Shower Time as Happy Time? Not Today...

This morning in my usual happy shower time, surrounded by my many jars and bottles of fabulous-scented bath products, I was planning out my day, making my internal list of things to do, my mind running 1000 miles an hour. I admit it, I wasn't focused on what I was doing.

Oh, I wish I had been focused. I am a self-proclaimed Sugar Scrub addict, lotion addict, hair care product addict, and then some. I love my fancy soaps, sitting pretty in their crystal dish like the jewels of a crown. I love getting compliments on how my hair smells as I walk by someone in a store. Okay, I like to smell good and I do it for myself more than for anyone else. So...?

So this morning in the shower as I'm thinking I'm also grabbing for my favorite jar of hair conditioner. It's the kind that you savor, you don't use it every day, but for when you want to feel extra special. It's in an older, fancy, plastic jar. Or should I say, "It WAS."

Yes, I dropped it. Only it didn't bounce...it didn't roll...it BROKE. It sat there on the floor of the shower, sitting upright, and I thought, "Oh, good, it's okay, only about half spilled out. Whew." I picked it up. The bottom and part of a side were still sitting on the shower floor, with my fabulous conditioner now inching toward the drain.

I didn't cry. Not really...I mean, it's only hair conditioner, right? But it was my favorite! My special treat! I hurriedly scooped as much as I could off the shower floor and then tried to figure out--with hands full of conditioner--how to open another container and add it to the existing product inside. (Not an easy feat, let me tell you.) In the end, I did manage to save about a fourth of the container. But it made me think.

I MUST really be a hair-care product addict if I'm willing to scoop my hair conditioner off my shower floor so I don't lose it! (Good thing I just happened to have cleaned the shower yesterday, although I don't think that would have stopped me.)

I felt I just had to confess. And yes, my hair looks and smells fantastic as I'm writing this, so it's all worth it. :)

Parent-Teacher Conferences, or My Kid isn't the Stinky Kid!

A few weeks ago we had parent-teacher conferences at school. After the initial pleasantries, the very first thing out of my third-grade son's teacher's mouth was a compliment on how nice he smells every day. I had to laugh out loud, of course, and she looked at me as if to say "What did I say?".

We women know that our families are a reflection of us. If our spouses/boyfriends/children/even pets are out in public and they look good and smell good, we're judged that we are doing a good job. If not...well, it's not THEIR fault, it's OURS. Because we didn't take the time to pick out their clothes, get them bathed, haircuts, etc.

Isn't that funny? I know in my household I've trained my boys with this philosophy. One look at them and they know to go back into their rooms and pick something else to wear. Or there's the look that means "Did you actually shower? With soap? Because...wow...you need to try that again."

I'm especially aware of all this because we live in a small town and I have a bath and body products business. If anyone is stinky around here, it reflects poorly on me! So even our dogs smell good.

Alex's favorite scent for everything used to be our Blueberry Waffles, but now with our 2010 Holiday Elegance Collection, he has a new favorite: Milk and Cookies. And he smells fabulous (for a nine-year-old boy)! Thank goodness, now I can worry about other things. Like getting him to clean his room.

5 Things You Can Do with Old Perfumes

Do you have older perfumes that you aren't sure what to do with? You don't really want to wear them, even though you still like them, but you don't want to throw them out? You could try adding them to other products. Here's some suggestions:

We offer unscented products. Why not give new life to your old perfumes by adding them to a product? For example, try our unscented Shine On Shampoo. Add a little bit of your old favorite perfume to it, mix it up, and voila'! A new version of your old perfume.

Or how about adding it to some Ocean Splendor Salt Scrub or our Whipped Sugar Scrub? It doesn't take much, but you'll smell beautiful and have smooth, silky skin afterward.

You could even add a couple drops or mists to your bath, with some of our Therapeutic Bath Salts or Himalayan Pink Salt chunks.

Or maybe you want to add it to lotion. Our Emollient Lotion is wonderful for your skin, and when you add a couple drops or a mist of your favorite perfume to it, it's got your signature on it.

There's many things you can do with your old perfumes, get creative! Don't let them sit in a drawer or cabinet or gather dust in your boudoir--use them, wear them, enjoy them! It's why you bought them in the first place.

Bad Shopping Experience is an Opportunity

I like to think about bad experiences as opportunities. If I don't learn from that experience, the universe is bound to present me with another one, similar in nature, to make her point. So learn I do.

I recently ordered some products online from a company whom I had never ordered before. I was excited about getting my goodies in the mail; I had ordered something that was fun and just for me. (I don't do that very often.)

I received my automated order confirmation. So I waited. Patiently.

After several weeks, I hadn't received anything and was worried. The items all said "in stock". So I emailed the small company. I eventually got a response but it was basically a copy of the order confirmation. Thanks.

I waited some more, then emailed again, inquiring about the status of my order. "OMG! I've been sick. I'm sorry." More than a week later, I finally received my package. Six weeks total wait time.

Inside the package, I found my order. I expected to find a note or something from the one-person shop's owner, who I'm sure would want to retain me as a customer. Nothing. Not to mention that I was disappointed in the order itself.

I had been so excited about this purchase, but when it finally did arrive, all I felt was disappointment. Needless to say, they lost a repeat customer.

So, after having said all this, here's what I learned:

1. I don't want any unsatisfied customers.
2. I will always do everything in my power to ensure that orders go out in a timely manner.
3. I will always ensure that every order has extra goodies in it--from a handwritten thank-you note to samples, and more. Every HaEE customer is special and your orders are too.
4. If we do make a mistake, we will admit it, rectify it, and make it up to you. We will never just ignore you and "hope" that you place an order again with us someday. We will work even harder to make up for our mistake.

Feeling dissatisfied with a product or company shouldn't be an everyday occurrence. You should enjoy the product you purchased, be satisfied with the relationship between you and the product's company--because you are ultimately in the driver's seat. Our businesses exist because people want to purchase a particular product and want to be able to trust the company that makes and/or sells the products you purchase.

I want Heaven and Earth Essentials to be that kind of company.

If you ever have an issue with any of our products, I want to know about it so I can personally fix it. Of course, if you love something we've created, I'd enjoy hearing about that too.

New Soaps Curing, Available Soon

Our newest batches of soap are now in the curing cabinet! I love making cold-process soap, it reminds me of my Grandmother and all the things she would make by hand--from pickles and sweets to clothing and crafts.

