While LoLo is not ready to hang up her hat she has the following sentiment for those who have or are contemplating doing so:
My dear friends, let's keep our heads up and stay connected with our community of business-minded pals. We'll weather any storm with warm, heartfelt, and authentic cheer.
Ultimately, being in business is like a bittersweet symphony—a melody of hard work and heartfelt connections, of setbacks and soaring victories. And though the road may be challenging, we're in it together, ready to face whatever comes our way with a smile, a tear, and a whole lot of sass!
Stay strong, stay proud, and keep that entrepreneurial spirit alive, my friends. The best is yet to come.
Yours in business and in sass,
LoLo
Chief Dreamer at LoLo Body Care
Want in?
]]>In addition to a hat and glasses, we recommend this sunsreen.
]]>Then I moved to Arizona and had to find sunscreen that didn't leave me looking like a ghost, caused breakouts, was affordable, unscented, chemically clean, required minimal reapplication, and was easy to travel with. I put La Roche Posay to the test during my recent trip to Ecuador. It performed superbly. It's also highly recommended by dermatologists.
You may find this helpful if you or someone you know is planning a trip to Ecuador. I'll be returning, and here is what I will do differently next time.
1. Do not rent a car or drive. Take inter-county flights and/or hire professional drivers or cabs. Both of these options are incredibly inexpensive and far more enjoyable. If flying into Quito and going north to the Cotacachi area, grab a cab or hire a professional driver. If you're in Quito and want to go to Cuenca, wanting catch a flight. What about the bus? Bus travel is popular and cheap. But I witnessed buses coming down steep washed-out roads that made me cringe.
2. When I traveled to Peru a few years ago and felt the effects of altitude, chewing coca leaves did the trick. But they didn't work for me in Ecuador at altitudes of 9,000-13,000 feet. I resorted to 200 mgs a day of Trans-Resveratrol (stuff in red wine). Worked wonders. Next time, I'll take it a few weeks before I go.
3. Take one pair of comfortable but worn shoes and buy your replacement pair there. The workmanship and cost of custom-made leather jackets, handbags, and shoes can't be beaten.
4. Some like it hot and if that is you, take a bottle of hot sauce. The food in Ecuador is different from Mexico's. While their version of salsa, Aji, is as varied as salsa in Mexico, I found that most Aji just lacked the heat.
5. Take my Aeropress. I almost did and then didn't. We mostly stayed at AirBnB's, and most were equipped with a kettle, blender, fruit strainers, and jars of instant coffee. We used a paper towel inside a colander over a pan to make coffee (not instant). Still, the Aeropress would have been more convenient.
6. Listen to what the tourist office and hotel staff tell you in Quito and Guayaquil. If they say to not go to a specific area, believe them. We ventured two blocks further than we should have. I pulled a second phone out of my bag to take a picture of a man milking goats (and selling fresh goat's milk in the middle of the city). I slipped the phone into a relatively hidden pocket beside my body bag. It was lifted by a woman 30 seconds later. FIRST TIME EVER FOR ME. She was a smooth operator, and I am now the wiser for it.
7. Read up on the various scams in the area. We experienced the bird poop scam firsthand. It was fascinating. On our first day in Quito, a young woman from Peru, helping the homeless, was chatting with us as we walked down the street. Suddenly, my brother felt something cold and wet from behind, and the woman indicated that a pigeon just pooped on him. He was focused on the back of my white sweater when I noticed his whole back was covered, literally, head to foot. This amount of poop would have taken a flock. It was fascinating how many people walking by just happened to be carrying rolls of toilet paper and jumped in to help clean us up. We were on to them, and their attempts to clean us out failed.
8. Do not take LifeStraw bottles. It leaks at high altitudes. We each bought reusable cups and giant water bottles and refilled them cheaply.
9. Speak better Spanish. I was able to get by but find myself forgetting words when my brain translates. I resolve to take lessons and go back with a better foundation.
