Woof, Woof, for Lavender Shower Gel

Yesterday, our dog Macualy was due for his bath. Our little guy loves getting a warm bath and is an angel in the tub. My husband informed me just before bath time that he was out of the lavender and chamomile dog shampoo. I told him to grab one of my lavender shower gels and use that instead of buying more dog shampoo. The ingredients in my shower gels are made with organic plant ingredients and don't strip the skin of moisture. After Macualy's bath I asked Michael how the shower gel worked compared to the dog shampoo. I was surprised, and not so surprised when Michael told me that his hands felt softer after Macualy's bath in comparison to using the dog shampoo. He also surprised me by saying that he would like to try one of my shower gels now. Michael has always been a natural soap bar kind of guy. As for Macualy, he got cleaned up really well,smells terrific, and I observed that he was not as itchy afterwards as he was with his dog shampoo.

Now, I am not telling people that my organic shower gels have gone to the dogs, but if you want to save some $$ and share a lavender shower gel with your beloved dog, then pick one up today because they are on sale for $5.00 each!

Relax at Home...Sleep Better

I am always preaching about relaxing and rejuvenating at home. With the economic road so bumpy, it is more important than ever to take time to create a spa experience at home. Whether that is lighting soy candles for eco-friendly light and comfort, or taking a hot soak before bed for a better nights sleep.

We are not immune to stress at home ourselves. With basically two new businesses still finding its legs, there are still some stressful days and evenings.

A couple of weeks ago my husband was very stressed and feeling down in the dumps. It was a Friday night and he was tired from a long week and stressed. I got out my soy candles and put them around the family room, lit them, and turned out the lights. You could almost feel the stress leave my husband in a Whoosh. Within 15 minutes, the aromatherapy scent was filling the room and my husband was much more relaxed and feeling happier.

Last night I wanted to test a new natural fragrance in our bath salts I am contemplating and thought I would treat myself to a hot soak. While the tub was filling, I got my book and a fluffy bath towel, washed my face, and then got into the tub. I've written in previous posts about how water temperature heals and how water therapy has been used for centuries. Ever hear of the saying "taking the waters". I felt so wonderful after my soak. My skin was super soft and my muscles were much more relaxed. I lathered on some lotion I made and got into my bath robe.

The most important area I want to emphasize is that I slept like a baby. For the 20 minutes I spent in the tub, it translated to 8 hours of blissful sleep. Today I heard on the news that more prescriptions for sleep were written in 2008 than ever before. Take a hot soak..its almost free....I would rather see people addicted to hot soaks than to pills.

The moral of all this....you need to find ways to create an environment of peace and tranquility at home, and treat your body to the healing waters in your tub or shower in these extreme times of uncertainty and stress.


Anne Keefe

Uplifting Lemongrass

Lemongrass, one of my favorites, originates from India and is widely used as an herb in Asian and Caribbean cooking. Lemongrass brings its tempting aroma and skin- caring properties to the spa and spa products.

Lemongrass is also used as a medicinal herb. Rich in citral, the active ingredient in lemon peel, lemongrass is said to aid in digestion, as well as relieve spasms, muscle cramps, rheumatism and headaches.

Candles, soaps and fragrances capitalize on its fresh scent. And as a natural ingredient that normalizes overactive oil glands and features a heavenly aroma, lemongrass is used as a component in spa services and products.

In the kitchen, although normally used in small amounts, the entire stalk of the grass can be sliced very fine and added to soups. Its bulb can be bruised and minced in a variety of recipes. I love going to Thai restaurants and having soup with lemongrass in it.

A treat for both the palette and skin, lemongrass offers an escape from the everyday. Its clean, crisp flavor and scent complement culinary delights, comforting beverages and soothing spa products. Give yourself a lift with a spa product that contains the heavenly scent of lemongrass.

If I were a flower.........

This is fun, just let your imagination flow. If you were a flower, what type of flower would you be and why? Having trouble picking one, write more than just one.....

I'll go first............

If I were a flower, I would be a red rose because they are soft and pretty and smell amazing. I had red roses in my wedding bouquet,and remember the day when Michael sent me dozens and dozens of roses before he moved in. That is why I made some bath products with the fresh scent of red roses.


Okay, now your turn...........

EclipseSpa Launches Affiliate Program

We are excited to announce the launch of EclipseSpa's affiliate program!

An affiliate program pays you commission when you market our products.

When your friends, customers, acquaintances, etc. makes a purchase using your affiliate link you are paid a 40% commission on the completed sale.

Your affiliate link is www.eclipsespa.com/YourName. Some of the ways you can use your affiliate link are:

A. Comment on blogs and leave your name and affiliate URL

B. You are able to build a category text link such as "mens grooming products" and market the link in your emails, on blogs, newsletters and your own website.
C. You can place a banner which we have created for our affiliates in your emails, newsletters, blog or website.

We have more information on our website on the affiliate Frequently Asked Questions page in addition to a sign-up page.

It doesn't cost anything to become an affiliate. We reward you for marketing/selling our organic bath and body products.

Be part of an exciting trend of Spa at Home Tonight products.

Thank you,

Anne Keefe

Charitible Giving Campaign

For those that know me, they'll tell you how much I love animals. There are some days I would prefer to talk to the animals than to people, but then that would be just plain rude.

I decided for January we would donate $1 for every shower gel sold this month to ARF. ARF is where we adopted our dog Macauly who has transformed our lives.

ARF is a Animal Rescue Foundation in the Bay Area (California)that saves dogs and cats who have run out of time at public shelters and brings people and animals together to enrich each others lives. ARF strives to create a world where every loving dog and cat has a home, where every lonely person has a companion animal, and where children learn to care.

I am passionate about saving animals and have plans to foster some kittens this year. Animal Fosters are desperately needed at ARF. I think we are seeing animals in need of rescue due to economic difficulties in some households.

Please help us to help the animals by making a shower gel purchase this month.

Our shower gels are organic, and enriched with plant based ingredients known to soften your skin, leaving it more youthful looking rather than stripping and drying out your skin like other soaps and bath gels do.

What is Gotu Kola and Why Is It In My Shower Gel?

I get asked this question alot because Gotu Kola is not a ingredient you see often. Gotu Kola has been used as a medicinal herb in China, India and Indonesia. It is a perennial plant native to Japan, China, and India.


In ancient China, Gotu Kola was the principle ingredient in a famous elixir called Fo Ti Tieng, a brew that had an astounding reputation as “Fountain of Youth”. Gotu Kola works specifically to stimulate the production of collagen in the skin, as well as the manufacture of new skin cells. This translates into beautiful, renewed, supple skin.


Gotu Kola greatly enhances the integrity and vascularization of connective tisue and skin, hastens wound healing, improves elasticity and rejuvenates blood vessels for improved circulation to the skin. It is also the first ingredient in our organic shower gels. Need I say more?

Create an Oasis at Home to Combat Stress in Fifteen Minutes or Less

Stress is no stranger to the average mom. Day in and day out it tries to enter our lives through busy schedules, a messy home, and screaming children. Here are a few ways that moms can reduce their stress levels fast.

Remember that commercial for Calgon bath soap? Calgon would seem to whisk women everywhere off to exotic locales. Too bad that that can’t actually happen—or can it? Light some scented candles and climb into a nice hot tub filled with lavender bubble bath, and try this quick visualization technique while you enjoy a spa experience at home.

Imagine the place you would most want to be if you could. See the sights. Smell the air. Feel the breeze. Let the scene take you away along with the stress. It’s simple but effective. You can do it anywhere and at anytime.

Do you own an IPOD or MP3 player? If not, get one. You can load music, videos, and pictures on them. My IPOD has a great selection of relaxation music that I listen to in the tub or while flying on an airplane. I also created a CD full of relaxation music for EclipseSpa that has received wonderful reviews.

Music that reminds us of happier times is a stress reliever. The memories that are conjured up relax our mind and return us to more peaceful times. Concentrating on these things leaves no room in our mind for stressful thoughts.

Laughter truly is the best medicine. Watch a comedy on television or rent a comedy movie if you have more than 15 minutes to spare. Alternatively, you can read the comics in the newspaper or check out YouTube clips of political comedy and such. A good laugh works your abdominal muscles. You can get in shape and have a good time while doing it.

Maybe your stress is a result of low blood flow to the brain. You just aren’t thinking clearly. The quickest way to return that mental clarity is to stand on your head. I’m not advocating torture here. This can be as simple as laying on the couch with your head hanging off the side or bending over with your hands on the floor.

More blood to the head means more oxygen also. After a minute or two of this you’ll feel silly and more alert. The thoughts of a few minutes ago will fade away. Don’t turn right side up too fast or you’ll be popping a few aspirin for a headache. Oh well.

Have a drink to relieve your stressful situation. I’m not referring to Jack Daniels or a Grey Goose Martini (although they are great, too), but Earl Grey. Tea seems to have a calming effect on the mind. My favorite tea is a lemon zest or a peppermint tea. Taking a few minutes to relax over a good cup of tea can lower your heart rate and your anxiety level.

Any one of these things can be done in fifteen minutes or less. It doesn’t take much—just a willingness to get centered.