Corporate Gift Certificates by Simple Life. Simple Health.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Monday, December 28, 2015
Winter Gardening - Hope for my flowers...
So over the last year, especially the last 6 months, my life has taken some rather unexpected and shocking turns. Due to these changes, I have taken on extra work to make ends meet since most of the revenue from my business continues to go back into the business. So I am sitting in the hotel where I work the night audit shift and a kid comes in. He asks if he can sit for a bit and looks exhausted. It is slow and there is no one around. He is not bothering anyone. I say "yes" and ask if he is hungry. He says, "yes" so I feed home some leftover muffins from the morning breakfast. I also bring him a bottle of water and a glass of milk. He thanks me. Then he takes his hat off, puts his head down, and I hear sniffles. I don't know if he is crying or sniffling because he came from the cold and is not in the warm room. I think about asking him if he needs tissue. Then I decide to let him be.
Prior to his arrival, I was thinking about how different this Christmas is from last year. So many unexpected things have happened. Painfully unexpected. I think back to when I was on my own as a teenager. All the fear, loneliness, sadness, and pain back then. I'm so grateful to be in such a better place but yet, here I am again, experiencing pain. Pain that maybe is or is not too different from whatever is going on with this kid. I might never know.
After further conversation I find out that "he" is a "she" and SHE is not a kid, per se, but is 25 years old. Looks can be deceiving. I wonder what her beauty regimen is...I refrain from asking this question. I also consider the benefits of looking male versus female when living on the streets. I am not assuming this is why she looks this way nor am I really concerned with however she identifies....I merely wonder if she is inadvertently safer on the streets because she looks masculine. It must be so hard being a woman on the street. What happens when you start your period? How do you navigate the aggression at the shelter? Do you ever get a good night sleep or are you always sleeping with one eye open?
I have many unanswered questions. I do know that I can sit in compassion and loving kindness. Empathy. Perhaps that is the gift of pain. It enables us to feel compassion for others with first hand knowingness and experience. We can share in the overall bittersweet experience of life.
I don't know what this young lady needs but I know she needs love and prayer. She needs healing. So do I. For different reasons. So do we all, for varying reasons, I am sure. However, it can be that pain that unites us. I can access and recognize this need more acutely - in a more fine tuned fashion - because I experience it myself. Maybe that is the gift. The gift we never receive when we are too uncomfortable or scared to lean in to our pain.
So, I acknowledge this sprout of compassion and this blossom of empathy. I think...if my garden is already blooming in December, with these snippets of warm emotion and shared experience that help us recognize the common blood running in all of our veins, it will surely be even more magnificent once winter passes and spring emerges. I have actually been weeding my proverbial garden of people and choices that no longer serve me or have my best interest in mind. I have been taking stock of the energy output versus input of relationships. I pull these weeds and churn them in the large compost pile of pain, disappointment, fear, transition, loss, grief, etc. that has comprised my life over this last year. I churn all these experiences in my proverbial compost pile. These experiences have left me raw. I am far from healing. I feel energetically depleted and absolutely incapable of funding others' energetically right now. This is strange for me because I usually have a surplus of energy. I have more than enough to fund my own needs and the needs of plenty of others. Now that I am depleted I feel the energetic and emotional siphoning of others with more acuity. I don't have that wellspring of energy. I am the one in need of energy. What are you doing for me? Where is the reciprocity?
I would have considered those questions to be selfish at one point in my life...and in the not so distant past. I now consider them fair and necessary. I consider them appropriate. They're especially appropriate if one is going to take inventory of their life and balance their "doing" with "being" - their masculine with their feminine. I wonder if all this pain was necessary in order to deplete me, cause me to take inventory of how I am spending my energy and what all I am investing in and funding, and really looking at where it is getting me and what it is doing for me. I can be stubborn, so maybe I needed to get knocked down repeatedly and depleted in order to stop doing what I normally do and realize that I need to do something differently because I literally cannot energetically fund doing things the way I have always done them in the past.
I consider these things as I continue to weed my garden and BE alone. I pull what does not serve me. I add it to the compost pile. I be. I just be with my discomfort and uncertainty about everything. This seems real to me. Raw. Truth.
