That's Right... I Did It!!

I fixed my washing machine. All...by...my...self!!  Can you tell I'm proud? Hehehe...

My darling, then 2 year old leaned in the open washing machine door when I was preggers with my youngest and broke it. If I could tell you the myriad of emotions I had that day. So many tears were shed.

For one reason or another we never got around to getting it fixed and it sat in the corner of my dining room. It mocked me every time I went to use the pay per use laundry room in the building.

The sad thing is it was really simple issue to fix. The part only cost about $20 and it took me less than 20 minutes to replace it.

I have since washed 2 loads (with my homemade laundry soap) and I am ecstatic! I still have to do the comforters and such in the building machine, but that's OK. If only every problem could be solved this easily.

The Results

Ok. So I used the laundry soap I made. I must admit I was a bit sceptical, which is strange because I am an advocate of homemade natural, low or chemical free products. you see, I have small kids. They make BIG stains.... and their cloths get extra dirty. They roll around on the floor and spill stuff on their cloths. So I'm sure you can understand my pause.  The thing is the homemade concoction worked great. My cloths were just as clean as if I washed them with a name brand product. There were no added laundry boosters or  pretreating because I wanted to to have a base line. Even the whites looked good. My husband, remarked that the laundry felt softer as he was folding it (yes, he helps with the laundry) and I didn't add any fabric softener either. All in all it was a very pleasant experience and I will definitely be using the homemade stuff that cost about $2 to make verses the expensive stuff in the grocery isle. Next I'm going to make some and add different essential oils for fragrance. I love being in control of how I smell. :)

Soap Notes

So I made laundry soap the other day... from scratch. It was pretty cool. I have always been interested in making things in my kitchen. I love the notion that I can control the ingredients and personalize my creations.
Since my daughter has such sensitive skin I try to control what comes in contact with her skin as much as possible. I've always created things by hand. I love cooking and I make natural soap and body butters for my whole family as most of you know, so this was just an extension of that.
It was pretty easy as well. Took about 20 minutes to make a 2 1/2 gallon batch and it cost about 6 bucks. I love the ease and the convenience, too. All I did was grate a bar of laundry soap, melt it and add Borax and washing soda to 2 gallons of water.
I'll let you guys know how it turned out when I do laundry this week ;).

Buzz and Chatter About The Platinum Spa Diva Be You... Naturally Line

This is a Screen Shot of Comments on www.platinumspadiva.com

How To Use The Platinum Spa Divas "Laven-Diva Tea Tree Shampoo Bar & Hot Oil Treatment"

 

1. Wash hair thoroughly with

Laven-Diva

Tea Tree

 Shampoo Bar

Rinse and repeat

Rich lather removes build up without harsh chemicals

2. Pour warm oil over hair.

Wrap hair in damp towel or sit under

a heat cap for 15 to 20 minutes.

3. Gently rinse hair with warm water to remove excess oil.

Style as usual

Questions & Answers

My clients often have a plethora of inquiries regarding my soaps, scrubs and creams. Their questions run the gamut of my start in the industry of natural body care products to the specific ingredients to their effectiveness and use on children.  Therefore, I am dedicating a series of blog posts to clarifying my intention in creating the Platinum Spa Diva line, the attention that goes into each creation, and my dedication to providing a holistic product. 



The Platinum Spa Diva line was an outgrowth of my desire to soothe my children’s severely dry skin and eczema. After discussing various treatment options with their doctors and researching recommended remedies; I became frustrated with my lack of success.  I was saddened when I discovered that the recommended products we're filled with steroids and/or ingredients that have been banned from use in other countries. I refused to believe that subjecting my children to potential harm through the use of these “treatments,” was my only option. In truth, we have all used these products; without a second thought.  I will be the first to admit that not being able to pronounce the name of an ingredient on the label of a cream that promises to work wonders has been no deterrent for me.   Yet, when I became a mother and needed to attend to the needs of my children it became a necessity to unearth the meaning of these mysterious words. Before I became a mother my life in the spa industry included working as a 
Licensed Massage Therapist and former Spa Director.  

Having preformed hundreds of skin treatments, selected skin care lines, trained staff and developed service menus for several companies; I felt prepared to put my practice and purpose into developing a product I could be proud to put my name on. The products had to be effective, meet my needs of healing and nourishing my children’s delicate skin, and be accessible to all skin-types and genders.

Thus, the Platinum Spa Diva, Be You... Naturally skin and hair care line was born; from necessity, experience, and a desire to serve others. The line is made with all natural and organic, ingredients such as Shea, Kokum, Olive and Coconut Butters and Oils as well as Jojoba, Carrot and Tea Tree; and is chemical free. All the ingredients in the Platinum Spa Diva line are easily pronounced. I’m extremely selective. No... Really... Picky... (Like send my food back in a restaurant, twice {well, maybe three times, picky}). If it's not right, I don't want it. I am intoxicated and inspired by scents, such as lavender, coconut and sage. Scents that feel clean; The Platinum Spa Diva line reflects this personal passion.

