All fired up with no where to go

So now that I looked at the first house I wanted to rent on Queen Anne, I am all fired up with no where to go. I have thought back on this house and as much as I wish I could rent it today.

It is just not the right time yet.... Or maybe it was not the house. It was really cute and funky but I need something a little bigger and more fixed up. But the front room had 12 foots ceilings.....But it had such small bedrooms........

This is how my brain is working right now. The back and forth of my realization that I am ready to get my own place for my lovely animals and company. This next step feels so right for me at this time.

I also am trying to get a good college friend to move out from the East Coast and experience the West Coast for awhile. She just got a new job so I am her plan b. But I wish I was her Plan A. I want to take yoga classes with this friend and just hung out. She is a fellow young single friend so spending time with friends and living with them is still an option.

Ok... I will stop with my wishing and get back to work. I know that in the next 3 months I will have my dream home so I am going to have fun designing it now.

How I miss blogging

Things have been so busy lately that my blog has fallen to the back of the burners. I am so sorry!

I miss blogging. I miss posting pictures. I promise, soon enough I will get back on the blogging wagon. Soon....

Odessa's Herbals is in need of a bigger home. I have started the house hunt this week. I would love to move into a craftsman house and be able to host private candle making parties. I think tonight I will work on a treasure map for this vision. I can't believe I am getting to the point of growing so large as a company that I must get a bigger place. But I am also really excited by all this wonderful energy and experiences.

So as I start the house hunting treasure map, I will share my dreams and visions on my blog to get that energy out there. What better than all my loyal blog readers positive energy helping me create this vision?

Top 10!

Long time....

Things have been moving so fast lately. Along with it being Spring in the Northwest and it still snowing, I have had many orders pouring in while still trying to get my energy back.

I found out yesterday that my candles are in the top ten best sellers list at Glassy Baby!!! This warms my heart so much. I love that people are connecting with the tea lights I make and that Glassy Baby is very happy with them.

The Food Network show Dinners Impossible that has Odessa's Herbals tea light candles in will be aired on April 30Th at 10 pm. I can't wait to see this show. I know the wedding was amazing but I am excited to see Kelly L. Moore and others on TV.

Speaking of Kelly Moore, she is the event planner for the Seattle Opera event coming up at the end of this month. I received an email yesterday asking about Tea Light candles for the tables at the Gala. This means I will now be able to share twice the love since I am also making the candles for the swag bags being given out.

And speaking of swag bags, I will be in the Swag bags for the Girl Power Happy Hour happening this month in Seattle. They are doing a Green event and thanks to my switch to American made soy wax and only organic essential oils, I am moving towards being a green company. Once I can buy a building, I will be adding Solar Panels and moving towards being totally off the Grid!!!

There's nothing better than a best friend!

I just found out that one of my best and dearest friends from my college days is moving to Portland. He got a wonderful promotion and is moving next month. I can't wait to be close to him and able to see him more than once a year.

Ahmi and I just got back from a lovely walk. This new blackberry is causing me to take too many pictures of my animals. I must stop... I think I need cell phone therapy.

Is anyone else going to see the Dali Lama in three weeks?

I had to get a Blackberry

This weekend my phone broke. I had to upgrade and I am now the proud owner of a Blackberry. I am not sure if this is a good or bad thing. I am slowly trying to let go of being too wired and just relax. On the other hand, I need to be connected to the Internet for my company. So what's a girl to do?

I had a bunk weekend. It simply comes down to the fact that I do not have a clone and there is just too much for me to do. I am going to have to get better about my schedule on weekends and during the week.

I created a couple of new products this weekend and I am excited to announce the information about them soon.

Another Big Something....

This last Wednesday I had a really great meeting at the W hotel in downtown Seattle. I came away from this meeting almost floating with excitement. I have another very exciting announcement to make but can not yet......

This is bigger than my last wonderful announcement and I am just so excited about this opportunity I can hardly sleep at night. I have a lot of work to do in the next few weeks to prepare but look out.... Odessa's Herbals is hitting the big time.... Soon enough!

Full Moon on Friday

Every month I keep up with the moon cycle. This is due to the fact I live in the Northwest and do not use curtains on my windows. It is always too dark in the winter to use curtains, you lose the precious little light we get. In the summer it is just amazing how much light we do get that I don't want to shut it out. Usually this works well for me. I live on the 2nd floor and face the sound so I don't need to worry about privacy too much.



