Since I’m very interested in the use of aromatherapy as a natural way to feel better rather than turning to drugs, I found this article exceptionally interesting. It’s about how aromatherapy is getting recognition for its positive impact not just on how it can make us feel, but how it boosts the body’s ability to fight infection and is being used as a tool during treatment for cancer patients. I figure many of us have been touched by cancer, either directly or through a loved one, and this article may give you an idea of how to get relief, be more comfortable, or lift the spirits.

Check it out: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/50591.php

Share how aromatherapy makes you feel better

It’s not just about salary and benefits, but about recognizing employees as human beings, with needs and expectations, rather than as human capital. While needs are individualistic and complex, the basis is simple. It’s about recognition and reward.

In Bob Nelson’s article, “Ten Ironies of Motivation”, he explains, “More than anything else, employees want to be valued for a job well done by those they hold in high esteem.” As a result, you can expect high morale and motivated employees who feel inspired and loyal. When you create an environment in which an employee feels valued for their contribution they are more likely to want to stay.

How does your company recognize employee performance?

Everyone knows chocolate and romance go hand in hand, but here’s five reasons why you should indulge in chocolate:

1. Cocoa contains cancer fighting antioxidants in higher amounts than even green tea and red wine
2. Dark chocolate has been shown to lower blood pressure (not white or milk) and help prevent heart disease
3. Dark chocolate decreases bad cholesterol
4. Chocolate can be a mood enhancer or aphrodisiac since it raises serotonin levels and releases endorphins in the brain
5. High in magnesium, chocolate can help alleviate PMS

Tip: the darker the chocolate the better for you since milk reduces the antioxidant properties and is higher in fat

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and love is in the air! Have you decided on the perfect gift for your significant other yet? Give a gift from your heart and whip up a batch of chocolate covered strawberries - it’s quite simple with this recipe:

1lb stawberries

12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

white chocolate for drizzling

1 tablespoon of oil

1. Leaving tops on, wash strawberries and then dry each of them thoroughly (very important since any water will ruin the chocolate).
2. In a small saucepan, add oil and chocolate chips and melt over very low flame, stirring constantly until smooth.
3. One by one, dip berry, gently shake and swirl the dripping chocolate as you lift upward, then turn tip upward to fill gaps.
4. Place on waxed paper, drizzle with white chocolate, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Your mate never needs to know just how simple this was.

January. What a month! Possibly the most memorable ever due to the creative efforts of those closest to me, who came together to give me the ‘Best Gift Ever’ for Christmas. Each day of January, all 31 of them, I received a gift from this group. Sometimes it was a warm thought, a silly instruction for the day, some pampering, new music, gift card to a favorite place…it was a great way to start each day. The only bad part was the few times I’d be out and about and remember that I forgot to check my calendar that morning - then I’d have to suffer the anticipation until I could return home.

Here’s a list of my 31 gifts:

