Soaps For Spring

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Happy Spring everyone! I can’t believe it is finally here with it’s promise of warmer, sunny days ahead. Today I thought we should address a very important subject, soaps for the spring from Apple Valley Natural Soap. What are important things to look for in your spring soap bar? What are the best scents to have in a soap bar for spring? We will talk about all of that in this post and give you all the links you need to make shopping easy and make sure your home is stocked with only the best for the spring season ahead.

Gardeners Citrus Basil Soap Bar

Back in time to take care of hard working green thumbs! The Gardener’s Citrus Basil Soap Bar is packed with ground apricot shells to effectively scrub off dirt and grime, black walnut powder for its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic, and anti-fungicide properties, plus moisturizing unrefined organic shea butter to keep your hands soft and silky.

Did you know that black walnut has rich levels of antioxidants and beneficial fatty acids can actually impact the health and appearance of skin? It has also been known to help clear up skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, which makes black walnut a wonderful addition to this natural hand soap. You’ll also LOVE the warm, spicy essential oil blend of bergamot, basil, lemon, and grapefruit. The perfect bar for busy hands this spring!

“[I] gave this to friends who are always hard at work in the garden, all kinds of work maintaining [the] home and cleaning. They love how soft and moisturizing the lather is and how their skin feels. They said the scent lingers slightly on the skin later. Thank you AVNS, it’s a lovely bar for hardworking hands!!”

(Please Note: We make limited quantities of our Limited Edition soaps, so once they are sold out, they are gone for the season.)

Honey Carrot and Tangerine Face and Body Bar

If you want to spin around and keel over from happiness, this bar is your ticket to glory. Made with freshly juiced, organic carrots instead of filtered water, this gorgeous, vitamin A packed bar will nourish your skin. Perfect for your face and all over too! Raw honey acts as a humectant, trapping moisture in your skin cells, and rich, emollient oils and butters will leave your skin soft and silky. But one of the best things about this bar is the juicy carrot tangerine scent that makes you think you died and went to tangerine carrot honey heaven. 

“I have sensitive skin and have been using this for a month now. I love it! Creamy, gentle, moisturizing, and a delightfully delicious scent. What more could a person want? Its color makes it a beautiful gift and I actually gave several as gifts before I even tried it myself. I’ll keep buying this bar in the regular and half size for me and others! Please keep making this soap!”

Cucumber Lime Face and Body Soap

Cucumber lime, with a light, refreshing, “green” scent, features cucumber peel extract which acts like a skin toner, helping to freshen and brighten skin, tighten pores, and leave skin feeling soft and silky. We have also added Spirulina to the mix which has so many wonderful benefits for the skin, we couldn’t say no! Spirulina is a natural antimicrobial, it actually kills off candida, which can be an underlying cause of acne. It also contains 8 Essential Amino Acids, and is high in protein, which is necessary for cell repair and growth. On top of that, Spirulina contains a rare fatty acid known as Gamma Linolenic Acid. That combined with being a rich source of antioxidants makes this a highly effective tool against free radicals. When free radicals are eliminated, this increases the skin’s metabolism, and helps your body produce new, healthy cells faster. What’s not to like? Use this bar all over your body for the same beneficial effect everywhere.

“I LOVE this soap! It has such a wonderful smell and it gets nice and sudsy! One of my new favorites! I hope you keep making it!”

Symphony – The AVNS Signature Soap

From the captivating fresh scent and nourishing ingredients, to the beautiful variations of color, we hope our Symphony Signature Shampoo & Body Bar will remind you that beautiful things come in small packages, and that the simple pleasures are all you need. With beautiful colors, moisturizing natural ingredients & an uplifting scent, all components harmonize beautifully. Fall in love with this all natural soap which is made to retain all the natural glycerin from the natural oils & butters. A bar that gently cleanses while nourishing & rejuvenating hair, face & body. Beautifully scented, beautiful variations of natural colors & beautiful packaging, what’s not to love?

“I love everything about this bar! Color, scent, lather and how my skin and hair feels. Another great bar from AVNS. I recommend this one to everyone.”

Wether you are looking for something warm and floral or exfoliating and earthy, Apple Valley Natural Soap has all the bars for spring in your home. Spring is warm, wet and a beautiful promise of what is to come so make sure you are stocked up on soap that will not only keep up with the demands of the spring season (gardeners, I’m talking about you!) but add to your spring. And of course these bars only scratch the surface of what Apple Valley Natural Soap has to offer! Be sure to visit our website for not only spring staples but for fun products year round.

What are your favorite spring hair and skin care soap bars? What other products do you love during the spring season? Let us know what you thought in the comments below and let’s start a conversation.

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it too, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Black Seed Oil – The Powerhouse Oil You Need In Your Arsenal

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Black Seed Oil is the newest addition to the line-up of products offered by Apple Valley Natural Soap and could very well be your arsenals most powerful weapon. This unrefined, certified organic, cold pressed black seed oil has many health and beauty benefits. It is a remarkable and highly prized oil and can be used as a daily treatment for hair and skin. But what exactly is Black Seed Oil and what makes it so special? Keep reading to learn all about this special oil and why you should consider adding it to your collection.

What Is Black Seed Oil?

