New Hope Soap Blog

 By Linda Hilliard - Author of the Book
E-mail Your Weight Away - Diet Dialoges for Women

The wedding’s over, the happy couple is back from their honeymoon. On to marital and domestic bliss and - sigh - gaining weight.

Prior to the wedding, a bride and groom tend to be super conscious of their weight. If they don’t shed a few pounds, at least they try not to gain any extra weight that might make the tux a smidge tight or the dress bulge a bit.

But once the honeymoon is over (in fact even during the honeymoon), the siren call of tasty foods can sometimes have a negative impact on the newlyweds’ scale.

The bathroom is often the one room in the house where little thought is given to decorating. Most people think that a few matching hand and bath towels are sufficient to outfit this functional space. But personalizing your bathroom can be a fun, inexpensive, and creative experience. Depending on your space and preferences, you can create a personal spa-like retreat for yourself or an interesting eclectic space for your family or guests.

Start by determining who will use the space. Is it a guest bath, family bath, or master bath? The master bathroom most easily lends itself to a spa-like experience. In this case, you will want to choose soothing colors, plush towels, and a variety of soaps. Candles are a wonderful accent to your bath decor. Their soft light is the perfect accompaniment to a long, hot bath and the scented variety will add an extra stress-relieving element.

Ah, here it comes...the official day for lovers--Valentine's Day. You can expect some romance and of course, a gift or two. Does he know what you want for Valentine's Day? If you're too subtle with the hints, you may end up with a pair of unwearable "pajamas", lingerie only he likes, cheap perfume or a small kitchen appliance you never wanted! (Sigh) Don't take chances this year! Try these clever hint techniques and get what you really want. If you're hoping for a gift that pampers without putting on the pounds, like a scented, personalized gift from New Hope Soap, we've got you covered.

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching that age old struggle for men across the country begins anew. What do I get the women in my life! Should I go with the tried and true, a card, some chocolates, and flowers, or should I actually put some thought into it and be more creative. Hummm! – What’s a guy to do?

By Linda Hilliard - Author of the Book
E-mail Your Weight Away - Diet Dialoges for Women

I remember when Kate Middleton was preparing to marry Prince William and a newswoman observed that like so many brides, Kate was trying to lose a few pounds. I was shocked. Kate seems (to me) to be extremely thin and hardly in need of “Shedding a few pounds.”

There’s no denying that brides often go on diets before their weddings. In fact wedding dresses purchased in January may need to be taken in a bit before the June nuptials.

Watching my own two daughters walk down the aisle, I totally understand the desire to be thinner for that special day (hey, mother-of the brides here also shed a few pounds for the occasions).

HOWEVER, when it comes to dieting for a wedding, I would caution brides (and the entire wedding party) not to succumb to “I have to be stick thin to be beautiful” thinking.

Hosting houseguests has become a second source of income for many families.  Websites like AirBnB.com and Vacation Rentals by Owner act as booking agents for your spare bedroom. For people who enjoy having guests in the home, this sort of arrangement is a great way to meet new people and share hospitality.  

Travelers don't often bring their own toiletries with them; many seasoned travelers depend on the host to provide soap and other essentials. 

Success in this "second business" requires hosts to behave professionally.  According to AirBnB's hospitality blog, hosts who have a 5 star cleanliness rating tend to get booked 20% more often than those with a 4 star rating.

By Linda Hilliard - Author of the Book
E-mail Your Weight Away - Diet Dialoges for Women

No matter where you live - this has been an unpleasant winter. The only bright spot at this time of year is Valentine’s Day with its cheery colors and sweet messages of love.

Oh, no Valentine’s Day! That means large heart-shaped boxes of chocolates (yum, caramels!); checkout counters displaying marshmallow treats (only 50 cents each); bakeries showing cakes with thick red and pink frosting; M&Ms in red and white; and those melt-in-your mouth little chocolate hearts wrapped in red and silver foil... STOP!

What is a dieter to do?! Especially a dieter who has a sweetheart or friends who are apt to present a two pound box of chocolates or bags of those yummy chocolate hearts wrapped in foil (okay my favorite!).

Shopping for bridesmaids gifts can be a special experience for a bride-to-be.  The bridesmaid favors allow the bride a very special opportunity to show how much she appreciates her girlfriends and how grateful she is to be sharing this special day with them!

A heartfelt, thoughtful gift can make all the difference in the world and a personalized gift shows you care all the more. Why not indulge your bridesmaids with personalized engraved scented soaps and candles from our extensive collection at New Hope Soap.

Sandalwood: It's common enough in our industry, but how much do you really know about it? Let's take a little time to explore sandalwood in greater depth.

Post by
Kevin Bryan
KJBryan Photography

So you want to capture great memories of your wedding...here are five things to keep in mind in selecting and working with your photographer!

1.  Don't let a beginner practice with YOUR wedding.
   
   Friends don't let friends take their wedding photos, and there is good reason for this. If the bride and/or groom are disappointed with the results, or if something should go seriously wrong, this could put a lasting strain on the friendship. Professionals take pains to make sure there are no problems, or at least none that can't be remedied. Extra cameras, multiple copies of the digital images, and other precautions make sure that these once-in-a-lifetime photos are captured secured. Should a friend make a mistake or have an accident, not only will your photos suffer, you may also damage a valued relationship.
   
   In terms of quality, an experienced professional will have more than just a few impressive images to show you. You will see a wide variety of work, and consistent success at capturing all the phases of a wedding day.