italian spa reviews by melissa

Our Glow! newsletter feature writer Melissa of Spa Defined will be coming back from her whirlwind spa trip to Italy and we welcome her back home to Santa Babrara!

If you're not reading this from a spa in italy and feel like escaping virtually to a glorious destination, read Melissa's blog for her spa reviews of Tuscany and Positano spas. Yes, it's tough luxuriating in italian spas being pampered, energized, relaxed, healed and detoxed. Sometimes that's just what a girl has to do ;-)

'live life laughing' eggplant

my laughter buddy laura and i swapped gifts on the last day of Dr. Kataria's laughter yoga teacher training seminar. i gave her one of my soy candles as my symbolic gesture to illuminate the light within her and i'm now the new owner of this beautiful eggplant which reads 'live life laughing'. check out laura's eggplant owner's gallery.

yogic breathing exercises

i survived the dreadful part II number crunching and financial mgmt yesterday. so to quickly counter balance that type of stress, I practiced yogic breathing exercises as i was taught during laughter yoga training. pranayama, a sanskrit word for life energy force, combined with laughter exercises expands like energy to help bring more oxygen to my body which rejuventes and brings me more energy to do more number crunching! Even being aware of my new inner spirit of laughter helped me through yesterday despite that left brain challenge. it has now become my new daily exercise i look forward to and to bring into my community. if you're an area resident and interested in expanding laughter yoga with me, pls contact me. email: maria@destressessentials.com or use contact form. I'd like to hear from you.

i also realized when i woke up how much i miss those early morning meditations, breathing exercises and the comraderie of new connections. the experience with dr. kataria and friends left a huge imprint in my laughing joyful heart. i think back to experiences that really push my limits... didn't think laughing could bring so many benefits to mind and body and spirit (and left me feeling exhausted and exhilirated), but this is something that really pushed me away from my comfort zone and yearning for more out of the box experiences. so july as a birthday present to myself i'm off to an iyengar conference and yoga training. here's to pushing our limits together!

reminder reminder...
be the first initial member of santa barbara hula hoop group... tues, may 22 6pm hula hoop in the park. hula hoop meetup group.

see your light

My friend shared this Light Movie with me and now I want to share it with the world! It's beautiful. It's about your light. Click here to watch it.

you can always share your thoughts by emailing me: maria@destressessentials.com or use form on website to contact us.

natural beaty product review - organic fiji

For green body care fans out there, Organic Fiji was listed in iVllage's top 6 favorite natural beauty product lines:

"The brainchild of a California businessman, Organic Fiji promotes the vitamin-rich, natural healing and moisturizing properties of 100 percent certified organic coconut oil. With one of the world's only certified organic coconut plantations, the company uses an ancient Fijian recipe for its soaps. Its facial products protect the skin with natural antioxidants, and the company is committed to clean, humane and healthy environmental practices."

- Eileen Sutton

Click here to watch video on de-stress essentials

shop de-stress essentials for 100% certified organic coconut oil body care by organic fiji

full article on ivillage

tuesday feels like monday

it's so funny i'm gone for a week and today feels like monday and monday felt like sunday. since i abandoned a 'normal' routine when left the 9-5 working world and started on this journey early last year, dates/times are not as important as what i do with the days given to me. i work much longer hours but it's work that my creative spirit guides me to do and it's worth the long days.

after coming back from the retreat i felt totally refreshed! sunday my husband and i and sabrina in towe drove north of our home and spent the day fixing up minor things around the house we're selling. it's about an hr north of here on the coast and it goes on the market tomorrow! and today my book keeper came over and we tackled financials i've been putting off. ahhhh. wonderful feeling of forward movement.

then i got a wonderful email from a woman going through an entrepreneurship program at WEV and commented on how she was inspired by my business plan as part of her curriculum. funny how good things start happening when i have a positive refreshed perspective. i love the saying that goes 'if you change your routine, you change your perspective'.

here's to retreats + laughter + yoga + friendship!

HA HA HA
Yours in laughter,

Maria
Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher


p.s. the hoop group play date has changed to tuesday, may 22. click here for details/sign up.

laughter yoga experience

saturday i came back from an incredible week of laughter yoga. i had no idea what to expect prior to arriving. my heart guides me to strange places and i'm always better for it. well, i learned i still have alot of laughter in me, that i can laugh for no reason at all, that i don't need jokes to laugh, that laughing for 10 min is like excerising for 30 min and that laughing reduces stress and brings more oxygen to the body and brain therefore increasing our energy and levels of enthusiasm.

In addition to the laughter excerises, laughter mediations and guided meditations, i learned about the inner spirit of laughter from dr. kataria, the founder of laughter yoga and more than being our trainer for the week. i really felt my physical, emotional and mental self was stronger than when i came into the retreat. my husband even noticed the difference. i leave you with something i came away with from dr. kataria, it's an old concept from ayurveda that says that the body is like a house and in your house there are 5 rooms of work/life balance. if one of these rooms is dirty then there is imbalance. care for the rooms if there's imbalance.

the 5 rooms are:
1 - self: know who you are
2 - family: have connections with you biological family
3 - work: life doesn't begin and end with work
4- social: connect with other people, volunteer, social, neighbors, etc
5- spiritual: have your higher force working within you

"Life has no meaning, we put meaning into life"
- Dr. Madan Kataria

water bottle alternative

In April's blog post i wrote about my needing improvement on using less plastic water bottles. So here's my friend Jim's take on the whole drinking water out of plastic water bottles alternative that are delivered to the store by gas-guzzling trucks. whew that was a mouth full. He said the following and I quote him...

I had this same dilemma last year and did some research. I now do a two-step process:

1) I take ordinary SB tap water and run it through a Brita filter. Then ..

2) I take the Brita filtered water and run it through a ceramic filter made by a company called Doulton

The water is significantly better tasting than after passing through just the Brita filter. It tastes even better if put in the refrigerator but perhaps that is cheating a little.

I use the stand-alone gravity fed stainless steel model. Here is the link:

http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/portable_systems.htm

Thanks Jim!

