This weekend is my annual time to retreat into my thoughts for a focused period of time. After years of refining this practice, I've come up with how time spent seems to work for me:

20% --- 2006 lessons learned and where I've been. what seemed to surface the most and was i happy with the outcomes?
30% --- 2007 dream sketching... making a personal and professional collage, for those more visually inclined, like me! amazing what great things i manifested this year. it works and it's fun!
40% --- 2007 mind mapping, charting out a course of intentions for the year; writing it down really helped clarify what i value most and it set a course to where i'd like to be. for me, i'm careful to not write or say "goals"... since things in our life change so should your course. so don't be hard on yourself when things don't go as you planned, that's why i call it charting a course, it's simply a guide to keep you on focus to where your happiness meter is leading you ;-)
10% --- refine my personal mission statement. if you don't have one, it's a great practice on helping you to get clear on where your internal guidance system is leading you to. write it down and get clear with yourself!

so change around your percentages that work for you, but don't spend too much time on the past... think of 2007 as a clear slate with thoughts of a more energized, balanced and healthier you.

Oh and one of those silly but very important reminder to... Breathe and breathe deeply throughout the day, aaahhhhh.

Did you know...

Did you know....

1. that you can purchase e-Mail Gift Certificates at my store now? It's available in increments of $50 for anyone passionate about pampering!
2. that you can be one of the firsts to sign up for Glow! , our monthly e-newsletter coming out next month? Sign up and you're eligible to win a spa product. Lucky winner will be announced in January 2007.
   
3. we have new articles for your health and wellness in our store site
4. that we're having a HUGE SALE on Olivella bath & body line
5. that FREE shipping on Aromastick bamboo reed diffusers will be expiring soon, a couple more weeks left. 1 large Woods in stock remaining.
   
6. our most popular comfort essential, the seafoam green neck wrap, has a slight fabric change to an equally beautiful orchid print.
   
7. that you can now tell your friends about de-stress essentials via the "send page to a friend" link on our homepage and blog.
8. that you can receive 10% off Featured Product on my blog!
9. that you can subscribe to receive my blog posts so you don't have to miss a word I say!
10. Did you know that we've partnered with The Spiritual Cinema Circle to help bring you movies that inspire and transform your life.

If you have any questions about any of this, love to hear from you! email me at maria@destressessentials.com. thanks for reading.... maria

New contributing writer!

I'm so thrilled to have Melissa Mellott founder of Spa Defined as a contributing writer for De-Stress Essentials and Glow! our monthly newsletter due out next month.

Spa Defined is Santa Barbara's only spa web directory where you'll find personal reviews and photographic tours showing the beauty and uniqueness of each spa. It is the ultimate guide for finding the ultimate spa experience.

In Melissa's search for relaxation and stress relief, she indulged in spa health throughout Santa Barbara and the surrounding areas. Her experiences as a consumer have led her to become a spa connoisseur.

She is also a contributing writer and spa reviewer for Santa Barbara Fitness Magazine, Spas of America and Santa Barbara.com. Melissa is a licensed esthetician and also earned her Master's degree at Azusa Pacific University.

Check out what she has to say on balance, fitness, alternative healing, indulging in spa treamtments, even men and spas.

Check out her website too for a Guide on Spa Etiquette.

Welcome and thank you for your contributions Melissa!

for bodycare minimalists: the ONE keeper!

I'm a coconut oil fanatic now after I tried Organic Fiji's Certified Organic Coconut Oil. It's so rare to find a moisturizer more effective than what's in this bottle. If you're a bath and body minimalist, coconut oil should be the ONE keeper.

Even massage therapists I have talked to love coconut oil for massage. It melts on contact with the skin, leaves a protective barrier on the skin, has a slight lathering ability, and easily washes out of towels.

Don't judge the coconut oil by the bottle it's in. The packaging might not be so attractive so you must trust me on the quality inside... it's ooh lala yummy on my chappy skin.

