The Om Intention

Just Sent Out My First Custom Order!

2010-02-25T08:15:00.004-05:00

A lady my mother works with was having a tea party this weekend and about a month ago she had asked my mother if I made custom orders for party favors. But of course I do...well, at least now I do :)

I spent a couple weeks designing some new yummy teas that wouldn't be too "herbally" and tasted fabulous and created 40 tea samples with 3 bags each. If I say so myself they turned out wonderfully!

My mother took them to her this morning and we shall see what the reaction is next week. It was a blast making them, knowing that 30-40 women were about to be introduced to The Om Intention and that I may make a few new friends.

This little venture made me think...if I could do favors and make labels specific to the event, say weddings or baby showers or even tea parties, I could spread the word about my shop even more and have fun in the process! Because making those tea samples were a lot of fun!

Here's to new business, to getting my name out there, and to filling time in my severely unemployed days. Hahaha

New Teas and New Herbs

2010-02-10T16:42:00.007-05:00

This week I've added some new teas and herbs to the shop, and still have more to go!

Today I've added my new tea Berry Berry Yummy. I didn't make it to serve any high, lofty, or remedy-like purpose...I made it to taste yummy! While it isn't just berries that is the flavor that most stands out. It has a hint of orange and cinnamon, and is wonderful as both a iced tea or hot tea. Did I mention it's great as an anti-carcinogen and anti-inflammatory? Well it is!!!

This week I'm also going to be adding my new flowery tea, Springtime Bouquet. It's light, floral, and has a wonderful flavor. With chamomile, lavender, jasmine and lemon peel its quite a pleasant tea. It reminds me of a spring day, like something I would drink at a garden tea party.

I'm also posting my new herbal tea that I designed for my friends and family battling diabetes. It's called SugarBuster and it's a one tea fighting machine. It helps regulate blood sugar, it helps reduce edema, and it tastes REALLY GOOD! I've heard some great reports from friends who are using it so I'm happy to begin selling it now.

I'm working on some new teas next week...some for taste, some for a purpose...and I am so excited to show them to you!

When Life Gets Nuts!

2010-02-04T08:58:00.003-05:00

Many of you may know that I recently left the Virginia area and moved back to my home town in Massachusetts. Well, that made for a more hectic life than I ever thought possible. Now I've had a month to re-energize, refocus, and this month is all about posting my new, wonderful teas!

What's coming down the road?

A tea for the common cold! That's right, it helps clear the sinuses, soothes the throat, and calms the stomach all in one! I've been testing it on local family as well as myself and I can happily report that it works gently and silently and caused our nasty colds to last 3 days tops! Can you imagine??? Woohoo!

A tea for menopausal women! I'm leaving out the Red Clover that many such teas include because all the post-menopausal women in my family found Red Clover to react horribly in their systems and actually made things worse...so why take that chance?

A tea for diabetics! Every little herb in this baby is known for helping the body regulate blood sugar as well as reduce edema! It also tastes sooooo yummy! Waiting for a report back from my guinea pig to see how well it worked for him and I'll be letting you all know!

A tea for women trying to get pregnant and want an added boost to their fertility. I will be joining this group shortly (wedding in less than 90 days!) and wanted to create something for those of us who need a little extra help and want it to be more pleasant than a shot in the buttocks :)

I'm also going to put out a new line of yummy teas that are purely for taste! I know! All my teas are good, but these babies are specifically for the yummy factor. Does the fact that they are also good for you detract from the yumminess? Not even a tiny bit.

So keep your eyes open and check back here or at my Fan page on Facebook because I'll be letting you all know as I post them.

Nice to be back!

Jacqui

HUGE SALE THIS WEEKEND!!!!!

2009-10-15T17:19:00.001-04:00

THIS WEEKEND, FRIDAY OCTOBER 16TH THROUGH SUNDAY OCTOBER 18TH ALL PREPACKAGED TEAS ARE ON SALE!!! Make your purchase between midnight on Friday morning and midnight Sunday night and get 25% off all prepackaged teas! Purchase 4 or more and get FREE SHIPPING!

This does not include prepacked herbs, bath salts, or herbal tea samplers.

As always, 10% of all purchases go towards CandleLighters Organization, helping families afford to give their children a fighting chance against cancer!

Woa, What Happened??

2009-09-22T16:22:00.002-04:00

As many of you may have noticed I unintentially dropped off the face of the planet for the last week or so. Not to worry, while there were a few small oops and emergencies the big reason for my online-absense has mostly been due to too much business!

I know, too much! I wasn't prepared! Imagine..me..little girlscout that I am. I had an incident involving shattered glass all over my entire supply of tea bags, ran out of most of my tea bases, and had so many orders that I had to work long into the night and most of the weekend days to get caught up, and I'm still going!

Well, I've gotten my new order of tea bags and the new tea bases will arrive tomorrow, my new packaging will arrive the day after that and this weekend will be filled with preparation and new products listed!

Now to fulfill a few more orders and fill my promise to a certain blog give-away winner who is either being the most patient person in the world (and oh, shall she be rewarded) or has completely forgotten and will be getting a very nice surprise shortly!

I appreciate everyone's patience, your encouragement, and your faith that I would return!

Another Weekly Etsy Artisan Favorite Of Mine!

2009-09-04T10:04:00.003-04:00

I found this shop while looking for potential jewelry for my wedding when I had chosen a very simple wedding dress and wanted to spice it up with something gorgeous and unique. Everything I saw in this shop was more lovely than the next and made me really jealous that I have NO talent at jewelry design.

This piece, "GhostLove ORIGINAL DESIGN - Victrola Locket - ELEGANT ALICE IN WONDERLAND INSPIRED VICTORIAN STEAMPUNK LOCKET with FLEUR de LIS on COPPER CHARM CHAIN" is absolutely one of my favorites, along with this:

This is the item, Pandora's Key - A BREATHTAKING GREEN CRYSTAL CAMEO CHOKER with HANGING BRASS KEY on RARE VINTAGE RIBBON LACE, I had planned to wear, or ask if she could make with a red or black ribbon instead until we bought a much more fancy dress. I may still buy it just because....if my hunny will lift the ban on new jewelry :)

Whoever gets a piece by GhostLoveJewelry will be one lucky and fashionable person!

In Addition To Free Shipping!

2009-09-02T06:14:00.004-04:00

This weekend we are offering a 10% discount on EVERYTHING in the Etsy and Artfire store as well as free shipping!

Etsy: Simply purchase the item, make your payment and all discounts will be reimbursed to you within 24 hours of receipt!

Artfire: When you are checking out simply add the following coupon codes : LABORDAY10 and LABORDAYFREESHIP

This will be applied to all purchases made from Saturday, September 5th through Monday September 7th.

Any special orders requested and approved over the weekend will also receive this discount but ONLY if the payment for the special item is received before Monday at midnight.

Labor Day Weekend Deal! Free Shipping!!!

2009-09-01T17:24:00.004-04:00

Have you been thinking of buying some tea, grabbing a bath salt, or trying a sampler but don't want to spend so much on shipping when you can pick up something kinda-sorta similar (but much lesser quality, of course) at your local healthfood store?

No problem! This weekend any purchased made between 12:01am Saturday, September 5th through 11:59pm Monday, September 7th will have all their shipping fees reimbursed to them!

So, start picking out your favorites now and all shipping charges will be reimbursed to you by noon on Tuesday (if not earlier!).

Just remember that all my products are made fresh, handcrafted to taste perfect each time, and are made from the best possible ingredients, most organic and many even wildcrafted!

Also watch out for some new products this weekend as I finally get some of the new packaging I've been waiting for AND new bath/body product toys to make bath bombs!

Bath Bombs Away!

2009-09-01T08:54:00.008-04:00

I just got confirmation that my new supplies are on their way and I should have them by the end of the week! And a long weekend! Oh joy!

So, I'm getting plenty of stuff to make bath bombs, going to make them all natural and herbal, of course. I also put in another order (and got some nice essential oils for a new customers too) of additional stuff to make Halloween and Winter themed bombs too! So excited.

What else is new....Trying to put the finishing touches on my new website www.theomintention.com and I think my next tea will be a flu-fighting tea since so many people around me are getting sick and MD/DC/VA is getting ready for a horrible flu season. Why not give them something to help fight it BEFORE you get hit with it? I know I'll be drinking a lot more tea in the coming months. I need to save my vacation/sick time for my wedding in May.

See that dress? That's my dress! I know the front looks nice but the back is amazing! It laces up like a corset but with these thick ribbons and it is so beautiful. Le sigh...le heave. 8 more months. ACK!

Weekly Etsy Favorite

2009-08-31T10:11:00.004-04:00

Ok, is this gorgeous or is it just me? I love these colors, it reminds me of deep autumn in New England. The yarn looks incredibly cozy, and the design is so fun! Is it a scarf or shawl? Who cares?! So beautiful its mesmerizing. So is Ellita's other items, but this is a favorite.

This capelet from their new fall/winter collection. As you see, the collar is getting taller, as the bottom part covering chest and shoulders is getting lower, to assure warmth and comfort for the upcoming cold days and nights. It could be worn as an accessory to your turtleneck, or as an extra layer over your light fall jacket. You could also wear it snugly around your bare neck and shoulders, as it is made from 100% soft wool, which is hypoallergic and will not irritate your skin.

If you want to spend some time playing with different cozy ideas, or are looking for some fabulous holiday presents I would highly recommend you take a look here.

Ellita's Shop

Weekend Plans and Really Awesome Test Tubes!

2009-08-28T16:28:00.006-04:00

I'll try to take pictures of them this weekend once they are put together, but I have this really great set of Test-tube-like spice containers that sit in this holder. They are really great and we had planned to use them, a year ago, as spice containers but then went to Ikea and got addicted to spice tins instead. These poor glass Spice-tubes have been sitting around and I finally figured out what I'm going to do with them! Use them as a container for a Bath Salt gift! 1 bath salt in each of the 6 tubes! Now to create 2 more bath salts, which shouldn't take long :)

One of my coworkers has also started going through these new mints that come in fun little plastic test-tubes and he's giving them to me, so voila! Bath Salt Samplers. I only have 2 right now, but give it time...he's addicted to those babies!

Just ordered new jars and a host of bath bomb making substances. Can't wait for them to get here, feels like Christmas! Won't be able to work with them until next weekend though. A lesson in patience.

Oh, in fabulous and completely personal news.....my Father-in-law-to-be has offered to pay for our wedding caterer! A serious chunk that we now don't have to fret over. Now we can continue to pay down debts and put $$ into savings for our future abode. Yays! I can't even begin to tell you how happy and relieved that makes me!

Weekly Featured Etsy Product

2009-08-26T10:45:00.007-04:00

I've decided to cut down the amount of Etsy features I was doing as they took almost a week to complete and were very hard to put together in the way I had hoped...so from now on I am choosing one or two products that I think are just great and featuring them each week.

My first choice is a funky steampunk hat I saw that grabbed my eye immediately!

The Secret Garden Steampunk Mini Top Hat

This fantastic mini is very steampunk! More elaborate and intricate than their others, this one has lots of eye candy on it. They started with a brown brocade fabric, added a heavy ribbon hat band and vines, flowers and a clock button in the back. The overlay on the side is a wonderful vintage veiling in brown.

I have to admit that I've been thinking of possible costumes I could put together so I could buy this hat....and I will continue to do so until I have succeeded! I don't know about you but there is something slightly Alice in Wonderland about this hat....maybe when the movie comes out I'll have a reason to buy it...Mad Hatter a'la Johnny Depp?

This fabulous mini top hat is made by GypsyLadyHats and in her store you will find so many amazing hats that you won't know where to start drooling first. Corset hats, velvet hats, goth hats, military hats, hats with veils...love it!

I'm in a Treasury and a Blog Feature!

2009-08-21T17:21:00.004-04:00

Check it out! People think I'm cool, people think I'm chic....ok, tooting my own horn just a little.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=77603

A very awesome treasury of relaxing things.....mmmmmm and she included my Anxie-Tea!

http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2009/08/themed-thursday-allergies.html

A few Etsy Allergy items...and she spotlighted my Eye Poultices. Woohoo!

And The Winner Is.........

2009-08-20T09:07:00.002-04:00

I want to thank everyone for coming to my blog and taking a look around! 69 Followers is nothing to sniff at. I just hope I can give you all enough reason to come back and check out my blog after this is all over.

I am happy to announce that this morning I pulled a number from a hat and the selected Blog Follower was:

Ponder & Stictch

Congrats!!! Please convo me through Etsy with your name and address and I shall be putting together your Bag O Swag this weekend!

http://www.theomintention.etsy.com

BIG TEA SALE!!!

2009-08-19T15:47:00.004-04:00

Ok kids! I have never done this before but I'm having a tea sale! This weekend, starting Friday night, I will be offering all my teas (premade, not the samplers) for Buy 2 Teas and Get 1 Free!

So mix and match, get a Detox Tea for the holidays and a Happy Tummy tea for Aunt Mae and get your coworker Noggin Number for Free! Buy your friend struggling through chemo two bags of Tea-Mo-Therapy tea and get yourself Miracle Elixir to get through the winter months healthier than ever.

But, this is a weekend deal only, Friday night through Monday morning. Simply purchase the items in the shop and don't pay. I'll invoice you for the correct amount. All my teas are made by hand and are made fresh to order! If I've had it sitting for more than a week it goes into my new "Overstock" section. The teas can last up to a year and still be fresh, and once you see experience how delicious they are and how effective you'll be coming back for refills!

This sale is going on in both my Etsy and Artfire shops, so take your pick!

http://www.theomintention.etsy.com/

http://www.theomintentnion.artfire.com/

Why am I having a tea sale you ask? Well, to be honest its because I want more herbs and supplies! I have dozens of new items rattling around in my head and want to make some large orders but can't until I have made some more sales! So tell all your friends about my sale and you'll be seeing lots more delicious teas, invigorating bath salts, yummy lotions, and healing oils listed in my shop before you know it!

