return to archives home Donna Maria's Handmade Beauty Connection January 26, 2004 A Publication of The Handmade Beauty Network ISSN 1530-9630 | Vol. 5, Issue 4 To subscribe, click here.  -->This Week's Sponsor <-- Top-quality Aromatherapy Supplies Retail.....Wholesale.....Bulk essential oils books hydrosols chakra products carrier oils kits diffusers ...and more! Also... On-staff aromatherapists Excellent customer service On-time delivery Competitive prices Green Valley Aromatherapy Our business helps your business make good scents! Toll Free: 877-572-7662 or email

1. HBN Update: Welcome New & Renewing HBN Members & HBN Members On The Move!
2. Handmade Beauty Recipe Of The Week: Citrus Hair Shine
3. Beauty & The Business Trivia Question: win some wonderful virgin coconut oil
4. Create The Life You Love™: Carry Your Own Sunshine

Garced Naturopathics | Gladys Delgado-Garced | Pennsylvania
* renewing member

Fallen Muse WebWorks | Kimberly Baron | New York
* renewing member; classical ideas for a digital world - unsurpassed website design

Sunshine Garden Soapworks | Stephani Halderman | Wisconsin
* renewing member; handmade soaps and glycerin soaps, lotions, lip balms, & bath salts; gift baskets

Creekside Soaps | Susan Ryhanen | New York
* renewing member; cold-process soap like Coffee Mint Kitchen Soap and Rosemary Lavender, all made with natural ingredients

Essential Wholesale | Dennis Fioravanti | Oregon
* renewing member; pure essential oils, over 200 cosmetic bases, hundreds of carrier/fixed oils such as meadowfoam, cranberry, jojoba and shea butter plus a new Short Run Private Labeling Program

Blue Moon Herbals | Debbie Quinn | New Jersey
* renewing member; aroma vibrational essences, chakra oils, aura mysts, bath pleasures, botanical body products and ritual potions inspired by nature's healing energies

Natural Mystic, Home of Kate's Soaps | Deby Ciacciarelli | Florida
* renewing member; soaps stirred, cut and wrapped by hand, making glorious lather, and leaving your skin clean and soft

5th Element Products | Deborah Chaffins | Michigan
* renewing member; Spirited Herbal Creations, including soaps, salves, balms, bath salts, and teas

Aquarius Aromatherapy & Soap | Monika Dowker | Canada
* renewing member; 170+ fragrance oils, essential oils, carrier oils, botanicals, salts, pigments, cosmetic bases and many more supplies

Maison de Marjan Herbals | Margaret La Pierre | Virginia
* renewing member; specializing in quality handcrafted herbal soaps, bath and body products and fine herbal gifts

Ahhh Bath Works | Carol Walck | Colorado
* renewing member; handmade bath and beauty products including bar soap, lotions, scrubs, balms, and salves

The Purple Sage | Bobbi Guerra | Arkansas
* renewing member; Shea Butter Body Silk™ Luxury Soap and Lotion. Always fresh, handmade in small batches

Nubian Body Sensations | Maxine Glover | New York
* renewing member; bath salts, bath and body oils, shea butter products, body lotions, bath salt scrubs, diffusers, candles, essential oils, fragrance oils, home decor

Daisy Blue Naturals | Jena Thompson | Minnesota
* renewing member; natural body and healthcare products

Little Scents Bath Products | Lynelle Smith | Maryland
* delivering quality products that excite the senses and soothe the soul

Plain & Simple, Inc. | Maureen Allaben | Georgia
* manufacturer of natural handcrafted soaps

Via Botanica Body Care | Lori Kott | California
* handmade soap, lotion, sugar scrub, body butter, lip balm, massage cream, and soy wax candles

HBN Members On The Move!

HBN member Charlon Bobo of Utopian Garden is pleased to announce the opening of Utopian Garden Studio where she provides personalized demonstration and hands-on instruction for making soaps, toiletries and soy candles. Classes began on January 15 and special events are hosted for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, and other holidays.

Learn more about our members and their exciting activities by visiting their Web sites through HBN's Online Member Directory, now with 4 ways to search: (1) by state/country; (2) by member business name; (3) by keyword search; or (4) using our new alphabetical listings.

Last Week's Question: When applying for a trademark at the United States Patent & Trademark Office, an applicant must file with his application a this, which shows use of the mark applied for in a way that would be perceived by consumers as identifying the applicant’s services and indicating their source. What is this?

All of us can get up on a sunny day and start off the business day with a smile. How easy is that? The weather is pleasant, we can wear a bright pick-me-up color, we're getting the vitamins and nourishment that only the sun can provide and all is right with the world. But what about a cloudy day? A foggy day when traffic is nightmarish? A cold, dreary rainy day? Is it harder to engage and maintain a positive outlook then? Sure it is, and it's even more difficult for those of us who work from home or in small office settings where there are not a lot of people with whom we can interact throughout the day. It can be awfully lonely and isolating, but that doesn't mean there aren't things you can do to counteract those feelings and stay on a productive track. If you are experiencing the winter doldrums, you know first hand how important it is to carry around your own sunshine. Here are some tips on how you can do just that so  you and your business don't suffer needlessly.

1. Do Something Positive For Yourself.
When the doldrums set in, it's often hard to get up the energy to do anything at all. Whether we need to do something personal or business related, when we feel blue, it's easier to pull up the covers and sink in than it is to try to bring ourselves out of it enough to accomplish some of our daily tasks. But one way to "let the sun shine in" is to treat yourself to something you really like and that is also good for you. Haven't had a bubble bath in a while? Take one! Has your favorite artist come out with a CD of music that you have yet to buy? Treat yourself to that and play it in your work space when you return. Treating ourselves to something special can help elevate your mood and inspire your productivity.

2. Tell A Friend; Socialize.
When feeling blue, mixing with someone who brings sunshine into your life -- a good friend or especially valued family member -- is just the ticket to shaking the blues. Rather than isolate yourself, which will take you even lower, call a friend to chat or make a quick coffee date with someone else who works from a small/home office. Have lunch with someone who cares about you and take the opportunity to unload a bit on them. Do something to get you out there and involved in the world! You don't have to spend the whole day, just a part of it, and you'll be amazed that you'll return to your work feeling energized and relieved. 

3. Exercise.
This is the hardest thing for me to gear up for. It seems like every bone in my body conspires against me when I know I should get out there and Just Do It. But I cannot remember a time when I was feeling blue and unproductive, when exercise did not cure it completely. And I mean completely. Even moderate amounts of exercise have been shown to release "feel good" chemicals in the body that help us feel more relaxed and energized. A half hour is all it takes and it will yield hours and hours of positive results -- not only for your business but also for you. Persevere! With time, you'll enjoy it and it will become second nature to move your body as a way to increase productivity.

To any of these three things, add a generous dose of positive attitude and no matter what the weather, you'll never be without your own personal sunshine!