Wordless Wednesday | Puppy Bowl VI Fan

{The Southern Accent Mascot #2 - Fritz}

Pomace Olive Oil

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well. Pomace olive oil is used in all of our bar soaps and can be found in our Cactus Nail Balm. Did you know that green olives and black olives come from the same tree? Black olives are ripe whereas green olives are unripe.



Pomace olive oil is solvent extracted from previous pressings of olives using the pits (pomace) and flesh (skin). 95% of the more than 750 million olive trees cultivated worldwide are from the Mediterranean but global olive oil production comes mainly from North Africa, the Near East and Southern Europe.

While pomace olive oil is the lowest grade of olive oil, it is not used in cooking or on salads, it adds to a very nice bar of soap. Pomace olive oil has a high percentage of unsaponifiables, and it tends to draw the oils into a quick saponification. It's composed mainly of the mixed triglyceride esters of palmitic acid, oleic acid, other fatty acids, with traces of sterols and squalene. The composition varies by time of harvest, region, altitude, cultivator, and extraction process.

It is an excellent emollient, to soften and soothe dry skin. Contains anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, is a great choice for sensitive skin and people who suffer from eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.

Thanks for stopping by y'all. Hope you have a fabulous day!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Cactus & Ivy | Bionic Beauty Loves Us

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you having a fabulous day! Imagine my surprise on Friday when I was notified by Jami, the Bionic Beauty herself that Cactus & Ivy made Bionic's Best of Beauty 2009 Awards.

What a huge honor it is to be among such talented and wonderful companies providing a wide array of beauty products. I'm always grateful for the recognition given to Cactus & Ivy products.

How are Cactus & Ivy products performing for you? I love feedback - good, bad or indifferent. Your comments are always welcome!

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a great day!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

National Wear Red Day

Hey y'all!!

I hope this post finds you doing well. February is American Heart Month! The American Heart Association (AHA) has thousands of volunteers, whose goal is to raise money for education and research for heart disease, all the while providing valuable information on heart disease.



Friday, February 5, 2010 is National Wear Red Day! Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America. Go Red for Women is a powerful movement dedicated to helping women fight back against heart disease. Visit their site for more information on how you can make a difference.

Heart Attack Warning Signs
(from the AHA website)

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

Thanks for stopping by y'all and don't forget to wear read tomorrow! Have a fabulous day!!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

** Go Red and Go Red For Women are trademarks of AHA.
** The Red Dress Design is a trademark of U.S. DHHS.

Cruelty Free | That's How I Roll

Hey Y'all!!

I hope this post finds you having a wonderful day. Those of you that are familiar with Cactus & Ivy know our products are cruelty free.

We have never tested our products on animals and we never will. We also will not purchase raw ingredients from suppliers who don't adhere to the same standard. Willing family members and friends have happily stepped up to the plate to test drive Cactus & Ivy natural bath and body products.

As the CEO of Cactus & Ivy, I have signed PETA's Statement of Assurance which states I do not test our ingredients, formulations or finished products on animals. I am proud to be a part of the Caring Consumer program and proudly use the logo above on our labels, website and literature.


The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ (CCIC) Leaping Bunny Program is another organization I am proud to be a part of. Every year, I recommit to the Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals, as well as my raw material suppliers do.

Being cruelty free also means something else to me. Anyone who knows me, knows I have a very soft spot for the fuzzy, cuddly and sweet. Especially when they are lost, abandoned or abused. If I can't take them in, I make it my life's mission to find them a loving place to live with plenty of food, water and love for the nourishment of their body and soul.

Wednesday, this cute little puppy was caught under the chain link fence at Prevo's office. One of the guys rescued her and brought her to Prevo's office. Naturally, my lover gene of all things fuzzy, cuddly and sweet took over. They gave me a box and Prevo found a towel. I put her in the box and told everyone to keep an eye on her. She appeared dehydrated and looked like she hadn't eaten in weeks. I rushed over to the nearest store and picked her up puppy food and a water/food dish combo.

I returned to hubs office and placed her in front of the food and water. She wouldn't eat or drink. So, I scooped her up and wiped her down with a damp wash cloth and then held her in my lap. After an hour, I placed her in the box with a few nibbles of food and walked away. When I returned a few minutes later, she had eaten. YAY!! I continued to place more nibbles in front of her and she gobbled them down. Prevo cut the bottom off a styrofoam cup and filled it with water. I placed it in front of her and she drank it all. Awe, I was so happy for the little gal my heart felt like it would explode.

Next on the to do was to find her a loving home. Our dogs died years ago and we weren't equipped for a dog. Luckily, I was connected with Denise Holcomb, Founder of All Gods Creatures Pet Rescue and Adoption in Johnston, SC. AGC is registered as a public charity 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization which depends on in-kind support from donations, special event fundraisers, grants and rescue/adoption related contributions. I took the sweet pup to Denise Wednesday evening, supplied her with a donation to help for the care of the cuddly pup and also gave her the bag of puppy food and dish combo. I gave Denise a hug and thanked her for what she was doing for the creatures without a voice. As I headed back home, tears filled my eyes from knowing the sweet black puppy that captured my heart earlier in the day would be well taken care of.

So there ya have it. Cruelty free is how I roll, both in my personal and professional life and I wouldn't have it any other way! There is nothing sweeter in this world than the love you receive from an animal. Their love is unconditional. The next time you want a dog or a cat, please consider an animal shelter or pet rescue. You will find an abundance of animals ready to give and receive love.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day y'all! Hope your weekend ROCKS!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy