About the “Resist You Motherfuckers” stickers: the profanity is there for a reason. This moment (as we swing hard into the midterms), is urgent, and we’re past the luxury of polite language. optimisticsoap.com/product-page/resist-you-motherf-ers-sticker 🧼

Petty joy is allowed (his name off the Kennedy Center, the $14M reflecting pool paint peeling off — delicious). Mocking tyrants cuts them to size. And that’s tasty! But the Obama Center opening? That’s soul-nourishing, substantial joy. Go find some video and mainline that joy!

This month, every soap sold sends $1 to Trans Equality Now and Trans Lifeline. So far? $739. Might break $1,000! I didn’t do that alone. YOU did — everyone who bought soap, liked, commented, or shared. Honestly, this post is just a thank you to you for your support! www.optimisticsoap.com

This fundraiser completely flopped at first. I admitted we’d only raised a few hundred dollars toward a $5k goal. I asked you to donate OR just engage with the reel. It worked: $19,349.80 raised. More than double my previous best. Thank you!

Still not over being called a “soap influencer.” (See my previous reel) But the soap brings me joy and pays the bills. This account is sometimes Activism + soap + random thoughts. If that appeals to you — WELCOME. 💙 Rose Garden → www.optimisticsoap.com/product-page...

Apparently I’m the #4 soap making influencer in the country, which is not a sentence I ever expected to type. I’ve never been paid for content. No brand deals. Just a soap maker with Thoughts about activism, joy, and getting through these times together. If that’s influence, I’ll take it. 🧼

Schadenfreude: petty joy at a fascist’s outdoor birthday UFC fight getting rained out. 🌩️ (80% chance Sunday evening in DC. LOL) Counter-programming: riseupsingout.com · free · June 14 · 7:30pm ET · lineup is FIRE 🔥 He’s obsessed with ratings. Let’s make sure we overshadow that UFC event!

Coming out in many Asian cultures can feel like a betrayal of generations who sacrificed everything for you. That feeling is real — and it says nothing about your worth. You absolutely deserve all the love. Leave a comment — the allies here will show up for you. I love you. I’m proud of you. 🏳️‍🌈

Schadenfreude (n.) — pleasure derived from another’s misfortune. Not normally a kind feeling. But these are not normal times. 🧼 His approval rating at 31% — lowest since the 1940s. Petty? Absolutely. Let’s enjoy it together!

My reach tanked last month — a tenth of normal. You have more power than the algorithm does. A like, comment, share, or save sends a real signal. Extra credit: visit my bio and show some love to older posts too. Just this once, the ask is for me.

Something is shifting. Republicans breaking from the war, the slush fund, the indefensible stuff. It happened because of YOU. The calls. The rallies. The refusal to look away. The cracks in the wall are the accumulation of everything you did. Thank you. Keep going.

🧼 This June, every bar of soap I sell sends $1 to: → @transequalitynow → @translifeline 📣 Say the thing out loud 🔁 Amplify trans voices 📞 Call Congress — support the Transgender Bill of Rights (5calls.org) 🏳️‍ Buy queer — Everywhere is Queer app Show up however you can. 🏳️‍⚧️

TiOS flare-up check — how are you holding up? The DNC tweet (mean? a little. accurate? completely). The Strait of Hormuz doing whatever it’s doing. Stephen Colbert’s finale. NSFW around my house. Yours? TiOS is real. Not in the DSM. Should be. Download 5Calls. Rage usefully.

🌿 Lemongrass 🔮 Spellbound. Rosemary and lemongrass. 🌊 Oregon Coast. Lavender, rosemary, lemongrass and peppermint. 🌲 Forest Park. Lavender, cedarwood, lime and rosemary. 🖤 Slate. Lime and tea tree 🌱 Doublemint Scrub. Peppermint, spearmint. Finally back! All at optimisticsoap.com while they last!

Every month I send $1 from every bar of soap I sell to a nonprofit. June = Pride month, so I want that dollar to go to an LGBTQIA+ org — help me pick one! Drop your favorites in the replies My soap Calm the Fuck Down always supports The Trevor Project. www.optimisticsoap.com/product-page...

Joy is like spiders — always closer than you think. You just have to notice them. I was absently petting my cat Pip while writing this and stopped to actually be with him for a moment. Felt his purr, huffed his warm belly, admired his markings. A microdose of joy. What are you noticing today?