However, every month close to the full moon I am awoken by this bright light at 1-3 am in the morning. The moon shines right in my window and onto my face. At first I did not enjoy this late night wake up call. But as the months go by, I realize how special this system is. I feel so much more connected to the Seasons, the cycles and the earth / moon relationship. I enjoy feeling like I am being blanketed in the moon light at night.



The moon cycle also affects my evening walks with my dog. Once a month it is like someone turned a spotlight on my walks. Of course, half the month it is very dark and cozy.



I will be outside late into the night on Friday enjoying this full moon.



There is one thing that upsets me. I have been seeing billboards around about a company shinning ads onto the full moon. If this is true I am going to be very upset. I do not want the precious moon to become a billboard. What company thinks they have the right to do something like that?



I will keep you posted.

Back to the Studio

This weekend was a very busy weekend with large orders coming in. I had a lovely weekend of making new candles and fulfilling orders for new customers.

The one candle I am super happy to make is the new candle for the Seattle Opera Gala happening next month. This is a lovely spring candle that will make everyone excited about the new and fresh flowers coming up.

I had a great Session with my coach Elaine yesterday. She helped me clear some old wounds out and brought some new energy in. Working with Elaine has been a very powerful experience and one that I look forward to continuing. Every time I talk to Elaine, changes do not happen over night but they always clear up in really calm ways. In the past, I have had experiences where energy work causes blowups in my life. In the end, I know these explosions are for the best, but at the time they are just so hard on everyone around. This has never been the case with Elaine which is why I always go back to her. She helps usher in new changes in a protected way.

I look forward to seeing how our work yesterday will unfold. What she said made so much sense to me. The best part is, Elaine always seems to mention things that are happening without her knowing it at the time. I had made a candle a few weeks ago for myself but had yet to burn it. Yesterday Elaine mentioned the color and scent of the candle as something for me to think about. I looked right at the candle I had made for myself a few weeks earlier and realized it was time to burn that puppy (candle)!

Not only do I make intention candles for others, I always test them out on myself first. I will hopefully have a new candle with a great story to tell everyone about in the next few months!

My New Bed

It if officially spring in my bedroom! I took off my winter duvet last night and made my bed up in my new bedding shown above. Organic cotton and good energy is what this bed is all about.

In other news, my poor kitty is suffering from an infected leg. He just got back from the hospital and tonight we are keeping it low key together. He really wants to be outside in the sunshine but will compromise by sitting in the open window and enjoying the sunshine on his face.

Keeping the LA feeling

I have been keeping my LA feeling alive. Each night I have been taking Sea Salt and Epsom Salt baths, everyday I am filled with fresh foods.

I feel so good!

I had a lovely visitor to the studio a few nights ago. The bride from the taping of Dinners Impossible that I donated candles for, came to visit my studio to buy some candles. It was such a wonderful evening. We talked, came up with new candles for her and got to know each other. I am so grateful to have been able to help her have had her dream wedding!

Spring has finally come around to the Northwest. Every morning I am waking up earlier as the sun is shinning earlier. I am filled with wonder as I watch the plants start to bloom and grow their new leaves. Ahmi has been excited to be able to sit outside without needing a rain coat and the cats are laying in the sunny windows and spending more time outside.

The many meanings of Detox

I just realized the other day that I have been using the word Detox lately without stating that I am not detoxing from Drugs or Alochol. I was talking with an old friend about how I went to LA last weekend to detox and they gasped. I had to back up in my conversation and assure them that I was not detoxing in the LA movie stars kind of detox. Nor was I having any mental issues. This form of Detox is letting my body heal while flushing out all remaining infections or just plain junk I have inside from being so sick.

I laughed at the thought that people out there might think I am detoxing the other way. That would be so out of line with my lifestyle at this point.

I am off to make candles this weekend. I am so excited. I have not been to the studio in almost a week and I am missing it big time. I have a guest coming over on Tuesday which is also the day I start pilates!

Ladies Who Launch at Glassy Baby!

Last night I attended the monthly Ladies who Launch meeting at Glassy Baby. It was amazing to think that one year ago I did the incubator in Seattle for Ladies who Launch while my company was just starting. One of my goals was to work with Glassy Baby or at least give them some of my candles.

