Hello to everyone who visits and reads my thoughts.  I am putting out a call for your help and suggestions.

I am really anxious and excited about having my own brand of shampoo, conditioner and body wash to release.  It is completely natural, no icky stuff whatsoever!  It is earth friendly in every way right down to the label, it is health conscious and effective, smells nice without having nasty fragrance stuff in it!  Now the question, what on earth should I name it?

I really need some suggestions, because so far every name I have come up with, my strategist HATES.  I want to bring it out.  I want to make this fantastic product available for people to be able to enjoy the positive effects and know that this product does everything right for the earth and for those of us who still need it to be around for our children and their children.

Please take a moment and send me ideas.  reseller@whatsinstore.ca is the e-mail address.

I look forward to many fantastic ideas.

Lately I have been rained upon by sad events.  I choose the words "rained upon" because even though the events are sad, they are the kind of things that haven't directly wiped me out....just kind of washed over me and made me aware of things.

It started without notice at first, some messages that popped up about sad things going on, my own child's challenges that I can't do much to help with, then I read tuesdays with Morrie....wonderful book, well written and very moving account of a man's journey toward death and the experiences of the man sharing that journey: some parts very much stinging my memory of my own father....then I heard the news of a young boy who lost his mother and how his extended family is planning their events to help him cope with his grief and make a life as his goes on.  All very sad....all affect our hearts even though they may not directly affect our lives. 

Now, the good thing that follows a rain is the promise of a brighter day ahead soon.  The growth that comes from the rain.  The fact that sometimes we need the rain....we need to be brought to awareness that there is a lot more going on out there than the mundane tasks of our work and life in our small part of this very large world.  It does us good to take a step back and look at things from other people's perspectives.  Then we can put aside some of our small issues and lend a hand, an ear or a shoulder if the need is there. 

Life is precious, each living thing on this earth is precious.  We all need to remember to stop our busy cycles sometimes and take a look around and see where our efforts might be more needed; whether it be comfort for one in need, planting a tree, cleaning up a littered area, whatever.  It's okay to work busily at your own life, so long as you don't forget the big picture...that life does not exist solely in your small sector and each of us has a purpose and a value....each of us contributes to making this place better if we choose to. 

A wonderful sermon I heard recently was a reminder too.....(plant your seeds and when you least expect them to flourish...they may just surprise you with their growth. )Then I realized....in order for some seeds to grow, sometimes there is rain.

Let's all take care of this wonderful planet and each other.

Well, this is my moment to shamelessly ask for help.  I have spent the last 2 years of my life pouring over the Internet looking for products that I can feel proud to promote and encourage others to choose over others that pale in comparison. 

I have been blessed with an opportunity recently at a chance to gain some wonderful resources in the form of not just a cash prize, but mentorship from women before me who have been able to make a business grow while still giving their hearts to their families.

I have recognized in myself that ,despite my grand ability to find better choices for those who I reach through my site and this blog, I lack in the area of knowledge regarding marketing.  Therefore, I am asking for help from those of you who choose to read my thoughts here.

Please vote for me so that I can begin to reach more people!  I want to gain exposure so that I can help more people to find better products that will hopefully result in better health for them and for our fair planet.

The link is provided here - please take a couple of minutes or less to click on the link and vote for What's In Store.

Thank you so much for your support!

http://www.momentrepreneuraward.ca/Nominees.aspx?q=WZ&p=1

I was reading some chat-style communications about chemical-laden products tonight.  The funny thing is that there are people writing about how if they lived green they would be "dirty, never run their air conditioner, starve"....  I thought it was completely ridiculous at first, then I realized how one might start to feel that way if they encountered a great amount of education all at once. 

I think sometimes that it is important to handle people who are not that educated about the chemicals in their products with care....no one likes their ego smashed, even when it relates to something as menial as shopping.  We all take pride in different things, like how well we keep our home or garden, how well behaved our children are in public, our education, our status, whatever...so to have masses pointing at us and saying "you use chemical-laden cleaners and are going to die of cancer and your children will too!!!  Ahhh!!"  Well, you can see how that might make someone feel a little under attack. 

Perhaps those of us who have come to terms with the fact that we once made bad choices about our purchases, but have seen the light, could be a little more gentle with those who are not yet at that stage.  We care about the people around us, even if we don't know them well..so our intentions are good, but I learned the hard way that shouting about the dangers of chemicals in products can in fact make some people tune it out.  It may be because they don't want to hear how they have been endangering themselves or their families or it may be ignorance and disbelief...that "yeah, but everything causes cancer these days" mentality. 

Perhaps it would be best to just help people to take steps to form new habits, healthier habits that eventually lead them toward finding even more steps they can take.  Rome wasn't built in a day as they say....and old habits die hard.  So, let's take care of each other, try not to judge others too harshley, show some tolerance for where others may need it.....and remember, no matter how far we have come ourselves....there is always room for improvement. 

This is a very brief blog note.  I thought I would share this fascinating website with others.  There is a gentleman who speaks of how to "grow your own air" and another who gives some great insight into Cradle to Cradle, and so many other fabulous presentations. 

Be prepared to spend some time on this site....it has much to offer.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/kamal_meattle_on_how_to_grow_your_own_fresh_air.html

Another great link; especially in these difficult economic times is one about a type of barter-like system that puts value on time and converts that to currency (not dollars) so that everyone's time is deemed equal in value and people have found a way to trade their time to create an easier way of living!

Check it out!

http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/009127.html

Interested in learning more about Cradle to Cradle and recent criticism?  Check out this interview with Michael Braungart.

http://www.duurzaamgebouwd.nl/index.php?pageID=3946&messageID=1936