WOW – 2014 is here! I hope you all had a wonderful, fun and safe holiday season. I want to thank you all so much for being part of the Raspberry Moon Family. I would not be able to do what I love if I didn’t have all of you. So thank you from the bottom of my heart. Here’s to wishing us a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
REMINDER – If you purchased a gift certificate for someone during the holidays and received a pink envelope be sure to book an appointment for yourself in January. We will open your envelope together at your appointment to see what you have won!
If you purchased a coupon book to help support Abby’s Animal Angels, your coupon this month is a complimentary Lip and Eye Treatment with the purchase of any facial. So be sure to book your appointment today so you don’t miss out! If you haven’t purchased your coupon book for $20, I have a few left, but that is it. Just the treatments in January alone pay for the booklet and you help support a fabulous local charity.
A Year of Holidays
This year’s newsletter theme is going to be fun and different. Every month we will take a journey through the world and celebrate a different holiday.
Although we have almost all of the ideas in place for the holidays, if you have an interesting holiday that you have experienced or want to know more about, let me know and we will try to fit it in somewhere.
This month’s adventure is courtesy of China. I love Chinese New Year and hope one day to experience it in China for myself. The Year of the Wooden Horse starts January 31, 2014. I put a Chinese New Year Tree up this year. I think it came out really nice.
Chinese New Year Specials
Starting Friday, January 31st, we will be running 12 days of specials — 1 for each of the 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals. The specials will only be available for purchase that day. You’ll receive an email at the beginning of the sale detailing what all the specials are going to be. Each day I will post on Facebook as a reminder of that day’s special. So keep your eyes open!
Lucky Chinese Traditions
Here are 5 important things to do to have the best of luck in 2014:
- House Cleaning before New Year. Be sure that everything is swept and clean before New Year’s Day. You want to clean away all the bad luck from the year before and start fresh. All cleaning equipment like brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and others should be put away.
- Use of Firecrackers. Bursting firecrackers on New Year’s Eve is a way to clear out the old year and welcome in the new one. It is also believed that there was a half-dragon, half-lion monster called “Nian”. The creature would come down from the mountains and scare humans every year. Humans learned that the monster hated loud noises, so they of course increased their noise level.
- No Black, Wear Red. According to Chinese tradition, black is related to death and bad luck, so they avoid wearing black clothes on the first day of the year. Be sure to deck yourself out in your best Red attire. Children will receive red paper envelopes with cash and who doesn’t like that? Red paper-cutouts are a fabulous way to decorate and bring good luck and lots of happiness to the family.
- No Crying. It is believed that if you cry on New Year’s Day you will cry throughout the year.
- No Cutting. Chinese believe that nothing should be cut on the New Year as it will reflect on one’s life and fortune.
Chinese New Year is about spending time to be with and honor your family and friends. Here are six foods that you should try to eat to bring good luck and abundance your way. These are easily available in most Asian Markets. There are several here in Greenville, I’ve been in the one on Haywood near the old TJ Maxx and then the one right down from the shop. Their produce/grocery store is in the basement. Both places have all sorts of cool items. You should go check them out.
- Tangerines and Oranges. Displaying and eating these fruits is said to bring wealth and luck. The word for gold sounds very similar to orange and tangerine sounds like luck. Both of these fruits are a must and if they have leaves on that is even better. This symbolizes longevity. Always be sure to have more or less than 4 together. Four is associated with death so good idea to avoid that.
- Long Noodles. This signifies long life. Eat away!
- Long Leafy Greens and Long Beans. Gong writes that leafy greens, such as Chinese broccoli, are “served whole to wish a long life for parents.”
- Whole Fish. The Chinese word for fish sounds like the word for abundance. You have to serve it with the head and tail intact so you will have good luck from beginning to end
- Sweets. Serving desserts brings a sweet life in the New Year. I am down with that!
- Steam Dumplings made with pork and cabbage. They are boiled and served with vinegar and soy sauce. These are thought to be good luck because they are shaped like a piece of Chinese currency.
Taken from http://www.chow.com/food-news/54874/10-good-luck-foods-for-chinese-new-year
In honor of Chinese New Year, 25% off Vitamin C Serum & Topical C Moisturizer
Since tangerines and oranges are good luck, how about some lucky skincare? Lol.
20% Vitamin C Serum with CoQ10 and Ferulic Acid
This serum utilizes the most active forms of the powerful combination of vitamins C, E, and CoQ10. This powerhouse of anti-oxidants are well known to help fight the environmental stress that your skin is subjected to, all day, every day. Neutralizes free radical damage and protects against oxidative stress – the factors that lead to premature aging, loss of elasticity, and hyperpigmentation. For all skin types.
How to Use:
Apply a small amount to clean skin once or twice daily. Use morning and night followed by the appropriate skin care products to achieve optimum results.
Ingredients:
Aloe barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Propanediol* (Vegetable), Camellia sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract*, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C Ester), Camellia sinensis (Darjeeling Black Tea) Leaf Extract*, Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) Extract*, Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos / Red Bush) Leaf Extract*, Camellia sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract*, Hyaluronic Acid, Limnanthes alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil*, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Squalane (Olive)*, Phospholipid, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Gluconolactone, Ferulic Acid, Aveena sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract*, Mixed Tocopherols* (Vitamin E), Argania spinosa (Argan) Nut Oil*, Allantoin, Xanthamonas campestris (Xanthan) Gum, Sodium Benzoate.
Regularly $50 for 1 oz pump, in January only $37.50
Topical C AntiOxidant Perfecting Cream
For Dry/Mature Skin. One of the modern wonders of skincare is from oranges! Vitamin C Actives are one of the best ingredients that we can use for anit-aging and anti-oxidant protection. The added benefit is our delivery enhancement. We created a much smaller Vitamin C molecule which can penetrate the top, dead, layer of skin and deliver the active to the tissues where you can gain the benefits of the vitamin C. Our moisturizer even helps reduce the signs of aging and sun damage.
Includes:
- Vitamin C: especially useful in anti-wrinkle and skin lightening formula, promotes collagen synthesis.
- Shea Butter: (Butyrosperum Parkii) helps protects the skin from dehydration and other climatic influences; restores skin suppleness, increases moisturization, improves elasticity retention, assists cellular regeneration, and can improve the appearance of dry, irritated skin.
- Orange Oil: One of the best acne remedies. It may also have applications as a topical anti-fungal agent.
How to Use:
After cleansing and toning, apply a small amount to face and neck and massage in gently. If using a serum, apply serum first, let skin dry, then apply moisturizer.
Ingredients:
Water/Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Leaf) Gel*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado Seed) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba Seed) Oil*, Vittis Vinefera (Grape Seed) Oil*, Vegetable Glycerine*, Phospholipids, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Capric/Capryllic Triglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii* (Shea Butter), Stearic Acid (Vegan)*, Glyceryl MonoStearate*, Cyclomethicone (Silica), Tocopheryl (Vitamin E), Cetyl Alcohol, Essential Oils* of Orange, Tangerine and Lime.
Regularly $63.00 for 2 oz jar, in January only $47.25
Need a Sunday appointment? Slots are filling quickly!
Did you purchase a gift certificate for yourself or receive a gift certificate for the holidays? Be sure to book your appointment and please be sure to tell me that you are using a gift certificate so I can be sure I have booked out enough time. Some of the certificates are for more than just an hour.
My Sunday appointments this month and next are January 19, February 9, and February 23, as well as Monday, January 20 – MLK Day.
I will be in Florida celebrating my birthday from Thursday, January 23 – Sunday, January 26th. Can’t promise I will be checking messages until I return! :)