MEET OUR NEW WRITERS in 2009!

Christina Spiwak comes to us from Memphis, Tennessee. She is an experienced herbalist with nearly eight years of practice utilizing herbs for medicinally, in daily life, and for religious purposes. Despite the demands of working as a bookkeeper for a non-profit, studying for her degree in business management, and sharing her home with her boyfriend of six years, Gary, and their four cats, Christina still finds the time to write! She is currently immersed in learning about the powerful healing properties of essential oils, and will spend the upcoming months taking us all along on her journey. Stay tuned for her thoughts on the world of oils, how they compare to herbs, and the affects of this new way of life. Christina’s first article is found in the March issue of Fusion; for more about her, please visit her blog at musingindigo.blogspot.com.

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Jennifer Jo Thomas also resides in Memphis. Like most women, she wears a lot of hats – she is called Mother, Wife, Daughter, Friend, Professional Businesswoman, and Student, among other titles! Jennifer has spent the majority of her life caring for others, and began her journey with essential oils as a way to learn how to take better
care of herself. She has always wanted to work with them, and now considers oils an integral part of her work to become a “fully functioning six-sensory being.” Jennifer shares her home with her husband, Jimmy; son, Cameron; her mother; two dogs, and four cats. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, cooking, traveling, riding motorcycles, ghost hunting, and continuing to learn about natural healing modalities.
Hear from “Willie B.,” Jennifer’s new puppy and resident animal care authority, in the March issue of Fusion.

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Michelle Bell - Michelle founded Cleaning by Michelle, a Memphis-based cleaning company, in 2006. Michelle is a green cleaning specialist, and soon hopes to make her natural remedies available through her website, www.cleaningbymichelle.com. She works extensively with essential oils, and will share tips and tricks with us every month here at Fusion in a regular column called “Cleaning House with Michelle Bell.” Michelle currently resides in the Memphis area with her husband, Terry, two children, two dogs, and two cats.

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Jason Bowers — click here to learn more about Jason - In addition to his role as the co-founder of Creative Warrior and accomplished photographer (he is the talent behind many of the photos seen here and at www.janbowers.com), Jason is an accomplished strength and weight loss coach. He maintains certifications as a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Consultant, with an emphasis on special needs and specialized populations. He will discuss the role of exercise and diet as important foundations of health regularly in the upcoming months, beginning in February with an exploration of the different forms of yoga. Jason shares his life with his wife, Jan, their two dogs and two cats.

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Sandy Smith - Sandy comes from a long line of natural gardeners and cooks. She is extremely experienced in herbology, growing herbs and vegetables, preservation techniques, and the making of salsas, jellies, sauces, and more. She is also knowledgeable about cooking with herbs, essential oils, and natural ingredients like blue agave. Much of what she teaches was passed down to her by her grandmother. Today, Sandy remains committed to incorporating Native American beliefs into her healing pursuits. She currently lives outside of Chicago with Lade, a husky mix, and has 3 sons. To relax, she also enjoys crafts, embroidery, and crocheting. Sally will begin sharing her wisdom in February 2009, when she teaches us how to prepare our gardens for the upcoming season.