It's disappointing when your beautiful newborn begins to develop cradle cap. Their sweet little head is covered with yucky, oily scales at a time when you want to be able to show them off.

If you are still pregnant, evidence is mounting that consistent folic acid supplementation and possibly even probiotics can help prevent cradle cap.

But if your baby already has cradle cap, there is a tried and true remedy. (I've had five babies with various degrees of cradle cap.)

First, assemble your tools.

(Pictured: Cheeky Maiden Baby Balm and soft toothed baby brush)

Sweet Titus is modeling an extremely mild case of cradle cap.

Step 1: Soften a bit of Cheeky Maiden Baby Balm in your fingers and massage into the scalp. (If your two year old is helping you, you'll also need to help her rub some onto her hands. And arms. And nose. It's okay. Baby balm is good for all your parts.)

Do this just before nap time or bed time. You'll want to leave it on for a few hours.

Step 2: Once baby is awake and happy, use your soft brush to lift and loosen the flakes. Don't scrub, and take your time. If your baby has severe cradle cap, it may take more than one treatment to loosen it all.

Take your time and work slow and gentle. Here's a close up of all the flakes I was able to get off of Titus's head.

Step 3: Stick that baby in the tub and use Cheeky Baby Bar Soap on that soft brush to gently wash the scales away. You'll want to avoid traditional liquid baby shampoos. Unless you like cradle cap, in which case- carry on. I guess.

(Incidentally, this is my favorite stress-free set up for baby baths. Most baby bath tubs leak, are too hard, too expensive, too difficult to store, or make baby slouch uncomfortably, in my experience. A nice thick towel in your own tub, rolled at the top for head support makes baby comfortable and relaxed. And a nice bath is a staple in our household.)

Step Four: Gently dry your baby's scalp. Repeat the treatment no sooner than 5-7 days later if needed. Resist the urge to put oils on their scalp. Some studies show cradle cap is the result of over active sebaceous glands.

Titus's head after:

"Look, Ma! No scales!!" (Sorry. Couldn't resist!)

More tips:

• Don't over bathe your baby! Unless they spit up a whole lot all the time, they only need to be bathed about once a week. Over bathing [with all of these commercial chemical-laden baby products especially] is a good start on the road to eczema and cradle cap problems.
• Use only gentle, 100% natural soap on your baby. We prefer Cheeky Baby Bars for head and body. 
• When you lower your baby into the bath water, start feet first. Then gradually let their bottom down, then their back. This is much more peaceful than just immersing the body suddenly. Especially for someone who is still learning the tricky art of breathing and swallowing.
• Look your baby in the eye and tell him how wonderful and special he is while he enjoys his little soak.

A special thanks to my sweet boy Titus for his help!

This product and information is not intended to diagnose or treat any illness. Use at your own risk. I know that sounds mean, but I have to say that.

Much Love,

CM

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The winner of this months Giveaway, a Love Shack Bath Bomb Gift Set is.....

Brandi Bryant!!!!

Brandi, email me your address and I'll get this right in the mail to ya! (missi@cheekymaidensoap.com)

Congratulations!!!

This time of year the heat is on and my lips are dry, dry, dry.

And Valentine's Day is coming up (in 24 days!!).

Perfect reasons to come up with a yummy scrumptious DIY Brown Sugar Lip Scrub recipe to share! This makes a perfectly sweet Valentine's Day gift. And even on a tight budget, you can make plenty.

What you need:

• Coconut Oil
• Brown Sugar
• Vanilla Extract
• Vit E capsules (optional)

• Cute small containers to gift it in.

I got those sweet "kiss" and "love" containers for $1.50 each from the Dollar General store, and you could easily find even more options in the $1 section at Target or elsewhere.

My jars hold 2-3 oz each and I wanted to make enough for four. So. I measured out:

• 3 cups brown sugar

• Melt about one cup of virgin coconut oil ( don't get it too hot or it will melt the sugar when you mix! Coconut oil has a low melting point.) Add this to your sugar.

• Mix in 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Break open 4 vitamin E capsules and squeeze into your brown sugar mix. (I usually poke a hole with a safety pin) The vitamin E oil will help preserve your sugar scrub and also nourish the skin around your lips!
• Mix it all up good!