Last night I talked about how I met Glassy Baby and I am now their official candle maker. It is a great place to be for me personal and for my company. Glassy Baby was the company in Seattle that I wanted to work with the most. And now here I am, one year later. Talking about how excited I am to be working with them.

I got a new Eggplant colored Glassy Baby last night which I love!
I finally gave into it since every time I went to Glassy Baby I would pick up this color and think " Oh, I love this color. What is it? Oh wait... It's Eggplant." So I finally bought myself a treat while watching fellow ladies who launch purchase my boxes of my candles from Glassy Baby. It made me smile and feel all warm and fuzzy!

My health is finally on tract! I can not even describe how much better I feel after returning from my trip. Now that I feel better, I just keep thinking how bad I felt over the last two months. It was awful!

Starting this month I am signing up for Yoga and Pilates. I have health on my mind and I want to get in top shape so that I do not get ill for a very long time. It is time for me to return to Yoga Life and Maya in Seattle. Two studios I adore taking classes in.

I might be falling in love with LA

Just what my body needed.

LA has been an amazing treat! Just what my body and soul needed. I have spent the last three days being pampered, eating amazing fresh food, spending quality time with friends (old and new) and just enjoying a new place to explore.
Yesterday my special treat was a trip to the Bodhi Tree book store. This has long been a place I wanted to visit. The books store was OK. Not really a style of place I would want to spend too much time. It was too heavily scented and cramped for my personal style.
But, I did end up meeting two amazing women and talking with them for almost an hour. It was a good example of being in the right place at the right time. I am looking forward to seeing how these women play a part in my life as I move into the future and a new phase of life. These women inspired me to start coming to LA on a regular basis and meeting other like minded woman. The Bodhi Tree has a really good book selection. I don't want to say it is not worth the trip, because actually, it is really worth the trip. I was just hoping for something a little more modern and less old school hippie. What's wrong with creating a place that takes all the knowledge and resources of the Bodhi Tree and placing it into a very clean, calm and nicely designed atmosphere? Maybe there is a place like this in LA that I don't know about? All suggestions are welcomed. I just thought The Bodhi Tree would be a bit more modern and LA. But alas, I did end up buying three books, spending over an hour there and really enjoying my visit.
Next stop was Dr.Tea's tea garden. Now this is exactly the kind of place I wish the bookstore looked like. They have a beautiful back yard patio with fans, trees, a wonderful water fountain and just good energy all around. This was such a lovely setting for my friends and I to really talk and connect. I hope everyone that takes a trip to LA with stop by this shop and just take a few moments to relax into the ritual of being quiet, drinking tea and just enjoy the feeling of being centered.
The M Cafe was another special treat that I was at first a little nervous about but ended up falling in love with. Of course the cafe was a bit small and could have been a little better at creating a calming environment but the food was delicious and it is the first time I have eaten Macrobiotic food and just fallen in love with it. Everything was so fresh and the flavors jumped around in my mouth. I could not finish my meal because fresh food always has a way of filling me up in a very comfortable and happy way. The rest of my trip has surrounded meeting new people, getting to see old friends and reconnecting with them and doing a lot of person journal work. Due to my health, it has been a while since I took the time to journal so this weekend has been a blessing for me in terms of writing and just being kind to my body.

Oh yeah, the Spa day was amazing! I got two body treatments and my skin feels amazing. I feel less toxic and much more relaxed. I can't believe it has taken me so long to realize that spending the time and money on body treatments is a requirement for me to feel good inside and out. I feel more grounded and content with myself, my body and my life. It truly is a sacred gift that I want everyone to try at least once. It will change your thoughts, your patterns and how you view your amazing body. We all should love ourselves more and treat ourselves!

So I return back to the Northwest today with new energy and excitement for what i am doing. I can't wait for the Ladies who Launch event Tuesday night at Glassy Baby! It will be so much fun to see everyone and reconnect with them. Plus, now I can show everyone the new tea light candles and just be amazed that 1 year ago, I had just started my Ladies Who Launch incubator and now, I am returning having started to make my dreams a reality.

On My Way

A little self care is good.


This Thursday I am flying to LA to visit some old friends and spend the day at the Glen Ivy Spa.

