Green Goddess Workshops

The last Green Goddess Workshop went so incredibly well, I have decided to have another! Thursday, December 13 at 6:30pm at Art 634 on Mechanic Street in the back room near Cuppa and downstairs from Jackson School of the Arts. The cost is only $15! I am basically just trying to cover costs of rental of room and materials to make it affordable to those who would like to enjoy an evening such as this.

We will have several make & take projects including:

-create your own bath salts again. The first one you make is included in the class, but if you would like to make more for your friends/family for Christmas gifts, you are welcome to do so, and they are $3.50 each for more.

-I will also have 2-4 other activities that will include skin care, teas, and a possible herbal syrup for colds and flu.

-I will have a scrub/buff demo again and a display of NaKee' Natural products available to purchase.

-Angels Around You Salon will be providing chair massage for $1/minute, and also hand massages for donation to JDRF.

-Bring a snack to pass and your own beverage if you would like something other than tea. Hand blended tea is provided and you get to take home your creations along with recipes.

-There are limited spaces available.

Please register and provide payment ahead of time. You man register with a credit card or click on 'pay with check' at checkout and send immediately to 3328 Robinson Rd. Jackson, MI 49203.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Our first Guest Blogger is Angela Steveson. Visit her at Joyously Domestic. Here is her blog bio: My name is Angela. I am a wife to Steve and mother of five (ranging from age five to twenty-two). I am blessed to be a stay-at-home mother and spend my days trying to thrive in all that comes along with that title! Some of my loves are flip-flops, iced tea, shopping, music, creating and being active in my kids' school and activities.

I started my blog mainly focusing on food. So, you'll find lots of recipes on here. But, I've been branching out into sharing some ideas for crafting projects, parties, print projects ... and thoughts and musings on my family life. The blog is a little in the early stages and I welcome any feedback or thoughts on how to make it better ... and I look forward to answering any questions you may have. I welcome feedback from my readers!

Thanks for visiting! Hope you stop back soon!

My Experience with NaKee’ Natural’s Moroccan Mud Glow Bar

I challenge you to check out the list of ingredients on the packaging the next time you go to purchase a skincare product. It may be a lotion, a facial masque, a toner, a body spray, a bar of soap or body wash. Do you recognize all of the ingredients? Better yet, how many items on that ingredient list can you even pronounce?

I think it is a beautiful thing that I can read through the ingredients on a product crafted by NaKee' Natural and not only recognize them, but get excited at the prospect of applying them to my skin. Yes, it is said that beauty comes from the inside and that our bodies outwardly reflect that which we provide them internally. This logic makes sense as to why so many of us these days are turning to more a whole, organic and "real" food diet to feed our bodies. However, we, also, must consider what we apply to our skin as a factor in our overall health and well-being.

I know I want to feel not only comfortable, but, also, confident in the skincare products I am using on both myself and those which I am buying for my family.

Product Review

I began my experience with NaKee' Natural's products using their Moroccan Mud Glow bar. This is a product I was dying to try after simply being able to smell the scent of it through the shipping package prior to even opening it! To begin with and upon first glance, the bar in and of itself is charmingly rustic, yet eloquently beautiful in appearance. (It's definitely ideal for gift-giving!) This perfectly-sized, four-ounce bar is just one of over forty bar blends (including various size options) available on their website.

The first time I used the Moroccan Mud Glow bar was when taking a late-evening shower. I immediately noticed a difference in how it felt on my skin while "lathering" up. It produced a smooth, creamy lather and felt extra luxurious. It gave me a feeling of being pampered and I could immediately tell this was different (in a fabulous way) from my normal bar soap. The experience carried over into my nightly routine of curling up to read before I drift off to sleep as the scents of the bar remained present long after I had showered. Although the scent does "stay with you" long after use of the product, it is not overpowering ... just a lingering, gentle kiss of the patchouli, rosewood and lavender oils that are captured in the blend. The patchouli's earthy, spicy-sweet and sensual scent qualities won me over and were quite relaxing.

What impressed me the most, however, was the level of hydration I felt had been brought to my skin through using this product! Instead of stripping away the natural oils on my skin like other traditional bars of soap, my skin had a satisfying and surprising level of moisture to it without at all feeling greasy! By day two of using this product, I had already discovered that I needed to use less lotion post-shower because my skin didn't feel as dry as it did with my normal bar soap. It was as if my skin was whispering to me "thank you, this is what I have been craving!" I’ve been using the bar for a week now and, honestly, cannot imagine going back to the old bar soap I had been using for years!

