By Joseph L. Campos Jr.
The Sugar Plum Festival showcased a special new kind of event this past weekend titled, “Remnants.” The show featured a lot of goods from America’s golden years, and classic treasures that took folks back in time to their glory days, whether they grew up in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s or ‘90s. The main focus of this season’s event was “retro chic, industrial and steampunk.” The Sugar Plum Festival again was hosted in our beloved Buena Park Mall in the lower basement level, and it attracted a huge turnout from many excited Southern California residents.
Great food, music, clothing and company headlined the event, as old friends caught up, and new friends were being introduced. There were a lot of hot ticket items at the Sugar Plum Festival with classic books, jewelry, custom made hats and t-shirts, and perfumes. This particular Sugar Plum Festival also displayed many valuable throwback sports items and memorabilia. There were different types of Los Angeles Angels authentic jerseys, Anaheim Ducks hats, Alabama Crimson Tide gear and all sort of other athletic goods. Many of the rare finds were also brand new, but remarkably affordable.
It was ideal for anyone looking to score some big ticket items just in time for birthdays or holidays that are coming up around the corner. The sports gear found here would up any grandfather, father or husband’s eyes when being unwrapped for his birthday or Christmas.
Children and young adults alike got extremely excited when it came to the 1990s items that were showcased at the Sugar Plum Festival.
There were vendors that offered old school Marvel, DC and Dark Horse Comics memorabilia. There were also some international ‘90s goods like Pokemon and Digimon cards, and books as well. American flag clothing and other patriotic treasures were also on full-fledged display to the happiness of many event-goers. Some other very rare and important items that were also showcased at this year’s Sugar Plum Festival was a Holy Bible that was from 1934, and was still in mint condition. Classic school textbooks for children were being sold as well like “The Observer’s Book of Flags” by I.O. Evans that has historical information from every country.
Novelty books like Don Pipers work titled “90 Minutes in Heaven” and “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books were also available with a wide variety of interesting topics.
One vendor’s booth that really attracted a lot of attention this year was Jean Isada’s doTerra Health and Wellness Company.”
doTerra is a natural remedy and medicine company from Utah that specializes in holistic methods of healing sickness, ailments and other bodily injuries. Isada became an associate of doTerra from a friend who got her in contact with the company in Utah. Isada now travels from her home in Chino, Calif., to the Sugar Plum Festival to bring her healing oils to local residents.
“doTerra Essential Oils is an eight-year-old company from the state of Utah that focuses on all natural ways to cure chronic and serious illnesses and pain,” explains Isada. “We utilize God-given plants that are carefully harvested within their pure original form. Take peppermint, for example. The peppermint plant provides a total of six overall cases of natural oil. We get first dibs compared to other companies who are vying for the healing properties. We at doTerra make sure that we get the first three cases of the six, so that we get our customers the best quality of whatever oil or potion that they need.”
Different oils from different plants cure different ailments. Isada and doTerra harvest different fruits, vegetables and other plants to cultivate different oils and potions. They then place them into vials either individually, or mixed with other natural potions, and oils from other plants to create new formulas or medicine. These modified hybrid potions can then go on to suit other patients’ specific needs, and can cure their ailments or injuries. Each new oil or potion is customizable to gear itself to directly aid the patient with whatever condition that they are struggling with.
“Each vial contains 250 drops,” explains Isada. “It is recommended that the customers, or patients take a concentrated one to two drops a day if necessary. Still, if the patient wants to take more as needed, that is okay also, because these all natural remedies are from food products. Therefore, an individual cannot overdose on the oils or potions like they could with other pill-type pharmaceuticals. These oils and potions actually work better and faster than pharmaceutical pills, because the pills take a whole 30 minutes to thoroughly take effect. Pain relievers like Advil or Tylenol usually take this long. The bad news is that pain relievers over time can become addictive. Just look at the opioid crisis here in America for example. With our products here at doTerra, the oils and potions that we use are from natural food extracts, and therefore carry no harmful side effects. Each of our bottles are packaged in a grab and go case. The special serums are carefully formulated, and we do extensive research of each vial in a lab. Any formula for healing, we test it and use it on ourselves before we release it to the public.”
With doTerra, there are so many different varieties of serums to choose from. An example of this is peppermint. The elements of peppermint can cure headaches and is a holistic healer. It can be used as a pain reliever. When it comes to their oil for dealing with stress and anxiety, doTerra has a formula that is titled “I’m Not Anxious.”
It is made of geranium, frankincense, lavender, ylang ylang, wild oranges and cedar wood. When applied to the spine, chest, wrists or the bottoms of an individual’s feet, it can cure or calm anxiety attacks. Isada says that the potions are most effective on the bottoms of the feet, because the ball of the foot is the biggest skin pore and gland on the body. This is why it is always important to wear warm socks during winter time, because people absorb the most cold air through the bottoms of their feet or the tops of their heads; thus resulting in the contraction of a flu or cold. So, wear warm hats on your head and warm thick socks on your feet for this upcoming autumn and winter season.
Besides the oils, the products also come in other types of conduits. There are soaps, lotions and creams, all made with the same properties.
“My mentor does direct sales of these doTerra products full time. She is a registered nurse,” says Isada. “We study and cultivate the items and develop new formulas. I stand by my formulas. I use carrier oil to soften the sensation of the oils on the skin to develop even better oils and lotions. We also have a mix humidifier that mixes the oils, serums and water, to create a mist spray that helps cure different types of ailments when inhaled. We call these our diffuser machines. Overall there are three ways to properly utilize our oil and potions. You can ingest them as a drink, breathe them in as an aroma mist or massage them into the skin and body as a lotion.”