From The Cave

2009-08-17T08:58:00.006-04:00

Well folks, I spent a lot of time creating this weekend and got some really great inspiration from a trip to Wegmans (a giant and incredible grocery store). Am I the only person who gets inspiration from grocery stores??

Well, this weekend I made a new bath tea and three new herbal teas! Once my new herbs arrive I will also begin infusing some new oils for future creams and lotions. I got a request from a fan of my Facebook to make some foot soaking salts as well, so those are rattling about in my brain as well.

Take a moment to check out my new products!

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=367285

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=367278

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=367274

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=367270

I'm still working on my packaging which is not coming along smoothly at all. I got some really great designs and logos from a fellow Etsy seller but none of them are large enough to use on my packaging and my lovely new sticker/laminator machine is hard to master. So, hopefully she can create a couple of label options for me this week and I will have my new packaging ready by the SWAG BAG giveaway :) Can't wait to see who wins!

This Weekend, in My Cave

2009-08-13T12:40:00.004-04:00

This weekend I have a lot of work ahead of me as I embark on some new tea and herbal items. Not only will I be making the Bath Salt, Cleansing and Anxiety teas, as I said I would this week and have had NO time to do it, but I will also be trying to create a new tea for a fellow Etsy seller who is in need of herbal assistance AND a tea combination for those suffering from Diverticulitis.

And that's not all! Channeling Billy Mayes here....

I will also be starting some herbal infused oils as well. This means more creams down the road, massage lotions, etc! Yippee!

So, I'm putting out there a request for new ideas! What kinds of teas or herbal body products would you love to see me offer? (no pressure to buy, just looking for some great suggestions)

It's Been A Week??

2009-08-12T08:47:00.002-04:00

Well, let me apologize, I had no idea that it had been a week since I posted last. That never happens! Things have been so busy for me that it has slipped my mind completely!

This weekend went well, trip to Massachusetts and New Hampshire went as well as could be expected and I got to see some friends I haven't seen in a couple years. My sister's wedding went well...I've never been to one where there were aligators, bunnies, turtles, and dogs roaming around. The keg stands were a new twist. Makes me think that my wedding plans are a tad tame.....yeah, thats ok. Oh, speaking of my wedding, we bought THE DRESS. Not the one originally planned either. In an effort to please my frazzled mother we went to try on dresses at a local David's bridal and the first three were nice but nothing special. I was beginning to think that I really wasn't a bridal gown kind of girl, until the fourth gown. Tried that baby on and the mom started crying, I was speechless, my hunny was very well impressed, and the 360 degree mirror made me fall in love.

So, this week is all about trying to catch up on orders, get some readings written out, get some teas and herbs out the door, and try to make it until Friday.

Just Found a Couple GREAT Resources!

2009-08-04T12:37:00.006-04:00

So, I've been struggling, as I am sure many of you have, to build a legitimate business here. I'm sticking receipts here and there around my office, I'm creating spreadsheets to track things and getting lost and giving up....and then I found a really fabulous resource on Etsy for many different aspects of not only working with Etsy but running a business! Here it is!

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6236215

What it is, in a nutshell, is a listing of various Etsy sellers who are either very good in particular areas or are experts in particular areas and have agreed to help out fellow Etsians with their questions. The subjects range from Adobe Photoshop to tags, from bookkeeping and gemstones, and everything in between! I know I'll be taking advantage of some of these.

Also, if you have ever had a question about shipping, shipping internationally, customs, etc, this is the forum for you! I haven't had a chance to dissect it all but there is enough good information and links in here about how to ship anything to anywhere that its worth looking at if just for the links!

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5933779

Good luck!

Mini-Vacation, Upcoming Products, And Announcements

2009-08-03T14:53:00.014-04:00

As many of you know I will be leaving the area on Thursday morning and returning Sunday morning. I am traveling to Massachusetts to attend my little sister's wedding and secure some of my own wedding items for next May. During this time I will NOT be closing down shop but I may not be able to check it as often as I'd like. Please note that I will attack any purchases the moment I get home and finish crashing.

Some fun products I have just finished researching and will be attempting this week, for hopeful posting by Wednesday night:

Anxie-Tea

A great new herbal tea made of some, what else, organic herbs that help reduce tension and stress in the body! I'm going a little light on the Valerian root since I don't want you all falling asleep. hahaha

Cleanse-Happy Tea

Another great tea that protects, cleans out, and otherwise makes your little liver very, very happy! Not bad to have around after a few months of binging or alcohol consumption, etc. Hmmm, better get this baby out before the holidays .

Breath Easy Herbal Bath Salt

Along with Pink Himilayan Salt and Epsom salt I'll be combining some great aromatic herbs and essential oils (only 100% therapeutic grade, of course) for a bath designed to help stimulate the lungs and airways. Perfect for those who suffer from fall allergies or tend to get those nasty bronchial bugs each year.

Also, big announcement, I have decided it is time to break up my shop a bit. While I love my tarot readings and will continue to do them I will be segregating the little buggers to another shop of mine which I opened years ago as a Buyer shop and had grand intentions of using some day. I will let you all know when I do this but expect to see my listings deminish as I move the spiritual store out of TheOmIntention and into BohemianChick.

New Herbal Products for Sale, Just Posted!

2009-08-03T09:46:00.009-04:00

I spent most of the weekend rearranging our apartment so that my blossoming herbal store will have its own space. Now, firmly secure in its own, temperature controlled environment I finally have my little home office and was able to pounch out a couple new products and begin trials on one new one.

So, I am pleased to introduce my two new herbal products, "Oh, I See" Eye Poultices for strained and itchy eyes (simply add water, lay on the affected eye and let the organic herbs go to work!)

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28744607

Get 8 tea bags, just add water, for $5.00 plus shipping

These poultices are made of Eyebright, Jasmine, Grapeseed and Raspberry Leaf. All are 100% organic and natural. You could probably even drink this, though I can't recommend it since I haven't tried it yet.

Also, and not to be outdone, is my Rest For The Weary organic Bath Salts. Instead of just organic herbs I added a few drops of Frankincense Essential Oil to the mix (100% Therapeutic Grade, of course) for additional relaxation.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28744128

Get 5 very large tea bags of this Bath Salt mix for only $9.50

This Bath Salt is made with Epsom Salt, Dead Sea Salt, Passionflower, Chamomile, Lavender, Rosemary, and of course the Frankincense Essential Oil. No artificial smells or colors in my Bath Salts, no way! This is all natural, handmade, hand-packaged stuff my friends and oh, it smells so lovely!

Also, coming down the road will be my new Dead Sea Mud Mask. I've added in some new Essential Oils that are known to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and promote skin regeneration. So, after a few weeks of trials (myself and my partner as the guinea pigs, of course) we will be posting it for the rest of you! Stay tuned!

Blog Giveaway!!!!

2009-08-02T09:04:00.004-04:00

That's right kids, I'm giving stuff away!

I am going to randomly choose one of the followers on my blog on August 20th and they will receive a mini gift package. In that gift package will include a 1 ounce tin of my new Chocolate Covered Cherry Cream, a 2 ounce jar of one of my new Dead Sea Mud Masks, a few samples of my tea, a bag of bath salts, and a gift certificate for a free tarot reading!

Thats right, but you have to be a blog follower! So, go ahead and join, get your friends to join and split the loot! Spread the word, the random selection will be done (by the method of names in a hat) on August 20th at 9pm and the notice of the winner will follow!

Works In Progress, Restorative Bath Salts, Herbal First Aid Kits

2009-07-29T10:02:00.007-04:00

What's that crazy girl working on now, you ask? So much I don't have enough time in the day. Here are some things that I'm currently working on:

Restorative Bath Salt for Cancer Patients

I've had many friends and family, not to mention myself, who have suffered with Cancer or who are suffering with it. One thing they tell me over and over again is that they are so tired, so weak, in pain and achy. Plenty of bath salts can relax muscles, plenty can revive you, but I am currently researching the newest information on homeopathic cancer treatments and ways to incorporate that into my products. Some things I have found very interesting is the studies on Frankincense Essential Oils and its healing properties, Green Tea, Ginger Root, and Raspberry Leaf. Since I have all these items in stock, and others which are also known to help those battling cancer, I will be trying to create a bath salt that will not only aid in the fight, but also relieve the symptoms. Sure, I could just throw them all in, but you may end up smelling weird, and who wants that??

Herbal First Aid Kits

Not only am I working on increasing my inventory and creating new items to sell, but I am on a mission to eliminate 90% of all over the counter medicines from my medicine cabinet. I'm sure I'm not the only one. It is my goal and dream to have a cabinet filled with herbal remedies, oils, creams, teas, and tinctures for every scenario. I can't imagine I am alone in this desire, but not everyone can buy everything they'll need and put it all together without spending a fortune and enormous amounts of time and energy researching it and creating it...so I'm going to create it for them, and you! I am currently putting together some basic lists of items that one may want around the house for different seasons, different reasons, etc. Once I have made enough to create a comprehensive kit (one for each season) I will offer them up for sale! What's not to love? All organic, all natural, and healthy!

As I always tell everyone, I love suggestions, I love new ideas and requests! So, if you have a particular item you can't find elsewhere let me know! If you have an ailment and would like to find an herbal aid for it just convo me or comment and ask! I may get ideas but most of my products come from inspiration for you all!!!! Help me help you! Help me help YOU! hahaha

Upcoming Redesign,Vacation, and August's Reading Sale

2009-07-29T09:21:00.004-04:00

I just wanted to let you all know that I will be redesigning my shop, logos, etc. over the next week or so with the help of a talented Etsy Graphic Designer. I'm very excited about it and can't wait to see what she comes up with. I do love my red Buddha logo but I'm finding it difficult to print packaging because it is so bright and hard to work with. I'm very hopeful she will come up with something that really speaks to my desires for my shop. Once I have a design I'll let you all know!

Also, Thursday August 6th through Sunday August 9th I will be out of the state for my sister's wedding in Massachusetts and won't be able to respond to requests or e-mails until I return. I won't be closing the shop but all orders will be responded to when I return.

As for August's sale, I have whispered it to some of you, but I will let you know now that the Reading on sale for next month will be the Past Life Reading. I know I just did that reading not too long ago but I got a big response and requests for more. So, August 1st, this Saturday, my Past Life Reading will go from $25 to $18.

Chocolate Covered Cherrie Salve - OMG!!!!

2009-07-26T20:54:00.009-04:00

I just finished a batch of my new salve...its thicker than a cream and a lotion, and is so amazingly moisturizing. Everyone who's smelled it has wanted to eat it. Yet its not overpowering.

Oh, my, YUM! Don't eat this lotion, don't do it! I mean, its all natural, organic,etc, but it's not for eating!

So many wonderful and skin nourishing ingredients, I don't know where to begin. How about our luscious lotion base made with Jojoba oil? Not impressed? How about we add 100% organic Cocoa Butter? Still no? Well, then we'll add our own signature organic oil mixture which includes Apricot Kernal oil, calendula flowers, chamomile flowers, Jasmine Flowers, and Grapeseed Oil. Yup, I thought so.

This lotion is not only devine for the skin, leaves is incredibly soft and moisturized, but its also perfect for rashes and sensitive skin. I use the base oil alone for cracking skin and irritations and it is a miracle worker. Add the oil with the lotion and butter and you have an amazing treat.

The best part? The smell! The Apricot Kernal Oil, Grapeseed Oil and flower mixture all create an amazing smell or Marichino Cherries and the Cocoa Butter, well that smells like chocolate in the best possible way. Put them together and people will be drooling all over you! Chocolate Covered Cherries, here we come!

I'm offering it in 1 ounce tins and 2 and 3 ounce jars.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28376010

You have got to check it out!

There Are a Few of My Favorite Things - Asian Edition

2009-07-23T09:29:00.017-04:00

There are so many beautiful items on Etsy, that I just felt the need to do another Etsy Seller Feature, this time with an Asian theme! So this week I have art, ceramics, mobile, decals, and votive holders, oh my! All beautiful, all creative, and all Asian-inspired home decor!

Japanese Chiyogami paper is beautiful on its own, but add some mood lighting to them and they shine! This collection, Wonderland Blues, of votive holders is a wonderful addition to any room! Small, unobtrussive but what a statement! Just put a votive candle in them and watch them glow! Gamiworks has many beautiful chiyogami paper-inspired items in their shop, each more beautiful than the next!

Origami is an ancient form of paper-folding that has been around for centuries. Anyone who had art-class as a child tried their hand at it themselves, I'm sure. Myself, I've never been able to fold much more than a napkin. These beautiful Floating Lily Hanging Mobile by SimpleSweetDesign is much more impressive than my sad and sloppy Artichoke Heart, I must say. Dainty, lovely, beautiful in shades of green and yellow, this would look so sweet above a baby's crib, over a home-office desk, or hanging in a nice corner of a room, drawing all eyes to it the moment you walk in. And if greens and yellows aren't your colors? She has them in every color combo you can imagine, along with dozens of other beautiful pieces!

Speaking of drawing all eyes to something in the room, this beautiful
limited edition glicee print of tcatalano's Catching Desert Dreams makes me think of a beautiful desert hallucination. It also makes me think how nice it would look above my desk. At 9 x 12 inches, this print is just large enough to brighten up the room without taking it over!

Whether you're looking for some beautiful ACEOs, glicee prints, or original works, all tcatalanos items are just as creative and inspired.

Looking for a fun, vibrant place to plant some herbs or flowers? Brighten up the room with these gorgeous red and black handpainted ceramic pots, dotted with sweet cherry blossoms. MonkeyJunkyGoods has several different styles and colors available, these are pots are 4x4 and the perfect size for your own mini indoor garden!

