I can scarcely believe it, but Humblebee & Me is three today. I can’t believe it’s been over 1000 days since I launched this site with eager expectations of the world immediately flocking to the three recipes I had online. A lot has changed since then, and I’m super excited that people actually want to read my recipes and try my projects with me 🙂
I’m re-using this celebratory type photo ’cause I think it’s hilarious. Also YAY THREE YEARS!
So, as a bit of a birthday retrospective, I thought I’d take a look back at some of my favourites from the last year—favourite breakthroughs, favourite day-to-day products, favourite gifts, and what not. I’ve published over 600 entries (this is #648!), but these are the ones I’m excited about right now.
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5 Most Popular
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My 5 Favourite Day-to-Day Products
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My 5 Favourite Breakthroughs/ Innovations
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My 5 Favourite Gifts
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What are your favourite entries and projects? Any Humblebee & Me memories from the last 3 years? Share ’em!
Happy 3rd Birthday! I’ve just recently found your blog but I enjoy it very much! Thank you for the great information and recipes!
Thanks, Erica!
Happy Birthday to you!!!
Thanks for sharing all your wonderful ideas and recipes….
Thanks, Joan!
I love the essential oil headache eraser, the Gingerbread lip balm and the hair gel, which is the best hair gel I’ve ever used. You only asked for three. I could go on and on. I use various masks, the healing concealer, I can’t wait to try the mascara, and I love all the lip balms and shimmer sticks. Humblebee and me is the best.
Thanks so much, Kathie! I’m especially thrilled the hair gel works so well for you when I thought it was a bit of a flop 😉
I love your mascara recipe .. use it for eyeliner too. Looking for a good eyebrow defining recipe with ingredients from my kitchen. Suggestions welcome!
Thanks, Barbara! Have you tried my eyebrow fixative recipe? Not exactly kitchen ingredient style, but it works wonderfully!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! HUMBLEBEE AND YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR FABULOUS RECIPES!!!!!!
Thanks so much, Angie!
Happy Birthday! I love your site, and the amazing products you invent. I refer friends to your blog every chance I get. I can’t wait to see what goodies you come up with next.
Heather
Thanks so much, Heather—I really appreciate your support!
No way is it possible to narrow my favorites down to only 3! Happy, happy birthday Humblebee and Me! We’re the lucky ones, we get your posts as the presents
I’d never ask you to 😉 Thanks so much for reading & supporting me!
Happy birthday three year old. For someone of your age you certainly have come up wth some ab fab recipies. My two favourites were the zit buster and the after shave. Keep up the good work and uncork some bubbles…… Thought of you last week and I have arrived back from Scotland yesterday. Unfortunately they would not let me vote .
George from sunny Cape Town.
Thanks, George! I hope you had some haggis and scotch for me 😉
Of course they are compulsory!!! They even have a haggis pizza on a cheese base which tastes lekker “Seffrican for nice or tasty” When you take your next trip to Bonnie Scotland you must treat yourself to a Mac Sweens haggis pizza. You can also celebrate on January for Burn’s night with a wee dram or two.
I think I may be able to escape the haggis pizza with the vegetarian thing, but count me in for several drams of scotch, Burn’s night or not!
Happy Birthday Humblebee & Me! I love your website so much and to make it even awesomer, it’s the first day after the start of autumn! Thank you so much for posting and coming up with all these amazing recipes 🙂
Thanks!
Happy Birthday and happy blogging to one of the coolest Canadians ever! 😉
Love all your experiments, recipes and overall general info – you’ve helped me learn and create so much.
Thanks, Erin… eh 😉 Thanks for DIYing with me!
Happy Birthday!!!
I love your blog soo soo much!
Thank you for sharing all the nice recipes and ideas with us!
Lots of love to the cutest humblebee xxx
Thanks, Anna! 😀
Happy Birthday! I really enjoy your website! I love the way you have your blog set up, and each of the steps you show to make the product you’re talking about. Congrats!, and thanks for sharing:)
Thanks so much, Deb!
Hi Marie! Greetings from Vashon Island Washington! Happiest of third birthdays to you! I’ve only been a subscriber for 6 months but I love your prolific inventions! Thanks for sharing these wonderful non-commercial (insert chemicals) products. Happy birthday and here’s to many more!
Thanks so much, Debbie!
Happy birthday!
I absolutely love your blog! Thank you so much for all the wonderful recipes and info you share. I’ve made a number of things from here and have so many I want to try yet…
You’re the best!!!
Thanks so much, Elle!
Happy Birthday!!! Thanks so much for your blog! xx
Thanks!
Happy Birthday!
I love your site and your enthusiasm! All your pics are awesome! I hope we can read you at least 3×3 or longer. 😉
Kata from Hungary
Thanks so much, Kata!
