Buy Pink Champagne Organic Wine Bar Soap in October, and 10% goes to Breast Cancer Research

The Grapeseed Co. pink champagne organic wine bar soap $9.99

Every year, we donate a percentage of sales to Cancer Research from our Pink Champagne Wine Bar Soap. This unique soap is made fresh in our production kitchen in Santa Barbara with local antioxidant rich grapeseeds and has even been featured in the Sunday Living Section of the
 
This October, we celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month by making a donation to the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara Annual Walk/Run taking place this weekend. The Cancer Center of Santa Barbara is doing some amazing things and you can help their efforts.

Here's a few facts on how your donation will help:
-More than 10,931 cancer patients were treated at the Cancer Center in 2013
-Over 6,000 cases were reviewed for eligibility for a clinical trial in 2013.
-The Cancer Foundation provided more than $3.5 million in financial support to the Cancer Center last year.

Will you please support The Cancer Center and help my friend (and one of our weekend warrior Grapeseed helpers :), Colby Boss-Adamski, reach her fundraising goal before this Sunday? Thank you in advance for your donation and support!

Follow This Link to visit Colby's personal donation web page and help me in my efforts to support Cancer Center of Santa Barbara.

what divorce has taught me about business

It's funny how you can go about your daily life, constantly trying and convincing yourself you can make it all work, no matter what. I've been doing that for (gulp) 11 years, and recently just admitted it. I've had a huge realization the past 6 months that while you certainly can do this, you also have the power to make changes to create a better, more fulfilling and joyful life.

It can be downright amazing the opportunities that unfold around you when you break down those walls and face change head on.

I got married a year before I started The Grapeseed Company. I was in my mid 20s, fresh off a year+ adventure sailing a small boat from Boston to the Caribbean with my future husband. I figured if we could make it for almost 2 years on a 30ft sailboat in high stress, life threatening situations, we could definitely make it as partners for life! We had a common goal on that boat, and we both used our strengths and assets to make it the best experience it could be. We had amazing adventures, went to some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and met wonderful people I will never forget. It was really a time of living life to its fullest and also is one of the biggest accomplishments and most positive memories in my entire life. I'm so happy I shared that with Pete.

We built a great life in Santa Barbara after we sold the sailboat and decided to move back to the USA and get married. Pete started grad school at UCSB. I started teaching and pursuing my passion for making products, and launched The Grapeseed Co. selling scrubs and lip balms at the Sunday Arts & Crafts Beach Show. I had no idea 10 years ago that Grapeseed would turn into what it has today.  
Passion is an extremely powerful thing. It's the secret sauce in keeping the drive going, which is essential in successful businesses, and relationships. As I built Grapeseed, each little victory and success became fuel for that passion, and drive to do even more. But Pete did not share that with me; it took a long time to realize and admit that. I'd be on cloud nine about a new deal, and he'd be looking up in the clouds. It was a very different feeling and experience then our sailing adventure, but just as exciting and wonderful (for me, at least, minus the pain of not having someone share in that joy!)

After a very long time trying to make things work and see the possibilities this was opening for us, we realized it was a losing battle. We had been on different paths, pursing different passions for a very long time. There was a lack of support; someone having your back and sharing your dreams or at least appreciating them... It just was not there, no matter how hard we tried.

When you are an entrepreneur, and especially a maker, you need to have a solid relationship with your business in order to be successful. You have to be in love with it! The passion and drive you convey are what make buyers stop and notice you amongst a sea of others... much like finding that certain someone. Relationships are not easy though, and can strain you and those around you at times. You have to give first to that relationship in order to get. You need to be committed, devoted, passionate and constantly working on making it succeed. Every. Single. Day. It can be exhausting, but you do it because you love and believe in it. You can't just have the pretty picture on the outside, it has to resound within, to truly be authentic and thrive.

