Menopause A Cruel Joke?

Menopause is another adventure that all of us women have to take. Our true passage into womanhood, so it is said.
If you read my previous post you will know that I have been going thru a struggle of my own. Anxiety and
depression. If you have gone thru this you know just how hard you have to fight to find yourself, and regain  peace of mind. I'm doing so much better now, but not quite 100 percent. Which I'm happy to have a few days of normalcy then the daily mental battle one goes thru with anxiety and depression. My doc thinks that the source of my anxiety and depression is related to hormones.

With my age of 47  and the fact that my sister is experiencing menopause now at age 48 it is a good possibility.  I do not have any family history  regarding when women in our family entered this stage. This is because the women in our family have had  hysterectomies before they could naturally entered into menopause

Hormones play a significant role in our womanly bodies. Many disturbances can and will occur from hormones being out of balance.  Weight gain, or loss, Anxiety, Depression, Irritability, Insomnia, Breast Tenderness, Vaginal Dryness, Heart disease, Osteoporosis, Thinning hair, Dry Hair and Skin and the happy little list continues.

I'm going tomorrow to have some blood work done, to check my hormone levels. Then we will go from there.

In the meantime I will have to continue to deal with this roller coaster of emotions, and  anxiety. I'm also researching what natural solutions to menopause are available. After reading my different materials on the subject of menopause there is really no specific protocol to follow. It is really finding what works for your body. Trail and error.

There are several herbs one can take to help with the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue etc. Then again it is trail and error to find the combination that works for oneself.

There is hormone replacement therapy as well. Since my mother is an ovarian cancer survivor and a carrier of the BRCA 2 gene my sister and I are not good candidates.  I have several books to read. The first HRT-Free Menopause Breakthrough by Marilyn Glenville, also I' m going to start reading The Wisdom of Menopause by  Christiane Northrup.


Lots to learn on this subject that effects the lives of millions of women. Dibilating to some, and for some it has been smooth sailing.

All I know right now, is that I want to feel like myself again!

Visitors Came To Call

It has been several weeks since I've posted anything. Not my intention, but I have had a few unwanted visitors stopping by. Anxiety and Depression.

Those who know me, know that I have battled these thieves before. I call them thieves, because they steal from me. They take my courage, stability, my reasoning and leave me feeling empty, uncomfortable in my own skin, and take away the ability for me to  find happiness in my daily life.

Those of you who have these unwanted visitors pounce upon you unexpectedly, understand my words.
I, thru mental strength, and strategies pull my pieces of Armour together to fight. You have to fight the battle because you stand on a thin line, a tightrope. If you do not stand up to these intruders you will cross the line into the black hole, you will fall off the tightrope.

The conversations in your head are constant. A series of arguments with these intruders. They want you to be weak, they want you to feel insecure, hopeless and worthless. But... you have to carry on... You have to find the strength deep down within, a place you do not go to readily. Because you have a purpose, a mission, you are an important person in this universe.

I'm told due to having an abusive childhood, and a previous abusive marriage that I'm prone to these bouts of anxiety and depression. That traumas are buried deep within me and when I have these bouts of anxiety and depression it is my brain saying "Hey there is some stuff in here that needs to be dealt with" But, do I want to deal with this stuff? No, not really. They are scary things, this I know. When in therapy I scratched just the surface of these scary things, just opened the door a crack. That is all I needed to do, before I slammed the door shut. I know I do NOT want to go there. All thru the traumatic years I had a visual in my head. A visual of mason jars in a pantry. These mason jars held the scary events of my life. I could stuff these traumas into a jar and screw the lid on tight, place the jar on the shelve and close the door.

Is that a healthy way to deal with emotional pain, with emotional abusive, with sexual abuse? I'm sure its not. But to survive it all, that is what I did. I'm told until I take each jar in my hand and open the lid and let the scary things come out, I will have these intruders visit me now and again. So, which is more difficult for me now? To go thru the pure exhaustion of fighting these thieves or to open the jars in the pantry? This is what I have to find the answer to. I know I do not like the battle, the mind torturing excursion of anxiety, panic, and depression. I know I'm a fighter, if I wasn't I would of lost the battle many years ago.

I have been able to heal myself from a multitude of health issues with living a green life This has made a dramatic difference. If you have the same battle as I, then you need to know that it is extremely important to live a green life. Yes food can heal. God gave us everything on this earth to heal. Food plays a very large role in our bodys daily chemistry. Organic Food is part of my armour in this battle. Supplements, herbs and aromatherapy always provide me with ammunition for getting me thru this battle.

I'm feeling much better today. 3 weeks of constant aromatherapy, eating serotonin boosting foods, sleeping on a regular schedule, deep breathing exercises, yoga sequences for anxiety and nervous energy, some kava kava, Valerian root, 5-HTP..a mood journal and a few fantastic self help books later.


Mornings aren't so good, but after my yoga, green smoothie and meditation I start to feel better. By mid afternoon my head begins to clear and clarity enters.

I have been able to keep up with my business, and with life because I have an amazing young woman who works with me. My daughter Liz. She gives me my pep talks, she holds me up, she has been my rock.
  I have my 3 amazing sons who call me to remind me how much they love me and need me. I have my 8 year old daughter who doesn't really understand what is going on except the Mommy isn't feeling  well, so she hugs me. Those warm enveloping hugs, filled with love. My husband, so patient, non demanding, loves me unconditionally. I have wonderful customers who, send uplifting emails that brighten my day.  So, I'm coming along. I have trudged thru this maze before and have always found my way, and I will continue to do so, because I  have a mission, a purpose in this universe.

I am a Mother, Wife, Sister, and a Friend.

If anyone reading this, battles anxiety and depression, please remember your not alone. Talk Talk Talk about what your feeling, acknowledge what your feeling, reach out because....

YOU HAVE A PURPOSE IN THIS UNIVERSE!

In the next few days I will post some of my recipes, titles of books, and other bits of information that help me get through this rough patch in hopes that it may help. In the meantime if anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me.

Peace
Shelly

Giveaway Relief From Spring!

 GIVEAWAY CLOSED: CONGRATS TO ANNE-MARIE! 
Spring is finally here, which is very exciting for those of us who had a snow filled winter! If you suffer from seasonal allergies it might not be such a joyful time. Trees, flowers, grass all growing, blooming and depositing pollen on just about everything including our hair, skin, and clothing.

I suffered from seasonal allergies,  the itchy watering eyes, sneezing and the one allergy symptom that really drives me crazy is an itchy nose.When you suffer from allergies there are other health concerns that can arise. Sinusitis is one of those health concerns. Allergies effect our nasal passages and this can cause swelling and congestion. Which can lead to a sinus infection, due to mucous not draining properly. There are a multitude of other issues that present themselves when dealing with allergies such as a headache, stomachache, fatigue, sore throat and even depression.

What you can do: Stay indoors between  5 AM and 10 AM (when pollen is at its worst)

Wear a hat, gloves, glasses,a paper mask, and a long-sleeve t-shirt to minimize pollen contact

Check your pollen count daily for your city and state http://www.pollen.com/allergy-weather-forecast.asp 

Take a shower after being outdoors to wash off pollen from skin and hair.

Purchase an air purifier for the areas of your house that you frequent (living room, bedroom)

Keeping house windows closed and car windows closed

Use a (HEPA) filter for vacuuming and air filtration

Drink lots of water

I have been able to reduce my allergy symptoms effectively by doing the above but I have also incorporated the following to keep myself symptom free.

 Boosting ones  immunity also aids in relieving allergy symptoms. You can do this by taking Vitamin C
Start with 500 mg vitamin C with meals three times a day during allergy season and increase to 2,000 mg total per day as tolerated by your digestive tract.

Taking Quercetin abundant in  in apples,along with other dark colored fruit and vegetables. But you can purchase it in  the for of a supplement.. Quercetin inhibits the production and release of histamine. Because bioflavonoids work a little more slowly than prescription antihistamines, you need to start taking Quercetin at the start of allergy season ,before symptoms progress. Take 1 to 3 250-mg capsules with meals, three times daily. I will eat 2 organic red apples daily as well as drinking Green Tea. Foods rich in Quercetin are red onions, red grapes, tomatoes, cranberries, citrus fruits, cherries, green leafy vegetable.

 Honey:: The honey of local bees can work like homeopathy on allergies. Taking a teaspoon a day of local raw honey is the recommendation. Children under the age of 2 are not included in this recommendation.

I also have taken Nelsons Allergy & Hayfever pillules this is a homeopathic remedy that works very well.

In our line of Joyful Girl Products I developed 2 items that will help any seasonal allergy sufferer. First our Allergy relief nasal inhaler.Our allergy relief nasal inhaler contains essential oils that will keep nasal passages open, aide in keeping allergens out, and supports  respiratory function. Also it will calm your nose when the itch presents itself. Our second item is our Allergy Relief Aromatherapy Spray. I love this! The essential oils I have used in this spray help control airborne allergens and helps to purify the air. Spritzing through  out the house, on bed linens, in your car with aid in keeping air passages open, and cleansing the air. This blend is very rejuvenating as well. I will spritz my environment then I take 3 deep cleansing breathes. I'm not one for over the counter medications, people do have to make the best choice for themselves. I personally have been able to control my allergy symptoms with natural means. I feel much healthier and happier doing so. Essential oils are wonderful healers and the aromatherapy benefits are extras for me.

Our Giveaway: We are giving away 1 Allergy Relief Kit. Our Kit contains 1 allergy relief nasal inhaler and 1 two ounce Allergy Relief Aromatherapy Spray

Mandatory Entry: Check out my store Joyful Girl Naturals and tell me in a comment another product you would like to see as a giveaway!  You must do the mandatory entry first or all other entries will be deleted.Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If you earn 2 entries then leave 2 separate comments for the action required.

Extra Entries:
2 entries become a public follower thru Google Friend Connect on the Left sidebar.
3 entries: Become an email subscriber, subscription needs to me confirmed
2 entries: Following me on Twitter JGNP
3 entries: Tweet this giveaway
2 entries: Fan me on Facebook

Giveaway is open to US and Canada persons 18 years of age and older. Winner will be chosen thru random.org. Winner will be contacted thru email, please make sure your email is visible thru blogger or in your comments. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize after being contacted by me. Giveaway closes April 21st at 11:59 pm EST

Toxic Baby

 One of my missions when starting Joyful Girl Naturals is education. I know moms do not like to be told "Your lathering your baby with toxins" or "You could be damaging your daughters reproductive organs" So, I try and not be so harsh. I will then just simply ask you moms "Do you know what each ingredient is listed on the products you apply to your babies, toddlers, children?"

Do you know that Johnson & Johnson has some of the most toxic products on the market? Ahhh yes the lovely un-natural fragrance of Johnson and Johnson's baby lotion with Aloe and Vitamin E is rated a 7 out of a 10 on the ewg . 10 is the most toxic, 7 is not far behind.  The ingredients in this lotion are linked to health concerns such as Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, other concerns are Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Whoooaaa!!! Lets just stop right there. Super Scary right? Yes it is. Everyday I have at least 6 emails from parents who have babies, and toddlers with major skin issues. Eczema is on the rise.. Why is that?

From many recent studies it can be due to the chemicals we apply on our children and the pesticides we feed our children.

Please print off  the  Safety Guide to Children’s Personal Care Products here ewg
this will give you a list of ingredient to stay away from as well as healthier options for toothpastes, body washes etc. Please keep Joyful Girl Naturals in mind as well. I do offer our Joyful Baby Line as well as Toddler Tubtime line and for the older child our Joyful Kids line. O.k. I know a little overboard, but hey we like to have something for everyone! I also make my products from scratch, so I can customize products for your child.
I have many customers who has children with nut allergies, so I make their products with alternative oils

I know it is crazy to some that the lotion, baby wash, shampoo they use on their kids can cause health concerns, reproductive concerns, learning disabilities, etc. It is true, and after a little research you will understand that dressing your little ones in green products can make a big big difference.

Gather up your non green baby products, log onto the EWG and check out each ingredient..Have a trash can near by, cuz once you read about the health concerns listed that are associated with your diaper cream you wont think twice about tossing it.

A Green Baby is a Happy Healthy Baby!

Peace

Charm Factory Giveaway Over At Leslie Loves Veggies

Wow, Leslie Loves Veggies is having another fantastic giveaway. Right now you can enter to win your choice of a finished charm bracelet valued at $24.99.
I personally would love a charm bracelet with all Peace Charms. The Charm Factory has several Peace charms I have had my eye on. The large Peace Sign Hand Charm, The Peace Heart Charm, The World Peace Charm, and the Peace and Love Cut Out Charm.
Head on over to Leslie Loves Veggies and enter her Charm Factory Giveaway. Who knows you maybe be wearing your favorite Charm Bracelet soon!