Over at my blog, Joyously Domestic, I try to encourage my readers to find joy in their everyday life … whether it be through cooking, creating fun projects for the kids or throwing memorable parties. Something as simple as incorporating body-nourishing, natural products (such as NaKee’ Natural’s Moroccan Mud Glow bar) into my own everyday life definitely has given me another reason to be joyful!

Guest Bloggers

I am excited to introduce something new to this blog. I know a few writers. Very good writers,in fact, who all have different writing styles. I have always loved writing, and want to keep this blog happily active, but have come up short in keeping up with it. Go figure that making soap, packaging and filling orders, along with making music and family duties have me left with no time to write. All four of the women who have agreed to help me with this task have touched my life in wonderfully different ways through the years with virtues like friendship, camaraderie, support, humor, and their writing. I love reading their articles, facebook posts, and blog posts. I enjoy each one's gift of writing style. Each writer has either purchased or received as gifts, our products, and has used the products and have been willing to give an honest review of them. I hope you enjoy reading their 'reviews', and I sincerely hope you go to their blogs to see their work in more depth. I am extremely excited to see how this project unfolds. Thank you for coming by! Our first guest blog post will be up shortly. Peace, Candy

Favors

I love the creativity of custom favor projects. I have included a couple pictures of what I have done recently.

One is for my own Grandmother's 80th birthday party. These were used as 'ballon weights'. Fun idea! The second ones are being used at a fund raiser. I am working on several wedding shower favors right now, and will have pictures soon! I LOVE doing these! Fun themes coming up: Celtic and Notre Dame color weddings. I can't wait to see how these turn out when I am finished.

Have a beautiful day!
Candy

Into the New Year!

So, it appears that I update this blog about twice a year. If I were to make a New Year Resolution, it would be to blog much more frequently. I have to admit, with the creation of my Facebook business page, I have been MIA here since. It is incredibly easy to update my Facebook page with news, sales, and pictures. And, because I tend to worry about my 'writing', it seems to take a big chunk out of my day to blog.

This business has grown in leaps and bounds, especially the last 2 years. I have found myself unable to keep up with the 'extras', and because I can easily write a few sentences on Facebook to keep everyone informed, sadly, this blog has suffered.

I am a 'one woman show' in this Indie business. I concentrate on building relationships, making soap and skincare products, displaying my products, marketing, and the paperwork I am forced to do. The other things get put at the bottom of the priority list.

I think a good option might be to post 'something' here, rather than nothing. Not worrying so much about the 'writing', but offering something of value to readers.

I will work on this.

Have a wonderful New Year, and See You Soon! :)

Candy
The Artistic Alchemist

Long Time, No See

Well...Hello!

Seems with the invention of Facebook, and my postings there, I have not blogged in quite some time! Almost a year....so embarrassed!

So much has happened in a year!

Some business happenings this past year:

We participated in a weekly farmer's market for the first time in Ann Arbor at The Westside Farmer's Market. Loved it! Miss it! We can't be there every week this year because of our youngest boy's baseball games on the same night. Family is First! We hope to get to a few this summer.

Last July, we started participating in a year round farmer's market that is a hybrid of online ordering and real time shopping, meeting the people who produce the products you use and the food you eat. It's a great concept and brand new to the area. There have been some growing pains, but I believe in it, and hope to participate and grow with Lunasa for a long time! www.lunasa.us

We had our biggest holiday season ever! Making over 500 lbs. of soap for the season, and selling out of nearly all of our holiday selections and some of our regular line!

We did 2 fund raisers for schools, who sold over $5,000 in soap and lip balm to raise funds for their schools!

Breaking into the wholesale tradeshow market proved to be very satisfying. My husband and I traveled to Orlando in January to participate in a tradeshow and obtained 5 wholesale accounts just from that show. We picked up accounts in Florida, North Carolina, Delaware, Maine, and have since also added accounts in Wisconsin and Michigan...bringing our total wholesale accounts to 14. We are in spas, salons, gift shops, and galleries. It was an incredible learning experience we are so grateful for.

We brought a home party representative on board. We are very excited for the possibilities of the expansion of the home party scene to spread the word about NaKee' Natural! Spa @ Home parties are represented by Jennifer Ganzel. You may contact her at jenniferganzel@att.net to book your home spa party experience and earn free products!

The creativity of party favors is a favorite thing for me. I just love creating custom labels and putting together those sweet items to make parties extra special and unique. I Have created favors for several wedding, baby, birthday, and bunko parties from Michigan to Texas.

On a personal level, with each passing year I am learning and experiencing so much! It's like having a child....a lot joy, and a lot of fear. I am working on the fear part. I am trying to not let the owning of my own growing and prospering business scare the living h*** out of me. It's exciting, but so darned scary at times.

This business was officially born July 26, 2006. The idea and creation came much before this, but this is when I went down to our local courthouse and filed for my DBA. Since then, I have gotten the name Trademarked, and turned it into an LLC this past year. 5 years! Are we an official business now?! I would say so.

I am sure I have missed a couple things, but think I have covered the highlights.

Thanks for reading, and take good care of yourself.

Peace,
Candy

NaKee’ Natural Spa@Home Party

Share Your Discovery

Share the NaKee’ Natural experience with your friends and family. After experiencing what NaKee’ Natural has to offer them, they’ll thank you for introducing them to a healthy and natural beauty

Spa Party Theme – Local and Natural! Local products/Local practitioners!
We can take your party to the next level. We know some wonderful practitioners licensed in massage therapy, reflexology, pedicures/manicures/facials. They will use our products to give your guests a truly luxurious spa experience in your home! You choose the experience! Small fee involved for participating guests, and/or we can even use host credit for the experience if you prefer. We will educate and spoil your guests in natural luxury.
Earn Free Stuff, just for having fun -

Not only will you have fun hosting, you’ll also receive free products based on the outcome of your experience. Fun times and free products will be well worth the time it takes to send out a few invitations and plan your party! Don’t want to prepare your house and/or dirty your kitchen? We have access to a local salon/spa, and we can have your party there! Just let us know!

Online/Book Parties -
Online/Book parties are as easy as setting up a time period of 2-3 weeks, sending out emails/postcards to your friends, having them order online and putting your show code in the customer comment box at check-out. If they order $50 Or more, their shipping is free. I will send them a refund of their shipping cost. Every order gets a free sample included. A minimum of $200 In total orders is required to get your host credit for products.

Book parties include a catalog to share; order sheets; testers and sniffies of products(to be returned when show is completed). You take your customer’s orders or direct them to our website to place their order if they are not local. They put in your show code in the customer comment box at check-out. Shipping info is above. If you are local, you may pick up your order at my home to deliver to your guests to avoid shipping costs for your customers.

In addition to the free products, you receive 50% off a qualifying item and receive a free gift when your party is over $200.00

Party Sales Host Credit Your Benefit Half Off Items
$150-700. 15% Up to $105. 1
$701+ 20% Can be $200 + 2

For every $100 In sales over $500. Add $10 credit

For every booking from your party, you’ll experience 1 item at ½ price.
(minimum party orders totaling $200.00 to qualify)

Interested in selling NaKee’ Natural products?
Become a NaKee’ Natural Sales Representative and earn cash based on sales.
ONLY inquire if you have a love for our products and for people. We need passionate, outgoing individuals to share our natural, yummy stuff!
Contact Candy at candy@nakeenatural.com

Yucky Jello

Need something different to take to that potluck this summer? How 'bout some yucky jello? It only looks yucky, but is actually a refreshingly different dessert! This is a recipe I got from a family member many years ago. I don't make it very often mostly because I forget about it, but whenever I do make it, I wonder why I haven't done so more often.





Yucky Jello
6 oz. Lemon Jello
2 c. Boiling Water
1 c. Cold Water
Dissolve jello and let jello set up about half way, then add:
2 c. Applesauce
5 Peaches cut up
2 c. Blueberries

Our First Farmer's Market!--Ann Arbor Westside Farmer's Market

I have never participated in a farmer's market, so I have been pretty excited about this for awhile now. I had heard about this market, and inquired about it, thinking that it was probably just for producers of food. I was told that the market was full last year, but to fill out an application and see what happens. I got in, and I have been anticipating this first day for the last couple months.

I realized that this would be a much different venue than the regular seasonal shows that I participate in. Being a weekly 'gig', I decided to change up my set-up just a bit so that I don't have to haul my nice big, heavy sign and shelving that I normally would. I scaled down my booth a bit, and am still working on how I want it. It is not as 'elaborate' as at a show, and I am trying to make it easier to haul and set-up, but still complement our products.

I made a list of things I need to bring for next week like clamps and clothespins; and to get my tent weights made. The small amount of wind we had yesterday was enough to make me hold onto the tent poles a few times. My neighbors said that the area there is like a wind tunnel, and last year there were some tents that flew off into the street....ouch! These tents are not cheap, so I will get my weights made to bring next week for sure.

I have been getting ideas about special things I can do at the market, like bring water, basins, and towels and have some scrub and soap demos. Sounds like fun! I am also thinking of having weekly specials on the product I will be demonstrating. So many possibilities.

