keep bugs away using essential oils

it's hard to imagine heat, humidity and bugs living in a temperate beach city like santa barbara but in those parts of our country where people need the bugs to go away, try the bug away spray by buddha nose. we've gotten a surge of orders for these sprays from i think it was a lakeside cabin in the northwest and from upstate new york, vermont, and illinois so i thought this would be a perfect time to feature it on spahhh talk.

*safe for children and toddlers but just keep away from the eyes. in a glass bottle.

Here's the description I've taken from De-Stress Essentials:
Bug Away Spray keeps bugs away naturally, using only organic and wild-crafted essential oils.

Bug Away Spray uses no chemicals or preservatives, only the essential oils of Lemongrass, Citronella, Peppermint, T-tree and Eucalyptus citriodora. Read on or purchase at De-Stress Essentials. Click here.

yummy peanuts...

i didn't realize how much those precious packing peanuts made me so happy until i opened up shop. just want to acknowledge and thank the folks at santa barbara center for natural medicine for the peanuts they provide for de-stress essentials. one man's junk is another's treasure.... working in harmony and for mother nature. how awesome you guys are!

The way I see it #257

i rode my bike to starbucks this morning and treated myself to a short cup of coffee, actually celebrated. i've been off (or is that on - i mean i've quite the daily cup) the coffee wagon for almost 2 weeks now (yay!) and not only does my body feel stronger but i enjoy an occasional cup of coffee so so much more. didn't think i'd survive that first week but made it through. anyone ever gone through that? i've come to the conclusion that "over indulgence breeds contempt".

here's a winning quote on my coffee cup...

Love wins.

- travis smiley
tv and radio host, and author of what I know for sure.

have a starbucks quote to share? reply to post or email me: maria@destressessentials.com
have a great weekend!
maria

take care of you...

i love blogging because i get to write about stuff that i need reminding about. honestly, sometimes it is so challenging to run a business encouraging people to take calm in their life and make relaxation and wellness a part of their day. my biggest daily challenge i face is to live what i value... to take care of myself and find peace in each day. i guess my biggest fear is someone catching me at one of my worst moments angry like a mad woman. luckily i live in a small town and it hasn't happened. i mean me behaving badly. safe so far. but, human i am.

so i do value taking care of myself, which includes the whole woman i am - body and spirit and mind. if i don't i'm no good to anyone. not my customers, not anyone around me. not even my muse sabrina -- she senses my stress and negative emotions then she stresses!

i've come to the conclusion there really isn't a quick answer to how to take care of your well-being. it's different for everyone. It's a practice, something you practice everyday. Like yoga, communication, writing, meditation, piano, etc...

So today i'm reminding me and you to take care of you...

I have heard that it takes 21 days to create a habit.

Make time to create a habit fitting for your positive beautiful lifestyle. This will be different for everyone. My habits i take time for are taking in silence (meditate) like a bad drug habit, playing with muse daily, writing, yoga, hula hopping, reading something that feeds my spirit, and playing the piano.

Invest time and energy into doing things that relax and fulfill you.
Play. Let go. Live.

New Spa at Home Recipes

Finally got a breather to update the Spa Pantry! Scroll to the bottom of the page for new Spa at Home Recipes: Lip Balm and Ginger Coconut Joint Blend.

Muriel Hemingway on living a radiant life

The biggest challenge most of us face is how do we balance it all and have a life of well-being? Then comes a book on how to live a radiant life by a semi-public figure with a tall lean body!

In my continual search for this all elusive answer, I drove down to Santa Monica last night for a LWL event featuring Mariel Hemingway where she talked to a group of launching stressed out women about a lot of things mainly on the topic of balance and wellness. suprisingly i was wow'd by the evening which closed with her blessings and a brief guided meditation, a perfect way to end the day.

