Stinky Pits?? No More...

How many times do you put on deodorant a day? How many times do you wonder how this simple act will affect your health? I often wonder what effect the chemicals in deodorant are having on me and those ducts around the breast tissue. But, like most people, I like to smell good (or at least not smell bad) and not have super-duper sweaty pit stains on my clothes. Over the years I have tried every type of natural brand deodorant from crystals to sprays to apple vinegar and nothing seems to work very long. And, sadly, I often find myself returning back to some popular, chemical-ridden name brand.

BUT all that has changed! I got this recipe from Create Plenty and it really has worked for me (I still get sweaty marks on super hot days but I smell like a dainty princess).

1/4 cup Corn Starch
1/4 cup Baking Soda
2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
8 drops of essential oils (your choice -- go crazy here. Create Plenty recommends tea tree, lemon, lavender, sandalwood and neem oils. I say experiment with what YOU like)
2-3 drops of Vitamin E (optional)
An empty container to fill with your new deodorant.

Coconut Oil is solid at room temperature so you may want to heat it to melt it a bit. Mix all ingredients together until it is a silky mass. Add more coconut oil or dry ingredients to adjust as necessary. Pack the mass into your container and wait for the coconut oil to solidify at room temperature (this can be speed up by putting your new deodorant in the fridge).

Now from my own personal experience, I used an old deodorant container in which the base that holds the deodorant had holes in so the container wouldn't twist up or down. I had to use a flat surface (back of a spoon) to scoop out and apply the deodorant. Also, in today's neat and tidy world, this deodorant is not transparent, liquid or a roll-on so you may have some deodorant marks when getting dressed -- just wipe it off with a cloth. Honestly, both of these things are not a problem when 1) I know I am not going to have to cut off a boob one day due to deodorant aided cancer and 2) I have yet to smell bad.

You ask: Where can I get those supplies?
I reply: Well, just go to your pantry for corn starch and baking soda. Try your local health food store for essential oils and coconut oil. And if you want big bulk items of coconut oil and essential oils you can always go to Majestic Mountain Sage (or your local store).

Let me know how this recipe has worked for you. I personally have loved it...


(Picture from HowToDo101.com)

House of Mirrors: Horror or Happiness?

I am very big into yoga. Not just the asanas, or poses, but all aspects of yoga. Yoga is an eight-limbed path towards enlightenment. These eight limbs are referred to as Ashtanga yoga (ashta, “eight”and anga “limb”). The stages begin with ethical and moral practices followed by the physical practice and then breathing and mental strength. Each stage is a journey to reach a higher state that allows for union with the divine…and continuous contentment, (Santosha in Sanskrit). What does it mean to be content? Are you truly joyous in what you do or are you just trying to get by? I find myself really pondering santosha right now as my life is in a state of upheaval. For the first time in my life, I know what I want to do and to get it, I find myself embracing a way of life completely foreign to me. Because it is new, I am in a state of discomfort despite the joy I am receiving. I am grappling with what is my contentment.

Contentment really is about accepting life as it is and not as how you want it to be. In yoga, contentment would be accepting where you are in a pose and not comparing yourself to your neighbor, your friend, or even to yourself and your practice the day before. Life is not about comparing yourself to your friend, your neighbor or how you think your life should look. And if you really are not content with life as it is – change it. Seriously, listen to your excuse. Listen to how many times you say “but” when focusing on your dreams, your ideal life or any change or struggle in your life. I want to start writing in a journal. It seems like an easy task, right? I could just start writing down my thoughts and voila! I am journaling. But I can come up with a thousand excuses why I don’t journal: I need a pretty book (but do I really? And why don’t I just go get one then). I don’t have time (but I have time to watch re-runs of the X Files). Someone might read it (so? Is that really that devastating? It has happened before) Bottom line is I am too lazy to change my habits and start doing what I really want. Do I accept that I am lazy or do I create change in my life and move towards santosha? What excuses are you making? What are your desires? Is anything keeping you from truly enjoying the present life you are in, or are you too busy making excuses about how you don’t have time? Do you tell yourself you are too busy with the kids, school or are broke? Will there ever be a good time? Right now is the only time you have and if you aren’t truly content, if you aren’t truly happy, it is time to sit with yourself and find out what it is you need from you. Being joyful, being happy, is a state of being, a perspective of the world. Alter yours to be filled with light and love and bestow all that wonderfulness and everyone around you. You are a magnificent being. So accept your greatness, smile and shine.