Once I start making soap it's hard to stop because while I'm working on one batch, an idea for the next batch is already forming in my head. But I'm trying to stay focused so the current batch is the best ever. It's always hard to pick a favorite, they're my babies, and there's some really yummy scents in here right now!

Our newest batches of soap include:

Tiger Eye: With a deep scent and a dusting of gold mica on top, this soap is a luxurious blend of Dark Mosses and Ancient Woods, Dark Patchouli, Red Musk, Red Currant, Black Musk, and Mysore Sandalwood. It reminds me of an Egyptian Queen. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Rice Bran Oil, Purified Water, and Sodium Hydroxide.

Handmilled Decadence: It looks good enough to eat! The real vanilla and cocoa colored these bars a natural fudgy brown, but don't eat it, it's actually a luxurious, lathery bar of decadent soap! White Musk, Sandalwood EO, Cedarwood EO, Milk and Honey, Carnation, Patchouli EO, Dark Amber, Swirls of White Chocolate, Cocoa Absolute, and a gentle stir of Vanilla Absolute. This beautiful batch is made with Coconut Oil, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Sweet Almond Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, and Avocado Oil.


Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey: You can never go wrong with these ingredients. Gentle and comforting, like mom taking care of you when you don't feel well. This batch has real oatmeal, real milk, and real (local) honey. What could be better? Soy Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Beeswax, Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Powdered Milk, Oatmeal, and Local Honey.

Handmilled Lotus Flower: A nice floral soap to perk you up, like a Spring day! Sunflower Seed Oil (very high in Vitamin E), Avocado Oil, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Purified Water, and Sodium Hydroxide.

Mexicali Champagne: I had to try it! This batch is made with a bottle of Corona beer and lime, of course. A blend of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Castor Oil, Soy Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Shea Butter, Purified Water, and Sodium Hydroxide.

Classic Sandalwood and Amber: Always a good choice. This pairing is like a tweed blazer that never goes out of style or that perfect pair of shoes. Comfortable. What you go for when you want to feel good about yourself. Try a bar! Made with Coconut Oil, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Castor Oil, Babassu Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Purified Water, and Sodium Hydroxide.

Curious to see what other Artisan Soaps we have? Check out our website--and don't forget, they make excellent gifts!

3 Ways to Avoid Dry, Winter Skin

Winter is coming up very quickly here...and so is dry, Winter skin. Having spent a day this past weekend outside in under 30-degree weather, I'm reminded that our dry-skin season is upon us.

The best advice I have for your skin is "don't wait until you have dry skin to start moisturizing"! You can avoid having dry skin by following some simple rules every day. Add it to your daily routine and you'll soon forget that you're evening doing it.

Moisturize Your Face--this is very important. Last Saturday when I was outside all day, everything was covered up except my face. If you wear makeup, this can help dry up your facial skin too. So make sure you moisturize--but keep it simple. There's no need for expensive, highly-marketed products; you are only paying for their commercials, highly-paid CEOs, marketing and legal teams, and research laboratories. Try natural products, they are better for you anyway. Make sure you read the label, and do not use fragrances on your face. They dry your skin out faster than if you used nothing at all. A good lotion stick with Shea Butter works well. I use our Lotion Stick with Emu Oil and Tamanu Oil religiously, very good for moisturizing and healing.

Moisturize Your Body. This should include your bath products, including shower gel, soaps, oils, and lotions. Does the product you are using really moisturize? Look at the label. Spoil yourself--get the Artisan-style soaps with the Mango Butter, Babassu Oil, Shea Butter; exotic oils and butters help keep your skin soft and supple.

How about your lotion? Again, read the label. Can you pronounce all or even most of the ingredients? Does it contain alcohol, which really dries out your skin? If so, does it at least have Shea Butter or another butter/oil to balance out the alcohol? Also, essential oils are all natural and do not have the same drying effect as fragrances. If you want to just moisturize your skin, go for unscented or essential oils. If you want to smell pretty, go for the scented lotions.

Moisturize Your Really Dry Skin Areas. I saw a woman I know in the beauty salon the other day. It's freezing cold outside and she is wearing open shoes and no socks (I was wearing winter socks and boots). She's in her 60s. I asked her why she wasn't keeping her feet warm, and she said she never wears socks and that she only had to walk outside for a minute because her daughter was picking her up. Okay...but I really looked at the skin on her ankles and heels and asked her if she ever used lotion on them (because it sure didn't look like it). She told me the name of the inexpensive lotion she uses. I told her to stop using that because it's not helping at all and her response was "but I like the way it smells". Needless to say I'm making her some Healing Lotion. Having feet that smell like almonds is nice, but having dry, cracked, painful feet is another story.

So read your product ingredients, try natural if possible. And moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Your skin will love you for it.

How to Use Essential Oils on Your Pet

All-natural essential oils can help humans with various issues, but they can also be beneficial to your pet--dogs, cats, horses, and other animals. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that they are much more sensitive than we are, so you MUST be careful to use less, use a diluted solution, or make sure you place it in the correct area on the animal.

A few rules: A dilution rate of about 90% should be used on your small dog or cat, and essential oils should be applied only to their paws, and Wintergreen and high-phenol oils should not be used on cats (for example, oregano or thyme).

Amounts to use:
Small dogs and cats - use 3-5 drops of diluted essential oil (90% carrier oil) per application.
Larger dogs - use 3-5 drops of undiluted essential oil per application.
Horses - 20-30 drops of undiluted essential oil per application.
(Other animals can benefit as well, such as goats, cattle, sheep, et al.)

Here's a very brief list of essential oils and blends available from Heaven and Earth Essentials that can be used to treat your pet:

Tranquility Blend or Pure Lavender - for calming an animal down, if they've been hurt or traumatized in some way, or if you or the vet are going to perform a procedure on them.

Muscle Pain Blend - for hurt muscles, arthritis. Massage on sore area. (Do not apply to open wounds.)

Pure Peppermint - Put 1 drop on a cotton swab, apply to a wood tick that is on your animal. When it releases its head, remove it from the animal (works on humans too).

Cold & Flu Blend - helps with sinus and lung congestion. Add a few drops to a mister with water, then spray the area where the animal sleeps.

Rosemary and Sandalwood essential oils - help keep your pet's coat nice and shiny.

Pure Lavender - for scratches and burns. Helps with tissue regeneration.