The market will definitely be a little different than I am accustomed to. I will be setting up a tent with display and tearing it down after four hours every single week. I also understand the sales will typically be lower than a 'show' type event where there are several hundred people who go through in one day. BUT the possibilities of connections and people I will meet over the next several weeks is so exciting.

I also get to be with some very nice farmers and other vendors. I will probably end up doing a large part of my grocery shopping up here too. There is so much offered: greens, veggies, grass fed beef, free-range eggs, flowers, honey, bread, cheese from Zingerman's creamery, and sweets! Neat people and neat stuff!

All in all, this was a good day, and I am looking forward to the next 14 weeks! How about you? Will you be going to any farmer's markets this year? Which ones, and what do you like best about them?

It's all in the journey,
Candy

Happy Spring!

Can you feel it in the air? Lilac Bouquet is a beautiful lilac scent. This is not a sickly sweet scent like you may have found in other lilac soaps. It is very true scent, and you will swear you are smelling a real bouquet of lilacs! Perfect for Easter, Mother's Day, or a pick-me-up gift for anyone! If you are not the 'floral-scent' type person, we have plenty of other scents you will enjoy...Margarita Lime is one that is sure to please. It is a grown-up citrus scent, and has become extremely popular! Great for wedding showers and other events! We have some new scents that are in the works too.

Look for our new Soap For Hope in Pomegranate for spring/summer! We also have the new all-natural scents of Rain, and Almond Citrus joining the line. We have made The Whip and Stick in these scents, and will be making oils, scrubs, and soaps in these as well depending on interest.

Heating With Wood

This is our new corner of 'heaven'. After much time and labor(mostly on my husband's part), we are heating our home with wood. I never dreamed that I would have a woodstove. The thought of it brought back memories of people at church you couldn't stand to sit by because they smelled like burned wood. That smell is nice when you are sitting by a campfire, roasting marshmallows and singing Kumbaya, but not so much when you are sitting in church singing Kumbaya....thinking no, I don't wanna sitbaya. Yuck. I did not want our home, clothes and hair to smell like that.

When we moved into this house 5 1/2 years ago, we put our furniture from our living room in the finished basement. We decided we would just wait and think about the living room later. Well, circumstances put this project on the bottom of the list, and it has been more of a parlour with just our piano, chair, and our bird's cage. About 2 years ago we decided, after many birthday celebrations with everyone crowding in the kitchen and dining room, we should probably think about doing something with that space. We researched and drew up floor plans, and decided we would put in a gas fireplace(notice the marking on the floor drawn out for the 'fireplace'). We looked at fireplace after fireplace and had come pretty close to choosing the one we wanted.

Then one chilly, February morning, my husband went for a long run with a friend of his. They went back to his house to get warmed up before coming home. He sat by our friends' woodstove after being chilled to the bone, and the rest is history after presenting me with 'Hey, what do you think about getting a woodstove instead of a fireplace?' I had concerns(see above), and he assured me that the new stoves on the market are airtight and efficient, and promised me that I would not smell like Mrs. Grizzly Adams. We purchased our woodstove last March, and finally got it completely installed last month.

We are learning. There is so much more to this than flipping on a switch to turn the fake ambiance on. Jody and the boys have spent the last year helping friends and family chop down trees, hauling wood, splitting it and stacking it. Our youngest had to get in on the action as well, and has his own maul(it's really an axe because they don't make mauls small enough for him). Yes, he is wearing goggles, gloves, and boots. If it were up to me, he would be in full body armour! :) We also have to haul wood into the house 1 or 2x a day, and getting it started every morning can be a challenge for novices. So, you spend the spring/summer chopping, splitting, and hauling what you can get your hands on.

And about that safety thing. When the woodstove was finally installed and we started that first fire, I panicked about all the things that could go wrong. I went out and bought a new fire extinguisher, new smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and had it professionally inspected. I would panic leaving it going when I left the house for any period of time. Maybe all this is normal. Maybe. At any rate, not only is this a new thing for us, it is something to be respected at all times. I do have much less anxiety now that I feel more comfortable with it. I am actually really enjoying it.

There is a level of pride in knowing we are being self-sustaining in this way. Since we started heating with wood, we have not turned our furnace on one time! It heats our whole upstairs, and because we have a stove made mostly out of soap stone, it heats efficiently and gently and allows us to enjoy being in the same room with it. We do have humidifiers in the kids' rooms, and have not noticed our skin any more dry than usual. Oddly enough, my skin is not as 'itchy' as it usually is this time of year. The big bonus was when we got our last energy bill in the mail. We had only used the woodstove for 2 weeks and we had saved over $100. I never thought I would look forward to my next month's energy bill at this time of year, but I am excited to see how much less it is after using it a whole month! Another bonus is the tax credit we get on top of this.

