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Handmade Toiletries Weekly Newsletter
December 3, 2000

A Publication of The Handmade Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630
December 3, 2000
Issue 47

Now there are two ways to enjoy the Handmade Beauty Connection! You can read our newsletter here in your email box, or you can click on this link:
http://www.HandmadeBeauty.com/hbcn/arc2000/20001203.asp

--->THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR: AUROMA, www.auroma.com<---
Complete line of aromatherapy products: Essential Oils & Synergistic Blends, Rare/Precious Oils, Carrier Oils, Additive Free Base Products, Diffusers, Books & More.

!!HBN Members Only!!
Look for the HBN promotional code in this week's member update to receive 25% on all orders placed by 12/31/00!!

Auroma ~ A Journey In Aromatherapy
http://www.auroma.com | e-mail: kevin@auroma.com
Call us toll free: (800) 327-2025

1. BEAUTY NOTES (from HBC readers)
2. HBN UPDATE ~ WELCOME NEW HBN MEMBERS!!
3. HANDMADE BEAUTY TRIVIA QUESTION ~ win a sample of one of my Christmas 2000 aromatherapy blends!!
4. HANDMADE BEAUTY PRODUCT REVIEW by Donna Maria
5. READER RECIPE ~ White Christmas Cookies

1. BEAUTY NOTES (letters from our readers)

This week, we extend a special thanks to Michelle Rotherham of Earth's Own in La Crescenta, California, for making an unsolicited contribution to our efforts to assist the women of Hannah House. Michelle's act of kindness and beauty will combine with HBC's subscriber drive donation to contribute a total of over $100 to the Hannah House. Thank you Michelle for your generosity. 100% of your donation has been passed along to the Executive Director of the Hannah House.

Dear DM ~

"I love the idea of sending in recipes for holiday treats. Here's mine. "First go to your nearest gourmet deli or shop. Buy a nice treat and take it home if you can wait that long. Take one bite, then throw out the rest or give it to your skinny kids. Do not take to bed and devour in the middle of the night." Anastasia Crabtree, Moon and Stars Enchanted Soaps, Kentucky.

Send your beauty notes to donnamaria@handmadebeauty.com.

2. HBN UPDATE ~ WELCOME NEW HBN MEMBERS!!

~ Terra Soleil Ltd | Karen Schmieder | New York
aromatherapy based cremes, finished products, private label

~ Mambisia Originals | Melanie Picket | Illinois
Beeswax lip balms with natural oils, lanolin and flavors

Renewing Members!! Thanks for your continued support!!

~ Great Bay Soap Co. | Corky Condon | South Carolina
~ Essential Wholesale | Dennis Fioravanti | Oregon
~ Sweet Scents Soap Co. | David George | Wisconsin
~ Of the Earth Soapworks | Maggie Hanus | Texas
~ Irish Hearth Soaps | Lori Kimble | Illinois

Log onto these and other HBN member Web sites through HBN's online member directory at http://www.HandmadeBeauty.com!

3. HANDMADE BEAUTY TRIVIA QUESTION ~ Last week's winner was Deborah Baker of Hazel Park, Michigan. Deborah won a sample of the essential oil, which was also the answer to last week's question.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: In the Old Testament book of Exodus, the Lord provides Moses with a recipe for a holy incense which He instructs must be made "according to the art of the perfumer." This recipe called for a variety of different herbs, woods, sweet spices and other ingredients. One of those ingredients is typically associated around the world with the celebration of the Christmas holiday. To win this week, name that ingredient.

LAST WEEK'S ANSWER: Frankincense

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Continuing with our month-long holiday trivia questions, provide the names of each one of Santa's reindeer with correct spellings, and identify which reindeer is known for his bright red nose.

Read contest rules at www.handmadebeauty.com/hbcn/about.asp#contest

Be the first to answer this week's question and win a sample of one of my Christmas 2000 aromatherapy blends!! This week's blend, Hope & Grace, contains essential oils of frankincense, myrrh, pine needles, sweet orange and other that celebrate the Hope & Grace the holiday season represents to me.

If you'd like to share your favorite seasonal aromatherapy blend (and any personal story that goes along with it) with other HBC readers, send it to recipes@handmadebeauty.com and we'll post it during the month of December!

4. HANDMADE BEAUTY PRODUCT REVIEW by Donna Maria

~ Lavender Heavy Cream by 310 ~
1.9 oz. ~ $19.00

Now that we have moved full force into the fall season, the weather in the Mid-Atlantic area has become windy and cold. This means my skin has become increasingly dry and flaky over the past month. Thank goodness there is no shortage of handmade beauty products I can make myself or purchase from companies that use moisture-rich ingredients that soothe and pamper my skin.

The latest addition to my winter skin arsenal is Lavender Heavy Cream. I got this product a few months ago and have saved it unopened in my fridge until now because I wanted to try it for the first time when I knew my skin could really use it. Lavender Heavy Cream feels to me more like an ointment or salve than a cream. Its ingredient list is short and sweet ~ just water, oils (like shea butter, one of my favorites!), glycerin and beeswax. It's scented with a soothing allotment of lavender essential oil. The price is a bit on the steep side, but Lavender Heavy Cream is very rich, and my skin is so dry that I don't even find it "heavy." Rather, my face and neck lap it up like a thirsty sponge, and it smoothes into my skin easily without having to tug. I like to apply it over my entire body while I am still damp from bathing. Yum!!

Lavender Heavy Cream and other scrumptious treats are available from HBN member 310, listed at HBN's online member directory at http://www.HandmadeBeauty.com.

7. READER RECIPE ~ White Christmas Cookies

This week's festive treat was submitted by HBC reader Susan Dahlem of Many, Louisiana. You may remember Susan as the mom of 8-year old Little Miss Rachael Dahlem, the owner of Wild Child, a budding handmade toiletries business. If you missed my interview with Rachael (and her recipe for "Rachael's Peppy Peppermint Lip Stuff"), you can read it here:

http://www.handmadebeauty.com/hbcn/arc2000/20000220.asp

Susan is the author of "Christmas Traditions: A Collection of Homespun Holiday Traditions & Recipes From Our Hearts & Home To Yours". One of Susan's most popular cookies is White Christmas Cookies. Says Susan, "they're one of my very favorites! Delicate pastry cookies with a butter cream taste. From my days of catering, there is no telling how many 1000's I have made. It's everyone's favorite and very easy to double or even triple."

White Christmas Cookies (yields 48 cookies)

4 ounces white baking chocolate
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon red decorating sugar (other colors may be used)

Melt white chocolate in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Set aside. Beat butter at med-high for 30 seconds. Add 1 cup sugar, soda and salt. Beat well. Beat in egg, buttermilk, vanilla and melted chocolate until combined. Beat in as much of your flour as possible with a mixer, then mix in remaining flour with wooden spoon. Cover and chill 1 hour. Combine 1 tablespoon granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon decorating sugar. Shape dough into 1" balls. Roll in sugar mixture. Place balls 2 " apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Cool on a rack.

Thanks for the great recipe, Susan!! I can't wait to try these cookies on my friends and family members as they "drop in" over the next few weeks to celebrate the holidays. For information about how to order the Christmas Traditions, send an emailto Susan at jsdahlem@bellsouth.net.

If you have a recipe you'd like to share, send it to recipes@handmadebeauty.com. If we use it in an upcoming issue, we'll credit you!!

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