This desert-dweller loves Halloween candy as much as the next gal, but there are a few times I try to avoid the sweets. If Halloween makes you fear packing pounds more than the creepy skeletons or bats flying all around, try a few of these Fall-themed gifts to give to friends!

1. Pumpkin Spice Soap
What better way to celebrate the holiday of pumpkins that with a little pumpkin spice soap? I'm a Halloween fiend, so my home is filled with anything pumpkin for the entire month of October.

That also means the shower! The soap is vegan and filled with natural ingredients, calling to mind the warm aroma of your favorite Starbucks drink. It's not as spooky as the other two gifts on this list, but anybody who receives this will find it very boo-tiful.

2. "This is Halloween" Soul Collection
Who else loves "The Nightmare Before Christmas?!? Now you can go to Halloween Town with this Soul Collection, which features 3 Halloween Bracelets, Pumpkin Earrings, and Dark Moon Skull Soap. It's like getting a Disneyland gift basket, without paying their crazy prices. Now go watch the story of Jack & Sally!

3. "Spooky Special" Soul Collection
Another creepy collection coming up, this one with your comfort in mind! Not only do you receive the Dark Moon Skull Soap and my Halloween Bracelet and Skull Earrings, but you also get the Lavender Eye Pillow with a Mexican Skull design. 

The latter will help you catch some quality shut-eye -- just try not to dream of anything scary!

Down in Tucson, that just means that the temperatures get SLIGHTLY cooler. But I love the smell of pumpkin spice and the look of changing leaves -- it's what I was born to enjoy.

To celebrate the changing season, I want to share a few of my favorite soaps with you, and why they're perfect for fall.

1. Pumpkin Spice Soap

What says Fall better than pumpkin spice? This soap is for the people that want PSL season without sitting in those crowded lines at Starbucks. Feel the cinnamon and pumpkin aromas and enjoy soap that delivers happiness through the pores of your skin.

2. Lavender, Lavadin & Kombucha Soap

This soap is one of my favorites, as it combines three of the most relaxing ingredients to create a trio of ease. Kombucha isn't an ingredient I use a lot in my soap, but I added it to this one and cannot stop enjoying the happiness it gives me. Perfect for Fall!

3. Dark Moon Soap: Lavender & Charcoal-Activated Soap

Could we say that the charcoal is a preview for Christmas? Enjoy how lavender interacts freely with the burnt charcoal smells to create an almost campfire-feel. Yes, you can make the shower feel like a campfire!

4. Chocolate Mint Soap

You can't talk indulging during Fall without chocolate or mint -- so I threw both into a soap! This is for those who have a sweet tooth, but want to enjoy it through their skin instead. No calories through ingestion here!

We all love meditation, but there are a few times when it just won't do. Maybe it's because you've done the same routine too many times. Maybe you're just so overwhelmed with everything that the mere thought of calm is a no-no.

While I don't want to intrude on a bad moment, I hope this message finds you in a receptive time; if you're looking for a new form of meditation to give you a calming feel, try Shower Meditation.

The instructions are as simple as what the graphic says, but I want you to try the steps and tell me how you feel.

Take a nice warm shower and imagine washing away all the anxiety, stress, unkind thoughts, all the negativity all down the drain. 
Slowly let these negative thoughts to the surface and wash them away.
Focus on your breath and clear your mind, once all the negativity is down the drain forgive yourself, be kind, and importantly relax.
If you really want to make sure it works, make sure to include a bar of my soap as you scrub the negative emotions outta your body like it was dirt from a hard day's work.

In case you want to know more about shower meditation, check out this link! I want you to know the ways of the calm!

Okay, before I get another Frozen song stuck in your head, let's REALLY talk about letting it go. You may be an anxious mess right now, and that's understandable. The world sucks on a good day, and is an unending mess of worry on a bad one. 

So how do you just sit back and find a moment of calm? Here's a few ideas:

1) Take a Nap
Do you get enough sleep? Or to put it a different way -- how little sleep DO you get on any given day? If you're juggling a job, a kid, or adult responsibilities, that answer is probably not a whole lot.

That's why I recommend that you take little power naps throughout the day. They don't have to be long -- I'm talking during your lunch break or something -- but just a little bit of rest can give you enough energy to stay strong during the day.

Need something to rest on those tired eyes so you get quality shut-eye? Try one of my Wisdom Body & Soul Eye Pillows! They come in Lavender and Herbal scents, both designed to ease your cranium and bring the calm to your senses.

2) Purchase a diffuser and essential oils.
Calm begins with the air you bring into your life; nabbing a diffuser and dropping essential oils in it are a good place to start. The right combo can sooth your skin, bring relaxation to your mind, and just make you an overall happy person. I don't have scientific proof of this, but my personal experience tells me so.

