Don't Be Ashy

HOLIDAY SEASON---DETAILS SOON COME

2007-11-30T12:18:00.001-05:00

SUMMER SUMMER SUMMERTIME

2007-07-30T10:31:00.000-05:00

You may not respect Will Smith's career but that "Summertime" song is the perfect summer jam. I hope all of you are enjoying this tropical weather we are experiencing. I know I am! I've been to a few BBQs, a few outdoor concerts and festivals, and to the beach and boardwalk a few times too. I am also spending this summer revamping Rum And Cake's product lines and website. I have some new products coming, some old products being removed, and definetly adding ease to the user end to improve your shopping experience! I am removing some scents and products that haven't really been selling. They are not gone forever but they will be special order. If you have any favorites that you want to be sure make the cut...let me know!

Back to summer...I am addicted to and love flip flops and it's been rough on my feet. I have found though that using Exfoliating Milk has really been helpful in removing the grime and the crust! Then I add a bit of Body Whip to finish to get rid of the ash. Yes, even I am ashy sometimes.

Let's not forget about Bugging Out! It has really made all of the outdoor activities a little more bearable. Bugging Out! is an essential oil blend made to deter those annoying mosquitoes and other pesky critters. It's definitely helped in keeping me itch free and it's all natural and not alcohol-based or drying. There's a 4oz body oil, 4oz body spritz, and 4oz shower gel.

Happy Post Mother's Day

2007-05-14T09:04:00.000-05:00

Happy Belated Mums Day to everyone! I know I've been MIA but this is the time of year that people actually pay attention to their skin...lol. I've done a few shopping parties, made alot of product (body butter is big right now) and put together alot of baskets...but I'm still standing. And a benefit is that my hands are smooth! I debuted a few new products that are receiving alot of love- Crushed Cabernet Exfoliating Bar Soap and Breakfast Blend Exfoliating Bar Soap. Both are takes on the scrubs of the same name and just burst with lather, smell goodiness, and light exfoliating. Give them a try, man! Actually I have a some samples left so if you sign the comment box or send me an email at info*AT*rumandcake.com I'll slide you a sample. Take care yall.

It's SPRING Again!

2007-03-15T17:39:00.000-05:00

Well it's almost SPRING and to celebrate we're having our annual "SPRING HAS SPRUNG" sale. It's 10% off all of our exfoliants to get your skin ready to be seen in the upcoming months. All those turtlenecks and boots have left your skin in need of some TLC I'm sure, so take advantage...details are here: http://rumandcake.com/spring.htm.

Recently one of my first and best customers told me she was getting engaged ((congrats again, lady)). She ordered a few gift sets for her bridesmaids. I custom-matched the ribbon and wrapping to her wedding colors too. Just in case you were wondering, it can happen for you too. Just ask about custom wrapping and customized gift sets!

Customized Chocolate Deluxe Set

Relaxing Night In

Rubber Duckie

Some VDay Baskets

2007-02-12T11:57:00.000-05:00

I'm almost through my Valentine's Day crunch. What's great is I'm doing more gifts for *MEN* this year! I have always felt that if men were given great gifts they would appreciate the day more. Way to go, pple! Here are a couple of baskets that I managed to snap pics of before they were shipped. The Pefect Gentleman Gift Basket and Well Groomed Gift Basket respectively.

How am I celebrating VDay? I was going to take a bath with Heavenly Milk Bath and LUXURIATE. I love the Heavenly Body Whip and don't use it often. Right now I'm stuck on Fig Exfoliating Milk and Body Butter. Maybe I'll eat some overpriced, gourmet ice cream and/or some truffles afterward. Then finally pop in a sappy, romantic comedy and make phone calls to my family and friends. My plans for a girl's night out are just not working! But this is an excellent plan b!

Oh That Cupid

2007-01-23T10:54:00.001-05:00

Alright folks, Valentine's Day is now live:
http://www.rumandcake.com/valentines.htm
Enjoy!
Has anyone seen the "Dump Cupid" campaign on tv? I think it's hilarious.

