Our newest Stick Of The Week! is Candace Smith-Lamour. Candace is in the NOW as founder and creator of Ooh La La Lamour, 100% Natural and Organic Artisan Botanical Skin Care products that are designed to “Feed Your Skin” and nurture your well being.
Candace Smith-Lamour Candace originally grew up in a small farming community within the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. She now resides in New Jersey with her family. Candace is a mother, a wife and a lover of anything vintage and beautiful.
"I feel even the most simple things can be extra special. I guess that explains me. Creative yet Simple."
"I feel even the most simple things can be extra special. I guess that explains me. Creative yet Simple."
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On the Wall).
I am a SAHM and Crazed Bath, Body & Skincare addict. In 2007, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and then Graves’ Disease. From that time on, I turned to a more Holistic approach to eating as well as using Natural & Organic Skin Care (knowing that skin is our biggest organ and 60% of what we apply to ourselves absorbs directly into our blood stream and body). Also, realizing that it was extremely impossible to find 100% Natural & Organic products that did not contain a synthetic preservative or fragrance, I started making them for myself and family. Then it spread to gift giving for holidays and teacher gifts, to "Wow! You should be selling this to the public." So here I am making Pure, Natural and Organic Hand Crafted products that will truly benefit your skin, health and well being.
 Pure Body Creme |  Coconut Sugar |
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why?
Ooh La La Lamour at William Sonoma Stores I think I am at a rapid boil….within two years time, I have gone from vending at local Farmers Markets to Williams Sonoma Markets. In the past year, we have attended Juried Large Craft & Artist Fairs, we are featured in the New Jersey “Just Jersey” Catalog which is an amazing alternative to fundraising for schools and organizations to support local artists and small businesses. We also have some more upscale markets and online web stores in the works. Also, we wholesale to spas, health food stores & yoga studios on the east coast. I do workshops and lectures on aromatherapy and simple green home products as well.
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
It’s called “Balance." Yes, that is a hard word, but when you have a deep passion and a true calling for something, you will make it work. My children have been with me through tougher times and we are all stronger because of it. From having to crawl under folding tables in the middle of a 90 degree saturday farmers market, to coloring on hot blacktop roads while Mom peddles Body Crème and Soaps. We've rushed to flag football games and I've worked on my laptop from the back of my minivan during practices. If you have the will that just won’t quit, you know it must be your calling!!!!
It’s called “Balance." Yes, that is a hard word, but when you have a deep passion and a true calling for something, you will make it work. My children have been with me through tougher times and we are all stronger because of it. From having to crawl under folding tables in the middle of a 90 degree saturday farmers market, to coloring on hot blacktop roads while Mom peddles Body Crème and Soaps. We've rushed to flag football games and I've worked on my laptop from the back of my minivan during practices. If you have the will that just won’t quit, you know it must be your calling!!!!
Candace's kids
What motivated you to throw your noodle?
Well again, the fact that I really wanted to know that I was using fresh products that were 100% good for me. That not only were really moisturizing and nourishing my skin, but also had essential oils and herbs to give extra aromatherapy & holistic benefits which are great for stress, headaches, cold and flu etc. etc. I know what goes into each recipe, and testing them on myself and getting feedback from other Moms and customers has been a great tool in what people need, want and desire to use on themselves as well their children.
Well again, the fact that I really wanted to know that I was using fresh products that were 100% good for me. That not only were really moisturizing and nourishing my skin, but also had essential oils and herbs to give extra aromatherapy & holistic benefits which are great for stress, headaches, cold and flu etc. etc. I know what goes into each recipe, and testing them on myself and getting feedback from other Moms and customers has been a great tool in what people need, want and desire to use on themselves as well their children.
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
I absolutely LOVE being in Nature. It is very therapeutic to weed in my flower garden and to take walks in the woods. Since I was a little girl growing up on a farm in Upstate NY, I would spend hours walking in the fields, picking berries & wild flowers. When I am out of whack and stressed, I will sometimes take road trips to just clear my head and get back in touch with myself and nature. There is nothing like fresh rosemary and roses. And believe it or not, one of my favorite flowers is the dandelion. Most people think of it as just a weed, but every inch of that “weed’ has healing properties full of vitamins and minerals.
