GCDSpa Celebrations

Don't Miss a Thing!

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 01:00:00 +0000

Remember how I posted last week about the new site? And about how the old site will be retired soon? Well, this blog will also be changing as we move to the new site, and I want to make sure you don't miss a thing!

If you're currently subscribed here, I'd like to invite you to subscribe at the new blog. If you prefer to receive updates by email, you can subscribe here. And you can click here to subscribe via your favorite reader.

All of our Facebook friends got a sneak peek at the new site last week. Would you like to see it? We're still making final changes, but we'd love to know what you think!

Thanks so much for your patience while we complete this transition!

Wait! Where's GCDSpa?

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 21:00:00 +0000

Sneak peek...

I'm so excited to share the change that's happening at my site. In fact, it's a totally new site!

In a few short days, GCDSpa.com will be retired (after 10 years!) and you'll find a new, improved site in its place.

For the past 7 months I've been working with some very talented people on this project. I wanted to mark our 10 year anniversary with a big shift, inspired by your thoughts, comments, and questions over the years. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us so we'd know what was really important to you!

• You said you like customized products the best. (Hey, those are my favorites, too!)

• You let me know that it could be simpler to navigate and order at the site. I hear you!

• You said you needed to see examples and options on your phones, tablets, and iPads. Now we're talking!

• You requested new designs with trendy themes and fonts. You got it!

This new site is easy to navigate, the ordering is simpler, and I dare say, it's kinda fun! We saved all of your favorite products, flavors, fragrances, and designs, and added some new trendy stuff, too. And the designs (and other options) are bigger and easier to see. Oh, and it looks great on your phone, too.

Now, don't get nervous. Though our site and name are changing, I promise that we haven't changed the way we work. We still love to talk with you about your event details, and we'll still email examples to you so you can approve designs before we make them. Rush service? Yep. Low minimums? Of course. Oh, and we're still ridiculously enthusiastic about lip balm. (Some things never change.)

I hope that we've addressed all the top wishes of our customers, but if you have any questions or concerns with the new site (which we expect to go live next week), please let me know. I'd love to know what you think!

In the meantime, please check out the Clearance items at GCDSpa.com...only a few items left and the absolute last chance for facial products and cosmetic bag sets.

5 Things to Steal from the Boho Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 01:00:00 +0000

If you're a fan of free-spirited, casual events with colorful touches, you probably love Bohemian weddings. And really, what's not to love? With jewel-toned palettes, flowing fabrics, and Moroccan inspiration, the Boho wedding has become a popular theme for weddings and showers.

We love the Boho look so much we think every event needs to share a little, so here are 5 things to ~~borrow~~ steal from the Boho Wedding.

The Crowns
If every girl is supposed to feel like a princess on her wedding day, why not dress the part? With or without a veil, a crown is a simple way to say, "Yes, I am fabulous!" Choose simple or ornate, in cool metallics or gorgeous blooms. We love the look of this delicate leaf design by gardensofwhimsy. And what about floral crowns like this Charlotte Floral Crown design by LoveSparklePretty? Here's a look at our favorites.

LoveSparklePretty Charlotte Floral Crown | gardensofwhimsy Leaf Crown

Bridal hair crown by whichgoose

The Flowers
Speaking of flowers, let's just steal all the Boho florals. Because let's face it, these weddings know how to bring the blooms. Floral patterned fabrics, arrangements, bouquets, swags, garlands, boutonnieres...we love it all. Here are some of our favorite ways to share blossoms on your big day (and you can find tons more on Pinterest).

photo by Paula O'Hara | photo by Nicole Marie Photography

The Lace
Wedding gowns with delicate, feminine lace are classic, elegant, and sexy. But you don't need to wear lace in order to share the elegance: add lacy table covers, runners, and accents on florals for a touch of finery at any event.

Abba Gown by CoconBridal | Lace and Chiffon Dress by paulastudio

Burlap and Lace Table Runner from SilverStarfishDesign

The Braids
When you think of the Bohemian bride, you probably picture her with long, flowing hair, but just as often you'll see her with braids. From fishtail braids to long, loose plaits, we love Boho hairstyles. And remember the crowns we were just talking about? Why not braid one for this gorgeous look?

