Hey everyone - I've been gone awhile - but I'm back :) I've learned quite a bit in my absence. I don't think I could ever stop typing if I actually tried to write about it. One thing is for sure. I am even more excited about living my life with a purpose, on purpose. Improving myself, my home and my family's quality of life all-together, is at the very top of my list. And I plan to have fun doing it. Perhaps I'll paint my living room and hang some family photos :) On top of working on my own book I plan to finish three books by fantastic authors like Os Hillman and my favorite motivational speaker Dani Johnson.  In addition I am thrilled about discovering creative ways to take better care of people! This included my relationships.

I haven't had a chance to as much as crack its spine, but Os Hillman's book Change Agent, couldn't be a more timely read for me. As a stay-at-home mom, its easy to feel untouchable and even trapped at times. But my eyes have been opened. Sometimes our humble state, no matter where we may be in life, is what causes us to rise up and BE THE CHANGE. So the simple fact that you actually noticed a need, proves that you are part of the solution to the equation. Follow?

Lately i can't help but think there is a new mom somewhere who is overwhelmed and isolated. Looking back, i have a great amount of compassion for this situation, because i know what its like. Having a baby is a major deal! Postpartum and baby blues are a very real thing and no one should have to go through such a life change feeling alone. I have a big dream to give these mothers a place to relax and relate with other mothers. And I believe God will make it happen. Primarily because I know He is responsible for putting the dream in my heart. Many parents struggle with caring for children with special needs. This is also a wellknown crisis in our world today. These people deserve to know that there is help and nutritional hope for their family. I've seen it time after time. