Here at Queen B we do our best to vet every single ingredient that we use. We check EWG's site to learn about possible toxicity. We never use fragrances and we are forever searching for the highest quality ingredients from trusted vendors. It's a huge feat and expensive. We know it would be easier to use the cheap synthetic chemicals that most companies use. We also know that it would be easier to use chemical stabilizers and harsh preservatives. But that is not what we are about. We strive to bring our customers pure, clean, good for you products.

Even if you make the switch with just one of your daily product applications to a healthier version , think about the long term effects. Think about how you can lessen the burden on your body to flush out unnecessary toxins that you slather on. 

Be a smarter consumer and don't be fooled by companies that Green Wash.
B wiser. B more diligent. B more beautiful!

​

Did you know that magnesium is involved in more than 300 reactions in your body? In fact, every cell in your body contains it and needs it to function. Here are just a few examples of how magnesium works in your body:

• Helps convert food into energy.
• Maintains PH balance.
• Helps create new proteins from amino acids.
• Helps create and repair DNA and RNA.
• Part of the contraction and relaxation of muscles.
• Helps regulate neurotransmitters, which send messages throughout your brain and nervous system.

We all need magnesium every day. And most (some estimates are 80%) of us aren't getting enough through our diets.  Our modern diet and lifestyles have made magnesium a drastically less abundant mineral in our bodies. 

What are some symptoms of low magnesium?

• Fatigue
• Restless Legs
• Muscle cramps
• Migraines
• Hormone inbalances
• Aches and pains
• Irregular sleep patterns and insomnia
• Heart palipatations
• Muscle twitches and spasms
• Anxiety
• Lack of appetite
• Constipation
• Brain fog
• Memory problems
• Depression

Our Pain B Gone uses pure magnesium chloride harvested from the ancient Zechstein seabed in the Netherlands. This naturally occuring mineral contains over 90+ trace minerals. Magnesium chloride is transdermal which means that it can be absorbed through the skin. Today, we know that many substances we apply to the skin are absorbed directly into the bloodstream. 

Who can benefit from transdermal magnesium?
 Everyone! Not only does topical magnesium treat sore muscles but it can help with chronic body pain and restless legs. It has been shown to promote better sleep, relieve stress and tension, and ease hormonal issues. We have heard from numerous customers that our Pain B Gone helped alleviate pain and stiffness of arthritis. 

Why not just take a magnesium supplement?
 Many people suffer GI upset when taking magnesium orally. What's more, much of the mineral is excreted out of our body as it tends to act as  a laxative when taken orally. Studies show that topical magnesium is a fast, effective way to increase magnesium levels. Transdermal    magnesium has  - through a growing number of trials and studies - proven to be more effective than oral supplements in delivering magnesium  to the body. 
​
How about using the magnesium spray?
 The trouble with using magnesium spray is that most people are sensitive to it when applied in this fashion. Many say that it irritates and   stings their skin. Our Pain B Gone actually soothes and nourishes your skin all the while delivering magnesium to your body.

Doesn't epsom salts do the same thing?
Epsom salts are magnesium sulphate not magnesium chloride. Epsom salts are beneficial but are less concentrated than magnesium chloride. 

How fast can I expect results?
 Our proprietary blend utilizes the power of cranberry seed oil. Cranberry seed oil is balanced in Omega 3, 6, & 9. This balance allows better   absorption into deeper layers of the skin. According to some reports, magnesium chloride is absorbed transdermally in just 90 seconds. The only way you could absorb it faster is with an IV.  Some people have noticed instant relief while others report finding success after applying it  every day for a week or more. Everyone is different and everyone's body reacts differently. 

How should I use Pain B Gone?
 Massage the lotion into affected areas as needed. We use only natural oils and butters. No preservatives, chemicals or artifical fragrances. You can expect the lotion to melt on contact with your warm skin. Continue massaging it into the skin. If you suffer from migraines or headaches, some people have noted relief by applying to the neck  and/or skull. If you suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome, apply to lower legs just before bed.  We've noted the best results are from applying it daily. 

