrass and sage. Top notes of ozone, zesty lemon, grape, muguet and lemongrass. Middle notes of jasmine, rose and sage. Powder and musk at the base completes the fragrance.
Link To Lemongrass & Sage Shaving Soap
This afternoon I'll be working on a PIF giveaway on my website. I'll make another blog post about that once I have it ready to go!
http://prairie-creations.com/pc/index.php?cPath=119
Friday, January 11, 2013
Hot Soup On A Cold Day....
Well yesterday I learned of an impending storm system moving into our area today and as a result school was closed this morning! So not only did I have to put up with the kids today but the hubby was home as well. He went to work early this morning only to come home two and a half hours later. Another guy that also lives in Cando left his car at work and they both put their vehicles in the shop and took the 4 wheel drive pickup back to Cando. It wasn't to nice out.
So tonight I thought I would make a hearty soup for supper. A family favorite actually. While I do have a recipe for it, I really only use it as a guide and most ingredients are not really measured out. Don't you just love those kinds of recipes!
This is a traditional German soup recipe but I do change it a bit to make it a main dish. Such as adding cooked, diced chicken breast to it add I add more celery, carrots and onion than the original recipe calls for. I don't like my knoephla soup to be watery but like it full of diced veggies, potato chunks, cubes of chicken and plenty of dumplings of course!
Chicken Breast as much or as little as you want to add
4 tablespoons Butter which is a half a stick
Carrots ~ about 1/2 bag of a pound package of baby carrots
Celery Ribs ~ about 4 ribs, you can use more or less depending on what you have
1 large Onion (you can use medium or small if desired)
1 quart (4 cups) Water
4 Bouillon Cubes
2-6 Potatoes cut into bite size pieces
1-3 teaspoons Black Pepper
Salt To Taste
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1-2 cups Half and Half
DOUGH
2 cups Flour
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Milk
Cook the chicken breast until it's cooked but not overcooked. Overcooking the meat causes it to dry out. When the meat is cooked, set it aside on a plate to rest a minimum of 5 minutes before dicing. This helps keep the juices in the meat.
In a soup pot, melt butter. While that is melting in a food processor chop the onion until it's finely chopped and add it to the melted butter and stir. Next add your carrots and celery into food processor and chop until it's fine and add it to your soup pot. Sir with the onions and let it cook for about 5 minutes. If you don't have a food processor, finely chop the vegetables by hand, a food processor just makes it go faster and is much easier.
Add water and Bouillon cubes to pan and stir. Cut your potatoes into bite size pieces and add them to the pot at this time. Sir, add another cup or two of water if necessary. Add diced chicken, pepper and salt if desired. I happen to like mine heavy on the pepper.
Make dough at this time and add it to the soup so the kneophla's (dumplings) can cook at the same time as the potatoes. I usually use frozen dough pieces that my grocery store carries adding a half bag to my soup. I thaw them on a cookie sheet in the oven that is set to 170` for a few minutes, just until they thaw.
To make the dough, mix the dough ingredients and knead until smooth and elastic. Lightly flour your counter and gently roll out the dough into a "rope" approximately 1" in diameter. Use a pizza cutter or a scissors to cut the dough into 1" pieces. Or you can roll it out flat and use a pizza cutter to cut them into 1x1 inch cubes. As you cut them put them into the soup to cook. Let them simmer until cooked.
Once the potatoes and dumplings are cooked add a can of cream of chicken soup. Mushroom or celery can also be used if you don't have the chicken soup. Also add 1-2 cups half and half depending on your own personal preference. I use 1 cup saving the other cup for another soup. I also buy the fat free version! Stir well, heat until hot and serve.
yummo.....
So tonight I thought I would make a hearty soup for supper. A family favorite actually. While I do have a recipe for it, I really only use it as a guide and most ingredients are not really measured out. Don't you just love those kinds of recipes!
This is a traditional German soup recipe but I do change it a bit to make it a main dish. Such as adding cooked, diced chicken breast to it add I add more celery, carrots and onion than the original recipe calls for. I don't like my knoephla soup to be watery but like it full of diced veggies, potato chunks, cubes of chicken and plenty of dumplings of course!
Knoephla Soup
Chicken Breast as much or as little as you want to add
4 tablespoons Butter which is a half a stick
Carrots ~ about 1/2 bag of a pound package of baby carrots
Celery Ribs ~ about 4 ribs, you can use more or less depending on what you have
1 large Onion (you can use medium or small if desired)
1 quart (4 cups) Water
4 Bouillon Cubes
2-6 Potatoes cut into bite size pieces
1-3 teaspoons Black Pepper
Salt To Taste
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1-2 cups Half and Half
DOUGH
2 cups Flour
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Milk
Cook the chicken breast until it's cooked but not overcooked. Overcooking the meat causes it to dry out. When the meat is cooked, set it aside on a plate to rest a minimum of 5 minutes before dicing. This helps keep the juices in the meat.
In a soup pot, melt butter. While that is melting in a food processor chop the onion until it's finely chopped and add it to the melted butter and stir. Next add your carrots and celery into food processor and chop until it's fine and add it to your soup pot. Sir with the onions and let it cook for about 5 minutes. If you don't have a food processor, finely chop the vegetables by hand, a food processor just makes it go faster and is much easier.
Add water and Bouillon cubes to pan and stir. Cut your potatoes into bite size pieces and add them to the pot at this time. Sir, add another cup or two of water if necessary. Add diced chicken, pepper and salt if desired. I happen to like mine heavy on the pepper.
Make dough at this time and add it to the soup so the kneophla's (dumplings) can cook at the same time as the potatoes. I usually use frozen dough pieces that my grocery store carries adding a half bag to my soup. I thaw them on a cookie sheet in the oven that is set to 170` for a few minutes, just until they thaw.
To make the dough, mix the dough ingredients and knead until smooth and elastic. Lightly flour your counter and gently roll out the dough into a "rope" approximately 1" in diameter. Use a pizza cutter or a scissors to cut the dough into 1" pieces. Or you can roll it out flat and use a pizza cutter to cut them into 1x1 inch cubes. As you cut them put them into the soup to cook. Let them simmer until cooked.
Once the potatoes and dumplings are cooked add a can of cream of chicken soup. Mushroom or celery can also be used if you don't have the chicken soup. Also add 1-2 cups half and half depending on your own personal preference. I use 1 cup saving the other cup for another soup. I also buy the fat free version! Stir well, heat until hot and serve.
yummo.....