Head into spring with your best face forward, using a simple four-step regimen: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing twice a day, and use a mask once a week.

Using a mild cleanser, like our Minnie Pore Facial Oil Cleanser, will do the trick, whether your skin is oily, dry, sensitive, menopausal, or acne prone.  Our mild Rosie Apples Facial Toner is the perfect compliment for all skin types.  Our Mighty Mud Facial Mask will tighten your pores and reduce oiliness. Its soothing skin-cleansing properties soften the skin as an emollient, reduce inflammation and aid in the removal of dead skin as an exfoliant with its natural alpha hydroxy acid properties, while producing a mild massaging effect.Choose from a number of facial moisturizers, like our popular Goddess Envy Moisturizer for the final step.

If you're adventurous, try these at-home recipes for winter-into-spring pampering skin care.

Brown sugar/olive oil/ginger body scrub: Mix 2 cups of brown sugar with 1 cup of olive oil and add a small amount of ground ginger. Mix well into a paste. Using circular motions, rub your entire body, paying special attention to elbows, heels, and knees. Rinse well. The result: Softer, suppler, and less dry skin.

Milk and honey foot treatment: Pour 2 cups of milk per one cup of honey into a basin large enough to hold both feet. Soak for 15 minutes, lightly massaging the mixture into skin. Results: Softer, smoother skin without harsh exfoliation. You can also use the milk/honey combo to soak elbows or hands, or pat gently onto the face and massage in. Always rinse with tepid water.

Egg white and citrus face mask: (normal to oily skin) -- Mix 2 raw egg whites with 1/4 cup of fresh orange juice. Apply to skin and let rest for 15 minutes until dry. Rinse well with warm water. The result: Tighter pores and a brighter, less dull complexion.

Oatmeal face masque: (sensitive skin) -- Mix oatmeal with boiling water according to package instructions. Let cool, then apply to skin and let rest for 15 minutes. Rinse well with warm water. The result: A radiant, moisturized glow.

What special recipes do you like to make for your renewed spring skin?

Here's the swag Zach Woods from the hit TV show, The Office, with our Bodalicous Butta' Whipped Creme and our Rapid Remedy Lip Balm!  He picked out our products at the GBK Oscar Gift Lounge and said that they were really NEAT!

And here's the fabulous Reshma Shetty, who plays Divya from the new TV show Royal Pains (love her!), checking out The Artisan Group goodies at The W Hotel in Hollywood.  Our display is just to her left in the vintage green travel case.

We are super excited about the wonderful exposure we received at the Academy Awards/Oscar Gift Lounge.  

Soon we will be rolling out our new men's products and other new facial care items that were gifts to the celebrities.  Could it get any better?!!

Wow!  January seems to have flown by so quickly!  I've been neck deep in preparing for the upcoming 2012 Oscars/Academy Awards GBK Gift Lounge in association with The Artisan Group, in honor of the nominees and presenters of the 84th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars), taking place February 24-25, 2012 at The W Hotel in Hollywood, California.

Valerie and Nikki, founder and partner of The Artisan Group, have really been fabulous and have made quite an impression with the media and celebrities.  Be sure and check out the awesome galleries of celeb photos taken at the recent Emmys and Golden Globes.

In addition to the 100 gifts for the celebrities, we have our product display that will be featured at the table of The Artisan Group at the gift lounge.

The Oscars display was the easy part.  I found an adorable vintage travel case once used for makeup and/or jewelry from the 1950s.  The green tone was a perfect compliment to our green and white labels and logo.

Next came the gifts.  Giving just one of our products to all the celebs just didn't seem right, so I decided to gift some of everything, including some new products we've created.

Here are some snapshots of the gift boxes as they are being prepared for shipping.

All the celebrities will receive our Rapid Remedy Lip Balm, along with another one of our products. The boxes and our display shipped out last week and arrived safely in California, ready to be transported to The Artisan Group's table at the GBK Gift Lounge!

There are about 40 artisans contributing to The Artisan Group gift bag for a total value of about $1,300!  Wow!  You can see a few that I blogged about last November.  Feel free to check out the online version of The Artisan Group's official Oscars Event Guide, and stay tuned for updates from this prestigious event!

We're bound for the Oscars!  Well, not literally, but our skin care products are headed to the 2012 Academy Awards (Oscars) GBK Productions Gift Lounge in association with The Artisan Group. (To learn more about this group, read about them in my September blog post).

It's all extremely exciting, though I must say a bit nerve racking.  In addition to creating a proper display that will stand out amongst the other 40 group members, there are 100 gift packages we are  creating that will be placed in the swag bags for each of the celebrities, along with gifts from the other participating members.  

Here's a peek at some of the items being included in the swag bags by other artisan members.

Aren't these fabulous?  And this is just a taste of what will be in the gift bags.  To see more of these artisans incredible products, be sure to click on the images and check out their websites.

We are honored and humbled to be participating in the Oscars Gift Lounge and will keep you posted on our progress!

Do you ever feel like clutter is taking over your life?  Is it difficult for you to become organized and tidy?