“An annual flowering plant from the Ranunculaceae family, the Nigella Sativa grows to around 16-24 inches with a large fruit containing the Black Seeds. ” “[The Nigella Sativa] can be found in warm places like Eastern Europe, Northern African, and Southwestern Asia. Black Seed Oil is an herbal ingredient derived from the tiny black seeds…These seeds have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Preliminary evidence supports a few of its medicinal properties, primarily due to the seed’s high content of antioxidants and other bioactive compounds.” Other names for this product are Black Cumin Seed Oil, Black Caraway, Nigella and Kalonji Oil. “Black Seed contains an array of active compounds that are responsible for its health benefits. These include Linoleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Monoterpenes, Thymol and Thymoquinone.” It is rich in fatty acids and potent antioxidants.

History Of Black Seed Oil

“Black Seed has been used by the ancient Egyptians to treat ailments such as digestive issues and inflammatory skin conditions such as rashes and bites. Its promising benefits were also noticed in other regions, where ancient Greek physicians recorded that Black Seed was administered to treat headaches, congestion and pain…Due to its prevalent use in ancient Egypt, Black Seed has been labelled as the ‘Secret of the Pharaohs’ – and was even found in Tutankhamen’s tomb! Native to the Mediterranean and Asian regions, Black Seed has been cultivated for over 3,000 years for a multitude of uses.”

Benefits & Uses For Black Seed Oil

As mentioned, Black Seed Oil has a variety of benefits ranging from cosmetic to medicinal. Black Seed Oil specifically contains an active compound called Thymoquinone and “it is the most studied compound in black seed. It is suggested by research that Thymoquinone may exert anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects to target a range of health applications.” Nigellone and Thymoquinone are loaded with Omega 3, 6, and 9 and are necessary for optimal function of the immune system.

Some of the cosmetic benefits of Black Seed Oil include:

  • Strengthening hair as well as improving scalp health
  • Aiding in hair growth and delaying the onset of premature grey hair
  • The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties make it a potent natural remedy for acne
  • It is effective in treating skin conditions, including acne, eczema, dry skin and psoriasis
  • Rich in vitamins, amino acids and essential fatty acids which help the skin retain moisture, maintain elasticity, and fight the damaging free radicals that cause aging
  • Improves skin pigmentation

And some of the medicinal benefits of Black Seed Oil include:

  • Some studies suggest that thymoquinone in black seed oil can induce cell death in several cancer cell types, including brain, leukemia, and breast cancer
  • The presence of thymoquinone promotes tissue growth and wound healing
  • Another study found that topical application of black seed oil improved pigmentation, as with Vitiligo, within six months
  • “A small study indicating that inhaled boiled black seed extract has a potential bronchodilatory effect on people with asthma, improving all markers of lung function and respiratory rate. And  four randomized controlled studies also found that black seed supplements may help manage asthma through the seed’s anti-inflammatory effects.”
  • “Studies have shown that thanks to the black seed oil’s powerful anti-inflammatory properties, this may benefit multiple aspects of health, including reducing the inflammation that contributes to the development of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and [as I mentioned previously,] cancer.”
  • Some research shows that black seed oil could be beneficial for stabilizing blood sugar levels.
  • And so much more!

This unrefined, certified organic, cold pressed black seed oil has many health and beauty benefits. It is a remarkable and highly prized oil and can be used as a daily treatment for hair and skin. I hope that you found this blog post informative and educational, or at least, learned something you didn’t know before. If you want to add this powerhouse oil to your arsenal, you can click here to shop or head over to our website, applevalleynaturalsoap.com and simply search for “Black Seed Oil” in our search bar.

What was your favorite fact about Black Seed Oil? Let me know in the comments!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

PLEASE NOTE: This product is not intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease. Keep out of the reach of children.

Sources:

Healthline – What Are The Benefits Of Black Seed Oil? https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/black-seed-oil-benefits

Viridian – The History Of Black Seed https://viridian-nutrition.com/en-us/blogs/nutrition-articles/video-the-history-of-black-seed

Cancer Cell Study – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4052177/

Vitiligo Study – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31025474/

My Favorite Bath Accessories From Apple Valley Natural Soap

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We know that nothing helps to elevate your bathroom, beauty, and skin care routines quite like the perfect accessories to pair with your products. Keep reading for some of my favorite bath accessories from AVNS and all of the links to shop and add to your self care routine.

1. Eco-Friendly Soap Trays

AVNS has a couple of different options to choose from when it comes to soap trays, but the concept is the same. Elevate and show off your beautiful bar soaps with Eco-Friendly Bamboo or Bioplastic Soap Mats. They are the perfect way to help style up any sink in your home and keep your soap high and dry so it doesn’t get mushy.

The Eco-Friendly Bamboo Soap Trays allow water to drain and air to circulate, ensuring no mess is left behind while preventing your natural soap from turning to mush. To clean, just hold it under running water! They are the perfect size for our full sized soaps, and with 3 different designs to choose from, refresh your look with this aesthetically pleasing, compostable, earth friendly, natural soap tray that is sure to brighten any bathroom. 