All-Natural Flea Spray - contains essential oils of Lemongrass, Citronella, and Lemon Eucalyptus, and helps keep fleas and other parasites away.

All-Natural Mosquito Spray - contains Wintergreen essential oil and other natural ingredients to keep those pesky mosquitoes away. (Do not use on cats.)

These are just a few things you can do with essential oils. Make sure you are using all-natural essential oils, not fragrance oils. Our pets give us unconditional love and devotion, they deserve the same in return. So make sure you give them a big hug when you are done working with them. My dog, Windsor, shown above, will do just about anything for a hug from me.

Antibacterial Soap--Friend or Foe?

Antibacterial Soap--it's been all the rage for the past couple years. Many think it's their friend, but is it? You can't go anywhere without seeing it. It's in restrooms, grocery stores (to use on shopping carts), libraries, school classrooms, purses, backpacks, and so many more places.

Remember the good ol' days when you washed your hands with a plain old bar of soap? It didn't even have to smell pretty, but it smelled clean. And it worked if you actually used it.

So why does everyone insist on using antibacterial products instead of the old bar of soap? Marketing, of course. What could be more convenient? And that bacteria is just horrible, we must eradicate it.

Right?

Here's some facts about bacteria:
Bacteria are vital in recycling nutrients, with many steps in nutrient cycles depending on these organisms, such as the fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere and putrefaction.

There are approximately 10 times as many bacterial cells in the human body as there are human cells.

There are good kinds of bacteria (like lactic acid bacteria, or Lactobacillus), which for thousands of years have been used in the preparation of fermented foods like cheese, yogurt, wine, vinegar, pickles, and more.

Did you know that the bacteria in your septic system help to break down waste and keep the system clean?

Other bacteria, such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus, can cause all kinds of issues with humans, from skin infections to pneumonia, even death. However, these bacteria are part of our normal human flora and usually exist on our skin or in our noses without causing any disease.

Of course, there are other, really nasty bacteria, and we don't even want to discuss those here.

But think about this: When you use the antibacterial products, cleaning products, bleach, etc. to kill and eliminate bacteria, those products do not selectively attack the bad bacteria. They go for ALL bacteria--even the ones we need.

When you flush bleach down the toilet or constantly wash your hands with antibacterial soap, you are actually hurting yourself, your septic system, your environment! Think about it--because most people don't.

Try an old-fashioned bar of soap. Wash your hands appropriately (silently sing the ABCs or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). Don't use the antibacterial soap or wipes. Make your own, or try a bar of soap in a small, reusable container (let it dry out between uses).

We're concerned for our environment. Here at Heaven and Earth Essentials, we're in the process of making batches of old-fashioned soap--and you know what? I've never felt better about making and using this type of soap!

Psychology of Scents

Have you ever given thought to the psychology of the scents you wear? Sure, you might wear it because you like the way it smells. But WHY do you like it when you wear it?

Does it make you feel prettier? Smarter? More confident? Is it uplifting and fresh, or dark and sultry? Do you wear the same scent all the time or do you have several that you wear depending on the occasion? Or do you wear it because someone else likes it on you?

There is a lot of psychology behind why we wear the scents we do. It's not something people think about.

...But let's think about it for a minute. Think about yourself, your friends, your daughter, your mom, your grandmother. What scents do they wear?

Some people wear a perfume because it's the latest and greatest and some movie star wears it (or at least they promote it). Does it smell good to you or are you just wearing it so you can be like that movie star?

Some people wear a perfume that is comforting to them. Vanillas, pumpkin, roses, other florals--these are the scents that might remind us of a time in childhood when we were safe and life was simpler and less chaotic. (A trip to grandma's house smelled like cookies and lilacs, and that was a happy place--is that why I love lilac perfumes?)

Citrus scents are very uplifting and refreshing. These are perfect for first thing in the morning when you are showering--they help wake you up and energize you. Or if you need a low-cal energy boost during the day, try a spritz of citrus fragrance (essential oils are the best!).

Getting ready for a date? Many studies have shown that men are attracted to women wearing vanilla-based or jasmine scents.

So the next time you buy that perfume, or are getting ready for that date, think about why you are wearing that particular scent. What is your ultimate goal? Wear the scent that will help you close that deal, make you more comfortable if you're nervous, uplifted when you're feeling down, or give you more self-confidence.

Heaven and Earth Essentials has over 300 handblended fragrances that can make you feel beautiful, confident, uplifted, refreshed, sexy, comforted, and everything else in between. Think about what scents you like, and let's go from there!

3 Ways to Select the Perfect Fragrance

How do you select the perfect fragrance? This is a question we at Heaven and Earth Essentials often get from our customers. "It all sounds so good, but I can't smell it over the Internet, so how do I decide?"

There are several ways to do this. One is by the process of deduction. In other words, YOU know deep down inside what kinds of fragrances you like--maybe it's vanilla, or florals, or something dark with Patchouli in it. On our website, we've categorized our scents to help you narrow down the options. Then when you are in that category, you can think of the next type of scent you like--maybe you really like vanilla, but with a floral twist. So look in the Vanillas and Buttercreams category, then look for florals within that group.

Another way to find that perfect scent is to use the Search field in the upper-right corner of our website. For example, you could type in Hyacinth and every scent or product with Hyacinth in it will be displayed.

A third way to find that perfect scent is to ask. We've had many customers ask us if we "have a scent that has this, that, smells like a sunset,...", etc. Or when you place an order, ask for a sample of a specific scent. Don't be shy--it's actually easier for us if you specify a scent for your sample, than for us to guess what you might like. (We do try to match up your sample to what you've ordered.)

So now you should be able to find that perfect scent. Of course, if you're like me, you might want to have a bunch of favorites! I'm a dessert foodie and love, love, love everything that smells like a fattening, decadent dessert! Currently I love Orange Chiffon Cake, Coconut Truffle, Tortured Soul, Dangerous Elation, and Gentle Breeze (the Golden Amber in it is just like dessert to me).

What's your favorite?

Become a Premier Member of HaEE

Our Premier Members Club is for those of you who want something special from Heaven and Earth Essentials--something that not everyone can have. As a Premier Member, you can enjoy all these benefits:

-Access to exclusive products, perfumes, and accessories that no one else can purchase

-10% off every order for the next 12 months, including items on sale

-Premier Member Scent of the Month: Every order that you place as a Premier Member qualifies you for a 2ml sample of Perfume Oil in our 'Scent of the Month'. This is in addition to our regular samples that we include in every order.