I didn't know much about Muiel before meeting her other than she's the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway and that her sister starred in Lipstick... she's totally funny, spirited, smart, and spunky! ... and definitely knows alot about well-being. She's been a spiritual traveler -- aren't we all in our individual way -- that led her to her second book, Mariel Hemingway's Healthy Living from the Inside Out: Every Woman's Guide to Real Beauty, Renewed Energy, and a Radiant Life, a book she dedicated to her guru.

She talked candidly about her family and her journey that led her chaotic life to a sea of calm ON the yoga mat. More like chatting over a meal with a good friend she exuded warmth and light when she walked in the room! She talked (with huge doses of hilarity) about wholesome food, meditation, parenting and yoga. And those crazy voices in your head telling you negative messages. Oi! I'm hearing mine right now telling me to keep my blog posts short ... so quick to the chase...

muriel encourages us to listen to ourselves and do things differently that will allow us to discover our radiant life. Some tidbits still fresh in my head from last night.
- Take time for yourself
- Pay attention to your own wants
- Prioritize relaxation over work every once in a while
- Moderate your exercise, less is more - instead of going to the gym running on the treadmill, take a 10-20 min walk outside
- Find peace and quiet in your day - take in some silence
- Have your own sacred space in your home and fill it with objects that resonate with you; change it up once in a while as your tastes change.

Her first book...
Finding My Balance: A Memoir with Yoga

Her current book...
Mariel Hemingway's Healthy Living from the Inside Out: Every Woman's Guide to Real Beauty, Renewed Energy, and a Radiant Life

summer solstice celebrations

ah no matter where we are in life, how lucky for new a beginning with summer solstice.

for me this new beginning, ironically, is a time to change the way i've always felt about summer -- slow and sleepy. disneyland, water parks and swimming pools; a break from learning. seems i'm always in a constant "gotta do something, anything mode!"... always need some type of activity in my life, a rush to the books, follow up on my goals made during winter solstice. achieving, achieving, achieving. I'm the hare and my husband the tortoise. slow and steady he is. both methods highly effective but hmmmm, which one ages the other faster. back to what summer means to me....

i called ucsb this morning, our local university library, asking if they had an english-sanskrit dictionary. they had one very old copy, gave me chills it was so old. asking the info gal the libary hours, she described this week as the 'dead' week where finals are over and summer session will be starting next week. ah ha, it is the slow, sleepy time. that time b/w those hard working semesters. that goal-less week of lazying around. not a bad thing, we need laze around days. something i gotta learn from the island wisdom.

so, renewal time is in order. time i see summer a little differently. this afternoon on my campus walk, i noticed nature's beautiful colors, nature's sounds, even her air, and the life growing all around me. the ebbs and flows of life. summer disguised as an unproductive time all these years for me now i see it in a reviving light as a time to renew, energize, enjoy, slow down and remove clutter to make way for more beautiful things in life.

my goal: to re-create harmony with b/w my mind, body and soul.

here's a small quick list i just came up with to help me create that harmonous life:
- speak (and walk) the truth
- see the good in others
- give more than i take
- be constantly grateful
- listen to that silent space within me (meditate)
- follow the rhythms of nature - rise and retire with the sun
- have more spa days
- laze around more
- enjoy this fantastic journey

a quick tip to get started this weekend: get out in nature and come back and journal your thoughts. write down the things that bring you joy and make a point of enjoying them this summer. do something out of your comfort zone, something that you fear -- is it being alone, seeing a movie alone, going to that retreat you've always wanted to try, getting onto an elevator, taking a public speaking class, yoga class, etc... as nike says "just do it!" i can't agree more... i'm off to a fearful task, that dreaded sales call... happy summer solstice!

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one WILD and PRECIOUS life?"

click and bid - ebay auction fundraiser

Click and Bid to win a sharon bolton soy candle and perfume oil on ebay!