The Eco-Friendly Soap Mats from AVNS work perfectly for our organic & natural soaps! Made from bioplastic to allow the water to drain and air to circulate, they prevent your natural soap from turning to mush. These soap mats are made from eco-friendly, BPA and phthalate free bioplastic – right here in the USA! With 15 colors to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect color for every sink in your home. Plus, they are reusable, so once you are ready to switch out your soap bar, don’t throw your mat away! Simply clean your soap mat of the soap residue by holding it under warm running water.

2. Natural Sea Sponges

Say goodbye to the plastic luffa and hello to the natural and antibacterial powers of your new shower BFF, the Natural Sea Sponge! These natural sea sponges are sustainably harvested maintaining strict industry regulations and are naturally eco-friendly and biodegradable. AVNS has 3 different sizes to offer –

The Yellow Sponge is named after its beautiful color! These sponges are firm, absorbent and durable, a great addition to your bathing routine. Harvested from the Gulf of Mexico waters, these beautiful natural sponges gently cleanse skin when used with one of the natural soaps from AVNS.

The Wool Sea Sponges are the softest most absorbent sponges available, the champion of all-natural sponges. Harvested from the Gulf of Mexico waters, these beautiful natural sponges gently cleanse skin when used with one of the natural soaps from AVNS.

The Prime Wool Sea Sponge is again, the softest most absorbent sponges available, the champion of all-natural sponges. Harvested from the Gulf of Mexico waters, these beautiful natural sponges gently cleanse skin when used with one of the natural soaps from AVNS.

Sponge harvesting isn’t an easy process, but the results are worth it! These beautiful natural sponges will last for years if taken care of and have additional benefits to the skin. Did you know that natural sea sponges are actually hypoallergenic? They also contain an enzyme that makes them naturally antibacterial, preventing the growth of bacteria, mold & mildew. Plus they contain nutrients such as magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium and more, all beneficial minerals for the skin.

3. Foaming Liquid Soap Pump

This beautiful foaming liquid soap pump is a new addition for all our liquid soap lovers! Wonderfully functional and visibly pleasing, the frosted glass foaming soap dispensers from AVNS have a wide solid base for no tipping, and a neutral appearance that coordinates with any bath or kitchen space. Each dispenser holds approximately 8 fluid ounces, has an elegant frosted glass base with easy to fill opening and a white pump. It pairs perfectly with one of the Liquid Castile Soaps or Liquid African Black Soaps from AVNS!

4. Reusable Beauty Cloths

Made from premium hemp, bamboo & organic cotton, these cloths are created from some of the most sustainable fabrics in the world, bringing you a luxurious cleansing experience. The cloths are perfect for removing make-up, oil cleansing and much more. Hemp is an exceptionally durable and strong fabric and when mixed with the softness of bamboo (cream cloth), not only do you get our most sustainable fabric, but one of our softest and most luxurious. Premium hemp & organic cotton also delivers a luxurious, hypo-allergenic cloth, perfect for light exfoliation, removing make-up and oil cleansing. 

Cream Hemp & Bamboo Beauty Cloth – This premium hemp + bamboo fleece creates a luxurious, hypo-allergenic cloth perfect for oil cleansing and removing makeup. Hemp and bamboo make one of the most sustainable fabrics. Made from 55% hemp and 45% bamboo.

Black Hemp & Cotton Beauty Cloth – Use this premium hemp & cotton fleece for a luxurious, light exfoliation or for removing make-up and oil cleansing. Made from 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton.

I hope this gave you a few ideas on ways that you can elevate your bathroom, beauty, and skin care routines with the perfect accessories to pair with your products. These products from Apple Valley Natural Soap also make the perfect socking stuffers and gifts for the self care lovers this holiday season.

Which of these bath accessories are you going to add to your self care routine? Maybe you have already tried a few of them, if so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

How To Be A Good Guest This Holiday Season

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Happy November, everyone! Holiday season is nearly upon us and something that I don’t think is taught enough now a days is how to be a good guest. More often we focus on the ability to be a good host, but we are not the host 100% of the time. So how can we be good guests during the holidays this year?

1. Be Helpful

This might seem like an obvious one, but we can get so caught up in the day or event that we as guests can forget about the amount of work our hosts are putting into making it as lovely an event as it can be. So what can we do to help? We can simply start by asking this question of our hosts – “How can I help?” Now, sometimes your host will have everything under control at the moment and not need any assistance, but don’t just ask the question once. When the meal is over, ask if you can help clear the table or start on the dishes. At the end of the day, ask if you can help put chairs, leftovers, or decor away. There will be more than one opportunity to offer your help and to show appreciation to your hosts by helping to tidy up, so don’t just ask once. And if in the event you are told that there isn’t anything you can do to help every time you ask, simply pay attention to your surroundings and take care of your space. Clear your own dish after meal time, throw your trash away throughout the day, and do what you can to help keep the mess to a minimum and thus making less work for your hosts at the end of the day.

2. Bring a Gift

The act of giving your hosts a gift is simply not taught enough now a days. But something as simple as bringing a bouquet of flowers for your hostess goes a long way in expressing your appreciation for the invite. Like I said, it doesn’t have to be anything crazy or elaborate, it can be something simple that is catered to the individual or holiday. For example, a bouquet of flowers for your sister who is hosting a Friendsgiving party, a bottle of wine for your mom who is hosting Thanksgiving, or a bar of Seasonal Hand & Body soap from Apple Valley Natural Soap for your best friend who is hosting a Secret Santa Christmas party. Just a little something to say “Thank You!” to your host for opening up their home and providing a lovely meal.