For as long as I can remember, I've been a bit over-the-top (some might say slightly OCD!) about being organized. My personal mantra has always been "less is more" and, though I realize that doesn't work for everyone, you can still maintain a clutter-free life even if you believe "more is better".

In my personal and professional life, I find that a clutter-free environment makes for clearer thinking, stress reduction and ease of task management.  Here are some thoughts on how you might de-clutter your life.

1) Include clean up as part of your tasks, as opposed to making it a separate task.  This will help maintain order in your household or work space.

2) Rethink your shopping needs.  Always make lists beforehand and don't buy unnecessary items just because they're on sale or you get that "impulse".  Especially in this economy, it's important not to shop just to shop.  If you need it, buy it, but otherwise stop over-buying.

3) When you do buy something new, remove something old to keep a balance in your life.  That way you will maintain control over the amount of "stuff" in your household.

4) Time and energy is consumed by "stuff" because it requires keeping it clean and tidy.  Examine your belongings and determine if they are things you love and actually use.  If they aren't loved or useful, donate or discard them.  Keep a bag or basket set aside for those items and when it's full, immediately get rid of them by taking to a local charity.  You'll be amazed at how wonderful it feels to give those unwanted or unneeded items away.

5)  Nighttime tidying is a must.  Take just a few minutes as part of your retiring routine to clean up around the house.  If you have children, they need to include cleaning up their toys as part of their bedtime routine.  Waking up to a clutter-free home will start your day off right!

What do you do to maintain a clutter-free life?

With the  greatest of pleasure, I'd like to introduce The Artisan Group, an exclusive close-knit community of very talented artisans.   All of the members collectively offer samplings of their own handcrafted products to an array of celebrities and members of the press at GBK Production luxury gifting lounges leading up to the  many major award shows,  like The  Emmys, or The Golden Globes, and The Oscars, as well as other celebrity events.  They participant in giveaways for non-profits, too.
  
Most celebrities even pose for a professional photo with artisan member products.  So, be to check out the incredible photos in The Artisan Group Gallery!

In addition to The Artisan Group website, you can visit them on Facebook to learn more about them.

The founder, Valerie Guerrero, and her partner, Nikki Cutro, are always available to the members, providing sage advice, as well as their support.  As small business owners themselves, they clearly  understand the struggles of building a brand and the importance of getting the right media exposure.

I have never been involved with such a wonderful group and have found the members to be ever so encouraging to champion one another on to greater challenges,  believing we all can achieve our dreams! I have also found many truly great friends that I expect will be in my life for a very long time.  To me, that speaks volumes for the type of people Valerie and Nikki  choose as members.

For an incredible selection of an assortment of the handcrafted items, be sure and visit them at Pinterest and The Artisan Group's 2011 Gift Guide for a taste of what the members offer.  You can also find loads of Gifts Under $20 and for the early bird holiday shoppers,  you will be pleased with these fantastic Stocking Stuffers!

As a final note, if you are a gifted artisan and think you would be a good fit for membership, check out The Artisan Group and apply today! 

My daughter, Eden, and my granddaughter, Saffron, came for a visit this week.  It seemed over before it hardly began!  Above is a photo of 4 generations:  from top to bottom, my mom, me, Eden and Saffy.  

Below are more photos of my darlings: Eden and Saffy.  Can you tell I'm a proud mom and Nana?

I'm so grateful my folks are still with me, as well as being healthy and living independently.  They adore my darlings, too, as you can see from the photos below.

We had lots of fun in the pool, too.  For a 4-year-old, Saffy is quite the little mermaid!  Here I am with Saffy after our swim.

It was amazing to watch Saffy's "ah ha" moment, when she understood the connection between her mommy and me.  We were sitting at the dinner table and she pointed to her mom, then to me and said, "You're my mama and she's your mama!"  I responded saying, " That's right and Gramma Bobbie is my mommy!"  The look of recognition on her face was priceless!!!

And the best story of the trip was another "ah ha" moment for Saffron.  They had stopped for a visit to see my in-laws, Eden's father and other family in San Antonio, TX before coming to Nashville.  While Saffy and I were having a private chat shortly before they left, I told her that her Grampa Daddy (that's what she calls Eden's father) and Nana (that's what she calls me) were married.  She wiggled up her nose in disgust and asked me, "Did you kiss?"  I said that we did and she stuck her tongue out.  Then I said, "And we had a baby we named Eden." When Saffy heard that, she threw her head down onto the floor in total dismay and hollered, "O.M.G."  I lost it and fell out laughing!

Do you have any  cute stories about your children or grandchildren?  If so, please share!

Summer brings sun and fun . . . as well as those pesky insects. Staying bite-free without having an unpleasant odor or using chemical-based repellents is easy to do with natural plant-based ingredients.  They can be as effect as the chemical DEET, or diethyltoluamide, which is an oily chemical fluid that repels biting bugs; however, DEET can be harmful to your health, especially with overuse.  Why take that chance?