• Spoon into containers.
• Make it a simple gift by picking up some treat bags

OR, make it an AWESOME gift and add a Cheeky Maiden Love Shack Bath Bomb and a Cheeky Maiden Balmy Obsession Lip Balm! 

Either way, you'll want to include a little note with instructions how to use. (Scoop out with fingers and rub onto lips. It's all edible, so no need to wash off, just lick your lips! This could technically also be use on the face or feet. But you don't want to lick those probably.)

Wanna win that set for yourself?

Simple way to enter: Pin this item on Pinterest (using either the "Pin It" button on your browser, or this one:  Pin It 

Then leave a comment below letting us know you pinned it! Make sure to enter a valid email address so we can contact you if you win.

Winner will be chosen via random selection.

No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law (just kidding, I don't know what that means.)

You have until January 31, 2012 to enter!

Edited to Add: We forgot to put the give away in our last newsletter so there will be TWO winners! One winner amongst the few who commented before the original due date, and one chosen from everyone else. New Deadline: Saturday, Feb 11th! Now get to pinning! If you are new to Pinterest, join, and thank me later! ;) No one else commented after this note, so we're just choosing one winner from the original commenters.

Happy Valentine's Day! Now, go share the love! 

With Love,

Your Cheeky Maiden

You may or may not know, that I've got five kids. All under 8 years of age.

And we homeschool.

Do you know what this means? It means that I rarely get any time to myself. It means there is no quiet time in our house. It means that there is a lot of chocolate consumption. (Hey, we all have to cope.)

It also means that I take my own personal chill time (when I can get it) very seriously. 

I will now share with you my expert tips on achieving CALM:

Create a nice environment.

Clean out your bath tub. It's okay if there is a week old ring in it because you share it with at least two of your kids. Just clean it first, for yourself. Please. (I like to use Magic Erasers. They are quick and effective.) Burn some candles. Fancy ones that are just for you.

Allow yourself permission.

Do not steep in thoughts of what you should be doing, the argument you had, or anything else stressful. Give yourself Permission to relax. You need rest. You need it to be able to do the things you should be doing and you need it to handle those stressful situations.

Lose track of time

A good soak should not be hurried. Whatever the stressful thing is that got you wound up will likely still be there when you are done relaxing.

Make room for a bath bomb.

Bath bombs are magical. They take an ordinary tub of hot water and turn it into a refuge. They fizz their little hearts out and give all they've got, and when they are done your bath water has reach perfection- perfectly moisturizing, perfectly relaxing, perfectly CALM.

(Pictured: Geranium Lime Bath Bomb with Shea Butter)

So, in the midst of making all your New Year's Resolutions make a resolution to have some CALM in your life. Everybody needs it!

And to make sure you get it, we're giving away a FREE Bliss Bath Bomb with Cocoa Butter on all orders $25 or more this month! Just enter the Discount Code FREEBLISS on the Shopping Cart Page (Offer expires January 31, 2012).

 Happy New Year!

~Cheeky Maiden

With the economy hitting everyone hard, a lot of people think that they can't shop for natural food without it sinking their budget.  But the truth is, the economy has caused the natural foods industry to work harder to provide value for consumers.  Even Whole Foods Market has worked hard to tighten their belts.

While it's an overplayed myth that you can't shop natural on a budget, here are 6 tips for buying natural foods on a budget from Whole Foods Market.

1. Buy Private Label Whenever Possible.  Whole Food's private label products meet all of the same quality standards that the name brands do... No artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners, and hydrogenated fats.  You'd be surprised that there are very few items in the store that don't have a private label version available, and a lot of times, with significant savings over national brands.
2. Know When it's Important to Buy Organic, and When it's Not.  There are some foods that it pays to buy organic, and others where the pesticide residue may be so low that it may not be worth it to pay extra for organic.  Here's a great article on knowing "When to Buy Organic."
3. Use Coupons from the Whole Deal.  Whole Foods publishes a coupon book with many coupons from national brands, and even coupons for private label products.  You can usually find them around the entrance or at the customer service desk.  You can even print them off before you go to the store.  Whole Deal
4. Check out the Weekly Flyer or other Local Store Deals before you go.  You can visit Whole Foods Market's website, find the store that's closest to you, and see what local store deals they have going on.  That way you can incorporate these items into your menu for the week.
5. Complete your menu and list before going.  All retail stores thrive on up-selling customers.  If you fail to plan adequately and stick to it, then all of the extra food you don't need will call out to you.  Resist the temptation and plan out your trip.  Our family uses the "Grocery IQ" app for Iphone.  It allows you to enter the items you want to buy and the costs, then add them to a list, and then it syncs all of this together between our phones.
6. Buy Bulk when Possible.  Most if not all Whole Foods locations have a bulk department where you can purchase many things like nuts, cereals, dried fruits, oats, dried beans, and more in whatever quantity you want.  Best of all, it's almost always cheaper than buying the same thing packaged.  For example, a pound of packaged rolled oats is $2.99 here locally for 16 oz., but they're only $1.19 per pound in the bulk section.

