Soapmaking, originally uploaded by SoapChickAsh.

……you get a voice mail message from your mother. In it, she tells you in a very soft, sweet Southern accent that something just awwwwful alllllllmost haaaaapened todaaaaay. Well, hearing that gets one’s attention! The rest of the message was that my dear sweet father went to the grocery store (the Piggly Wiggly, of course) to buy some soap—–the detergent-filled not-made-by-his-daughter-kind! My mother wanted to know in her voice mail why I hadn’t sent them any soap in a while and just how-in-the-world could I expect them to use store-bought soap!? Well, of course, I don’t! I’ve just been a bit busy, that’s all. (And I feel like a teenager again being chastised for leaving wet towels on the floor).

When I called my mom back, she let me know that true harm never came to Dad. She told him to back away from the overly-processed soap and she found a bar of Rosemary Mint in the linen closet. Honestly, I don’t think he knows they have a linen closet. Or that soap could be hiding there….Anyway, crisis averted!

Now, Mom I just want you to know that several bars of lovingly-crafted soap is on its way. Go have a glass of sweet tea and relax and know that your support–and Dads—is truly appreciated!

Ash and I agree that the best part of Serendipity Bath Co. is getting the feedback from happy customers. It’s always nice to check into our email and find notes about how our natural soaps and baby products have helped to relieve eczema in kids, or how much fun our scrubs are in the shower for tired, overworked moms.

With kids still underfoot, Ash and I are used to doing lots of things for lots of people, usually without a verbal acknowlegement. As busy moms, we know we’re not alone in this! It’s just part of the job. That’s not to say we don’t get little tokens of love and appreciation during the day…just, not in the same language as you’ve written in your nice emails. We’re more used to notes like this:

which was left by my 8 year old boy. He has such a way with words, doesn’t he?!

A lovely customer, Ashley, was much more eloquent when she wrote:

I just got out of the tub and CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE SOAP AND BATH BOMB!!! They rock! First of all, I’ve never gotten out of a bath feeling so SOFT (and not greasy)!!! My skin looked like it was glowing! Thank you, thank you thank you. Definintely a customer for life and someone who will be stocking up on soaps for everyone I know!!!

Melissa flatters us by noticing:

Your soaps are so pretty!

and then goes on to ask:

Do you let locals come and sniff test your goodies? =)

Usually we don’t let just anyone sniff test our goodies, but how can we say no when someone says something so nice? We’re easy like that.

Leah wanted us to know:

My kids and I love your products. We are hooked. One of the products I ordered the first time, Sweetheart Baby, was on back order. Do you have any idea when that will become available?

Awww, we love knowing people use and love our products, but we feel extra happy thinking about them making bath time fun for kids! And, as of right now, Sweetheart, Baby is back in stock and shipping quickly! In fact, the demand has been so high for our baby products that we’re thisclose to announcing a brand spanking new scent for the Wild Child line. “Birth” announcement coming soon for our new bundle of soap.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to write and tell us how much you enjoy your soaps and bath products from Serendipity Bath Co.!

A mind-boggling thing happened to me. Brace yourself, people….I talked to a celebrity today! No, not Bono (THE great one as far as Tiff and I are concerned!), but one of the greatest makeup artists around. Why, you ask? We’ll get to that in a minute.

First, I have to set the scene. I was hauling it up a country road to get to my daughter’s pre-school in the next town over and I was running laaaaate. So my cell phone rings and I saw that it was a number that I did not recognize. Thinking it could be a customer, I answered it. Wham-O.

“Ashley, Hi, this is Scott Barnes“…pause…”I’m a makeup artist in NYC and have my own line of cosmetics.”

He went on. “My clients include Jennifer Lopez…” Wait a minute….did this dude just say something about J.Lo?…OK Ash, don’t miss your turn…watch your speed. “Yes?” I say. So he starts talking about his lines of products, his makeup, something about Barney’s in New York and pretty soon I realize that this wasn’t a joke. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out why a professional makeup artist was calling ME. But before I tell you that reason, let me say that he was the NICEST guy. He had been to our website…..a nugget of info that I just can’t seem to get over, and had some great advice about trademarking names. And he said that he thought our website was “cute.”

So maybe you can see where this is going. Apparently Tiff and I were about to get a “Cease and Desist” letter from Mr. Barnes’ attorney because the of use of the name Body Bling. So, as nice as he was, he was calling to give me a good ole fashioned ass whuppin’. I thought I might wreck my car as I was listening to him say, “so I have a product called Body Bling..it’s a body lotion ….it was featured on Oprah….” Dah-yum…..you know that sinking feeling in your belly when your husband gets to the credit card statement before you do? My belly had dropped out of the bottom of my feet and was heading for the border. I knew where this was going. Scott Barnes wasn’t calling me to invite Tiff and I to his new TV show, which he told me he is working on for Bravo, by the way. He was calling me in a very polite manner to let me know that we had been infringing on his trademarked product name. And I completely understand that there is an issue. And I respect the fact that he called me first and was so friendly on the phone…we actually chatted briefly about Project Runway! But still, that is not a phone call that I really wanted to get at 11:30 on a Wednesday….while I’m driving….and late….and well, I really wish Tiff had taken this call!

So, I got schooled by Scott Barnes. You simply must check out his websites: www.scottbarnes.com and www.scottbarnes.tv. I couldn’t have chosen a nicer person to receive a “Cease and Desist” letter from (again, except maybe Bono…maybe that can be a goal for 2009). But I am kicking myself a bit right now: I really should have asked him to dish about all the celebrities that he has worked on before we got off the phone….Oh, well.

Tiff and I have decided to frame our very first piece of litigation in honor of this, well, dis-honor. And as far as Body Bling, goes…buh-bye cute name. We’ll continue to make our fabulous whipped shea butter, but we’ll be doing some serious “google-ing” before we put a name on it!

While on the road at our soap shows, Ashley and I ran into The Big Guy himself….Santa Claus! Believe it or not, he’s a HUGE fan of Serendipity Bath Co., and rumor has it that he treats all his elves to a package of “You Da (Bath) Bomb!” after the hectic holiday season is over. Imagine that! Apparently Ash and I aren’t the only ones that like to soak our stress away in a bathtub.

Being a soapchix, I asked him if he wore gloves all the time because his poor hands chapped horribly after riding on a sleigh at 24,000 feet in the air. He sheepishly agreed and showed me his dry, wind chapped hands. “You’re in luck!” I shouted as I slathered our “Body Bling” Whipped Shea Butter over his peeling cuticles and cracked skin. It was nice to be able to give something back to a guy who runs around doing so much for so many. He wondered if it was too late to order some stuff for Mrs. Claus, and we told him that we’re accepting orders until December 16th. I think the elves might be getting some Body Bling this year!