World Laughter Day!

ha ha ha

I had the honor of spending the most incredible and inspiring week of my life at a week long laughter yoga training/spiritual retreat with the man who started this laughter phenomenon movement, Dr. Madan Kataria a medical doctor from India who started his first laughter club in a park in Mumbai India with only 5 people and has now grown to a 5,000 clubs in over 55 countries! I'll write more on my experiences later but today go out and laugh... for no reason at all. Check out this page for more on this laughter movement and where to celebrate it with others in your city.

ha ha ha,
maria

click here to find a laughter club in your area

The best blush to use is laughter: It puts roses in your cheeks and in your soul.
-Linda Knight

sensible living through laughter

For fun today, i read the book Laugh For No Reason by Dr. Madan Kataria, the founder of the laughter yoga clubs movement. This is a book I wouldn't have chosen except that it's recommended reading for the laughter yoga training/spiritual retreat i'll be headed into next week. my journey seems to be taking me to interesting places. people i tell this to either get a little quiet, are fascinated by it or they think i'm a nut nut. i'm looking forward to meeting dr. kataria and learning about laughter yoga.

the book is a generous blend of scientific studies of the health and social benefits of laughter yoga - for those logical skeptics (like brett my husband!), the growing movement around the world, how it all started in Mumbai, India and the dreams of world peace through the inner spirit of laughter.

"health and happiness through laughter and the spirit of laughter"

sign up for hula hooping in the park for creative play de-stress at meetup. it's a free community service i'm offering to provide practical tools for sensible living. in santa barbara, ca. 1st play date is tues may 22. go to meetup for details.

NEW products update!

For Peace and Tranquility... just a quickie update to let you know what's new!

Aromastick Peace Gift Pack - 3 pk diffuser/spray combo

Comfort Essentials - Beautiful Tropical Orchid Floral and Seashore fabrics

Have a beautiful blooming spring weekend!

Happy Friday...

Glow! News featuring Mother's Day gift ideas was just sent out to our subscribers. Click here to view.

New community hula hooping group!

i'm excited to be offering this free community hooping for creative play and de-stressing. first play date starts Thurs, May 17 6-7pm at Girsch Park. Check back for any date/time change updates by clicking link below.

if you're a local or happen to be in the area, drop by and hoop or say hello. i encourage rsvp so that i can provide hoops for use or purchase and to know space needs. event is free. if you sign up i will email updates as well. we will stir up our hooping locations to some inspiring places so stay connected to us via meetup.com for any changes.

Click here for details at meetup.com

After a day's walk everything has twice its usual value.

— George Macauley Trevelyan

earth friendly soy candles

happy earth day!

celebrate the light in you with these soy candles. natural clean and made from a renewable energy source. perfect for integrating a healthy and environmentally conscious lifestyle.

“I am allergic to most all scented candles/products, but the bergamot fresh was fabulous. No headaches or allergy symptoms, and the scent was light and soothing. The glass holder is substantial and pretty. A little zen around my computer for the afternoon!"
- raye ann pasadena, ca

see your light, the movie

books on tape

my day started yesterday with an early morning recording session at the 'recording for the blind and dyslexic' record-a-thon (RFB&D). it was quite an experience being in the sound proof booth hearing my voice in another tone as i read. i was so lucky to read a non-textbook this time, sidney portier's, The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography!

bill, the recording pro outside my booth gave me the queue to read and stop made me feel at ease in the 'cozy' booth which almost looked like a time machine to me. he patiently stopped me twice both for not being able to say the word 'damn'. he said i kept saying drama. strange, i could have kept reading not aware of my error. why my brain didn't want to read it is mind boggling but thank goodness he found humor in that while he backed the tapes to re-record again and again. after the recording, bill, said he enjoyed my reading so much that he felt transported to cat island in the bahamas, where sidney portier's life in chapter 1 mostly took place --- writing so fondly of the simple life with each day ending up with his family on the front porch watching the sun set. that was 45 minutes of reading and how exhausting and exhilirating at the same time it was. what an honor!

i love this lesser known organization where they serve more than 100,000 students with print disabilities around the world! their unit is made up of hundreds of volunteers who give their time by reading for those who can't see standard print. check them out.... rdb&d, sb unit.

living a mindfully extravagent life - should we so dare

ever pick up one of those books that just resonates with you? i'm reading one now called Hip Tranquil Chick: A Guide to Life On and Off the Yoga Mat which i highly recommend if you need a boost of inspiration and practical ideas on how to begin to live mindfully extravagent (as she calls it), off the yoga mat.

it's by a gal by the name of kimberly wilson. i first came across her yoga studio, tranquil space, last year when i was looking for a yoga class in washington, dc. while visiting my family. lots has changed since i moved away 7 yrs ago. (wow has it been that long?!) though i couldn't make the full moon yoga they offered (well really i think i dozed off paralyzed by the fear of having to face beltway traffic) i was able to get an appt for an ayurveda consultation and thai yoga massage! i'm glad i did. since then i have learned more about the person who started the tranquil space and have been so inspired by her actions.

my internal compass continues to take me to intersting places as well. in a few weeks i'll be going into laughter yoga teacher training by the man who started the movement in 1995, dr. madan kataria. i feel a little uneasy (about the unknown) but excited about this week long retreat and the new possibilities it will bring for me and my community. so in conjunction with the total restructure of my store and this training, things are a bit hectic. i should be so lucky though to be leading this mindfully extravagent life!

my secret weapon on sale!

my secret weapon for putting moisture back into dry skin patches is this whipped body butter. take stock in this earthly treasure while it's on sale!

via botanica body butters with shea butter ($14.95) and sugar cane scrubs ($12.95)

vanilla organge
lavender
invigorating mint

"Just wanted to say how much I love the whipped body butter. It is fabulous! My eczema has not bothered me once since I bought it and I was able to sleep through the night and not wake up because of it… which is VERY rare. Thank you a million times over, Maria!"
– Kenny Osehan
Santa Barbara, CA

feast for dry skin

i just whipped out my body butter after going outside with a skirt on in unusual windy santa barbara weather yesterday. gave my legs a feast for my dry skin. ok this must be an ageing thing because i've noticed this past year that my skin needs more moisture than in past years. having the right tools to go with the ageing flow are my secret weapons though. seriously this whipped body butter is my secret weapon when it comes to nourishing. i use it for drier spots for a moisture boost and it provides softening all day. the healing properties of this shea butter base extra hydrating lotion i think is the key. and it's free of parabens.

maria tip: since my feet are always exposed. i hardly wear anything else but sandals all year round.... for soft feet, i do this maybe twice a week or when needed. i dabble a little lavender (for its calming aromatherapy properties) whipped body butter on in the evening over covered feet while reading before i hit the pillow. then i remove it either in the morning or after a couple of hrs. result - ahhh softer feet almost like a baby's feet.

in the morning i use a little peppermint butter (energizing peoperties) on my dry spots right after the shower. very invigorating and soothing!

