monday moment of zen

"if you can't find the truth right where you are, where do you expect to find it?" ~ dogen

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monday moment of zen

"if you've lost focus, just sit down and be still. take the idea and rock it to and fro. keep some of it and throw some away, and it will renew itself.
you need do no more."

~ clarissa pinkola estes

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be the change

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monday moment of zen

“health, wealth, beauty and genius are not created, they’re only manifested by the arrangement of your mind.”

~ neville goddard

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monday moment of zen

"true warriors become legends; thus, they do not truly die, but inspire others to carry the sword of strength that made them achieve greatness."
~ valerie goodman

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monday moment of zen

"a question not asked is a door not opened."
~ marilee adams

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thankful thursday

"maybe we're not supposed to be happy. maybe gratitude has nothing to do with joy. maybe being grateful means recognizing what you have for what it is. appreciating small victories. admiring the struggle it takes simply to be human. maybe we're thankful for the familiar things we know. and maybe we're thankful for the things we'll never know. at the end of the day, the fact that we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate."

~ meredith grey, grey's anatomy

thanks to you my dear readers, i am ever grateful!

hugs & namaste

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monday moment of zen

“if you truly learn something, how you express

it is different than how

you learned it.”

~ krishnamacharya

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bowenwork 4 part series - part 4 - sessions, what to expect, other details

lower back procedure

thanks for your continued reading about bowenwork. if you are just tuning in or need to catch up, you can read:

part 1 - what is bowenwork?
part 2 - how does bowenwork WORK?
part 3 - my transition from massage to all bowenwork

and to put the finishing touches on this bowenwork 4 part series, today i'll tell you in with some more details, like what to expect during a session, frequently asked questions, etc.

upper respiratory procedure

how long does a session last?

the length of a session is completely dependent on the unique individuals needs for that session. usually a session lasts between 30 - 90 minutes from start to finish.

do i get completely undressed like i would for a massage?

no, bowenwork practitioners can work through light clothing (think t-shirt or tank top & shorts or yoga pants). personally i prefer to work though light clothing unless the clothing hinders the movement.

is there any oil used like massage?

no oil, creams or lotions are used in a bowenwork session. this makes it super easy for the office professional to slip out for a longer lunch to get a session and go back to the office completely relaxed without a head full of oil like sometimes happens with massage.

how often will i need to come in for sessions?

again, this is something that is entirely dependent upon your unique situation. we will book 2 sessions approximately a week apart from each other to set the foundation of the work. during this time frame, the body will begin the healing process and a lot of symptoms will diminish in severity or completely.

if there is an injury and you have a bowenwork session right away then maybe only two or three sessions will be needed. the first two to help the body to prevent from compensating for the injury and initiate the body's healing mechanisms so that the healing process isn't as long. a third session may be needed a few weeks later to do a tune-up just to ensure the body is healing properly and that chronic issues will not be formed.

if you have been dealing with a chronic issue then more sessions may be needed as you have been dealing with your illness or disease for a length of time. the first two to three sessions are structured similar to what i mentioned above but we may need to continue for several more weeks to help the body get to the root cause of your illness/disease.

upper back procedure

can bowenwork help me recover from a recent surgery?

yes! it is optimal to see a bowenwork practitioner for one or two sessions before going into surgery to relax and prepare the body for what's to come. the body interprets a surgery as a trauma and by receiving bowenwork before can help ease the trauma that is to come. getting bowenwork after a surgery is hugely important to help your healing process. try to schedule your bowenwork session approximately 3-7 days after your surgery (depending on how invasive the surgery was).

how soon should i notice results?

most people start to see results after their first session. it may not be the exact results that they are looking for but the body is doing the best that it can to heal. somethings need to be eliminated or diminished before the body can heal the condition/illness/disease you are seeking relief from.

what if i don't notice any results?

some results are happening but they may be on such a smaller scale that you may not be able to recognize them immediately. that is why bowenwork practitioners will ask that you give it at least 3 sessions before making a decision of whether bowenwork is working for you or not. after 3 sessions if you don't see any results then bowenwork might not be the therapy for you. we don't claim to fix, cure or heal anything and we are not claiming that bowenwork is for everyone. we are only giving your body the messages that it needs to initiate it's own healing. there are plenty of modalities out there and i am sure that if you keep looking you will find the right one for you.

shoulder procedure

what do i expect to happen in a session? do i need to bring anything?

your first session starts with an intake form and we will discuss the issues that you are trying to resolve. each session afterwards we will talk briefly about any changes you've noticed from your last session and see if we are still on target with the goals we set.

you need to bring some light clothing (as previously mentioned), some water to drink after your session and an open mind. try to let go of any expectations you may have and let your body do the healing.

ok, so you've definitely piqued my interest, how do i find a bowenwork practitioner?

if you are in the morgantown, wv or surrounding area, you can contact me directly. my email is melitamollohan@gmail.com.

if you are not in the morgantown area, but are in the united states, please visit the bowenwork academy usa page.

if you are not in the united states, you can still visit the bowenwork academy usa page to search the country you are in.


if you have any questions, concerns, comments, please don't hesitate to let me know in either the comments below or send me an email.

hugs & namaste!

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monday moment of zen

"only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have."
~ jim rohn

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bowenwork 4 part series - part 3 - transitioning to all bowenwork

thanks for following along in my bowenwork 4 part series. in case you are just tuning in, you can catch up on part 1 - what is bowenwork? and part 2 - how does bowenwork WORK?

part 3 is all about the transition i am currently is of converting my massage therapy practice into an all bowenwork practice.

i remember being in ohio during my first bowenwork training back in january and calling my boyfriend ryan and excitedly telling him that i was switching my massage practice over to bowenwork. his first response was, 'you mean you aren't going to do any more massages?!' i had to laugh because i knew my transition would be slow but the ultimate answer was yes. absolutely yes!!

i knew then what i know now, even though my vision is more clear than ever.

respiratory procedure

so, why switch from massage therapy to bowenwork?

first of all, i have to say that i am not knocking massage therapy or massage therapists at all! i mean no disrespect at all. remember, i am a massage therapist too. but there are a few reasons why bowenwork works better for me than massage therapy.

• for the reasons mentioned in part 2. there are some diseases, disorders, chronic pains & problems that massage doesn't address.

• from my own personal experience of working with clients. i have seen clients make huge improvements from crohn's, celiac, TMJ, migraines, infertility, fibromyalgia, and many, many more. bowenwork never ceases to amaze me. some of the best results that i've seen is a client who had crohn's disease who wrote me this beautiful testimonial: "Having suffered with Crohn's disease since the age of 9, it has been an ongoing struggle to maintain a healthy, normal lifestyle. Attempts to control symptoms with corticosteroids and 5-aminosalicylates were mediocre at best, with debilitating side-effects. Since beginning Bowenwork I have seen remarkable improvement in symptoms, especially with gastrointestinal health." ~ T. D. and another client was a 10 year old girl with aura migraines. aura migraines are the hardest to predict and prevent. that sweet girl was put on medication to help prevent her migraines but unfortunately it didn't work for her. i saw her for a session and didn't see her for a month & a half. when i checked in her mother reported that the girl only experienced one migraine since her last bowenwork session. the mother thought this was amazing. she explained that the girl usually gets migraines in clusters but she only had one in a month and a half!

knee procedure

• from my own healing experience from receiving bowenwork. i have si joint problems and my hips were killing me. i tried everything from massage to chiropractic visits to reiki. these modalities helped for a little while but the problem kept coming back. after my first bowenwork session my hips felt 75% better and that lasted for about a month an a half. i have only had 4 bowenwork sessions for my hips and they are back to normal. i do need occasional tune-up visits to make sure that my hips stay functioning order without pain. but trust me, after my bowenwork session, i was a believer!!

• as my mentor told me, i can do this until i'm 80 years old if i want to, because it doesn't hurt my body. i was experiencing more pain in my hips as i was giving massages than an any other time (except deep hip opening postures such as firelog). not to mention the pain that i was getting in my hands and wrists from doing several massages in a day.

• as a massage therapist i was getting frustrated because i was seeing the same clients every week or every other week with the same issues. i was a temporary fix to a deeper problem that massage therapy wasn't getting touching. sure, this is great for job security but that is not what i am in it for. i want to see people get out of pain, heal, and get on with their lives! no body should have to live with pain!

perineal procedure

thought the transition has been slow, i am always keeping my end goal of doing only bowenwork at the forefront of my mind. i believe in the work that much!!

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what i'm currently reading

babaji the greyhound

here are the two books that i am currently reading. each one is focused on a passion of mine: bowenwork and yoga.

what are you currently reading?

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monday moment of zen

'normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them....'
~ alan watts

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bowenwork 4 part series - part 2 - how does bowenwork WORK?

continued from the bowenwork 4 part series. read part 1 - what is bowenwork?

so, interested in finding out more about bowenwork and how it exactly works and what it's good for? welcome to part 2 of 4 where we will discover exactly that!

upper back procedure

how does bowenwork work?

there are many theories about the physiological mechanisms by which bowenwork brings about the results for which it is famous. in addition to the rebalancing of the ANS, autonomic nervous system, bowenwork moves and procedures may reset the body to heal itself by activating, through the nervous and endocrine systems among others, the following mechanisms:

• stretch reflex: most moves are done either at the origin, insertion or belly of muscles where receptors are located, informing the nervous system on the state of tension, length or stretch in the musculotendinous tissue. these receptors are stimulated during the ‘challenge’ and the ‘rolling’ part of the move, which changes the stimulus received by the nervous system. this can change a pain/muscle spasm loop.

• joint proprioceptors: all moves done around a joint directly affect the joint capsule and ligaments that are richly innervated with proprioceptors. here again, stimulus will be received by the nervous system, inviting normalization of the joint function without the need for forceful manipulation.

• fascia: each bowenwork move is done at the level of the superficial fascia and affects the relationship between the fascia and the nerve, muscle or tendon being mobilized. fascia plays a major role in muscle co-ordination, postural alignment and overall structural and functional integrity. all of these are negatively affected when the fascia stiffens, contracts, torques or dehydrates. following a bowenwork session it is not uncommon to see adhesions loosen up, scar tissue soften and posture and mobility improve without harsh mobilizations or stretching.

• segmental viscerosomatic spinal reflexes: several bowenwork moves engage these reflexes. they produce referred reactions to the internal organs through stimulation of the skin, muscles and nerves.

• acupuncture points and meridians: most moves overlap acupuncture points and some actually cross two or three acupuncture meridians at once. acupuncturists have correlated the indications and effects of bowenwork moves with the corresponding acupuncture points. they have also commented on the immediate changes of the acupuncture pulses in response to moves or procedures. the overlap of these two systems could explain the very strong vibrational component of the technique and its effect on the internal organs.

• harmonic vibration or resonance model: bowenwork moves set up vibrational patterns which bring the body back into balance and harmony.

• lymphatics: some bowenwork procedures activate draining of the lymphatic system, stimulating the immune system.

• detoxification is often initiated during a session, thereby improving the body’s ability to function at a cellular level.

TMJ procedure

what can you use bowenwork for?

bowenwork can be beneficial in a wide range of situations. it can assist recovery from many conditions, from traumatic injury to chronic illness, depending upon each individual’s capacity to heal. many clients report that bowenwork is THE most relaxing modality they have ever experienced.

some of the conditions that often respond favorably to bowenwork are:

· back pain and sciatica

· digestive and bowel problems

· earache and TMJ problems

· migraines and other types of headaches

· fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome

· hip, knee, ankle and foot problems

· menstrual and hormonal irregularities

· neck, shoulder (including frozen shoulder), elbow and wrist problems

· groin pain, pelvic tilt and uneven leg length

· respiratory problems and hay fever

· repetitive strain injury, carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow

· sports and other traumatic injuries

· pelvic, low back or sciatic pain during pregnancy

· colic, feeding problems, asthma symptoms, or unsettled or distressed babies and children (including neonates and infants as well as older children)

