Supernatural Botanicals

Having no choice but to pay attention to it, as it’s displayed in every grocery store in America, a bottle of Skinnygirl Margarita made it’s way into my refrigerator.  Skinnygirl is a brand created by reality turned mainstream personality, Bethenny Frankel.  I immediately loved Bethenny for her entrepreneur-meets-lunatic personality …let’s just say I’m familiar with that territory.  There’s a laser-focused drive amongst some in the world that just sets them apart, and that’s exactly how Bethenny just landed a reported $120 million for her Skinnygirl Margarita brand.

You know a product has a successful PR and marketing strategy when you purchase their product, even though you don’t necessarily like it.  That’s what I did.  I was pretty sure I didn’t like Tequila, yet I purchased a bottle of  Skinnygirl anyway.  Not only do I adore Bethenny, but I also think her Skinnygirl line in genius.  The logo is spot-on.

So I have an entire bottle of Skinnygirl in my fridge.  The bottle is so cute, I don’t mind it having center stage in my fridge.  But here’s how it’s keeping me skinny…if I dare open the fridge for a snack or something with too many calories, like Parmesan cheese,  I see the Skinnygirl staring me down.  Then I think of Bethenny looking skinny-fabulous (I’m guessing 118 pounds on a 5’6″-ish frame??).  Then I think of Bethenny sealing a deal for $120 million.

Thanks to Ms. Frankel, I now have some more will power, skinnier thighs, and a goal to conquer the world!

“If you’re going to be alive and on this planet, you have to suck the marrow out of every day and get the most out of it.”  Drew Barrymore on being proactive about life.

If you want a seriously sculpted body, it’s all about exercise.  There’s no way around it…beside starvation, and even starvation won’t make you sculpted.  Try this to carve amazing abs for yourself.

1. Begin it with 5 minutes of jogging to warm up.
2. Follow it with 2 minutes of sprinting
3. Slow down your jogging pace for the next 5 minutes
4. Sprint again for 2 minutes
5. Return to jogging for 5 minutes

A big thank you to EcoBold for not only supporting eco-minded people and businesses, but for also featuring Supernatural Botanicals today.  The following article is courtsey of EcoBold.  Visit their site to learn more about the great work they are doing…then let it inspire you!

The founder of Supernatural Botanicals, Robin Feltner has a chemistry background and she just knows what ingredients should or shouldn’t be inside skincare products. This line is completely paraben-free and phthalate-free. Learn more with the interview below:

Tell us a little bit about the background and story of Supernatural Botanicals.
Supernatural Botanicals is an eco-chic bath & body company specializing in skincare that follows Green practices and principals, and formulates its products with intent and purpose.

At the inception of Supernatural Botanicals, we knew we wanted to create a company that knows its demographic. Growing increasingly disappointed with mainstream bath & body stores catering to teenagers, Supernatural Botanicals wanted to target the grown sexy woman demographic. We also wanted to focus on being Green and creating products that not only feel and smell amazing, but products that are highly beneficial for the skin.

We created products formulated without Parabens or Phthalates. Green products come from natural and organic ingredients, and that’s exactly how we formulate our products…with intent and purpose, and as natural as we can. After literally hundreds and hundreds of prototypes, we formulated perfection, bringing to you natural products that smell as incredible as they perform.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? 
I’ve always had “entrepreneur” in my genetic makeup. I was selling homemade cards to neighborhood ladies at the age of 4. I wanted to grow up and have a double major as a fashion designer and interior designer. That dream never materialized. In hindsight, I wish I would have had a mentor to help me prepare, telling me which art and business classes I should have taken.

What’s wrong with standard skincare products and why do you think such ingredients are allowed? 
I believe lack of quality ingredients poses a huge threat. Not only has quality fallen by the wayside, but we also should be concerned with the toxins in the products we are using every day. Many common ingredients have been proven by scientists to be harmful, yet manufacturers continue to use them because they are inexpensive, thus allowing for more profit.

How did you choose your ingredients and what to put in each product? 
Extensive research! Having a chemistry/pharmacy background, I’m always extremely cognizant about using quality, natural ingredients.

What’s the biggest lesson you learned while starting Supernatural Botanicals? 
I’ve literally learned a wealth of knowledge in forming my company. I’ve learned that customers sincerely do appreciate companies that are going the extra effort to keep them healthy. I, too, have learned how many mainstream companies use cheap fillers in order to make profits. 

If you could choose just one of your products, which one would it be? 
Extremely hard to narrow that down as I love all of the products. I do favor our Beach Body Spray. Not only does it smell absolutely amazing and I get numerous compliments on it every time I wear it, but it’s a multitasker. It works great in your hair, giving your hair extra volume and beautiful scent. I even use it as a linen spray on my bed sheets. It’s also our best seller.

