PureBliss Essentials Thoughts....

Finding Your Calm in a Stressful World

2011-08-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

This last week with 500 point swings in the Dow in both directions seemed like adding a bucket of fuel to our already full "stress buckets". I believe that the effective management of stress is a key to our mental and physical health. We all must find the best ways for us to manage the things we worry about, many of which we are not in control of. Here are a few ideas you might try to see how you can lower your "stress temperature" and find serenity in a world that seems crazy sometimes.

If you don't manage stress, it will find a way to manage you. Stress can be very invasive in your life. It loves to be in the driver's seat and you hand over the keys without fail on a regular basis because you feel defeated by it.

You might blaming the boss, the car mechanic or your spouse for your stress. You can't control what other people do or say, but you can manage some of the smaller irritations in your world in order to reduce your stress.

Here are some stress triggers that you have the ability to bring under management:

Clutter – The more "stuff" you have, the more time and attention it requires to maintain. One way to reduce that demand is to eliminate some of the stuff that you don't really need.

Start room by room and take a critical look at the time demands of your stuff. Pledge to give away or throw away at least two clutter items from every room. And don't just do this once, do it once a month.

Buy Less – You brought that clutter into the house, so don't bring in more. Before you buy a new wok or 26-piece baking set, think about how often you would actually use those items. Do you have any other kitchen equipment that can double for the same purposes?

Magazine Perfect Housekeeping – Unless you can afford a full time housekeeper, you need to accept that clean is good enough. Save the frantic furniture polishing and baseboard wiping for quarterly cleaning or preparing for a party. Remember that rooms in magazines look so great because no one lives there to mess them up.

Clothes Horse Needs Taming – Buying clothes is a kind of closet clutter addiction that can get out of control. Clothing isn't just something on a hanger. You have to wash, mend, press or take it to the dry cleaners.

If you have an over-stuffed closet, it's actually harder to get dressed in the morning. Too many choices become stressful - as does not being able to find the other shoe, so you waste time changing outfits.

Trim down the closet. If you need help, ask a fashionable friend or hire a wardrobe consultant to work with you. These are just a few ways to manage stress by dealing with the things in your home. You can apply the same strategy to the “stuff” in your office.

One other thing that may be helpful is to pay attention to your habits when you feel stressed. Do you shop or eat when you are worried? Both of these can cause real damage to your budget and your health, causing more stress! So, simplify, simplify, simplify to reclaim your inner sense of calm.

What do you do that helps you lower stress?

Cracking down on "organic" claims

2011-06-21T11:16:00.000-07:00

This article appeared this week, and in my opinion, has been a long time coming!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/20/organic-product-lawsuit_n_880752.html

The terms "natural" and "organic" are bandied about with very little scrutiny...and the buying public has bought into it lock, stock and barrel! Yes there are reputable companies out there who are diligent and honest about their ingredients, but for consumers, it's a real job to sort out labeling requirements and what those ingredients lists actually contain.

Most magazines have feature articles that talk about various beauty routines, but organic beauty tips to promote good health cover more than just the outside of your body. Learning about and using organic products is a way that you can make sure you’re keeping your body its healthiest inside, too.

While most people wouldn’t even consider using toxic materials inside their home and seek ways to go green, they’re unaware that their day to day routine of using mass produced beauty products could be harming their skin and even introducing dangerous toxins into their body.

Every single product you use in your home and for your body should be used with an eye out toward keeping your life the healthiest it can be. Many women (and some men) use facial masks to get rid of dead skin cells and to invigorate new growth.

These masks keep the skin looking younger, feeling smoother and promote internal well being from knowing your skin looks good. However, you can inadvertently add years to your skin by choosing the wrong facial mask - the ones with abrasive chemicals in the ingredients.

Instead, you can opt for a safer and gentler mask by using oatmeal. You can either buy a natural oatmeal mask or you can make your own at home with the ingredients you already have on hand.

All you need is oatmeal, a little bit of honey and some water. You mix the ingredients together until it’s nice and sticky and then apply it to your face. Leave it on for no less than ten minutes and then remove with water. You’ll instantly feel the difference.

