Hello! And welcome to all our new subscribers. Hope your transition into the new year has been a good one so far. I had the pleasure of taking a week off in mid-January for what is fast-becoming my favorite annual vacation get away: Jam Cruise. This is a cruise like no other. It's designed for the ultimate music lover (aka "me"). Imagine a music festival on a boat that combines the best of New Orleans funk with the best of what might best be described as the Hippie Jam Band scene, with a little touch of Burning Man (heavy emphasis on costumes with extra points for sparkly clothes!). Then you start to get an idea.

There's live music on 4 different stages throughout the boat for 12-14 hours a day! Some of this year's honorable guests included Bruce Hornsby, and John Oates (of Hall & Oates). And of course we got to log a little beach time in Labadee, Haiti, and Falmouth, Jamaica.

I have to say that after going on this particular cruise I find it hard to imagine ever going on a regular cruise! Of course, it does require a fair amount of stamina to keep up. Speaking of stamina ... did you start this year resolving to lose weight and get healthier? If you did then you're probably in good company. This week's article takes a look at one of the key reasons some people's weight loss attempts never seem to get off the ground. Hope you find it valuable. And don't forget to take advantage of our limited time Valentine's special (see details below).

Yours in health and prosperity,

Donya

VALENTINE'S SPECIAL: Take 25% Off Your Purchase Of $40 or more

Are You Addicted to Sugar? The #1 Hidden Health Threat that Also Hinders Weight Loss

It's a new year and every new year brings with it "New Year's resolutions" designed to help us improve our lives in some way --either by ditching a bad habit or acquiring some new good habits. By far, the most common New Year's resolutions have something to do with losing weight or getting into shape. And somehow, no matter how well intentioned these resolutions are, for many of us, our weight loss efforts never seem to really get off the ground.

If losing weight and getting into shape were that simple we all would have accomplished it by now! The truth is, there are many factors that contribute to weight gain, and consequently our ability to successfully manage our weight. While most of us are focused on how to lose weight we may be ignoring an even more insidious health threat that coincidentally, also hinders our ability to diet successfully.

Whether you follow the weight loss advice of health gurus like Dr. Oz or Dr. Mercola, or if you keep up with the latest findings on weight loss, one thing is becoming very clear: managing your body's insulin response is the key to not just weight loss but to ultimate health. Read full article here.

Dropwise Essentials is a San Francisco-based manufacturer of pure aromatherapy and organic plant-based personal care products that give people a safe and effective way to relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or manage their emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. Our products are:

• Free of synthetic chemicals and petroleum ingredients
• Made with high quality certified organic oils and pure essential oils sourced from around the world
• Packaged in re-usable or recyclable materials
• Hand-made locally in northern California

Dropwise Essentials was founded by Donya Fahmy, a writer, producer, and consultant whose avid interest in the curative powers of aromatherapy and herbs ultimately led her to design and create the seven products and seventeen unique essential oil blends that make up the current Dropwise product line. She has studied aromatherapy with Carol Schiller - a successful author of several aromatherapy books - and with Dr. Daniel Penoel - a renowned expert in the field of medical aromatherapy.

Dropwise Essentials is a proud member of the Indie Beauty Network (formerly the Handmade Beauty Network), the Green America Business Network (formerly Co-op America), Green Product Alliance, Natural Ingredient Resource Center, and a Friend of PETA. We were among the first companies to join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics by signing their Compact for Safe Cosmetics - which simply formalizes our existing commitment to formulate products free of known or potentially toxic ingredients.