Saturday, August 21, 2010

Foaming Facial Cleanser - Original

This skin brightening foaming facial cleanser is made from organic oils and formulated to cleanse your face without harsh chemicals or alcohol.

Our original blend contains Australian Tea Tree oil for taming oily buildup, and Lemon essential oil, a natural astringent and skin brightener. Tea Tree oil is antibacterial, antiseptic and an excellent natural cleanser. Lemon essential oil, also an effective antibacterial, makes light work of blemishes associated with oily skin.

Regular Price: $12.35
Manor Mania! $9.63 (22% off)

Just one week to go! Go be a Manor Maniac while you still can!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Music To Soap By - Eliza Doolittle

Yes, I know I only posted a song yesterday, but... I am bursting with this one.

One of the great things about having grown up children is that they love keeping mum up to date with their music. I've just received this from my youngest daughter back in England. She knows I love a good anthem. Like... OMG. I'd almost forgotten how good our music back home is. This one is on repeat already. It's also gonna be in the car with me on my summer days out, that's for sure.

This one is so hot, it deserves to be heard from the source. So here's the link to the official video on youtube (in) HD. Lyrics can be found on google if you have trouble with Eliza's accent.

Turn it up... and enjoy!

Eliza Doolittle, 2010 - Pack Up

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Music To Soap By - P.P. Arnold

Workshop door wide open, oils cooling in the pans, and ahhhh... my soaping music! I love P.P. Arnold. Yes, there goes that all too familiar percussion of mine. I am such a sucker for a half decent drum beat. And I don't mean the heavy rock stuff either. I love drums that build into something. The anthem type song that you just can't help yelling along to when it gets to the good bit.

This is the only video I could find of P.P. Arnold singing this. Have a guess of her age as she shimmies about in this knockout dress. Like... are you kidding me?

P.P. Arnold, late 1960's - Everything's Gonna Be Alright

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Sea It, Believe It

The inspiration:


The soap:

Meet Oceana.

Rich olive oil, real dead sea mud, and mowrah butter... all riding on a breathtaking fragrant surf of fresh ocean breeze. A great deep cleansing spa bar for the shower or bath. Just climb in and ride the waves.

Oceana. She's the next Art House Soap at The Manor. Coming soon...

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Jojoba Oil

The woody shrub that grows jojoba seed is a slow grower, and lives for between one and two hundred years. Its properties of moisturizing amazement have been known throughout many ages. From the dry Sonoran Desert of North Mexico, stretching through California and Arizona, Native Indians used the jojoba seed oil in many ways, but its use for hair and skin has endured.

Though it is called jojoba oil, it isn't a tryglyceride oil at all... it is actually a liquid wax. Highly moisturizing and conditioning, it is a golden richness of extraordinary chemical makeup which mimics sebum, the natural oil released by human skin.

Hypoallergenic, non toxic, and carrying the natural antioxidant, vitamin E, the skin softening qualities of jojoba oil are exceptional. It penetrates the skin with ease, and is readily absorbed without any greasy after feel. It is non-clogging on pores, and with the anti inflammatory qualities of myristic acid, is a very useful oil for acne.

Jojoba oil is also good for the scalp and hair, working well in breaking down the build up of excess oil. It is also effective in breaking down product build up and the everyday pollutants that cling to the hair. Jojoba oil nourishes, conditions and adds shine, restoring dull and lifeless hair back to health.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Lip Skippers - Peppermint Party

This all natural petroleum-free lip balm, packaged in a traditional handy twist up tube.

Made with calendula infused organic olive oil and organic sunflower oil, this lip balm is ready to take on the harsh of the seasons. Unrefined shea butter helps to complete a trio of chafe-chasing natural knights to keep you pouting pretty no matter the mood of Old Man Weather.

This easy glide lip balm skips over the lips, naturally moisturizing and nourishing while it protects. And protects. And protects.

Manor Mania: Buy 1, Get 1 Free!

Come and get yours while the Mania's still on!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

On Your Toes

I know we're only just into August, but I want to give you the heads up on a September whisper that's gathering volume out there.

Pink. Women. Walk.

Now... what do you think of with those three words?

Teal. Women. Toes.

And those three?

One shouts. The other's a whisper. We're all familiar with the breast cancer colours, the pink ribbon and the walk, or run, or race. Pink shouts it loud for Susan G. Komen and we all know.

So, what about Teal? As it happens, I am aware that teal represents Ovarian Cancer. It's the silent killer for women. How fitting that the word about it is only a whisper. Yet we do know about it, and usually when it's too late. That's because the symptoms are so in line with many other ordinary women's symptoms. Like... bloating. I mean... can you seriously see yourself saying after a meal, "Oh, I feel bloated. I'd better get my ovaries checked out."

