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Help for Children of Cambodia!
Cambodian Children holding recycled Eco-Soap Bank soaps.
After the passing of her mother in 2003, Cynthia L. Hill set out to allay her grief and embarked on what would become a rich new path in her life: creating body care products.
Third Day Soaps Garden was born of a desire to create natural products largely absent from store shelves. Its founding mission: “To use ingredients so pure and simple, they could have come from one of the earliest gardens on earth.” Before long, it became clear that natural, high-quality soap was in high demand. Now, Third Day Soaps Garden has been serving the Pittsburgh area and beyond for over a decade.
Cynthia and Eco-Soap Bank’s Samir Lakhani met rather serendipitously. After turning on Pittsburgh’s local NPR affiliate (90.5 WESA), Cynthia heard Samir giving an interview as part of an “Essential Pittsburgh” segment. She immediately reached out to the Eco-Soap Bank.
“Your interview tugged at my heart,” she said in an email. “One of my dreams is to make natural soap for the less fortunate in other countries.”
In addition to Cynthia’s mission to provide natural bodycare products, we proudly announce that Third Day Soaps Garden is claiming a stake in global hygiene. For every item you purchase from Third Day Soaps Garden, a bar of soap will be given to a Cambodian child in need. We’re honored to work with Third Day Soaps Garden on a true Buy One, Give One program.
The Eco-Soap Bank applauds businesses that have incorporated a humanitarian mission. Together in partnership, we’ll help promote and improve the health and quality of life of thousands of Cambodian men, women, and children in need of appropriate hygiene.
You can support the Eco-Soap Bank by purchasing all your body care needs from our valued partner thirddaysoapsgarden.com
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: THIRDAYSOAPSGARDEN.COM
Eco-Soap Bank Logo
Samir Lahani , Director of Eco-Soap Bank and Cynthia L. Hill, President of Third Day Soaps Garden.
TDSG Logo
The Third Day Soaps Garden Brand
Hand Crafted Soap Bars from Third Day Soaps Garden
This is my Story this is my song!
Blog July 13th, 2016
This is my story
Today I feel compelled to write about how Third Day Soaps Garden was formed. It seems that each time I tell this story I’m hesitant, it takes me a few moments and tears, to get it all written down. There is a certain element to writing a story that is good and also a reminder of who you are genetically. The only reason this story is important is because of the connection to my mother who gave me the inspiration in the first place. The truth is I miss my mother as much now as I did when I was a small child when you are left at school for the first time. I don’t mean for this story to be sad but enlightening. My mother was a great communicator with her children. She spent her whole life nurturing and caring for her 6 children. What I can say is I was one of them she put a lot of time into. She taught me the importance of growing your own vegetables, herbs and how to can them. I still remember the spring and summers mornings when I would leave the house and be met by Lavender, Mint, Rosemary and Thyme sitting on the porch in cute little pots. The smell was amazing! Today, because of the good and nourishing things she passed on to me; is the reason I am who I am today. OMG! My mother was an excellent cook! Being African American she had those meals seasoned and tasting awesome. As for her culinary expertise; she was a self-taught chef. We didn’t just have ribs, greens and macaroni and cheese; my mother made stuffed chicken breast with Zucchini and Squash. She was making tri-colored twisted homemade yeast bread and homemade jellies and jams. As a young girl around the ages of She would make dishes from the Julia Child’s “the way to cook book” the New York Times cookbook” We never ate vegetables out the can. I had never heard of vegetables in a can until I was at least 18 years old. My mother was also a professional tailor and seamstress. She worked for several local television celebrities, like Eleanor Shannon, Bill Cardils Wife to name a few. I always had the latest Vogue, Butterick, and McCall Pattern clothes to wear. Her interest in good skin care products was passed onto me too. I remember taking a day trip to our local department store in Pittsburgh; Kaufmann’s, Joseph Horne’s and Max Azen’s a high end clothing store. We would prance around the cosmetic counters spraying perfume, trying on makeup and chatting with the salesladies we became friends with. My mom’s favorite moisturizer was Estee Lauders ”Swiss performing extract”. She