· regular tune ups, stress relief, anxiety, sleeplessness and for relaxation

if there is something you can think of that isn't on the list above, please don't hesitate to ask. i will be happy to let you know in my professional opinion if i think bowenwork will be able to help.

read here if you missed part 1 - what is bowenwork

read the rest of the series:
part 3 - converting my massage practice into all bowenwork practice
part 4 - sessions, what to expect, other details

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bowenwork 4 part series - part 1 - what is bowenwork?

as most of you know, i'm a licensed massage therapist. and you've probably seen me mention bowenwork on a number of occasions as well. some of you are probably wondering "just what the heck is bowenwork?!"

welcome to my bowenwork 4 part series where we'll delve deeper into bowen. i hope to answer some of your questions. but if for some reason you have more, don't hesitate to ask!

so, first of all, what is bowenwork?

bowenwork provides gentle and profoundly effective signals to the brain for healing and recovery through the stimulation of special receptors in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerve bundles of the body. these stimuli can result in deep relaxation, resetting of muscular tension and range of motion, lymph drainage, pain and inflammation reduction and pain relief. (more details coming in part 2 of 4.)

where did bowenwork come from?

bowenwork came from australia. tom bowen developed it over a period of several decades by working with athletes and injured laborers. it arose from his study and profound understanding of the structural and healing mechanisms of the body and his interest in osteopathic principles. tom bowen practiced in australia from 1958 until his passing in 1982.

how did i find out about bowenwork?

lucky for me, i have a fabulous mentor that lead me in the right direction. my mentor, kate, is a massage therapist and a yoga teacher like myself. i originally asked for her to become my mentor when i started massage school. she told me about bowenwork pretty early on, saying that i needed to check this out, that it was fabulous work. of course i said i would, and i did, briefly... but after a couple of months go by she reminded me again. that was in december of last year and after doing more in depth research, i immediately signed up for the first two training modules in january of this year. at which point i knew i had found my home in the bodywork world!!

my beautiful and talented mentor kate in action

read more:
part 2 - how does bowenwork work and what is it good for
part 3 - converting my massage practice into all bowenwork practice
part 4 - sessions, what to expect, other details

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monday moment of zen

"either the goal of yoga is to be free, or the goal of yoga is to get it right. you can't really have it both ways. because if you choose freedom, you have to divest yourself of that crazy idea that you have to get it right."

~ leslie kaminoff

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perfect morning

my day started out with being gently woken up by a thunderstorm. i love thunderstorms! i woke up feeling great! i immediately rolled out my yoga mat, sit on it and began to breathe deeply. i moved my body gently to stretch it after my long sleep. and after waking, i took another seat to meditate. after sitting for a little while i got up and made a mug of jasmine green tea.

now that's the kind of wednesday morning i love!!

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monday moment of zen

"the secret of attraction is to love yourself. attractive people judge neither themselves nor others. they are open to gestures of love. they think about love, and express their love in every action. they know that love is not a mere sentiment, but the ultimate truth at the heart of the universe."
~ deepak chopra

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weekend warrior series offered at blissblissbliss

Spend part of your weekend progressing through a blissful blend of Vinyasa, Yin and Restorative Yoga.

9:30-10:30am Get started with a dynamic Vinyasa practice. This flow will challenge and heat the body and burn away anything you no longer need.

10:40-11:40am Melt into a Yin practice. Yin is a series of poses, held for a longer period, while one sends their intention, breath and consciousness to the bodily sensations. This draws the life force (prana or chi) into the deeper meridians which stimulates the immune system and rejuvenates the whole body.

11:50am-12:50pm Completely let go with a Restorative practice. Indulge in an hour of held, supported postures to facilitate deep relaxation and bring the body back into balance. This is the antidote to stress!

12:50-1pm End your time on the mat in a meditative state with a FREE 10 minute guided meditation.

Weekend Warrior is a dynamic balance of both yin and yang: action and repose, activity and receptivity, movement and stillness. And since these classes are separate you can mix and match (or stay for all 3) and choose what kind of Warrior you want to be!