8 oz whipped body butters are on SALE now -- pair it with sugar scrub and it makes a wonderful mother's day gift! SHOP NOW
available in 5 flavors

giving outside of myself

i learned about this 'giving' gift when i was about 12 yrs old. remember sally struthers who was on late night-early morning tv with the children in developing countries asking for help to feed them? i was a caller one night and i made my first pledge of support. i was in tears by the time i made that phone call to. must have been 2 am, me alone in the living room in panic that there were kids hungry. you can see the hunger in their eyes. i can't remember how much i pledged but i think my week's allowence. i lied too when they asked me if i was old enough to make this pledge. i thought it was an ok lie, not a trouble lie. so i went to my mom and she turned my money into a check to send to sally. that's how the giving all started. it started from my heart.

probably why i after managing a bank directly out of college i launched my career in non-profits working at pbs, weta tv/fm, girl scouts, diabetes research, envrinonmental organization; i contributed to making programs happen. but it was putting the paperwork aside that i really had a great time. as a big sister volunteer in dc to volunteering at assisted living in virginia to reading to children, that's where i see my direct impact.

amongst the busyness of life, i look forward to this activity. each week i volunteer for adult literacy in my community. i meet with my adult learner and she amazes me with her drive and eagerness to learn. i meet her tomorrow and can't wait to hear about her planting a tree in honor of her moving here. what a simple and symbolic gesture. i volunteer for selfish reasons. i have a hard time seeing people neglected of what they're so capable of. my learner rises to the occasion with such enthusiasm each time we meet. she gives me energy and hope. i'm selfish to know it makes me feel good. sometimes i think selfish is not so bad.

greening of a former shoe-aholic

i'm what you call accidental greening. still a long way to go but at least i don't have to feel that guilty about all the shoes i bought in my past 9-5 working world and living on the east coast. weird because i walked less there than here and i had more shoes than now. to say the least i was shoe crazy. now you'll see me mostly in sandals all year round or my easy spirit oh so comfy walking shoes. i still love my shoes but i'm not as fanatical anymore. lifestyle changes. thank goodness. being fanatical about anything is exhausting.

for green week i take pause in how i'm doing my little part in this green movement. let's see, i use a laptop (they say it uses 90% less energy than desktops) and i turn off my laptop at night or in sleep mode when not in use. more points for me! i have an online store. big one. offering more organic body care to the product mix and more eco trends are in store for the future as well. less everything in this scenario - less packaging, low overhead costs, less electricity usage, paperless transactions, etc... huge forward movement!

my husband and i also went down from 2 cars to one car last year since the lexus was sitting in the garage most days. sabrina preferred the more sportier honda than the plush luxe leather seats. so we sold it to a very nice guy i see driving it around town. i wave a big happy wave when i see him. makes me happy to see how much he's enjoying it. so we bike it or walk it when we can and are more aware of combining errands. i've clothes shopped less. huge huge one for me. oh and bought my first bamboo slip dress last year. love it. supposed to be a nighty but it serves dual purpose. i wear it as a sun dress too. got it at bamboosa. if you get the sleep slip get it a size larger. it fits a little too snug on me. fabric is so soft and you'll feel good about wearing it. for my friend's baby shower i bought them organic cotton outfits, bib and hat at wholefood's west hollywood new lifestyle store. love that store. wish they had one up here in santa barbara.

i also shop veggies and fruits at farmer's market with an occasional last minute pick up at the grocery store. still working on bringing my own bag to the store though and not using plastic water bottles. anyone have a cure for that?

all in all. i feel great about the decisions i've made over the past year mostly based out of convenience and necessity so i'm feeling pretty good this eco week. see you don't have to be an environmentalist or tree hugger to care about this environment. leave the labels at home and start living the new dream.

how about a green assessment this week in your household. is your recycling growing bigger than your trash? they say it takes 30 days to make a habit. start small. maybe walk to the store or post office if you can. great way to integrate exercise with an errand. whatever you do, have fun!

have a beautiful week.

a dog's life

Here is my beloved sabrina with her high energy cousin brian on the start of our hike during easter weekend. they hiked us around town until we were all dog tired at the end of the day. everyone was so hungry that we all indulged in a bucket of KFC. Gross i know but so good.

hiking around santa barbara

Got some downtime over easter weekend with a whirlwind weekend visit from family from the bay area, central ca, and austin. we had a great time hiking all around town to some of the most incredible views of the back country and 360 of the ocean and mtns.

the mtns and oceans are to me in ca as the monuments, arts & culture, and the potomac river were to me living in alexandria, va. i had a hard time leaving the east coast because of those things. but what life threw at me was another kind of love. i've fallen in love with nature. what a wonderful gift i have each day waiting to be explored!

dj, my cousin's boyfriend, an incredible photographer, took this panoramic shot of santa barbara's back country. stunning isn't it?

sugar vs salt scrub

i get asked this often enough to warrant a blog post about these 2 types of exfoliants. should I use a salt scrub or a sugar scrub? 


my answer to a lot of body care questions is -- it depends. one of the first differences you will notice between a salt and a sugar scrub is the crystal size of the exfoliating grains. For example, we offer several ranges of sugar scrub grain sizes in our store -- via botanica (larger), organic fiji (less large), buddha nose sugar scrubs (least large). Sugar scrubs tend to be more gentle and are excellent choices for first time scrub users or those with sensitive skin. Sea salts are naturally purifying making them a great choice for cleansing, however, if you have any scratches, or cuts the salt will definitely sting. No matter what type of scrub you choose, we recommend you not use them on freshly shaven skin. Remember, scrub first, then shave.

i'm personally loving the healing qualities of salt scrubs. i use the salt scrub by organic fji, because the peppermint is so invigorating.

offered to blog post readers, 10% off meditation bath salts in a blue glass jar thru end of month. sorry only ships in usa.

New green bodycare gift sets!

We've just stocked up on these new organic bodycare sets and products!

Suitable for mother's day, new moms, mom to be, graduates, party favors, house warming, birthday, earth day, or thank you gift.

- Bonicca medium organic spa set w/eco tote (pictured; mother's day, new mom, thank you)

- Bonicca organic spa sugar scrub trio in 2 flavors
cocktail party, sweet treats (party favor, bridesmaid gifts)


Organic Fiji Gifts Sets!
- Coconut Oil and soap gift bag comes with a relaxing CD of instrumental island music. (father's day, new home, thinking of you)

- Romantic Massage Gift bag with lotion, coconut oil, and soap. (anniversary, honeymoon gift)

view more organic fiji gift sets

remember to use our free gift reminder service. found on our store page or click here.

indulging in self-care

greetings! looking forward to tomorrow where a friend and i are taking a few hours to indulge in self-care, a much anticipated massage for 2 bizeeeeee gals who love pamering followed by eating, chatting and laughter. definitely takes my stress level down. in the meantime, i hope you all enjoy your spring weekend and taking good care of yourselves.

Hope you have some pleasant surprises on this Friday the 13th!

Fashion Event this weekend in Hollywood

hi all, sharon bolton scents will be participating in this weekend's fashion day soireee in hollywood. thought i'd pass it along to all my local readers. if you don't know of her, you will soon! her scents truth and luv are amazing, all that i wear! the details...

A Fashion, Beauty Lifestyle Shopping Event
The Highlands Club in Hollywood
Saturday, April 14, 2007
10AM - 4PM

Join hundreds of LA fashionistas who will enjoy shopping over 50 of the hottest designers and fashion companies offering the latest styles in clothing, jewelry, handbags, bath beauty, accessories, and lifestyle products at up to 50% off their regular retail prices. Blue Cult Jeans, Rock Republic!!!

Organic Fiji stock update

Back in stock :
- 12 oz Lotion in Pineapple Coconut
- Bar Soap Cleanser for Face & Body in Cucumber Melon

the secret to island beauty video

Out of stock:
- 2 oz and 12 oz lotion in cucumber melon
- 2 oz lotion in ylang ylang
- 12 oz coconut oil, pineapple

Connect through life

Is this picture you all day in front of the computer? It's me most days (except not that chic looking).

These past weeks I've been blessed to really connect with incredible women with a passion for life. I've come to think that the more I connect with the computer the more I desire to connect to what really gives me a sense of well-being... being with other like-minded women. I can't remember the name of this fantastic speaker at the Ladies Who Launch event in LA last week but she mentioned that oxytocin, a neurohormone gets released when we are in the company of other women and we get these feel good sensations that elevate our mood. What a great excise to connect more for a boost of pleasure and well-being into your life!

So, ladies, breathe deeply, live richly and mindfully stay connected to those women who elevate your moods to higher levels. This journey called life is really a series of connections. Some ideas we can do this through is music, food, laughter, work, community, children, causes you believe in, a cup of tea, exercise, mani or pedi, pets, or whatever makes you feel good. Just get out once and a while from your computers unplug and connect. Ok, that means me so gotta run.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Buddha Nose in the News

Buddha Nose was featured in Women's Wear Daily, the popular international source for beauty, often referred to as "the fashion bible".

The magazine highlighted Buddha Nose’s creator, "shiatsu practitioner Amy Galper, who has a certification in aromatic plant medicine…using her knowledge of plants she mixes up custom balms and sprays that combines the dynamics of shiatsu with the essential oils of aromatic plants.

_______________________________________

Buddha Nose was also featured in Yoga Journal as recommended as a holistic healing remedy to soothe your spirit and reduce your stress. Try the immune booster or heart spray.

Here's what a customer said recently about her heart spray and sugar scrub:

"I got all my spa products and love them all. The heart spray is wonderful and so is the sugar scrub. The buddha Nose products have an ancient smell to them that really calms my being... I love it." - Fern, occupational health industry from Bethesda, MD

Shop the Buddha Nose line of aromatic oils and plant remedies at De-Stress Essentials

Spotlight on indie perfumer Sharon Bolton

I truly love the way indie perfumer Sharon Bolton combines a sense of feminine style with island wise simplicity with her perfume oils and body care line. Each scent has a tropical twist that are a blend of fragrance and natural essential oils.

Even Philly native and music legend "lady" Patti LaBelle indulges in Luv perfume oils!

Indulge your mom on Mother's Day with Sharon Bolton scents. Shop now.

free gift reminder service

just want to remind you of this wonderful free service that reminds you of special gift days. And there's alot coming up -- mother's day, graduation, birthdays, easter, anniversaries, retirement, father's day, etc... -- use the 'gift reminder' service found on the store's homepage for reminders that are directly emailed to you. You choose however many days before the event to remind you so you don't get embarrased forgetting about your mother-in-laws birthday! ok, that actually happened to me so i need to get on that reminder wagon!

De-Stress Essentials

We have a winner!

Congratulations Lisa from Santa Moncia on becoming our first Glow! News contest winner!

By the way, everyone who responded to the contest was correct in their answer. Thanks to all who participated.

There will be more contests to win FREE product in upcoming ussues of Glow! Sign up if you haven't already! Available to US residents only, for shipping reasons only.

Enter to win body treats

greetings on this beautiful blossoming spring day in santa barbara! (that was a mouth full)

i just want to let you know that we're running our first contest to win a luxury poppy soap from italy in this month's issue of Glow! News. it's not too late if you still want in on the action... but you must sign up to receive Glow! for details and to be eligibile. See store homepage to sign up.

entry deadline is Monday noon pacific standard time. if you miss this month's contest, we'll be holding more fun-tastic contests for your chance to win body treats.

have a wonderful weekend. winner will be posted here on monday!
- Maria

back in stock update - via botanica bodycare

we're back in stock of the following via botanica body flavors:

- whipped body butter: ginger cream and honey almond (remember apply only a little and it goes a long way!) ; also available in vanilla orange, lavender, and invigorating mint. $14.95 sale price

- sugar cane scrub: honey almond, ginger cream and vanilla orange; also available in invigorating mint and lavender. $12.95 sale price

New Aromatherapy Wrist Rests!

Greetings and happy spring season! Though I'm not in love with the itchy watery eyes and sneezing that spring brings, I do love the optimisim of this special season.

I have finally put up the new aromatherapy wrist rests which are now available for sale in my store. Took quite some time because of my personal design challenges but like i say "good things take time" and i'm thoroughly enjoying my wrist rests as i type and hope you try them out too. aaaahhhhh.... so today i say.... Go ahead and have a spring fling... with yourself!

Do something healthy for yourself that's ergonomic and inspiring. It'll give your co-workers something else to talk about -- like your ergo-chic no stress style. Dare to put up a sign in your space "Here we Take Our Ease". Yes it's work but do you have to look and feel like you're stressed to be actually doing work? Be inspired by those calm souls.

Keyboard and Mouse Wrist Rests + 3 aromatic satin sachets.
Comes in Sensuous Spice, Ergonomic Rose, and Luscious Lavender.
Learn more

Have a sensuous blooming spring week!

carving out downtime

Greetings de-stress divas!

The past couple of weeks have been a tad bit hectic for a cancerian homebody like me but a feeling of forward movement abounds my soul! I feel like I've been slowly coming out of winter hibernation and embracing the coming of spring! So, in the past weeks I've been passionately making connections, travelling to tradeshows, learning more about the industry, cultivating relationships, moving forward personally and professionally AND the biggie running De-Stress Essentials. You'll be seeing some changes this year to the store look and feel and expanded product offerings. I'll be keeping you posted.

