Adventures, Getting Older and Thinking Yourself Young

Reflections on how we can broaden our horizons and live life more fully

Coming Home
I love coming home after being away... you know- when you first walk in the door and all the familiarity of home rolls over you - fitting like a comfy, cuddly jumper that snuggles around you. And in winter this can be even more pronounced ... when you feel like cocooning yourself...shutting out the world and just revel in your own surroundings.. re-acquainting yourself with the familiar.

Well that's just how it has been for Eric and I when we arrived home from our wonderful camping adventure up in the north of WA. The first walk on our beach, the first fire we set and that first meal of Cauliflower cheese (isn't it the ultimate comfort food?) were memorable - just helping us to transition back to 'normal' life.

We all need Adventures
You see this was a pretty special time away for us... not only did I leave aged 49 and returned a mature 50 year old (chuckling here)- but this was our wondrous adventure.

This, when many people were telling us that we wouldn't be able to have any more adventures... and some in fact told us that we shouldn't be embarking on adventures at all - as it could be too difficult, things might go wrong, Eric might not be well enough ... what would we do if he got sick...well you get the drift.

Anyway we did it.. we had a wonderful, exciting and completely unique adventure.

It was all the more fun because it felt almost illicit... taking small but calculated risks, going to remote, incredible, far off locations and enjoying life to the fullest that we could.

Of course things went wrong.
Eric did have a few issues -but we just adjusted, altered our plans or rested a little more than usual.. and things worked out so well that we're planning our next adventure already.

Think Yourself Young?
So this got me to thinking... having adventures, experiencing the wonderful world we live in, doing something different, out of our routines can be life giving.

Did you watch the ABC/BBC documentary series "The Young Ones" (click here to go to the ABC webpage for more info) where a group of older, well known UK personalities agreed to live for a week in a retro style house as if it was the 1970's - a time when they were at their professional peaks?

A group of researchers then tested and measured the changes that they underwent - both physically and psychologically over the seven days.

The results were remarkable. Each of the elderly subjects achieved remarkable improvements. From significantly increased energy levels, reduced pain, improved strength, balance and coordination to improved memory, confidence and socialisation skills. These were not just small improvements but radical, huge swings in ability - and all in one week.

There are practical applications to this research and it has much to do with how we look at and think of ourselves... how others treat us and how we allow others to treat us... so it's out with the limitation thinking and in with the "it's possible" mindset!

Certainly something to ponder methinks.

Winter is oh so cold... but you don't have to be!

It's amazing how a warm herbal heat bag can make you feel on a cold, blustery winters night.
Not only are our Heat bags great for applying to aching joints and muscles but you can also use them to:

• warm up your bed to take the chill off the sheets - No more shivering until the bedclothes warm up
• take your heat bag with you in the car on those frosty mornings... just slip it behind your back for a warm and comfy lumber support
• snuggle down with your heat bag at 'that time' of the month - great to help soothe stomach cramps
• cuddle up to your heat bag in front of the TV while you wait for your space heater to warm the room

Herbal Heat Bag BONUS OFFER

EXCLUSIVE Newsletter Subscriber BONUS

FREE Achy Breaky Rub (valued at $16.95)
when you order any Moon Haven Herbal Heat Bag

(Offer available until 15 July or while stocks last)

Choose from  the Lavender Green Herbal Heat Bag or our Natural Provincial Herbal Heat Bag designs . Both come  with washable covers and  are wonderful for warming your body and soul in the depth of winter.

Add in a FREE Jar of ACHY BREAKY RUB and you are on a winner both for VALUE and HEALTH>.

To summarise:

Grab any of our Herbal Heat Bags the Medium (and our most popular sized) Heat Bag is only $16.95 and

we'll GIVE YOU a FREE Jar of our amazing salve for effectively treating aches and pains.

That's $32.90 VALUE for only $16.95!

Remember these special offers are exclusive to our Newsletter Subscribers... and only available while you receive our Newsletter- so do take advantage of these super duper prices...they won't be around for long!
Here's what to do:

1. click here to go to the Exclusive Offers for Newsletter Subscribers (that's you) section of the Moon Haven Website
2. Choose the product packages that are best for you and your skin
3. then click "Add to Cart"

Or you can call us on FREECALL 1800 005 059 and place your order with us over the phone!