So, what's next....chickens? If you look closely at the picture above you will see a chicken coop. Yeah, we're thinking about it! :)

Go Greens!

Look at the beautiful greens in our garden! Funny thing is, I never really thought of greens as beautiful before. We didn't have greens growing in our garden when I was a kid, and I have never had a desire to eat greens. My husband is from the South and LOVES greens and wanted room reserved in our humble garden for those bitter, yucky leaves.

I have since changed my mind and have grown to like them. I still will not eat them cooked, but I have made some lovely salads, and I have tried them on sandwiches and tacos. The kids are still not impressed, so I will do more experimenting or maybe even some disguising.

Cooking greens is pretty simple, but it does take just a little bit of skill and patience. I found this out when I failed miserably the first two tries. The third time was a charm, and they turned out beautiful, and according to my husband, they tasted good too.

I have heard that the darker the green, the better the vegetable is for you, so I did a little research and found that leafy dark greens boast a very impressive nutritional profile!

So here we go. Greens are rich in Vitamins A & C, and are also good sources of calcium, iron, and folic acid. They also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration.

Breaking it down a little further, I find specific nutritional information on each green.

• Collards(we will put in next year) are an excellent source of folate, vitamin C and beta-carotene. They are especially high in calcium.

• Kale(currently in our garden) is an excellent source of vitamin C and beta-carotene, kale is also a good source of iron, vitamin B6, lutein and zeaxanthin. Kale is sweeter after the first frost, and less bitter when young.

• Swiss chard(currently in our garden) is an excellent source of vitamin E, a nutrient that is usually only found in high-fat foods. It is also high in potassium, magnesium, vitamin C and beta-carotene. To preserve its crispness and sweetness, be sure to keep it chilled.

• Beet Greens(currently in our garden) are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, iron and calcium, beet greens are often more nutritious than beets (with one exception: Beets are higher in folate). They are best for eating when young and tender.
  

Other greens are Bok Choy, Mustard Greens, and Turnip Greens, and Spinach hold similar nutritional qualities.

Here are some different ways to cook greens:

Quick Boil: Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Do not chop the leaves, but submerge them whole into the boiling water. Use a wooden spoon to move them from top to bottom. The leaves will begin to wilt slightly, but the bright green color should still be present. At this point, bring a leaf up with your spoon, tear off a piece, and chew it(I have skipped this part so far). If the flavor is bitter, let them cook more. The greens are just right when chewing a piece releases sweet juices. You will know you cooked them too long if the flavor is lost and the color is gone. The amount of time depends on the maturity of the green and the amount of leaves you're cooking. For something like tender mustard greens, a thirty- to sixty-second dip should suffice. Mature collard greens can take about five minutes. Once you test the green and get a sweet flavor, pour into a colander. Save the water. Many people enjoy drinking the broth because it is so nutritious. You can also use it to water your plants if you wish. Next, run cool water over the greens gently to halt the cooking process. Once they are cool enough to touch gather them into a ball and gently squeeze out the excess water. Chop on the cutting board and they are ready to dress and serve.

Simmer Chopped Greens: To simmer greens, bring about one inch liquid of choice to simmer in a large skillet. Chop the washed greens into strips. Place the strips in the simmering liquid and keep them moving with a wooden spoon. You are looking for the same results as above, which is a bright green color and a sweet flavor. The difference here is you chopped the greens; therefore, cooking time will be shorter.

Saute: The water will aid in wilting and releasing the bitterness of the greens. Heat olive, or rice bran oil(what I use)in skillet. Add garlic if desired. The garlic will tell you if you have the heat right. The garlic will burn if it is the heat is too hot. Chop the greens you are using into bite-sized pieces. Keep the greens moving in the skillet. Test every minute or so for doneness.

Be creative when dressing your greens. I have used hot curry paste so far, but here are some other condiments you can use: toasted sesame oil, lemon, balsamic vinegar, chipotle sauce, or whatever you prefer. You can even put the greens in soups or rice.

Don't let the greens go to waste in the garden. Freeze them! Here's How:

Blanch for 2-3 minutes in boiling water, cool immediately and drain well. Pack and leave 1/2 inch of head space. 2-3 lbs = 1 pint frozen

So, now you probably know more than you wanted to know about greens. I hope you get the chance to grow and eat these interesting veggies like I have.

Enjoying The Journey,
Candy

3rd Annual Soap For Hope

It's that time of year again! September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. September was also the beginning of our own son's cancer journey, diagnosed 5 years ago today.