Shopping for natural foods on a budget isn't impossible, and with some thoughtful planning, you can shop healthier without sacrificing your budget.

Today was one of those days. Half the family has a cold and is grumpy. Then one family member in particular is very pregnant and grumpy, but we aren't pointing any fingers here.

The grumpy pregnant one got mad. Then she made bombs. Bath Bombs aren't just therapeutic for soaking in it turns out. Because the grumpy pregnant one, at whom we are not going to point fingers, locked herself in the soap room and didn't come out until approximately 98 bath bombs later. 

(Did you actually count them? Shame on you!)

I have a love hate relationship with Bath Bombs. They are difficult to make and insist on being made in tiny batches. Then there is a my obsession with above average bath experiences that compels me to make them. Why so many? I take DIY to a whole new level. Always have. Lucky you. ;)

I guess now would be a good time to introduce the newest bomb to the Cheeky Maiden Bath Bomb lineup.

Bath people, SnowBomb. SnowBomb, Bath people. Now that you've been properly introduced, let me tell you a little about SnowBomb. She looks sweet and innocent and pearly white. She has a little sparkle of Epsom Salt that mimics snow just right. And she has a major chill factor. In fact, after you settle into your nice warm tub and drop SnowBomb in, you might start to get a little confused at the slight chill you experience. You wonder if your hot water has run out. And then the chill factor takes it's toll... You chill out and melt into the bath. Is it hot? Is it cold? I don't care. Back pain, stress, worries, whatev-ah-- It's gone. You should tell her thank you before adding her to the bath though, because she really does explode and then melt away along with all your woes.

Know how I know? Because I'm soaking in one right now. (Please save your lectures about bringing electronic devices to the tub. I'm a professional. I know what I am doing.)

Since I...I mean, the grumpy pregnant one... was not the only person needing a good soak today, I/she came up with a treat for the little ones.

Tada! Kid Bombs!

Nicely scented with real lavender essential oil for your little people, it's a treat for Mamma too. Everyone knows that Lavender Oil brings on great sleep and scares away monsters. My kids are totally soaking tonight before bed. Hallelujah, Amen.

Available soon online: Blue Monkey, Pink Pig, Purple Mouse, and Gold Tabby Kitty. Make sure you like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter so you get first dibs!

Now, who wants to come help clean up the mess I made?

With Love,

Grumpy Pregnant Cheeky Maiden

Have you seen the Forbes article circulating about the cancer causing agent that is  in Johnson & Johnson baby products? The company is now under the gun because they have removed these ingredients from their baby care line in other countries, but not in the United States. In the good old US of A you have to pay double for their "natural" brand. And please read the ingredients before you do so. I think you'll find some pretty unnatural ingredients listed there.

I thought everyone knew that Johnson & Johnson products contained Quaternium-15 (aka formaldehyde) since it is clearly written on the label. But I've been surprised to see the surprise on several friend's facebook pages as they spread the news.

I thought everyone knew that the word "fragrance" listed in any ingredients list is actually an abbreviated term for what could possibly be thousands of different chemicals. Chemicals that are not listed on the bottle, and good luck finding out what they are.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics would have you believe that you should be outraged and demand legislation against these companies to "protect" you from these ingredients. You might be surprised to know that someone as staunchly stuck up and picky about ingredients as myself, does not think this is necessary.

It's been right there on the bottle for years, folks. Johnson & Johnson did not hide the fact that they were putting quaternium-15 in their products. This is why you should be reading labels for ingredients, not just for what you eat, but what you are putting on your skin.

