She makes healthy beauty products for a living, and for fun, she discusses “all things girly” on her blog. Read all about it and see how you can join in on the fun.

Two years ago, Robin Feltner launched both her blog and her all-natural bath and body company, Supernatural Botanicals. The blog was intended to be an extension of the business, but in many ways, her business is now an extension of the blog.  

“I started the blog to keep women, primarily, informed and up to date on the latest trends and information in beauty [and] health,” Feltner says. “But soon thereafter, [it] took on a life of its own.”

Since its launch, the blog has opened doors to new customers, business opportunities and higher search engine rankings. More recently, it’s given Feltner the chance to meet several big stars like Diane Keaton, Valerie Bertinelli, Patricia Heaton, Ann Compton, Helen Hunt and Tony Bourdain.

The blog initially served as an open forum for people to share their insights on her products, ideas and the emerging eco-friendly industry. The blog helps Feltner gain candid insight from customers and readers that she didn’t have access to otherwise, she says. “Anonymous comments can be brutally harsh at times, but it’s exactly what I was looking for,” she says. “I wanted an open dialog where they could express and/or request anything they wanted.”

The blog’s tag-line is “Discussions on All Things Girly,” which offers Feltner — and her readers — a wondrously wide range of topics from which to choose. Typically, you’ll find blog posts with beauty, fitness and eco-living topics, but occasionally you’ll find something else that strikes Feltner’s fancy.

“I’m passionate about being ‘green,’ so that crosses over into my writing quite a bit,” she says. “Beauty and fitness is a given on a girly blog, but interior design and events in Cincinnati have certainly had their share of time in the spotlight on my blog as well.”

Some of her favorite blog posts include: 

• “Thoughts on Business Casual”
• “For the Love of Vintage”
• “Diane Keaton in Cincinnati”

These popular topics drew a crowd, and even attracted the attention of the Smart Talk series organizers. They contacted Feltner two seasons ago to represent Cincinnati as their ambassador for their Connected Conversations series. “It’s been amazing,” she says. “And I have met some of the most incredible people in the process” — Keaton, Bertinelli, Heaton, Compton and Hunt, just to name a few.

 But the star power didn’t stop there. Another group found Feltner’s blog and asked her to represent Cincinnati bloggers at the recent Tony Bourdain speaking engagement.

But the big question: Has the blog beefed up her bottom line? The answer is yes, Feltner says. “The blog has helped me reach a greater customer base,” she says. “If you are doing a random search on eco bath and body in Cincinnati, you’ll most certainly find my blog amongst the top Google searches.” A successful, updated blog is a powerful PR tool and her blog is a big reason why Google goes ga-ga for her business, she says.

The blog also helps to add value to her current customers because it invites readers into her life. “I have found that readers enjoy the experience of stepping into my workshop or kitchen to see what I’m doing via pictures I post on my blog,” she says. “I find blogging a unique way to get personal with my customers and readers. It’s important for me to interact with the readers so I can be specific about giving them exactly what they want.”

She doesn’t just interact on her own blog, though. Feltner is a self-proclaimed advocate for reading others’ blogs, too. “Being ultra-connected to each other is an advantage that we’ve never had in the past, and is especially beneficial for business owners,” she says. “Although my personal interests span from green global issues to lipsticks, I do tend to visit particular blogs regularly.”

She says she adores SavortheSuccess.com, a Web site for women entrepreneurs that offers insight into what’s working (and not working) for other women in business. Another favorite of hers is Pink Magazine, which provides inspiration and tools for women in business. She also gives props to her friend Julia’s blog, Hooked On Houses, which covers her love of houses and interiors.

In addition, Feltner belongs to a local group called Cincinnati Women Bloggers. “We are a successful group of women bloggers in the Cincinnati area, and that Web site is an incredible resource to find blogs on all things local, as blog topics vary vastly,” she says.

Last but not least (at least we don’t think so), Feltner shows some chic love. “When I want to know what’s going on in the city, Cincy Chic is positively my first stop,” she says. “I have always found that if it’s worth being known, Cincy Chic knows about it and I’ve attended many local events after learning about them on Cincy Chic.”

Visit Cincy Chic  for the article. 

PHOTO CREDITS
Photographer: Neysa Ruhl
Model: Robin Feltner
Location: Lofts@4120

 Cathy Erway’s new book, The Art Of Eating, depicts her two year journey of swearing off restaurant fare. 