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays. Of course I love my family and significant others and friends every day but I love the hearts, the candy, the small thoughtful gestures. Hell, we gave out those cute, cartoon cards in college. Maybe I'll bring that back this year. Last year I sent my mom, grandmother and lil sister flowers and they were all happy. Neither of them had a Valentine so I thought it'd be appreciated. It's hard not to get caught up or feel a little sad when the world is filled with flowers and candy. I haven't decided what I will send this year but it will be something from Rum And Cake. My sisters will like the "Mr. Right" I'm sure. Some bath salts for my mother who loves soaking and my grandma's hands get really dry in the winter so I'm sure she needs more hand creme. I don' t have a valentine this year so that means I should do a lil something special for myself! I think it's going to be a little something to wear to the Eric Roberson show that I'm going to attend on VDay with my friend.

do people give massages anymore?

2007-01-11T12:02:00.000-05:00

I offer two massage bars in gift baskets but am wondering should I bother offering them flat out? Do couples massage each other anymore? The first massage bar I fell in love with fit perfectly into the palm of my hand and had the lovely smell of oranges and chocolate. Sounds crazy but it smelled so good. Of course...it was discontinued.

I don't see that many places offering massage bars and I'm not trying to put a product at there that'd sit around dusty. I love massages, at spa, from honeyboos, giving them, hell giving myself one (I wear crazy shoes, man...my feet need massaging). Am I the only one? I need a poll function here...lol.

Anyways, I tested and played around and have Chocolate Massage Truffles...perfect, hand-sized chocolate-scented wonders that glide on wonderfully and Heavenly Massage Bar...nice, hand-size with a wonderful musky, sweet scent. They both have rose petals in them for that bit of friction and indulgence...but I mean will anyone use it? Bueller? Bueller?

Damned Cupid!

2007-01-10T10:32:00.000-05:00

Uhm, I barely took down my holiday decorations (haha, okay I just hung up a nice quilted blanket/tree that my mumsy gave me from Cracker Barrell). Anyways, now it's VALENTINE'S DAY FRENZY! My drug store officially said so. So stay tuned, Rum And Cake Valentine's Day Hype COMING TO A COMPUTER NEAR YOU...very soon.

One of my best Valentine's Days was in college. My girls and I cooked up a big spaghetti dinner, bought dessert, decorated a bit and talked about our best and worst dates and just had a good ole raucous, girly time. I don't remember who's idea it was but it was genius.

A Star Is Born

2007-01-03T14:38:00.000-05:00

First, let me say Happy New Year and that I hope you had a productive and positive holiday season. This holiday season has been very productive and positive for a great friend of mine, actually I consider her more my sister than anything. Very kind, caring, hilarious, and spirited! Well my homie and her husband just had a lovely lil bundle of joy...Faith Noelle! She's a cutie too. Welcome...Lil Faye!!!

I'm inspired to get Rum And Cake for babies off the ground...lol. I mean we're safe for babies and many children use and love our products now but think of how fun would it be to smell like Root Beer and Bubble Gum for the little ones! I'm on it.

Positivity

2006-12-15T09:44:00.000-05:00

Well this has been an interesting week but full of family, friends, associates, ribbons, and shea butter. Through it all ((after a bit of wallowing- I'm entitled)) I have remained positive and received clues from the universe that it's going to be alright and affirmation that the possibilities as always are infinite.

I'm dedicating this to my great uncle a hilarious, dapper man from a different era. They dont make men like him anymore. Real, stylish, intelligent, thoughtful, full of crazy, funny stories he'd tell us as kids and a seemingly endless pocket full of dollar bills for us kids. I am thankful to have so many colorful examples of how to live and love. He passed away last night but I'm glad to have known him.

Stay blessed y'all and above all stay positive! I made an extra Instant Vacation which I am about to crack open and use for myself tonight!

More (RE)Invention

2006-12-14T10:44:00.000-05:00

Looks like I'm not the only one who is discovering dual uses for Rum And Cake products. Just spotted this note on MySpace. I never thought of this one! Thanks, girly.

