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Handmade Toiletries Weekly Newsletter
December 17, 2000

A Publication of The Handmade Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630
December 17, 2000
Issue 47

------->THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR: AROMA AFFAIR<-------

Free Holiday Gift With Purchase! | http://www.AromaAffair.com

Handcrafted aromatherapy candles & soaps, lotions, shower gels, bath salts, fragrance and essential oils and of course, gift sets. Our selection of colorful, uniquely designed aromatherapy diffusers is the best in the industry. We can match any decor, and our price and selection cater to your budget and tastes. Wholesale prices available!!

10% off all orders for HBC readers!! Use coupon Code: "pamperme" when you place your order. Click on the coupon button anytime BEFORE you check out of our Web site!

http://www.AromaAffair.com | Call toll free (800) 327-1837!
Your Online Source For Quality Aromatherapy Products

1. HBN UPDATE ~ WELCOME NEW HBN MEMBERS!!
2. HANDMADE BEAUTY TRIVIA QUESTION ~ win a sample fo one of my Christmas 2000 aromatherapy blends!
3. HBN MEMBER PROMOTES THE "HANDMADE" GOSPEL IN NEW ZEALAND
4. HANDMADE BEAUTY PRODUCT REVIEW ~ Moon Dance Hemp Bar
5. READER RECIPE ~ Asian Spiced Chocolate

1. HBN UPDATE ~ WELCOME HBN MEMBERS!!

Welcome New Members!!

Hummingly Smooth | Kaylo Bloodworth | Pennsylvania
Sugar Plum Sundries | Karon Adams | Tennessee

Renewing Members!! Thanks for your continued support!!

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

2. HANDMADE BEAUTY TRIVIA QUESTION ~ Last week's winner was Linda Lea Ellis of Phoenix, Arizona. Linda Lea won samples of two oils that were the answer to last week's question.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: A variety of different species of trees are available for use as Christmas trees. Four varieties are very common, identified largely by the arrangement of their needles. Parts of these trees yield popular essential oils which are often identified with the fall and holiday seasons. To win this week, name three of the four most common species of trees used as Christmas trees in the US.

LAST WEEK'S ANSWER: fir, spruce, pine, cedar

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Within the first 30 seconds of the holiday movie classic "It's a Wonderful Life," a sign for a drug store is visible through the falling snow. Provide the exact name of the drug store as it appears on the screen to win this week.

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, Christmas Rose, contains essential oils of rose, frankincense, myrrh & etc., for a distinctly romantic and provocative, yet festive aromatherapy blend.

Due to time constraints, I can no longer respond individually to contest entries that do not win. If you do not receive an individual note from me when you submit an answer, it means that someone else has won that week. The winner will always be notified by private email and the name will be posted on our Web site at www.handmadebeauty.com/hbcn/about.asp.

Please read the contest rules at that link before submitting your answer. Lately, several entries have been disqualified because they did not follow the rules.

3. HBN MEMBER PROMOTES THE "HANDMADE" GOSPEL IN NEW ZEALAND

Sandy and Louis Maine, owners of HBN member SunFeather Natural Soap Company, are preparing to once again demonstrate a commitment to the handmade toiletries industry. In January, along with their children, they will make a 3-month long trek to New Zealand to teach developmentally challenged persons to launch handmade soap manufacturing businesses. Included in their curriculum is everything one needs to start such a business - from sourcing supplies and equipment and marketing, to product development and employee training.

Says Sandy, "part of my goal is to emphasize the important role of people making products rather than machines. In a world often taken with high technology, along with the savoring of human interaction, it is important that the production of handmade goods maintains an important place in the human experience." Well said Sandy! And we here at HBN agree. I know that HBC readers and all of the HBN family wish you and your family safe travels, and we look forward to an exciting report when you return!

4. HANDMADE BEAUTY PRODUCT REVIEW ~ Moon Dance Hemp Bar

Moon Dance Hemp Bar by Earth Dance
4.5 oz. ~ $5.50

Patchouli O Patchouli
What can we say of thee?
Either we hate you with passion,
Or we love you quite truly.

I wrote this little poem about patchouli essential oil because it aptly describes what nearly everyone says about it. That is, either you love it or you hate it. There seems to be no "in between". As a rule, I'm just not enamored with patchouli. But I have recently discovered that when it is mixed with the right complemetary oils, I warm up to it considerably. That was the case when I experienced it in Moon Dance Hemp Bar.

