So I must admit I was initially a little weary about telling my story or at least the one that lead me to this moment. I am not sure if it is fear or my ingrained sense of privacy that has kept me from sharing. Again, the little voice inside me says that I need to stop listening to my head and listen to my heart and so the floodgates have now been opened.

The Botanical Collection was really born out of a realization that we all need to go back to basics. We need to stop putting so many chemicals on our bodies and in our bodies. I truly believe it the environment that is creating so many health issues. When I say environment, I’m not only talking about carbon emissions, but things as basic as the soap we use on our skin. Let’s face it the skin is the largest organ in our body and we put more chemicals and toxins on it then we want to admit…and don’t even get me started on whether we look at the expiration dates of our lotions and potions. It’s so interesting, prior to this renewal of spirit, I would easily have used my body lotion until it was empty and not even given a thought of when it went bad…yet you couldn’t pay me to eat a 12 month old tomato, sprayed with carcinogens. However, there is absolutely no difference in the two examples other then we all are guilty of the first. But I digress.

As I have said I started The Botanical Baby as an ancillary business to Growing Green Farm (a local starter vegetable and herb nursery). My sister was expecting her first child and the thought of her using Baby Powder with talc (a known toxin) was too much for me to bear. So I created all natural, 100% organic baby body products for my soon to be nephew. Wow what a great idea everyone said, you should market it separately. Of course my inner voice said gee that would be fun, but could it be successful? No matter how many people believed I could do it, I had to believe in myself.

Then a little divine intervention…OK a kick in the head would be more like it.

I had been having some headaches, my peripheral vision was starting to be effected on my left side, I was told at 37 I was in menopause, and I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in July. (To be honest, I didn’t mind the third point. I have two beautiful children and consider myself blessed.) My internist, a brilliant doctor, thought we should just do a quick MRI to make sure there was nothing going on, it just seemed like too much in such a short period of time.

On November 4, 2008 I had an MRI. The results came back and my internist was correct - I had a brain tumor. There was my kick in the head! Five expert tumor centers in four different states later and we are still unsure what it exactly is. The one constant is that it needs to be removed – via craniotomy. I am obviously over simplifying this for the purpose of the blog and to get you all up to date quickly. Many dark days and nights have passed over the last 4 months – but many great lights have shined as well. I am sure now more than ever what we put in and on our bodies, what we clean and fragrance our homes and how we recycle these produce with has so much to do with the decline in health these days. Autism, cancer, ADD, ADHD, learning disabilities, tumors, asthma – you name it the statistics are there. The question is what we are doing to change things.

So readers …that is where the inspiration and the drive to create a national outlet and platform for The Botanical Collection was born. The only thing I can do is share my story and my passion. It’s up to everyone else to join in on the cause.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of having a beautiful lunch with a new old friend. It’s amazing what can come out of a few hours of heartfelt dialogue. I say “new old” because while I only know this friend for about a year and a half it is as if we have known each other for years. Perhaps it’s because we are both old souls whose paths crossed once before.

My friend gave me expert advice on my new product line and how to market it, after all he is a guru in this field; but it was the less tangible advice that meant the most. The confidence he has in me and my abilities, the go after your dreams, now is your time and perhaps most inspiring – I believe in you and will be there to help that left me with a jolt of energy that kept me up working most of the night.

So friends once again I am back at the drawing board reinventing my website with a clear direction – Upwards. Sky’s the limit as they say. Colors, pictures, flash, video, stories, and press releases – we are talking WOW factor. When will all of this be released…hard to say but I’m looking at the end of next month. Maybe March 20^th would be appropriate. Yes, I rather like that goal. The first day of spring, the day associated with flowers, green, warm weather and rebirth.

So as I end this post to work on the business branding, I once again thank my friend. For I know you will be reading this blog soon and I need to let you know how much you and yesterday mean to me. Thank you for walking into my life when I needed a friend, real friends the most.

I’ve recently been doing a lot of research for my companies - how to market them, how to promote, package design, etc. One of the thoughts that came to me in the wee hours of the morning was that I don’t really explain why I have these companies, what my personal goals are, or anything about me – it’s all business. Then I began thinking about my blogs and that they are only used to let people know what is happening in the company. So much of what I do is an extension of me and my mission to make a difference and so this blog was born.

Another thought had occurred to me – let's up the ante. If I write it and put it into cyberspace then I am bound by my sense of integrity to get it done. After all if it is written, it will be done or so the saying goes. In other words – no more procrastinating, no more finding ways to excuse myself or hide behind my lack of self confidence. I am putting it all out there.

What is important for my readers (and hopefully there will be a few out there) to know is that I am a type A business person at heart. I am a CPA, having a wide range of business knowledge for start ups and that I love to see others succeed. Now I mention that point because up until now my career track has always been about others – not me. Well the goal of starting my companies is all about me and you, too. It is to create work-life balance, after all I have two young kids; feel that I am creating a space for good things to happen for others; do something positive for the environment; leave a legacy - a real legacy that my children and their children can be proud of….and most of all feel and be independent again. For me independence is a core value, a sense of being and so the name of this blog is dedicated to getting back to that state of mind…Indie Lee!