In a 2011 study on plant-based insect repellents conducted at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania, plant-based insect repellents may not have undergone the safety testing that DEET-based repellents have, yet they are deemed safe because they’ve been around a long time.  Jeffrey Band, M.D., an infectious disease specialist, epidemiologist and chief of infectious diseases at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, and director of the hospital’s Interhealth: Health Care for International Travelers, states that natural insect repellents are based plant ingredients, such as oil of lemon eucalyptus, citronella, Neem [tree] oil and even wild tomatoes.

Here are some suggestions on what you can use, instead of DEET.

Lemon Eucalyptus
Comes from leaves and twigs of an Australian tree, repels mosquitoes, ticks and flies, and is recommended for use by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you are traveling to an area where malaria and yellow fever are primary concerns.  This oil masks 340 different scents our skin gives off that are target locators for insects, according to the Agricultural Research Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency. 

Note: It’s easy to confuse lemon eucalyptus oil with the essential oil of lemon eucalyptus, which isn’t approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an insect repellent. The essential oil does provide protection, though it is not recommended for use in disease-endemic countries.  Mixed with a fixed oil, such as jojoba or sesame (natural sunscreen), the essential oil is safe for wearing in the backyard swimming pool or to a local park.

Citronella
This is perhaps one of the oldest and most widely used plant-based insect repellents. It is derived from dried cultivate grasses, and its strong smell repels mosquitoes, sand flies, ticks, midges and flies by masking the smell of human skin.  The strong odor may be offensive to some, so it is best mixed together with other essential oils, such as geranium, in a fixed oil like jojoba or sesame. 

It’s as effective as DEET, has a 50-year safety record, according to the CDC and is EPA-approved.

Neem
Extracted from the seeds of the Indian Neem tree, this is a well documented repellent that can actually disrupt the reproductive and molting cycles of mosquitoes, head lice and fleas. Insects can’t feed or reproduce off from it, so they leave.  It can offer up to eight (8) hours protection from mosquitoes, based up a 2003 study performed at Venezuela’s Instituto de Salud Publica, which recommended its use in countries with malaria and yellow fever. 

Neem oil is often used in skin moisturizers and soaps, and is supported as such by the EPA, so as a skin lubricant, it need not be washed off after use, as other chemical repellents should.

Wild Tomato
Cornell University and North Carolina State University researchers have discovered that tomato plants carry a compound, which is an effective repellent against mosquitoes and other biting insects, including ticks.  Tomatoes have alkaloids in their leaves, which act as a natural insect repellent and mimic DEET but without the potential health hazards.  This compound was approved by the EPA in 2007. 

Tomato leaves are not known to be toxic to humans but always use caution in of allergies; however, they are toxic to pets.Leaves soaked overnight make an effective solution in the garden on plants and as an insect repellent.  Soak 1 to 2 cups of chopped or mashed tomato leaves in 2 cups of water overnight. Strain through cheesecloth or fine mesh, add about 2 more cups of water to the strained liquid.  Be sure to keep this spray and the leaves away from your pet.  

Other oils to consider for repelling insects include  thyme,  rose, palmarosa, peppermint, cedar, patchouli and clove, according to a recent 2011 London study, as well as cinnamon, rosemary, lemongrass, peppermint, geranium, verbena, pennyroyal, lemon, lavender, pine, cajeput, basil, and castor oil. 

Clove oil provides 100% protection for two (2) to four (4) hours, based on a 2005 study by Mahidol University in Bangkok.  For maximum protection, it is advisable to mix clove oil with other oils.

Carolyn Dean, M.D, N.D., of Hawaii is a naturopath and physician specializing in alternative medicine, and she suggests a combination of cedar, rose, geranium and clove by combining 10 to 25 drops of essential oils with two (2) tablespoons of oil, such as olive, sunflower or other vegetable oil.

Be aware that some may find the scents too strong or offensive, however, if mixed with other oils, you can create a pleasant effective combination. 

Though they may last longer, it is advisable to reapply natural insect repellents every two (2) hours and more often if skin becomes wet, as they are not waterproof and must be reapplied after swimming, rigorous exercise and sweating.

Other application tips:
· Apply repellent only to exposed skin and never under clothing because it increases the risk of skin irritation. Instead, tuck pant legs into socks and wear long sleeves, Lea advises.

· Don’t put on cuts, wounds or rashes, because bug sprays can worsen the irritation.

· Don’t apply near eyes or mouth and use sparingly around ears.

· Don’t spray directly on the face. Instead, apply on hands first and then rub on your face.

· Wash hands after application to avoid accidental exposure to eyes.

· Never let children apply insect repellent themselves. Instead, put some on your hands first and then gently spread on exposed skin, avoiding their hands, which often go into mouths.

· Use just a thin layer of repellent to cover exposed skin. More isn’t necessarily better. If the insects are still biting you, apply more repellent.

· After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.

· Wash treated clothing before wearing it again.

· If you experience a rash, itching, swelling or other side effects, wash off repellent with mild soap and water and discontinue use.

We have found a great combination that is quite pleasurable and works effectively against mosquitoes with essential oils of lemongrass, peppermint, lemon and lavender, mixed with oils, butter and waxes.  We are currently in the testing stages for this product and expect it to be available on our website very soon.