Class dates are November 6th & 27th.

(Please note that all 3 classes will end in Savasana so if you are only able to get in one class you will have a complete practice. Use your blissblissbliss yoga pass - one punch per class.)

monday moment of zen

“in the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.”
~ deepak chopra

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monday moment of zen

"when we are in pain, we become self-centered and myopic. when we heal, we become more empathetic, self-less, and sympathetic to the pain and welfare of others. it is our gift to others to heal ourselves."
~ max strom

monday moment of zen

"it is how people respond to stress that determines whether they will profit from misfortune or be miserable." ~ mihaly csikszentmihalyi

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monday moment of zen

"the secret of attraction is to love yourself. attractive people judge neither themselves nor others. they are open to gestures of love. they think about love, and express their love in every action. they know that love is not a mere sentiment, but the ultimate truth at the heart of the universe.”

~ deepak chopra

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Women's Creative & Healing Mini-Retreat

the end of the week is here and boy what a crazy week it's been. between work and school i've had so much stuff stacking up i sometimes didn't know where to begin. i have to remind myself daily to take care of most important tasks and let go of what can wait until tomorrow.

this weekend i will teach some yoga, see some bowenwork clients, catch up on some school work and take a breather. what are the weekends for, right?!

if you are local i wanted to send out an invitation to join me for a mini-retreat i'm leading at blissblissbliss. below are the details. hope you can spend an afternoon relaxing and rejuvenating with me.

what's on your weekend to-do list?

hugs & namaste!

Celebrate your Autumnal Equinox with Melita for an afternoon mini-retreat just for women. You are always rushing around taking care of others so take this time to care for yourself, to let go and just "be." Take time to rejuvenate and reflect through meditation, yoga and creative play all while being around other like-minded women. Spend part of your day basking in a slow, yet energizing flow topped with a Yin & Restorative Yoga practice all while receiving some hands on healing therapy provided by Melita. You will also spend some time doing some art journaling (making a inspiration board) and Autumnal goal setting. Please bring a journal, an assortment of favorite images pulled from magazines, your tea mug and your intentions for the remainder of 2011. No yoga experience necessary, all levels welcome and the perfect opportunity to share some quality time with your bff's. Leave feeling lighter and restored with ideas abound for Autumn. Tea, light snacks and inspiration will be served. Please reserve your spot by emailing Melita at melitamollohan@gmail.com.

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tea trade winner

thank you to all who participated in the 3rd annual tea trade.

we had 39 women in total:

two from france, one from slovenia, one from the netherlands, a couple from the united kingdom, several from canada and a smattering of the united states!!

every year i giveaway a prize to one person from the tea trade. this year ryan picked the winner and the winner is....

elizabeth of morgantown!!!

congrats elizabeth, you will be receiving your tea trade gift soon!

thanks again for joining and making this years tea trade a huge success. if you joined the tea trade and blog, i am looking forward to reading your posts! feel free to share them in the comments below so others can check them out as well.

hugs & namaste

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monday moment of zen

"fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, hate less, love more, and good things will be yours."
~ swedish proverb

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tea trade - last call

ladies & gentlemen,

tomorrow, september 15th at 11:59pm est. is the last chance to enter the 3rd annual tea trade.

details can be found by clicking on the above link.

i'm happy to say that we have 35+ traders from all over the globe. some tea traders are as far as way as the uk, 2 from france, one from slovenia and a smattering over canada and the states. this year is going to be the best yet!!

so if you know someone who loves tea, please share the word, share the tea, and share the love!

hugs & namaste!!

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monday moment of zen

"yoga is about clearing away whatever is in us that prevents our living in the most full and whole way. with yoga, we become aware of how and where we are restricted — in body, mind, and heart — and how gradually to open and release these blockages. as these blockages are cleared, our energy is freed. we start to feel more harmonious, more at one with ourselves. our lives begin to flow — or we begin to flow more in our lives."