3. Contribute To The Meal

This one is more common as often times the host will ask their guests to bring rolls, veggies and dip, or a pie to contribute to the meal time spread. But in case you haven’t heard anything from your host about contributing to the meal, simply ask them if they want you to bring something. And try to be specific. Sometimes if your host has already planned the menu it can be hard to try to think of a new idea for you. But if you offer to bring the dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, or a cheese and cracker tray, they may be more inclined to say yes to your offer as it doesn’t create any extra work for them at all.

4. Don’t Overstay Your Welcome

At the end of a long day (or more accurately, at the end of a long week, as your host has been preparing for and thinking of this event for a long time leading up) all a host wants to do is sit down and put their feet up. Now, I personally have been hosted by a wide range of personalities over the years. Some have the mentality of ‘there is a time frame and once the clock hits 8pm, all guests should be out the door,’ while others have a truly open door policy, where in you are welcome to stay as long as you would like, just please close the door behind you on the way out wether it is 9pm or 1am. My first piece of advice to you on this, is know your hosts! Are they likely to enforce a “end time” or do they have an open door policy? Either way, be respectful of their home, their space, and their time considering they have been busy for not just today but the past few days preparing to host you. Honor the “end time” if there is one and be respectful of the time as it gets late and try not to stay until after your hosts have all gone to bed (unless of course you are staying in the same home, then this doesn’t really apply to you.) Needless to say, be respectful of your hosts and their time and don’t overstay your welcome. The goal is to be invited back next year!

Some of these tips might seem obvious to you, but you would be surprised how little is taught on the art of being a good guest. I hope that at least one of these tips was helpful to you and maybe gave you some ideas on how you can be a better guest this holiday season.

Are you more often than not the host or the guest during the holidays? What other tips would you add to this list? And hosts, what would you like to see from your guests this holiday season? Let me know in the comments!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Bath Time – Spa Night The Natural Way

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Let’s talk about spa night! Nothing compares to a warm, relaxing soak after a long day or week. Some time to yourself with a candle lit, a good book paired with a glass of wine or a cup of tea, marinating in the lovely bubbles of a warm bath. I used the word “marinating” purposely here to better help you understand what your skin experiences when soaking in a bath. Our skin is our bodies largest organ, and it soaks up absolutely everything we put on it, lotions, oils, sunscreens, and fragrances to name a few. It will also soak up whatever you are soaking in, bubbles, salts, etc. A bath is supposed to be a great way to relax and unwind, so why add more stress for your body to deal with in the form of synthetic fragrances, sulphates, artificial colors, etc. Did you know that these are very common ingredients you can find in your bath bombs and bath soaks/salts? So what can we do about it and what other options are out there? Let’s dive right in shall we!

Natural Bath Bombs

Let’s begin with a popular one, bath bombs. As I said a moment ago, most of us can say there is nothing quite like a warm soak in the bath after a long week. And to make the experience more enjoyable, we can throw a lovely bath bomb in for fun colors and smells. Well, did you know that most bath bombs contain fake colors, fragrances, and other ingredients that are toxic for our bodies? And we’re sitting and soaking our bodies in that… no thank you! Instead, you can swap out your bath bombs from LUSH, Target, and Ulta for Natural Bath Bombs from Apple Valley Natural Soap.

Apple Valley Natural Soap’s luxurious natural bath bombs are crafted from high quality natural ingredients that are gentle and nourishing to skin. These ingredients help moisturize and soothe the skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth while allowing you to rest in the knowledge that your body is not being exposed to toxic ingredients.

Many bath bombs being sold today contain harsh ingredients, chemicals and synthetic fragrances that are toxic to the body. These harsh ingredients can disrupt hormones, cause skin irritation, and other health issues. By choosing our all natural bath bombs you will avoid exposing your skin to these harmful chemicals and enjoy a safer, more relaxing bathing experience. These bath bombs contain a base of Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Epsom Salts & Shea Butter, plus essential oils specific to each bath bombs special scent.

AVNS has 4 different bath bombs to choose from, Cedarwood Lavender, Fresh Citrus, Grapefruit Mint, and Lavender Eucalyptus. Try them all and have fun finding your favorites!

Natural Bath Salt Soak

Similarly to bath bombs, the average bath soak you will find in your local grocery store or beauty shop will contain synthetic additives and fragrances, sulphates and other toxic ingredients that are known hormone disrupters. These beautiful bath soaks by Fontana Candle Co. are made with natural, simple and easy to read ingredients that you can trust such as Dead Sea Mineral Salt, Epsom Salt, Himalayan Pink Salt, Coconut Oil, and scented with pure essential oils.

Wonderfully beneficial & therapeutic for your body, the Bath Soaks by Fontana Candle Co may help soothe & rejuvenate your skin from head to toe. Dead Sea Salt and Pink Himalayan salts have many benefits for the body as they are full of essential minerals, like Magnesium, Sodium, Calcium, and Potassium, while epsom salt may help your body gently detox and ease sore muscles. Use the Salt soaks anytime you need to relax your mind or soothe your body! 