Remember this offer is only available until June 30, 2011...
only while stocks last..
so it's first in - first served!

And of course when you order $80.00 or more of products - you get FREE POSTAGE & HANDLING charges for orders delivered within Australia.  

You asked for a Sandalwood Soap

... and here it is.
Welcome to our newest Soaping Star - Orange & Sandalwood Soap.

Chris and Laura have been at it again with this wonderful combination of Sweet Orange essential oil and a wonderfully scented Sandalwood perfume oil.
Of course the resulting fragrance is divine and the bar is soft, creamy and gentle on the skin.

You see we have had so many requests for a Sandalwood soap that we were finally driven to formulate one... and we so love the results!

I love that the sandalwood fragrance really comes out in the warmth of the shower filling the bathroom with sweet woody scents. This is the soap that I took for our weekend away and everyone commented on how wonderful the bathroom smelled.

Orange & Sandalwood has been available at the Moon Haven cottage for a weeks now and it has proved to be extremely popular.  Chris has had to make batches every week just to keep up with the demand.

Take advantage of our "Subscriber Soap of the Month"  Special to enjoy your own Orange & Sandalwood in the shower. 

With it's lovely woodsy scent it is perfect for both men and women... I don't know why but many men seem to baulk at a floral soap blend.- they're crazy...but we do have cater for them - occasionally!

Click here to go to our NEWLETTER ONLY OFFERS webpage to place your order.

It is important that you Place your Order ASAP
While Chris has made a bunch of bars, I would suggest that you order ASAP as once our current stocks are gone it will take several weeks for the next batches to cure. 
I have to apologise to all of our clients who missed out on their choices during our last soap offer.  Due to the huge demand we had several of our soaps go out of stock last month (Honey & Oats,  Billie Be Good and Seagrass to name a few)  and we have only just been able to replace them!

Winners & Grinners

Shampoo Bar has Fans Raving!

  Our Raving Fan of the Month goes to Mandy Fish of Ballajura
Not only does Mandy think that our Silken Shampoo Bar is "the best shampoo I've ever used... I recommend it to everyone who asks me about shampoo" but she also had this to say about Achy Breaky Rub and our Deep Sleep Pulse Point Potion

"I recently started using Achy Breaky Rub.  It is fantastic! I think it is better than Dencorub etc... I don't have sore shoulders anymore because I use this rub when they start to hurt.

I also use the pulse point potion Deep Sleep. When I've had a stressful day and I'm having trouble getting to sleep... I pull out the Deep Sleep and spot it on my temples.  Waking up the next day is a good feeling, not drudgery due to poor sleep."

So Mandy, you are this month's Raving Fan of the Month Winner and have won a $50.00 voucher to spend in store or online!  Congratulations
 

Our July Clients of the Month are the wonderful Annette and Chad of Busselton who have been Mad Moonies for over 10 years - when we first started  at the local Busselton Railway Markets every second weekend. 

We remember those days when we would get up at the crack of dawn...and often before to set up our outside stall to show of our very limited range of moon haven soaps, salve and skin care...my how we have grown!
Anyway Annette and had wrote to us telling us of how they have found Chickweed & Plantain Salve magical to use as well as our Silken Shampoo Bar.

They wrote:
"We have to write to you to tell you what you already know about Chickweed and Plantain.

I had a fairly large skin cancer removed m my left arm which left a wound 75mm long.  I left the wound set for three days then once each night applied the ointment.  Within two days the change was unbelievable and in four more days the stitches came out and now five weeks later there is hardly a mark.  There will not be a scar visible in about four or five weeks.
 
I couldn't recommend this product strong enough- anyone who is elderly or has skin that takes a while to heal would benefit greatly from it.

My wife has fairly severe psoriasis and this cleans up the lesions and is one of the only things that works.
And the soaps don't aggravate like commercial products.  The shampoo bar doesn't aggravate her scalp like normal shampoos and we haven't brought conditioner in about 10 years!
Keep up the great work!"