We are excited to offer Caramel Taffy Apple soap again this year. In the past we have supported Cure Search, The University of Michigan Pediatric Cancer Clinic(Child Life), and this year we will purchase gas cards for those families who have to make numerous expensive trips for their child's chemotherapy. Please take a look at the statistics below.

Thank you!
Candy

Childhood Cancer Facts

• Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.
• One in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.
• Each year in the U.S. over 12,600 children are diagnosed with cancer.
• Although the 5 year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children diagnosed with cancer will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
• Cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children - more than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Asthma and AIDS combined.
• 80% of children have metastatic disease at time of diagnosis as compared to only 20% of adults.
• There are currently more than 270,000 childhood cancer survivors in the U.S.
• Late effects of childhood cancer treatment are common in survivors, and approximately one-third are moderate to severe.

Shine A Light

Shine A Light, sponsored by NBC, and American Express is offering a grant and marketing support to inspiring small businesses. My mother wrote a very nice story about me and NaKee' Natural. Please take a peek, and please endorse. We need at least 50 endorsements to move to the next round of judging. I am hearing from those who want to support us are finding it a tricky process. For some reason, the sight is not showing itself to be user-friendly when people try to endorse a story.

If you would like to support and endorse our story, but don't want to mess with it, just email me your name,address, and email address and I will do it for you.

Here is our story:

"My daughter is my hero. Her business, NaKee' Natural, was born out of her quest for a more natural lifestyle; her interest in aromatherapy and herbs; and her desire to be able to contribute to her family's income while going through a very difficult time. Her oldest son had been diagnosed with childhood leukemia, and was facing a very long journey of chemotherapy treatment. She made a decision three years ago to turn her hobby into a business so she could supplement the family income and still take care of her ill son and her two younger boys in the process. Candance has worked extremely hard at creating her brand. She has created this entity herself and does everything by hand, including packaging and labeling. When I go with her to different shows to help her, I see the interest in people’s eyes and hear how excited they are about her products. I am so proud of her for persevering through the difficult times. She has been able to put much more attention into the business since her son has gone into remission. I am very excited about the future of NaKee’ Natural, even in these hard times with the economy and the unknown. She is a very dedicated woman who has enjoyed interacting with her customers not only on a professional level, but on a personal level as well, gaining many new friends in the process. She also helps others with her ‘Soap For Hope’ charity program. She has raised money for CureSearch(childhood cancer research), The University of Michigan pediatric cancer clinic, and is now purchasing gas and grocery cards for families in the throes of cancer treatment. NaKee’ Natural has great potential, and this grant is just what it needs to help it flourish. Thank you for your consideration."

Thank you!
Candy

The Happiness of Pursuit

The pleasure of getting what you want is often fleeting.

I read an excerpt from the book of Ecclesiastes the other day. I was so intrigued, I decided to find my Bible, dust it off and read the whole book(of Ecclesiastes, that is). I remember certain verses from this book as a kid, and the ever popular Chapter 3 'A Time For Everything'. But even more than that, I found that the author of this book was one depressed individual. He had everything anyone could ever want in that time: silver and gold, treasures, singers, concubines, herds and flocks, and great possessions. Yet, he could not find meaning or joy in what he had. He even tried to pursue works by building gardens, houses and parks, and found that it was all pointless. He then tried learning, hard work, and even wine, but he could not shake the feeling that his life had no more worth or meaning than that of an animal. Everything was meaningless to him. I kept reading the word 'meaningless' over and over throughout this book, while thinking to myself, 'Suck it up, Buttercup, geez!'. I think I may have found the oldest report of a mid-life crisis here.

He also talked about the great wisdom he had, and as I thought about this, I decided he was quite full of himself as well because if he had been wise, he would have understood that happiness is not an end result. You can't find happiness by being successful or getting what you want. You can, however, find success in happiness, by Enjoying The Journey.

We are all born with a typical level of happiness. Those who see the cup as half-full are optimists, and those who see the cup as half-empty are pessimists. This is referred to as someone's affective style according to Jonathan Haidt, which reflects one's everyday balance of approach and withdrawal. Optimists experience more positive emotions, and pessimists have more fear, anxiety, and are prone to becoming depressed. It is interesting to observe this in people. There are those who go through difficult and even tragic situations with grace and a certain level of acceptance; and then there are those who crumble under the slightest of circumstances.

Those of us who did not win the 'cortical lottery' as Jonathan Haidt puts it in his book, The Happiness Hypothesis , do have hope though. Haidt says meditating, doing cognitive therapy, and even taking Prozac can help. If I had written this, I would have added regular and consistent aerobic exercise to this list. He does have a list HERE of things one can do to become happier if you would like to check it out.

