Video Life of a Mom

A very good friend of mine sent me this video.

It is my life....as a mom....24 hours condensed to 2 minutes! I believe the comdedian's name is Anita Renfroe. She is great!

To view video, click on Play > (located below her right hand).

Debbie May
http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

Cooling Pack Recipe

I want to thank Kathy T. for emailing me on 9/26 with a great new craft suggestion.


Ingredients:

Insta Snow Powder

Water

Germaben II (preservative)

Freezer Bags

Directions:

Add 1 oz of Germaben II to 1 gallon of water. Mix well. This will preserve your water and prevent long term mold growth. Add water mixture to Insta Snow as directed on Insta Snow container. Insta Snow will expands 100x. Place mixture into freezer bags. You can now freeze these for future use as cooling packs for joint pain. With so many cute fabrics available, a simple flannel pocket (sewn on three sides and adhesive velcro on the fourth side) would be a nice finishing touch.

If you are considering selling this product, I would recommend including a warning statement about not ingesting the product. I am not sure if "Insta Snow" has a bittering agent (makes something takes really bad). Perhaps it is something WSP will considering carrying in the future.

Wishing You Much Success!

Debbie May

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

Grey's Anatomy

I am a HUGE Grey's Anatomy Fan.

Tonight was the season premier of Grey's Anatomy.....and it lived up to the anticipation!

Meredeth is still wishy-washy and McDreamy is still well....dreamy. I think Meredeth's new sister will provide some great story lines. I thought the part of Izzy saving a deer was a bit much...it would have been hilarious if she shocked the deer's heart and it stood up...then bit her! I think Callie is going to fake a pregnancy to try and keep O'Malley. I hope they write a good story line for Bailey....she is a tough, sensitive woman..plus a working mom.

I can't wait for another week to pass and the next episode will air.

Here are three Grey's Anatomy Blogs

Joes "Emerald City" Blog

Seattle Grace Nurses Station Blog
Grey's Anatomy Writers Blog

Are you a Grey's Anatomy Fan?

New Sale Items

Below is a sampling of specials we are currently offering.


Cat with Rolling Eyes Toy
14% Off - All Sizes

Click here to view product.








Jojoba Oil Clear & Natural
16 - 32% Off Select Sizes

Click here to view product.








Clear and White Pro Base - 2 lb Trays
20% Off - All Sizes
This product (2 lb size) is being discontinued.

Click here to view product.







Suspension MP Soap Base - Big Block
17% Off - All Sizes
This product (big block) is being discontinued.

Click here to view product.






EconoCuke Fragrance Oil
25% Off - All Sizes Except 25 lb.
New Product Sale Price.

Click here to view product.

New Products

New Products....

Glass Bean Pot (Surplus)
24 for $5.35
1 pallet of 1080 for $201.95

Supply is VERY Limited
Taking “Pre-Orders”




New Vinyl Toy Ducks
Holiday Mouse
Holiday Penguin
Construction Workers
Farm Animals

Great for Embedding in the Duck Pond Soap Mold!




Finger Puppet Toys (Pencil Toppers)
Safari Animals
Monsters
Valentine Gorillas
Cats with Rolling Eyes – Very Cool!

Great for Embedding in any Soap Mold!




New 20 oz Clear Glass Tureen
1 for $1.25
12 for $8.50
24 for $15.85





41 oz Clear PET Basic Jar
Perfect for “back bar” spa products.
1 for $1.20
32 for $32.65






Clear Glass “Woozy” Bottle
12 for $4.95
48 for $16.75







Xanthan Gum
All natural thickener & emulsion stabilizer.
1 lb for $10.00







Triple Throw Reed Stick Diffuser Oils
Our "Triple Throw Diffuser Oils" are formulated to meet the retail standard of diffusing 4 oz of scent per month with just 10 reed sticks. Since, retail stores tend to demand clear bottles; these oils have an additive to prevent color change when exposed to store lighting.