If you enjoy painting your finger and toenails, then you especially need to learn about organic beauty tips to promote good health because nail colors contain an ingredient known as nitrocellulose.

This is an acid - and while it’s used in nail polish, guess what else it’s used in? Explosives such as dynamite. Did you know that the ingredients listed in nail polish are poisonous?

Those ingredients are things like butyl acetate, ethyl acetate and toluene. Toluene is a solvent (think paint thinner), which is what gives nail polish that pungent odor. Inhaling the fumes from nail polish can poison your body. What’s the alternative if you want to paint your nails? Look for a water-based nail polish that doesn’t contain dangerous chemicals.

The best way to understand which products are healthy to use is to not only select from organic choices, but to study exactly what you’re putting on your skin and into your body.

You might think that companies would avoid products that could harm you, but they don’t. Even little ones aren’t exempt from dangerous ingredients in products (some diaper creams contain boric acid).

So it’s important to make informed decisions rather than taking someone else’s word that what you’re buying is good for you - especially if that someone else is making a profit if they convince you to buy. There’s nothing wrong with making a profit. There is however, something very wrong with making a profit at the expense of the public’s health.

As in all things: be a smart consumer! Read those labels, and know what they mean!

Is There a Therapeutic Remedy For Aging?

2011-06-12T06:52:00.001-07:00

Is There a Therapeutic Remedy For Aging?

So far as anyone knows, there is no magic pill to keep your youth intact forever – but there is a lot of hype out there about how taking a pill will restore your energy, build your muscles and help you lose weight.

Don’t believe the hype. All you’ll get for your money and time is the possibility of developing a real health problem.

But while there isn’t a single remedy to reverse the effects of aging, there are ways to help keep the aging process at bay and improve your health and lifestyle. If you’re hoping to turn back the clock, talk to your doctor and do some research yourself before taking a pill or drug that’s said to be a sure-fire way to regain your youth.

The Evidence is In On Anti-Aging Therapies

While there’s no tried and true method of warding off the aging process, there are proven therapies that can preserve your general health and extend your life expectancy. Below are some therapies that you may want to check out:

• Hormone Therapy – Hormones are natural chemicals produced in your body. As you age, hormonal levels decline and the aging process becomes more pronounced. Restoring those levels with therapies such as DHEA and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) may slow aging, boost immunity and improve cognition capability.

But hormone therapy can come with its own set of problems, such as liver damage. Check with your doctor before you begin any type of hormone therapy.

• Antioxidants – “Free radicals” (the substance your body produces as it process the food you eat) can be one cause of aging and diseases. Antioxidants such as the vitamins and minerals contained in the food you eat can neutralize these free radicals and prevent diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

If you aren’t eating a balanced diet, you might benefit from vitamin supplements such as Vitamin B6, C, E and A.

• Restrict Your Caloric Intake – Recent studies have found that reducing the number of calories in your diet can help you live a longer, healthier life. But you must be sure that you’re getting enough nutrients such as those found in fruits and vegetables.

There are many factors involved in the aging process – and what may be effective for one, might not be healthy for another. Be sure and talk to your doctor before you begin any type of therapeutic remedy.

Becoming the CEO of Your Own Life

2011-03-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

In today's rough economy, I meet so many people that feel out of control of most everything. I frequently hear comments like "I'm spinning in so many directions, I'm not sure where to turn" or "I feel like I have so much to accomplish I don't know where to start". I think all of us have had these sentiments at one time or another. Juggling the demands of family, career, personal obligations, perhaps starting a second job or business, it is no wonder we feel overwhelmed. One fact remains through it all: we have choices. We have control over both large and small decisions ever day that ultimately are the fabric of what our life looks like.

If we could look at how we run our lives like a CEO runs a company, what would we find? A CEO must successfully direct every single day these things:
Sales
Finance
Staffing
Profits
Research/Development
Human Resources
Furthermore, a CEO has to juggle most of this simultaneously...just like we do: career, family, relationships, financial management, household and community responsibilities, health, and recreation.

It seems like a good place to start to feel more in control may be shifting our perspective from "I'm just a passenger in the car that is my life" to "I'm in the driver's seat, and I'll determine where it is I'll go".

So what does it take? First, getting really clear on what we value is key. If we can succinctly define what we value most, it is the building block that everything else must rest upon. Our decisions must reflect our values. Secondly, we have to prioritize those values-based decisions. What are your top priorities?
Career advancement
Increased income/profits
Reducing Stress
Getting Healthy
Finding meaning and fulfillment
Whatever we value, we have to choose the activities that put our top priorities on top. For instance, if I say my top priority is increasing my bottom line profits, but I spend the majority of my time doing $10 hour admin work, my priorities are not straight. It's the question that must be asked every day: Is what I am doing right now, advancing my top priority? This leads to the last important point: the ability to be brutally honest with ourselves. If we state one priority but find ourselves consistently spending time that will not produce a result...can we be both willing to tell the truth about that, AND be willing to change?

Willingness to change will be a topic for another day....

Managing during the great recession: everyday pampering!

2011-02-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Anyone who is paying attention, can sense there is much turmoil, in our cities, our country and all over the world. When we contemplate the "big issues" of cash flow, debt and terrorism it is very easy to become overwhelmed. I thought it might be helpful to put together a list of suggestions to help us all cope with big change. Here are the things I think may help:

1. Pay attention to the basics: a clean diet, fresh air and excercise and SLEEP. These things we have in our control every day...and we must fight the impulse to load up on junk food, become sedentary and let insomnia steal our sanity. Think of your body as a machine...if you put continual demands on it without proper maintenance, what happens? I fight these battles every day, just like you. But stepping outside with a brisk walk (no matter the weather) preparing a good meal and healthy snacks and guarding my sleep has kept me sane. When so much in our world that stresses us is not in our direct control...it's important to know these things we can control, and will benefit directly, daily from good practices here.

2. Unplug regularly. Everyone is working so hard these days out of necessity. But commit to at least one 24 hour period you are "off". No phones, no email, no bills, nothing but "me" time. What you do with that time will differ, but find that slot somewhere. It might be connecting with your important relationships, doing something creative, meditating or spiritual practice, socializing with people you love...but depriving yourself of a period of time to re-charge your inner self leads to burn out. I struggle with this one..but see that the weeks I get it done are WAY more productive than the weeks I don't do it.

3. Find small ways to pamper yourself: what do you absolutely love? I deal with the highly charged world of personal and business finances, so I learned these things by having to do them! I re-charge by making soap and luxurious bath products. I love the creativity, a complete departure from the demands of the day. It restores me in a way nothing else can. I'm a big believer in the power of soap! It's something we use every day, and it can be beautiful, artistic, colorful and fragrant. I look forward to my shower and using a "fancy" soap every day. It's an inexpensive way to feel luxurious and I take luxury seriously! Nothing relaxes me like a bath with a fragrant and moisturizing bath bomb, a luxury soap and then a follow up with a lotion bar. My skin never gets dry in the winter if I do this on a regular basis...and feeling good physically helps keep me upbeat mentally. Would love to hear your ideas on how you recharge, and how you pamper. What do you do to recharge, relax and restore?

Success in 2011!

2011-02-02T09:58:00.000-08:00

I'm more excited about this year than I've been in several years! As our economy makes strides to stablize, I see so many positive signs and changes in people, and how they have adjusted to economic hard times. Here are the top five changes I see in my practice, in my clients and in my community, as people have made changes in response to the challenges we've all faced:

1. Many people have changed their "evil" ways and have stopped frivolous, deficit spending and started saving money. This seems so simple, but when the collective mindset has been "I must have every gadget I possibly want right now" to "I must find a healthy balance between enjoying my life right now and also being responsible with my future" something good has happened!

2. The former common wisdom of "I don't need to save for retirement because all this equity in my house will BE my retirement" has exploded. People now finally understand that a house is something you buy to live in, that you can comfortably afford, and it is not an ancillary ATM card that I can finance a lifestyle above my means. This real estate change is permanent: houses are what we buy to live in, not speculate with.