I am so excited to spend a day in the sunshine at their hot springs getting hot stone massages and other treats for myself. After three months of intense sickness and what felt like a total body shut down. This is a much needed vacation for me.


I am also very excited to get reacquainted with some friends from high school. My high school class had 30 kids in it. This by today’s standards is tiny. We had all been going to school for what felt like forever and as much as I may not have liked them in the past, they now feel like family.


I have not been to LA in 18 years so I am pretty giddy about getting to know the city again. Coming from Seattle, LA has always seemed like a super weird world. Think, Earth Girls Are Easy. But from what my friends tell me, it is actually a really great place. I wonder what I will think? I know that my candles will be a big hit there and I am very excited to bring samples down for everyone to try.


I am a little bit sad that I am going to miss the monthly opening of the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, but alas, just another reason for me to visit LA in the future!

Scrabble and New Candles

In honor of this month and because I have been thinking a lot about soulmates, I made my new soulmate candle this weekend. The best part?
This is not a soulmate in terms of romance. This is soulmate that fills your life with love of all kinds. This is the person that makes you feel like the greatest person in the world because of who you are. This person moves through life with you and keeps you smiling and laughing.

The other candle I created this weekend was in honor of a company that I never lucky enough to purchase anything from but spent many hours lost in their little hand drawn catalog. Halcyon Her Company was the name of this little mail order catalog company and I wish I could find out what happened to them. The candle I made is a tribute to the magic of this company and of dreams coming true. The life I used to envision in my head while I looked at this catalog is starting to come true.

If you know anything about this company or the woman Zelda who used to own it, please contact me.

The other wonderful thing I did this weekend was play scrabble with a good friend. I was never a scrabble fan but now I can;t get enough.

Walk with Ahmi

Tonight was cold and crisp as Ahmi and I walked along the cliff overlooking the Puget Sound. It was good to be walking outside. My energy is coming back and I am finally starting to feel a little better. In fact with every night this week my bed time gets closer to normal. Only a little bit longer until I return to my normal high energy level.

I am very excited this week to be having lunch at the Rainier Club with Nicole Vogel who is the publisher of Seattle Metropliantan Magazine. She is a local hero of mine and I can;t wait to hear her speak.

This weekend consisted of making Tea lights and new pillars for the spring time. I will add some photos soon. Once I get my new digital camera.

Food Network, Seattle Bride and Girl Power Hour

So many new things have happened in the last few weeks. It has been busy!

The filming for the food network show that had my tea lights was a huge success. I will keep everyone posted about when the show will air. This experience has also lead to my company getting a little note posted in an upcoming issue of Seattle Bride . Again, I will keep you all posted about this.

Another positive note is that I was introduced to a great group in Seattle called Girl Power Hour. This is a monthly group of women that want to bring networking and women in business to a whole new level. I am very excited to announce that some of my products will be featured at one of their upcoming events. I am also meeting with the two ladies who started this group to help them create a custom candle for their cause. The Girl Power candle. In the next few months they are highlighting Green companies and since Odessa's Herbals has worked very hard in the last year to become green, I am super excited to join this event.

My health is finally improving! It has been a long month and I am not totally healed yet. But with a cancer scare, a horrible infection and a bum knee.... It has been a long road over the last two months.

I Heart Glassybaby

Glassybaby is one of the loves in my life. Not just because I make their Tealights but also because the company is so sweet and wonderful. Nicola who writes their blog just posted a lovely shout out to Odessa's Herbals.

And throw in a box of our signature soy tea lights. I keep meaning to mention this addition to our sales. We now have glassybaby soy tea lights. They come in a charming box designed by local talent/artist Jeffrey Mitchell. Knowing that Jeff had a hand in this product's realization is simply good juju. And Emily Mitchell (no relation to Jeffrey) lovingly hand pours each soy tea light...her kool company is Odessa's Herbals. She is good juju too...and these little soy babes last a whopping 6 hours.

This is so exciting and wonderful!

Another thing I keep forgetting to mention is a company right here in Seattle that I love and admire. Ballard Organics. I found this company a few months ago and just fell hard for their products. Then yesterday, by chance I was in Ballard at the farmers market and saw the owner at his booth. It was lovely to see him again. He mentioned that the Holiday season was good and now he has a little time to slow down which is also good for any small business owner. I hope that if you ever see his products, you will pick some up or tell him I sent you. It is always great to support local business' and especially ones that are certified organic soapmakers!