Want to spruce up your apartment but can't paint the walls? Wall decals are the next best option, and this Lotus Blossom - Mehndi is perfect for those seeking to bring a little peace and meditation into the room. They come in a multitude of colors and are anice and large (about 22x22). This piece is certainly not the only one that BadassCustomDecals has, in fact their collection ranges from meditative to entertainment, children's room to toilet! Check out their Etsy store, check out their website! http://www.dalidecals.com/

I hope you enjoyed my little feature of fellow Etsy artisans! Next time will be some lovely sellers at Artfire!

Feedback Hugs

2009-07-22T08:56:00.005-04:00

There is not much that can rival waking up exhausted, having a rough commute to work, logging onto your Etsy account to find that someone left you positive feedback and said lovely things about the product. That immediate glow of happiness and joy...knowing that someone really likes something that you made with your own hands and put so much time and effort into! I just want to reach through cyberspace and give that person a giant hug!

Now, I appreciate the glowing feedback I get for my readings, trust me I do, but I've always felt as though I participate very little in the readings. I simply go through the motions and allow Energy and my spirit guide to choose the best possible cards for that person. Sure, I may decipher the meaning from it, type it up nice, and add a little of my own thoughts and suggestions to them, but overall I would say readings are a group effort.

The teas and other herbal products (some of which I'm still testing) are 99% me. I research them, I read about the herbs, I check sources to make sure I know what possible side-effects they may have for people, I mix them, brew them, taste them, test them, design them, and package them. While I completely accept that I have my spirit guide to thank for a lot of the success I've had so far with making my teas and products, her inspiration and gentle guidance still leaves me with the majority of the work.

So, the feedback I get from my readings, while it lifts my spirits and has the double blessing of showing others that I'm not some internet fraud, is wonderful I have to admit that getting great feedback for my teas just makes my week! So don't forget to leave great feedback for others! Tip your waitresses!

This Weekend's Plans

2009-07-17T17:20:00.004-04:00

Well folks, tonight is beef and beer date night. Tonight, the hunny and I grab a steak and a beer and go see Harry Potter 6: Half Blood Prince. Looking forward to it!

This weekend will, as usual, be a weekend of WORK! We have wedding planning to do and I desperately need to do some work on my Artfire and Etsy shops. I need some better pictures, I need to adjust my tags to they show up more often on search engines, I need to go through my descriptions and make sure they are accurate and spelled correctly (eeps)...and I need to post new items!

This weekend, sunlight permitting, I will be posting my new set of 5, count them, 5 tinctures! I am also happy to let you know that I have tried out my lovely new Dead Sea Mud mask and it has worked beautifully! I will also be posting that as well. If I have time I also want to make my new oil into a cream...but I don't have the wax, so we'll see how far I get with that. Yummy, fun weekend! What are your plans??

Why I Love/Hate Facebook

2009-07-15T15:44:00.004-04:00

So I joined up with Facebook a week or so ago, both as myself and as a fan page for The Om Intention shop (feel free to become a fan..ack, I have "fans", I'm famous! Yay!). At first nothing happened, then I found some people I knew and "friended" them, now I'm getting in touch with all my old college friends and even my college roommate! It's been so wonderful seeing how everyone is doing but it is becoming addicting and perhaps dangerous!

See, the problem is we are getting ready to invite 87 people to our wedding thanks to a few unexpected direct invites made by my mother which is a lot more than we anticipated for our small little wedding. Now I'm seeing my college roommate, my dear friends that I shared so much with for 4 years of fun, embarrassment, and drunken moments that I will NEVER share with anyone else....and I want to invite them too! Oh hell, I want to invite EVERYONE! Come one, come all! Get ready to have some great food and do some ridiculous amounts of dancing! I want to shout it from the rooftops....then I think of the catering bill...how many more favors we'll have to order....and I begin to calm down.

So I came up with a plan! If you all buy TONS of tea and herbs from me between now and January I will have enough extra income to invite everyone to my wedding! And you'll have lots of wonderful tea and herbs and the heartwarming feeling of helping me make my wedding dreams come true. hehehe

This Weekend in Etsy Land

2009-07-12T20:41:00.003-04:00

Wow, big weekend this weekend and I realized just how unprepared for overnight success I am! I know, it's only a temporary swell from being shown on the front page but I've sold about 8 items in 1 day and realized in the midst that a batch of sealable tea bags I bought are no good and won't seal! ACK!

I've special ordered 600 more so I should be in good shape for a while but I won't get them in until later this week. None of the herb stores or health food stores in the area carry them. Boo!!!

Also, I'm currently enmasked in a new concoction of mine that my partner and I are being guniea pigs for...mud masks! Specifically I have melded together some fabulous Dead Sea Mud, Tea Tree Oil and Rosemary Oil and we're awaiting the results. If it works I might have to sell it...this stuff feels great and I'm about to wash it off! Wish me luck!

New Tea Added - PMS Tea!

2009-07-12T10:40:00.008-04:00

I finally put the finishing touches on my newest herbal tea, the PMS Tea! (aka Please Make it Stop Tea).

Ever feel like something has invaded your body, or the body of the woman in your life during a certain time of the month? The horrible cramps, the painful bloating, that feeling that you want to kill everyone around you for breathing too loud? Yeah, I thought so. This tea is a culmination of weeks of research and testing and today I can offer it up to those of you who suffer through PMS. Therefore I introduce to you Please Make it Stop Tea (aka PMS Tea).

PMS Tea is made from all organic products, Rooibos tea, lavender buds, skullcap, chaste berries, passionflower, ginger root, marshmallow root, crampbark, and spearmint leaves. This tea can also be made with Ceylon tea if you want something a little less sweet.

In each re-sealable bag you will receive 15 ready-to-use tea bags. Each bag holds approximately 1 tsp of tea. One bag can make a very large mug of strong and delectable tea and two bags can make a nice small pot of tea. This can be made as loose leaf tea as well, just convo me. When sent as a loose tea I will include an unbleached muslin bag. If needed, I can also include a tea strainer if prefered.

This tea will help ease the cramps, reduce your bloating, and help ease the tension and anger of even the worst PMS victim. Don't let another month of agony go by! Try PMS tea and you'll wonder why you waited!

Featured on Etsy's Front Page

2009-07-12T08:46:00.008-04:00

I, like many other Etsy sellers have tried everything we can think of to get attention from buyers. I, myself, had bought into doing two separate Showcases for $7 for 1 day and got not a single sale from it. But this weekend I saw just how fabulous being featuered on the front page can be!

Yesterday morning I went online to see if I had a sale and in my inbox I saw I had 2, and they were for my herbs! This rarely happens so I excitedly went to the Etsy site to relist and as the front page of Etsy came up I saw a very familiar picture at the very top! One of my own herbs!

Etsy had decided to do a feature on items with the word Organic in them and they had chosen my Organic Gotu Kola tea aid as one of them. I immediately went to my shop and by that time I had 2 MORE sales! I had also made a sale from my Artfire account as well! I was so excited that I had to let my Earthpath Artisan team members know, and by the time I had posted something about it in the team forum and relisted the several items that had sold I had 2 MORE sales!

WOW! So I did my little "Thank you PPF" dance around the kitchen as my sweety made brownies from scratch for a barbeque and I screeched like I hadn't screeched since I was about 12.

Etsy can feature me any time they want to! I just wish I had known they would earlier because I have now run out of my tea-bags that I use and no one in my area, or even within a 20 miles radius carries them so I've special ordered them for immediate shipping. I may not have enough to finish all the sales I made this weekend but I should have the new order by Wednesday or Thursday and then off they go!

Wedding Plans and MOBs

2009-07-09T14:14:00.005-04:00

My mother is FINALLY getting excited about the wedding, thank goodness! I've been going what feels like boxing rounds with her and she has been second-guessing everything, right down to our color scheme. Then she came at me crying with the feeling that she isn't involved in the wedding at all and I'm her only child, etc.

I'll be honest, as much as I love my mother, and I LOVE my mother, I was getting...frustrated. Then I realized that my partner and I had been planning this whole thing together, looking at pictures, going back and forth on how things would look, etc., and my mother hadn't even seen anything yet and was going on her own imagination.

So I took a couple hours the other day and put together a little visual presentation using the pictures we liked, colors, ideas, actual products we were going to get, etc. She called me after looking at it and I could hear the excitement in her voice. She had some good points and some good ideas, and it was so nice!

10 Fabulous Things Under $20 on Etsy!!!

2009-07-08T08:36:00.005-04:00

There is so much to love on Etsy I just don't know where to begin. The art, the sculpture, the geek-accessories...and some are quite the investment. Not these incredible pieces! All 10 under $20 each! Not a bad deal, not bad at all, and at those prices they may not hang around long. This edition of my favorite things is all about my fellow EarthPath Etsian team members (aka EAST Team).

Figments is a big chatter and a great friend to all the EAST team members, I think it is safe to say. She's also a talented jewelry designer, as you can see by these "Swirling Colors" earrings.

Silver colored Tierra Cast pewter spiral goddess charms hangling below the colors of the Chakras, one is inspired to get balanced and connected with oneself. Lovely and inspiring at only $15.

If there isn't a saying "good ACEOs are hard to find" yet then there should be. And this would be among them! Cobaltquilter has an amazing assortment of beautiful quilts, postcards, art clothes, that you could spend hours browsing through her shop.

This ACEO Gypsy Rose Moon Goddess is gorgeous, and only $10! Handmade and one of only 12 in a series, it's worth gobbling up quickly!

If you are ever looking to spend some time in a world with faeries and magic, you may find yourself browsing Merigreeleaf's shop. She sells everything from knitted plushies to necklaces to runes, to chainmale.

The Underwater Wyvern: Slightly Sylphs is a great represenation of this. Crocheted out of hemp with beads and charms of various shades of blue, and two lovely pewter faeries, it's amazing that it is only $18!

I get tired of throwing on the typical studs and dangles that adorn my ears from time to time, and CelticCrossings Ear Swirls are just the thing to break up the monotony!

This lovely Ear Swirl in Sterling Silver with Swarovski Crystals is only $12.50! It swirls up your ear and is over an inch in length. Its a sparkly piece of bling that you have to add to your collection!

Want to create your own talisman? Want prosperity or protection, love or courage? Well, you will find this lovely offering at Greenfingers, along with dozens of other lovely charms, readings, smudge sticks, you name it!

Each charm is different, and each talisman is a charm, hehe, and for $20 it's well worth it! Each Custom Charm/talisman/amulet will be unique and handmade with whichever items you want from her list. It's worth investigating.

Plushies and ACEOs like in a Geek's heaven! Oh, I'm speaking of Lizstaley's shop of course. Whether it's a One-Eyed Purple People Eater or a Dr. Who plushie keychain, this girl's store is one of a kind!

This little green beauty is the ever-popular PayPal Faery! That's right! Even is the monetary PPF doesn't visit your store as often as you'd like her to, this one can visit with you all you like, and for $18 she certainly is a bargain!

Nothing says summer like a Backyard Barbeque, and nothing says barbeque like HowlingCaterpillars' 5-inch diameter Dream Web. From the tip of isn't longest feather to the top of it's hanging loop, this original piece is 17 inches long and only $15!

How much summer can you spot? Watermelons, baseball, rootbeer! Mmmm, I can almost smell the suntan lotion.

TiedUpAndTwisted is not only a lovely individual but a very talented jewelry crafter!

Tied's "You Are The Sea" sea green rutilated quartz and oxidized silver earrings are stunners, don't you think? Summery, sweet, simple...they could be worn with jeans, with dresses, and everything in between. So pretty, and only $18!

Not to be outdone by Tied's success, her other fabulous shop, Charmedbyskye, has some additionally lovely pieces. "Northern Lights", a vintage reconstructed earring set is lovely, funky, and I love the pictures! At $20 they are a fun, vintage addition to your collection!

I've been featured in a Treasury!

2009-07-06T09:53:00.002-04:00

MollyMaddie recently featured my Knock Out Punch tea on her tea-related treasury! I am in very good company, those items she listed are gorgeous!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=69004

New Tea Unveiled! Migraine and Headaches Beware!

2009-07-02T09:07:00.005-04:00

My dear friend Wendy has been struggling with migraines ever since I met her. I felt so bad that I offered to make her a tea if she was willing to be my guinea pig, and she bravely took me up on my offer.

After researching the best possible herbs for relieving headaches and migraines, researching a little about the perceived causes of migraines, I created my newest herbal tea which I lovingly call The Noggin Number. That's Number as in "it numbs your head" not "the number seven".

Take a look!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27275268

Oh, and anyone else willing to be a guinea pig, please feel free to let me know. Tell me what ails you, I'll create a tea for it, send you 6 sample tea bags, as long as you promise to give me honest and detailed feeback on how it works, tastes, etc, and agree to post a little blurb about it with a link to my Etsy page in your own blog or Facebook, or whatever. I want to start putting up quotes of happy customers :) I might not be able to get to everyone but I will try. I'll scratch your Tea-drinking back if you scratch mine :)

June's CandleLighters Donation

2009-07-01T09:08:00.003-04:00

Thank you all for your wonderful and kind patronage. This past month I was able to donate an additional $9.50 to CandleLighters organization which is being earmarked for financial support for families struggling to pay for their children's cancer treatments.

So far this makes a whopping $23.50! I couldn't do it without all of you! In the future I am looking into making it possible for you to donate directly to them through my blog as well.

Love you all!

Monday is here and we're still alive!

2009-06-29T08:19:00.004-04:00

I'm obviously alive and kicking and it is another Monday. I've had a lot of people e-mail me to make sure I'm ok as the train I typically take from work to get back home was part of the huge train collision in Washington DC last week. Thank goodness I waited around a bit and finished up a few things or I would have been in that mess. My body is still reeling from the car accident last August, I don't even want to think what would happen to me in a train wreck with no seat belts.

We survived the weekend despite DP and I getting into a screaming match with some rude and nasty movie theater patrons (stole our parking spot and then gave us attitude when we yelled at them for it, there was some cursing, some glaring, and some threatening done) and my cat has survived his first "I'm peeing on the carpet because you aren't getting up at 4:30am on Saturday to feed me!" move. Again, there was a lot of cursing, glaring, and threatening done.

The good news is that my dear guinea pig...I mean friend...finally got one of her migraine headaches and was able to test out the new headache tea I had made and she said it worked wonders! Yay! I only get headaches in the fall because of allergies and needed someone I could test it out on. She said it was great and had the nice side effect of making her a tad loopy. Could be her constitution but I think when I get ready to sell it on my shop I might make that known...no operating heavy machinery!

I Take Full Responsibility For His Death

2009-06-26T08:40:00.003-04:00

That's right, I killed Michael Jackson. It's all my fault and I fully accept the consequences.

Yesterday afternoon, around 3pm some office folks and I were discussing Farrah Fawcetts' death. Someone said "Who do you think is the next one?" People bandied about Patrick Swayze, Amy Winehouse, and I thought for a moment and said "Michael Jackson." Hours later in my long car ride home, after finishing the fabulous and funny Dead By Dark audiobook I had been listening to all week, I got the call.

"Guess who died!"

"Farrah Fawcett."

"Well, yes, but guess who else!"

"Patrick Swayze?"

"No, Michael Jackson!"

"Holy CRAP! I killed him!"

That's right, at least I came out and admitted it. I would call to apologize but I don't think his family is ready to hear it yet. So instead I will wallow in my self-consuming guilt, knowing that I deprived the next generation of children the fear of thinking the Jackson-man is hiding in their closet at night.

Or, perhaps it is all a farce, like Elvis' death! He'd been having money trouble...perhaps he faked his own death to further his "King of Pop" reputation and give him a solid and irrifutible alibi for his future child molestation charges! "It can't be Michael Jackson, Timmy, he's dead!" Perfect alibi! Damn, he's good.

Independence Day Donation!!

2009-06-25T14:46:00.003-04:00

I know what you are thinking, "donation?"

In honor of Independence Day here in the states, for 24 hours I will be donating 50% of the price of every tarot reading sold to my favorite childhood cancer charity, CandleLighters. Not only will a huge portion be given to charity, but I will be offering FREE SHIPPING (within the US) for any tea or herbal product!

For those that aren't familiar, Candlelighters is a wonderful charitable organization that focuses on children battling cancer. While I was not a child when I went through my own cancer scare (remind me to show you the scar some day), I can see what kind of an affect it had on friends of ours. Their sweet daughter was diagnosed with cancer very young and they struggled to keep their family afloat through the treatments, the loss of employment, and the almost-loss of their home. What was stopping them from getting their daughter the treatment that would save her was $$$. Their insurance wouldn't pay for experimental treatments. Gotta love that insurance! So now they struggle, deep in debt, to rebuild their family day by day. It is their constant struggle and their love that inspires me to earmark all my donations for the financial support of families who are battling their own wars with cancer.

So, starting at 12am Saturday morning, July 4th, until 11:59pm I will be donating 50% of each purchase of a tarot reading to Candlelighters.

So, buy a Celtic Cross Reading and $11 will be given to charity, buy a Career Circle Reading and $10 will be given to charity, buy a Past Life reading for you and two for your friends and $37.50 will be given to charity...you see where I'm going with this?

Take THAT Cortison Cream!

2009-06-24T08:27:00.002-04:00

My poor hunny has been suffering an itchy rash on her forearms which she gets when she gets a lot of sun. It's uncomfortable and annoying and typically means that she'll go through about 2 tubes of Cortison cream before it clears up. Well, had had made a very nice oil for just such occasions and it was finally ready for use this past week.

I took 2 ounces of Sweet Almond Oil, a pinch of Calendula, Chamomile and Marshmallow root and allowed it to sit in a cool place for 3 weeks. I then removed the herbs and spread some of the oil on her itchy rash on Monday night instead of the Cortison. Tuesday morning it looked much better. By Tuesday night she said it was so itchy that she had to use the cream but I convinced her to use it on only one arm and use my oil on the other. She did and in 15 minutes she washed off the arm with Cortison and put the oil on the other arm. She said the itching was gone from the oil arm and the cream arm was killing her. So today she is looking much better and the itching is completely gone. Woohoo!

Needless to say I did a little Herbal Victory dance on our way out the door. It is my goal to eventually get rid of all our OTC medicine and have a cabinet filled with homeopathic (if not handmade) remedies. I think I might have to sell this oil. Smells so yummy!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things, Part...Whatever

2009-06-22T09:11:00.008-04:00

I love the shops on Etsy, some even more than my own. The creativity I find there is always amazing, beautiful, and typically evokes a little pang of jealousy and a lot of "Hey, I could do that...maybe." This is my semi-frequent attempt to show off a few of my favorite items. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Steampunk seems to be the new big thing, and has been for a while. I have to say that I get it. It's new, it's old fashioned, it can be elegant, gothic, punk, young or old. Of all the shops on Etsy that I've seen creating Steampunk pieces, I have to say that Velvet Mechanism really stands out. This piece particular, Black Cord Silver Filigree and Watch Steampunk Necklace is just gorgeous.

It could be part of a costume, a great conversation piece, or even every day wear. Very artfully done. Very nice!

In turning my attention to things I can't eat but REALLY want to, is this lovely, decadent, gorgeous chocolate torte by FancyThatCookies
Rich Chocolate Chip Torte is not only a lovely piece of work by Fancy, edible (thank god!), but it is also Gluten Free and flourless! I wonder where this was when I was on my gluten-free kick?

This isn't the only fabulous creation by Fancy...they have cookies and cakes, and my personal favorites, macaroons and snickerdoodles!

I'm a huge fan of handmade helpers, and these are such a great color! I'm also a huge fan of 2Kute and her growing collection of crocheted hats, dishtowels, scrubbies, flowers, etc. DISHCLOTH - LIFESAVER - set of 2 are so happy and cheery that you can almost taste the lifesaver flavor!

The craftmanship is great, the prices are amazing, you just have to take a look!

So I'm a sucker for big, funky, unique pieces of jewelry, and when i spotted this piece during an Etsy chat I just had to feature it. dogzillalives has some really beautiful pieces, but my favorite it this Blue Tiger's Eye wire wrapped bracelet. Wire wrapped blue tigers eye cuff is gorgeous, funky, and one of a kind. Not to mention that Tiger's Eye is a wonderful stone for healing, protection, and communication. It's also reasonably priced, like everything in dogzillalives' shop!

So that ends it for this edition. I'm hoping the reduced amount of featured items helps keep the posting from going haywire like it has in the past when I feature more items. Perhaps 4 is my new lucky number.

Things to Watch For This Weekend!

2009-06-19T17:23:00.002-04:00

This weekend I'll be posting another installment of of "These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things" and I'll be participating in the EAST Team's Summer Solstice sale!

While I can't set my prices to update automatically, once I wake up and turn on my computer I'll be reducing the prices in my shop on all my readings by 10%! That includes an ADDITIONAL 10% on my already reduced price "Looking For - The One-" spread!

http://www.theomintention.etsy.com

What is Tea-Mo-Therapy?

2009-06-18T09:25:00.006-04:00

At the request of some lovely Etsians suffering from Chemotherapy side-effects I created four new tea blends made to help reduce or eliminate those horrible side-effects.

Tea-Mo-Therapy was born from some wonderful and creative suggestions from those who read my blog, and a huge Thank You! to those who submitted ideas!What is great about these teas, besides the wonderful help they provide, is that they are totally organic and 10% of the sales go directly to the CandleLighter's Organization to help families struggling to pay for cancer treatments for their children. I thought, what good is all the research in the world if the parents can't afford to have their children treated?

The ExGerminator - This is a potent tea and while its not really meant to be a "sip with your friends at a tea-party" kind of tea it does have some amazing results. The ExGerminator is a powerful and robust herbal tea made specifically for those with compromised immune systems. This organic Green tea has powerful healing properties all on its own, but we’ve added Grapeseed Powder, Astralagus Powder, Turmeric Powder, and Barley Leaf Powder and Ginkgo Leaves. This tea is more for building up your immune-base rather than for flavor. The taste of this tea is light and vegetative. A little sweetener goes a long way, but don’t let the light flavor put you off, this baby is an entire medicine cabinet rolled into one tea. These five herbs are well known for improving circulation, boosting white blood cell counts, and together they act as an anti-viral, anti-biotic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory combination. Drinking this tea two to three times a day will be like transforming your immune system into a world championship boxer.

Joint Lube - This delicious tea is rather self-explanitory. It is specifically designed with herbs that help relieve joint pain, act as a strong anti-inflammatory, and sooth the aching tendons. This is not only great for chemo and radiation patients but for those suffering from Fibromyalgia and Arthritis. Joint Lube is a light and flavorful herbal tea. This organic Rooibos Tea has lovely, sweet flavor on its own, but we’ve added Astralagus Powder, Turmeric Powder, Coriander Powder, Valerian Root, and Peppermint Leaves. Together this combination is not only a wonderful relaxant for your poor joints, but the flavor is lovely as well. A little sweetener and you could drink this cold, as a treat. Take this tea twice a day for best results, but don’t doubt that your aching joints will thank you.

Nauseous-No-More - Another rather self-explanatory title for the tea. This tea is designed to help relieve nausea, improve appetite, and aid digestion. Not only is this great for the chemo-accompanying nausea but nice to have around the house during flu season. It's a bit stronger than my Happy Tummy Tea, which I recommend for people suffering from upset stomachs, gas, or IBS. Nauseous-No-More is a great tea made specifically for those suffering acute nausea. This organic Ceylon tea has a light orange flavor and we’ve added Chamomile, Coriander, Ginger Root, and Fennel Leaf for a lovely flavor that can be enhanced by adding just a touch of sweetener. These four herbs are well known for their wonderful nausea-reducing properties. They will relax inflamed muscle tissue in the stomach lining, they will ease the sensation of motion sickness and sensitivity to light.

Intentional Intestines - While Nauseous-No-More is great for the stomach, this tea is meant for the rest of the digestive track. It soothes the smooth muscles of the intestines, and eases the cramping. Because of this I can highly recommend it for those with IBS, Fibromyalgia, and Crohn's Disease. This organic Ceylon tea has a light orange flavor, and we’ve added Chamomile Flowers, Marshmallow Root, Peppermint Leaves, and Calendula Flowers for a lovely flavor that can be enhanced brilliantly by adding just a touch of sweetener. These four herbs are well known for their wonderful anti-cramping, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic properties. They will relax inflamed muscle tissue in the intestinal lining, it relieves irritation, and diarrhea.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6850066&section_id=5899760

Intentional Intestine's Tea Great for Crohn's Disease and IBS!

2009-06-15T15:00:00.005-04:00

In doing some research on herbal remedies that are helpful to people suffering intestinal disorders I discovered that the Tea-Mo-Therapy tea I created for people suffering upset stomachs due to chemotherapy is perfect for those suffering from both Crohn's Disease and Irrital Bowel Syndrome.

This particular tea combines lovely herbs that all focus on reducing inflammation, coating inflammed surfaces, reducing spasms in smooth muscles, reducing pain, and more. It tastes nice too!

This organic Ceylon tea has a light orange flavor on its own, but I’ve added Chamomile Flowers, Marshmallow Root, Peppermint Leaves, and Calendula Flowers for a lovely flavor that can be enhanced by adding just a touch of sweetener. These four herbs are well known for their wonderful anti-cramping, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic properties. They will relax inflamed muscle tissue in the intestinal lining, it relieves irritation, and diarrhea.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25524149

Stay tuned for more information about my other teas and herbal items!

Elixirs in the Making

2009-06-10T16:35:00.005-04:00

No, for those who know that I've been down and out with a fever these last couple of days, I have not been making anything while sick. I would never want to infuse whatever it is that causes this in anything I make so I've stayed far away from my herbs and yarn. I have, however been reposting things, making things I have already available in different forms, etc. I have, however, been downing my Knock Out Punch tea and sleeping through the night despite my typical sleepless fever. (have you ever sweated from your ankles? its not fun.)

One thing I did do over the past couple of weeks was make a few elixirs that I'm getting very excited about. I don't want to give it all away but one is for...well....allowing our male counterparts to stay "engaged" through acts of amore. I'm calling it "Got Wood?" I'm also making one to help with hangovers called "Hair of the Dog." I made them on May 30th so they won't be ready for another 20 days, but I'm getting very excited to see the reaction.

This weekend I'll be helping out at the local nonprofit healing center that my aunt and her partner work at, so I'm sure I'll be all enthused and creative when I get home from that.

I hope I have time this weekend to make some bath salts. I got some fabulous Dead Sea Salt, Himilayan Pink Salt and Epsom Salt, and want to play!

Life Gets Hectic!

2009-06-05T06:03:00.002-04:00

Boy, I forget just how little time I have to do all the things I want to do when I have an hour and a half commute each way. I wake up at 5am, leave for work at 7am. I leave work around 6pm and don't get home until about 7pm. And I try to meditate, and I try to have breakfast and dinner, and I try to read...I just need about 4 or 5 more hours a day, how about you?

I know its been a while since I wrote, I hadn't forgotten, I just haven't been able to. I promise to work harder to get some posts up on a more regular basis.

Tea-Mo-Therapy Unveiled!

2009-05-25T16:21:00.004-04:00

This afternoon I was so excited to finally post my new set of teas that I made specifically for those people out there dealing with the effects of Chemotherapy treatment as well as Fibromyalgia. I really have a few Etsians to thank for the inspiration.