If you are left wondering, “What are the eight limbs of yoga?”…
1) Yamas: Five virtues that govern our relations with others
a. ahimsa –nonviolence
b. satya – truthfulness
c. asteya – nonstealing
d. brachmachara – moderation
e. aparigraha – nonclinging (in layman’s terms: freedom from wanting more. Try practicing this one in today’s culture…not that simple)
2) Niyamas: Five observances of the Self
a. saucha -- purity or cleanliness
b. santosha -- Contentment
c. tapas – self-discipline
d. svadyaya—self-study
e. isvara pranidhara -- Devotion to a higher power
3) Asanas: the postures for union with mind, body and spirit
4) Pranayama: breath (prana is your breath, your energy, your life force – without breath you do not live)
5) Pratyahara: inward focus. Withdrawal of the senses from the outside world
6) Dharana: Focused concentration
7) Dhyana: Meditation
8) Samadhi: Pure joy. Consciousness merges with the Divine

Vitamin K -- A Do-It-All vitamin???

Vitamin K is historically known for the ability to keep the body’s blood clotting mechanisms at a prime functioning level. Vitamin K was named in the 1930’s when a Danish scientist discovered this miraculous vitamin’s vital role in the liver. Vitamin K provides nutrients to the liver which forms proteins that aid in blood clotting and preventing abnormal bleeding. The K actually stands for Koagulations – the Danish word for clotting. Over the last 90 years, vitamin K has kept flexing its unique power muscles and continuously demonstrate how fully awesome it is.

In addition to being the blood clot vitamin of the world, Vitamin K can (I will be discussing the ones with three stars):
• healthy blood and clotting
• to improve the skin value
• promotes healing of skin discolorations ***
• protects from hip fractures in postmenopausal women *Ladies - you may be young now…*
• vascular problems of the skin
• bone health
• to improve the healing and appearance of scars and skin imperfections ***
• to treat anticoagulant-induced prothrombin deficiency
• spider veins of the face spider veins of the face ***
• to protect against osteoporosis *Ladies! Ladies! Again, this is important when you hit menopause!*

When working on products for Marin Natural Beauty, I always make a point of thoroughly researching every oil, plant, butter, and/or antioxidant ingredient I consider using. Sometimes new ingredient ideas will come to me in a dream, sometimes they are the latest buzzword in the beauty industry and sometimes it is just the path I am on. Basically, vitamin K was all of the above. For the last decade, I have been noticing spider veins on my face (not pretty and definitely not an ego boost). Very concerned about this, I began opening my ears and eyes to a solution and vitamin K seemed to be the answer that kept coming back. Applied topically, vitamin K has been shown to help reduce facial bruising after surgeries (one girlfriend says it helped a lot after her laser treatment), reduce dark under-eye circles, and to treat skin irritations. Also, vitamin K is known to reduce redness in people affected by rosecea and broken blood vessels (ahem!).

I advocate that you find ways to get a good dose of V-K in your diet daily not only because vitamin K is so important to keep your bones strong and your body optimally functioning but because I am a true believer that what you eat is more important than what you put on your skin.

Where to find Vitamin K: Among other foods, vitamin K is found in most green, leafy vegetables green vegetables (kale, mustard greens, swiss chard, etc), dry soybeans, lentils, cabbage, and brussel sprouts. For a topical cream, in October Marin Natural Beauty will debut a vitamin K rich facial cream!