Many entrepreneurs talk about having a supportive partner as a key to their success. I think this is another secret and deeper ingredient in that sauce... When a partner is bringing you down, or making you doubt yourself instead of believing in you and lifting you up, it can be debilitating. I've realized through the process of divorce that my business is so much stronger and incredible opportunities keep opening up because that cloud of negativity is now clear in my world. I've grown as a leader in all aspects of life through divorce.

So many great new things have blossomed this summer and our team is stoked-- they believe it will happen, there are not dark clouds and negativity around us. It's not a "$#*!, how are we going to make this work?" kind of vibe, but a "Wow we did that! On to next big thing!" There's hope, joy, growth and dreams to reach for, every single day. I'm thankful that has resulted in part from my personal journey, and honestly, it's quite unexpected. I keep telling friends, "it's downright amazing what can happen all around you when you take action to remove negativity from your world."

While change is hard, and sometimes can be difficult to see when it needs to happen, the most important thing to remember is that you (yes, YOU!) are ultimately in control of it. You just have to realize that first and foremost, and sometimes make tough and painful decisions to move forward and create a better life.

Here's to appreciating that there is always a silver lining, and valuable learning experiences through challenging times. It's how we grow and become even better versions of ourselves. It's how we change. I'm excited for what the future holds, and pursuing it with unbridled passion!

     cheers,

Fresh Perspective from Paris: What's on Your Love List?

This week I'm posting from Paris, France on a real vacation! When I highlight the word "real", it's because for the past decade, about 90% of my travel that has not had to do with family obligations has been Grapeseed Co. related.

It's so wonderful to get a fresh perspective and not try to squeeze a few hours of rest or fun in at the end of an intense business meeting, speaking engagement or grapeseed pickup on a vineyard!

Grapeseed has brought me to some amazing places around the globe and presented me with wonderful travel opportunities, but this week has reminded me how important and healthy it is to take time for myself away from The Grapeseed Co. I am very thankful to have family that came to vacation in Santa Barbara and take care of our home and pup while we're away, and a wonderful team that I can rely on to run Grapeseed while I take a much needed time-out.

I still don't manage to completely unplug on vacation, but my strict one hour of necessary work a day (be it checking in with our team via email or making a skype call to seal a deal) has been extremely refreshing. It's made me focus on my own personal health and well-being which, like many entrepreneurs, can sometimes take a backseat to the growth of the business. It's also made me realize Grapeseed can run just fine without me being a part of it 24/7... imagine that :)

Some of this personal reflection has not been easy, and it's hard to admit to yourself when things need to change. I've grown more this week than I have in a long time, and also gained a deeper understanding of who I am at this point in my life, how lucky I am to do what I love, and how refreshing a non-grapeseed vacation can be for ideas to bloom!

gorgeous and abundant blooms at the open air markets

Women tend to take care of everyone before themselves. I believe this is especially true for women who are entrepreneurs and running growing businesses. It's OK to stop and take time for yourself! It's healthy.  It's a GOOD thing, and it can make you an even better leader, and person!

The most important thing this vacation has taught me is that whatever your stressors may be, no one else will make "you time" unless you make a point to prioritize it for yourself. So here I'll share with you how I plan to continue this revelation in the crazy, beautiful and hectic life I lead growing Grapeseed back in Santa Barbara...

Make a list of what you LOVE to do. It can be anything, and it doesn't have to cost any money, so no excuses! It just has be things you love that bring you joy.

Some examples from my list are:
1. make a delicious meal
2. go for a hike
3. garden, pick or buy flowers
4. walk on the beach
5. catch up with an old friend
6. go surfing!
7. snuggle with my dog

cuddling up with my French lab friends that live right below the apartment we are staying in

 When I return home, I'm going to make a point to do at least one thing on my LOVE LIST per day. It's easy to say we don't have time, funds, or make other lame excuses, but it can also be simple to make what you love a priority, if you let it.