Each summer as a family, we go camping for a week in the Catskills. No cell service, TV, computers…nothing but us and nature. The kids don’t know what to do with themselves at first, but after a day of fishing and a good hike, we don’t want to leave. It brings us back to who we really are and how to reconnect with each other. We pick Burdock, Milkweed, Juniper, Horsetail and more to use in our products. It’s like a treasure hunt.
I absolutely LOVE being in Nature. It is very therapeutic to weed in my flower garden and to take walks in the woods. Since I was a little girl growing up on a farm in Upstate NY, I would spend hours walking in the fields, picking berries & wild flowers. When I am out of whack and stressed, I will sometimes take road trips to just clear my head and get back in touch with myself and nature. There is nothing like fresh rosemary and roses. And believe it or not, one of my favorite flowers is the dandelion. Most people think of it as just a weed, but every inch of that “weed’ has healing properties full of vitamins and minerals.
Each summer as a family, we go camping for a week in the Catskills. No cell service, TV, computers…nothing but us and nature. The kids don’t know what to do with themselves at first, but after a day of fishing and a good hike, we don’t want to leave. It brings us back to who we really are and how to reconnect with each other. We pick Burdock, Milkweed, Juniper, Horsetail and more to use in our products. It’s like a treasure hunt.
 Honey Face Line |  Facial Wash and Serum |
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
Juggling Mamahood? What? Yes it is a constant circus. Some days it’s fun and all cotton candy, but other days I am walking the tight rope. That is what life is all about though. I think about what will I be doing when the kids are grown and out of the house. Yes, I will have more time to concentrate on me and my business, but I will never have this precious time back with them. So I have to remember to pace myself. Some days I’m so pumped up to be that go getter that I am. I have so many ideas and plans on how to market and grow my company. Then, I have to take a step back and focus on the fact that my children are 9 and 7 and I still need to be Mommy first. When they get sick, that’s when I really have a reality check. I have to stop and drop everything. So it’s nice to be the founder and creator of Ooh La La Lamour, because sometimes I just have to hang that "closed" sign in the window and say enough for today.
Juggling Mamahood? What? Yes it is a constant circus. Some days it’s fun and all cotton candy, but other days I am walking the tight rope. That is what life is all about though. I think about what will I be doing when the kids are grown and out of the house. Yes, I will have more time to concentrate on me and my business, but I will never have this precious time back with them. So I have to remember to pace myself. Some days I’m so pumped up to be that go getter that I am. I have so many ideas and plans on how to market and grow my company. Then, I have to take a step back and focus on the fact that my children are 9 and 7 and I still need to be Mommy first. When they get sick, that’s when I really have a reality check. I have to stop and drop everything. So it’s nice to be the founder and creator of Ooh La La Lamour, because sometimes I just have to hang that "closed" sign in the window and say enough for today.
 Artisan Vegan Soaps with Herbs & Berries |  Men's Essentials  All Natural Bug Deterrent Balm & Spray without Deet |
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
Ultimate Pasta dish? That’s a hard one. I love anything that smells YUM.........including spicy patchouli to fruity pink grapefruit. Blending essential oils and infusing fresh herbs and berries into exotic butters and oils. I have a culinary background, so whipping up skin care products to “Feed your skin," as well as your mood using food grade ingredients is my forte. I make a Morning Maple Coffee & Sugar Body Treatment that a few people have actually told me that they “had to taste." It smells so yummy in the AM when you are stepping into the hot shower. Everything we make is again, 100% Natural & Organic, so yes it is edible. We do not tell people to eat our products, but they are safe for you and your children if that were to occur or you just couldn’t help yourself to take a small nibble out of the side of one of our soaps or our Sweet Lip Sugar made with Raw Honey & Beeswax.
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