Bug Off Faucet Soap

Day 15: Bug Off Faucet Soap

Our CITRONELLA PINK GRAPEFRUIT indoor/outdoor faucet soap is perfect to hang outside year-round, keep in the shower, or take camping. Citronella is a natural insect repellent and pink grapefruit is uplifting. Phosphate-free and biodegradable!

Element Sprays

Day 14: Element Sprays

If one is good, then three is better!! Leave one in every room, or give them as gifts. You will love how these scents encourage positive energy and soothe the mood.
Live Joyfully
Sleep Peacefully
Play Hard
Tranquility

Soaps for Spirits

Day 13: Soaps with Spirits

Pure and natural handcrafted soaps with inspiration found only from nature. Perfect gift for yourself or a friend. Our inspiring quote cards touch the spirit and our high quality natural ingredients are healing for the skin. Get 3 (big) 4.5 oz. bars for only $17!

Lavender Mineral Salt Soak

Day 12: Reward your body!

Pour a palm full of minerals in your bath & soak away the day with the natural benefits of magnesium and antioxidants. Made with dead sea salt, epsom salt, dentric salt, soap shavings, and lavender essential oil.
1/2 pound bag for only $6.50 or 3 for $15
Great for athletes, runners, and bath junkies!

Kiss Chapped Lips Goodbye

Day 11: The Kiss me Kit

It is no secret this is my favorite product in the world! The edible lip scrub is gluten free, delivers super soft lips, tastes like pie crust, and is virtually calorie free! What else does a woman want?

Oh yeah, how about an all natural chocolate peppermint lip balm that makes your lips tingly. Yessss.....

Peppermint Tea Tree Faucet Soaps

Day 10: Faucet Soaps (natural soap in a sack)

I invented these to eliminate shower gel. The soap stays in the sack, so you save time, money, and the earth. This wonderful combination of essential oils treats inflammation, acne, and fights off bacteria! This is our best selling soap for healthy skin and to help wake you up. Men love them because they are easy to use and great for traveling.

TOP 10 reasons we love Faucet Soap:
1. Hang up to dry = stays clean & lasts longer
2. Safe for sensitive skin
3. Bath/shower/shave (3-in-1) = $$ savings
4. Phosphate-free and biodegradable
5. Waterproof bag is perfect for traveling
6. Kid friendly
7. (3-in-1) = less waste in landfills
8. Helps treat & prevent back acne (oh so smooth!)
9. Shave & exfoliate for polished skin
10. Scrubs and helps poison ivy, sunburns, and tattoos

Gardener's Soap Gift Sets

Day 9: Gardener's Soap Gift Sets

Plant the seed of love!

This awesome gift set is perfect for anyone's taste and budget! You get a garden shovel, a handcrafted sandalwood lavender bar of soap with exfoliating oats, an inspiring gift card, and a pack of wild seeds.

We won "Best in Show" last year for this adorable gift set, and recently marked the price of $15 down 20%, to only $11.95 each! Stock up while they last!

Green Tea Massage Candle

Day 8: Light & Ignite Massage Candles

Our Light and Ignite Massage Candle is a 3-in-1 product (because I'm a sucker for value)! Its a candle, body moisturizer, and massage oil. They are made with soy wax and shea butter, so it is more of a body product than a traditional candle. Our newest scent, GREEN TEA, is tranquil, fresh, and clean—everyone loves this scent.

Here's how it works:

When melted, the soy and shea make a smooth body oil for you to enjoy. Simply light the candle 15 minutes before use (or place on a candle warmer). Extinguish candle, dip fingers into oil, and then apply like a lotion. It is warm, but not hot-hot like waxy candles. Choose from 4 scents. Get a 2-ounce votive tin for only $6.95, or try 3 for $17!

Faucet Soap, Natural Soap in a Sack

Day 7: Faucet Soap (kind of like soap on a rope)
Applejack is a best seller among men and women. Especially around the holidays. Its warm apple scent is understated and delicious. It is our favorite men's product and "hard to buy for" present. Buy 3 for only $24. Here are the TOP 10 reasons we love Faucet Soap:
1. Hang up to dry = stays clean & lasts longer
2. Safe for sensitive skin
3. Bath/shower/shave (3-in-1) = $$ savings
4. Phosphate-free and biodegradable
5. Waterproof bag is perfect for traveling
6. Kid friendly
7. (3-in-1) = less waste in landfills
8. Helps treat & prevent back acne (oh so smooth!)
9. Shave & exfoliate for polished skin
10. Scrubs and helps poison ivy, sunburns, and tattoos

Natural soap and body gift sets

Day 6: Natural soap and body gift sets

Choose your favorite scent, and try it all! For only $12 you get a full sized soap with spirit, mini Element Spray, and either a lotion or lip balm. Big value...little package!