If you've already completed step one and bought your diffuser, you'll love to know that I have numerous Essential Oil bottles for you to use! Click the link to check out the relaxing scents, which include Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon and Sweet Orange. There's a different scent for everyone!

3) Take a warm bath.
Admit it, this is what you deserve. A warm bath can relax the mind and bring the feelings of oohs and ahhs back.  Besides, who doesn't love rubbing themselves with soap bubbles or enjoying a nice bath bomb. 

My Wisdom Body & Soul soap is made with natural ingredients that feed your skin sweet happiness and natural relaxation. Click the link to check out the newest soaps I'm making, and to see how I can make your day a little less stressed.

  I sure do get mixed up in the day to day chaos, to do list, working, mom guilt, and anything that gets thrown my way.   My household is a circus act most days… I will bet you can relate.  I am exhausted and all of this is not just about surviving, we need to find ways for us to THRIVE!     
Know the saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup”?  I cannot function and help the rest of the family if I am just running around in circles and running around in my own head.  What are the positive things and small steps we can do to take care of us to fill this “empty cup”?  
Self Care! 
Self-care in not selfish it is needed!   Let us take a couple minutes daily to practice this much needed Self Care!  🧖🏻‍♀️  You will thank yourself!  

In our Monsoon Mamas Facebook Group we are working a a few fun challenges to help motivate us!  If you would like to join us head on over  here.  

 Don't worry this is not going to be wild and overwhelming self care challenge!  I am not talking about taking a whole spa day.  The bingo card below or download the PDF to help with future self care ideas!  

 You can post pictures, videos, comments, ideas and anything self care related you want to show us in our Facebook group.  
We can help, motivate and encourage one another!   Let us start on Monday October 5th, 2020.  


👇You can download the Self Care Bingo PDF card here!  👇 

Sometimes, your hair just perfectly falls in place. Other days it feels like an our of hot-iron curling and care still leaves it looking like an absolute zoo. I have super-thick hair, so it's always the hardest part of my morning routine!

But I want to give you shampoo options that make your hair and body feel flawless! You deserve it. This month at Wisdom Body & Soul, I'm offering these haircare products for you to try:

1. Shampoo Bar No 1. Orange, Patchouli and Lime

I feel a little cirtus-y sometimes, which is why I think this shampoo is perfect for those who want their hair to feel a little sweeter. This is a soap based shampoo and all-over body bar. Not recommended for colored hair.  Rinse well and dry bar between uses. PURCHASE HERE >>

2.Shampoo Bar No 2. Peppermint, Cedar Wood and Sage

Who doesn't love the smell of candy canes? You don't need to be feeling merry to enjoy this sweetly soap, made with the right ingredients to give you calm and a great mood! Not recommended for colored hair. PURCHASE HERE >>

3. Shampoo No 3. Lavender and Frankincense

Now this one is my FAVORITE shampoo I've made, probably because I'm such a freak for lavender. Something about the sweet and strong aroma of lavender immediately puts me in that relaxed zone; Everything lavender!  Not recommended for colored hair.  PURCHASE HERE >>

4. Shampoo #4 Rosemary and Horsetale
 
Rosemary is a surefire way to promote healthy locks and who doesn't want a beautiful main with horsetail!   Replenish and refresh your scalp -- what could be better? Safe for colored hair PURCHASE HERE >>

I can only be talking about bath bombs. Sure, it's fun to scrub-a-dub-dub with a bar in the bath, but there's something about bath bombs that's far more exciting! 

I think my favorite part is when I first drop in the bombs and the fizzling begins! The beautiful scents that fill the bathroom air are also excellent too. But you should know that I don't just use bath bombs for giggles -- there are real benefits to them! This includes:

1. Great Skincare

Bath Bombs are skincare without the effort -- what could be better than that? The emollients and softeners in them give your skin the moisture and indulgence it NEEDS right now.

2. Natural and Vegan-Friendly

Calling all vegans -- who doesn't want plant-based comfort? Then bath bombs are perfect for you! No chemical make-up or harsh ingredients here, only the nice and soothing feeling of happiness.

3. They Have Soothing Properties

Remember sodium bicarbonate and epsom salt in Chemistry class? If you didn't, get reacquainted with it! This chemical combo does more than create the famous fizz of a bath bomb -- it also deodorizes, cleans, soothes sore muscles and some say it naturalizes the chlorine in your tap water.  

If all of this sounds great, give my Lime Bath Bomb a try! Nice and tart scents will fill the air and I promise that you skin will thank you immediately. Purchase here >>

Luckily, you don't have to view your PSL as some kind of unhealthy treat -- Pumpkin Spice has plenty of health benefits that you will just LOVE to hear about! Let's run through them:

1. It's Rich in antioxidants!​

The main ingredients in PSLs protects your cells, and some research has suggested that it could help diabetics with lowering their blood sugar. What a wonderful benefit!

