New project!

I can't believe it's already July!  So much has happened with me and Marmalade Hills.  I promise to fill you in on everything.  We’ve traveled, launched new products, and acquired new accounts and friends!   But what I want to share with you today is one very special project of mine.  I am training for my first ever marathon!   I want to tell you how it all came to be and I hope not to bore you with too many details.  I feel like this experience is worth sharing, as I know it will inspire someone out there.

Here is how my training schedule looks like for the next 4 months:

I started running last spring.  One day I decided: I want a new project, set and break new limits, as well as feel and look good (of course).  I was also curious, what is this “running” trend all about.  Seems like, everyone is running in a race or a marathon, nowadays.   I was a pretty good runner back in my high school days, and this helped with confidence.  I started with jogging and after a few weeks of that, I felt like I wanted more.  After running my first mile I was alright, and that’s when I decided to invest in a new pair of good running shoes.  After a couple of months of occasional running and exercising I felt that I needed more!   And I started a new routine: one day run, one day workout.   You feel like with every workout or run, your body is getting stronger and helping you do that extra set of pushups or crunches.  No wonder I couldn't do more than 10 pushups at first, my body was one big blob of jello!  And then, once my abs, my back and my arms got a little stronger, I felt every muscle helping me get through few more pushups or crunches.  It’s pretty amazing and very rewarding stuff, once you notice some progress.  Just stick to it for couple of months, it will come and you will never be the same, I promise!  Exercise and strong body overall, is extremely important for running.  Why?  Because if your body is strong and can keep a good “form” (in other words support itself), there are less chances for injury, as you do not crash your blob of jello on your ankles and knees every step.  That is why I feel that occasional runners, who run here and there without regular upper body exercise, tend to get more injuries.  Unfortunately, that creates bad PR for running.  If you have been thinking about running, but afraid of injuries check out this article.   Without going into too many technical details and exceptions in one post, I have to leave it at this point and revisit this topic in the future.

Message of today: Need new project?  Buy a new pair of cute running shoes, go jogging and start light workouts, stick to it for two months… dirty dishes and laundry can wait!   

Please forgive me any typos, as my second pair of eyes left on a business trip :)

Till next time,

Liana.

Spa Conference and Expo

Couple of weeks ago I was at a spa conference and expo in Chicago.  Let me tell you, it was pure heaven!  Everything a girl could ask for: a little bit of shopping therapy, tons of demos, free samples and many, many cool beauty products and tools! Oh, and lets not forget about special night out with my hubby in one of the coolest cities in the world!
It was so great to feel the energy, to see some of the most famous movers and shakers of the industry, to pick up a few ideas for my business and to get inspired! Here are a few pictures from the event, hope you like it!

Till next time,
Liana.

What's next?

I had no idea that it will take me more than two weeks to bounce back to my normal pace.  For some reason, I just could not get going this year.  Last year ended with a lot of anxiety, uncertainty, and low energy.  Most of it was because of my own fears and doubts.  I know, this may not sound like me, but everyone has their low moments.  We all go through growth spurts or stupors throughout life.  That was my moment and I have a feeling, it is not the last one.

Good news: we have doubled our sales in 2012, brought many new accounts, and worked on even more leads.  It was a great year and it went exactly as I planned and wanted it to go.   Bad news: with growth comes more responsibility and stress.  How can we grow our sales again?  Seems impossible because we already have done SO much!  Is it possible to work even harder, to be even more restless?  How can I lead, compete, innovate and stay on top of everything? If I want to bring help, how do I find people, train them, or organize my day-to-day operations to go smoothly?  All this requires nerves of steel, determination, hard work, inner energy, and optimism.  I know, my worries too shall pass, but I can’t help feeling overwhelmed with the general picture.  Of course, not to say that I was going to sit on my hands and wait for it to pass, ha!  The best way to approach any stupor is to map out a plan and get busy making it happen.  And that’s what I did, and now, I would like to share it with you.  Based on last year’s accomplishments come new needs. (You can take a peek at my personal plan here as well.  It’s pretty simple and there will be a post or two about my progress).

 My business plan for the year still needs a lot of work.  In the next few days it will be massaged into a flow chart of this type:

And then into a monthly/daily tasks chart, that will look like this:

Once the last chart is done, I usually become calmer, more productive, and less nervous about the future.  Needless to say, I cannot wait to finish it!

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?  What tricks do you use?  I would love to hear them!  Don't be shy, you may help someone. 

Till next time,

Liana. 

Looking forward to the new year!