Don't wait around for the government to "protect" you by banning these ingredients. Make the choice for yourself NOT to use products containing them! Vote with your wallet, and companies will stop using them!

I will take this opportunity to TOOT our own horn and remind you that we have NEVER used any synthetic or unnatural ingredients in our Cheeky Baby Bar. All of our products are free from carcinogens and any ingredient known to cause birth defects. It's because we feel responsible for what you put on your skin, since we made it.

  (Pictured: Cheeky Baby Bar)

But ultimately the responsibility is yours. Put on your thinking cap and protect yourself. Read labels. Stick with the simple stuff.

 (Pictured: Chunkie Superfat Soap and Complexion Soap)

I hear it every now and then, but at our last fall event a lady kept saying it over and over again.

"So-and-so buys this lady's soap and they actually BATHE with it!"

My favorite, though, is when people approach our tent at a farmers market and aren't quite sure what they are looking at. Is it CHEESE?! FUDGE?! And horrifically enough, some have even indulged in biting into the free sample of soap they were handed. (I always feel really bad when that happens, but in our defense, we do say the word "SOAP" at least twice when we hand out a sample AND include a business card, also with the word SOAP on it, and our tent is fully decked out in Cheeky Maiden bling, which contains the word "SOAP" at least fifty times. Can you see how I get tired of saying the word "SOAP" sometimes?) Anyhow. Once they realize it's bar soap, then comes the $5 question:

"So...what do you do with it?"

Now, I was not raised in a hippie crunchy home. My understanding of salad ended with iceberg lettuce and I had no idea that one could make their own bread. But I knew what soap was for. Evidently the times have changed and people are use to bathing with chemical concoctions called "body wash"...or whatever.

My very favorite farmers market story comes from our Helena, AL market. A woman purchased some Bamboo Charcoal Soap for her Irish Spring's loving husband. He was skeptical at first. She happened to be standing outside the shower when he first tried our Bamboo Soap and the Irish Spring's was immediately rejected, sailing right out of the shower and into the trash. I like to think that our soap liberated his skin that day. Some people just don't know what a good shower is like until they try some good soap!

Still others seem to think that handcrafted soap is for sitting in a pretty dish on the guest bathroom sink, never to be used. I can't tell you how offensive that is when the soap contains super high quality ingredients that make your skin practically shout for joy. Bad soap should be sitting in a dish never to be used. But good soap? Y'all, for Pete's sake, use it! Actually bathe with it! Have an all out euphoric shower experience, even if you only have five minutes to spare.

We like to make our soap pretty.

(Pictured: Lavender Oatmeal Soap)

But that doesn't mean that you can't use it. Cheeky Maiden Soap is too good not to use.

****************************************

Now for some bloggy business. We need to announce the winner of the Great Blog Giveaway of 2011.

Using an online random number generator, the winner is Comment #72!

 Aubrey Freeman commented on 13-Oct-2011 12:03 PM
Your in my Reader, darlin. ;) An just for the record, I would love to deliver chocolate cupcakes to your workroom. And help you eat them!

Aubrey Freeman, send me an email and lemme know which candle selection you want to call yours and we'll get your goodies right to your door! Congratulations!!!

I don't know that I've ever been more excited about a season as I have been about this Fall. And you just might get to benefit! (Pssssstttt.....thar's a giveaway at the end of this here blog!)

Introducing The Cheeky Maiden Fall Collection!

We'll get right down to the good stuff: Pumpkin Lavender Soap.

Y'all. It started off as a mild curiosity. But I knew the minute I mixed that pumpkin puree into the melted olive oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter, that something great was on the horizon.

And this week you could win a pound of it to call yours!

Details on the giveaway are below, but first I want to show off our new candle line.

Three Little Birds Beeswax Candles: These are made from our own mold! Each bird is fashioned from unrefined beeswax that we get directly from local beekeepers. If you can bring yourself to burn them, they will actually emit negative ions and clean the air as they burn (all beeswax does this, but the more pure the beeswax, the better....and of course, Cheeky Maiden doesn't tolerate dirty beeswax.). You can get them by the bird or by the set here.