I also peak at those little sprigs of hope that are in the form of compassion. I hold on to the belief that this spring, I will have a magnificent garden.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Bodywork Services - Packages & Memberships
I have added some packages and memberships for my customer/client base. Usually I reserve my blog for educational pieces on my products, their ingredients, functions, importance, etc. However, since my website is still under construction, I want to make sure people can see my products and services because I want to share them with everyone.
Purchase the following packages for great savings on
massage, acupressure, acupuncture, and other bodywork services.
Most services are an hour each. Some of the full body scrubs
are more than an hour for each session so inquire about how those will work
specifically in regards to timing…
2 hours $154 (any
service)
3 hours $225 any service
4 hours $280 any service
6 hours $399 mix and match plus product bonus! Best value!
plus product and/or loose herbs
3 hours $225 any service
4 hours $280 any service
6 hours $399 mix and match plus product bonus! Best value!
plus product and/or loose herbs
2 hours $99 (facials
and massage combo package – must be used in one session)
Mix and Match
massage, acupressure, cupping, botanical facials, holistic consultations, and
more…
$400 10 hours BEST
VALUE
$360 8 hours
$300 6 hours
$220 4 hours
$180 3 hours
$130 2 hours
$70 1 hour
Holistic
consultations are $40/hr however if you purchase them in advance you get a
complimentary product of your choice for every 2 purchased in advance
Membership is your best value. Members are charged based on
their membership package. These memberships last one year from the time of
purchase and can be cancelled at anytime upon written request.
Weekly hour massage $40/session (you’re billed $160/month)
Bi-weekly hour massage $50/ session (you’re billed
$100/month)
Monthly hour massage $60/ session (you’re billed $60/month)
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Saturday, June 14, 2014
8 Surprising Ways to Minimize Allergies - Dr. Weil's Weekend Tip
8 Surprising Ways to Minimize Allergies - Dr. Weil's Weekend Tip
I came across this great article and thought I would share it. I would also like to add that I have nettles available for sale as tincture, tonic, or loose herbs so you can make your own tonic or tincture. Contact me if you're in the Chicago area or you want me to ship some your way!!
I came across this great article and thought I would share it. I would also like to add that I have nettles available for sale as tincture, tonic, or loose herbs so you can make your own tonic or tincture. Contact me if you're in the Chicago area or you want me to ship some your way!!
Friday, May 2, 2014
Epsom Salts - Don't underestimate the power of the epsom!!
Epsom Salt Uses & Benefits
What is Epsom salt?
Epsom salt, named for a bitter saline spring at Epsom in
Surrey, England, is not actually salt but a naturally occurring pure
mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate. Long known as a natural
remedy for a number of ailments, Epsom salt has numerous health benefits
as well as many beauty, household and gardening-related uses.Studies have shown that magnesium and sulfate are both readily absorbed through the skin, making Epsom salt baths an easy and ideal way to enjoy the amazing health benefits (*1). Magnesium plays a number of roles in the body including regulating the activity of over 325 enzymes, reducing inflammation, helping muscle and nerve function and helping to prevent artery hardening. Sulfates help improve the absorption of nutrients, flush toxins and help ease migraine headaches.
What are the health benefits of using Epsom salt?
