Yep, you read right! We gon’ have us a giveaway raht here today.
Durn tootin.
But first, I have an update on my sick girl. It’s a good news/bad news thingie.
Good: No chicken pox!! Yay! Bad: She DOES have strep throat. And the rash? It’s an autoimmune reaction to the infection that should soon resolve itself.
Today the other two awoke with sore throats. So off we go to the doctor to get their throats swabbed. I’d appreciate your prayers for all of us. For me because I don’t want to miss my really cool conference this weekend. And for the rest of the family because I don’t want to leave a sick husband alone all weekend with sick kids.
***
NOW! Back to that thar Red Clay Giveaway!
For the first giveaway ever on a blog named for dirt, what better thing to offer you than SOAP?
Yes, that is a picture of soap. I’m still drooling even after discovering that it is not, in fact, some amazing variety of fudge.
(Although on a side note, would that not have been AWESOME?!)
***
I got acquainted with Amy Warden, owner of Great Cakes Soapworks, here in my comments section. So I was thrilled when she asked if I wanted to review some of her soap and offer YOU an opportunity to win it.
Look what came in the mail on Friday! Squeee!
The Asian Plum Gift Set
Amy’s been making and selling all-natural soap for over five years, and it shows. I’ve spent the past few days lathering and smoothing and lathering and smoothing some more.
Here’s what I observed:
- The fragrance is wonderful and not too strong or cloying. And I’m speaking as a person who gets sneezy/headachy/nauseated if I spend too much time in Yankee Candle Co. I have no idea what a real asian plum smells or tastes like, but if it’s anything like this soap and lotion, I could bury my nose in it every day.
- The bar of soap is thick and substantial. It has a luxurious lather and rinses easily. It also doesn’t make my alligator skin feel like it’s been stripped of moisture.
- Which is great when followed by the lotion. Today I slathered it on after a shower, and it felt silky and soothing. As for the scent, it was just right for my sensitive nose. And as far as I know, I didn’t knock over anyone I encountered during the day.
- This gift set, like everything else on Amy’s site, is reasonably priced. The products I reviewed retail for only $6.95.
***
But if you WIN this giveaway, you’ll receive your very own Asian Plum Gift Set from Great Cakes.
UPDATED: Two winners will be chosen for this giveaway!
Here’s how to enter:
- Click on over to Amy’s shop and take a look around. The pics and descriptions of her all-natural products make me want to order one of each. Even without smellavision, it’s still heavenly.
- Come back here and leave me a comment with the name of your favorite item or gift set.
That’s it! The contest ends Wednesday night at 10:00 p.m. EST, when I’ll pick TWO random commenters. I’ll announce and contact the winners on Thursday morning.
Before you know it, the winner’s beautiful Asian Plum Gift Set will be in the mail direct from Amy, in plenty of time for Valentine’s Day.
Guys who read me (all three of you…), this’d be a great gift for your Valentine. It especially complements diamonds.
And ladies, you could always win it for yourself and mess with your guy’s head by thanking him profusely for “such a thoughtful gift.”
(I’m all about confusing our guys. Keeps ‘em guessing.)
Updated February 4, 10 pm: Entries for this contest are now closed. Congratulations to the winners!
50 responses so far ↓
1 Annie K // Feb 3, 2009 at 8:37 am
I’m gonna get me some lip butter. Did you see where the gal says her husband kisses her more because of that stuff? I’m sure I’ll have to fight Jon off with a stick (I mean..even more that I do now)!
Annie K’s last blog post..Who Knew?
2 @ngie // Feb 3, 2009 at 9:05 am
SSBBBFF – Wow, all the products look great! I would say the one that caught my eye was the lip butter.
Red Clay Giveaway has a nice ring to it… I think it should be a title more often. hint, hint, hint.
@ngie’s last blog post..Tuesday Tip #12 – Whistle While You Work
3 Beth // Feb 3, 2009 at 9:57 am
What blows me away are her prices. I always want to give people nice little gifts but can never find something nice AND that I can afford. This is perfect.