Well, you know how it goes. Life can pass us by so quickly and downtime is the first to escape us. So, I've learned that in order to keep me healthy and keeping the flames from burning out is to carve out time for downtime and self care. After all, I have to keep reminding myself that I should be a walking billboard for wellness. Not the case alot of the times, as I'm embarrased right now to even admit that. So, my way to blast out loud and clear to everyone so that I might hear it loud and clear enough to make it my priority... treat your self care time as an appointment or meeting with yourself if you must but leave a little room for spontenaeity to allow those unexpected but wonderful moments welcome room into your beautiful life.

a global day of celebration

Today we celebrate International Women's Day, a global day connecting women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential!

In the past I've never been in tune with days like this even though IWD has been observed since the 1900's. But now being more more in touch with my feminine side and having gone through an incredible program called Women's Economic Ventures, I've seen the collective power and energy of diverse women gathered to support each other in fulfilling their burning desires to launch a business. It was so real and such an eye opener... the women still keep me energized and inspired.

May you find inspiration from women all around the world!

Women for Women International
is a way women can support other women rebuild their lives in war-torn countires

how to use the buddha nose heart spray

it's interesting that since i launched my blog last year in conjunction with my online store i've been contacted by dozens of people asking if they can send me their products to review. i think to myself... "wow, that'll be fun!" but while i would love to review other products i do have to mention that this blog wasn't intended as a review site. it is a space to provide information on my store, the products, inspiration and thoughts... anything to promote a healthy lifestyle. i also have too much product in my bathroom i try out myself as possible products for my store. i know, it's a tough job. well, this is the direction my writing has taken me. melissa of spa defined however does review spa products and i'd be happy to help you make that connection with her. she's wonderful!

so from time to time i like to chat about uses for all the products i have in my store. it also helps me get back in touch with the reason for having the product up on valuable internet space.... if i don't like it, you won't find it on my website that's for sure.

i come to the buddha nose heart spray which i have sitting on my desk along with the boddhi balm. the entire line is incredible! during the day i give a quick mist around my body, get still and breathe. gives me a boost of mental clarity when i feel stuck. it's become a constant on my desk next to my phone.

directions: shake well. spray around body or room. use the heart spary to soothe unsettling feelings, share love, or just as a skin toner. bring it with you as you travel, even at work, to combat dry recycled air.

during the holidays a technology company director bought 10 heart sprays and 10 immune booster sprays as a christmas gift for their office. what a creative gift idea!

here's what fern, my biggest buddha nose fan and my sister, from bethesda, md recently had to say about the heart spray....
"I got all my spa products and love them all. The heart spray is wonderful and so is the sugarscrub. The buddanose products have an ancient smell to them that really calms my being...I love it. "

buddha nose heart spray
immune booster spray
boddhi balm
sugar scrub
view the entire buddha nose line of aromatic plant remedies

buddha buzz

Favorite ways to de-stress

Everyone has their own ways to unwind. Here are snippets of what some Ladies Who Launch members do...

Arriana Huffington
Favorite Ways to De-Stress
"Yoga, hiking, and lots of sleep."

Debbie Gaby, Co-Founder and President of Sleep America
Favorite Ways to Relax and Re-energize
"I play with my dogs and have long conversations with them. They are always supportive and honest with me. I have two dogs - a chocolate lab, Ziggy, and a black poodle, Merlot.

and for me....
My biggest treat when I need to unwind is to watch a movie I've been hungry to see. That's a fun way I relax.

.... we have been given 86,400 seconds today. What will YOU do with it?

a kick in the pants to go for it

Today is one of those days I feel totally human and totally unable to put into eloquent words what I'm feeling. Ever been there?

Well, I talked to my mom on the phone last night before my parent's flight to the Philippines. They live on the east coast and I'm here on the west coast now 5 yrs. My mom just retired last week. This makes both parents retired from their careers. My mom a nurse, dad an accountant. Both very practical careers. They're happy, my 3 other siblings are extremely happy. It's one of those realities that we're all getting older and a new chapter of the book is being written. They came with a dream over 30 yrs ago to come to the states for better opportunities for their 4 kids. they accomplished that and much more. i'm so proud of of them for all they sacrificed for us.

So it made me feel human in that I know I must stop with the things in life that hold me back from doing more, ie complaining about being tired, complaining about where the world is, complaining about people complaining, complaining in general, doing things that don't bring me to the path of joy or my life's calling. You know what I mean? I feel like to show appreciation for what my parent's and my grandparent's and their parents did for us, I must be what the army motto really states "be all that you can be" or I really would be doing a huge diservice to my ancestors who sacrificed to get me here. I came to the states at a young age, the youngest of 4 and always have been sensitive. hard being that way growing up, though I can feel good about who i am and becoming. I feel so blessed to be doing what i'm doing and at that place in my life where i appreciate it. I really am at the steering wheel/helm, whatever we want to call it, of my life. i'm guiding it in the direction that makes me feel good. some days i feel like taking the easy road, the road where millions of people travel and those really difficult days i feel like steering it off the cliff but i manage to use the principles of how i run my store, my life, my work through knowing my values. it is the rock in my life. the thing that remains steady and predictable.

so, today i live strongly by what vickie milazzo said in her 5 promises she made herself when she was at a crossroads. "I will go for it or reject it outright" from her book Inside Every Woman.

Today that welcome call has given me the big kick in the pants to go for it!

Here's another great quote by Erma Bombeck.

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and can say, 'I used everything you gave me.'"

May all your dreams come outrageously true!

how to get that post oscar glow

this post comes a day late post oscar but i wanted to say my 2 cents about what it all means to me. i think there's something so magical about the movies we watch and talk about months/years later and the people who make them, star in them or take any part in them. especially magical for me is to watch the glow of oscar night, from my tv at home of course. it's a testament to what happens if we all follow our bliss whether it be on the screen or off, in front of millions of people or quietly with no witness. i really salute those who choose the paths less travelled, their unique paths.

And I'm here to let you know that you that you can still get that Post Oscar Red Carpet Glow with 2 fabulous Body Polish Scrubs from Organic Fiji and Buddha Nose. I love them both however I do love the sea salt scrub best from organic fiji. Comes with a scoop for portion control in the shower and those sea salts are so healing on my dry and yes aging skin!

