EASTER SUNDAY REFLECTING ON BLESSINGS

Today, Easter Sunday, helps me reflect on just how blessed we are. We can spend time looking at all the ugliness within the world but I believe it's best that we focus on all the small miracles that surround us in the midst of the negativity that can take place in the world. You see, "all things work for the good for those who love the lord and are called according to his purpose." On Friday I went to see a movie called Miracles from Heaven. This movie reminded me of how true that statement is.

I spent a bit of time this morning reflecting on all the miracles that have taken place during my efforts to fulfill my calling. I believe that I was called to produce products that are helpful to people and despite all the following situations God has managed to continue using me and guiding me with ways to stay out of harms way when I've had to battle with the attacks from the Goliath's within the industry.

After winning awards and receiving lots of media attention for our efforts to produce truly clean water-less products that really do serve your health and the planet well. Lovely Lady Products has been bombarded with ugly competitor attacks that went beyond just business but have struck at the very core of our civil and federal rights. You see many big commercial brands want to continue deceiving the public about healthy products and they spend a lot of effort and money to keep the smaller companies who are doing the right thing from succeeding (a professor from the Kellogg School of Manage wrote a book about this very thing, it's called, "Defending Your Brand" written in an effort to help small companies to become of aware of competitor attacks). Some of this gave me pause to give up but it was the individuals who support our products and the many testimonies of how our products are helpful that kept me in this industry (but most of all I realized that I am safe in the knowledge that God has his hands on me and I'm truly honored for his grace and mercy). So please note that no matter what you are going through use today to ask God for guidance and praise him through it all. I'm sure by now my customers know that I don't follow the traditional rules for running my business. My heart leads me to speak my truth and produce my products in an honest fashion and if that takes away from what others call success so be it because I know that God is in charge of my pathway.  Lovely Is As Lovely Does.

Troubles that God helped us to over come and he's still watching over us:

• Discovering that competitors were using some of our employees to spy and sabotage our business.
•  Competitors using some vendors to attack our effects to produce our products and grow
• Competitors trying to interfere with our continued success to receive our organic certifications.
• Competitors using Major Retail Chain Employees to slow our growth within their many retail stores, we continue to have success after removing our products from this major health food chain.
• Home and office invasions, using some of my neighbors, friends and I'm sad to say FAMILY MEMBERS too in an effort to do so.
• Police corruption and lack of assistance from Federal Employees when we reached out for help (major effort to cover up for the BIG GUY).
• Surviving what I believed was an attack on my life via someone cutting my car brake line.
• Continuous attempts to place my life under surveillance once it was known that we went to the press, the ACLU and other watchdog groups. 
• Not to mention continuous subtle threats in an effort to keep me quiet because they are well aware of how far they have strayed from the law with their tactics to destroy a smaller competitor. 

Now let me just say this, I no longer have bitterness in my heart and I have learned that your enemies can serve to push you to live at a higher level of consciousness and God also uses them to help you move towards whatever he has in store for you. I know it's very difficult for us to love individuals who attack us but I've learned that we can do it through the love of God. I decided to share this brief version of my story regarding the trials and tribulations I've endured while running my business to inspire others to following their calling no matter the obstacles. There is definitely a reason we decided to formulate with a plant called Everlasting, an oil from a tree that has the ability to rebirth it self after laying dormant for 7 years (this is another blog story). Just remember to walk in the light.
 
Happy Easter and Blessing to all of our followings.

VALENTINE'S DAY: It's History, The Rose Connection and Celebrating It via Organic Body Care

 

On February 14th, many individuals across the globe celebrate a romantic tradition known as Valentine's Day. It is a day to express and indicate how much love you have for certain family members and friends (I do believe this is something we should do everyday, I'm just saying.....). Have you every asked yourself how this tradition come to be and/or how did roses become part of its history? And, what does organic body care have to do with all of this? Let's start by chatting about its history.

THE LEGEND OF ST. VALENTINE

The history of Valentine's Day and the story of its patron saint is shrouded in mystery. One thing is certain, February has long been celebrated as a month of romance and St. Valentine's Day is known to contain vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient ritual?

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome when Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families so he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine saw this as an injustice and decided to go against the decree and continued to perform secret marriages for young people in love. When this was discovered, Claudius had Valentine put to death.

There are other stories that say Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons. One particular legend states that Valentine sent the first "valentine" greeting after he fell in love with a young girl, who could have been the jailor's daughter (thought to have visited him during his imprisonment). Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a signed letter stating, "From your Valentine, " an expression that we still use today. The truth behind the legend is a bit murky, but all the stories show a sympathetic, heroic and romantic individual.  One thing is for certain, St. Valentine has become one of the most popular saints in England and France dating back to the middle ages.

