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Join us today on Blog Talk Radio with Girlfriendology at 2:00 EST to listen in to our girlfriend chat. Debba Haupert, founder of Girlfriendology.com, will be hosting. You can call in and chat with us. Follow the link below. Talk to you soon!
Girlfriendology BlogTalkRadio show – http://blogtalkradio.com/girlfriendology
or call in (347) 426-3761.
Today’s blog post is courtesy of our friends across the pond in London at the Natural Curtain Company. They, like us, believe in living a sustainable, Green lifestyle. We love that we can connect globally, entire countries apart, yet for the same cause…treading lightly on the planet and treating the environment with loving care.
Guest post contributed by natural product enthusiasts, the Natural Curtain Company.
Although cosmetic companies are very busy convincing you that their products are the key to maintaining healthy, bright skin, you might be surprised to learn that there are many simple natural remedies that you can use out of items in your kitchen or garden to maintain a glowing complexion.
1. Tea Bags
(Credit: Adermark)
Black tea has diuretic tendencies, which means when drunk they tend to “squeeze-out” liquid from cell membranes so that can flush out toxins and eliminate them from the body when you urinate. The same principle can be used to combat “bags under the eyes” by simply applying a damp tea bag on both the eyes while laying quietly with your eyes closed. The tea bags will draw out the excess water build-up that causes the delicate issues around the eyes to appear swollen and dark.
2. Oatmeal
(Credit: Wallis)
For beautifully refreshing and exfoliating facial cleanser, cook up a batch of a regular, unflavored oatmeal and allow it to cool. While standing over the sink, use a handful of the oatmeal to scrub your face, particularly and the oily patches around your nose and forehead. Be gentle when scrubbing the eyes, this delicate skin is easily damaged, but the rest of the face can benefit from a vigorous scrub.
3. Witch Hazel
(Credit: Crossthwaite)
Although the actual name comes from the old English word “wice,” which means pliant or bendable, it became associated with witches is because the branches of this plant were often used for divining rods. The bark and leaves from this plant make an excellent astringent that gently removes oil and helps to shrink and contract the blood vessels back to their normal size. It is ideal for combating — and preventing — pimples and blackheads. Witch Hazel astringent is available for very low cost at most health food stores and pharmacies, and to boost its healing properties you can chill the Witch Hazel before applying.
4. Aloe Vera
(Credit: Geist)
This succulent plant contains a thick, gooey substance inside its broad leaves that has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. In its natural form that promotes healing and has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which make it ideal for treating minor skin infections. It is also excellent for sunburns because of its moisturizing tenancies. Regular use of aloe vera keeps a skin supple and helps prevent the build-up of bacteria that can cause skin infections.
5. Baking Soda, Vinegar and Salt
(Credit: Mullen)
This powerful combination of simple ingredients can be made into a paste to scrub your face and remove impurities, exfoliate skin cells and remove oil. Combine the three into a simple paste and use it as a daily scrub or you can use each one separately. Baking soda alone makes a wonderful tooth-whitener, vinegar is an excellent a stringent — especially when you have been sweating profusely — and salt can be added to a basin full of water and splashed on the face to stimulate healthy circulation, but be sure to keep your eyes closed tight.
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:
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
Teresa Giudice (Real Housewives of New Jersey) has just written an incredible book on the art of Italian cooking. More than just a cookbook, this is more like a great book with recipes, because there’s lots of dialogue and pictures to go along with the amazing recipes. I especially love the pictures she shares of her house and family (four darling little girls and her juicy husband, Joe.)
I was so impressed with Teresa’s book. I mean, who doesn’t want to have access to a girlfriend whose parents are straight from the old country and taught her everything they know about old-school Italian cooking?
I adore that she believes so strongly in her heritage. I adore people of any culture that maintain their roots and are deeply proud of being Italian, Swedish, German, etc. I love tradition. It’s something I wish I had in my own family. Truth be told, I really have no idea where I came from. I’m blonde, blue eyed, and not exactly what you’d call dark complected. I know that originally my family came from France. Beyond that, it’s a bit unclear. I’ve always found it to be so interesting to listen to people who have deep heritage. I need to visit Ancestry.com.
