simplyneutral

This is a tough one to write. In fact, in my 21 years of copywriting, it’s hands-down the hardest thing I’ve ever written. (And, trust me, I’ve written about some awful and boring stuff throughout my career.) But, this time it’s personal.

After months of deliberating and meditating and crunching a lot of pretty tough numbers, Maggie and I have decided to pack up our simplyneutral sign and close up shop in early December.

The decision hasn’t been easy. We liken it to bundling up a precious four-year-old (the one we’ve cared for since birth; working long hours and weekends in the magical hope that someday it would make a real and lasting difference in the world) then patting it gently on the bum and leaving it alone at the bus station with a one-way ticket to It’s-Been-Nice-To-Know-Ya-Ville in its chubby little hand. It’s heartbreaking.

But, even our lowest points have a purpose. It’s the yin and yang of life. As we wait to find out what the universe has in store for us next, there’s already a silver lining in the clouds. Now through November 27^th we’re having one last hurrah just for you. We’re offering a Saying Goodbye Sale with everything marked 30-50% off! (While supplies last.)

This is your chance to stock up one last time. And, get some really practical gifts for the holidays. Keep in mind that our cleaners have a shelf life of over a year. Our concentrates should keep even longer. (I’m still using some of our earliest concoctions and my dirt doesn’t stand a chance.)

And, one more last call! If you live near St Cloud or the Minneapolis metro area, this is your last chance to schedule a home party. It’s the perfect time to do it before the holidays. Besides getting in on these great sales prices, you’ll be giving your guests some great information on how to reduce the toxins in every room of their homes. We also give away fun prizes and offer special packs you can’t find on our website.

Four years ago, Maggie and I wanted to create a new breed of natural cleaning products. One that truly kicked butt on household dirt using the most non-toxic, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic ingredients we could find.

When we shut our doors in December, we’ll do it knowing we succeeded. And, not because we say so, but because you’ve said so. We’ve loved hearing from all of you! Your emails, phone calls, letters, cards, and posts on our facebook wall have truly made it all worthwhile.

And, we’d still love to hear from you! We’re planning to keep our simplyneutral facebook page up for a while yet. So, please drop in if you have time and let us know how our cleaners helped you tackle life’s tough dirt. Your support and feedback mean the world to us.

We’ll check in again before we turn out the lights. In the meantime, get shopping one last time! And, if you live in the area, we’d love to do a home party with you! Email us at info@simplyneutral.com.

We’re all in this together,

Sara

I never want to hear another John Denver song. Ever. This is what can happen when you’re trapped in a car for 10 days with John Denver lovers while traveling through the rocky mountains. My son gets car sick, so I was stuck in the back seat. Hence, I had no control over the radio. My only saving grace was that I was wowed by the beautiful scenery of my favorite place:  Glacier National Park.

My husband, Steve, and I chose Glacier as our children’s first road trip for two reasons. First, it’s one of our favorite places. Second, we carelessly joked that they needed to visit the park before all of the Glaciers were gone. Little did we know how true that is.

My last visit to Glacier was on my honeymoon, 12 years ago. Glacier has changed a lot since then. Just as I have.

Twelve years ago, I wasn’t as committed to my health and the environment. That was before I had a health scare and developed multiple chemical sensitivities. After that, everything changed. Turns out, Glacier is going through its own health scare.

The glaciers in the park are around 7,000 years old. One hundred years ago, there were 150 glaciers there. Today there are only 25. Seriously—25! Scientists believe the park will be glacier-free in the next 7-15 years. The environmental effects of this change will be dramatic—starting with the water supply in the park, which will affect the entire ecosystem.

Here are two lessons I learned from visiting Glacier National Park.

The first is that the beauty of the park is both affordable and priceless. A seven-day vehicle pass is only $25. I don’t know anywhere else—other than our national park system—where a family of four could find seven days of entertainment for only $25. You couldn’t visit any man-made amusement park that cheap. And, even if you could, it wouldn’t match the incredible places we saw. Only Mother Nature could create something as breathtaking as this. These are memories my family will have the rest of our lives.

The second lesson I learned was realizing, again, how precious and similar human and environmental health are. Sometimes we don’t realize it until they’re taken away. I didn’t know how bad I was damaging my body using products with toxic chemicals until my immune system took my resistance to them away. It was only afterwards that I realized how negligent I’d been, and how precious human health is.

Glacier’s going through a similar crisis. Some day it will be glacier-free. And, all the collective human regret in the world won’t bring it back to the way it was.

Starting simplyneutral was one small way I could help promote human and environmental health. I’m not so naïve to think that it will bring back glaciers. But, it’s one small thing. Combined with someone else’s one small thing…and someone else’s one small thing…and so on…we can make a big difference. And, believe me, you and this gorgeous planet of ours are worth it!

We’re all in this together,

Maggie

Noah and Paige at Avalanche Lake

Paige making rock art

Paige on cliff hike