~ cybele tomlinson

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friday evening practice

i almost started typing "furday evening practice" which would totally be true. this is me and the clan sharing practice. hugs & namaste!

monday moment of zen

'it is our dedication to living with open hearts and our commitment to the day-to-day details of our lives that will transform us. when we are open to the present moment, we shine forth. at these times, we are not on a spiritual path, we are the spiritual path."
~ judith lasater

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monday moment of zen

"behind the strength of the body, there is an energy that is spirituality, and that is what keeps us alive."
~ pattabhi jois

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what i've noticed

wvu in front of the mountain lair

starting this past monday, i have re-entered wvu once again.

apparently a lot has changed since i graduated with my accounting degree back in 2005.

somethings i have noticed since being on campus:

- return of 'kids' smoking... what's is this about?! seriously, i have never seen SO many college kids smoking. did this suddenly become cool and i'm just now hearing about it??

- what happened to all of the starbucks cups and kids drinking coffee? when i was in college everyone used drink coffee and always had a coffee cup attached to them (what seemed like permanently).

- one last thing... what's up with the 80s style side ponytails?! i guess that's now fashionable as well?!

being a "non-trad" aka a non-traditional student, i'm SO outta the game. :)

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monday moment of zen

"drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.
~thich nat hahn

join my 3rd annual tea trade - details here

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3rd annual tea trade

can you believe that it's almost time for the 3rd annual tea trade!! last years was a blast and again, my thanks to all who participated.

how it works: tea traders will send a sampling of 3 - 4 ounces (85 - 113 grams) to another participating tea trader. (most boxes of pre-bagged tea is usually between 1.8 -2 oz or 51 - 57 grams). to participate you must be willing to ship your package internationally. (we usually have a few lovely ladies from the uk and from france that participate!!)

details: please send an email to melitamollohan@gmail.com with the subject line "tea trade." in the body of the email please share your address . i will then match up people round robin style and give you a name and address of where to send your teas packages. all of your personal information will be kept strictly confidential. if you feel more comfortable providing your work address rather than personal that is totally fine. also, if you do not wish to provide your name please make sure you let me know in the email and who ever will be sending your tea package will label the envelope "tea trade" and your address.

special prize: i will award a special prize to one lucky tea trader. winner will be chosen at random. special prize will be announced soon (i'm still working on gathering a few goodies for the lucky winner).

due date: please email me your information by thursday, september 15th at 11:59pm est so that we can start tea trading at the end of september!

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monday moment of zen

"a gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles."
~ william hazlitt

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monday moment of zen

"nothing can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness."
~ leo tolstoy

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monday moment of zen

"when the student is ready, the teacher will appear."
~ buddhist proverb

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baby doll's skin care giveaway winner

thanks to all who entered my latest giveaway.

and a big congratulations goes out to aly!!!

aly, please email your snail mail addy to melitamollohan@gmail.com so that we can send your package right out!!

if you didn't win but still want to check out this stay cool spray, michele is offering a 50% off sale right now. check out her etsy page for more details and promo code.

hugs & namaste!!

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monday moment of zen

"insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
~ albert einstein

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monday moment of zen

"travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience."
~ francis bacon

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baby doll skin care giveaway

i'm excited to announce that i'm doing another giveaway.

this time you get a chance to win an awesome product from the baby doll's skin care line to help keep you cool this summer.


lemon twister peppermint spritzer

i've had the pleasure of trying this spray for a couple of months now and i love it. it not only smells good but does help keep me cool. it's a refreshing blend of lemon and mint. it's made by a local artist here in west virginia and it's made with all natural products!

you can even stick it in the fridge and spray it on when you need cooling off. also, think perfect for after hot yoga!! :) and it even works as a natural insect repellant! what more could you want?!


all you need to do to enter to win is....
leave a comment about how you stay cool in the summer. you get 1 entry per comment - so enter as many times as you wish!! (comments MUST be made on the blog to gain entry to win the giveaway.)

deadline to enter is july 20th at 11pm, est.

"like" baby doll's skin care on facebook, check out their blog & etsy page for other fantastic products!

hugs, namaste & good luck!!

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