1. A rhyme by my witty 13 year old ‘Favorite Youngest Daughter’, that I should say on the first day of the new year for good luck
2. An hour massage from one of the significant other’s sister, who is a massage therapist (and is fantastic!)
3. A day of dishes by my ‘Favorite Youngest Daughter’
4. A love letter from my very insightful 21 year old ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’
5. A new music CD of an artist my ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’ and her ‘Awesome Boyfriend’ were sure I’d love (they know me so well!)
6. A breakfast of ‘Toad in the Hole’ made by none other than my own ‘Significant Other’ (he does it so much better than I do)
7. A gift card to my favorite local coffee shop, It’s A Grind
8. A love letter from my 18 year old ‘Favorite Son’, who has recently left the nest, with an invitation to meet downtown for a Jamba Juice - his treat; while he’ll come for dinner with ‘Adorable Girlfriend’, he never brings his laundry home
9. An incredibly sweet note from Favorite Oldest Daughter’s Awesome Boyfriend’s sister (’s neighbor’s aunt’s friend…)
10. A warm thought from my very own ‘Significant Other’
11. Gift card from my ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’ for cocktails at Corner View, my favorite place to hangout and catch up with friends
12. Note full of sweetness from my ‘Favorite Youngest Daughter’
13. A music CD I’ve been wanting for awhile from this talented young artist
14. Dog Walk by ‘Favorite Youngest Daughter’ - without asking
15. Note from my ‘Favorite Son’ declaring how much he and ‘Adorable Girlfriend’ love to come for dinner and requesting an invitation
16. Car Wash certificate from ‘Favorite Youngest Daughter’
17. Coco, the CD from Colbie Caillat
18. Voucher for a romantic dinner anywhere I want with my very own ‘Significant Other’ (hmmm, I haven’t yet tried this place)
19. All the Lost Souls CD by James Blunt
20. A shopping extravaganza with ‘Significant Other’ where I get to buy anything I want…at the Dollar Store…isn’t he generous? And funny?
21. A cure for my coffee fix with another gift card to my favorite local coffee shop
22. Border’s gift card from ‘Significant Other’….book or music, book or music, book or music?
23. More of my favorite things - music, music, music
24. Another warm thought from ‘Significant Other’…with amusing descriptions of how silly he can be
25. Jamba Juice gift card from ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’s Awesome Boyfriend’
26. Movie tickets
27. Another CD
28. Warm thoughts from my ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’ with a good luck mantra for the month of February
29. Another solution to my coffee fix…yes, another gift card
30. An incredible note from ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’s Awesome Boyfriend’
31. A last gift, more music to carry me through the rest of 2008

How can they top this next year?

F-E-A-R

With a fairly new entrepreneurial endeavor, I’m finding that the time frame in which goals are being met is quite different than what I had planned…not an uncommon scenario. As I meet with other local business owners & entrepreneurs for brainstorming, masterminding, networking, and support, I find that this is a common topic and one that is surrounded with fear…”Will my business last long enough for me to get the ‘big break’?” “Will my customer base grow fast enough?” “Am I positioned appropriately for my target market?”

I just received this instruction in an email from Martha, a fellow entrepreneur and mentor:

We have to stop beating ourselves up…read this article: http://www.skininc.com/articles/14986171.html

In the article titled, There’s a Fortune in Failure, by Gary Bradt, PhD, he stresses the importance of altering our perception of failure from a negative to a positive and gives 5 ways to do so. I recommend you read the article for yourself, but until then, here’s a summary of them:

1. Realize that each failure is an opportunity to learn from our mistakes
2. Have realistic expectations (both you and your client)
3. Understand that while success doesn’t require perfection, it does require action
4. Don’t be dominated and crippled by fear (heard of Susan Jeffers’ book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway?)
5. Concentrate more on the ‘here and now’ and worry less about the ‘what if’ scenarios

How have you enjoyed success by overcoming a fear?

Did you know these scents can raise our body temperature and/or our libido?

• Cinnamon
• Jasmine
• Sandalwood
• Patchouli
• Musk
• Rose
• Ylang-ylang
• Vanilla
• Ginger
• Clove

Look for candles, linen mists, bath products, and massage creams that are made with these essential oils. I think you will find it well worth the effort to incorporate them into play with your partner.

Keep in mind when looking for quality products that it’s best to stick to items made with natural ingredients, pure essential oils, are free of parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates, dyes, formaldehyde and synthetic fragrances.

Tip: products made with pure essential oils tend to be easy to spot since they are proud to boast, as they should be, whereas items that promote the word ‘fragrance’ are generally chemical based.

What’s your favorite aphrodisiac?

If you’re ready to spruce up your home with some wood flooring but want to be environmentally conscious, consider EcoTimber. They offer alternatives that are healthy and sustainable.

