Sunday, January 31, 2010

Overall Being

The next round of features on my blog are going to be not only business's that I LOVE but they are run by people that are awsome as well, to start this round off I want to introduce you to Lisa Kavenagh, a fabulous lady with awesome products and owner of OVERALL BEING..this is Lisa's story..


Overall Being has alot to offer the shopper from home. It is an online business which offers Personalised and Unique Gifts.


Overall Being was very different back when it started in 2003. It was started as a business offering a range of alternative & conventional Massage treatments to clients in their own home. Being a mother I needed flexibility and the ease of promoting my business without too much time away from my family. Having this online allows me to work from home around such.






I have a thirst for natural therapies and alternative ways. Hence why I have so many various
techniques that I can fall back on. I feel giving alittle of you to help others brings joy and hope for humanity as a whole. It creates fabulous good energy which is what Overall Being is.






My Logo is mainly of a Lotus Flower. I think its quite fitting for this business and the owners belief hence why it was chosen. The Lotus Flower is one of the most ancient and deepest symbols of our planet. It grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. Untouched by the impurity, lotus symbolises the purity of heart and mind. Which is how I came up with the name. It represents long life, health, honor and good luck. All of what I live by and what I try to bring into Overall Being to every customer that graces the front door. I treat each client as if it is my first and last.




I have studied quite a number of various techniques which allows me to offer many ways of treating oneself to my clients, family/friends. Being a mother now of four boys( Alexander 1996, Nicholas 1998, Samuel 2002, Jack 2008), I required a fair amount of flexibility and am terrific at multitasking. No job or order is too big, I love a challenge when someone comes and says do you or can you do this?!


Overall Being has been offering since 2003 various techniques of Reiki, Kundalini, Aromatherapy, Massage Parties, Crystal Therapy, Massage techniques and online Reiki Courses. Along with crystal jewellery.


When I became pregnant with our fourth son, I decided to take some “Hands on” time off. Putting my massage on hold for a moment, so I could enjoy being a new mum. Life certainly is busy, but so rewarding at the same time. I suffered unfortunately bad PND after having Jack which lead me to delve back into meditation and therapy to help heal my soul whilst using conventional methods as well.




Since having this time off it made me think about other ways of bringing joy into my life. Which is how Overall Being has grown to where it is today , offering various other products which some I outsource to other work at home businesses or have become a proud stockist for or some I hand make myself.


To have one place to visit on the web makes it extremely easy for people to help give memorable gifts to those they love. I now offer personalised and customised gifts for anyone seeking something of difference.


The fabric I use to make my quillows, blankets or cushions is imported and has been described as having hugs all around you when snuggled into one. Available in this are: quillows, cushions, pet beds and blankets of all sizes using the same fabric.


I love natural products. Products that I know what is in it. Putting things onto my skin with chemicals just diminishes the beauty eventually. I offer a range of Aromatherapy products aswell such as Blends, Colognes, Perfumes, Soaps, & Candles. I am also a proud stockist of Fresh Faced Skincare & Mineral Makeup. Which is a 100% Australian owned and made Natural product. But also Gaia.....the name speaks for itself .


Along with the above....there is also a range of jewellery which is all handmade. Using handmade
Kaolin beads, crystals and such which has been sourced from overseas. With the Crystal Bracelets I can also add Reiki Healing into each piece as an added special touch for the giver.







Digital Scrapbooking is also available at Overall Being, whereby I use the clients photos to create a everlasting leather bound album, filled with memories. These albums are perfect for the coffee table or as a gift to someone. There is many different sizes available and also have created a Digital Scrapbook page and had it printed onto a Canvas to hang on the wall. They are quite stunning and highly unique. Even creating Invitations, Place cards, Thank you cards, etc...I also now have Photo Gifts / Canvases / Albums available.



There is a Gift Ideas page on Overall Being which highlights suggestions for the shopper. To allow them to see what is available on a website as a quick guide makes the whole shopping experience and visit to us more memorable and unique.



That is where is versatility comes into it and allows me to offer clients to “create” their very own gift basket. Each Basket can be tailored to the individual and anything can be added to it.



Overall Being has been running like this for the past 12mths and will continue to do so. I think having somewhere like this on the web adds love.





There is also a gorgeous way of celebrating time together as people. Overall Being offers a Massage Boutique experience in the comfort of your own home. Offering many complimentary services to the host and discounts for the attendees. Perfect for hens nights/afternoons, Girl get togethers, baby showers and such.



So as you can see Overall Being is exactly what the name says, incorporating Lifes pleasures into one spot.



"Life is not about the moments we breathe, but the moments that take our breath away"



Lisa has a blog and cafepress store as well click on the words to go and check them out!

Monday, January 18, 2010

The Fish Cafe at Manly - a horrible eating experience for us..

Hello Everyone..

I like to post about local business's that are doing a great job and providing great service, but every once in a while I come across a business in my travels that is just so bad that I feel I have to share it and last night my husband and I came across just such a business when we went to Manly, near Brisbane for dinner.