And the good news – cooking, freezing or storing your vitamin K rich foods does not seem to affect the vitamin K content. Don’t think you have to eat your kale raw in order to get the benefits. Go ahead, make that yummy stir-fry with mustard greens or have some delicious warm-your-belly lentil soup on a chilly, fall morning and reap the benefits of this perfect vitamin.

Healthy Dosage: Honestly, a good, balanced diet will provide you with the vitamin K you need but if you find yourself with lots of unexplained bloody noses, heavy menstrual bleeding, gum bleeding, bleeding within the digestive tract, nose bleeding, easy bruising, blood in the urine, prolonged clotting times, hemorrhaging, bone problems and anemia you may have a vitamin K deficiency. Like any health issue, always go see a doctor and don’t try to self-diagnose the problem.

Sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=112
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002407.htm
http://www.online-vitamins-guide.com/skin-vitamins/vitamin-k-for-skin.htm
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/vitamin-kVitamin K

Life's "How-To" Booklet

Recently my husband and I moved from Colorado to Oregon. While we get our lives together (i.e. find employment) we are staying just outside of Portland on my grandfather’s hazelnut farm. The luck and gift of the situation are not lost on me – we are staying in an idyllic setting of 32 acres with apple, pear and even a plum tree. On a daily basis, we feed the horse (Willy) and the grazing cows (not named due to their future place on the dinner table) apples. We take morning strolls through the rows of hazelnut trees to the blackberry bushes where we proceed to get pricked by thorns, turn our fingers and mouths purple, and eat fresh, plump blackberries. Blackberry bushes do not give up their goods easily (something I should have learned better in my years as a single gal).

So, what am I getting at?

In the house, at the top of the stairs is a warped Life’s Little Instructions poster. Each time I head upstairs, I catch a glimpse of one of the instructions and each time is a pleasant reminder to enjoy this life. Reading a phrase has become a game of mine: what phrase will I get today? Can I read two phrases in a matter of seconds? This game reminds me of my past office mate (who is in the top tier of awesome office mates!), she would read her 8 Ball every time something plagued her – and sometimes I think she read the 8 Ball to set the tone of her day.
This week, also the first of a new month and soon-to-be the eve of a new season, I thought it would be most rewarding to pass on some of Life’s Little Instructions for you to mull over and do what you will with:
• Compliment 3 people everyday (and you are cheating if you are not sincere!)
• Feed a stranger’s expired parking meter
• Be kinder than necessary (again, with sincerity)
• Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation
• Be someone’s hero
• Avoid negative people (this includes yourself)
• Wave at kids in school buses (and not in a pervy way)
• Keep your promises
• Have a firm handshake
• Ask for a raise when you feel you’ve earned it
• Whistle
• Make new friends but cherish the old ones
• Leave everything better than when you found it
• Have a dog
• Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life
• Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yard
• Learn 3 clean jokes
• Learn CPR
• Commit yourself to constant improvement
• Be the first to say “Hello”
• Drink champagne for no reason at all
• **Insert your own personal instruction here**



Taken from the national bestseller, Life’s Little Instruction Book, by H. Jackson Brown, Jr., Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, Tennessee.

Love Yourself, Dang It!

I feel like the buzz word for the last ten years has been antioxidant. We all use the word or are slightly seduced by it (who has bought a skin product because the label said “antioxidant”?) but do we understand what an antioxidant does? Most of us know that antioxidants fight free radicals but who can explain what those are??Honestly, I sometimes have to remind myself to scorn the free radical since one of my favorite words (free) is part of the term.

Free radicals are the “single most detrimental aging agent” (Ciminelli 23).

Let’s give credit where credit is due, in the 1950’s Denham Harman, M.D., Ph.D., proposed the free radical theory. We need oxygen to live and our cells use this oxygen to produce energy. Out of this process we get free radicals. Remember 10th grade chemistry when we learned that molecules are made of atoms and atoms have protons, electrons and neutrons? Well, a free radical is a molecule lacking the electron and basically, attacking and taking electrons from nearby molecules and in the process, weakening the cell structure and ultimately killing the cell and the genetic materials inside this molecule. Wrinkling, sagging, drooping jowls, loss of tone, uneven texture…basically, all those unsightly effects of getting a bit older are results of cellular and molecular damage by our friend Free Rad.