Buy your Glow Polish at De-Stress Essentials. Click to view more.
Organic Fiji Coral Sea Salt Body Polish

Buddha Nose Sugar Scrub

** Don’t use shower gel after a salt/sugar scrub – it’s good to keep the oil and aromatics on your skin.

luxurious daily self massage

I started practicing self massage after my *ayurvedic* consultation in Bethesda, MD's tranquil space last year. It's great in b/w professional massages and also saves alot of time and money. Every morning I start my day off with an invigorating self rub with coconut oil. You can use herbal oils or ayurvedic specific ones but I personally am loving the organic fiji's pure coconut oil.

Try adding a quick 2-5 min self massage ritual to your morning routine. It IS worth that little extra time. The full body massage will recharge and rejuvenate your body AND mind. Here's what you do: Focus on a body part (ie thigh, forearm) for maybe 30 sec and rub the (warm) oil in circular motion. Feel how your body is reacting to the rub. It is such a luxurious feeling that lifts you in the am.

Benefits to regular self massage:

* Increased circulation
* Toning of the muscles and the whole physiology
* Calming for the nerves
* Lubrication of the joints
* Increased mental alertness
* Improved elimination of impurities from the body
* Softer, smoother skin
* Increased levels of stamina through the day
* Better, deeper sleep at night

Enjoy and start feeling the benefts right away.

* ayurveda- the oldest recorded form of holistic healing which you'll be hearing alot more of in the areas of wellness and even bodycare.

relaxation meditation video

Greetings! I came across this great 10 minute video that you can relax to at work... careful though not to fall asleep at your desk.

Lime also has these awesome meditation themed rooms -- water room, zen room, floral room and my favorite one this month has been the winter room... we don't get snow in Santa Barbara! Enter now. You'll be taken to Lime's website.

Enjoy.

stress free home zones

One of my stress-free moves this past week was to clean and clear out clutter. Whew took years off me. After clearing out 3 huge garbage bags of clothes from my closet I was wondering why I still had so much left! My shoe collection didn't dwindle so much even though I wear flip flops almost every day (yeah winters are harsh here... wink wink)! Like life, closets go through ebbs and flows and mine is now in a nice flow state.

The purpose of this exercise was to create stress-free zones in my home. I was feeling the stress of neglecting casa de elliott. I started by strategically placing flowers (v-dayroses from spouse brett and freesias from brett to muse sabrina) throughout our home in tall drinking glasses. I think like people, roses too need breathing space so I place 2-3 in a glass instead of bunching them up in one vase. Freesias are right next to muse's bowl where she wakes up and sniffs the fragrant flowers.

So, here's some tips I put together (inspired by my living space) to help you create serenity zones sprinkled around your home. The idea is to come home to relax and unwind to your uncluttered space.

- Clean the bathrooms gals (and guys)! To be a home spa diva, this is a "must do" requirement!
- Dimmer switches placed in the bedroom and the living room corner for coziness.
- A candle is always lit in my home office and while I read on my bruno chair. It's sort of a ritual I started last year that promotes a serene environment.
- I love fabrics so I drape them over my desk for a change of scenery. I find the most luxurious fabrics at upholstery shops and look for the remnants (end of the bolt that is sold for cheap!). I love texture and print. Adds a playful and sophisticated touch to furniture. Going organic will make you feel good knowing you're using natural fibers. Experiment with patters and fabrics you like and place them around your home or office.
- Finally, get rid of clutter! It's stressful. If it doesn't make you feel good about it having it around - move it on. Toss the blurry photos, old bath and body products, items that have lost its meaning, etc...

Your Ultimate Goal to be a Home Spa Diva is to Simplify Your Space and Make yourself at Home. I'm not an expert on feng shui or inerior decorater. As a Cancerian homebody though I do take pleasure in having a home that speaks to my taste and makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Create your home sanctuary so you look forward to stepping into your home.
Enjoy!

bread and chocolate

Back to blogging after a brief hiatus. Baking relaxes me so this is what I've been up to... baking bread and eating chocolate (the 73% + kind). Sorry, no chocolate pictured (I ate them all!) but the best kinds are the Whole Foods organic truffles and very close second are the Trader Joe's organic truffles! Has to be the organic ones. They just taste better. Next on my baking agenda, a homemade batch of truffles a la Maria.

You're probably wondering what this has all to do with Spahhh Talk. Well, we all must find our ways that de-stress us and keep us away from our sometimes hectic and boring routines. Baking is a de-stressor for me and eating a TJ or WF truffle puts happy feelings in me. Similar to finishing a salt scrub to make my skin glow, or putting a smile on someone's face -- these too make me feel good. Well almost as much. In the past year I postponed this baking luxury to get DE up and running. However, I'm back to baking bread and it is fun, gratifying AND satisfying. Pictured here, experimenting with 100% whole wheat bread with a touch of honey and lots of oats. A sprinkle of cinnamon on the top. Simple stuff. Ahhhh... live well.

Happy Birthday to us!

De-Stress Essentials is a year old! In web years though we might be going through our teenage angst ;-) I'm amazed at how one little idea made it this far. Since my original article in Changing Course magazine I've been asked many questions to how do you get a store online to how can I quit the job I don't enjoying going to anymore. Though I don't have answers to those kinds of questions (or let me just say you gotta WANT it whatever it is, the rest just comes, honestly), you're still welcome to email me with your other questions, comments or feedback. maria@destressessentials.com

Read the press release (in pdf)

Here's some pictures I dug up from the past year.

1) me at the Day Spa Expo Vegas at the Herbal Works booth. I had a huge headache (due to lack of fresh circulating air at the hotel!) that day so they were giving me peppermint to relieve the tension. Peppermint oils when applied with pressure on your temples DOES work! ....and I do usually look happier than this ;-)

2) me at the Green Festival in Washington, DC. happy showing a book on balance ;-)

3) me again in Little Italy, famished after the Inside Beauty Conference NYC.

4) my sister Fern at the Green Festival DC. She helps me put together Glow! News. She's a go-getter and she brings her eco canvas tote when she shops at Whole Foods. She takes the bus to work too. She cares.









5) and finally this is brett my husband and technical guy. He helps me when computers go south and other techie stuff. He's very patient. Can you tell? He's in information gathering mode in this photo. He's a programmer searching for greener solutions.

Lifted

Just had to share this awesome picture of a friend of mine, Jim. If you look closely he's the speckle (very happy serene speckle I'm sure) in the blue sky enjoying that thing which makes his soul soar like an eagle!

Jim is the kind of guy who seems to have the big picture or as I'd like to call it island wise. He seems to be able to transport himself to magical places where being lifted gives him a sense of tranquility and simplicity... going to his own rhythm focusing on what really matters to him. Isn't that how we can make life sweeter for us and those around us if we continue to keep charting our heart's desires? Island wise.