Years ago, Andrea from The Beekeeper’s Wife sent me an entire case of her Maker’s Blend so I could make fundraising soap for foster youth through Project Lemonade. Since then, she’s shared knowledge, encouragement, and friendship. Community over competition. Always. shopbeekeeperswife.com

Favorite moments: the Empire Builder train ride, incredible architecture in Chicago, wandering Boston, meeting fascinating strangers in the dining car… and finally coming home to my cats & making soap again. Also: the soap shop is back open: optimisticsoap.com

I can’t imagine how exhausting it must feel to be overwhelmed politically and feel unsupported by your partner. Relationships are complicated, and I hope the comments can become a thoughtful place for people to share what has genuinely helped them cope. I suspect many people need this right now.

My doctor asked what changed that might explain my higher blood pressure. Maybe… it’s the constant stress of living through world-ending news every day? So this is your reminder: protecting your joy is necessary right now. Burned out people cannot sustain a long fight. Let’s share our joys!

Honestly, one of the best anti-“musty smell” strategies is having trusted friends who promise to tell you the truth. 😂 Practical tips: 🧼 Wash consistently, especially oil-prone areas 👕 Keep laundry & bedding fresh 🪄 Exfoliate gently a few times a week in those areas You do not need a miracle soap!

If you’re in the Portland, OR area and need soap (and other local goodies) while I’m offline, you can find a selection there (and Danielle’ll deliver it right to your door… for free!). Foragelocal.com. Otherwise, I’ll be back mid-May and I appreciate you for your understanding during this break.

May Day felt good for a reason. Less mindless purchasing. More intention. More money staying in our communities, less flowing out. Let’s keep the spirit of May Day Strong going.

May Day Strong: a national economic boycott. Skip the big chains. Support local. Pay cash if you can. Fill your day with things that don’t fund billionaires—library, walks, making something, connecting with people. How are you participating?

Local coffee shops are community hubs. 💛 They support neighbors, uplift makers, and give back in ways big chains don’t. As Friday’s boycott approaches: skip the big chains, step back from billionaires—and support the small businesses that show up for your community.

This is about listening to voters, not debating them—and it’s one of the most effective ways to make a difference. Join a Ground Truth/Indivisible Oregon canvass: www.indivisibleor.org/events?tag=C... (Interactions shown were staged for filming.)

There’s a whole map dedicated to small, delightful moments of joy —(pdxsidewalkjoy.com). Neighbors creating tiny libraries, exchanges, and whimsical little installations… just to share. Such a beautiful way to give back to the world and create community.

I donate $1/bar each month to a cause. Lately that’s Democracy Forward. Last year: $8,896. This year: $2,026 so far. I’m a bit behind on the latest donation due to cash flow—but it’s coming, and I’ll update when it’s sent. Thank you for being part of this.

I’ll be turning my shop off for sales for a few weeks starting the first of May. (I normally don’t telegraph vacations, but I’ll have folks occupying the house so not worried about bad guys reading this) www.optimisticsoap.com/product-page...

I got so many comments on a cute cat dress I wore for a reel last year that I tagged @misslulolabel so others could find their own. The owner was so delighted that she sent me more dresses and created the discount code “optimistic” for you to use for 15% off to use at www.misslulo.com

Making and selling soap is my emotional support hobby. Thanks to everyone supporting me in this work! Oatmeal Milk Honey doesn’t sell out like my cheekier soaps, but it’s a favorite of some who order them in multiples. www.optimisticsoap.com/product-page...

I wasn’t considered “the epitome of beauty” growing up. These days? I’m done letting random people define how I see myself. I’ll do what makes me feel good, for ME. And know this: you are under absolutely no obligation to meet the ridiculous, impossible standards the world hands us.

It turns out we are a community of petty kindred souls. 🦋 200+ bars of "Fresh out of Fucks" gone in a week! "Calm the Fuck Down" feels like a prerequisite for existing in 2026. Let’s all take a deep breath (of lavender) together. 🧼 Grab yours here: www.optimisticsoap.com/product-page...

My feed, my rules. 🚫 I have zero tolerance for comments that deny the humanity of any group. If it’s racist, homophobic, transphobic, or bigoted, I delete and block. No debate. A safe community requires active curation. Protect your peace and your people!