10. When considering restaurants, first choose the ambiance. Most all restaurants offer the same menu, so ambiance and vibes became the priority.
11. Cash is king in Ecuador. You get much better prices when paying with cash and can barter more effectively.
Last but not least:
-Ecuador is on the US dollar system. It's so lovely to not have to convert money.
-This was one of the most inexpensive trips I've ever taken, living on less than $60.00/day for everything. The traditional almuerzo, also known as menu del día, is a fixed-price fixed-menu lunch served from around 12:30 p.m. till around 3 p.m. Traditionally, the almuerzo is the day's big meal. It runs $2.00 - 4:00. The portions are well-sized, and my bother and I often shared a plate.
-I cannot say enough about the flowers, fruits, vegetables, and chocolate. Fresh cut long-stemmed roses you can smell for miles run $2.00/dozen. The organic fruits, vegetables, and eggs are impressive, and the prices are nearly nothing. They take their chocolate seriously, and they do it right. You can eat healthy, fresh organic food for a couple of hundred dollars a month by buying from the small shops or the Mercado's. Items purchased at the grocery store are about the same prices as in the States.
Gracias.
LoLo's Favorite
Lodging:
-Quito: Adamas House Hotel / www.adamsashotel.com
-Cuenca: Flore Hotel Boutique / reservas@florehotelboutique.com
-Montanita: Hotel Kundalini / https://www.hotelkundalini.com
Shopping:
-Quito: Sombreros Lopez / www.sobreroslopez.com (Hats)
-Cotacochi: Uccuero / uccuero.shop (Instagram page) (Leather)
If you have traveled to Ecuador, please share what you would suggest for your next time or to others.
]]>Shea Butter because, when applied to the skin, it feels "sticky." The icky sticky lasts much longer than our quick-absorbing "oily" feeling bar.
Our original formula included almond oil. We removed it for environmental reasons, namely the amount of water it takes to create one almond, and out of respect for people with nut allergies.
My grandmother's original recipe contained Lanolin. In the '60s, it was a special order from the pharmacy, costly, and stank. Seventeen years ago, the supply chain was unreliable, the numbers just wouldn't pencil out, and I just couldn't take the smell. Cocoa butter offers almost identical benefits and smells divine.
Avocado is a miracle food, and this mask recipe is perfect for all types of skin. The avocado's high-fat content makes it perfect for softening the skin and creating a dewy look. It also moisturizes and nourishes deeply, so it can be applied morning or night to create smooth, glowing skin. Avocados are rich in natural oils and potassium, high in protein, and contain Vitamins A, B, D, E, and K.
In less than 5 minutes your skin will be silky soft and look years younger. Let's get started!
Epiphany: Giving
I'm a giver, always have been. Being a giver is a form of sharing - time, resources, and wisdom. For example, grabbing a shovel and lending a hand in the neighbor's garden, holding space for someone, throwing a surprise party, or paying for lunch.
When it comes to giving, there are two areas I need to learn: boundaries and appropriate giving. For instance, if giving is like sharing your toys and sweets, it could be detrimental to share a bag of candy or a loaf of fresh bread with someone who has diabetes. So after letting go of my always-sharing propensity, I started by splitting the bill at restaurants to teach myself boundaries. It may not necessarily be appropriate with close family members, but hey, gotta start someplace. It felt awkward initially, but now it's a piece of cake.
Epiphany: Full
Growing up in the '50s, I heard, "You need to eat everything on your plate; don't you know there are starving kids in China?" Consequently, my empty plate told me when eating was done, not any feeling of fullness from my stomach. I realized that while slowly eating, I would take a few deep breaths and stop eating for a while. I'd then start up again when the '50s tape began to play and clean that plate.
I had to let go of the tape; shredded that sucker. Then I had to release the guilt of leaving food on the plate. It took about three days. I spent quite a few months learning my body's hungry and full signals. I'm still working on it, but those deep breaths are a better cue of fullness; yawning and headaches are better hunger cues. Perhaps after 66 years of not listening to my stomach, it has decided to no longer speak to me directly.
Epiphany: Adventure
For two years, COVID put a clamp on my adventurous nature. Going to Costa Rica this past August made me realize how much my spirit and body benefit from curiosity and adventure. I see through the eyes of a child and become aware of the multiple layers of a moment. It's more being, less doing. I'm a different person, and I like her!
One can be just as curious and adventurous here and now as in far-off places. When I returned from Costa Rica, I let go of the notion that it had to be to some far-off place and recognize "being" is my happy place. I vowed to continue to travel backroads, seek out the historic and the modern, and experience the wild and wacky - no matter where I am in the world. My plans for the next few weekends are all unique, close to home, and extremely cheap. Later this year, on the cheap, France will find me on its backroads, and then I vagabond northern Morocco, wandering the medinas and spending a week in the desert with Bedouins - camel optional. What we don't know is what makes the world go round. And "being" makes it all possible.
New Mantra: Now Thyself. (not misspelled)
Does any of this resonate with you? Any epiphanies you'd like to share?
]]>If Paying it Forward is part of who you are, don't change. Times have changed, but the core of who you are doesn't need to. You just gotta shake things up.
1. When you enter a restaurant, hand the cashier a ($$ amount) and tell her to use it to pay for the next paying customer's bill. Whatever is left over can be split between the wait staff.
2. Drive-thru. When you pull up to the window, say, "The car behind me and I are together. I'm paying for both orders." If they look confused, say, "The car behind me is challenged by identifying George Washington's from Abraham Lincoln's. How much do I owe for both others?
3. Grocery Store: Walk the aisles. Pick someone at random and say, "Congratulations, you've just won a (fill in the blank for dollar amount) from (name of the store you're in). Happy Holidays. If you choose not to accept this, you're the elf and get to pass it on." Use either gift cards or cash.
Interestingly enough, the reactions you'll get could be any of these pictures. And likewise, when you start Paying It Forward, the reaction you'll have could also resemble any of these pictures.
Lastly, as my kids and I drove out of the parking lot all those years ago. We noticed two brothers on the side of the store—the older one holding the empty bag, the younger trying out his RMC. Both with grins from one ear to the other.
What's been your experience with Paying It Forward? What was it like for you to be on the receiving side?
]]>Some browsers, however, will not display it. All browsers should, but it's not happening. Try this:
Hack:
]]>
Remember Cabana Boy? That sexy scent that had you humming, "put de lime in de coconut"? Of late, everyone's been asking us about him.
We know Cabana Boy has matured. Word on the street is that he's a tycoon and bought a private island and built an upscale spa resort. Word on the open sea is that he purchased a chewing gum factory and is a pirate.
No matter. We're here to honor Cabana Boy's path by serving up a more mature elixir. You'll still be humming "lime and de coconut," but there's something more profound and richer about this scent.
We're looking for a new name, and offering a booty in exchange for the winning one. Get creative. If you're having difficulty, grab some Black Jack gum and imagine you own an island.
Entries must be received by midnight February 28, 2022. On March 1, 2022, one name will be selected from all names submitted. The first person suggesting the winning name will be considered the winner; all duplicates will be eliminated. The winner will be announced in the March 5 LoLo Communique edition. The booty for submitting the chosen name is a treasured $100.00 gift certificate to LoLo Body Care.
Leave your name suggestion in the comment section below.
]]>
Something to Think About...
Perhaps there is a scent on the list you haven't tried. While we encourage individuality, there is comfort in knowing what's popular. This is especially true if buying for someone else.
Background: I fell in love with this last May when I visited Arizona. It was growing in my neighbors yard. I was puzzled by its appearance as it first looked like a giant asparagus which morphed into a Douglas Fir - but it was growing out of the middle of (what I thought at the time) a cactus. It's an Agave bloom.
A recent wind storm bloom blew it over. My neighbor visits this area every few years and the landscaper has moved it from the driveway to the curb for trash pick up. I snagged it and brought it home. It was about 18 feet tall and after cutting it, I planted it in a pot with rock.
It is yet to be decorated. Check back after Thanksgiving to see the results.
]]>1. Knitted anything and everything from BFF's. Especially, hats, socks, socks, and more socks.
2. A collection of stories written by my grandmother in College in the 20's (complete with notations by the instructor). She loved creative writing and really wanted to be an author. Unfortunately, she was not supported by her husband or son and dropped out to stay home. She did however, become one of the original house flippers. I'll bet she used her creative writing skills to sell houses, restaurants, and hotels.
3. A string of Pearls my other grandmother wore (not the strand the Goose wears). My uncle brought them to her from Japan when he was stationed there in the 50's.
4. A small packet of Marigold seeds. A few years ago, a friend and I traveled to India, a land where Marigolds grow prolificity and smell heavenly. Seeds found their way back and were planted on her organic farm. I was gifted with fourth-generation seeds and memories in each bloom.
5. OK. I said four, but in all fairness there have been five. For my birthday a few years ago my brother drew a cartoon of me during different stages of my life. My brother, wildly creative, is not known for his drawing abilities (which made it all the more dearing). It was a HOOT and I deeply treasure it.
]]>We make constant demands on our lowest body parts and often give our feet absolute minimum care and maintenance. Yet, they take us everywhere we want to go.
Leonardo da Vinci, an artist and a first-class engineer, called them the finest piece of engineering. They are squeezed into shoes of odd shapes or left naked to take the brunt of harsh weather and terrain.
My feet have taken me around the world. Think about it. Where have your feet taken you? Whether it's pedal to the metal, off to another country, or enjoying sand and sea, feet should come first.
A friend of mine, who uses a wheelchair, takes exceptional care of her feet. She'll tell you it's because she looks at them quite a lot during the day and "they're just as important to me as yours's are to you."
Each day, swipe and go. It's really that easy. Doesn't matter if it's morning, noon, or night.
It's summer; feel confident that your feet look healthy and hydrated. Wear them proud, and may they take you everyplace you want to go.
O'For Feet Sake is available in two sizes (full and travel) and two refreshing scents.
#oforfeetsake #noexcuses #vacation #roadtripping #selfcare #swipeandgo #eachday
]]>Typically we write about going to an event. But, instead, we have some major news. We are moving!
Where are you moving
We are moving to Arizona. A little town named Green Valley, just south of Tucson.
Why are you moving?
During non-Covid years, we travel across the country exhibiting at various events. Arizona is a more central location to most of our regular events and makes logistical sense.
Besides being closer to events, are there any other benefits?
Yes! Shipping will cost less for a more significant portion of our customer base.
Will orders still arrive as promised?
Absolutely – once we are fully operational. We are shutting down for the first time! So while you can place an online order, we cannot commit to shipping within three days, from April 21 - May 5. It doesn't mean we won't ship; it just means we can't promise to ship within three days.
Will customer service change?
Our old-fashioned customer service is a core value. It remains stellar!
]]>The more division among people, the more they came together. The more we retreated into our homes, the more we reached out for connection. The more we cried from frustration, the more stranger's smile reduced us to puddles. It was like peeling layers of rotten onion and finding silver linings. It was - well, bipolar.
Knitters began using up their stash. Quilters began working on that gifts promised a few years ago. Potters made some pretty unique pieces, and according to statistics, we baked a lot of bread, enjoyed indoor date nights, and zoomed until the crows came home. As we waited for the vaccine, our medicine was creative endeavors.
LoLo made substantial progress towards sustainability in 2019 when we
In 2020 we:
Looking at 2021:
]]>
Lovs are convenient half-dollar sized containers filled with our world-class solid moisturizer that packs more punch than one would guess.