Annette and Chad

 Thank you so very much Chad and Annette for being such fantastic and loyal supporters of Moon Haven and our products... you help to make our world go round!  You are Moon Haven's Clients of the Month and so have won a $50.00 voucher to use for your next supply of Moon Haven goodies

Are you next month's Winner?
You could win a $50 voucher to spend at Moon Haven
Just email, phone, visit or send us a letter and tell us what you love about Moon Haven, make comment on how you think we could improve or just provide us with feedback.  Each comment, photo and order received goes into the running for either our Raving Fan of the Month or Client of the Month award.

What's Happening Down South

Our Whale Population is Booming 

Sunday 26th June was Whale Census Day throughout Australia. Hosted by the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), this is the one day each year when volunteers turn their eyes to the horizon and keep them there, taking tally of the many migrating cetaceans heading north.

 

Co-organiser Shona Lorigan said numbers were still coming in but already they were way above last year's count. Augusta saw a whopping 197 whales swim past, almost four times the number that was counted at East Coast sites like Bondi, Newcastle and Jervis Bay.(Thanks to margaretriver.com for this information!)

Master Chef and Cooking Classes Down South

The recent episodes of MasterChef which featured the Margaret River region (Cape Lodge, Clairault and the Busselton Jetty) has certainly stirred up some culinary interest down south and it has spurred many of our visitors to take a cooking class when visiitng down this way.

So here is a brief summary of a few of the current classes on offer:

Cape Lodge - Fresh is Best with Chef Tony Howell 23 Jul, 27 August and 24 September 2011
www.capelodge.com.au

The Larder- Wok this way - Asian stirfry and noodle classes - 28 July www.larder.biz.

Clairault Winery: Meet the chef tour and 3-course lunch with head chef Jack Drachenberg - Mondays and Wednesdays in July 2011 www.clairaultwines.com.au

And of course there are Sioban's ever popular Wildwood Valley Italian/Thai Cooking Classes which are booked out months in advance (up to November at the moment) click here for more info 

So if you are into cooking up a storm...why not come on down south over Winter and be inspired?

Moon Haven Happenings

Secret, New Product Development and Turning 50

Well school holidays are rollicking along and of course Moon Haven is as busy as ever.
Secret Squirrel Product Development
Laura and Chris have been working on a secret project, to which even I am not privy to.

All I know is that it is a new product range aimed at providing the ultimate bathing experience - or so I have been told.

I have some idea of what Chris and Laura are about but I am a little bamboozled at the long list of raw materials and botanicals they have requested.
 Everything from whole red rosebuds and delicate jasmine flowers, honey powder and wonderfully pearlescent mica to exotic essential oils like Frankincense and Ylang Ylang.

So I am intrigued to find out exactly what they are up to. Hopefully all will be revealed in time for the next newsletter.  we shall have to wait with baited breath...it promises to be interesting!

Clocking Up Half a Century
I thought that I had managed to avert any huge celebrations for my 50th birthday by making sure that Eric and I were wayyy up north on THE day - but I should have known that there are consequences for trying to avoid something as big as this - and that it would come to bite me...big time.

Needless to say I wasn't going to be let off lightly and my good friends Dale and Craig organised a most amazing Surprise 50th Weekend complete with wandering the bush tracks of Capel, Donnybrook and Ferguson Valley, a visit to Gnomesville at Wellington Mill (more about that next time), an incredible overnight stay at Meadowbrok Estate in Boyanup and wonderful surprise guest appearances by family and friends.

I have to thank Chris and Laura who looked after Moon Haven so I could have the weekend away- I am so very very fortunate to have such wonderful people around me - I love you all.

So that's all for this edition of the Moon Haven News. The next edition we'll be sharing some exciting news on what we have been up to at the cottage plus more on the wonderful Gnomesville and a few hints and tips on living life naturally.

Until next time...keep looking for your own magic moments... they are what makes living on this earth precious and are worth finding.



P.S. I don't feel like I am anywhere near 50!