My first pallet

With the holiday season coming up I needed to order more organic oils for my soap making.  After I placed a very large order, a company rep emailed me to say they were sending the oils on a pallet.  I decided to take pictures, because, hey, this is a milestone, right??

The truck pulls up near my driveway.

The nice driver says it's ok with him if I take some pictures.

He unloads my order.

I loved this "elevator" on the back of the truck!

He even smiles for the camera!

And delivers it right to my garage!

Me and my pallet!!

Yours in Gratitude,
Angela

My first soap making class

I had been making soap about 10 years when I received a catalog for The Open Center in NYC.  I was looking through it and saw there was a class on cold process soap making.  When I wanted to learn how to make soap, I went to my local library and took out a book on the subject.  There were no classes that I could find in 1998.  But even though I knew how to make soap, I signed up for the class.  I figured there was always something new to learn.  The class was from 10-4 on a Saturday. I walked into a room of about 30 people. In the room were three people who would become good friends, although I didn't know it at the time.  Deloris of Daisy May Natural Soap, Rosie of Brooklyn Bath, and our instructor, LaShonda Tyree the Handmade Soap Coach.

Delores, me, Rosie and LaShonda

Once I was seated I looked over the class outline.  We were also going to learn how to make lotions, creams, bath bombs, bath salts and body scrubs. Can I tell you how ecstatic I was? I knew this class would change my life. LaShonda was a wealth of information and was willing to share it. Her attitude was infectious, and I enjoyed her class so much I took more with her. The most important piece of advice she gave me was "Don't be afraid to say "No, I don't make that" to a customer".  It's easy to burn out once you start a business, trying to make everything for everyone. She has a new way of saying it now, Build Deep Before Expanding Wide.  Now that I have so many friends in the business, if I have a customer who wants something I don't make, I can refer them to someone who can help them. But in the beginning, it helped to remember LaShonda's words.  Thanks LaShonda!!

Yours in Gratitude,
Angela

August Customer of the Month

Meet Sophie, Algena Soap's August Customer of the month.

Tell me about yourself. I am a wife and a mother to two college-age kids.  I am also a Secretary to the Principal in a high school.

How long have you been using Alegna Soap products? I have been using the soap products for 2 years.

Which soap is your favorite? My favorite soaps are the Lemongrass and Peppermint soaps.

What do you like to do in your spare time?  I enjoy reading and taking longs walks with my dog.

Do you have any pets? I have an 11 year old Cocker Spaniel named Lily.

Who is your favorite movie star?  My favorite movies are the old “black and whites” so I enjoy watching Audrey Hepburn, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford movies.

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?  If I had to do it all over again I would have become an English teacher.

Describe your perfect day.  A perfect “summer” day is relaxing at the beach.

What was the last movie you saw in a theatre?  The last movie I saw in a movie theater was “Moonrise Kingdom”.

What inspires you?  My children inspire me to be the best person I can each and every day.

Thanks Sophie.  It was nice to get to know you better. I know you will love the new bar of Lavender Lemongrass soap I sent your way!
Yours in Gratitude,
Angela