The Gift that Gives Back~~~

Why is it important to shop local and independent?

By supporting your local and independent businesses this holiday season, you are doing a double act of kindness. NOT by just giving the gifts to the people you love..
By supporting local and independent businesses you give communities at large an opportunity to thrive!

For instance, you like music right?  Did you know that I am in a band?  Well, after much effort and ruminating I have discovered that sadly, there is no product in music any more.  Do you know that musicians are a legitimately 'at-risk' population in their own right?  Every day people who are the most brilliant music makers are giving up their dream and their talents because they are unable to sustain. If they are lucky they have been able to register for welfare and food stamps but because their finances are so hard to track and submit, even applying for welfare is a challenge.
As I grow this brand of U-Bee-Well, I will be donating a percentage of the proceeds to musicians. The up and comers. Those who are working endlessly sharing their hearts and passion.. blood, sweat and tears. Id like to be part of a resolution to prevent the 'Van Gough syndrome'..  We don't need any musicians cutting off their ears from being a tortured soul of not being able to share the inherent gift they were given. In addition, WE as humans need music in our lives.

In addition to to my sentiments and passion for music, I feel the responsibility to draw connection from human to human...and from human to planet. I've taken months now (-- an incubation period I'll call it.) trying to figure out how I can reach the population at large with this notion of how crucial it is that we are connected. My resolution is by releasing a physical product attached to a larger message.
I feel as though I have just awoken. I never knew it, but I am indeed very clearly an entrepreneur. A social entrepreneur.

I started making lip balms and medicines using plants from my garden in West Philly. I have gotten to know the local beekeepers, farmers, co-ops. One of the greatest gifts that music has brought to my life is the opportunity to travel all over getting to know so many incredible communities all over this country.  Artistic communities, Artisans, Teachers, Organizers, Farmers, Children.. Musicians..
My goal is to find a way to bridge all of the communities.  Even if it is to bring knowledge that 'we are not alone'. There is a real movement going on in so many pockets of America. People wanting to get back to connecting. With each other, with the planet. Wanting to know where the food we eat comes from, and the objects we use are made..

I have America's wind on me. I want to share it with you.
In these next few months my accounts will be growing. More people will know about U-Bee-Well.   I hope that people will like the lip balms enough to check out the (what will be new website and video blog). I have no less intention than to help build a global village.


SO.
As you gear up for your holiday season, please do keep U-BEE-WELL in mind.
AND remember, shopping LOCAL and Independent is LITERALLY the gift that gives back!! We are offering the coziest of gifts for you and your loved ones this holiday season and we thank YOU so very much as you shop this holiday season.


Thank you.
We love you,


U-Bee-Well


Aka; Barbara (of The Spinning Leaves)

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**EMAIL US AT;

you.bee.well@gmail.com (to make an order, or to say hello!)

**Or Please leave a comment on this blog if you dig what you just read!

Closing of summer and new beginnings. Non-linear.

Hello friends.. and to whoever might stumble upon this blog of mine. Anyone out there?  I have to say, this is my first time adding to this blog in quite some time.  Ya see---  I am a bit of a techno-phobic person.  It seems like one thing after the next with all of the social media ventures. Due to being in a band, (The Spinning Leaves)  also, I feel pretty saturated already.. but I've decided to take a moment to say hello to the 'blogger world'. So.. Hey!

We have been getting pretty excited here with U-Bee-Well.  We're partnering with some folks that I am so proud to be partnering with.  This will be a later announcement..  And when it's appropriate we'll scream it, with bells and skip down the streets with bottles of cordial.
In any event, that announcement soon.  This now;

I have recently decided to step up in the products that I produce.  It's so much fun for me and I feel like I want to do all that I can to rejoice in the fruits of the harvest from this summer and as we enter fall.

In addition to our lip balms;

We have opted to add a new product to our line;  An absolutely amazing Lavender Sea Salt Hair Mist.  Whoaa! 

 It's been slow and steady growth with U-Bee-Well. One leaf at a time.  We've been fortunate at this point with our primary product being the lip balms... we spread real grassroots like.  It's been so interesting to see it unfold. I have not been pushing the lip balms..  BUT we  have recently decided to step up with getting them out in the big wide world.

Currently the lip balms are sold at;

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
Ananda (Venice)
The Herbiary
Mariposa Food Coop
Milk and Honey
Swag Boutique


U-Bee-Well Lip Balms will also be found come the end of this month at Mama's Wellness Joint which will be opening in the Washington Square neighborhood soon, soon, soon! Paige, the owner was so kind to write U-Bee-Well up in her blog.  You can check it out here;

http://mamaswellnessjoint.com/

Mama's is going to be an amazing resource for women, mothers' to be and new mothers. I could not be more proud to be associated with Paige's endeavors.

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I have decided to make this blog consist mostly of some pictures that inspire me..

Starting, number 1... with my Dad.  Sept 29th will be 2 years since he has passed on.  Unreal. I would not have gotten into creating things with plants if it were not for him.  Although I no longer get to hang with him like in the picture below.. I am continually blessed by his spirit.  Below are also pictures from places I get to go when I travel with The Spinning Leaves,  http://www.thespinningleaves.com my band.  All over this country... What an amazing land and history we have here.  Winona Laduke says something along the lines of, 'This country was based on conquisition and this is NOT sustainable. Why hold on to the dinosaur fuels?, she asks. I love Winona Laduke. I have written her hand written letters. I have not gotten a response, but I still love her.   Perhaps one day there will be a van following Winona around.  If I stumble upon it, I'll jump on it.  Until then.. I'll keep plugging away from here in Philadelphia :).  Enjoy the pictures!

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Much of what I have done with music and with U-Bee-Well  has been in hopes of connecting human to human and human to planet.  Although I was already on the path..   I have a lot of thanks for the folks at Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction    to help me see things more clearly on the power of participating in a conscious consumerism..  They are truly revolutionary.

Please keep posted.  I will be posting a video in a few weeks on how to make lip balms.  There will also be music. IT will be fun!

**If you love u-bee-well lip balms, send us a picture and we will post it in our next blog.  This was sent to us by an amazing actor in Philadelphia named David Sweeny.. Achieving much success with his character Johnny Showcase of the Johnny Showcase & Left Lucy Cabaret.

We love Johnny Showcase and so should you. 


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If YOU or someone that you know may be interested in carrying our products at your store. OR using our lip balms to market your business, or to remember your special event..  be in touch!
you.bee.well@gmail.com