Super Save Sunday 3/14/10

Our SSS for today is for our wonderful Shaving Cream. 25% off today only! Our shaving cream is made with organic cocoa butter for a moisturizing shave. Our shaving cream can be labeled for the Natural Man or Joyful Girl.

Commercial shaving creams are loaded with skin irritants and toxins. Neither of which is necessary for shaving.

A common ingredient in several shaving creams is Methylparaben. Any ingredient ending in Paraben is an ingredient you should avoid. Parabens contribute to cancers,endocrine disruption,neurotoxicity, and is a known skin irritant.

This ingredient is used to preserve your product. This preservative is used so the shelf life of your shaving cream can be sustained for longer than necessary. Not worth the health concerns it contributes.

Another ingredient that is common in commercial shaving creams is Propylene Glycol. This unhealthy ingredient is linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, Penetration enhancer (opens pores to aid in your skin absorption), brain and nervous system effects. This ingredient is used to contribute to the viscosity of your product and as a penetration enhancer.

Now, these are only 2 ingredients that I pulled from a list of shaving cream ingredients browsing popular products. I would say 90% of the ingredients of these shaving creams contribute to health concerns.

Why is it important to stay away from these ingredients? If your not green yet, you may not realize that these ingredients can contribute to health concerns you are already experiencing. Skin irritations, reproductive concerns mainly infertility, and migraines to mention a few.

Yes it is true that the ingredients in your skin and hair care as well as your cosmetics maybe the cause of your migraines, recent bout with anxiety, skin conditions, even depression.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body. What you put on your skin you are consuming. Now, I know if a bottle of  Propylene Glycol was in front of you, you wouldn't drink it. So why are you putting it on your skin?


If you envision your skin care, hair care, & cosmetics as food you might want to know what your eating!

Eat healthy you only have one you!

Peace

Cancer In A Bottle???

Spring is upon us. Sunshine, cool breezes, budding trees and flowers are on the way. Most of us like to do a little spring cleaning this time of year. In our house we clean green. No harsh chemicals, no coughing, sneezing, opening windows to let out vapors that form from scrubbing bubbles or bleach.
Why go thru that? Why submit yourself and your family members including your pets to an array of cleaning products that also can do the following:

1. Contribute to Cancer
2. Disrupt your endocrine system
3. Create reproductive concerns
4.Irritate lungs and eye tissue
5.Pollute your household environment with toxins
6. Vapors from some cleaning products are absorbed by the skin and lungs. So children and pets are at risk even though they aren't actually doing the cleaning.
This is only a slight glimpse of health concerns that can occur from using chemical laden cleaning products.

There is this misnomer that our cleaning products have to smell medicinal, or have that bleach type smell in order for them to kill germs and really clean our homes. This is simply not true. Distilled White Vinegar has proven to kill most germs, bacteria and mold.
Heinz states that its vinegar when using a 5 percent solution kills 99.9 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of molds and 80 percent of germs including viruses. That is pretty impressive. Considering you don't have to worry about the health concerns that we pay for in most supermarket cleaning products.

Did you know that there are over 80,000 chemicals being used in the United States? Most of these chemicals have never been tested for safety. Hmmm makes you wonder why the US has the highest cancer rate, obesity rate, infertility rate etc etc etc.

 Understanding the dangers to our children alone should prompt you to safely dispose of your chemical laden cleaning products and make the switch to green cleaning products.

Reading the facts about the hazards of chlorine one chemical used in many cleaning products, will have you shaken in your boots!  Did you know that in the making of chlorine bleach trace amounts of mercury are leached into the environment as well as into your cleaning products.There are many other facts that are terrifying pertaining to chlorine bleach.

Think about it, become informed as to what you are wiping your high chair tray with, the toilet seat, your kitchen counter tops and door knobs.

You can learn about safe green cleaning at Care 2 make a difference. This is a great website with an abundance of information for being green.

To get you started on making the switch to cleaning green I'm going to give away one  Cleaning Green Kit to one of my followers.

Your kit will include :
1 -8 oz bottle of our   Kitchen Cleaner 
1 -8oz bottle of our Bathroom Cleaner
1 16 oz tub of our Multi Fizzy Cleaner 

Not only will these products clean and disinfect your household but they provide aromatherapy benefits as well. Invigorating, Uplifting and Revitalizing benefits due to the essential oil blends. 

To enter our Green Cleaning Giveaway you must do the following:

Mandatory Entry:Be a follower of my blog via google friend connect (left upper sidebar) leave me a comment that you are now a follower. If you are already a follower just leave me a comment letting me know. You must complete this action first or all other comments will be deleted

For additional entries:Leave a separate comment for each entry

1 entry: Become a Facebook fan (left side bar) leave a comment letting me know you are a fan.

2 entries: Subscribe via email or Rss feed. Leave me a comment that you are a subscriber or that you are already a subscriber.

3 entries: Tweet this giveaway leaving your tweet link in a comment

3 entries: Tell me one health hazard you learned about one of your current NON GREEN cleaning products.If you are already cleaning green tell me one important reason you switched.

This giveaway is open to US residents only 18 years of age or older. Contest will end March 20 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be notified via email (Make sure your email address is visible in your blogger profile or leave it in your comments) The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email,

Super Saver Sunday 2/28/2010

Today our SSS is for our  Natural Deodorant. Buy 1 two ounce deodorant and receive a free 1 ounce matching scent. Our deodorant is all natural. I infuse oils with organic lemon and myrrh. Lemon and Myrrh work as an anti bacterial to fight odor.
You do not have to choose a chemical laden deodorant for effectiveness. Natural deodorants DO work if they contain ingredients that act as anti bacterial agents. My deodorants are effective due to my infusion process. The natural deodorants on the market do not take the time to fill a jar with herbs and oils, and let them infuse for 6-8 weeks, then strain and repack with herbs and repeat the process. I will then strain the oil, and use this oil in making my effective natural deodorant.

For me it is essential to use a natural deodorant. We have cancer in our family. My mother is an ovarian cancer survivor. Recently my mother had genetic testing done. Which confirmed that she is a carrier of the BRAC 2 gene. I have to be diligent in creating effective natural products for myself, my family and for you.

Women specifically should not use deodorants which contain chemicals that contribute to cancer. Nor should we use  antiperspirant .