I liked the green apple soap.
Not only do I love the scent, it matches my bathroom.
Beth’s last blog post..Amazing
4 Helen // Feb 3, 2009 at 10:11 am
Everything looks lovely, but you did such a great job describing the Asian plum stuff that now I want it.
Helen’s last blog post..Happy Birthday Random Musings
5 the domestic fringe // Feb 3, 2009 at 11:04 am
She’s got Brown Sugar & Fig soap! I love that scent. These soaps look amazing. That fudge soap really does look good enough to eat – clean insides and outsides!
-FringeGirl
the domestic fringe’s last blog post..Lessons for a Child
6 Carol @SheLives // Feb 3, 2009 at 11:10 am
Oh. My. Goodness! How would I choose just one item?
I wouldn’t!
I’d go with the soap combo set. Apples & Spice, Currently Citrus, Lavendar Lemon and (for my hubby who is all about handmade soaps) Sandlewood.
Pick me, pick me!!!
Carol @SheLives’s last blog post..Google the Apostrophe
7 Grace // Feb 3, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Lotion, lotion, lotion! The Black Raspberry Creme sounds oh so lovely. But so does the Asian Plum! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going back to check out her lip stuff!
Grace’s last blog post..Valentine Seeds
8 Tracey Byram // Feb 3, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Sandalwood Goat Milk Soap
9 Daniel W. Slocum // Feb 3, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Asian Plum, Chocolate Strawberry.. I’d be .. errr my wife would love these.
Daniel W. Slocum’s last blog post..Havanese Rescue Inc. 2009 Calendar
10 Jo@Mylestones // Feb 3, 2009 at 1:13 pm
At first glance,I too wanted to taste the soap. It really does look like fudge, or cake, or something generally full of sugar and yumminess. So along that line, my favorite products are the sugar scrub (which I promise not to eat if I win), and the whipped shea butter. Maybe if I put the two together, it will taste like fudge?
Jo@Mylestones’s last blog post..On Rejoicing & The Ridding of Rubbish
11 Melissa // Feb 3, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I like the Lavender Meadows Goat Milk Soap
12 Wendy // Feb 3, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I love all-natural stuff for my dry, dry daughter. I think I’d try Lavender Meadows Goat Milk soap for her. And lip butter for me!
Wendy’s last blog post..Making Goals: How Alive Am I Willing to Be?
13 sherri // Feb 3, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I love the creamy castile goats milk soap! Goat’s milk soap leaves your skin feelin’ silky!
*I’m really disappointed fudge is not involved
sherri’s last blog post..Freckled Glory
14 Stefanie // Feb 3, 2009 at 2:03 pm
My lips are calling for that lip butter!
Stefanie’s last blog post..Neat Freak I Am Not…
15 Amy // Feb 3, 2009 at 3:54 pm
The lotion called Black Rasberry creme is my very favorite.
16 lisa kroll // Feb 3, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I think the Celebration Soap is so beautiful! The colors and scent sound awesome!
17 Aimee // Feb 3, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Her black raspberry creme soap and currantly citrus soaps are amazing! And the lip butters, well worth it! Between my son and I, we have bought 4 out of the 7 and have loved each one.
18 Ann Campbell // Feb 3, 2009 at 3:59 pm
My favorite is the 100% natural (that’s why I bought it) soap. I love the scent and the results. My husband likes it too.
19 Laura M // Feb 3, 2009 at 4:08 pm
YIPPEE! A giveaway with Amy’s products–you can’t go wrong with any of them! When I first met Amy, I couldn’t decide on the soaps, so I ordered a bunch of the soap balls. Talk about a wonderful smelling box. I found favorites, that I never though I would like. I like the Green Apple soap. Black Raspberry Creme for lotion. Vanilla Latte for lip butter, and I don’t even drink coffee! I can’t wait to try the Chocolate Strawberry soap. Actually, that one will just sit there and look pretty! I can’t wait to try the Asian Plum also, it sounds wonderful.