Applejack: soap with spirit, mini lotion, mini element spray
Lavender: soap with spirit, mini lotion, mini element spray
Peppermint: soap with spirit, lip balm, mini element spray

Mineral salt soak and soap gift set

Day 5: Natural spa gift set

Relax, revive, and thrive! Each gift set comes packaged in an eye catching colored takeout box & ribbon! You don't even have to wrap this already perfect gift. Perfect for anyone who needs a special treat and an excuse to relax!

Thrive: Coconut mineral salt soak, coconut shave soap, coconut lip balm
Relax: Lavender mineral salt soak, lavender face & body soap, chocolate peppermint lip balm
Revive: Eucalyptus mineral salt soak, peppermint shave soap, peppermint lip balm

$18 each / packaged in a cute colored takeout box & ribbon

Peppermint Vanilla Lotion

Day 4: Comfort & Joy Body Lotion

Comfort & Joy is meant for us all, and I think we can all use an extra helping right now!

Our new holiday scent is tingly and sweet, kind of like peppermint bark. You know, the white chocolate holiday treat? Our everyday body lotion is very light and non-greasy. Enjoy our big 8 oz. limited lotions!

Christmas ornament soaps

Day 3: Comfort & Joy Soaps

Our limited edition scent, peppermint vanilla, smells amazing! But even more amazing is the cool abstract snow flake design. This holiday soap on a rope, also doubles as a Christmas ornament. This decadent natural soap makes a great gift for kids, adults, men, and women!

Funky Fishy Soaps

Day 2: $6 stocking stuffer

Funky Fishy Soaps: Fish in soap are fun in the tub!

Natural glycerin soap, scented by the sea, feels wonderful and smells clean and fresh. Wash daily and enjoy your toy fish when your soap is all gone! Limited stock for the holidays, so get yours today. I personally think they make great for kids and adults (and are magical)!

5 oz. bars / $6 each / fish colors vary

Good Fortune's Gift Guide

I love Christmas, but I'll admit, being a single workaholic isn't the most fun around the holidays. However, I do love giving fun gifts! My goal over the next 24 days is to suggest a new Good Fortune gift each day. I may even throw in a few surprises, so check back every day!

Day 1: $5 stocking stuffer
Soap for Hope: get soap and give hope
Purchase as many bars of our "mystery soaps" for only $5 each, and we'll donate 100% of your money to Soap for Hope (inspire & empower disadvantaged girls by teaching them life skills, entrepreneurship training, and offering them hope for a college education).

Note: Mystery soaps are our seconds, and are modestly packaged, so be sure to provide a hand written note with each gift. During checkout, ask for extra info in the comment box, and we'll send fliers for each bar!

Shea Butter is Truly Amazing!

Shea butter, from the tree of life, is great for your skin, the earth, and ours is 100% natural.

What is it and where does it come from?
We buy our Shea Butter from an American company who gets it directly from a female enterprise in Ghana, Africa. It is the most pure, 100% unrefined Shea Butter, derived from the nut of the Karite tree (aka Tree of Life). We simply reheat and repackage the butter, which allows you to get the full benefits of the butter.

What does it smell like?
We don't add a drop of fragrance to this stuff, so it is the most hyper-allergenic stuff we make. It is unscented, but still a natural-earthy aroma at first. Once you apply it to the skin, the smells dissolves quickly.

How do I get it out of the jar and apply it?
We suggest you use the back of your thumbnail to scoop it out and then rub it together between your fingers to melt it.

Can I use it anywhere?
Once the heat from your body has melted the butter, then you can apply it any where (and we mean anywhere!) Try treating your dry cuticles, elbows, feet, scalp, face, lips, baby's bottom and all over winter skin.

What are the therapeutic benefits of Shea Butter?
Some say that this butter, from the tree of life, is nourishing to all skin types because it is extremely high in Vitamins A, E, and fatty acid. It has been reported to help treat minor skin ailments such as stretch marks, wrinkles, adult and infant eczema, psoriasis, diaper rash, and minimizes scars.

What is this white ashy stuff on top?
It is best to keep all natural products in cool dry places, but sometimes it gets hot and melts and then cold again (kind of like chocolate). We see this all the time in the summer. Since we do NOT add any type of preservative to our Shea Butter, it will not last forever. If your Shea Butter goes bad, you'll be able to smell a bad (rancid) odor. Remember, an earthy nutty smell is normal, and like chocolate the shape and texture may change with temperature, but the therapeutic qualities will remain intact.

