Tim Gunn will be at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Theater on January 14th for a night of fun and insight with SmartTalk Connected Conversations.   SmartTalk has been bringing women together to experience the power of the spoken word since 1991. In the past several years, SmartTalk has grown into one of the most powerful and entertaining live events in the nation. The core mission of SmartTalk stems from the idea that women are inspired by the heart and voice of other remarkable women. In fact, we became more than just a lecture series but a series of connected conversations. These thoughts, stories and pieces of advice shared face to face create invaluable connected conversations that truly renew, enrich and uplift the spirit.

You have a chance to win tickets to see Tim Gunn!  Simply leave a comment and let us know you want to see Tim!  A name will be drawn at random, and the winner will receive two tickets to attend the show.  Good luck!

Looking for the perfect gift for the fashionista in your life?  SmartTalk will bring the sensational Tim Gunn to Cincinnati on January 14th, and there’s no time like the present to get tickets…and save.  Shop SmartTalk’s Holiday sale for 20% off tickets – starting Tuesday November 18^th.    Simply use “SANTA” to get the discount.  Shop now and save big!

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.

Our Farmers Market Collection of soaps are always in demand in the summertime.  Raspberry-Lemonade has a sweet and tart combination that just screams summer.  Our Sun-Ripened Strawberry soap smells exactly like a fresh, sweet, just-picked strawberry from the vine.   Savannah peach has a true juicy-peach scent and is wildly popular.  Your mind instantly goes to Savannah.   Yuzu is our citrus soap, bursting with grapefruit and orange scents.  Perfect for summer.  Crisp and sweet.  Our big 6 ounce bars feel great in the hand, and are beautiful for gift giving.  Made with all natural ingredients, our soaps are perfect for the face and body.  After you’ve washed your face with an amazingly scented soap, you’ll never go back to ordinary cleansers.  They wake you up, and the scent stays with you.  Fantastic!  Visit our entire Farmers Market Collection.  Sensational!

Supernatural Botanicals gets a new logo.  Huge thank you to our friends over at The Next Wave for helping to bring our idea to life!

The Discovery channel’s breakout rockstars from their hit reality show, Deadliest Catch, was in Cincinnati last night to share some of their adventures on the Bering sea…and these boys definitely do not disappoint.  The show’s format consisted of all three captains, Sig Hansen, Andy Hillstrand, and Johnathan Hillstrand, and a moderator on stage, asking the captains questions on various topics, from what it’s like to be on the ocean, to rouge waves, to their whirlwind successes.

Over whiskey and cigarettes, the captains showed us home footage of their adventures, told us of their personal experiences, had various feedback sessions with audience members, and spoke on family ties in the business.  Andy sang not one, but two, of his original songs.  We saw Sid’s cameo appearance in the movie, Cars 2, where he does the voice of a boat…which, incidentally, looks just like him, too.  Johnathan had a mohawk, which he did for a little boy who has cancer, and it actually looked fantastic, and told us how he kissed Sarah Palin “in the way every woman should be kissed”.

The VIP line after the show was incredible.   In hundreds of shows I’ve seen at the Aronoff, I’ve never seen a VIP line that long.  Longer than celebrities.  Longer than food chefs.  Longer than Broadway musicals.  Backstage, the captains were completely unaffected by any amount of stardom they are receiving.  They joked all night long, had the best stories, and, I think, were happy to finally see women!

Visit their website to find where they’ll be touring next.  It’s a must see.

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One of Cincinnati’s favorite resources for fresh fruits and veggies, unique meats and cheeses, and amazing breads and pastries is Findlay Market.  Located in downtown Cincinnati, Findlay Market remains the hottest spot for the coolest people.  Check out my visit from earlier today.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spqkev3U5iY

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.

The cardinal sin of skincare is sleeping with your makeup on.  No matter how tired you are, wash your face before bed.   Your skin collects pore-clogging oil during the day.  According to a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, there’s also a link between air pollution and skin bumps…especially if you live in high pollution areas, like Los Angeles, Chicago and Cincinnati.

Get yourself into a good skincare routine.  It really only takes two minutes before bed to cleanse, tone and moisturize.  Don’t have a skincare regime yet?  Try Supernatural Botanicals Skincare System.

The stars of the Discovery Channel’s wildly popular, Deadliest Catch, will be at the Aronoff in Cincinnati on May 9th.  In this rare, live, interactive event, the Bering Sea’s toughest crew swap stories as they take the audience through some of the roughest situations the captain and crew have ever had to face on the high seas. From the treacherous weather and crew conflicts, to the triumphs of the team, Captain Sig and Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand bring the intimate world of crab fishing to a live audience.

“Deadliest Catch” was released to the public in 2005 and has been going strong ever since, making it one of the most popular shows in Discovery Channel history.  For the first time, fans across the country have a chance to hear the stories behind the show, view never before seen video, and partake in a question and answer session with members of the cast of “Deadliest Catch.” Season seven will debut in the spring of 2011. For more information on the Captains, the tour, & much more, check out  www.thecaptainstour.com.

Don’t miss  your chance to see Sig and the Hillstrand brothers in Cincinnati.  We will be offering free tickets in a random drawing.  Just leave a comment and let us know you want to see the stars of the Deadliest Catch.  Good luck! (Winners will be chosen 05/02/2011).