Surviving your first year in business

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My first year in businessI set up NRG Healing when I knew my husband and I were going to get divorced. I wanted a flexible business that worked around my two children, and I wanted to do what I love. Crystals, Reiki, Himalayan Salt, helping people, teaching and exploring natural alternatives to medicine.

​I’m not going to lie, its been tough. Nearly every evening I spent working; What was my website going to look like? How do I use Twitter? What on earth is Instagram? Do I need an accountant? It is a steep learning curve as you have to learn so many things aside from what you are most passionate about.

I have been to various networking events and training sessions with experts in their field. I have learnt from some extremely strong women who I would call my mentors. These ladies have not only helped me acquire new business skills, but also been able to share their life experiences with me too, which have been a great help.

My top tips for surviving your first year in business

  1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and use people as sounding boards.
  2. Running your own business can take up a LOT of your time. Remember to plan in some you time too, daily, weekly and monthly. If I know I have big fairs coming up I will give myself a day off before or afterwards to recover
  3. Be realistic about what you can achieve
  4. Plan
  5. Collect peoples’ email addresses with their permission
  6. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people who believe in you and your business
  7. Sometimes when we think our business is going a certain direction, a curve ball is thrown in. Go with your gut, if it feels right to do something different do it 🙂
  8. Your passion in your business will shine through so perservere, perservere and perservere
  9. If you need to outsource something choose the thing you are really not great at, be it accounts, marketing or social media
  10. Finally be yourself, people appreciate authenticity and someone being themselves.

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I’m hoping the next year is a bit easier, but I am sure it will still bring its fair amount of challenges which I am well up for!

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My top 8 tips for selling at a fair or event

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I have been selling at fairs and events over the last few years. Over this time I have picked up a few tips which I wanted to share with anyone who has a product or service they are looking to take to an event.

  1. Do your research on the event you are attending. Who is the organiser? How long has the event been running? What is the expected footfall? This helps you to gauge how much stock you will need, and how well organised the event will be.
  2. Take your own food and drink. You’re there to make money not spend it.
  3. Take 2 different pairs of shoes of different heights if its going to be a long day.
  4. Have a float and invest in a card machine so you don’t lose out on any sales.
  5. Find out exactly what space you have. Utilise the height of the space if it’s a small area.
  6. If you are going to have a white background then find something to fill it. I saw a variety of backgrounds at the last fair including wallpaper and shower curtains. Find what works best for your stall.
  7. Have a selection of flyers and business cards to hand out. A lady selling candles and room sprays sprayed each one and handed them to everyone passing by
  8. Smile and enjoy 🙂 When you are passionate about your products or service it really comes through

If there are any other tips that you have please feel free to add them in the comments below

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How to store and carry crystals

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I’m often asked what you do with your crystals once you have cleansed and programmed them. There are several ways you can store your crystals. Some people like to keep them in a lovely velvet bag. If you do this and have a piece of carnelian inside this will cleanse the other crystals for you. Mine currently sit on bookshelves and bedside tables, kitchen units, wherever there is a flat space and it feels appropriate to keep it there it lives there. You can place them in a nice pottery bowl, or ceramic bowl.

When it comes to carrying them there are several options. It is better that you carry them on you as opposed to in your bag. If you do keep them in your bag then I would recommend getting them out and holding them through the day to connect with its energies.

You can place them in a trouser or skirt pocket. You can wear them in your bra. This does depend on the size of the crystal, as it can look a bit odd if its protruding from one side of your top. They can also sometimes fall out of the bra as several of my customers have told me has happened to them. It could be a bit of an icebreaker trying to locate your crystals in a meeting room!
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An American company, Max & Vera, have come up with a solution in the way of crystal wearing bras. They look great but they tend to cater for the smaller bust. Check them out www.maxandvera.com. The picture below is from their website and shows how the crystal is incorporated into the bra. I think its a great idea! They also offer a sports bra for when you are doing yoga or meditation.
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I’d love to hear or see how you store your crystals and also how you carry them. There are some amazing shelving for crystals on Pinterest too!

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Drinking Himalayan Salt

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Today marks the beginning of Nutrition and Hydration Week so I thought what better time to pop a blog post up about the benefits of drinking Himalayan Salt water.

Sole, pronounced Solay, is Himalayan Salt placed in a glass container with a non rusting lid and topped up with water.  I use a pyrex jar with a rubber seal.  You place approx 1 cup full of salt in the bottom of the container. Pour the water on top and leave it for 24 hours.