Overall it was fun, but this batch of teas were a little more involved because not only did I want to make sure that the teas were good and helpful I also wanted to make sure that they wouldn't interact with the types of treatments or prescriptions that people may be on when dealing with cancer or fibromyalgia. I also plan on making a few bath teas this week for people with skin troubles, but I had promised these teas a while ago and finally had time and herbs to work on them. Take a look and let me know what you think!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25522578

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25524149

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25524892

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25525307

More to come!

Herbs I Use And Their Possible Side Effects

2009-05-19T14:20:00.004-04:00

Herbs, and the people who use them, are still considered rather primitive as far as the government is concerned so there is very little legislation, protection, or guidance for those of us who use them in our practice. Because of this we have to be super careful about everything we do and say. I have my own little "FDA approved"-type wording on my Etsy account but I get worried that people won't pay attention, so I'm creating this post which I will update on occasion with links to a Physicians' Desk Reference site and to the specific herbs I use. If anyone has any concerns or questions about how the herbs in my products will affect them they can use this as a guide as well as contact their own doctor for advice.

Alfalfa, Ashwaganda, Astralagus, Barley, Calendula, Chamomile, Coriander, Damiana, Dandelion, Eyebright, Fennel, Gingko, Ginger, Gotu Kola, Grapeseed, Jasmine, Kava Kava, Lavender, Marshmallow, Passion Flower, Peppermint, Red Clover, Rosemary, Tumeric, Valerian, Wild Carrot, Wild Yam, Yohimbe

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drugs/altmed/altmed-a-z.aspx

The Eagle (or rather the herbs) Has Landed

2009-05-19T13:57:00.004-04:00

The day herbs arrive is like Christmas for me! Today Mike, the UPS guy, arrived with a small brown box with my name on it. Inside were a few containers of some of the loveliest organic herbs I've seen. Astralagus, Rosemary, Barley Grass...woohoo!!!

So, now that the herbs have arrived I can finally begin my adventure with my new teas, Tea-Mo-Therapy! Of course, before I even open one container I'll be giving HowlingCaterpillar her Chakra Reading as promised. I would have last night but I was in DirectTV Customer Service Hell. (we've now been upgraded from customer service reps who won't call us back to a case manager who won't call us back) What I put up with for my weekly Bones and House.

So, this weekend will be lots of playing with herbs, and I will come out the other end (fate and karma willing) with three new teas, a few bath teas, and some sales. Fingers crossed!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things, Part 5

2009-05-15T10:55:00.006-04:00

I hate needles, and despite that I do have a tattoo. Not wanting to deal with more needles to get something pretty etched onto my person, I stumbled upon these fabulous tights, or rather thigh-high stockings, from Post. Lovely, feminine, and not quite as permanent, these sexy White Tattoo Socks are a great alternative!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24566725

If these aren't your style Post has other options for you!

Even if Greenfingers wasn't another fellow EAST Team member I'd still adore her for her creativity, her leadership, and her kind heart. I'd also love to get this beautiful, handknitted love charm for being so generous with my praise, hint hint. j/k. The Path of Desire Knitted Heart Love Charm is actually a collaboration with a fellow artist and Greenfingers by hand-knitting, embroidering, beading and filling with a small bag of herbs. She has quite the collection, so if orange isn't your thing you could try any number of other heart love charms!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5017219

I can crochet fairly well. I'm not overly creative with it, so when I saw StudioKarma's collection of intricately crocheted necklaces I was blown away. They are stunning, precise, and such lovely colors! I can only imagine how many hours she puts into each beautiful piece.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5610501

If I'm ever in Turkey I am absolutely stopping by to watch you work hun!

So, that's it for Part 5 of my favorites. I love suggestions, so if you have spotted something that you are dying to share, send me a link and let me know and maybe I can feature it in a future blog post. Who says Etsy gets to have all the fun? I personally think that everyone should have their own Etsy Favorites listed on their blogs. Don't you?

Herbal Tea/Tea Aide Sampler Posting

2009-05-13T10:37:00.005-04:00

Keep those suggestions coming! I'm loving some of those names!

Well, after talking to a bunch of people on Etsy yesterday it seems that people are interested in trying my teas but don't want to commit to one until they've tried it. I can understand that. So I've posted a Sampler item in my shop, so for $3.50 (plus shipping) you can get 6 tea bags of any tea or tea aide I have in my shop. Mix and match, double up, how ever you want to do it! Here's hoping you find them addictive and delicious!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24989167

10% of profits going to Cancer org

2009-05-11T12:09:00.005-04:00

I had planned on beginning this new program in June, but them realized that there was no reason why I couldn't start it right away.

Some dear friends of ours really inspired this. I had planned on finding an organization that worked with my type of cancer, but that doesn't exist and it felt very selfish. So, the story behind this? Dear friends of ours have a little girl who was diagnosed very early with a type of childhood leukemia that has no real cure. They didn't have a lot of money so they began with the normal types of treatments that the husband's insurance would cover. Then he lost his job, and they found out that she was pregnant. So things got tight, and scary, and their main concern was how could they afford the treatments for their child, and how could they do that and bring another child into the world and support them? So they made a lot of personal sacrifices, asked for donations, did some fundraising, everything they could think of and it helped, a little but not nearly enough. Then came some good news, there was a new treatment that involved stem-cells but their insurance wouldn't cover it. So they went into further debt trying to get their child into this program. Now it is years later and while their daughter is in remission their debts are still looming over their heads, preventing them from being ready for the next time, preventing them from doing a lot of the things they should be doing as a family.

It is because of this that I went looking for an organization where I could donate specifically with the intention that my donations would go to families like theirs, to help them, relieve some of the stress and pressure so they can focus on their children and their fight.

So, as of May 1st, 10% of every purchase will be donated to the Candlelighters Organization and ear-marked for supporting the families financially. Check them out! http://www.candlelighters.org/

Herbs and Chemotherapy

2009-05-11T11:31:00.004-04:00

Last night I chatted with some fellow Etsians and discovered that there are quite a few of us out there who are struggling or have struggled with cancer. A very nice woman began asking me about my Tummy tea for her nausea due to the chemotherapy. The entire conversation brought up an interesting idea, creating teas and other herbal products for people suffering the effects of chemotherapy, radiation, and cancer itself. She challenged me, well challenge may not be the word, to create a tea for her so today I am spending a lot of time researching the herbs I have as well as other beneficial herbs that will address those particular concerns.

The only problem is that there are so many side effects and so many herbs that in order to address them all in one tea I'd have about 10 different herbs and I don't think that would create a tea people would WANT to drink. hahaha So perhaps I will have to separate them into different teas, teas that help nausea, teas that help keep nutrients in the body and stimulate the immune system, teas that help keep up brain function and ease the pain in joints. There is quite a lot that can be done...now to find just the right herbs and tea combination to make them delicious as well as helpful...oh, and come up with good names for them.

New Stuff and Trading!

2009-05-08T17:04:00.003-04:00

I made my first trade today! Woohoo! No longer am I the Trading Virgin of Etsy! I'm getting some lovely vintage Italian tissues and she's getting one of my Past Life Readings. Very exciting. I don't know if I'm more excited about getting the tissues or doing the reading...these are so much fun!

Oh, and I put up a couple more items in my shop recently. While I don't have pictures of it yet I put up my Frog's Throat Tea, my A Month in Advance spread as well as my suscription option! I know it seems expensive, but when you consider that the Month spread is $18 and 12 Month spreads is $130 you'll realize what a deal it is.

I have a lot of plans this weekend...hoping to solidify my brand once and for all. My problem, I think, is that I had to pick a niche! I want to do readings, but I also want to work with herbs, and I also like crocheting and will be doing more of that, and I want to create my own brand of healing bath products. How do I create a brand that encompasses it all????

Have a wonderful weekend all!!!!

Working for the Weekend

2009-05-07T14:06:00.005-04:00

Yay! I know it's only Thursday but that means the weekend is almost here. While I am slightly saddened that my honey will be leaving Saturday morning for a week in Tokyo, I am happy to have the place to myself so I can lock myself in my little herb dungeon and mix some fun stuff! The only down side is that she is taking our digital camera with her. Ack! Luckily I have a photographer friend who has about a dozen different cameras and I might be able to convince him to lend me his. Fingers crossed!!

So, things I will be working on this weekend:

- 3 new herbal teas (man, that rooibos tea I got is phenominal!)

- 3 new herbal bath teas (I get to try them out! woohoo!)

- 1 or two new tarot card readings

- 1 prayer shawl which may be done by next weekend

- Creating my brand, logo, and trying to get my printer to work right, urg!

In fact, I have a little cash in my PayPal account so I may make another purchase or five. Stop me, I'm mad about herbs!

Favorite Places on the Web

2009-05-06T09:36:00.002-04:00

Other than Etsy, my e-mail accounts, and the occasional meander over to Amazon.com, I have a few places I like to go and play when I have some down-time. Most are craft-sites, many are sites for herbs and oils, and a few are shops where I like to get ideas...whether I have time to work on them is another matter entirely!

Here are some of my favorite sites!

http://www.rishitea.com/

I really enjoy looking through Rishi Tea's web-site. It's nice to see companies that are really built around fair-trade, organic, and sustainable products. They have such unique products, such lovely teas, that it makes me want a whole room I can dedicate to it.

http://www.scarletquince.com/

I'm a big-time cross-stitcher and I love looking at the amazing patterns that you can create at Scarlet's site. Lucky for my I got a gift certificate from the site for Christmas one year and have already spent it. Now, have I actually had any time to make any of the designs I bought? Hell no!

But I know one day, maybe when I no longer work...ah to dream!

http://www.europeanxs.com

The European Cross Stitch Company is another one of those craft sites that makes my mouth water. The amazingly complex designs, the mandalas, the traditional European looks. Of course, even working on something like that for a few hours a day it would take me years to complete it. What do you charge for something like that? $700, $1,000?

http://www.save-on-crafts.com

This place is the mecca of all things crafty and cheap...expense-wise, not quality-wise. Where else can you find decorative bird-cages, LED battery operated candles, flower arrangement supplies, beads, ribbon, glassware, sheppard hooks, paper lanterns, and immensley more in one place for really reasonable prices? No, really, I want to know. If you know of a place please share it!

Finally Back!

2009-05-05T09:51:00.003-04:00

Back from the land of Swine Flu, aka New York. Met the entire group of in-laws in one fell swoop. Whew! They are all very nice, very Italian, very stereotypical, but nice.

We also saw the musical Mary Poppins. It was very nice. I grew up on the Disney movie so it was a little different, but still nice. The dancing was great, singing was great, the acting was great...the kids were ok. Not too shabby, but when all is said and done no one can do it better than Julie Andrews in my opinion.

The ride home was nasty, rainy, cold, dark, and we didn't get home until very late. Our cat sitter forgot to come that day completely so our poor kitties were almost knocking down the door. I was glad we forgot to get the sitter a present from NYC like we had planned.

Now to catch up on everything else. My honey is going away this weekend to Japan and is miserable about it. The only good thing is that it means I have the place to myself and can shut myself away and meditate, do readings, make teas, take a bath...oh, maybe make some bath teas! Hmmmmm.

Something Strange Going on With Blogger

2009-04-24T11:45:00.001-04:00

I'm sure you noticed my last post where suddenly, in the middle of nowhere, the post moved to the left. Not being a completely slouch in HTML I tried to find the culprit in some misdefined codes but everything is as it should be.

So I apologize for the oddly shaped post, I'm sure that it will be resolved.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things, Part 4

2009-04-24T11:14:00.007-04:00

It is Friday and time again for my list of favorites on Etsy! Woohoo! This week's list is really great and I'm very excited to share them with you. Not that my past one's haven't been great, they all have been, but I just keep getting excited about all these new and wonderful things I keep finding. ha ha ha

Ok, so crankbunny just is fabulous! What paper can turn into in her hands is remarkable. This pop-up flower card reminds me of a lotus blossom, how about you? If white isn't your thing she has something similar on a vibrant red which is gorgeous!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5049568

Pop up cards, secret decoder cards (they are so great I might have to feature them another week!) and puppets, she has some amazing talent! You MUST take a look at her shop!

How great is this vanity? It's luggage, no, it's a vanity, no it's fabulous! Hang it on your bedroom wall for fun and for conversation. Hey, is that luggage on your wall? No, crazy! That's my vanity cabinet from Vanitycase! While you might want all the fun bits inside you'll have to settle for the lights, the mirror, and the map and fill it with your own personal odds and ends.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6904209

Not only does Vanitycase do, well, vanity cases but they also do a similar styled liquor cabinet!

What a great use for old records! BBBenny&TheJets does some amazing stuff with old vinyl. This lovely is called "Spring Weddings and Dandelion Fluff" They also have some really lovely and funky jewelry too.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5639395

Very nice manadala painting, very detailed. Trying to think if there's a way to incorporate it into my own spring wedding.

Oh BKMHattitude, how I love your hats! This one, called Janie, is a favorite. It's a very useful cloche hat too. Think of how many things you can wear it with! Black and white are so versatile! I might have to have one made for my wedding, something special, something very "Jane Austen/English Countryside"

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=103011

This one is definitely one of my favorites, but you should see "Enchanted", or "QT" or "French Provincial" or "Rose." Oh, just go look at all of them!

What is it you ask? It's is an incredibly unique dress form! It's life-sized, handmade, body form made out of patterned paper. While my picture does not quite do it justice I could definitely see it as a centerpiece for many Etsy shots, Necklaces, shawls, scarves, etc! BettyandMaryJane have some really great ideas!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5767239

They've only made one sale on their Etsy shop, so it might be time to show some support, stop by, and take a look at the rest of their fun dress forms as well as their other crafts! It's also very reasonably priced, if you can believe it! I can only imagine how much work must have gone into making that.

