Maya India Spa

Ahhhhh February. Once again you have arrived bearing gifts of chocolate, roses and LOVE! Here are some ways squeezing in romance on Valentine's Day are possible, even if the kids are part of the occasion, for a special day. Celebrating Valentine's Day with the entire family can be challenging unless you are willing to plan some kid-friendly activities that you can all enjoy together. You can serve up some Valentine's Day fun while still carving out time for romance. How about:

• A romantic breakfast in bed before the little ones are up and at it.
• Taking the kids to an indoor play park like Gymboree. While the kids are playing, catch up on the latest news with your honey.
• Starting a new tradition where everyone exchanges cards and small gifts (e.g. small stuffed animals, novelty items or mini boxes of candy) to show their love and appreciation for each other.
• Ordering take-out for dinner and watching a movie together. Try a cute film that focuses on love like "The Princess and the Frog".
• Making some sweet treats with the kids for everyone to snack on during the movie, like homemade brownies with hot cocoa.
• Once you've put the children to bed, you and your honey can treat each other to a relaxing massage.

  Of course, if you're lucky enough to have a sitter to watch the kids for the day, or better yet, the weekend, you can be a little more adventurous. How about:

• A romantic dinner for two at a posh hotel.
• A full day spa retreat featuring a host of services especially for couples.
• A weekend getaway at a cozy bed and breakfast.

  If  you're parenting alone or currently single, guess what? You deserve to enjoy your Valentine's Day too. You might consider:

• Treating yourself to a beautiful floral arrangement.
• Scheduling an appointment for a facial, mani and pedi.
• Creating an at-home spa and pampering yourself with some luxurious bath products, like the "Pucker Up Gift Set" available at MayaIndia. You'll have the perfect ambiance when you add candles and a glass of wine or a cup of herbal tea.

So whether your Valentine's Day will include the whole family,  you and your sweetie, or just you enjoying some "me time", make sure your day unfolds the way YOU want it to. After all, if mommy ain't happy, ain't nobody happy, right? With proper planning, your day can be filled with love and relaxation, because that's what you deserve. Be sure to check http://www.MomsNCharge.com often for more fun and informative blog posts like this one. What was your favorite tip, and what are your Valentine's Day plans? Do you plan to include the kids?

Happy New Year MayaIndia Sweeties! As we complete the second full week of 2016, the MayaIndia Body Bakery is filled with the intoxicating aroma of CHOCOLATE! We are preparing for Valentine's Day and receiving many requests for all things chocolate. People always ask us how we get our chocolate products to smell so good. Well, I'll let you in on a little secret. One of the ways we achieve the delicious, unmistakable chocolatey fragrance found in so many of our products is with the use of Cocoa Butter. Everyone knows that cocoa butter is extracted from the cocoa bean and it smells really good, but did you know it also offers LOTS of benefits for your skin? Cocoa butter is known to help

• Prevent signs of aging
• Keep skin soft
• Reduce inflammation
• Protect skin from heat
• Increase regeneration, aiding in the process of healing scars
• In addition to all of these excellent skin benefits, how about it also strengthens damaged hair and adds sheen!

As you can see, there's no wonder why we love cocoa butter so much! Over the next few weeks, you will see new items that make excellent Valentine's Day gifts added to our site. Many of them will look like chocolate, many will smell like chocolate and many will contain cocoa butter. At MayaIndia there is definitely a Chocolate-Cocoa Butter conncetion! Until next time, Stay Sweet!

WOW! Can you believe the holidays are upon us and 2015 is quickly coming to an end? As we drift into days and nights of cold winter air, the fresh smell of pine and cozy evenings by the fireplace, let's continue that feeling of calm with a hassle free gift giving experience. The WOW Box is just that. What better way to simplify your holiday shopping then just a few clicks of your mouse and you're done? We all have at least one person in our life who seems to have it all and try as you might, you struggle each year finding the perfect gift. The curators of the WOW Box can help. Consider a subscription for one, three or six months for $34.95, $99.95 or $199.95 respectively. What's in the WOW Box? A fabulous collection of handcrafted items for the body and home created with lots of love by the seven women behind the WOW Box.   We want your gift recipients to experience the very best and believe the WOW Box will not disappoint. From the moment they begin opening the package, their response is sure to be WOW!