loved the fragrances of Azure’, Blue Gardenia, and I’m certain that’s where my modeling career developed. But, that’s another Blog. I will blog about it sometime soon. It’s no wonder; I’m an excellent cook, gardener and skin care enthusiast. My mothers’ encouraging support has helped me to become a successful entrepreneur in the health and wellness industry. Somewhere around the mid-1970’s my mother was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Her ability to eat healthy and remain educated on the subject became her life. As we all know there is no cure for diabetes. You must eat healthy check you glucose levels and exercise. As the years progressed; so did my mother’s diabetes. She died August 21rd, 2003; she was only 73 years old. I was devastated to say the least. She always talked about how much she missed her garden. I always wondered why she did too. Seemed like a lot of work. Yes, the veggies are delicious but, you won’t see me out in no yard digging and planting I thought. My mother’s health started failing fast. I had an idea to start a garden the same spring she died. It’s funny how God works’. My mother would visit me at my home and give me tips on gardening. I would make lunch for us and she would nap and talk to me about gardening, family and such. She enjoyed sitting on my back porch in a cozy rocking chair I bought just for her. She said to me one day during a visit; “I sure miss my garden at my old house”. Her next words where “sitting here reminds me of my garden at my old house’’ I still cry when I remember her voice and her relaxed, happy and intent look on her face. At my mom’s wake I had brought vegetables from my garden. I brought tomatos , cucumbers, dilled pickles. As people where leaving I gave them a bag and told them to take what they wanted. It was something my mother I think would have been proud of. My mother never got to see them but she left me with such sweet memories and the desire to grow a garden. I have had one every year since. You see, my mother was one of the main reasons I finished college. I was a single mother raising a son. My son Blake spent many a days with her while I was in school or working. She was my rock, my emotional motivator my therapist, my friend, my confidant; but most of all she was a great listener and she was a wonderful mother. I will be forever proud of her and the love and sacrifice she demonstrated with her children. After many years of contemplating what I wanted to do with my career; it hit me! I took some time off from work as the administrative secretary for a major non-profit and decided to embark on a quest to find it. I had a big book collection because I enjoy reading and researching; anything I like or enjoy I have a book for it. Do you remember the magazine book club’s that you could buy by membership 10 books for 99cent? I purchased a book called “Soap making” by Norma Coney. Now let’s see, my degree is in Marketing and Communications; not chemistry…hmmm. How was I going to pull this one off? Because I love to read and research, I took a stab at it. The book was quite intense. I read the book at least 15 or more times so to understand each step of how to make soap from scratch. I made my first batch of olive oil handmade soap on November 5th, 2003. It was a hit! The soap came out perfect….the rest is history, the here and now, the future and a born Legacy! In 2005 Third Day Soap Garden was born.
Please visit my social media sites and enjoy more of my blogs, coming weekly!
Be blessed on your journey in this universe.
Cynthia Hill, President
Third Day Soaps Garden
Happy New Year! from Third Day Soaps Garden
Happy New Year!
Thank you to the people who helped me move my business Third Day Soaps Garden: towards the next level. First let me start with my loyal fans; my customer’s. Third Day Soaps Garden could not be as successful as it is today without you! You have consistently made my life happier…Some of the most memorable people who come to mind are the ones that send me little notes of inspiration and business advice. Thank you for being so compassionate and kind. I would like to name a few. Jamie Gatewood, Creative Consultant, Kieashia Lindsey, Christian Blogger “Sincerely Mrs. Lindsey” . Michelle Nacareti and Chelsea Mitchel “Women for a Healthy Enviornment” and my family and friends.
2015 My year at a glance!
Janurary- Met with Chelle Stein, Web Designer to work as a team collating information for the Third Day Soaps Garden website. Thank you Chelle for the outstanding job you did creating and designingh this website! Started my new lifestyle diet and lost 40lbs in 10 months…I have been able to maintain the weight that I lost! Yippe!
February- HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! The month of Love!!! that’s right..time to start thinking about that special person in your life you love! Kissing you; will be all she’s thinking about when you hand her this beautiful big, red, and beautifully gifted box treat on Valentine’s Day! Included are 4 star- studded natural and organic skin and body care products from our Third Day Soaps Garden Skin Care Kitchen. We will be uploading the gift box on January 14th, 2016. If you want to get a head start on you Valentine’s Day shopping head over to our sister site on Etsy.com/shoop/thirddaysoapsgarden.com
March-purchased my first brilliant color Mica’s from Mad Oils. Attended my first networking & craft event of the year with Diamond Event Planners. Attended market meeting to discuss plans for the Squirrel Hill Farmers Market.
April-. I took my tomatoe plants out to the greenhouse..the weather was so beautiful in the 60’s. a week into them being in the greenhouse it got really cold out and my plants suffered alittle..they recovered and grew beautiful! My son Blake took me to the movies and dinner it was fun to spend time with him. We are both so busy working so we caught up on whats going on in our lives. I traveled to Ohio to visit my granddaughter Mia for a few days it was a nice relaxing visit. Attended an Earth Day event hosted by the Rennasiance Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I had a great time with the customers and visitors. They really loved smelling the soaps and trying on some of natural lotions and sugar scrubs I had on display.
May- I taught a workshop/class on “Natural Skincare Recipes from the Garden” at the Carnegie Library in Bellvue, Pa. we used herbs from my garden to make herbal body oil, lotion and herbal sugar scrubs. The patrons and I discussed the importance of using natural ingredients and how to use your garden to make healthy skin care products. Sunday, May 31, 2015 was the first day of the Squirrel Hill Farmers Market. My granddaughter Mia came to visit me for the summer.
June – Enjoyed 5 Sundays of Farmers Markets…
July-My birthday month!
I taught 2 workshop/classes at the West End Carnegie Library and the Woods Run Carnegie Library. “Natural SkincareRecipes from the Garden” was the theme and topic of the workshop. The students made herbal sugar scrubs, herbal bath teas and herbal bath/body oil.
August- Signed up for Tumblr the online social media site. Read the book “4-Hour Work Week “ author Tim Ferris. This is probably the best book I ever read next to Anthony Robbins books. Tim is a beast at using his time wisely and outsourcing task. His book has really changed my life and my business has benefited from the strategies he teaches in the book. I suggest everyone on planet Earth read the 4-Hour Work Week at least 10 times!
September- My son Blakes birthday month! Spoke with the founder of the Eco-Soap Bank. They collect soaps from soapmakers and hotels and recycle, sanitze and rebottle and distribute to folks around the world. Cambodia is one of the hubs of the Eco-Soap Bank. Third Day Soaps Garden donates 10cents to Eco-Soap Bank for every bar of soap sold. I went to Sandusky, Ohio to visity my granddaughter for her birthday. We celebrated at Kalarhari Resort and Convention Center. It was so much fun. It has tons of water slides…wave pool; all of which is indoors..its a spectacular place.. I recommend you go.
October- I started a four-week “Natural skincare from the garden” series with the Gift.org nonprofit. They work with women ages 50+ and offer interesting projects for the women to enjoy in the community. The classes/workshop where held a the Wightman School in Squirrel Hill. Women for a healthy Enviornment hosted their annual “FACE-IT” event.
November- busy, busy, busy getting ready for the December holiday rush! Attended the Carnegie Mellon’s Health and Wellness Fair. Met with the buyer of Whole Foods Market, Heather Manning. I joined the National Council for Colored Women. Attended an event at Sparkle Dragon’s Magical Emporium. It was an interesting vending event. Lots of unique gifts and visitors.
December- Attended two 3-day Holiday Gift Shop events as a vendor! The Wilkins School Community Center held their 53rd Holiday Gift Shop. The Falk School in Oakland, Pa held their annual Holiday gift Shop. Both where very profitable for Third Day Soaps Garden. Last but certainly not least. I had the great opportunity to hire a parttime Administrative Assistant, Lets welcome Megan Whitmer. Im so thrilled to have her on our team at Third Day Soaps Garden.