Bohemian Side Braid tutorial

The Naked Cakes
The what cakes now? You heard me right! Cakes that are "naked" are missing that outer layer of buttercream or fondant, so you can see the flavor of the cake layers inside as well as the cake's fillings. The rustic appearance makes them perfect for Bohemian weddings, or any event where you want to share a more casual, natural look. (We love naked cakes with fruit and flowers, too.)

Red Velvet cake created by Ideas in Icing, photographed by Jennifer Oliphant Photographer

While these are our absolute favorite things about Boho weddings, there are just too many other fantastic details to share them all here. We'd love it if you'd check out more of our Bohemian wedding inspiration on Pinterest!

What are your favorite Boho wedding details? Do you like the embroidery and macrame? Or the candles and garlands? Let us know what you think!

We Say Goodbye to a Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 01:15:00 +0000

With great sadness we share the loss of our friend and former office manager, Leonardo. He was 19.

“Mr. Nardo” was an important part of our business until his retirement several years ago. He instituted our long-running office recreation program, which included games of fetch and red light-green light.

Nardo could type 45 gobbledygook words per minute, and had real enthusiasm for filing and printer maintenance. He was an excellent chair-warmer and pencil-pusher. He took his unofficial role as office counselor very seriously; many a tense moment was calmed by his soothing presence. In 13 years of service, he required only occasional reprimands for inappropriate grooming.

While we appreciated his business strengths, Nardo was a family man at heart. The party boy ways of his youth were replaced quite gracefully by a love for his kids. He tirelessly patrolled the closets and under bed spaces for monsters. Whenever anyone was up late—finishing a project, feeling sick or sad—he was always there for a snuggle or a head bump. No one was allowed to feel lonely in his house.

More recently he even assisted with homework assignments; his skill on laptops was unmatched.

Nardo loved dogs and donuts, baths and biscuits. He had a notable sense of style and a flair for the dramatic: he wore his trademark tuxedo right into retirement.

It’s rare to find a friend and coworker as gifted as Mr. Nardo. Driven by a natural curiosity, he lived with real enthusiasm. He seemed to forget any harsh words, forgave any slights, and he ended every day with a song.

Our days will be quieter and emptier without him.

Flavor of the Month January 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 04:00:00 +0000

Back in October I sampled chocolate croissants from every patisserie in Quebec City.

OK, this might be an exaggeration. What I do remember quite vividly was that next to and around the chocolate croissants in the patisseries were these very delicate, colorful confections. January's Flavor of the Month is a nod to this lovely cookie, the macaron.

Just like the cupcake before it, the macaron has become wildly popular. With their characteristic crispy exteriors, melt-in-your-mouth centers, and butter-creamy filling, these meringue-based cookies have been popping up everywhere. They're featured on wedding dessert tables, as tiny treats at bridal teas, and baby shower goodies.

Our own macaron has a subtle vanilla-almond flavor with a hint of sweet buttercream. Available at 15% off through the end of the month, Macaron Lip Balm will also be included in orders placed by our favorite customers, so make sure to select the check box during checkout!

Do you love macarons? What are your favorite flavor combinations?

How To Send the Best Cookie Gifts Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 23:10:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but I love baking and I enjoy adding cookies to my holiday gifts. Sometimes I find it challenging to make sure my cookie gifts are not only yummy, but also arrive intact and on time! Address these three challenges and you're sure to send the best cookie gifts ever. Here's how:

1. Choose the Best Recipes

Everyone has their family favorites (mine are Swiss Biberlis and ginger snaps), but in general the best cookies for shipping are firm or chewy cookies. You want a cookie that isn't as likely to break or crumble, and one that will stay fresh longer. Snickerdoodles, biscotti, brownies and bar cookies also ship really well.

I used to send decorated sugar cookies, but they are more fragile and trickier to ship. And cookies and treats that require refrigeration can spoil during shipping, so I always save these to share in person.

Another thing to consider is whether your recipient has any dietary restrictions. There are lots of good gluten free and paleo recipes and your gift will be that much more meaningful when it's something that fits with their lifestyle!