3. People are figuring out that their "jobbie" job may not be there next week, or next month, and entrepreneurism is at an all time high. The age of "work for 30 years for a company and you will be rewarded with a gold watch and a pension" has been gone for decades. What a great thing that we can start a little business in America, and pursue it vigorously!! It requires great things of us: learning new skills, working hard. But many people are figuring out that if they work as hard for themselves as they have been willing to work for someone else...great things can happen!

4. We can save ourselves. We can get help to repair and rebuild our nest egg, we can start a business, and we can get involved in our community. I believe great change can happen right in our neighborhoods...and in our communities. If each one of us donated just a few hours a month giving back...many of our foundational issues could be solved. I teach two free classes each month: one for women facing divorce, and one in simple financial literacy. It's a way to give back in the hopes it can help lift someone else up. Another way I like to contribute is to donate packets of personal hygiene items: soap, toothpaste, skin cream to our local churches and homeless shelters. This is a way my "hobby" business can give back too. What are some things you can think of that you could do right in your community?

5. We can realize we have great resources that we've gathered along life's journey and we can learn. We can learn a new skill, a new business idea, and new behaviors. This is the best news of all in 2011...we humans are infinitely capable, resourceful and courageous...and we can look beyond ourselves into the world around us to see what we are really here for: find the purpose of our life and offer it selflessly and endlessly to those we come in contact with.

Please help us by posting your ideas here for giving back in your community...someone else might see your idea and say: I can do that! Ready...set....GO:

New Updates!

2010-10-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

I've been working on refining my business plan as this year winds down. It seems to me each year goes faster and faster! I jettisoned my skin care line in June, as it was apparent it was not profitable. This is forever the challenge of the entrepreneur....we follow our dreams and passions, create some way to serve the public and run good business practice, but sometimes you must be able to discern when to throw in the towel, without throwing away your dreams. Here is how I did it:

When I did careful bookeeping and could see that the time and money spent on ingredients, formulation, packaging, labeling, FDA changing requirements and landscape the math just did not add up. I felt a mixture of both a little sadness, and also relief. It was my opportunity to re-define what I wanted PureBliss Essentials to be about.

The first step I took was to clearly define the parts of the business that really excited me. For me, it was clear, the artful/creative development was the "buzz" I was seeking. As I looked at this carefully, I could see that doing innovative soap desgin, that could change season by season was where the satisfaction was. So it was clear: I had to drastically cut my line, and specialize in what I loved the most.

One thing I'm still grappling with, is that I have a number of absolutely dedicated customers who are really upset that I discontinued the skin care line. I've reached out to them and communicated, and have tried to see how else I could help or direct them. At the end of the day, a successful business has to be profitable, satisfying and it must serve customers well.

What process have you used to establish, or re-define your personal or business goals? What process works for you?

It's a Happy Mother's Day Gift!

2010-04-28T14:36:00.001-07:00

I realize I haven't blogged for the longest time. One thing that has me absorbed is the discovery of a radical, earth-shattering scientific discovery in the Anti-Aging field. Do you believe it is possible to actually "de-age" your face and skin with only a topical application of a skin care product? Up till now, myself and any good dermatologist (of which I am NOT) that it really isn't possible. Skin care products can temporarily even out skin tone, or perhaps tighten a bit...but to actually turn back the clock? Erase wrinkles without Botox or fillers? Impossible you say! I said that too.

UNTIL

I've made a discovery that will in my opinion, set the bar for the Anti-Aging industry. My next blog will be to delve into this science in quite some depth...you'll want to stay tuned.

For now: It's a HAPPY MOTHERS DAY pamper her sale!! We have just begun a 50% off sale on all our organic skin care basics. Put a great spa package together for mom...at an unbelievable price. While these supplies last: www.pureblissessentials.com

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise....

2009-08-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

I've been developing a new program with a new friend I met not long ago, and we've been discussing all the things that make us feel healthy, wealthy and wise. As a financial advisor by trade, and a skin care expert by passion, I've given these somewhat esoteric issues a great deal of thought!

