All the goods in our Wild Precious Life Retreat Gift Bags!!
clockwise from top left: Stephanie Johnson tote; Alima Pure bronzer; Korakia; Yogalosophy, the book; UGLY Girl lip gloss; Brambila Salon; Inventive Eco-Organic beauty butter; and Dr. Robin sunscreen.
We had a few questions for our gift bag contributors!
Mandy Ingber of Yogalosphy
1. What's your favorite place to getaway and recharge?
The beach! Any beach.
2. Do you have a daily ritual/practice that helps you stay calm, celebrate, approach the day?
I do change it, but my best way to start the day is a meditation (with rose quartz crystal) for 20 min. Write a gratitude list (5 things), and walk or yoga or workout. Then a cup of green tea and I'm off and running!
3. What was the impetus/inspiration for going out on your own and starting your own business?
It's a challenge for me to declare myself, and to be a decision maker and a self-starter. I do it because the universe keeps putting me in this position. It's an act of faith to do what is challenging. My rewards are great, and I actually LOVE it, once I do it. (the way most people feel about exercise) My inspiration is to be an inspiration...if I can do it, so can you
4. How do you think beauty and taking care of our "outsides" relates to what we're feeling on the inside?
Beauty is so much about perception. Treating ourselves as beautiful, makes us beautiful. Acting 'as if', begins to shift you on a cellular internal level. Each day, I wake up and set myself up for success by honoring the gift that I am a Goddess...and treat myself as such.
Stephanie Johnson of Stephanie Johnson
1. What's your favorite place to getaway and recharge?
Now that I'm living in New York City, heading back to Venice Beach is a great getaway. Long morning walks on the beach and breakfast outside seaside goes a long way to recharge. Traditionally, a Hawaiian vacation has been my go-to R+R spot. Nothing says realax like aloha.
2. Do you have a daily ritual/practice that helps you stay calm, celebrate, approach the day?
Every morning I have a quiet moment where I remember to love my neighbor as thyself, forget all limited thoughts and think big, remove chaos and negativity, and pray for opportunities to share. Appreciation for everything I have is a big thing for me. A morning walk sans any music or tech is another way I connect to nature and quiet my mind.
3. What was the impetus/inspiration for going out on your own and starting your own business?
I knew I wanted to work for myself but hadn’t a clue what to do. I travel a lot and started looking at my small travel bag options. There wasn’t a lot out there so I saw an opportunity to create colorful, quality organizers where one could buy a matching set and look jetset when they travel.
4. How do you think beauty and taking care of our "outsides" relates to what we're feeling on the inside?
The first thing I do when I feel out of control or anxious is to organize! A sure bet for feeling healthy, strong and beautiful is to make healthy choices for what goes into your body and mind.
Kate O'Brien of Alima Pure Cosmetics
1. What's your favorite place to getaway and recharge?
Venice Italy - La Dolce Vita with art, great food, and lots of walking. It is a feast for the senses and deeply peaceful.
2. Do you have a daily ritual/practice that helps you stay calm, celebrate, approach the day?
Early morning meditation followed by Vinyassa yoga help fortify me for long, hectic days.
3. What was the impetus/inspiration for going out on your own and starting your own business?
I wanted to see whether I could create a brand from nothing that would foster creativity and inspiration in women's lives. Joyous self-expression helps us stay centered and positive, and feeling naturally beautiful helps enhance that self expression.
4. How do you think beauty and taking care of our "outsides" relates to what we're feeling on the inside?
'Inside' and 'outside' are not separate. Everything we do to take care of ourselves (and others) reverberates through our being and shines back out at the world. The Dalai Lama once said that if we each took care of ourselves and one other person the world would be a better place. What a simple and lovely mission that would be.
Dr. Robin Schaffran of Dr. Robin Sunscreen
1. What's your favorite place to getaway and recharge?
My dream getaway is only a few miles away at the Hotel Bel Air. The minute I get there, I feel transported to another time when Los Angeles was truly glamorous and I can easily imagine Lauren Bacall lounging by the pool. I also love the architecture and strolling through the gardens; it’s just such a peaceful oasis in the middle of the city. Ideally, my husband and I would pack a small bag, arrive on a Friday night, order a bottle of champagne and relax over a leisurely dinner at the Wolfgang Puck restaurant. Then I’d have brunch, get a spa treatment and spend the afternoon reading by the pool (under an umbrella of course) and then do a little yoga.
2. Do you have a daily ritual/practice that helps you stay calm, celebrate, approach the day?
I’ve always been an early riser so I really relish my mornings. I get up at least half hour before the kids so I can have some time to myself. I make a big pot of coffee – I use a stovetop espresso maker – and sit down and read the newspaper, catch-up on my medical journals and just take the time to focus on me and prepare myself for the busy day ahead.
3. What was the impetus/inspiration for going out on your own and starting your own business?
After being in private dermatology practice and caring for children and their parents, I realized there weren’t a lot of skincare products for children that I felt comfortable recommending. I also discovered that parents had lots of questions about caring for kids skin and that there wasn’t a lot of information readily available. So I created my own safe and effective products and at the same time, I try to be an educationalresource about skincare for families.
4. How do you think beauty and taking care of our "outsides" relates to what we're feeling on the inside?
We all know that beauty comes from within. At the same time, taking time to care for how we appear on the outside can reinforce our inner beauty. And I don’t just mean cosmetic dermatology. Exercising, eating well, and taking time to nourish your intellect and spirit is all part of wellness. And good health includes good skin too. After all, the skin is our largest organ so when you take care of your skin by wearing sunscreen every day and moisturizing regularly, you will look and feel better.
Alexis Dittmer of Inventive Eco-Organic Skincare
1. What's your favorite place to getaway and recharge?
Any place on the ocean, preferably very, very quiet with some space...where I don't have to cook and can eat all of my meals in a bikini or a bathrobe. The Hotel Tugu in Canggu Bali fit that bill.
2. Do you have a daily ritual/practice that helps you stay calm, celebrate, approach the day?
This sounds crazy, but cleaning my house. I get everything sorted, straightened and cleaned first thing in the morning right when I get up. It's a monday thru friday ritual. Working from home, this makes for a calm and orderly work space... cluttered space = cluttered mind!
3. What was the impetus/inspiration for going out on your own and starting your own business?
It started with real passion for a great product. I really believe in the product and everything it represents so it makes my job easy. I am motivated to share information each day, connect dots, and hopefully broaden our distribution channels.
4. How do you think beauty and taking care of our "outsides" relates to what we're feeling on the inside?
I think it relates to our self confidence and self esteem. By taking care of our outsides we are making the effort to "look" good which makes us feel good and allows us to present our best self to the world. When we feel good about ourselves we are able to give more to those around us.
We also had delightful and moisturizing lip glosses by U.G.L.Y. (Undeniably Gorgeous Lovely & Young) Girl in our bags and certificates for complimentary beachside blow outs at Brambila Salon in Santa Monica! Our insides and outsides were very well nurtured by all the goods in our bags...