The ingredients used in such deodorants clog pores, keep toxins trapped, in order for your underarms to stay dry. These ingredients are toxic. I'm looking online at a popular deodorant for women and here are some of the ingredients and concerns.
Aluminum Zirconium Tetraclorohydrex is used as an antiperspirant agent it contributes to these health concerns: Developemental reproductive toxicity,Strong evidence of  Human nervous system toxicity moderate evidence,Organ system toxicity (non reproductive)
Cyclopentasiloxane is linked to cancer as well as neurotoxicity
Fragrance: Remember Fragrance oils are NOT essential oils. Fragrance oils are chemically derived, where as essential oils are plant derived. Fragrance oils are linked to Neurotoxicity, Allergies-immunotoxicity
Mineral Oil: cancer, environmental toxin, allergies-immunotoxicity, skin irritant
Silica: Cancer,allergies/immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Methylparaben :allergies-immunotoxicity,organ system toxicity (non-reproductive),neurotoxicity,cancer,
endocrine disruption. biochemical or cellular level changes(Interferes with gene expression) skin,eyes, and lung irritant.
Triclosan:cancer,developmental-reproductive toxicity,endocrine disruption,organ system toxicity(non reproductive) irritation to skin, eyes, lungs,

These are just some of the ingredients on the label of a popular commercial deodorant.

Remember that  your skin is the largest organ of your body. Whatever you put on your skin gets absorbed into your blood stream.  Just think of feeding your skin, like how you put food into your mouth. It all gets absorbed with our bodies.

You do not have to keep your underarms from smellin by applying hazardous chemicals to your pits. Natural deodorants are effective, my deodorants are effective.

If you have questions pertaining to my deodorants, not sure which one would be right for you, or you need a different blend due to being allergic to any of my ingredients, feel free to contact me. I can accommodate you.

Love yourself, Love your body, Make healthy choices!
Peace,
Shelly

Giveaway Green Ink Organic Tee Shirt

This Giveaway Is Now Closed!
Our winner is chosen by random.org #27

alysiajuanita said...

I follow you on Twitter. alysiajuanita art.in.me@gmail.com I have emailed the winner and she now has 48 hours to get back to me.

I have a great giveaway! Green Ink is giving one of my followers 1 Organic Cotton  t-shirt, Your choice!

Green Ink is a fairly new business. Owners Michael Blahut and Matthew Douglas believe that what you wear is an expression of what you believe.The two are brothers, and they are my sons!

Michael just came back to the states in July 2009. He had been in Fiji serving 2 years with the Peace corp. His title there was "Environmental Advisor" he was the environmental advisor to the king.
Michael got involved with coral conservation there in Fiji. He has an environmental degree from VCU

Matthew is a web developer who has a passion for creating and designing and has his own business at http://www.mattdouglas.me/  

Together they decided to form Green Ink. Their motto "Wear the Change" speaks volumes.

Here is some information about Green Ink taken from their site:
"We believe that what you wear is an expression of what you believe. To make real change happen we have to stick to what we believe in. To keep ourselves and our planet healthy and happy, we need to start changing the way we do things. When you buy something as simple as a t-shirt, you can contribute to a more sustainable and healthy future."

Matthew and Michael designed and screen printed all the shirts themselves.

I have all the shirts for women from Green Ink. I love that I can dress them up with a jean jacket, skinny jeans, and ankle boots.  I have put them all thru the washer and dryer just fine. No major shrinkage.

The shirts are super soft which is important for my reactive skin. I love the fact that they are all organic.
The shirts are $21.95. This is a great bargain for a organic shirt with original artwork

The shirts are conversation starters. Save the Humans, and the Tribal Turtle are their best sellers.  I do have to say every time I wear a Green Ink shirt I get asked "Where did you buy that?" The detail in the graphics grab your attention.

The California shirt is like an I spy shirt. Michael drew palm trees, skateboards, waves and many other items that you would find in CA in the outline of the state.

They have shirts for men and women, and are working on a kids line. Affordable, Sustainable clothing. How cool is that?

I'm proud of my sons for making choices that promote a healthy environment and support sustainable ideas
.
I'm proud that they want to make a difference to be proactive in creating a better environment.

Yes, the male models at Green Ink are my sons!

Buy it: you can purchase a Green Ink Shirt at the online store.


Win it: One lucky reader will win 1 organic cotton shirt of their choice from shirts  shown at Green Ink


Mandatory entry: Become a follow of my blog publicly using  google friend connect then leave a comment. If your already a follower leave a comment letting me know.

******You must perform the mandatory entry first before getting additional entries***** 
leave a separate comment for each entry. If you earn 2 entries then you must comment twice. Example I'm a subscriber, #2 I'm a subscriber. thus leaving 2 separate comments.

Additional Entries:
1 entry: Check out the shirts at Green Ink and leave a comment with your favorite one.

1 entry: Fan Green Ink on Facebook

1 entry: Follow Green Ink on Twitter

1 entry: Fan Joyful Girl Naturals on Facebook (left side bar)

1 entry: Follow me on twitter JGNP

1 entry: Tweet this giveaway and comment back with your tweet link

2 entries: Read "Our Roots" at Green Ink and comment back with something you learned

2 entries: Subscribe to my blog via email (left upper side bar)

3 entries: Become a follower of my other blog Joyful Canine via google friend connect

5 entries: Blog about this giveaway linking to Green Ink and Joyful Girl Naturals Blog and comment back with a link to post.


Contest is open to US residents 18 years of age and older.1 winner will be drawn using random.org on March 13 at 11:45 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. 

Thank you 2 Kids and a Cat

 A week ago or so Adrienne from 2 Kids and a Cat gave me an award!
Thank you Adrienne for thinking of me! Now I need to do the following.

- link back to the blogger who sent me this award

- post where I would like to be in 10 years

- pass it on to 10 awesome bloggers

 

Where do I want to be in 10 years? I want to be standing in my own store Joyful Girl Naturals creating organic products for my customers.I dream of having this store. A place women can come for support, skin care, information, a gathering place for comfort, peace, tranquility. I want to live on an organic farm. Growing all my beloved herbs and vegetables.

Now I get to pass this on to 10 awesome bloggers.

Home Grown Families
Terra Del Sole 
B3 Boutique
Cop Mama
Just Another Blog
Confessions of a Housewife
My Pet Savings
My Little World Choo Choos Cars and Lip Gloss
Walking Butterfly 
Household Cents

 

Eli Did It Again!

My son Eli is on the cover of Exercise For Men March issue. It is the magazines 25th anniversary issue, which is exciting that Eli made this cover. Its out in the west coast right now, so I have to wait for it to hit here on the east coast. Eli, kindly sent me a pic of the cover.

