The Handmade Soap Blog

What exactly is EGCG? - A blog post I had on the EGCG Blog

Here is a blog post I did for my Etsy Street Team - The Etsy Green and Clean Guild. I thought I would share it here also:

For the longest time, whenever I thought of EGCG, to me it meant the Etsy Green and Clean Guild. This Guild is a fabulous group of skilled crafters over on Etsy who joined together to promote quality handmade bath and body products.

After many months of mentally succumbing to my world around me, in my steps to “get myself back on track” I have discovered a different EGCG, epigallacatechin gallate whose abbreviated term is also EGCG. This EGCG, in technical terms, is an ester of epigallacatechin and gallic acid and a type of catechin. In simple terms, it is a very potent antioxidant abundantly found in green tea and other plants. Unfortunately, from what I have read and learned, it is not available in regular tea.

I have started replacing my morning coffee with Matcha green tea. For me, after reading about green tea, I chose this form because it is finely ground into a powder which means you are actually consuming the actual tea leaves. Japanese tea ceremonies center around the preparation, serving, and drinking of Matcha tea. Studies say that one cup of Matcha is equivalent to 10 cups of brewed green tea in terms of nutritional values.

Not all antioxidants are created equal. EGCG has been shown to be the one with the most cancer fighting properties. From researching I have read the medical benefits of green tea help with the prevention of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, infection and impaired immune system. It is said to be great for diabetics and has many benefits in health and beauty products.

With all the information I have gathered to make my own choice, I could probably write a novel on all the benefits of green tea, but I won’t do that here (I have already babbled on enough). I am not a doctor or scientist so what I have shared is only what I have read and felt since my own change to consuming this wonderful product. I can honestly say I feel more focused, lighter and just better overall since I started drinking it. I highly recommend doing some research of your own, you might find you will feel like me.

I now find it really cool to be part of a health and beauty team called EGCG. I think it is fitting to be linked to a great antioxidant with such healthful benefits because that is our goal in the products we all make.

One thing I have failed to mention thus far is how fabulous green tea is for your skin. I love green tea in lotions and other bath and beauty products. So, go do some of your own research on green tea, then check out some of the great EGCG products containing this fabulous gift from nature.

 

Etsy Saturday Night Specials!

I am always a sucker for these Saturday Night Sales over on Etsy. Tonight is no different!

Tonight one of my purchases was from a seller I have had hearted for quite a while, evagodeva. Her store has some amazing knitted items, and if you have a young baby or child, you have to check out her sweaters and coats! I myself had hearted her as I love headbands. I actually own two I purchased somewhere else and wear them probably more than my husband would like, lol.

They are truly a fabulous way to keep the hair out of your eyes and still look good (though my husband would beg to differ, but what does he know.)

So tonight evagodeva was having a Saturday Night Special of 10% off and FREE shipping. Ummm, how could I pass that up on something I have been wanting???? Just couldn't say no to spending.

Below is the one I purchased, if you love it maybe she can make you one also, but if she cannot to bad for you being so slow to grab it! So head on over and check out her store, on sale or not!

Saturday Night Special On Etsy on Valentines

I love browsing the weekly Saturday Night Special thread over on Etsy. This week I did have one and actually made it to the first page of the thread.  Of course we all love to shop on Etsy, and I am no different.  Sometimes I will see just a simple promotion from a store I admire and I just have to shop.

Tonight I had to take advantage of The Greenchairpress Saturday Night Special.  A great seller located in California.  She makes some wonderful letterpress items on her 1890's platen press. I have purchased a Food and Excercise Tracker from her in the past and I love it. Plus I love her work and admire letterpress.

Her special for tonight was with all orders over $7 you get two Heart Coasters. So, I purchased A Reader's Diary to keep track of all the books I read, and a pack of two Heart Coasters. So with my two free Heart Coasters I will have a cute set of four.

Below is a picture of the items I purchased, isn't the work amazing? So be sure to visit her store Greenchairpress on Etsy, or check out her cool blog, or visit her own personal website at Green Chair Press.

Now I just get to wait till my awesome goodies come in!!

Busy with Halloween - Check these out!

Do I have dates of my post on this blog? If so, I should remove them, I am not living up to my expectations. Oh well, I will share some things I have seen lately over on Etsy. One could get lost at all the super wonders there so I felt I would share some things I found for Halloween.

This is a gorgeous mask created by TotusMel over on Etsy. How could one not feel sexy wearing this? It sure makes me want to dress up for Halloween!

Who wouldn't want a gothic rag doll by TragicStitches? The thing is just to darn cute!

So go do a search for Halloween on Etsy and check out all the other fabulous items!

Etsy Green and Clean Guild Swag Bags Now Available!

As most of you know I belong to a group over on Etsy called the Etsy Green and Clean Guild aka EGCG Team.  It is a group of sellers who specialize in soapmaking, perfume, cosmetics and herbal products. We have banded together to help educate the public about the merits of well-crafted products from small businesses who care about their customers, as well as to promote Etsy in general. We also serve as advocates for Truth in Advertising and full ingredient disclosure for bath and beauty makers

We have put together a Swag Bag of goodies that contains 19 items from participating EGCG Team members. A great assortment of soaps, mini pedicure kits, scrubs, lotions, bath cakes, lip balm, laundry soap, body butter and more! Some are even full sizes! Plus the bag is also a great eco-friendly reusable bag!

Also, one lucky bag will contain a "Golden Ticket" which will be a gift certificate for $10 good at any of the participating stores! How can it get better than this?

So head on over to the EGCG Team Store and grab yours today before they are gone!!

And the Winner is Susan Schrock!!

The lucky winner of my most recent blog give away is a fabulous fellow Etsian Susan Schrock! She is the crafter behind Susan's Greetings.

Check out these holiday cards:

You can grab these two and others over in her Halloween section over on Etsy, or check out some of the fabulous assortment of tags, something for every kind of gift!

She is also a fellow blogger so go check her out at Susan's Greetings! Pssst....I think she is currently having a give-a-way, I just came back here from entering!

Warm and toasty Wool Felted Slippers

The other day we were having a funny hot 90 degree day in September. You know how it goes, kids go back to school and it gets warm again.

I went to grab the mail and what did I find? I found some wonderful Wool Felted Slipper Socks made by Pawfelts over on Etsy.

Don't they just look fabulous?? Purple is my favorite color, so these were a treat for myself. Even though it was as hot as it was, I immediately popped them on. They are just so warm and cozy and they make me wish for winter to hurry up. Almost. :)

They come in a huge selection of sizes, colors, and shapes. Some longer, some more anklet kind. Great for both men, woman, and children.

Pawfelts not only has something for everyone there, but the store owner, Becky, is also very nice and extremely helpful.

I am definitely keeping this a favorite store for not only more slippers for me, but for gifts for the upcoming holidays. You should to!

Etsy Saturday Night Special aka SNS

Tonight is Saturday. My husband is at work, as he is on most Saturdays. So, what is one to do?

Of course after a day hanging and playing with the kids, I post my Etsy SNS. What is SNS you ask? It is short for Saturday Night Special. Sellers get together and post their sale for the evening, all in one post. You can read about it in the forum post SNS FAQ.

It is great because you not only get some great deals you also can mingle with some fabulous folks on Etsy.

After my own website at pixiesoap.com, my Etsy store is my next favorite place to sell! The folks cannot be beat!