It offers both a sample of the scent as well as the feel of the solid moisturizer. Lovs are great for the skin. Use the following scents as lip moisurizer as well: Plain Jane, Orange Vanilla, Lemon, Pink Grapefruit.
At first glance, it's easy to assume it's not a completely sustainable product; after all, the packaging is plastic.
Not everything is as it appears; let's take a closer look at the Lov packaging.
Container
Yes, it's "plastic." It's the "cleanest" plastic we can find that checks all the boxes for size, price, and contents.
Label
The waterproof label used on all our Lov containers are made from recycled crushed construction rock and minerals, and no water was used! A plus is that they last twice as long as paper/plastic labels and are biodegradable.
Well-loved by customers, bought by the dozens, and shared with family and friends.
Bag
If you order multiple Lovs, they come packaged in a biodegradable, reusable, compostable glassine bag. You don't even need a compost pile, just bury it in your garden.
Lovs are ideal for:
After you've Lov'ingly used your Lov, the container is ideal to house:
Did you know that Lovs are the most labor-intensive product we make? Each is hand-poured into every liittle container, sterilized, and then labeled.
How to get to the goodies inside
Open the container at the wide tab. Pop it out of the container by pushing on the back-filled portion of the opened container. Or, once open, rub some on your finger for instant moisturizer.
Lovs, made with Love
]]>
"I'm obsessed with LoLo Bars. There's one in my purse, gym bag, next to the kitchen sink, knitting bag, two in the bathroom, and another next to my bed. There are so many that my husband swears they're multiplying like rabbits.
Here's my dilemma, I have run out of ways to use empty cans. It's time to kick the can(s), but I feel guilty when I even think about it.
Help!" *****-Amber J.
Is it Time to Kick the Can?
.............................
No! Don't kick the can! And no need for guilt feelings.
Just order a Refill Body or Refill To-Go Bar.
Bonus - our carbon footprint is lowered because you don't need to send those cans back.
The only thing to decide is if your refill bars will be in the same scents you've always bought, or a new scents you've always wanted to rock?
Sounds like you're doing a great job at repurposing your cans, Amber. It might be fun to learn that other customers have shared about their extra cans: buttons, earrings, spices, fishing hooks and worms, screws, bolts, stamp collection, dried flowers, tooth fairy booty, garden seeds, cotton ball fire starters, beads, stitch markers, (just a few).
People are also decorating their cans with sharpies, paper, glue, fabric, glitter (unlimited options), regifting them, tucking notes inside, using them for travel snacks, and storage for first aid items a backpacking trip.
]]>"I had terrible Body odor after one day. Not worth the money."
This person's pits began detoxing and chances are they were unaware this would happen. Here at LoLo Body Care, we're committed to doing a better job educating customers on the benefits and unexpected challenges you may experience when switching from a conventional product to a natural one.
Long term health issues from toxic and chemical-laden products are reported every day, and benefits from switching to plant-based, and natural ingredients make the detox worth it.
We've never heard anyone describe pit detox as fun though we've heard, "it wasn't that bad."
Detoxing may take a few days, a week, or up to a month or two. Yep. Read that again.
Side effects may include (and usually do) increased pit odor, colored discharge from your underarm glands, and rash. Every pit is unique, and how they choose to detox is not something you have control over.
What you do have control over is how you handle the side effects, and the good news is that once your body has detoxed, body odor typically decreases, and discharge and rash disappears.
The most challenging part is the detox itself (obviously), but once complete, what you have just done for yourself is priceless.
Get through the pitfalls of detox by creating a self-care plan:
"I have a busy job and barely have time for lunch, so don't have time to wash my underarms multiple times a day. I will have to continue what I'm using."
We get it, and it's totally understandable. When the time is right for you, please do consider switching. Your body, friends, and family will thank you in the long run.
TIP: Buy the travel size to make sure it works for you. If it doesn't, you're entitled to a refund.
]]>When Susan wrote that Vanilla Moon reminded her of her childhood on a cacao plantation in pre-Fidel Castro, Cuba, I was intrigued. What would that have been like?
