The Holidaze is here! November 14 2016, 3 Comments

I have had a hard time blogging through these elections! A wise one explained I should never discuss politics as it would hurt my business. lol  I'm not wise. I'm a Woman, a Mother, I am Native American, I have best of friends and family from every race there is. My boys are half Black... and I love the gays! I love love love and I have a dream of a President who loves the world as much as I do. Some of my friends call me a flaming Liberal. ha! and most of the friends who call me that are the most conservative Republicans I know, and they giggle while they say that and hug me... I have a really good life! and boy do I love to vote but this year was the wildest ride I've ever seen.

I just keep praying and supporting Standing Rock. Please call Barrack Obama and ask him to stop the pipeline from going through sacred land to the Standing Rock Sioux. Also tell him you would appreciate clean water going through your land as it is sacred too! We are donating weekly to Standing Rock ~ Thank you for supporting our cause!

Our Feliz Navidad is flying off the shelf, we have made over 200 products in the past 2 weeks. It is a rich Vanilla Bean with a twist of Navidad. The scent makes me feel good, and it must be the feel good scent for many.  

I'm not gonna lie, I get excited to take a shower this time of year just because of Cookies For Santa... that stuff turns me into a big ol happy kid again!

Our Iced Pine candles are so delicious! I am burning one now, I don't think I'm going to need a Christmas Tree... it smells so real, we may just put our gifts around a candle! lol No but really, it's good!

I have great hope for all people ~ I pray for a holiday season that inspires us to love and forgive one another and to have the realization that it's not anything that makes this world go round but living a life of integrity, love, prayer and supporting one another. and WATER IS LIFE! It is the season for miracles ~ I believe we can still get them ~ So, make bridges and extend your hand to all people. Let's make America great for the first time, it's up to us, the majority. and please, if you see a bully, speak up, find your voice, stop them in their tracks, let's PROTECT and SUPPORT one another. Surely, we have evolved enough to at the very least do that. Right? 

Our slogan is TAKE A BATH ~ we believe that is the most healing ceremony one can do for themselves and the world. The Cherokee go to water to cleanse their body & souls. To wash away the day and negativity to go about the day in a new body and mind. Take a shower, dance in the rain, wash all those horrible feelings down the drain... and LIVE!

We truly appreciate you ~ I feel so connected to so many of you and think of you as good friends. I am so thrilled with the exchanges we get to have between one another and yes, many of you have become my very good friend whom I have the privilege of knowing and being your personal soap maker. 

One more thing! K2 and Josh took this year to work on their creativity. So, in exchange, K2 has to make a whole lot of soap and Josh has to cut a whole lot of soap, but we are all very happy. You are noticing our old style soap that takes a football player to make is popping up more and more! That's because stirring a 5 gallon bucket full of soap is like making cake for K2... lol. We love his soap and are thrilled to have him dancing around the soap pot again a few days a week. (So is my arthritis.. lol) Maya and Kalia stroll through the shop to help daily, still. and our very good friend/intern Maddy is hands on deck also. We all rejoice when you help us pay our rent! lol and THANK YOU FOR THAT! SO MUCH LOVE!

May your Holidays be full of appreciation for that which is important, may you have the blessings of family, friends and love... and don't forget to set your scales back 10 lbs!

With sincerity and love,

Your Cherokee soap makers

I am fascinated by Cuba... August 08 2016, 14 Comments

I'm 52, either I am too young to know I should fear Cuba or wasn't paying attention, but ever since Miami Vice came on TV, I became fascinated with Cuban culture. The fact that they got stuck in America's fun 50's with their cars, clothes, colors, design.... and well, I just kind of became in a romantic space with Joan Wilder the writer on Romancing The Stone. I could write a whole romance novel on what I think Cuba is like, it's probably wrong, because I'm just a Cherokee Woman living on a remote mountain in the middle of no where. lol Do you see how old I am? That just threw some people into a whole huge smile of 90s pop culture in America, while the hipsters are sitting there wondering what the HECK I"m talking about now. lol

 I was sent a fabulous fragrance, and it's unisex and strong. Sweet and sassy. It is called Carmel Tobacco.  I was sniffing it one day and it was around the time where we were now able to travel to Cuba and enjoy it's colorful culture, Havanna was all over the news and magazines.  I said, "Oooooooh, this must be what Cuba smells like. Sweet Carmel & Cigars...."  Of course everyone laughed at me, you know, because everybody who works at Nature's Emporium is 20 years younger than I am. lol  I have thought about it and thought about it, and finally made it. OH MY... My inner Joan Wilder wanted to jump on speed boat in Key West and fly with the sea mist hitting my face and making me glow like a tan thin model wearing a red ruffly dress with danger on my lipstick...  oh. see there I go again. 