Portland: Want to help make a big splash at the next rally? The Indivisible Oregon Art Team needs: • Handlers (8 per puppet!) • Creators Be part of this creative community making art as resistance. Sign up here: 👉 www.mustardgasandroses.com/puppets 📸: Drone footage by @datguyeddy

Current Mood: Schadenfreude. I made a soap for when you’ve watched the "Find Out" phase of politics and realized you have zero sympathy left to give. Available in classic and vegan at www.optimisticsoap.com/product-page.... Tiny fuck stickers for those truly running on empty.

Start: 5calls.org Enter your zip code and call your rep + senators. Tell them you’re concerned about the escalation with Iran, refuse war funding, and publicly support impeachment. Or call: (202) 224-3121 Quick. Direct. It matters.

We are easier to control when we’re divided. Break that cycle by finding your local grassroots group: 📍 indivisible.org/get-involved... Don't do this alone. Join a local @indivisible.org group, get involved, and find the community you need to keep going. ✊

Mark May 1st on all your calendars: May Day Strong. We have a chance to show this administration that we the people have real economic power. No work. No school. No shopping. Start doing what you need to do now to make this happen. We’ve got this.

This is it! My LAST DITCH encouragement to anyone who might still be considering attending a No Kings rally tomorrow (3/28)! Convinced? (Please say yes!) Go to NoKings.org and plug in your location to find details about a rally near you!

My soap disaster? I forgot a mold liner, resulting in a caustic leak that splashed batter everywhere. The result: Short and Ugly Billionaire Tears. They’re a bit stunted and the swirls are nonexistent, but it’s still my classic recipe. Discounted here: www.optimisticsoap.com/product-page...

Help me get folks out to the No Kings rallies! Do not underestimate your power. By commenting, liking and sharing content, you really have the power to make anything go viral! Go to nokings.org to find a rally near you! And THANK YOU!

Look for these puppets on the waterfront next Saturday, March 23 around noon. Don’t miss a chance to snag an unforgettable selfie (and tag @indivisible-oregon.bsky.social #portlandnokings3). About Portland’s multiple rallies: tinyurl.com/Pdxnokings3 Find a rally near you: nokings.org

March 28 is coming up fast! Locate your nearest rally at www.nokings.org Portlanders? Meet me on the waterfront near the battleship memorial at noon. For other local options: www.nokings.org And come and say hello! I’m bringing an army of frog stickers to share. Where will YOU be on March 28?

Feeling "first-timer jitters"? These rallies have been incredibly peaceful + joyful! 🕊️ Organizers' full list: www.nokings.org/kyr#prepare-... 🔒 Digital Safety: 🆔 Kill biometrics (FaceID/PIN only) 👋 Sign out of apps 💬 Use Signal ☁️ Back up data Do what makes YOU feel safe. 🏛️✊ Tips in comments! 👇

Help spread the word about No Kings III Help make this a historic day of protest by spreading the word across Portland and Oregon.‍ ‍ Print 3 copies of this flyer Post them anywhere with a lot of foot traffic www.indivisibleor.org/events/no-ki...

Check your local rules on sticks (anything that could be a weapon). In PDX they’re common, but you can always just hold the sign! 🪧 Easy options: bring a flag (YES. We’re reclaiming our flag) or grab an old yard sign. Get creative—think paper mache cheetos! Local March 28 rallies: www.nokings.org

In Portland, No Kings feels less like a protest and more like a giant, family-friendly festival with a purpose: costumes, inflatables, hilarious signs, and thousands of engaged people who care deeply. Go on March 28. You’ll leave feeling stronger, steadier, and more hopeful. Find yours: NoKings.org

Optimistic by brand, realist by nature — I won’t lie to make you feel better. But today I feel more optimism than I have since this administration began. Cracks are widening. Keep the momentum: No Kings, March 28. Find yours: nokings.org Find my other No Kings reels on my profile.

👶 childcare • 🚗 ride/carpool • 🎟️ transit/gas/parking 📲 check-in buddy (“text me when you get home”) 📣 share posts / flyers • 💌 DM 3 friends (direct invites work) 🪧 sign-making party or lend supplies • 💧 water/snacks 📸 share pics/posts Full list: www.instagram.com/reel/DVq5u8H...