The wonders of Epsom salt have been well known for hundreds of years and unlike other salts, Epsom salt has beneficial properties that can soothe the body, mind and soul. Some of the countless health benefits include relaxing the nervous system, curing skin problems, soothing back pain and aching limbs, easing muscle strain, healing cuts, treating cold and congestion, and drawing toxins from the body. One of the simplest ways to ease stress and stress-related problems is to soak in a tub full of hot water with a few cups of Epsom salt. Some of the magical benefits of Epsom salt include:Eases stress and relaxes the body
Stress drains the body of magnesium and increases levels of adrenaline. When dissolved in warm water, Epsom salt is absorbed through the skin and replenishes the level of magnesium in the body. The magnesium helps to produce serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of calm and relaxation. Research shows that magnesium also increases energy and stamina by encouraging the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy packets made in the cells. Experts believe that bathing with Epsom salt at least three times a week helps you to look better, feel better and gain more energy. Magnesium ions also relax and reduce irritability by lowering the effects of adrenaline. They create a relaxed feeling, improve sleep and concentration, and help muscles and nerves to function properly.Relieves pain and muscle cramps
An Epsom salt bath is known to ease pain and relieve inflammation, making it beneficial in the treatment of sore muscles, bronchial asthma and migraine headaches. In addition, it has been known to heal cuts and reduce soreness from childbirth. Mix a thick paste of Epsom salt with hot water and apply to get soothing comfort. Try soaking your aching, tired (and smelly) feet in a tub of water with half a cup of Epsom salt which softens skin and will even neutralize foot odor.Helps muscles and nerves function properly
Studies show that Epsom salt can help regulate electrolytes in your body, ensuring proper functioning of the muscles, nerves and enzymes. Magnesium is also known to be critical in the proper use of calcium, which serves as a main conductor of the electric impulses in your body.Helps prevent hardening of arteries and blood clots
Epsom salt is believed to improve heart health and help prevent heart disease and strokes by improving blood circulation, protecting the elasticity of arteries, preventing blood clots and reducing the risk of sudden heart attack deaths.Makes insulin more effective
Proper magnesium and sulfate levels increase the effectiveness of insulin in the body, helping to lower the risk or severity of diabetes.Relieves constipation
Numerous studies have revealed that Epsom salt can be used to treat constipation. Taken internally, Epson salt acts as a detoxifying agent for colon cleansing. The salt acts like a laxative by increasing water in the intestines and can bring about temporary relief from constipation. However, it is strictly warned that Epsom salts should not be used to relieve constipation without the consultation of a physician.Eliminates toxins from the body
The sulfates in Epsom salt help flush toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances. Your skin is a highly porous membrane and adding the right minerals to your bathwater triggers a process called reverse osmosis, which actually pulls salt out of your body, and harmful toxins along with it. For a detoxifying bath, at least once weekly add two cups of our Epsom salt to the water in a bathtub and soak for 10 minutes.What are some uses of Epsom salt?
Whether you like a relaxing soak or wish to enhance your beauty effortlessly, making Epsom salt a part of your daily routine can add a whole lot of goodness to your way of life. To experience the numerous health benefits of Epsom salt, take relaxing, stress-relieving Epsom salt baths three times weekly by adding 2 cups of Epsom salt to a warm bath and soaking for at least 12 minutes. For the added benefit of moisturizing your skin, add 1/2 cup olive oil. Do not use soap as it will interfere with the action of the salts. Try to rest for about two hours afterwards. If you have arthritic joints move them as much as possible after an Epsom salt bath to prevent congestion in the joints.As a foot bath, pamper weary feet by adding 1/2 cup of Epsom salt to a basin of warm water. Relax and soak feet for 20 minutes. If you like, rub away any calluses using a pumice stone. Dry feet, then add two drops of peppermint essential oil to your favorite natural moisturizer, like shea or coconut butter, and rub in thoroughly to lock in the moisture. If you are pregnant or have any health concerns, check with your doctor before using Epsom salts.
Epsom salt uses: HEALTH
Athlete’s Foot - Soak feet in an Epsom salt bath to help relieve the symptoms of Athlete’s Foot.Remove splinters - Soak affected skin area in an Epsom salt bath to draw out the splinter.
Treat toenail fungus - Soak your affected toes in hot water mixed with a handful of Epsom salt three times a day.
Soothe sprains and bruises - Add 2 cups Epsom salt to a warm bath and soak to reduce the pain and swelling of sprains and bruises.
Ease discomfort of Gout - Ease the discomfort of gout and reduce inflammation by adding 2-3 teaspoons of Epsom salts into a basin and immersing the affected foot/joint. The water should be as hot as it is comfortable. Soak for about 30 minutes.
Epsom salt uses: BEAUTY
Exfoliate dead skin - In the shower or bath, mix a handful of Epsom salt with a tablespoon of bath or olive oil and rub all over your wet skin to exfoliate and soften. Rinse thoroughly.Exfoliating face cleanser - To clean your face and exfoliate skin at the same time, mix a half-teaspoon of Epsom salt with your regular cleansing cream. Gently massage into skin and rinse with cold water.
