This Month I’m changing it up and writing about something that has graced my world in these past six weeks.  As most of you know I recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Tula.  She was born at 34 weeks on August 21^st, weighing in at a petite 5lb 10oz, and with a head of hair!  She also was born with Down Syndrome.  This news came as a surprise to my family and friends but ran very parallel with my heart and what I was feeling through out my pregnancy. Something felt different and with a few very weak soft markers found on my sonogram and an army full of professionals, family and friends trying to assure me everything was “normal”, I was not fully convinced.  Intuition. Everyone has one and everyone should learn to trust what there soul is trying to tell them, even if it seems scary.  Though the confirmation of what “felt off” devastated me, the grieving was painful but short lived. I have been blessed with a daughter who has humbled me and already taught me the importance of life… to love unconditionally and to bloom where you are planted.  I know how fragile life can be, and that the future for anyone with children can be scary and challenging.  I’m willing and ready to embrace this journey. Down Syndrome does not define my Daughter, it just so happens to be a little extra part of who she is. Yes, this may have turned my world upside down, but what if upside down is really my right side up? The stars lined up when I was given this baby, and I couldn’t be happier! I love my daughter.            Meet my happiness.  

Tula Idele Eyler-Callaway

Tula; (Greek) Meaning: “Gracious Gift,” and “Strength”

Soon after her birth I came across a blog www.kellehampton.com. Kelle has 2 girls, Lainey and Nella.  Nella was also born unexpectedly with Down Syndrome.  I have been reading about her journey and have already found how incredibly similar our stories are.  Kelle’s blog is not about Down syndrome but about life and as she puts it “enjoying the small things.” I encourage you all to visit her site.  She writes so beautifully and I guarantee you will be moved by this remarkable woman and her family. Not to mention Chrissy and I are obsessed with her girls clothes! She recently published a book called, Bloom.  It’s a memoir about her story, and is truly healing me.  A must read for EVERYONE!

Ironically, October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. I hope all of you will take some time to really understand Down Syndrome and learn how we are more alike then different.  Practice inclusion in your life.

This is a “wellness” blog and I’m sure you may be wondering what this has to do with wellness…  My job is focused around beauty and remedies to enhance your looks.  But don’t get so hung up on the outside that you forget the inside. True beauty to me is when one can free themselves of the idea of perfection and learn to live with compassion, understanding, acceptance, and love.  Somebody who can appreciate the differences in one another and realize that we are all different yet here for the same reason, to learn and grow from our experiences and to always love unconditionally.   My Daughter Tula may look different on the outside, (I think she’s breathtaking) her heart is the same as yours on the inside.  Only you can stop the pattern of judgment, but you must start with yourself.   As many of you continue your services at Lotus we hope to continue to provide wonderful treatments and products enhancing your looks…but more than just that, we hope we enrich your life with true beauty.

I will end by sharing a simple small poem my Dad wrote me in a card after Tula was born…something my Grandmother was trying to tell him before she passed in May,

The stars will shine

The moon will glow

Life begins

So love can grow…

Thank you for all the baby wishes and blessings you all have giving me and my family! I am so grateful for all of you!  I am looking forwarded to seeing you as I start back to work this week!

With Love,

Chelsea

Now we can either throw a full-out tantrum and denounce all make-up, hair products, clean clothes, bathing, etc. whining it’s too late for you and tell your friends to save themselves or we can stop, take a moment, and simply breathe.

Change. It is difficult. It is scary. It is exhilarating.

It makes us feel more alive.

We are aging everyday and we are changing everyday. Once we accept this everything falls into place.

To also ease this transition, there is a powerful aid in softening the external aging effects. Exfoliation. A gentle exfoliant can be used on the face up to 2 times a week to help rev up your skin renewal process and reveal a smoother, more radiant complexion. The removal of dead skin also helps make fine lines look softer by removing the excess of build-up that makes the lines look deeper that what they really are. We recommend our  Eminence Organic Skincare products Strawberry Dermafoliant (for the more sensitive) and the amazing Pear and Poppy Seed Microderm Polisher.

In additon to the face, body exfoliation is crucial and widely used in Ayurvedic Medicine. According to Yoga Journal Magazine, dry body brushing is excellent for stimulating circulation and removing dead skin. Use a natural-bristle brush or a loofah glove and brush toward the heart. Dry brushing is believed to stimulate the lymphatic system, which is important for developing a strong immune system. Lymph ducts are located all over the body and drain into the blood circulatory system just above the heart. So, in theory, brushing toward the heart could improve the function of the lymphatic system. Start with the soles of your feet, brushing in a circular motion. Move up the legs, then do the hands and move up the arms. Do your back and abdomen last. Avoid any irritated skin. Brushing is best done before your daily bath or shower, when the skin is completely dry.

Once a week, treat yourself to the following body scrubs if you like. The ingredients can be found at www.bazaarofindia.com and www.mountainroseherbs.com

For oily or blemished skin: Combine one cup of chickpea flour, one teaspoon of turmeric, two tablespoons of white sandalwood powder, one tablespoon of red sandalwood powder, two tablespoons of neem leaf powder, and two tablespoons of powdered orange peel. Add enough water or yogurt to create a thin paste. Brush the paste over your skin, working toward the heart, and leave on for about 20 minutes. Massage off, vigorously for unblemished kapha skin and gently for sensitive, blemished skin.
For dry skin: Combine one cup of chickpea flour with one tablespoon each of red sandalwood powder, white sandalwood powder, Indian madder, arjuna, brahmi, and shatavari. Add slightly warm milk to make a paste. Brush the mixture onto your skin, working toward the heart, and leave it on until dry. Remove with more warm milk.

We hope you take time to breathe and embrace the beautiful changes happening to your body, mind, and spirit.

According to Skin Inc. Magazine, chemical sunscreens can actually change the way your skin naturally produces melanin and can possibly even cause long-term cancers other than those of the skin. Some studies have even showed these harmful chemicals can cause skin cancer cells to develop more easily due to their free radical-generating properties. The list is long of the chemicals but the following are the most common:

1. Octinoxate(octyl methoxycinnamate)- an estrogenic chemical that has been linked to hormonal imbalance and increased rates of cancer.

2. Oxybenzone (a derivative of benzophone)- a chemical that may cause hormone disruption. In Europe, products with 0.5% or more of this chemical must come with a warning label.

3. Avobenzone- a free radical-generator that absorbs UV radiation energy and since it cannot destroy it converts the light energy to chemical energy which is topically released as free radicals in the body.

Scientists are currently studying the effects of these chemicals in the bloodstream, being that they are easily absorbed into the skin. The longer they sit on the skin, the higher the threat they pose.

At Lotus, we believe in using 100% natural SPF 30 or above sunscreens that contain the physical-blockers minerals zinc and titanium oxides. These have be proven to be more effective in protecting against both UVA and UVB rays. Zinc oxide is an essential mineral for the body, promotes healthy skin and hair, and boosts the immune system. As for titanium dioxide, it is a highly reflective mineral that is non-irritating, non-allergenic, and non-comedogenic. Many complain of the chalky effect from these minerals but this can easily be amended by adding it to your moisturizer or liquid foundation.

Also, take whole food vitamins that contain Vitamin D3 and eat foods that that are high in this as well. For example, mushrooms, eggs, and wild salmon.

Remember to still expose your skin to the sun 10 minutes a day without sunscreen to reap the amazing benefits of Vitamin D for your body but never between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. After those 10 minutes, apply a mineral based sunscreen such as Eminence’s Tropical Vanilla Sun Cream. This vanilla and shea-buttered infused cream hydrates and revitalizes your skin while also protecting it with SPF 30 and zinc oxide.

This juice is quite strong – but invigorating! You can make it more/less sweet, to your tastes. And you can mix it with more/less water sparkling water, also to taste. You can also double the recipe if you need to use up more citrus. The juice freezes well in baggies or ice cube trays. I typically use ruby red grapefruits here.

3 tablespoons natural cane sugar
2 tablespoons ginger, peeled then grated
1 cup / 240 ml water

very scant 1/2 cup / 95 ml fresh lime juice – 2 juicy limes
1 1/3 cups / 310 ml fresh grapefruit juice – 2 juicy grapefruits

In a small saucepan, over medium heat, stir together the sugar, ginger, and water. Simmer for 5 minutes, transfer to a glass bowl or cup, and place in the freezer for a few minutes to cool.

Strain the ginger into a pitcher along with the lime and grapefruit juices. You can either strain the citrus juices or leave them pulpy, just be sure to catch any seeds before they go in. Stir and taste, if you want a bit more sugar, go for it, but I find this plenty sweet. Serve straight in a tiny chilled glass with ice. Or use a splash to freshen up a glass of sparkling water.

Makes about 2 cups / 1 pint

Spring is known for its rain, high humidity, and growing plants. Your skin and body
start to go through the same cycle as the Earth by regenerating and shedding
off winter layers but sometimes needs a little help if the winter months have
packed on dead skin and toxins.

