Joy Yoga: A reflection poem

Joy Yoga

Soap Making at Mia Bella Farm

Recently I spent an afternoon with my sweet friend Melissa Humphries at Mia Bella Farms learning the step by step process of making handmade goat milk soap.   Mia Bella farms is a beautiful farm in a secluded area with tons of privacy.  The owner, Michelle Gasaway is a lovely lady with a passion for her goats and her craft.

We began the workshop touring her shop where all of the wonderful soap is made.  Walking through the doors of the shop my senses went crazy trying to figure out which scent I was being drawn towards.  Michelle had a table set up with everything that we would be using to make soap.

Michelle mixing Lye for the soap

Stirring the oils and lye

More stirring

Adding in Goat Milk

Michelle talking :)

Adding in Lavender and Mint essential oils

Pouring soap into the molds

Molds made with PVC pipe

Soap after it has set up in the mold

Tapping the mold with a hammer, the soap popped right out

Preparing the soap to slice into 4 oz bars

This is the coolest soap slicer ever!

Soap put onto drying rack for  a week before being packaged

Comfrey and Goats milk soap on the drying racks

Some of the many different soaps Michelle makes

A finished product ready to be sent out to extra happy customer

I ended up taking the Oatmeal Honey soap home with me and it is heavenly- let me tell you!!!
I would recommend to anyone that has a love for goats and or the craft of soap making to taking a trip out to Mia Bella farms for a tour and a soap making class.  It is a trip worth making even twice.
I hope you enjoyed reading and seeing pics of the workshop.
My next adventure will be cheese making. :) Yum!  Goat cheese is my absolute favorite.  I am currently making goats milk soap for my Handmade by Traci Lyn product line.  The benefits of the milk in the soap are amazing.  My daughter and I both have clearer skin and I am amazed how vibrant my skin looks after I use it.

New scents and products coming soon.

For the Sweet Tooth....

FUDGE!  One of my favorite things ever.  I even love saying the word.. F U D G E.  I most associate fudge with the holidays but I will pretty much eat it for any occasion or for none.  There are so many variations but I think my favorite is with darker chocolate chips because I prefer dark chocolate.
I remember as a little girl my mother would always make fudge for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  She would cut the fudge up into tiny pieces and it was usually devoured before the meal was even served. :)
I was going to wait closer to Christmas to do this FUDGE post but I just could not wait.  So here it is.  Please enjoy and I would love comments or suggestions.

Christmas Chocolate Fudge {Never Fail}

I have a special treat today for you my friends!

SO simple and SO yummy Christmas fudge.

It has only 5 ingredients,

and the best part,

TOTALLY foolproof.

Seriously,

I have made it for years and have never messed it up!

Line an 8 x 8 pan with foil.

In heavy saucepan,

melt {over low to medium heat}

3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips, dash of salt

 and 14 oz. can eagle brand milk.

Stir just until melted.

Remove from heat.

Add 1 c. chopped nuts and 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Stir until smooth.

Pour into your pan.

Stick in fridge for two hours {or until set}

Turn fudge onto cutting board and peel off foil.

Cut into rectangles or squares.

Now, go make you some fudge.

Give it as a gift,

take it to a Christmas party,

or...

eat it all yourself {and share SOME with your fam}

That may or may not have happened here at our house today.

Just sayin'

:)