So I decided that I am going to write about my business of being The Healthy Hippie.  It all started at a convention in South Beach.  I went to the convention thinking that I was going to cut off my dreads and do corporate wellness.  Someone said to me, "Taraleigh, you are such a hippie...why don't you make money being a hippie. " Ha!!!  I usually make grilled cheeses to pay for my ticket to a show.  Anyway I went to Langerado after the conference with the intention of  making my career being a hippie.  I got backstage to The Biscuits late night show and there met Jonathan Schwartz.  I was talking about being a Healthy Hippie and gave him my first official, "Healthy Hippie Tip." 

I went home and started posting Healthy Hippie Tips on Myspace, The Gathering of the Vibes web board, and also sending one to Jonathan Schwartz everyday.  Nobody really responded to them and then one day I forgot to do one and I got all these messages about where my tip was....one of these messages was from Jonathan Schwartz.  He then told me that he was using my tips on the air.  I wanted to get credit for them so I bought www.healthyhippie.net and designed the site using yahoo small business's website builder.  I then decided that I wanted an online newsletter so I started The Healthy Hippie Weekly.  At this point, I wasn't making any money being the Healthy Hippie and I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do with it, but I knew it was fun and I was giving valuable information to people. 

I then decided that I wanted to teach dance at festivals so I came up with The Healthy Hippie Dance Class and sent a proposal to many festivals.  I have never written a proposal before, but I decided to try.  I was passionate about teaching this class and I guess it showed.  I got hired at Gathering of the Vibes, Camp Creek, Wormtown, Phanphest, and Jam Cruise!  I love teaching the class!  I even got Ryan Montbleua, Julie from Depth Quartet, Brock Butler from Perpetual Groove, Dave Halchak, and Rob from U-Melt to play for me. 

I made a printed newsletter to hand out at festivals.  It was the Healthy Hippie Festival Edition.  Jeff printed beautiful color copies for me and I handed out about 10,000 copies throughout the summer at festivals such as Gathering of the Vibes, Moe.down, Phanphest, Camp Creek, Wormtown, Stonehendge, Baconfest, Sterling Stage, etc.  I got such a positive response from people.  I even started getting recognized. Hahaha.  I had to shoo the paparazzi away (just kidding). 

So what was the next step.  It is now September and I decided I want to do The Healthy Hippie Magazine.  Now I am famous for having an amazing idea and then not doing anything about it.  I used to be very scattered and unorganized.  The wonderful Dan wanted to support me in this and make it happen so he set up business meetings for us to set goals.  It worked!  We got Britt Nemeth and Dave Halchak on board with us.  I am very passionate about this magazine and how it is portrayed.  I want it to be a positive, entertaining, magazine with articles that educate people.  I also wanted the advertisers to be companies that I love and support. 

I set out on my sales and marketing campaign.  I wrote personal emails to companies and bands that I loved and told them my experience with them and why I think they would be a perfect fit for the magazine and why our audience would love them.  It worked!  I got a bunch of advertising from such  awesome companies that ranged from jewelry makers to concert promoters to bands to organic teas.  We were so excited because we didn't even have a magazine to show them what we have done in the past.  Everyone trusted us to make a good product. ...and we delivered!  So after 4 months of having the idea of making The Healthy Hippie Magazine it happened!  We even have subscribers!!!....and they subscribed before they even saw the magazine.  How cool is that!

Now we are working on our May/June Issue.  If you would like to advertise with us our media kit is online at www.healthyhippie.net/media_kit .  We can also mail you a hard copy if you email me at taraleigh@healthyhippie.net. 

I have had people ask me if I'm independently wealthy before and actually, I am completely the opposite.  Right now I have about $20 in my bank account, but I'm not worried.  I am doing what I'm supposed to be doing by educating and helping people doing what I love!  It will all work out.  It always does.  I have a huge amount of faith in the Healthy Hippie and whatever is supposed to happen will.  I also go to tons of festivals.  I always volunteer or work to get in otherwise I could never afford it.  I also sell clothes I made from recycled materials.  So, I get in for free and then make some money selling my clothes.  Not a bad deal:)

Check back on more updates on my business and the magazine! 

I am also a Holistic Health Counselor and I can work with you one on one to reach your health and wellness goals.  I will teach you how to eat deliciously, love deliciously, and live deliciously!  Contact me for a free 30 phone consultation!  taraleigh@healthyhippie.net