Then there's the pelvic, or abdominal pain. And what woman hasn't experienced bouts of that?

And urinary symptoms. Urgency, or frequency. You know what? I've always had problems laughing so much that I need the loo. It got worse after my fourth child. And I believe as you get older you just accept... well, you just accept you're getting older. And anyway, who hasn't turned to cranberry juice when the old frequency level turns it up some? Isn't that a sign of having a touch of the all too familiar woman's UTI?

The fourth one? Well, that's difficulty eating, or feeling full quickly. Hmm... sounds like my own symptoms of stress there. I go off food. No appetite at all. And when I do force-feed myself... just one or two bites and I'm feeling full and sickly. Best not to bother... stress will be gone in a few days.

Individually, or collectively these four symptoms can be explained away, and all too often are. Which is why so many women die from it. It's silent. It kills. I wish I could put it in a kinder way. But, Ovarian Cancer is anything but kind. Four symptoms, and four words. It's silent. It kills.

September is Ovarian cancer month, and out there women are gathering in number aiming to raise the whisper volume into one large shout. During September, we're painting our toe nails teal. It's a small act, and yet it's such a conversation starter. How many times do women comment on nail lacquer color between each other. Yes... that's what we do, don't we?

I'll be reminding you all again come September, but I wanted to give you all a heads up so you can be prepared. Go out there shopping for your bottle this next couple of weeks. Find a teal that you love, and wait for September the 1st to wear it with pride. Tell your girlfriends at the office, and turn your workplace tealtoed. Make it a conversation starter and spread the word. Show folk your toes, and ask them to show theirs.

Ovarian Cancer. It's silent. It kills. The month is September. Toes to the ready, girls. Prepare for the shout!

In memory of Linda. 1956-2005

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Foaming Body Wash - Chill Out

With a peaceful aromatherapy less-stress blend of ylang ylang and patchouli essential oils, it's chill out time, and quiet and calm is bliss at the end of your crazy day merry-go-round. This fragrant foaming bath and body wash, creates soft and gentle sulfate free bubbles, to bathe your beautiful body in. Wonderful extracts of oat and white tea help soften and soothe, and all that's left for you to do is pour... and breathe the day away.

ylang ylang essential oil: eases stress and promotes harmony
patchouli essential oil: aids emotional balance
organic aloe juice: calming and soothing on the skin
jojoba oil: hypoallergenic and skin softening
oat extract: helps with moisture loss and the integrity of the skin's barrier
white tea extract: rich in polyphenols, anti aging help for skin

How to use: For a relaxing bubble bath, add an ounce or two to running water. Can also be used on a puff or sponge as a body wash. For adult use only.

78% organic content. Sulfate free, paraben free, phthalate free.

Regular Price: $14.85
Manor Mania! $10.40 (30% off)

Come and go manic while you can!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

It's On!

Oh yes! It's that time of year again, when mania reigns at the Manor. Big savings on all your favorites right throughout the store. Discounts of twenty, thirty, forty and yes... even fifty percent. Almost every product is on sale, and there's also buy one get ones up for grabs.

Bring yourself on over to the Manor and take a good browse around.

Thirsting For It

While you're waiting to move your shopping cart out of neutral, here's a re-post of something you can rustle up to quench that Maniac thirst a little:

Keep yourself refreshed and energized during the summer with the natural berry boost of anti oxidants and amino acids. This simple summer drink uses yogurt, which is also helpful to your digestive system.

Berry Boosting Burst

You will need:
1 cup or more of fresh summer berries
1 pot of yogurt (plain or flavored)
A few ice cubes
Drops of vanilla essence (optional)

How to:
Wash berries, and place in blender with remaining ingredients. Whizz until smooth, pour into a nice cool glass and slowly sip while relaxing in readiness to use your shopping cart.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Manor Ma...

Well, it's 9.00pm Monday night. The website changeover has been going on since noon. Normally, any website changeover goes smoothly. Jason hadn't been at it five minutes (as we say in England) and he hit a problem. All's well that ends well, and a couple of hours later, the home page was restored. However, the work he did over the weekend in preparation for today's upload was lost.

So he'll be at it the rest of this evening and into tomorrow. I didn't see any sense in sending the newsletter out only to tell you to check back tomorrow when the site is ready. Hopefully the newsletter will be out tomorrow night. So, put your shopping carts in neutral, and watch this space!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Doctor, Yes!

Whew. It's the end of a long weekend. Some work. Some shopping. Some fun. More work. More shopping. More fun.

The fun time on Saturday was awesome. It was awesome for so many different reasons. I'm doing a separate post about that. Meanwhile, here's that bike I told you I was getting. We bought it this afternoon. I am so gonna put my cholesterol in check.