Lynn Minney Designs: Giveaway and Interview

I recently did a fun giveaway over at Lynn Minney Designs and Lynn kindly reciprocated by agreeing to do her own interview and giveaway here! I love Lynn’s upcycled designs, which you can find at her Etsy shop – it always makes me smile to see people finding ways to give an old item a new life.

So here’s what Lynn and I “chatted” about, and read on to find out more about the giveaway!

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Hi, I’m Lynn of Lynn Minney Designs! I’m a wife, mom, graphic designer and crafter. My love of creating started at a young age while watching my mom, grandmas and aunts create beautiful things. I also love to garden and cook.

Tell me a little bit about your business. What green elements of your business make you proud?

I opened my Etsy store about 2 years ago. It all started from a magazine article about sewing felted wool sweaters into tote bags. I was hooked after making one! It’s been a lot of hard work, but it is so exciting! I’ve learned so much in such a short period of time. I am really hoping to start doing craft shows this fall. I’m really excited to get out there, meet new people & show them what can be done with re-purposed materials.

I sew accessories like bags, eyeglass/phone cases and brooches out of recycled & vintage materials. I truly love finding pre-loved clothing items and giving them a new life. I am proud to offer upcycled items that people will use for many years to come. I’m constantly working on making my items more eco-friendly. I’m constantly looking for ways to make my company more green whether it is using only re-purposed fabrics or recycled packaging.

What makes your business unique? How do you keep your creative juices flowing?

The most unique thing about Lynn Minney Designs is the unusual items I create from wool sweaters, jeans and neckties. My customers are always amazed that something so beautiful can be created from an old sweater or jeans that someone else no longer wanted. 

There are a many things that keep my creative ideas coming…

I view everything with my favorite materials in mind. I get inspiration from a bag that I saw in a store and turn it into a unique item with a history, more color & texture. I also carry a small sketchbook with me in my bag because I can’t remember all of my ideas Furthermore, I’m inspired by the clothing, fabrics & buttons that I’ve collected.

What makes someone truly beautiful, in your opinion?

I think beauty comes from the heart. An honest, open person is beautiful in my eyes.

What makes you feel truly beautiful (beyond makeup and hair care) and what does “true beauty” mean to you?

My husband & daughter make me feel beautiful. Seeing the love in their eyes is enough for me. True beauty has all to do with the person you are inside. I believe everyone is beautiful in their own way.

What do you think about beauty in today’s society?

Modern society’s perception of beauty is backwards and way too focused on external beauty. I think the world would be a much more beautiful place if it was the other way around.

What are your favorite natural remedies?

To be honest, I don’t know much about natural remedies, but now I’m really curious! I’ve been taking a probiotic for years to aid in digestion

And for the giveaway…………. Lynn is going to gift one of my readers with this beautiful, upcycled brooch:

Ways to enter:

::Visit Lynn Minney Designs and leave a comment here about your favorite item. (1 entry)

::Tweet about this giveaway. Make sure you include @5seed and a link to this post in your tweet. Paste the link to your tweet here in the comments. (1 entry)

::Subscribe to Lynn Minney Designs blog. (1 entry)

::Subscribe to Five Seed’s blog. (1 entry)

::Add Lynn Minney Designs to your Etsy favorites (or your “circle”). (1 entry)

::Add Five Seed to your Etsy favorites (or your “circle”). (1 entry)

::Follow @5seed on Twitter. (1 entry)

Please note: I have deliberately not included entries for following either Lynn Minney Designs or Five Seed on Facebook, as this is against their terms of service.

Each entry must be left as a comment here. Each comment counts as one entry (if you only leave one comment for all of the above, your comment will only count as one entry). Each person is eligible for seven entries, total. Only continental US residents are eligible.

This giveaway will end on Friday, June 10th, at 6 PM PST. The winner will be announced on June 11th.

Many thanks to Lynn for the giveaway! Good luck, everyone!

Announcing an Exciting Partnership!

I’m so excited to announce a special deal. I recently contacted Jami Supiran, owner of Randumosity, and proposed a fun deal. To my delight, she liked the idea! So what are we doing? Here’s the deal:

::If you buy my Moon Balm, you will receive a coupon for 10% off one of Randumosity’s 4-packs of cloth menstrual pads.