How much should I use?
 We don't think you should worry too much about the amount you use. If you are getting good results then you know it's working. It's hard to   have too much since each day magnesium is depleted in the body.  Each teaspoon of our Pain B Gone contains approximately 600mg of       magnesium. That said, the exact amount that is absorbed isn't perfectly known. So finding the right dose can be a matter of trial and error and see what makes you feel best.

When should I apply Pain B Gone?
 Magnesium is essential for energy production at the cellular level but it also promotes relaxation. You can apply it at any time of the day! If you are getting enough magnesium, it will help you feel energized but it will also allow you to relax and sleep better. So, you can apply it at     any time of the day. You may want to try applying it after a strenuous workout, or when you are feeling tense, or just before you slip into bed. 

Our Pain B Gone is fast becoming a customer favorite with fans all around the United States. Grab yourself a jar today and see what it can do for you!


**Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice because of something you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. **

The overwhelming question we hear at Queen B is "What does cranberry seed oil do?".
The answer should be "What doesn't it do!"
Everyone knows (if our cranberry marketing committee is doing it's job) that cranberries are considered the Super Fruit. Here's why...

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Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) contain:

• Vitamin C. Also known as ascorbic acid, is one of the predominant antioxidants in cranberries. It is essential for the maintenance of your skin, muscles, and bone.
• Manganese.  Manganese is essential for growth, metabolism, and your body’s antioxidant system.
• Vitamin E. A class of essential fat-soluble antioxidants.
• Vitamin K1. Also known as phylloquinone, vitamin K1 is essential for blood clotting.
• Copper. A trace element, often low in the Western diet. Inadequate copper in your diet may have adverse effects on heart health.

As if that's not enough, cranberries also have strong bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants - of particular interest is flavonol polyphenols.

• Quercetin. The most abundant antioxidant polyphenol in cranberries. In fact, cranberries are among the main fruit sources of quercetin. Quercetin is known to inhibit histamine release, promote cardivascular health, and protect against stress damage.
• Myricetin.  Myricetin may have a number of beneficial health effects including anticancer, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory. 
• Peonidin.  Another source of anti-inflammatory action. Cranberries are among the richest dietary sources of peonidin.
• Ursolic acid. Concentrated in the skin of the berry, ursolic acid is a triterpene compound. It’s an ingredient in many traditional herbal medicines and is boasts anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-carcinogenic effects.
• A-type proanthocyanidins.  These polyphenols are believed to maintain urinary tract health.

So now imagine taking all of that healthy goodness and condensing it into tiny little seeds. Seeds house the embryo and all the information necessary for a plant to grow and thrive. The seed is chocked full of  the same protein, vitamins and minerals that are in the berry. When those precious little seeds are carefully handled and cold -pressed; you get a rich, vibrant, healthy oil.  Our cold- pressed oil has better nutritive properties than those that have undergone the refining process. This is because the cold-pressing procedure does not involve heat or chemical treatments, which may alter their composition and therapeutic effects.

Another benefit of cranberry seed oil is it's unique molecular make up. The perfect ratio of Omega 3, 6 and 9 means that the nutrients in the oil are able to pass through the skin barrier. Additionally, the free fatty acids found in cranberry seed oil can act as permeability enhancers for other products applied with the oil.
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You'll like how the oil almost instantly is absorbed into your skin. You'll love how hydrated and soft your skin becomes. 

Fresh squeezed cranberry seeds from Wisconsin = beautiful healthy skin!




 

Sometimes I feel like I should wrap myself in bubble wrap to protect against the onslaught of chemicals that my body is bombarded with each day. But then I think about the BPA and other things that are infused into bubble wrap and I come to my senses. Since we started on this journey of creating natural skin care products, I've stumbled across some facts that are truly frightening. I've become so much more aware of what I am putting on and in my body all the while trying to maintain a sensible approach to living in this chemical filled world where big company profits endanger us all. 
Did you know that it's perfectly legal for a company to use ingredients that are linked to cancer, reproductive harm and endocrine disruption in personal care products? That's because the industry is largely unregulated. Furthermore, companies can use terms like 'fragrance', which is considered a trade secret so that they don't have to list the multitude of chemicals that are present. We are not talking about trace amounts either. Many body care products contain substantial amounts of complex chemical compounds that are proven to be harmful.

Not alarmed yet? 