De-Stress Essentials isn't a part of this fun but i just had to pass it along. click here for auction details...

inspiring summer reading

eat, pray, love is one of those loveable books that can transform thoughts to a deeper and higher level... therefore for me replacing already some bad habits with good habits (patience and the occasional silence are virtues!).

the author shares intimate details of her spiritual journey from italy to india to indonesia. hilarious most times blended with spiritual finesse, i think we can find a little bit of ourselves in her.

because i'm one of those book geeks that just has to get into the author's mind, like the book wasn't enough... i dragged brett and sabrina along for a leisurely drive to malibu (diesel bookstore) sunday to get my author fix. elizabeth gilbert is as witty in person as she truthfully writes. i'm a better reader than photographer so please excuse the image quality.

book tip off (aka book gossip): movie in the works (don't quote me on this but word is that julia roberts will play author); she's currently writing a book about... marriage.

pick up the book if you haven't already. read it and pass it along. it's the perfect summer read. my sister gave me her copy and i'm ready to let it go and pass it on.

Available at Amazon.com. Click here. The book is like $9. Worth each penny or check it out from your library.
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

find something to celebrate

A good friend (william!) sent me this photo yesterday from his new digs in arlington, virginia. it's a view of the potomac rivier and monticello peeking out from the trees.

william seems to tease and tempt me with photos of the "gOLDend days" where i spent my formative years. i do the same, tempt him with the santa barbara beach and sunny sky images. isn't that what friends are for?

there are so many meanings behind a single photo, as i reflect on on this one it reminds me of one of my favorite times in the dc area when spring is being kindly and gently told by summer to rest now and he will add his version of summer offerings. it's breathtaking.

don't forget to celebrate the subtle changes in your life.

happiest of summer to you!

soy candles made in santa barbara

santa barbara perfumer, sharon bolton, has just released her new soy candle line infused with her signature fragrances of luv, soul, truth.

truth be told, i've been burning truth soy candle since last week and contiuing on this week while i work. not only does the candle diffuse a subtle scent of exotic florals and citurs notes but the candle burns incredibly clean and luminous. inspiration at work! packacked beautifully in sharon bolton signature style... love being in the details.

Once you're burned the candle entirely, just pop the wick out, clean the glass with soap and water and make yourself a mojito!

50 hrs of pleasure for your senses
$26
Sharon Bolton Soy Candles
Sharon Bolton complete spa collection

botanical reed diffusers - more new summer arrivals!

Botanical Diffusers by Scentimental Decor are naturally blended with essential oils.

15 oz $58 / 8 oz $38

Available in six scents that each seem to tell a story of their own.

Harmony - Serenity - Aqua - Dream - Karma - Lucky Bamboo

a soothing new arrival ... Tub Teas!

We're busy stocking up on fabulous new products for the summer. Our latest arrival happens to my personal bath time favorite, Tub Teas!

These tub teas are the ultimate full-body chill out for your home spa. We have 2 bath tub tea blends specially designed to soothe or relax.

I use it as a purifying herbal facial steam too... ahhhh such a treat to feel stress evaporate while my face softens. Make it weekly ritual or as often as you like.

Comes with metal infuser. Choose from lavender chamomile or eucalyptus spearmint. Made from natural magic ingredients from nature. $23

For more product details or to purchase, click here.

New Luminous Delights - soy candles

A handful of new soy candles have just come in - perfect for some serene and lavish relaxation to help restore your sense of balance and well-being.

Sentimental Decor is the maker of these remarkable candles. As a huge lover of soy candles one can always find me working at my desk or relaxing with a book with a lit candle by my side. Something about their glow and flickering flame that is so magical.

Details: 14 oz hand poured soy candle with 100% cotton wick emits no toxic residue. burning time estimated 70 hrs. handmade in the usa. beautifully packaged. $25

In 5 lucky gentle fragrances: Serenity, Aqua, Dream, Karma, Lucky Bamboo

opt for a body wash

Many harsh soaps deplete natural fats from the epidermis - this weakens the skin, allowing toxins and bacteria to invade. Opt for a natural body wash on our delicate skins.

Personally speaking i love this body wash by via botanica. i rave about how it leaves my skin soft and refreshed. it's a botanical based cleanser that contains aloe leaf juice, lavender flower water and chamomille so it cleanses without drying my skin. it also stimulates and delights my senses to kick start my day!

