Romantic Playlist Contest!

So, I think it's time for a contest!

In light of the upcoming Valentine's Day, I think this contest is apropos, don't you think?

IF YOU HAD TO MAKE A ROMANTIC PLAYLIST, WHAT 10 (TEN) SONGS WOULD BE ON IT?

Far be it for me to judge your musical tastes, so the winner will be selected with a randomizer.

The loot: The new Valentine's Day Champagne Bubble Bath

Contest ends: Friday January 22 at 5pm

Winner Announced: Friday January 22, 2010, 6pm

The Rules are:

1. You must leave a comment either in the comments box or the Taiwo Bath and Body Facebook Fan Page.

2. You must have 10 songs on your playlist.

Good luck, and happy playing!

Help, I can't stop making fizzies!

I'm up to my eyeballs in Bath products...bath fizzies, foaming bath salts and bath oils! So excited to make and present these products. For some reason, making something so simple is so immensely gratifying! The minute I pop out the perfectly spherical fizzy I know I've accomplished something. Fizzies, as simple as they are, can be quite complicated to make. Just one too many spritzes of liquid and your batch is totally unusable. I've been having a really great time making them and can't wait to take photos and load onto my etsy site. Stay tuned....

Looking Ahead to 2010

As I mentioned in my last post, I feel that this is going to be the best year yet! To make that happen, certain plans have to be put in place. I won't disclose everything just yet, but there are a couple of changes coming to Taiwo in the immediate future. Here they are:

1. Moving back to Etsy from Artfire.
I like Artfire, but I LOVE etsy, even with it's limitations and sometimes wonky configuration. I've just never bonded with Artfires interface like I did with Etsy.Effective January 15 2010 Taiwo will move back to it's original Etsy site. You can always still find it at www.taiwobathandbody.com though.

2. Taiwo is changing focus.
As I mentioned in the last post, I have found a niche to focus my body products offerings in the vast bath and body marketplace. This is a hard decision because like I said, I like to make everything. I can make everything, but again that does not mean that I should. I have decided to focus my offerings specifically to Bath Products only. It is something I've really enjoyed making and using. I, a staunch shower lover am now a convert to the joys of taking a long relaxing bath.
I feel particularly confident to offer a line of products JUST for Baths because I realize the importance of baths. First of all, it's something that people are passionate about. Those who take baths really take baths. They soak. For Bathers, bathing is far more than just a cleansing ritual. I once had a friend who loved her baths so much that her kids new better than to try to talk to her while taking her baths. She took them NIGHTLY. It was her one thing she looked forward to at the end of each day.
I have identified different reasons why people take baths for relaxation. For some, it's a chance to daydream and visit distant lands in their minds. For others, it's a ritual they do before going out for a night of fun, say a girl's night out, maybe. For yet another group of people, it is the prelude to romantic evening. For some others, it's a therapeutic ritual, like soaking sore muscles, or dry itchy irritated skin. Sometimes it's all these reasons at different times of our lives...
I am excited to offer my latest offerings: Bubbling Bath Fizzies, Bath Oils, and Dry Bubble Bath and Bath Powders. As things progress I may add some related items, but in the meantime, it will be strictly these products.

The obligatory New Year's post

So it's a new year, yay us!

I am very excited about the upcoming year. I know it's going to be a good one professionally and personally. Not in the same way I've 'known' it's going to be a good one for the past few years, and it's (the feeling) just fizzled by february. This is different. Call it getting older, wiser, feeling more comfortable with who you are...whatever. I just know it's going to be the BEST year ever!

Professionally, I think I've learned to let go of worrying about what I think I'm 'supposed' to be doing, and just following what I want to do. I think I've reached a point where I'm giving myself permission to follow my heart, passion whatever, instead of what I think will make me some money (that never works...for me anyway). I've realized that it's okay to be broke, because broke is temporary, but poor is a state of mind that lasts forever.

I've always known that I could never do a regular 9-5 job, not that there is anything wrong with that. I feel terrible admitting this publicly because I know billions of people do it everyday. My dear sweet husband does it everyday without complaint. He says he's fine doing a job that's not necessarily his dream because he has things that fulfill him outside of that job. I'm not like that. For me, a 9-5 is like a slow death (at least the jobs I've had, which are really kind of the bottom of the barrel.) I know I'm very fortunate to be married to someone who lets me be me...who goes to work everyday without putting pressure on me to earn an income. In fact any pressure I've ever experienced about that has come directly from myself. Never mind that I earn my keep around here with all that I do being at home. I still feel this nagging urge to contribute financially, which is (partly) what's led me down the path of entrepreneurship. I've always been trying to work for myself for as long as I can remember because I just can't stand the thought of building someone else's empire while breaking my back for peanuts. I fell for a lot of work at home schemes along the way, but I guess that may be par for the course.

My most recent job, a seasonal part time job just ended, and I couldn't be happier. I feel like that job (for a lot of reasons) took me away from what I want to accomplish in my life. The only thing that got me through and kept me from quitting was knowing it was temporary. At that job I watched people sweating every little detail because their very livelihood depends on it. It made me sad to watch these people with families spend 10, sometimes 14 hours a day at at his call center. I would often ask them when they see their kids. This lady who sat next to me told me that she sees her kids just long enough to feed them dinner and get them started on homework. Everyday. Until the weekend (which by the way you are obligated to work one of those weekend days.) This sucks. Bigtime. Even though this was a sh*t job, is it really any different from a high-powered corporate gig? Nope. In fact the higher you go on that ladder, the more your obligation and time commitment.