My drug of choice is running. And I may have even practiced 'cognitive therapy' without realizing what I was doing. Even though I haven't completely labeled myself as an optimist or a pessimist, I do believe I was born with a certain amount of resilience and a survival instinct somehow, so maybe I do indeed lean more toward optimism.

I understand depression is a very real thing. I have seen it in close family members and friends. But some people get so self-absorbed and develop such a 'victim mentality' that they feel everything is being done 'to' them. They feel as if they have no control over what happens to them or how they feel.

I have felt this at times through my son's illness, and also at particular times when there have been people in my life who were unsupportive, and basically mean. I felt a certain justification in my 'how dare you' mentality, but also knew that I would not grow emotionally or spiritually holding on to that thinking. I knew I was better than that.

A friend turned me on to a song called, 'Sounds Like Life To Me'. It is worth listening to...several times. There are those times when people go through very difficult times such as family illness/death...and I am not talking about these major life tragedies. I am talking about the things we get our panties in a bunch over that are just normal, everyday happenings. You know, the things that really stink, and put us in a bad mood and cause us to develop a poor attitude. We all deal with these things every single day. It's called 'life'. We do indeed have a choice with how we respond to these events though.

The king of Jerusalem in Ecclesiastes failed to 'stop and smell the roses'. He was so caught up in trying to find meaning and what would ultimately make him happy, that he lost sight of the fact that it is in the journey that brings about euphoria and joy, not the accomplishment in and of itself. He must have just fallen apart when things didn't go his way. There is a two-fold lesson here: Enjoy the journey, and suck it up, buttercup. Sounds like life to me.

Enjoying The Journey and Sucking it up when need be,
Candy

Were You Born to Run?

From another blog, I came across this fantastic-sounding book today, and thought I would share! It is called Born To Run by Christopher McDougall. I am so excited to read it. I am in the midst of training for a half marathon in September, and my husband is training for a full marathon in October, so this sounds like a great book to read right now to stay motivated.

It is interesting that I was just thinking about this topic the other day. I was wondering if we, as humans, are really 'built' to run the miles we do when we are training for long distances like this. Maybe I was just thinking about the long run I had ahead of me on Sunday, and the longer ones ahead until the half marathon, and looking for an excuse not to do it. Truth be told, I can't 'not do it'. There are too many benefits for me to quit. I have thought about quitting many times. It is definitely a commitment...a lifestyle change...it takes time, motivation, and dedication. But the proof is in the rewards that are physical, mental, emotional, as well as spiritual if one chooses. Some are forever telling me I am crazy and asking me why I do it.

Why not? It costs very little money all in all to strap on a pair of shoes and party with the pavement. So, if you are looking for some motivation to run, this may be the book for you. From what I have read in the reviews, it gives a whole different perspective to running.

I am excited to learn the contrasts between modern endurance runners, who experience on average a running injury every year, and the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico. These indigenous people are known for their ability to run long distances--they run much more than us, at 50 to 200 miles at a time AND rarely experience any running injuries. It is not unusual for them to run into old age, even into their nineties.

If you are interested, let's read it together! Let me know if you are planning to read this book, and we can discuss it in a later post.

Enjoying The Journey,
Candy

Become A Fan!

Happy Summer!

Yes, it is still summer...I just won't give it up until I have to! With only a few days here in Michigan all summer of scorching hot days, it has been nearly perfect.

I have been getting ready for the holidays. I have a few more batches to make, and I will be done with all of the Christmas and Holiday soaps. They smell so yummy!

I have created a fan page on Facebook. I have been posting pictures, articles, sales and information. Please come join! I will be doing most of my correspondence through facebook. It is an easy way to get information out to those who want it. I will still come here occasionally to blog, but most of the information will be on the Facebook Fan Page for now. You can post comments, questions, and even start discussions.

Become a fan and I will give you free shipping on your next order until the end of August, 2009. In the customer comment box at checkout, please put the code: FAN there and you will get the free shipping. Any size order! You must type FAN there, or I will not know to give you free shipping for your order.

Enjoying The Season,
Candy

NaKee' Natural Handcrafted Soap & Skincare on Facebook

Living in 3D

Some epiphanies happen as an 'a-ha' moment in time, while others evolve over longer periods. Most of mine happen to come to me while I am running. I believe this is because I slip into a different level of consciousness while I run. I allow my mind to open up and receive what God has for me. Some do this with prayer, meditation, a walk in the woods, or even just sitting on the porch swing looking at the natural world.