20 Willo // Feb 3, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Ok, maybe it’s just because I am sitting here with chapped lips but the Vanilla Latte lip butter looks DIVINE! I wouldn’t mind trying the peppermint ice either.
21 Janice // Feb 3, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Would love to try the Dead Sea Spa Bar. Looks amazing.
Janice’s last blog post..My Etsy Store
22 Jenn Calling Home // Feb 3, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Fun! I just love a good contest! I’m gonna go for the Lava Lip Gloss and the Lip Butter, since I can’t decide between the two. They both look yummy. Though, seriously, I was hoping that picture was some kind of fudge.
Jenn Calling Home’s last blog post..Poem Play
23 Summer K // Feb 3, 2009 at 5:56 pm
I love so many of Amy’s soaps. My favorite would have to be the Black Raspberry Creme and Currantly Citrus soaps, the Almond Milk lotion, and the Berrylicious lip butter. Love it! I also like the Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Goat Milk Soap. I really want to try the Asian Plum, though. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything she makes!
24 gwen // Feb 3, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I have found that the people who make these products are as interesting and unique as the products.
I only buy at street fairs where I can talk and meet with the owners. This is way cool for me!
gwen’s last blog post..The 109 Day Link Building Explosion – Day 34
25 JACKIE REYNOLDS // Feb 3, 2009 at 7:35 pm
My favorite is the stress relief soap!!!!
26 Stonefox // Feb 3, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Just wanted to say that I hope the kids are well and you are able to go to your conference this weekend! Mine are sick too- so I’ll be remembering you as I pray for mine!
(No need to enter me in the drawing, but the soap looks Fabs!)
Stonefox’s last blog post..Reverse Language Humor
27 Joan S // Feb 3, 2009 at 8:04 pm
The lavendar lemon natural soap. I have a terrible problem with dry skin and her natural soaps look like they could do a wonderful job of stopping the itching! But, oh, the combination scents of some of her other soaps. I’d love to have a “sniffing tour” of her shop.
28 Carolyn G // Feb 3, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Soaps are like fudge to me!! I went over there and I love her stuff. Myfavorite though is the Country Clothesline Handmade Natural Soap even though it’s out of stock.
29 Raquel Quijije // Feb 3, 2009 at 9:05 pm
What i love about amy soaps are the soap balls.
Boy do i have fun with those, you get to try out different scents all for a affordable price. They realy last a good long time. They look so pretty in your soap dish. The Asian plum sounds very exotic, and yummy. You really can’t beat that price.
30 Carla Pullum // Feb 3, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I really eyed the Stress Relief Handmade Natural Soap!!! it must be good it’s out of stock!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
31 Kelly // Feb 3, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I have smelled many of your soaps. This asian plum sounds wonerful. I also have tried your lip balm, the bug repellant stick is “THE BEST” and your stress relief soap I just finished a bar! :=)
32 Erika Whitney // Feb 3, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I love the natural products. The shay butter is one of my favorites. I can’t use most frangrances, as they get me sick. Soapworks is so natural and doesn’t give me any allergic reaction at all.
33 new grandma // Feb 3, 2009 at 10:20 pm
I have been trying to find homemade soap to give some relief to my family who have lots skin problems and sensitivity. You have great testimonials for your stress relief soap so I want to give it a try. But that green apple sounds like lunch! Yum!
34 Joan Tognoni // Feb 3, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I just discovered Amy’s sight. I can’t wait to try the soap and the lip butter. I am always looking for the perfect lip conditioner. Her sight is so fun to look through.
35 Lisa // Feb 3, 2009 at 10:51 pm
I have tried several of Amy’s items, and I think right now my favorite one is the Dead Sea Soap Bar. I use it on my face, and it keeps the breakouts to a bare minumum. The Dead Sea mask is awesome as well. And the soaps smell great, and lather so awesomely! She has great products, to be sure!