::If you buy one of Randumosity’s 4-packs of cloth menstrual pads, you will receive a coupon for 10% off my Moon Balm.

I am especially excited about this partnership because I love cloth menstrual pads. They are so good to Mother Earth, and good for your body! Check out these facts if you don’t know the benefits of cloth pads.

::They are much cheaper, over time, than disposable pads and tampons. You can use them for years.

::They are so much more comfortable than disposable pads.

::They will save 300 pounds of pads (what the average woman uses in her lifetime) from going into the landfill.

::They won’t expose your body to the processed wood pulp, chemicals, and plastics (made from petroleum, don’t forget!) in disposable pads.

Now let’s get back to Randumosity! Owner Jami Supiran kindly answered the following questions to share with Five Seed’s readers and fans.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

 

 

Hello! My name is Jami. I live in “sunny” Florida with my husband of 10 years and his (now ours) teenage daughter. She keeps life interesting!

What made you decide to open Randumosity? What is Randumosity’s mission? And what does the name mean?

I began Randumosity about 5 years ago after my Husband had an accident that left him disabled. We needed to supplement our income. So, I started making and selling bags on Ebay and Etsy. During his recovery we decided to find ways to simplify and “green” our lives more. I came across cloth pads online and thought “I can make those” and I wouldn’t have to buy any from the store!! With two women in the house we were always buying them. So, I started making them for me, my daughter and other family and friends. Everyone fell in love with them, so I decided to put them in my Etsy shop.

My goal for Randumosity is to grow as a brand enough to be able to stay home full time. Working from home has made life so much easier and I would love to keep it that way. I love being able to take care of the hubby and maybe have another little one around here.

The name “Randumosity” came from my daughter. She was looking around at all the “random” stuff I was making and said I should open up a shop and call it “Randomosity”. So, I did. But, I had to change the spelling because the other was taken.

What makes you feel truly beautiful (beyond makeup and hair care) and what does “true beauty” mean to you?

“True Beauty” to me comes from the inside. Being kind, considerate and unselfish makes me feel beautiful.

Thank you, Jami!

I hope you will take advantage of this deal and pamper yourself during your period!

True Beauty: Kombucha Mama Michelle Plantenberg

Jamie Danek and Michelle Plantenberg

I recently fell in love with kombucha, and was so pleased to find that we have a local company that brews the perfect blend! Meet Michelle Plantenberg, one half of the Kombucha Mamas (her partner is the effervescent Jamie Danek). Here’s what she had to say about True Beauty.

What makes someone truly beautiful, in your opinion?

A quiet mind, a love-filled heart, and a peaceful soul.

If you take away the traditional beauty props (makeup, clothing, hair styling, etc.), what makes you feel the most beautiful?

When my mind is quiet and my heart is open. fresh air, a morning walk, a smile from a stranger all help, and I’ve noticed that i only really see these things when my mind is quiet.

Thanks, Michelle!

Read more about Kombucha Mama here. You can become a fan on Facebook here, and be sure to check out their website if you live in Oregon and want to know where to buy their delicious kombucha!

True Beauty…in the kitchen

Anar (aka Zedral Z), writer of the blog Witchin’ in the Kitchen, recently contacted me about doing a True Beauty post.

Here’s what she had to say:

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I currently live in Istanbul. I’m a teacher.  I’m hoping to move back to the U.S. in the next year or so, though, because I think it will be much, much easier for me to finish my Witchin’ in the Kitchen cookbook there.  It’s been in the works for a very long time now and it’s high time I get some actual work done!

My interests include cooking, reading, belly dancing, attempting some Indian dance here and there, music (classic rock, oldies, a little classic country, Indian, other world music, etc.), and playing around with polymer clay.

What makes someone truly beautiful, in your opinion?

Personality really does have a lot to do with it.  Of course physical attraction comes into play as well, but if a person only looks good on the outside, their beauty fades very quickly in the eye of the beholder.  I think an open mind, some sense of empathy, and a willingness to believe that there is some good in the world (without being naive), helps.

