Soapy Inspiration- Coffee

Can I just tell you?  I love coffee.  I need coffee.  Just ask my husband.  In the morning before my first cup.

So today, coffee is my soapy inspiration...  Mocha Java Soaps!

And the best part?  These are actually made with Coffee Butter!  Coffee Butter is made from coffee seed oil and makes this soap extra moisturizing.  Plus it has that luscious coffee scent... and so do these soaps!

Wow.  I love these.  :)


And, Happy Friday Follow!

Indian Paintbrushes

As the Bluebonnets start to fade here in Texas, other wildflowers make their appearance.  These beauties are Indian Paintbrushes:

My Mother in law had these on her kitchen table when we went over to visit last night.  The range of colors come from the different varieties that grow in various soils in the area- aren't they gorgeous?

And a few little daisies for texture...

Just wanted to share them with you!

Soapy Inspiration- Flan

One of the great things about living in Texas is the food!  I love authentic Mexican food, as well as Tex-Mex... the quesadillas, the enchiladas, and for dessert, flan!

If you've never had flan, it's a light, custard dessert, often made with almond or vanilla, and topped with a caramel sauce.  Our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, Mamacita's, serves it with a slice of lemon, which complements all that sweet perfectly.

So here are the soaps I came up with...  I like the color, but I love the scent!  I wish you could smell them- they really do have an almond-custard-cream kind of a scent, and I added just a hint of lemon, just like Mamacita's does!

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Ssirsta- she's won the Six Soap Sampler Giveaway!  Here are the soaps she chose:

First, I'd love to try the Lemon Wildflower soap cause all the bluebonnets are getting to me. Gotta love spring time in Texas, right? I'd also like the Oatmeal Milk and Honey, Confetti Rose Shea Butter, Spring Fling, Amethyst Shea Butter, and a surprise! 

They are all yours!  Check your email so I can get your shipping address.  And everybody else, head over to her blog- about Mom and Baby.  She's just starting out and needs some followers!


Thanks to everyone who entered, and to all our followers- you mean so much!  And don't forget, we're still offering 15% off gift sets at Bean Street Market for you guys through May 9- just use coupon code beanstreetfan.

I'm Tickled Pink!

Hey guess what?  I'm Tickled Pink!

On Fridays, Holly at 504 Main finds someone or something cool in the blogosphere and shares with her readers... and today, she's talking about Bean Street Market!  If you're here from 504 Main, welcome!  Get to know us better- browse through our Soapy Inspirations, or see our line of handmade bath and body products on our website (pssst- you can get a coupon code here!)

504 Main is one of my *favorite* blogs.  When I stop by, I feel like I'm popping in at a friend's house for a cup of tea.  There's always something interesting going on...

• Look at this cool Birthday Chandelier...
• Just this week, she was a SITS featured blogger...
• And check out the new DIY Club that she's hosting with Tatertots and Jello, WhisperWood Cottage, Its So Very Cheri, and Under the Table and Dreaming...

So yeah, cool stuff.  That's why we're so...well... tickled pink about being Tickled Pink!  Hop over and say hi- and be sure and enter the Bean Street Market Giveaway she's hosting for us!

It's Friday Follow!

Welcome to The Bean Street Market Blog!  Stop back by later on today- it's a special day!

Welcome to the April 23 Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

Here's how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:

--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.

--Grab the Friday Follow button and include on your Friday Follow blog post.

--Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.

--Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you'd like.

--Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.

--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

This list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

As hostesses, we realize the time required to participate in Friday Follow. Due to the overwhelming number of entries each week, we understand everyone, including ourselves, may not be able to follow every blog. To keep it fun, follow what you can at your own pace. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your continued participation!

Friday Follower of the Week!

Congratulations to Mommy Living the Life of Riley of the Week! Each week we will randomly draw from all the links, one Friday Follower for the next week's Friday Follow, and the chosen blog will be placed in the highly coveted number 4 position on the blog hop. We love your participation and want to give back to you! You could be next!

Poppies!

**Don't Forget**
Our Mother's Day discount is still going at Bean Street Market!  Go here to get the coupon code...

This weekend, we visited our neighbors at the Wildseed Farms!  This was the last day of their 2010 Wildflower Celebration, and the poppies, in particular, were spectacular...

        

I *may* have gone a tad overboard with all the photos... they were just so beautiful!  We spent the whole morning just strolling around and admiring the views.

I Heart Faces Photo Collage Challenge

Taking a step away from my soaping, today I'm joining in the I Heart Faces Collage Challenge:

These are from our trip to Monterey Bay, California in 2006- one of our favorite places on earth.

And make sure you click on the button below to check out more collages- they are really fantastic!

Giveaway on the Frosted Button!

We're giving all kinds of stuff away!  First, don't forget our Six Soap Sampler for our followers- it ends Wednesday night.  And now, check out The Frosted Button- where we're giving away our Fresh Lemon Kitchen Soap!

And check out all the other cool Mother's Day ideas she's found on Etsy- I especially love the Magnetic Spice Kit from Cook Outside the Box!

Shout Out to Jujacrafts

Look at these lovelies!

I won these from JujaCrafts over at The Frosted Button!  They're made with a nice, strong bobby pin, to hold even my fine hair... and the hubby loves them!  Thank you, thank you! 

So check out JujaCrafts on Etsy, and then head over to The Frosted Button, too- she's doing a great Mother's Day gift guide!

Soapy Inspiration- The Grand Canyon...!

We were in Arizona last January on a business trip, and we took an extra couple of days to see the Grand Canyon.

It goes without saying (although I'll say it anyway) that it was quite beautiful (there was even some snow on the ground when we were there) and everybody should visit at least once if they can.  But I really wasn't thinking about soap... until...