Note: Free shipping for sizes over 16 oz.
Estimated in-stock date: 10/4/2007

Shea Bath Fizzie Recipe

I like this recipe because it makes a nice light natural yellow bath bomb. I have yet to meet kids or adults that do not like the scent.

Clementine Mango Bath Fizzie

Ingredients:

3 cups Citric Acid
6 cups of Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Shea Butter
Clementine Mango FO (amount as desired)
Sprayer bottle of rubbing alcohol or witch hazel
Bath Fizzie Super Scooper

Directions:

Melt shea butter in microwave and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine citric acid and baking soda. Mix well. Add shea butter & fragrance. Mix well. Heavily spray mixture with rubbing alcohol. Toss and mix. Spray again and toss. Repeat this step over and over until mixture adheres to self. Do not make too moist. Scoop an ample amount of mix into scooper and press. Slowly open scooper and remove ball. Place on lined cookie sheet and allow to dry 24 hours. Once hard, package and store for use or label for sale.

Note: Bath tub will be slightly slippery. Use caution when entering or exiting.

Wishing You Much Success!

Debbie May

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

Peppermint Fizzie Recipe

This week, I am going to give you a different bath fizzie recipe each day. Bath fizzies are easy to make and very popular with shoppers of all ages. I am hoping you will give them a try or if you already make them, perhaps find a new recipe to add to your line.


Peppermint Bath Fizzies

Ingredients:

3 cups Citric Acid
6 cups of Baking Soda
Magenta Powder Color (amount as desired)
Peppermint EO (amount as desired)
Sprayer bottle of rubbing alcohol or witch hazel
Bath Fizzie Super Scooper

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine citric acid and baking soda. Mix well. Add powdered color. Mix well. Add fragrance. Mix well. Heavily spray mixture with rubbing alcohol. Toss and mix. Spray again and toss. Repeat this step over and over until mixture adheres to self. Do not make too moist. Scoop an ample amount of mix into scooper and press. Slowly open scooper and remove ball. Place on lined cookie sheet and allow to dry 24 hours. Once hard, package and store for use or label for sale.

Peppermint Vanilla Variation:

In a large mixing bowl, combine citric acid and baking soda. Mix well. Divide mixture into two bowls. Add powdered color and peppermint fragrance to one bowl & mix well. In second bowl, do not add color, add vanilla buttercream fragrance oil & mix well. Do not combine mixtures yet. Heavily spray both mixtures with rubbing alcohol and toss until it adheres to self. Do not make too moist. Very lightly toss two mixtures together. Too much mixing will prevent color contrast. Scoop an ample amount of mix into scooper and press. Slowly open scooper and remove ball. Place on lined cookie sheet and allow to dry 24 hours. Once hard, package and store for use or label for sale.

Wishing You Much Success!

Debbie May

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

Food for Thought: I use to call these "Bath Bombs"......that was until a customer from Canada called to tell me that US Customs "blew up" the bath bombs she was sending to a US retail store. Now I call them bath fizzies. :-)

Jelly Bath - Product Review

In recent months, I have had several customers mention a new bath product called "Jelly Bath". Our most recent customer saw the product in a popular magazine and thought it looked cool. She wanted advice on how to make it herself.

In educating myself to a possible "new trend", I went to the Jelly Bath website and did some reading. The first thing I noticed was the site is very creative and the product package is attractive. Links on the website such as "contact us" are located on a telephone that rings...very cool! Next, I noted the price...over $25 per bath...Ouch! I did noticed the air-tight US Patent....making a product like this one would be near impossible. The ingredients are fairly common to our industry so the patent was a disappointment. Finally, I ordered some product...despite the price.

The product arrived yesterday and I used it today. As directed, I filled the tub with warm water and sprinkled in the powder. I waited 5 minutes and got into the tub. It felt nice and warm...that is when it happened. This powder turned into "jellies"....sort of like small smelly jellies. I sat in the tub and tried to like the sensation. I turned onto my side only to have the jellies go in places I had not earlier considered. My 12 year old daughter came in and renamed the product to something too disgusting to mention here. I can't say this was a relaxing experience.

