Cozy Up for Fall Ladies: Etsy Treasury

It's Treasury Tuesday - a new feature I'm trying! (My automatic scheduler dropped the ball, so I'm posting this on Wednesday)  Check out my latest Etsy Treasury of comfy, cozy Fall wear for women: 

My own style of unusual cuts & accessories, lots of black, and vintage flair is well represented.  Below is just a few of the items in the treasury. 

Light Brown Woolen Dress with Metallic Pearls by LeMuse

I just love the back of this sweater.  The extra fabric hanging delicately off the shoulder and metallic pearl buttons add a unique feminine touch.

Wool Cape/Winter Hoodie Coat by RenzRags

Anything military style is an A+ in my book.  The muted army green color of this fabric is fantastic.  My new obsession are these cape style coats that don't have sleeves, but rather two openings in the front for your arms.  The addition of a hood makes this wool cape perfect for chilly fall days.

The Raven poem on an infinity scarf by LiteratiClub

Ah, The Raven - one of my favorites.  As a goth chick I grew up reading Poe (even named our family cat after him).  This is such a fantastic, subtle accessory for your inner gothness, no matter what your style!

Black floral lace boot cuffs by JLeeJewels

Last year I admired all the boot cuffs I saw on Etsy - this year I've vowed to actually sport some!  Whether bought online or made yourself, I think they are such a whimsical accessory for a little Autumn flair.

My Hotel Keurig Hack

Last May I stayed at the Doubletree Hotel in Somerset, NJ while vending at Steampunk World's Fair.  There was a Keurig coffee machine in our room, but only 1 caffeinated K-Cup!  Being an avid coffee drinker I had already brought a bag of coffee thinking I would have a traditional coffee maker in my room.  So what's a girl to do??  Rather than bother housekeeping for more, I decided to try an experiment.
**For this hack you will need your own coffee, some painter's or masking tape, and a used K-Cup** 

First, I removed the top of the used K-Cup, threw out the old grounds, and rinsed it out.

Next, I took out some blue painter's tape (because everyone carries painter's tape when traveling, right?) and covered the bottom of the cup.  Then fill it up with your own coffee & cover the top with your tape.  **Be advised that standard duct tape or clear plastic tape may not work - I used painter's tape for its paper-like texture so that the Keurig machine could easily penetrate it for brewing.  Masking tape may also work well.**

I placed my new, highly attractive K-Cup into the machine, closed it securely, and brewed as normal.  Voila, it worked!  Good luck, and don't forget to pack the painter's tape for your next hotel stay!  :P

PS - Many stores also sell reusable K-Cups that you can fill with your own coffee anywhere you go!  This may be a better option... ha ha ha!

Amazing Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is my best friend right now - here's why, along with some great cosmetic & health uses:

For the past 2 months I've been taking steroids to treat my Stills Disease.  One side effect of long term steroid use is thinning of the skin causing dryness and flaking.  Let me tell you, my entire body "shed" like a snake.  My skin was flaking off in the way skin does after sunburn, and wherever I sat or lay down I left little white specks like dandruff.  It was horrible!  I was washing my bed linens daily, and constantly wiping down all surfaces in my house.  Had I not used coconut oil during this time, and since, I would not have gotten through that most uncomfortable situation.  Thanks goodness I had 7lbs of it laying around, ha!  I only have about 3 weeks left on my steroid regimen, and I slather myself with coconut oil at least 3-4 times a day to prevent another awful flaking episode.  I swear by coconut oil, and will continue to use it forever in lieu of traditional lotions.

Coconut oil comes in solid form, and melts at 76 degrees F.  It is extracted from the coconut "meat".  It is safe to use in both cosmetics and cooking.

Cosmetic Uses:  Since coconut oil melts at 76 degrees applying it directly to the skin creates a silky, spreadable moisturizer that once absorbs leaves no greasy residue. A little goes a long way, so just start out with a pinch of oil.  I recommend applying right out of the shower to towel dried skin.
   Use just a little on hair to detangle and give a silky shine, especially on those dead ends.  To maximize its moisturizing effects, coat your entire scalp and hair, throw on a shower cap, and leave in for 30min to an hour.  Wash & style as usual.  This is also helpful if you have a dry scalp or dandruff.
   It can be used in almost anything including soap, lotion, body butter, lip balm, and more.  Coconut oil has a very long shelf life, so no need to worry about your product going bad.

There is also a liquid form called Fractionated Coconut Oil, in which the longer chains of fatty acid are separated causing the liquid state.  I use this as my perfume oil base.

Health Uses:  Consuming coconut oil has been shown in studies to boost the immune system against viruses, bacteria, and yeasts.  It can also boost your metabolism & energy levels by supporting thyroid function.  As an excellent moisturizer it has been used to treat Psoriasis and Eczema. There are some indications that support that it can be beneficial for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's Disease, Diabetes, PMS and Alzheimers. Try using coconut oil in cooking to take advantage of all its health benefits!
Sources: The Dr. Oz Show Website , WebMD 

Have I convinced you that Coconut oil is the greatest thing since sliced bread? Awesome!  Now let's go get you some.  You can find coconut oil in health food stores like Whole Foods, but my goodness is it expensive!  I've seen jars of less than 16oz. go for $10 or more!  If you want it right away and don't want to pay shipping than buying it at the store may be the way to go.

