Supernatural Botanicals

She makes healthy beauty products for a living, and for fun, she discusses “all things girly” on her blog. Read all about it and see how you can join in on the fun.

Two years ago, Robin Feltner launched both her blog and her all-natural bath and body company, Supernatural Botanicals. The blog was intended to be an extension of the business, but in many ways, her business is now an extension of the blog.

“I started the blog to keep women, primarily, informed and up to date on the latest trends and information in beauty [and] health,” Feltner says. “But soon thereafter, [it] took on a life of its own.”

Since its launch, the blog has opened doors to new customers, business opportunities and higher search engine rankings. More recently, it’s given Feltner the chance to meet several big stars like Diane Keaton, Valerie Bertinelli, Patricia Heaton, Ann Compton, Helen Hunt and Tony Bourdain.

The blog initially served as an open forum for people to share their insights on her products, ideas and the emerging eco-friendly industry. The blog helps Feltner gain candid insight from customers and readers that she didn’t have access to otherwise, she says. “Anonymous comments can be brutally harsh at times, but it’s exactly what I was looking for,” she says. “I wanted an open dialog where they could express and/or request anything they wanted.”

The blog’s tag-line is “Discussions on All Things Girly,” which offers Feltner — and her readers — a wondrously wide range of topics from which to choose. Typically, you’ll find blog posts with beauty, fitness and eco-living topics, but occasionally you’ll find something else that strikes Feltner’s fancy.

“I’m passionate about being ‘green,’ so that crosses over into my writing quite a bit,” she says. “Beauty and fitness is a given on a girly blog, but interior design and events in Cincinnati have certainly had their share of time in the spotlight on my blog as well.”

Some of her favorite blog posts include: 

• “Thoughts on Business Casual”
• “For the Love of Vintage”
• “Diane Keaton in Cincinnati”

These popular topics drew a crowd, and even attracted the attention of the Smart Talk series organizers. They contacted Feltner two seasons ago to represent Cincinnati as their ambassador for their Connected Conversations series. “It’s been amazing,” she says. “And I have met some of the most incredible people in the process” — Keaton, Bertinelli, Heaton, Compton and Hunt, just to name a few.

But the star power didn’t stop there. Another group found Feltner’s blog and asked her to represent Cincinnati bloggers at the recent Tony Bourdain speaking engagement.

But the big question: Has the blog beefed up her bottom line? The answer is yes, Feltner says. “The blog has helped me reach a greater customer base,” she says. “If you are doing a random search on eco bath and body in Cincinnati, you’ll most certainly find my blog amongst the top Google searches.” A successful, updated blog is a powerful PR tool and her blog is a big reason why Google goes ga-ga for her business, she says.

The blog also helps to add value to her current customers because it invites readers into her life. “I have found that readers enjoy the experience of stepping into my workshop or kitchen to see what I’m doing via pictures I post on my blog,” she says. “I find blogging a unique way to get personal with my customers and readers. It’s important for me to interact with the readers so I can be specific about giving them exactly what they want.”

She doesn’t just interact on her own blog, though. Feltner is a self-proclaimed advocate for reading others’ blogs, too. “Being ultra-connected to each other is an advantage that we’ve never had in the past, and is especially beneficial for business owners,” she says. “Although my personal interests span from green global issues to lipsticks, I do tend to visit particular blogs regularly.”

She says she adores SavortheSuccess.com, a Web site for women entrepreneurs that offers insight into what’s working (and not working) for other women in business. Another favorite of hers is Pink Magazine, which provides inspiration and tools for women in business. She also gives props to her friend Julia’s blog, Hooked On Houses, which covers her love of houses and interiors.

In addition, Feltner belongs to a local group called Cincinnati Women Bloggers. “We are a successful group of women bloggers in the Cincinnati area, and that Web site is an incredible resource to find blogs on all things local, as blog topics vary vastly,” she says.

Last but not least (at least we don’t think so), Feltner shows some chic love. “When I want to know what’s going on in the city, Cincy Chic is positively my first stop,” she says. “I have always found that if it’s worth being known, Cincy Chic knows about it and I’ve attended many local events after learning about them on Cincy Chic.”

Visit Cincy Chic for the article.

PHOTO CREDITS
Photographer: Neysa Ruhl
Model: Robin Feltner
Location: Lofts@4120

…….Last night I had the amazing opportunity to work with Smart Talk Women to invite the adorable Miss Valerie Bertinelli to Cincinnati. And let me just say, we had so much fun! First, with the obvious….yes, she’s as cute and bubbly in person as she is on screen. She graciously and patiently signed her books and went on to speak about “taking your life back.” This girl is truly in her zone, her sweet spot, if you will. It’s hard to imagine that someone with everything that she has could have gotten lost along the way for so many years, but she did. Well, she’s found her groove and she is loving life. Happiness just oozes from her and it’s so great to see her (or anyone) who is in their sweet spot of life. Here’s what our girl, Barbara Cooper, er, Valerie, had to say:
___________________________________________________________

Without a doubt, the true love of her life is her son, Wolfie (Wolfgang Van Halen.) She delights in speaking about her son and his natural (okay, inherited) passion for music. She said that Wolfie, now 18, has chosen his path in life and that’s certainly music. He tours with his dad, Eddie Van Halen, playing bass.

