From Kerala, with Love

When I first created the Kerala Massaging Soap Bar it was an ode to my friend Vishal and his many gifts from Kerala he would always share with us..namely his spices; many of which you can find in this lovely soap. This wonderful piece from BBC's travel section only goes to show I'm not the only one in love with this lovely and bountiful region of India.

Top 10 activities in Kerala, India’s deep south By Anirban Das Mahapatra

No trip to Kerala is complete without a boat ride on its idyllic backwaters. (Keren Su/LPI)

Kerala has been a favourite haunt of travellers for nearly 600 years; exhilarating, enchanting and enthralling with its top-notch beauty and culture. Here are our favourite 10 activities that get under the skin of this incredible state.

Know your spices

You will find a huge range of spices in this state, such as pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, mace, fennel, turmeric, cumin, coriander, aniseed, tamarind, allspice, saffron, poppy and mustard. Ambush your senses at the spice markets of Mattancherry in Kochi, and pack an extra bag for the inevitable shopping.

Cruise the backwaters
No trip to Kerala is complete without a languid boat ride on its idyllic backwaters. Lined by emerald coconut plantations and interspersed with turquoise lakes, these placid lagoons are the perfect place to shake off pent-up urban stress. For an extra-special experience, spend the night on board a houseboat, and witness a dreamy sunrise break over the serene bayous at dawn. Houseboats can be chartered through the District Tourism Promotion Councils in Kollam or Alleppey, or a multitude of private operators.

Live it up in Munnar

Green is the colour that swathes the lush mountain slopes of Munnar, Kerala’s answer to the fabled hill stations of north India. The crisp air and clement weather in this scenic hill town are perfectly engineered to give you the most restful experience possible. Order a steaming cup of tea from a nearby plantation to go with the breathtaking views.

Photograph Kochi’s fishing nets
Top among Kerala’s iconic photo opportunities are the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets – dating back to the 1400s – that line the harbour at Kochi. Crafted out of teakwood beams and resembling giant alien arachnids poised to sting, they form unreal silhouettes against the seascape and provide some dramatic camera fodder, especially at dusk.

Get beached in Varkala

You will wish you were an Alex Garland character the moment you set foot in picturesque Varkala. Perched on a precipitous cliff and overlooking the sapphire waters of the Arabian Sea, this beachy paradise boasts some dazzling and pristine sands to relax on.

Today's Local Love: Bacon Forever!

Being a fan of Mangalitsa, aka "Wooly Pigs" has made me a lover of all things pig even more so than ever before. So when I had the pleasure of setting up my tent at the Fremont Market a month ago right next to Bacon Forever I was beyond happy.. more hungry actually lol

If you didn't think you could get bacon as a to-go snack to have on hand whenever you wanted to..well, then you clearly hadn't heard of these guys. "Bacon Now. Bacon Forever." is Tina & Chris', Owners of Bacon Forever & Certified Baconarians*, slogan and with good reason. What better way to describe locally-sourced, fully cooked, seasoned and dehydrated bacon strips preserved like jerky and shelf-stable. 

They've got three savory flavors and dog treats. But if you want bacon in every part of your meal? Then hang onto your sweet tooth 'cause things get sweeter with their Muddy Pig (yup, chocolate-dipped bacon slices) plus bacon baked goods! Btw, my kid was thrilled to be the only kid at camp with chocolate-dipped bacon in his lunch box. 

And when you're done with your bacon feats you can wash all of the salty, chocolaty, spicy evidence away with our Bacon n' Egg Mangalitsa Soap. Not edible but won't add to your waistline.

Bacon Forever's Chris & Tina

Are you a follower of Baconarianism? If so this awesome %15 off coupon code (baconfan) for use on their website when you check out is going to rock your Baconarian Universe. A special gift from Chris and Tina to Lather Unusual fans, family and friends. Thanks guys! 

*Baconarianism?: (noun) The principle and practice of consuming bacon in all forms.

Happy Munching!

Logan

Soap Siren

What the Frack have I done?!? Is there such a thing as business "addiction"?

For as far back as I can remember I've wanted to create things; songs, products, businesses, inventions, delicious dishes, art, poetry, you name it. My poor mother has heard most of the ideas from wanting to be Annie, to a rock star like Rick Springfield to starting a birthday cake business at school, opening a restaurant in Puerto Rico and pushing MLM products (some of these things I've actually done). I've always had big, big dreams! Forget a small shop, I want to create a colossal brand, spawn franchises, rule the business world, create an empire! I want to be Sir Richard Branson with tits and heels. I have no idea where this comes from, perhaps some past life of greatness cut short or some deeply rooted genetic glitch..lol.. all I know is that I'm internally driven to do more, be more, succeed! Damn it!