This week, my husband had an unexpected total hip replacement. Although we expect a fabulous outcome for him, it is a very major surgery and a rough recovery, at least for a couple weeks. I've been keenly aware of what makes me feel "wealthy"...even in the face of a family stress time and being off work for a couple weeks: wealthy to me means all the things you can NOT buy with money: family, relationships, comfort, health, freedom. This is true wealth...so I spend some time each day just in gratitude for what I have.

Healthy has been in our minds a lot too, lately. My husband received the absolute best of care while in the hospital from compassionate, knowlegeable, competent nurses, surgeons, and staff. I was so appreciative to them...and as I headed home each evening to try to get some sleep myself, I was confident he was in good hands. To show them my appreciation, I made about ten gift bags of Organic, Anti-Aging skin care samples and creamy goat soap from my line. One of the greatest pleasures I have in doing PureBliss Essentials business is the ability to gift: often, and abundantly. The ability to give things most people really like, makes me feel both healthy and wealthy!

And wise....what makes us feel like we have wisdom? Those flashes of insight that come spontaneously, often when we least expect it. I have these often, and in fact, I see my own intuition as my "guiding force" in everything in life. That gut instinct helps me navigate every situation, and make decisions that are never wrong, when I follow it. This has served me well in business: in the financial realm, there are clients I won't work with: when my "gut" tells me they are irrational, unreasonable or trouble. There is great freedom in this, to trust my own instincts. Wisdom also shown this week when I realized that all of us are human...and each of us seeks many of the same things: kindness, thoughtfulness, humor and compassion. At the end of the day, if I can look back on my life and feel it was full of wisdom and compassion, I will know I've lived my best life.

What makes you feel healthy, wealthy or wise?

Skin and Hair protection secrets for summer sun!

2009-08-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

Aloha from the beautiful island of Maui! We are here on vacation this week...and although I've been before, Maui never ceases to astound me with its beauty, and spectacular sights.

As a very fair-skinned person whose family has a history of skin cancer...of course I'm naturally concerned about the best way to enjoy all that Maui has to offer, and also not subject myself to the intense island sun. Here are some of the tips I can share on what I'm doing, and hope it may help you not let too much sun spoil your summer fun!

1. All the common sense things everyone knows: sunscreen, re-apply frequently! If you dip in and out of the water, more sunscreen each time you come out! Also: huge tip: wear a shirt snorkeling: you forget in the wonder of seeing below the surface how your back is directly exposed. Keep your shirt on!

2. Protect your hair! This is especially true if you color treat! Sun and salt water are no friend of your hair condition or color. Here is a great tip: before hitting the beach, douse your hair with the magical kukui nut oil. You can buy it locally here in Hawaii. Leave it on...then wash out at the end of the day. Your hair will be considerably softer and less damaged by the elements. Here is a bit about Kukui Nut Oil, which is great for skin and hair in this climate!

Kukui Nut Oil has been used for many years in Hawaii , and has only recently become known to the rest of the world. It is prized for its rejuvenating and soothing effects upon the skin, without leaving a greasy or oily film. Pressed from the seeds of the Aleurites moluccana tree, Kukui Nut Oil is invaluable for many different skin conditions, providing moisture and nourishment to dry, mature, and damaged skin.

The Kukui Nut tree was first brought to Hawaii by early Polynesian settlers. It quickly adapted, and is now Hawaii 's official state tree. Kukui means ‘enlightenment' in Hawaiian. Traditionally, babies in Hawaii were anointed with Kukui Nut Oil to protect their skin from the sun, salt, and other elements. In addition, it was used on skin irritations, wounds, and burns. Kukui Nut Oil was also used to massage members of royalty, who were sometimes massaged for seven or more hours with this oil!