Well, that sums of these past two weeks of my spending WAY too much time on Etsy, as usual. While these are never the only great products I find, they are a decent sampling. Stay tuned for more!

Weddings, Barns, and Caterers. Oh My!

2009-04-21T10:34:00.014-04:00

So the date is set, the venue is set, now to find an "approved" caterer. That's right, next summer I will be getting married. No chapel or church wedding for us, though, we're doing it rustic. A historical barn in the middle of an orchard. So pretty! Also very fortuitous as it's going to be held on Beltane. We won't be able to have a bonfire but we will incorporate a little hand fasting in the ceremony. Neither of us are true Pagans but we do enjoy some of the older traditions (her-Italian, mine-Irish).

So now the trick is to find a caterer. Because the barn is a historical site they have a "list" but won't send it to me. They keep teasing me with "tell us what kind of food you want and we'll tell you which caterers we approve can do it." So what do I do? I go the back route. I searched the Internet for caterers that specifically had worked that venue before. After all, if they had done a wedding there before why couldn't they do a wedding there now?

Ok, now I need all of your opinions on this. We are torn...clambake or brunch. Here's the thing:

We love both ideas equally.

If we do a brunch people would have to arrive the Friday night before but would then have the rest of the afternoon to visit the area, drive home, spend time with family, etc. With a brunch we'd also be able to fly out that night for our honeymoon. With a brunch we'd also save a lot of money and not have to worry about a bar (we have friends and family who are alcoholics). It would also keep most of the weekend free for people. (also kids wouldn't be as cranky as they can get at a night-time wedding)

If we were to do a clambake it would be in the early evening and people would have to stay Saturday night. It would leave less time for people to socialize later on, but everyone is really excited about the possibility of having a traditional New England clambake. Doing it later means we'll probably have more people dancing (which is important) and the twinkle-lights in the barn would have more of an effect. Because of the novelty of the event we'd probably get more of our friends to make the long haul for it. Doing it later also means that we'd have to stay the night and go to the honeymoon the next morning or leave really late and get in even later. But we'd also have the opportunity to have a few people over my parent's house for a small post-wedding get together and bonfire which would be super fun! Give others a chance to come and visit who couldn't make it to the wedding but live in the area.

Alright people, I need opinions and thoughts and I need them soon! Help!!!!

Phlebotomist Humor

2009-04-16T14:10:00.001-04:00

I didn't know they had any but this one must have.

So my sweet fiance went to get blood drawn this morning. The phlebotomist had obvious not had her morning coffee because she kept missing the vein in her arm. After poking her repeatedly she looked up at her and mumbled "Do you have another arm I can use?"

Wha?????

No, I left it at the dry cleaners. Where is Bill Engvall when you need him?

Zen and the Art of Office Organization

2009-04-14T10:33:00.005-04:00

It's amazing how nicknames follow you from place to place, unique names that you'd never think would come up twice seem to pop up in companies hundreds of miles apart.

(My idea of me as File Nazi)

Mine is "The File Nazi." Ok, so it isn't overtly flattering or pleasant but it's not entirely inaccurate either. I find contentment and satisfaction in things in my workplace being organized. Not necessarily my desk, not necessarily my home, but my workplace in general I find it necessary for things to be in good order, organized, and easy to locate. I got this name in college when I worked for my school's financial aid office as a student office assistant. I was in charge of filing as I seemed to have the alphabet down better than any other assistants (I'm not kidding, as sad as that is), and I could not only alphabetize quickly but I could keep documents within files in order and would tend to hang out in the old filing archive closet to make sure those files were organized whenever things were slow and I had run out of work to do.

My slight case of OCD paid off big time when the college went through it's first voluntary surprise audit. All offices failed their first audit except ours. They handed us a list of files they needed and specific documents they wanted and off I went, and within an hour I had it all sitting neatly in front of them, ready to go.

From that day on I always seemed to attack filing systems and workplace organization the same way, as if the auditors were about to decend and I wanted to pass with flying colors. So it was just a matter of time before my current office figured out my passion and skill and put it to good and enormous use. I work for a medium-sized consulting company that has been in business for 25 years. They are tree-killers in the most extreme sort of way. They are also hoarders. In a large closet the size of my old college dorm room sits dozens of file boxes filled with every e-mail, every fax, contract, draft of contract, proposal, draft of proposal, etc, for every client they have ever had in the last 25 years. They also have an electronic filing system that is completely unorganized and similarly stocked full of things they don't need.

So what does that have to do with me? Well, they have put me in charge of organizing it ALL. I'm now in charge of completely reorganizing this company from the inside out. At first I was excited, I was practically drooling, but now that I've reduced 10 file boxes into 2 file boxes, moved over 90,000 electronic files, reogranized their filing system, and put into place a new document strategy I look around and see how much more there is to do and I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

It is time to pull out the File Nazi. No more Mary Poppins, no more spoons full of sugar helping the filing get done, it's time to get into a happy place, let my zen run rampant, and get to some serious organizing before it kills me or I kill them.

Man, I should write a book for admins. Zen and the Art of Office Organization.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things, Part 3

2009-04-10T10:44:00.009-04:00

There are so many wonderful things on Etsy that so rarely get seen or featured, I figured it was high time I did something about it, so I created my own little Featured section and I plan to have one at least every other Friday if not every Friday. So I might be knocking on your Etsy door some day, looking to feature one of your items! Don't be surprised.....

The Mad Hatter Teacup and Saucer by natalyasots is just great! Fun, funky, just like the rest of her pottery. Her skill is just amazing, and what creativity! I only wish I had enough cabinet space to buy sets of this stuff!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15197076

Check out her tea kettles, vases and more, they are all equally as fabulous!

A Steampunk Time-Machine Brass Cuff Bracelet....it is so cool and funky, I want to create a whole new wardrobe just for this piece! The steampunk rage is still going strong, so it's a good idea to get a couple of great, unique pieces now!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22232741

rubyanndesigns has all sorts of other great items if steampunk isn't your thing...lots of gorgeous pendants!

Speaking of great pieces, these gorgeous earrings by HedgelandsGlassLass would go perfectly with that bracelet. These earrings are just the beginning as the Mellow Fruitfullness Necklace and Earring Set contains a necklace made out of similar glass beads.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19785176

Check out some of her other amazing pieces!

Ok, so I'm a sucker for a really unique pendant, as I'm sure you'll notice in my collections of favorites. This one is no exception. Atlantis Found Necklace no. 70 is a fun and inspiration piece and definitely brings to mind lost pieces of Atlantis washing to shore. sojourncuriosities knows how to create a piece that tells a story!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22341103

This is only the beginning of this little shops amazing collection!

"Amazing collection" doesn't even cut it when talking about this shop. Such an amazing group of handmade boxes, cubbies, treasure chests, that I found it hard picking my favorite. I might have to show off some more of these babies later! Being that I love feathers, My Haute Couture Trinket Box seemed to be a good place to start.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22606575

You have to check out some more of the collection!

So, that's it for Part 3 of my favorites. I love suggestions, so if you have spotted something that you are dying to share, send me a link and let me know and maybe I can feature it in a future blog post. Who says Etsy gets to have all the fun? I personally think that everyone should have their own Etsy Favorites listed on their blogs. Don't you?

The Shift And Why It's Freaking Me Out!

2009-04-08T08:42:00.004-04:00

So I listen to a lot of podcasts. I have an hour and a half commute each way, 5 days a week, so when I say "a lot" I mean "A LOT." Many of the podcasts I listen to have something to do with the metaphysical world, mostly because I get enough of the everyday rat race at work, on the news, etc., and I like to stay informed on what's happening in other communities. Well, lately they are talking about this "Shift" a lot.

From what I understand, the Shift is supposed to begin or happen on December 21, 2012. It's the end of the Mayan calendar and somehow that means the end of the world as we know it. Now, that is where they lose me. Not all the people who talk about it think it means the world will "end" but rather there will be an enormous shift in the way we live, think, grow, and it will be caused by something cataclysmic.

Like all "end of days" proclaimers they have lots of scientific proof to back them up, the raising of the earth's energetic harmonics, the melting of the polar ice caps, the increase in catastrophic natural disasters, but they also have a lot of "psychic" proof. That's where I get a little doubtful. Don't get me wrong, I totally believe in the validity of SOME psychics. There are some people out there with enormous gifts and I am completely jealous! But there are also a lot of people out there looking to make a buck and willing to tell people anything if it will sell their next book, get them on that talk show, etc.

What freaks me out is my own spirit guide's reaction to my questions about the Shift. I ask her if it's real and if it's coming when they say, how is it coming, etc. She just says there is no point worrying about it, there is no need for me to know more than I do, and that I should really focus on becoming a healer in every way possible as it will be a very useful tool later on. That's when my head snaps around and my jaw falls open. It's so important for me to become a healer, eh? I know that it is what I am drawn to, it's what I want more than anything, but I'm stuck in a place where I don't have enough money to take the classes I want, the vacation time to take up that three week apprenticeship I want, etc. So I'm learning what I can when I can and soaking it up like a sponge.

In the meantime I'm listening a lot more intently to these Shift predictions and trying really hard to keep an open but practical mind. How many times have people freaked out about the end of the world? Y2K anyone? Don't expect to find me on some mountain top, head shaved, and waiting for that spaceship to come and take us all away...but you may find me watching "The Day After Tomorrow" with a little more reverence.

New Items!

2009-04-06T15:54:00.004-04:00

Got in a couple of gorgeous pendulum beads the other week and was able to work them into some very nice pendulums with chains.

This one is a very nice and solid African Jade.

African Jade is a gemstone known for its healing and stress-relieving properties. It has been thought for centuries to be beneficial for those looking to build business relationships. African Jade is associated with the throat Chakra, has been thought to speed response during crisis, and help kidney function and arthritis.

Not too shabby for a rock. ha ha

This one is Blue Tiger's Eye. I know it doesn't look blue, but it does have a small streak at the top. I have a blue blue Tiger's Eye coming in the mail and I can't wait to play with it.

Blue Tiger's Eye is also known as Hawks Eye and is known to enhance communication, understanding, and gives the user the ability to discover creative ideas that will work. Blue Tiger's Eye is also associated with the Throat Chakra, which is also known as the Chakra affiliated with speaking your mind, being fair and being heard, and expressing your ideas to others well.

Considering what I paid for the stones themselves, not to mention the sterling silver chain and added beads, I think the price, $9, is more than fair.

Tonight I bring home some new herbs that just arrived. My craft area is smelling so wonderful these days that it's on my clothes, in my hair, and people keep asking me what perfume I'm wearing. Hah! Maybe I should bottle it? mmmmm So I guess that means that this weekend I'll be doing more playing! Woohoo!

Ack! No sales since March 19th!

2009-03-31T16:56:00.002-04:00

Ok, breathe, just breathe. I must be doing something wrong. I know I should probably try to take better pictures of my teas but my camera is just not cooperating and it takes money to buy a new one. I know I should be trusting in the spirits and my intention to push through this but I'm struggling with impatience!

Tomorrow is the first of April, and while most see it as April Fool's day I will be posting one of my readings on sale! For the entire month!

I'm looking into new ways to promote the shop....any ideas would be much appreciated!

Oh, and today I opened up a sister shop on Artfire.com. I hope that if I spread myself out a little I might catch new and different shoppers. Fingers crossed.

http://theomintention.artfire.com

New Products! Chakra Balancing Teas!

2009-03-29T20:05:00.010-04:00

I have had so much fun making these teas. I think I nearly giggled when I saw my herb order arrive. Woohoo! I got right to work. All of the herbs are certified organic so while I can say that they are organic I can't say it's certified organic since the tea itself isn't certified once its put together. Oh well. I know it's organic, you know it's organic, thats all that matters, right?

The Root Chakra tea is my favorite of the two. A spoonful of sugar makes this tea very addicting and delicious. It has Alfalfa, Chamomile and Gotu Kola. All together they are very healthful, nutritive, and great for the immune system. Each package will include 15 tea bags. I can also make a large bag, about 4 ounces, of loose tea for anyone who prefers that. You can always convo me on Etsy and let me know. I'll even include a bleach-free muslin tea bag with it for free!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22965348

Sacral chakra tea is so mmmmmmm, yummy. It's quite potent and has a strong taste, since it contains ginger but it's not unpleasant. In fact, it's the ginger root that does the most for the chakra and the body. This tea contains Damiana, Ashwaganda, and Ginger root, and is great for balancing the chakra as well as improving energetic balance overall, increasing libido, and works well for men in terms of fertility and impotence. But you don't have to tell him that! hahaha

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22966544

I spent most of the weekend finding the right mix for these two teas and have already run out of tea bags. Ack! I have already put in an order for more bags AND more herbs for my next set of teas. Looking forward to another weekend of playing!

Now, just like I say on the Etsy site, and with any herbs, if you have a lot of sensitivities or allergies or are very ill or pregnant or nursing, or balancing your checkbook, etc, please consult a doctor before using it. Now, I won't guarantee that it will work for everyone, but I found, amazingly, that the Root Chakra tea helped me enormously with my allergies. I had a cup last night and today my partner and I drove around with the windows down...she was sneezing up a storm, her nose was so stuffed up. I was fine. This NEVER happens!! I'm the biggest ball of snot during cherry blossom season. So, if this reaction keeps happening I may need to market it as an allergy helper :) But don't tell the FDA! hahaha

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things, Part 2

2009-03-25T10:48:00.001-04:00

While I'm still working hard, fighting the urge to buy everything I see, I wanted to share with you some more of my very favorite Etsy things that I have found. Feel free to check out these Etsians' shops too, because these are just a taste of what they offer! (and I'm not even being paid for this, haha)

Retro Victorian Garden Temari

I am so incredibly jealous of the amazing talent Julie has at creating gorgeous pieces of art out of nothing but a styrofoam ball, some batting and string!