We are all the masters of our own destiny, so I encourage everyone to make their own LOVE LIST. Make it a priority and in turn, it will reward you with being healthier, happier and (dare I say) more successful :)

So... what's on your love list?

cheers,
Kristin

NEW: all about the eyes

Vine Eyes Anti-Aging Cream with Eyebright has been a top seller since we released it a few years back. This holiday season, we decided to create a wonderfully pampering new gift set to enhance this cult favorite product, and also brought in and created a few new spa accessories to highlight and enhance your beautiful eyes!

{NEW} Divine Relaxation Eye Box

 Everyone could use the Divine Relaxation Eye Box. This ultra pampering kit combines the ultimate in relaxing, anti~aging treatment for the eyes, from our bestselling eye cream to a handmade lavender eye pillow.

Contains the following Grapeseed Co. products:
2.3oz lavender rose toner
0.5oz vine eyes anti-aging cream with eyebright
0.5oz sweet lips lip balm tin
4oz travel tin soy candle in fresh cut herbs
lavender eye pillow
eye chiller mask
elegantly wrapped up in our vino noir printed box.

a thoughtful gift you can pick up HERE

{NEW} Eye Gel Chiller Mask

 This handy spa accessory will come in handy when you wake up with puffy eyes. Keep the gel mask in your freezer so it's ready to go in a spa emergency! Lie down for 5-10 minutes with the chilled mask on your puffy eyes. Remove the mask, apply vine eyes antiaging eye cream, and notice instant results! $6.95 HERE

 

{NEW} Lavender Bud Eye Pillow

This relaxing lavender eye pillow is filled with the same spa quality lavender we use in our products, and handmade, in-house from soft recycled quilt scraps. Each lavender eye pillow is different-- expect a variety of colors as each is unique and made just for you! Just $12 HERE
 

 

Summer Sun Care for Grapeseeders on the Go! SPF SUN STICK + BALM

 

Long, light days and a blazing sun means it's the perfect time for new adventures or some much-deserved R&R. Wherever the heat takes you The Grapeseed Co.'s SPF Summer sun care products will keep you pampered and protected!

 

In the mountains

I am loving the new SPF 30 Cali Sun Stick for my mountaintop hikes. The small, compact and no mess tube makes it easy to carry along. It takes only seconds to rub all over my face and ears with no danger of that common and awkward "not fully rubbed in" sunscreen debacle. But by far the best part about the stick is that it is formulated with natural cocoa butter, coconut and preserved with rosemary oleoresin so my skin stays moisturized and breakout free!   

  On the beach

When I need some relaxation, I head straight to the beach for hours on hours of bronzing and boogie boarding, and it’s easy to forget to include my lips in my sun-protection process. But with The Grapeseed Co.’s SPF 15 natural based lip balms I've been dying to pucker up. The rich blend of organic coconut, olive and hemp oils leaves my lips moisturized, soft, and oh-so kissable! My favorite for summer is the island-inspired Coconut flavor, but the nutty Almond Cream smells just as sweet!

 

Take Grapeseed Co. Sun Care along for your own Summer fun!

 

All of these SPF products are available online HERE or stop by our Santa Barbara or Carpinteria store. 

Coming Soon: See how you can win one of our limited edition Summer Sun Care Packs with our Stay Cool with the Grapeseed Co. Pinterest + Instagram Contest!

Featured Retailer: Integral Therapy Center

Just in time for Valentine's.... Here's a holistic therapy center you'll surely fall in LOVE with- Integral Therapy Center of Roscoe, IL.  This "feel good" co-op offers a cutting edge approach to holistic medicine by integrating ancient mind-body wisdom with the latest research and therapies. They provide a unique and multi-disciplinary approach to total wellness by offering services in yoga, pilates, massage, skin therapy and more. Integral Therapy Center has been wholesale partners with The Grapeseed Company for many years. This month we shed light on esthetician, Melissa Weidman, who shares more about The Spa at Integral Therapy Center.