Good Fortune Lip Balm in Nepal

Jency, from The World Next Door Market, emailed me this week to say her "Good Fortune Lip Balm was great for the cold and (very) windy condition of Nepal". I'm not sure if I love her email & photos more, or the fact she was there buying fair trade goods to help fight human trafficking.

OKAY, I love the World Next Door's mission more! Here is an excerpt from their blog, and if you're on my shopping list, consider yourself lucky, because their shop is awesome!!

"Well, I returned from Nepal on October 29 and hit the ground running- end of GPS' Robin Hood, fair trade home parties, Normal Palooza- it's been a busy 2 weeks! I had access to internet just a couple of times and so was unable to post anything. This trip was so different from our trip in May, but once again I came back encouraged by what is happening in Nepal to fight human trafficking. It is an honor to play a tiny part in the work there. Being able to meet the women really makes selling products at World Next Door so personal and real. It really is making a difference! These girls are being loved and treated with dignity and respect- some for the first time in their lives. We ate together, laughed, and danced! Even with the language barrier, it was a great time. Visit our website here to see some of the hats and scarves I brought back. I would love to post pictures of their smiling faces but because of security issues when it comes to trafficking, I can't post them on the internet."

Pretty cool huh? Be sure to sign up for their newsletter and receive AWESOME deals and specials via email. We love Fair Trade!!

Women, injustice, and what you can do to help!

I met Will and Beth when I was in South Africa 3 summers ago, serving with a Cincinnati based church. Will and I were on the same "go" team together, and our laid back personalities clicked. Our entire team became a family while we were there, and it has been fun witnessing everyone's continual growth and pursuit of purpose.

I want to introduce you to Will's blog: Social-Compass, and let you read for yourself how he, his wife Beth, and their daughter sold everything and moved to South Africa to help the underprivileged. Yes, it is inspiring, and hopefully will encourage you to seek God's will...even if it sounds crazy at first. I must warn you that God's plans are never easy, and this blog shows you both sides of the coin.

Their mission stirs me to the core, makes me angry, fuels my passion to create change, and knocks me on my knees. Thank God for "change agents" like Will and Beth, who are willing to leave their comfort zones in order to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Okay, now here is the hard part. The injustice, rape, and poverty that exists in our world, and how people are able to turn a blind eye. It is not okay, and we can't continue to act like it doesn't matter to us! Whether in Africa or in our city, it does affect us, and just one person can make a change. Read Will's latest blog: somedays are hard, and get stirred.

Now I ask you: How can you implement fundamental changes in your own life so you can help people around the globe?

You don't have to move to Africa in order to be a part of the solution, but you can financially support change agents and be active in their prayer lives. You can also invest time in a child, widow, or disadvantaged person's life. Giving feels good!

You cannot change what already is, yet you can decide precisely what you will take from it and what you will do with it. No matter what happens, you have the power to make of it what you will. -- Ralph Marston

Hang gliding, my favorite day off!

Hang gliding at Tennessee Tree Toppers was the most fun I have had in awhile. My very knowledgeable flight instructor Clark, gave me a great flight lesson, and then we were off. In tandem gear, we ran off the end of their signature wooden launch, and within 4 steps we were airborne.

I was in heaven as we soared above the multi-colored Tennessee leaves in the Sequatchie Valley. We stayed up for what seemed like a long time as we searched for air pockets to give us lift. We managed to climb to about 900 feet.

My friend Chris, a veteran hang glider, flew beside us. We chased each other in the air, chased hawks, and enjoyed rare moments together. Hang gliding is very safe and fun for all...seriously! I totally recommend you (or your kids) try it for yourself. Clark Harlow is an independent instructor, and is so much fun to work with, so please call him for your own one-on-one flight: 423-949-3396. Plus, check out my other pictures from that day! Life is short...live today...love today!

Open House Success

On November 1st Good Fortune opened our doors to the public for our 3rd annual open house, and it was a huge success! The sun was shining, our doors were open, and hundreds of people mingled around the farm. I had so much fun, and so grateful to you all. Next year, I'll have more employees to help take money and bag packages so I can talk more. Thanks for all your love and support.

Does your soap have lye in it?

Want to know more about Good Fortune Soap? Just ask. Here is a recent question I want to share with you.
"I found your soap and would love to get some for myself and know they will make great Christmas presents for family and friends. Though I've been reading about all natural soap and am a little confused...does this soap contain lye? In some places I read that it is impossible to make soap without lye, and then others say lye free soap. Please help me understand this if you can." Thanks, Nicole

Natural is the best, and although lye is used to make soap, it is not in the final product. Briefly, when the fat and acid combine it creates a chemical reaction called saponification, which changes the make up of both ingredients. The result is neither an oil or an acid, it is soap. Our ingredients are veggie based, gluten free, super luxurious, and made for sensitive skin. I hope this helps clear up your concerns, and you’ll feel the difference for yourself!

