Childhood Memories

When I was a little girl we used to live in a old white farm house in Illinois, and on the side of that house grew these beautiful lilac shrubs. I can still remember picking the lilacs for my mom whenever they were in bloom throughout the spring and summer. The lilac shrub has the most amazing fragrance, and whenever I smell that aroma it instantly takes me back to when I was little.

I only have two things that I ever really wanted in my life, and one of them is a large garden. A garden somewhere in the middle of nowhere that is filled with lilacs and roses. I want to be able to walk outside in the morning and pick myself some flowers and just consume myself in their scent. I would spend my whole day out there if I could, and would be as happy and as content as could be. These pictures take me back to a much simpler time.  They also make me dream of that day when I will have a lilac shrub of my own again, and  be able to pick their flowers every spring just like I did when I was a little girl.  XOXO, Tara


St. Patty’s Day

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! So I  may not have any Irish in my blood, only Scottish and Yugoslavian, I can still appreciate the spirit of St. Patrick’s day this Sunday. I remember growing up, my mom would always make corn beef and cabbage every St. Patrick’s day for my family. I bet she is probably planning on making it this weekend for my daddy.  I hope these Irish Blessings can fill your day with some love and happiness. XOXO, Tara


“May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.”  Irish Blessing


“I believe there is a sun when it is not shining, I believe there is a God when I cannot see him, I believe there is love when I feel it not.” Irish Blessing

 

 

Fragrance and Your Mood

Everyone who knows me knows that I love everything girlie. Flowers or perfume are definitely the way to this girls heart. The moment I encounter an uplifting scent, it can instantly boost my mood and I feel serene and happy. Sniffing perfumes that have fresh, familiar scents—powdery notes à la baby, or springtime florals such as hyacinth, jasmine and lily of the valley—could have you thinking the glass is half full. Or seek out amber or vanilla, which can go hand in hand with that recent happy occasion at which you devoured cupcakes and maybe a root-beer float, or maybe received that bouquet of lilacs, or roses. For myself, there is nothing like getting out of the shower or bath in the morning and using my favorite lilac perfume La Perouse by Gilly Hick’s or Jo Molane’s Blue Agava and Cocao perfume, to instantly make me feel feminine and happy. Remember, not everyone has the same ideal scent that works for their bodies chemistry. Try out different scents such as citrus, vanilla, or floral’s to find one that transforms your individual mood. XOXO, Tara

Jo Molane Red Roses Cologne available at Nordstrom’s or  (www.jomolane.com)

 

Life is too short….

I just love this quote about living life with no regrets. I never want to look back and think what if?  So let today be a start of something new, beautiful and most of all… a day with no regrets. XOXO, Tara

Welcome to the Bluefern Blog!

Welcome to the Bluefern Blog. Nestled in the charming town of Suwanee, Georgia you will find my home away from home Bluefern Spa and Salon. Bluefern is cute, charming and feels just like home. I have been with Bluefern for a year and a half now, and most likely if you have called into our spa or came in for a visit you have met me.  I reside in Johns Creek with my  husband Matthew, and our two little cats. We have called Georgia home now for about 3 years, and I would like to consider myself a Georgia Peach by now. When I’m not studying for my Criminal Justice degree or working at the spa,  I love to bake, tend to my small rose garden, read, play golf and do Ballet Beautiful. I hope you find this blog to be cute and charming just like Bluefern. I can’t wait to share recipes, health and wellness tips, as well as my journey through everyday life. Please email me or leave me a comment and say hello, I would love to hear from you!

 

Best Wishes,

Tara

 

Photo Credit: Kristen Bell @Foundlovely.com

 

 

 

Aromatherapy & You

Benefits

Aromatherapy doesn’t just smell good, it can also benefit you in many ways. Some aromatherapy benefits that are more commonly known include:

  • Relaxation and stress relief
  • Mood stabilizer, balance and well being
  • Relief of minor discomforts
  • Boosting the immune, respiratory and circulatory systems

Essential oils are the heart of aromatherapy. 

To better understand aromatherapy benefits, it helps to know how your body processes smells.
As scents are inhaled, the smell travels across the olfactory nerves located inside the nose and then up into the part of the brain that controls our moods, our memories and our ability to learn. This area is called the Limbic System and when stimulated it releases endorphins, neurotransmitters and other ‘feel-good’ chemicals. The sense of smell is pretty powerful. In fact, the body can distinguish around 10,000 different scents! Amazing, isn’t it?
Wow!  That’s pretty scientific stuff… not to worry, in a nutshell, what all of that means is that smells have a subtle way of effecting your mind and emotions.

 

Essential Oil Absorption

Aromatherapy also works by absorbing essential oils into the skin and blood stream.

One of the advantages to topical application of diluted essential oils is that they can go directly to the spot where you need them the most.

If you have an aching muscle or a nasty bruise, a little essential oil goes a long way to working its healing magic.

Why not treat yourself!  An aromatherapy massage is a great way to reap the benefits of topical application of essential oils along with the soothing therapeutic benefits of touch.

Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is most commonly the result of sun overexposure but a growing problem (and close second) is the epidemic of melasma. Both sources require highly effective tyrosinase inhibitors to get the job done but there is more to it than that. There must be a focus on reducing free radicals as they are the primary stimulus of unwanted pigment. Colon health also plays a role in cases like melasma where yeast overgrowth is a likely culprit. No matter what method you choose, just remember that melanocytes are what keep us young and keep our skin healthy so short treatment protocols are recommended where possible.

A common misunderstanding in the treatment of hyperpigmentation is in the adeptness of the melanocyte. Most tests on tyrosinase inhibitors are done in labs and show the activity of an ingredient over a limited time frame. More lengthy studies show that melanocytes may adapt to many of the more popular lightening agents rendering them ineffective. To combat this, Osmosis is taking only the best tyrosinase inhibitors and using all of them. The combination of multiple mechanisms of action and high percentages of Paper Mulberry (study showed 0.4% Paper Mulberry was equivalent to 5.5% Hydroquinone) make this a fantastic lightening agent.

Enlighten – Fading/Pigmented Skin Serum

What makes this product so unique is its diversity. We approach skin color normalization with the attitude that first and foremost, free radicals need to be avoided. This starts with all-natural, chirally corrected ingredients. Secondly, antioxidants are provided in the form of pre-treatment with Replenish (in the Osmosis Hyperpigmentation Protocol) and then additional antioxidants in Enlighten such as THC, Rumex and GABA. I will not list all of the (12) lightening agents in the product here, but I will tell you that their varying mechanisms of action and the persistent potency of Paper Mulberry make this formula highly effective and fast acting. If you need laser treatment, you can view Touch Up Laser. We have chosen to replace Hydroquinone with these better, safer alternatives because of its side effect profile.

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