This is one of my favorites but by no means the best Temari ball she sells, as each one is more incredible and intricate than the next. I would imagine there is one for everyone's taste in her shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6124019

Almond Joy Caramel Apple

Oh holy yumminess! I love Double and I hate her, love, hate, love, hate....Arg! Why does she tempt me so with her incredible eddibles? This one is virtually sinful!

Oh, how you haunt me! Not only does she have crazy amounts of candy apples, chocolate dipped cookies and flavored popcorn, but she's offering anyone who reads this blog 20% off the price of anything in her shop as long as you let her know you found her here on this blog! Don't you love her?

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5676624

Higlark, the One-Eyed One-Horned Flying Purple People Eater

Who didn't rock out as a kid to the song "Purple People Eater"? Really. This cute little guy is one of the fabulous and quite unique creations of lizstaley, who not only makes adorable little plushies like this guy (currently on sale, by the way) but also funky and funny buttons, ACEOs, and original anime wallets!

Think Tribble but cuter. Way cuter!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5082757

Charmed. Suede Journal, Softcover

Is there anything better than a brand new journal or notebook and your favorite pen? Who needs diamonds, just give this girl a brand new, fresh notebook and pen and I'm happy! Hell, I'm addicted! I think that makes Kreativlink a pusher? An enabler?

It's 240 pages of pure creativity waiting to happen. Could work especially well for those out there who are practicing the craft and want a gorgeous notebook to write down your personal spells and concoctions. I know this seller goes on my holiday/birthday wishlist! If this one isn't your cup of herbal tea, just take a look at her dozens of other designs!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5027177

Paisley Earrings

I think these gorgeous earrings are watching me. Do you get that feeling? As someone with no real jewelry-making skills I am completely impressed, obscenely jealous, and really wishing I didn't love paisley so much. If you take a close look at these earrings in her store you'll see just how much time and effort goes into each of her creations.

These earrings are crocheted, from real gold thread and silk fibers, contain real pearls and vintage glass pearls, and is very reminiscent of India, peacocks, and makes me think of getting a henna tattoo on my hands to match. These earrings are just the tip of this shop's iceberg! Brooches, necklaces, bracelets, all made with the same care and amazing quality!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5617844

I know, I know, my tastes run the gambit, but that's why you love me. Right? Right? Hello? Don't forget to check out these amazing shops..oh, and my own of course! Perhaps these lovely shop owners would like to trade :) Fingers crossed!

The Little Anger Monster in My Head

2009-03-23T09:15:00.000-04:00

It's safe to say that my biological father has some really bad anger issues which is why I stay as far away from him and his family as possible. Unfortunately, since an early age I also had some pretty bad anger issues which I deal with on a regular basis. Meditation certainly helps, deep breathing, and 95% of the time I'm great, no problem, but when something triggers me it throws me into major anger for the rest of the day and I have now been dealing with this twice in three days. And they haven't been your typical "someone cut me off and I'm pissed" kind of situation, they've been those "what the hell is wrong with people, doesn't anyone have any sense of decency or humanity???" kind of situations. (it takes a lot to get me angry, which is good I suppose)

Friday I got on the train and three black men sat behind me and proceeded to call me things like fat whore, ugly dyke, and told me to do any number of things to them sexually. Had it been one man I would have turned around and vollied an obscenity stream that would make my father blush, but being as I was vastly outnumbered I clutched my bag and moved to the next train at the next stop.

This morning, as my partner and I were stopped at a light, minding our own business a man pulled up next to us and looked out his window at me. No big deal, right? People tend to look at those next to them when waiting for a light to turn. So I talked to my partner and no big deal, then she looked over my shoulder and said "what is his problem?" I turned and he had placed his head in his hands and was staring out at us again, staring. I gave a quizzical look and turned away to face my partner and said "he's probably off his medication." That's when she went nuts screaming "what the hell is his problem!?" I turned around again to see him giving us the finger and the ladies his was with were laughing. I rolled down my window and said "What the hell is your problem?" He rolled down his and began spewing curses, expletives, and suggestions as what we should do to his black manly items that would make his female relatives spit in anger. The girls continued to laugh. I, of course, reached into the back of our car where the 15 softball bats are hidden. At that point my partner realized my anger-monster had surfaced, the light turned green and we took off, but I already had my seat belt off and the door unlocked. It took me about 15 minutes to calm down enough to breathe normally and be able to get on the train without killing someone.

What is it about anger? I can let go of jealousy, stress, sadness, depression, but no matter what I do (therapy, meditation, etc) I can't lick anger? And I'm not talking about just a little anger, I'm talking about so enraged I shake and grit my teeth and want to beat the daylights out of something. A therapist once told me that I should take boxing or karate to let off steam but my fear was that boxing and karate would only give me tools to use in my anger. It's bad enough that my partner is a softball coach (I know, very stereotypical) so we have a lot of bats in the car.
I suppose that the anger is good in some ways, as I have found when I am incredibly scared I can turn it into anger and it seems to get people to back off, like when I was babysitting and I took the baby for a walk through the park and this huge dog came up snarling and barking and no one was in sight. I went straight from deathly afraid to incredibly pissed off and I got in front of the carriage and starting screaming at that dog, matching snarl to snarl, bark to yell, arms up in the air to make me look bigger and eventually the dog went running off.

We were watching Twilight last night, as it so happens, and in one scene Edward, the vampire, goes into a rage at these guys who wanted to do some pretty bad stuff to Bella, the girl he loves. He gets so angry that all he has to do is look at these guys and they back off, then Bella has to calm him down so he won't go back and rip their heads off. That's how I feel sometimes. But I don't have the great excuse of being a vampire.

Supplies!!!

2009-03-17T09:04:00.001-04:00

They are on their way! Woohoo!

So, I didn't wait like I had planned in order to buy some supplies for my next set of products. I just couldn't. So I decided to start small and work my way up, depending on how well they sell. Not a bad idea in and of itself, right? If they don't sell then I've only spent half what I would have. If they sell I'll have enough to buy more supplies! So I've decided to move forward with my bath teas but I think, considering how few people actually take baths these days, to market them as foot bath teas (and if someone wants to use them in a bath more power to them). After all, there are two lesser known Chakras in the sole of each foot.

What I'll be making is a foot bath tea using Dead Sea Salt (which is amazingly nutritive and soothing) and organic herbs specifically blended to help heal and balance certain Chakras. I also plan to start working on creating some teas that do the same...the trick is getting the teas to taste good even with all those herbs in them. The tea could work miracles but if it doesn't taste good no one will drink it.

I've also wanted to start working more with essential oils but as I have cats who get into everything I may not be able to. Essential oils are toxic to cats as they can't process it in their liver, even just smelling it is toxic...so I try to keep them as far away from my oils as possible. I can't NOT use EOs, they are just too wonderful, so I have to be incredibly careful. I wish I had a separate space from my cats where I could mix them...perhaps once I reach my goal and have my own office.

Oh, I have a request for all of you who read this blog. Please pray for me as I have been having real trouble meditating lately. I used to be able to meditate and really focus, but lately when I meditate I fall asleep! That's fine when I meditate to relax, but when I meditate to contact my guides and try to talk to spirits about readings or people's troubles, it is not helpful in the least! It doesn't seem to be affecting my readings any, as I pray for quite some time before doing each reading, but it's getting a little annoying. I could use a little help, and apparently more sleep.

Clove Oil and Red Couches

2009-03-13T11:53:00.000-04:00

And not in that particular order either!

This morning my lovely apartment was invaded by a very large, very stiff, very dark red couch. I had seen this couch before in a showroom but she was very, very different. She was inviting, she was soft, she was just the right size for my living room and she was a lovely shade of burnt orange. But, like so many things, when she arrived at my door she was something completely different. I think I shall call her Carrie. The Carrie couch. (that is the store's picture of it....looks burnt orange to me!)

My cats noticed the change in the room immediately and began exploring it with reckless abandon. Pouncing on cushions, jumping off the back, hiding around it's corners, trying to see which one of them could squeeze underneath it first (Phoebe won paws down).

While this was going on I was trying to abate the lovely head cold I have landed myself with by taking some Clove Oil. I love this stuff, I worship at the clove plant's...well, roots. Two small drops of this stuff and my head has cleared up! And I've been a sniveling mess for days. It works every time, don't know why I didn't just take some at the first sign of trouble. I love essential oils, I would work with them more if it weren't for my cats. Cat's can't tolerate essential oils...they are toxic to them as their liver can't filter them. Poor things...doesn't stop me from using flower essences on them...nothing like a drop of Rescue Remedy behind the ears after a traumatic event. Purrrr!

New Item!!!

2009-03-11T14:25:00.000-04:00

Well, I got a lot of convo's on Etsy about offering some kind of yearly spread and so I did. I'm not a huge fan of them myself but I know a lot of other people are. So, here is the link to the newest spread! I will, as mentioned in the listing, offer shorter period spreads if someone wants but you'll have to convo me so I can create a special reserved purchase for you.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22150591

After many requests I have decided to offer up the “Yearly Checkup” reading on Etsy. This reading will let you know what your year is going to look like, month by month, in general terms. It won’t tell you that your car’s radiator will need to be replaced in September, but it may tell you that September you will have problems with transportation and that a lot of money may be spent unexpectedly. This spread is also slightly different in that I can construct it in such a way that it will give divinations for certain parts of your life, depending on what you request. What are those parts of your life?

Health
Work
Romance
Spirituality
Family

If you choose to have the reading focus on one of these aspects of your life the reading will be more specific, if not the reading may touch a little on each or on one more than others depending on how the cards read. One important thing to be aware of when purchasing a reading that is almost completely about future events is that with every choice we make we change our future. Those who go about life in a way where they let external forces rule their lives will tend to stay true to the same path throughout the year. Those who choose to have spirit lead them and move them through life may change directions several times a year as the mind struggles to accept where they are led. If you want a reading for a shorter period of time I am happy to oblige. I can do readings for 3 months out ($8), 5 months out ($10), and 8 months out ($12). Please convo me and let me know and I will create a special purchase for you.

How I Met My Soul Mate

2009-03-10T14:36:00.000-04:00

People ask me how I met my soul mate and I tell them, Match.com. No one seems to believe me! No, honest! I moved down to Maryland in January of 2006, about 3 months after she had, and I put up an ad on Match.com more to find some friends than anything else. I had used Match.com a thousand times before and never had luck, but I was trying something new. I put an ad out there, of my usual ilk...some likes, some dislikes, the typical ad...and got nothing. Finally, I realized that I would never find someone who could get me, even as just a friend, if that was the image I was portraying, so I got creative and came up with this:

**********
"Enlightenment is not about becoming divine. Instead it's about becoming more fully human...It is the end of ignorance."

I'm a New Englander who just moved to Maryland. I lived in New England my whole life. Boston Globe on Sunday, fresh fried clams in Gloucester, Quincy Market and the Red Sox, apple orchards and the Salem witches, the whole New England Christmas scene..it was great! My people are book readers, liberals, and are blessed with the Bostonian's dry, sarcastic wit. I'm a tad unconventional but very easy to get along with. I have friends from every walk of life: comic book artists, psychotherapists, hair dressers, executive recruiters, teachers and even a few actors. Unfortunately, I have moved hundreds of miles away from all of them in search of a new career. I'm hoping to get to know people in the area, people I can hang out with and who can help me find all the best spots. Looking to go out dancing, light hiking, camping (modern conveniences a must), or even catching a movie or a great cup of coffee. Can't live without my jazz cd collection or my family.
I can't date anyone I'm not friends with first (though if sparks fly immediately I wouldn't hold off), a tad old-fashioned in that sense, so while I'm not specifically looking for "the one" I'm keeping my eyes and my mind open. I'm comfortable in my skin and am looking for someone similar. Confidence is very attractive to me as I don't want to spend my days trying to convince you that you are a great person. I'm an old-fashioned girl who loves to treat that special someone like gold and hopes for the same in return. I love cuddling, dancing, and the rest romance has to offer. Looking for someone who feels similar. I'm creative and love to stretch my mind, so new experiences and ideas are important to me. I'm looking for someone who feels the same, has a zest for life and has a good grasp on who they are and what they want.
*********
I had no pictures to offer, yet within two days she winked at me and I winked back. We then took the plunge and both signed up for actual accounts so we could e-mail each other. We must have sent two or three VERY long e-mails before speaking on the phone and then spent 4-5 hours on the phone each time. I knew right away there was something special about her and the day we met we clicked.

So, I tell people that I met my true love on Match.com and its been three wonderful years now. I have my creative side to thank for that....my imagery of New England spoke to her..even though my love of the Red Sox and liberal nature did not endear me to the Yankee-loving republican. I try not to hold it against her, have to be open-minded after all.

The next time you think about putting an ad out there, or even putting yourself out there, just remember what you are showing the world. Giving your stats just makes you a number!

These are a few of my favorite things! Part 1

2009-03-10T10:17:00.001-04:00

I am a hopeless addict. That's right, totally addicted to Etsy! Here are some of my favorite things.

This is a gorgeous necklace with an enormous coconut wood and shell pendant.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11032974

AniasJewelry, just love that gal! Would totally trade a reading for this baby!

This is a great Morrocan tile pendant that I just saw the other day.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21834544

Gotta love ArtfulGoodies!

Faux Suede patchwork spats! Love that! What creativity!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22050492

froschdtl has dozens of spats that look great, but these are my favs.

Ok, so I'm not the big belt buckle fan in my house, but I love this store! It's like birthday and Christmas and every other gift-giving day idea for my partner rolled into one!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5627845

I don't think I've seen one that I didn't like! MnMTreasures, you rock!

So thats it for this episode kids! I'll have to do this again soon, lots of fun!