Susan shared that she and her brother would spend days picking vanilla beans and spend their nights talking and planning about ways to increase their yield. Jobs were scarce, and though they were kids, they worked to help support their family.
Her story reminded me of the one day I'd spent in the summer picking raspberries. The "ride" would pick us up on some obscure corner where about 50 kids between the ages of 9-15 had gathered waiting for "the old school bus." Clutching my paper sack lunch, I got off the bus in a massive field of row after row raspberry bushes. It was hot, dusty, and pay was by the pound. Cream Puff was never my middle name, but I refused to go back; it was too hot and too hard. I forever bow to farmworkers; they have my utmost respect.
Even at a young age, Susan and her brother showed traits of innovation - intrinsic motivation, sacrifice, and compensation. My next meal didn't depend on how many pounds I picked, yet their next meal depended on their yield. But if I close my eyes, I can imagine Susan's pre-Fidel Castro childhood and how that cacao plantation must have smelled.
How are Vanilla Beans are grown and how they are harvested. Is picking Vanilla Beans like picking apples, or are they collected more like coffee? And why are they so expensive?
We have found that people either love Vanilla or dislike it. In our best selling scent, Vanilla Moon, we use Tahitian Vanilla. When our scent Sunshine was available, Madagascar Vanilla was used. It fascinated me that Vanillas' could smell so different. Why this should fascinate me, I don't know. After all, Lavender is the same way, some smell medicinal, others very floral, and I'm not fascinated by that.
Vanilla, while a staple in our lives, is usually taken for granted. It fills your nose with a sweet, deep rich aroma in baked goods while unnoticed in other store-bought items. Vanilla Sugar and pure vanilla extract in beautiful glass containers are decadent gifts and very much-appreciated even by the amateur baker. Vanilla is like a magic potion. Too much, and the recipe becomes unbalanced, too little, and the outcome is disappointing.
I was struck by the young Susan's innovative personality, her story leading me down a road I had not journeyed before.
Growing Vanilla Beans in the Pacific Northwest isn't feasible, and plans to move to the tropics are in my top 10. My desire to visit countries where Vanilla is grown is further cemented, although on hold thanks to COVID. And, I shall never throw away another Vanilla Bean.
Scents are such a powerful trigger to memory, and Vanilla Moon LoLo Bar has taken Susan down the road of her childhood.
]]>
While the focus is on COVID-19, I’ve noticed another pandemic running rampant - kindness.
Worldwide, first responders and medical personnel are displaying an abundant amount of kindness by taking care of the most vulnerable. Crafters and owners of 3-D printers are making masks and donating to those in need. Neighbors never having met face-to-face are having Zuma lessons on the front lawn. There are early morning yoga and meditation sessions on Zoom and late-night jam sessions on balconies. Caravans of teachers are doing drive-bys to wish students Happy Birthday. Painted rocks and chalkboard pavement messages of hope are showing up more and more along walking paths.
In the book, “Who Owns the Future,” author Tony Kearney writes, “The only way to have kindness is to give it away. The only way to have enough is to share. There is no college course or diploma in genuiness. There is no secret mine in Siberia where humility is quarried. There is no shortage of humanity, just a shortage of volunteers to process it.”
I may be working 14-16 hour days, but this spoke to my soul. I need to volunteer to process kindness. So I did, locally.
-Last weekend, I was in a Laundromat. Five of us were waiting for our spin cycles to end. I was thirsty, and when I got to the door, I shared I was going to grab a bottle of water, and could I get anything for anyone, “on me.” The silent faces looked up as if they’d just seen a baby born. While there were no requests for pop, chips, or candy, there were many “Thank you’s”.
At MOD Pizza, I initiated a “pay it forward” by buying the order for the car behind me. Forcing someone to be the messenger of good news is fascinating to watch. It was a double Whoot when the tip was generous enough to be shared.
