Summer Madness!

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

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

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

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