Monday, September 30, 2013

Gratitude List 9.30.13



1. The dog in the car ahead of me with his head out the window on Tuesday, reminding me to enjoy the moment
2. My mom's negative CT scan
3. A weeks worth of picture perfect clouds and weather, each day more beautiful than the next
4. Saturday, starting with breakfast with my parents, a train ride into the city to meet a friend (I had a great time Marla!), Krispy Kreme doughnuts (original glazed for me), checking out NY Cake for soap equipment, iced herbal tea at CafĂ© Grumpy, walking through Greenwich Village and Washington Square Park, foot massage (definitely going back), meatballs from Meatball Obsession (almost as good as the doughnut), empanadas and an almond croissant from Penn Station, and a train ride home.  Perfect day!
5. My ironing is done

What are you grateful for this week?

Yours in Gratitude,
Angela

Monday, September 23, 2013

Gratitude List 9.23.13

Marla. Matt, Dean (The Godfather), me, Kirsten at Tommy Lasagna


1. Discovering a lacy and intricate spider web between the front bushes of my house
2. An invitation to display my soaps at Clearvision's employee Health Fair. I was there in the same day as the free massages and still their employees came to see my soaps!
3. Karen Drucker's music. Positive, uplifting and inspiring
4. Saturday night's dinner at Tommy Lasagna with some great friends I don't get to see as often as I'd like
5. Receiving an order of new calculators at my day job. Why? Because each calculator was in a bubble wrap bag that I get to take home and use to ship my soaps. Recycling at it's best!

What are you grateful for this week?

Yours in Gratitude,
Angela

Monday, September 16, 2013

Gratitude List 9.16.13

This weeks gratitude list has a theme again.  My husband had to fly to Virginia for a business trip and I was alone for the week. Keep this in mind while reading, and know that number 5 was the thing I was most grateful for. :)


Brian gets off the train and walks to my car....
...and walks closer..
 
...and closer...
..and is finally home!


1. I was able to read the morning paper before anyone else did
2. The TV wasn't turned on at all
3. I tried a vegetarian diet for the week with no one complaining about there being no meat on the table
4. I slept with the window wide open
5. Picking Brian up from the train station after his business trip

What are you grateful for this week?

Yours in Gratitude,
Angela

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Designing labels - Digho

So many people comment on how much they like my product labels. I believe you should do what you do best, and hire someone to do the rest. Designing isn't one of my strong points.  I was happy to pass that on to Diane and Maria of Digho, because designing is definitely one of theirs. When I first started making soaps,  Digho designed my logo and my labels.  When I decided my Sugar Scrubs needed a new look, I took a trip to visit them.


Diane is explaining my options for a waterproof label. I wanted to keep the same look of the vellum strip and they had some great ideas.

Deciding how long the new label should be.


Maria thinks if we make the label a little shorter I will have an easier time attaching it to the jar.

These two women are each incredibly talented in their own right.  Put them together and what a dynamo team! I know their design work have taken the look of my soaps and products up a notch. Pictures of the new scrub labels will follow shortly!

Yours in Gratitude,
Angela

Monday, September 9, 2013

Gratitude List 9.9.13



1. Putting on my jeans and finding a $5 bill in the pocket
2.Discovering TED
3. My dad is feeling so much better he is able to work again in his woodshop (and make me some new soap drawers!)
4. My sisters spent the whole day with me at the Argyle Lake fair yesterday, helping me sell soap, take down the tent, pack up my car, and unpack when I got home.  All for a sausage & pepper hero!
5. My mom, because she is the silent glue that holds us all together



Thursday, September 5, 2013

September Customer of the Month

Janet with my husband at my Open House in June


Meet Janet, my September Customer of the Month.

Tell me about yourself and your family.

I am married to Jim for 37 years.  We have 2 children, Bridget & Tim.  Both are married.  Bridget & Brian for 10 years and Tim & Kelly for 2 years.  We have 2 grandchildren, Andrew (9) and Audrey (3).

How long have you been using Alegna Soap products? What product is your favorite?

I have been using Alegna Soap products for about 2+ years.  My favorite are the soaps.  I love the clean feeling they provide, the fact that they are organic and don't have additives that commercial soaps have.  I also liked the Jojoba lotion.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to entertain, plan theme parties for may friends and relatives.  Arts and crafts are something I also enjoy, however, don't have the time for them right now.

Do you watch sports? Which one? What is your favorite team?

I'm not really a big sports fan, but will watch football on Sundays occasionally, maybe a little basketball.

Do you have any pets?

We have no pets at the moment.  We did have a dog while the kids were little, but she passed away about 9 years ago.  We do babysit our son & daughter-in-laws dog when they travel, so we get our "pet fix" that way.

What is your favorite movie?  Movie star? What was the last movie you saw?

Favorite Movie would be The Sting.  Oldie but goodie.  Favorite movie star Jack Nicholson.  Last movie seen was Argo.

What was the last book you read?

Alex Cross.

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

Climb a mountain.

Describe your perfect day.

Sleep until 8:00 a.m., work in the garden, have friends over.

Mountains or seashore?

Love them both.  If I had to choose one, I guess seashore.  Something about the allure of the water.

Tea or Coffee?

Tea.

Are you a morning or a night person?

Night.

Favorite color?

Red

Favorite food?

Seafood,

Favorite season?

Spring

What inspires you?

Acts of kindness
 
 
Thanks Janet, I enjoyed getting to know you!

Yours in Gratitude,
Angela
 

Monday, September 2, 2013

Gratitude List 9.2.13


This week I am grateful for

1. The pulled muscle in my leg, because it forced me to slow down all week.
2. Finding a gift certificate hidden in a drawer and going out to dinner Friday night
3. The honeysuckle bush growing in my backyard
4. A visit to my friend and fellow soap maker Diane of Peace Soap and seeing her beautiful soap studio
5. Having a long weekend to enjoy

What are you grateful for this week?

Yours in Gratitude,
Angela