These chemicals can bio accumulate. That means with repeated exposure they will build up in tissue. Take for example glyphosate, the main component of Round Up weed killer. In a recent study it shows that we have become essentially carriers for glyphosate in our bodies.
You probably pee glyphosate!
In fact, the study showed that there is a 1200% increase of this chemical inside of us. All the while the government is telling you that it is safe (remember money talks).

1200 Percent Increase of Weed Killer In Your Body

You really need to read labels and not just grab something off the shelf that is labeled Organic or Natural. These terms have little meaning in the largely unregulated personal care industry. Natural means "existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind" so in theory that could be lead, aluminum, talcum powder, petrochemicals, and mineral oil. All of which have been linked to cause anything from irritation to cancer. Plus companies rely on a self made marker that as long as x% of ingredients are natural they will call their product Natural.

This article Toxic Ingredients to Avoid In So-Called Natural Personal Care Products will show you how you are being taken advantage of by some companies.  I know of one company in particular that claims it has Organic Cranberry Seed Oil when in fact it does not have any organic certification. Companies can get away with calling something organic because they can say their product is derived from living matter. Be careful. Investigate. Don't be bamboozled. 

As consumers, we can be more proactive by reading labels and looking up ingredients. Two great places to search for ingredients in skin care products are:
Campain for Safe Cosmetics
EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database

To make my anxiety even greater and looking for the bubble wrap, I have been reading Feeding You Lies by Vani Hari.
Wow.
Amazing what the food industry will do to make a dollar. Did you know that large companies have people on their payroll or will create "Advisory Committees" that will fight real scientists and activists that are trying to show a particular ingredient is harmful? 

It seems that we have to be our own best advocates. Be skeptical of claims. Do more research. Don't believe everything you read. And know that if we as consumers start demanding quality products that do us more good than harm, companies will have to meet those demands if they want to sell us products. 

I'm not a scientist, nutritionist or a doctor but I can research and try to make the best choices in what I choose to put on and in my body.  All of which benefits our product line at Queen B. I don't pretend to know all the facts.

This journey has opened my eyes and I realize that we don't need harmful chemicals to be clean, healthy or beautiful.
​
So for now, I'll leave the bubble wrap on the shelf... Besides I just googled Bubble Wrap and saw headlines that the bubbles contain a toxic gas. 

Here in Wisconsin there have been a few signs that our season is about to change. Crickets magically appear in the basement. A few leaves have decided that they've had enough of chlorophyll. Kids are back in school. Football has started. The nights are cooler which means I've been digging in my closet looking for forgotten sweatshirts. And sitting around the fire pit with an Oktoberfest beer in hand is the highlight at the end of a long week. 

We've had an unusually hot and humid summer. I've lived in Wisconsin my entire life and I don't ever remember a summer that could cause you to sweat just by breathing. I love summer and gave it all I could to not complain about that gosh darn humidity.  But it was oppressive at times. It was a challenge to dry our cranberry seeds with so much humidity in the air. It felt as though we were working in a sweat shop. We do have labor laws about that right?

I'm not sure I'd be happy living in a state that doesn't experience the 4 seasons. There is something so refreshing, so renewing, about the change. Each season brings it's own to do list and a menu of activities to choose from.  We also get a host of chores that must be done before the next season appears. We are hardy as Wisconsinites and we know that we have to be prepared. I spent today putting away a few pieces of outdoor furniture, painting the front door, washing windows and hauling firewood. I also had the urge to make chicken noodle soup. Strange things happen when the thermometer barely reaches 70 degrees.

Things are happening quickly on our marsh as we prepare for harvest in just a few weeks. We've been interviewing for harvest help, taking water and berry samples to be tested, checking on harvest equipment, talking with brokers, and preparing for our food safety audit.

Sunshine and cooler weather help the berries turn from green to red. But this also means that someone has to stand guard and make sure that the berries don't freeze. Once it gets to about 35 degrees we fire up the irrigation to protect the crop from frost. Luckily, I've never been burdened with that job. A wise woman once said "never learn to drive the tractor". In this case, I never learned how to turn on the irrigation. Probably similar to how my husband doesn't know how to run the dishwasher...

So now we sit and wait on those little berries. They will let us know when they are ready by turning bright red.  I guess it's when they have had enough of this season and are ready to take a long winters nap.