The directions state to get out of the tub and sprinkle the contents of the second bag into the tub...to dissolve the jellies. The directions said to wait 20 minutes or the jelly may clog the drain. In that time, I decided to take a shower because I could not get this stuff off my body with a towel. It was EVERYWHERE.

After 20 minutes this stuff did not dissolve in the tub. I was glad I read the patent. It stated that the dissolving powder is sodium chloride...table salt. I went to the kitchen and dumped my whole big blue container of salt into the tub. Ten minutes later it was dissolved and I drained/cleaned the tub.

I will chalk this one up to an expensive lesson learned. It might be better for a foot soak...instead of an entire body bath. Either way, I won't be buying more.

Debbie

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

PS....Look for a new recipe (Herbal Shea Bath Soak) and other blog announcements this week!

Friday Night Football

Tonight is Friday Night Football. It was 85ºF and sunny here today so it will be great evening weather.

High School Football is big here in Ohio. Most of the city comes out to support the local team. Tonight we are tailgating in the school parking lot. I have no idea what I am going to bring. The stay home moms always bring something that puts me to shame. I will make a trip to AllRecipes.com and try to make something impressive in the next 30 mintues.

I have good friend that is a new CAbi Home Party Consultant. I am look forward to hear how it is going. She has had 6 parties. If she gives me anything good...I will pass it along!

I hope you have a super weekend...the next two days belong to my husband and three kids. It will be nice to refresh and reload for next week. My next post will be Monday.

What are you doing tonight or this weekend?

Debbie

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

Oatmeal Milk Bath Recipe

This is a nice recipe because it is forgiving and does not have to be exact. No scales necessary. Very little prep time.

Oatmeal Milk Bath

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Colloidal Oatmal

1 cup Powdered Buttermilk

1 cup Sodium Sesquicarbonate (dissolves better than baking soda)

1/2 cup Natrasorb Bath

2 Tablespoons Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Fragrance Oil

Directions:

Place Natrasorb in a large bowl. While using a wire wisk or hand mixer on a low setting, drizzle fragrance into natrasorb until mixed well. Once liquid is fully absorbed, continue to mix in remaining dry ingredients. Package and label.

Note: We like the 8 oz. French Square Bottle and Black Ribbed Cap for this product! We also carry a White Cap that fits this container.

Wishing You Much Success!

Debbie May

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

Mompreneurs

Have you ever heard of the term "Mompreneur"? It is a new term to me. Mom's that are Entreneneurs. I came across this term today after reading a series of interesting articles.

Mompreneur, Dadpreneur, Business Owner, Seasonal Crafter...so many of us are busy people that could benenfit from a little help now and again.

All of these articles are a quick read...less than 5 minutes. I hope they give you some food for thought. The last article is great...it has given me some "good words" for why my entire family should allow me to have a nightly "hot bath" - alone with the door locked!

• 10 Tips & Tactics for Balancing Work
• Starting Your Own MOB - Mommy Owned Business
• Why I Love & Hate Working from Home
• The Benefit of Quite

Wishing You Much Success!
Debbie May
http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

Filling Lip Tubes

Before I went home tonight, I wanted to make a quick post and pass along a great tip that Susan L. from Fishers, Indiana just passed on to me!

Susan needed to fill 500 lip tubes for an order she received this weekend.

Here is her tip: When needing to fill many lip tubes at one time, quickness and efficiency is important to Susan. Taking too much time means Susan will need to keep reheating her lip base. To speed the process, Susan takes one lip tube (not used for later resale) and creates multiple lip tube holes in a block of floral foam. The holes are deep enough to securely hold a lip tube. She then takes empty lip tubes and stands them in the pre-made holes. From here the tubes can easily be filled and stored until solidified.

Susan tells us that this system works great for oval lip tubes, round lip tubes and slim lip tubes.

Thank you Susan for sharing your tip!

Have a great night!

Debbie May

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

PS....Check out our new White Lip Tube Boxes. They will arrive 9/28/2007.