"The body butter doubles are hair moisturizer. Here's what happened..I was flat ironing the the fro when I realized I didn't have any more oil so I saw the butter on my dresser and said what the heck, it's all natural oil based anyway. Dude, it worked wonders, the scent stayed (got a little stronger), my hair was so shiny and soft. I had to let you know! "-- She Who Wears Cute Dresses

If anyone else has a similar experience let me know!

Website chugging along to completion!

2006-12-07T09:29:00.000-05:00

Okay, the gift baskets and new products are now all online at http://www.rumandcake.com. Let me know what you think!

baskets, baskets, baskets

2006-11-30T13:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, I finally have the list of baskets done. I'll post them for you below. Holiday Shopping season has kicked off. If you're like me you either missed those crazy after Thanksgiving sales or came so late you didn't get the slim pickings of those crazily priced items. I was trying for video game chairs for my nephews, couldn't get it but hey to avoid all of that fighting I'll pay full price. Yes, I saw some grown folks almost fight over a toy. Crazy times!

If you've looked at my page recently you'll see that I'm in the process of updating it. Check out the "About" page! The other edits to the "Holiday Shopping" page and "Gift Baskets" page are coming soon.

Until then here are the available gift baskets- http://rumandcake.com/baskets.htm. Take care!!!!!

WOMEN:
Gingerbread Man, $10
Instant Vacation, $20
Sexy In The City*, $35
Gourmet Bath Goddess, $60
Chocolate Deluxe, $105

MEN:
Perfect Gentleman, $20
Well Groomed, $65
Kept Man, $100

EVERYONE:
Get Well Soon, $25
Refresh And Renew, $45
4oz Wake Up! Salt Scrub
Make Your Own Basket, add $5
Snack Pack*, $10

COUPLES:
Love Hangover Kit, $30
Romantic Night In, $40
Chocolate Deluxe, $105

I'm Thankful, Let's Make You Thankful

2006-11-23T08:23:00.000-05:00

Happy Days all. I hope you eat well and can take some time to appreciate what you are you blessed with no matter how "small". I'm up putting the finishing touches on some desserts and just successfully made my first maple cream cheese frosting. Yay! I'm thankful that didn't turn out to be the disaster I thought...lol.

I hope you'll be thankful for these new Rum And Cake products. One of the most requested things was to add a cleanser and moisturizer to go with the popular specialty scrubs- Ginger Mojito Scrub and Sugar And Spice Scrub. So I did it and love the new soaps especially...I hope you will too along with the other new products *and* scents listed below and here: http://www.rumandcake.com/new.htm. Let me know what you think!

Bronzing Body Gel
Crushed Cabernet Body Glow
Island Passion Body Cream
Chocolate Mousse Body Whip

By popular demand we have added accompanying products to our most requested gourmet specialty scrubs.

Heavenly Milky Body Whip
Sugar & Spice Body Bar Soap
Sugar & Spice Body Oil
Ginger Mojito Body Bar Soap
Ginger Mojito Body Oil

We’ve added the most popular items from The Truffle Collection to our permanent Specialty Product Line.

Chocolate Bliss Body Bar
Truffle Body Polish
Truffle Bath Treat
Mocha Shower Serum

We also have four new scents for you to use with our product line. This is your chance to try something new!

Gingerbread
Almond Biscotti
Cosmopolitan
Lilac

Necessity Is The Mother Of (RE)Invention

2006-11-22T09:10:00.000-05:00

So, last night and this morning I used two of my products in a nontraditional manner...with great results.

This morning as I do most mornings I used the Lip Wax to groom my eyebrows. Works better than eyebrow gel and it's less to carry around in my purse. The results are great too. I wax and tweeze and sometimes get dry skin around my eyebrows and the Lip Wax is great for helping heal and moisturize the skin as well. And if you tweeze like me (I sometimes cut myself...lol) there may also be a bit of scarring and the Lip Wax definitely helps with fading and quickly healing those pricked bits. There's cocoa butter, vitamin E, and aloe vera in the Lip Wax which gives it its wonderful properties. The same for Lip Conditioner too- just the Lip Conditioner has more sheen to it and well I prefer sheeny lips sometimes but not shiny brows...lol.