Although , some free radicals are a part of life : breathing air, sun, environmental pollution. Other free radical damage is completely due to our own lifestyle: the food we eat --- sugars, processed food – stress, and smoking.

“…what you eat plays a more important role than what you put on your skin” (Organic Spa Magazine, July 2010).

And then there are antioxidants…anti (against), oxidants (oxidation) – basically antioxidants are your friends in the fight against free radicals and aging. Antioxidants provide the free radicals missing electron and help to stop the free radicals destructive behavior which leaves you with supple, young-looking skin.

So what can you do to ensure you are getting more antioxidants into your body?
Love yourself, dang it!
Seriously, DON'T SMOKE (come on, give it up…even if you are a “social smoker,” I used to be one of those too and really, it is still just as disgusting as if you were buying your own pack – plus, this world already forces you to take in so many toxins why do it voluntarily?)
WEAR SUNSCREEN --- ingredients zinc and Mexoryl offer the greatest UVA protection.
EAT RIGHT! How simple can this be – don’t eat the stuff that is making you fat and feel nasty (chips, soda, processed foods). Instead stick to those luscious fruits, vegetables, grains, and goodness that always make you feel a bit better about yourself. Foods with vitamin C (such as but not limited to citrus fruits, berries, broccoli, and tomatoes) reduce free radical damage and strengthen capillaries to keep them from breaking.
THINK POSITIVELY – take this moment and send out a good vibe to someone you don’t like. I know, it is hard but do it…or at least tell yourself something awesome about you.

THE SUM UP TO KEEP YOU LOOKING SMOKING HOT!
Think good thoughts, wear a smile, eat right, don’t mess up your body by willingly ingesting pollutants, and of course get some deep breathing into your day. Whether you are running, doing yoga, having sex, or prank calling your ex (think positive when you do that last one), take long deep, even breaths to help calm your mind, reduce stress and overall, leave you looking good and feeling refreshed.

SOURCES:
Ciminelli, Susan. The Ciminelli Solution: A 7-Day Plan For Radiant Skin. HarperCollins Publishers, New York: 2006.
Perricone, Nicholas, M.D. 7 Secrets to Beauty, Health, and Longevity: The Miracle of Cellular Rejuvenation. Ballantine Books, New York: 2006.
Perricone, Nicholas, M.D. The Wrinkle Cure: Unlock the Power of Cosmeceuticals for Supple, Youthful Skin. Rodale Books, 2000.

Strengthen Your Mind and Unleash Your Creative Potential!

This week I have found myself touting the lavender plant and the many wonderful properties of this common shrub. Lavender (Lavendula officinalis), an evergreen shrub, is native to the Mediterranean region. There are several different lavender plants in the family but Lavendula officinalis is the most widely planted and the classic choice for use in perfume, oils and sachets. The leaves are gray and smooth and the flowers are a lavender blue color. The fragrant purple flowers can be used fresh or dried.

The lavender plant has amazing physical and emotional healing abilities; it is said to possess magical influences on health, love, and the conscious mind. Lavender essential oil has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties which balance the skin and helps heal skin wounds, irritations and blemishes. The scent is relaxing and helps to balance out emotional centers. There have been studies that have shown that odors can change brainwaves. The smell of lavender strengthens the conscious mind by relaxing us and allowing us to control unbridled or stormy emotions. If you are feeling tense, emotionally unstable, or inhibited in anyway, visualize your goals while taking in the scent of this aromatic, lovely purple evergreen and feel your body relax, your conscious mind strengthen, and goals begin to manifest.

FOLKLORE: The classical Greeks and Romans burned lavender as an incense to the gods and the scent is suppose to calm untamed lions and tigers. In North Africa, women have used this plant to prevent marital abuse. (Cunningham) The taming of tigers and abusive husbands make sense when you think about the sedative effect lavender has on the body.