I learned that Alexandra, The Art of Yarn, sent an enormous box of hand-dyed, handspun yarn, and snacks to a friend. Though Alexandra’s business model no longer exists, her friend is in a much more dire situation. She’s ill, alone, living in a remote area, was forced to close her small business, and is out of cash. Forget streaming video, it’s streaming tears and kindness.
Orders we received this week from Meredith, Joy, Robert, Anja, and Tennison included heartfelt messages: “I love you, Mom”, “I’ll bet you could really use this right now.” “Thanks for keeping us safe”.
Just as I was ready to write a closing to this post of kindness, I received this email. Synchronistic? Absolutely and I'm now called to volunteer to process kindness in a much different fashion and asking you to partner with us in this endeavor:
____________________________________________
“Dear LoLo:
My name is A. McG. And I am a nurse working on a COVID Unit at a hospital in Minnesota. Many nurses, including myself, are having issues with sore, itchy, burning, irritated rashed hands from cheap hand sanitizer and soap the hospital is supplying for us.
As you may be aware, when working in a hospital alone and then add working with positive COVID patients, we wash and sanitize our hands often.
Someone online raved about your hand cream and stated that it is all she uses as a healthcare professional.
My question is, would you be willing to donate a small batch that I could use and share with my other nursing friends who are just as I am with uncomfortable, burning, itching, red ad swollen hands.
Anything you could donate would be GREATLY appreciated. We have tried NUMEROUS other creams and soap to no avail.
My contact is:
A. McG., BSN, RN, PHN, CMSRN
Woodwinds Hospital
326 Gironde Ct
Woodbury MN 55125”
_____________________________________________
If you are called to this opportunity to volunteer to process kindness please take advantage of our Pay It Forward program (a program we’ve had for years) and direct your Pay It Forward to the RN above. If you spend $60.00 we'll send two To-Go Bars instead of one Body Bar. To-Go sizes fit so much better in pockets and aprons.
As much as we’d like to take this on ourselves, as a small business, in this economy, we have to spread the cost to share this kindness. It takes a village, and kindness is better when it’s shared.
If kindness isn’t a miracle drug, I don’t know what is. I only know that while the Kindness Pandemic is long overdue, the time is ripe and it's spreading.
xxoo
PS. I purchased the photo for this blog post from Pexels, a web-based stock photo company. After I purchased, I received this note:
Hi Lo Lo. Thank you so much for the donation! This investment will be very helpful. All the money I’m getting from donations at Pexels, I’m going over to a hospital here in the city to help treat people with COVID-19. Thank you very much.
]]>What a challenging time for all! of us! The Coronavirus and, in particular, COVID-19, has impacted everyone's daily life.
As the situation with the Coronavirus and COVID-19 continues to develop, here are things we want you to know:
LoLo Body is open for business, and we are confident that our small facility and practices are safe.
We are being extra vigilant with maintaining a sanitary environment in our facility and ensuring our small staff has what they need to stay healthy. In addition to sanitizing surfaces regularly throughout the day and encouraging good handwashing practices (a great practice all the time), our staff will continue to wear gloves while pulling and packing orders.
We have developed, though not yet implemented, Plan “B,” which includes staggering shifts and closing Will Call.
At the time of this email, we are shipping orders as usual (within three business days) and Will Call is available.
As you know, gatherings of more than 250 people are a no-no, so that means we won't be attending any events In March or April. We miss you already!
Should this change, we will send updates via email and posts on our website and social media.
We encourage you to buy local. Small businesses are being hit hard (especially if they don't sell TP!) Many are offering curbside pick-up and home delivery. Kudos to them!
We must all do our part to keep ourselves, our families, and our communities healthy, and are hopeful that this will pass quickly. We can only imagine that some of the benefits include greater compassion, better understanding, and much more kindness.
It takes a village!
- LoLo Body Staff
]]>Do I send my tin back? No. Let's reduce our combined carbon footprint. Just hold on to that tin.