2. You can improve your digestion with the Fiber inside!

In case it's TMI, I won't ask about YOUR digestion. However, I will say that the Nutmeg in Pumpkin Spice is well known for boosting your fiber intake, which is a huge part of a healthy stomach. Don't forget that!

3. A Great Source of Potassium, Iron & Zinc.

If you don't have enough Potassium, Iron or Zinc in your diet, Pumpkin Spice is coming to your rescue! In addition to boosting your digestive system, the Ginger inside is a great way to incorporate these elusive ingredients into your diet.

Of course, you might not have the time or money to drink PSLs all day. So if you're looking to enjoy the aroma of PSLs without running over to Starbucks for it, order one of my Pumpkin Spice bars! They feature all the PSL ingredients you love, made for the shower! You treat your tastebuds, so why not treat your skin as well? Purchase here >>

Down here in Tucson, it means you can finally step outside and enjoy the sunshine without pit stains ruining your day! Okay, let's think of a better image.

But it's been a stressful summer, more stressful than any I can remember. COVID forced us all inside with plenty of stress and negative energy to go around. I myself have been just stressed to the MAX making sure my kids could handle all this time inside.

Cooler weathers should mean cooler heads though, so here a few ways to can celebrate Fall with relaxation:

1. Take a Pumpkin Spice Bath!

Who doesn't love a little PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte)? Whenever Starbucks comes out with their yearly version, I immediately rush over and grab a Grande version -- it's coffee, but it calms me down like you wouldn't believe.

Now you can spread that same enjoyment to your skin! No, Starbucks didn't make a PSL soap, but I did! My Pumpkin Spice soap bars accurately recreate the oohs and aahs you feel when sipping on that warm treat. All you need is a warm bath to scrub away your stress! Happy smells included. Interested? Purchase here >> 

2. Get An Extra Hour of Sleep!

Seriously. Nobody wants to feel like their parents but there is a reason why they go to sleep early! More sleep is better for your health and improves your overall mood. A few months back I started going to bed at 9 PM instead of 10 PM and let me tell you, now this momma feels UNSTOPPABLE.

If you need help catching some sleep, nab one of my Wisdom Body & Soul Eye Pillows! They have all the right scents to have you counting sheep in no time. Purchase here >>


3. Take Essential Oils With You!

Diffusers are wonderful, but you can't haul them around wherever you go -- or can you?

My Wisdom Body & Soul Essential Oil Bracelets act as both fashion statement and diffuser. Not only do they look very cute with almost anything, but a few drops in the lava stones that make them up and you will literally have relaxation at your fingertips. Yay! Purchase here >>

But there is one place to spot it: Tucson, Arizona! That's where I live --  a sunny, desert paradise that is filled with the nicest people, coolest culture and the most beautiful views around. Spend just a few days in this place and you'll never want to leave!

However, I'm not just writing this blog to say Tucson is awesome -- no, the city helps make me the creative soap-maker/jewelry-designer/oil-maker/mom/wife/desert-dweller that I am today! In short, there would be no Wisdom Body and Soul without Tucson. How so, you might ask?

1. Incredible Natural Beauty

It's not just the sunset I shared above -- Tucson is surrounded by the Santa Catalina Mountains, one of the most gorgeous mountain ranges in the United States. Lush and painted with saguaros at the bottom and trees at the top, it's my favorite place to look up at and feel nourished.

Of course, it's also a fantastic spot to hike as well! Whenever I'm stressed, I like to go on a desert stroll and remind myself of the beauty and harsh ways of nature, the kind that humble you and make your problems sorta-just float away from your mind. While there is no such thing as a perfect day, the beauty of Tucson makes life much easier to take.

2. Wonderful and Creative People
It's true -- being around creative people makes you more creative. Tucson is a haven for artists, musicians, craftspeople and anybody with a mind for making something. I'm often inspired by artisan markets when it comes to dreaming up product designs and ingredients to put in my soaps and essential oils.

I'm also extremely blessed to run my business in a supportive area -- Tucson is home to the 4th Avenue Street Fair, a large congregation of merchants and vendors showing off their very creative products. Once all this COVID mess is over, I'll be setting up my very-first booth at their next event!

3. High Food Quality

In case you're wondering how this applies -- my soaps are made from the most natural ingredients and are always accrued from local farmer's markets. So when I say the tomato soap has tomato in it, you can call me the opposite of Pinocchio, i.e. it's the truth!

Tucson has plenty of proud and local farmers that share their high-quality products with everyone to buy. As a result, I'm a happy customer and can say that I make sure the soaps I make (what you put on your skin) is made up of the very best. Thanks Tucson!

Happy day friends!