Every time I walk in the door of my mother in law’s house these days I pause in the entry to take a sniff. Hmmmm, rose today? With a bit of lavender? Actually I have a terrible nose for deciphering scents which is why I’ll never make a sommelier, so I stop trying to guess and maker [...]]]>

Every time I walk in the door of my mother in law’s house these days I pause in the entry to take a sniff. Hmmmm, rose today? With a bit of lavender? Actually I have a terrible nose for deciphering scents which is why I’ll never make a sommelier, so I stop trying to guess and maker her tell me, “What kind of soap did you pour today?” Totally wrong- it’s peppermint and there’s a beautiful green batch of basil lemon bars waiting on the counter to be cut.

After lots of research over three years and a class last month in San Diego Becky has been avidly pouring soap this winter every chance she gets. The results are simply gorgeous. I was especially excited about her new spa bar and the two Valentine soaps so I convinced her to give a few away to one of you lucky ducks. Read below to enter, and just wait till you smell them!

Rose Geranium Soap, made with oils of olive, Palm Kernel, Palm and Shea Butter. Crushed roses on the top make me think it looks like a piece of cake you could eat!

All these bathing beauties are for sale – $5 a bar or buy 5 bars and get the 6th free! To order, contact Becky at info@principiabeauty.com Please specify if you’d like shipping in time for Valentine’s Day

These creamy white bars are poured into intricate molds and scented with essential peppermint oil and a little dash of fairy sparkle dust. Available in four different storybook pictures- $8 a bar.

Almost too pretty to use, but they feel too good on your skin not to!

I love this polka dot funnel pour bar, the colors are what it's all about. Lightly scented with peppermint essential oil.

This swoon-worthy bar is laced with champagne citrus scents. And it's cute to boot with hand- swirled hearts in red.

Spa bars-A complex fragrance of Lemon Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Tea tree oil with the addition of Oregon Blue Green Algae makes this sedate and soothing. And ridiculously pretty to look at.

Becky is giving away four of her newest soaps! A spa bar, a rose geranium, a heart, and a polka dot, all beautifully packaged to give for Valentine’s day or keep and spoil yourself!

Here’s how to enter: Three ways for three chances in the random drawing–

1) “Like” this post or share it anyway your heart desires (Tell us you did in a comment!)

2) “Like” Principia on facebook here (Again, tell us in your comment!)

3) Give us your best ideas for naming the 3 new heart, rose, and polka dot soaps. (Give us your ideas in a comment, or email them to pinkpeppers@googlegroups.com)

Winner to be announced Monday February 8!

You’re the winner of a box of 12 truffles from Arrowhead Chocolate, so go ahead and choose your fancy: milk or dark chocolate, or go for a mix! Enjoy!

Here’s a great project for any time of the year, for adults or kids. My mother-in-law has been making gorgeous soap for a while now and came across the idea of felting soap. Basically you are creating a washcloth around your bar of soap that will shrink around the bar until it is all used [...]]]>

Here’s a great project for any time of the year, for adults or kids. My mother-in-law has been making gorgeous soap for a while now and came across the idea of felting soap. Basically you are creating a washcloth around your bar of soap that will shrink around the bar until it is all used up. I showed everyone how to do it at Christmas and Meghan captured it all in beautiful photos, as is her way. You can get creative with fun colors and designs and I love that this craft is useful (not to mention kind of addictive once you do a few.)

Here’s what you need:

A bar of good quality soap – doesn’t matter what shape

Roving wool (this is where we found gorgeous colors for cheap)

A nylon sock

A washboard-like surface (we used bamboo place mats, but any finely ridged surface works)

Hot water

Felting Needles (You don’t have to do this part, but I think it’s the most fun.)

First select some colors of roving wool (you can use multiple ones) and wrap tightly around your bar of soap. Cover all the bar.

It won't look perfect, but try to go for an even, thick layer that doesn't leave any corners exposed.

Carefully place the wrapped soap into your nylon sock.

Get the whole thing soaking wet with hot water and scrub every side of the bar on your mat. Check the progress of the felting by pulling off the sock, and if the felt is not holding together yet, keep going.

To add a design like the little Christmas tree above, simply shape a rough shape out of wool and place on the still wet bar of soap. Prick and poke into shape until it is completely adhered to the bar. You can layer your design, like I did with the little white dots on the tree.

Let your creations dry out for a good day or so, the fibers will shrink and look even better once they are dry. To use, simply wet the bar in the tub and scrub away! Perfect for kid's dirty feet in the summer!