Multi-functional uses:
Skin moisturizer
Growing itchy baby bellies
Massage Oil
Deep Hair Conditioner
Anti-frizz for hair
Body Firmer
Hand moisturizer
Nail & cuticle moisturizer
Face moisturizer
Face complexion cream or product
Fragrance
And cooking too!

A friend bought several bottles and she loves the smaller 2-3 oz bottles for traveling. That's her travel beauty regimine. The larger bottles stay at home. Comes in lots of tropical scents or unscented Organic Fiji Coconut Oil.

*organic virgin coconut oil solidifies under 76 degreesF. Place sealed container in warm water to liquefy or just let it melt on your warm skin!

Huge Olivella Sale!

Italian bodycare with 100% virgin olive oil... on Sale!

Check it out... buy in sets
or view the complete Olivella Bath and Body line at De-Stress Essentials.

"The All Natural Mediterranean Diet for Our Skin"

surf's up

Just got back from an invigorating post holiday bike ride to balance out all the holiday food from yesterday!

I rode to the ocean bluffs nearby my home and made it to the cliff side after huffing and puffing, even after walking my bike up the hill. I'm so embarassed to even admit that but mtn biking was not a sport of choice for me, until today. So while resting on the bluff's edge, I sat for about an hour watching a surfer float on his board. Just enjoying the scenery of the Channel Islands, the big waves and the surfer, I was just in awe of all the natural beauty around me... and how lucky I feel to have that moment. Just as I was about to leave, the surfer got up, balanced and rode the wave. I felt so HAPPY for him that I clapped even though he couldn't hear me. I thought about how much courage he must have mustered up to ride that wave. I got back on my bike with a jolt of inspiration from that one surfer that I told myself I will ride the rocky hills - up and down - one day soon, after I muster enough strength and courage myself, just like the surfer got up and rode the wave.

It's a good time to remind you to shake things up a little, do something out of your ordinary life routine and make things a little interesting. It might just get you to that next level you've always wanted to go in your life. One little step at a time....

Happy Holidays

Muse and I would like to wish you a very merry holiday. Have fun and be safe. We're kicking back in Santa Barbara but I'll return to blogging on Tuesday after a short holiday break. Ahhhhh.....

video Friday

Laughter is very good medicine! Deepak on the Comedy Central on his new book, Life After Death: The Burden of Proof.He also reminds us that "exfoliation is recreation" so remember to exfoliate to regenerate those skin cells!

happy winter solstice

As i slip in to my winter solstice ritual pretty soon, i wanted to leave these thoughts from Mother Teresa. Gratitude to YOU for making this first year in business an elightening one! ~ Maria

• People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

• If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

• If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

• If you are honest and frank, People may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

• What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

• If you find serenity and happiness, They may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

• The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

• Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.

• You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

- Mother Teresa

locations of visitors to spahhh talk

Technology continues to fascinate me so I just wanted to share with you where my blog visitors live -- all over the world in fact. Click on this link to see; you'll be taken to ClustrMaps.

Even my birthplace, Manila, is respresented in the map... people needing some spahhh talk time... great, I understand how hectic it can get in that big city!

Waiting for a friendly visit from Hawaii or Fiji. Anyone, anyone.... perhaps giving 6 degress of separation a try?

Spahhh Talk ClustrMaps can also be found on blog main page, bottom right.

send comments, questions, feedback my way
maria@destressessentials.com

holiday store hours

hello de-stress divas! our holiday schedule is as follows....

Any orders placed after 12p (pst) tomorrow, thursday december 21st will ship wednesday, december 27. During this time our store will remain open however shipping will be postponed until after the holidays so that we may enjoy good tidings and cheer.

We appreciate your understanding and we hope your holidays are safe and full of jolly!