I remember one particular run last year when I was longing to become faster. For the four years I have ran consistently now, it has not been important to be fast. I had been completely satisfied with myself for 'just getting 'er done'. I could do it, and had proved I could do it. I realized that just maybe I was slipping into a place of contentment...or was it complacency? My mind went back and forth between, 'Hey, I am out here doing it and that is good enough, as a matter of fact-a lot of people don't even do this!' and 'Candy, up your game girl, don't you want to be better?' It was then that I realized, yes it was ok, and even good to work out at the level I was. But, do I want to be just ok, or do I want to be a little more than ok? This wasn't to say that I needed to train like an elite runner, but to just be a little better...whatever that meant for me.

Quite an amazing thing happened to me as a result of this thinking. I realized that I needed to up my game in all areas of my life as well. Do I want just a mediocre business? Do I want to be satisfied with my limitations in my personal life and relationships? No! For a very long time I have known being balanced and holistic is the way I've wanted to live my life. It seems to have always been one-dimensional though. I struggle with being able to improve on more than one thing at any given time of my life.

My life splits off into three areas: Business, Personal/Family, Physical. It's a Trinity! Body(running), Mind(business), and Spirit(personal/family). Being at the top of my game in all areas is challenging, but when I am able to do this - I have to tell you it is the most incredible experience...It isn't easy, but it can be done. Opening up my mind to acceptance and opening up my heart to accept it with grace is key. Knowing I can change my thoughts, behavior, and yes even my feelings in any given situation. This applies to all three areas of my life. It's a gradual process and never-ending. I may take two steps back after taking three steps forward...but I am still moving forward! I may even fall down...but I can always get back up if I choose to. Evolving towards excellence, not perfection. And who wants perfection anyway? If I were perfect, I would have no goals. The beauty and reward of reaching my goals is in the 'reaching'.

So, I think the 'a-ha' moments are really just the beginning. As exciting and eurphoric as those moments can be, unless we put them into action, they will disperse into the air as useless miniscule particles. Opportunities come and go all the time. We can all think of times in our life when we have let good ones go. What we do with them is what really matters. But sometimes we are just not ready. We can ready ourselves though, accept and put into action ones that are given us, or reject them, satisfied with being 'just ok'. It's our choice. But don't worry, they won't be wasted. Those opportunities will recycle and find people who are willing to put in the hard work it takes to bring them to fruition.

When I do lose out on an opportunity to be a better mom, wife, runner, or even take my business to the next level, I try not lose heart or beat myself up (too much), but rather be open to the next new one to come along and grab it by the horns and enjoy the ride.

Happy Hour in Your Shower

I just couldn't resist telling you about our newest soap creation....da da ta da.....Margarita Lime! I have been wanting to make this soap since last year, and had originally intended for this to debut last summer. I tested it, thought a lot about it, but it never came to fruition. In my head, I knew exactly what it would look like, and was hoping I could recreate my vision of the soap version of a lime margarita.

I think we have lift-off of a very hot item here. As long as the color doesn't cure into a murkish green, it will be absolutely perfect. The scent is sophisticated and ever so divine. This isn't your daughter's bubblegum fruity lime scent here. It is fresh and tangy, but not too sour. Tequila, lime...and don't forget the salted rim. We are talking south of the border Happy Hour in your Shower Baby!

This will be perfect for bridal showers and girlfriend nights! Hmmmm....I may even make a limited scrub and light oil body spray to go with it...wah ha ha haaaa. The mad scientist in me is getting crazy just thinking about it.

We have a while before summer is upon us again, but just making this soap yesterday put me in a summertime mood. If it made me feel this good just making the soap, imagine what it will be like bathing with it. Oooo La La.

Christmas....Now Valentine's Day????

Hello Everyone,

I am so sorry I have not updated this blog in so long. Time slips away so easily these days. The holidays were spectacular! We had our best season so far! Thank you to all of our customers. Thank you for believing in our product and service.

We have been so busy since the last blog post. We have a new local retailer, Allegiance Health. We were also able to give $100.00 to the University of Michigan Childlife program; and we have been super busy re-stocking all of our soaps and products. It is hard to believe we had nearly 1,000 bars of soap at the beginning of the holiday season and at the end of the year we had under 200!!

We are now ready for Valentine's Day. We have the adorable Pink Crush soap, plus our Pink Aloe collection that is both pretty and pink. If you are looking for a practical luxury gift for your guy, we have plenty to offer with Wooded Olive, Soothing Sport, Brigadoon, Irish Moss, and more.

We can package everything up for you in our free gift packaging, or you can choose our premium gift packaging as well.