Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Konvalinka.
Hi Kimberly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began experimenting with making my own products a little over 10 years ago, a bit of a childhood fairytale come true. I have always felt connected to the stories of the Wild Woman living alone in the woods. The one shrouded in mystery who can create a cure for whatever ails you. Some fear her and call her “Witch!”, but others trust she has unlocked a secret knowledge, possessing the ability to work with and honor Nature, using her skills to aid others, to do no harm. My favorite movie “Practical Magic” brought this idea into the modern day for me. Sally Owens, played by the amazing Sandra Bullock, is a shop owner, and local witch, who makes her own lotions and “potions”, a family tradition of sorts. I was enchanted and thought I could do that too! It felt so natural toiling away in my kitchen, crafting all sorts of concoctions to replace different items within my home. Over time I became more serious about creating these products as the sensitivities I had experienced throughout my life became too overwhelming to ignore.
Like most kids in my generation, I grew up on fast food and “helper” casseroles, frozen dinners and snack packs, along with a ton of other highly processed, food-like meals we were told were safe to consume. Our household products were no different. Harsh chemicals seemed to be the norm if you wanted to get something “squeaky clean”, including your body! Convenience was the focus and health concerns had only started to become more prominent. We also started to hear about things like “acid rain” and “greenhouse gases”; the environmental activism movement that began in the 1960’s saw another wave in the 1990’s. All of these factors, coupled with a traumatic childhood experience influenced my growing mind and body, incubating a particular blend of disease and disorder within me.
I spent my 20’s dismissing any warning signs or ailments that might arise. I couldn’t be bothered with self-care needs, my focus was on the multitude of responsibilities as a single mother! In my late thirties however, these chronic conditions would no longer be ignored. My health was failing in every aspect and I knew a major change had to happen. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and began my trust-fall with the Universe. Since then, I have been deconstructing my life in every aspect, questioning everything I was conditioned to believe was true and necessary to operate this human body and live a good life. This has been a deep, soulful path of self discovery and healing; winding and wobbly at times, and one I still stray from now and again, but well worth the missteps – they teach me the most!
Once I began to make my own products, I noticed a difference in my health. My somatic systems actually liked this natural way of living! My handcrafted products amplified the benefits I was already noticing from my healthier food choices, new self-care routines and the multitude of other lifestyle changes I continue to embrace. After all, what we put ON our bodies is just as important as what we put IN them.
In remembering why I first began making these items, I realized that there were not many natural products out there that were trustworthy or affordable. They were either falsely labeled “natural” or cost more than my humble budget would allow. I further realized that most people will not have the desire or the time to dedicate to making their own products like I have. How would they gain access? I recalled the story of the Wild Woman and the spark of thought quickly erupted into great flames! I would be the Wild Woman! I would let that side of me shine brightly out into the world so that I may live with intention, in a way that is for the benefit of all, allowing no harm to come to any, including myself. The stars aligned and my business has been born from their light!
And so here we are, together, creating a beautiful exchange of energy and products that are made from my heart and by my own humble hands. I am so very excited to be on this journey with you!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of my biggest obstacles has been fear. Fear has been a constant challenge throughout my life, but in particular, these past several months since I launched my business have been some of the scariest! I thought I had everything figured out, but the Fates had something different in mind. My two year plan to launch my business and replace my job’s income was unexpectedly cut back to just 3 months! I had to ask myself what my intentions were, how badly I wanted to create this business, and exactly how I would do that. I was a mess, and still freak out from time to time! But I’m feeling much more confident and at ease, trusting the process of growing this business in an organic way. Thankfully, I am blessed to have access to some amazing resources who keep me on track, reassuring me that I am on the right path! My local bank provides an entrepreneurial program to help me build my business plan – an invaluable resource! I have also been connected with a fantastic mentor who challenges me to ask some deeper questions about my intentions with this business, and my life. And making connections within the community, with like-minded individuals who share in my vision, has been priceless! Now, I allow the fear to guide me towards the resources that can help me succeed, rather than allowing it to keep me paralyzed and stuck!
In addition to the normal challenges of managing a small business, I am also faced with the disabilities that have arisen from my life experiences; that particular blend of disease and disorder I spoke of before – bipolar depression, chronic migraines, complex PTSD, dissociative identity disorder, fibromyalgia, generalized anxiety disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome, to name a few. As a girl who grew up in poor conditions, with equally poor resources or outlets of escape, I am no stranger to the traumatic life experience; a sexually abusive childhood within a marginalized community, a divorce I still feel the wake from, sexual assault, the infinite struggles of being a single parent, the tragic loss of my sister, a shooting, several abusive partners, and a long list of other experiences that I need not bore you with! I’ve been told I should write a book, and perhaps someday I will. But the reason I share my life with you in such a vulnerable way is to show just how dedicated I am to this life and to empowering others, especially those in marginalized communities and of meager means, who might feel like their challenges are too overwhelming to overcome. I have spent my life thinking “I can’t!” I was conditioned to believe that was true, and when I came of age I allowed others to have power over my choices. I am now liberated from that life and I’m able to take responsibility for my own experiences and be an advocate for myself! I continue to struggle with balance in my recovery process, and sometimes overwork myself into a debilitated state, taking myself out of commission for a few days at a time! What can I say? I’m a recovering workaholic! But, I’m learning to meet myself where I actually am, not where I perceive I should be! It has been a very long, arduous journey, but well worth it! I’m excited to see what comes next!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Lilly’s Luxuries 29 LLC in a small business I created within the warmth of my own home in Columbus, Ohio. My intention is to bridge the gap between luxury and simplicity by providing our communities handcrafted items made with care, intention, and sustainability, that are both responsibly sourced and reasonably priced, making luxury accessible to everyone!
I come from a long line of creative women, one of which I named my shop after; my grandmother, Gladys Lillian. She was born in 1929 and recently took her final bow, exiting gracefully into the great Unknown. She lived a lot of life in her 95 years (she has also been told to write a book!) and this is my way of honoring her legacy and the teachings she has bestowed upon me. I also honor my paternal lineage as my last name (Konvalinka) translates to “Lily of the Valley” in Czechoslovakian. This is the flower you see on my product labels and logo.
I offer a wide range of natural, eco-friendly products, each handcrafted with a deep sense of responsibility and mindfulness, carefully sourced and grounded in strong values that are expressed through my artistic, ever-evolving creations – bringing luxury and simple living together. I have spent years crafting these items, dedicating myself to the research to ensure my products will truly do no harm; each is made with a deep sense of intention and responsibility to you, our communities and our home, the great Mother Earth!
I believe it is important to provide total transparency with my products, resources and processes, and openly share my continued research and efforts to create products that are truly made with care, intention and sustainability, allowing my values to guide me in everything I do!
I am so grateful for the opportunity to experience this business and I can only hope to bring a little inspiration, joy and maybe a bit of healing into the lives of others through my efforts. “You cannot change the world in its entirety, but you can change someone’s entire world” – Milad Ghane.
How do you think about luck?
I believe in Murphy’s Law, that if the conditions are right for something to happen, it will happen, good or bad. I feel it is important to release judgement of these experiences and work with what is, the facts. If I take everything personally, thinking something is being done to me or for me, I will see an event as a stroke of good luck or bad depending on my state of being. I have lived with a negative mindset, steeped in my victimhood for most of my life, asking myself, “Why do bad things happen to good people? Is it fate? Destiny? Dumb luck?” I’ve tried to have a more light-hearted nature about it as well. My partner and I have even joked about changing my middle name to Murphy! Now, I simply try to live my life in a way that is aligned with my values and is in service of helping a world beyond my own. The more authentically I live my life the more my path seems to open up and flourish, perhaps providing the right conditions for Luck to be present as well. I see Luck as a silent partner, waiting in the sidelines, cheering me on and giving me a little push when I might need it, to encourage me on my path. If I look for her, she’ll be there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lillysluxuries.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillysluxuries29/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lillysluxuries29/
