Pampering Yourself

I admit this post may seem a little off topic.... if there even is a topic for my blog, but bear with me here. Now that January is behind me, I've been feeling a little more excited about the arrival of spring. Okay, so it's still a coupe of months a way in my area of the world, but it seems like a good time for self care. Perhaps its the after effects of Valentine's Day and showing those you love a ton of extra love.... but something got me thinking...how much extra love do we show ourselves?

We've made a commitment to do some self-loving things in our family, like eating healthier whole foods, exercising more, juicing and making smoothies, eliminating GMO's and choosing organic food when possible. So this long weekend found me wanting to take things a little further. With the amount of typing and sculpting I do in a week, my hands, as you can imagine can take quite a beating. Plus I naturally have really dry skin. So off I went to Pinterest (my guilty pleasure addiction, second only to chocolate) to find some really cool ideas. What did I find... recipes for luscious body butters, and nourishing solid cream bars and fantastic lips balms. Which did I decide to make... well true Libran that I am, I eliminated the need to make a choice and made all three. After reading several blends I came up with my own recipes and they all turned out wonderfully. YAY! In case you want to pamper your hands, feet, body and soul a this February, I'm sharing my recipes below.

Now back to work, but with softer, smoother, happier hands!

Have a great February! <3

P.S. Did I mention exciting news regarding my Fire & Ice book series is coming? Im terrible at keeping secrets, but it will be just a little longer (I hope) before I can spill the beans!1 ;D

*************

DECADENT BODY BUTTER

1/2 cup shea butter
1/2 cup coconut oil (organic unrefined)
1/4 cup almond oil or olive oil
2 tsp grated beeswax or beeswax pastilles
Optional: add mixed tocopherol Vitamin E oil and organic essential oils for fragrance and to preserve. (I used a teaspoon of Borage oil for my dry sensitive skin and added several drops of Rosemary essential oil)

Stir over low heat (or in a glass bowl in the microwave) until melted. Remove from heat and add essential oils if desired. Let it cool completely and harden.Then using a hand mixer, whip the mixture, but be careful not to let it get too warm. Then scoop it into jars. (I used cute little glass jars from the dollar store) You could also add herbs or essential oils if you want, choosing whichever scent you like.

Voila, it's ready to use and super healthy for your skin!

*********

BLISSFUL BODY LOTION BARS

(similar to the ones they sell at LUSH)

If you've never tried these then you simply must, especially if you have dry skin or wash your hands frequently. They're amazing. It looks like soap, but its actually a solid lotion bar. You just rub it on your hands or anywhere you want a little extra moisture... heels, elbows, you name it. Wonderful stuff & here' how I made mine!

1 cup coconut oil
1 cup shea butter, cocoa butter or mango butter (or a mix of all three equal to 1 part)
1 cup beeswax (can add a little extra if you want a harder bar that leaves less lotion on your skin when used)
Optional: Vitamin E oil or Rosemary oil to preserve. And any essential oil fragrance you'd like to add. I added 1 tsp of Borage oil for several drops of Rosemary oil which I really love as you can tell by now) The next batch I'm making with citrus oils.

Combine all ingredients (except essential oils) in a glass microwavable bowl (or use a double boiler, or a glass bowl over a smaller saucepan with 1 inch of water in it.)

Stir ingredients constantly until they are melted and smooth. Remove from heat, add the essential oils and stir.

Carefully pour into molds (you can use silicone molds, muffin tins, small plastic bowls, pretty much anything will work) I used silicone baking mold.

Allow the lotion bars to cool fully before you pop them out of the molds. Put them into a large glass jar or individual containers or even little bags. They last for ages and feel really great on the skin.

***************

LUSCIOUS LIP BALM

(very similar to Burt's Bees)

I made a small batch, but I think I'm going to make this in huge quantities as giveaways for my next book signing event!! ;D


1 part beeswax (1 tablespoon)
2 parts shea, cocoa or mango butter OR 2 parts olive oil, almond oil or vitamin E oil (2 tablespoons)
2 parts coconut oil (example-2 tablespoons)
20 drops of essential oil of choice (or more or less to your preference) I use 15 drops of Wintermint essential oil and 5 drops of Rosemary oil (give or take)
(You could also add colour or flavour for something really fun)
Again, in a glass bowl, melt and stir everything together except essential oils. One melted, add essential and pour into containers. I used both lip balm tubes and little round containers both plastic and metal ones. Use whatever you'd like. Let it harden fully before using.

Soft kissable lips in flash! How does it get better than that!?

**************

Have fun pampering your body this winter! I'm heading back to my writing cave.... umm... probably to write the next kissing scene! ;)

Oh, and here's a link to a couple of suppliers for ingredients and containers: (though check your local health food stores first)
https://www.voyageursoapandcandle.com
https://www.thesage.com/index.html

If you make these wonderful body creams, or anything like them, let me know how they turn out. What ingredients & oils did you use?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Wishing you all many joys of the season! 