You then use a non metallic teaspoon to place a spoonful in a glass and add water.

OK but why would I want to drink salt water?

  • Sole supplies the body with the natural energy stored in the salt crystals which the body can hold for up to 24 hours.
  • Scientific reports showed that it can help neutralizing the alkaline/acidity balance in the body and normalizing blood pressure.
  • Can dissolve and eliminate impurities and built up toxins which lead to stones and various forms of rheumatism like arthritis and kidney and gall bladder stones.
  • Can help lowering the craving for addictive desires.
  • Can help with skin problems by cleaning from inside out.
  • The overall availability of electrolytes is build up and thus the conductivity in the body is increased, which in turn stimulates circulation and the nervous system.

I did an experiment on myself as I suffered from leg cramps at night. After I had been taking the salt water for a few weeks I noticed I wasn’t having the cramps anymore. I stopped taking the salt water and they came back. I went back on it and they went again. I realised that I wasn’t actually getting enough salt in my diet. When we are told to reduce salt intake it is generally table salt, which is full of rubbish. Our bodies do need salt.

Let me know if you have tried salt water and how you have found it for you in the comments below.

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What is crystal water?

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Water bottle crystalAs you may know by now I love crystals and anything to do with crystals. I carry them around with me, wear them, have them in the home and drink crystal water. Crystal water? Whats that?
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Crystals work through vibration and resonance, the energy can be easily transferred into water where it can be stored until required. You can sip it through the day or bathe in it if you wish. The Russians have been using shungite since the 1990’s to purify their drinking water.

If you don’t have any pockets in your clothes, don’t fancy stuffing it in your bra but still want to gain some benefits from crystals it’s another way of using them. I often pick a couple of crystals for the week or day.I have recently rediscovered my love of rose quartz. Rose quartz is a lovely crystal to put in water and sip through the day. A crystal for self love, compassion and relationships with others why would you not want to drink this through the day.

How do I make it?
Simple. Place 1 or 2 pieces of rose quartz in a jug. (I like to use rough pieces as opposed to smooth) Pour water in. Leave overnight and drink the next day.

You can buy crystal water bottles, which I admit do look very beautiful, although pricey at around £60-£70. If you already have your own water bottle that you carry around just pop a couple of crystals in it on an evening and fill it up. Take with you the next day.

You also have to be aware that some minerals are toxic and shouldn’t be placed in water. Selenite will dissolve. Most quartz varieties are safe to use but always check before using them.

Would you try this? Have you tried it? Let me know in the comments below what you think! Thanks

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Seven Reasons why you need Himalayan Salt in your Life

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Himalayan Salt has been much talked about over the last year and I wanted to sum up for you the top 7 reasons why you need Himalayan Salt in your life!

  1.  Himalayan Salt lamps not only look beautiful they are also said to help with your health. People have reported benefits such as helping with SAD, anxiety, stress, PTSD, allergies, asthma and coughs
  2. Himalayan Salt tealight holders give off the same beautiful glow as a lamp and are perfect as a gift for any occasion
  3. Have you ever had a Himalayan Salt bath? One of the most relaxing, and detoxifying ways of taking a bath
  4. You can use the same Himalayan Salt and turn it into a homemade face or body scrub.
  5. As long as you have bought food grade salt you can use this SAME salt in your cooking and ditch the table salt, which is full of anticaking agents and which has been bleached
  6. Got a bit of a cough? Use a Himalayan Salt Pipe. It looks like a ceramic inhaler and is filled with salt. Inhale 3 times a day for about 5 minutes
  7. Finally get yourself a Himalayan Salt deodorant ball! Zero waste and great for your armpits!

​If you are interested in any of these products check out /himalayan-salt or if you have any questions then please drop me a comment in the box below.

