Annual Summer Vacay

After packing boxes all weekend, I'm happy to say that all orders have shipped, and my annual summer break starts now.

The web site is now closed for a two week break, during which time the office is being decorated, the shipping room upgraded, and lots of soap bars being made. Sometime over the next two weeks, I might just squeeze in a day out to take in the local sights.

What are they calling it these days? A "staycation"? Yes, that's what I'm having. A two week "staycation".

Keeping Skin Hydrated

Keeping skin hydrated during the summer is not just about drinking lots of water. Eating fresh fruit and vegetables ensures a diet rich in the minerals, vitamins and protiens that are essential to healthy skin.

Steaming the face is always a good thirst quencher for the skin. As well as offering a hydration boost, it opens the pores and helps to release toxins. Using a face mask after steaming aids in drawing out the dust and grime that your facial steaming has loosened, leaving your face feeling really cleansed and offering a healthy glow.

Make sure to exfoliate twice weekly. This removes the dead and dying skin cells which prevent the skin from effectively absorbing your moisturizing creams. It helps with skin renewal, and also with elasticity.

Remember that the sun causes damage to the skin. Its rays are also responsible for wrinkles, so always use a sun protection creme or lotion as part of your daily skin care routine.

Enjoy the summer. Love your skin.

Thank you!

The 2nd Annual KIX Radiothon is now history, and raised a whopping $101,145 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Thank you to everyone who participated and to everyone who gave.

If you missed it, you don't have to wait until next year's Radiothon to give. You can still donate to this very worthy cause here.

Thank you again to everyone!

The KIX Radiothon is Here!

The 2nd Annual KIX 97.9 St Jude Children's Hospital Radiothon is finally here!

I'm so excited to be participating in this wonderful event for a beautiful charity and would like to thank KIX Country and Country Cares for putting this together.

In addition to the $100 Manor Hall gift basket and two $50 Manor Hall gift cards that will be given away on KIX, I am also running a sale for the duration of the Radiothon. Just enter the coupon code KIX979 at checkout to receive 20% off your order. (Note: Coupon does not apply to already discounted items, including Mischief Makers, Monthly Specials and Multibuys.)

To read more about the St. Jude charity, visit their web site or see my original post here. I just know this Radiothon is going to be a huge success! Thank you.

St. Jude Radiothon Update

Pictured above is the $100 Manor Hall gift basket that I dropped off at KIX radio in downtown Springfield yesterday. Here's what's inside for one lucky winner:

3 Soap Bars
1 Complexion Bar
1 Pedicure Foot Polish
1 Moisturizing Heel Balm
1 Foaming Facial Cleanser
1 Facial Cleansing Oil
1 Facial Toning Spritz
1 Facial Cleansing Grains
1 Lotion Stick
1 Facial Disc
1 Pumice Stone
2 Spa White Towels
2 Spa Face Cloths
1 Wooden Foot Brush
1 Wooden Soap Dish

I also dropped off two $50 Manor Hall gift certificates, which will also be given away during the KIX 97.9 Radiothon taking place this Thursday and Friday. Make your pledge to become a Partner in Hope for St Jude Children's hospital during the hour of the Manor Hall giveaway and any of them could be yours!

Pedicure Foot Polish

This all natural refreshing coconut and lime foot polish is made with organic cold pressed oils and butters, and is free of sulfates or parabens.

With organic unrefined shea butter for kindness, and added essential oils of tea tree and lime, this refreshing fine salt scrub moisturizes, soothes and nourishes naturally, leaving your feet refreshed and your tired and jaded skin so silky soft.

You can get this Pedicure Foot Polish free this month by spending just $35.00 on your Manor Hall order. Check out the What's Free page for more details!

KIX 97.9 Radiothon 2009

KIX 97.9 is a local country radio station, headquartered right here in Springfield, MA. I am proud to be one of the featured donors in their 2nd Annual Radiothon, to be held on June 18th and 19th, 2009. Available during the two day charity drive, will be a $100 Manor Hall gift basket filled with lots of Manor Hall goodies, and two $50 Manor Hall gift cards.

The Radiothon is being held for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a wonderful hospital that specializes in childhood cancer as well as other catastrophic pediatric diseases. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where all patients accepted for treatment are treated without regard to the family's ability to pay. Families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance.

Visit kix979.com to find out more, and I will be updating here over the next two weeks to let you know how you can participate in this two day Radiothon event and help this wonderful charity. You can also give right on the St. Jude web site here. Thank you.

Burn, Baby, Burn

We all love the hot weather. Many of us wait all winter for the spring to come and go, then head for the sun. Yes, we know about the SPF, and we know we shouldn't stay out there too long, but very often we're getting burned without even being aware of it.

The discomfort of sunburn varies from person to person, and obviously if things are real bad a trip to the doctor's is reccomended. For most of us though, we try to get through those first couple of days with our own remedies. Maybe some over the counter bottle or jar. From my own childhood, calamine lotion was always the order of the day, and still is in many households.

There are ways we can help ease the discomfort of having spent too long in the sun in a natural way, and one of the easiest is to take a cool bath. Please make sure it's cool and not cold. A cold bath is not good for you as it may cause the body to go into shock. Adding a few drops of essential oil of lavender or chamomile is helpful, and oatmeal or baking soda can also be a relief to the sunburn sting.

Soak in your bath for about 15 minutes, and try to make sure that all the affected areas are covered by the water. The cool of your water will help to draw the heat away from the surface of the skin, and the sunburned face can be helped by gently patting with a cool wet facecloth, or by splashing with cool water. Use a nice soft towel to dry off, but pat yourself dry, rather than rub.

June Freebie

Every month I get to enjoy giving away a free bar of soap with every order. Never a mystery and always full size, the order box freebie for the month of June is a bar of Lemon Poppo Mint. Check out the freebie page to see what else can be free inside your order box this month.

Back From Vacation

We're back and the office is once again open. If you ordered while we were gone and used the HAD2WAIT coupon, your order is now processing and will ship this week. Please remember you can check into your account to keep up to date with the progress of your order box. Thanks for your patience, everyone!