However I recommend purchasing it online from one of my favorite suppliers, Brambleberry (right now 16oz. is only $2.30!)  I buy it in 7lb quantities, which comes in a convenient bag with pour spout.  You can also find it on eBay, Etsy, and many other websites that sell health foods or cosmetic supplies.  Enjoy!

Cemetery Room & Body Spray Contest!

New Contest for Halloween: Cemetery Room & Body Spray Giveaway!

Halloween is right around the corner, so I am offering my Cemetery 2oz. Room & Body Spray.   You too can make your house smell like your favorite graveyard, Bwah-ha-ha-ha!

"Cemetery is the scent of moist earth, freshly manicured plots, and the smell of roses freshly laid on the graves. It is a bittersweet scent reminding us of the peaceful resting place of our loved ones."

The contests starts today, and all entries must be received by 11:59pm on 10/15/13.  Winner will be chosen randomly & notified by email on 10/16/13.  See all contest rules below.  Good luck and happy haunting!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN!
 

No purchase necessary.  One entry per person please, open to US residents only.  All entries must be received by 11:59pm on 10/15/13.  Winner will be notified by email on 10/16/13.  If the winner does not respond within 7 business days with their mailing address I will choose another winner.  The item will be shipped USPS First Class within 2 business days of winner's response.  Once mailed, the winner will be announced on the blog, website, and the next month's newsletter.  For privacy reasons only the first name and last initial will be used.

Stills Disease: My experience

Today I updated the About page on my website with the story of my experience with a rare condition called Stills Disease:

In July 2013 I had to put my business on hold as I was diagnosed with a rare condition called Stills Disease (read about it HERE).  It is in the family of rheumatoid & auto-immune disorders, with symptoms including joint & muscle pain, sore throat, splotchy rash, and fever spikes.  There is very little documentation or research about it in the medical community, and there is no specific treatment plan or medication designated.  My rheumatologist says it is treated for the most part as one would treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. Initially the doctors didn't know what I had - I was tested for almost all infectious diseases, from Lyme to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to even Syphilis (everything came back negative).  My diagnosis of Stills Disease was made after everything else was ruled out.  There is no test specifically for Stills Disease; it is a "diagnosis of exclusion".  Similar to diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Stills disease is not contracted from an outside source, nor is it hereditary or contagious.  My doctors believe that exposure to an infectious disease such as Mononucleosis, Parvovirus, or even Strep Throat within the previous 6-12 months brought the disease out, even though I did not contract anything.

Trying to stay positive during my 10 day hospital stay as doctors worked to find out what I had

Due to extreme pain in ALL my joints, which went away after 2 weeks and was replaced with full body muscle pain & weakness, I was unable to walk, sit up in bed, stand, sit down, use the bathroom, bathe, or make or eat meals without assistance for about 6 weeks.  Around 2-3 times per day for about 8 days I experienced uncontrollable seizure-like shivering (called Rigors) preceding fever spikes as high as 104.4 degrees F. These went down in about 2 hours with Ibuprofen.  I experienced some light-headedness in the mornings, due to either low blood sugar or low blood pressure, and passed out once.  Luckily I was returning from the bathroom and was being supported by both of my amazing parents, so I was not injured in any way.  Throughout my illness I was hospitalized 3 times, the initial admission lasting 10 days, the other two for only 2-3 days due to consequent symptoms returning.

 

Here I am on oxygen in the hospital to prevent the shakes preceding the fever spikes.

The splotchy, salmon colored rash consistent with Stills Disease.  It covered my entire body except neck & face.

The rash on my upper leg.  Luckily this rash didn't itch or burn.

Slowly, under the care of some amazing doctors and much trial and error with medications, a treatment plan was found.  Upon my initial discharge I was sent home on a regimen of Prednisone - to which I discovered I have an adverse reaction that included a new type of rash (looked like red goosebumps on my entire body except face & neck) and the most horrible prickly burning itch.  These side effects lasted for 4 weeks before it dawned on me that the Prednisone was the culprit.  My wonderful doctor, believing that the patient best knows their own body,  listened to me and put me on another steroid.  Within a week and a half the new rash & itching was completely gone!

On September 12 I felt I was recovered enough to reopen business and get back to a normal life.  I took my Etsy shop off vacation mode and posted about my triumphant return on Facebook, Twitter, and here on my blog.  As of today I can do all normal activities of daily living, though my leg & arm muscles are a bit weak and I experience fatigue after too much exertion.  I plan on researching Stills Disease support and see if the medical community has any research ongoing.  I'd love to start a foundation for peer support & research funding, in which case I would begin donating a portion of my profits to it.

If you or a loved one have Stills Disease & would just like to share your story, inquire about my trials with medication, receive referral info for my amazing doctors (Delaware County, PA), or just talk to someone who knows what you are going through please feel free to email me or leave your comments below.  You can also visit this wonderful website, Stills R Us, for support & awareness:

Relaunching Akima Botanicals Online!

❤As of 9/12 I will be reopening all my online ventures!!  This includes Etsy, the blog, newsletter, etc. I've been through a rough 3 month battle with illness and I'm so excited to be recovered enough to get back to this business that I love so much! Keep an eye out for specials & coupons in celebration, and be sure to sign up to receive my newsletter: http://www.akimabotanicals.com/newsletter ❤

Recovery from illness

Hello everyone,

I'm writing this from home recovering from a recently diagnosed illness and long hospital stay. I regret that I am unable to physically run my business at this time. I hope to make a recovery in the next few weeks so please stay tuned. Thank you for your understanding