Well I made my first blog a few weeks ago about how I didn't know whether or not I was in over my head trying to make environmentally friendly soap.  Sounds funny, right? lol, well, I listed my first soaps today.  I felt like I was back in the lab for a couple of days (I used to be a tech in an analytical chemistry lab), diligently writing the details of what I was doing, making sure to add specific ingredients at certain temperatures.  My soap turned out fantastic! 
I wasn't able to get my biodegradable shrink wrap in time, though, so my first batch will be going out with cardstock labels and regular saran wrap.  But at least I'm actually starting to do what I said I would!  The 100% recycled paper for labeling and the biodegradable, phalate free shrink wrap should be in within the next week.  I would like to state, however, that I am glad to be donating $.25 from each bar I sell (if I sell any!!) to plantabillion.org, so at least I'll feel like I have done some good this time. 
In this stressful season (Christmas around my house is just silly, we have like five get-togethers because my parents are divorced and I still keep in contact with my two ex-stepmoms) I'm just glad to have done something that was both relaxing and helpful to others and nature.  Especially since I'm trying to quit smoking too.  Every time I get a craving I do something soap related and that seems to help.  Perhaps because I'm working with essential oils like lavender, which help people relax anyway?
Well, I guess my final thought on this post will be that while I normally agree with the music I happen to be listening to at the moment when I'm writing, this time I have to disagree with the Counting Crows: the world is not all a bunch of oysters with no pearls.  There are tiny pearls, maybe some darker than others, we just have to look for them.