2. Carefully Wrap and Package

Once you have your scrumptious treats, you want to wrap them so they're pretty (and so they stay fresh), then package them for shipping so they arrive without breaking. There are so many ways to wrap cookies: individually in parchment embellished with washi tape, slipped into cello or glassine bags, layered in boxes or tins. Sugarbelle's blog provides some gorgeous inspiration for cookie packaging.

When shipping a variety of cookies, remember to separate the crunchy from the chewy, the spicy from the fruity, so they will arrive with the intended flavors and textures! Cello bags with tags and colorful ribbon are a simple way to package sturdy cookies for shipping while keeping flavors separate.

Once your cookies are wrapped, use bubble wrap or tissue paper to cushion them in your shipping box. Add enough packing material so the cookies don't slide around in the box at all. Martha Stewart offers more packaging examples and tips for shipping. Sugarbelle's also has a post about shipping cookies (and you'll definitely want to read this one if you're shipping decorated or fragile cookies).

3. Ship Early

I'm still working on holiday packages to ship to friends and family (hey, don't judge!). Time gets away from me this time of year (you too?), so to me this is the MOST challenging of the Best Cookie Gifts challenges.

The USPS website is your friend when planning cookie gift shipments. Their Holiday Planner says we have until December 20 to ship by First-Class or Priority mail and still have delivery in the U.S. by December 24, so I'm not technically behind in my shipments. However, if I wanted to ship to my in-laws in Switzerland, I should ship by tomorrow with Priority Mail. International and military shipping times vary based on destination, so refer to the site for up-to-date information.

Make sure to check the USPS website whenever you're scheduling your cookie shipments to know not only when to ship but how long the cookies will take to arrive. This will help you choose the type of cookie for your gift so it can be the very best ever!

Do you mail cookies for your holiday gifts? What tips and tricks do you use to make sure they arrive as yummy and pretty as you made them? Anything I've missed? Please share in the comments!

5 Stocking Stuffers Under $15

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Yankee Swap, Secret Santa, stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, teacher appreciation—so many times we need a little gift to say a big thank you. Need some ideas? Here are 5 Stocking Stuffers (etc.) under $15.

1. Holiday Lip Balm Set - $13.50

It looks like a candy box. (It IS a candy box.) But the sweetness inside is better than candy. (OK, we might be a little biased.)

Our Holiday Lip Balm Set (see below) contains an assortment of 5 holiday lip balms nestled into red paper crinkles and tied up with a red polka dot bow with holiday label. The assortment may vary, but can include Sugar Cookie, Ginger Pear, Cranberry, Gingerbread, Candy Cane, Sugar Plum, Pumpkin Latte...mmmm...

Great gifts for: teachers, or stocking stuffers for tweens (and teens).

2. Shower Smoothers Gift Set - $13.95

Most people love a nice bottle of bubbly, especially one they can enjoy in the shower. They also love having winter skin that doesn't feel too tight or dry.

Shower Smoothers Gift Sets pair our "bubbly" bath gel with soothing, smoothing body lotion in the most popular scents of the season to leave skin soft and moisturized.

Great gifts for: best friends, moms, Yankee swaps

3. Lip balm - $2.95

Question: what one item do you have in every pocket, purse, bedside stand, and cosmetic bag?
Answer (probably): lip balm

Especially this time of year, when we're expected to meet and greet family from far and near—at the same time smiling in that dry, cold outdoor air—we need to have those smoochers in top form.

Look here for our most popular Lip Balm flavors for the holiday or any day, with colorful labels and caps. Order 4 and you're still under $12 (and we'll even wrap them up for you with a holiday bow).

Great gifts for: absolutely everyone

4. Sugar Scrubs - $11.50

Remember how I was talking earlier about dry skin, and how nice it is to smooth away that too-tight, dry-skin feeling? Sugar Scrubs take that whole skin-soothing experience to 11.

With natural exfoliants, lightly moisturizing oils, and fabulous fragrances, our Sugar Scrubs are a spa trip in a jar. Which is especially welcomed this time of year, when there might not be time (yet) to slow down for a massage or pedicure.

Great gifts for: overworked women everywhere

5. Holiday Travel Packs - $6.00

Our most popular gifts for coworkers, these little Travel Packs are just the right size to keep in your desk or purse.