Please don't get me wrong. I know that business ownership is NOT for everyone. I also know that having your own business takes just as high a level of commitment. I just know that it's where I prefer to be.

I know that I'm very blessed to have the skills and talents that I have. I realized today that it is my obligation to share these gifts and talents with others. I will find a way to do this in 2010.

Anyway, like I was saying before I got on a tangent. I'm a little older, wiser and more comfortable in my skin and I think I'm finally able to let go of certain things that have held me back in my quest for successful business ownership.

Aww drat. This was supposed to be a post about my plans for Taiwo in 2010, but I guess that will wait till tommorrow.

One Clue...

I realize I've been doing some food posts lately, so I guess I owe in the 'life' and 'making other stuff' department.
Being a very creative person can be very frustrating at times. So much I want to do, so little time. I also tend to flit around a lot, which is never good for business. Oh, I do enjoy my creativity! However, I've had the hardest time settling on which one to pursue. Asking a creatively ADD person to pick one thing and stick with it is like asking a mother to pick her favorite child... excruciatingly difficult.
I came back to my Taiwo products because it's the one I have the most experience in. I have been making soaps and other body products since December 1998 when it first hit me that it was possible to make this stuff at home. It's just always seemed logical to do that. After taking a 3 year break from the business (due to the increasing size of my family), I decided it was time to go back. I came back to the same problem I had before: how to pick a niche and focus on that niche. I always thought I had to offer EVERYTHING. That can be the death of a business too, trying to be everything to everyone. Just because you CAN do everything doesn't mean you SHOULD.
I think I may have finally found that niche. I am excited, but waiting until the initial excitement passes to make any announcements.
Stay tuned.

Coquito!

You know that scene in the movie "Envy" with Jack Black where they announce at dinner that 'Flan' will be served. suddenly everyone gets real excited like Flan is just the best thing in the world! Well, if you don't know that scene, run to the nearest video store and get a copy. It's hi-larious!

Anyway, the reaction in that scene is what you'll get everytime you make Coquito, Puerto Rico's answer to the American Eggnog. Think Eggnog by the beach on a hot sunny day. That's how yummy this drink is.

I first discovered this drink about 2 years ago when The Man brought it home from a weekend with his Capoeira buddies. I had a taste and just had to make it! Alas, in my old age, I've grown to become somewhat lactose intolerant, but this drink is not as dairy intensive as its American counterpart. Warning: it's not for the faint of heart. It's very sweet, and possibly very fattening, but it's a wonderful once a year induldgence. Here's my recipe

Coquito:
1 Can Coconut Milk (I use Goya)
1 Can Coconut Cream (the sweetened kind, I use Goya)
1 small can sweetened condensed Milk
6 oz Rum (Preferably Coconut Flavored)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
makes approximately 46oz

Method:
Combine all ingredients in your blender cup and blend until smooth. Chill in the fridge for about an hour. It will thicken slightly, just mix with your whisk. It will be thick but smooth.
Enjoy!

A time to give

So, it's that time of the year again.

This year I decided not to do my usual last minute mad-dash of trying to figure out what to give my kids' teachers the night before. I decided to actually be ahead of the curve this time.
Actually, this new-found preparedness began with the secret santa at work. I mindlessly filled out the form, thinking, how cool it would be to get presents from someone I didn't know. At the time, it barely occurred to me that I would have to reciprocate (insert comments about my self-absorption here...) When the lightbulb finally went off, I started to think. Since my secret santa recipient likes hot cocoa, I set out to make a gift mug filled with hot-cocoa, marshmallows and the works. What I I ended up with was even better.

I used cone bags, instead of the usual mugs, to package the mix. I really got excited when I realized that I could use my newest toy, silhouette machine, to cut the tags. I tied some ribbon around it, and finished it off with a tag and some bling! I got really into packaging the stuff, and for once I was on-time!

This makes a great gift for coworkers, teachers, mailpeople, babysitters, and anyone else you'd like to appreciate! It's also a great stocking stuffer.

Here's the recipe for the Hot Chocolate Cones. This makes about 6 cones.

Hot Cocoa Mix:

Ingredients

• 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 cup powdered nondairy creamer
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Measure all of the ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk them until they are evenly blended.

2. Store the mix in a tightly covered container at room temperature until you're ready to package it. Makes about 4 cups of mix.

To package each cone:

Ingredients (For Each Cone:

• 1/2 cup cocoa mix
• 2 (6- by 12-inch) cone-shaped cellophane bags (available at party stores)
• 2 clear rubber bands (I used twist ties)
• Scissors

• 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup mini marshmallows
• 1 Peppermint Candy Canes

Instructions:

1. Pour the cocoa mix into one of the bags. Close the bag with a clear rubber band, then trim the end of the bag 1 inch above the band.

2. Place the cocoa-filled bag into the second bag and flatten its top so the end doesn't stick up.

3. Layer the chocolate chips and the marshmallows, then stick 1 candy cane in the center. Fasten the bag around the candy cane with one twist tie. Secure the bag with the other rubber band.

Optional:

1. Tie a piece of ribbon around the cone to cover up the twist tie.

2. Address a decorative gift tag and hang from the ribbon.

Happy Gift Giving!