My mom-in-law and I just did a little batch of Valentine soaps with hearts in red white and pink. Get inspired (or just cheat and buy some, we won’t tell) by these super cute designs on etsy. I love this bird one.

Ever since this shop opened  last winter I’ve been dying to take my family to Arrowhead Chocolate. Every time I go, I feel spoiled – [...]]]>

Hooray, a give away!

My favorite chocolate shop is giving away a box of truffles to one of you lucky souls! See below to enter. . . .

Ever since this shop opened  last winter I’ve been dying to take my family to Arrowhead Chocolate. Every time I go, I feel spoiled – like I’ve just stepped off the street in Seattle or Portland rather than little cow town Joseph, Oregon.  So while everyone was visiting last weekend for New Years, this was top on the list of things to do.  We sat there drinking in the smells, tastes, and mountain view and when the ever-camera-toting-Meghan was invited behind the counter to photograph to her heart’s desire, we knew a beautiful blog post was in order.

The shop was started by parent/daughter team Bruce, Wendy, and Erica Reininger who combined their diverse backgrounds to pull off an irresistible concoction of  handmade artisan food and drink, delightfully rustic- modern-Scandi decor, and welcoming service that makes you smile every time you order a mocha ( if you weren’t already smiling. You are surrounded by chocolate after all.)

Bruce brought his skills learned while apprenticing for nearly a year with a Swiss-trained master chocolatier. “It was a unique and special opportunity to learn from a man who wished to pass on his knowledge and chose to teach him,” says Erica, adding that her dad has built on his education to create many recipes and techniques exclusively his own. Try for one,  the new Foxfire Masala Chai Truffle made by infusing cream with loose leaf tea for a creamy bite of rich spice and chocolate that leaves your taste buds happily overwhelmed.

Erica, who worked in graphic design in Portland before coming back to Wallowa County, has lent her eye to shaping everything from the logo and décor to packaging and website.  The “V” logo you’ll find on your box of truffles goes back to the cowboy days of the family-owned Arrowhead Ranch when the symbol was used for cattle branding. “We thought it was a good idea to stick with the original logo and name that has been a part of this county for so long,” says Erica, “Anything our family does commercially we do under the Arrowhead name and logo.” That goes for their other businesses too which include guest cabins for rent and growing organic produce for local farmer’s markets, caterers, and the community.

And as for the shop itself, Erica has struck a balance of vintage and modern by integrating old fence boards from the farm for shelving and signs, a fresh white and lime green color pallet, and whimsical touches like the carved and painted mountain goat head on the wall.  “It was important to me to hit the right note with the shop’s design, to give it an updated but unpretentious feel, where folks of all ages could enjoy a cup of coffee and a treat, and feel welcomed.”

If Joseph, Oregon is a little far off the beaten path for a road trip, just drop a few well-timed hints to your Valentine to check out the online shop. (Coming in time for February 14, decadent molded chocolate hearts decorated with white, dark, and milk chocolate and beautiful packaging in custom made wooden boxes.)

I'm pretty sure I could use one of these in my kitchen.

I can’t get enough of their mochas (served with a drippy chocolate spoon to go with it!), the freshly whipped cream on all the drinks, and the  caramels with sea salt. . . . Oh, and the new chai truffle.

Cocoa pods

So enjoy the...

coffee and the...

the spectacular view.

Drooling yet? Thankfully you’re in luck– enter to win a box of 12 Arrowhead chocolates and choose from dark, milk or a mix of chocolate truffles to arrive with love from Eastern Oregon. Check out the mouthwatering combinations here!

No, you don’t have to find a golden ticket to win, instead go ahead and:

1) Share the link via facebook, text, email, messenger pigeon, whatever- and let us know you did in a comment below.

2) Get another entry by  ”Liking” Arrowhead on facebook here

Random winner to be announced next Monday, January 15!

Basically I have bad hair right now. (A trend in our family). So while it grows out, I’ve had to get creative. This is a pretty fun updo that results in wavy curls when you take it out. Often I put freshly washed hair (just a little damp still with some root pump and/or mousse) [...]]]>

Basically I have bad hair right now. (A trend in our family). So while it grows out, I’ve had to get creative. This is a pretty fun updo that results in wavy curls when you take it out. Often I put freshly washed hair (just a little damp still with some root pump and/or mousse) up in the morning and then take it out for the evening so it’s all curly.

Here’s a video to show you how. (And geesh, what an adorable blog)

I’ve also tried the three sock method, which also worked well and was surprisingly comfortable to sleep in. Attractive to sleep in? That’s another question. Zac kept asking, “So. . . what do you have against a curling iron?” Here’s how to do that.