2007 saw me walking away from my catering business, Blue Nile Catering, in Manhattan in order to move for a job offer Steve got in Canada. I had originally started BNC the day after a caterer I worked for took credit for my creative touches at an event. That slight, along with being tired of the NYC struggling actress scene, spurred me to action. For a business that started with such meager beginnings ($2000 in my checking account, a few credit cards and a lot of determination) Blue Nile did pretty well for almost 10 years. But it was non-stop, exhausting work that left me little quality time with my friends and family; especially Lukas, who was 2 by the time we moved to Toronto.

When it was all said and done I was both depressed and relieved to end my time at BNC. Dealing with postpartum depression while heading up a growing catering company isn't very fun and missing some of the most important years of your child's life isn't any better either. I have my regrets.

Yet here I am again. New business, new ideas, new drive, new fears, new weight on my shoulders. Yet, if it weren't Lather Unusual I can assure you it would be something else. How to describe it..that drive to create something monumental. Is it just ego? I don't think so, though that does play a part I'm sure in the whole cycle of production. For me it comes down to creativity because at the end of the day I don't feel as though I exist as a fully realized person unless I'm creating something tangible: a thing to share, experience, smell, see, feel, consume, covet. Working in an office was hell for me and I can't imagine what else I would do if I wasn't creating on my own terms... and ideally making a good living at it.

More days than not I'm in "What the Frack have I done?!?" mode, though being a New Yorker "Frack" isn't actually the word I use..lol.. and it's much like being pregnant with Lukas when Steve and I would look at each other and say "My god, what have we done??" because we knew there was no going back. Starting a business is a lot like making a baby, once you sign a lease and commit to the thousand and one things you need to do to start it, not to mention keeping it alive and thriving, you're in it to the hilt. You can't "sort of" have a kid any more than you can "sort of" run a business. Will I ever be cured of this "addiction"? Most likely not. In the mean time I'll keep plugging away because it's the only way I know how to live... at least for now.


Logan
Soap Siren

Wedding Season is Upon Us in the PNW!

Thanks to our lovely weather, the PNW has a longer Wedding Season than elsewhere in the States. If you're tying the knot soon it's not too late to take care of some of your wedding needs as you get close to the finish line after months of planning. Still in the planning stages for a 2012 wedding? All the better because these ladies are in high demand.

Wedding Director Extraordinaire: Tammy McGowan of Your Wedding Story, has been organizing wedding planning and Big Days for years. Why pull your hair out trying to keep track of everything when Tammy can help keep you sane? Whether you're just starting your planning or you're a few weeks away she can step in and help organize the process. Most importantly, she'll free you up mentally to focus on the joy of getting married. Tammy has fabulous package deals going on right now so reach out to her today and take advantage of the extra savings and free consultation. Your Wedding Story on Facebook.

Brow Tamer: At Maribella Spa Services, licensed esthetician, Angela Graham will tame your brows and clean up all of your important places in preparation for that blissful honeymoon you've been anticipating. With "Nearly Wed" packages she can make sure you're stunning for your big day. She can even work on your entire wedding party..including the Groom! If Angela can tame my curly & unruly brows, yours will be a snap!

My Dec. birthday roses.

DIY Flowers: If you're creating your wedding the old fashioned way (ie with your own two hands and a lot of blackmailing of friends for services) or just looking to shave off costs when working with a florist check out our Fair Trade Roses from South America. Freshly cut and sent via FedEx, they will last throughout your main event and, if properly cared for, greet you upon your return from your honeymoon. These beauties dry elegantly and will make any bouquet a stunning keepsake. We have access to over 50 varieties in a rainbow of assorted colors.

What would a wedding post be without mentioning our Soap Pastries? They make fabulous shower and favor gifts. But reach out asap if you're looking for cakes or cupcakes for your August wedding because demand has shortened our in-store supply and these beauties take 3-4 weeks to be ready. If you're heading towards a Fall wedding even better! The more curing time the better.

Cheers,
Logan
Soap Siren

Preservative-free? Not always a good idea

Since delving into the sea of body product creation I've learned a lot! I still have more to learn I'll admit but so far so good. When I first started I wanted everything to be completely "All natural" with zero additives, chemicals, etc. Partly this is because most of us have been taught to believe that all chemicals are "bad". Even though, at it's most basic level we're all made out of chemical compounds and it's due to natural chemical compounds that we are all walking and breathing right now. Heck even water, H2O is a chemical compound because it has 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.

Maybe it's time to rethink our views on "chemicals" and instead take a look at ingredient components and why they are needed, what use they serve and the benefits (if any) they bring to a product. Are some chemical compounds (naturally occuring and man-made) detrimental to our health? Yes indeed but the key again is education when figuring out just what's needed and why.