The other day, I was scrolling through our pictures from the trip and thinking, such beautiful colors, and so many layers...colors...layers...hmmm.....

Canyon Sunrise!  And it's fragranced with scents from the Grand Canyon- Juniper and Wildflowers.

Oh, and while I've got the picture album out, I just have to show you this magnificent guy-

He was just as close as he looks, right off the path along the South Rim.  He was enjoying an early morning scratch, and was completely ignoring us- very cool.

Don't forget about our Six Soap Sampler giveaway going on right now!

And last but not least, it's Friday Follow!

Triple Digits Giveaway!

***This Giveaway has ended- thanks to everyone who entered!  Winner will be posted later this week***

Woo Hoo!  We hit 100 followers this week!  And to say thank you for following along with our soapy inspirations, we're going to do a giveaway!

Fan's Choice Six Soap Sampler

The rules are simple:

1.  Be a follower of this blog.

2. Leave a comment listing which Bean Street Market soaps you would like in your Six Soap Sampler- you can list one, or two, or all six!  The winner's Sampler will contain the soaps they list in their entry.  And make sure you leave your email so we can contact you when you win!

We will take entries for the giveaway for one week: from now until next Wednesday, April 21 at midnight (central time, 'cuz we're in Texas!) and is open to anyone in the U.S.

Thanks again, everybody- you mean a lot to us.  Good luck- hope you win! ;)


P.S.  Don't forget our 15% discount on gift sets with the coupon code beanstreetfan- good now until Mother's Day!

New! Lotions and Body Butters

I am so excited to share this with you guys!  Our line of lotions and body butters are now available at Bean Street Market!

Our Hand and Body Cream is the perfect everyday moisturizer.  It goes on silky smooth and absorbs quickly without leaving your skin oily.  It's made with mineral oil- a great skin protectant that's non-irritating, and evening primrose- known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Spritz is a sprayable body lotion!  This cool, light moisturizer is perfect just out of the shower, or after a summer day on the beach (those are just around the corner!)

Our Whipped Body Butter is a thick, luxe shea body butter, hand whipped until it's light and fluffy.  Wonderful on dry, cracked feet (sandal season is here- are your tootsies prepared?), elbows, chapped hands, and any place that needs some TLC.

Each one comes in a variety of our fresh scents, or unscented if you prefer.  I love them all; hope you will, too!

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

5 Minutes for Mom is hosting the Ultimate Blog Party this week!  They are giving away a ton of prizes, so hop over and sign up!

For those of you here from the party, come on in, and get to know us!  We are Bean Street Market, a handmade bath and body shop!  We make soaps, scrubs, bath salts, body butters, and more...

Our blog features some the inspirations for our soaps, which you can check out here, as well as news and new products from Bean Street Market.

And you're here at the perfect time!  From right now until April 21st, we've got a Fan Appreciation Giveaway goin' on!  And from now until May 9th (Mother's Day!) we're offering 15% off our gift sets to our blog followers!  Just follow us and use the coupon code beanstreetfan at our website!

And now, back to the Party:

They are giving away so many prizes!  I've got my eye on: USC60- Wall Slicks Gift Certificate from Modern Wall Graphics... USC17- Apple Store Gift Card from CMomGo... and US112- Amazon Gift Card from Our Homeschool Home!


Thanks for dropping by- leave a comment so we can come party with you, too!

Spa Day Etsy Treasury!

We've been included in another Etsy Treasury!  This one is called Spa Day, created by Denise from Joyful D*sign!  She chose our Lavender Mint Bath Salts:

What lovely lavender things!  But I think she should have included one of her pieces:  these beautiful Lavender  Dragonfly earrings!

Thanks for including us, Denise!

Friday Follow and Sale!

Welcome from Friday Follow!  If this is your first time at the Bean Street Market Blog, feel free to take a look around!  If you'd like to get to know us a little better, check out our Soapy Inspirations.

You know, Mother's Day is May 9th!  To help you find that perfect gift for Mom, we're offering a 15% discount off any of our gift sets at Bean Street Market to our blog followers and Facebook fans!

Just use coupon code beanstreetfan at the checkout.  Thanks for following along with us, and stay tuned, we're going to do a giveaway when we hit 100 followers!

Sponsored this week by Buttons & Blogs-

And Now To Try Something New

I've really been enjoying my amateur attempts at photography lately- it's probably having all the pretty spring flowers as subjects these days...

So I'm going to take a break from soapy posts today and join Lolli at Better in Bulk and her Bloggography Challenge!

This week is The Rule of Thirds... and here's my "entry:"

This pretty verbena is blooming right now with all her friends across the street from my house.  (Don't worry, she'll serve as soapy inspiration later on...)

Soapy Inspiration- Bluebonnets

The Bluebonnets are finally here!  (Note: lots of eye candy in today's post...)

We've had pretty meager wildflower seasons the past few years, but this year we've got a bumper crop!
Mr. Bean and I went for a Saturday afternoon drive along the Willow City Loop- a favorite local spot for tourists and wildflower enthusiasts.

And here's the soap inspired by these blue beauties...

Available here at Bean Street Market!

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Muffins

This is actual food, not soap!  (Although they may serve as soapy inspiration later...)

I made these for Easter Brunch- I will (somewhat shamefully) admit that the muffins were from a mix, but the frosting is from scratch...

I also figured out how to get more cream cheese frosting in my diet- put it on a muffin, and it's no longer a decadent dessert- it's just breakfast!

And today is Marketing Monday at Trendy Treehouse! 




This week is sponsored by This Mama Rocks!- a great review and giveaway blog- hop over and check them out!

Happy Easter!