We sold out of soap on Saturday!
Every holiday season I make a projection on the number of bars needed to fulfill online orders and door store customers. I used to work for a small book fair company and I was taught to make projections on the number of books needed for each school. I was amazed at how accurate it was. Without fail, it always came super close! Little did I know then that the knowledge past would help the knowledge future with my own business. The projections are usually accurate but just as I was amazed then, I'm amazed now at how their accuracy works with soap! I always call it a Christmas miracle!
This past year, however, has not resembled anything close to other years. So I really didn't know what to expect. My expectations were met when we sold out of soap on our last day open for the year. Visions of sugarplums have been dancing in my head! I'm feeling blessed and thankful for this holiday regardless of any obstacles and stumbling blocks that have popped up in the past ten months. As you know even without a pandemic challenging things to come and go so it's best to keep your chin up and fill your heart with joy. This is something I've especially nurtured and cultivated this year!
The Bittersweet Apothecary is closed for our annual winter break. I've added a few days this year simply as a reflection of the climate.
I'll take a week off or so and then start to rebuild inventory. It's like starting over!
My Christmas lingers into January as I begin planning our Spring lines, new soaps, flavors, products, etc.
It's always a happy moment to ponder thoughts of spring in the dead of winter. I'll also vamp the store designs and play with merchandising. One of my favorite things is to design my store.
A few years ago I purchased this picture. I love it! At night the little lights on the tree shine brighter and the old farmhouse windows glimmer. You actually want to climb into the picture! At least I do!
I spent the day delivering gifts to neighbors and some of my elderly friends. This year has been particularly hard on older folks. If you can share a tiny piece of joy, then I say do it!
I also made rum cakes. The petite cakes are the perfect size for sharing. I wrap them in cello and tie a ribbon around them. I've also sampled a couple! They are tasty and a twist on the usual holiday treats. I usually make toffee and pralines, but this year Rum Cakes won the toss. These recipes are floating around the internet. I used this one. I also poured the cake dough into small individual bundt pans like the picture. These little mini bundt pans are nice to have in your kitchen stock. They also offer them smaller. A set of twelve that I find are handy too. I have an obsession with individual cake pans! I feel that a girl can never have enough of them!
During my break, I'm planning on painting our dining room. I've decided on a dark color for the walls. We have white shutters and lots of them along with white molding along the top and dark color will look amazing.
A customer sent me this handmade card a few years ago. I treasure the sentiments and it helps take me back to my roots.
Some sweet memories... I am almost certain that Santa had just asked us if we had been good little girls and boys. My eyes are closed which means I said yes, but I might have been telling a fib.
Merry Christmas!
May your heart be filled with blessings of joy, peace, and love.
Jill