To top it off, lavender is not hard to grow. All the plant needs is full sun and loose, fast-draining soil. You don’t need to use much water or fertilizer. A low maintenance plant with high-maintenance benefits -- a lavender plant is the lover we have all been searching for! In your garden, use lavender as a hedge or border plant and if you want to keep the plant compact and neat, prune immediately after bloom.

Cut the plant and put in a vase for a lovely house decoration. Or dry in a cool, shady place and cut or strip flower clusters and put in sachet to use to add a light fragrant touch to your linens, undergarments, restroom or car.
Inhale lavender deeply once a day, smile big, and let yourself glow from your divine core.

Sources:
Cunningham, Scott. Magical Aromatherapy. Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota: 1996.
Green, Mindy. Natural Perfumes: Simple Aromatherapy Recipes. Interweave Press, Loveland, CO: 1999.
Hogan, Elizabeth L. Et al. Sunset Western Garden Book. Sunset Publishing Corporation, Menlo Park, California: 1994.

Being Joyous

I, and Marin Natural Beauty, moved from the beautiful and progressive Fort Collins, Colorado to Bike City USA -- Portland, Oregon. We often hear about ways our own actions can make a difference in the lives of others, sustaining the environment, aiding social reforms, etc. And many of us do what we can to help make this world a better place. I am thrilled to say Marin Natural Beauty's carbon footprint just got a bit smaller. Marin Natural Beauty is now based out of Portland, Oregon which means all my supplies (organic oils, butters and waxes) are within a short distance away and my essential oils are made in the very same city -- I can ride a bus or my bike to pick them up. Not only is Marin Natural Beauty not having to engage in excessive shipping of supplies but I am also supporting local businesses -- how cool is that???

What are you doing to make a difference in your communty or in your own life? Same thing or different things - it really does not matter.

Today -- August 13, 2010 -- make yourself joyous.

Herbal Tea for the Skin

Americans seem to love their coffee and you will hardly ever see people in the US sitting around drinking tea...yet, tea is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world (water is #1). Whether you are a strict java lover or not, it would be rare if you haven't heard all the benefits of tea: cancer-fighting properties, antioxidant properties, help prevent blood clotting, help lower cholesterol levels, help neutralize enzymes that aid in the growth of tumors, delays aging, etc.

What about benefits of tea on the external body? Facial Herbal Teas are also excellent for steaming your face to deep cleanse your skin and help fight the effects of aging. A herbal blend of chammomile, calendula, lavender, comfrey leaf, and roses is exactly what your skin is thirsty for. The herbal steam is a mini-sauna for the skin.

Chamomile: Replenishes dry skin
Calendula helps eczema, burns, insect bites and other skin problems, moisturizes dry skin.
Comfrey: Aids in skin regeneration
Rose: helps combat dry skin, eczema, and wrinkles and helps maintain a more youthful complexion
Lavender: antibacterial, antiseptic, penetrates and deep cleans the pores.

To use, bring 2-3 cups of water to a boil in a pot. Add 2 tbsp of the herb mixture and let simmer with the lid on for just a couple minutes. Remove the pot from the heat source; steam for 5-8 minutes by draping a large, thick towel over your head and place your face over the steaming herb water.

Spring Clean Your Cosmetics -- 6 ingredients to Go Without

I found an article written by Leeann Brown that discusses the what to avoid in your cosmetics and whys you should avoid them. Honestly, she does such a great job summing all the information together, I would rather direct you to her than do a hack-job paraphrase.
Check it out!!

Transformation and Change

"Without entering and leaving there is no development; without ascending and descending, no transformation, absorption, and storing." - Nei Ching

Basically, if you want to create something -- manifest a dream, thought, vision -- into reality, you must move yourself in a different direction, get yourself out of your routine and regular habits.

Try something new today -- even if it is a different way of driving, or walking, to the store.