When it comes to the doTerra aroma therapy, they have a package that helps with the preparation for the specific treatment. They have an item called the Aroma Touch Technique Kit Massage Pack.
They also have a special tray that separates the oils evenly, along with the vitamin capsules. The vitamin capsules are created from the same extracts, and are put into easy-to-carry pill form, yet they are still all natural. doTerra has also managed to produce a very special ointment for helping athletes with severe chronic pain. The lotion is called Deep Blue. The lotions, and the other products are for both women and men. The Deep Blue lotion comes in a holder that also carries miniature vials of the oils in what is known as doTerra’s “Emergency Kit.”
doTerra’s Deep Blue lotion kit and vitamins.
The kit is TSA-approved, and can be taken on a plan for weary travelers who are embarking on a long journey.
“doTerra also produces our jogging kits,” states Isada. “It is equipped with all of our replenishing liquids, and our Deep Blue lotion. The lotion works like a type of Bengay to heal sore or pulled muscles. It consists of peppermint, lavender and other wholesome spices.”
Isada would go on to add that, “We also have another product that helps with the respiratory system amongst other things. We have these fancy necklaces and bracelets that possess lockets on them. Within the lockets, you can put in real volcano lava stones that actually came from real volcanic sites. The stones are in many different colors and shapes, like blue or pink. They are in either circle or heart shapes. These stones can absorb the natural oils when they are poured on them. The purpose is so that the patient can carry the locket around with them, and inhale the healing mist whenever they might need it. The oils stay potent on the lava rock for three days, and the oils can be interchanged to a different type after that. The good news about this is that the oils stay in the locket, and can be inhaled by the customer whenever they hold the locket up to their nose. It is not strong enough to give off the aroma so potently that everyone around you can smell it. It is private, and not a situation like when a man puts on too much cologne.”
Isada says that she gets the most thrill and happiness from her job because she knows that she is helping heal sick people, and to aid the elderly. She cares for the customers and patients, and even goes out of her way to take down their symptoms, then goes off in her free time researching, and developing new oils for them to take for their ailments. Isada is always working on new healing remedies, all the while working to enhance the effects of the ones that she already has on the market.
She has been doing this type of work for 26 years, and has been specifically working for doTerra for three years. Isada is a single mother, and used this full time work to help take care of her own two sons.
“My favorite moments within this job are when old clients, and customers come back to me with their testimonies of how our products helped them heal,” states Isada. “When they come back to me, I like to help them find their list of serums that they may need. For me, all of this is about the love, not the money. It is the joy of seeing them get better, and that I am helping them with healing whatever they need.”
The doTerra products that Isada uses herself in her own free time are the Life Long Vitality Pack, which is a vitamin combination that boosts strength, prevents memory loss and keeps the cartilage between joints well nourished. She also uses the pain, sleeping and stress relief oils before she goes to bed at night. The stress relief and energy relief formulas really help rejuvenate Isada after a really hard day.
“These items are my personal favorites,” Isada explains. “If I were ever trapped on a deserted island, this is exactly what I would take with me to help me survive. I take the vitamin pills to help me whenever I get sick. One time I took them for three months. I took two pills in the morning, and two more at night. It healed me of my sickness.”
A bright thing that is also developing out of these health remedies is a social movement that is rising from both the youth and the elderly alike. More and more youngsters and elderly folks are looking to heal their sicknesses and injuries utilizing more holistic methods rather than just typical pharmaceutical drugs.
“Using holistic methods of medical care is a hot new lifestyle that is really taking off right now with the young and old alike,” states Isada. “People are getting tired of pills, drugs and their side effects. What we offer them here at doTerra is much better than popping pills. My advice to anyone out there is to try all natural solutions first to heal themselves. First of course, one should get checked up by a doctor, and then after they give you the rundown on what you have, and what you are allergic to, you can them come to us afterward. We will then show you how we can help you. I would like to see more of our healing methods used in today’s modern medicine. Doctors are now starting to catch on, and are switching to these natural remedies. This is very exciting, and is a major breakthrough for many patients everywhere. Still, the big pharmaceutical companies are not happy with it. Big Pharma is always doing what they can to cover these discoveries up.”
Another new superstar vendor that made their big debut at this season’s Sugar Plum Festival was Tania Gracia and her loyal friend Lorette Loy. Gracia’s company is called Tania Collections, and she specializes in floral designs and artwork.
Items made by Tania Gracia.
Garcia started to make her beautiful and eye-catching designs 30 years ago, and what is even more remarkable is that she is all self-taught. This prodigy is in her first year at the Sugar Plum Festival, and enjoyed her first show a great deal.
“The Festival is very nice,” says Gracia. “I will definitely stay with the show. The people are pleasant out here in Buena Park.”
Another vendor had told Gracia about the show, and she got excited to give it a try. She had done other arts and craft shows as well in the past.
“I used to specialize in holiday ornaments, but now I do floral arrangements,” explains Gracia. “Ever since I was little, I was always an artist. I just worked really hard to develop my skills. I just resort to my imagination, and my own inner thoughts. It all usually takes me an hour to build a new arrangement. I love the succulent arrangements that I make here at the show. Those are my favorite parts of my work.”
When asked to send out a special message to anyone who has never attended the Sugar Plum Festival before, Gracia had the following to say.
“All of the locals, they should all come. They will find many wonderful treasures here from long ago. They will also find many new things of beauty as well all of the time here. There is so much variety. Just come here and give it a try.”
For anyone who is trying to get in touch with Isada and the doTerra Company, you can reach them at www.mydoterra.com/jeanisada or 909-851-5460.
For anyone who is trying to reach Tania Gracia for her beautiful flower arrangements, they can reach her at taniapgracia@gmail.com.
