Supernatural Botanicals

Don’t rule out your outdoor living space just because the temperatures are dropping.  Some of my best parties were held outdoors in the Fall.  It seems to make parties cozier, in fact.  An essential for a Fall party is a fire pit or outdoor fireplace for warmth and light.  Keep the fire stoked all night…you’ll need it for s’mores after dinner.  Adding lanterns with small candles to tree branches around the entire perimeter makes it glow, and again, lends extra warmth.  Serve heartier eats, such as spicy chili, tacos, or a beef brisket.  Learn how to make some delicious after dinner hot drinks that warm you up, and get you in the mood for a party (see below.)  Add a great smooth jazz CD music mix to the background and decorate the the entire area with fall colors.  It’s a guaranteed magic night! 

Peppermint Patty Hot Drink:

1 Shot of Peppermint Schnapps

Hot Chocolate to fill glass

Top with Whipped Cream and an Andes Chocolate Mint.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LljoH54N4k0

Cincinnati Women Bloggers was extended the fab opportunity to have our monthly meeting at the Cincinnati Ballet.  Our meeting covered topics of blogging conferences and shared experiences at the recent blogging conference in Chicago, BlogHer.  (Sadly, the only one who enjoyed BlogHer was our Mommy-blogger.  Tech, creative, and business bloggers, etc., had a much different experience.)  …BlogHer is far too expensive to not take something away from the conference. 

 It will be interesting to see the attendance rates for BlogHer 2010.  BlogHer is a great idea, but the overall consensus is, BlogHer needs to be better planned for next year.  We are optimistic to see the changes for 2010 as BlogHer is a great idea at the core.

Back to the Ballet.  Terry Honebrink with the Cincinnati Ballet gave us a behind-the-scenes look at this incredible facility.  The costume rooms are amazing.  Her beautiful daughter even performed for us.  You can experience the Cincinnati Ballet at an upcoming FREE event called Ballet and Beer on September 3rd.  Highly recommended.  You’ll have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and mingle with Ballet performers.  Click here for more information.  Reservations are recommended at 513-621-5219.

   Supernatural Botanicals turns 1 today!  It’s been an amazing year for us!  What a year it has been.  Thank you so much for your generous support and your emails.  A special thank you goes out to Smart Talk Women, Cincy Chic, and WE Magazine for their support!  And an extra special thank you goes out to all of our customers and wholesale vendors….without you, there would be no Supernatural Botanicals.  Thank you! 

Take a look at our year of highlights: 

   Smart Talk Women extended the wonderful opportunity to meet the legendary Diane Keaton!  An absolutely surreal experience.  Diane was amazing…just like I knew she would be.  Read about this night here. 

Supernatural Botanicals was featured in Cincy Chic’s Green Issue.  Amy Storer-Scalia, owner of Cincy Chic, extended us the wonderful opportunity for this great rooftop photoshoot at the gorgeous McAlpin Condos in downtown Cincinnati.  Read about our Cincy Chic article here. 

   WE Magazine for women names Robin Feltner as one of the 101 Women Bloggers to Watch in 2009.  What an honor to be amongst so many creative successful women.  Thank you WE Magazine.  Read about this article here. 

   A huge thank you goes out to our customers who have raved about us online.  Pinkie Charm did an amazing 15 minute You Tube review. 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flEHMI_44Vg 

We can’t thank Pinkie Charm enough and all of those who have sang the praises of Supernatural Botanicals bath and body.  It’s been an incredible first year.  We can’t wait to show you what Supernatural Botanicals has in store for you in year two. 

Robin Feltner, Founder/CEO, Supernatural Botanicals

Feeling guilty for sneaking on the Internet while at work?  Tell your boss about this new study.  The University of Melbourne’s study showed that people who surf the Web at work have a better concentration level, and are 9% more productive than those who don’t.  Apparently, the key is to keep it short .  Evidently, quick Internet use offers the most benefit.  Start here….follow us on Facebook and Twitter.   

Tired of taking the same old bottle of wine when you and friends get together on the weekends?  Mix it up and take a basket of muffins.  Muffins are always a hit.  Every.  Single.  Time.  Muffins are quick and easy to make when you get home from work on Friday, and will be amazingly delicious when your friends are nibbling on them that night.  One caveat…make plenty.  Make at least 3 to 4 muffins per person.  Trust my experience on this one. 

Links to some of my personal favorite blogs….check them out, you’ll see why!

Favorite Style Icon Blog:  http://ultimatecarolyn.blogspot.com/

Favorite Inspiration Blog:  http://nieniedialogues.com/

Favorite Bloggers Group:  http://www.CincinnatiWomenBloggers.com

Favorite Cincinnati Food Review Blog:  http://winemedinemecincinnati.com/

Favorite Cincinnati Downtown Living Blog:  http://5chw4r7z.blogspot.com/

Favorite Local Eco-Awareness Blog:    http://www.parkandvine.com/

Favorite Adult Swim Website:  http://www.dlisted.com 

Favorite Domestic Blog:  http://thepioneerwoman.com/

Favorite Green Blog:  http://www.treehugger.com

My friend Michelle, aka Buffmother, taught me a trick I use on a daily basis.  She loads up her To-Do list with things like Drink 10 oz of water or Stretch for one full minute.   She calls it her five minute mojo checklist.  My favorite way to find my “mojo” is to take five deep breaths, …very…..long…..slow…..breaths.  Controlling your breath centers you, and calms your central nervous system.  Breathing in five (minimum) deep breaths helps you to focus, and is excellent in calming anxiety.  Great stress reliever.   

