Goodbye February! Aromatherapy and Influenza Virus (Coronavirus)

February was a month all over the map for me! I'm so happy to have turned the calendar page! Someone said Mercury is in Retrograde, so perhaps that was part of the reason that February was not my best month so far this year; and it even had that extra day! Good bye Leap Year!

I joined the YMCA and started to go to the pool for water aerobics, took advantage of the exercise classes, and had a one hour orientation on proper use of all the gym equipment. That all started on February 1st.

Then on February 14th, I got sick - really sick! (Happy Valentine's Day - not!). It wasn't the flu, I didn't have a fever, but it knocked me flat for about 5 days. I didn't work, and pretty much spent all five days on the couch sleeping. Sore throat, sinusy, earache - I was miserable! 

I started to feel good after about ten days, but on the 28th I had dental surgery! My jaw is swollen and bruised, and today is the first day I felt like going outside. Gheesh - soft foods for 10 days, antibiotics for a week, and thank goodness for pain pills. 

Now all the hysteria about the Coronavirus! I've already seen some claims on Amazon and Etsy seller pages claiming that there are essential oils that can kill the virus! Now, don't you think if that was true, that the pharmaceutical companies would be patenting and selling them via prescription and making a huge profit!!!??? There are already enough false claims about essential oils out there, and now people are trying to take advantage of this health crisis. 

I've been doing a lot of research on it, and I'm going to share a couple of web pages with you that have good, solid information about how to help prevent catching the virus, and the role that essential oils can play in helping you stay healthy. These are from world renowned experts in the field of aromatherapy.  

Salvatore Battaglia Blog Post

Madeline Kerkhof Post

Here's another good site too: Novel Coronavirus Aromatherapy Guide: Essential Oils Dos & Donts

I made inhalers for my  husband and I, and I do plan to make more and send them to my family members. 

As with all respiratory viruses, there are many simple preventative actions one can take. Follow this simple good advice:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and then throw the tissue in the rubbish bin
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• And wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands

I'm going to reopen my Etsy site and offer the inhalers there at a reasonable price, along with my skin care serums and pain lotions and potions. I've been pondering doing that anyway, so this is a good kick in the pants to open the shop and share the knowledge about essential oils that I've learned so far. I've had such success with the skin care and have had many people ask me to sell them, so that's what I'll do! I'll let you know when the shop opens.

Stay healthy and safe!

~Mahalo~

Ahhh, Sweet Slumber - Vetiver - Oil of Tranquility

Vetiveria zizanioides

Image source: https://blog.planttherapy.com/blog/2018/10/14/vetiver-essential-oil-uses-benefits/


Vetiver Essential Oil is one of the first purchases I made from Plant Therapy last year. I was having so much trouble sleeping - not falling asleep, but staying asleep. So, I started researching natural remedies for sleep and discovered Aroma Web, a fabulous resource on essential oils. From there, after doing a lot of research on their advertisers, I decided to purchase from Plant Therapy. They are a fabulous company, and their customer service is top notch! They have tons of educational information on their site, promote safe use, are transparent, and they have Certified Aromatherapists on staff to answer your questions. So happy I chose them!

Back to the Vetiver. Coincidentally, Plant Therapy (PT) had just published a blog post about Vetiver and its uses, one of which is relaxation and sleep. I found the recipe for their pillow spray and decided to give it a try:

Vetiver Pillow Spray by Plant Therapy

Holy Sweet Sleep! The first night that I used the Vetiver pillow spray, I slept nearly 5 hours - straight. Typically before that I'd wake up every hour or two, but never slept as long as 5 hours in a row. (This coming from someone who could have won Olympic Gold in sleeping when I was much younger!) And actually, I didn't have the mandarin oil and left it out - it works just as well without it! I've since learned that you can easily substitute Cedarwood Virginian, which is also very good for relaxation.

Haiti is the leading producer of Vetiver essential oil in the world. The high quality Vetiver oil produced in Haiti is a light, golden amber, and its fragrance is sweet, smooth and earthy. Vetiver essential oil is used extensively across the world for making perfumes, soaps, cosmetics and to freshen and cool rooms. It has a strong aroma similar to Patchouli essential oil (probably why I love it) and is described as smoky, spicy and herbaceous. It is valued for its ability to enhance a sense of deep grounding and is known in Sri Lanka as the “oil of tranquility.” 

Vetiver Essential Oil is derived from the aromatic roots of the Vetiveria zizanioides (Linn) Nash. botanical

• Due to its grounding, sensuous, and deeply calming scent, Vetiver Essential Oil is also referred to as the “Oil of Tranquility” and “The Fragrance of the Soil.”

• Used in aromatherapy applications, Vetiver Essential Oil is beneficial for soothing anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, depression, and inability to concentrate or remember.

• Used cosmetically or topically in general, Vetiver Essential Oil is known to firm, tighten, and protect skin against the harsh effects of environmental stressors, thereby exhibiting anti-aging properties.

• Used medicinally, Vetiver Essential Oil works as a natural anti-oxidant that promotes relief from various types of inflammation. Its tonic properties are reputed to show regenerative effects as they enhance and maintain immunity. Its anti-septic properties eliminate and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

• Used in massages, the tonic properties of Vetiver Essential Oil enhance circulation, boosts the metabolism and digestion, eases muscular aches, and soothes joint pain.

If you're new to Vetiver, you may be wondering the best ways to use this ancient, grounding oil. Vetiver is versatile, but it is also a particularly potent essential oil, great for aromatherapy and diffusing.

It's especially lovely in a warm bath to promote deep relaxation. Vetiver essential oil blends well with Lavender, Sandalwood, Rose, Ylang Ylang and Clary Sage. Play around with some blends and discover how Vetiver can highlight the positive qualities of some of your favorite oils. Just remember that when adding any essential oil to your bath, you should always add an emulsifier first!

As with any oil, make sure to dilute Vetiver before applying topically. Use sparingly because it is a potent oil, though it it generally considered safe and non-irritating. Always buy 100 percent pure oil that is free from additives and artificial ingredients.

Enjoy adding some Vetiver to your life!

~Mahalo~

How I Discovered Essential Oils

I guess I'm really late to the essential oil boom - I bought a few from a friend who had a party by one of the major MLM distributors a few years ago, but WOW they were expensive! I spent nearly $100 on four tiny little bottles of oil!! I never bothered to learn much about them because of the expense, and used those to scent my studio when I was painting. I put them in a wax warmer, and when they ran out, I never bothered to repurchase.  Add to that the fact that my husband hates the scents, even of room fresheners, so that was a pretty easy decision to make.

Then, a little over a year ago I decided to take a yoga class after work. Some of the benefits:

1. increased flexibility.
2. increased muscle strength and tone.
3. improved respiration, energy and vitality.
4. maintaining a balanced metabolism.
5. weight reduction.
6. cardio and circulatory health.
7. improved athletic performance.
8. protection from injury.

I really enjoyed the class, and during the final pose of deep restoration: Corpse Pose, also sometimes called Final Relaxation Pose, the instructor would "anoint" each person with a blend of essential oils. I loved the scent! It's called Peace & Harmony, and I found it online. It's a synergy (blend) of Peppermint Oil, Patchouli Oil, Orange Oil, Lavender Oil and Basil Oil by NOW essential oils. It was the patchouli that sold me - I LOVE the scent of patchouli oil. (I am a child of the '60s)

At the same time, I also purchased a synergy called Peaceful Sleep (also by NOW) because I was having so much trouble staying asleep. I didn't have trouble falling asleep, just staying asleep. It had been several years since I'd had a really good restful night's sleep. I'd wake up 5-6 times every night! I made a pillow spray with the Peaceful Sleep, and had some success staying asleep. Not a lot, but better than waking every hour!

Fast forward to 2020 - I've been using essential oils for almost a year now - they have made such a difference in my life! Not just sleep, but for skin care, arthritis relief, and general wellness. They are more than just a nice scent! (actually, there is one that is so beneficial for your skin, but it smells AWFUL! I'll post about which one that is, and a beautiful skin care serum. No pain, no gain.) 😷 Now I'm making all kinds of lotions and potions with all natural ingredients!

There are many good distributors of pure essential oils - but not all of them promote safe use. I'll be posting about my oily journey and a few fabulous essential oil companies.

Plant Therapy, Aromatics International, DeRu Extracts, Edens Garden, Stillpoint Aromatics and Sedona Aromatics are my choices to purchase top quality, pure essential oils. There are several other reputable sellers as well, but these are my go to's, especially the first three! 

I became a member of NAHA (National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy) and have been studying the safe use of essential oils since January 2019 - almost a year now! Also, Andrea Butje with Aromahead has some wonderful free online classes, and also has several certification programs for aromatherapists. I'm planning to take another course soon.

Btw - did you know that you should be extremely careful using essential oils around your small children, or if you are pregnant, or have certain autoimmune conditions?? And your pets - especially cats 😻 - they lack a liver enzyme to process and essential oils can be highly toxic to them! 

I'll be posting recipes, reviews and recommendations that I hope you'll find interesting and helpful!

~Mahalo~

Customer Support & Website Builders

Over a week ago, I spent about 30 hours over 5 days working all my spare time at recreating my website! Why? Well, because it didn't have SSL (secure socket layering or the https) that shows your website is secure. That's pretty important, especially if you are selling online, right?

Sooooooo, I called GoDaddy - my hosting and website builder - and asked about SSL. What happened, is that the agent I spoke with talked me in to buying their new Go Central Website builder that includes SSL. He led me to believe that my current version 7 website builder wasn't going to be supported any longer.

The problem - I had to totally recreate my website from scratch because the new platform won't convert my old website. ARRRRRGHHHHHH!!!!!! As much as I  hated to do it, I spent all those hours building my new site. And then I discovered that Go Central doesn't have as many customizable features as my previous website builder. FRUSTRATING AS HECK!!!!

Fast forward: I was so frustrated with the limitations on the new website builder, I called tech support.  I couldn't get something as simple as a hyperlink to work on the pages! Thankfully, the person who answered my call (Rodney) was super helpful, and super knowledgeable. We spent about 30 minutes on the phone, and after talking with Rodney, I discovered my website builder isn't going away, it IS still supported. Fortunately for me, I kept the previous website builder and never published the pages with GoCentral. Rodney refunded my money and I upgraded my current website to include SSL. I can still fully customize my site and other than all those lost hours, I'm a happy camper.

Had the first agent actually "listened" to my concerns instead of trying to sell me a new website builder package (I don't know if they get commission or not), I could have avoided all the work and lost hours; hours that I could have been painting!! Good Customer Service involves listening to the customer; customer support is a range of customer services to assist customers in making cost effective and correct use of a product.

Are you maintaining your art website or did you hire someone to create and maintain your site? Who are you using for your host, and what website builder do you use? Any recommendations? I'm paid up through the end of the year with GoDaddy, but I'm open to suggestions...

~Mahalo~

Update 1/11/20 - Yeah, I gave up on that website. Too much trouble, not enough time. For now it's going to be an occasional blog post and maybe resurrect my Etsy site. Once I'm fully retired I might have the time and energy to keep it up to date. Two years between posts sure isn't enough to keep people interested is it??

Everybody's Doing It!

10" x 8" acrylic pour on canvas

$45 available through my website

Pour Painting that is... Acrylic pour painting, pouring, fluid art, whatever you name it, it's become super popular, especially over the past year or two.

My favorite description is Hydrodynamic Instability paintings - yep, that's a term I found on the internet while searching for fluid art. Technically, it's Rayleigh-Taylor instability; and it the simplest of terms, it's how paints of different densities or weights react when layered together to create beautifully organic and mostly unpredictable shapes and colors. Kinda like oil and water.

And it's pretty easy to do - messy, but easy, and tons of fun!  When acrylic paints and a pouring medium are used, the paints can simply be poured onto a canvas using different techniques.  Flip Cup, Dirty Pour, Dip, Swipe, Funnel Pour, String Pull and the list goes on! The results are a very colorful organic abstract artwork. Artists are getting more and more creative with their techniques, and there is so much information online now. One artist has produced over 300 videos on just doing pouring.

I jumped in gung ho last summer and poured on practically everything that wasn't nailed down.  You can produce a lot of work in a short amount of time. I painted on rocks to decorate my yard, and on light switch covers to decorate my home with what I like to call "FUNctional" art. I sold a lot of work at the studio tour this past fall too. As a matter of fact, I will be teaching a class through our local Parks & Recreation Department on paint pouring this summer. I'm really looking forward to it!

What about you - have you tried pouring yet?

~Mahalo~

Speaking of Names

Okay, now you know where "Maloha" came from.

When I first created my website (heartspiritstudio.com), I tried to get my name as my domain name - but it's already taken.  Turns out that Todd Rundgren's  long time friend and tour director is also named Mary Lou Arnold (http://rockshowcritique.com/2016/01/interview-todd-rundgrens-tour-director-mary-lou-arnold/). The domain isn't developed, it's just parked, but not available for sale. I tried maloha.com - but that's taken too.

Now what?  I use a lot of heart imagery in my work; heart, art, heART, you can see how that evolved. HeARTSpiritStudio sounded right to me, so I went for it. Oh, and in case you're wondering, the 401 is from my anniversary - Rex & I got married on April Fool's Day - but that's another story.

Recently for yuks and giggles I did another domain name search, and marylouarnoldart.com is available - should I go for it? I'm not so certain that a change is necessary, but it would probably be easier for people to find me and my paintings on the web. That, along with the fact that I need to let people know I'm out there!

Do you have a website, and if so, how did you arrive at the name if you were lucky enough to obtain a domain with your name? If not, how did you decide on your brand, your name?

Comments welcome!

~Mahalo~

Are you Hawaiian? (it's all in the name)

I get asked that all the time because of my email address and how I sign my paintings.

Mahalo is a Hawaiian word meaning thanks, gratitude, admiration, praise, esteem, regards, or respects. According to the Pukui and Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary, it is derived from the Proto-Polynesian *masalo.

Maloha, on the other hand, is how I sign my paintings. So where the heck did "that" come from? Well, my name when I started painting, was Mary Lou Harris. I signed a few paintings that way, but it just seemed too long for a signature, so I tried to come up with a shorter signature. I finally arrived at Maloha, which is the first two letters of each of my names MAry LOu HArris = Maloha.

Fast forward - I got married. Luckily for me, I married a man whose last name is Arnold; so I didn't have to change a thing - now I explain that it's MAry LOu Harris Arnold = Maloha.  

So, that, in a nutshell, is why I sign my paintings "Maloha" (I'm not remotely Hawaiian - I vacationed there once tho)

I'm revisiting my blog - it's been a long time, and a lot has happened over the past (I was going to say "few") but it's been 7 years!!!

I've always found it a little difficult to talk about myself, but here I am, and I'm going to make it work this time.... so bear with me while I get my feet wet in the blogosphere, again.

~Mahalo~