So, Here it is! La Aroma De Cuba!! The Women like it but yes, the men like it too..

.

and also, I speak the worst spanish with my Kansas accent you will ever hear, but La Aroma De Cuba rolls off my tongue and I snap my casinettes in between my thumbs and fingers like I can actually speak a little spanish and I might be a size 10 who could pull off a pencil skirt cut up to my thigh! and stilettos. and red lip stick.... WHAT!? I have a RICH imagination! 

So Viva Las Vegas, Let's all go to Cuba ~ If only when we close our eyes in the shower!

Every order shipped this week got a free sample and it is the fragrance of the month for all of the Cherokee Alchemist Subscription Gift Boxes! 

Thank you for loving our soaps and putting up with my silly imagination as we continue down this road of apothecary lead by the Cherokee Princess, I mean Queen... okay, Woman. lol

Your coupon code for August. CUBA

Love you guys!

The Change of Life June 15 2016, 1 Comment

Did I make you read the blog? ha!

We have had a wild last month. Joshua graduated and is studying pottery ~ K2 is spreading his entrepreneurial wings and Mama got a brand new store!

Can ya believe we got em raised? After all it takes a village...

Here are some new soap shop photos ~ 36 State Hwy 522 North of Taos

We think it's going to add to anyone's Taos, New Mexico vacation... the locals love it, we have been christening it nightly! 5 o Clock seems to have locals coming in just to talk about their day...  Ah... Taos!

Anyway ~ I thought I'd share. We have 3 times the space and here we are up and ready to roll. I better get to making soaps, lotions and candles ~ oh my 

Thank you & Gratitude Always,

Michelle Mama Bear Lewis 

April Showers April 13 2016, 3 Comments

April showers bring May flowers in Taos, NM!

My Mom always had these great sayings along the way... and April showers bring May flowers is one that rings through my head this time of year. She was right, after all.

Spring in Taos means dirt, blowing dirt, shooting pollen up your nose at 60 mph...lol. We get 40 drops of rain and we still manage to get flowers! 

I think of my Grandmas' Kansas flower garden ~ she never did a thing to it and it was like a big secret garden amidst lilacs and honeysuckle. One of my favorite places to hide and read.

Indiana Spring was always confusing ~ it would rain, hail, snow and show sun all in a few hours. It never seemed to get warm in the Spring. but along came June and it was a humid heat box guaranteed to make your skin glisten and be plump and beautiful! 

Most of my floral soaps were thought of in Spring...yearning for the lilacs, honeysuckle, roses, and geraniums. Excited for the euphoric feeling one gets when it appears everything is just a whole lot brighter and better. Sowing the seeds for the new cycle... working towards harvest.  The cycle of the day, the month, the season, the year, the life... so precious. I have harvest this year as Josh graduates from High School. My boys are all grown up. Josh plans to stay in Taos, study at UNM and throw pots next door ~ during his first year... I was thinking about them both being MEN and what will I do with my life. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR LIFE WHEN YOUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN YOUR WHOLE LIFE!?! Trust me I'll figure this out. Like everything else... lol

May your garden be full of bounty, your hands be rich with soil and may you have a good bar of soap near by after you are done!

Take A Bath ~ Plant something ~ Love one another ~ Do what makes you HAPPY

Love,

Michelle

Patchouli Heaven February 25 2016, 23 Comments

I was just standing in our locally owned natural food store looking at lotions. I just wanted something that would make me feel good. Isn't that the reason Nature's Emporium Soap Co. is so popular? We just want something to make us feel good, and it is usually brought on by a really good smell. I admit it. I search the world for a lotions and soaps that please my senses as well as what I make. lol  I realized there was not ONE bottle of lotion with patchouli in it. I smiled and thought about the locals and how they hate patchouli so much they won't even sell it. It's an amazing oil that brings euphoria and grounding, takes away the depression and enriches the soul. (Unless you are were in Taos in the 60s) We are very popular with the Taos residents who love patchouli, because our shop is the only place in town one can find the amazing essential oil.

Taos became hippy heaven after Woodstock in 1969. Word spread fast that Taos was friendly, spiritual, loving, beautiful and the SPOT for all kind humans. Thousands of hippies appeared out of nowhere. They started communes, hung out on street corners, some were dressed, some were not, some were spiritual, some were tripping on psychodelics, some were farmers and were taught by the Taos Pueblo how to survive. As the community was not impressed with the abundance of hippies, who all. wore. patchouli.