Comes in lavender, vanilla orange and invigorating mint
Shop body wash at De-Stress Essentials
$11.95

You might also like to try these great picks too:
Sharon Bolton Pearly Perfumed Body Wash
Bonicca Organic Spa Bath & Shower Gel
Bonicca Organic Foaming Spa Hand & Body Wash

artful weekend

for some downtime this weekend hubby and i went to the chalk painting festival called the i madonnari held at the santa barbara mission. i'll let the art speak for itself.

nature's candy

look at these strawberries! click on the high resolution photo and you can see their perfect beauty up close. i took the photo probably so you can get closer to almost smell and eat them. too bad the internet can't do that yet. usually i don't have the luxury of time to snap photos of what i eat, download, upload them, resize them, crop them in photoshop, and talk about them! i couldn't resist.

would love to say i grew them but i've tried in the past and those pesky snails kept at them. i just don't have that green thumb like my father does. he lives on the east coast and grows the largest squash i've EVER seen. he uses the seeds from the best squash of the crop for next year's planting. it's admirable how he's so efficient with the land in the relatively short summers in virginia. but the tomatoes, japanese string beans, japanese eggplants, okra, etc is the best i've tasted, seriously. my mom has alot to do with that too since as a team, she does wonders in the kitchen with the harvested crop.

i buy these organically grown strawberries at the farmer's market buying about 8 baskets at a time, eat about 3 baskets then freeze the others for refreshing fruit smoothies. otherwise i'd pay $3.90 a smoothie at blender's in the grass or jamba juice, the 2 main smoothie places in town. they're good too but as much as i like a smoothie made for me, $4 does add up.

so here my simple delicious fruit smoothie recipe:
orange juice (from fresh oranges or in carton)
banannas
strawberries
ice (if not using frozen strawberries)
real fruit brand peach sorbet (optional)

blend them all together.

sweet + juicy = strawberries + pop them in your mouth = nature's candy.

beat stress by filling your life with passion and purpose

seriously, one of the most stressful things in life is doing something that goes against the grain of what you were meant to do, staying at a job you meagerly get through each day while your spirit suffers. very stressful. here's a book written by 2 savvy women that provides inspiration and motivation to get going on your heart's desire. i love how i the book they point out that we launch in a different way than man and for different reasons.

the book is called 'ladies who launch' and i've been devouring it up to the last pages. it's about women embracing entrepreneurship and creativity as lifestyle. alas. if you haven't come across it yet and have been wanting to launch a project or business, this book will provide you the inspiration and tools to move forward. it has business schools seriously taking note.

'click' it up at amazon.com
Ladies Who Launch: Embracing Entrepreneurship & Creativity as a Lifestyle

maria
a lady who launches

Special offer on aromatherapy wrist rests on ladies who launch

heart spray for your travels

Speaking of this busy travel weekend, consider Buddha Nose Heart Spray for a deep sense of calm while on the road or at the airport. A little spritz will nurture your spirit and open your awareness to love and connectedness... and we all could use this when travelling doesn't go as smoothly as we had planned.

safe and joyous travels to you!

Buddha Nose at De-Stress Essentials

Hooping it Up

Here I am (center) getting my hoop groove on. Veronika is an amazing hooper (top left). An onlooker turned hooper (top right). My sister visiting from Maryland and Candice my niece from SLO, Kabir with 2 hoops and hubby Brett (bottom photo) even got his groove on. Pretty good for a programmer. A lady walking her aussie shepperd who hadn't picked up a hoop in 30 years and a Santa Cruz couple just walking by was celebrating their anniversary came in to hoop with us.

We had a great time at one of my favorite spots to watch the sunset, Shoreline Park. Shared tricks, hooped to the beautiful scenery with seagulls flying above, island and harbor views. Next hooping will be each Wednesday at Alice Keck Park 5:45 till sunset by the Koi pond, Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara NewsPress

SB Hula Hoop Meetup calendar