THE ROSE CONNECTION

There are several theories on how roses became a love symbol, one comes from early ancient Egypt. Ancient stories state that Cleopatra would scatter rose petals over her floor in an effort to welcome her lover Mark Anthony. However, Roman myth tells a story of Cupid spilling a sweet nectar that was part of an offering and it is said that roses grew forth from the ground where the nectar spilled. While the history of Valentine's Day is hotly debated, there's no one to date questioning that roses have come to symbolize love and romance. The Victorians began this tradition through floriograph, also known as the language of the flowers, a way to communicate feelings we find difficult to express by giving certain flowers to indicate what we are in fact feeling. For example; using red roses to express passion and romantic feelings associated with love and admiration.

ORGANIC BODY CARE

Over the years the perfume and body care industry have tapped into this tradition and found that roses not only provide an intoxicating smell for the senses but also have amazing healing properties for the hair and skin which are excellent for including in organic body care formulations (please keep in mind we are talking about pure essential oil from the roses, not chemically produced ingredients). So this Valentine's Day, why not give the gift of roses that won't wither or fade within a few days? Allow yourself, your friends/family and whomever that special someone is to fall in love with either your body or theirs this Valentine's Day. Try the following rose products at https://www.lovelyladyproducts.com at a discounted price (coupon code below).

1. Everlasting-Argan Immortal Rose Oil
2. Everlasting-Argan Neroli Rose Body Butter
3. Everlasting-Argan Geranium Rose Solid Lotion 
4. And Our Glorious Garden Bath Bar for Fresh Smelling Bathing Experience
5. All other products sitewide can be purchased using the coupon code as well (see below)

Use coupon code STVALENTINE for 25% off at checkout. Sale ends 2/14/2016.

BEAUTY

What does this word mean and how does it affect your life, your views, your health and the well being of the planet. Once you take a moment to ponder on this, it's kind of deep, isn't it? My opinion is that it all depends on what you're pouring on and into your body to influence your efforts at beauty. I also believe it to be a mental state as well as something visual.

Let's start with the standard explanation for what beauty is. 

Wikipedia states: 

"Beauty is the quality of being pleasing, especially to look at, or someone or something that gives great pleasure, especially when looking at it."

Webster's 1913 Dictionary states the following:

1. An assemblage of graces or properties pleasing to the eye, the ear, the intellect, the æsthetic faculty, or the moral sense. The old definition of beauty, in the Roman school, was, "multitude in unity;" and there is no doubt that such is the principle of beauty. - Coleridge.
2. A particular grace, feature, ornament, or excellence; anything beautiful; as, the beauties of nature.
3. A beautiful person, esp. a beautiful woman.
4. Prevailing style or taste; rage; fashion. She stained her hair yellow, which was then the beauty.
- Jer. Taylor.  Beauty spot, a patch or spot placed on the face with intent to heighten beauty by contrast.

 WordNet Dictionary States:

1. Beauty - the qualities that give pleasure to the senses. Antonyms: ugliness - qualities that do not give pleasure to the senses.
2. Beauty - a very attractive or seductive looking woman. Synonyms: lulu, mantrap, knockout, stunner, looker, peach, ravisher, smasher, sweetheart, dish
3. Beauty - an outstanding example of its kind; "his roses were beauties"; "when I make a mistake it's a beaut"

 Lovely Lady Products' Explanation on this word, Beauty:

 

Beauty is all encompassing; it's really not for one individual to interpret. It's in the eyes of the beholder and it's not singular in description. I can only explain it from my personal opinion on what I believe it's meaning is and my views on how we should be responsible with this powerful word and how it influences our lives.

To me beauty is anyone who strives to make their life meaningful by caring for others, making decisions that are based on how it will affect others, their health, the well being of the environment, their environment. Excepting ownership and responsibility for the word, not allowing others to dictate what it is and it's meaning to you and your individuality. It is a knowing, a confidence and the ability to care about things other than the superficial or just ones self. You see, I believe beauty thrives in those who shine from the inward out. A kind spirit, a loving heart and a generous and honest nature.

Yes, Lovely Lady Products create products that enhance the skin, but we do this by producing products that are created with your health in mind. We produce these products with a consideration for the planet. I believe that when one thinks of beauty, he or she should consider the effects of their efforts to attain it. How does your view on beauty affect your life, your views, your work, your career, and your treatment of others?

Beauty is within everyone's grasp and the best way to attain everlasting beauty is to aspire for greatness through love and light. Shine by being a good person and you'll find the true depth of beauty. The truth of it is to be lovely from within and everyone will see your beauty radiating outward. Beauty is As Beauty Does!