It was been a fabulous year for me, for which I am extremely grateful, and I hope it has for you as well. I wish you all a magical holiday season, and a very Happy Christmas and all of the joy, love, blessing & abundance for the coming new year!!!

Exciting news is coming in 2014, so stay tuned. New novels, new sculpting projects, new tutorials, new collaborations, and many more fun and exciting things to share with you. (shhhh... they're all still top secret for now, promise I'll fill you in as soon as I can! ;) ) 

Thank you all so much for all that you do!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

love,
Michele

Manifesting Money!$!

Hello All of you lucky people, how are your manifesting (or rather actualizing) skills? I've been playing with honing mine. The month of August is a month of travel for me, with lots of amazing destinations I can't wait to get to. It seemed like a fun idea to me to manifest some additional cash to take along on these fab trips. So I'm playing the money manifestation game from The Lucky Bitch, Denise Duffield-Thomas. If you don't know her you should, if attracting luck and success means anything to you and you could use more of it in your life.

Here's the idea: Let's just see how much extra money I can generate using the wonderful rules of the law of attraction. I mean I love shopping. shopping loves me, so why couldn't I use a little more? People are often so hesitant about going after money, they use words like abundance and prosperity and such, as if money was a dirty word. Well, I supposed for many it is, otherwise expressions like "filthy rich" and "dirty money" would never have come into being. I love money and I enjoy the wonderful and great things one can do with it, and I believe there is plenty for all.

So, as part of a 10 day quickie manifestation series I've been playing with from Denise Duffield-Thomas, I'm on day 4 and making a public declaration of my intention to manifest an additional $6000.00 or more for my travels and fun this month. How does it get any better than that?What are the infinite possibilities of that showing up for me this month? I'm very excited to see what shows us. So far things have been expanding in ways I couldn't even have imagined, and its only day 4!! What else is possible?

Have fun creating magic in your world today and everyday! I'm always blown away by the genererosities of the universe when one has the faith to ask, beleive and receive. And I'll update on the progress of my money manifestation experiment!

Want help creating awesome things and experiences in your life? Sign up for FREE to our upcoming telesummits at www.PassionTelesummits.com where we interview life-changing speakers, teachers, facilitators, healers and success coaches from around the globe to assist YOU in achieving your dreams. How did you get so lucky?

Just Believe

Just Believe Movie: Believe in yourself and you can accomplish anything in life.

Business Magic Telesummit

A series of free calls with experts guaranteed to help YOU become the master magician of your life! 

Sign up HERE!

July 10 – 17 – 19  2012

more EASE more JOY more FUN and more MONEY from your business

JESSI JORDAN

CEO/Entrepreneur, Wealth &amp; Performance Coach

Tuesday, July 10th

4pmEDT (1pmPDT)

• What if you could create your life and your business purely by magic?
• What if there was no “right or wrong” in business (or anything else for that matter)… only a choice that works for you?
• What if you didn’t have to limit yourself to one business or income stream ever again?
• What if YOU could create, attract, manifest, generate, actualize and HAVE all the money you could ever want and NEVER WORK HARD AGAIN?

Remember when you were a child and you were completely convinced that EVERYTHING was created by magic? Did you give that up in favor of becoming a “grown up business person”? Is doing that and being that “idea” of what a serious business person is, working for you or your business?
What if there are other possibilities? And what if those possibilities could bring you a TON more money easily? Would you be willing to choose it?
Join Catherine &amp; Michele as they talk with Jessi and explore what else is possible for you, your life and your business and release what’s been holding you back.

About Jessi

Jessi Jordan is the very definition of a Renaissance Woman (a woman who has broad intellectual interests and is accomplished in areas of both the arts and the sciences). She is a CEO and an Entrepreneur, a Billboard Credited Music Producer, a Singer/Songwriter (with 2 albums on iTunes), a Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science Alumna and a Wealth and Performance Coach living her dreams in Manhattan, New York.

As a Music Producer, she has produced records for Beyonce, Pink, 3LW, Amerie and Lil Flip… just to name a few.

As CEO and Creator of  The Coffee Toffee Company, she has been featured for creating unique and delectable toffees and treats – in The New York Times, on ABC TV and in a recent issue of “Cooking with Paula Deen” (a Celebrity Chef cooking magazine with over 9.5 million subscribers). 

As a Performance Coach, Jessi has facilitated hundreds of actors in clearing the blocks that have prevented their career success and was invited to speak and share her unique intuitive gifts at a special private event at the TV Academy of Arts and Sciences (the people that give out the Emmy’s) in Hollywood. 

