Casual Blogger Confession and Retribution or “I am not a good blog writer”

Nine months have gone by without a peep of a post here, yep this is proof that writing is not my calling, or even in my blood. Yet I’ll try….

Short Summary:

Beautiful Grandson born in October to my middle daughter, her first. So I spend a wonderful couple weeks there helping her learn the ropes and get back on her feet. which also allowed me to visit with my other grandchildren and oldest daughter.

 My husband and I managed to take a few road trips, which are always good for the soul. (Santa Barbara, Reno)

Fantastic Coastside Farmer Market Season finale is December. Many thanks to my wonderful customer base for their support. Without your patronage Gaia Essentials could not exist. Many of Gaia Essentials recipes are inspired by the needs of the community and created from these requests. Some remain custom products and some are produced as consistent inventory. All great ideas!

 This spring found me enrolled in San Mateo Community College and taking Conversational Spanish with my friend and apprentice Tobie. Yes, Spanish is a complicated language and will take years to get affluent, so this will be a continued part of my regime. Homework waiting on me as I write this.

Let me open up a chat about a on-going hobby of mine, that spans 9 years now. MMORPG or conveniently called MMO’s now. What? That is a acronym for Multi-media Online Role-playing Games. This is something that gobbles up a few hours a day of my time, at a minimum. First one I ever created a character in was Everquest. From then on I was addicted to them. Pictured is the first character I ever created, my druid Klailie.

 

 
Most of my adorable computer creations are healer types (Druids, Clerics, Priestess’) due to nurturing nature, these appeal to me. As I have traveled thru this cyber arena I have made some of the best friends anyone could be blessed with. So close have we become that physical get-togethers are the norm now. Our guild Reverence was formed withing the game of Dark Age of Camelot and has continued in its unity since. It is wonderful to be a part of a guild, club, society, whatever you label it, with friends that enjoy the same recreations.

Can I explain more about these computer games? Not really, it is a complex society that without actually experiencing it on your own, it is hard to understand what I am babbling about. Just know that it is socially addictive, it is real, and it is fun!

Thrown into my schedule this past month has been a move. We found a beautiful home in the Seal Cove area of Moss Beach, CA with fantastic views of the Ocean and the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. The Gaia Essentials Shop is now its own unit in the beautiful backyard.

Even though I have never had a green thumb so to speak, last week I planted 4 Herb Gardens. I will hold back on chattering about this until its fruition.

That sums up the activities in my life since my last post.

Blessings, Debby

 

Half Year Mark Already!

Just wow

The Coastside Farmers Markets have been rocking which found me hiring help to keep up. Joining Gaia Essentials is Tobie Ross, and I could not be happier. We also have been attending the Urban Village Farmers Markets in various places.

We launched the Warming Massage Candles to the delight of our customers, you can give them a try with a loved one, they are on the website. Simply light them, let a small pool of the butters form and pour into your hand for a amazing massage.

The Natural Botanicals Deodorant has been flying off the shelf, works like a charm! I cannot count the customers praises on this product.

With the sun being at its highest my light skin has been abused. So out of necessity I created a Calming Skin Balm with so many luscious and soothing Botanicals its a god send.

AND we just finished up a new Reparative Faceblock. A complete UVA & UVB protection via reflective minerals in a soothing vitamin enriched base with Chamomile, Sandalwood & Shea for ultra sensitive sun care. This will be available thru the website within the week.

In keeping with the spirit of local patronage our 100% Soy candles are now available in the handmade pottery of Wild Women Pottery. As you know Soy is washable in hot soapy water, so cleaning up after using your candle is easy and you have a nice tea or coffee cup. Various shapes and sizes.

So as you can see, its been busy. The following month is great times with company for 2 weeks, and then more in August. *cheers*

 

Visitations and Preparations

This month found me in Florida for a much needed visit with my Parents & Siblings.  It was a wonderful couple of weeks catching up with my sister over way too much wine. Cooking healthy meals for my parents. I even got in some fishing with my Dad, as well as some flying with my brother in his Moony he is so proud of.

Now its buckle down time to prepare for the Certified Coastside Farmer Markets that start May 3rd.

I did finish the Gardeners Grit Soap and a new Vanilla/Lavender “bath soak” Salts. Currently being tested is my new Soothing Massage Candle. This is a unique Soy wax/Exotic Butter and Oil combination laced with pure Essential Oils that has a low melt point for an intimate massage experience.  Simply Yummy! I will keep you posted on the response and availability.

We have had a couple BBQ’s for friends this month also, always a good time.

 

Where did February disappear to??

Wow, talk about a month zooming by, I barely caught a glimpse of it.   My loving husband brought home a pet germ and put us down on the couches coughing & hacking for 2 weeks…. that could account for the loss of time as well.

It has been unseasonably warm the past week and this has triggered an innate drive to clean.  Guess that is where the cliche’ “spring cleaning” comes from.  Last week I added to my head stuffiness by jumping onto a whim to thoroughly dust the house down and clean out corners. Sneezing is my breathing now.

This month also juggles me into getting ready for the “Certified Coastal Farmers Markets” that are just around the corner. You will find Gaia Essential products in my booth at both the Half Moon Bay & Pacifica locations. So I start the printing process of all my brochures and literature this month in preparation.

I also plan on developing a “Gardener’s Grit” Soap for those that have a green thumb. It was requested quite often last year so it will become a staple thru-out the summer months. Look for it by the end of the month.

 

The Love Month of February

I do love this month! Right after the adorable groundhog peeks up from his hibernation, the month is rolled out with love at every corner. Yes, the 14th brings Valentines Day with much more to celebrate, as that day is also my oldest daughters birthday.  Just as we catch our breath and the last of the cake is done, along comes the 17th and my youngest daughters birthday! AND I found out on the 5th my middle daughter is expecting her first child.

