Featured Blogger: SoapBird – Our Chirp & MockingBird Soap

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Featured Blogger: SoapBird – Our Chirp & MockingBird Soap

Featured Blogger: SoapBird – MockingBird Soap Fun pack

Norah aka SoapBird has been a blog buddy since the beginning of the year and stays incredibly busy with her gift soaps and body products business, MockingBird Soap Company, her blog, Our Chirp, and other fundraising and volunteering projects. As if that isn’t enough, she is Mom to two loving children;a son and daughter, and still makes time to stop by and check in with her many blog buddies in the Blogosphere. Norah/SoapBird stays very committed to the families she volunteers time with and because she shares our inspirational blog posts and recipes with her clients, she has requested I omit her picture.

Helping people in need has been a lifetime calling and, whenever possible, SoapBird finds ways to support others through her gifts and fundraisers. When we connected on WordPress, she shared her commitment with me and spoke highly of the love and devotion she has for her clients. Recently, she created Notes for Hope, a collection of messages from readers and customers (who support the idea of helping others) to be stamped on paper that will be used as wrapping paper for the donated items. I admire the work she does and invite you to join me in welcoming this week’s “Get To Know” blogger – our very busy friend/blog buddy; SoapBird. Leave a comment here and then go visit her blog and say hello! Her interview follows… 🙂

What led you to soap-making and How did the business start? Soap-making started as a hobby; a way for me to escape from the stress of work and it became therapeutic for me. I love making things for others and the joy that it brings. There’s something about receiving a handmade gift. It tells the recipient how special they are.
As I learned more about ingredients used in natural soaps and lotions, I learned about its full benefits and how it lifts the mind, body and spirit. I experimented with various ingredients to help my dry skin condition and took a few classes in chemistry, herbals, aromatherapy and skin care to educate myself. I gave my creations to those in need, the aging, children, and homeless, and  found the same positive reactions on others. There’s something about receiving an unexpected handmade gift wrapped in a pretty handmade wrapping with a hand written note inside. I wanted to combine my two passions, social service and handmade soaps/gifts into a business. That’s why I do what I do and I hope that others see it too.

What are some of the challenges of running your business in these economic times? Technology is a useful tool in many ways but it has made it hard to communicate with people face to face and/or by phone which I prefer. Is it just me? Does anyone else feel the same way? Also, keeping costs low and affordable to allow this SoapBird to continue helping others is a challenge.

“And He took the children in his arms, put His hands on them and blessed them”- Mark 10:16.

Featured Blogger: SoapBird – Norah of Our Chirp & MockingBird Soap

Featured Blogger: SoapBird – MockingBird Soap... gift bags

If you could do something else, what would you do? I never thought of doing anything else but, I would expand on what I do now. My vision is to open a home (not a shelter) but a real home for women and children in transition. I come across many women who are struggling; the cost of child care alone is so expensive there’s no money left over for anything else. Volunteer work is very much a big part of my life and close to my heart.

Where did you grow up?
I was raised in a large, hard working, middle class family from NY and I’m the youngest of 13 children. My parents split when I was very young. My mother worked and supported us financially. Being the youngest, I traveled a lot to visit my siblings. After graduating from school and settling down, I moved to sunny Florida and enjoy living there. I’m a proud mother of two great kids, my eldest chose the military life  (so please keep him in your prayers) and my youngest keeps me young and awake.

Why do you blog?
A few reasons: 1) I needed to get over my uneasy feeling with the use of social networking and blogging. I had a very unpleasant online experience. So far I’ve been very blessed with the help of WordPress community and my blog buddies. 2) I enjoy meeting new folks and learning from others and the world around me. 3) I had no idea the profound effect your blogs would have on the families I share them with. Many families cannot subscribe to your blogs so my reading and sharing them has made a huge impact. Please keep blogging. 4) My business and customer purchases help me donate goods/products, services, and food to organizations I volunteer with. Customers who buy my products make it possible to give these families a little something special.

“Don’t ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up” –Robert Frost

Featured Blogger: SoapBird – MockingBird Soap... Shea butter products

What is most important to you?
Helping Families in need/at risk is most important to me. I worked my way through school and earned a degree in social services. I narrowed my field and focused on families at risk; I felt children and seniors were the most vulnerable. I believe God led me to see that even in the midst of darkness and despair there is still a chance for hope and love. What most people don‘t realize is most at-risk families don‘t choose abuse, addiction, or violence in their lives. Sometimes it’s brought on by a traumatic event or learned behavior they witnessed as a child. For some, it‘s the only life they’ve ever known. One of my favorite quotes in college that kept me humbled and focused is the Robert Frost quote above. The Serenity Prayer helps me too. Statistics on abuse and homelessness is staggering across our nation and that is why I find ways to support families that live in my communities.

What is most important about you?
God, family, volunteering and work matter to me. I’m fortunate to have found a way to combine my two passions inorder to help others. My soaps are sold to help students participate in after-school programs without worrying about cost. Every soap purchase helps increase donations for a child in grades K-12 to participate in an after-school program or activity. Additionally, hygiene care packages are assembled by our volunteers and distributed to homeless students and seniors. The personalized fundraiser is a service offered to all students, parents, teachers, and our veterans; for anyone looking for an inexpensive or free way to raise much needed funds.

What motivates you to get out of bed? God, family and my community motivate me. Also, I love to read humor books, watch old movies, board games and leisure bike rides with my daughter, nature, art, and best of all, the warm sun on my face, the rain on my skin, the embrace of my family‘s love, and my love for God who makes it all possible.

How would you like to be remembered? I’d like to be remembered as a loving, caring mother, a funny friend, a fantastic baker & cook, and the best secret keeper ever.

You may connect with Norah/SoapBird through her blogs – Our Chirp and MockingBird Soap Company, and via her Twitter handle – @SoapWhipped. Again, take a moment to leave a comment here for SoapBird, and join me in saying a big hello and welcome to our blog friend/buddy — Norah aka SoapBird.
What are your thoughts? Do share? If you’d like to be featured, leave a note and let me know how to reach you. Thank You! 🙂

Positive Motivation Tip: Find your joyful path and follow it; in business and friendship, stay true to yourself.

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Featured Photos are courtesy of Norah aka SoapBird.

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet