Author: Vanja Thorson

Growing Calendula – It’s About Patience and Resilience

In the spring of 2019, I definitely needed a pick-me-up.  My dad was going through a long, arduous recovery from a series of medical events, including multiple strokes.  Coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic and complex political situation all around the world, it seemed like all of us were diving from one crisis into another.  Tumultuous […]

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The flaws of “flawless” skin

I have yet to see anything in this world that is flawless, much less skin.  Attaining flawless skin is something we see on TV and in magazines almost every day as a woman… and even as a man. You’ve seen these words often in the beauty industry on packaging, advertisements, websites – endless claims of […]

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Why I can hardly wait for the next Mother’s Day …

Ah, Mother’s Day – that second Sunday of each May.  I so love it.  It is not just because of the extra special attention from my family (although that is super awesome), but it is about those simple yet lasting memories that get created.  Here are my two favorite ones: May 2010 – morning picnic […]

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Tale of a Lucky Warrior (10-min read, for those of us with thyroid issues)

Dear friends of Sage Abbey, Every so often, I take some time to think about the owner of “the abbey” – me.  And when I do, one phrase keeps coming to mind – a lucky warrior.  It is not a very glamorous term, but it is the one that adequately describes my life, including many […]

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What’s In the Bottle and Why? (3-min read)

Dearest friends of Sage Abbey, Goodness Face Elixir™ is my labor of love.  I say that “a piece of my heart is in every bottle,” because the elixir features what I loved as a child, spending summers by the pristine blue Adriatic Sea or running in the meadows of awe-inspiring Dinaric Alps.  I fondly remember […]

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A Postcard from Switzerland (7-min read)

This winter I found myself in Switzerland, the land of wondrous nature, delicious food, and extraordinary precision.  My five full days there were spent in and around Zürich and Bern, including a day trip to the beautiful Swiss Alps, and a half day exploring gorgeous lakes Neuchâtel and Murten. First stop:  Jungfraujoch.  If you haven’t […]

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My Funny Valentine (and Fried Chicken!) (5-min read)

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day; the day when millions of people declare, show, and reaffirm LOVE.  I believe every love story is wonderfully unique and today, I am sharing ours as it relates to celebrating this special day. Our first “official” Valentine’s Day was celebrated in 2002.  From the beginning, it was clear that neither Brett […]

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A Visit to the Franciscan Monastery of the Friars Minor, Dubrovnik, Croatia (7-min read)

When autumn arrives and it gets cold and rainy, I often practice an “instant vacation” routine in my mind by thinking about summer, warm weather and past vacation adventures.  It’s a quick and easy way to brighten up a gloomy day and it surely brings a smile to my face. The summer of 2018 is […]

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How I cleared my skin – a personal journey (5-min read)

The main reason why the Goodness Face Elixir exists today is a selfish one.  I made it for me, because no other product could clear and balance my skin.  The journey to create it was quite inspirational as well. For years, I’ve been battling adult acne.  Coupled with a thyroid condition, it seemed as if […]

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What’s In a Name? (Part 2 of 2)

Previously we explored the meaning of sage in Sage Abbey.  Now, let’s talk about the abbey.  So welcome, breathe in … exhale … and stay a while. In 1990 I spent my summer touring Croatia with my parents and my friend Mae, a foreign exchange student from the US.  When visiting Croatia, one of the […]

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