Here's a great example of when a preservative (man-made ideally) would have been a good addition to the product to the left. The container is of a fun, easy to purchase toy that acts like a "fart putty".  Since it's not a cosmetic product the manufacturers are not required to fortify the slimy stuff with a preservative; even though it's intended to be held in the hands and will most likely get used on the skin for various amounts of time. My little guy thought it was fun to lay the entire blob on his face and make a Darth Vader type mask out of it as he breathed rapidly through a makeshift mouth hole. Gross, I know..lol.. but this is what kids do, they get inventive with products and create their own uses for them. A clear example of a product being used outside of it's exact intended use; something manufacturers try to safeguard against.

After a few days of this he got bored and put the well-used slime back into it's container and forgot about it. We unearthed it a few weeks later. The perfect amount of time for the incubation of all manner of bacteria and molds to get freaky and procreate. It was a perfect storm for such an opportunity for overgrowth: moisture, excessive contact with human skin, warmth (container was sealed) and lack of a preservative). Too bad we didn't have access to a friend with a lab because I would have loved to have known exactly what we had growing in there. End result though? One unhappy kid with one seriously gross toy.

Now what's the correlation between this jar of slime and a bath product? Pretty simple really. Let's say you're in the shower where you take your favorite jar of XYZ product and we remove the .05-1.5% of preservative that's been added to keep you and it safe, then let you dip your wet, naturally bacteria-laden fingers into the jar and start using it on your skin. Once your wet fingers go into the jar the jig is up! Adding the lid back on, making a warm home for your new critters to grow, has now added to the problem. Dip back into it a day later with new goodies to add and this time you may be taking out more than just body polish or face scrub. You may not be able to see or smell the bacteria/yeast spores but there's a pretty high likelihood that they are there;  and their numbers are growing by the minute both in the container and on your skin. This could lead to a bacterial infection on your end of things..ouch!

So the next time you see ingredients like Phenoxyethanol and Caprylyl Glycolbe be very glad they are there because they are what keep the nasties from growing in your favorite products. Of ocurse if you make your own bath products, not intended for sale,  then you can go preservative-free but for those of us who sell retail we'd rather not take the risk.

Phenoxyethanol and Caprylyl Glycol are the main ingredients in a commonly used preservative system that is an excellent choice for formulations that require a paraben and formaldehyde-free preservative system. The combination of these ingredients provides optimized protection against microbial growth from bacteria and yeast. At Lather Unusual we use these two ingredients at the recommended strength of 0.5% - 1.5% in our lotion and scrub formulations.

A mosaic table is born! The making of a live brand element

When customers visit Lather Unusual they can't help but encounter the large mosaic table that greets them when they first walk in. This was not an original part of the design when I was first envisioning what the store would look like back in Nov. of 2010. As a matter of fact it didn't become a concrete idea until the start of January, just a month before the scheduled opening date. But fate stepped in and it became obvious that something big had to happen.

Budget drove the first decision to transform part of a partition wall in the front of the shop into some kind of table/counter elements. Once we took that down (Pookus was a huge help) it seemed a shame not to re-purpose the frames which were still in good shape. After securing some clean backerboard, via freecyle, I went in search of tile and lucked out big time with a listing for free tile on Craigslist. What I didn't expect was that the tile was actually three big containers of new mosaic tiles (which I had never worked with); most of which was still glued to backing paper and easy to sort by color.

Thus started my journey into mosaic work! I researched designs online and found an amazing artist named Tiffany Miller whose work was a complete inspiration for the table design. I knew I wanted something that incorporated circles (like soap bubbles) and a few of her fine art pieces helped me see just how to make that happen.  My other bit of luck came from discovering an amazing product called No Days Mesh. It allowed me to create a 6'x4' sheet of mesh on which to build the design and fuse all of the tile down as I worked. When it came time for two of us to move the mesh and lay down the thinset cement I think we lost 4-5 tiles in total..which is stunning considering the size of the piece. There's no way I could have done this in 3 weeks w/out this product.

I also have to give thanks to my friend and experienced mosaic maker Angel for her help with the moving and grouting of this huge piece plus the loan of her tile cutters and endless advice. You saved me Angel! Plus Carrie at Streuter Technologies (makers of No Days Mesh) and Joe Moorman of Mosaic Art Supply for talking grout with me.

All in all not bad for a first time mosaic project. It has made for a wonderful brand element and conversation piece. I'm looking forward to using it to stage future classes and we're even considering adding wheels to the base to make it moveable for store events (buffet baby!). If you haven't been in yet, do stop by and see the table for yourself.

Cheers,

Logan,

Soap Siren 
Lather Unusual

Welcome to the new Lather Unusual blog!

With the launch of new Lather Unusual website I'm happy to also launch the new blog! Pretty exciting stuff is going on at Lather Unusual..new products, new ideas, contests, coupon codes, buyers' clubs and so much more. You can find out the latest info here and on our Facebook page so if you haven't "Liked" LU on FB I highly recommend you do so today.

Thanks for reading along, subscribing via the RSS feed and joining in the conversations.

Cheers and may your next bath experience be Deliciously Unusual!

Logan,

Soap Siren 
Lather Unusual