Lip balm and 1 ounce lotion bottle are tucked into a colorful organza bag, topped off with a gift card just waiting for your holiday message. Something thoughtful like, "I'm so glad we're friends!" or "Stop burning popcorn in the office microwave!"

Great gifts for: Secret Santa, coworkers, stocking stuffers

Make sure to order by December 16 for holiday shipping!

Our gifts are especially nice ways to remind people to pamper themselves—and who couldn't use a little pampering during the holidays?

Flavor of the Month December 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 04:30:00 +0000

Are you a fan of The Night Before Christmas or The Nutcracker Suite? This month's flavor is inspired by both. Sugar Plum is a sweet, fruity balm that will remind you of wintry dreams and fairy ballerinas.

Sugar Plum is available at 15% off through the end of the month.

We'll also be including a Sugar Plum lip balm in orders placed by our favorite customers, so make sure to select one at checkout!

Disgustingly Delicious Monster Party Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 22:00:00 +0000

"Trick or treat?"

"Trick. If you can say 'ogre boogers' five times, I'll give you some."

Okay, they might actually be pear-flavored jelly beans, but isn't it more fun to think of them as boogers? And really, ogre boogers make a much better monster theme party treat.

What if you don't have green jelly beans? We have tags for candy corn (which are clearly Jack-o-lantern teeth) and mini marshmallows (aka ghost poop). Yes, I know that's disgusting. And kids will love it.

Monster Candy Tags

Click here to download a PDF that includes all three tag designs. The PDF includes three pages, each with three fold-over tags of the same design (for personal use only, please). Print the design of your choice onto card stock and then use the dotted line guides on the sides to create the creases for folding. Cut along the guide lines above and below, then trim the sides of each tag to fit your bags.

Fill a ziploc bag with treats (we used the snack size bags) and seal, then fold a tag over the top and staple to cover the zip.

Which do you like better: ogre boogers, ghost poop, or jack-o-lantern teeth?

Don't Be Afraid To Keep Blooming

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 17:30:00 +0000

Every weekend I've gone outside, prepared to put away my garden for the winter. And every weekend I've seen something like this:

Who could possibly pull up blooming morning glories (or cosmos or zinnias or marigolds)? They continue to open against a palette of bright orange and gold leaves falling slowly in the yard.

I came across an article last week that talked about "late bloomers"--people throughout history who didn't make their great discovery, create their best art, write their best-selling novel until they were much older. When I went back to find the link, I found dozens of articles about people like actor Brian Cranston, KFC founder Colonel Sanders, authors Sue Monk Kidd, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Julia Child, even Dr.Seuss. Don't worry if you haven't hit your stride in your 30s (or 40s or even 50s), these articles reassure. There's always time to do your big thing.

What I wonder is why we don't talk more about the ever-bloomers: those people who find success of a kind early in life, then switch things up when life changes require it. I see examples of this all the time.

Like my neighbor, who announced last week that she'd passed the boards and was interviewing for her first job as a nurse. She's 59 and only recently finished several years of serious studying and practical work. Or the colleague who shared that she had overcome her fear of taking a new direction and decided to go back to school with a plan of "reinventing" herself. Everywhere I look I see other small businesses rethinking and rebranding; I'm in good company as I work to do the same with my own business this fall.

How about you? Are you finding that you can "bloom where you're planted" (like my morning glory)? Or do you need a change of scenery in your life to thrive (like the begonias I brought inside to protect from the frost)? What would it take to be able to keep blooming?

Flavor of the Month October 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 14:00:00 +0000

What's your favorite Halloween candy?

Lots of people mention the usual brands: Reese's, m&m's, Snickers, Hershey's. In fact, the top-selling Halloween candies are all chocolate.

Even though I know this, I still find myself buying Candy Corn every year. There's just something about its bright colors and syrupy sweetness that remind me of tricks and treats of the past. (Now that my kids are both teens, those days of costumes and sugar overdoses are nearing an end!)

While most people either love or hate Candy Corn, the lip balm flavor has been a universal favorite every fall. This year we poured in layers, just like the orange and yellow layers of those sweet kernels, and topped it off with a white cap. A sweet caramel flavor with a hint of honey...meet October's Flavor of the Month:

Candy Corn is available at 15% off through the end of the month.

