Seven Wonders with Bubs and Scrubs

Who you are: Brenda Foster – mother, soapmaker, animal lover, lefty, morning riser, trying to be runner again…
Your business name: Bubs & Scrubs™
Your website url: http://www.bubsandscrubs.com
Blog: http://www.bubsandscrubs.com/category/blog
Twitter handle: @bubsandscrubs
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bubsandscrubs

We're wondering...

1) What was the first product you ever sold?
BThe first was my little intro soap "A Rose Is Still A Rose" which I launched February (just in time for Valentine's Day) this year. I had been making some soap for some time but wasn't really ready to sell just yet. I had lots of (good) pressure from friends and family so I started with this one item that was supposed to be a limited edition. It received such a great reception I kept it and it's one of my top-sellers now.

2) What is your favorite smell?
I've ALWAYS been a sucker for lavender. It's just that "ahhhhh" feeling that automatically sends me to my peaceful place. Lavender is one of those scents you either love or hate it. I'm definitely in the love camp. I do like to tone it down a bit with another essential oil or two but straight up has it's purposes too. Unfortunately I haven't been able to sustain lavender in my garden yet but I'm not giving up!

3) What is your favorite line from a song?
I do love music and know the lyrics from so many genres; from my youth to now. For that reason, it's really hard to pick just one. However, this song ALWAYS puts me in the best mood: “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige http://youtu.be/G6ZjBPXSmnE

Here's a sample of the lyrics:

….No time for moping around, are you kidding?
And no time for negative vibes cuz I’m winning
It’s been a long week, I put in my hardest
Gonna live my life, feels so good to get it right

So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
When I’m walking past the mirror
No stress through the night, at a time in my life
Ain’t worried about if you feel it
Got my head on straight, I got my mind right
I ain’t gonna let you kill it
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just fine….

Feels so good, when you’re doing all the things that you want to do
Get the best out of life, treat yourself to something new
Keep your head up high
In yourself, believe in you, believe in me
Having a really good time, I’m not complaining
And I’m a still wear a smile if it raining
I got to enjoy myself regardless
I appreciate life, I’m so glad I got mine…

4) If you were something in nature, what would you NOT want to be?
A slug - too slow and too much risk. Any prey animal. A mushroom cause your kept in the dark and (you know the rest. ) :)

5) What's your favorite pet's name? (Past or present)
I really hate choosing just one but I have to say Angus. He's my beloved Rottie. I rescued him and another Rottie mix about six years ago. They were young adults and were strays so I don't know their exact ages. He's the biggest teddy bear. He loves women and children but has been known to snap at a man or two (I'm okay with that). He snores, loves bones, likes to play, has really soft ears, is my constant companion, is always ecstatic to see me, and has been a treasured gift to me.

6) What's the best pair of shoes you ever owned?
This one is easy: Keen's. I order these from Zappos on the regular. My fave pair are lime green and I've had them for about 4 years. They're still just as soft and cushy as the first day I wore them. I'll be loyal to this brand forever - hope they stay the same and stick around. They’re not sexy, don’t make my look tall and slender, and are anything but fashionable. But they hug my feet just right, help me go the distance, and thus keep me happy. I’m very practical.

7) Seven words that are dear to you:
God, Madison, Taylor, Barbara, Eulas, Carlos and Kaelen. There are many more but these are the dearest.

Seven Wonders with Neos Creations

Who you are: Ginger Moore – wife, mother & business founder/owner/creative director
Your business name: Neos Creations™
Your website url: http://www.neoscreations.net
Blog: http://neoscreations.wordpress.com/
Twitter handle: @NeosCreations
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Neos-Creations/180473828641054 (sorry for the long url. FB assigned my personalized username to my personal profile and I can’t seem to change it to my biz page.)

We're wondering...

1) What was the first product you ever sold?
Oh that seems so long ago, I’m not sure if I can remember without looking at our records. I know it was a customized gift set order from a friend for his wife for Mother’s Day. I’m pretty sure it contained the Day-Night Moisturizer and the Under Eye Serum from our Mineral Skin Care Collection, a couple of Home Aroma Collection items. Maybe a lotion, body wash and a bath tool accessory or two.

2) What is your favorite smell?
Oh my gosh, I love the smell of my husband when he’s fresh from the shower or my son, fresh from the bath. I know. Not something I can really duplicate or market, now can I? LOL. Another is all the comforting and mouth-watering smells of Thanksgiving dinner cooking. Again, can’t duplicate that one for a product. Or can I?! When it comes to my favorite scents in products, I don’t really have one. I like so many different ones and personally, I wear whatever the mood strikes me to wear from one day to the next. Some days, I may be fun and breezy, others I may be sexy and sultry. Another day may be sweet and innocent. You just never can tell about me or what I will be on any given day until you sniff me.

3) What is your favorite line from a song?
I don’t really have one. Many songs came to mind but no one song line that I could say was “My favorite”. It could be because I don’t listen to music much in recent years or it could be because what little I do hear is usually children’s songs from Nick Jr., Noggin, Disney or another kid friendly source that is then relayed to me by my son. Either way, I’m at a loss on this question.

4) If you were something in nature, what would you NOT want to be?
There are a few. #1- A skunk. #2 – Poison oak, poison ivy, etc. #3 – Anything with a stinger. Why? Because people would avoid me at all costs. I love people and conversation too much and would be miserable.

5) What's your favorite pet's name? (Past or present)
Max, a miniature Daschund, black and tan in color. My husband surprised me with him one day a few years into our marriage, when we had been trying to have a baby for a couple of years with no success. Max quickly became a fill-in to satisfy some of that deep yearning I had for a baby. Unfortunately, we had to have him put to sleep just a few years later. Because of the long back of weenie dogs, they often have vertebrae and disk problems. Max had chronic problems with a disk that would bulge and get irritated. It finally ruptured, causing him to be paralyzed from his mid-back all the way to his tail. We just couldn’t justify the thousands of dollars for the operation that could not even be guaranteed successful that he would be well again or pain free. Failure would result in him being confined to a doggie wheel cart strapped to him at all times, so we had to make the difficult decision to have him put to sleep. I loved him too much to see him suffer and not be able to jump and play like he always had. Oh! Sorry, that was TMI wasn’t it?

6) What's the best pair of shoes you ever owned?
Oh gosh, I don’t know. I don’t spend a lot on shoes for myself. If I like them and they’re comfortable to me, I buy them if they aren’t too expensive in my opinion (and I’m Ms. Squeaky Wallet). If you’re talking literally, I’d probably have to say a pair of tennis shoes, no specific brand. Those are the only shoes I don’t bargain shop for as much. If you’re talking figuratively, the shoes I wear everyday as a wife to the greatest man God ever created, mother to an amazing little boy, and business owner of a growing business.

7) Seven words that are dear to you:
I gave this one much thought. Words are potentially tangible ideas and often take flight to give them great meaning. I’d have to say – Love, Family, Integrity, Faith, Peace, Patience, Joy and I’d like to add a couple more – Flexibility and Rest