What started as one mom’s mission has grown into a trusted destination for clean and natural living, where every product is chosen with care and every customer is treated like family. Host Deanna Fontanez takes us inside Simply Sage, a Broadheadsville-based store that has become a haven for those seeking safe, thoughtful, and sustainable products.

For owner Kari, the journey began with a personal awakening. “Simply Sage is my project to bring awareness to people about what is in their products and what they’re using and what they’re bringing into their homes. So, it really all started when a friend shared a video with me about what is in my toothpaste, surprisingly. It kind of snowballed from there. I started researching and looking into all the products I was using in my home and what my family was using and realized that there’s some kind of scary ingredients out there. And eventually, it became something like, well, why don’t I just pull together all the things that I know are safe and make a nice easy place for someone to come in and go, ‘Okay, I can shop here' and not have to worry about what’s on the label because I did that for them.’”

For many, making the switch to clean products can feel overwhelming, but Kari keeps the approach simple: “I always say, do one thing at a time. Don’t go bankrupting yourself over like trying to switch every last product that you own, just come to me. We'll talk about it. We'll learn about the ingredients together, that’s why I’m here. I really want to help people on that journey.”

Every item in Simply Sage is carefully curated. Kari explains, “If I have someone who's local that I can access, I absolutely will go to them first and then I do a really deep dive on all of the ingredients. So, I go through with a fine tooth comb. I look at every single one. If I don't know what it is, I do the research, try things myself, see how they work. You know, effectiveness and safety are where we're trying to find the balance.”

The name Simply Sage carries special meaning for Kari. “The word sage kept coming up because it had so many different meanings. It’s green and that's earthy. It’s eco-friendly, which is something that I strive to be as much as possible. It’s also, of course, an herb and herbs are a little bit of a passion of mine. And it also means wisdom. I really just wanted to bring some of that wisdom that I’ve collected over the last 10 years to, you know, whoever walks through my door. So, simple ingredients, uh, things that are safe and simple, and they are saged. They’re full of wisdom and green and all the good things.”

Inside the shop, visitors will find a little bit of everything. Kari describes it as “basically like an apothecary of sorts. It’s all of your basic cosmetics, your soaps, your shampoos, your toothpaste, a little bit of makeup that’s just kind of expanding that line, deodorants, bath products, all of that type of thing. And then I also have the full herb bar. So, you can come in, you can make your own blend, you can buy single herbs. Of course, I blend tea. So, I can make a blend just for you or you can try one of my housemade blends and tinctures and all of the things that go along with herbal medicine. So, those are kind of the big two avenues: herbal medicine and then just personal care products.”

Kari’s advice for newcomers is clear: “One step at a time. Don’t let yourself get too overwhelmed.” At the heart of it all is her family. “It’s always things that I would feel comfortable using on my family. I have four little children. You know, I want to make sure that what I’m putting on their bodies and in their bodies is as safe as possible. So, it kind of always does run through a filter of like, well, would I use this for myself? Would I use it for my children? And that’s always top priority.”

Simply Sage is proof that sometimes, the most powerful businesses come from the most personal places. Whether you are a visitor or a local in the Pocono region, it is definitely a stop worth making. It’s more than a store, it’s an experience, a place to explore clean living and thoughtful products that make life a little healthier and a lot simpler.