Eli suffers tremendously from food allergies and a digestive disorder. This is a big accomplishment for him, winning a body building competition, and making the cover of Exercise for Men. He is also in Iron Man magazine March issue as a "Rising Star"

I'm so proud of Eli, he is a wonderful son who takes care of me his Mumzy. As he calls me. I have learned alot from Eli. He has taught me to be mindful, he has taught me to feel the fear and do it anyway, to push myself to conquer the dream. Never stop believing in your dream, yourself, and your capabilities. Do not say I Can't, but I will.

We as parents strive to raise our children to be compassionate,respectful, responsible adults. At some point our children grow up, they make their own decisions, they make their own mistakes.They become individuals.
We pray that the guidance we gave them, the morals and values we have tried to instill will remain engraved within.

Eli, you have done well. I know you are always striving to do your best, be the best, and you continue to grow. What amazes me, is that Eli will always take the time to help others around him. You have a question for Eli he will take the time to answer it. He is helping people with their goals and dreams as well.

Eli has a website http://www.eliblahut.com and in the future there will be a platform for people to ask questions. Questions pertaining to exercise, strength training, fitness training, diet etc. He will also have videos demonstrating exercises etc.  He is helping men and women.

Right now his is developing a training  program for me. I have lost over 70 lbs since  July 2008 now it is time for toning and strengthening.  I'm excited.

Look for Eli , and remember to follow your dreams, live your passion!

Peace

Super Saver Sunday 2-21-2010

Today's SSS is a great deal! Our 8 ounce  Organic Foaming Hand Soap only $5.00 . I adore our Foaming Hand Soap for many reasons. First, its gentle and great for the whole family. I have Super sensitive skin, and everyday I have to be mindful about my diet, my skin care, my clothing. Or I will end up a big skin disaster.

I formulated our Organic Foaming Hand Soap to be gentle, effective and non drying. The 8 ounce size gives you plenty of hand washing bubbles. On average I believe they last a good 3-4 months.

We have several essential oil blends you can choose from. My favorite right now is the Lemon Zest. Lemon, Sweet Basil and Coriander. Invigorating, anti bacterial, and a great uplifting scent.

Terrific deal, terrific soap, the best part is that it is all Natural, your not washing your hands with chemicals, but pure natural sources.

Which has me thinking....... As parents we worry about what our little ones put in their mouths don't we? Go take a look at the hand soap you currently are using, look at the ingredients. If you cannot pronounce an ingredient look it up at the EWG . If there are fragrance oils in them, those are chemically derived. What are your kids washing there hands with? We ask our children to wash their hands before they eat, but are your kids sitting down on the table with chemical residue on their hands?  I actually carry one of my small 1.75 oz foaming bottles of hand soap in my purse, so when I'm out shopping I can stay away from the pink and blue stuff in the public bathrooms.  The smell of the soap alone nauseates me , and I truly do not want to wash my hands with chemicals.
Yes being mindful is sometimes a scary thing in our world.

Where Did All That Junk Come From?

The last several weeks as I have been blog hopping, I've noticed a few giveaways for Rubbermaids drawer organizer. Boy, could I use a few of those! My daughter and I took this pic of our junk drawer. Where did all that junk come from. It is like the sock phenomenon. No one in the house remembers putting anything in this drawer. Do these things have a home of their own? All I know is that I will spend 45 minutes putting all the things in this junk drawer away, clearing out the drawer, and in a week or two it will look like this again.

Why I ask you.
I remember my Grandmothers junk drawer, it was awesome. It was awesome because she had a drawer full of Juicy Fruit bubblegum and Hershey chocolate bars. The whole drawer would be full. Everytime my siblings and I slept over, we raided that drawer. Good times!
My daughter Kylie thinks that this is a great I Spy photo. We thought it would be fun to do a little giveaway of our own. There is a Joyful Girl Naturals product in this drawer. The first 3 followers that comment back with what it is, will win one of their own. Don't forget you have to be a follower of my blog, when leaving your comment make sure your email address is visible either in the comment or your blog profile. I SPY A JOYFUL GIRL NATURAL .............
WE HAVE OUR WINNERS!!!! THANKS FOR PLAYING

I'm One Proud Mama

This is my son Eli Blahut. He is in Iron Man magazine the March issue as a Rising Star.
I'm one proud Mama.
Eli is 22 and in December of 2009 won first place in his weight class at the Excalibur body building competition. He decided 3 weeks before the competition to enter. He was graduating the week after the competition.
When he called me to ask if he should do the competition the only thing I could say was "Go for it". He has worked so hard and has endured much pain due to his digestive disorder.It all paid off. He WON!
He had to fly out to CA from VA, for the competition.Then after he won he had a whirl wind of photo shoots.He then had to  fly back to VA to graduate college.WHEW!
Why Eli's story is unique is due to the fact that he suffers from a digestive disorder and major food allergies. When you are a body builder and you need to build muscle you have to eat. Eat something like 4000 calories a day. Eli can only eat a handful of foods. His diet mainly consists of organic brown rice, fish, and chicken. He can tolerate organic spinach but not many other veggies. His diet has to be gluten free, corn free, soy free, and dairy free. The tricky part of the gluten free diet is that we haven't been able to find prepackaged food items that are gluten free and free of other allergens. Eli is also allergic to potatoes, corn,soy, tapioca, sorghum etc. Many gluten free items contain these ingredients for thicken agents. Eli is able to consume pineapple, apricots,mango,kiwi, and papaya but I think that is it for fruit. Can you imagine eating the same thing everyday for months and months on end?
Eli graduated from VCU with honors. He has blown me away with his dedication and passion for this sport. He has tackled every obstacle that has presented itself to continue his dream. Everyday he has to deal with his digestive disorder, the discomfort, the pain, but everyday he pursues his dream. I know it takes alot of will power, mental strategies  ,courage, and passion for Eli to get thru the day. I'm so proud of him that I feel I could burst at anytime.
Eli hopes to be able to inspire children to have dreams and to know they can achieve them , no matter what the obstacle. 
Eli is now living in Venice CA and is continuing with his passion. He has a big competition in Las Vegas in July. I'm excited to be at that competition. He will be in a few more magazines in the next couple of months.
And yes I make all his skin and hair care products.
He looks Amazing! Did I mention that I'm One Proud Mama! If your interested in watching a video of my sons Eli and Michael for Iron Man magazine you can check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZO0gPk2-Hs
I will be bragging about another one of my kids next week. They are all amazing people and they have taught me so much.
Peace

Love My Lattes

A little latte fun. Organic Soy Lattes are my soul warming treat. I thought I would share my recipe.
Organic Soy Lovers Latte
8 ounces of Organic Soy. I use Westsoy Unsweetened Vanilla Soymilk
2 shots of Organic Espresso I use Green Mountains
1- 1/2 tsp Organic Vanilla Extract

Pour soy milk into frothing pitcher . Froth milk I like my to the temp of 180 degrees
Prepare your shots
add the Organic Vanilla Extract to you cup, if you like a sweet latte this is the time to add some organic cane sugar or organic honey
Add shots to cup, pour in your soy milk.
a Sprinkle of organic cinnamon perhaps
Now you have it! Delicious, soothing, homemade Latte!

