Finally getting around to posting a picture from our First Anniversary celebration. Nope, that's not Santa in the hat!

Holiday Notes and All

Happy Hanukkah, Blessed Yule, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all (and to all a good night!)

Beads N Botanicals will be offering its new class schedule for the upcoming year, hopefully BEFORE the end of the year.

More and more folks are expressing an interest in meditation for dealing with stress, pain and insomnia. Almost all of our Wednesday night classes include at least a short meditation, with the Meditation for Relaxation classes being, of course, much longer meditations.

Wednesday Night Classes do not require pre-registration, cost $5.00 and start at 7 p.m. Please note, however, that it is best to arrive about 15 minutes BEFORE the start of class, to make sure you are not locked out. Once we are about to start, the doors are locked to avoid disturbing the rest of the class.

Hope to see you here in the New Year. The next Wednesday Class will be January 10, 2007, on The Seven Chakras: What the “wheels of light” represent

More on jewelry making and herbal classes as we finalize the schedule.

Ways to Become More Satisfied and Happier

This is a great article on the psychology of satisfaction.

This article discusses how we are happy, how to bring greater happiness into our lives and experience more positive feelings.

At this time of year, rather than saying "Bah, Humbug," check out what they have to say.

A Psychology of Satisfaction

Becoming an Optimist...Can You Change Your Personality?

This is a great article on changing your outlook and improving your life.

Rather than saying, nothing will change, read this and allow for the possibilities!


Can You Change Your Personality?

Hot Mulled Cider and Other Winter Warming Drinks

In my Fall/Winter newsletter, I included a simple recipe for hot, mulled, that is, spiced, apple cider.

One local Hoopestonite almost refused to take the newsletter, after stopping in my shop because she wasn't sure if it weren't "witchcraft." I told her, read it and make up your mind.

She came back later that afternoon to ask me some herbal questions.

Now, the following link is about hot alcoholic drinks with spices. Personally, I find hot apple cider WITHOUT rum to be quite nice.

BTW, we do sell mulling spices.

Hot Holiday Drinks

First Snow of Winter on December 1st

Winter has shown its face here in Central Illinois. Last night lots of wind and rain blew through our area and continued into the morning, with temperatures dropping enough for us to get a small amount of snow, not even enough to cover the lawns as of 11 a.m.

Made me glad I had taken advantage of Fall's last hurrah on the weekend. Got my daffodils in the ground and some other needed work done around the house.

Now that we will probably be indoors for the duration, it is a good time to think about ways to promote health while trying to keep warm.

Especially if you have a well insulated house, it's important to make sure there is enough fresh air coming in. Check furnaces, water heaters, vent pipes, to make sure everything is working properly. Installing a carbon monoxide moniter could literally be a lifesaver.

I find diffusing "Clear Air," a blend of several essential oils, including eucalyptus, oregano and lemon, to not only freshen the indoor air, but help as a preventative for catching and transmitting colds, flu and other air bourne illnesses.

While you're trying to keep warm, remember, you don't have to blast the heat. It's cozy to curl up on a couch or in a chair with a throw blanket around you, a cup of hot tea and a good book.