Happy birthday! You are easily my favorite site and addiction 🙂 I cant choose three! maybe three hundred haha! But mineral veil is def a must have, right ow perfume tie between lemon lavender solid and your beguiling embrace, and sleek and shiny hair mist, though I don’t have snow bush oil, and forgot what I put in instead lol, I often wear that alone and get complements!! The rose smell stays in my hair overnight and through next day too!! I look forward to more awesome posts! Congratulations on your success, and on being amazing in the creativity department!!
Aww, thanks so much Colie! I’m so thrilled you’re loving Beguiling Embrace—I was worried nobody would try that one, but I LOVE it 🙂
Happy Birthday! 😀 I haven’t had time to try too many of your recipes yet, but your oat cream and roll-on tiger balm have been used very often in my family.
Thanks, Signe! Your support and DIYing company mean the world 🙂
Congratulations On A Job Well Done! Happy Birthday! Love The Recipes!
Thanks so much, Rema!
Happy Birthday, Marie, happy Birthday to you and your blog!
I love your creations, your photography and wit humor, cooking and sewing!
Only three?! Oh no! Seriously hard to pick only three projects…
I am very new to your blog, but I’ll try –
Rose Spearmint Lip Balm and sun-kissed lip balm,
Aloe Vera Citrus Soap and your series for beginners,
diy mediterranean wonder balm and Hemp, Oat, & Shea Eczema Body Butter Bar,
Bee Propolis Tincture,
Quinoa & Chia Seed Summer Salad, ….
I know… you asked for three…..
🙂
Thanks, Iryna! I’m so glad you’ve found so many faves 😉
Congrats on three years of awesomeness and being a great resource! Personally, my favorite recipes of yours are the shampoo bars, the yucca and clay facial cleanser, the hair serum, the broccoli hair conditioner, and the rose and argan body conditioner. There’s probably more, but I can’t think about them on spot. Three cheers to you!
🙂
Thanks so much for reading & DIYing with me, Ana—it’s truly appreciated!
Happy Birthday and MANY MANY more!
Your photo is adorable and shows your beautiful personality!
One of my favorites, has to be “Things I Learned in 2013”. Please do another one for 2014. Your honesty and insights are something we relate to and feel comfort knowing we aren’t alone in those thoughts.
Warmly,
(from Dallas, Texas)
Paula
Thanks, Paula! I’m glad you enjoyed that entry—it’s a definite departure from the usual, but it sparked some wonderful discussion. I’ve already started this year’s entry 🙂
Happy Birthday Easily one of the best bloggers. I tell all my friends about you. Soooooooo many recipes to pick from. Luv the lip balms
Thanks so much, Denise—I really appreciate the support 🙂
HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY! I’ve been along for the ride for over half that time I think, and you still amaze me with every post! There doesn’t seem to be much you can’t do, and it’s pretty inspiring (though not easy on the pocket since you inspire a LOT, hehe). I can’t easily choose 3 recipes as all-time favourites, but currently I’d say the gentle yucca & clay face wash, your cupuacu lip balm, ALL your lip balms, and the silver powder have been in my routine most lately!
Thanks for all that you do, and for being a great friend to boot 🙂 We must catch up soon, btw!
Thanks so much, Sarah! And yes, we definitely must catch up 😀
Happy Third Birthday! I love your recipes too. They’re always so creative! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Sandy!
Happy 3rd Birthday. I just love your site and learn so much from you and all the others that read it and post here. Now that school has started here, I need to catch up with all the comings and goings on the site. I hope you continue.
Thanks so much, Virginia!
Marie, congratulations. Thank you for your recepies and hard work.
Barb
Thanks, Barbara!
Congratulations. I really enjoy your blog and hope you continue to enjoy posting. I am moving in a few weeks, and will have a shed with space for a big workroom, hoping to be able to do lots more playing around with body products, soaps and candles. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks so much, Fiona! I really appreciate the support 🙂
I’m so glad I found your site, Happy 3 years hope your site is around for many, many more
Thanks so much, Natalie!
Happy birthday, and thank you for sharing. I love your recipes. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much, Cynthia!
Happy happy birthday! Congratulations! I can’t just pick one favourite recipe. I love all your creations and can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
Thanks so much, and thanks for your support!
You are so much fun Marie! Happy Happy Birthday to Humblebee.
Had a wonderful afternoon with my daughters and granddaughters making a few products as gifts for ourselves and friends. You provided the catalyst for alot of laughter and three generations of women spending time together. We made the french green clay mask, lip balm, and lavender spray. All of us had a delightful time. We thank you.
Thanks, Janis! I’m so glad to have helped get you and your ladies together for a DIY day—those are just the best 🙂
Happy birthday – it’s on my birthday!! Love your blog and all your recipes. You inspire me to create more and write a better blog!
How funny! Happy birthday to both of us, then 🙂 Thanks so much for being such a loyal reader—I’m really enjoying watching your blog grow as well 🙂
Congratulations Marie on your 3rd anniversary. I just want to say a big heartfelt thank you to you. What you do is awesome. I discovered your website not that long ago and you have been the inspiration to step out and start DIYing for myself, family and friends. I am loving it. Well done and thank you again for all your efforts, they are always very much appreciated.