Unproductive Weekend

2009-03-09T12:05:00.000-04:00

I meant to get so much done this weekend. I took Friday off for my Reiki attunement and then the rest of the weekend I meant to make some nice jewelry for my site, however I came upon an impasse. Turns out I have no talent at making jewelry, which is a shame because I have a gigantic amount of beads. I tried a million variations and just could not find anything that would work and look good. URG!

Well, I suppose I can't be good at everything. So we spent the weekend enjoying the warmth, cleaning house, and getting some outdoor furniture for our new balcony. It was great sipping wine and watching the stars come out. The cats were not happy though...Mommas outside and they can't get out. Oh well.

This week I am alone and on the loose. Knowing me I'll probably crash at 9pm. I did want to exercise, that was the plan, but we shall see. I'll be driving and when I drive home it takes me about an hour and a half to get there. Keep those fingers crossed for me!

Thinking Positive....UGH!

2009-03-05T16:11:00.000-05:00

Well, in the non-metaphysical world this little gal is but a humble Office Administrator. I basically manage the office without having to handle the finance side or the bulk of the personnel side. I ALWAYS have plenty to do. Unfortunately I have the tendency to open my mouth.

My boss mentioned over a year ago, in fact he mentioned it when they hired me, that they needed someone to pour through all their documents and help them get organized. Well, the task fell to me and its quite a large task. It involves creating a document strategy, policies, and then going back and physically pouring through 25 years worth of reports, contracts, notes, etc. I've been working on it a year and have made significant progress.

Well, last week my boss came to me and the Marketing Manager and asked us to find a way to reorganize their electronic Marketing folder so that things were easier to find. I looked at the MM and said "You realize this will open up a can of worms and eventually this will leak into all our other electronic folders, right?" Sure enough, today just that happened and guess who is now in charge of completely reorganizing their electronic file system as well as performing an enormous data migration and configuration? That's right!

UGH! Can you say massive raise and/or promotion better be coming soon?

But enough about that, I'm trying to think optimistically. As of tomorrow I have a nice 3 day weekend. Our new couch is junk and the store we bought it from is sending out a "couch guy" to fix it. He already called and said he can't fix it but he'll come out and fill out the paperwork so we can "reselect" our furniture. So I have to be home for that. Good news is that it gives me loads of time to work on fun Etsy projects! I'm hoping this weekend I can put out some necklaces, maybe a talisman or two. Fingers crossed.

I've decided that my next investment will be in bath tea supplies. I love taking baths and I've found a fabulous seller of bulk organic herbs to add to the incredible Dead Sea Salt I found. Now its just a matter of figuring out how to package it all up nicely.

Oh, and keep me in your thoughts tomorrow as I receive my first Reiki attunement!

Amazing Discovery

2009-03-04T13:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday afternoon I had a physical therapy appointment with my aunt (a very talented bodyworker) and as I laid there on the table while she poked and prodded surprisingly tender spots I thought about her partner who has been having some problems with her health. She had had many tests and been to many doctors and they believe they have narrowed it down to something, but aren't sure.
Well, while I was laying there I thought on this and what immediately came to me was that what was happening was due to her controlling nature. She has some control issues (not in a bad way, mind you) and channels that into wanting to control her partner, her family, her life, her health and the more I thought about it the more I got the image in my head of her being constricted. In fact the word I saw in my head was "constricted".
I asked my aunt how things with her were going and she told me that they had had more tests and appointments the week before and that the doctors believed that it was some kind of disease where the blood vessels constrict (her word, not mine) and don't allow blood to the brain.

So, taking that as a sign to get on with my education I enrolled this afternoon in a Chakra Clearing and Spiritual Counseling class online. It should be very interesting and I'm really enjoying listening to my new Caroline Myss audiobook. I'm almost finished and I think I may just start all over and listen again.

Snow, Snow Everywhere!

2009-03-02T10:48:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful, frustrating morning! We got a little winter snow fall overnight and, of course, DC has practically shut down. We had about 5-6 inches where I live, about 4 inches where I work, so getting to work was a tad harrowing. My poor little Honda Fit, I don't quite trust it on the snow and really don't want to have 2 fender benders within the first year of having it. Not that I can't drive in the snow..I grew up in New England...I just know for a fact no one here in the DC Metro area knows how to drive in the snow...or the rain, or fog, or bright sunny day.

So this morning I woke up and watched the snow fall as I sipped my coffee and listened to the school delays. I don't have children yet but I just love hearing them read out loud and remember that anticipation and absolute giddiness when you hear your own school called.

So after an hour of coffee sipping and snow watching I showered, dressed, and trudged out to the bus stop across the street from my apartment. 30 minutes later and no bus in sight. I let a few more minutes go by and trudge back upstairs to dry off, use the ladies room, and check that the buses are running on their website. I get inside to discover that my office is opening late. Great, because I'm going to be REALLY late. I get dried off, run back downstairs, and get to the stop just in time to catch a bus. An hour and a half later I arrive at work so another piping hot cup of coffee with real cream. Mmmmmmm.

Tonight I have to work on another Past Life Reading. I really do love those, so much fun and very educational for me. Its very interesting to see how people take things from one life and bring them into another, the lessons they have learned, the problems they didn't face, the fears they didn't conquer, even the personality traits.

I think I'll also start thinking about, and maybe even putting together an outline for, a monthly newsletter about the metaphysical. My partner and I would really like to crew this year's 3-Day breast cancer walk but the minimum donation is in the $1k's and that's hard to come up with. Perhaps I'll ask for a donation of $15 for a year's worth of monthly newsletters. Would that be something you would be interested in? Each month would have information about a tarot card, that month's horoscope, some kind of metaphysical practice or book, or movie, or event going on. Then all the donations (minus the lovely fees from Etsy and PayPal) would go towards the crewing donation fees. Hmmm, I'll have to put the old thinking cap on for this one. I'll have to find the cap first. Yikes!

To Bath Tea or Not To Bath Tea

2009-02-26T08:19:00.001-05:00

I've been trying to think of things I can make for my Etsy store that will give me a lot of enjoyment and that people may enjoy. As a novice herbalist I am enthralled with the amazing powers of natural products, herbs, spices, etc. and would love to use them in so much more ways. One way I was contemplating was in teas and bath teas. My only concern was that it takes a good chunk of money to purchase the products as I'd want to purchase them in bulk to save money.

I know where I can find the product I'll need and at reasonable prices, but I see a lot of other sellers on Etsy and in looking at how much they are selling their products for I'm not sure it would be worth it financially. Also, in my creative fervor I would need to make the packaging as cute as possible, and to do that would take even more of an investment.

So I'm putting this question out to the two people who apparently read my blog (and neither is my mother as she'd have a heart-attack if she knew her daughter was giving tarot readings). Here goes...and feel free to leave comments!

Bath Tea: Using Dead Sea Salt and various organic and fair-trade herbs I will make incredibly healing and yummy smelling Bath Teas (Bath Salts). Included with the tea itself will be a reusable unbleached muslin bag with drawstring. The tea will come in a cute 4 oz. aluminum tin with a label on top relating the tea/salt to a vibrant classic painting, along with instructions on the bottom of the tin for use, storage, etc. The 4 oz. of tea/salt is enough to make 8 luxurious baths. The teas/salts will all be made with the purpose and ingredient base of healing various ailments from insomnia, eczema, headaches, infertility, depression, etc and would be very relaxing or invigorating depending on your need. Now, in order to sell this and make enough profit to pay for supplies to replace it and possibly half the supplies for a second, I would have to charge about $9. That would break down to a little more than $1 a bath.

Now the big question....is this something that you would buy?

Remembering To Pray

2009-02-24T16:45:00.000-05:00

When I was a kid I had a routine, as most in a fairly normal Catholic household would have (yes that is right, though my parents raised me mostly Baptists we started out Catholic), we would say grace over dinner and I would say my prayers before bed. These days, when I want to remember to say prayers, to set my intentions for the following day, when I want to speak to my guide, I find myself forgetting more and more. Why is it that we can so easily forget even that which we want so badly?

If I could remember each night I would get on my knees and thank the universe for another day. I would thank the universe for my health and my continuing learning progress. I would also send up to the universe my continued desire to learn and grow, to heal and nurture, and possibly even win the lottery. I would also ask the universe to continue to move me in the direction that I am meant to go in instead of show me, as movement gets MUCH better action and manifestation. I would also speak briefly with Samantha, my guide, and ask her to help me continue throughout the following day to stay true to my set path, to be kind, to be open-minded, and not let the ninnies on my commute to work bring me down. I would also ask for help finding a better paying job that is closer to my home because this 3 hours of commuting a day is really cutting into my down-time.

So, things are slowing down slightly in my Etsy store. I supposed I should have expected this to happen even though I am telling even more people. 8 sales is good, 8 sales in less than 1 month is pretty decent. I am hoping that when I raise my prices back up to what they should be my regular clients stick around. So far I have been very blessed with wonderful, encouraging, and paying customers.

I'm actually thinking about adding numerology reports and charts to my offerings but I'm a little nervous that too much "readings" will scare some away. I didn't start the shop to be a "reading" shop, but that seems to be what is most popular. I'm working on another tarot card/rune pocket which I'm hoping turns out really cute. I also want to put together this really nice necklace I've been thinking about with this lovely Hamsa pendant. I haven't made jewelry in a while so keep your fingers crossed for me!

Very Nice Weekend

2009-02-23T11:35:00.000-05:00

Well, this weekend my partner and I were celebrating both our 3rd year together as well as Valentine's Day. We just finished out 21 day cleanse and wanted to celebrate with dinner at our favorite restaurant, The Little Fountain Cafe, and a lovely Kimpton Hotel, the Topaz Hotel. The night really was wonderful.

J had the duck which was large and infused with a smokey flavor. I had the stuffed quail and was a tad disappointed. The quail was quite tiny with very little meat. The salad and appetizers were lovely and we had our favorite wine, Zenato Pinot Grigio. We walked the mile there from our hotel and then walked the mile back.

The hotel was amazing! Filled with bright colors, dots and stripes, funky furniture and great ambiance! The bed was SOOOOO comfortable! What made the night, for J at least, was that they had "Twilight" on Pay-per-view. So we watched that and then our espresso drinks from desert hit us and we were up until 3am. Got home at 9am and I was passed out for a glorious nap by 2:00pm. It was one of those "dead to the world" sleeps where nothing aside from a bomb exploding in the room would wake you.

On Sunday I was able to finish up my latest Etsy venture, a crocheted tarot card/rune pocket. It turned out very cute and I love the button. I'm hoping my camera starts working better as it didn't really want to focus much. I put it online, so wish me luck! I started another one last night as well, made it a little different and will probably finish it up this week. I want to get at least one piece of jewelry up this week as well. I don't like the fact that all I'm offering on the site is readings, that wasn't my intention.

Well, take a look at some of the pics of the new pocket!

Amazing Meditation Session Last Night

2009-02-20T08:32:00.000-05:00

So last night I wanted to try out a new guided meditation that helps you meet your spirit guide. It's truly meant as an introduction and I had gotten it for my partner since she's been wanting to meet hers. I decided to see how good it was before having her try it. It was wonderful!

So, my main spirit guide, as some of you know, is Samantha. She is quite a wonderful, motherly woman with an incredible amount of patience. So she and I had a good 20 minute "conversation" which involved a lot of questions and answers. During the session I discovered that she and I had been together in a prior life, a life where we were Native Americans out in the mid-west. She was the tribe's medicine woman and I was studying under her to be a shaman. I was very impatient and wanted to have amazing skills just handed to me, I didn't want to work on them. She was, in that incarnation, Sitting Eagle. She made it clear that she chose to be my spirit guide in this life in order to continue the work I had started in that life. I was never able to perfect my skills because I always expected them to be better, to work faster, and didn't want to do the work. She said that this life I had to do the work.

I also asked her about the issues I have with my memory (which is that I have a horrible memory, for someone in their early 30s). She said that I've been holding onto the trauma from my past life, in which I was murdered and the killer basically bashed me in the head causing incredible trauma to my brain. She also told me that in that life I had been engaged to my current partner and that my partner became so distressed and depressed that she (at the time, he) got drunk and died in a car accident. When I told my partner this she began to cry immediately, suddenly things were making sense for us. This explained not only my poor memory but her hatred of all drugs and alcohol and her very over-protective nature towards me.

There was so much more involved in the meditation, but I left it feeling like life made so much more sense, that I had some work to do but now I had more direction. I also got on the train today and began to pick up so much information about people around me that I had to close my eyes and turn on my iPod. That has never happened before. What was interesting was that all I was picking up was what people were upset about. Very interesting...going to have to learn to shut that off in public places, was NOT fun.

All Hail My Honda Fit!

2009-02-18T10:38:00.000-05:00

This summer we had the sad task of replacing my gas-guzzling tanker of a Dodge Intrepid. We decided that smaller is better, Honda's are good, and went out and bought a new 2008 Honda Fit. While the experience with the dealership was bad on a Titanic-scale (they actually were so inept that they endangered my partner's life and didn't give a damn) we have been loving the car quite a bit. We call her Lola.

Now, We've only had Lola since July and we've put about 4,000 miles on her. She's getting about 28-30 mpg by the way on a 10-gallon tank! So this morning we got quite the scare...a light went on in the dashboard in the shape of a yellow wrench. PANIC!!!!! So we looked it up in our handy-dandy manual and all it said was "oil 15%, A-1". Right, of course, doesn't everyone know what that means? NOPE! So I called our local dealership (we moved between buying the car and now so we are close to a different dealership), who is literally 1 block away, and the service man pleasantly informed me that this is the car's way of reminding us that our first oil change is due in about 500 miles. A reminder??? I have NEVER had a car that reminded me to do anything! I love LOLA!