Super Saver Sunday 2-14-2010

Happy Valentines Day! Our SSS for today is a sweet decadent one! Buy our 8 ounce aromatherapy foaming Body wash and receive a 2 ounce organic cocoa butter lotion! Our Organic Body Washes are gentle, non-drying, and packed with aromatherapy benefits.

Feeling  blue try an uplifting scent like Patchouli Orange,  feeling a little fatigued and need a pick me up? Try an invigorating blend. You can have any essential oil blend you would like.Just contact me if you need a blend not listed or you would like me to create one for a specific concern your having.

Our Organic Cocoa Butter lotion smells decadent.  Scrumptious chocolate scent that leaves your skin moisturized and non greasy. You will receive this free with your foaming body wash purchase. That is a $5.00 value!

Remember:

Use Joyful Girl Natural Products and Your Body Will Thank You!

Touched We All Want To Be...

I was touched, touched by I hate win he steals covers blogger Tessica. Tessica gave me a beautiful blogger award! Thank you! Now I need to pass it on to 15 bloggers who I find fabulous!
Minnesota Mamas Must Haves
Real Moms Real Views
Leslie Loves Veggies
The Blissful Chef
theta mom
Sweeps4Bloggers
The Mommy Files   
This Mama Rocks
The Mom Buzz
Tigerlily's Book
Midday Escapades
Green Mama's Pad
As They Grow Up
Simiply Stacie 
 Kindred Spirit Mommy

If you look at my sidebar you will see all the buttons of wonderful bloggers, all my favs. It is hard to pick just 15! I thank each and everyone of them for blogging. For brightening my day, for giveaways, laughs, and many smiles. Blog On!

All Washed Up!

Who says SLS free shampoo doesn't lather? I had my daughter take a pic of me washing my hair with my SLS free Dry Scalp Relief Shampoo. It took me over a year to formulate this shampoo.  I adore it, my hair adores it!
I do receive many compliments on my hair, the sheen, how healthy it looks, and then I get the question. "What do you use?' I love to respond, as I can say " I make all my hair care products from scratch". Then the jaws drop.. Love it. :-)   It has taken  many years to formulate natural, healthy, effective hair care products.

As women our hair tells a story about who we are. Our color choices, cut, and the over all look. I understand that we want our hair to be soft, silky, manageable and we want to be noticed. I also know that many people, not just women do not understand that the bubbles DO NOT CLEAN. When I first started making shampoo years ago, it did not foam. My hair was cleaned, my hair look fabulous, but my customers wanted bubbles.
You can educate about how the suds do nothing to clean, or nourish hair follicles, to hydrate damage hair and damaged scalps. But that fact remains people love the suds. That is why it took me over a year to formulate my shampoos. There were many mathematical calculations to be perform. The percentages of each ingredient to enhance other ingredients to create a product that will give women what they want for their hair.  Too much of one ingredient, to little of another. Keeping a journal of past failures, so I know what not to do next time. Adding additional ingredients.. Knowing the properties of each ingredient, the safe amount of each ingredient, how they will interact with one another.
Awww yes By George I Think I've Got It!!!

I had actually jumped out of bed at 2 am one morning with the answer, with the calculations. I went down to my lab (kitchen) and mixed up a batch. EUREKA!! SLS free shampoo. Healthy, Natural, Sudsy Shampoo.
Then the testing began. Everyone who tried it, loved it.  There were many Joyful Girls strutting around with shiny, manageable, healthy hair and I was one of them!

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

A very nasty chemical that is a known skin irritant. It is used in skin care, hair care, care engine cleansers, and cleaning products. The purpose and sole purpose for this nasty chemical is to provide the product with bubbles, suds, foam.... 

There was a study at the University of Georgia Medical College, indicated that SLS penetrated into the eyes as well as brain, heart, liver, etc., and showed long-term retention in the tissues. The study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children's eyes and prevented them from developing properly and caused cataracts to develop In adults. It can cause hair loss,can cause bladder infections, can cause skin rashes. Actually there is nothing good about SLS. 


So why use SLS? Are you really going to jeopardize your health for some suds?
Do the research, make informative healthy decisions. You can read more about  SLS  here http://healthychild.org/issues/chemical-pop/sodium_laureth_sulfate/ 

There is only one of you, and don't you deserve the best? You can have it, you just have to want it!
Come on  
     Bubbles are supposed to be fun, not hazardous to your health!

 

Babies are Not Safe

I just read a very disturbing fact. Babies are being born into the world with toxic chemicals already in their systems.There was a time when we thought that our babies were safe and sound within our wombs. Now the fact is, they are not.

Reading a newsletter from the EWG it states that when umbilical cord blood of 10 Americans were tested nearly 300 chemicals were found. Chemicals such as BPA, perchlorate, fire retardants, lead, mercury and PCBs. This just really blows my mind. No parent wants to think that these chemicals are running thru the veins of their baby.

How did they get there? They got there by the products we use on a daily basis. Our skin care, our cleaning products, laundry soap, fabric softener, the plug in room fresheners.(one of my biggest pet peeves) hair care products, food, and many other environmental factors.

This is what is stated in the newsletter from the EWG." The chemicals we found are increasingly linked to serious long-term health effects, from childhood cancer and autism to ADHD, learning deficits, infertility, and heart disease. We need a system for assessing chemicals so our children get the healthy start they deserve. The longer Congress waits, the more babies are exposed."

There are  a few actions we as parents can take to ensure the safety of our children. One is to become informed, remember the saying " Knowledge is Power". The more we educate ourselves on chemicals that are being used in our everyday products, the better we can make decisions to ensure the health of our children, ourselves, our pets and the environment..

Take the time to read all the ingredients that are in the skin care products, cleaning products, laundry products etc you use.What is in the new carpets, paint, furniture you buy.

If you do not know what an ingredient is look it up. You can go to the EWG and check out their skin deep database. There you can type in a product name or ingredient and find out if there is a health hazard connected with the product or ingredient.

