Aromatherapy

So I've returned from a weekend workshop in Aromatherapy. I figured it would be helpful to have more background knowledge in understanding the properties of some of the essential oils I've been putting in my soaps and salts. Tasha and I went up together for the class, which was nice to have company on the trip. But, me, being the High Standards snob that I can be, am disappointed at the content, or lack there of, that was presented. I guess the bulk of the learning will take place when I complete the hours upon hours of classwork that needs to be completed before I can be "certified," which really means nothing in the aromatherapy world...This will become my Internship for my class. (By the way, I'll need some "guinea pigs"...anyone interested? prerequisite: I must already know you!!!)

This week was my school vacation, which was rather busy. I managed a trip to the outlets to return the last of my Christmas gifts that didn't work on Monday, schoolwork Tuesday, hung out with Mom on Wednesday (and little Miss Samantha), and on Thursday and Friday I got started on my mentorship, far, far away in eastern CT at an herb shop. I'm really looking forward to building my understanding of herbs and their common uses. I am also very interested in gaining insight into the world of small business. The two women I've interacted with already have such different attitudes toward the purpose of their businesses and some very interesting advice. It's very exciting to just be open to the possibilities of Something Entirely New to me as a possibility for my future individually and for the potential family.

Looking ahead, the month of March is going to be absolutely Insane for me. I will be completing both of my mentorships (both 40 hours...), working on my aromatherapy internship work, going to a wedding, going to a Natalie MacMaster concert, my weekend class, oh, then there's that job that actually pays me that I'm expected at every day, too...If I can make it through this month without any major breakdowns, I'll be very impressed! I look forward to the first 2 weeks of August when I'll have Nothing To Do because my course will be done and school won't start back up till mid-Aug. Ahhhh....that's so nice to think about!!!

I must count my blessings though that I have been lucky enough to be able to pursue my own wacky interests and am supported by my wonderful husband (even though I stink up the kitchen now and then with my concoctions!!!)

Dinner with Friends

On Saturday night Trav and I went up to Becky and Jeff's for dinner. We got to see Vicky's growing belly! I'm very excited for her and Rich as they prepare for Becca's little brother;) Cute! Becky was quite the hostess, too...I'll have dinner and dessert there anytime! She claimed an Italian Night theme, but I'm thinking the "better than sex" cake and "les boules de poof" were a bit more thematic...



It's nice to have friends that you can just be yourself around, friends who have seen you at your worst and have seen you in your prime...While we may not get together often enough, it's nice to know that when we do get together it's comfortable and "humbling." It's also a tremendous reminder of how much has changed since we first met that freshman year in college...10 years ago!



"Les Boules de Poof"

Chocolat

On Sunday night, Trav and I watched the movie Chocolat...so nice:) I had seen it when it was in the theater what 6 years ago? Before I knew Travis. I went with kayaking Jenn to the little theater in downtown New Haven (all gone, now:( I remember being enamored by the set...wanting to go to a place like that, all cobblestoned, windy walkways, small doors, character, charm, old Europe. In retrospect, since I have met Trav, I have seen so many places like that from Denmark, to Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and France. I have been to those cobbledy towns (picture a trendy suitcase on wheels being pulled down a cobblestone sidewalk...yup, sends vibrations right through your brain...and gets annoying quickly...not designed for Old World travel.--That's why the cool kids use backpacks when traveling in Europe!)

I posted this picture from our Honeymoon in France because this town, Beynac, in the Dordogne region (southwestern France), was listed in the travel book as reminiscent of Johnny Depp pulling up his boat to the town of what's her name in the movie (Juliette Binoche). Beynac was a really neat place with one of many of France's chateaus protecting it, not to mention it had the only room available considering the nearby city was hosting a Bastille Day event. Hungry and tired, me and Trav took the cheapy hotel room and ate an expensive dinner in the hotel restaurant with a most memorable and odd waiter. It amazes me that people really live in some of the places I've travelled to. To me, it's like living in Epcot. But I guess it's far more authentic of an experience than Epcot will ever be!