Dr.Douillard goes on to explain that when the skin is supple, moist, and in
balance, the skin drains toxins and waste products efficiently into the
lymphatic system; which then carries the wastes away from the skin and out the
body. If the skin stops functioning, the lymphatic fluid will also stagnate and
the waste will begin to back up the skin. Along with the liver and kidneys, the
skin is one of our primary organs of both processing and eliminating toxins.
With the amount of pollution we are exposed to and chemicals people use of
their skin, you can imagine how important the skin’s drainage into the
lymphatic system can be. In the simplest terms, your immune system’s strength
is showed through your skin. Dry skin loses its luster and the immune system is
compromised.

To help your skin bounce back from winter and detox this Spring (which by the way
is the BEST time for a detox), eat whole fruits and vegetable and drink lots of
fresh juice. Moisturize with an oil suitable for your skin type with either our
Suki Balancing or Nourishing Oils and speed up your natural cell turnover
process by exfoliating. We also recommend our Eminence Pear and Poppy Microderm
Polisher. This is full of powerful antioxidants such as pear, green apple, and
green tea. Poppy seeds and fine walnuts help to gently remove dead skin and
provide instant radiance. This is perfect for all skin types!

Vibrant, clear eyes are a sign of good health.  The under eyes are the most delicate part of the face due to the absence of sebaceous glands directly under the eyes leaving nothing to lubricate the skin. As a result the eyes are the first to show signs of aging,  Stress, anxiety, worry, insomnia, water retention, sun damage, dim or bright light, overwork, and excessive amounts of alcohol all strain the eyes and lead to crows-feet and fine lines.   Here are some remedies to relieve and avoid eyestrain, prevent wrinkles, and give more sparkle to the eyes.

Blinking:  Blinking helps keep your eyes from straining, improves your vision, and lubricates the eyes.  Normally the eye blinks 3-4 times per second.  When reading or looking at a computer for long length of time, get in the habit of blinking your eyes at least 2x per line.  Or try rotating your eye clockwise and counterclockwise in a complete circle.

Palming:  Every hour or so, close your eyes and gently cover them with your palms to cut out all external light.  Relax and take deep breathes for a couple of minutes as you experience this “blackout.”  If you still see light in your minds eye, take a few more minutes until you experience complete darkness.  This technique helps relieve bloodshot eyes.

Massage:  Massaging around the eye with the appropriate oil is particularly beneficial, since the eyelids are ten times more permeable to oils then any other part of the body.  To prevent lines, gently massage the eyes at bed time using warm Ghee (clarified butter found at health food stores), almond or olive oil + a few drops of rose or sandalwood essential oil.  (this blend can be found at Lotus)

•  For relief of blood shot and puffy eyes, dip cotton pads in rosewater, lie down, and place eye pads on closed eyes for 10-15 minutes

• To rejuvenate and tone the delicate eye tissues, steep a teabag filled with Eyebright tea and place on the eyes once cooled. At Lotus we offer this technique in our eye treatment along with other beneficial remedies.

•  For thicker lashes and brows, put a touch of castor oil or olive oil on them nightly.

•  Protect your eyes, wearing sunglasses outdoors (lenses should be tinted smokey or green, not purple or blue.) And do not read in the sun.

At Lotus we offer an Organic Eye Treatment add-on to any facial.  It is customized using the finest organic products and oil blends to revive and tone the delicate eye area. With the help of Eyebright, an herb used for centuries to refresh the eye area, this treatment is designed to nourish, smooth out fine lines and puffiness.  The eye area is gently massaged using techniques to stimulate blood flow.  To learn more about this treatment and other services we offer, or to make an appointment please call us at 304-876-1900.

The Basics….

Evening Primrose Oil is a flowering plant and was believed to be used by natives of Mexico and Central America before making its way to Europe in the 1500′s. There it was called “the king’s cure-all” for all its healing benefits.  The oil comes directly from the seeds which contains linoleic acid, a fatty acid that is essential for a healthy body which unfortunately we don’t process naturally. The best way to take evening primrose oil is through vitamins and tea.

Now for the fun stuff…

It is a homeopathic alternative for menstrual pain and is believed to help with fertility issues. Some believe that it even helps to induce labor.

Taking it daily, it is a natural virus killer and a powerful boost to your immune system.

Aids in withdrawal symptoms from alcohol and helps relieve depression and anxiety.

And as for your skin….. excellent for eczema and dermatitis. Some even believe evening primrose oil is the next best thing to Vitamin C.  By containing a high concentration of gamma-linoleic acid, it strengthens the skin’s structure and improves elasticity. At Lotus, we are in love with Suki’s nourishing oil. This organic, vegan moisturizer contains evening primrose and restores strength, elasticity, and brightness to the skin without clogging the pores.