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A Publication of The Handmade Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Vol. 3, Issue 1

This Week's Question: I am an essential oil which is taken from a grass that grows wild in tropical climates. Some say I smell a bit like roses and geraniums. In fact, I have historically been used to adulterate rose oil. I have been called Turkish geranium oil or Indian geranium oil. People of some African cultures put the plant I come from in food to help the digestion process. I work well with any skin type and am frequently used in skin toners and facial creams.

"It's never too late to be what you might have been." George Eliot

Last week, we looked at the length of our wish lists, and began exploring the need to shorten them by making our wishes become reality. (If you missed that introductory article, you can read it here.)

How many of us have thought of our dreams and wish lists, and then almost immediately also thought of all the reasons why they would never become reality? We can all come up with dozens of them ... it would cost too much money, my spouse wouldn't like the changes involved, no one would be there to take care of my children, I'm too old, it's too impractical, it would take up too much time ... etc., etc. Are those well-reasoned obstacles, or are they just excuses? Are you sabotaging your goals by cutting them off before ever taking the time to explore whether they can really become reality?

The start of 2002 is a good time to examine these questions, and to make changes if necessary. But many people don't know where to start. Seeing so very many items on a wish list can be so overwhelming that it causes many to shrug their shoulders in defeat and give up without even trying. That's why the first "Create The Life You Love" columns of 2002 will focus on these 3 steps to make the items on your wish list become reality: (1) prioritize; (2) plan; and (3) partner. This week's focus is on prioritizing.

Step 1. Prioritize.

Only God can "do it all," so we mere mortals have to prioritize our list of things to do on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. To prioritize means simple to deal with things in order of their relative importance. Prioritizing goals is like preparing to complete an intricate piece of needlework. You start by looking at the big picture ... will the needlework be large and elaborate or will it be simple in scope? Will it be composed of just 3 or 4 colors or will it contain 20 or 30 different hues? What color will the background canvas be? Once you have decided these things, you can begin to prioritize which colors to stitch where, and in what order.

In much the same way, we prioritize our goals by looking first at the big picture. What do you want your life to be like? How do your goals fit into this overall picture? Begin by making a list of your goals for this year. Don't worry about the order they are in yet, just make a list. Include everything you can think of, with these parameters in mind:

* your goals should be clear and specific (no sense in having goals that are unclear)
* your goals should be measurable so you can chart your progress (no sense in having goals if you can't measure your progress toward them)
* your goals should be realistic (no sense in having goals that are beyond the realm of attainment for you)

Once you have your list, break it down into two separate lists. Your "MUST DO" list contains the things that you feel you really must accomplish in 2002. Your "CAN DO" list is the list contains the things you want to accomplish, but which are not necessarily significant for this year. Your "CAN DO" list of goals can be ones that require more time to accomplish, or are relatively unimportant at this time. Tuck your "CAN DO" list away for future reference. Arrange the items on your "MUST DO" list so that they are in order or priority ... that is, put them in descending order or relative importance from top to bottom. Pat particular attention to the top 10 items. Tape your "MUST DO" list to your bathroom mirror, near your work space, and anywhere else where it will be plainly visible to remind you of your aspirations.

Take this week of prepare your your "MUST DO" and "CAN DO" lists, and be sure to catch next week's issue when we'll deal with preparing an action plan!!

Designed to inspire, encourage and coach you to create the life you love! Tapes Now Available:

1. Legal & Regulatory Challenges Facing The Handmade Toiletries Industry Today: Applying Yesterday's Laws To Today's Marketplace. Includes the latest on cosmetics, trademark and Internet law. Perfect for online toiletries and aromatherapy businesses! 2 90-minute tapes. To order, click here.

2. Planning NOT To Fail: How to Prepare A Business Plan That Positions You For Success!! Handmade toiletries/aromatherapy centered business planning tape with tips for making the most of your small business. Selected by the College of DuPage for use in their continuing education aromatherapy course!! 1 60-minute tape. To order, click here.

3. Audio Tapes Of Several HBN Beauty Calls™ are now available, including Aubrey Hampton (natural preservatives & the FDA inspection process), Melody Upham (transitioning from manufacturer to supplier, general business tips) and Kim Baron (how to design and maintain a winning Web site.) For details on these and other tapes, click here.

I gave several jars of this cream away as Christmas gifts in 2001 and they were big hits ... I got lots of requests for more before the end of January! I made some also for my daughter's caregiver, Yvonne. Because Yvonne washes her hands all the time, they can become extremely dry if she is not careful. Yvonne loves the silky feel of Ultra Rich Hand Cream and puts it on her hands each time she washes them while she's caring for my daughter.

Ingredients

60 grams sunflower oil
20 grams avocado oil
36 grams calendula oil
8 grams beeswax
24 grams emulsifying wax
6 grams Vitamin E
200 grams rose hydrosol
40 grams vegetable glycerin
1 teaspoon borax
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum

Blending Procedure

Step 1. Combine the sunflower oil, avocado oil, calendula oil, beeswax, emulsifying wax and Vitamin E in a large heat proof (I use Pyrex) glass measuring cup with a pour spout. Place the mixture in a hot water bath until the waxes are completely melted. Remove from heat and set aside.

Step 2. Place the rose hydrosol, glycerin, borax and xanthan gum in a separate Pyrex cup and warm for about 15 minutes in a hot water bath. Remove from heat and use an electric mixer on low speed to incorporate the borax and xanthan gum into the liquid. Make sure they are fully dispersed.

Step 3. Stir the oils and waxes together to make sure they are evenly combined. Once they are, begin stirring the oil/wax mixture with an electric mixer on medium speed. Add the rose hydrosol mixture as you mix, and continue mixing. You will see the mixture begin to thicken as you blend it. Continue mixing until until Ultra Rich Hand Cream is thick and rich. This should take about 15 minutes at most.

Step 4. Pour into clean jars and allow to cool before capping. Enjoy!!

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