Directions:
– Pour 2 ounces or more of bath soak into warm running water. 
– Allow the mixture to dissolve before relaxing in a bath breathing in the beautiful aromatherapy. 
– Soak it in.
– Rinse off or gently pat yourself dry with a towel if you prefer to let the minerals and essential oils continue to benefit your skin.
– Rinse the tub to remove any leftover residue.

Apple Valley Natural Soap has four beautiful bath soaks to offer from Fontana Candle Co. such as Palo Santo & Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemongrass & Eucalyptus and Mineral Salt & Coconut Oil.

Our skin is our bodies largest organ, and it soaks up absolutely everything we put on it and a bath is supposed to be a great way to relax and unwind, so why add more stress for your body to deal with in the form of synthetic fragrances, sulphates, artificial colors, etc? Choosing natural bath bombs and bath soaks from Apple Valley Natural Soap is an amazing way to pamper yourself, relax, and have peace of mind knowing that what your skin is soaking in is pure and natural, no hormone disrupters here!

Have you tried the Natural Bath Bombs or Bath Soaks from Apple Valley Natural Soap? Be sure to let me know what you thought in the comments!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

The Best Pumpkin Loaf For Autumn

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You all absolutely loved the Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread recipe I shared a few weeks ago, so in the spirit of Autumn and pumpkin spice season, here is another favorite loaf recipe of mine, Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting. The perfect way to spice up your baking and embrace the Autumn season for pumpkin lovers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Ingredients:

Pumpkin Loaf –

  • 1 Cup of Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste
  • 1 Cup Pumpkin Purée
  • 1/2 Cup Browned Butter
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/4 Cup White Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar

Cream Cheese Frosting –

  • 6 Oz of Cream Cheese (room temp)
  • 1/4 Cup of Butter (room temp)
  • 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste
  • 2 Tablespoons of Milk
  • A Pinch of Salt

Recipe:

Pumpkin Loaf –

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Coat a loaf pan with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices.

In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs with the sugar until creamy.

Add melted butter, pumpkin purée and vanilla bean paste to your eggs and sugar mixture.

Add the wet ingredients in with the dry ingredients in the large bowl and stir gently to combine with a spatula until the dry ingredients are incorporated. (Do not over mix!)

Pour your batter into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 40-45 minutes or until a cake tester is inserted in the center and comes out clean.

Let the loaf cool in the pan for a few minutes once you remove it from the oven. Then remove the loaf from the pan (use the parchment paper to help you remove the loaf from the pan – please be careful when handling the hot pan!)

Allow the loaf to cool on a wire rack completely before adding the frosting so it doesn’t melt.

Cream Cheese Frosting – While Your Pumpkin Loaf Is Cooling

Using a hand beater, beat together the butter and cream cheese until its fluffy.

Add salt, vanilla bean paste and powdered sugar and combine until smooth.

Add your milk as needed until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.

Add the frosting to your pumpkin loaf once it is cooled.

Dust the top with some extra pumpkin pie spice if you want, slice & enjoy!

This Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting is the perfect pairing with your cup of afternoon coffee or as a sweet treat to enjoy cozied up at home on a cool autumn evening. I hope this recipe brings all of the cozy, autumnal vibes into your home and I hope you love it as much as I do.

Be sure to let me know what you think if you try this recipe out and feel free to share your favorite autumn recipe in the comments!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Make The Most Of This Autumn Season

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Autumn is a very divided season! Some love it, while others look upon it with dread. For some, it is a refreshing season, the coolness in the mornings and evenings is a welcome change after the heat of the Summer. Others look at the Autumn months as nothing more than the gateway to winter. Too cold. Too gray. Marking the end to yet another gloriously warm Summer. Well, I am here today to do my best to help you embrace the change in season for all it can be – fun, refreshing, cozy, and oh so enjoyable. Here are my top tips for embracing the Autumn months and finding joy in the changing seasons.

1. Nature Walks

There is quite simply nothing like getting outside in October and going for a walk in nature! The vibrant colors all around you, the coolness in the air, and the sounds of nature preparing for a season of rest. There is something truly magical about how the trees put on such a show for us with all of their fiery yellows, oranges, and reds and dark greens. Wether you go with your family, a friend, your kids, or just by yourself, I encourage you to find a nature park or trail near you, get outside, and enjoy a walk surrounded by nature embracing the changing season.

2. Apple Orchards

Nothing screams Autumn quite like going to a good old apple orchard. The kids love it, the adults love it, and even grandma loves the fresh apples she gets to turn into yummy pies, jelly’s, and apple sauces. Find a local apple orchard, pack up the car with your family or friends, bring a picnic lunch, and enjoy a Saturday at the orchard picking apples, eating fresh apple cider doughnuts, and enjoying the cooler weather.

3. A Bonfire Night With Friends and Neighbors

One exciting thing about Autumn is the cooler mornings and evenings! Perfect for a warm bonfire outside with some toasty marshmallows. Invite your friends and neighbors to come over and join you by the fire (maybe with a Hot Toddy in hand) and let yourself relax into the simplicity of the night, the community, and crisp Autumn air.