Our children rely on us, their parents to make decisions that will effect their well being. Be proactive, be informed, demand American to come clean.

 Please sign this petition to demand that Congress take action to make chemicals in consumer products kid-safe.



Here are a few more links for information
.EWGs Kid Safe Blog

Health tips for the whole family

Learn which produce you should always buy organic

Be well Be Safe Be Informed

Peace

Your a Pain in the .......

 

Oh where Oh where is my car?

Snow, more snow than I have seen in a very long time! We had a total of 20 inches fall here in Northern VA. That was just on this past Friday and Saturday. Right now as I sit here typing away, snow is falling. Another 10-15 inches is what they are calling for. Many of you, I know are in this same predicament, I know this because you are writing me asking for advice.  Advice on how to relieve pain. The pain your body is experiencing due to participating in the sport of snow shoveling.

Snow shoveling should be a competitive sport. Every muscle in your body is used. Your heart gets a great workout as well as every other muscle in your body. You could have a whole team of snow shoveler's competing for the golden shovel!  After I shoveled for a little over 2 1/2 hours my pants were literally falling off. You burn some serious calories!

I myself feel pretty good. Haven't had any extreme pain as I have learned a few things about the art of snow shoveling in the past years. I have a few tricks up my sleeve as well. First I apply my natural menthol balm to areas of my body that I know will be effected by the strains of snow shoveling.  I apply my menthol balm to the back of my neck (I have a bulging disc and past herniation) so relaxing these muscles are important. I also apply my menthol balm to my shoulders specifically the rotator cuff area, triceps, my obliques,  quads and lower back. My lower back is a mess as well. Past herniation as well as degenerative disc disease.

Once I'm all balmed up, I stretch. You can do the same stretches you would do before a run.  I then apply my Organic Sunscreen to my face,and my Organic Shea lip balm, dress warmly, and I'm set for the snow shoveling Olympics. I did find a video on how to shovel snow http://www.howcast.com/videos/146119-How-To-Shovel-Snow  I'm not a fan of spraying the shovel with cooking spray as I do not use any aerosol type spray cans. You can just apply a thin coat of oil with a towel to your shovel. This keeps the snow from sticking. The video is fun to watch.

Preparation is the key to avoiding  neck and back strain as well as extreme muscular pain. I want to be able to build snow forts for my daughter, I want to be able to stand upright to make an organic soy latte, and I want to be able to well..... walk. Keep warm  Keep Safe. Peace

Super Saver Sunday 2-07-2010

Todays SSS is: All hair treatments are 25% off. You can choose from our newly listed Rosemary Lavender Hot oil treatment, Our Cooconut  Hair treatment, or our Extreme Hemp Hair treatment. Each of them made with Natural and Organic ingredients. Chemical Free. Aromatherapy Benefits included. Now is the time to get your hair conditioned and healthy before the summer sun reeks havoc. Nourish hair follicles, increase circulation to encourage growth and fullness. If you need assistance in choosing which one is right for you, Please contact me, I'd love to help. How SSS works. Just purchase your hair treatments as usual, I will then refund your 25% thru paypal.

Winter Days Winter Skin

Still snowing here in VA. Started yesterday afternoon. I think we  have about 18-20 inches and still more to come.
Pretty much stuck. Oven stopped working so I can't bake which I love to do. Printer stopped working last night, so can't print labels for my products. So, I guess I will post another giveaway!

Winter  is a great time for itchy dry flaky skin. O the pleasure of warmth and the havoc it can reek on ones skin.
I have very hyper sensitive skin, and many things will effect the quality of my skin. The heater running all day, the blast of heat blowing on me while in my car, caffeine obtained from sipping a warm cup of  coffee or tea, the cold wintry wind... Winter and my skin do not mix. I have to follow my skin care regimen and diet strictly  or I end up a dry flaky itchy mess. All over!

Not only should one be mindful of what they are putting on their skin we need to be mindful of what goes in our mouths as well. I say this because if you suffer thru the winter months with dry itchy skin then you need to know a few things.  Topical applications of moisturizers, body butters, and body oils will aid in hydrating and calming your skin but increasing your water consumption and increasing your Omegas will have your skin looking and feeling fabulous.

Using natural and organic skin care will eliminate toxins that promote dehydration of your skin. Fragrance oils and other chemicals  will aid in drying out your skin. Have you ever applied lotion and  30 minutes later need to apply more? After applying  lotion, does your skin feel and look moisturized, but by the end of the day sometimes by the end of the hour your skin is looking and feeling dry and itchy again?

Well, ladies this is what I call the lotion conspiracy. What will you do when your tube or bottle of lotion is empty? You rush off to the drug store to buy more. You will go thru your chemically laden lotion faster than you will go thru an organic lotion. The chemicals in many lotions simply dry your skin out. When you put pure natural resources on your skin you will benefit from not only fabulous looking skin, you will benefit from the moisturizing, nourishing, nutritional  properties of natural ingredients.

Your liver will love you too, because it doesn't have to work in overdrive to process all the chemicals you are lathering your skin with.
If you are not a regular user of natural and organic skin care please check out this link  
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
If your snowed in like me, go grab some of the skin care products you use on a daily basis, grab a cup of organic coffee or tea, sit down in front of your computer and click on the above link.  At the ewg you can type in an ingredient from a product you are using, or the brand and name of the product you are using. You will then get a plethora of information of the health hazards the ingredient has, or you can find out the level of toxicity in your product. The EWG rates products from a 0 meaning no health hazard to a 10 meaning the most toxic. You will be surprised to find out that some of the companies that you believed were selling a natural product are actually pretty toxic.

As a woman it is important to know what you are consuming through your skin. It is important to make mindful decisions about your health. Many chemicals in women's products are linked to Cancer, infertility, panic and anxiety disorders, depression, migraines, insomnia. and so many more aliments that can debilitate us. I have hundreds of stories to share about  my customers, who thru eliminating toxic products have healed from chronic conditions. I'm myself am a walking testimonial

. Do you want your skin care products to take you on the path of optimal health? If so, then read your labels, educate yourself, be mindful of what you are putting on and in your body.
To get you on your way to moisturized healthy skin and a healthier you, I'm giving away a jar of my newest creation!