-Special newsletters with upcoming sales and specials, contests, ideas, recipes, articles written by other members, and more

-Specials that are available only to Premier Members, like "Buy one, get one half price"

-Premier Member Referral Program: If you are a current Premier Member, you will receive a $5.00 HaEE gift certificate for every new (paid) Premier Member that uses your name as a referral. And there is no limit to the number of people you can sign up!

-A free 5ml bottle of Perfume Oil of your choice with your first Premier Member order

Simply purchase your membership today for $25.00 and we will email you everything you need to become a Heaven and Earth Essentials' Premier Member, including your own special 10% off coupon code (good on your purchases only, non-transferrable).

How to Cure Nausea and Car Sickness

What a beautiful day for a ride in the country! But wait, unless you are doing the actual driving, you might be a little apprehensive, especially if you suffer from nausea like I do.

Or maybe you are pregnant and suffering from the associated nausea?

What can you do? An easy solution is to use essential oils. Several common essential oils for dealing with nausea are: Fennel, Ginger, and Peppermint. Take your little bottle of essential oil with you and just take a whiff when you feel that icky feeling in your stomach and throat. Or add a couple drops to a cold compress and apply it to your forehead or the back of your neck, or even your stomach.

This is a much better solution than being miserable, or eating constantly (I tried that--not a good solution!).

We at Heaven and Earth Essentials have many products that we can add essential oils to--fabulous lotions, lotion sticks, hair care products, soaps, etc., or you can order just the plain essential oil. We enjoy helping people, so why not contact us and let us help you?

I Forgot Already -- What Did I Just Say?

Poor memory is not just for those of us who are getting older...it's also for those of us who have too many things going on in our lives. Taking care of family, the house, a job, pets, all those little projects we do--they can all take a toll on us. It starts by us forgetting where we left our keys and snowballs into "OMG What day is it?"

It happens to everyone. It's just the universe's way of saying "Whoa, you need to slow down a bit. Take care of yourself too, okay?"

Try eating foods that are good for you--whole foods are so much better than processed foods. Greens, fresh veggies and fruit, grown locally is the best; maybe a little raw honey every morning. And how about some exercise? A walk every day in the fresh air is so beneficial for you--and to make it even better, take your child or a pet with you! Teach your children how important exercise is.

What's not good for you is the insufficient supply of nutrients to your brain, and also exposure to free radicals. Getting your share of anti-oxidant rich foods will solve both these issues.

Another way to help with poor memory is by using Rosemary. It's refreshing and stimulating. Try adding 10 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil in your bath and soak for 15 minutes. Or you can add a few drops to your massage oil, lotion, or other products that contact your skin. (Avoid use during pregnancy or if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy.) Breathe deeply, find some time to relax, and take care of yourself!

Heaven and Earth Essentials carries many different types of pure essential oils, which we can add to our products. And if you desire an essential oil that we do not currently carry, we will find it for you. Our website has an entire category devoted to them and we are ready to help you determine which one is best for you.

How to Make Your Own Fluoride-Free Toothpaste

After years of paying for toothpaste that really wasn't good for me, and then paying even more for "natural" and fluoride-free toothpastes, I decided to start making my own. (Sidenote: would someone please explain to me why an item is more expensive when you take OUT the nasty chemicals?) After researching and trying various ingredients, this is my recipe:

6 tsp Baking Soda
1/3 tsp Sea Salt
4 tsp Vegetable Glycerin OR Virgin Coconut Oil
15-20 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Mix this up VERY well and store it in a sealed container. You can keep it in the bathroom, no need to refrigerate it. The Baking Soda and Sea Salt work to clean and whiten your teeth, the Glycerin/Coconut Oil make a nice creamy base, and the Peppermint is for flavor and fresh breath. You can also use a different EO if you prefer.

I do say mix VERY well, because the last time I made it, I didn't and got a few brushings with quite strong salt or Baking Soda. Oops--that's how we learn, right?

I do not use fluoride as I firmly believe it is not good for us. Within two months of not using it anymore, I stopped having really bad PMS, I almost never get a headache, my asthma symptoms are lessened, I'm not having low thyroid issues as much, etc. If you ever want to find out more about the nastiness of fluoride, I advise you just do an Internet search or go to your library, there's tons of information out there. Let's just say since I stopped using it, I feel tons better! (We do not have city water, I use a Reverse Osmosis filter on my well water, I do not drink bottled water, etc. You have to be careful about where your water comes from!)

In the meantime, start with your own homemade toothpaste. It's inexpensive and the above recipe will keep for months. For a family, you might want to make a double batch.

If you need Peppermint Essential Oil like for the above recipe, Heaven and Earth Essentials offers all kinds of Essential Oils. We offer other natural products too, like an SLSA-free, old-fashioned Shampoo (called "Timeless" Shampoo). Just like Grandma used to make, but scented the way you want.

Find our wonderful products at Heaven and Earth Essentials

Lavender--a Cure-All?

Did you know that essential oils--natural oils from plants, trees, nuts--have all kinds of wonderful properties than can help your body heal from various issues? It's true!

Lavender, while smelling sweet/floral/herbal, has some amazing properties. It's like the SuperMom of flowers and helps many different kinds of issues. For example, you can use it to help depression, panic attacks, irritability, and mental fatigue. Try adding 10 drops or so to a nice, warm bath and relaxing for 15 minutes or more. Inhale the aroma while you are soaking and don't think of anything outside of that bathtub. It will all still be there when you are finished.

Can't do that? (What, you can't just take a nice, relaxing bath while you're at work? ...or while driving your car in heavy traffic?) That's understandable, so how about this: place a few drops on a tissue and seal it in a bag in the morning, and take it with you. Then when you are having a rough time, open the bag and inhale all the Lavender goodness. Imagine you are in a quiet field full of Lavender, no stress, no boss, no traffic. Just peace and quiet and you.

Lavender is also good for insect bites--place a drop or two on a cotton ball and dab at the bite area. Got allergies or sinusitis? Try a couple drops of diluted Lavender on a soft cloth and gently massage the sinus area.

For clearing up your skin, try a facial steam with a drop or two of Lavender. Or if you have a nasty bruise, place a couple drops on a cold compress and gently hold on the affected area for about 15 minutes. It should help relieve the pain and swelling.

Most people know that a few drops right before bed will help you sleep. Try it in a lotion and massage your feet, or a drop or two on your pillow or on a tissue next to your bed. Whatever is comfortable for you.

Heaven and Earth Essentials offers many products with Lavender essential oil. Our most popular by far is the Sweet Dreams Lavender Cream. A little massage with it before bedtime and you'll be sleeping like a baby. Shhhhhh....

Rheumatiz Medicine

I was doing a little research yesterday...as I get older I'm discovering that I have more aches and pains than I used to...and I don't like taking drugs for them because that just masks the issue. Plus I'm very sensitive to everything and if anyone experiences the side effects of a drug, it is ME. (I'm like the canary in the coal mine, and if you know what I'm talking about, you just aged yourself too.)

The layman's definition of Rheumatism is pain and inflammation in the joints and muscles; it can often be affected by temperature changes such as exposure to cold.

A wonderful and natural way to deal with these issues is to use essential oils. Try Chamomile, Lavender, and Rosemary. Not only do they smell wonderful, but they have amazing properties to help our bodies heal! Try adding a few drops to a warm bath and soak for about 15 minutes. To make it truly luxurious, add some Bath Salts, especially if they have Epsom salts, Dead Sea salts, and Himalayan Pink salts (and no additional fragrance). Relax and let the salts and essential oils work for you. Heaven and Earth Essentials offers Bath Salts with these ingredients and we can add any or all three of these essential oils in it for you.

Another good way to help your aching joints is to add a few drops of these essential oils to a non-fragranced, natural lotion or cream or massage oil. Gently massage into the skin, let it soak in. Try our Massage Oil, Emollient Lotion, or Silken Glove Hand Cream--we'll add the essential oils for you.

When you use natural products, you can't help but feel good!

Natural remedy with Essential Oils

It's that time of year again, the beautiful days and buggy evenings. I enjoy sitting by my new little pond and fountain, but I really don't like the bugs! I refuse to use chemical sprays, especially DEET. So here's something for y'all to try--Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil. Not only does it smell great (of course, that's my opinion), it has been found to be "just as effective as DEET"! So why are we using nasty chemicals on ourselves and our children? Heck if I know.

Another good essential oil is Rose Geranium. Also keeps the mosquitoes at bay.

Both are also good for getting rid of sandflies, ticks, midges, and stable flies. Sounds nasty! Try a drop here and a drop there. What have you got to lose but a bunch of itchy bug bites?

More natural remedies will be coming in future posts!

To Burn or Not to Burn

We went to the Air Show this past weekend and had a great family time. We are one of those families that works and works and works (multiple businesses, farm, job, leaders of Scouts, VFW, Legion, and more), so a day away from everything is almost a shock. (I do, of course, bring work to do in the vehicle so the day isn't a total loss, hahaha). The weather was foggy, then overcast, then later the sun peaked out a little bit here and there. It was very warm and muggy, and we were outside the entire day.

Me being a mom, I pull out our Sunscreen Lotion and start applying it to my 8-yr-old son, myself, and then forced some on my DH. Well, the top of his head anyway. He's a real man and doesn't want any sissy sunscreen on him, right? So I made a big joke about how the reflection off the top of his head might be distracting to some of the pilots, might temporarily blind them, etc.

He wouldn't let me put any on his blindingly white legs though. First time wearing shorts, long Minnesota winters, you do the math!
We're talking W-H-I-T-E. Like chalk. You get the picture.

Oh, yes, our manly man today is walking around in pants at work, that fabric rubbing with every step against his now hot pink skin, which he coated with our Healing Lotion this morning, but we all know that doesn't help that friction element.

Men! The 8-yr-old is just fine, not burnt at all. I got a little bit of sunburn around my neck, which I forgot about, but at least I was wearing a hat, which helped.
But our manly man, not so good. He almost cried this morning when the dog jumped up on his lap and missed with his back leg, which scratched his burnt leg.

I'll say this once--if you are going outside, either cover yourself with fabric or put on some sunscreen! I don't care how much of a manly man you are, you AREN'T so manly when you're crying because you got burned in the sun!

On Perseverance

My son and I went for a 13-mile-long bike ride yesterday on this wonderful trail we have on the old railroad corridor along I-94. It was overcast, humid, with a slight breeze, but a wonderful day. (It's been raining off and on for the past week, so overcast is totally acceptable.)
As we were riding, we talked about anything and everything. I really enjoy these times with him. But I started to notice something--little explosions of green coming up through the tar on which we were riding. At first I just saw the little tar volcanoes and couldn't figure out what they were. Then I really started looking and saw little weeds coming up through them. Coming up through a thick, fat layer of tar!
Thinking about it the rest of the trip, it just got more and more incredible. A tiny little seed or root pushing its way up through a thick, man-made layer, meant to cover the earth, not protect it or help it, but just to provide me with a smooth road on which I could ride my bicycle.
Mother Nature wasn't having any of that. She lets us know in little ways that we don't know everything, we don't control the weather, and nature will always win. (Just watch the world news--volcanoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.)
Sometimes it's the little things that make big changes--over time those little tiny weeds are going to destroy that tar trail. Sometimes it's a big change like a hurricane.
But it's all about perseverance!
We're in the process of creating a new website and a new membership club for Heaven and Earth Essentials. Sometimes it is so difficult to work on both of these because we end up waiting on someone else, or something doesn't go exactly the way we want it, or we find out that we just can't do it or afford it.
But I'm going to take a lesson from Mother Nature. Perseverance. Stop, think about it. If the universe is saying you can't do something one way, try it another, or think about why you wanted to do it in the first place. I think she's a pretty smart lady and I'm glad she's my friend.

Tattoos and Scars

No, I'm not talking about the album by Montgomery Gentry...I'm talking about real tattoos and real scars. As it's getting to be warmer and warmer out, I've been noticing more and more tattoos out there. We live near a small town, a farming town, where you wave to strangers as they drive by, and as it gets warmer out, people wear less clothing so you can see more skin. The tattoos I'm noticing are not on the men, though, they're on the women...small-town moms, farmer's wives, waitresses at the local diner, and young women getting their hair cut at the salons.

I remember when I got my tattoo (at age 30--for my birthday)--it was scandalous! And that wasn't even that long ago. But today, they are much more accepted.
Here's why I'm writing about them. Ladies, make sure you take care of your tattoos! Keep them out of the sun if you can. Moisturize with something that goes deep into the skin, like Emu Oil or Shea Butter. Our Emu Moisturizing Butter is perfect for keeping the beautiful color on your tattoo.