We had a lovely ride into Manly, we usually have dinner there at the Boat Shed on the Jetty (HIGHLY recommend them)..but tonight we got there late as it wasn't planned so we decided to eat at a restaurant near there that also had a take away section off it, the take away is called "Barramundi Boys Fish Cafe - Manly's favourite cafe and wine bar"

Anyway..we went in and ordered and encountered our first problem, I ordered first and I ordered salt and pepper calamari, my husband then said he would like the calamari pieces with sweet chilli sauce..obviously we didn't make ourselves clear because she put them both through as salt and pepper calamari...

Then we bought a drink each and I nearly died as the drinks there were each $3-85 and they were only small bottles!...

she asked if we want any chips with the salt and pepper calamari, so hubby says yes please and orders them as well (they were not cooked well and so terrible we only ate a few of the whole box).

We finally get our meal and thats when we first see we both got the same meal and not what we ordered.

Now salt and pepper calamari is something I try at everyplace we go as its one of my absolute favourite things to eat. I have eaten it in the Northern Territory, in Western Australia, all over Queensland, absolutely everywhere..and this salt and pepper calamari was the worst I have ever had in the last 5 years.

So much coating on it that you had to scrape it off to even get to the calamari and it had like cinnamon in the coating, just not nice at all.

The tables they have outside were lovely wooden ones, but filthy dirty and they made no effort while we were there to clean them and even when she put our take away on the table and you could see food on the table..she still didn't make any effort to clean it off!

We didn't eat most of our dinner and left. I was so disappointed to get such bad service and cleanliness from a favourite area such as this popular place.

Everywhere we have had this meal, its always well presented on a plate with salad (even if only mixed leaves and tomato) and a small amount of hot fresh chips, from this place, when you order salt and pepper calamari, you only get that..and a few old lettuce leaves like mine where one entire leaf was totally clear it was so old and saggy and icky, over cooked, and some even brown, chips that were like rubber we had to pay extra for..so not a good eating experience!

We wont be going there again and anytime we are asked for a recommendation for a local place to eat there, they will be ones we do not put their name forward!

I thought maybe it was because we rode a motorbike in, but I wore a nice shirt with my black jeans and we are not uncouth people with no manners who don't speak well etc so I can't really see that would have made a difference, and the tables out front were all filthy when we got there, so goodness knows how long they were all not even wiped down for before that, just a real shame as I have eaten there before about a year ago and it was quite good.

I hope for their sakes that they really pick their game up as there are so many food places around there that they really can't afford to coast by on their 'good name' for long.

Come on people..present the food nicely even if its from the take out section, dont reheat cooked chips as thats what it looked like we got, make sure if you give salad (or even just the lettuce leaves) that they are at least resembling fresh, for goodness sakes smile and be pleasant when dealing with customers and most importantly CLEAN YOUR AREA where you expect people to sit and eat your food for goodness sakes! Over all a totally bad experience and not worth the time it took to get there or the money it cost us to eat. Such a shame!

Agoo Australia - first showcase of the year!

Hello Everyone!

Its a magnificent day here in Brisbane today, an excellent day to start off our new year of small business showcases!

The first showcase for this year is Agoo Australia and great timing too as Agoo Australia has a TERRIFIC sale on RIGHT NOW!



Alison established Agoo Australia, based in her home in Woonona, to distribute this innovative clothing range. When the busy mother of 2 active boys discovered this Canadian brand she knew she had to bring it to Australia so Australian parents could also discover the "Stay out and Play" Agoo Collection.



“Young children’s skin is thinner than adult’s skin, is extremely sensitive and can burn easily. Practising sun smart habits during the early years can reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer later in life” says Alison Covington.

Assisted by one of her oldest friends, Susan Wallis, also working from home around the needs of her children, Alison and Agoo aim to make a positive impact on the lives of the children of Australia. Encouraging them to get out of the house, outside being active, and sun protected and hopefully setting up healthy habits for life.

Agoo is walking the talk, having joined the Fatlossathon and with Susan training for the City to Surf again this year.

Our first ever clearance sale starts 15 January, with 50% off the entire Agoo activewear clothing range (excluding accessories). Agoo's 50% off sale is available to VIP customers only so make sure you sign up for the newsletter to get the exclusive code. Use it at checkout and your purchases will be 50% off. Easy!"



In conjunction with this sale we are giving away a tee shirt a day for 50 days to a lucky customer who orders from Agoo or one of our stockists. (prizes drawn each week to the total value of $1900, terms and conditions available if required)


Do yourself a favour and go check out the Agoo Australia website HERE and have a look at the gorgeous clothes they have on offer for our precious little ones, you won't be disappointed! Agoo also has a great blog which you can find through their website or just click this easy link to take you there now

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Bodelicious Ramblings: We are featured in La Toriana's Blog!

Bodelicious Ramblings: We are featured in La Toriana's Blog!

We are featured in La Toriana's Blog!

Hello Everyone and Welcome to the New Year!


We are proud to announce that we are now featured on the La Toriana blog, thank you so much to Elizabeth for featuring Bodelicious!


We will certainly reciprocate and feature you as well over here at Bodelicious_ramblings when you have time to work us in.


Its a lovely blog and I just love the things on Elizabeths website as well, so pop on over and read her blog HERE and visit her website HERE and see all the lovely goodies she has there!


 
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