“SONO FELICE!!!”  I am so happy I did not wait until last year to get a passport!  For one thing, there would be no Kalastyle products.  Without it (unless you choose to travel illegally) you can never really know first hand anything about other countries or the people of the world.

The “Sea to Shining Sea” photo, I took from the tip of the little island where I live.  That’s the Atlantic Ocean.  My island is part of the state of Rhode Island, which unfortunately, we cannot see Russia from.

“HONESTLY, WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SOAP?”

Well, I’ll tell you.

Did you know that today more European families purchase liquid soaps and gels than bars of soap?  American mass market brands sailed across the Atlantic holding hands with our fast-food chains.

I can remember the Europe before they landed.

IT IS IN THAT EUROPE THAT I HAD MY FIRST FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

The House of Valobra in Genova, Italy is where it all began.  Since 1902 the Valobra family has refused to compromise on anything in the art of soap making.  Nestled on the coast of Italy, this soapworks factory has survived everything, including a Nazi occupation during World War II.

From Signore Valobra’s vast collection of amber colored bottles of pure essential oils and raw materials to the generations of women gently hand wrapping and boxing each soap, Valobra Soaps simply offer a superior bathing experience.

Traveling in 2008, while going back in time, that’s the House of Valobra.   It is just one of the amazing places my passport has taken me.

Valobra Soaps.  Expensive?  Yes.  Worth every lira, euro, US dollar?  Absolutely.  Never giving up a family tradition?  Priceless.

The American Election 2008

What does a passport, experiencing the idea of keeping an old world family tradition alive for 106 years and the election have in common?

One candidate went to Europe to remind all Europeans of the common values we share across the Atlantic.

Another, ridiculed that connection and warned, “it is not what he took there that concerns me; it is what he brought back! Lots of ideas from Europe he’d like to see imported here.”

I am as Irish Catholic as they come.

If you don’t know what that means, I’ll tell you.  It means I like to party.  It also means my little address book in the kitchen drawer has a picture of Mary on the cover.  If you don’t know who Mary is - she’s God’s mom, even though she’s a virgin.

Sunday, at mass, I started looking around.  I stand in the back, there was a good crowd.  Watching so many different people lined up in pews I asked myself   “DO WE LOOK CATHOLIC?”

When I walk down the street do people say:  “Oh yeah, she’s a Catholic, all right!”?

HONESTLY! WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SOAP?

Well, we Catholics believe in “The 10 Commandments” and number nine is “Thou Shalt Not Lie”.  And, lying has everything to do with soap.

Can you name any other object your mother threatened to stuff in your mouth if you lied?  Probably not.

Have you ever had your mouth washed out with soap?

I HAVE!

It is disgusting and invigorating at the same time.  And for sure, it is nothing you would want to do twice in your life.

The American Election Campaign 2008

What does a Catholic, an election and a bar of soap have to do with each other?

One can find many a mouth that needs a good scrubbing in this campaign.  My God, the stuff that comes out of them!

For mouth-washing: I recommend Kalastyle’s Tabiano Soap.  Even though our Star of David Honey Almond Soap would probably TASTE pretty good as far a soap goes, lying is serious business, and Tabiano is serious soap.

So, Tabiano, it is!

Lather up!

What a year!

At Kalastyle, we talk everyday about the future and our world. Yes, we are the “soap people”, but at the same time, we are a family business and like all families we want a safe and healthy world to live in.

So, for 2008 we offer you our Kalastyle Statement Soaps, to ponder each message as you wash up or soak in the bath with one of these new soaps. They are organic aloe vera enriched and smell “WONDERFUL”! And, don’t forget, when you shower with the Save Water Soap…invite a friend!

Hi. I’m Kate. I own Kala. For the past 20 years, Kalastyle has brought you some pretty groovy soaps from around the world. We will continue to do so for years to come.

Why Vote Soap? It is 2008, an American election year. After 8 years, we are going to elect a new president. I could speak volumes on the “Bush/Cheney Experience”, but I don’t want to be a “blog hog”.

Tomorrow is a new beginning - only if we work together to “get out the vote”. With an uplifting fragrance called “Olive Branch”, this one and only “Vote Soap” is just a great soap, with an even greater message. (Made in America, of course!)

Kalastyle is a proud supporter of a VOTING AMERICA. Join us. Know the issues, register and vote. I’m Kate Smith, and I approve this message.

Read more about the VOTE SOAP!

Wait a minute!

If you want to make a really big splash check out all the “Kalastyle Statement Soaps”. Feel Good - Vote Soap, Peace Soap - because peace is good for all skin types, and Save Water Soap - because clean water is the next oil, please conserve.