Describe a typical day in your life.
I’m an early riser. I tend to get a tremendous amount accomplished in the early hours. I work on the business end of the business from 5-8…networking, emails, following up on orders, PR, social media, etc. From 8-6 I’m in our workshop, formulating skincare products and filling orders. The day flies by, and I’m always hungry for more hours at the end of the day. In the past, it would be very common to find me in my workshop until as late as 11 p.m. I’ve luckily learned time management, and the importance of accomplishing that task.

What’s one thing we could do to have an awesome skin, naturally? 
Check your labels. Use products that do not contain parabens. Don’t be fooled by companies that splash the name of an all natural ingredient, only to flip the label over and realize that they natural product they are promoting only has trace elements within it, and is filled with other harmful fillers. 

If there is one thing/thought/idea that you could pass on to the next generation, what would it be? 
One huge concern I have for our next generation is the condition of our planet. Global warming and eco concerns will certainly be a problem in which they inherit. My hope is that we can educate the masses enough to get everyone on board with being green and eco-responsible. 

What’s your # 1 green tip? 
Recycling is an easy way to start being green. Every human being on the planet creates waste. There’s absolutely no reason we shouldn’t be more responsible for the garbage we create. This is also something that even children can learn and be a part of. If we start them early, it will become second-nature to them.

Think you can’t have a garden because you live in the city?  Think again.  The Durvaes Family of Pasedena, California has done just that.  Watch the amazing transformation of their yard, from dry, parched dirt, to rich organic soil where fruits and veggies (and more) grow.  Their story is ultra-inspiring.  Let it inspire you to do the same!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IbODJiEM5A

How sexy is your bedroom? Flannel comforters, over-sized tee-shirts and photos of your kids, or even worse, your parents, sitting on a nearby nightstand  does not make for a sexy bedroom.  Think ultra plush, think soft and sexy.  Ladies, be kind to your men and don’t make them sleep in the land of precious with your Laura Ashley floral-overload bedroom.  Sex it up, sister.  Be sure to equip your room with privacy….not having a lock on your bedroom door is a major no-no.  Take an assessment…how sexy is your bedroom?

Smart Talk Connected Conversations will host Della Reese in Cincinnati May 17, 2011.  Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Della Reese is a world famous singer, actress and television star.  As well as a spokeswoman for the American Diabetes Association and an Ordained Minister!  Ms. Reese was born Deloreese Patricia and began singing at six years old!  By the age of thirteen she was hired by the late Mahalia Jackson to tour and perform with her.  A generous amount of television exposure followed Ms. Reese’s first recording successes. She was also the first female to host The Tonight Show. She was soon asked to host her own talk show, Della, (making her the first Black woman to host her own show). Her most recent television credit,Touched By An Angel she was able to combine her talent for acting and singing, as she sang the theme song. Della will inspire you with her ability to be more than an entertainer, more than an actress and more than a minister- she is living proof that you can dream larger dreams and watch them come true!

And we have free tickets to see Della Reese on May 17th.  Leave a comment below and let us know you want to go.

So it’s no secret that we here at Supernatural Botanicals are tree-hugging, granola-eating, Earth-loving people, so an event like Earth Day 2011 is a celebration for us.  In our effort to be Green, we ask that you do one thing kind for the planet today.  You can approach this in a myriad of ways…try to walk instead of drive, recycle something, reuse something instead of chucking it into the garbage, avoid putting toxins down your drains,  reduce your consumption, plant a tree, start a garden.  Simply, live a cleaner, more eco-friendly  lifestyle.  Start today, and see if it “sticks” tomorrow.  Stand for something, have a cause.  Happy Earth Day!

Rounding third and heading for home, the Smart Talk Connected Conversations finished it’s fourth in a five part series for 2011 with Alison Levine in Cincinnati last evening.  Alison was the Team Captain of the 1st American Women’s Everest Expedition and Groundbreaking Polar Adventurer; Alison Levine is no stranger to risk-taking.  She’s survived sub-zero temperatures, hurricane-force winds, sudden avalanches, and a career on Wall Street.  Levine was born with a life-threatening heart condition that precluded most demanding physical activities.  After her initial diagnosis she had surgery that changed her life – and climbing stairs soon gave way to climbing mountains.  To learn more about Alison, check out her website, www.AlisonLevine.com. 

As always, Smart Talk hosts another amazing women with yet another amazing journey.  Don’t miss the last speaker in the series, Ms. Della Reese.  She will be at the Aronoff in Cincinnati on May 17th.  For ticket information, see here.  

Did you know… you can burn double the calories if you do your workout in the morning, on an empty stomach.   Doing an a.m. workout also gives you an extra boost of energy for the remainder of the day.