Teresa shares recipes in her new book, Skinny Italian, that have gone back many generations. She shares all of her bag of tricks…all the while doing it with her Jersey-Girl attitude and sass!
I have literally not been able to put this book down for two weeks. Teresa has even inspired me to try my hand at canning this summer (there’s a whole section on this in her book along with step by step instructions.)
Admittedly, the Real Housewives franchises have tried to market almost every one of their ladies into a brand…(think Vicki Gunvalson with her new book or LuAnn the Countess with her singing.) With all the personal branding promotion, I admit I looked at Teresa’s book with a side-eye, ala Tardy For the Party.
But Skinny Italian is the real deal. Real authentic recipes taught by real authentic Italians. Teresa, I love, love love your new book. Super-impressive work, Jersey-Girl!
Supernatural Botanicals will be providing Swag Bag-spa products for this event. The first 100 people will receive a swag bag. It’s a must! Don’t miss this.
Friday Feature: Hampton’s Style. One word…Gorgeous. Two words… Ridiculously Gorgeous! Let’s discuss: Hampton’s style. This beach house look is clean and minimalistic. The use of black and creamy white are perfect in contrast. Framed pictures (matching mats and black frames are key) add wonderful contrast to the painted bead board walls. The black iron chandelier is so minimalistic, yet beautiful. The best part about this design is that it’s so achievable. Keep your focus with creamy white walls, matching frames in black of varying sizes, and a substantial, yet simple, chandelier to bring this look together. If you stick with a theme, such as this Hampton’s style decor, it’s easy to design a room like a professional.
Don’t rule out your outdoor living space just because the temperatures are dropping. Some of my best parties were held outdoors in the Fall. It seems to make parties cozier, in fact. An essential for a Fall party is a fire pit or outdoor fireplace for warmth and light. Keep the fire stoked all night…you’ll need it for s’mores after dinner. Adding lanterns with small candles to tree branches around the entire perimeter makes it glow, and again, lends extra warmth. Serve heartier eats, such as spicy chili, tacos, or a beef brisket. Learn how to make some delicious after dinner hot drinks that warm you up, and get you in the mood for a party (see below.) Add a great smooth jazz CD music mix to the background and decorate the the entire area with fall colors. It’s a guaranteed magic night!
Peppermint Patty Hot Drink:
1 Shot of Peppermint Schnapps
Hot Chocolate to fill glass
Top with Whipped Cream and an Andes Chocolate Mint.
Cincinnati Women Bloggers was extended the fab opportunity to have our monthly meeting at the Cincinnati Ballet. Our meeting covered topics of blogging conferences and shared experiences at the recent blogging conference in Chicago, BlogHer. (Sadly, the only one who enjoyed BlogHer was our Mommy-blogger. Tech, creative, and business bloggers, etc., had a much different experience.) …BlogHer is far too expensive to not take something away from the conference.
It will be interesting to see the attendance rates for BlogHer 2010. BlogHer is a great idea, but the overall consensus is, BlogHer needs to be better planned for next year. We are optimistic to see the changes for 2010 as BlogHer is a great idea at the core.
Back to the Ballet. Terry Honebrink with the Cincinnati Ballet gave us a behind-the-scenes look at this incredible facility. The costume rooms are amazing. Her beautiful daughter even performed for us. You can experience the Cincinnati Ballet at an upcoming FREE event called Ballet and Beer on September 3rd. Highly recommended. You’ll have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and mingle with Ballet performers. Click here for more information. Reservations are recommended at 513-621-5219.
See the video above to experience a piece of the Cincinnati Ballet for yourself.
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.
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
Feeling guilty for sneaking on the Internet while at work? Tell your boss about this new study. The University of Melbourne’s study showed that people who surf the Web at work have a better concentration level, and are 9% more productive than those who don’t. Apparently, the key is to keep it short . Evidently, quick Internet use offers the most benefit. Start here….follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
