Simply Soothing Blog

Here at Simply Soothing, we’ve been using essential oils in our Bug Soother since the very beginning. But recently, we decided to expand our product line to include essential oils. In today’s world, you’ve probably heard the term “essential oils” floating around, but you may not know what they are all about. While we could go into great detail, we’ll spare you, and simply share with you some of the basics of essential oils.

Essential oils are natural compounds which have been used for thousands of years and are known for both their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Essential oils are extracted from the roots, bark, leaves, flowers, fruits, and stems of plants in a highly concentrated form. The strong aroma that is highly characteristic of essential oils is a result of this high concentration.

Aromatherapy is one of the most common uses of essential oils. Typically, aromatherapy fits into two basic categories: diffusing and topical essential oils. Diffusion involves distributing the particles of the oil throughout the air to fill the room. When you inhale the scent, the benefits begin to kick in, whether it lifts your mood, reduces anxiety, or any of the many other benefits of essential oils. Because essential oils are highly concentrated, this method provides a great way to reap the benefits of essential oils in a safe and effective manner. The second basic category of aromatherapy is topical application, wherein the essential oils are applied directly to the skin. When applying essential oils topically, it is important not to apply them directly to the skin. Rather, essential oils must be diluted with a carrier oil such as almond or avocado oil, to avoid skin irritation.

While it is important to understand what essential oils are, and how they can be used, it is also important to look at some of the benefits of essential oils. One of the most popular oils is lavender, which helps to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and alleviate headaches, among other things. Rosemary is another popular oil, and it has been known to improve mental clarity, aid in concentration, and act as an anti-inflammatory. Peppermint is often used to boost energy and clear congestion. In addition to these, there are many other essential oils, all with unique benefits. For a list of the essential oils we offer and their known benefits, click here. And remember, if you have any questions, be sure to consult your doctor before using them, especially if being used during pregnancy. Additionally, commit some time to researching essential oils, because there is so much to learn!

We are so excited to celebrate American Business Women’s Day this week. As a majority women-owned & operated business we know how important it is to support women in business!

My daughter Nikki and I started Simply Soothing in 2003, the desire of which was partly born of working with my mother in her supper club in the 70s. I really enjoyed working with her, but also liked the challenge of growing a successful business.

I wanted to have that same experience again after having worked at a chemical company for 23 years. My daughter Nikki and I, along with my mother, worked in our business in the beginning.  My mom only lived a couple of years afterwards, and I was so grateful that we had the experience of 3 generations of women working together.  We really enjoyed working together, many times laughing at some of the mistakes made along the way.

Nikki has been a big part of our company, but hasn’t always reaped the benefits.  I had to lay her off February of 2004, and later that same day her house caught fire and she lost her beloved dog Scooby. She worked part time while going to school for the next few years until the company started to take off with our natural bug repellent, Bug Soother. I could finally afford to bring Nikki back full time.

Today Nikki is the COO of Simply Soothing, juggling a very demanding job with raising a 14 year old daughter, Emilee.  Emilee has helped out during the summers, learning how to work, and again we are able to experience 3 generations of women working together to build a legacy!

Stacie, our youngest daughter, who had worked for Six Flags for several years, started her own marketing consulting firm a few years back called LadyOne Productions.  Stacie is a big part of our team, working hard to help grow our business.  She also juggles her career while raising our 6 year old grandson.

Our son Justin also works in the family business, concentrating on sales and production. He’s an important part of the team, too, but since we are celebrating American Business Women’s Day, we’ll have to talk more about him another time! 😉

Balancing running a business with everyday life is not always easy.  The hours can be very long, some days the demands can be very stressful.  In an ever changing retail world, it has become even trickier.  We have learned to be flexible, to adjust our plans quickly.  I believe as women with families, we are geared to be able to handle many challenges at once.  We have learned the benefits of hard work.  We are tough, able to bend in adversity, but also persistent enough to hang on and push through the tough times.  And in business, there is always going to be tough times.

I will end with one of my favorite quotes:

“We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude.”
― Thomas S. Monson

We appreciate you taking the time to read this. We are so thankful for all of our customers, friends, and families… We couldn’t do any of this without you. Happy American Business Women’s Day this Saturday. We are proud to be American Business Women! Thank you to all of the incredible business women out there. Keep up the great work!

 

Freda Sojka
CEO of Simply Soothing, Inc & the creator of Bug Soother

World CleanUp Day is September 15. At Bug Soother, we’re a big supporter of people and organizations who are working to make our world a cleaner place. So in honor of World CleanUp Day, we’ve decided to highlight one of our favorite organizations, Iowa Project AWARE. Each year, we provide participants with Bug Soother for the week as they canoe down the river. We have been supporting Iowa Project AWARE for many years because we love what they do.

The “AWARE” in Iowa Project AWARE is an acronym, which stands for “A Watershed Awareness River Expedition.” Each year since 2003, hundreds of volunteers gather together for a week in July to clean up Iowa rivers. Brian Soenen, Iowa Project AWARE coordinator who has been with the program since its inception, explains what the event entails, “[Volunteers] paddle canoes searching for unsightly trash by day, camp in local campgrounds and communities by night, and attend educational programs scheduled throughout the event.” Every year, Project AWARE moves to a different watershed around Iowa. In 2018, the 397 volunteers cleaned up the Maquoketa River. The participants are diverse; this year’s volunteers ranged in age from 3-76 years old. Engineers, farmers, garbage men, students, healthcare providers, and more all come out to help clean up Iowa’s rivers. On average, they muscle over 30 tons of trash from Iowa rivers each year, about 70% of which is recycled.

Soenen comments that while cleaning up trash is important, there are ultimately bigger issues that need to be addressed. Sediment, bacteria, hydrological changes, and habitat loss impact native flora and fauna and our quality of life. These things often can’t be seen or removed with brute force. But he sees how Iowa Project AWARE is helping to make these issues known, “By engaging in something as simple as picking up trash, these volunteers experience these issues first-hand, and as they begin to understand how they impact the river, they become more active in working together as a community to help develop solutions to these complex problems.”

When Brian Soenen talks about Iowa Project AWARE, he says the volunteers are the most uplifting and refreshing group he knows. “They are a diverse group of individuals, coming together to focus on something we can all agree on- there is trash in the river, it shouldn’t be there, and if we work together, we can do something about it.” So, if you are looking for a way to clean up the environment, consider Iowa Project AWARE. It’s real work, and there are real results. The volunteers are fantastic. Brian Soenen has a challenge for you, “Just Do It! If you’re not sure, give it a try for a day. I dare you.”