As a Wealth Coach, she has assisted her clients in clearing subconscious mental and hidden blocks to financial success, joy and business growth, and the limitations and points of views that kept money and opportunities from flowing effortlessly into their lives for years. Jessi and her clients are literally accumulating tens of thousands of dollars in gold and silver and attracting new streams of income every single month with total ease.

You might be asking yourself “How in the world has she done all those things in one lifetime?” She’d tell you she did it and continues to do whatever she desires by ‘MAGIC’.

Jessi has a completely different approach to business. “I have never hired a PR person to get the word out about me or my businesses yet people and amazing opportunities always find me. The Universe is my PR person, my manager and my agent!” Jessi says. “And it can be YOUR’s too!”

Whether you’re an actor, a writer, an entrepreneur, a corporate business person, a stay at home mom, a student or anything else… No matter who you are or what your story is.. YOU are magic incarnate. YOU can have, do and be ANYTHING YOU DESIRE. 

Jessi has a truly inspiring intuitive gift for perceiving what your specific blocks are and will give YOU the keys to clear them and unlock the magic within you.

Visit Jessi’s Website

Jessi’s Business Magick Package

Denise Duffield-Thomas

Coach. Author. Lucky Bitch

Tuesday, July 17th

7pmEDT (4pmPDT)

• Exceptional women deserve outrageous success
• Luck isn’t a mystery k">Visit Denise’s Website

="text-align: reen observer of people and has developed an intuitive ability to see what makes each person unique and the potential greatness each of us has. Over many years of studying and training people to transform their lives, he discovered he can quickly see each person’s  unique gifts and what is sonths all expenses paid travel and shows you exactly how she did it behind the scenes. You’ll be inspired to create your own miracles once you hear how easy manifesting can be!

About Denise:

You know that woman who gets effin’ EVERYTHING she wants? From paid vacations at luxury resorts and lucrative bank errors to media spots to life-changing scholarships? You’re looking at her! Denise Duffield-Thomas is a biz coach and author of Lucky Bitch. She helps exceptional women create fun and fast manifestations around money and success.

Denise helps exceptional entrepreneurs create lives of outrageous success - and she’s seen her clients attract unbelievable treasures; dream business opportunities, life-changing travel adventures, and major media opportunities.

Visit Denise’s Website

Denise’s Business Magick Package

RICHARD ATKINSON

Entrepreneur Empowerment Coach

Thursday, July 19, 2012

5:30pmEDT (2:30pm PDT)

• Would you like to make effective &amp; proactive business choices?
• Are you willing to honestly look at yourself &amp; change what isn’t working for you?

Join Catherine &amp; Michele as they talk to Richard about limiting points of view we have around business and take advantage of having Richard help you clear limiting beliefs so you can get to the heart of your strengths and talents and set them free to start working for you in your life and business. Using laser focused intuition and powerful transformational tools with practical business strategies and know how, Richard will empower you to get faster results while staying true to you.

About Richard:

Richard is a keen observer of people and has developed an intuitive ability to see what makes each person unique and the potential greatness each of us has. Over many years of studying and training people to transform their lives, he discovered he can quickly see each person’s  unique gifts and what is stopping them. Richard loves to facilitate people to discover and apply their talents and strengths to create a rewarding life of creative and financial freedom.
As an Entrepreneur Empowerment Coach Richard has worked with many types of small businesses, developing their business plans and marketing strategies. From their successes and failures, he’s seen first hand what it takes to succeed in business. Richard’s coaching can facilitate you to create your business so it fulfills and authentically expresses who you are while making more money.  You can have a successful business that doesn’t burn you out or make you feel empty inside.

Visit Richard’s Site

Richard’s Business Magick Package

Dream big.... bigger....and even BIGGER still...

 J.K. Rowling

What If You Dreamed BIGGER?

I had a reading the other day from a psychic who was most definitely picking up on energies that did not belong to me. It became clear this he could not see the massive potential I had and the directions I was heading in. I've mentioned my publishing targets to people and have been greeted with why don't you self publish. And while I know incredible things can and do happen with self-published works and traditionally published works can go nowhere I had an awareness early on that this novel was going to be traditionally published. Had it occurred to this individual to ask if this was my first book they would have learned I'd written 5 other non-fiction books which I'd already successfully self-published. I have very big plans for my fiction books, and it's a delicate balance of knowing and believing in what I desire and being open to the myriad of ways it can come to fruition.

On another occasion, a multi-talented musician/singer/songwriter who has intentions of performing with an internationally know famous band shared her plans with someone and was given the suggestion that she should be satisfied with performing in a local small town bar. Wow.

