Sleigh Bells Ring...Are Ya Listenin'?

It's that time again.  While most people are still contemplating turkey and avoiding sketchy in-laws - soapmakers are well into Christmas season!  We have to start making our wares and workin' the mojo in mid-october if we are to be ready for the holiday madness that ensues, the minute the last Tootsie Roll is gone from the Halloween stash.

Every year, I love watching what other vendors come up with.  It's always fun to see new creativity, but everybody just pulls out all the stops this time of year.  Like, just NUTTY talent.  Best of all - we are completely justified in our ridiculous over-glittering, for once.

I did make a buncha seasonal soaps this year.  Can't remember how many kinds.  8?  9?  They are already almost gone.  Even so, I wanted to make up some higher end gift boxes, to supplement my usual fare.  I found some great gift boxes, that were really sturdy (reusable!) and sparkly without being cheesy.  I really wanted to avoid as much cheese as possible for this project.  I enjoy a dancing M&M in a Santa suit as much as the next guy, but I'm going for more of a Tiffany's-Meets-Ruby-Slippers, upscale look.

Ya know how you can get sucked into buying overpriced boxes of items offered by a vendor, and it ends up being mostly dollar store tissue paper and sample sized crap you really don't want or need in the first place?  (I'm looking at YOU subscription box services).  Or worse yet...a box full of tiny samples and 47,000 coupon codes for 10% off.  Yeah.  Just go ahead and light your cash on fire next time, and save some steps.  My point is that I'm making a serious attempt to stuff my boxes to the rim with full-sized, customized, genuine ALDSC products with lots of attention to detail.  

Totally cute, right?

So let's get to what's in the box...

The obvious anticipated items are the goat milk soaps. What's a goodie box without the soap?!  In each box, I have included a bar of Topper The Christmas Penguin soap, scented with notes of rich grape and raspberry blended with sugar and sparkling soda:

Twas The Night Before Christmas soap, scented with a gorgeous blend of cherry wood, sweet raspberries, creamy vanilla and the most AWESOME hint of pipe tobacco. 

A bar of Whoville Vanilla Chai.  Warm & comforting with masala chai spices:

And lastly...one for the purists...Mrs. Kringle's Double Butter Bar.  Unscented, colorant free, and made with rich organic cocoa and mango butters:

Next inside the box, is a full 10 oz.  bubbling Sugar Whip Body Scrub for gentle cleansing, exfoliation, and kissably soft skin.  You''ll either receive my dupe for Merry Mistletoe by Bath & Body Works - or Fresh Baked Gingerbread!

Also in the stash is my 12 oz. hand poured christmas candle - Silent Night.  I've triple scented them with a seasonal blend of creamy vanilla, sweet strawberries, freshly shaved coconut, frosted raspberries and sugar-sweetend blackberries.  It is made with my own special blend of waxes and topped with a beautiful glass, twinkling Christmas star. 

The next item in the box is a full-sized aluminum pump bottle of my Timeless Hydrating Skin Complex (with hyaluronic acid).  All made from scratch and formulated to combat moisture loss, replenish softness and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.  Not that any of you sexy beasts have wrinkles.   I'm totally talking about those other trolls.   ;o)

And speaking of candles....to go with your container candle, I've added four hand poured votives.  Two scented in Mulled Cider & Chestnuts, and two in Brandied Holiday Pear.  The perfect home scents for the holidays.  Put them in your prettiest glass votive holders or sconces for a little magical holiday mood lighting.

Next up - is a full-sized, 4oz jar of my (customer favorite) Apricot Facial Scrub.   AKA - Face Crack.   If you like the product manufactured by a company that rhymes with Paint Jives - you'll love my version.

I have also added a single use tube of Christmas Chamomile Goat Milk & Oatmeal Bath.  Milk baths nourish, soften and make your skin feel like silk. Just pour it in your bathtub full of warm water, and soak away your crocodile skin and the stress of avoiding the beat-down that lady had comin' when she took your parking spot at the mall.  ;o)

For all you tart hoarders (you know who you are), I have also included a single Brandied Holiday Pear wax tart for your home melters:

Oh nooo...we aren't done!  Included in your goodie box, is one full pound of soothing bath salts (of the non-face-eating variety) scented in a Christmas Candy blend of cool peppermint and dreamy vanilla.  Enriched with dead sea and himalayan sea salts.  Packaged in a resealable pouch with scoop.

Lastly - no good treat box is complete without chocolate.  For an added touch of decadence, I have included a box of Mrs. Fields White Chocolate Peppermint Bark and one large Peppermint Crunch Dark Chocolate Dipped Bavarian Style Pretzel.

Best enjoyed with wine milk. ;o)

Incidentally, I opted to ship these UPS Ground.  Now ya know I appreciate me some USPS, and I know they all work hard, but they sometimes like to play dodge ball with fragile packages.  These will be delivered via big brown truck to your doorstep.

There are many great gift sets, gift packs and gift boxes out there this season.  One trip around Etsy.com and you'll see lots of $15-$25 purchases to make.  However, if you're looking to splurge a little more on someone extra special - even if that someone is YOU - I hope you'll take a peek at these fun, luxury boxes this year.  On sale 11-15-13.  Limited availability.

If you are interested in any of A Life Deliberate Soap Co. goods, please visit me at http://www.alifedeliberatesoapco.bigcartel.com or swing by my Facebook page for updates on sales, coupon codes, and a preview of what's coming in the shop!  http://www.facebook.com/alifedeliberatesoap

Have a wonderfully, happy holiday season.  Be grateful, count your blessings and look forward to an amazing 2014.

xo-

~Lori