36 Subrina Zeller // Feb 3, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I have known Amy and her family for a few years now so I have tried several of her products. I gave away her small soaps and lotions as wedding favors at my wedding in Aug 2007 and everyone loved them. I think my favorites are the Almond Milk lotion and soap and the Dead Sea Face Mask. The mask leaves your face feelings so clean and smooth. I also like the peppermint soap too, it’s perfect for Christmas time.
37 Sarah // Feb 3, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I’d love to try the whipped shea butter. My skin is so dry from the winter weather.
38 BeckeyZ // Feb 4, 2009 at 4:09 am
The lavender meadows soap sounds delightful.
39 S. Donovan // Feb 4, 2009 at 9:45 am
I can’t get enough of Amy’s soaps! I love the way my bathroom always smells great, and all because of a bar of soap. I discovered Amy’s soaps over a year ago and I still find myself ranting and raving about them. I truly believe once you try Amy’s soaps, you’ll never want to try anything else. My extremely sensitive skin is like a thing of the past. I recently purchased a handful of Soap Balls to hand out for Valentines. I had So much fun getting them. I only wish I’d have purchased more! Since I can’t pick one favorite bar of soap, I’ll comment on one of my favorite Non-Soap products which happens to be the Dead Sea Mask. Wow! Can I say that again? Wow! My face feels silky soft and hydrated after a treatment. Co-workers have even commented on how healthy my skin looks.
40 Mary // Feb 4, 2009 at 11:44 am
Oh that Country Clothes line soap must be to die for, it was sold out and as soon as I saw the name I figured I would love it as I remember the days when my momma used to hang our clothes out to dry and the smell when you laid down on those sheets was wonderful.
41 Christy Dodge // Feb 4, 2009 at 1:15 pm
My problem is I can’t decide! I want to try everything at once. Definitely want to try the Castile soap and lotions.
42 andrea v // Feb 4, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I would like the Celebration Handmade Natural Soap and the limeade lip lava sounds great.
43 Charna Scarpati // Feb 4, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I want to thank you for this opportunity, I cant wait for the stress relief soap is ready.
Definitely would love to try that.
Thank you,
Charna
44 rachel@justanotherdayinparadise // Feb 4, 2009 at 1:46 pm
How could you go wrong with the lavendar meadows? Would you think it was wrong if I was sniffing my computer? I forgot for a moment that there was no smellemail.
(OH, and I’m BACK! We finally got power up and going!)
rachel@justanotherdayinparadise’s last blog post..Age is in the eye of the beholder. . .
45 chani // Feb 4, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I’d love to try the dead sea mud mask and spa bar.
chani.adams(at)gmail.com
46 Sarah Troutman // Feb 4, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I love all of Amy’s stuff! But I have to say the 2 things I can’t live without are her Vanilla Hazelnut Shea Butter and the Limeade lipbutter! They are both staples in my house and my purse! I am a nanny and I use the shea butter on those boys chapped cheeks everyday at nap time. When they wake up, no more dry cheeks! They also will only use my “Green” chapstick.
Sarah Troutman’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Sweet Feet
47 Tina Burnett // Feb 4, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Brown sugar and fig soap!!! This is one of my favorite scents.
48 Danielle E. // Feb 4, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I’d like to try Currantly Citrus Handmade Natural Soap.
49 Diane // Feb 5, 2009 at 9:03 pm
The stress relief soap sure sounds nice right now!! Thanks for this opportunity!
50 Asian Plum Gift Set Winners! | Great Cakes Soapworks // Feb 6, 2009 at 2:02 pm
[...] nearly forgot to tell you about the winners of the Asian Plum Gift Sets that were given away on the Red Clay Diaries blog! When it started, I was only going to give away one set. But then there ended up being 48 comments, [...]