Kukui Nut Oil is a fabulous moisturizer, and quickly penetrates the skin leaving a silky-smooth non-greasy feeling. It is often used for dry or damaged skin, immediately relieving symptoms because of its quick absorption into the skin. It can leave even the roughest and driest skin feeling smooth, soft, and hydrated. Kukui Nut Oil contains Vitamins A, C, and E, providing anti-oxidants that help to protect the skin. This unique oil is able to penetrate into the deepest skin layers, while creating a protective shield that locks in moisture. Kukui Nut Oil is great for those with sensitive skin, and is a wonderful ingredient to add to your bodycare products. Specifically, it is beneficial for the following conditions: (please note: this information is not intended to diagnose, or be construed as medical advice.)
• Burns – including: sunburn, windburn, radiation burns, and heat induced burns.
• Eczema
• Chapped skin
• Psoriasis
• Mature and prematurely aged skin
• Dry skin conditions
• Acne
• Scars
• Lesions
• Dry hair and scalp

A good sunscreen, a hat, keeping your shirt on, and liberal use of Kukui Nut Oil can yeild a wonderfully protected skin while allowing you to romp freely in paradise!

Exfoliation: Anti-Aging Secret!

2009-07-18T07:11:00.000-07:00

Exfoliation: Who needs it?

So who needs exfoliation? What is it and why should you care? Here is the real truth: everybody needs exfoliation - men and women, young and old, dry skin types, oily skin types - everyone.

Exfoliation - this is the one crucial skin care step that's most popularly underrated and underused. What is it exactly? It's the step between the cleanser and the toner. It's the one step that's so critical to beautiful skin that it's remarkable to see how often it's brushed aside or off altogether in skin care regimens. Although many people already know what this is or that it is a necessary cleansing step, exfoliation continues to get skipped. This is mostly true for men, who often believe skin care treatments are for women only. One advantage men have is that they shave their faces...thereby exfoliating in spite of themselves! Women, on the other hand, often skip this important step, reasoning it takes too much time, but this is a mistake. Exfoliation is a technique that can and should be used by both men and women at least every other day in order to maintain healthy, vibrant-looking skin. This is because daily, hourly, minutely, dead skin cells are accumulating on the epidermis (outermost layer of skin) which then causes the skin to become dull and thicken. But via exfoliation, whether you choose to use a gentle scrub, glycolic acid or a washcloth, those very same dead skin cells that form on the top layer of your skin are removed to reveal the glorious skin underneath. By removing dead and dry skin cells from the surface of your skin, it allows the growth of new moisturized cells to surface, creating a glowing look for your skin. Your routine can include a gentle scrub, or can be alternated with a glycolic acid mask or clay mask. The combination of both techniques can be most beneficial for keeping your skin clear, and smooth.

When selecting the right product remember that using the most gentle products available. You wouldn't take a scouring pad to your delicate face, nor should your products have harsh exfoliants. A good organic base with tea anti-oxidants and gentle jojoba beads might be a good choice. When using masques, there are a couple things to keep in mind. Glycolic acid is a remarkably effective product for the clearest smoothest skin, but this active ingredient also causes a higher sensitivity to the sun, so you have to be very careful by using sunscreen after using a glycolic acid product. When you look at clay masques, ingredients matter! Masques can be a very effective way of deep cleansing and exfoliating, especially if they contain Vitamin E, DMAE or other active ingredients known to produce spectacular results for skin clearing.

Exfoliation is a critically important step in any good skin care routine. Remember the other pillars of skin care: careful cleansing, proper moisture and SUNSCREEN always! If you combine these elements with a healthy diet, plenty of rest and water, and regular excercise, you will have glowing skin well into your later years, and you'll be glad you did!

Visit our skin care page: www.pureblissessentials.com

Natural Beauty and Anti-Aging

2009-07-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of interest these days with all things natural. What is natural beauty? I would define it as optimum health: a balanced lifestyle, pure, organic food in as "unprocessed" a state as possible, proper excercise, fresh air, quality loving relationships, and meaningful contribution to the world. We don't all just have these elements, but many people strive to keep these elements and integrate them.

The very same elements that contribute to overall health, also create great skin. There is a recognition that we are not just a mind, or a body, or some emotions, or a spirit, but we are an integrated system, and that when we follow healthy practices our whole being benefits from it. Anti-aging technologies are everywhere....clearly a rapidly aging demographic trends have a lot of people pursuing ways to stay younger or younger looking and feeling.