Each woman has her own essence. She has a scent that is uniquely her. I created an extraordinary scrub & cream line that can be customized to reflect a womans perfect fragrance; reflective of who she is and who she wants to be.

That's part one of the "who I am and why I do what I do series". Next we'll look at the hair care products....
Smooches!!!

~The Spa Diva
www.platinumspadiva.com
Follow us on Twitter @platinumspadiva
Like us on Facebook.com/Platinumspadiva

Organization

My big boy's step-up ceremony was this past Friday. *Beaming Mommy Face* :)! I was going tweet & blog about it during the ceremony but the posts would have been something like: 

"Today is a very special - there he is!!! He looks so cute!! Hi baby!!! Where was I, Oh yes today is a very special day. We're about- He's in the blue room, mom. Yes, his class is next. Ok Focus!!! - He's getting his certificate, *sniff-sniff*". 

So basically trying to document in the middle of the ceremony would have been a waste of time. Now that I am clear and focused I did want to share some thoughts I had last week while readying the four of us for the event. Organization... I was bombarded with the need for more of it in my life in recent months. This realization crystallized two days before the ceremony when I needed to pick out outfits for me and the kids, make sure my hubby had what he needed and get the address and directions to all the relatives and friends who wanted to come and get my son's graduation present, a blue scooter. Mind you I was still trying to convince the school that the weather report showed no rain on the morning of the ceremony. We didn't want them to move the event indoors and exclude all of the extended families from attending. (Mind you I had all my friends praying that God would hold back the drops and HE DID!!!! Yeah God & thanks friends!!!!) I was googlie eyed from trying to juggle everything by the time we got there. I wanted to share about a few areas and what I am doing to be more organized in my life.

Family: As my big boy embarks on his first day of kindergarten and my baby girl moves on to an early head start program, all I could see were days of mad dashes to get out of the house on time with coats, hats, lunches and matching shoes for everyone. Frankly, I was a bit overwhelmed as organization is not my strong suit. Then God in His mercy had "The Generous Wife" share an article from "The Confident Mom's" blog called Steps for success. The post had great practicals on how to set up a morning routine and really prep the night before so everyone leaves with their shoes on. One of the tips that really resonated with me was having one calendar for everybody. This is such simply yet important point that it can almost be ignored, but I needed to really decide to embrace it. It's so easy for me to fly by the seat of my pants and catch things as they come in my googlie eyed way.  I don't always handle change well and having some clear practical’s helps me to navigate, especially in emotionally charged times. 

Personal ministry: In order to really embrace the above commitment to organize my family I have to first organize myself. I have to make sure that my times with God are clearly defined and that I allow enough time daily to hear what He is saying to me by reading the bible and meditating on scripture, express my own needs through prayer and be at peace, through submission to Him, with what's to come. This will allow me to better see the direction he is leading me and be more willing to follow Him. I have a lot of responsibilities on my plate and if I slack off in this area everything else falls apart.

Business: Another piece in the Mo McCullough puzzle is Platinum Spa Diva, My Custom Hair & Skin Care line. As things get busier for me I need discipline to do the not so fun stuff like putting my bills in order, doing inventory and handling my correspondence. I would much rather do the fun stuff I love like making products and updating my social pages and my blog. The truth is my lack of attention to some of the former and eventually caught up to me and cut into my fun time. No bueno ;(!!! Once both kids are in school I will have more defined days and I will have to treat myself like and employee with deadlines, working lunches and such for part of the day so I can do the fun stuff like create products and communicate with y'all. 

My inner Diva: In all the hustle and bustle I forget about her. I get so caught up in the day-to-day stuff of being a mom, cleaning up spills and wiping noses that I forget to check in. I forget my mascara and honey lip balm. I don't set time to get inspired and do things I love to do. I love to read. I can pick up a good novel and finish it in two days if I have the time. Haven't had the time to do that in a while, but I do have a library card that I need to dust off. There is a woman that I have long admired and at times been very intimidated by. I don't know her name nor have I met her but her character and legacy have long been an inspiration for many reasons. She was a woman who prepared for her family and employees, and then she followed through on the plans, saw a return on her investments and was admired by those around her. She is known as the Wife of Noble Character in scripture. The blueprint of her life and how she came by that name are found in Proverbs 31:10-31. I'll be spending many more days trying to imitate the diva in her. I hope I can get it a little bit right. I want to leave that kind of inspiration for my little ones one day. 


~The Spa Diva
www.platinumspadiva.com
Follow us on Twitter @platinumspadiva
Friend us Facebook.com/Platinumspadiva.com