How many times have you looked in the mirror and thought, "I wish my lips were fuller" or "if I could only lose 10 pounds" or "why does my hair have to be so thin"? We are certainly our own worse critic. Our society has become obsessed with the way things look. This includes our bodies, our homes, cars, lawn, food and even beauty products. 

Think back to a time when brand named clothing wasn't important (this would be before my time as I had to have an Eclipse sweater. Gawd!). As long as you were clean and presentable - no one judged. Homes were modest and functional. Women weren't scouring through images on pinterest trying to make their homes match the latest decorating trend. Men went out and cut the lawn. No services came to spray chemicals on the sparse grass that the kids played on. Food was homegrown or purchased locally. A few bruises on an apple. No problem. Cucumbers are small this year? That's okay. They'll make great pickles.
 
Don't get me wrong I am as guilty as the next when it comes to wanting things to be perfect.

This is a typical day. First, I spend way too much time every morning putting on makeup and fixing my hair. Then I'll stand in my closet and profess that I have nothing to wear even though it is overflowing with clothing. Now it's time for breakfast, I grab a banana off the counter but first inspect it for any bruises.
Well. I hate bruised fruit. Even though I'm sure it tastes fine - but it looks icky.
I look down at my shoes and notice that they are looking worn even though they are comfortable as I slip my 'need a pedicure toes' into them. I get into my reliable car that has gotten me safely and comfortably from Point A to Point B for over 7 years and realize that it really needs a good vacuuming or maybe better yet it's time for a shiny new car!  I arrive at the office and notice that someone left their huge hand print on the door. Again. 

Woa.

The stress all this presentation brings. And I don't even have little kids anymore. I really feel for you young moms out there. I feel like you are being pressured into creating this illusion of perfectly, themed, crafty, organized child rearing. It all starts with the Gender Reveal Party. What the heck is that all about? When I had my kids, the gender reveal was the doctor exclaiming "It's a boy!" 
Oh, and what about the birthday parties you mama's are expected to throw every year for your children? I've seen less event planning at weddings. Then there's Naughty Elf, and elaborate scrap booking, and special clothing for important holidays (like St. Patrick's Day) that you stayed up until midnight to create. When my kids were little I felt accomplished if their diapers were clean and they were fed. I'm not sure I could live up to today's parenting standards and still have my sanity.

But I digress.

The reason I am on this tangent today is because I have entered this new realm of Natural Products. I have been working on creating products that are void of chemicals and nasty things that can give you cancer. I see why skin care companies have resorted to using chemicals. Chemicals make lotions softer. Chemicals are lot cheaper than wholesome natural products.  Chemicals also keep products from separating (so you don't need to stir or shake before use). Chemicals give skin care products a life longer than I've been driving my car. Chemicals give products that wonderful smell and texture you've come to expect. 

But at what cost? 

Did you know that fragrance formulas are considered trade secrets, so brands don't have to disclose what's in there. The only rule is that they cannot use chemicals that are banned. But here's a little fact that I find interesting: The European Union has banned over 1300 substances for use in cosmetics. These substances are known to cause a myriad of reactions from headaches to central nervous disorders. 

How many has the United States banned? 

11! Eleven. Ten fingers and 1 toe. That's how many. Don't believe me? You can read for yourself here: Beauty By Earth

Since I have been making a conscious effort to get rid of toxins in our home, I've been amazed at how my sense of smell has changed. I find heavy perfumy smells nasty. I don't even wear perfume anymore. I've stopped using fragrance candles that essentially fill the air with chemicals and I bought a diffuser instead.  Just recently I up'd my game and I switched from dryer sheets to wool dryer balls. Works the same as dryer sheets but now my clothes and the air in the house aren't laden with chemicals. Score.

So I ask you to think about this... As Americans we are slowly killing ourselves with the need to have things look and smell perfect. We have become blind to the fact that big corporations don't really care if an ingredient is a known carcinogen. We are so gullible as we slather an $80 cream on our face thinking that it is making us "better". When in reality it could be causing your weight gain, hyper-pigmentation of your skin, or even fatigue. Read more: Deadly Scent.