Blissfully yours,
Maria

winter solstice rituals

winter solstice which is tomorrow marks the beginning of winter and the shortest day and longest night of the year. so for me as the sun goes down this means an annual ritual of remembering and appreciating the year that is ending, letting go of the not so good stuff in the year and then setting an intention for the new year ahead.

how will you observe or celebrate winter solstice? some ideas... sharing a candlelight dinner with friends or simply observing the sunrise and sunet, turning off the lights after sunset and lighting candles or fireplace to truly experience this longer night.

so instead of resisting this day, accept (reflect) and celebrate (the direction) of your new year ahead!

feeding your soul

It's the final dash to finish the holiday shopping, plan the travels, the get-togethers and everything else we do to try to make each holiday special. For most of us, after all the gifts are wrapped and the errands completed, it's maybe, just maybe we think about ourselves.

Stop now and think about yourself to all busy overachieving women out there! Calendar out some time if you need to you renew your energy and re-charge for the new year ahead.

Here's what you can do to feed your soul:
light a candle, read a spirtual book from an author that resonates with you (email me if you'd like suggestions maria@destressessentials.com), practice some restorative yoga and go deep into meditation.

After this quiet celebration of your spirit, you'll feel renewed and refreshed, the natural way.

Holiday Glow Tips

Mixing and Mingling is so much more fun when you're glowing so I came up with these tips so you'll radiate in and out beauty!

• Drink lots of water
• Exfoliate in the shower
  
• Gently steam face using dried herbs
• See the good in others
• Love yourself!
  

the Spiritual Cinema Circle Buzz

Click here for information! You'll be taken to the Spiritual Cinema Circle website.

"The Spiritual Cinema Circle provides a great service if you want to evolve and be entertained."
- Deepak Chopra, M.D., bestselling author of The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success

New partnership with Spiritual Cinema Circle!

Today is a great day. I'm very excited to let you know that we've just partnered with Spirtual Cinema Circle to do our little part to help raise the vibration of the planet!

If you haven't seen the film, The Secret, I highly recommend it! AND would love to hear your thoughts on how it has improved your life. Send me a message at maria@destressessentials.com



Spritual Cinema Circle is offering a free month of membership to get you started receiving those hard to find films. Click here to be taken to their website.

maintaining your youthful spirit

each time muse takes me on a walk i'm reminded how important it is to maintain my youthful spirit. every morning she wakes up with a freshness about her; she sees the world like it was the first time.

i feel joy watching her roll in the grass, playing chase with the birds, smelling the flowers... even the spring in her step, it's all with such freshness! bright eyed and happy tailed muse definitely inspires MY youthful spirit!

maintain your youthfulness by practicing seeing things as if it was your first time.

merriest of holidays!

Aromastick stock update

Our most popular calming Woods scent is calming people all over the US -- from CA, MI, NY, TX, MD, VA, IL, WA, OR, AZ, LA, DC, GA, CO, MN and NC

Woodstock update:

1 large 16 oz Woods scent left in holiday stock
2 medium 8 oz Woods left in holiday stock
all scents IN STOCK of 4 oz atomizer/reed diffuser

Aromasticks ship same day Mon - Sat
Ships USPS priority mail from CA (2-3 days depending on location), no extra shipping charge.

Free shipping specials through January
Aromastick Bamboo Reed Diffuser

Peace...
Charming Gardenia ~ Calming Woods ~ Soothing Nursery

Energy...
Invigorating Citrus ~ Uplifting Floral

beating the blahs

i'm glad that i'm not an expert on the blahs but on the days i do feel it, like today, i've learned to recognize it, listen to what my body is telling me and even sometimes wait the feeling out.

today, i hear "move it" to help me create energy so i can be fueled by more uplifting energy. ah, makes sense to me. my exercise schedule was pushed away this week by commitments so hence this lackluster day.

if you experience lackluster days especially during this busy holiday and shorter sometimes gloomy days, make an attempt at improving your state of mind whether that means being still or going for that brisk walk, writing in your journal, listening to music or even escaping for a movie. try these intervention ideas and see what inspires you.