Crystals for Love

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Happy Valentines Day! A day of love. A day to remind us to show others in our lives how much we love them. But have you stopped to think about whether you love you? I was at a womens networking event on Monday night and as I was giving a presentation on crystals and chakras I asked how many of them could truly say I love me. Maybe 2 or 3 hands went up in a room full of 50 women. It took me until I was 36 to be able to truly say, you know what I do love me. Its not easy, but I so wish I had learnt so earlier.
In order to love others we have to love ourselves. Our heart chakra governs our connection to love. The ‘love’ crystal is commonly Rose Quartz. It is a stone of compassion and self love. I describe it as a gentle hug to the soul. A reminder to be kind to yourself and love yourself.
Malachite is what I call a sledgehammer to the heart. It is for gently dissolving any unresolved emotions to do with the matters of the heart. So that first boyfriend that broke your heart that you have never really gotten over, this will help to heal that wound.
This Valentines Day why not try saying I love Me, as well as I love You?
xx

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Crystal of the month

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February is normally associated with Amethyst, as it is the Aquarians birth stone. For me February is the month of love. There are 2 crystals I associate with love. One is Rose Quartz and the other Malachite. For today I am going to focus on Rose Quartz. If you have never owned a crystal before this is the first one I would always recommend to people.

Back in 2008 I was on a second date and we had gone to a Psychic Evening. ( As you do!) There was a couple there selling crystals. I went up first and picked a piece of rough rose quartz crystal, I had no idea what it was but it looked pretty. Half an hour later my date showed me his rose quartz buddha that he had chosen. He hadn’t seen my crystal. I tok it home and slept with it on my bedside table. Sometimes I held it as I went to sleep. It sounds odd, but it felt like someone was giving me a gentle hug when I held it. At fairs I always describe Rose Quartz as a gentle hug for the soul.

It is effective in attracting love, romance and intimacy. So if you’re looking for love this February or feel as if you could do with a bit of self love, find a piece of rose quartz and keep it near you. Hold it or carry it in your pocket. Let me know how you get on!

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The Importance of Doing Nothing

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How many of you have a To Do list?

Being self employed and a mum I regularly have To Do lists. Last week I really struggled to focus. I had loads to do and my to do list was getting longer, but all I wanted to do was to sit down and catch up on Made In Chelsea, of which I missed the whole season last year as I was busy working. So instead of cracking on I allowed myself time to watch it. I allowed myself time to finish Light is The New Black, which is an amazing book by Rebecca Campbell and I highly recommend. I allowed myself to watch a movie, Bad Santa, bit late but never mind. I allowed myself time to meditate. I allowed myself time to have a personal training session, which I had won. I allowed myself time to enjoy being with the kids, playing in the park and baking cakes.

Allowing ourselves to step away from our To Do list and just be is a really important stage in our lives. We need to have moments of nothingness, where our brain just switches off, away from our businesses, our family, our homes. Sometimes out of this nothingness can come great ideas, an initiative, some spark. When we are ready we can then go back to our to do lists and crack on with the list, being even more productive than we were before. Constantly immersing ourselves in social media or work brings no benefits.

So Just for Today do nothing. Relax. Put away your to do list. Allow yourself to be… wherever and whatever that looks like.

Let me know what your favourite ways of doing nothing are!

Himalayan Salt Baths

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I used to love nothing more than a bubble bath. However I hated the prune like feel I would get on my fingers after getting out of the bath.
I discovered Himalayan Salt baths a couple of years ago. I’d honestly never even heard of salt baths until I started buying the products myself.
There are several reasons why Himalayan Salt baths are good for you

  • Himalayan Salt contains 84 trace minerals, these same minerals are present in the human body. So when you have a bath your body absorbs any missing minerals.
  • It helps to detoxify us through reverse osmosis, pulling toxins out of the body
  • Its great for anyone with muscular pains, bathing in the salt water can help reduce inflammation. Its great if you suffer from restless leg syndrome!
  • My favourite… you don’t get prune like skin after a Himalayan salt bath! It can help with eczema, acne or psoriasis as it doesn’t dry out your skin

So how do you have a salt bath?

Make sure your bath is roughly 37 degrees celsius. I have experimented greatly with the amount of salt needed for a bath and have found that approx 1/3 cup is plenty for your average size bath. I chucked 1kg of salt in once, but it made no difference. Stay in the bath for 20-30 mins and pat yourself dry.

If you want to add some essential oils in then feel free. I have been using my friend Rubys Devaiya Oils. She makes blends called Stresses Away, Aches Away and Dreams Away which are just fabulous. Her oils can be found here:
https://www.devaiyaoils.uk/store/Oil-Range-c16721900

Bags of plain Himalayan Salt and Himalayan Salt mixed with Devaiya Oils are available via my store. All my salts come in compostable bags so good for you and the environment.

Let me know what you think of Himalayan Salt Baths 🙂
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If you are on any medication or suffer from diabetes/low/high blood pressure or circulation problems please consult a doctor prior to taking a salt bath