Tell us about your spa? 
The Spa at Integral Therapy Center offers massage, facials, back facials, face and body waxing, ear candling, and spa parties. We pride ourselves on using products with clean and safe ingredients. As an esthetician I am really trying to spread the knowledge to our guests about safe and effective ways that we can care for our skin with ingredients we already have at home and clean, responsible product line like The Grapeseed Co. 

What makes your spa unique/different? 
The spa itself is only part of what I like to explain as a holistic therapy co-op. Other services offered throughout the building are Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Yoga, Pilates, Meditation groups and we also have a therapy dog. It's a beautiful space where you can find some peace and so many ways to care for yourself and being part of that is what makes it so unique.

How have you taken initiative to become a greener business? 
The newest for us has been connecting with a local farm that is part of the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) network. We will be a pick-up site for them starting this coming spring and we will be offering more information on the importance of supporting local organic farms and the difference they make. Other ways we try to be green are finding used furniture to furnish our space instead of buying new. I personally have found many uses for my empty Grapeseed Co. containers. The eye cream dishes work great for carrying jewelry when traveling, empty candle jars are perfect for holding waxing sticks, ear candles or cotton pads and if I refill any of the bottles with a pump on the top my kids prefer them over other toys in the tub! If I can't find a use for it, I recycle it.

What is your best selling Grapeseed product? 
The Grapeseed Oil is the best seller. It has so many wonderful uses, it's hard not to love it! 

What is your personal favorite Grapeseed product? 
My own favorite is the Rose and Grape Serum. I love it on it's own or a few drop of it in my moisturizer.

Visit Integral Therapy Center 
5428 Williams Dr. Roscoe, IL 61073
Studio 815.494.5551
Spa (Melissa) 815.566.7855 
email Melissa(at)integraltherapyonline(dot)com 
www.integraltherapyonline.com

fresh from your kitchen: tea for two under-eye relief

Do you sometimes look in the mirror and wonder how to make those tired eyes look ah-mazing without piling on tons of concealer or makeup? While nothing replaces a great night of sleep, there are a few tips and quick recipe you can whip up to combat under eye issues when you may not look (or feel) 100%

TEA for TWO Under Eye Relief
this may just be our simplest Fresh from your Kitchen recipe yet! 

ingredients
2 organic green tea bags
boiling water

directions
~brew 2 cups of organic green tea, reserve the wet bags and let cool slightly, so they are still warm to the touch.
~lie down and close your eyes. Apply the wet bags to your under eye area. Rest for 10 minutes (or as long as you can!)
~enjoy that warm cup of delicious green tea.

what it does...
the caffeine in the green tea helps constrict pores and eliminate fluid waste and detox your skin. Green tea is also rich in powerful polyphenol antioxidants.

TIP #1
If you have problems with dark circles under your eyes, try including more bananas in your diet. Eat one each morning with breakfast and see if you notice those raccoon eyes diminishing after a few weeks. The potassium in the bananas is thought to help restore water balance in the skin aiding in combating puffiness and dark circles.

TIP# 2

Vine Eyes by The Grapeseed Co.

keep two teaspoons chillin' in your fridge. When you wake up with super puffy, swollen eyes, combat those under eye bags by applying the two spoons over your eyes for a few minutes. Follow with our green tea bags recipe and apply a healthy dose of Vine Eyes ant~aging cream with eyebright to moisturize and protect the delicate skin around your eyes and minimize wrinkles.

Featured Retailer: VINO + THERAPY STUDIO

 We could all use a little R & R around the holidays...   

The Grapeseed Company has a great idea on how to do this!  Book yourself an appointment at Vino+Therapy Studio.  This spa is a real treat for wine lovers! Ahhhh....

Patty (Kristin's mom) and Nena (owner, Vino + Therapy Studio)

 

We are happy to end this year by featuring one of our fabulous wholesale partners,
Vino + Therapy Studio in Atascadero, CA.  They not only sell products from The Grapeseed Company in their retail boutique, but also use our products in their spa treatments.  Owner Nena Benson gives us the scoop on this fun & luxurious spa.