4. Hot Apple Cider

You can pair this one with the one above, but I thought it was only right to give it it’s own feature spot. Apple cider is an Autumnal staple, some drink it cold (weirdos), while us normal people drink it piping hot. And some even like to spice it up a bit by making a Hot Toddy for a little extra warmth on a cool night. But no matter how you like to enjoy your cider, we can all agree it is a staple in Autumn and there is something both cozy and refreshing about drinking an apple cider a the orchard, around a bonfire, or cozied up on your couch in the evening with a good movie or book.

5. Baking An Autumnal Recipe

There are so many options to choose from, just pick your favorite! Pumpkin, apple, zucchini, molasses, maple, cranberry, and the list goes on. Choose your favorite flavors and spend some time in the kitchen with a candle, a cup of coffee or cider, and bake a delicious Autumnal recipe for your family and friends (or eat it all yourself, there is no judgement here.) Pumpkin loaf with cream cheese frosting. Apple pie with maple ice cream. Chocolate chip zucchini bread. Molasses cookies. Maple brown butter cookies. White chocolate and cranberry scones. Pick your favorite and start baking!

6. Decorate You Home For Autumn

This might be one of my favorite ways to embrace the changing season. I love a fresh space that welcomes the season and brings a bit of newness into my home. And the fun part is, there isn’t just one way to decorate your home! That is entirely up to you and your personal style. You can take inspiration from Pinterest, seasonal home magazines, or home decor shops. Or you can go entirely off the vision in your head! Have fun with it, bring your favorite parts of the season into your home, wether that is pumpkins, oak branches, or wheat. Oranges, greens, or golden yellows. Get creative and have fun! You can also bring Autumn into your home with scents through candles and soaps. Stock your bathrooms and kitchen with Apple Valley Natural Soap Seasonal Fall Soaps like Pumpkin Spice, Spice Cake, and Black Licorice.

Wether you already love the Autumn season or this is a season of dread for you, I hope this blog gave you some inspiration on ways you can embrace the change in season and enjoy it for what it is. A new season, a fresh start, full of new possibilities, and ready for you to make new memories. I hope I was able to help you embrace the change in season for all it can be and you were able to find some good take-aways from my top tips for embracing the Autumn months and finding joy in the changing seasons.

Do you have a favorite way to celebrate the changing seasons, specially this autumn? Share with us in the comments below and let’s start a conversation!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite autumn hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Our Favorite Soaps For Autumn

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It should be no surprise to any of you that at Apple Valley Natural Soap we love any excuse to celebrate the changing of the seasons. And autumn is no joke around here, we love all things cozy, warm, & pumpkin spice. Give us all the autumnal cozy vibes! This is why we created our Seasonal Fall soap line featuring all of our favorite things about the autumn season. Our Fall soaps are filled with pumpkin, apples, spices and everything we love about the cozy vibes of autumn and they are available now! We make limited batches of these natural Special Edition Soaps for the Fall season, specially formulated to not only bring the warmth of the season into your home, but to give your skin and hair the extra special care needed during the cooler & dryer months. They make the perfect addition to any home during the autumn season and they make amazing gifts for family and friends as well. Our fabulous fall soaps are around for only a limited time so stock up now!

Seasonal Pumpkin Spice Hand & Body Bar

Let’s kick this list off with a crowd favorite, everyones go-to autumn treat, Pumpkin Spice! If you are a pumpkin spice lover, then you will just adore this hand & body bar. Along with pumpkin, we’ve added rich baking spices like cinnamon, clove, and ginger to this amazing soap making this seasonal Pumpkin Spice Soap a feast for your skin. Lots of rich, fluffy lather and the scent of orange and clove will warm your body, heart, and soul. This natural soap bar makes a fun, practical hostess gift during the holiday seasons.

“This soap has an amazing lather and scent. Perfect for cool mornings as a way to start your day. I highly recommend this luxuriant fall special.” – T. Happel

“The scent was amazing and my skin felt clean and fresh.” – J. Yannuzzi

Seasonal Spice Cake Hand & Body Bar

There is nothing quite like a spicy baked treat to get you into the autumn mood! We love to celebrate autumn with a natural soap that smells just like freshly baked spice cake stuffed with ingredients which are good for your skin. Made with apple, spices, moisturizing mango and shea butters, our Spice Cake bar is totally natural and smells just like Grandma’s house on a crisp, autumn day. An added benefit of this bar is the light exfoliation power due to the salt, it makes a wonderful bar to have by the sink, or in the shower. Also, we don’t use any fragrance oil, instead we’ve created a blend of essential oils that smell sweet and spicy. Here for a limited time only, this natural soap bar also makes a fun, practical hostess gift during the holiday seasons.

“Oh my goodness I love the smell of this bar!! So wonderful and perfect for my bathroom sink in the fall!!” – Michelle

Seasonal Black Licorice Hand, Foot & Body Bar

Calling all black licorice lovers! This bar was made for you! The release of this fantastic soap was our first nod to the change of seasons and cooler months. This amazing black licorice soap is for those who simply just LOVE the scent of black licorice. Brace yourself for an incredible licorice scent along with a satisfying exfoliation experience from the black walnut hull powder, which also gives it the dark coloring. Licorice root not only smells great, but has many health benefits. The herb is used directly on the skin to help with eczema, skin rashes, psoriasis, and itchy, dry skin. Black walnut is also regarded to be useful in the treatment of skin diseases and complaints such as eczema, ringworm, athlete’s foot etc. It’s long been used as a natural remedy for acne, canker sores, psoriasis and other fungal infections. There’s nothing like it! Here for a limited time only, this natural soap bar also makes a fun, practical hostess gift during the holiday seasons.