Hey MayaIndia Sweeties! I know it's been awhile and for that I apologize. Over the coming weeks, I will be sharing some of the exciting things we've been up to. Of course, around these parts, the MayaIndia Body Bakery has  been buzzing with all sorts of happenings as we prepare for  all of the upcoming holiday sales we will need to fulfill. As is our tradition every holiday season, we are offering a few special scents that will be available only until the end of the year. This year, we are excited to share Egg Nog as one of our seasonal fragrances. I love the smooth, creamy taste of egg nog, it brings back fond memories of priceless holidays spent with family. When I used the Egg Nog Soap and Smoothie Scrub followed by the Body Frosting, I was in heaven! I'm not ashamed to tell you I kept inhaling the aroma from my hands and arms all day! We have a few more holiday scents available this year, including Chocolate Chip Mint and Vanilla Mint. All of them sell divine, so please don't ask me to help you select the "best" one. I don't think you would be disappointed with any choice you make. We look forward to creating a few more surprises for you this holiday season, so stay tuned. In the meantime, get ready for an opportunity the share a special treat with someone special, or pamper yourself with our Handmade Dessert for Your Skin! Until next time, Stay Sweet!

Hey MayaIndia Sweeties! Pumpkin season is finally here, and I am so excited! As we wind down from the lazy days of summer and ease our way into fall we can begin to enjoy some long awaited seasonal favorites. Personally, I look forward to eating moist pumpkin bread, creamy pumpkin soup and mouthwatering pumpkin pie this time of year. But do you know what I enjoy the most?? MAKING mouthwatering Pumpkin Pie Soap, skin delicious Smoothie Scrub and creamy Body Frosting! Why do I love making  these particular products so much you ask? I'm sure it's because the sweet aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla remind me of my childhood and wonderful holiday gatherings with family. The memories of growing up with a Mother who was an absolutely AH-MA-ZING cook evokes warm feelings inside and makes me smile. When you walk into a home and smell those aromas all intertwined and wafting through the room, doesn't it just make you happy? (Not to mention hungry!) MayaIndia will be presenting our Limited Edition Pumpkin Pie products at a few events around town this fall. You can follow us across all social media platforms @MayaIndiaSpa, however our Facebook page is where we usually announce upcoming events. So, what's your favorite holiday aroma? I'd love to hear about it! Leave your comments below. Until next time, Stay Sweet!

Hey MayaIndia Sweeties! This September will mark one year since my participation in Get Lucky Live. In case you don't remember, that was the four day whirlwind event I attended in Atlanta hosted by the incomparable Lela Barker. I had taken several virtual classes with Lela before, but GLL was on a whole other level. This lady and her team left no detail unattended as they stretched me and pushed me to take a different approach to my business- way beyond my wildest imagination. There were lots of laughs, a few tears, delicious food and some hellified sessions going on during those four days. At the conclusion, I could only describe it as "Harry Potter magical." In addition to imparting a wealth of knowledge, Lela arranged product photo sessions with Elea Lutz. Here's a picture I snapped of her styling my products. I never knew what went on behind the scenes of an actual product photo shoot. Elea consulted with me to determine my vision- and then she nailed it with that camera of hers! She is not only the sweetest lady ever, she takes pictures that are to die for. I absolutely LOVED the pictures she took, but this one right here..... I have no words.   I have been slowly and methodically applying the knowledge I gained at GLL and can see things beginning to happen as a result. I am a true believer that slow and steady wins the race, so we are not rushing things. Even though Lela called her event Get Lucky Live, I can guarantee you that for me, luck had nothing to do with anything. I live such a blessed life, God has been repeatedly shifting things in my direction. I just continue to do my part with some theme music playing in my head, Everyday I'm Hustlin'. Until next time, Stay Sweet!  