We've also been including a Candy Corn lip balm in orders placed by our favorite customers. Remember to look for that check box at checkout this month.

Customer Feature: The Perfect Pair

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 20:00:00 +0000

Emily,

My daughter's maid of honor showed me your website, and when I saw the Perfect Pear lip balm, I more or less came up for a theme for the shower around it.

I thought you'd enjoy seeing the bridal shower favors we put together with your lip balm. I wrapped each one up in tulle along with some "juicy pear" jelly beans and tied them with cute ribbon. I love them and know that my daughter will too!

Thanks so much for your help!

Sarah D.

Thanks, Sarah! I love seeing the fun favors you created with our lip balms.
---
How about you? Have you recently shared our lip balms or favors at your event? We'd love to hear about it. Contact us and let us know the details so we can share them here!

Flavor of the Month September 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 03:33:00 +0000

September's Flavor of the Month is based on a Prohibition-era gin cocktail called The Bee's Knees. Apparently some of the gin of the time was rather...malodorous...so the story goes that honey syrup was added to make the drink more palatable. It must have worked: "the bee's knees" is a phrase (from the Roaring '20s) used to describe excellent things.

Even though no part of our Bee's Knees lip balm is malodorous (or contains alcohol at all, for that matter), we also include the flavors of honey syrup and lemon, just like the original cocktail. We think it's an "excellent thing," and we hope you do, too.

The Bee's Knees is available at 15% off through the end of the month like all of our Flavor of the Month balms. We still have a few of August's Watermelon lip balms available, too. (Make sure to order soon!)

We'll also be including a Bee's Knees lip balm in orders placed by our favorite customers. Remember to look for that check box at checkout this month.

Please Take Care

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 14:30:00 +0000

"I just feel like everyone wants a piece of me."

"I know I need time for myself, but that seems so selfish."

"I feel invisible."

These were the conversations I had yesterday. Yesterday, which started with my own less-than-kind self-talk (Why aren't you working out today? You shouldn't have eaten that brownie with breakfast) and ended with news of Robin Williams' death.

You don't have to look too far to see people who are hurting, who are stressed and worn out. Family taking care of elderly parents or sick siblings. Friends trying to meet the expectations of bosses and boyfriends, clients and customers. People who are stretched too thin.

We hear a lot about our chronic money problems in the U.S., about how we borrow too much and get too far in debt. I think it's more than our bank accounts that are overdrawn.

The simple truth is that you cannot give what you don't have—not for long, and not without going bankrupt. If it isn't selfish to put away money before we need to spend it, how can it be selfish to invest in our own personal resources? How can it be selfish to get enough sleep, to pause in the daily grind to prepare and eat good food, to set aside time for a walk or a trip to the gym?

Here's what I've learned: the only way to quiet my own negative thinking is to make a deposit. It doesn't always have to be big...sometimes all I need is a quick walk around my neighborhood. But I need to add something every day or very quickly I feel overwhelmed.

Is there something that makes you feel calm and relaxed? Someone who makes you laugh and brings you joy? An activity that lowers your stress and your blood pressure? This week, make time for that thing, that activity, that person. Make time to enjoy yourself, to invest in yourself and your well-being. It's the only way to be the best version of yourself.

And if you need extra help, please find it. Talk to a friend or to your doctor. To get more information about mental health services, you can call the SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline at 1-877-726-4727.

Please take care.

Why We Make (Mostly) Clean Bachelorette Favors

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 22:00:00 +0000

Well, it finally happened.

After nine years of making bachelorette party favors, someone asked me to make a favor design featuring male anatomy.

I'm a little surprised it didn't happen before now. If you've thrown a bachelorette party (or attended one), you know that much of the popular decor, accessories, and favors include phallic designs. From lollipops to cakes, chocolates, drinking straws, and even pasta, naughty is the norm for bachelorette parties.

In fact, it's so common that you're probably wondering why I don't do more of them. Sure, I have done favors like these, with risqué wording:

Kiss Bachelorette Favors | Label Design #308

I've created other favors with raunchy sayings. But why do I advertise and create mostly "clean" bachelorette favors?

