It's the last day of the Joy in January blogathon!  Here in Rhode Island the sun is shining and it's clear and windy.  It's amazing how a little sunshine can lift your spirits.  




In thinking of joy and today's giveaway, I thought of my hands.  As I got ready for bed last night I remembered to slather my hands with cream.  I recalled washing dishes earlier, meticulously scrubbing beakers and glass funnels from my earlier perfume making endeavors. The hot water stung my hands. A sure sign they were dry. As I looked at my hands closely I felt my face flush red.  They looked terrible.  I have large strong hands with big knuckles.  They are not what I'd describe as feminine looking hands.  They are dry, red with very short nails.  (I have terrible weak thin nails that tear and break and bend no matter what I do--so I cut them.)  At one point in my life as a sales representative, my hands were pointed out by a manager as a sign of ill grooming, apparently my digits were a deal breaker.  "You're doing great--but your hands!  You must bite your nails--they look awful. Why don't you just go and get some artificial nails put on?  They'd look so much better,"  He'd said imploringly to me.  My manager was the sort who wore too much cologne and strutted when he walked.


As I looked at my hands and had a shameful flashback to the conversation with my old sales manager, I thought of how difficult it is to take care of ourselves.  Adding a dose of seasonal depression does nothing to help this.  It's hard enough to pamper ourselves when we are happy.  It's hard to take the time to make ourselves feel good.  I reminded myself that my hands are strong and good.  They are powerful.  They are nurturing.  They've scrubbed floors, and wrote papers.  They've changed diapers and made beds.  They've brushed dogs and dried tears.  They've made perfumes and picked flowers.  I hoped to pass this sentiment on.  To make someone feel good . . . in their skin!  

Today we are giving away a bottle of our Wild Lime Leaf body oil.  This is the product I reach for when I need a pick me up.  The aroma is a refreshing, green, energizing blend of Mexican lime oil, combava petitgrain (often referred to as kaffir lime), violet leaf and jasmine grandiflorum.  It's got zing and zest and wakes you up.  Unisex and clean.  The best part? The skin softening blend of apricot, safflower, jojoba, and sweet almond oils.  Your skin will be softer than you can imagine, especially if applied fresh out of the bath or shower while skin is till damp.  Our motto for the final day of Joy In January: smell good, look good, feel good!

Because this is a full size product (heavy bottle) and international shipping costs are high, this drawing is only open to U.S. residents.  Sorry International friends.  We love you.


Please share a comment on how you "pamper yourself happy."  In other words, what lifts your spirits when you're feeling down, tired or dreary?  Is it a glass of wine?  Take-out pizza?  Best to stop listing my own pick-me-ups :) A walk in the park? A hot bath? Do tell and be entered to win Wild Lime Leaf body oil. Please visit all participating perfumer's blogs for the final day of the Joy In January Event.  Winners to be announced tomorrow!