Spring Into Clean! Organize, Declutter, and Detox Any Space.

Spring Into Clean!  Organize, Declutter, and Detox  Any Space. – By Julie and Joy

To help a friend raise funds for the Albie Aware Foundation, an organization helping women with little or no health insurance get the insurance necessary for mammograms and, if necessary, treatment for breast cancer- I cleaned out my closet.  She was having a “gently-used clothing drive” where California Clothing Recyclers, www.californiaclothing.net, pays the organization per pound for donated items.  My friend is battling breast cancer for the second time and the Albie Aware Foundation provides such excellent help to women in my community that I HAD to donate.  At first it seemed like such a daunting task.  My assistant, Joy, gave me her tips so I’d like to share them with you because it made the task so much easier!

5 Steps to Organizing any Space!

1.  Take everything out of the area (closet, drawer, garage, desk, cabinet, etc)

2. Create 3 piles: Keep, Donate, Throw (hopefully they should be about equal amounts in each pile.

3.  Vacuum, dust, wash, the area before putting anything back. Why put your stuff back into a dusty/dirty area?

4.  As you start to put your “keepers back” into the area, put items you will use more frequently in easily reachable/accessible part of the room.

5.  Want to make it easy to stay organized?  Use cloth or plastic bins* to keep like items together in a neat and tidy spot.  Use a label maker to clearly label each bin will provide an instant way to keep you organized in the future!  *Bins can be found at Target or any home goods store.

Happy organizing! 

Health (Sanity) Tip: Keep Great Ideas Organized on Pinterest!

I know I was a little late to get on the bandwagon of Pinterest, but now I am LOVING how I can show off my favorite products, find great ideas for future crafts, organizing ideas, items I may want to buy, and SO much more! In keeping with the organizing theme, GONE are the days of clipping out magazine pages to lose once you want to find the idea! Check out my new Pinterest page and let’s share great ideas! http://pinterest.com/anuyoubyjulie/

10 Days Until Christmas –Really

Here we are 10 days until Christmas!  Should be super exciting, right?  Well, I am a little freaked out because I haven’t finished my shopping and I am thinking about all the wrapping I will need to do once the shopping is complete!  On top of that in the back of my mind, I have all these cookies and sweet treats I’d like to make.  Oh, and lets not forget about the holiday cards yet to be sent and the customer appreciation gifts I need to mail once I receive what I have ordered to give my customers.  Maybe everyone would rather have New Year’s cards and gifts?  Here is my answer to that:

If you think you can’t then you will be like all the ordinary reindeer and you won’t be able to fly! Believe in the impossible.
~Unknown
Ok, after reading that quote I just took a long, deep breath.  Did you?  Sometimes I make big lists of things for myself to do because I think it will make the holidays SO special for my children, their significant others, my spouse, family members, friends that stop by…pretty much the entire county I live in…just in case.  Every year I hope for world peace.  This year I will hope for inner “holiday” peace for myself.  I think this is a great idea because my inner peace will pass through me to everyone I come in contact with during the holidays.

Health Tip:  Gift Yourself!

Give yourself a gift this year by reminding yourself that all the holiday magic is in your heart.  If you are too busy with details you cannot hear your heart.  Take some time to evaluate what is really important on your holiday list of things to do.  Scratch out the ones that would be nice but not necessary.  By simplifying your list you leave room in your brain to hear your heart.  You and your loved ones will enjoy a more meaningful and enjoyable holiday.  Peace be with you!

Give the Gifts that Give Back This Year

During the Season of Giving, I like gifts that give back to our environment. By taking care of our environment we are taking care of our loved ones and ourselves too! I am proud to be part of an organization that strongly believes in giving back to the villages that helped them create their products. The Epoch line from NS uses traditional remedies from indigenous cultures with botanical ingredients to create helpful treatments for us.
For example, in the Epoch line, $0.25 from the sale of every Epoch Baobab Body Butter is donated to the NS Force For Good Malawi Seeds of Hope project. These funds will be used to purchase and plant a variety of important and useful trees for the people of Malawi, including baobab trees and fruit trees. Malawi –one of the poorest countries – has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world and there is an urgent need to restore and protect this precious natural resource. Read the scope of work provided by the Seeds of Hope project, which just makes me so proud. The Epoch Baobab Body Butter is made from the baobab tree which is one of the types of trees to be planted and drenches your skin with the much needed moisture during the winter months. For a full listing of the Epoch products and the communities served visit here.

Running out of time to shop? Receive a 30% discount on your products when you let me help you with your order.

This Holiday Season, help make our world a little better with every gift this year.

Health Tip: Winter Is Not Just Magical Snow Falls And Twinkling Lights…Its Dry, Chapped Skin, UGH!
Winter is the worst season for people who have dry skin – flaking, itchiness and tautness is usual and neglect of daily care can easily lead to habitual dehydration, with sensitive skins and red patches. During winter, the outer layer of skin becomes very dry therefore it is important to keep the skin moisturized. Even those who have oily skin must use light moisturizing lotions after cleansing to keep the skin soft. Therefore, going that extra step to pamper the skin with moisturizers and emollients is imperative.
To avoid “crocodile skin” on legs: Use a body was without soap such as NS’s Liquid Body Bar After bathing, apply a body lotion , while the skin is still damp. It helps to seal in the moisture.
For additional help with dry, red skin on your face email Julie@anuyoubyjulie.net