My Soap Angel

Meet my employee Teona, she is Good Fortune's Soap Angel. No really, it is her official job title, and she is a real blessing. Here is our story of faith and hope.

Teona and her husband stopped by the studio to shop one Saturday morning. Curiously they sampled the edible lip scrub, and were pleasantly surprised because her son had chapped lips. Before leaving, they signed up for our newsletter to stay in touch.

Later that week I sent out a newsletter with a prayer request for a part time helper, but feared it impossible to find someone capable in my location. Within 24 hours of sending my newsletter, Teona emailed me back and said she had just been laid off and had also been praying. Perfect timing!

On Teona's first day, we worked an incredibly long day and made hundreds of bars of soap. I had never trained anyone to make my secret recipes, but I had no option, and we went for it. This woman is a power house and claims making soap is easier than her last job! She kept up with me, followed directions, offered new suggestions, and blew me away. She is the soap angel.

Another cool thing is her generous spirit and huge heart for God. She decided to work partially for trade since she loved our products so much and knew I had a limited budget. Grateful for her generosity, I told her that I would donate soap in her honor for the hours she traded. Together, we have been able to donate 20 bars of soap for her church's mission trip.

One of my favorite verses is Mathew 7:7. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Are you needing help, but don't see how it is possible?

I suggest you pray first, then ask for help, delegate, and have faith. The right doors will open when the time is right!

Free 2010 calendar with love from Christy & Vicki

Who doesn't love free handcrafted goodies? I sure do, so I am happy to share two beautiful blogs with you today.

First, Vicki Dvorak is an artist and color consultant, who is inspired by beauty and color. I love her style and how she supports so many female artist. She asked my friend Christy to guest blog today. Follow the link to Vicki's blog, Simply Hue, to learn more and receive the free download instructions.

My very dear friend (and talented designer), Christy Eggert, designed a free 2010 calendar you can download, print, and display. Christy's blog, my wings are made of faith, is a beautiful example of God's love and grace.

Just FYI: September's photo comes from the Good Fortune farm. I hope everyone has a wonderful 2009 and even better 2010!

Good Morning Sunshine!

Thank God for each new day! My days seem to be getting longer and harder, but when I wake up to this view, I can not deny that I am blessed. I draw strength from Him, Creator of all the earth!

The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
New Living Translation, Isaiah 40:23-31

Want more pictures of the farm? Check out our Facebook album.

a born entrepreneur

Before launching into Good Fortune and Soap for Hope, let me introduce a 10-year old girl named Jennifer.

I was a clever and adventurous girl who passed the time inventing, crafting, and annoying my brother. My family was never certain if I would spring out of bed as an Indian, comedian, or zoo keeper—whoever I was, each day was an exciting journey. I was dedicated to living life to the full. Fearlessly I took (still take) risks!

As I matured, so did my business skills, and by 12 I started my first business called “Jennifer Fantistics.” Not a great speller, I was a born entrepreneur. Jennifer Fantistics, a handcrafted bracelet corporation, was known for its customer service. Each order was carefully packaged with a handwritten note explaining the history of the company, a detailed invoice, a generous discount for new customers, and a lovely fortune. Business ideas continued to flow, and I was excited to grow up, go to college, and someday have a real job (and maybe even own my own business)...

Click here to finish reading my story, and learn exactly how Good Fortune got its start.

Spreading Love, Helping Girls, and Inspiring Others

This is why I was put on this earth. This is why I wake up everyday. This is the focus of my business, ministry, and free time. In order to figure out my life's purpose I pray, and I read inspirational books. Jack Canfield, author of my current favorite book The Success Principles, explains my life's purpose exactly: "To humbly serve the Lord by being a loving, playful, powerful, and passionate example of the absolute joy that is available to us the moment we rejoice in God's gifts and sincere love and serve all of his creations."

I believe each person has a gift and a purpose in life (some have many). I love seeing people step out of their comfort zones and go for what they've been called to do! I especially love to see people use their lives to help people! I believe there is no better joy than to follow God's will and serve others. People used to think I was crazy for quitting my job and selling my house, but now they see how powerful the Lord is to have worked in me, and through me. It is not easy, but this is the most exciting journey I've ever been on!

