Summer is supposed to be such a carefree season, filled with hopeful, sunny days filled with promise and romance — and yet, thus far, many of us (particularly those on the East Coast) have been subjected to near daily rain showers and abnormally cool temperatures (wearing sweatshirts and jackets in late June is just eerie!). Add to that the string of heart-wrenching deaths over the last month (Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson (whom I will forever mourn as a devoted, lifelong fan)) and the overall turmoil in the economy, not to mention the daily stresses of working and paying bills, and you have the makings of a pretty sour summer.
But before you go calling this summer a complete wash, remember that happiness lies within you and that it's oftentimes your frame of mind that determines the outcome of various situations and how you feel about them in the end. It may sound like a bunch of hocus pocus to you, but I do believe that positive energy magnetizes equally bright and positive people.
So the question becomes: how do you stay energized when amidst turmoil? How do you maintain an optimistic outlook when you're bogged down with preoccupations? Well, there are a few small ways in which you can alter your mindset. For instance, you can resort to aromatherapy solutions, such as the ones you'll find in Origins' Gloomaway collection. In July, Origins is reintroducing its popular, grapefruit-centered Gloomaway products: the Gloomaway Body Wash and Bubble Bath (a foaming cleanser scented with grapefruit, field mint and sweet orange), the Gloomaway Grapefruit Body-Buffing Cleanser (an exfoliating cleanser which includes crushed apricot seeds), the Gloomaway Grapefruit Body Souffle (a rich body butter made of olive, grape seed, rice bran and apricot kernel oils), and the Gloomaway Grapefruit Bath Bar (a 100% vegetable-based bar soap scented with grapefruit, field mint and sweet orange).
Origins is also adding two new items to the fray: the Gloomaway Body Mist, a light, zesty spray which features all-natural grapefruit, orange, tangerine, and field mint notes, and the Gloomaway Grapefruit Gumballs, which are meant to balance nerves and freshen breath through the combination of orange, grapefruit and mint flavors.
I'm going to focus on the two new goodies since I'm sure that's what most of you are interested in hearing about. If you're a skeptic, he Gloomaway Body Mist will definitely reaffirm your belief in aromatherapy. Spray some on and the sparkling citrus scent will instantly energize your senses (it's like a sip of coffee without the teeth-staining effects). The scent can be a bit overpowering at first, so go easy on the spray. Once the mist settles on the skin, however, the scent becomes way more subtle while still having that revitalizing effect. Now, is it going to make you run through the fields picking flowers while singing "Don't Worry, Be Happy"? No, not quite. But you will feel a little bit more pep, even if only a few hours — and I for one, think that's a worthy investment.
As for the gumballs, they make for a cute gift, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend picking them up over the existing gum products available. For one, I couldn't quite notice any change in my mood or my relaxation levels and, while the grapefruit flavor is pleasant (it's like chewy candy), the gum doesn't freshen your breath as effectively as, say, a Spearmint stick.
My advice: skip the gum but reach for the Grapefruit Gloomaway Body Mist. Who can't use a bit of sunshine?
Origins Gloomaway Grapefruit Body Mist, $25 for 4 fl. oz.; Gloomaway Grapefruit Gumballs, $5 for 20 gumballs. Available in July at Origins stores and Origins.com