As we wrapping up our Holiday season, I can't stop thinking about how lucky I am to be able to do what I love and meet so many new and exciting people along the way! I love doing holiday shows and meet Marmalade Hills customers in person. I always remember it as the best time of the year! Thanks to all your love, we had a great season which we finished off with a lavish spa event at one of our exclusive retailers Mills Pharmacy + Apothecary in Birmingham, MI. The team at Mills, always makes you feel welcomed and right at home, that's why we had quite a turn out! Everybody was in good mood, we had festive and sparkling decor, yummy snacks and lots of good times. I put together a quick collage from the event, I hope you enjoy it! 

Holiday Schedule: We will be closed from December 18th through December 27th, if you place an order during this time, it will be shipped out on December 28th. 

Thank you so much to all of our followers, customers and friends for making it an amazing year for us. Marmalade Hills is on a steady growth rate and we are expecting many great changes, updates and exciting news in the new year. Lots of planning, brain storming and hard work is still ahead in the next few months, but I'm very excited and enthusiastic about new possibilities and challenges! 

See you in 2013. 
Liana.

The Pink Fund

We are proud to announce that we are partnering up with a wonderful national non-profit organization: The Pink Fund. A few words about The Pink Fund and their mission which we found very unique and highly acclaimed. The Pink Fund provides short-term financial aid during the brief period of active treatment and recovery. Millions of dollars are being raised for research and programs for the medically underserved, but despite this there are many families facing breast cancer who urgently need financial help now. The Pink Fund provides this real help now. Marmalade Hills will donate 15% of each retail and 5% on every wholesale purchase of Pink Grapefruit product through months of September through December 31st. We are kicking off our official collaboration in fall because October is a national Brest Cancer Awareness month which makes it a perfect time to get on board with us and make yourself feel good about your purchases! You can find more about The Pink Fund here and buy products here.

In case you didn't notice Pink Grapefruit products are completely new to our website. And they are already my favorites!

We also added Pumpkin Cardamom line to give you something to be excited about this wonderful season. I told you about them earlier here and you will be hearing more about them, because their name is just super scrumptious to pronounce!

And last but not least, by any means, is our new addition to our all natural moisturizers. By popular demand we have added Chocolate Royale massage body oil to our retail offerings to help you keep dry, flaky skin at bay. Chocoholics, this is a perfect guilt-free, calorie-free pleasure that is also very beneficial for your skin!

I hope you will have a chance to discover our new products and find new favorites!

Till next time,
Liana.

Iced Green Tea for strengthening your skin

Noticing papery, thin skin? Try our clay masques to return elasticity and improve complexion. Use them once a week or more often during summer to help control sebum production as well as deep cleanse. You can also add skin-strengthening foods that reinforce skin’s capillaries, making it appear more supple and tone. Best foods include: cranberries, blueberries, bilberries, tea (green and black), black currant, onions, legumes, and parsley. Summer is the best time to pick berries, but my favorite way to consume vital minerals in abundance is to make my own iced green tea. You not only improve your skin, but also get your minimum 2 liters of water intake and load up on naturally occurring antioxidants! 

I make my iced tea with matcha green tea available at Costco. Why matcha? Because in 2003, researchers from the University of Colorado found that the concentration of the antioxidant EGCG available from drinking matcha is up to 137 times greater than the amount of EGCG available from other commercially available green teas. Matcha is also said to boost metabolism and help reduce cholesterol levels when drank regularly. 

All you need is boiling water, biggest cup your can find and some matcha.  I use 5 tea bags at a time. Add boiling water and let them sit for at least 3 minutes. Remove bags, do not squeeze too hard as it may make your tea bitter. Transfer your hot brew into a pitcher and add cold water. I usually use 1 cup of brew to 2-3 cups of cold water. (corrected on 08.02.12) 


Let your tea cool down to room temperature on the kitchen counter before placing it into refrigerator to avoid sudden temperature drop, which can make your iced tea cloudy. Add some mint or better yet, slice of lemon for extra Vitamin C and ENJOY!

Till next time,

Liana.  

Pumpkin products COMING SOON!

I decided to make a quick teaser for our upcoming launch of five brand new Pumpkin Cardamom products, because I can not wait to share them with the world! The smell is divine! It is made with exotic blend of amber resin, patchouli, cardamom and a splash of blood orange essential oils. Slightly sweet, spicy and warm... Such perfect scent for fall weather!

Dark Amber Resin from India was gently infused into golden Jojoba oil leaving tree resins and bees wax behind

then I added dark patchouli, cardamom and blood orange essential oils to the mix and voila!

I am sure you WILL love these new products as much as I do! Look out for them in September!

Till next time,
Liana.