It's a really hard habit to get out of. I like my grass green, my fruit perfect and all my girly stuff that makes me feel purdy!

Baby steps.

That's all. Let's try to be less perfect, care less about presentation, and focus on healthy products for ourselves and family. 

​Think local. Read labels. Be informed. Hug your farmer.

Every year at the end of harvest, my husband will undoubtedly say to me "It won't be long and we'll be harvesting these little red buggers again". At which point, I give him my annoyed look as I'm exhausted, want life to get back to normal, and don't even want to think about next years harvest. Pulease!

But he's right. It's odd how life seems to speed up the older you get. 

I remember being a child during a long hot summer. Unlike today's children, my day wasn't strategically mapped out by my parents. I wasn't being rushed off to t-ball, gymnastics, swimming lessons and play dates all in one day. Instead I had to figure out a way to entertain myself. That meant playing with dolls for hours at a time, dressing my little sister up in funny clothes, running through sprinklers, begging my dad to take us for ice cream, and at night playing Kick the Can with the neighborhood kids. I remember that a single day seemed to take forever. Summer seemed endless. If there was a big event coming up next week - that week felt like torture.

Remember when an hour ride seemed as though you took a trip to the moon. Are we there yet?! How 'bout now?

But as we age, our perception of how long an hour, day, month or year changes. We begin to realize the importance of time. We can see it in our growing children and our aging parents. If only there was an app for slowing time down. Wait! I want to enjoy this moment a little longer. 

Recently my husband and I were checking on things at our organic marsh. Which really means I ride along and watch as he jumps in and out of the truck to inspect vines, turn on pumps or fix sprinklers. Just being honest. I do however give my opinion now and then, even if it isn't requested. 
​
I was perched in the air conditioned cab of the truck admiring the beautiful pink bloom canvasing the cranberry beds. And I thought "nature is amazing". It's a spectacular cycle that plants go through. And we really should slow down and take the time to appreciate it. How awesome is it that this tiny pink flower turns into a tiny green berry and then eventually a tart red berry?

Here is a picture of some of our hardest working employees. The honey bees. For very little pay the females work the beds every day. They not only pollinate our crop while collecting pollen but they also are responsible for feeding, cleaning, nursing and defending the hive.  Meanwhile the male bees sit around and try to mate with the queen. I imagine the male bees in those tiny boxes drinking beer and watching baseball. Humph.







​But as with most farming there are a lot of factors that can affect your crop. Hail, drought, disease, frost, and insects can wreck havoc on those berries. My husband and son put in long days to make sure that our cranberries are protected and well taken care of. And if all goes well, in the blink of an eye, we WILL be harvesting those little red buggers again.
So take some time to slow down. Enjoy the moment you're in. Hug your littles. Call your mama. Have lunch with a friend. Because until there's app for slowing down time it just keeps marching on faster and faster.

For as long as I can remember, I have been cursed with this itchy, scaly, nasty rash professionally known as ECZEMA. Thank goodness I only have it on my hands. And using key words from the title I'm sure you can guess which part of my hand. 
If you are one of the fortunate ones to not be afflicted with this skin condition, let me fill you in. For me, eczema isn't a constant. I can go weeks even a month or two at time with clear skin. But it likes to rear it's ugly head when my hands have been in water too much. Whether it's something dreadful like dish washing or something I live for like frolicking in the ocean. Okay, I've never frolicked but it sounds fun.
I do wear rubber gloves when I'm cleaning but wouldn't you know the rubber or latex also aggravates my eczema.  This is especially true at harvest time when I'm wrist deep in crimson colored cranberries as they travel along our conveyor belts. I have to wear gloves for food safety but the entire time I'm thinking about that nasty SOB eczema who is always lurking. Ready to attack and usually does.
 
But it doesn't have to be harvest time, cleaning time or even frolicking time.

Sometimes my eczema just likes to barge in for no apparent reason. "Oh, you again." I say. "What the heck do you want?" 
My hand doesn't talk back but if it could I'm sure it'd say something like this. "Hey, whatsup? Thought I'd stop by for a bit, maybe longer. I'm about to aggravate the shit out of you. Do you have something nearby to scratch with because you're going to need it. I plan on making your hand look like raw hamburger. Everything you put on it is going to hurt. Ha. You better plan on at least a few weeks to get it under control. Do you still have enough of your prescription left? I'm hoping not. Well, let's get started. Pop. Pop. Pop."