What do you suggest I do to prepare for the refill's arrival? We recommend you thoroughly wash and DRY your tin before your new bar arrives. Your refill bar will be ready to slip into a clean container.
How is the refill bar packaged and shipped? Your bar will arrive sandwiched between two pieces of vellum and lovingly placed in a 100% biodegradable glassine bag and packaged in a box with post-consumer reusable fill. We use our standard USPS shipping company.
If my refill bar is in a new scent, will you send me a new label? Yes! It's important to easily identify which scent you're choosing for your day, activity, or mood. To help us get it right, please answer the questions when ordering.
Will refill bars be shipped year-round? We want to say that refills will not ship during the hottest months or to "hot" destinations for obvious reasons. Because our facility is almost freezing, some of the cold air get's sealed in the box. We've had great luck with shipping to hot areas because of this. But, it would not work if the box was left in a mailbox all day. We're going to test our assumption during the summer of 2020.
Can refills be purchased at events? Nope. Sorry. Not until we make our visions of packaging them in donut boxes stacked 50 high go away. What a nightmare! So, for now, refills can only be purchased online.
Do you give refunds on refills? No returns or refunds on refills. Sorry. So please take care when ordering a new scent. If you're unsure, order a Lov to sample first.
What if my refill bar arrives broken or smashed? We take great care in securing and packaging your refill bar, and it leaves our facility, perfectly round. It is our wish that it remains perfectly round when you receive it. We've shipped hundreds of these, and they have all arrived beautifully, perfectly, round. Murphy's law is that something, at some point, will happen. If the bar is smashed or broken, you have two options, but that depends on if you're a smasher or a popper. Once you determine this, please write to us about your options.
]]>Reduce is the best in the sustainable world. Simply put, it means if you don't need it, don't buy it until you really need it. Ask yourself, "is it enough, or is it more?" Spend your dollars on enough, and then enjoy more… freedom, family/friends, or the wild outdoors. Just so you know, we'd prefer that you don't purchase our products until you actually need them; they can be lovingly used, not tossed in the bottom of the bathroom drawer.
Reuse
Reuse is the next best thing in the sustainable world, as reusing is easy, convenient, and has the lowest carbon footprint. Reusing is generally better than recycling because it usually takes less energy than taking things apart and re-manufacturing them into products and packages. Currently, all our packaging is reusable, though a stretch for some. Reusing also means repurposing. We have great ideas on how to reuse or repurpose our containers, just ask us.
Spoiler alert! Starting January, 2020, we'll offer bar refills. Keep those tins!
Recycle
Recycling is next in line with sustainability. Recycling is better than trash tossing. Still, when you compare it to reducing and reusing, it requires the most steps because that waste has to be reformed into something new. We are exploring innovative recycling platforms like Terracycle/Loop. Stay tuned, we'll keep you in the loop.
]]>It doesn't take much reflection on the state of the growing world to feel frustration about diminishing natural resources and guilt about ever-growing environmental waste. We can't change the world by ourselves but we do have a responsibility to "do no harm" while making it simple for others to do their thing. We're all on this round planet together and together we can ensure that our combined footprint is a green one.
Our commitment to sustainability is very real; we are committed to continuing to clean up our act. We believe in conducting business using sustainable practices and products while still providing the best "hand-crafted moisturizers that come from the heart".
In 2019 we committed to reducing container waste by offering product bundles that reduce packaging waste, using labels designed with the only water-proof eco-material made of crushed rock, and packaging our soaps in 100% biodegradable glassine bags.
In 2020 we commit to lowering our carbon footprint which lowers our customers by offering a Sustainability Loyalty program, making bar-refills an online option, exploring recycling platforms such as Terracycle or Loop, seriously looking at innovative alternatives to plastic for our O'for Feet Sake, Twists, and Deodorants.
LoLo Body Care products are proudly earth-friendly, reusable, biodegradable, and recyclable.
]]>