A Dose of Inspiration: Balancing Time

A week managed to pass me by without getting my last blog written. 

My email started piling up again.

I had a 3day weekend, enjoying time with family, soaking up some R & R with a sick kid.

Yep. Excuses. We all have them. So this morning, I set myself back on track, nevermind hitting snooze and all my other begrudgements. 

First things first, I spent 45 minutes on the phone correcting my order for brochures, business cards, etc. Couldn't let a terrific price slip by. And then....procrastination about that blog came rushing back. The email inbox daunting me all over.

Small steps. Chip away at the email, delete the things that are quick to make decisions about.

Harder steps. There's still more email than I'd like to see. Dig deeper. I read the posts on blogs of two other people--one is also a massage therapist, the other is a marketing guru. Both got me moving. And by reading them, a part of my goals were met (eliminating the email beast), my procrastination dwindled (taking action!!).

Besides meeting my goal of actually posting this blog, what IS my point? Balancing time is an on-going struggle for me, which I fully admit. But I'm also hoping to show my struggles in a way to help others realize they aren't alone, and to reach success in life together, one small accomplishment at a time. 

Tell me your struggles, tricks, and accomplishments in the comments below.

Product & Service Spotlight: Aloe Foot & Callus Rub, Foot Polish

We're finally beginning to see some sunshine!! YAY! How ready are your feet for flip-flop and sandal season? If your feet have calluses, rough spots, are very dry/cracked, or you're just interested in preventing those things, my spotlight product Aloe Foot & Callus Rub and Foot Polish service would be helpful for you.

Aloe Foot & Callus Rub cools hot, tired feet, softens calluses and corns. When I massage your feet, this is the stuff I use. Contains 60% aloe, vitamins A & E, and menthol. Currently, I have samples available for you to try out, and I plan to stock up again soon on the 4oz size. If you'd like to have some to keep your feet super soft throughout the summer, let me know soon so I can be sure to order yours. Planning to place my order in the next week. Samples are $1 each, the 4oz size is $11.

The Foot Polish may not be what you expect. The polish is really a scrub, not nail polish. You'll begin with soaking your feet in foot bath with some Lavender Wash for 10 minutes. I'll apply some Lavender Wash directly on callused areas. Then, I'll remove your feet one at a time and towel dry, lightly misting with Aloe Misting Spray. I'll then apply a cream made with Foot & Callus Rub and Comfrey Gel to your feet and lower legs, covering with plastic film, then warm towel. These stay on for 10 minutes, then I'll polish your feet and legs with a scrub cloth soaked in heated Aloe Vera Liquid. Next, I'll pat you dry with a warm towel, apply Cuticle Aid and small amount Foot & Callus Rub. 

This service can be added on to a massage for $10, or $20 as a stand-alone service. You are welcome to purchase a scrub cloth. Small size is $6, large is $9. Aloe Vera Liquid and Cuticle Aid are also available in sample sizes for $1 each. 

Recipe of the Month: Breakfast Casserole

(Not sure what happened to the original post, seems to have disappeared, so here it is again.)

Our usual weekend breakfast consists of homemade (not a big deal for me to make, but to some it is) wheat waffles, smothered in either that blueberry sauce or peanut butter and maple syrup, so this breakfast casserole really was something special for us. Hope you enjoy!

Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients

2- 12oz packages breakfast sausage links

6 English muffins, cut or torn into 1" cubes

1 cup (4oz) shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup (4oz) shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup onions, chopped

1/2 cup red pepper, chopped

1/2 cup green pepper, chopped

12 eggs

2 cups milk

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 cup bacon bits (I used Costco's real bacon bits, also delicious added to green salads and baked potatoes)

Directions

1. Cook sausage according to package directions. Cool slightly; cut into 1/4" slices.
2. In a greased 13x9" baking dish, layer half the English muffin cubes and half the cooked sausage. Repeat layers. Top with cheese, onion and peppers.
3. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over casserole. Sprinkle with bacon. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking (husbands that wake up earlier on weekends than they do during the week are excellent at this part!). Uncover and bake at 350*F for 45-50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. (I'm a bit uneasy with under-cooked eggs, so I kept mine in there quite a bit longer. It just may be our oven than I'm still getting used to, but beware, it might take more time than indicated here.) Let stand 5 minutes. Makes 12 servings.  

Upcoming Events: Mother's Day

Happy May! This month's CD we're enjoying during your massage and spa treatment sessions is Columbia River Gorge by Gary Jess, gifted to me by one of my wonderful clients last week. It has a lot of piano--something I don't think I have in my other CDs, so I, for one, am excited for having something different. One of my clients over the weekend commented that it sounded "royal wedding-y." Come take a listen--unless otherwise requested (and you are always able to bring your own music or request something else), it'll be playing all this month.


Mother's Day is just around the corner. I hear backyard barbecue pits make nice gifts, and massages do as well! Gift certificates are available. You may purchase one (or as many as you might need) directly from my website, by phone, or in person after contacting me to set up a time to meet at the office. As always, cash, check, Visa and MasterCard are accepted. I'm now able to accept your Discover cards as well.


With any luck, we'll find ourselves with more flowers and sunshine this month. If you wind up sore from gardening, yardwork, sports, etc, you'll also have better chances to get in for appointments now that my husband's bowling leagues are done. Tuesdays and Thursdays will soon be marked open for evening appointments--he still gets to go collect his winnings! His recent 278 game helped his team win the league!

A Dose of Inspiration: How can massage make a difference in YOUR life?

Some time ago, a client of mine from years past invited me to a Weight Watchers event that she was taking part in as a speaker. She had set a weight-loss goal and achieved it, attributing regular massages to her lack of stretch marks as well. She was featured in the Gresham Outlook newspaper, and I invite you to become inspired by her story here. 

Has massage made such an impact on your life, or that of someone you know? Please email rachelsheardlmt@gmail.com or call me at 503-318-9626 to share your story. I'd love to continue featuring personal stories here! 

Product & Service Spotlight: Buy in Bulk with Massage Packages & $1 Spa At-Home Samplers

Now that tax day is officially behind us, you will know now whether you can look forward to a tax return. If you do get one, no doubt you're already "spending" those dollars in your mind while you wait for the money to arrive in the mail or deposit itself nicely in your bank account--or am I the only one who dreams over and over how best to spend those dollars? 

Consider taking extra care of your body with that extra cash. Invest in your health--the body that moves you along each day while work, play, working out, stress, exploration, and even stretching can leave your body an achey mess. I've made it easy and even cheaper for you to invest in getting regular massage with massage packages. Packages are available in bulk, discounted quantities ranging from 7-52 massages and saving 15-30% off regular rates. The Silver Package with 13 sessions has been a popular choice, giving you a monthly massage plus one bonus session at 20% off regular rates. Not sure which package is best for you? Call me (503-318-9626), and I'll be happy to help you decide.

Buying in bulk doesn't suit your style or budget, but you still want to treat yourself to something, right? I've recently added Spa At-Home Products in $1 sample size containers, so you can try out several products easily. Samples available include: Aloe Milk Moisturizing--good for face and body moisturization; Aloe Heat Crème--soothes sore muscles and joints, reduces cellulite with daily application; Day-Night Emollients--extra-rich moisturizer for drier faces; Aloe Moisture Cream--versatile moisture for face and body, thick and creamy like a body butter; d'Aloe Gentle Gel--this stuff has a wide range of uses from baby skin, acne, foot irritation, sunburn, skin firming, and more; Cuticle Aid--protects cuticles and elbows; Aloe Facial Cleanser--rich, moisturizing lotion for normal and dry skin, cleans without water (think camping!); Aloe Enzyme Cleanser--gentle deep cleaning.

Stop by and pick up a few samples and let me know what you think of them. The ones you like can easily be ordered full size if I don't have it on hand already.

Picking Up the Pace; Recipe of the Month: Blueberry Sauce

Quick update: March was a hectic month. We were down to the wire on closing on our house, but were able to move in as planned on the 19th, nevermind the tendonitis flare-up in my left hand that hit me a few days before moving. It is 100% better now, thankfully! On the 26th, I taught my first workshop on, yes, injury prevention for massage therapists. Felt a little hypocritical about it, but I truly believe my tendonitis was caused by things OTHER than my work. Beyond that, I've just been trying to play catch up on things (such as this blog) that got pushed to the wayside during all that busyness. My blog will now be more structured, featuring a monthly stretch, recipe, inspiration/motivation/quote, business updates/upcoming events, and maybe some personal experience tidbits along the way. Try out this month's recipe: Blueberry Sauce. It is DE-LISH. 

Blueberry Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup orange juice
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the blueberries, 1/4 cup of water, orange juice, and sugar. Stir gently, and bring to a boil.
2. In a cup or small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water. Gently stir the cornstarch mixture into the blueberries so as not to mash the berries. Simmer gently until thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract and cinnamon. Thin sauce with water if it is too thick for your liking.

This sauce is awesome over a New York Cheesecake, waffles, ice cream, etc. It was quite a hit when I made it with my traditional cheesecake for Christmas this past year, and I'll be making it again soon to enjoy with vanilla bean ice cream. Yes, I have a bit of a sweet tooth! Enjoy!