If you take away the traditional beauty props (makeup, clothing, hair styling, etc.), what makes you feel the most beautiful?

I think my personality makes me who I am.  Whether or not people find that beautiful depends on the person.  Many of my friends think I’m a beautiful person, and I appreciate that.  So many of my friends are gorgeous people that it makes me feel good, albeit slightly out of place.

What do you think about beauty in today’s society?

I think it’s time for a change.  We’re sexualizing young girls and destroying the self-esteem of thousands, if not millions.  We need to show more diversity – in size, shape, color, etc.  Just because someone isn’t skin and bones doesn’t mean s/he can’t be seen as attractive by society.   One excuse is people don’t want to see what people *really* look like. They want an image of perfection, which usually means very thin, tall, and airbrushed to within an inch of her life.  I think some of us *do* want to see more of the “imperfect” people in television and magazines. Look at T.V. stars in Great Britain, for example. They’re average-looking people. Why can’t we do that in the U.S.?

I couldn’t agree more. Thanks, Anar!

Photo used with permission.

True Beauty with Good Green Witch

Meet Rhonda, author of the fiery, informative, Mother Earth-loving blog Good Green Witch.

I absolutely LOVE what she has to say about True Beauty:

Tell me about the Good Green Witch – the person and the blog. What is your background? What made you start your blog?

The Good Green Witch was “born” out of a desire to blend my spiritual Earth-based beliefs with instructing people on how to be a little greener. My love for Nature can be traced back to my favorite childhood television show, Hodge Podge Lodge. The blog came about because I wanted to be able to reach out more, to point out to people how they can be greener, and to try to raise awareness of what we do in our day-to-day lives that could be changed. It’s nice to have a place where I can say what I wish without censoring myself!

What were your greatest challenges and successes in greening your beauty routine?

Greening a beauty routine can be very challenging. There are a lot of plastics and chemicals involved in make-up and creams and skin products. That’s a nightmare for someone trying to be greener! I try to get around the greenwashing, find truly natural products, and avoid plastic when I can. For instance, why buy foundation in a plastic bottle when you can find one in a glass bottle? Jars, both plastic and glass, have many reuses once the cream is gone. My husband and I use baking soda for shampoo AND deoderant, and I use an apple-cider vinegar rinse instead of conditioner, so I feel pretty good about the plastic we are avoiding and the chemicals we are not using.

How do you define “true beauty?”

“True Beauty”… hmmm…. to me, someone who is truly beautiful lives in harmony with the Earth and Nature. It’s real. It’s not superficial. It’s within. It’s concern for the things around us. It’s something I need to focus on a little more. I tend to see too much ugliness around me, and I know it’s because true beauty is truly rare. But we see what we want to see, and we need to make sure we want to see the beauty around us. [YW: I added the bold here because this statement stood out so much for me.]

If you take away all the traditional props (makeup, hair styling, etc.), what makes you feel the most beautiful?

The thing that makes me feel the most beautiful is my husband’s expression when he looks at me with love, first thing in the morning, when my hair is all sticky-uppy and my eyes are all puffy and I need to brush my teeth. There’s just no marketing that! Plus, I can only improve on that after coffee and a shower!

Thanks, Rhonda!

Find more of the Good Green Witch on Twitter and Facebook.

Photo used with permission.

True Beauty with Kate & Maggie from Eat the Damn Cake

Meet Kate (l) and Maggie (r), two amazing young women on a quest to help women love who they (inside and out) through their blog, Eat the Damn Cake. (I second that – eat it!)

Here are the results of our “email conversation”:

Tell me a little bit about yourselves.

Kate: I’m Kate. I live in Manhattan. I was homeschooled, and I grew up feeling really confident about my appearance and just about everything else about me. With the notable exception of my mathematical abilities. Those were always clearly lacking. I just graduated from a Master’s program, and I’m beginning to feel like a New Yorker.