His nephew is credited with this picture incredible photo (click to zoom in) taken while visiting his family in Michigan -- back in October 06 (seems sooooo long ago). Now Jim's back in Santa Barbara soaring through the surf!

Checkout his peaceful lullaby composition on PodBean.

Spahhh Talk on Delightful Blogs

Spahhh Talk is listed on Delightful Blogs - a discerning directory of delightful blogs.

Let me know what you think about my blog! Rate me on Delightful Blogs.

peace and blessings,

maria

This was sent out last week, in case you missed it!
February Glow! News

"Illuminate that with makes your light shine brighter"
- Maria Carbonell-Elliott

Orchid Neck Wraps are here!

Beautiful new Orchid print Neck Wrap are here!

With the change in fabric trends, this orchid print neck wrap has changed from the seafoam green prints.




Seafoam green mules are still available, for limited time and on Sale.
Check it out at De-Stress Essentials

Conscious Life Expo

I was at an AWESOME business symposium yesterday in LA. Sounds so official and stuffy doesn't it --- but au contraire. It was a full day conference for peole like me, business folks, who seek out more spiritual solutions to business issues. It turned up only a small group of people in its 3rd very young year so I like to think we're the underdogs of conscious capitalism. ;-)

Speakers had titles like financial confidante (aka cpa) , web marketing therapist (aka SEO specialist) --- gotta love it! All the 5 speakers were incredible but one really stood out for me was Monique Guild, a business intuititve (aka business coach). She evaluates the person or business project and 'sees' your blocks to keeping you from achieving your goals. Pretty far out there from what I was taught in business school... maybe that's why I'm so fascinated by these subjects and that it resonates with me!

Well being the curious person I'm always seeking persepctives on ways to stay connected to the purpose of why I AM in business and not let the rigors of business life get to me -- you know, that overwhelmed feeling? It's funny because people expect me to always be de-stressed in my line of work (and for the most part it is) but there are days when when I get immoblized by all the stuff to do... though I know I will never get it ALL done. The goal is to minimize those overwhelming days and feel good when I rest my head at night at how the day went. So to help me stay focused I go to conferences like these with like-minded entrepreuneurs. It REALLY helps me to stay congruent with my values and therefore to serve my customers better.

I plan far in advance by signing up for workshops, tradeshows, retreats, classes, as soon as I hear about them. I plan meetings not to far ahead and lunches with friends but for the most part I like to think I have an organic schedule and it's been working for me. In my past corporate 9-5 days, I'd be so overscheduled and even loved it, or so I thought. Rather I was merely going through the motions of meetings and to do's that I didn't stop to question whether they were necessary or that it was taking me a step closer to my dreams. Although we should have some amount of order into our daily schedules, it seems more natural to do things which make us feel good about each day --- whether that's to finish a project, start one, make phone calls, meet a friend for lunch or even skip out for ice cream and go to the park. Though I don't recommend this for everyone, I remember back when I lived in Alexandria and worked at PBS.org, that a co-worker and I spontaneously stepped out and watched a movie in the middle of the day (oh what fond memories ;-). It was our little secret we and we were even more produtive that day and week! You get my drift. Let's have a little MORE organic white space in our calendar to be free of total commitments. That's my little secret from having funky to fabulous days... now I sneak out without the guilt!

stay well.

Maria
dreamer in residence and cso
(aka chief spiritual officer)

bliss body spa review

From time to time I like to indulge and tell! I wrote up a mini spa review to share with other spa goers on various websites and voila the article...

I’ve always had an affinity for small things – quaint boutiques, smaller sized classrooms, petite moi!, small companies, small gatherings, maybe it’s the personalized feel that resonates with me. Makes me feel NOT invisible. So in my quest for local not over-the-top luxe but quaint-at-half-the-price of Spas in my own town of comes-in-a high-price Santa Barbara, my search took me to wine country San Luis Obispo, about a 1 1/2 hr short getaway from home.

Located in beautiful Downtown SLO (pronounced slow), Bliss Body Spa is housed in a charming adobe building across from the historic Mission SLO. The brief walk to the back of the adobe building took me to a tropical themed paradise courtyard and into the treatment room. As I breathed in the fragrant air of the lavender scented room, I lay on a heated treatment table waiting to get stoned!

Not that kind of stoned but a kind of stone therapy where heated and cooled stones are used to help in the body’s healing process... and by the way the only thing I inhaled was the lingering aromatherapy.

New to getting stoned the therapist with a gentle tone warns me of the hot rocks coming in contact with my body. No unpleasant surprises for this stone virgin! Like a stone veteran she circles the hot stones with 2 hands in beautiful unison around my body. 1 ½ hrs of stone pleasure relieved and dissolved my muscle tension, walking away from a totally relaxing experience. I glistened all day.

After a relaxing massage you can blissfully skip cross the street and visit Mission San Luis Obispo, one of the oldest buildings in the area founded in 1772. You can't miss it. It's beautiful.

Their Spa Menu is even man friendly too with packages titled
“Feel Like a Winner” Bliss’ New Sports Package that will help keep you in the game and “You Clean Up Nice”.

Love it !-- About Bliss from their website

Philosophy When we serve others...
...if we focus on their perceived issue – we’ll win or we’ll lose. I guarantee you - if we focus on the individual - if we help them to see their worth - then, no matter what the outcome of the issue – we’ll all win.

Dare To Live Your Dream

Who do you think that you are?
If you tell me your profession, your age, your religion, and what part of the country you are from, you really haven’t told me a thing. I want to know what you love because, if we can find out what you love, we can turn it into a life, - a life that you are going to love.

Let me tell you something else. If you are trying to figure out what to do with that life of yours, I don’t want to know your skills, I don’t want to see your resume, and I don’t want to know your experience. Those are handy things. They can get you a job and pay the rent. They are useful and that’s great. But, if you are ever going to be brilliant, if you are ever going to be special, you have got to go after what you love.

The simple fact is that everyone has unique gifts and talents, and, to be truly happy - to live a life, a completely fulfilled life, you don’t need self-improvement and you don’t have to walk out on your responsibilities. You just need to use the gifts that are waiting inside you.

Bliss Body Spa
970 Chorro St
San Luis Obispo, CA

Bliss Body Spa website

Happy spa'ing

Maria

Love on a Leash

My sister, who lives 3,000 miles away, and I chat at least once a week. We got off topic - again - with the subject of Love. How could something so beautiful hurt so much! Seems a healthier approach to love is accepting there WILL be bumps and bruises along the way, on whatever path you take. But isn't it the idea to travel on the less bumpy path, the path of least hurts... and we're just talking about our furry children here!