   I finally received the long awaited email from Amazon….you can now pre-order the series, Thirtysomething, on DVD!  I’ve been waiting for them to release this for years.  This is my all time favorite show.  I became totally and completely infatuated with the delicious Michael Steadman….(Ken Olin.) *swoon*. 

Thirtysomething represented everything I, as a twentysomething at the time, wanted to be as a thirtysomething when I got there….especially the Michael Steadman part!  There are certain shows that can do that to you, that take you back to a moment in time.  You can see yourself sitting on a big (probably green or orange) sofa in your childhood home watching School House Rock, The Walton’s or The Love Boat.

Thirtysomething takes me back to one of my first apartments…I can see the Patrick Nagel prints on the wall now!  I’d have 25 of my closest friends packed in my living room (because that’s how you roll when you are in your early 20s) every Tuesday night to drink in that week’s episode.  It was like an old-school book club.  We were doing book club before it was even invented and considered cool….and I’m proud of that! 

Collect a few of your friends, who are more than likely fourtysomethings today, and have them over to watch the first season of Thirtysomething.  They’ve finally released it on DVD.  Finally! 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRnIHhX8F-o

One of the wonderful things about blogs is that it connects you with people you normally wouldn’t have known otherwise.  Take, for instance, The Vintage Kitten.  She lives in the English countryside and loves all things vintage.  Cocktails are her specialty.

This cocktail, a Cloud Nine, will be perfect for entertaining my friends tonight.  Thanks, VK!

Visit my girl across the pond, The Vintage Kitten and her husband, Mr. Kitten, and explore her style and recipes.  She has the best cocktail recipes…ever!  You’ll love her vintage style.

Recipe courtesy of The Vintage Kitten.

RECIPE:

1 Shot Disaronno Amaretto
2 Shots Amarula Cream
1 Shot Raspberry Liqueur
3 Scoops Vanilla Ice Cream

Blend all the ingredients together with lots of ice until slushy.

Dip the rim of the glass in chocolate shavings and carefully pour the drink without touching the chocolate. Float lightly whipped cream on the top of the cocktail and decorate with raspberries.

I’m always excited to network with other women in business.  There’s so much to be learned from each and every one of them.  I recently interviewed my friend, Kristy Abner, owner of Kristy’s Kreations.  She makes gorgeous handmade jewelry that’s as pretty as Kristy is!  Read Kristy’s blog interview below, then visit her website, www.KristysKreations.com, to see her entire line of jewelry.

*What made you decide to start a jewelry business?
I noticed that I started getting compliments on my jewelry from strangers when I was out shopping or running errands so I thought, Hmm…why not try to sell it and see what happens?

*Why did you start making jewelry?
I bought a beautiful cross pendant with peridots and amethysts and I didn’t want to just put it on a silver chain, so I looked everywhere trying to find a beaded necklace to go with it and then after a long and exhaustive search I thought to myself, why not try to make what I want myself? I’m so glad I did.

* How did you learn to make jewelry?
I’m basically self taught. I took several beginners classes at Union Bead Boutique to get the basic ideas and concepts down. I also have a good friend, Lynn, who makes jewelry and we share our knowledge with each other.

* What are your favorite materials to work with?
Copper, Sterling Silver, Glass Beads (made by my husband) and beads in shades of blue and green.

* Where do you draw inspiration from?
Everything! Mainly bead magazines, but sometimes I just see a color combination that I love and I just go with it.

* What are your favorite pieces to make? (rings, necklaces, bracelets?)
I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite! I do enjoy making pieces using the lampwork (glass) beads that my husband makes. I love showing him what I’ve done with his beads.

* Do you and your husband share a workshop? No, he has his workshop out in our garage and I have a room in our house that holds most of my tools and supplies. I usually end up stringing beads while sitting on my bed, even though I have a room where I could do that! My husband is currently working on his own website but you can find his information on mine.

* What have been your biggest challenges in business? That would have to be promoting my business. I do the most business by word of mouth, although every once in awhile I get a customer who just happens upon my site.

* What are some of your favorite websites?
http://www.firemountaingems.com/
http://www.theearthbazaar.com/EarthBazaar/EarthBazaar.aspx
http://www.agrainofsand.com/

* Any advice for someone wanting to start their own business?
If you are going to sell something that is handmade, then start first with a site like artfire.com and etsy.com where you can test the waters by having a store that doesn’t cost much and sell a few things to see how it goes before jumping in with both feet.

*Any additional information you might want readers to know?
I am going to be published in a bead magazine called BeadTrends. I will be in their July issue and their September issue.
I’m on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/kristysjewelrydesigns

And on face book at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/pages/Kristys-Kreations-Jewelry/56891326209?sid=9205dd9f534a7c00f42f77dccff59dce&ref=search

My website is
http://www.kristyskreations.com/