The memories of the month include juggling the birthdays with one of them always falling on the weekend of  the Daytona 500, kick off race for Nascar season. Having grown up in St Augustine with a background in the Auto industry, this was huge. I remember the rumbling of the cars during race weekend, that went all the way into the heart and the smells of the race pits.

As I rode my bike this morning along the coastal trails in Half Moon Bay, I reflected back to those earlier years with affection that swelled the spirit. I watched as a hawk soared above the ocean swells and could actually taste the salty waters as I envisioned myself gently floating in time with them.

 I do hope this month finds you joy and happiness.

Valentine Specials

 

Gaia Essentials “Effective Botanicals” Natural Deodorant & Recipe Ingredients

This wonderful natural deodorant is completed. It will available at gaia-essentials.com after another week of testing. (making it a full month with various testers) It is a solid, yet it glides on smoothly. The cornstarch blots effectively with no trace of residue.  With the blend of pure essential oils known to possess anti-bacterial properties that keep odor away, they also give it a light refreshing aroma.  

The correct percentages of my ingredients took alot of researching and experimenting so I will keep those close to my heart. However I will list them out, as I believe in full disclosure of all my products for consumer information and cautions with allergies.

100% Soy Wax, Grape Seed Oil, Macadamia Oil, Aloe Vera butter, Pure Elemi, Bergamot, Petigrain, Lemon, Coriander, Lavender & Basil Essential oils. Cornstarch & Baking Soda. (revised 4/23/08 )

You will find no aluminum or parabens.

 

A Pure Botanical Natural Deodorant Recipe step in Creation

While my passion is researching and creating pure natural personal care products I must admit to the funniest part of this endeavor.  Having my husband sniff my underarms at various intervals.   Yes, its quite comical yet necessary.  As you know, we tend to smell ourselves differently, if at all.  So one must get opinions from others even though we all differ with our likes and dislikes.  Aroma is linked very closely to our memory.

Point in case was an discussion with him last night about my Honey Almond Soap he is currently showering with.  He said it reminded him of a trip he took, not sure where but it must of been pleasant.  He said the soap even tasted good.  With all my ingredients being high food grade quality this did not concern me, even I have tasted the soaps when the lather finds it way to my mouth occasionally.  Now I have wandered….

I have finally gotten the deodorant to the perfect consistency.  Solid but smooth on the glide with enough pure Cornstarch to blot, yet not leave a trace of residue on clothing.  I tried with a black cotton Tee-shirt, no residue. It is a light cream color with a hint of green, as I do not add any artificial coloring or bleach to remove coloring.  Its a natural  color from the grape seed and botanical essential oils.

                    

Above you see my work area with the equipment, ingredients, recipe book, notes and various stages of containers. Now I have it in the solid form that is most desired with a turn dial dispenser (from asking about), the next step is to send it out to my testers. Even though I have proved its effectiveness with myself, we are all different. So I like to get as many opinions as possible before labeling and packaging the product for retail. Stay tuned.

A year later and one of my best selling products. Available at Gaia Essentials, the local Coastside Farmers Markets in season and my shop in Moss Beach.

 

My Handmade Natural Deodorant Recipe Experiments

Sure I could go into why I am attempting this but there is so much pro/con information floating about, I need not add to it.  I simply want an all Natural Deodorant made with pure Essential oils and no chemicals that works.   And the fact you are reading this tells me you are familiar with why we seek such an product.

This will not be an anti-perspirant.  That is something we really should not use with good reasons…its blocks the release of toxins and messes up your natural cooling system.  We are meant to perspire.

 However our offensive odors need to be tamed.   There lays my goal.

Now what causes odor?  Bacteria certainly, as well as what we eat. Ahh the good old diet again.  We are what we eat, and there is no one that can say differently.  Take the garlic test if you will: eat a clove or two and for about 24 hours you will give off the aroma of it.   We all know what I am taking about really, with many kinds of foods/beverages we seep them or the smell of them after consumption.

Well what we eat I cannot control.  But I have been researching the benefits of the Pure Essential Oils I plan to use in my recipe for their known anti-bacterial properties and refreshing aromas.  There lays the key, finding a blend that does not smell overly medicinal, but fresh and clean, and still gets the job done.

Next the vehicle… in my research I have noted reactions to using some thickening waxes over others and I will be sticking with a 100% pure vegetable base.  As well as blending in a trans-dermal oil blend for soothing delivery to the  armpit pores.  I will add pure cornstarch to help blot.

I have my ingredients (having tried the blend personally) and am in the process of making the stick solid yet smooth on the glide.  My first batch was a bit too creamy and would do well as a roll-on, but I prefer a stick, so it now sits cooling.

This is a work in progress, much the same when I was creating my Herbal Facial Cream and my Healing Salve but it will be wonderful.

 More to come as I progress.

Update: Complete and a success! Read more or visit Gaia Essentials Website.

 

Days like Today make you believe Humanity should live Outside

Its just beautiful!  And this is also the day after this years Mavericks Surf Contest. (which brings thousands to our little town)

So instead of starting a post about the horrors of chemicals inside deodorant and my current project creating a natural deodorant recipe,  I am going to bike the Coastal Trail. I will continue.

 

Dangerous Anti-bacterial Soap

There is a growing concern about the over-use of anti-bacterial soap. Bill Ney recently responded to a question about it here and I have a small comment about it in my information guide. Bottom line: it is more harmful then good unless you are heading in to perform surgery.

Now enlightened Start eliminating that harmful product from your daily routine with natural soaps. Get rid of the chemical detergents bars that you have grown up using. Your skin will love you for it. Available all around you at local farmers markets or from your favorite Soap Chanders’ website.