Hey MayaIndia Sweeties! Your MayaIndia Crew will be traveling back to Jamaica this summer! Remember the bridal shower I attended a few weeks ago for one of my sorority sisters? She has planned a destination wedding on the island of Jamaica, and we have been invited to attend. Several months ago, she decided to give special gifts to the members of her bridal party and consulted with me to create something unique. She told me her wedding color scheme would be purple and ivory and allowed me creative license to do my thing. I made her some beach themed soaps shaped like starfish and conch shells scented with a fresh, ocean fragrance. In addition, I included a small tea light candle and a custom designed foaming bath salt. The salts were scented with a blend of Caribbean fruit fragrances and colored to replicate the Jamaican flag. I poured the colored salts in layers into small heart shaped glass bottles with mini corks and tied them off with a purple ribbon. These items were then arranged in round ivory boxes and tied with gorgeous purple satin ribbons.               She loved this gift idea for her bridesmaids and her fiancé had planned to give his groomsmen bottles of Appleton Rum, a popular spirit in Jamaica. Of course, I had to add a little flair to their gifts as well, and after she shared her vision, she again allowed me to do my thing :) Eash bottle was individually wrapped with cello and tied off with a purple satin ribbon, then cradled in purple tissue paper and tucked into a white box. I then tied an additional ribbon around each box. It made a very impressive presentation upon opening and everyone was pleased with their gifts. We are looking forward to being present for their special day and of course, we promise to share pictures so you can experience it with us. Have you ever attended a destination wedding? Share your experiences below, we'd love to hear about it. Until next time, Stay Sweet!  

Hey MayaIndia Sweeties! Quite often I enjoy reading inspirational quotes and phrases that I come across online. This afternoon I read this one (which I have seen before) and today, it spoke to me. Awhile back, I told you about the collaborative efforts between myself and six other women business owners to create a subscription box program. We wanted to introduce the world to a collection of our products that would be so fabulous when received, you would have to say, WOW!" Over the last year, we have had face-to-face meetings, video chats, strategy sessions and packing sessions to bring the WOW box to fruition and make it a success.           The WOW Box contains a collection of handmade products that are created by these fabulous women business owners. I call them my Indie Sisters because not only do they run their own businesses, but they are incredibly supportive, and are like sister-friends. I guess you can call them my tribe because just as it's stated in the quote, we all have each other's back- and I've got mad love for them. I know I can count on them to be my sounding board when needed and it's very refreshing to have conversations with other entrepreneurs who "get it."   If you're curious about the Wow Box, check it out at Facebook.com/WantMyWowBox. You will see some of the products up close and personal. You'll also learn more about Roberta Perry and Michelle Tucker's Scrubz line, Angela Carillo's Alegna Soaps, Jennifer Wojcieski's In2ition Skin products, Anne Marie Esposito's Sparklefly Candles, Christine Laureano's Ba6 Botanicals and of course, MayaIndia's Handmade Dessert for Your Skin. I am proud to be in the company of  such awesome women. They inspire me to continue to push myself beyond my own expectations and keep striving to achieve greater things than even I thought were possible. Until next time, Stay Sweet!    

Hey MayaIndia Sweeties! A few posts ago, I told you I had been receiving requests for hair care products. I believe I shared that we would be offering a Hair Butter, Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, Hair Glaze and Hair Serum. There was also a Shampoo Bar (pictured above), which we sold at the African Street Festival during the Memorial Weekend. I recently received my first review about our Shampoo Bar from Cynthia, and the feedback was phenomenal! Here's a snippet of her response: "This was my first time using a shampoo bar. I like that you put the instructions on the back label, very convenient. The bar was easy to use and suds like crazy. My hair was very clean after one wash. The scent is very appealing while not overpowering." She went on to critique the Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, "Next I used the conditioner and the smell is great. It was easy to apply to the hair and worked as a good detangler. I left it on while I showered then rinsed it out. My curls were very well defined and my hair was super shiny." She actually had a whole lot more to say, but judging from this portion of her review, I feel confident she was pleased with the product. She ended her review by placing an order for more conditioner! It looks like we may be adding a line of natural hair care products to the MayaIndia family sooner than we thought. We will continue to work on it, but keep your eyes peeled. It may look something like this: Until next time, Stay Sweet!