A few years ago I went to a bridal shower that felt more like a bachelorette party. Mixed in with the traditional games were a few that were...well, lewd. While I often have a vulgar sense of humor, I could tell that some of the grandmothers present were very uncomfortable, and that made me feel awkward, too. While most bachelorette parties don't include grandmothers, I figured there had to be other groups who might not appreciate having genitalia designs on everything. I discovered that many of you agree.

"I have to say it was nice finding a place to get favors that did not include the male genitalia anywhere for my friend's bachelorette party," customer V. Raval shared. "The Bride is really happy I found your site as well. When you are in your 30's you want something a little more classy."

Leslie H., a customer from Tennessee, also appreciated having the option: "Thanks for offering something that's not crass and embarrassing for a bachelorette party!!" Leslie said.

When your guests (or the bride) are a little older, or come from different cultures or religious traditions, it might not be appropriate to share naughty novelties. Since most bachelorette shops are offering adult-themed items, it can be harder to find bachelorette favors and gifts personalized for the tame themes, which is why I love offering those options.

Sheila L. from New York shared what she liked best about the "clean" favors she ordered: "I just received my shipment of bachelorette favor lip balms and I have to say they are more beautiful than I ever could have imagined...I really and truly appreciate the time you took to personalize your patterns to the bride's colors."

Sometimes it's about personalizing to the bride's theme colors, and sometimes it's about the naughty designs. To us, it's always about options, so meet our newest design (I've been calling them Phun Phallus Phavors):

"To Have and To Hold" | Phun Phallus Bachelorette Favors
Label design #366, matching tag #1382 (tag pictured is #1035 on hot pink)

Well, what did you expect? This is a family site! (If you're interested, I promise we'll send you the uncensored version for your approval.)

What do you think? Do you prefer the tame, classy bachelorette favor, or the naughty novelty? Or a combination of naughty and nice? What's your favorite bachelorette party theme?

Bridal Shower Lotion Favor Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 03:30:00 +0000

I'm so excited to be participating in a giveaway at Emmaline Bride this week!

Would you like a chance to win 30 lotion favors, all wrapped up like the examples below? Please visit Emmaline Bride for details and enter before July 31.

Lavender Fields Forever

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 03:51:00 +0000

Last Saturday, we visited Glendarragh Lavender Farm in Appleton, Maine. They were almost ready to harvest the lavender and opened their farm to visitors. What a beautiful place!

I've always wanted to see fields of lavender but didn't know about Glendarragh until recently. They grow a dozen varieties of English and French (lavandin) lavender at their farm, in a range of colors from deep purple to pale pink, white, and of course, lavender. You can read more about them and see some harvest photos on their Facebook page.

I had fun taking some pictures (it's much prettier in person). As we strolled among the blossoming hedges, the scent of lavender followed us on the breeze. It was a warmer floral than the sometimes piney scent of the essential oil, somehow sweeter. My kids enjoyed the lemon lavender ice cream, made with the farm's lavender buds.

Of course I had to come home and make some Lavender Lemonade lip balms. It's a specialty flavor, a purple-hued lemon-flavored balm with a hint of lavender.

Lavender Lemonade lip balm

Have you ever visited a lavender farm?

Flavor of the Month July 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 13:33:00 +0000

Summers are for cold treats - and for lip balm versions of cold treats! This July, our Flavor of the Month is Root Beer Float. We add a generous scoop of vanilla to a mug (tube?) of fizzy root beer, for a sweet balm your lips will love.

Root Beer Float is available at 15% off through July 31 like all of our Flavor of the Month balms. (We still have a few Balm on the Fourth of July balms, too! Make sure to order soon!)

We'll also be including a Root Beer Float lip balm in orders placed by our favorite customers (Flavorites). Remember, we don't pick favorites, so you get to decide at checkout whether you'd like to join! Look for the check box at checkout this month.

Do you like root beer floats? What's your favorite summer treat?

Nautical Themed Wedding Favors

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 03:28:00 +0000

Anchors aweigh, it's a nautical theme day!

Not to take the wind out of your sails, but you don't need to go overboard planning a maritime bridal shower or bachelorette. Even a simple celebration can share oceans of love with the bride-to-be.

Anchors Aweigh Bridal Shower Favors | Tag Design # 1376 (matching label #360)

Want smooth sailing for the new couple? Share wisdom and marriage tips at the bridal shower, so the bride can learn the ropes from friends and family. Your advice can help them keep their relationship on an even keel.

Down the Hatch Bachelorette Favors | Label Design #361 (matching tag #1377)

You don't have to drink like a fish at your bachelorette party. Instead, choose your favorite cocktails in lip balm form. Mimosa and Pink Champagne are two of our most popular bachelorette party flavors. Down the hatch!

Oceans of Love Bridal Shower Favors | Label design #362 (matching tag #1378)

As she prepares to take the plunge, all that planning may leave the bride feeling like she can't keep her head above water. These little celebrations will get her back in the swim of things and feeling happy as a clam!

Dropping Anchor Bridal Shower Favors | Label Design #363 (matching tag #1379)

With your help, she'll have a whale of a time tying the knot. Talk with us about nautical theme favors for bridal showers and bachelorette parties!

Summer Yum Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 20:40:00 +0000

There are so many things to like about summer, I couldn't pick just one...so I picked ten of my favorites to share with you today. Here are our favorite summer recipes from the past few years, all together and linked to their original posts.

Have a yummy summer!

Berry Peachy Summer Cobbler

Spinach Pesto Pasta Salad

Lavender Lemonade

Baba Ghanoush

Grilled Fruit for Dessert

Indoor S'mores

Strawberry Basil Slushie

Fresh Salsa

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Cilantro Limeade

What's your favorite summer treat?

Thirsty Thursday: June Bug

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 02:38:00 +0000

Years ago I couldn't resist making a June Bug lip balm (I think it was a Flavor of the Month). It had a very bright, neon green color, and tasted like coconut, melon, pineapple, and banana.

If you're a fan of these tropical, summer flavors, you might like to try the real thing. Here's how you make one:

June Bug
3/4 ounce banana liqueur
3/4 ounce coconut rum
3/4 ounce melon liqueur
3 ounces pineapple juice

Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake well, then strain into a collins glass filled with ice.

What do you think of this fun summer drink?

Find more cocktail recipes online at about.com and Drinksmixer.com, and follow our Mixology board at Pinterest.

Thanks for Your Opinion

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 03:01:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I asked for your opinion about starting a Flavor of the Month Club. Thank you for sharing your thoughts at our online survey!

I'll be sharing the results of the survey in a future post, but for now I want to congratulate Elizabeth S., the winner of our $10 coupon for participating in the survey.

Flavor of the Month June 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 03:31:00 +0000

This month's flavor isn't exactly new; we've been making a version of this layered lip balm for years. First we poured them in clear jars, but later decided that they were much more fun in tubes.

This year, Balm on the Fourth of July is our Flavor of the Month for June, so there's plenty of time to get this stars and stripes balm to celebrate Independence Day.

The stars are on the label, but the stripes are inside: three stacked flavors in one tube. Start with yummy strawberry, followed by tart lemon ice in the middle, and finish with sweet blueberry.

Balm on the Fourth of July is available through July 4, at 15% off like all of our Flavor of the Month balms.

We'll also be including a Balm on the Fourth lip balm in orders placed by our favorite customers (Flavorites). Remember, we don't pick favorites, so you get to decide at checkout whether you'd like to join!

I think the last time I made Balm on the Fourth, the red layer was cherry flavored. I hope you like this new version! Have you ever tried a layered lip balm?

Gratitude and Other Gifts of Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Tue, 27 May 2014 20:30:00 +0000

I woke up one morning in early January and noticed that something was wrong with my hearing. At first I thought it was just a cold symptom, like congestion. After a few hours I realized I wasn’t just a little bit deaf in my left ear; I really couldn’t hear a thing.

Medical tests and doctors’ visits followed. The good news: I didn’t have a tumor. The bad news: I had profound hearing loss in my left ear. Doctors couldn’t say what caused it, and they weren’t sure if my hearing would come back.