Faux Bois Taper Candlesticks: Our family went on a nature walk just to find the perfect tree branches to use to form the molds for these candles. My husband thinks I'm crazy, but these candles totally delight me! When we light them each night for our family dinner, they create a magical fall forest mood. And that means a lot when you've got four little ones gathered around. ;)

 Each one really does look like it was taken straight from the trees! Every detail is perfect.

 Finally, the Star Pillar and Pumpkin Candles. Of course, these candles are made from our very own molds too, which means we are extra proud. (Many thanks to my family for giving me an entire Saturday out in the workshop, hacking away, sweating and making a ginormous mess! I think these candles are worth it.)

It's important for you to know about these candles, because also as part of the giveaway you get to choose one set as your own!

Wrapping up the Fall Collection is our fall beer soap: Pumpkin Beer Soap, made from Buffalo Bill's Brewery Original Pumpkin Ale.

It's got the super smooth silky lather you've come to expect from Cheeky Maiden's beer soaps, but a really zingy licorice scent, created by mixing Patchouli, Anise, and Clove. 

And you get a bar of this free too... if you win!

 So, did you take notes?

You could win: A pound of Pumpkin Lavender Soap, a candle selection of your choice, and a bar of Pumpkin Beer Soap

How to enter:

1. Get our RSS feed for this blog (click on the little icon at the top), and leave a comment on this here blog to tell us your favorite fall tradition.

2. Follow us on Twitter, (@cheekymaiden), tweet about the giveaway, including a link, and leave another comment here letting us know.

3. Like us on Facebook, share the giveaway on your own Facebook with a link here, and leave another comment here letting us know.

4. Deliver large chocolate cupcakes to the soap room, and leave a comment here letting everyone else know. You think I'm kidding?? Try it.

   You have until Sunday, October 16th, at midnight (Central time). We will be using a random generator to pick a comment number, so leave a separate comment for each entry! Comment on this blog please, not our facebook page. Thanks!
   

On your mark, get set, go!  

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Each Friday we'll be dumping photos from the week's happenings here in the soap room. You are now the lucky recipient of a bonafide backstage tour of Cheeky Maiden Soap Company. (We are twice as crazy as you think we might be). See if you can spot some new creations, available soon! Click on the thumbnails to view an enlarged picture. Have a happy and safe weekend, y'all!
 

Host a Cheeky Maiden Salt Party in your home this holiday season! 

What is a Salt Party?

Glad you asked! It's when you get all your friends together in your home and Cheeky Maiden shows up with delightful bath salts from all around the world and teaches you how to mix your very own salt baths! She'll bring exotic salts, essential oils, and pretty flowers and herbs that you can whip into an impressive hand made gift or a nice treat for yourself. 

We also provide fancy jars and labels (and y'all, the labels are water proof and super spiffy this year!). 8 oz jars can be filled for only $5 or 16 oz jars for $10. 

Along with all of the bath salt ingredients, we'll also bring a selection of soap and other Cheeky Maiden goodies available for purchase on the evening of your party. 

Oooooooooooh! When can I host a Salt Party?

We have a very (very) limited number of spaces available for Salt Parties this year, since Cheeky Maiden herself  is mostly just good for gestating human life right now. But we think it's pretty safe to say that you can book your party between November 1st and November 20th if you live in or near the Birmingham, AL area. 

What do I get?

You get 25% off your own entire order! (Just like that. No pressure. Just host, have ten friends show up, and you score big time.) And you get an evening filled with fun and good smellin' stuff with your friends! 

What do I have to do?

• Since spaces are very limited this year, we request that you have at least ten friends firmly committed to attending your party. This means you'll need to invite at least 20 people! We ask that you send out your e-vites or invitations no later than two weeks before your party date to give everyone plenty of time to plan to come. 
• Provide a table space for the salts to be set up, along with a table cloth, if you are concerned about damage to your table. Cheeky Maiden will bring her own table to display soaps and other goodies that will be available for purchase. Unlike other types of parties, you do not have to take pre-orders, or any other type of order, or be responsible for delivering or distributing purchased items at a later date. 
• Provide snacks and drinks for your friends, and let's face it... Cheeky Maiden is very pregnant and very hungry. And she likes chocolate. (Just kidding). OR organize a ladies night in and have everyone bring their favorite holiday treat!

Now, hurry up and get to planning! Our calendar is quickly filling up! Contact missi@cheekymaidensoap.com for inquiries and to book your party.