Dislodge blackheads - Add a teaspoon of Epsom salt and 3 drops iodine into a half cup of boiling water. Apply this mixture to the blackheads with a cotton ball.
Remove foot odor - Mix a half cup of Epsom salt in warm water and soak your feet for 10 minutes to remove bad odor, sooth achy feet, and soften rough skin.
Remove hairspray - Combine 1 gallon of water, 1 cup of lemon juice, and 1 cup Epsom salt. Cover the mixture and let set for 24 hours. The next day, pour the mixture into your dry hair and leave on for 20 minutes before shampooing as normal.
Hair volumizer - Combine equal parts deep conditioner and Epsom salt and warm the mixture in a pan. Work the warm mixture through your hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
Epsom salt uses: HOUSEHOLD
Clean bathroom tiles - Mix equal parts Epsom salt and liquid dish detergent and use as a scrub on bathroom tile.Prevent slugs - Sprinkle Epsom salt on or near interior entry points to prevent slugs.
As a hand wash - Mix Epsom salt with baby oil and keep by the sink for an effective hand wash.
Epsom salt uses: GARDENING
Fertilize your houseplants - Most plants need nutrients like magnesium and sulfur to stay in good health and Epsom salt makes the primary nutrients in most plant foods (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) more effective. Sprinkle Epsom salt once weekly to help nourish your houseplants, flowers and vegetables.Keep your lawn green - Magnesium sulfate crystals, when added to the soil, provide vital nutrients that help prevent yellowing leaves and the loss of green color (magnesium is an essential element in the chlorophyll molecule) in plants. Add 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt to a gallon of water and sprinkle on your lawn to keep the grass healthy and green.
Insecticide spray - Use Epson salts on your lawn and in your garden to safely and naturally get rid of plant pests.
(1.) "Report on Absorption of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) across the skin", Dr RH Waring, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham. B15 2TT, U.K.
For additional benefits Simple Life. Simple Health adds baking soda and essential oil to create lovely bath salt blends and scrubs that go together perfectly. Contact us and place your order today.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Simple Life. Simple Health. Products
I am posting some of the pictures of the products that Simple Life. Simple Health. is offering because the website is under construction and the pictures on my Facebook page get lost in the mix of messages, comments and all that good stuff. I am creating an Etsy account but my schedule is a bit insane right now so I want to at least be able to have people come here and view succinct pictures of my products.
Face Spritzers
Ingredients: Distilled water, glycerin (100% vegetable), essential oil (sometimes a carrier oil is added if someone wants extra moisturizing benefits)
The Face Spritzer is great for re-hydrating your face after being in the sun or simply from dealing with the elements. It is also excellent for tonifying your face and setting it once you have applied your makeup. The ingredients can be customized for your preferences. Common scents used are Orange, Peppermint, Lavender, and Peace and Calming.
Bathsalts
Ingredients: Epsom salt, Sea salt, Baking Soda, Essential Oils
These are great for taking a relaxing soak in the bathtub. The Epsom salts help your muscles to relax and assist in releasing lactic acid which is what causes muscle soreness. The sea salt helps to cleanse and detoxify your body. The baking soda is also a great cleanser. The essential oils provide different benefits depending upon which is used. The Orange is cheering, Lavender is balancing, Peace and Calming does as the name suggests, and the Peppermint is invigorating. Once again, these salts can be customized so if there is a scent you really like or a blend you are looking for then just ask me.
Body Scrubs
Ingredients: Sea salts or Sugar, Essential oils, Carrier oils
The essential oils and carrier oils vary. Additionally a more exfoliating blend can be made by adding coarser salts and ground pumice upon request. As always these can be customized for your preferences.
These body scrubs can be used specifically for the feet. I usually use a more viscous oil such as olive and grapeseed blends for this. I also tend to make these blends a bit coarser upon request. These are great exfoliates, detoxifiers, cleansers, and moisturizers. As always everything is 100% natural and vegan friendly.
Peace and Calming Oil Blend
Ingredients:
Lavender, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Neroli, and Blue Tansy
Lavender, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Neroli, and Blue Tansy
Gift bags available!
We are now offering gift bags for all occasions. Additionally we create customized gift options and party favors especially for weddings and showers.
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