2015 into 2016. was one of the most interesting and exciting years for Third Day Soaps Garden. The year was filled With several business partnerships and revenue growth spurts. One of the areas of growth was with the Squirrel Hill Farmers Market. The market was strong with customers each Sunday; buying fresh and local produce from some of the best farmers in the Allegheny County region. Folks came from all over the city. It was mesmerizing and energizing with folk and dance bands that played live for bustling onlookers and customers. I had the experience of meeting many new farmers that sold goatsmilk, honey and fresh local cheeses. They all tasted yummy! Of course my organic skin care booth was always filled with folks trying on lotions, sunscreens and demonstrating sugar scrubs and smelling the herbal soap bars…it was always nice and sunny. The weather was good to us market vendors in 2015.
This was the first year I started my own little herbal stand in my garden and greenhouse, I started over 23 different heirloom tomatoes and herbs. I also tried my hand at making herbal vinegars, jellies, jams and canning hot peppers and onions. It was so much fun! My grand girls had a great time picking tomatoes and playing in the garden.
Carnegie Mellon’s Health and Wellness Fair, Wilkins School Community Center’s Holidy Gift Shop, Falk School Holiday Gift Shop. Our educational workshops and skincare classes gave us a chance to work and meet many new students. Third Day Soaps Garden taught skincare workshops at several Carnegie Library DIY skincare demonstration workshops such as, Sheraden, Bellvue, West End and Squirrel Hill Libraries. We also provide private soapmaki ng classes. If your looking for a local business that specializes in organic/natural skin and body care instructors and teachers give me a call; 412-290-0611 or visit our website at: thirddaysoapsgarden.com for class schedules, fees and dates.
The year came to a close with the busy holiday season of many gift shop events where Third Day Soaps Garden was a vendor. Women for a Healthy Enviornment hosted their annual “FACE It” where this years Speakers where Sustainable skin and bodycare industry leaders met like the Sensible Organics, Rob Robillard, Chier Executive Officer was a speaker. Whole Food’s Beauty Buyer, Heather Manning, KDKA’s Television Personality, Jennifer Antkowiak spoke about her business venture with a top essential oil company. The Executive Director Michelle Nacareti hosted and made the night a special treat. She gave the guest a pretty eco-friendly makeup case to enhance the evening. Third Day Soaps Garden was a vendor as well as; many other wonderful organic natural skin care merchants that where available to talk to and educate the guest while browsing and purchasing products for themselves and gifts for the holidays.
The new year is moving in strong and eventful. I was blessed to partner with Eco-Soap Bank! Whats next on the horizon for Third Day Soaps Garden? Just recently I was blessed with attaining an Adminstrative Assistant. Her name is Megan Whitmer. I met her last summer at the Squirrel Hill Farmers Market. She was working with the Creamery at their booth where they make and sell specialty cheeses, icecream and fresh raw milk flavored with rubarb, strawberries and goats yogurt. She is such an intelligent, resourceful and pleasant person. Megan will be working with designing a customer relationship management program with insentives program for loyal customers. She will also be managing the customer databases and assisting in many project management venues.
We are moving up and into a major organic grocery store…right now it must remain a secret as to announce and give it away to soon would ruin the surprise~ so, stay tuned and continue to LIKE and SHARE our POST to our Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and our website in the next few weeks for the announcement! To prepare us for bigger opportunities in the retail sector I am currently preparing my application membership to attain the GS1 so that the Third Day Soaps Garden products being sold in larger retail stores have barcodes. We are also working with folks to attain our Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program with the FDA. One of the goals I have layed a foundation for in the new year is to encourage more people to learn how to formulate; and understand their organic natural skin care. Its very important to learn what the ingredients in your daily skin and hair products do and what they are really made of.
Hello 2016! be blessed!
Cynthia Hill, President
Third Day Soaps Garden