I’ve spent the last few months looking for meaning in this loss, a way to “derive some good” from it. I feel hesitant to talk about it at all, especially here. What place does loss have in a blog about celebrations? What could we possibly learn from loss and grief?

Loss Teaches Patience

My first visit to a specialist ended with this recommendation: take these steroids and come back in a month. He couldn’t tell me whether my hearing would improve in that time, or ever. I just had to wait and see.

If you fancy yourself a “think and act” kind of person, the whole “wait and see” thing is very challenging. I went back to work right away, but felt frustrated by everything. I kept trying to answer the phone with the wrong ear. (“Can you hear me now?”) Then I’d set the phone down and promptly lose it. With only one ear, I couldn’t localize sounds; the phone would ring endlessly while I ran around the office searching for it. Little tasks were now complicated by vertigo and headaches. I just wanted everything to go back to normal.

But with some losses, there’s no going back. There’s a new “normal” to navigate, and no matter how quickly you want to figure it out, that takes time. Slowly I learned to accommodate my new disability. Keeping my phone in the same spot every day, using a vibrating alarm clock to make sure I got up on time (“Shake ‘n Wake”), monitoring my computer habits and lighting to prevent vertigo—I steadily made changes to work around my hearing impairment. I’m still learning, but being patient has helped me to feel more comfortable with this new normal.

Loss Teaches Kindness

It’s normal to be impatient with yourself when you’re going through a loss, and we sometimes feel that same impatience with others’ grieving. I have wondered how people could talk about grief for months or even years. How could a loss still feel so fresh to them after all that time?

Then a few weeks ago—long after I’d “gotten over” my hearing loss—spring arrived, with everything that brings: bright new leaves, warm sunny days, and peepers. I was so excited the first night I heard the frogs, but then it occurred to me that they had probably been peeping away out there for weeks and had just gotten loud enough for me to hear them. I realized that spring was never going to be the same. And it hit me: this is what it’s like for everyone who goes through loss.

If loss and grief aren’t linear, logical, or predictable (what “think and act” people would like to believe), then each new experience you have is a first—like my first spring—without that person or thing. Grief isn’t something you feel all at once and “get over”; it’s something that surfaces when you least expect it, making that loss new all over again.

Poet Naomi Shihab Nye writes in her poem “Kindness,” “Before you know what kindness really is/you must lose things.” In the past I have looked at others’ struggles and have thought (unkindly), “Why can’t they get over that?” Now I understand. And as Nye shares in her poem, “it is only kindness that makes sense anymore.”

Loss Teaches Gratitude

I have so much to be grateful for.

I am grateful that when I woke up deaf in January, it was only in one ear. My hearing loss wasn’t caused by a tumor. The vertigo has decreased, and responds to medication. My overall health is very good.

I’m grateful that my follow-up visit established the hearing loss as “severe” instead of “profound”—a small change, but still an improvement.

I’m grateful that I can do my job without perfect hearing, I’m adapting to this change, and I really am doing better. In the grand scheme of things, this is a minor loss.

I’m so grateful to the people who have shared their own stories about hearing loss, the colleagues and family members who offered support and tips and encouragement. Thank you.

If you’ve been a reader here, you know how important gratitude is to me and to my work. A couple of years ago, I shared how much I love helping people say thank you every day: “I believe that the more we express gratitude, telling family and friends that they're important to us and that we're happy to have them in our lives, the happier we are.” Experiencing loss has made me so much more aware of what I have, all that I’m grateful for, and I think this is the greatest gift of loss. It makes us appreciate the good stuff so much more, and enriches our relationships by encouraging patience and kindness. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate that?

What lessons have you learned from loss?

Do We Need a Flavor of the Month Club?

noreply@blogger.com (Emily) — Sat, 17 May 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Every month since October of 2012, we've been offering a new Flavor of the Month lip balm. Several of you have asked why we don't have a Flavor of the Month Club. I'd love to know what you think!

Would you be interested in getting a lip balm every month? Would you like to share a lip balm subscription with a friend? Please share your opinions in this brief survey. Each respondent will be entered for a chance to win a $10 coupon, so make sure to add your email at the end of the survey to enter. We'll be collecting responses until May 31.