1.  Tell us about your Spa?

As the only full service wine therapy day spa on the Central Coast, we’ve tried to provide a wide selection of services that exhibit the healing and rejuvenating properties of wine used during the beautification process. Our services range from the simple to extravagant and are meant to accommodate a wide range of needs and wants. As we like to say, " Come Get Pampered by the Vine, While drinking dam fine local wines!"

2. What makes your Spa unique/different?

We are positive you’ve never seen a Day Spa quite like this on the Central Coast before – we guarantee it! Check out all that we have to offer the wine enthusiast who also loves to be pampered. We are bringing Italy here but at a fraction of the costs:) 

 3. How have you taken initiative to become a greener business?  
As some of you may know, Wine therapy, also referred to as Vinotherapie or Vinoterapia in Italian, has received much attention in Tuscany and other European Countries. Bringing this concept to the Western U.S. is new. When applied topically, studies have proven extensive benefits. These Grape seeds, stems and skins  (which is what the wine makers throw away) all contain high quantities of powerful antioxidants, minerals, pectic, sugars, tannins and vitamins that are fundamental to the skin’s well being. We only use products that are organic & has the byproduct of wine making. One of our favorite lines is the Grapeseed Company! Our signature wine foot soaks are created with corked wine, and whatever extra herbs that are in season. We use organic cleansers while cleaning the spa.   

4. What is your best selling Grapeseed product? 
The Vino Gel cleanser & The Serums! TRY THEM & YOU WILL FIND OUT WHY!!!! Amazing......

 Kristin and Anna (Kristin's sister)

This is a fabulous wine therapy treatment, all the way around and 
a wonderful place to bring loved ones. We'll be back!

~ Kristin Fraser Cotte ~ Founder + CEO The Grapeseed Company

 

5. What is your personal favorite Grapeseed product?

I love love love the Grapeseed Serums! It's a must in my life & it should be in your too! Being a medical Aestitcian, I have used many products. Some natural & some not so much. This serum is a keeper for preventive aging & dehydration of the skin.

 Visit Vino+Therapy Studio!

5990 Entrada Ave Atascadero, CA 

(5 short miles from Paso Robles Wine Country ) 

805-466-8466 (vino) 

http://www.vinotherapystudio.com/

An important life lesson through entrepreneurship

Happy. Refreshed. Renewed.... ready to roll and tackle the world!

These are just a few feelings I've been pleasantly and unexpectedly overcome with in the past week. Entrepreneurship aint as grand as many perceive sometimes... it's super tough. It pushes you to limits you never imagined. It beats you down, but ultimately makes you stronger. It involves an extreme amount of risk, trust, and positive thinking, even when you want to crawl under the covers and never come out. To be honest, I was in this place a few weeks ago. After a tough bought of working around the clock for a few months to open another store, hiring an employee who was toxic to our business, going through a rough firing, and having another key employee dramatically resign without any notice, I was totally beaten down. We'd just opened our second store and I did not even have enough staff to keep both up and running!

I had quite a few mornings where I did not want to come out from under the covers. I almost canceled the first "real vacation" I've taken in 2 years because I didn't know how I'd possibly keep my business going and leave California. After a momentary lapse of feeling totally screwed, sorry for myself and in shock, I got out of bed and dealt with it. Some amazing friends and family were my first line of defense; they helped pull me through this tough time by covering shifts at the stores, sending me positive messages, giving advice and lifting my spirits. They reminded me of all I had accomplished and helped push me out of the dark place I was in. Once I was ready to address things, I turned to my entrepreneurial support systems. My advisers had my back; they sympathized with my situation, recounting their own journeys along the way. I even had the fortunate chance to speak with a few in person on this East coast trip. My business coach, Melody Stevens of Time Millionaire, was on the phone within an hour of sending a "holy sh*t, what do I do?!" email. She helped me come up with a plan to get on that plane, refine my systems, train and trust my new team so that I could get away and spend time with my family. My Savor the Success sisters listened on a mastermind call and gave ideas and inspiration. I realized I could leave The Grapeseed Co., that not everyone was out to screw me, and what I needed more than anything was to take that vacation! I am truly grateful to have all of these brilliant minds collaborating, because no matter how strong you think you are, you cannot do it alone. One of my sister-in-law's favorite sayings is, "it takes a village..." These people help make up my village and I am grateful for their support.