“This is my favorite body bar. Light exfoliation and great for my skin.” – M. Hetrick

“I love the exfoliation, but not too harsh. I enjoy the smell. One of my favorite soaps!” – Melissa

Our Fall Soaps are filled with pumpkin, apples, spices and everything we love about the cozy vibes of autumn and they are available now! We make limited batches of these natural Special Edition Soaps for the Fall season, specially formulated to not only bring the warmth of the season into your home, but to give your skin and hair the extra special care needed during the cooler & dryer months. We are so excited that the autumn season is back again and cannot wait for you to try out our homage to fall with these seasonal, limited edition soaps.

Do you have a favorite way to celebrate the changing seasons, specially this autumn? Share with us in the comments below and let’s start a conversation!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite autumn hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

The Best Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread For Autumn

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With the autumn season right around the corner and autumnal vibes already sneaking into our homes, I thought I would take a bit of a detour from my usual content to share one of my favorite autumn/winter recipes with you all. I mean, if Starbucks has already released their Pumpkin Spice Latte, then I think it’s fair to say that cozy vibes are not far behind. Baking is one of my favorite ways to celebrate and lean into the change of the seasons and this Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread is the perfect pairing with your cup of afternoon coffee or tea or a sweet treat to enjoy cozied up at home on a cool autumn evening.

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/3 cups of flour (You can substitute a 1-to-1 measure gluten free flour if you want to make this recipe gluten free. My personal favorite is King Arthur Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour.)
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground all-spice
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup of white sugar
  • 5 tablespoons of butter (melted)
  • 1 zucchini shredded (about 7 ounces)
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract (you can use a bourbon vanilla extract for a little extra flavor)
  • 1/2 cup of buttermilk (You can also use yogurt or even a dairy-free yogurt if you prefer.)
  • 1/2 cup of chopped 70% dark chocolate
  • 1/2 cup of chopped milk chocolate

Recipe:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Coat a loaf pan with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and all-spice.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar until creamy.

Add your melted butter, shredded zucchini and vanilla to your egg and sugar mixture.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir gently with a spatula until the flour mixture is just incorporated. (Do not over mix!)

Stir in the buttermilk (or yogurt) until just combined and then add your chopped dark and milk chocolate.

Pour the batter into your parchment paper lined loaf pan.

Bake in the middle of the oven for 1 hour or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Allow your loaf to cool in the pan for a few minutes.

Use the parchment paper to help you remove the loaf from the pan and put it onto a rack to cool completely. (Please be careful when handling the hot pan and bread!)

When you are ready, cut yourself a slice and enjoy as is or with a bit of salted butter. This Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread is the perfect pairing with your cup of afternoon coffee or tea or a sweet treat to enjoy cozied up at home on a cool autumn evening. I hope this recipe brings all of the cozy, autumnal vibes into your home and I hope you love it as much as I do.

Be sure to let me know what you think if you try this recipe out and feel free to share your favorite autumn recipe in the comments!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Your Shaving Routine – Featuring A Traditional Shaving Method

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Men and women have one (among many) very normal thing in common, and that is the need for quality shaving products that not only provide the smoothest and cleanest shave, but that are also clean and safe for your skin, hormones, and the planet. Apple Valley Natural Soap understood the assignment with their products for skin prep, shaving, and moisturizers to finish everything off. Keep reading for the next products to add to your shaving routine and for a traditional shaving method…

Step 1 – Prep The Skin

The preparation we give our skin before the shave is just as important as the shave itself! For facial shaving, prep your skin for the shave with a wash with an exfoliating soap such as Grapefruit Peppermint Luffa (Loofah) Body Bar or the Peppermint Patchouli Pumice Body Bar.

For body shaving, you can also give your skin a preparatory wash with the Grapefruit Peppermint Luffa (Loofah) Body Bar or the Peppermint Patchouli Pumice Body Bar or you can go straight for the Body Polish. Prep your skin with Apple Valley Natural Soap’s incredible exfoliating and moisturizing Body Polishes in blends like Sweet Rosehips or Sweet Berry, Citrus Sugar, Matcha Mint, and Sweet Vanilla.

Using only oils that are fabulous for absorbing right into the skin without leaving an oily feeling, these exfoliating, moisture-drenching polishes will leave your skin sweetly and delicately scented, soft, silky, and moisturized. No need for lotion! The exfoliation of the sugar crystals is very pleasant and soothing and will leave your skin glowing with health.

Step 2 – Shave (Traditional Shaving Soap)

A good shave requires a good shaving soap! These Nourishing Shaving Soaps are handcrafted with natural and organic ingredients and are created to build a luxurious and satisfying lather during a traditional wet shave. These soaps are perfect for both men and women for face and body shaves.

The key to a good shaving soap is a high fat content so skin is protected during the shave, it will also nourish your skin so it doesn’t become dry and irritated. A good shaving soap is economically a great choice as it lasts a long time, and it is a wonderful option for your skin because it adds, not detracts, moisture. Ingredients such as olive oil, shea butter and avocado will do just that, nourish and protect skin during and after the shave. We’ve also added bentonite clay which brings slip to help the razor glide over the skin, and colloidal oats which help protect and soothe.

The Classic Shaving Soap has a warm woodsy scent with a hint of spice. This shaving soap is great for all skin types, but Classic’s blend of essential oils may assist those with oily skin.

The Rugged Shaving Soap has a fresh outdoors scent with a touch of citrus and a hint of woodsy spice. This shaving soap is also great for all skin types, but the blend of essential oils may benefit those with dry skin.

Shaving Bowl & Brush Set

Available in limited quantities, our hand crafted, wheel thrown ceramic shaving sets are a must have for those who love a traditional shave. They are a perfect compliment to our round Traditional Shaving Soaps and offer an eco-friendly option for storing and lathering up your soap.  Made specifically for AVNS by 5 Elements Clayworks, “each piece is hand crafted and therefore no 2 are ever identical. Even similar forms and same glaze combos used can yield different results based on the kiln atmosphere or clay batch used, so you can always look forward to a unique piece. While it is not intended for food use, all glazes are food safe and non-toxic.” 

The brush is made from a top quality synthetic nylon that gives a soft, luxurious brushing experience. Plus, as the fibers are synthetic it doesn’t shed nearly as much as many natural hair brushes. These brushes are by nature vegan and perfectly suited for men who are allergic to animal hair or badger hair. When using a synthetic brush, it’s good to know that you will also need about half of the amount of shaving cream or soap compared to an animal hair brush.

Directions For A Traditional Shave

– Use one of our Traditional Shaving Soaps in our wheel thrown ceramic shaving bowls & brushes.

– Wet your brush under running hot water and allow it adequate time to absorb water.

– Don‘t tap too much excess water off the brush, then lather up the soap using circular motions directly in a container or vessel of your choice. At first, the bubbles will appear large, but as you keep going, they will increase in number and become smaller. After a short while you should have achieved a thick, warm lather.

– Apply and massage the warm lather with the soaped brush evenly across your face in circular motions. This will also increase the lather‘s density, soften your whiskers, and allow them to stand up, allowing the razor to sit close to the base of the hair follicle. The longer you whisk, the richer the lather, the smoother the shave and the more your skin will be protected.

– Empty excess water from the soap container and leave it open so it can air-dry.

Man 2.0 Natural Shampoo, Body & Shaving Bar

For those who are looking for another option or a 3-in-1 bar, we have got you covered with the Man 2.0 Shampoo, Body, & Shaving Bar. Men (and women too), you now can have your soap, shampoo, and shaving cream too. Made with organic olive oil, organic shea nut butter, and organic jojoba oil for an ultra gentle, moisturizing treatment, as well as bentonite clay for slip and silk on your face when shaving, this deliciously scented shampoo bar lathers like crazy and will leave you looking, feeling, and smelling like a million bucks in a few short minutes.

Step 3 – Moisturize

And finally, last but not least, you want to make sure you are fortifying your skin post-shave with amazing moisturizer and hydration for soft, glowing, and healthy skin. A few options I recommend are:

For Mature & Dry Skin – Reset Beauty Oil

  • Do you love soft, radiant, glowing skin? Penetrating quickly, our luxurious Reset Beauty Oil will help hydrate and firm skin leaving it soft, radiant and glowing. Rich in antioxidants and fatty acids with remarkable absorbency, these ingredients are known to nourish, moisturize and improve skin elasticity, tone and texture, while reducing the appearance of age spots. Perfect for dry skin that needs extra hydration, especially in dry hot areas and during winter.

For Combination to Mature & Dry Skin – Moisture Rich Face Cream or 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil

  • Do you love only having one lotion to cover many facial needs? Then this is the lotion for you! Watch it nourish and revitalize skin around the eyes & mouth, see it naturally deliver rejuvenation for beautiful, radiant facial skin. 
  • One of the world’s most rare and potent beauty serums, this unrefined (virgin), certified organic, Moroccan argan oil is rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. As a non-greasy, fast absorbing oil, it offers better protection for skin and hair than any other oil on the planet. Argan oil is high in something called oleic acid and even though it’s still considered a “dry” oil, meaning it won’t leave an oily residue and will absorb quickly, it’s an oil which will keep the skin moisturized, help battle the loss of elasticity and reduce inflammation.

For Oily to Combination Skin – Unrefined Jojoba Oil

  • Looking for an all natural body lotion that will leave your skin luminous and softly scented? Our pure, organic jojoba is the most natural way to moisturize both skin and hair. The benefits of jojoba are numerous and unparalleled. Jojoba is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and easily absorbed into the skin, leaving no oily residue, making it the perfect massage oil. It is used to maintain skin elasticity and leaves skin literally glowing.

There that is a need for quality shaving products that not only provide the smoothest and cleanest shave, but that are also clean and safe for your skin, hormones, and the planet. Apple Valley Natural Soap saw the need and worked to create a truly on-brand solution that both men and women can use and enjoy. From exfoliation and shaving soaps, to post-shave moisturizers and oils, AVNS has what you need for a beautiful shave that your skin will thank you for.

What are some of your favorite shaving products? Maybe you have a favorite razor that you would like to share with us? Let us know in the comments below and lets start a conversation.

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda