quitter!

so my beloved friends over at BGLU have decided to read Jon Acuff's book, Quitter, and chronicle their journey.  since i already quit my money job to go to africa, came home and wondered how i was going to make a living, and then went back to school to become an LMT, i can say with a smile that i am already a quitter.  but i want to read it anyhoo, because i love a good dose of encouragement.  especially as i start my own little business.  read along with Tia & Toya - they are hard at work to whip their side hustle into their full on dream job.  and i may put in my 2 cents.  


ok, let's be honest.  i will totally put in my 2 cents.


i hope parents don't hate me, because i think everyone should quit their job to go to africa and then sit around wondering what it is they really want to do... how they really want to invest their lives...  to be in a spot where they must figure out what their mission(s?) really are - in their very guts and not just what someone tells them.  


total random side note:  the best roadie shirt i ever saw in my former touring life?  "rehab is for quitters."  it still makes me chuckle.

countdown!

i am THREE days away from completing a 600 hour training program to be a licensed massage therapist.  it was an inkling way back in 1993.  now it's a real thing.  i can't wait to work.


the goal:  to have several steady clients, allowing me to charge a lesser rate so i can help those who couldn't normally afford a massage but desperately need stress relief.  i want to work with military families, rape survivors and those who suffer from PTSD.  opportunities keep popping up out of the proverbial blue.


my favorite comment from my clinic hours last night:
first a muffled grunt, then, "i bet you could rip a phone book in half."


18 years in the making and it's 3 days away.

beyond organic

i heard about this from dr. josh axe at exodus health center!  i use garden of life supplements - you can find them at the best price at vitacost.com.
 
here's the article from dr. axe... beyond organic.


click here to register with me! 

sunblock testing, episode 2.

today's sample is Peter Thomas Roth Max All Day Moisture Defense Lotion.  (writing that, i felt like i was back at ol' G and their incredibly long product names...)  

bonus points:

+ non-greasy moisture!

+ smooth and non-irritating!

+ anti-aging!  (ticked off i must start heeding this crap)

+ has vitamins and what not!

+ i kinda like it - have been sporting it for two days and no irritation.

downfall:

- $29.99.  which really isn't that bad - hurray for amazon prices!  it's $42 on Sephora.  i'm currently paying - $10ish for Aveeno's Active Naturals Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 - again with the long names)

- contains several chemicals like avobenzone & octinoxate that have been called into the principal's office.

so now i have to go look at all my sunblocks and figure out which one will kill me...  juuust kidding.  i will, however, do some homework on more natural or organic sunblocks to see if my old favorites need to be rejected.  and if those that claim they are natural are legit or full of .... really hard for me to not rhyme it..... hitpostnow

sunblock testing, episode 1.

have decided to review sunblocks and SPFs. fell for some shiny packaging and a freebie at Sephora because i'm always on the hunt for newer, better, less chemically ways to not fry like an egg. tested these each on my semi daily trek with violet the dog. she taste-tested this one and seemed pleased.

today's sample is Dr. T's Supergoop Sunscreen Swipe, SPF 30.

why do you need a sunscreen towelette? dunno.

feels like:

.... a nice lotion when you smooth it on.

.... you dipped your hands in flour about 30 minutes later.

bonus points for the following:

Smells clean - not like a coconut or a beach or a fruit.

paraben and fragrance free, good for my sensitive epithelials.

no animal testing.

packaging: *because 1st impressions and fonts are important, people!

this is pretty, simple, straighforward & yellow. pleasant.

demerits for the following:

not even close to sweat proof.

why, towelette, why?

lots of leftover lotion in the packet. boo and fail.

cost - $34 plus shipping for 21 wee towelettes. @#$!?

are you fresh out of your mind? that's nigh to $1.34 per wee towelette. foolish.

i pity the fool that buys Dr. T's Supergoop.

P90Lent

about two weeks ago there was a buzz question - what are you giving up for lent?

as a relatively newb anglican, i'm still stretching into the true, sacred meaning of lent. two years ago i started taking on a something or other, instead of giving up a something or other. giving up chocolate or caffeine doesn't really mean anything to me, and i'm pretty sure God doesn't want me to torture myself.... so this year i decided to take on P90X. healthy shmealthy. taking care of the ol' temple. plus, my pants don't fit as i think they ought. for me, it's an offering of one hour and 30 minutes of my day. working + school + study = this is a big chunk o' time & determination.

the other day my friend JH was over and he asked me what i was giving up for lent. instead of blathering on about it, i had to think. "to keep in simple? self loathing." he responded with a welcome burst of laughter.

on a much holier & less sarcastic note, i offer you this for your Lenten mediations:

“For Lent, 1966”

By Madeleine L’Engle

It is my Lent to break my Lent,

To eat when I would fast,

To know when slender strength is spent,

Take shelter from the blast

When I would run with wind and rain,

To sleep when I would watch.

It is my Lent to smile at pain

But not ignore its touch.

It is my Lent to listen well

When I would be alone,

To talk when I would rather dwell

In silence, turn from none

Who call on me, to try to see

That what is truly meant

Is not my choice. If Christ’s I’d be

It’s thus I’ll keep my Lent.

LMT journey, part 2. Takin' care of biz-ness.

Website 1, website 2, twitter handle, basic business philosophy, colors, logo, space, business license, massage license, zoning...... What in the world am i doing? The Great Name Game was fought and won: Studio Massage played along with music city, my wee in-home studio, and it was simple. I duked it out with a few geniuses about securing my .com address, but some guy in Madrid has been sitting on it since 2003. So I scooped up the .biz, my own name, and the closest twitter handle I could secure:

1. StudioMassage.biz

2. MelanieJoyeLMT.com

3. @StudioLMT

Luckily, I work at a great web design company, have a great boss, smart co-workers, and get great how-to advice. Wondering if I can get an iPad and do everything paperless. That would be a great challenge and oh, how very green of me.

I suppose:

1. .com is best, .biz works the same way, with a bit more effort of promoting my BIZ-ness so people don't default to .com. I will not fall prey to godaddy.com's fear tactics!

2. because it's my name.

3. simple, short, and sweet.

Apparently I need to do MORE research about zoning, certificates, licensing, LLCs, sole proprietorships, incorporations… lots of hoops, so little time.