What happens if you don't? Well, you know those old guys that maybe used to be in the military that hang around that one local diner? (Every town has one of those diners.) Look at their tattoos. Can you tell what it used to be? Yes, today's tattoo technology is much better, but they still fade with time until eventually it will look like a cartoon stretched out with Silly Putty.

My tattoo is of a female tiger surrounded by flowers. Her intense green eyes aren't so intense anymore, they've softened with age around the edges. I just wish someone would have told me years ago to moisturize my tiger. I do now...hopefully it's not too late.
As for scars? That same Emu Moisturizing Butter, or even straight Emu Oil, works on scars burns, wrinkles, and stretchmarks. Emu Oil also works for issues associated with arthritis. Try it, you just might find that it works on yours!

What Happened to Good Ol' Customer Service?

I am not a complainer. Having said that, I'm going to complain. It takes a lot for me to do this, but it's been on my mind for days and it's driving me crazy, so I'm putting it out there. What happened to good ol' customer service?

I've been in some form of customer service most of my life. I know what good service is, I can tell when someone goes out of their way to be nice, do something extra, etc., and I try to acknowledge it whenever possible. If something goes wrong, my order isn't quite right, I accept that we're all human and move on. However....

We recently had a building renovated. I've never been involved with something like this, so it's been a new experience for me. I was on-site every day, just checking in, in case there were any questions or problems. I even made the guys cookies, and I never do that! Everyone did a very good job, they were polite, even made suggestions for a few extras we hadn't thought of, and then did those extras in a timely manner.

We had spray foam insulation put in upstairs to insulate the new duct work. The unfinished upstairs was being used as the storage area for all the furniture and stuff from the main level, which was being totally remodeled. We were told to put everything in the middle of the room, as the ducts run down both sides of the room. We did this.

Here's my beef: At no time did ANYONE ever say "You might want to cover all your stuff with a tarp or plastic sheet so it doesn't get ruined from the overspray". We were on-site when they were there. They talked to us. The other contractors talked to us. NOT ONE PERSON mentioned how horrible the overspray is to clean up.

I don't blame MN Spray Foam and Insulation, their guys did the job. However, I am extremely disappointed in their lack of customer service on this issue. I know it's difficult to hire people that actually care about their jobs--been there on both sides. But come on, guys!

I have spent hours and hours cleaning and scraping that overspray off my furniture and things. I have things that are ruined and I can't get clean. I have used rolls of paper towels, spray cleaner, cloth towels, water, my hands are so rough from it all and I feel I have wasted hours of my life because no one thought to mention this one teeny tiny little thing. True, I never thought to ask either, but then I shouldn't have to. I paid them a ton of money, I'm the customer, and in this case, I think a little extra customer service would have gone a long way. Actually, it's not even an "extra", it's part of the job.

All in all, I'm happy with the way the building turned out and I can't wait to show it off. Now...back to scraping and cleaning that darn overspray....

Our new Membership Club will be starting soon! We've got lots of great ideas, many from our wonderful customers. The hardest part has been trying to come up with a name, so we'll be having a contest to see who can come up with the best name. What to give away? We're not sure yet....

We DO know that we have created a beautiful, very feminine fragrance that will be exclusive to our Club members. I am very excited about this one--it's light, but lasts a long time, it's feminine, but not overly sweet or cloying. We used Mimosa Absolute Essential Oil as the base--Mimosa has been very popular with the royalty on the French Riviera. We need to name this as well.

Other new goodies we're creating? We're expanding our line of products for men! Ladies, don't you want your men to smell--well, let's admit it--better than they do now? We'll be adding products and scents for our favorite guys. And hopefully just in time for Father's Day.

The Mother of Invention

Good morning! It's a beautiful morning here, the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and I'm still on the right side of the sod, as a friend of mine recently said.

We had an issue this past weekend and I had to create a new product quickly to resolve it. I love doing that--solving problems. What a great feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction! The issue was that a customer of ours had a mama goat with mastitis and her udder was swollen to a huge, painful-looking state. She had the look of misery on her face and in her eyes, it was very sad. The vet provided medication, but to help with it, I created a spray-on lotion that contained essential oils for healing. Of course, I tested it on my arms first, we don't test on animals first, even if the product is ultimately for the animals.

Here's the funny part--I LOVE this spray-on lotion for me! Yes, it worked incredibly well on the goat, she's got the energy back in her eyes, the swelling is down, and she seems much better. But now I've got a great recipe for a spray-on lotion that works for aching, sore feet and muscles! It smells good, feels good for hours, and you literally don't have to touch it, so our friend Jessica can use it too--she can't stand to touch creamy-textured products.

Ahh, necessity--what a great mother you are!

Don't forget to check out our current selection of lotions, and stay tuned because I'll be adding our new spray-on lotion soon! Available in any of our current fragrances, of course.

Spring Cleaning

We're in the process of doing our Spring Cleaning--and I capitalize it because it is an important event this year, for two reasons: Cleaning and Simplifying. As I walk through our house, garage, property, I see so much "stuff" and it really is too much. Do we need all this to live happily? No. It's true that it all has value, mostly sentimental, but I think we place too much value on the materialistic things.

So, we're going to start cleaning and simplifying. How, you ask?

We're starting in the house, one room at a time. We're starting with my son's room, going through everything in the room. First, the clothes and toys. We donate everything he can't wear anymore and the toys he doesn't play with anymore. As we go through everything, we clean. Move the furniture and the stuff, vacuum, wipe down the woodwork. We encourage him to do as much of it as possible--it's great training for his future. It also helps him learn that when he makes a mess, he's responsible for cleaning it up.

We're going through the house like this. The garage won't be as exciting, we've been using it as a dumping ground the past couple months! I haven't been able to park my car in it in all that time and it's amazing how easily you get used to that.

We have quite a few acres as well, and have to Spring Clean the land every year at this time. Apparently the previous inhabitants for the past century or so left garbage everywhere and either Mother Nature or they would cover it up with dirt. Every Spring Mother Nature pushes it up like so many daisies. So to complete our cleaning frenzy, I'll go out with a wheelbarrow and leather gloves and collect broken shards of glass, squashed metal cans, string, and old chunks of metal that I have no idea as to what they used to be. Last year I filled about 7 wheelbarrows full of this stuff!