Girls. Girls. Girls. They will change the future! I don't watch television, but luckily, I got to see a special episode of Oprah, on empowering women. I was completely moved and re-energized to stay focused on working to change lives. She told stories of several women who came from nothing, worked hard, believed, and made their dreams come true. She also featured the authors of a book called Half the Sky , which I'm planning on reading next. The book helps educate you to set goals and make a difference in the next big movement of our generation, empowering girls. Just one person can make a difference.

Why girls? It is the answer to global health. Many poor girls are forced to marry at young ages, extremely vulnerable to HIV, sexual violence, and physical exploitation. Many girls are seen as unworthy of investment or protection by their families. Isolated and unsupported, these girls have little voice to demand their rights. According to the Center For Global Development, women reinvest 90% of their income into their families and communities, so investing in girls equals investing in families and global change.

I suggest you do the research for yourself. Read the amazing websites I've listed here, and get inspired by joining the girleffect.org. I've been inspired and moved so much that I've created my own ministry called Soap for Hope. Our goals are to inspire and empower disadvantaged girls by teaching them life skills, entrepreneurship training, and offering them hope for a college education. We want to make a difference locally and globally, and believe ALL things are possible through Christ. I hope you will take the time to pray about sponsoring a woman, help fund micro loans, mentor someone in your community, buy a bar of soap, and empower yourself.

Love, hope, and peace to you all!

Featured in Southern Living

Southern Living magazine's October issue just hit the news stands, and guess who's featured on page 19?

You guessed it! Your girl Jennifer and Good Fortune! (go grab a copy!)

Our handcrafted "soaps with spirit” are actually where we got our start. Our business plan is built on faith, hope, and love. So naturally, we decided to offer encouraging and inspiring gift cards with each soap. This way you can pass on Good Fortune and spread the love!

Giving back is a concept we built into the foundation of Good Fortune, in fact, that is were we got our name. We want to bless others because we have been blessed, so we've created a ministry called Soap for Hope. Every Good Fortune product you purchase is like planting a seed. Eventually Soap for Hope will grow, and young leaders will emerge. Thank you for giving and growing with us.

Check out our Soaps with Spirit & Southern Living Magazine!

fundraising ideas for schools ,non profits, churches, and clubs

We all know that investing in a child’s education is an investment in the future. Good Fortune wants to make a difference in kids’ lives, so we created a program called Soap for Hope, and are working to educate, empower, and inspire disadvantaged girls to thrive (not just survive)!

Partner with Good Fortune’s program, Soap for Hope, to raise funds for your school, church, non profit, or club, while at the same giving disadvantaged girls hope by teaching them life skills, entrepreneurship training, and a chance for a college education. Many poor girls are forced to grow up too early, then become vulnerable to disease, violence, and physical exploitation. Many are seen as an unworthy of investment and have little voice to demand their rights.

We are excited to see our youth become compassionate leaders and advocates for a better tomorrow. By using our products to raise funds for your organization, you will teach your children the lasting value of reaching out and giving back to the world around us.

My life's purpose is becoming more and more evident everyday, and I'm so excited to add this brand new sales division to Good Fortune. Not only am I able to offer a whopping 30% profit from sales to worthy organizations, but I'm also going to be able to share my story with hundreds of new people. Fundraising with a purpose is how I like to think of it! I can't wait to visit schools and churches and speak about my journey into social entrepreneurship and Soap for Hope!

Please tell every blogger, PTO parent, church, and Facebook friend you know about our new money making fundraiser. (We have a "share it" tool on the right hand panel you can use). Are you as excited as we are? You don't have to buy tubs of cookie dough to support your children anymore. You can now buy Good Fortune natural soap, body, and home products!

Faucet Soap, Natural Soap in a Sack

Men & women, get ready for my Faucet Soaps! These babies save you time, money, and the earth.

I invented Faucet Soaps to convert shower gel junkies into natural bar soap lovers. With Faucet Soap, the soap is already in the loofa. You simply get it wet, lather up, and hang it up to dry. This method eliminates waste in the landfills, makes your skin soft (not dry), and eliminates an entire step in your bathing routine. They are indoor/outdoor, exfoliating, moisturizing, refillable, travel-friendly, and smell excellent!!

Enjoy our little demo video that shows you our inspiration!

Natural skin care on a budget

Good Fortune face soaps + baking soda = a deep cleansing, non-drying, healthy skin winner!

If you’re like most, you don’t think about rubbing course white stuff on your face—but baking soda has many beneficial uses beyond baking (check out www.armandhammer.com). We keep a salt shaker of baking soda next to our soap dish, and simply sprinkle a little in with the lather from our Sandalwood Lavender Face Soap. You have instant deep clean and instant gentle exfoliation. Sounds weird, but try it! Each bar is a whopping 4.5 ounces and cost only $6.50.