That's how it starts. Out of the blue. Pop. A blister like thing appears. Pop. Another. Pop. Several more. Oh, and do these little buggers itch! I'm not talking mosquito bite kind of itch. I'm talking about chicken pox kind of itch. Isn't it sad that a good portion of you reading this have no reference for that? That was a right of passage when I was little. Let's have a chicken pox party. What were our parents thinking? 

So, now you can imagine several blisters appearing that itch like nothing you've ever felt (well unless you've had chicken pox). You can't NOT scratch. No one has that kind of will power. There have been many times in my life when I've tried to fight the urge to scratch. And then all of sudden, much like a cat ready to pounce, ugh you give in. You'll find anything to scratch with because fingers just aren't enough. Once when I was about 8, I remember I gave into the itching and started to rub my palm on the arm of our recliner. Before that itch was relieved, I had actually pulled the cloth of the chair free from it's stitching. I told my mom that the cat did it.
​
That's how intense the itch can be. It is no laughing matter or for the feeble minded. Seriously. 

Once you give in to the itching (and most will), the blisters pop and what you're left with is red raw skin. That's when the rash starts to spread like wild fire. The rash will last anywhere from 2-3 weeks if I'm lucky enough to not develop new blisters. I've tried everything thru the years and have seen many dermatologists. I have a prescription that seems to work when the rash appears. It has been what has gotten me through this thing called life (yes I'm a Prince fan).
It's called BETAMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE or Diprolene Lotion.  (Or lovingly referred to as Beta Dip by the pharmacist.) I found this interesting when I researched the drug that I've been using for well over a decade: "Common side effects of Diprolene Lotion include burning, itching, irritation, redness, dryness, or peeling at the application site when first applied to the skin. This should disappear in a few days as your body adjusts to Diprolene Lotion. Other side effects of Diprolene Lotion include thinning of your skin, blistering skin, or stretch marks."  Click here to read more.
So THAT'S why whenever I'm seeing a doctor they call in the interns to observe my hands. Then in secret code, using words I don't understand, they talk about how thin the skin is on my palms. They act as if they have never seen such atrocities as their fingers follow the many lines on my hands. I think I hear them do an evil chuckle but I'm not sure. And why am I putting a lotion on my itchy hands that can blister my skin or cause itching? Things that make you go hmmm.

Bring on the Cranberry Seed Oil.

Since we started pressing oil my hands have been drenched in this lovely liquid gold. I put it on daily if not twice a day on my hands. It has been over a year and I have not had ONE visit from the eczema fairy. Not one! And that includes time frolicking in the ocean and being very brazen and not wearing gloves to do dishes. Yeah. I like to live dangerously. 
Well, that was until a few days ago. My luck had run out. I was sitting on the couch enjoying a little television when I felt the formidable POP POP POP. There he was. Snickering at me begging me to start scratching. That's when I thought about the best defense I know. No it's not Beta Dip silly. Cranberry Seed Oil.
I decided to place myself in a Laboratory Study.  I would put the oil to the test! No more Beta Dip thinning my hands to mockery. 

So I've been applying Cranberry Seed Oil several times throughout the day instead of just once or twice a day. I even took a roller ball with me wherever I went and when I got the itchies I rubbed it in. It stopped the itching! I honestly couldn't believe that it had that kind of power. I only had to bear the insanity for maybe a minute until I'd get relief. The oil would soak in and work it's magic.
​

 This is my palm on Saturday morning. Just 2 1/2 days after I started generously applying the Cranberry Seed Oil. Notice that the blisters are gone. They never popped! My hand is already in a healing stage. It doesn't itch anymore. 

I must say I am quite happy with how Cranberry Seed Oil helped my dreaded curse of eczema. After my extremely scientific study, I can say:

• Cranberry Seed Oil helps keep my eczema from developing (1st blisters in over a year!)
• Cranberry Seed Oil seemed to dry up the blisters 
• And the most amazing aspect of the experiment is how it stopped the itching

I am a bigger believer in this product having witnessed it's ability to tame the beast lurking under my skin. Sure I could use a prescription drug but if a completely natural product can do the same thing only better - why would I? 
​
I'm reminded of a commercial from the 80's. 