Thanks, Sonja! I’m so thrilled to have helped inspire you to get your hands dirty and start DIYing 🙂
Happy birthday, Humblebee!
I’d like to list three topics that have inspired me:
1) adding clay to soap. Sure, I’d heard of clay in soap before, but you explained WHY that’s a good thing. Plus, it’s in nearly every soap recipe you use, so I figured it must be a wonderful addition. Yep, now I put it in nearly every soap I make. 🙂 (I was surprised, however, to read that you hadn’t tried French green clay in a soap until recently – that’s one of my favorites!)
) using animal fat in soap. I was reluctant to do that until you explained why it’s great in soap. Again, you were right! In fact, I received my first compliment from my sister-in-law when I shared a “Titanic” soap with her (it might have been more about the scent than the tallow, because I suspect she hasn’t actually used it yet – she loves the scent too much to use it up. I told her I’d be glad to make more!)
3) your experiments with wax and oil ratios is SO useful! I plan to make some salve to help with bronchitis, since I seem to catch that at least once a year, and I feel confident that I can design the salve base to be the consistency I prefer, now I have that info!
Since it’s a birthday list, here’s one to grow on:
4) I appreciate all the great info on ingredients and why you use them. So many of the ingredients you use are things I’ve never heard of, it’s great to get an introduction to them here. It would be even better if you would come back to your posts and give a feedback on how you feel about the recipe after using the item over a longer period of time – maybe something seemed pretty great at first, but after a while, you might find that it was just ok. I know you do a lot of testing on your recipes before posting them, but I’ve noticed occasionally that you have an intriguing ingredient one time, but it never shows up in later recipes, so I wonder if that cool-sounding ingredient just never really panned out.
I think you’ve got the best blog out there, and I appreciate all your hard work SO MUCH! Thanks for sharing your recipes and discoveries! 🙂
Hi Elizabeth! Thanks so much for your lovely birthday wishes and compliments 🙂 As I grow and become better at planning I’m getting to the point where many of my recipes go live months after I’ve made the originals, so I do hope there I am able to give some decent perspective, but I am well aware that with 650+ recipes online many of them don’t have much of a follow up. Honestly, that’s often because I haven’t been able to use a product enough in isolation to say anything truly insightful about it 😛 Oh, the challenges of having the world’s best-stocked bathroom!
Happy belated birthday!!! I found your website not that long ago and I love your blog. Thank you so much for all those wonderful ideas and recipes. You are the best!
Thanks so much, Valeska!
Happy Birthday!!! I’ve been a loyal reader since early last year and I am so happy to see the success of you and this blog! love it love it love it!
And as far as favorite recipe, what makes you think we don’t like them all ?! However if I had to choose, I’d pick:
Smokey Sweet Potato Gratin, Simple Cleaning Soap, Citrussy Beer Soap, Gin & Tonic Soap, Toilet Bombs, Whipped Soap [my ‘request a recipe’ selection (): ] Beef Tallow Balm and the Egyptian Magic Balm (I am still working on mastering this recipe)
I love this site and I want to thank you again for creating this amazing archive! Marie Rocks!
P.S. How can forget your oil to wax; oil to cocoa butter ratio posts, and your guides to substitutions? Super helpful!!
Thanks so much, Kristen! Loyal readers like you are a huge part of the reason I keep doing what I do 🙂
Happy 3rd Marie!! On this special occasion, I thought I’d share this amusing tidbit… I live in Colorado, and since I discovered your site, my fellow diy coworkers and I have been following you daily… so much so, that your blog had been blocked by our IT dept!! I know I shouldn’t laugh, but I think it’s kind of hysterical and awesome! You have achieved the ranks of Netflix, Amazon, Victoria’s Secret, and ESPN! I popped my head into IT when I realized it, and said, “Really, guys?! You blocked a DIY blog from a woman from Calgary?!” They said it was the fault of an algorithm, and get back to work!!! I told them I’d give them a bar of Campfire soap if they unblocked it, but no such luck. 😀
Hi Andrea! Your story definitely made me laugh 🙂 How funny! I can now brag that I’m up there with Netflix… at your office, at least 😉
Happy birthday Marie and Humblebee. Thanks for all your great recipes. Here’s to the next three years.
Thanks, Catherine!
I have to say my faves are the argan oil serum (which, by the way, I’m converting everyone i can to using! My mom was very quickly hooked and my bestie is on the way 🙂 ), your naked lip balm and the mint variety too – they are so smoother and non-gunkie!, and the cocoa butter whipped body butters – which are actually helping to heal stretchmarks I’ve had since high school growth spurts. 😀
Also, I love love love the lotions I’ve made/derived from your recipes! All your lotions are lovely and so much better than that paraben-filled, store bought junk!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experiments with the rest of us! And I wish you a happy and fun and inventive fourth year ahead!
KM
Thanks so much for all the support and for DIYing with me, KM 🙂