On Monday I’m going to turn 25- in the salon. Hair and pedicure- hours of off-my-feet bliss. Deciding on a hair style always makes me feel crazy though. Here are some of my ideas, with help from a friend, so far.

Have you ever whacked off your hair short? And liked it? It's so tempting but scary.

A) Your weather includes snow for the next 5 month

B) Your weather includes rain during [...]]]>

Alright mothers, I have for you the one piece of footwear your child will need until summer. One. Yes, it is kind of pricey in my book, but if your situation fits any of the below descriptions, you need these boots:

A) Your weather includes snow for the next 5 month

B) Your weather includes rain during cold months

C) Your weather includes slush and mud this winter

D) All of the above

I give you the Bog:

Granted, I live in fairly extreme weather conditions, so the fact that these puppies will keep feet warm in up to -30 degrees is a big deal. They are completely waterproof –which oddly enough, is not a quality found in every snow boot. It’s as if the manufacturers of most boots think that snow stays in a nice, clean, powdery frozen state at all times. This boot holds up to melted, filthy, mucky, puddley snow and comes out clean as a whistle with a quick rinse of warm water. It’s more like a sleek little rain boot that is completely insulated for winter weather. And that leads to me to the overall appearance of the boot. CUTE. The girls’ option are so adorable, and the boys’ have some fun bugs, dragons, spider webs etc.

Great Christmas gift, but I recommend you bite the bullet, spend the $60-$70 and start enjoying them now.

One word of wisdom: Don’t buy the “bumpy” design boots like this:

I got Freyja the pink version, but for some reason the bumpy texture causes the colorful design to rub off very quickly and look worn out. I don’t think they make this kind anymore but there are still plenty of them for sale.  Go with the slick, shiny version like this:

Oh, and P.S.: This post has nothing to do with the fact that SOMEONE’S children were wearing rain boots during our Christmas tree excursion in 3 feet of snow last year and the poor little dears had frost bite before they were even out of the car. . . . Nothing  to do with that.

1) Go through your makeup bag and throw out anything you don’t use.

2) Take stock of what you do use (wipe bottles and compacts clean if they are smudged and powdery) and what you’re out of. [...]]]>

Here is something really fun to do. I did it last month and maybe I’m crazy, but it felt wonderful.

1) Go through your makeup bag and throw out anything you don’t use.

2) Take stock of what you do use (wipe bottles and compacts clean if they are smudged and powdery) and what you’re out of.  Re-order or go shopping for the essentials so your bag contains only have what you use and love. Aileen gave makeup pointers here.

3) Clean all your makeup brushes.

4) Reward yourself with a new makeup bag and clean out a drawer or shelf to keep all your pretty things easily accessible.

My very own drawer lined with pretty smelling paper is a lovely thing to be greeted by for my morning or evening face routine. It doesn’t matter that the drawer next to it is full of huggies and wipes and bags to put especially atrocious diapers into. Or that the drawer below is a jumble of hair curlers and combs, clips and bobby pins that I just can’t ever seem to keep organized. Beautiful cleanliness reigns in my top right drawer.

Photo credit: Nicole Slater Photography

 Maybe the best thing was refreshing my skin care with a complete regiment from Principia (the organic skin care line I’m helping my mother in law with). She has new product for sale now (and a new beautiful look for all the products) including a scrub and super moisturizing cleanser, perfect as cold dry weather sets in. Now even if I don’t get around to make up my skin looks good enough on its own.

I felt a little light headed when I saw this bag at a local decor store and knew it was coming home with me. The luxurious fuchsia tassel was enough to make me fall in love. Just look at all these other gorgeous bags Papaya does. It’s my new favorite brand of all things girly.

Jude’s Costume:

Cost: Under $5

Buy: Package of black feathers, a package of other colored feathers of your choice, a plastic face mask

On hand: some fabric – felt works well but I used whatever I had, safety pins, glue gun and glue

Wings How To:

Baby crow taking flight

Jude’s Costume:

Cost: Under $5

Buy: Package of black feathers, a package of other colored feathers of your choice, a plastic face mask

On hand: some fabric – felt works well but I used whatever I had, safety pins, glue gun and glue

Wings How To:

Cut an oval to fit your child’s shoulder, Glue larger feathers down to cover fabric and top them with smaller ones to make a design

Mask How To:

Arrange feathers however you like and glue in place (I recommend smaller feathers here since mine look a little too large for a small face), and paint the beak orange if you feel inclined.

Freyja’s costume was homemade but not by me.  She found it at the second hand store and all her “Indian Princess with a baby on my back” ideas went out the window. So I figured I could at least make a giant paper carrot for her to collect candy.