I have a 2 ounce jar of Organic Pumpkin Whip! I formulated this to aid in healing my own dry, flaky, driving me insane itchy skin! After my head injury and a week of chillin my skin did what it does when ignored. It flared into a patchy red itchy mess. The pic just shows my arm, Ahh my legs were worse. I used my Calming Comfrey Spray
to calm the itch an bring me some relief while I whipped up my Pumpkin Whip.
 With the help of my Organic Pumpkin Whip and increasing my Omegas thru organic walnuts, organic flaxseed oil, Hemp milk, and a few other goodies, my skin is back to looking and feeling terrific.
My Organic Pumpkin Whip is a dry skin eliminator with the help of Organic Shea Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Extra Virgin Coconut oil,  Organic Babassu Butter, Abyssinian oil, Vitamin E oil.

Healing, Moisturizing, Nourishing skin lovin Pumpkin Whip.

 Organic Pumpkin Seed oil contains an incredible amount of Omega Fatty Acids. The skin just drinks it up! My Pumpkin Whip smells like..... a scrumptious chocolate coconut treat!
I haven't even listed this to sell, so whoever wins will be the first to get it!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
Win It: 2 ounce jar of Joyful Girl Naturals Organic Pumpkin Whip 

COMPLETE THE MANDATORY ENTRY FIRST

Mandatory Entry: Become a Follower of my blog. 
Then leave a comment letting me know.

You have to complete this entry first or all other entries will be deleted.

Leave a separate comment for each entry. So if you complete an task for 3 entries leave 3 separate comments saying you completed that task ets etc.

3 entries:Subscribe to my blog via email.

2 entries: Follow me on twitter.

2 entries: Become a Joyful Girl Natural Fan on Facebook 

3 entries: Check out Joyful Girl Naturals and tell me a product that interest you 

3 entries: Tweet this giveaway and leave your link in your comment

5 entries: Look up an ingredient from a non organic product you are using on the ewg.Tell me what you found out.

Joyful Girl Naturals Your Body Will Thank You!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED WINNING NUMBER WAS 5 OUR WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

Giveaway ends 2-13-2010 at 11:59 pm Winner will be emailed. Winner has 48 hours to respond before new winner is chosen. Please make sure you leave your email address in your comments or that your email address is visible on your blogger profile. Contest is open to US residents as well as International residents.

CSN EarthPan Giveaway

Tlyer from CSN contacted me and asked if I would like to sponsor a giveaway. Of course I couldn't turn down the opportunity for you all to win something! My only request for Tyler was that the giveaway would be an environmentally  friendly giveaway.

He suggested the 12 inch Hard Anodized Eco-Friendly skillet by EarthPan.

This is the information from the CSN site about this pan.
The foundation of this EarthPan™ Hard-Anodized skillet is the exclusive eco-friendly SandFlow™ nonstick coating. This unique nonstick originates from sand and is formulated to provide excellent food release and easy cleanup. Based on industry lab tests, SandFlow™ nonstick food releasing performance will outlast all other ceramic-based, eco-friendly cookware 3 to 1.
Features:

• SandFlow™ nonstick coating will outlast all other ceramic-based, eco-friendly cookware 3 to 1
• Hard-anodized aluminum is twice as hard a stainless steel for maximum durability
• Heats quickly and helps reduce "hot spots"
• Dual riveted silicone enhanced handle is comfortable to hold and provides a confident grip
• High-heat performance
• Reduced greenhouse gasses - lower carbon footprint during production

Specifications:

• Overall Dimensions: 3.25" H x 12.75" W x 21.5" D
• Materials: Hard-anodized aluminum with SandFlow™ nonstick coating
• Oven safe to 600°F/315°C
• Dishwasher safe
• Created with no toxic fumes, no PTFE, and no PFOA

I did not get to personally review this pan. I had been researching eco friendly cookware for several weeks now. The EarthPan has great reviews, this is a type of pan that I would feel good about owning. I was familiar with CSN due to many bloggers I follow doing reviews and giveaways. I'm impressed with their selection of cookware, small kitchen appliances,cutlery, and tableware. They carry top brands too. Did you know they also have an array of barstools?  You can check them out at http://www.allbarstools.com/ . Any kind of stool your looking for they have. Who doesn't love a counter top swivel stool?

 If you would like to purchase it you can do so here http://www.csnstores.com/EarthPan-80966-ETH1015.html
*Win it: One lucky follower will win 1 12 inch Eco Friendly open skillet by EarthPan valued at $39.95

*First your mandatory entry is to be a follower of my blog. You can find the google friend connect button on the left side bar. After becoming a follower leave a comment here to let me know. Already a follower, Thank you. Just leave me a comment letting me know.You have to complete the mandatory entry or all other entries will be deleted.

Please leave a separate comment for each task you complete. For extra entries you can do the following.

*one entry: Check out CSN and tell me another item that interest you.

*two entries: Following me on twitter   and tweet the contest. Leave your tweetlink(1 tweet per day is allowed)

*two entries: Fan Joyful Girl Naturals on facebook leave me a comment with your user name

* one entry: Tell me in a comment why it is important to use eco friendly cookware.

* five entries: Blog about this giveaway and comment back with link to your post
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED CONGRATS We used the Random Generator and lucky number 22 was generated. Congrats to Michelle P
Contest is open to US residents only.Please  include your email address in your entries if not visible in your blogger profile.Winner will be notified via email. You will have 48 hours to claim your prize. Contest will end 2/19/2010 @ 11:59 PM EST

Great Giveaway

Valerie over at Sweeps 4 Bloggers is having a great giveaway. Her giveaway is 1 Doie Designs Organic Cotton Top. The style is the Hermosa and the color will be white. This looks like a really cute top, and organic cotton to boot. The Hermosa is avilable in XS,S,M and L and at the sale price of $28.00 is a great deal, if you want to purchase it. Check out Doie Designs at http://www.doiedesigns.com/collection.htm
Then you have to go over to Sweeps 4 Bloggers and enter the giveaway.
http://sweeps4bloggers.com/?p=1187
Thanks Valerie!

Healing Just Fine

Yesterday it had been 30 days since my head met up with my dresser. Here is a pic of how the healing is going. You can still see a faint pink mark on my forehead. All in all I'm pretty happy with the progress. I have been applying my Herbal skin healing cream after cleansing in the morning, and my scar relief once in the afternoon and then before bed. My friends and family are amazed how fab it looks. I have only been applying my topical treatments for 20 days. It was a pretty nasty gash.
I have been told by several 20 something adults that a women with a scar on her face is cool.hot and sexy.

When did that happen? When did sustaining trauma to once face and having proof left behind become cool, hot, sexy?
Was that something in the 90's, what did I miss?
I will continue to apply my Joyful Girl potions and be confident that I will have very little or no signs of trauma on my Joyful Girl Face in a short period of time.
Peace

Shelly