Find of the Month: From The Blue House {With Love}
As many of you know, I love featuring natural beauty brands on this blog. The reasons are multi-faceted. For one, most natural brands are pretty indie, and I like supporting those up-and-coming brands that already have a fiercely loyal, but not ginormous, fan base. For another, I think it’s important to know that you have options. Virtually every product in your home can be purchased by a natural alternative. It makes me a bit sad to even think of the natural way as the ‘alternative’ way, when it should truly be the reverse: chemical-laden products are not your friend! With all of that in mind, I’m pleased to showcase a Canadian natural brand today, From The Blue House {With Love}, based in Ontario (for the sake of brevity, I’ll just be calling ’em ‘From The Blue House’ in this post).
One thing that truly impressed me about founder Jennifer Jansen’s brand is how circular it really is – in part because how Jenn and her family choose to live. While many brands will do things like buy carbon offset credits or use recycled materials in their packaging, the Jansen family takes it a step further. All products from From The Blue House are crafted on the family’s amazingly sustainable homestead. Admittedly, they aren’t 100% off the proverbial grid, but they do grow many of their own vegetables and raise much of their own meat, as well as harvest ingredients for their soaps and lotions including botanicals and herbs. To complete that circle, the river that runs next to their home is how they get their drinking water, water their plants, provide water for their animals, and naturally, their drain water runs into – meaning they’re extra considerate as to what flows into the primary water source.
Like with many natural brands, one of the core product offerings from From The Blue House is handcrafted artisan soaps ($6 each), using only the purest of ingredients, making them a great pick for those with sensitive skin. While you can certainly pick up a wonderfully fragrant bar with scents like Lavender and Lemongrass, Oats n Honey, or Mint Java, I especially love some of the specialty soaps the brand carries. Before we get to those though, if you’re not sure where to start, you can also pick up a six-soap sampler pack, which also makes a lovely houseguest way to say thanks.
The Shave Soap ($7) pictured above is a perfect Father’s Day treat, or goodie to keep in your guest bathroom for your houseguests to use when away from their homes. Infused with a local microbrewery’s beer as well as black clay, you can lather it up and use it to shave your face or your body (ladies), without irritating your skin. And speaking of irritated skin, whether you suffer from more chronic skin conditions like eczema or you’ve simply got a rash, the Collodial Oatmeal Soap ($6) is an amazing skin soother. Finally, I also love, love, love the idea of the Buzz Off Citronella Soap ($6) as a hostess gift idea – with a hearty dose of bug-repelling citronella, it’s a great pick for weekends at the cabin.
Of course, it’s not just about the soap. The Blue House also has a line of body care products, including their new whipped body butters that will moisturize your body like nothing else. Available in zesty lemongrass or dreamy chocolate orange, founder Jenn has actually picked this product out as her very favourite amongst the entire line. As an alternative, their solid lotion bars are a fuss-free travel bag essential, particularly when hitting hot destinations this summer. Try the lavender on your baby for a post-bath massage that’ll put them straight to sleep.
They also carry therapeutic bath salts to help you soak away bad vibes and sore muscles alike. The Superhero Soak Bath Salts are amazing to relieve stress at the end of the day, while the Himalayan Pink Salts are infused with essential oils to relax your body while soothing muscles and detoxifying your body with ease.
Additional products – like the yummy chocolate mint lip balm, above – are always being added to The Blue House line, so I advise you to keep an eye on their social media presences and website to check out the latest.
And if you want to try the products for yourself, you can of course, buy online, but they’re also carried at a line of retailers throughout Ontario, and regularly make appearances at major craft and gift shows.
Finally, I’m excited to tell you that two of you are going to be able to stock up your soaps and lotions for pretty much a year, as I’ve got not one, but two $75 gift codes to give away. Want to win one? Here’s how to enter:
1) Visit From The Blue House {With Love} website, peruse their collection, and tell me / leave a link to the top product that would end up in your shopping cart if you were one of the lucky winners of this giveaway. You’ve got till June 30, 2014. Note that you can’t click on individual products on the site, so simply linking to the page you spotted the item on is all you need.
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around Jully 1, 2014 to select the winners, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entries: From The Blue House is on Facebook and Twitter. You can earn up to two bonus entries by liking / following each presence, and leaving a comment on why you adore the brand (FB) / sending out a Tweet with why you’re keen to try them. Leave links back to your actual FB comment / Tweet to earn your extra entries into the draw.
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[…] entry into this month’s From The Blue House {With Love} giveaway – tell me in the comments below, which of these pretty chilled out carrier bags would […]
Canadian Gift Guide 
I would give the Buzz Off Citronella Soap a try – sounds like it might help keep bugs away.
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/bar-soap—shop-online.html
I would love to try the Mint Java Scrub Soap but I am also intrigued by the Chai soap.http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/bar-soap—shop-online.html
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html I think this sounds so exotic. I think it would be a real treat for the body.