Here’s what makes them a better choice:

• Reclaims wood from fallen and dead trees from urban forests or salvaged from old structures that’s headed for the landfill
• Selection of fast growing sustainable bamboo flooring
• Adhesives and finishes certified by GreenGuard Indoor Air Quality, VOC free and no hazardous chemicals
• Offers selection of flooring from Forest Stewardship Council-certified well managed forests
• Certified under the SmartWood Rediscovered Wood Program, a Rainforest Alliance program

You’ll find EcoTimber at 1611 Fourth St., San Rafael, (415-258-8454). Country Oak flooring, $10-$15/sq ft.; bamboo flooring, $5-$7/sq ft.

I’d like to introduce you to ylang-ylang (ee lang-ee lang) since one of my readers indicated they weren’t yet familiar. Native to the rainforests of the Philipines, Indonesia, and common in Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia, this essential oil comes from the delicate and highly scented blossom of the Cananga tree or shrub. Commonly used in perfumes and body care products, it’s fragrance can be characterized as rich and deep with heavy notes of rubber and custard, while sweetly floral and exotic with hints of jasmine and bitter orange (neroli). It can be both relaxing and stimulating, affecting anxiety, high blood pressure, intestinal problems, sexual dysfunction, and stress.

Ohhhh, because relationships matter! When it comes to romance we’ve got this down. It’s about creating the whole experience - you need to appeal to all of the 5 senses.

1. Sight: dim the lights and get the candles going
2. Smell: Think aromatherapy - use fragranced candles and mist the sheets with scents that stir passion, like ylang ylang, clove, patchouli, etc.
3. Sound: add to the romantic ambiance with music - some smooth jazz, sexy Bossa Nova, or good old Blue eyes himself, Sinatra
4. Touch: Pamper each other with a Hammam-like experience by taking turns scrubbing each other with an exfoliating mitt and aromatherapy bath gel. Follow with a loving massage with a quality cream or oil.
5. Taste: Chocolate…chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate truffles, chocolate syrup…

So, now that you know what you need to do, let us simplify this with one of our gift ensembles that will appeal to all of your 5 senses:

With Romantic Escape, you and your partner will be swept away with the luxuries nestled in this basket: Couple’s Aromatherapy ‘Inspire Romance’ Travel Kit* (a sleek metal case filled with candle, linen mist, bath & shower gel, sea sponge, & massage cream), Chocolate/Bossa Nova music CD, chocolate truffles, assorted bath accessories and wooden body & foot massagers all for $119

Couples Aromatherapy ‘Inspire Romance’ Travel Kit*: Using pure essential oils, these scents are fresh and natural, with notes of fruit, herbs, and spice, plus calming accents of lavender, frankincense, bergamot and more. The Inspire Romance Collection helps renew your loving closeness and shows your partner “I cherish you.” In this sleek and sexy metal case that’s ready to go on an overnight get-away at a moments notice, you will find a candle, linen mist, bath & shower gel, sea sponge, & massage cream for $48

Couples Aromatherapy ‘Create Passion’ Travel Kit*: Again, using pure essential oils, these scents are rich, warm and sensuous with hints of spices, fragrant flowers, and fruit, along with exotic notes of ylang ylang, black pepper, ginger and more. The Create Passion Collection lifts you out of the ordinary and gives you thrilling ways to say, “I want you!” As with the ‘Inspire Romance’ set, this travel kit includes the candle, linen mist, bath & shower gel, and massage cream, but also has a personal lubricant and towelettes for $55

To order, call 805-234-2051 or email info@EnWraptureByElise.com

*This line of products is made with 100% pure essential oils, all natural ingredients (except the lubricant), free of parabens, petrochemical solvents, sodium lauryl sulfates, dyes, formaldehyde, synthetic fragrances, and not tested on animals. Candles are made of natural plant wax derived from soy and are free of lead, paraffin, petroleum and dyes. They are made in the United States by a green company that practices sustainability.

Good for you, good for us, good for the environment, so go green this Valentine’s Day!