New Hope Soap Blog

You've made it through the difficult part of planning a wedding: meeting the future in-laws, deciding on a color scheme and staying on budget. Before you can say your "I do's" though, you will need to get your bridesmaid gifts. Around this time, you have probably used nearly all of the cash you have saved for your big day, but don't worry! We are your guides to the perfect gifts without the crack in the piggy bank.  

1. Skip the silver bracelets and stick with something fun and colorful like a honeycomb card case!  They are absolutely irresistible and come in nearly every color! At $24 a pop, you'll see why we love these buzz-worthy cases. (poketo.com)

2. For the working girl with flair, deco spheres are the perfect gift! Coming in at $35 each, you'll brighten your girls' days without loathing the price. (plantationdesign.com)

Even though it may not get much use, it is still important to choose the right décor and accessories for your guest bathroom. In fact, personalizing and accessorizing a guest bathroom can actually be  a great deal of fun, not to mention the fact that it will make company feel more at home when using it. Here are some tips you can use to help make your guest bathroom extra special.

Place accessories on a wooden cart to make them readily accessible. Add colorful soaps to a glass jar, place toiletries in a wire basket, and then add a couple of candles or a vase full of flowers. Roll towels and place them on the top of the cart, or stick them inside a wicker basket on the back of the toilet.

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?

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.

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.

Recently the benefits of tea has been all the rage in news articles, blogs, daytime talk shows and more. You can’t go a week without some self proclaimed health guru extolling the benefits of green tea extract, or black tea extract or white tea extract. Pills abound for these and other extracts like coffee and red wine, all proclaiming to be the cure for aging, or heart disease, or some other health problem.

What is the average person to think? Tea in general has been one of the world’s most popular beverages for centuries. Tea has become ingrained in cultures throughout the world in daily life, in ceremonies, and in popular culture.

When it comes to bridesmaid gifts, some of the most well received are personalized items like engraved jewelry, a personalized robe, beauty products, scented soaps, and candles. Adding that personal touch to your bridesmaids’ gifts shows then that the gifts come from your heart, and shows your girlfriends how much they mean to you and how much you love and appreciate them for being by your side on your wedding day! Here are some ideas for personalized gifts for your bridesmaids:

For the Love of Lavender

Lavender and other shades of purple are on the list of top wedding color trend predictions for 2014. With that in mind, you may want to surprise your bridesmaids with our 6.5 ounce signature bars of Lavender Mist soap and a matching jar candle.

The signature bars are triple milled, which means that they’ll provide a luxurious lather and last a long time. They’ll also smell amazing. The candle, on the other hand, is made with a white soy blend, cotton wick, lavender and bergamot scents. So you can count on it to burn evenly and retain its fragrance for a long time too.