Dennis Hopper fell in love with Taos while filming Easy Rider and made it his home. I believe this is a photo of him the night he was tripping on acid and thought a tree in our town plaza was a bear and started shooting at it.

Even Janis found her a little love in Taos by siding up beside a mountain man hippy for a day. I love Janis Joplin. Oh, how she could sing the emotions we carry in the bottom of our souls!

So, upon moving to Taos and me being so in love with Patchouli oil, I was sure our company was going to be wildly popular. We make the best Patchouli soap and lotion, and always carry the dark thick Indonesian Patchouli. We blend it with Sandalwood, Vanilla, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Lime, Honey, Orange, Spearmint, Jasmine...If there is a way you can blend Patchouli. I have mastered it. lol A local would walk in and I would proudly share my Organic Patchouli and they would wence...some would just run out the door. Betwixt and Between I began to hear the stories as to why these locals with 500 year old roots absolutely hated the smell. 

Winter is HERE!! January 23 2016, 24 Comments

Nature's Emporium Cherokee Soap Co. is already in full blown soap, candle & lotion making fury and it's the first month of the year! We usually prepare ourselves for the slow down of the Winter, but not this year ~ and we are grateful for that!  As I right this, I imagine the east coast is as slow as it can get with it's turn on Blizzard 2016. I hope everyone is okay and it's just a good weekend of Netflix and Hot Cocoa!

I had an old friend walk in with these fabulous handcrafted cotton wash cloths the other day. They were so pretty and I'm nuts about these things. I immediately went to creating something special for our customers. I thought we would sell a few... We have sold a ton! and everyone who walks into the shop buys the Cherokee Soap & Cloth combo! I am always so happy with life comes together to make everyone happy! Those cloths Grandma used to make are excellent exfoliation and they feel so luxurious! Who knew!? Wonderful for dry Winter skin when combined with our soaps!

Click here to view on our website ~~~~~> Cherokee Soap & Cloth Combos

K2 is mixing adobe in Santa Fe and learning about life ~ Josh is a Sr. at Vista Grande HS and has just used his money from working here to purchase studio time at Taos Clay. So he is on his way to being a great potter. We will let you know when items are available for purchase! 

Our hopes & dreams for 2016 is good health, good wealth and peace of mind for all ~ we hope our products help keep you happy and calm through this insane election year. Is it here already? lol Here we go!

Thank you for your support ~ I thought I should make a shout out and let ya all know how much I truly appreciate your business and friendship!

Only one more thought...

TAKE A BATH!

(and that's your discount code TAKEABATH!)

May it be a good one ~

Much Love & Soap,

Michelle

The Holidays! November 19 2015, 8 Comments

That's a photo of the boss the first time she met Santa. We find it hilarious, we'll see what she thinks when she's 18 ha ha.

This is the season for loving... October 24 2015, 7 Comments

Maya and I met for breakfast this morning ~ we had a lovely spinach, mushroom, egg combination at a local restaurant and of course I had coffee, What is life without coffee? I went up to the server to get a warmer on my coffee, her kitchen hands were a mess and she wanted to charge me for the refill, seventy five cents. "I just wanted a warmer, not a refill" She yelled at me. I cussed.  

We went out by the river and walked in the Autumn leaves ~ I started to settle down, I heard a man on his cell phone cussing and saying he was just tired and didn't want to discuss this subject anymore. He cussed.

The Balloon festival is in town, our sky is full of beautiful balloons. The Harvest Moon is starting to glow and I swear I heard the Bruja's with their hocus pocus and it made me wonder if maybe it's all the green chile & lemon we eat this time of year that set us on edge.

I made jokes while I waited for my favorite fabric girl to cut my fabric, she was breathing heavy like she had a cold. Well, she didn't like my jokes much...maybe she just needs some romance.

We came to the shop and started to work in the leisurely the way we do on Saturdays. I looked at the healing mountain in front of me and knew I must be blessed. I told the mountain a joke, she laughed. She in fact tossed me a pear and told me to hang in there. 

Maybe I am delusional in thinking if we just loved each other a little more and treated one another like the Goddess we are, and were just a little more patient with our MAN! we might be able to spread that love everywhere so everyone would have a nice face. I dunno. Pretty soon, we are going to be putting out candy canes and cookies for Santa and well, that's supposed to be a joyous season too.

Let's try to be a little more patient with one another during this next few months, take more baths, have a little fun... I mean, I may be one sweet hippy, but love the state of euphoria and as long as I'm preaching, try to find me on a mountain morning, dancing in the rain and drinking my hazelnut mocha.

Have a great day, if you are bored... See if you can find the 18 soaps I mentioned in this blog. lol

Michelle