When I tell someone I spent a few hours masterbatching over the weekend, the usual response is “What?” and a funny look. Masterbatching is not a dirty word. It’s messy and takes a few hours. It requires heavy lifting, containers and an electronic scale.
Running a business means I’m constantly looking for ways to be more efficient. For me, the hardest part of soap making is weighing out the oils and butters. I need to drag my oil cart over to my stainless steel table, open all the boxes and buckets, and weigh out the proper amount of oils and butters needed to make a batch of soap. Weighing oils and butters is time consuming and incredibly messy. Clean up takes Forever! Weighing out 25-30 batches at the same time means I’m only doing the cart-dragging, bucket-opening and cleaning up once instead of 25-30 times.
All the containers I masterbatch my recipe in are the same. They look the same and more importantly, they weigh the same. I know what each step of the process should weigh and can immediately tell if I forgot to add an oil. Each batch is labeled and dated.
There is a feeling of satisfaction I can only compare to freezer cooking. You know when you spend the day making chili, ziti, stew, and a few other recipes for your freezer? You open the freezer door, stand back and admire your work, knowing all you need to do is pull out a dinner in the morning and pop it into the over when you get home from work. For a soap maker, looking at 30 batches of soap in containers feels pretty much the same.
In fact, I loved the feeling so much I started masterbatching my scent blends. No more mixing blends for each batch of soap, I just pour from my own bottles.
This week I’m grateful for my stocked soap pantry. It makes my life easier when I can open a container and start soaping.
What are you grateful for this week?
Yours in Gratitude,
Angela
I’m grateful for you and your master batching. I wish I were involved in an activity that I could also name masterbatching and put it online.
You were so smart and I know exactly how you feel because I also standback and admire my freezer after monthly shopping at ShopRite.
Emy you do masterbatch! You masterbatch your meals and put them in the freezer. Now go write a blog or Facebook post about your masterbatching… 🙂
Angela,
Thank you for sharing this when Meg and I made soap with you. I will probably never be as efficient as you but, I sure am trying! You are a gracious teacher and a great role model. The Soaping Goddess!!! We love to read your posts and truly appreciate you! Tara and Meghan
Thanks Tara. I’m glad it helped to see how I masterbatch my base oils. I have a feeling you and Meghan will absolutely become efficient quickly. I appreciate the both of you too!
YES! I love masterbatching…doesn’t mater if its cooking or soaping. I so totally get the funny looks that you get when you say that you masterbatched…it surely sounds like something else…lol.
I’m grateful for freshly delivered seasoned firewood…I didn’t have to chop the tree down, or cut it up…or even stack it for later use. I am grateful that I will be able to warm my home as well as my body. I love a fire in the winter and I love being able to stand there and toast myself warm.
Those funny looks are something, aren’t they Sandy. 🙂
I love a fire in the winter too, just wish I had a fireplace. I visit friends who have one when the mood strikes. Enjoy yours and thanks for sharing!
It is a fun word to say! And being efficient is important in business.
Sure is, on both counts!