When I described my sculpting business to another individual, they suggested I sell my wares at a local craft fair. I almost choked on my drink. Really? That was as big a picture as they could conjure? Hmmmm. How interesting. I then follow it up by thinking the for the suggestion and tell them I did the craft show thing previously and was now working with an agent in California who is pitching my designs to companies like Mattel and negotiating hundred and fifty thousand dollar deals....per doll line. --They are stupefied. I say this not just to brag, (though I'm all in favor of tooting your own horn...come on let's own those accomplishments already!) but to hopefully blow open their worlds and their minds to what is possible. If it's possible for me then it's possible for them as well. And hopefully they walk away from the conversation with an expanded awareness of what they too can achieve if they dare to think and then act BIGGER.

It prompted me to wonder and ask why would I (or anyone) want to take advice from someone who's vision is no where near as expanded as my own? Yes, starting anything new for the first time can sometimes mean starting at the bottom or the beginning or even starting small if that's what you choose. But it doesn't mean staying there or making that the thing to aspire to. Go bigger....beyond what you truly think is actually possible for you to accomplish. And then prepare to be amazed.

I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful new Creative Energy Consultant coach, Jessi Jordan. She is someone who is successful in multiple industries and she has vision and passion and knows the magic each and everyone one of us can create. She is an accomplished producer in the music industry and also coaches creative people like actors, writers, artists into massive success. Here is a quote from her which totally sums up why I'm choosing to work with her, (aside from the fact that she is is amazing!!!)

 "I never take advice from someone who plays it safe or sits on the sidelines in their own life."
- Jessi Jordan

 Need I say more............

Planning the Most Amazing Home

 In the house I no longer refer to as my "dream" home since that somehow made it seem like it was far off and impossible to attain, I decided after watching the Harry Potter films (Pottermore is sure to become my next addiction...I just pretend it's my son Ryan who loves playing there) that I wanted an enchanted ceiling in my bedroom. I knew there had to be a way to make it happen. I put it out there and then let it go. Here we are a couple of years later and voila I stumble across this video, compliments of my Pintrest addiction. How amazing is that...totally do-it-yourselfable which I LOVE and creates a stunning effect. I picture it with my bedroom painted in midnight blue with a subtle nebula trompe l'oeil ceiling.

So as I sit here ooohing and aaahing, drooling and scheming, planning and preparing, I thought I'd share this wonderful creation with you. See what happens when you first just imagine it can!? What else is possible??? Remind me to tell you the story of how my good friend Mirta and I scored second row center seats to an upcoming Duran Duran concert!! How can you not adore magic!?

I

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday everyone! So many exciting new things to talk about! First and foremost is my biggest news....I recently received an offer from Denise Barone of the Barone Literary Agency of representation for my Fire and Ice novel.

(Here's the book trailer again, in case you haven't had a chance to view it!)

To say this was exciting does not even begin to touch how I was feeling. It is a wonderful match and I'm thrilled to be working with her. I'm excited about what this journey will bring....what else is possible? Books and Signings and Movies....oh my :)

I had the pleasure of talking with friends who are entertaining the possibility of starting their own business. The first step in making it happen it taking the first step! What's it going to take for you to make a move...one tiny step in the direction of your desires. Already living your dream....well then now is a great time to ask what else is possible? It's so thrilling to me to witness people embracing the possibility of have MORE in their life. More joy, more fun, more ease, more money, more love, more freedom, more of LIFE! How does it get better than that?

What are you reaching for this year? What steps have you taken to make it happen? They don't have to be big steps....and as the infamous Martin Luther King quotation goes, you don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step towards your dreams in faith.

Everyone should get a psychic reading....seriously!!!

Today I had a reading with my favourite psychic....Hans Christian King. From the first moment I listened to his radio program years ago, I was hooked. And I knew he had a direct link to the things about myself that I know but had either forgotten or didn't know I knew. Confused yet? Sorry....but it's not something I can explain without going into yards of explanation on quantum physics and the nature of reality. For lack of a better quote at my fingertips, I'll simply say you are what you think you are, and leave it at that.

But suffice to say, my first ever personal reading with Hans exceeded even my wildest expectations. I've had the opportunity to converse with him on his weekly show where members can send in one question and receive the answer on air. That in itself is wroth it's weight in gold, with every single answer begin spot on or delivering the information, perspective or reassurance i needed to move confidently through whatever issue or project was before me.

So I had great expectations for my 30 minute call with Hans. I felt like a kid at Christmas when the telephone rang right on time. And we delved into the issues I wondered about, worried about or felt were blocking me on my path. At the end of it all I left with a renewed enlightenment and awakened enthusiasm for what is to come. I cannot recommend him highly enough!!!

 

Intentions

So, here is the ultimate plan for this blog. To share news and updates on new projects, books and designs. I plan on posting tutorial and pictorials and lots of other stuff that I love & hopefully you will too. So, that's the goal....more to come!!!