"And remember, I'm not only Queen B's president but I'm also a client." 
For those of you that do not have chicken pox scars, here's the commercial. 

I have been reflecting a lot lately on my life. It could be menopause, or I'm hungry or the fact that I turn half a century this fall. I keep feeling like I want to hurry up and live life. There is so much that I want to do yet and time is running out. It feels as though just a moment ago I was in agonizing labor for 23 hours. And yet yesterday we celebrated the 23 hour, ending in an emergency C-Section kid's 25th birthday. How does that happen? Where do the years go?
I have worn many hats in my life. My first real job was waitressing at Country Kitchen. I was fortunate enough to be able to work the bar shift when all the drunks would come into Kitchy Counchen for the breakfast buffet. I'm saying that with sarcasm. I was pinched, grabbed, and propositioned by many slobbery drunks who often would forget to tip before they passed out in the booth.
I was a pre-school teacher while I was in college. I enjoyed being around the littles but I remember being so exhausted at the end of the day that if no one was around I may have shed a tear or two.
Then I was a stay at home mom until my youngest started Kindergarten. I will never regret the time that I was able to stay home and just be a mom. The days were long and lacking adult conversation but some of my favorite memories are from those years. My husband worked long hours and often it was just me and my two kids hanging out, playing games, making messes or snuggling.
Once my youngest entered school, I decided it was time to put my elementary teaching degree to work. It was challenging re-entering the workforce. Especially since I hadn't been able to prove myself as an elementary teacher yet. I vividly remember a male teacher asking in front of a group of 30+ teachers "What the heck have you been doing the last 7 years?!" I felt so small and inferior. This was at one of my first district meetings after being hired to teach 3rd grade. What an ars that guy was. 
I ended up staying in the teaching profession for 15 years. Most of my time was spent as a first grade teacher. I absolutely LOVED my job for a long time. Until I got burnt out that is. I could give you a thousand reasons why I left teaching but it was one of the best decisions I ever made. It wasn't an easy decision but one that was best for my well being and for the children that would walk thru my classroom door. If you do not love what you do, you can't be good at it. You can only fake a smile and be pleasant for so long until eventually you start eroding away. 
So I left teaching, and joined my husband in our family businesses. He is the master of crazy ideas, taking on too much and unafraid to try anything. This means I have been trying on more hats. Some that really push me outside my comfort zone. In the 4 years that I have been away from teaching, I have been controlling inventory and invoicing for our business Supply House (a farm supply company). I learned how to plant corn and soybean with a tractor. That 25 year old kid I mentioned earlier is the one who taught me that new skill. I became a certified Food Safety Manager and deal with all the paperwork and audits for our organic operations. Eight hour audits still intimidate me. I've had to learn a whole new set of acronyms. BTW, acronyms annoy me. 
And then along comes the idea of Queen B oils. I was very hesitant at first. I mean how much more can we take on? Do we really want to invest a large portion of our savings? My hubby's answer: really it's no big deal. Well it is a big deal. It has become all consuming for me as I learn a new role. I've been learning about FDA regulations, working with brand ambassadors, contacting brokers, creating labels and products, purchasing equipment, meeting with potential customers, creating a website, making sales calls and taking on the craziness of the social platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. It is a big deal but I wouldn't change it for anything. I have been meeting so many new people, I've reconnected with old friends and have learned so much in the few months that we have been at this. I believe in our product. I know that we are offering a quality oil that has many therapeutic benefits. It feels really good to know that you can help people with some of their biggest skin concerns. We don't need to make stuff up, use fancy words or create catchy advertisements. People have been willing to try something new and have found that it works for them. I am humbled by the amount of support we have already gotten from friends, family and community members. 
It turns out that in almost 50 years of life, a lot of hats can get thrown at you. Some fit just right, some are fun for a little awhile and others make you proud of who you are becoming. Who knows where life will take me next but I know that I'm enjoying the ride right now. 
A special thank you to everyone who has read a Bog Blog (new hat by the way), followed us on FB or IG , shared Queen B news, or even just asked us about it, or bought a bottle of oil!  Muwah! Much love!