 Her other favorite saying is, "we're so blessed" which I truly feel right now. I've spent the past week on my parents catamaran sailing the Maine coast with my husband, mom, dad, their cuddly dog Jorbi, and my dad's old friend from graduate school he recently reconnected with after multiple decades. We've sailed to a different port with a gorgeous, unique lighthouse every night, seen amazing natural beauty, ate delicious meals, laughed and recounted what it was like when Pete and I lived the simple life aboard a sailboat! On one of our stops along the way, I reconnected with a wonderful friend from grad school I had not seen in over 5 years and met her new husband. Seeing her so happy in such a beautiful place with a great partner brought me joy. There are those people you can go years without speaking to, then when you get together it's like you haven't missed a beat! It's fun that my dad and I both had the chance to experience this in the past week.

 Given the situation with Grapeseed, this could not be an "unplugged" vacation, so I've been working remotely a few hours each day while my new and improved team has handled the stores, shipping orders and manufacturing beautifully in my absence.  It's been reassuring to see we have developed solid systems, and can find competent help to step in and take over if needed. I even took a bit of time to chat on the phone and advise another entrepreneur friend who is on the cusp of something great, which felt nice to be helpful. I've read books for pleasure (not business) and taken moments to nap, stare at the sea and do nothing at all but smile. These are the important things in life that bring true happiness; not fretting or feeling sorry for the current pickle you happen to be in.

So many times, we don't "live out loud" when times get tough. We don't ask for the support we need or tell people what we are going through. It's easy to share our success stories, our victories, our accomplishments, but difficult to mention the extreme emotional drain and hardships along the way. As we wrap up this trip, my biggest take away is to take time to treasure the simple but important things in life, even when you think you can't or don't have time to. I haven't spent a full week of 24/7 with my parents in a while and have realized it's really fun and I need to do it more often! Crap is going to happen; that's life. There are so many things that are beyond your control, but mindset is something we all have complete control over. I'm heading back to California with the best possible gifts I could receive right now, empowerment, great new ideas, and a renewed sense of spirit. Sometimes it's the tough stuff teaches you the most!

fresh from your kitchen: soothing oat milk soak

This is a fabulously easy DIY spa recipe to start getting in shape to show some skin... sundresses & swimsuits are right around the corner!

 

soothing oat milk soak

1/4 C dry oatmeal
4T dry milk powder
2T coarse grain sea salt or epsom salt
4-6 fresh lavender sprigs- prep by removing buds from stem
pinch of mustard powder (optional: helps heal sore muscles)
15-20 drops of the essential oil(s) of your choice...
we recommend a 1 part lavender : 1 part neroli combo for this one!

 

directions

~combine the oats & lavender buds pulse and grind to a medium-coarse grain powder in coffee grinder or food processor
~add remainder of ingredients and mix well
~add to running bath water. hop in, relax and enjoy! Follow with an indulgent full body scrub and moisturizer for silky smooth skin.

 

what it does

milk contains a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid from lactic acid that exfoliates and renews the cellular surface of the skin, smoothing and softening.

oatmeal is a natural, soothing exfolliant known for it's calming and anti-inflammatory properties. It also has astringent qualities but is gentle enough for sensitive skin. It helps to draw oil and impurities out of the skin.

mustard seed gently stimulates while soothing achy muscles. Constricts and opens pores; tones skin.

 
lavender Lavender has so many amazing properties. It's calming, antiseptic, antibacterial and has been know to help treat acne, scarring, winkles, burns, sunburns, eczema and psoriasis.