___________________________________________________________

Valerie on Eddie: They have a great relationship. In fact, she texted him yesterday (on his 55th birthday) to wish him a happy birthday. They have found common ground and both Eddie and Valerie are happy now. Val said when she went to give the “sex” talk with Wolfie, she deferred it to dad, Eddie. She then realized she sent her child to a rockstar for advice on sex! ha!
___________________________________________________________

On the bikini: Val says it was hard for her to believe, too. She weighed 122 pounds in this picture, and worked very, very hard for it. She said she’s about 10 pounds heavier now, but that was a goal, and, wow, did she nail it. She looks amazing. This is a 49 year old woman looking 22! You. Go. Girl.

___________________________________________________________

Valerie on the weight: Emotional eating is what helped Val pack on more than 170 pounds. She said she was so embarrassed everywhere she went. She heard the whispers….”Is that Valerie Bertinelli?  She’s so fat.” Years of being unhappy with herself is what got her to a place of being overweight.
___________________________________________________________

Flash forward: She lost 40 pounds and she’s running the Boston Marathon in April, a few days before she turns 50! Valerie says running is what has transformed her body. Did she like running? NO! But, she adjusted and is learning to love what it does for her body.

___________________________________________________________

Valerie on boyfriend of 5 years, Tom Vitale: Val says Tom fell in love with her when she was 40 pounds heavier (we love him already.) Not only that, but Tom is a University of Cincinnati graduate! Love that! Tom is obviously her pillar. She even brought him on stage at one point, pointed at him and said “this is why sex is great!” They are very sweet together. He brought her a glass of champagne when she and I were talking, and she responded “thank you, baby!”
___________________________________________________________

Jalapeno Poppers: The root of all evil. When Val was at her heaviest, she and Jalapeno poppers were the best of friends. This was her go-to comfort food. She said she’d even put cheddar and sour cream poppers in the oven and mix them around …just to surprise herself with each bite. She hasn’t touched them in three years.
___________________________________________________________

Insight: Valerie on single parenting: “You have to love your kids more than you hate your ex.”
___________________________________________________________

Not only does Valerie write books, she’s an avid reader. Val has been doing book club with her girlfriends for 12 years!
___________________________________________________________

Is Valerie in the tech-loop: You bet! You can find her on Twitter @Wolfiesmom and her blog is ValerieBertinelli.com.

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

Reminder:  Valerie Bertinelli will be in Cincinnati on January 27th for the Smart Talk Connected Conversations.  It’s not only a must-see series for women in business, but for all women (and men, too.)  To learn more about the show and to purchase tickets, go to Smart Talk’s website. 

It’s the time of year again to start thinking Smart Talk Connected Conversations.  Cincinnati has an incredible line up again this year, featuring dynamic speakers Valerie Bertinelli, Ann Compton, Patricia Heaton, Lee Woodruff, and Helen Hunt.  Five amazing nights, five extraordinary women.  Tickets are available now …hurry as they sell out quickly (as well they should…these ladies are amazing.)  Click here to purchase your tickets …hint…think Christmas gift!  If you want to feel empowered, don’t miss this.  It’s truly an amazing experience. 

Speaking of photoshopping…People magazine’s cover girl Valerie Bertinelli can’t believe her bikini body at age 48!

Neither can Michael K. over at Dlisted.  Here’s what MK has to say…  Quote:  Valerie should also consult a medical professional, because it can’t be healthy that her thighs and arms got a bad case of the jaggeds. ….Michael K. from Dlisted.com

That Michael K. is so observant!

Update:  Further research has found that Miss Bertinelli says she was 5’2″ and 172 pounds before she started her diet.  She claims to have lost 40 pounds…making her 132 pounds currently….still 5’2″ we are assuming.  First of all, glance up at the picture again and see if that looks like 5’2″ and 130 pounds.  Secondly, if you calculate her height and weight on the body mass index (BMI) calculator, she’s 0.8 of a point from being labeled as “overweight”!    Wouldn’t it be great if People magazine actually showed you what she really looks like and her real accomplishments?  She lost 40 pounds!  That’s such an accomplishment…but photoshopping to this degree really undermines her hard work.  It’s as if they said, yes, you look good, but not quite good enough.   Numbers don’t lie.  We know what 130 pounds looks like on a 5’2″ frame….and it doesn’t look like the picture above.  Magazines should stop their lie-telling.  I mean, if they are writing stories to inspire others, shouldn’t they be giving factual information?