Furry Babies

Most of us have 'em; almost all of us love 'em. Pets, or what I often refer to as furry babies. Although, these love bundles are fun, furry, and often crazy, they can be smelly and wreak havoc on your carpet. I don't know about you, but I don't like to use carpet deodorizer -- I worry about chemicals getting in the paws of my wee ones. So, I have searched long and wide and have found this all natural, DIY carpet deodorizer that is the closest to doing nothing I can find and the essential oils HELP TO REPEL FLEAS (can it get more perfect???):

1 cup borax (you can find this in your grocery store and is a common ingredient in lots of DIY, natural home cleaning kits)
1 cup baking soda
5 drops lemongrass essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil Combine ingredients in a plastic, or glass, container.
TO USE: Sprinkle over your carpet; let sit 20 minutes. Vacuum as usual.

ENJOY playing tug-a-war or rubbing the belly of your furry baby while enjoying a nice smelling, flea-repelling carpet.

Flowers and Flowers and Flowers

As many of you know, or have guessed, I am a strong believer in the healing power of plants. I have infused dried calendula petals in oil -- a month-long procedure that requires patience and care -- in order to bring you the best in skin care. Calendula flower, also known as "Mother of the Skin" by herbalists, has anti-inflammatory, astringent, antifungal, and antiseptic properties and is a perfect for skin iritations, sunburn, chafed skin, acne, dry skin...or any skin that deals with the elements of everyday life: scrubbing and itching skin and environmental pollutants.

Packed with antioxidants, Marin Natural Beauty's calendula face cream is good for healing acne, scars and helping to minimize the effects of aging.

Scavenger Egg Hunt!

OOTBS Team 2nd Annual Scavenger Egg Hunt!

Come join the fun with the OOTBS (Out Of The Box Sampler) Etsy Team’s scavenger egg hunt!
You’ll be playing for a chance to win some incredible products and gift certificates from our team members shoppes. Total prizes value over $270.00!!

Here’s how to play:
You must begin at the ...OOTBS Etsy team shoppe. We will be hiding our team scavenger hunt egg picture among the listings in our shoppes.

At each shoppe, you’ll look for the same team egg picture. Once you find it, the description in that listing will tell you the name of the next team shoppe in the hunt. Along the way, there will also be keywords listed at some of the shoppes.
You must keep track of each shoppes name in the order of the hunt and also any keywords in order also.
When you get to the final shoppe in the hunt, you’ll be given the directions on where to email your shoppe and keyword list. If you have all the shoppes and keywords in the correct order, you will entered into the drawing for the prizes.

The first person to email all the correct answers will win the grand prize basket valued at $60.00!

Everyone else with the correct answers will have their names put into a drawing to win 2 other baskets and various individual prizes.

So let’s go egg hunting!
*( hunt begins March 24th and runs thru March 31st at midnight (est) All entries must be mailed to me by midnight, March 31st to be entered)
**Please do not share your information with anyone else. If we find that you have shared information or answers, your name will not be added into the drawing.OOTBS Team 2nd Annual Scavenger Egg Hunt!

Fountain of Youth

I have been doing a lot of internal cleansing lately: deep breathing, eating well, positive thinking, breaking habits,transforming myself through conscious behavior and will, etc...BUT what about externally?

Realizing that to fully transform, I need to deep cleanse both the outside and inside, I began reading about salts. Primarily, bath salts. After researching various salts, I decided I liked the effects of Himalayan Pink Salts and Dead Sea Salts.

Himalayan Pink Salts contain over 84 minerals and trace elements that help to eliminate toxins and help balance the body's pH -- which means it is an excellent choice for healing various skin disorder (i.e. psoriasis, skin rashes, etc).

Dead Sea salt eases muscles tension, calms the nervous systems and helps to slow skin aging.

I put both together with some natural herbs and essential oils to make a bottle of pure bathing heaven! Check it out for yourself!

A little inspiration...I hope

We are moving into spring, a season of rebirth and change. I read this passage and it fit perfect into the whole idea of transformation. What is it that you want to change? What do you want to do different? What are you looking to accomplish?

"It is through our will that we liberate ourselves from fixed patterns and create new behavior. It is our will that steers us away from the path of least resistance, that addictive habit, or the expectations of others. It is through our will that we take actions that are difficult or challenging, moving toward something new. As we take these actions, we begin to transform, but the first step is breaking old patterns" (Wheels of Life. Anodea, Judith. 1999)

Pink Parlour Follow-Up

Hi!

I had a great time at The Pink Parlour Festival - met cool people and got to hang out with my sisters...how can it get any better than that?

I am back home working on solar infusing various herbs into oils to make an even more delectable lotion for your skin.

Pics from the festival coming soon...

The Natural Beauty & Health Blog

The Natural Beauty & Health Blog

Easy Peasy Facial Mask

Want to save money and look good doing it? Seriously -- go to your local health food store or co-op and buy some french green clay (get it in bulk if they have it) and add either rose water, distilled water, agave (or honey), or your version of milk -- mix it well and apply a thin layer to your face. Let dry for about 10 minutes and rinse off.

SO simple and you look fantastic!

Yogi in Training

About two weeks ago, I started a yoga teacher training program. Last Sunday, the class had a lecture in meditation -- which really was 3 hours of learning to meditate. Mind you, I am not big on sitting still for any length of time and meditation has never been high on my "must do" list. BUT I left the class with a sense of ease. The teacher made meditation fun and accessible -- and really some stuff was inspirational to life in general:

First and foremost -- find your seat. Find your seat on your cushion and in your life.
Straighten your spine -- nobody needs to be hunched over like bent stick.
Breathe long and deep breathes -- breath is energy. We cannot live without breath so why not make them some good ones???
Acknowledge your thoughts
And you can always begin again if you get sidetracked. Each breath you BEGIN AGAIN.

Enjoy your day -- sit tall, breath deep, and enjoy what comes your way.

Things We Know But Must Be Reminded

When it comes to life there are things we know...but just forget, or let slide. Personal safety is a high priority when remembering those little things but so is beauty. So, here is your reminder:
Always wear sunscreen, always wash your face before bed, floss, exfoliate properly, slather on antioxidants everyday (vitamins e and c are good places to start), treat your body's skin as well as you do your face (and that should be pretty damn good), don't smoke -- realistically, try not to smoke, drink lots of water...and be happy. Smile, laugh, enjoy yourself and others.

Crystal Gazer

Have you ever wanted to know the future? Wonder what path you are supposed to head down? An old tale says if you sprinkle Calendula under your mattress you will encourage prophetic dreams. Hmmmmm...

Herbs

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for new herbs and their health benefits ...and I found one. Chickweed.

The major plant constituents in Chickweed are Ascorbic-acid, Beta-carotene, Calcium, Coumarins, Genistein, Gamma-linolenic-acid, Flavonoids, Hentriacontanol, Magnesium, Niacin, Oleic-acid, Potassium, Riboflavin, Rutin, Selenium, Triterpenoid saponins, Thiamin, and Zinc.(http://www.altnature.com/gallery/chickweed.htm)

AND, for people like me who seem to get a skin rash just thinking about nickel jewelry, Chickweed is good for skin irriations.

You can drink it in a tea, eat it in salad, or use it as poultice on your skin.

My next step -- finding the herb and infusing it...if you get a chance, let me know of your adventures with Chickweed!

Hot Sip Tip

This is what I read yesterday -- true or not, test for yourself and get back to me: Drinking oolong tea roughly 3 times a day is supposed to help relieve symptoms of eczema.

Whether it works or not, you are pretty cool sipping your oolong tea while everyone (including me) chugs their coffee.

The Paper Garden

I am getting married in four months -- very soon, I know. Like all brides, I have been looking for ways that make my wedding unique...Ah! But, I have an advantage! I sell my lotions at craft shows and get to meet the most fantastic artists. One such artist is The Paper Garden.