Epsom salt detoxifies and helps rid the skin of impurities

20-30 undisturbed minutes soaking priceless! start to finish, this will take you only 25-35 minutes, is cheap and indulgent... so get going :)

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Green Skin Care Blog brings simple spa delights to your home monthly with Fresh From Your Kitchen: DIY skin care recipes & mini spa treatments you can create at home with a trip to the grocer or health food store. Direct from the formulator of The Grapeseed Company's personal stash of fresh beauty creations and concoctions!

happy dogs, dirty dogs...

 

Surf had the pleasure of teaching his little cousin 

how to handle the waves at the beach today!

 As you can see, good times were had by all. 

Which led to some chasing, wrestling, digging...

.... and some very salty, sandy, soggy, dirty doggies!

 

Who were pretty happy even when it came to clean up time with 

their favorite fresh & natural shampoo, dirty dog organics!

dirty dog organics wash in 16oz, 8oz & 4oz

my urban garden

As those who've read this blog for a while know, I'm pretty passionate about living green and being creative. Three years ago we bought a cosmetic "fixer-upper" in downtown Santa Barbara and have been working to harmonize green and city living in our own DIY, creative style (on a major budget!).... It's all about maximizing your space and making every inch usable space. I'm excited we've found a nice balance of growing food, trees and flowers in our tiny backyard that both feeds our family and please the senses. Living green doesn't take acres of land,  just mindful and creative uses of the space you have. Here's a few of our current favorites...

top left: greens, greens and more greens, please! Spinach, chard, various lettuces and micro greens make up this 10x5 foot raised bed garden and provide salads nightly in our home.
top right: climbing pink jasmine is scattered next to pink mini daisies. Jasmine is a beautiful, fragrant bloom that will continue to grow and weave through the lattice to provide privacy from our neighbors!
bottom right: Our "dwarf citrus grove"! A sweet Meyer lemon tree is thriving in an old syrah barrel. Behind it is a dwarf orange that consistently provides fruit.
bottom left: I grow lavender anywhere we have an open pocket, or empty wine barrel. We use it in our wine bar organic soaps. Our tiny yard can't provide enough for all of The Grapeseed Co.'s needs, but it's fun to grow some of our own lavender.
Have you created an urban garden? I'd love to see it and hear about your creative uses of space!

Looking back on how The Grapeseed Co. began...

It's hard to believe that 11 years ago I moved onto a 30 foot sailboat and left for a 2 year adventure sailing the Atlantic & Caribbean. Also, when I started making and studying natural skin care! Time flies....
I've been reflecting quite a bit on where that voyage has led us, and found the perfect post to revisit. Here's how The Grapeseed Co. turned from a dream during star lit night passages at sea to reality.

LIVING GREEN part 2 in ENTREPRENEURSHIP + LIVING GREEN + CREATIVITY = THE GRAPESEED COMPANY

product testing inside the boat

Long before GREEN was hip, cool and happenin' it was a part of my life. One that I actually resisted at times as a child. My mother and her earth-loving friends had a food co-op that operated out of our barn. They would place orders directly with farms and vendors, and a delivery truck would pull around our gravel driveway and unload the goods in our barn. Co-op members would drop by to pick-up their orders. I wondered why we couldn't just get stuff from the grocery store like normal people? and yuck, why did I have to eat whole wheat cake with cream cheese frosting for my birthday? Today, I greatly appreciate growing up with a healthy diet and learning the importance of green choices.