Anyway, if you haven't seen the movie, it's very sweet. And Johnny Depp is cute, I don't care how eccentric he may be...

Here's a couple more Beynac pictures....(Trav has the better ones saved on his computer)









Okay, now, where to travel to next? We must get at least one more good trip in before any life-changing events take place!!! (Lots of innuendo going on here...unintentional, I swear!)

Snow Day!!!

Hooray for the first snow day! In flippin' February! Better late than never though, I guess. Obviously, this is not my picture because we don't even really have snow down here on the coast, just lots of ice...yuck! But, to not have to go to school is the goal and this storm has accomplished that goal! I know most teachers might be a little disappointed that they will have to go to school longer in June because of this, but in my school, we go straight up to the end of June regardless, so snow days are freebies for us...We really really like them!

Oh, and happy V. Day to all. Trav and I went to our yummy Thai restaurant last night since he was/is planning on heading up to Plattsburgh NY for work. Seems a little icy for such travels today, but I guess he's going anyway...slowly...

So, to make the most of my day off, I MUST do some schoolwork (not kid's-school, but MY school). Since I switched topics on my culminating project, I need to redo my framework, introduction, and literature review...fun, fun! Who's jealous?

My New Hobby

Okay, so I've been in search of something I Enjoy doing...Once upon a time I actually enjoyed and was passionate about my job, but alas, that feeling has died out and I have been sad about it because I couldn't figure out what my Passions were...very sad. I started that grad program for my 6th year in hopes of being inspired or finding my new path and I had been disappointed time and again both by the program and by my lack of being able to figure it out...until recently, that is.

So the program is Experiential Health and Healing and we have all kinds of guest speakers that come and share their expertise in various alternative healing modalities. Very interesting, but not always very scientific. I even had to give an evaluation of one of the program "directors" and say that I needed more science besides her comment that sometimes we need to do things just because they feel good (picture a woman laying on a massage table with colored silk scarves draped over her chakras, color coordinated, with a singing bowl placed on her chest...I ask what all this is doing for the "client", she says she does it because it feels good...and I'm supposed to be wanting to tell people about this "alternative therapy"....) That example was rather dramatic, but true!

Anyway...so I've been so caught up in thinking about what to do for my mentorships and internships and what I could be if I'm not a teacher and all that jazz...what am I actually "qualified for"...it's been rather tedious thinking...but finally, I find my calling...

It's soap, yes, clean, lathery, all natural soap, handmade from scratch, right here in my very own kitchen...I've become a bit obsessed with it, can't stop thinking about it, searching online for recipes, ideas, marketing strategies, small business ventures, etc. It's so not a career (given that I don't want to HAVE to make it and make lots of it, but it's so much fun to think about and look forward to...I have also been playing with bath salts and bath teas and "gift baskets." I can see myself at a little table at craft fairs or farmers markets...how cute! (yes, this is really Lisa, being all crafty and such!)

Here are some pictures of the process...it's rather involved and involves a "caustic solution" of lye, water, and oils...hence the goggles and gloves...

The set-up

Pouring the lye into the water with Tasha and her husband, John. (For some reason, Travis always has something important to do when I make soap...hmmmm)
Mixing the lye/water solution with oils...

Fun, fun, fun!! I'll keep you posted on my adventures! I might almost be able to call all of this my new Passion...we'll see! Imagine that, ditch the day job and sell $4 bars of soap...sure would take lots of bars to equate to my current salary!!! But it's good to be excited about something! And who knows if there might be something in the future that might keep me from working full-time...you never know!

Back By Popular Demand!!

Hey Cool! I have friends that found me! I haven't been to this blog thing in a month and here I come today to catch up a little and actually have comments! How exciting! It's really great for the self-esteem! Thanks, friends! With your support and prompting, I shall continue the journey!!