The Paper Garden is a brilliant etsy shop! Constance, the artist, makes the most beautiful origami flowers. I was first struck by her talent at a show we did together at the Bellvue Store in Bellvue, Colorado. The flowers are exquisitely handmade and very true to life. I am having all the boutonnieres made by her and a few flowers in my bouquet will be origami -- just imagine how beautiful a few origami flowers in a bouquet of real ones will look -- superb! And I believe it will be a great touch to a fantastic day!

HAHAHAHAHAHA - Crotch-Walking.

I can't stop laughing! I was reading my most recent article from BUST Magazine's weekly updates and it discussed Crotch-Walking. hahahaha -- yes! Crotch-walking.Well, it turns out that Crotch-Walking is when a woman wears a large dress or skirt and steals an item by putting the item between her legs. Seriously. Imagine getting caught...and...fits of laughter. Again.

Read more about it here.

Rich T's = Goodness

Susan Hazel Rich is a well-respected and well known figure in the Northern Colorado Craft scene (as well as other scenes) and it is not necessarily for her awesome graphic designs or cool repurposed one-of-a kind clothing line, but for her unwavering support for all her crafty friends...and her execptional knack for bringing all of us together.

Through Susan, I met Rachel, owner and founder of affinitas Apothecary. Rachel makes the most amazing teas (and Immune Boosting Botanicals, Tinctures, Finishing Salts, Ointments, bathing salts, etc..)that come in a silver tin which seems to preserve the freshness and quality of her loose leaf perfection while looking classy in my cupboard. My fiance is not a tea drinker but everytime I buy Rachel's teas, they seem to disappear. Anyway, I recently found her products at the Fort Collins Co-op when I was dropping off some of my lotions and I was thrilled. If you get a chance to check out Rachel's products, you will be one happy person!

The Miracle Oil

Okay, so everyone has differing opinions about marijuana -- some love it, some don't care, some want it legal, some think it is the devil's weed. Whatever your opinion on the marijuana plant, it should not interfere with your use and consumption of hemp seed oil. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seed of the cannibis plant and has an undetectable level of psychoactive molecules. Which means if you are looking to get stoned, hemp seed oil is not the way to do it. BUT hemp seed oil is fantastic is so many other ways.
Hemp Seed Oil what I call miracle oil. Hemp seed oil is anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, balances dry skin, fights skin inflammations, helps heal skin lesions, and contains moisture balancing properties. The non-greasy oil has rejuvenating and moisturizing properties for the skin. Also, its high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acid matches the balance required by the human body.
I have found that when I have used it in my products, those lotions seem to get the most positive reviews. Seriously, try out hemp seed oil for yourself and enjoy your smoother, softer skin.

**For educational purposes only this information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.**

The obligatory New Year Post

I am a HUGE fan of new beginnings. I love new years and birthdays because I believe each presents us with fresh starts. I always make resolutions and goals for both occasions. The introduction of 2010 was no different -- I made goals and now...4 days into 2010 (and a Monday) have to put the goals into action. My goals for 2010 are not easy ones (are they for anyone?) and I actually had a nightmare last night which I attribute to the oncoming of today. I went outside to walk my dog, Dudley, when I heard lots of scurrying in the bushes, so I took Dudley back inside and a pack of dogs attacked the door just as I shut it. I kept trying to keep the door shut but I could feel them pushing through. I started to scream for help from my fiance but the bedroom door was closed and he wouldn't wake up. I was freakin' terrified! But then the dogs stopped trying to get inside and layed down in front of the door. I could see them through the curtain, there were 2 white dogs and a german shepherd looking dog. I wasn't as frighten but I was still scared...not sure what to do next. I really don't know what to make of this dream except to think it was an anxiety dream knowing that today I would have to wake up and start the steps to making my dreams (minus last night's) come true. What steps do I need to take? What is the first one? Writing this blog at 5:30am? One of the goals I made was to get out into the world more -- to stop being so afraid and hesitant to make myself known...I need to take risks and metaphorically, shout from mountain tops. I am learning that I need to communicate more in order to jump into the world which means asking for others help and input along the way which is putting myself out there.....this is a cyclical thought which demonstrates how intertwined my goals are.
What are your goals for 2010? For the decade?