About Us
Hi! My name is Nicole...I grew up in Thatcher, UT; a very rural town in Box Elder County. I graduated Bear River High School in 2000, and all the while living the ranching lifestyle. Riding horses all the time, branding calves in the spring, feeding cows in the winter, and all the other stuff in between.I met my one and only, Brian, in January of 2014, and he gave me his last name Sept 17, 2021. We have a spoiled four-legged child we adopted in March of 2025 named, Dozer. (A special moment for our senior Pittie, Chubbs, that gained his angel wings March 6, 2024) Brian owns a successful trucking company hauling cars and hay, and before he helped me start Hot Mess, I rode with him loading cars for 6 years. We both love to shoot our guns, go camping, and just be home.
My brother, Zack, and his wife, Stephanie, have given us two beautiful nieces...Callahan and Collins. They are Bar Rafter E Ranch.
My sister, Annie, has given us one beautiful niece...Elaina. She's an RN, recently got married (5June26, to Kole Christensen), and is a crucial part of Rafter E Ranch.
Then the parentals: Steve and Mitzi...the ones that started it all, the OGs, THE Rafter E Ranch. They have been married 44 years (as of 2026), and have built their ranching legacy one cow at a time.
How did it all start?
How did this all start? Well, it all started when my husband bought me a couple of books for Christmas one year about making your own soaps and natural products. I've been slowly seeing the light; turning to the path of chemical-free, natural products for years, and the person we were buying our soap from wasn't selling it anymore. So I thought, why not? How hard could it be? Also, my sister-in-law made her own tallow balm when she was pregnant with my third niece, thought that was pretty nifty, started researching tallow soap, and away I went. Made soaps here and there...thought the process was really cool. Made balms and butters here and there...thought is was pretty awesome, too. I guess I just figured other people might enjoy my little creations, too. And, here I am...selling my products all over.
Frequently asked questions
What is Tallow?
What is Tallow?
Tallow is good, clean fat (AKA suet) that surrounds the organs and kidneys. It is very rich in vitamins D, E, K and A, making it an awesome all-around product.
Where do I get my tallow?
Where do I get my tallow?
My tallow comes from my family's black angus-cross beef cows. When my dad takes a cow in to butcher, I get the fat... then I make all my products.
Can I use tallow on my face?
Can I use tallow on my face?
Absolutely! It's fantastic for acne-prone skin and, well, all skin types. You can use it on your face, feet, hands, legs, rashes burns, cuticles, tattoos, eczema, etc.
Why does some tallow smell bad?
Why does some tallow smell bad?
There are a couple reasons why some tallow smells bad. The maker could be:
- using fat trimmings from a steak or roast. They need to use suet.
- introducing impurities and mold by rendering with water and salt.
- failing to filter out all the impurities. I use to filters: a fine metal strainer and fine, non-bleached cheesecloth.
Does tallow have SPF?
Does tallow have SPF?
While some articles say tallow has no measurable SPF, others state it has very little, anywhere from SPF 2 - SPF 4. So, on the safe side, I would say the range is zero to SPF 2.
Does tallow help with eczema?
Tallow is excellent for eczema! With tallow having those skin-loving vitamins, it is able to heal the damaged skin barrier, put a protective layer on the area, and heal it at a faster rate.