DIY Archives - A Hippie Adventure

The Subtleties of Aromatherapy

Patti at AHA! Blogs October 15, 2017June 15, 2018aromatherapy, DIY, essential oils, fragrance, perfumery

Awhile back I was hawking my personal aromatherapy wares at a local show and found a fascinating disconnect in the way people view aromatherapy. The disconnect happens when it comes to realizing the benefits of aromatherapy are not part and parcel of the automatic link plenty of people have with simple aromas. Many seem to pair the idea of a floral or botanical fragrance permeating a single room or perhaps their entire home as aromatherapy. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Fragrance

It can be a benefit on an emotional level, for sure. Various scents can bring on joyful feelings, or a sense of cleanliness. Some scents can even be an aphrodisiac in a person’s senses. This is the reason for the booming cologne, perfume, candle and room spray market. Mass market cleaning products like rug powders or kitchen and bathroom cleansers also have many fragrance links too.

The way people react to fragrance is as individual as each one of us are to one another but overall, this is not aromatherapy. This is not to say there is a complete separation between scents and fragrances used in commercially available products and the essential oils that are used in aromatherapy. The disconnect is in peoples perception of what aromatherapy actually is and how it works when they are trying to align it with the plug-ins they have used, the room sprays they have or even the lavender fabric softener they use for their laundry.

Aromatherapy

Exactly as it sounds is a therapy using aroma. However, that beneficial aroma stems from essential oils which are extracted from flowers and botanical’s including roots, stems, bark and leaves of certain plants that elicit a reaction by the body on more than just an emotional level. These are not “medicines” but natures botanicals have numerous benefits which you can find out about by doing some homework.

The biggest realization to make is that it is not perfumery, although some essential oils can smell utterly divine and indeed are used in modern perfumery. The therapeutic origins of plant botanicals has a long history and includes extracts, flower essences, hydrosols, tinctures as well as essential oils. A great place to start exploring the benefits of aromatherapy for yourself would be with our line of essential oil blends which are available in our shop.

The Workshop – So Close and Yet So Far!

Patti at AHA! Blogs September 19, 2017September 19, 2017building workshop, DIY, family home, home based business, work from home

This past week has certainly been a labor intensive week in the workshop. The drywall hung, taped and textured then painting was completed thanks to they guys over at Sweet Home Services in Keller, TX. Next job is to hang the beautiful Spoonflower wallpaper and install the flooring before the final move in. Now for some pictures of the transition from “Then” to “Now”.

These photos taken after the paint job was completed. Of course, some fabrics have already found their way to the built in shelving. I couldn’t help but move something out there today.

Getting ready to go into high gear

Patti at AHA! Blogs August 29, 2017building workshop, DIY, end of summer, family home, home based business, pet adoptions, work from home, working parents

It’s been quite the summer as we head into Labor Day weekend where so many express the last hurrahs of summer I’m thinking about what this summer held for the shop as well as for the family. First off since my immediate family is myself, Dell and two very important “children” our lovely dogs Tino and Zena, here is something they would like you to know about and after reading this article, I agree wholeheartedly. We support pet adoption and this group of articles was well researched and has great information for you when you are ready to get your own pet.

Next thing to mention is the workshop in progress. After several years of using the guest bedroom as my work room it has finally come time to get my own workshop and free up the bedroom to actually host guests.

As we all know location, location, location! It’s a great advantage to have this location be in the back yard…close to home and family and yet still be able to be in work mode. After choosing the location under the trees, we got a contractor for the building. I’m so excited and this was just the beginning!

Building in progress — Then this happened

This picture was taken last August and the building started going up a year ago this week. It’s been slow going but we had no idea what we were in for. Notice this work crew had a huge outdoor fan going to help cool down a very warm August. Glad to say we are much greener this year. They did a bang up job.

We reached out for estimates on electric and plumbing after the building was done. Duh! Who does this except someone who’s a total noob to getting things built. The estimates came in way out of our price range. Come to find out, it’s a big deal getting exit sewage from the back forty uphill to street level where the city sewer lines are and would take two pump stations. That’s what ten feet lower elevation can do! Ur-mah-gurrr!

Ready for insulation — Electricity is now in.

This meant we needed time to save up some funds. So we were static on the workshop through the winter. Come spring we started shopping the electric around again and got a great electrician to get the shop set up with all the electrical bells and whistles. Now we’re ready to do the insulation and get the drywall in. I’ve already got the flooring, paint color, and wallpaper chosen as this eventuality becomes more real and closer to happening.

Until next time, Adios amigos!