The process of Spring Cleaning isn't fun, but when we're done, WOW! It feels so great to look around and see the beauty of everything, instead of clutter and dust. Why did we think we needed all that stuff?

Grand Opening of New HaEE Facility!

I'm so excited for us to have our new facility, I can hardly wait to move in! We are having a Grand Opening for it June 5-6. Not only is it bright and cheerful and sunny, we'll have products that people can purchase on the spot! We have a beautiful meeting room where we will educate people on our products, have parties, and eventually offer online meetings too.

And what a great way to introduce new products! We'd like to start using video more to not only show the product but also how to use it. For example, our Gardener's Friend Hand Scrub--it's perfect for after working outside. The ground luffa and pumice get into all the nooks and crannies and get your hands as clean as can be. And you don't have to smell like a man or oranges afterward, we'll make it in any of our over 300 scents!

In conjunction with our new facility, we will be releasing our new website, which is much easier to navigate and has a clean, botanical look and more functionality.

Want more? Okay... How about a new Membership Club? We are working with some of our key customers to develop a club that gives everyone deals on current products, special products and exclusive perfumes, and more!

We've been very busy the last few months--and it's so satisfying because so much is being improved--and sometimes I don't know if I'm actually working or just dreaming that I am. It's been known to happen!

If I Had a Magic Wand...

If I had a magic wand, I would change so many things...
I know so many good people out there who have had to deal with such great pain...I would help them all if I could.
I know there are a lot of issues with how we treat our planet...I would change them all if I could.
I know there are a lot of animals out there that need help...I would help them all if I could.

Right now I do what I can in my little corner of the world. Life is so short and we need to take care of each other, not because someone tells us to or gives us something to reward us if we do it, but because it's the right thing to do. We are in such a hurry these days that we forget that deep down in our core, we need to care for each other. Animals do it, why can't we?

If I had a magic wand, I would not change anything about myself. I would not change myself because I firmly believe that if I made all the other changes, the process of doing so would be so incredibly gratifying that I would change as a result and want to do even more good.
Now, where is that magic wand?

Allergies?

I've had allergies all my life, but a new one has been cropping up lately and it is driving me absolutely crazy. It's tags--the tags they put on the inside back of the neck of shirts and tops. Those simple little pieces of fabric, so unassuming, supposedly just there for our information...how to wash, size of garment, and so much more information in a font size I would never use in any document. Yet those teeny, tiny, little tags feel like freeway billboards made out of the roughest burlap ever imagined, continuously scratching and irritating my skin.

I know I'm not alone. I've often wondered why companies choose to use the scratchiest fabric for those tags, but let's admit it, it's all about the cost. Using silk would be cost-prohibitive. And they can't put the tags somewhere else, because then they wouldn't have that "free", constant advertising for their company. I know that some of the newer garments have the information printed on the shirt instead of a fabric tag and I applaud those companies, but that's not all companies yet.

So in the meantime, I cut--or want to cut, but wear something underneath instead--all the tags off my shirts and tops. I hate doing that though, because we like to donate our clothing to good causes when we outgrow it.

It's ridiculous that something so small can irritate me so much. I scratch, then catch myself and stop. I apply our Healing Lotion, Herbal Salve, etc. to heal my skin, then put on the wrong shirt and it starts all over again. Right now while I'm typing this, I can feel the tag in my shirt digging down into my skin getting ready to drive me crazy. What do other people do?

Mini Me--How Did THAT Happen?

I've worked in different types of companies and different positions. Like everyone else, I tend to bring my work home, talk about it over dinner, or just think out loud about problems I'm wrestling with.
When you think your kids aren't listening is when you should pay the most attention to what you're saying. Because later it can come back to haunt you....
My son has picked up on all the bath and body product conversations at home. And now that we are getting a new building, he's into colors and decorating, because that's what I'm talking about. I watch his mannerisms and at first wondered where he got them, and then BAM! I realized he's a little version of me! OMG do I do that with my hands? ...that little cock of the head? YES I DO!
Now I'm paying closer attention to those things he does. Yes, he has my mannerisms when talking about sugar scrubs and perfumes and the wall colors. His facial expressions when he gets passionate about something (like math and spelling) are versions of me. And the worst part is when he says things that make me stop in my tracks because it's something I've actually said and never knew he was listening. And it's usually when we're in a store or other public place with people around.
The funniest thing he did recently was when we took him to our new Heaven and Earth Essentials building to check out how the remodeling was going. He did the "Oh My Gosh!", hands up to the face, reaction that you see on Extreme Makeover-Home Edition every week. It was hilarious!

Telling it Like it is--Whether You Want to Hear it or Not

I spent part of my day today talking with my brother. He has been in sales and marketing all his life (yes, ALL his life--even as a little kid he was always trying to sell something to someone!), and right now he is starting up his own Marketing company (Tru-Market.com). He is also helping Heaven and Earth Essentials with some new marketing programs and new website this year.

There are very few people in my world that tell it like it is...most sugarcoat what they want to say, or try to be diplomatic so as not to hurt my feelings. That's what I like about my brother. He is one of the few people that say exactly what the deal is, and he can get away with it because he isn't malicious about it. He lays it out on the table. Don't like it? Too bad. Get used to it.

Do I like hearing the facts like that? Not always. But sometimes we need that jolt so we make the changes that are necessary to move forward. Sometimes we get so set in our ways that it's hard to make that change, easier to just keep doing what we've always done. My favorite comment of his today was telling me exactly what was holding me back on a particular issue. He said to look in the mirror. Ouch....

So, Doug, I WAS listening, and I DID take notes while we were talking on the phone today. You have a lot of great ideas, and we will implement them as we can...just not all at once. I'm accomplishing one right now as I type this (I can check this one off the list--check!).

Alien Landscape

We got a new camera this year and I just love taking pictures now. I'm whipping it out every chance I get, almost obsessively. The other morning when I was getting Alex ready for school I looked out the front living room window and saw this lake of fog resting on the field, and just the tiniest bit of the neighboring farm's silo peeking up out of it. Then, of course, when I saw the moon hovering over all of it, I just couldn't resist running and getting the camera.

So there I am in my bathrobe and snowboots taking pictures outside in my front yard. Thank goodness I live in the country and the neighbors and passing traffic can't see me!

