Behind the Bubbles: A Day in the Life of a Soapmaker, Small Business Owner, and Homeschooling Mom

Welcome to my world—where coffee fuels creativity, fragrance blends spark joy, and every order is packed with love (and a gift bag!). I’m Jodie, the founder and creative force behind Simply Made by Jodie. I make every soap, lotion, and foaming tab by hand, name each product with care, and run my business from the heart—with a little help from my kids and a lot of caffeine.

I thought it’d be fun to share a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to do all this. So instead of writing a traditional blog post, I let the questions come to me—like a cozy interview. Here’s what it’s like to live, create, and homeschool in my little corner of Texas.

💬 Interview with Jodie

Q1. What first drew you to soapmaking? Was there a moment, a need, or a scent that started it all?   I love creating!! When I first tried soapmaking I was like... WOW I made that!! It was this instant feeling of accomplishment and wonder. I also find it incredibly stress relieving. I'm at peace with myself when I'm blending fragrances and creating a beautiful design. It’s like my own kind of meditation—except it smells amazing and ends in a swirl.

Q2. How do you come up with your scent stories and product names? Do you have a favorite that still makes you smile?   I like to think I have a creative mind. I want something that stands out from the rest—something fun, uplifting, or emotionally resonant. My favorite blend is one of my very own creations: Woodland Berry. It’s our signature soap and one of our best sellers. I love the mild fruitiness and earthy vibe—it feels like a walk through the woods with a basket of wild berries and a deep breath of fresh air.

Q3. What’s a typical day like for you—balancing batches, packaging, website updates, and homeschooling?   My typical day can be hectic at times. I start by getting the kids ready with their schoolwork—they’re getting older now, so they pretty much have their work going when they wake up. Then it’s making sure the pets are fed and trying to get that first cup of coffee... that’s a must!! After that, I check on orders, get things printed out, handle packaging, update the website—and then it’s back to creating. It can be stressful at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Q4. Your packaging is so thoughtful and beautiful. What’s your secret to finding the right box, sticker, or insert?   I am always searching for the best. Our customers come first, and we show them that—always. That’s top priority. I can spend hours searching for the right tissue paper, the perfect gift bags... yes, I always give out a gift bag with our orders. Whether you’re ordering from us for the first time or the fourth, every order comes with a gift. It’s our special way of saying thank you. We package every order with love and attention to detail—we want it to feel almost like Christmas every time.

Q5. What’s been one of your biggest pivots or problem-solving wins in running Simply Made by Jodie?   Shipping used to be a headache—flat rate boxes were expensive and didn’t fit my products well. I knew I had to pivot. I tested different box sizes, weighed postage costs, and played around with packaging layouts until I found a solution that worked. Now I use custom packaging that protects my products, looks beautiful, and doesn’t break the bank. It took trial and error, but now my packaging is both budget-friendly and brand-aligned. That pivot made a huge difference.

Q6. How do your kids get involved in the business? Any funny scent tester stories or homeschool tie-ins?   My kids have no problem voicing their opinions—whether it smells great or “Oh my goodness, no, you can’t make that!” They’re honest, and I love that. My youngest is especially involved. She helps choose names, colors, and fragrances. She finds it all fascinating and treats it like her own creative playground. They’re not just my kids—they’re my collaborators, my testers, and my biggest cheerleaders.

🎉 Fun Facts About Me

• ☕ Coffee is my creative fuel. Especially during soapmaking—it's my go-to companion while blending, swirling, and labeling.

• 🏡 If I could turn a feeling into a soap... it would be Autumn Country Home. Is that weird? LOL. I just love the cozy, crisp, woodsy vibe—like warm cider and flannel blankets wrapped into a bar.

• 🎶 Country music is my studio soundtrack. Laney Wilson gets me through the long hours—her voice is like a creative heartbeat in the background.

• 🧸 I used to collect Boyd’s Bears. I have sooooo many tucked away in boxes. They’re little treasures from another chapter of my life.

• 🧱 I’m a total LEGO nut. When I find the time, I dive in. The last build I did was the Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle—my husband got it for me last Christmas, and it was magical.

😤 Pet Peeves from the Soap Studio (and beyond)

• When someone says, “It’s just soap.”   Excuse me? It’s chemistry, artistry, branding, packaging, and a whole lot of love. It’s never just soap.

• Packing peanuts.   They multiply like gremlins and stick to everything. Give me crinkle paper or give me peace.

• Fragrance oils with vague names like “Mystic Breeze.”   What does that even smell like? I need notes, not riddles.

• Website glitches at midnight.   Because of course the “add to cart” button breaks after you’ve spent two hours writing poetic scent descriptions.

• When your favorite tissue paper gets discontinued.   It’s like losing a friend who always made your packaging pop.

• People who open soap bars and sniff them aggressively at markets.   I get it—you love scent. But maybe don’t inhale the entire bar?

• When your coffee goes cold mid-batch.   Soap waits for no one. Not even caffeine.

• When crafters call themselves soapmakers, but only do melt & pour. Look, there’s room for all kinds of creativity—but if you’re not actually making the soap from scratch, maybe don’t wear the title. It’s a craft, a science, and a labor of love. Respect the process.

💖 Final Thoughts

Running Simply Made by Jodie isn’t just a business—it’s a lifestyle, a family affair, and a creative journey. Every product I make is a little piece of my world, wrapped up with care and sent out with love. I hope this behind-the-scenes peek made you smile, and maybe even inspired you to see your soap as more than just soap.

Thanks for being part of this story. You’re the reason I do what I do.