They are the perfect gift giving package for round lip tubes. They are priced $6.25 for 50 and $38.50 for 350. Large price breaks available.

Information Management

Information Management

iGoogle: Google offers the ability to create a personalized iGoogle page that gives you at-a-glance access to key information from Google and across the web. On this self-designed page, you can choose and organize content.

Debbie May, Wholesale Supplies Plus: "I began using iGoogle sometime ago and it has improved my business by helping me with productivity. This morning it took me 10 minutes to scan the headlines. With iGoogle I didn’t need to go to different sites to get my information. I go to one site with 5 customized tabs."

Here are a few of the sites to monitor with iGoogle: Google Reader, Google Calander, Wikipedia.org, Local Weather & Radar, Cleveland Headlines, MSN Breaking News, CNN, CNN Money, Smoking Gun, E! Online, The Lemonade Stand, Joke of the Day, Quote of the Day, Rule of Thumb Calendar, Google Analytics, Google Compare Keywords, SEOBook Competitive & Keyword Research Tool.

Google Reader: Google Reader is a tool that constantly checks your favorite news sites and blogs for new content. Whether a site updates daily or monthly, you can be sure that you won't miss a thing….automatically!

Debbie May, Wholesale Supplies Plus: "This morning I used Google Reader to scan the summary on 45 articles. I found I only needed to read 2 articles. It was great. One article was on the "Hottest Current Trends of Day Spas" and another was on "How to Create Fair Employee Compensation."

Here are a few blogs on that might be good to monitor with Google Reader:
Susie's Spa Blog, Entrepreneur, INC. Small Business Resources, Emerging Trends in Retail, Small Business Trends

Debbie May, Wholesale Supplies Plus: "It has always been my feeling that we can all learn from others. We do not always have to "re-invent the wheel" but instead.....just "open up and share". I hope you found some my personal sources for information helpful in your everyday management."

If you would like to suggest some blogs or websites you feel others would benefit from monitoring, please comment!

The Staff at Wholesale Supplies Plus

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

Pay It Forward

It was about 2 years ago that my web programmers told me to start a blog. I told them that I did not have anything interesting to say and I was far from "hip"...which is what I have always felt was needed to be an expert blogger! I can't spell and on some days I feel so busy that I barely get to see my husband and kids.

Well, after much thought and coaxing by my programmers...I am here....still not hip...but with my 12 year old daughter by my side....embarking on a new adventure.

"Pay it forward" is unexpectedly doing good things for unrelated people.

Ten years ago I experienced a "Pay It Forward" event...that was life changing. You see my second daughter was born disabled and visually impaired. I needed to take a family leave from work to get her to her therapy appointments. Life was hectic, stressed and at times plain sad.

It was autumn when I realized that it would be a lean Christmas because money was low. My husband was a poorly paid private school teacher and we were on food stamps. There happened to be a county fair nearby and I went to look for something I could make during the week and sell at weekend craftshows. I went directly to the exit and asked the woman monitoring the door, "What is the hot thing this year....the one thing everyone is walking out of here with." She told me it was soap. I walked the show and eventually found the soap table. I found this soapmakers product delightful. I was immediately moved by the fragrance. I bought three bars of her soap and then took a deep breath, gulped.....and told her my story. She was the kindest person. She told me how to make melt and pour soap and where to buy supplies. She talked to me for over 30 minutes and encouraged me. To this day, I remember her face but not her name. All I know is that she was from Pennsylvania.

This woman changed my life. If it was not for her, I would have never made soap. I would have never found this passion. I would have never sold soap at craftshows. I would have never started a supply business. Without this woman, I would not have had the chance to help thousands of customers start their own home business.

If you are reading this and you were this soapmaker at the Berea Fairgrounds in Cuyahoga, County in the fall of 1997...thank you!

Please look at this blog as my way of "Paying it Forward". My goal is that this blog in some small way helps you reach all of your dreams!

Debbie May
Wholesale Supplies Plus, Inc.
http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/