  Cathy’s blog, Not Eating Out In New York, was the inspiration for her book.  Not only did Cathy lose 10 pounds within a few months of eating in, but she cherished the act of making delicious dishes.  She says it slowed her down and lowered her stress. 

Turns out, eating in is ultra-frugal as well.  Cathy says she ended up saving about $75 a week by eating in.  Not only did she learn confidence in the kitchen, but she learned she had a great deal of discipline to say no to the restaurant scene for two years. 

This book is such a fun, informative read.  Highly recommended!  Think you could swear off restaurants for two years?

Daryl Hanna:  www.DHLoveLife.com

Alicia Silverstone:  www.TheKindLife.com

Adrian Grenier:  www.Shft.com

Gwyneth Paltrow:  www.Goop.com

Leonardo DiCaprio:  http://www.leonardodicaprio.org/

Like to be heard?  Go voice your opinion over at City Beat’s, Best Of Cincinnati 2010.  While you are there…look for PUBLIC EYE and vote Supernatural Botanicals for Best Blog.  Muah!  xoxo

If you’re not checking out Food52’s food blog, you should be.  If you are a foodie, or simply want to get some ideas to impress others in kitchen, this is the place to be.  Check out their website to find gems like this recipe below.  So perfectly simple, yet bursting with flavor.  Start channeling your inner gourmet cook and make something delicious today!

Tad’s Roasted Potatoes

Serves 4

• 1 pound old white potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• Olive oil
• 8 sprigs herbs (any combination of thyme, sage and rosemary)
• 3 garlic cloves, lightly smashed (leave the skins on)
• Coarse salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Spread the potatoes in a well-seasoned cast iron pan — they should fit comfortably in one layer. Douse with olive oil, like you’re marinating them. Add the herbs and garlic, and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss the potatoes a few times to mix in the herbs and seasoning.

2. Roast in the oven, scraping up and turning the potatoes every 10 minutes or so, until the potatoes are well caramelized and tender, about 40 minutes.

Join Supernatural Botanicals on our Facebook Fan Page!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjW-gUAJebo

   Supernatural Botanicals turns 1 today!  It’s been an amazing year for us!  What a year it has been.  Thank you so much for your generous support and your emails.  A special thank you goes out to Smart Talk Women, Cincy Chic, and WE Magazine for their support!  And an extra special thank you goes out to all of our customers and wholesale vendors….without you, there would be no Supernatural Botanicals.  Thank you! 

Take a look at our year of highlights: 

   Smart Talk Women extended the wonderful opportunity to meet the legendary Diane Keaton!  An absolutely surreal experience.  Diane was amazing…just like I knew she would be.  Read about this night here. 

Supernatural Botanicals was featured in Cincy Chic’s Green Issue.  Amy Storer-Scalia, owner of Cincy Chic, extended us the wonderful opportunity for this great rooftop photoshoot at the gorgeous McAlpin Condos in downtown Cincinnati.  Read about our Cincy Chic article here. 

   WE Magazine for women names Robin Feltner as one of the 101 Women Bloggers to Watch in 2009.  What an honor to be amongst so many creative successful women.  Thank you WE Magazine.  Read about this article here. 

   A huge thank you goes out to our customers who have raved about us online.  Pinkie Charm did an amazing 15 minute You Tube review. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=flEHMI_44Vg

We can’t thank Pinkie Charm enough and all of those who have sang the praises of Supernatural Botanicals bath and body.  It’s been an incredible first year.  We can’t wait to show you what Supernatural Botanicals has in store for you in year two. 

Robin Feltner, Founder/CEO, Supernatural Botanicals

Links to some of my personal favorite blogs….check them out, you’ll see why!

Favorite Style Icon Blog:  http://ultimatecarolyn.blogspot.com/

Favorite Inspiration Blog:  http://nieniedialogues.com/

Favorite Bloggers Group:  http://www.CincinnatiWomenBloggers.com

Favorite Cincinnati Food Review Blog:  http://winemedinemecincinnati.com/

Favorite Cincinnati Downtown Living Blog:  http://5chw4r7z.blogspot.com/

Favorite Local Eco-Awareness Blog:    http://www.parkandvine.com/

Favorite Adult Swim Website:  http://www.dlisted.com 

Favorite Domestic Blog:  http://thepioneerwoman.com/

Favorite Green Blog:  http://www.treehugger.com

This is an example of the hilarity that’s going on over at Cake Wreck Blog.  A blog where professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong.  Take a look for yourself.