The spring air is filled with the gentle perfume of the peonies! I don't recall how long it's been since we've had such an earthy wet spring. So much rain has fallen here in Missouri and the extreme weather just doesn't seem to want to let up. Feeling empathy for those who have lost their homes from tornadoes and flooding. The peony blooms help, if not for a moment, to focus your mind on pretty, smell good natural articles of affection.
My heart is filled with joy when a customer shares stories about Bittersweet products they are using and how they've improved their skin. My focus has always been to share my skincare knowledge with others by manufacturing top-notch products that are made with the highest standard of ingredients. The bar is set high! Choosing healthy food over unhealthy food filled with preservatives is a great metaphor for the skin care that Bittersweet makes. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Please keep sharing your stories because this is why we do what we do!
We just got these new tee shirts in! I guess it would be safe to say that I'm an outdoorsy type and an indoorsy type. Can you be both? I think so. When I was younger I loved to go camping. Now that I'm older I prefer a B&B over a tent. Love the shirt and customers are loving them too!
We're launching a new apothecary line called White Garden. The nouveau line is gradually hitting the shelves and will spread its wings in June.
We'll also be bringing back some old lines, Lake House and Country Fair. Both were inspired by my childhood days.
Our new order online, pick up at the shop is gaining popularity. I'll be honest in saying that I was on the fence with this new option, but now I'm happy we're on board. Even though it's an experience to take in the scents and explore the weekly new arrivals. If you've been in Bittersweet before and have used our skin care products then you typically know what you're needing. Whether that be Face Creme, Lip Balm, Soap, Toner, Scrub, etc., the option of paying ahead and picking up at store is quite handy, indeed.
It's the Saturday of Memorial weekend and the shop is closed today. All the many years I've been in business have taught me that this weekend and this particular day should be spent at home catching up. It's usually a slower day than any other Saturday, and I'm grabbing all the Saturdays I can get because they are rare.
Our bathroom is coming along nicely. The tiling is almost finished and we're refinishing vintage heat registers and stripping our old medicine cabinet. I'm not sure what kind of wood it's made from, but I'm about to find out. I'm hoping it comes close to matching the dresser I stripped last year. Wouldn't that be grand? Then after the dirty work, choosing a toilet and new flooring. We're also going to have our tub and sink refinished by professionals. They have kits now and you can do it yourself, but I'm going to lend a hand to the folks that do that for a living. We don't have a clawfoot tub, but it's probably dated from 1930, something. It's oversized and I love it! It's also gratifying to incorporate some of the old pieces into the new. At least, that's what I love to do. Believe it or not, I love bits and pieces of modern mixed with old. It's kinda sweet to take in the once was with the once is. Don't you think?
Switching over and wanting to yell on the mountain how much I'm in love with the new Summer Perfume! Tones of lavender, coconut, grapefruit, amber, make this my all time favorite perfume to date!
The Goat Milk Soap is curing and I have two more pints of fresh goat milk in the fridge. Today I'll be mixing the creamy milk into another batch of Bittersweet! The fresh from farm goat milk adds a soulful ingredient, pure and natural, perfect addition to our recipe.
Switching again to cake! This was my Mother's day gift. Patrick made from scratch, this decadent chocolate cake with rich buttercream icing.
Colorful wrappings and pretty pink peonies kind of go together.
One of my shop orchids is blooming, again! It's so funny how after all these years I've figured out the secret of blooming orchids. I stash them in the cold back room and barely pay any attention to them, and next thing I know, the buds are forming. Once the buds start popping I place them in the sunny south window. I love the orchid blooms because they grace you with their beauty for weeks on end.
Little things are still my favorite things.
Keep the faith.
Jill
