Thursday, September 30, 2010

Giveaway: Vegan Soap from the Fanciful Fox!

Remember a few weeks ago when I celebrated my Blogoversary, and I said I'd be having a giveaway? Well I'm finally getting around to it. SO SUE ME. I've been a little distracted with this. (By the way, there's still time to vote...)

I talk about Scranton a lot around here. It's my hometown, and I love visiting whenever I can. And whenever I visit, I go straight to Adams Ave for all my needs: Eden for tasty vegan food, a cold beer at the Bog, and The Fanciful Fox for the best beauty supplies.
The owners, Kathie and Amanda Fox, are some of my favorite people. They are equal parts adorable, talented, and kind-hearted. What started as a rainy day craft activity has turned into a thriving business that is not only sustainable and eco-consious, but full of luxurious gifts for you and your home.
More about the store from their website:

The Fanciful Fox is a vegan, fair trade store located in beautiful Scranton, Pennsylvania.  The mother-daughter team of Kathie and Amanda Fox work daily to make all sorts of plant- based bath and body products for all skin types.  They are completely dedicated to the planet and all the living creatures on it.
They do not test on animals and research every ingredient in their products to make sure they don’t buy anything that has been tested on animals.  Amanda was  2009 recipient of PETA’s Compassionate Business Award.
Additionally, they do not use petroleum by-products, parabens, or other harmful chemicals.  They use organic and wildrafted ingredients whenever possible.
All products are handmade in small batches, and made with love.
If you stop by their boutique, in addition to great bath and body products you will find an eclectic collection of fair trade products.  They have a great variety of handmade items from all over the world that are made from recycled objects or come from sustainable sources.

The Foxes happen to love my baked goods. I happen to love their soap. It's a beautiful friendship, really. So let's talk about some soap I've tried.
The Dead Sea Soap is amazing. It looks a little funky. And there's mud in there. I'm not gonna lie, I was a little skeptical. But it smells lemony and wonderful, so I brought it home for Ken and figured I'd give it a try. As someone who does not use bar soaps, I must say this soap could convert me. It's amazing! It mildly exfoliates and softens my skin like a dream. It lathers well, but doesn't leave that soapy-squeaky feeling that makes me despise bar soaps. Ken loves it, I love it, it's a crowd favorite!

I also got a chance to try the Breakfast bar, and love it for its mild exfoliating qualities. The top half of the bar has oatmeal, and the bottom half has coffee. The soap has a very mild fragrance, and does not actually smell like oatmeal or coffee. This is probably for the best if you're extra sleepy like me in the mornings, so that you don't confuse your soap with your breakfast. Still, a great exfoliating bar soap!
The Sweet Vegan Bakery soap looks adorable and smells like your Grandma's kitchen, if your Grandma likes to make almond cookies like mine does. It lathers well, but has more of that traditional bar soap feel that I'm not a big fan of. I prefer to use it for shaving my legs, or as a hand soap. Also, because of how sweet it is, this soap is not for everyone. Since I regularly smell like a cookie, I didn't mind it, but if you're not a fan of sweet smelling body products, this soap is probably not for you. Luckily, the Fanciful Fox has many other fragrances for you to try, and they're always coming up with new creations.
And now lucky readers, one of you will get to try these goods for yourself! Because those Foxes are so awesome, they're donating two bars of soap for a super awesome giveaway. The prize will include one bar of the Dead Sea Soap, and one bar of your choice. To enter, just go to their site, check out the stuff, and comment letting me know which fragrance you'd like in your prize pack! It's that simple. Check out their other soaps here.
For an extra entry, you can "Like" both the Sweet Swallows Facebook page and the Fanciful Fox's Facebook page. After you do that, just remember to come back here and leave a second comment so I'll know that you did. I'm not a mind reader, people!

The contest will be open to anyone in the United States (sorry, friends abroad!), and you'll have till Midnight EST on Wednesday, October 6th to get your entries in. I'll announce the winner on Thursday, October 7th. Make sure you don't post anonymously, or I won't have any way to contact you! Good luck!

25 comments:

  1. Whoa, Scranton got all hip and eco-friendly when I wasn't looking! If I win, I would like a Fresh Momma soap, please and thank you. And I'll be sure to stop in next time I head up to NEPA to check out the goods in person.

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  2. P.S. Totally "liked" Fanciful Fox on FB, and of course I've been a fan of Sweet Swallows since the beginning. I'll take my soap now, please! :)

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  3. Hi Colleen! I liked both FB pages, even though I liked Sweet Swallows for a while now!! :)

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  4. Also, if I were to win, I would like a chocomint scrubbie bar <3 Thanks!!!

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  5. I would love a wild lavender bar!

    urchiken at gmail dot com

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  6. Ooooh, that's a tough call. I would really like to try both the Fresh Momma and Mrs. O'Hara, in addition to the Dead Sea Soap! Maybe I'll have to buy the other one, if I win. :)

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  7. Been a FB fan of Fanciful Fox for some time now a fan of yours too.
    First Friday tomorrow in downtown Scranton

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  8. Just checked out both FB pages. Love the products. Since I live in the Poconos; I'm not too far from Fanciful Fox. Will have to visit the store. Would love to try the Dead Sea Soap and the Baby Bar. Love reading your blogs.

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  9. I was sent here from Tera Brasel's facebook. I'm entering for my 12 year old daughter. It's tough finding good hygiene products that she will use.

    I would like Orange Coconut if I win. Also, you really made the Dead Sea soap sound wonderful!

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  10. I'm so glad I checked out your blog this morning. I'm loving the idea of this boutique! I know I will want to eat the soap, so that's why I better stick with the breakfast bar. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to try a dead sea bar also. I'm definitely going to browse their site. Thanks for the tip!

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  11. Okay, checking back in now. I did "like" both Sweet Swallows and Fanciful Fox...because well, I actually LIKE you both! :) Thanks!!!

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  12. mmm the orange coconut sounds nice.

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  13. aaaand just liked sweet swallows and fanciful fox :)

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  14. I find it very amusing how you say all you need to do is pick ONE you like!!! Geez I just spent the last twenty minutes looking through their website! It's a toss up between the Fresh Momma and the Ginger Lime I think. I like surprises :) I wish I knew of anything remotely as exciting in the Harrisburg area. Both liked :)

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  15. I now "like" both: Sweet Swallows and Fanciful Fox

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  16. It is so hard to choose one, but I would love to have Chocomint soap in my prize pack!! Stay Green!
    Thank you!

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  17. I "like" you both. :) Benn a Fanciful Fox fan since they opened and am happy to add Sweet Swallows (great name).

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  18. I would love to try all of them, but I think my favorites are ceder sage and ginger lime. Sorry I didn't include a link in my last comment. Keep fighting the good fight!

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  19. P.S. Is there somewhere we can try out some of the delicious looking vegan baked goods?

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  20. The Sweet Vegan Bakery scent sounds absolutely scrumptious! Never heard of this company before, but what a delightful name and concept.

    ailanna at hotmail dot com

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  21. I'm so glad I came upon this site! Going to have to try to make it to the actual store. The Chocomint is my top pick, I love mint scents!

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  22. Oops, forgot to add that I favorited both sites. Thanks!

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  23. The Dead Sea one sounds awesome! Sign me up.

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  24. I liked both pages as well. That's two entries for me! Hooray.

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  25. Do you occasionlly have sweets available at Eden? If so I think I tried one of your doughnuts and it was amazing!

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