Announcing The Coming of Lila Daley's Musings On Etsy.com!

G'Day!

For the past few months I have been playing around with making different types of jewelry.  I have slowly been purchasing supplies and putting things together.  I plan to open up my own Etsy shop in the next couple of weeks.  It is called LilaDaleysMusings of course.  Makes finding me easier on the wide world web.  I like to keep things simple and the same everywhere.  I hope to see you all there for my grand opening.  I will post on my blog when I open.  I will also preview some items before I open up shop.

I hope to make various kinds of items but right now I am just starting off with beaded jewelry.  I am learning and want to share my new creativity with others.  Up until last year I was only creative with words, I had no clue I could be creative with my hands.  Now I am starting to be able to look at things and see how they fit together and whatever else is need to make them complete.

This is the small area I am starting off with.  I have more items in other containers in the room besides the ones on the desk.  I have good light plus the table light which is very bright.  The bigger desk I have is used for my writing and blogging plus all my other financial things I take care of.

I am very much looking forward to this new opportunity!

Red Dragon Apothocary SoapScription Review for my January Box

Once a month for January, February and March I will be receiving 2 bars of soap for the 3 month SOAPScription I won at a Top Hatter auction held on the first Sunday of January's 8pm auction.  The lot  was sold by Red Dragon Apothocary.  I have been wanting to win a soapscrption of their's for months now but the auctions are usually at 10pm on Sunday and I am unable to attend at that time. 

The 3 month SOAPScirption includes 2 bars of 4-5oz goat milk's soap for the 3 months and a surprise gift during your birthday month.  The bars of soap are hand wrapped in decorative sparkly paper with pretty labels.  The scents are relevant to the month they are sent out in.

I received my January box today and boy was I surprised with the package I received.  The shipping box was wrapped in red paper.  Inside the box was 2 wrapped boxes of soap, two cards including a coupon code to use for my next etsy purchase from their store and a $ 20 gift certificate to use in conjunction with the coupon code.  I almost didn't see the gift certificate in the box and threw it out into the recycling bin but I noticed that the paper wasn't the same colour as the box and pulled it out and so pleased I checked the box again.  That would of been sad to of thrown out.  I have already placed an order at her etsy store and used my GC.  

The scent for this month is Eucalyptus Mint.  Scent Description:  A bright, refreshing blend of mint, citrus and ginger with clear notes of fresh eucalyptus and jasmine. Fresh cut mint leaves add a little extra to this invigorating blend.  It is the perfect scent for the weather that the GTA gets: cold, crisp and windy.  The soap is very therapeutic if you have a cold.  Eucalyptus is wonderful if you are congested and have a runny nose.  The mint isn't so strong that it is overpowering of the eucalyptus.  When you use this soap it doesn't make you smell like a pharmacy.  The scent perks up your senses and makes you smile.  It clears your head and makes it easier to think.  This is not a scent I would normally pick for myself but am so glad it was sent to me.  I see myself using this soap in my rotation during not only the cold months but also warmer months.  It is perfect for year-round.

The soap is make of goat's milk so it is very moisturizing and creamy.  Red Dragon Apothocary's soaps do not contain coconut oil.  Their soap's descriptions state:  Goat Milk soap is great for people with dry or sensitive skin, or conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Goat milk contains alpha hydroxy acids which help make skin smoother and younger looking. Goat milk is very moisturizing and won't dry out your skin. The milk contains natural emollients, vitamins and triglycerides that are beneficial to all skin types. A mild soap with creamy lather! 

The soap has a raised dragon design on the top of it.  It is rectangular shaped and came in a hand wrapped box.  It would be perfect to give away as a gift.  Due to the dragon design and the non feminine scent this bar of soap would even be appropriate to give away to that special man in your life.

The soap lathers nicely and makes your shower smell like a beautiful day at the spa.  I have some dry areas; elbows, knees and tops of my hands.  After 1 use of this soap those areas are smoother and less itchy and dry.  I can't wait for my February box to get here!

Tips on keeping your bar soaps lasting longer:  Keep them in a well drained soap dish and allow them to dry between uses.  I have bought soap savers that are hand croched bags made of cotton.  I hang them at the back of my shower on the top of my conditioner bottle so the wet soap can dry out.  When soap bars are left in standing water they turn mushy and waste away.  Pus no one wants to use a mushy, slimy bar of soap.

If you are looking for Tarot Readings by Red Dragon Apothocary on Etsy please click on the link.

What are you waiting for in the mail? Christmas Orders

I have started to order Christmas gifts online.  Usually I order in October due to shipping delays closer to the end of November and early December  The internet has better deals than Canadian stores do.  I am currently waiting on various different orders.  Mostly for my my mom and friends and even a few for items for me.  We are all beauty junkies and its fun to get different things for them that aren't available in Canada.

On Tophatter I won:

Beautiful 6 in 1 Steampunk Glass Pendants Necklace.  My mom will just love these.

Gorgeous Vintage Style Cameo Cuff Bracelet:  

100 European Style Beads.  I have various Euro bracelets I have been making to give away as giftst.

Mystery Hoodoo Grab Bags Lot.  The auction was for 2 out of the 3 in the picture. 

BMGM Oshun Spirit Mystery Box.  My previous mystery box from this seller had the gorgeous salts in it along with bangles, red salt and delicious teas.