I mentioned it to one of my friends and she said she now keeps a Tupperware container of baking soda in her shower and uses it on her face, neck, chest—and even her belly when pregnant! Another friend had been buying a high-dollar retail microdermabrasion system from a well known beauty company (name withheld to protect the innocent!) and after using the baking soda/Good Fortune soap combination, she’s hooked!

Forget spending lots of money or wasting our earth’s resources on non-sustainable packaging. Good Fortune products are all natural without preservatives, parabens, and all that other funky stuff. Made with natural oils, yes we said oil, your skin will thank you!

Get to know your ingredients:

• Sandalwood Lavender contains gentle scrubbing oats which brings your skin to normal pH levels and helps relieve dry patches.
• Lavender is healing for sensitive skin and soothes redness.
• Shea Butter is loaded with fatty-acids, but won't clog your pores.
• Got oily skin? Then try our Pink Grapefruit Face Soap, the essential oil cuts grease and helps to purify oily acne-prone skin.

Ready to go raid the pantry and get beautiful? Check out this blog post by Design*Sponge, and get more yummy homemade body care recipes!

We don't believe in beauty secrets, so spread the word, tell your friends, and send us your feedback!

Kissing Booth-To kiss or not to kiss, that is the question?

You guys know that I love thinking outside the box. After all, I invented edible lip scrub and the Kiss Me Kit, a fabulous product line that kisses chapped lips goodbye forever! Not only is the scrub edible and taste like pie crust, but it really delivers on the promise of incredibly soft lips.

Don't you agree the world needs to know about Good Fortune's edible lip scrub and the Kiss Me Kit? Smooth, kissable lips for everyone! Okay, now that we agree, let me tell you about my marketing plan.

What do you think about a Kissing Booth at all the Fall festivals and markets? Wait(!), don't go ... stick with me, it's not shady, I promise!

While in Spain, I kissed everyone and their momma as a greeting and farewell. I'm a big fan of hugging and kissing, so why not gain some media attention, create brand awareness and spread some Good Fortune across the masses? I'll definitely keep it PG rated with rules such as cheek only (frencher's need not apply), healthy immune system, and no stalkers. Don't worry, I love Jesus, and run all my business decisions by Him. He knows my creativity is wild, but my
heart is good.

Now that we've covered most of the pros, what about the cons? My friend Allison mentioned the Swine Flu, and it's getting to be flu season. Hum? No thank you. Maybe the kissing booth will have to wait, but it sure is fun to think about. What do you think? Good idea, bad idea, or just plain crazy? Remember, I love honesty, so share your opinion in the comment section below!

Count Me In! Personalized Lip Balms

Count Me In is the leading national not for profit provider of online business loans, resources, and community for women entrepreneurs. Their mission is to promote economic independence and the growth of women owned businesses.
Why a Custom Lip Balm? During September SheFinds will run a promotion with Count Me In to raise money for the organization and help boutique designers get the word out about their designs. We love supporting female entrepreneurs, so of course Good Fortune said YES!
Show Your Support! Purchase our exclusive "count me in" lip balms and we'll donate $2 for each one to Count Me In.
Like what you see? Get your own promotional lip balm! We can put any logo or custom design on any flavor of you choose. Beautiful and natural-that's how we do it!

Naked Soaps

Sounds fun huh? Well, it is! He.he.he...Why bother with all the fancy packaging if you're just going to rip into them as soon as they arrive in your mailbox? You're going to want to smell them, feel them, and jump in the shower immediately. Choose from our luxurious bubbles, facial care, and shavings soaps. Here are a few reasons we love our Good Fortune Soaps so much!!

• Safe for sensitive skin (kid friendly)
• Bath/shower/shave (3-in-1)
• Phosphate-free eco-friendly
• Refills for Faucet Soaps
• (3-in-1) less waste, fast & save $$
• Moisturizing oils & clean scents

Save money and buy (naked) handcrafted soaps in bulk.
Side note: our packaged soaps make the best gifts!!

We Love Our New Point-of-Purchase Displays

Check it out! Our new POP displays set the testers apart from inventory, tells you our TOP 10 Raves for each product, and gives you clear instructions on the many uses of our fabulous Good Fortune natural skin care products.

Our edible lip scrub is our best seller for good reasons. Kiss chapped lips good bye and it taste like pie crust. Yum!
We LOVE our new inspired lip balms! Each handcrafted box holds 12 lip balms, and comes with a tester. People may not want to try the tester, but they love to smell them! Ahhh! The fresh scent of peppermint, coconut, and orange vanilla makes us happy! Not to mention the fun feel-good quotes such as, "smile, it's the second best thing you can do with your lips".
Relax your mind and body with the aroma of essential oils and hydrate your skin with 100% natural vegetable oils rich in vitamins A, D, and E. Perfect to use instead of lotion, in your bath, or for massage! Try our "uplifting" pink grapefruit, "classic" spearmint orange, "destress" eucalyptus spearmint lime, and "relaxing" lavender vanilla 3-in-1 body oils.