Your skin is the largest organ you have. When you take care to use pure, and mostly organic products on your skin it can be beneficial to you. Thorough cleansing, gentle exfoliation for the dead layers on the top of your skin and careful moisturizing are the elements of any good skin care ritual. When combined with a healthy lifestyle and diet, you will give yourself the very best chance to keep looking youthful and healthy well into your later years!

Summer Madness!

2009-06-28T14:32:00.001-07:00

I love summer in Portland...warm, green, lush and delicious. I was thinking of all the ways we can take summer in wherever we are: enjoy the outdoors, the water, the mountains, the desert. One of the things I love about the Northwest is that it is a year-round "outside" kind of place. Rain does not stop us in the winter from biking, hiking, and tromping around the art galleries. Summers are glorious...tons of live music in the parks and wineries, great cultural events, lots of things to do.

I was thinking we should find ways to indulge and pamper ourselves regardless of our climate or the time of year. I was recently inspired to create luscious summer scrubs and a new solid lotion bar to really enjoy either getting ready for the day, or to pamper and relax at the end. Starting with a fresh shower scrub and delicious juicy orange, grapefruit, lemon and botanical essences...it's just one of those things that make you glad to be alive! A small thing perhaps, but when life feels tough like it sometimes does, this is one thing we can each do to just take a few moments and enjoy the feel, the scent, the freshness. Follow up with a touch of a lotion bar...and you can launch into the day feeling like you are ready for anything!

Stay tuned...I'll be blogging about the rich butters and oils that I've found to have truly amazing effects on parched summer skin...it's been a rigorous learning curve!

Till next time....do something great for yourself today!

What it really takes for success

2009-06-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

I've been a life-long entrepreneur....and as much as anything I believe entrepreneur ism is about personal growth. I've seen over the years my relative success from year to year has more to do with how I'm developing myself, and less to do with economics, conditions or all the outside influences that can convince us that it is not a good time to be successful.

I started my financial advisory business out of a complete business failure in real estate. Back in the 80's when real estate was booming, it seemed like a good business to be in. The money was good, but I never loved it. When the first big economic collapse of California happened, I got caught in the massive implosion of that industry and I knew that more than anything I had to change...not conditions alone, but me.

I dug in and applied myself to the situation at hand. The first thing I did was go seek the advice of two respected mentors, who both, independently advised me that a career in financial services was the place to build long term stability. They were right. I also had to get up every single day and apply myself to re-train in this new profession. There were times I felt the task at hand would overwhelm me. I learned that I had to take one day and one step at a time. The slow, steady self-discipline and establishment of a disciplined work ethic is what pulled me out of that catastrophe, and set my course that did indeed, over time, give me the stable, meaningful career it has become.

This is what I've learned....when faced with great adversity, it is a challenge for us to look INWARD, not outward to see how we can think differently, tap our own resiliency and creativity, seek counsel from wise people, and get comfortable with change and living outside our comfort zone.

This is the formula I believe for success...no matter what your job status is or station in life. We can rise to our circumstance... and find what we need. Those answers are not in looking for a person, the government, our illusions of the "secure" job to bail us out. Those answers exist eternally right inside your own heart and intuition. Times of great crisis are our best opportunities to find our strengths, then apply them in a new direction.

Here's to your success! Find your passion, learn new skills, and be willing to be coach able by those who have gone before you. You success is guaranteed if you will. The biggest foe we face is our own negative self-image and thinking. Believe you can, or believe you can't...either way, you'll be right.

