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Home Spa Articles and Features 3 years I worked at a call center. 5 years in the customer service industry. I realized the corporate world wasn't for me and quit on November 2003. I focused on business. Until that time I've been juggling work with my small home-based business for about 6 months. I'd go to work during the day and start making orders as soon as I get home. There were nights when I didn't sleep at all and went straight to work the next day. Amazing thing was, I didn't feel tired. Sure, I'd find myself about to doze off in front of the PC...reeeally feel the need to catch up on sleep in the middle of the day, but I didn't feel tired. Didn't feel harrassed. I was immensely enjoying what I was doing. I found great creative expression and fulfillment in the hobby that kept me busy during weekends and which eventually earned me extra money. It all began as a hobby. If Handyman, True Value or ACE Hardware is my dad's mecca, then mine is Beauty Bar or the health and beauty section of any department store. I would walk by the aisles of oils, scrubs and creams and check out the latest potion or scent or what have you. Then I started to do my own research (I looove the internet. Its creator is a genius. It is the largest encyclopedia ever.) and experiments. We're not talking about test tubes nor smoking chemicals here. I didn't have that wicked grin while stirring my potions. It was (and still is) quite low key. I rummaged through our kitchen cupboards, brought out bowls and pans and spatulas and got to work. Like everything else, we don't come out as experts on our first try. My first batch of lip balm was a disaster. And so was the second. The third wasn't that perfect yet but the fourth became a best seller :) It was even voted Lip Balm of the Year by Good Housekeeping magazine (2003). Who wouldv'e known? Mistakes should be our good friend. Without making them, we'd never know how to make things right. :) Initially, I made lip balms, soaps and foot soaks, scrubs and butter. I let my friends and family try them. They liked it (fortunately) and told their friends and other relatives about it and so on and so forth. This taught me 2 things. First, if you have something good to offer and you're just starting out, start with the basics, your network of family and friends. Remember the Rule of 6. We're all just 6 degrees apart. Someone you know might know someone who's a relative of whoever who needs exactly what you're offering. Second, if what you're offering is really something good (i mean truly effective yet affordable = value for money), people will spread the word and come back. That, for me, is the best advertisement. I've never paid for an ad. I let the products do the talking. Seriously. It's simple and really, it can be done. From that time, I've formed a pretty good set of clients and now I've more than 60 products offered in over 30 variants. Then I gave it a name. Home Spa Bath and Body Essentials. It's basically for people who'd like to recreate the spa experience at home, coz it isn't really that complicated, and it can even be more fun specially when done with friends or your loved one. Yihee :) You may have seen or heard of Home Spa in magazines, the radio or on TV. Or maybe not, so check it out and tell your girlfriends about these amazing amazing products :) Three years ago, I never wouldv'e thought of myself featured in magazines/talk shows or have/make my own line of bath and body products. Stuff I just used to leisurely smell and gush about at beauty bars. It's actually pretty cool. It was like stumbling upon what I was meant to do and I couldn't be happier. :) It's very veeeery rewarding doing something you love for a living. I wish everyone can do the same :) Anyway, in this section, I'd like to share with you some of the articles that have been written about Home Spa (and moi). Just so you know I wasn't inventing the things I've written here :) After a good read, you might like to check out our beauty tips & tricks page (click on link) and of course, check out our products and try them out with your girlfriends. Life is beautiful. And so are we! Enjoy! :) Marge 
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