Sunny Days ahead

For the last two days, Seattle has seen the sun!
This is such a blessing for us in the cloudy Northwest. Sometimes I forget there is a Sun that shines. Especially during the winter months.

I have yet to be able to be outside to enjoy it. I have had candle orders coming in, while dealing with more health concerns, so it has been pretty busy around these parts.

I am going hiking this weekend with a good friend and my dog. That is about how exciting my life gets right now. Not really, I am just in the production mode and working hard at new products. I should have some photo's to put up soon.

There is so much more going on, but I just don't have too much time to write about it right now. I wish that I could share everything that is happening. But alas, it is all too much. In a good way of course!

The candles are about to go public

So I just got off a call this morning and I am very happy to announce that Odessa's Herbals will be making it's first National TV appearance in the next few weeks.

This is still pretty hush hush so I can not provide too many details but I will be making candles all weekend to prepare for this .

I am so excited to be a part of this exciting event and I can't wait to share it with everyone as we get closer to the day!

My So Called Life

Sometimes all you need is a surprise package waiting on your door step when you get home at night to realize that the world works in mysterious ways and it deserves a thank you much of the time.

After a lovely dinner on Friday night with friends, I came home to a package from Amazon that had the complete series of my so called life. One of the best shows ever created. I watched an episode, took a walk with Ahmi and just thought about all the questions that I was asking when I was 16 are still very similar to the questions I think about today. What am I going to do with my life, what will love be like when I find it, how to you change parts of yourself and still be the same person?

It was nice to see that some of these areas I am wiser about, some are not as important and some I have the answers too. And it is nice to know that deep down, I will always be that little girl growing up and just trying to do the best she can. Because now I am that woman who is still growing up and doing the best she can and that 16 year old would be so proud of who I have become.

Another fun note from this weekend. I watched the Packers beat the Seahawks to a pulp, which was awesome. but the best part? I watched the game in between two British Soccer games at my favorite British pub with a very dear old friend who has recently come back into my life. He has been my knight in shining armour in many ways. A friend that loves and cares for me dearly and has helped me through a lot of painful times and good times. He is helping me to learn and grow and I am very thankful for our friendship.

Glassy Baby has the Tealights live!

Glassy Baby has put the Tea Lights up!
I am so excited. The picture looks amazing and I just can't believe those are my candles.

Please order your candles now for all of your Glassy Baby's and tell them I sent you!

Life and Love lessons

Sometimes life gets so busy, it is hard to take the time to examine what is happening.
Lucky, I am in a bit of a slow phase right now and I am looking at all area's of my life and where I am happy along with area's I want to change.


I have been watching the last season of Norther Exposure and Adam asked Dr. Fleischman a question that I have been pondering for the last few days.

"How do you keep the one you love?"

And the answer is....

You don't!

If you truly love someone you let them go. You hold no need to control or posses them. You allow them to just be and yourself to just be.

This is how I feel about my past year. I am allowing all the people to just be. I don't want to control or harbor any negative feelings. I just want them to be and I want to just be.

In other company related news, Glassy Baby will soon have the candles up on their website. This is very exciting for me. And makes me realize I need to revamp my site as well!

I am off to a large dinner party tonight and more candle making tomorrow night.

New Bed

This week I got a new feather down comforter and sheets to start the new year out with.
I am changing up the energy in my bedroom and life. I am throwing away all old memories that are no longer serving me in the start of this new year.

It feels good to be getting to this new place. Moving forward and beyond has never felt better to me.

Tomorrow marks a new moon that is filled with power for relationships. Could be good for some and bad for others.

I made candles all weekend and they look amazing. New colors and shapes!

Music

As you can tell, I have been going through a bit of a music revival. This has been a really good and fun process for me. I hope everyone has been enjoying the videos. They are very random but all little sound bites from different times in my life.

This weekend I welcome a good friend into my studio to join me in making candles. I am very happy to have this guest and look forward to a fun day of talking and candle making.

The holiday season has slowed down and now I am getting more personal candle orders which are always my favorite ones to make. People are ready for a new year and new intentions. I will post when new candles are being created. I have a long list of candles to tell everyone about.