The lovely Kate

Maggie: I’m Maggie. I also live in Manhattan. I recently moved back to the east coast in November. I was homeschooled with Kate but I went to public school after 6th grade. I developed an eating disorder (anorexia) in college. I’m curious about the connection between eating disorders, food, body image, and confidence. I’m also curious to discover how to balance my busy career with enjoying life. Kate and I want to share some of our deep conversations with the world because we feel like a lot of women secretly struggle with the same issues.

Maggie & fiance Bobby

Describe the purpose behind Eat the Damn Cake. What made you want to start this blog project?

Kate: I keep asking myself those questions. My memory is a little blurring about how it started. I mean, I keep looking at a lot of my friends and noticing that they’re really, really thin. I thought that we’d all feel great about ourselves by now, but the pressures surrounding beauty don’t ever go away. Maggie and I kept talking about eating disorders and unrealistic beauty standards, and since I’m a writer, and she is a food blogger, it seemed like we should start saying something together. I’m too opinionated not to. I’ve never learned to keep my mouth shut. Or in this case, to stop my fingers from typing. That doesn’t sound as brazen, somehow.

Maggie: Recovery from an eating disorder is an ongoing process, and while I’m going through all this crap I realized that everyone (or so it seems) struggles with these food and weight things, not just fellow eating disorder people. Kate and I started talking about it and we felt like we could help people if we got them talking more openly.

What kinds of responses have you gotten from the public?

Kate: All positive, so far. I’m just waiting for some guy to write in like, “You’re all UGLY!!!” You know how internet trolls like to do that… But so far, they haven’t found us. A lot of women have written to me and told me that they were desperate for a forum like this. And they’re so relieved to find it. That’s been extremely flattering, and tells me I’m doing the right thing.

Maggie: Great responses. I’m really happy.

What is your biggest pet peeve about the perception/definition of beauty in our society?

Kate: That only really young people can be gorgeous. That tight, sleek, young look as the epitome of beauty. Enough already!

Maggie: I guess mine is that people don’t value health as much as they value beauty. Someone can be gorgeous but living terribly – smoking, drinking, partying, etc… – but it’s “ok” because they’re gorgeous. I’d rather be healthy and happy. Happy mostly. I think if you’re healthy (as in, eating good foods, doing the things you love, having friends that you care about and who care about you) the rest of your life should fall into place and beauty shouldn’t even be an issue. You should be considered gorgeous automatically if you’re healthy and happy like that. But that’s not how it works.

Maggie

What is “true beauty?”

Kate: Hmm…Physically, I’d say it’s the way in which absolutely every person is gorgeous. When someone’s face, regardless of how it’s composed, reflects so much love and joy that it can’t help but be identified as beautiful. When caring about someone reveals how beautiful they are. I don’t mean to sound corny, but I think corniness is a little unavoidable here. Your fault, since you asked the question. [YW: I take full responsibility for any corny answers!]

Maggie: Being happy with yourself. Being the best friend/lover/parent/child/whatever that you can be.

What makes you feel the most beautiful? How does that feeling affect what you do?

Kate: Being loved. I guess that goes along pretty nicely with my last response. When I’m with people who obviously love me, I feel at my most lovely. And also sometimes when I buy a new, amazing dress and wear it out for the first time. Especially with heels. These things cause me to try to be around my fiancé as much as possible and also to buy new dresses ALL the time. Kidding. Not about my fiancé, though.

Kate

Maggie: I’m with Kate. Being loved makes me feel beautiful. When my fiancé grabs my butt and says, “wow,” that makes me happy and feel sexy. He does that a lot these days because it’s not just skin and bones anymore. Even when he’s not grabbing my butt, though, just getting hugs and being able to just be myself – those things make me feel really beautiful.

Thank you so much, ladies!

Be sure to check out Eat the Damn Cake and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Follow Kate at The Huffington Post. You can also find Maggie’s health blog here, and follow her on Twitter here.

True Beauty with Melanie from No New Plastic

I recently “met” this wonderful lady in Cyberland. Melanie Parker is a prolific blogger (with THREE blogs – I can barely handle two!), a green activist, and a ray of sunshine. She has one of the happiest dispositions I have ever encountered, and it’s always a joy to chat with her. She recently embarked on a “no new plastic” challenge with her fiance, Mark. On her NNP blog, the two discuss their challenges and successes and it’s always a good read.

One of my favorite subjects is their progress in potty training their cat. Yes, you read that right! It’s so adorable – like Jack and his kitty, Jinx, in Meet the Parents! I always love the updates on the cat!

Here’s a recent chat I had with Miss Melanie:

Tell me a little about your project, No New Plastic. What inspired you to begin it, and what have you learned from your experience so far?

My fiancé, Mark, and I have always been interested in eco-friendly living.  We took our cloth bags to the grocery store, used florescent light bulbs, recycled, and thought that was pretty darn good.  Then we saw the documentary, No Impact Man.  It was a real eye-opener.  Suddenly, we both wanted to do more to lessen our impact on the environment.  We wanted to do something BIG.  I had also just recently learned about Charity:Water, a charitable organization that raises money to provide safe drinking water to people in impoverished countries.  Scott Harrison started Charity:Water in 2004 with an idea to help people all over the world get clean drinking water.  In 3 1/2 years, they raised $19 million dollars and funded over 2000 water projects.  I was really inspired by Scott’s story, and I knew I wanted to do something that I was passionate about that would make a positive impact in the world at the same time.  Mark and I knew it had to be something with the environment, because we’re both so passionate about eco-friendly living.  After learning about and watching the videos about the Pacific Garbage Patch (about all the plastic in the ocean), I told Mark I didn’t want to buy anymore plastic, and he agreed.  We came up with the idea of a No New Plastic website that would document our month without buying any plastic.  Wanting to make it even bigger (because who wants to read about a month, right?), I suggested No New Plastic Year, and that’s how we came up with our website.  We created it to get the word out about plastic and its effects on our environment, as well as to document how we get around using plastic in our daily lives.

I just made a hilarious discovery.  I was just thinking, “How many months have we been doing this?”  I thought at least 3 or 4.  It’s been a month and a half.  I guess that says a lot about what I’ve learned so far — there have been some major adjustments in our lives!  Ha!  The biggest realization for me is that plastic is everywhere and almost in or around everything.  I didn’t realize the extent to which it has become part of everyday life before I tried to go without it.  Mark and I decided before we began that we wanted everything to improve our quality of life.  A lot of times, being eco-friendly is thought of as living a grungy lifestyle and not enjoying modern conveniences.  We believe in modern conveniences as long as they are enjoyed in a sustainable way that doesn’t harm the environment.  We have billions of people on the earth who have incredible creative and intelligent minds.  There is no reason why we can’t invent healthy alternative solutions to practices that harm the environment.  Mark and I have found that our alternatives actually increase our quality of life.

What are some of your greatest successes in the green beauty department?

One of my greatest successes was becoming comfortable not wearing makeup.  Part of the no plastic journey has been reawakening my appreciation and understanding of myself and my body.  I began to question what I’d thought was the way to live.  I have never worn a lot of makeup – usually just eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, and gloss – but going totally without day after day and meeting people was a bit uncomfortable at first.  I decided that before I allowed myself to wear makeup again (which I do occasionally), I wanted to feel comfortable and beautiful just as I am.  I stood in front of the mirror and thought loving thoughts about my face and my beautiful features.  Now I make the choice to wear some makeup occasionally, but I feel just as beautiful without it.

What’s the craziest/silliest you’ve ever done for the sake of green beauty?

I think several of the changes I’ve made so far might be considered crazy by some people, like using baking soda for deodorant, cloths instead of toilet paper, and the Diva Cup instead of tampons.  However, my most recent experiment is not using shampoo.  I researched for a long time about alternatives to buying shampoo and conditioner in plastic bottles.  I learned that many people use baking soda and vinegar or shampoo bars.  Then, I stumbled upon a few blogs written by people who weren’t using anything on their hair.  I decided that if going without shampoo works, I’ll go with that.  I’m currently on week 3 of no shampoo, and I’ve had great success.  When I take a shower, I rinse my hair with water and massage my scalp.  That’s it!  While it feels different when I first get out of the shower, after I dry my hair it feels great and super thick!  When I was younger, my mom used to say my hair was “flat as a pancake.”  Before this experiment, I used volumizing mousse and a gooey wax to make it look a little funky and edgy.  Now, I don’t need any products.  I blow dry my hair and it looks amazing!  I went to my grandmother’s just last night, and she is really into current fashions and high style.  She gushed about how great my hair looks.  I laughed so hard!  Finally, I confessed my new haircare routine.  I have heard that other people have to go through a transition phase before their hair looks good without using shampoo, and I’m sure results also depend on hair length and type, but my hair looks the best it ever has and is so easy to fix.

Overall, what are your thoughts on greening your beauty routine?

I think the biggest thing we can do to green our beauty routines is avoid any advertisements and people who say we’re not perfect the way we are.  Most of the products sold are to fix our “problems”.  When we recognize our innate beauty and perfection, we will stop buying wrinkle creams, age-defying products, and trying to cover up all our skin with makeup.  Makeup should be used to enhance our natural beauty, in my opinion, not to cover up our faces.  Also, what we put on our skin and in our bodies should be natural and nurturing to ourselves and our planet.  There are so many great, eco-friendly products available, and it feels good to use them.

What does true beauty mean to you?

True beauty means loving yourself and appreciating yourself just the way you are.  When we see the beauty in ourselves, we can see the beauty in other people and the world around us.  When we treat ourselves well, we treat other people well.  Spreading love and peace within and without is truly beautiful to me.

If you take away all the traditional beauty props (i.e. makeup), what makes you feel the most beautiful?

My spiritual connection.  I have a deep spiritual connection to myself and the Universal Loving Energy that I believe is in everything.  Whenever I loose track of who I really am and start feeling fearful or judgmental, I can meditate and connect with that loving source.  In my meditation, I am reminded that I am a spiritual being, and I feel such incredible love from the Universe.  I feel connected and grounded, beautiful, and appreciated for the amazing being that I am.

Thanks so much, Melanie – it was a pleasure, as always!

Be sure to check out Mark and Melanie’s progress at No New Plastic. You might also be interested in her inspiring blog, My Magical Journey, and her sewing blog (The Laughing Princess Sewing Diary), where she’s documenting her journey on making her own wedding dress – from an old duvet cover she found at Goodwill! (Cool, huh?! And it’s a gorgeous dress. Seriously.) You can also find Melanie on Facebook and Twitter.

Photos used with permission.

True Beauty with Elizabeth from Yogic Dancer

I have recently fallen in love with yet another blog. (I’m a blog addict, I admit it.) Yogic Dancer is written by Elizabeth, an American currently living in the Republic of Georgia, studying dance and anthropology on a grant. Her posts are beautiful and thought-provoking. Whenever I visit her blog, I feel so peaceful.

Elizabeth graciously consented to answer the following questions about True Beauty:

Tell me a little about yourself.

I am a dancer, yogini and movement arts teacher. For the past nine months I’ve been living in the Republic of Georgia, studying Georgian folk dance on an independent research grant. It’s been an amazing journey so far- nothing like living in another culture to completely rock your Self! Learning about others is mind opening and can intrinsically cause deeper understanding of multiple things, Self included.

Over the past year, my personal yoga practice has grown deeper roots. I started my blog Yogic Dancer as a means to share my evolving path, and I am grateful for the world-wide mindful community it has connected me to, including A Green Spell!

What have you learned about beauty from your adventures abroad, your dancing, and/or your yoga practice?

Cultural standards vary from place to place. Yet a thin figured woman dressed in a certain way with styled hair/makeup is regarded as beautiful in more cultures than I anticipated. That image is shared worldwide through the film and television industries (and even the internet). Yet in my experience, authenticity is valued as well. Different cultures have different norms for when it is appropriate,
but smiling, for example, can really be beautiful, well received and provoke greater relaxation and deeper trust between people.

In dance, beauty standards differ from style to style. However, across many genres one thing is an essential element: the commitment/submersion of the dancer into the dance. This has little to do with “knowing the steps”! It is the commitment of the dancer to the particular dance they are dancing at that moment. This could be a trance dancer as easily as a professionally trained ballerina- if they are committed to their dance, it is beautiful. I think this is a lesson in yoga, too… those times when I have been truly “present in the moment” have resulted in the most beautiful moments of my life.

What makes someone truly beautiful, in your opinion?

People being truly and completely themselves are gorgeous to me. When people are fully listening to their Selves and acting on that, they radiate happiness because they are content with themselves… and that happiness is glowingly beautiful.

If you take away the traditional beauty props (makeup, clothing, hair styling, etc.), what makes you feel the most beautiful?

Sunshine. Dancing. Experiencing the beauty of Nature. Moments that remind me to “be here now”.

Thanks, Elizabeth!!

Don’t miss Elizabeth’s articles on Elephant Journal, either!

Photos by Daniel Winters. Used with permission.

True Beauty with musician Erin Cole-Baker

In mid-April, I had the pleasure of interviewing two lovely local businesswomen for Examiner.com. I love kombucha and wanted to learn more about a kombucha company right here in my town. When I went to their office to take pictures, I met their delightful staff of employees, including Erin Cole-Baker.

I always Google the people I interview, just in case they have any businesses, blogs, etc. that I can link to within the article. In my search, I found out that New Zealand native Cole-Baker is a very talented musician. I contacted her and asked if she would be willing to answer a few True Beauty questions, and she kindly consented. Since then, I’ve listened to the songs on her website and am just enchanted by her music. It is, well, truly beautiful! Take a listen for yourself.

Here’s what Cole-Baker had to say about True Beauty:

What makes someone truly beautiful, in your opinion?

I see beauty in people who embrace the skills that they have been given, work at them and share what they have with people. Life with purpose and passion is beautiful.

If you take away the traditional beauty props (makeup, clothing, hair styling, etc.), what makes you feel the most beautiful?

I feel beautiful when I am playing my songs and connecting with an audience. I find beauty in sharing life with others, the good days and bad….all scenarios put out there to be understood and to understand.

Thanks, Erin!

Find Cole-Baker on Twitter, and MySpace. Get her latest album, Talon and Spur, here.

Pictures by Josh Cordell, used with permission of Cole-Baker.

Here’s a great video – what a pleasure to see my current hometown in a music video!

True Beauty with Mrs. B!

Mrs. B (Photo used with permission.)

I am delighted to share with you True Beauty thoughts from one of my favorite bloggers, Mrs. B. This lovely lady writes Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom where she shares her thoughts and experiences on everything under the sun including cooking, spirituality, autism, and gardening. She also hosts numerous giveaways, most of them from small, home-based Etsy businesses like mine, which I think is very cool.

Speaking of giveaways, she happens to be hosting one for 5 Seed, if you want to check it out. You have the chance to win yourself a lovely Sankalpa Scent!

Here’s what Mrs. B. has to say about beauty:

What makes someone truly beautiful, in your opinion?

I think what makes someone beautiful is that inner spark of passion for something, whether it’s a passion for cooking, or the environment or for their family. Having a passion about taking care of something and learning more about it gives a person a real inner glow that makes them shine.

If you take away the traditional beauty props (makeup, clothing, hair styling, etc.), what makes you feel the most beautiful?

This might sound cliche, but my husband makes me feel beautiful! Whether I’m dressed up for something, or sick with a puffy nose, hacking cough and laying around in my bathrobe! He never fails to make me feel like the most gorgeous thing ever! (That’s why I’m keeping him! ;O)

What do you think about beauty in today’s society?

Over all, I’d say that there is a false view of what beauty is – that whole “Hollywood/model” image of what beauty is. I know very few real men who like the stick thin girls who eat half a salad for dinner. I feel horrible for all those girls out there starving themselves trying to look like that. Thankfully, I do think that there is something of a change coming around on that. Women like Christina Hendricks, from the show Mad Men, who has some seriously killer curves, are starting to get attention and take over the covers of magazines. I hope that trend continues!

If you want to check out more of Mrs. B’s lovely writing on the web, try her Examiner columns, The Domestic Witchery Examiner, and The Newark Cooking Examiner.

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