LIVING GREEN
I deepened my understanding of our impact on the earth during the two year voyage with Peter in our small sailboat on the open ocean. I became acutely aware of how much water I was consuming, how much trash I was creating, the energy that was needed to run our systems, and what a luxury fresh food from the garden was! For food, we stocked the boat with dry goods, fished with spears and traditional lines, dove for conch and lobster, and grew sprouts on the deck. Boat systems run off of batteries, and the batteries are usually charged by running your engine. Given that we did not have a "real" engine, and just a 15 hp outboard on our tiny ship, this clearly was not going to work for us. Sailors are much like entrepreneurs, savvy, creative and welcoming to other like-minded birds. Through the Internet, books and chats at the dock and boatie bars, we found solutions. Solutions that were very green, and DIY. We fixed our electricity and fresh water deficits by installing solar panels, solar spare water tanks that ran off a gravity system and water catchment systems. We conserved, energy, water, and resources every moment of every day on that sailboat.
Harmony Under Sail
I've mentioned how small our boat was, and will never forget the look on my mom's face when she first saw the good ship Harmony and envisioned her daughter out on the open ocean! Well, due to the Harmony's limited size, she could only hold about 50 gallons of water. We sometimes had to make that stretch past a week! To put things in perspective, the average American family uses around 70 gallons of water a day. Not only were we strictly conserving our fresh water supply, but on extremely remote islands, we ran into some eye opening situations. We actually would spend the entire day lowering buckets into the town well and filling our tanks with jugs and funnels the old fashioned way! It was amazing to see and experience first hand how people lived like this. Yes, I'd say we became hyper aware of our use of resources and impact on the earth.

I caught myself thinking twice about choices I was making, things I was buying, gifts I was giving and what I was consuming and putting on my body. I had done some research and knew there were going to be times we'd have to bathe in the ocean due to our 50 gallon limitations. It's called a salt water wash, fresh water rinse and is practiced by many who live the cruising lifestyle. Sailors have a great affinity for liquid lemon joy- and seem to think it's the cure-all from washing your hair to swabbing the deck and of course, dishes. Something in my gut told me it was not cool to be using this bright yellow stuff on my bod in the ocean. Thus began my fascination, research and formulation of natural skin and personal care products and ultimately, The Grapeseed Company.

This is part 2 in a 3 part series. Check out Part 1: A Lifelong Entrepreneur and Part 3: Creativity if you liked our sailing story.

fresh from your kitchen: summertime tea skin buff

An excellent emollient and exfoliant to buff your skin into shape for summer! Summertime tea skin buff combines the natural powers of green tea with a slice of lemon and gentle scrubbing powers of brown sugar and yogurt to create a home spa-treatment ideal for shorts and swimsuit season. As always, the ingredients are easy to find organic staples in your local grocer or health food shop.

ingredients:
1C brown sugar
1/4c sunflower oil
1/4c plain yogurt
1 bag green tea
15-20 drops citrus essential oil (EO) of your choice

directions:
~rip open tea bag and mix with brown sugar in a small bowl with a spatula
~add yogurt, oil and EO, blend until smooth
~massage your body from the feet up with gentle, upward circular motions
~rinse
~apply a light, quick absorbing and hydrating moisturizer like our lavender infused grapeseed oil
~any remainder can be saved in the fridge for up to a week

what it does:
brown sugar is softer and fluffier in texture than traditional white sugar, making it an ideal choice for exfoliating sensitive skin. It's also a great source of vitamin B due to the molasses content of the sugar.
sunflower oil like grapeseed oil, sunflower oil is rich in polyphenols. It's a terrific choice for sensitive skin and gentle enough for use on babies. It's rich in omegas, oleic and linoleic acid in addition to beta carotene which provides renewing nutrients to the skin
green tea is an antioxidant powerhouse found in many anti-aging skin care products
yogurt contains a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid from lactic acid that exfoliates and renews the cellular surface of the skin
citrus EOs many citrus essential oils like tangerine, sweet orange, lemon, pink grapefruit, red mandarin and others we carry are known for their uplifting effects in addition to smelling juicy, ripe and fresh. Check out The Grapeseed Co. entire steam distilled EO collection.
learn some cool facts we bet you don't know about lemons... they're good for more than just a slice in your ice tea!

Green Skin Care Blog brings simple spa delights to your home with Fresh From Your Kitchen: DIY skin care recipes & treatments you can create with a trip to the grocer or health food store. Direct from the creator of The Grapeseed Company's personal stash of fresh beauty creations and concoctions.