Remarkable Rhassoul

2009-03-02T11:32:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite skin routines is an organic Rhassoul Clay Mask. Never heard of Rhassoul? Here is a bit about it: Rhassoul clay, found only deep beneath the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, has been used for over 1,400 years as a natural beauty treatment for skin and hair-even nobles in ancient Rome and Egypt took advantage of this remarkable beautifying clay. To first look at this reddish-brown cosmetic clay you would not think it was anything spectacular, but looks can be deceiving.What Makes Rhassoul Clay Unique?This clay is a smectic (or swelling) clay, which means that it's extremely absorbent-much more so than other cosmetic clays. In fact, it's made up of three layers with a water layer sandwiched in between. This clay has a unique ability to absorb tremendous amounts of water, which makes it ideal for cleansing and detoxifying the skin.Further, Rhassoul clay contains higher percentages of silica, magnesium, potassium, calcium and other trace minerals than other clays. These minerals make the clay highly detoxifying as they can actually exchange themselves for toxic compounds like metals in the skin. So the clay not only works to remove impurities from your skin-it also replaces them with nourishing trace minerals. And, the clay's high level of ions exchange makes it ideal for toning and enriching the skin.But perhaps the best part about Rhassoul clay is what it doesn't contain: no petrochemical derivatives, no synthetic preservatives, no surfactants or artificial colors ... all of which are common in commercial soaps and cleansers.How is Rhassoul Clay Used?Rhassoul clay can be used as a soap, skin conditioner, shampoo or mask for the face and body. It acts like a soap but leaves a sweet scent behind. One note of caution here: if you use it in shampoos, it will strip your color. If your hair is not colored, it is tremendously clarifying.Two U.S. labs have conducted clinical studies on Rhassoul clay. After just a single use, users reported the following results in their skin:Less drynessLess flakinessImproved skin clarity, elasticity and firmnessImproved skin textureLess surface oilSmoother skinIn short, Rhassoul clay is a superior compound for removing oil and impurities from the skin and hair, and that's why top spas around the world offer beauty treatments that contain it.Here is the recipe I use: one part Rhassoul, one part Aloe Vera Juice, and add some avocado oil till you get the texture you like. Mix well, apply to clean face, and let dry. Remove with warm water and follow with your favorite moisturizer. I use my Regenerate Serum and my Anti-Oxidant Renewal Creme...and this combination makes my skin feel like it must have been when I was 6 months old! It is smooth, clear, plump and soft.Try it...you'll be amazed!!

www.pureblissessentials.com

Entrepreneurism and the spirit of service

2009-03-02T11:28:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about the call to national service...and what I've learned about service during my life.I've been a life-long entrepreneur. I started as a realtor in S Cal back in the 80's when real estate was a pretty good business to be in. When both the economy and my business totally crashed by the end of the 80's I was left wondering: "is this all there is? How do I start over?" I realized that re-inventing my career and my personal life would involve some deep introspection. I learned that I could no longer just work for money...but that what I chose to spend my life energy on had to have meaning and purpose. I found my way into financial services after leaving California...a painful choice as I was totally broke, did not know a soul, and had to dig out a living minute by minute. I was scared a lot of the time, just like I imagine so many are scared now. But I persevered, and today I have a business that has given me so much. I partner with talented third party active money managers who have the staff and resources to monitor the global markets. I was marvelling at my new crop of client statements that arrived this week. Accounts that not only did not lose money over this devastating recessionary cycle, but actually eked out some small gains. These statements are not pieces of paper to me: they are the widow who counts on this income to survive with her small daughter, the trust fund that two children count on to fund their college, the small retirement account for the divorcee that cannot afford to lose a dime. Real people. I'm proud of what I've been able to do, to help real people navigate during these very tough times.

I'm also thrilled about my new entrepreneurial business, PureBliss Essentials. I started this as a hobby and born out of my life-long fascination with the science of skin care, and love of creative endeavors. I can get lost in figuring out new ways to make delicious things that make people happy. I never did it for the money. My biggest thrill is to know someone has used my products and they made them feel good. I think people need that these days. In my very first year of business, I vowed that PureBliss would be a business that gave back. Every year, PureBliss will donate 10% of profits to a local charity that supports self-sustainability in our community. The Bradley Engle House for battered women and children were the recipients in 2008. I'm also launching a new program "Girl Power"...an entreprenurial course for young girls. I'll teach them how to make simple soaps and scrubs, let them sell them and make money, and teach them how to do simple bookeeping, and run a business. Who knows what could come of it for them? I think our young people need to know how to be self-sufficient. Also, a requirement of the program is that they save 10% of everything they earn...for college, or to expand their business.Both of my businesses give me as much as I give to them. They are filled with meaning and purpose. It was never about the money, but amazingly, the money comes. This is the year we've been called to serve our communities. There can be no loftier goal, and the real secret of service is that the ServOR benefits far more than the ServEE