Donna Maria's Handmade Beauty Connection
June 28, 2004

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1. HBN Update: Welcome New & Renewing HBN Members!
2. Handmade Beauty Recipe of the Week: Aztec Chocolate Lip Balm
3. Beauty & The Business Trivia Question: win a 1/2 hour Lifestyle CEO consultation with me!
4. The Handmade Beauty Cookbook: Join the Handmade Beauty Revolution!
5. The Lifestyle CEO™: Playing After The Storm

Network! Network! Network! Here's HBN's weekly crop of new and renewing members. So open your email browser and say cyber "hi" to yet another like-minded business owner!

Chandler's Soaps | Marie Gale | Oregon
* renewing member; Natural soaps and body care products made by hand on the Chandler Ranch in Southwest Oregon

Bramble Berry, Inc. | Anne-Marie Faiola-McCauley | Washington
* renewing member; fragrance oils, colorants, molds, unscented toiletry bases, bottles (including hard-to-find items), as well as a unique innovative flavor oil

Camden-Grey Essential Oils | Vivian & Hector Garcia | Florida
* renewing member; essential oils, CO2's, hydrosols, herbs, vegetable and nut oils, waxes, preservatives and butters for the discriminating toiletries maker, aromatherapist, and soapmaker

Pretty Baby Herbal Soap Co. | Terrianne Taylor | North Carolina
* renewing member; herbal soaps, shampoo and body bars, mineral herb scrubs, natural moisturizers and lotions, talc free body powders and more

Botanical Skin Works | Sharon Kinnier | Maryland
* renewing member; full line of daily use products designed to bring aromatherapy into your everyday life. We offer handmade soaps, oils, butters and creams

Bath & Beauty Bar Boutique | Veronica Clayburn | New Jersey
* renewing member; body butters, salts, lotions, etc.

The Suga Shack | Leslie Joyner | Maryland
* all natural and handmade soaps made with the purest bubbles in town ... BE SWEET TO YOUR BODY!!

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: As you surely know if you've been reading this newsletter for the past few weeks, the Handmade Beauty Cookbook will soon be available, and you know that you can enjoy a sneak preview on the Internet at this link. You can also enjoy a sneak preview someplace else on the 'Net. To win this week, provide the other website address where you can enjoy a preview of our exciting book!

Last Week's Answer:  There were several correct answers, among them this site, which was the first correct answer received.

Be the first to correctly answer this week's questions and win a 1/2 hour Lifestyle CEO consultation with me!

Please read the contest rules here before submitting your entry. Put "TRIVIA CONTEST ANSWER" in the subject line or your answer will not be considered.

While time does not permit me to respond personally to all entrants, the winner's name will be announced in the next newsletter!

\Life.Style CEO\n.  A person who owns and manages a business, not solely for financial gain, but also to enjoy the personal rewards of entrepreneurship, independence, flexibility and fun.

In the July 9, 2001, issue of this newsletter, I proudly shared the story of Mattie J.T. Stepanek (pictured at left), an extraordinary young man living with a rare disease -- the same one that took the life of all 3 of his siblings before him. Mattie died last week at the age of 13. His funeral was today, and in attendance to eulogize him were some of his heroes, among them former president Jimmy Carter, Montel Williams and Oprah Winfrey. They and others were in awe of Mattie's gentle heart coupled with wisdom that far exceeded his years -- and he shared them unabashedly with a world in desperate need of both.

Back in 2001, Mattie set the literary world on fire with the publication of his book of poetry, "Heartsongs". Despite suffering from a rare form of muscular dystrophy which forced him to use a wheelchair and made him dependent on a ventilator, supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions, he went on to publish 4 additional "Heartsongs" volumes. He appeared on "Oprah," "Good Morning America," "Larry King Live" and others. At the time of his death, he was the Goodwill Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Though he was comfortable in the company of the rich and famous, he remained single-mindedly focused on his mission to be remembered as a "poet, a peacemaker and a philosopher who played."

Before becoming wheelchair bound, Mattie earned a first-degree black belt in the martial art hapkido. Mattie accepted the hand life dealt him with grace and fortitude. Despite challenges, including debilitating pain, that would have drained the desire to live from most people, Mattie's small frame endured life's hardships, reminding people always to remember to "play after the storm."

This week's Lifestyle CEO column is dedicated to the memory of Mattie, who must have been among the world's youngest Lifestyle CEOs. While Mattie is an exceptional example of many things far more important, he was also a highly successful Lifestyle CEO who took his talents as a writer and activist and translated them into a commercial application in the form of his books. Through his mother, Mattie engaged the services of a publicist, an attorney and other professionals to help him publish his books and achieve other goals. Mattie is a shining example of what any of us can do -- no matter what hand life has dealt us -- if we simply make every effort to maximize our potential in life and business.

Like any good Lifestyle CEO, Mattie successfully organized for fun and fulfillment. But in truth, most anyone can do that if they put their mind to it. Mattie was exceptional in so many other ways. He touched people who never met him because he let his life meet him where he was, and he ran with it from there. He met onerous physical challenges with humor and dignity. He reached for his full potential. He embraced it everyday, in every situation. Mattie had grace and style, and he worked every day to become the person God wanted him to be. I believe that nothing less is expected of each and every one of us.

Mattie told us to play after the storm. He allowed each of the privilege of watching him play through the storm. And we are better for having done so.

The storm is over Mattie. You can play now. With the angels. Without wheelchairs and breathing tubes. Oh! What a sight you must be!

Play Mattie! Play!!

You may make a tax deductible donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in memory of Mattie at this link. You can enjoy Mattie's official website here.