Enhance the mood and soothe your spirit by spraying wherever a good scent is necessary—even on the skin! Good Fortune Element Sprays are perfect for the car, pillows, linen, rooms, and travel. Try our "welcoming" applejack, "balanced" green tea, "reviving" peppermint patchouli, and "relaxing" sandalwood lavender Element Sprays.

The total package! Mix and match as many products as you like. Some stores like to carry all applejack, lavender, and peppermint and group them in to scents. Whereas, some stores carry all the scents in each product and offer complete product lines. We broke up each scent and flavor to give you the maximum amount of uses. Call or email me for pricing and/or questions! 423.715.2647.

Handcrafted is Who We Are

Meet my granddad, Millard Vincent. He is 85, been happily married for over 60 years, and doesn't miss a beat in his work shop. As long as I can remember I've been working in the wood shop with my granddad and dad, and they each share stories of working in their dads' shops. Handcrafting and fabricating is in our blood for sure! That is why when I wanted new point-of-purchase displays for my Good Fortune products, I grabbed a sketch pad, picked up a few supplies, and headed over to see my grand dad.

I knew exactly what I wanted, but needed the help and advice from a seasoned pro before hammering out tons of displays. We first used the table saw to create a slit in the back for the information board to sit. Then we used a router to round the top edge and give the 2x4 a softer edge. We then sliced off what felt like hundreds of 2.5 inch sections, hammered out 1.75 inch indentions in each one using a drill press, and finally I got the pleasure of sanding them all with a belt sander. Can you say carpal tunnel?

Once I got home, covered from head to toe in saw dust, toting 100 displays in my studio, I sweet talked my dear mother in to painting the first batch for me. I have an amazing and supportive family. Everything we do here at Good Fortune is handcrafted with love. I hope you guys are more informed about the uses of our products and continue to buy our skin care, now that you've seen the cool new displays.

This may not be the work I need to be doing as the CEO, but I love creating new ways to improve my products, make my customers happy, and most importantly spending time with my granddad.

Ducky Soaps Make a Splash

Sorry for the cheesy title, but it’s true! Our youngest and cutest GF rep is Abby, a 2 1/2 year old who appreciates all natural skin care products already. Alright, maybe she just really loved the pirate ducky embedded in her soap from our Eco-Friendly DIY soap class. Either way, it was a hit. When she finally figured out the duck popped out for her to play with, the soap eventually wore down into “donut soap” with a nice hole in the middle. These ducky soaps are perfect for shower favors, kids’ birthday goody bags, or any host of gift ideas you might need. Wrap it with your favorite color washcloth and you’ve got an instant gift. Visit us and learn to make your own soap today!

Kiss Me, I'm Green

A while back, I wrote about getting your mouth up to par, mentioning that I enjoy wearing a natural lip. Actually, I enjoy wearing a natural everything, as I spend most of the day running around in the heat, make up askew, and would prefer not to look like I’m taking a walk of shame at 7 PM when I leave work. Not cute.

Here’s how I’m keeping my smile sexy and simple this summer:

Good Fortune’s edible Brown Sugar Vanilla lip scrub is the bomb.com (and you know I don’t throw that compliment out there too often). It’s edible! Need I say more? The 12-year-old fat kid inside of me who used to eat sugar cubes as an afternoon snack is screaming with delight every time I use this exfoliating lip prep. It tastes good, it smells good, it’s handcrafted and natural, and it’s always there for you should your blood sugar levels spontaneously drop. The directions are simple enough: rub it on, and lick it off. Or enlist someone else to lick it off for you, if you so choose. A hungry someone. You’re tasty, don’t forget it girlfriend.

By Stephanie , The Luxury Spot, A blog with all the best Tips! Dirt! Info!

Paper or Plastic? Take the survey for free credit (or cause you want to).

Inspiration? I visited High Country Outfitters in Atlanta, saw their GF display, and talked to "the guys" about what men want.

What do you want? Quality, eco-friendly, easy to undertand, shaving, camping, good smelling products.

Solutions? Clearly defined packaging for shaving, face, and displays with more information.

Plastic shrink wrap? Information sticker on side, quote card on top, stack on sides so you can see the type of soap, and yes, you can still smell them.

Earth friendly? We figure that processing paper, tearing it, and using stretchy bands are equal to plastic shrink wrap. Consumers may disagree?