view blah times as an opportunity to slow down and listen to your inner self; listen to what your spirit says!

i'm off with muse to brighten my blahs with an inspiring walk to the beach.

know that this too shall pass...

i welcome your comments and feedback, email me at maria@destressessentials.com

aromatherapy for your computer... coming soon!

i am so excited to be offering aromatherapy mousepad and keyboard wrist rests.... coming soon in sublime fabrics and 3 stimulating or relaxing scents. colors: black, red/gold, dark purple.

ergonomic aromatherapy made by our neighbors in santa rosa valley, ca, can help alleviate pain from a common workplace injury - (rsi) repetitive stress illness due to improper positioning of the forearms, wrists and hands while keyboarding. use of ergonomic wrist rests will help you keyboarding more comfortably.

i'm using the rests right as i type in asian inspired satin red and gold in stimulating herbs as i blissfully type away. beautifully decorates my industrial looking computer set up too.

i welcome your email with any questions, comments, or to be notified of when this product will be available in our store. i can be reached at maria@destressentials.com.

Let them choose. Blissertificates now available by paypal!

We've got the solution! If you were ever unsure if your friend would enjoy the whipped body butter or the breeze coconut oil the most or scented versus unscented, you can now purchase a gift certificate via paypal and let them choose.

They're NOW available through paypal's safe and secure site.

Go to the De-Stress Essentials homepage and look for the button "Buy a Gift Certificate" at top of page.

how your transactions are safeguarded...
you'll know your transactions are secure because we've created encrypted buttons throughout our website and one on the blog which means you won't see an email link; you're taken directly to paypal to purchase the gift certificate. This encryption secures your item's price and other details from being altered by a third party.

holiday gift idea for the very feminine woman

here's a fantastic gift idea for the woman who's not afraid to ooze femininity... a unique perfume oil by sharon bolton.

i'm talking not in looks but in nature... who oozes feminity in her confident manner, the way she talks and the way she moves. the perfect compliment for this oozy woman is this intoxicating perfume oil by sharon bolton, a local santa barbara perfumer. in 3 scents Luv-Soul-Truth, in a compact roll. when i ooze my feminine style, i choose luv, tucked away dicreetly in my purse... i fall in love with myself over and over!

Also available in rich luxuriously scented lotions and body wash packed with vitamins and antioxidants.

The body wash is enriched with Shea Butter and White Tea leaving skin feeling moisturized and revitalized... creates a rich, refreshing lather for the shower as well as plenty of BUBBLES for the bath.

OUT OF STOCK update - nesti dante

Greetings....

Quick stock update: Temporarily OUT OF STOCK of the Fruit Collection kit by Nesti Dante Soap. Email us at us if you'd like to be notified of availability.

We are working on stocking up on a similar item however, the Floral Soap kit collection. Another update soon.

celebrating oneness

feeling fresh from a joyful day at a celebration of oneness event held this past weekend in pasadena, ca. i left the center feeling lifted, in the spiritual sense... that all things are possible and within our reach.

in between the elevate film and music festivals, i got a chance to participate in such empowering workshops, all very inspiring but one stood out the most. after the arianna huffington workshop, i stayed for her sister's (Agapi's) workshop on fearlessness. my brain mind was telling me to turn back to elevate where it seemed so much easier to sit and listen to be uplifted by music or a film, but my wonderful heart mind told me to stay, take that chance and grow. thankfully again my heart mind led me in the feel good direction.

we started the workshop dancing around the room, arms flailing in all directions, shoes off. free, i felt so free! then we were asked to freeze and look to the person near us. from that point on we were asked to share our fears with this person and other intimate information to help us through our fears. I shared mine with Sandra and vice versa. was very scary to tell a person I just met my fears. that fear on top of my existing fears was enough to make me grab my shoes and run! But, immediatley i felt comfortable with her; her calmness and lightness about her inspired me to share and talk from my heart. Sandra and I had made a deep connection sitting on that stage. Still gives me chills, the good kind. If you're reading this Sandra, thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I know we have exchanged emails but where ever our journey leads us, i can bet we were in that workshop for a reason. Bless you.