I have an order I put in from Sumer ScentSations on Etsy that includes gorgeous bars of lavender soap, solid perfumes and lotions.  These are for the ladies at work.  I know that box of goodies will smell wonderful.

I also have an order from Moonalisa from September I think that was mailed out last week.  Includes body powders and hair mists and a delicious scrub.  Another order that will smell awesome when it arrives.  

Most of these orders should be here this week.  I hope to wrap alot of gifts this weekend and get them done before we put the tree up Sunday.

What do you have coming in the mail?  

Sweet Pine Soaps Order Review

I finally got around to purchasing Cold Pressed (CP) soap off Etsy.  I ordered from Sweet Pine Soaps.  TAT was very fast.  I was searching Etsy for unscented organic soap and came across this nice store.  I ordered 3 soaps to try homemade soaps before making a bigger order in case I didn't like them.

It's official!  I will no longer buy store bought soaps, other than the Dove Sensitive Skin soap bars for my husband.  The lather and fragrance is amazing!  I got unscented, Triple Lemon and Orange Grapefruit Clove.  These are all cold pressed.  She also included a small slice of Primrose Orange soap.

The Triple Lemon has three different lemon essential oils in it.  I cut the bar into thirds.  I used it in the shower and it has fantastic lather.  It smells fantastic.  I also used part of the bar as hand soap.

First sniff of Orange Grapefruit Clove is very strong of citrus and spice.

I cut the unscented bar into thirds as well and used it also in the shower on my sensitive skin on my upper arms.  It moisturized my skin greatly and has a very organic scent to it.

Unscented soap ingredients: saponified oils of olive, *coconut, *palm, (sustainably harvested) & *castor; filtered water.
*denotes organic ingredient

Note: 'saponified' is a term to indicate sodium hydroxide (lye) has been used to turn the oils into soap, none left in the finished bar. 

For the triple lemon, the base ingredients are the same, organic turmeric to color it and scent it with lemon, lemongrass & litsea cubeba essential oils.

For the pink grapefruit, the base ingredients are the same, rose clay to color it and scent it with orange, pink grapefruit and clove essential oils.

What soap brands do you prefer? What scents do you like? Leave your answers in the comment section below.

What is Etsy all about?

Have you ever wonder what Etsy is? You have heard about it but not sure what it really is. Etsy is a mall like website. There are many shops all in one place. What do all the shops have in common? They only sell handmade or vintage items.

Jewelry, lotion, soap, makeup, toys, quilts, beading, art, frames, home decor, candles, fragrance oils, essential oils, clothing, hats, scrap-booking materials, paper items, wedding items, laundry soap

I first heard of Etsy.com on makeupalley.com on the wedding board. They were discussing their headpieces, wedding jewelry and hair clips. I had looked at some links to various etsy.com shops to give opinions for the posters. Being married myself, I didn't really need to browse for myself. I didn't spend much time on the site thinking they only sold items for weddings.

A few months back I started to develop severely sensitive skin and was directed to Etsy on MUA for homemade bath products, soap and shampoo. I searched a bunch of different stores and found that most of them had cute soaps and packaging and fairly decent shipping to Canada. Some places have $15 for the first item and $5 for each additional item which is very high. I would not be willing to pay that amount as there is many many other shops with more reasonable shipping rates. I know that it's more work to ship internationally.

The good thing about Etsy when it comes to bath and body products is that SLSs aren't used and everything is gentle on your skin. Ingredients are either listed or you can ask for them. My skin problems have gone away for the most part since using homemade products.

The jewelry is beautiful and you can see the time and care put into the pieces when you receive them. Many items are one-of-a-kinds or there are very few out there. You know you will have unique pieces.

You are able to contact the seller and do special orders with most sellers. The TAT may be a bit longer if they are having to make it for you specially but you get what you want.

I love to browse and purchase on Etsy.com. There is so much variety and the customer service is fantastic. Take a look yourself. Have fun!

Making my home welcoming with fragrance

How I prefer to make my home warm and welcoming

I love a good smelling home. I have a 2 storey home with a basement. It is on the smaller size but very cute. The size gives it a welcoming feel but a good fragrance when you come in the home adds a warming touch to the home.

I use both wax tarts and home fragrance oils (HFO). I have a few tea light warmers upstairs and in the dining room to give a warm ambiance along with a gentle scent. By the front door which is attached to the living room I have a plate warmer. I tend to put a third, half or quarter of a wax tart in the warmer, depending on the warmer. Once the scent is gone from the tart I then add a few drops of home fragrance oil in the wax. This keeps the oil in the burner from evaporating or burning.

I prefer bakery, clean, citrus and subtle floral scents. Strong florals and sugary sweet scents like brandied apple give me headaches. I love to wake up in the morning to the scent of coconut in the bathroom. I have a tea light warmer in there. After work and on the weekends I use the other tea light warmers and my plate warmer along with scents that compliment each other and the difference areas of the home.

Always remember when using tea light warmers stay close to them so you can keep an eye on them, you wouldn't want your warmer to start a fire and do damage to your home.

I get my tarts from various etsy shops, Yankee Candle and Walmart. I get my HFOs from Bath and Body Works and little boutiques. The flea market always has great candle stalls. You can cut voltives in half and use them in your warmers as well if you don't want to burn them. I find that burning candles don't give me the throw I want.