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Ezine 02 10 10

Dropwise Essentials Health & Beauty News

February 10, 2010
Vol. 3, Issue No. 3


A Note from Donya

Hello and welcome to all our new subscribers since the last issue. This weekend coming up is a Trifecta of celebration! Valentine's Day coincides with the Chinese New Year on Sunday, President's Day is Monday, and for those who celebrate it, Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) falls on Tuesday. That's a lot to celebrate in one weekend!

If memory serves me correctly, the last time all three of these holidays (not including President's Day) fell in sequence like this, starting on a Sunday, was in 1988 --just one week after I moved to Northern California from New York City! That was a momentous occasion in my life so I personally like to celebrate all of them. This year I'll be celebrating in Clearwater, Florida (a favorite vacation spot when I lived in NYC) at a 2-day seminar with Bob Circosta, the founder of the Home Shopping Network, which I'm really looking forward to.

This week's article offers some ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day that transcend the constraints of the traditional (and over-commercialized) ways of doing it, whether you're attached or single. And until the next time, best wishes for a Happy Valentine's Day, Gung Hay Fat Choy (Chinese for Happy New Year) and Lessez Le Bons Temps Roulet (Let the Good Times Roll)!

Yours in health and prosperity,

Donya

p.s. If you like our products then help us spread the word! Follow us on Twitter or become a fan of Dropwise on Facebook.



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Feature Article

Nontraditional Gifts of Love to Celebrate Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is usually thought of as a day for lovers, but it's really a day dedicated to all kinds of love: friendship, family, and romantic love alike. Whether you're single or attached, Valentine's Day is an opportunity to celebrate what's great about the people you love.

Traditional notions of Valentine's Day involve giving a romantic gift to that special someone. These typically consist of things like jewelry, lingerie, roses, chocolates, heart-shaped candies, champagne, and candle-lit dinners -- the defining hallmarks of this occasion. The commercialization of Valentine's Day has created a set of expectations that revolve around these material gifts and gestures. So much so, that on the one hand, not conforming can create disappointment and speculation as to your true intentions. On the other hand, not giving the specific type of gift or experience that someone expected can also create disappointment!

This year, why not commemorate Valentine's Day by giving a different type of gift -- a gift of love that celebrates your relationships or friendships, or for singles, one that simply celebrates you, in a way that puts some of the magic back into this occasion. Here are some ideas:

Staying In vs. Going Out

Going out to a nice restaurant for Valentine's is a great gift if you don't have the opportunity to do this very often, or you're feeling so cooped up that you need to get out of the house to enjoy yourself. On the other hand there are many ways you can celebrate this occasion by staying in.

For couples, why not try a variation on the old breakfast in bed? Prepare a nice breakfast or brunch together then eat it in bed. Don't make any other plans for the day and just enjoy a lazy day at home sharing favorite moments from your relationship or what you adore about each other. If you want to spice things up, swing for a set of satin or high thread-count organic cotton sheets and add some of the traditional accoutrements -- scented candles, dark chocolates to nibble on, and roses or other flower petals strewn around the room. Try an aromatherapy massage followed by a hot bath with mineral salts. Or curl up together with lots of soft cushy pillows, some hot cocoa, and your favorite movie or a new one you'd both like to see.

If you're single or find yourself alone on this occasion, then invite some of your single friends over for a potluck brunch, lunch, or dinner revolving around a particular cuisine (i.e. Asian, Italian, Mexican, Indian or Vegan) and create an ambience related to the theme. Another great way to celebrate is to have a spa party where you pamper each other with hand and foot massages, manicures, and pedicures, or give each other mini-makeovers. Or indulge your inner child and throw a pajama party and movie marathon where each guest brings their favorite romantic comedy and a treat to share with the others.

Collaborate on a Project

If lazing around all day doesn't suit your style then why not work on a project together that celebrates your love for one another? Consider creating a scrapbook or collage that chronicles the highlights of your relationship. Collect everything you think should be included: photos, ticket stubs, matchbooks, souvenirs, and other memorabilia. Start from the beginning (i.e. when you first met), group and arrange related items you want to include and as you add them, write the narrative together. If you have different memories of an event or occasion then each one can write down their version --like an entry in a guestbook. The experience of putting this together helps you appreciate each other and your relationship and you can re-visit the scrapbook whenever you like (maybe make it an annual Valentine's Day ritual) and update it with new insights or adventures you've shared and would like to capture and record.

You can easily do this type of project with a close friend or relative or small groups of them too. If you have children then invite a bunch of their friends over for an "art day" where you can teach them how to create their own mini-scrapbooks.

Another variation on this theme is creating a vision board for your future together. This can involve using photos you have or photos you collect from a variety of sources with images that symbolically represent things you want to do, places you want to go, goals you want to achieve, possessions you want to acquire (a new car, vacation home, kitchen, swimming pool or Jacuzzi, etc.). Include graphical text headings from magazines or newspapers that communicate the substance of what you want to accomplish and how you want to feel when you get there. This can be a powerful bonding experience and an affirmation of your plans moving forward.

The nice thing about celebrating Valentine's in any one of these ways is that you can do these activities regardless of the weather, which can be somewhat unpredictable at this time of the year. And in the process you create memorable experiences that will last a lot longer than a bouquet of roses or a box of chocolates -- though including antioxidant-rich dark chocolate in your experiences is highly recommended!

 

Copyright 2010 Dropwise Essentials

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Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials' spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed.



The Aroma Zone

If you enjoy the articles in this newsletter then be sure to visit our blog The Aroma Zone for even more valuable articles, practical tips, and helpful resources on Aromatherapy, Health & Beauty, and Greener & Better Living. You can access the blog any time by clicking on the links to the Aroma Zone found throughout our site. If you don't want to miss anything then you can subscribe to the RSS Feed and all new posts will be sent to you via email.

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About Dropwise Essentials

Dropwise Essentials is a San Francisco-based manufacturer of pure aromatherapy and organic plant-based personal care products that give people a safe and effective way to relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or manage their emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. Our products are:

  • Free of synthetic chemicals and petroleum ingredients
  • Made with high quality certified organic oils and pure essential oils sourced from around the world
  • Packaged in re-usable or recyclable materials
  • Hand-made locally in northern California

Dropwise Essentials was founded by Donya Fahmy, a writer, producer, and consultant whose avid interest in the curative powers of aromatherapy and herbs ultimately led her to design and create the seven products and seventeen unique essential oil blends that make up the current Dropwise product line. She has studied aromatherapy with Carol Schiller --a successful author of several aromatherapy books-- and with Dr. Daniel Penoel --a renowned expert in the field of medical aromatherapy.

Dropwise Essentials is a proud member of the Indie Beauty Network (formerly the Handmade Beauty Network), the Green America Business Network (formerly Co-op America), Green Product Alliance, Natural Ingredient Resource Center, and a Friend of PETA. We were among the first companies to join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics by signing their Compact for Safe Cosmetics --which simply formalizes our existing commitment to formulate products free of known or potentially toxic ingredients.



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