A Celebration of Oneness

I truly believe that events take place in our lives for a reason and that people we meet touch our life for a reason, whether it be the person sitting next to you on the bus, the waitress serving you or the guy at the ticket counter handing you the stub. our lives are filled with these little connections. for yourself today, try making the conscious effort to think about, as you go through your day, the people you come in contact with. has this interaction affected or changed you? how? if anything, this contact might just make you more aware that these people, the little contacts throughout the day, are no different than you... that we are all ONE in our hearts, minds and bodies. blessings to you.

More and more men want...

relaxation and serenity

Being human, it's simply a basic need. We withdraw for relaxation and come back revitalized. More men like women are seeking out relaxation and serenity. Reading los of articles on relaxation and wellness, the latest hot topic is the male and spa'ing. They are hungry for peace in this fast paced world. Thankfully these modern men are developing their yin for finding a place for cleansing and healing for both body and soul, getting in touch with their spiritual side.

If you're a male and reading this, I salute you! If you're a female reading this and know of a male in your life who could use some retreat time, I salute you! You are respecting the need for male space.

So here's some men straight talk in helping to create a home relaxation sanctuary. No fuss, no frills gift guide:

• Body Wrap in masculine colors and soft wide corduroy.
• Foot Cozy also in masculine colors and soft wide corduroy, to fit most men's large feet.
• Music to feed the soul and reduce stress
  
• Organic Body care... simple healthy ingredients
  
• Woods Aromastick, sandalwood, cedar, and musk
  

In celebration of Bodhi Day

Today we celebrate Bodhi Day... Buddha's Awakening, by offering 10% off Buddha Nose!

When placing your order you must put BodhiDay06 in the comments section to receive a 10% refund on your total Buddha Nose order. Good for one week only, through December 15.

Bodhi Day background: Buddha's Enlightenment. "Among Buddhists, this holiday celebrates Buddha's attaining understanding of the truth of existence, freeing himself from all human suffering, and finding perfect happiness."

Like the Buddha, we should be reminded to find time to calm our hearts and minds and allow ourselves to clearly reflect the true nature of (our) life.

Bodhi Balm directions: use as often as needed. And like the Buddha, find a tree to sit under and... peace out!

living in balance

Ahhhh balance. So my un-typical week went like this... de-stress essenials TLC, boutique show, ladies who launch meeting, connecting with a friend and her baby, more meetings, visited a lavender farm, secured new products, attended Linked Foundation opening reception, played the piano, hiked to the beach with muse, read some, wrote some, cleaned office, practiced yoga, and took holiday decorations out of storage. Whew... now, that is my idea of a successful week of balance, things that filled my spirit. Success this week. Now, working on a balanced upcoming week.

Here are my 5 keys to balance:

1. Being in touch with my feelings, with my inner wisdom.
   
2. Play
   
3. Simplify
   
4. Nurture body
   
5. Restful sleep
   

Think of each day as a journey through life that defines exactly who we are. To create a life of balance prioritize what is important to you. Decide what you want and ahhhh release the rest!
(photo by Fern Carbonell. Photo is of me at the Green Festival in Washington, DC in October showcasing a book on BALANCE!)

Aromas for Living Holiday Open House

A wonderful "neighbor" of ours is having an open house and we'd like to spread the love and invite you to attend if you're in the area.

Aromas for Living Holiday Open House
Sunday-Wednesday, December 3-6
10:00am - 8:00pm

13545 Nightsky Dr
Santa Rosa Valley, CA


Browse website to preview gifts Aromas For Living
Join our friends for shopping, lavender lemonade and holiday cheer!