This bar of soap boasts a warming blend of patchouli oil, combined with oils of lavender, ylang ylang (pronounced ee-lung ee-lung) and vetiver (one of my favorites), all in a base of virgin hemp oil. I thought I detected a touch of cinnamon, but maybe that's just because my husband said he thought he smelled it. He liked this bar as well, and was especially attracted to the cream/copper/tan colored swirls from read earth clay, which make the bar really pretty. (The colors in this and other Earth Dance soaps are beautifully photographed at the company's Web site!)

My skin felt super smoothed after using Moon Dance Hemp Bar. This is the first time I've used a handmade soap with a hemp oil base ... it will not be the last!

Moon Dance Hemp Bar and other "Earth Dance Escentials" are available from HBN member Earth Dance, listed at HBN's online member directory at this link: http://www.HandmadeBeauty.com/member_directory.htm.

5. READER RECIPE ~ Asian Spiced Chocolate

We are continuing our features of HBC readers' delectable holiday treats as a seasonal replacement for our aromatic skincare recipes. (We'll be returning to those in the new year.) We've featured some delicious treats over the past few weeks. If you've missed them, you can get them here:

Gratitude Cookies from Yours Truly:
http://www.HandmadeBeauty.com/hbcn/arc2000/20001123.asp

Hot Spiced Wassail from Kim in New York:
http://www.handmadebeauty.com/hbcn/arc2000/20001210.asp

White Christmas Cookies from Susan in Louisiana:
http://www.HandmadeBeauty.com/hbcn/arc2000/20001203.asp

Anisguetzli Cookies from Franziska in Switzerland:
http://www.handmadebeauty.com/hbcn/arc2000/20001126.asp

This week's recipe was contributed by HBC reader Menkit Prince, author of "The Essential Oil Cookbook" ($24.95, plus S&H). I met with Menkit on the phone earlier this year and we had a chance to talk about her background in the health industry, as well as our experiences as self-published authors. Menkit has combined her love of aromatic oils with her knowledge of body/mind/health issues to create the recipes in her book.

I chose Asian Spiced Chocolate to share with you because I presume that many of your are chocoholics, and this is a great way to either kick that habit or complement it with something a little different.

Asian Spiced Chocolate is a chocolate substitute energy bar with a small amount of pure essential oil. Menkit tells me that if you are in search of a healthy chocolate substitute, this is the bar for you. For anyone adverse to the flavor of carob, this recipe adds cashew butter, barley malt and dates to completely disguise the familiar carob taste. Says Menkit, "it's possible to kick your chocolate addiction cold turkey with this bar. Stored in the freezer and eaten in small portions as cravings arise, one bar could feasibly last a week or two. However, there will always be those who eat the entire thing in one sitting! Even teenagers like this recipe. Try it!"

Asian Spiced Chocolate
(Makes three bars, each 3" x 2" x 1")
6 Medjool dates (about 4 1/2 tablespoons, mashed)
3 tablespoons barley malt syrup
3/4 cup cashew butter
3 tablespoons carob powder
3/4 cup roasted almonds
1/3 cup raisins
2 drops Cardamom essential oil and 1 drop Ginger essential oil
_or_
2 drops Peppermint essential oil

Remove pit from dates and mash (use a mortar and pestle). Add barley malt syrup and essential oils. Mash cashew butter into mixture evenly. Add roasted, chopped almonds, carob powder and raisins and stir. Shape into three bars. Freeze for one hour then slice right before serving. Store in the freezer, covered in waxed paper inside a ziplock bag.

Thanks for the great recipe, Menkit!! I can't wait to try this fragrant version of chocolate at my holiday party. To order "The Essential Oil Cookbook" with 184 original recipes in 22 categories, all incorporate pure essential oils, send an email to earthlove@essentialoilcookbook.com or call (888) 217-1028.

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!!

Visit The Handmade Beauty Connection Archives at http://www.handmadebeauty.com/hbcn/archives.asp.

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Have A Great Week!!
Donna Maria
Editor-In-Chief, The Handmade Beauty Connection
The Handmade Beauty Network | www.handmadebeauty.com
Send feedback to DonnaMaria@HandmadeBeauty.com

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