But even when it comes to dog love, it hurts to leave my furry child home alone, watch her yelp at the vet's office, even to see her tail down sad because she can't have another treat. Love on a leash is such a gift though. The joy muse gives me and the inspiration she brings to my life is priceless. My husband and I rescued Sabrina at the shelter in Lompoc, CA 3 yrs ago. Seems more WE were rescued. We learned that letting go of expectations and desires, you limit yourself from the good stuff out there. We were on a mission for a beagle back then but what we got was something more than what we asked for! So all this brings me to the conclusion... Love the parts of your life that you didn't ask for.





















Top pic: Geroge Washington's home in Mt. Vernon, VA
Bottom pic: at home surfing dogster

Dog friendly home spa luxuries for the pampered pooch:
The Barkery
Caine and Able
Happy Tails Spa


Sabrina pages
Edhat dog of the week
Dogster page

Go slow ... slow burning soy candles (that is!)

Call it what you will... Eco-Chic / Ergo-Chic the market has exploded with the all-natural trend. Going Green isn't just for the birkenstock tree hugging hemp wearing stereotypes anymore. This trend has gone from cleaning products to fashion and to All Natural Soy Candles.

Here are the soy candle scents you'll find around my home:
Office - Bergamot Fresh
Living Room - Orange Honey
Bedroom - Asian Bamboo

I rave about Soylicious Soy Candles not only because I offer them in my store but because I travel to tradeshows looking for the best in spa gear out there so I can bring them into healthy homes like yours and mine... I take this scent business seriously!

I was at a tradeshow a couple of weekends ago in LA and I took some soy candles home to try out. I light the beautiful candles and to my surpirse they're burning very quickly and obviously let off a dark soot rising up to the ceilings, not to mention it reaked of synthetic fragrance. My sensitive nose, knows! Muse too just looks at me and slowly walks away. Seriously, she sneezes when something gets too fragrant for her (and me!). Ah these candles are probably a soy blend (parrafin with petrol + soy wax). So when shopping around, look for 100% soy wax candles; say no to blends or something that simply says "natural". Get specific, it's your health!

The Benefits
- Derived from soybeans, a renewable resource.
- Burn up to 50% longer than paraffin wax candles.
- Cotton wicks are usually used, so no burning of metal-based wicks.
- Smoke less, so won't leave dark marks on your walls.
- Spills can be cleaned up with hot soapy water.

Candle Facts
- Nine out of ten candle users say they use candles to make a room feel comfortable or cozy.

- Candle users say they most frequently burn candles in the living room (42%), followed by the kitchen (18%) and the bedroom (13%).

- Consumers are increasingly purchasing candles as a focal point for their home décor, and for aromatherapy-like relaxation and stress reduction.

- Candle purchasers say they view candles as an appropriate gift for the holidays (76%), as a housewarming gift (74%), a hostess/dinner party gift (66%), a thank-you (61%) and as adult birthday gifts (58%).

Source: National Candle Association 2006

Shop Now for Soy Candles at De-Stress Essentials

New Partnership with Spas of America

In my quest to continually scout out the good stuff in the www relating to spas, relaxation and wellness, De-Stress Essentials has partnered with Spas of America.

Check out their site and you'll see how passionate they are about the Spa & Wellness industry in contributing as they say "positively to the enrichment of people's lives." I can't agree more.

Spas of America other partner sites. Click here.

Check out Melissa Mellott's (our monthly Glow! News feature article writer) shining review of The Lake Austin Spa & Resort. Click here.

Happy Spa'ing

Bamboosa

Greetings!

Business is beautiful when we find like-minded people who share our simple vision of trying to do things better. DE is on Bamboosa's Top Sites to Visit. This brings me to a little bamboosa story I wanted to share...

Today someone commented on the "top" I was wearing and I just had to do that inner giggle because I'm a big fashion fake! So I guess this fashion skeleton is coming out of the closet. Most people don't notice that I love wearing "nighty" clothes as everday wear. It's sooooo comfortable that for me it seems better to wear moving around on the streets than wasting good fabric sleeping in bed. So in this area in my life, I'm sloooowly going green. I've now got a couple of vital pieces to get me started on my eco fashion collection. Today I wore my bamboosa sleep slip to do some errands, dressed it up with accessories and voila, a tasteful and comfy low maintenance outfit, that's my little secret.

If you wanna go green visit our friends at Bamboosa, soft protective natural clothing.

Also on my bamboo favorites at DE...
Asian Bamboo Soy Candle

OUT OF STOCK update - Organic Fiji

We had such an outstanding month for these scents that we are OUT OF STOCK until mid-March

12oz. Pineapple Coconut Lotion
3oz. Pineapple Coconut Lotion
12oz. Tuberose Lotion
Cucumber Melon Cleansing Bar Soap

Pineapple Coconut Bar Soap & Body Polish ARE AVAILABLE

Take a look
Organic Fiji

california dreamin'

it's the week of the santa barbara film festival and the other night i got a last minute call from a girlfriend to tickets to the dreamgirls movie. i jumped right on that one. we were sitting in the theater when we realized we weren't there to see a movie but to see director bill condon be honored for his films (chicago, kinsey, gods and monsters, dreamgirls, more) and accept the montecito award.

i usually won't be seen out on a monday night... beauty sleep takes top priority now. BUT as part of my goal to embrace the unexpected and be a little more spontaneous, i waited and waited (santa barbara being on island time most times) and there to honor bill was jennifer hudson, anika noni rose, and keith robinson. the energy just amazing in the room. everyone's eyes seemed to sparkle with realized dreams, even bill condon, who started out in the business as he says was most luck.

so while finally accepting island time, i thought about luck and realizing passions. if we didn't follow our passions, would luck exist? there to answer my own question.... I THINK luck can ONLY exist if we do things to follow our passions. time ceases to exist. opportunities come.

may we all continue to follow our bliss.

happy film going,
maria

chicago, kinsey, gods and monsters can be rented via Netflix.com

We're back in stock of Organic Fiji Pineapple Coconut lotion!

Just arrived.... New Soy Candle Scents.

Happy Monday!

4 new scents just in...
2 sensual scents just in time for Valentine's day.

• Passion

This spicy fragrance is sure to heat up your valentine.
Fiery Red gift box

• Romantic Chypre (Cypress)
  

This French fragrance will shower you with love.
Fiery Red gift box

Other New Scents
Eucalyptus Vapor
Sage & Sandalwood

De-Stress Essentials

Henry David Thoreau quote

One of the main reasons why I picked up the book French Women For All Seasons was because of my intrigue with this inspiring quote Mireille Guilliano chose for the introduction.

"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet drink and botanical medicines."

- Henry David Thoreau