If you are in our Montreal area, please do stop by.  Our shop ‘La Boutique Earth to Body’, in the suburb of Valois, Pointe Claire, has been in production for over two years now. Customers have dropped in from as far away as Vancouver. We have customers from Toronto and Ottawa who shop when in town and as we become more known in this area, we now have many regulars to frequent our store. We attend craft shows across Canada, thus are fortunate to have a varied clientele whom we have met personally.  We love it when they, too, come to visit. As many of you know, we are doing the Ste Anne de…

Toronto. 5 PM. Hopping into a taxi outside the Direct Energy Building.  Exiting a work day at One of a Kind Craft Show.  “Neem? You know about neem?  My turbaned cab driver beamed. “We have neem trees in our back yard in India.”  Our banter proceeded to fill the cab with animated stories about this miraculous tree. He was so pleased to learn we incorporated the neem oil and powder into many of our skin care products.  Then he mentioned tulsi. “Tulsi? You do not know tulsi?” I did not know tulsi.  “You should know tulsi.” I grabbed my I phone and began taking notes. “Tulsi. Everybody in India…

The Versatility of St John’s Wort If you research this yellow star shaped flower, you will encountercons as to its usage.  For some, taken internally, it can help with minor depression, a positive feature for many.  We are interested in its use in skin care. We incorporated st St John's Wort into our Skin Manager as a skin aid, and over the years, our customers have shared the Manager’s wide range of uses.  It is nourishing and restorative. St. John's Wort is best taken in a blend. It is a wonderful aid for oily and sensitive skin types.  St John’s Wort anti-inflammatory properties make it…

Several years ago, I wrote an article called ‘A Love Story’. A revisit is timely. Summer fun. Vacation. Cottage country. Wherever there is sand, there lays the perfect partner for your feet.  A Love Story A beach. A riverbed. A desert. An ocean floor.Sand, sand and more sand. Those tiny gritty eroded rocks. Those small loose granular grains that can do absolute wonders for our feet. A perfect match. ‘Wriggle the sand between the toes.Rub the sand against the soles.’Luxuriate in nature’s natural exfoliant that helps soften the feet and remove the dry skin buildup. Exfoliation reduces aging. So…

Open up the average bathroom cupboard or a bed side drawer and chances are you will find a jar of petroleum jelly, commonly called Vaseline. Vaseline is a trade name and rest assured, it is the best choice if opting to put petroleum on your skin.  In Vaseline, most of the carcinogens have been removed, so that part is positive…unlike many other petroleum jelly imitators out there. Petroleum jelly has been advised as a barrier for baby diaper rash, to prevent chafing on the skin and to protect in cold weather. It is advised on eczema, as a means of preventing the skin from peeling, on…

Be armed. Pack your arsenal in a small cooler: Ice cubesEmu OilNeemCotton swabsApple Cider Vinegar or Baking SodaBlack TeaEssential oils: peppermint, lavender, lemongrass, tea tree All legal. Not too costly. No Chemicals. Safe for children and pets. And no danger to you or the environment. The goal is to master the mosquito attack.  ‘Be Prepared’ when you suspect the attack is imminent. ‘Be Prepared' for after, in case the enemy traverses the moat.  It is a challenge. I do not underestimate the dangers. The swelling, itching, scratching, bleeding, infections. The possibility of an illness.…

We need to rethink Titanium Dioxide It thickens, whitens, lubricates, and screens us from the sun. It is added to cosmetics, food, toothpastes, pharmaceuticals, food. Some peddle it. Some don’t. Is it safe? We do not know. The jury is out. When there is such indecision, I prefer to err on the side of caution.  By 2020 France is banning it as a food additive claiming links to obesity and diabetes. Health Canada says no, as the studies were only done on animals. We need to look at what it may be doing to us. Our children are more susceptible to the dangers as their immune systems are still…

Have you watched the ads on TV touting things like a miracle cosmetic ‘Jawline’ treatment. Eliminate the sagging and the wrinkles?  Wow…the ‘before and after’ images are startling and make you want to dive right in. No surgery required. Just purchase this package, apply as instructed and travel back in time. Sounds as fun as ironing linen. If you have ever ironed linen you know what I mean.  It is a beautiful experience as the fabric responds so lovingly. Wouldn’t it be fun to apply a face cream and watch the wrinkles melt away? But, we must ask, how long will this last and will we wrinkle…