The other product? Well last night I finally began staining a table that I'd obsessively lightly sanded over the last few weeks (I know). And true to form there was stain all over my hands! It was hard to get out and I was not looking forward to walking around with sticky, Mahogany Cherry colored hands and had to think outside the box because soap and scrubbing was just *NOT* doing it. I spotted the Exfoliating Milk in my shower and I am happy to report that my hands are smooth and their natural color...lol. I love the Exfoliating Milk for an everyday gentle scrub. It's a cleanser, scrub, and moisturizer in one so it's great for me because I usually rush through my mornings.

Anyway, I hope this inspires you to look at some of the stuff in your household in a different way. It'll cut back on shelf/purse space at the very least. It'll also be a throwback to your mom using dish detergent as bubble bath in a pinch...lol.

No more needs to be said

2006-11-21T21:02:00.000-05:00

Okay, I can say more. This is my crush. I love this man. Some of you unenlightened may say "Who is he?" I say get out from under that rock. He is the should-be star of "Noah's Arc" on Logo- Gregory Kieth (yes, I spelled that correctly). He also raps and sings *swoon* some tracks for the show. Okay, okay....what does this have to do with Rum And Cake? Lol. A very lovely lady (talented writer too) who I came to know better through Rum And Cake who's always been very encouraging and is one of my best customers met Mr. Sexy and made him take this picture. Who does that? She is so special! You know she got some free product (she loves Chocolate Decadence Body Butter and Green Tea Sugar Scrub) and you know this picture is gracing the wall in my workshop.

More pics of Mr. Kieth:

http://tinyurl.com/yeg7hh (my favorite way to look at him)

http://tinyurl.com/yfqws2 (bio)

http://tinyurl.com/yz87pd (I love this blogger but we may have to fight!)

http://tinyurl.com/y5755h (personal favorite)

I would love to rub him down with some Fig Body Oil.

Gifts Gifts Gifts

2006-11-16T11:49:00.000-05:00

I love giving gifts, I love wrapping gifts, I love to see people appreciate gifts. I even love that shopping day right after Thanksgiving. I'm getting my lists ready now.

Right now I am neck deep in creating new RUM AND CAKE giftbasket ideas and itching to unveil some new concoctions. Roll them out all at once? Still thinking about it. Whatever I do it'll be up by the weekend's end.

Here's a favorite from last year. Filled with Lavender scented and Sweet Dreams scented items.

My Latest Basket

2006-11-09T16:31:00.000-05:00

I really liked how this Sexy In The City Cosmopolitan Deluxe Gift Basket came out. It gave me a chance to try out some new stamps. Check it out....

Behind the scenes

2006-07-31T10:27:00.000-05:00

When I started Rum And Cake, it was really all about rebellion. My favorite moisturizer had been reformulated into something I did not recognize and I wasn't happy. So began my one woman boycott and the type of person that I am well... I decided, I will just make it myself (this attitude is both a gift and curse...I'll talk about that at another time) . I had already been mixing products I'd purchased into exactly what I wanted...how hard was this, right? Ha!

Anyway, I was also becoming more and more aware of living a more healthy lifestyle and recently acquired my mother's well-worn copy of the Back To Eden. I have always been a label reader and very disappointed in the availability of products out there that were mindful of what ingredients they have us slathering all over our bodies.

Through much research and much, much trial and error I started on the path to creating the products of my dreams. Surprisingly, others were interested in them and from friends and family to friends and family of friends and family to customers who I now consider friends and family...this little act of stubborness and rebellion became Rum And Cake.

This blog will be a little behind the scenes look into what goes in my mixmaster mind, to answering any questions you may have, to letting you have input into what gets added to a line a products or scents. I hope you'll join our little cult family of people obsessed with putting an end to ashiness with humor, whimsy, attitude, and style! Naturally...of course.