But I got some beautiful shots. Now the snow is melting everywhere and we have standing water in the yard, driveway, and fields; all is mucky and muddy. There are no pretty pictures out there now! But we hope Spring is on her way, we've got a warm spell this week to help melt even more snow and eventually it will all be dried up.

New Life for Leather

Sewing with leather is not as hard as many people make it out to be. I just finished a fun project, a leather pillow with appliques. We live out in the country, so the horse theme seemed natural.

The black background leather was actually a coat of mine that developed a tear after many good years of use. I decided it needed a new life as home accessories, so I began cutting--at first I was very tentative--I mean, it was my coat! I just kept thinking how pretty it would be as a pillow and kept going. Then on to the scraps of turquoise leather I bought from someone who makes leather coats. I spent a lot of time cutting out the small pieces, I wanted them to be perfect. I experimented with my different types of scissors and a surgical knife until I found the right tool.

I placed the pieces on the background and when I was satisfied, I tacked them down with a little leather glue. Then a very slow process of sewing the intricate pieces on, I didn't want to screw up because the needle does leave a little hole, so no mistakes!

The end product is this beautiful 16" square pillow. The back is zippered to make stuffing easier.

My next project will be another pillow, red on black this time, with a spiral on it for the circle of life. These pillows will look beautiful on my black sofa with Pendleton wool blanket on it.

I love giving new life to something outdated or something you can't use anymore. It's recycling at it's best!

Favorite Recipes

I love food, always have. Food is comforting, whatever mood I'm in. Tired, stressed, happy, depressed, I have favorite foods for all my moods! I also love to create dishes, I seldom follow a recipe without adding my own little touch. Today I thought I would put one of my favorite recipes here.

Now, being from Minnesota (I say that with a Minnesotan accent, of course--long ooooo), you would think I can't make anything spicy. That's the generalization about us. I'm different because I love spicy--not just hot, but flavorful. LOTS of flavor! One of my favorite foods is Guacamole and mine has lots of great flavor. So here goes, and if you try it, make sure you get (or make) really good, fresh tortilla chips to go with it. A cocktail goes well with it too!

Keep in mind that all recipes are just "guides". Do what you want! If you don't like one of the ingredients, don't add it; add something else that you DO like! But make it sing with flavor. Life is too short to eat boring food!

Barbara's Guacamole

2 ripe avocado, mashed with a fork (leave some chunks for great texture)

Tomato, sliced into chunks for about 1/2 cup (I use Roma or grape tomatoes, something with sweet flavor)

Garlic, fresh or pickled (how much is up to you--I put in at least 6 cloves, but then we LOVE garlic! Please, please, please do not use the garlic in water that comes in a jar. There's no flavor in it! Don't waste your money.)

Onion, chopped, about 1/3 cup (use sweet onion, red onion, scallions, or a combination)

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 Tablespoon Lea & Perrins Worchestshire sauce (best in the world)

1/2 cup sour cream

Cumin to taste (I add at least 1 Tablespoon)

What else can you add? Try 1/2 cup of sliced black olives, jalapenos, banana peppers, whatever you like.

Mix all ingredients together carefully, you do not want to smash the tomatoes. Then--and this is the hardest part--let it sit a while in the fridge. It gets better the longer you let it sit. The flavors meld together to form the most delicious concoction you've ever tasted. But if you're like me, you're probably opening the fridge every 10 minutes to "just have a taste". Next thing you know, half of it is gone and you're deciding if you should just eat the other half and not tell anyone you even made it. (Make sure you wash the dishes so no evidence is left at the scene of the crime.) Or hey, make another batch!

There you go, this is my secret guacamole recipe! Enjoy! I did yesterday and it was fantastic!

The More I Learn, the More I Realize I Don't Know

Over the past year, I've done a lot of research. I've probably learned more than when I was back in college, but maybe that's just because I have more control over what I'm learning. I'm learning because I want to. And I've definitely learned more than I learned in my previous corporate job (in 7 years), but we aren't going there.


I'm becoming more active in our real-world community, which is also opening up doors to learning new things. For example, who to talk to about what, who to get quotes from on products and services, where to advertise what, and of course who not to talk to and why. I'm learning about all these neat little niche communities and websites and magazines. I've always known there were thousands out there, but then you learn about one or several in your own backyard and wow! I didn't know. (Why didn't I know?)


My real world is expanding and I'm feeling smaller and smaller. I know that's normal, look how big our world is! And it's composed of millions and billions of littler worlds. Wow, it can really be overwhelming. There's times when I just want to draw a hot bath, lock the bathroom door, and keep the world out. I never actually get to do that, of course, but the thought is often present!





Thank goodness for good friends to help keep me sane, or at least put up with me while I lose it! And big thanks to my little dog, Shamus, who is a good listener while I rant and rave. He doesn't repeat anything he hears and seldom complains about my insanity.

I'm going to my first Chamber of Commerce event soon, we'll see how that goes. Who knows, maybe I'll learn something?

Looking Back

It's now the new year and I am very positive and hopeful for a bright one! Maintaining a positive attitude can be difficult at times, especially when the daily news is so full of "bad people" as my 8-year-old son calls them, and how the media seems to concentrate on negative events, crime, and such. I truly enjoy watching shows like CBS Sunday Morning, which posts stories on real people or history or current events in a factual fashion. And I can never get enough of Ben Stein telling it like it is.

For the past few days, everyone is talking about how bad the past decade was. It is what you make of it! I try to think of the positive, find that silver lining in everything. As I look back, every time I hit a rock in the road, the unexpected turn onto that side road led to something so much better. I've lost jobs several times due to corporate downsizing or restructuring, only to find a better one. I married the wrong guy, but then found my soulmate. So we must keep that positive attitude, something better is bound to be around the corner, whether it's finding that job, that mate, or the economy! To the media pyranhas out there, here is my message--please stop accentuating what's bad and start concentrating on the people that are helping to do good in the world. There are many of them out there!

Okay, I'm done now, I just had to get that off my chest. Now I can concentrate on making 2010 the best year ever! And what can you expect from us? We've been researching in our spare time...at some of our customers' requests. So new products are on the horizon. And we hope to make a few small changes to our website, mostly behind the scenes. Everything we do is to make a better experience for everything Heaven and Earth Essentials! And of course, we will continue to take your suggestions. Thank you for everything in the past year, and we hope to continue to work with you in the future!