Survey Says? So far the paper packaging wins with remarks such as "it looks more handmade, more eco-friendly, easier to touch/smell, less mass produced looking." Plastic-wrapped fans liked the cleanlines, how its protects their other items, and from getting "soapy," and less wear and tear.

Your opinion matters! 3 Questions • 60-Seconds • Free $5

Wholesalers? Want plastic? We have it IN-STOCK for immediate shipping!

Faucet Soap, worthy of its own outdoor "green" shower

I'm a serious nature lover, and have always dreamed of having an outdoor shower. Can you blame me, check out our view of the Appalachian mountains! Plus, I love summer, traveling, camping, and being active. All of the recent feedback from campers on how they love our Citronella Grapefruit Faucet Soap for its mosquito fighting properties, made me jealous. I couldn't stand it, I wanted some of the action, so I popped open a fresh bag for myself.

Luckily, my mother, (the photographer in this case), loves nature and showers as much as I do. She decided to build us an outdoor shower. Yeah mom! It wasn't even finished yet, but I had to try it out with my Faucet Soap. I went for a nice long trail run on our farm and then turned on the spicket to a nice cold slow trickle of well water. Ahhh! The shower is completely green, requires no energy, and even has a solar powered light for the night. To complete our green beauty regiment, we ONLY use phosphate-free Good Fortune Soap. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Citronella Grapefruit lathered so well and didn't leave me smelling like bug spray. I'm pretty sure I'm in heaven! Happy eco-soaping, ya'll!

Read all the rave reviews on Good Fortune products.
Feeling inspired? Email us your thoughts! products(at)goodfortunesoap.com

My Good Fortune Girls

Meet some of the members of our Good Fortune dream team. Keltsey, Charlotte (aka: mom), and Teona, are exactly that, a dream come true. Here you see our first 3-person production line. Keltsey filled the Brown Sugar Lip Scrub, mom capped the jars and labeled them, and Teona did the shrink wrap. You go girls!

I've been running the business with the help of one part-time employee and help from friends for 2 years now. I've been blessed, but to be honest, I've been struggling and needed more help. I wanted to grow, but didn't see how it would ever be possible. I suppose I had a lack of faith. I feared that no one could do it just like me, I couldn't afford to pay employees, or I'd never have it together enough to run a real business. What was the turning point you ask?

I finally surrendered my fears and asked for help. I decided on little less of Jennifer and a lot more faith. As soon as I gave it to God, then doors started opening, and the perfect employees and plans started falling into place. I've got new challenges to face each day, but I'm not complaining. I'm so happy to finally have help, and can't wait to hire more sales and Web people.

I encourage you to surrender your fears, take a leap of faith, and let God guide you in a new direction. Just let it go and see where the journey leads you!

Tea Tree Oil, More Uses for All Natural Products

We are always hearing interesting uses for our products, but this one takes the cake. One customer called to tout the benefits of our tea tree essential oil. Tea tree oil is known for it’s antiseptic properties and on the label we say it’s great to combine with lotion, bath water, or mouth wash to help with skin irritations and infections. But when folks call with testimonials, our ears perk up. This time was no exception. She called to say just a dab of tea tree oil instantly takes the itch out of mosquito bites (and prevents them as well).

And since it’s bathing suit season, we were especially interested to learn our tea tree oil, dabbed gently on the bikini area, soothes razor burn in that sensitive area. Try a 1 oz. jar of pure tea tree essential oil for only $6.50!

Got more testimonials? We’d love to hear them!

You wanted a SPF Lip Balm

Summer is here, and as we all know, skincare protection is very important. A few people have asked for a lip balm with SPF. I found an all natural recipe and whipped some up yesterday. Oh my goodness...what a creation!?! The creamy texture is great, but the super white color is just wrong. Wrong, I say!! We all had a good laugh, which helped ease the stress of a very long day!

Teona (my latest & greatest employee, shown here), and I made 1,200 bars of soap today, which partially explains the crazy dirty clothes and no makeup. Again, we had a really rough, exhausting day. Everything that could go wrong, did. I won't list all of our mishaps because we worked it out (and learned from them). Life is too short to stress, and being able to laugh at yourself is crucial. Lucky for me, I'm the owner of 50 of the world's ugliest lip balms, so why not wear them proudly?

We're all about the journey here at Good Fortune, and want to encourage everyone to keep trying new things and to never give up. Sometimes you hit a home run, and other times you make really white lip balm. The most important thing is that you stay in the game and don't take yourself too seriously.

Oh yeah, I've got free, ultra white, SPF lip balms to those who want to be cool like me. You just say the word!