Visited From The Blue House {With Love} website, perused their collection, and the top product that would end up in my shopping cart if I were one of the lucky winners of this giveaway would be “Soap Scraps (10oz bag)” so I have the opportunity to try them out … http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/gift-sets-and-candles—shop-online.html
From The Blue House {With Love} bonus entry: followed & tweeted https://twitter.com/SoulSeeker0/status/473129536306302976
I would find the lemongrass scented Luxurious Body Butter helpful for my dry skin.
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
Sorry I forgot to put the link in. I would choose the Lemongrass scent.
I’d love to try the Buzz off Citronella soap http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/bar-soap—shop-online.html
I think I would go for the Body Butter as I’m always looking for great moisturizers to use.
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/body-care—shop-online.html
I would choose the Cocoa Orange Body Butter.
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
These barnyard bubble soap would def make my shopping cart!
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/specialty-bar-soaps—shop-online.html#
I would love to try the 6 Half Bar Sample Pack so that I can try the different scents!
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/gift-sets-and-candles—shop-online.html
I would buy the Thin Mint Lip Balm
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/body-care—shop-online.html
I would buy the Luxurious Body Butter -Cocoa Orange or Lemongrass ..hmm that looks so good! http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/body-care—shop-online.html
I would choose the Colloidal Oatmeal Soap because my granddaughter just started getting eczema and I’m sure it would help her.
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/bar-soap—shop-online.html
I’d select the Super Hero Soak http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/gift-sets-and-candles—shop-online.html
I would like to get the Summer Love Bar Soap~ http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/bar-soap—shop-online.html
I would get the lemongrass body butter. I love lemongrass scented items!
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
Oats n Honey Scrub Soap http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/bar-soap—shop-online.html
Superhero Soak Bath Salts
Mmmmmm…. Body Butter…..http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
Barnyard Bubbles – what fun! http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/specialty-bar-soaps—shop-online.html
liked on facebook and commented :https://www.facebook.com/Fromthebluehouse/posts/807830935901990
following on twitter and tweeted :https://twitter.com/anniebalanie/status/473845331319619584
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/body-care—shop-online.html
I’d love to try the Cocoa Orange Luxurious Body Butter http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/body-care—shop-online.html
I would love to try the Solid Lotion Bar – Lemon Eucalyptus.
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/body-care—shop-online.html#.
love the Luxurious Body Butter – Lemongrass
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
The first thing I’d pick would be the Cocamint bar soap! I can just imagine the luxury of that smell!
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/bar-soap—shop-online.html#
Following on Twitter and tweeted: https://twitter.com/Mousecat12/status/474039147695337472
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/bar-soap—shop-online.html
meikleblog at gmail dot com
Goodness of Goats – http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/bar-soap—shop-online.html
meikleblog at gmail dot com
meikleblog at gmail dot com
I’d love the lemongrass body butter:
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
Follow on twitter (vesper1931) https://twitter.com/Vesper1931/status/474219211351261185
meikleblog at gmail dot com
I would like to try the Lavender Solid Lotion Bar.
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/body-care—shop-online.html
How bad is it that not only do I want to cover my body in this, but think it looks good enough to eat! Haha…http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
I want to try the Cocoa orange body butter.
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
Himilayan Pink Salts
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/body-care—shop-online.html
The cocoamint bar soap looks so good , and would probably make your body smell great after using it
I would choose the Summer Love bar soap. Link: http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/bar-soap—shop-online.html
I would like to try the Luxurious Body Butter -Cocoa Orange
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/body-care—shop-online.html
I’d love to try the Luxurious Body Butter -Cocoa Orange or Lemongrass
I would love the Luxurious Body Butter in Cocoa Orange: http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
The cocoa orange body butter sounds divine.
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
I’d go for a soap, this one in particular.
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/apps/search?q=summer+love
A Facebook fan and commented:
Was already a follower on Twitter:
The Cocoa Orange Luxurious Body Butter would be what I first put in my cart. http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
I’d go for the Lemongrass body butter. I’ve always loved the smell of lemongrass, and I think it’s important to use natural products, so this’d be perfect: http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
https://www-fromthebluehouse-com.checkout.weebly.com/?cart=5398ca36eaed5 Super Hero Soak, an awesome product, would love to use or give.
https://www.facebook.com/Fromthebluehouse/posts/812225808795836 Liked and commented on their great products.
The Himilayan Pink Salts tops my list! http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p31/Himilayan_Pink_Salts_.html
I would love to try Happy Hippie! Mmmmm….. Patchouli!
I’d like to try the soap scraps – it would be fun to have them send me random bits!
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/gift-sets-and-candles—shop-online.html
Soaking in a tub with bath salts; please; I’m there!
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/body-care—shop-online.html
Wundder balm! My kids are always getting scrapes/bites and boo-boo’s! http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/body-care—shop-online.html
My first pick would be the body butter in lemongrass scent – http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html
ayoung3360 (at) hotmail (dot) com
I like the cocoamint soap bar. http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/bar-soap—shop-online.html
Wow! Everything looks luscious, but the cocoa-orange body butter is decadent and would definitely be on my list.
http://www.fromthebluehouse.com/store/p29/Luxurious_Body_Butter_-Cocoa_Orange_or_Lemongrass.html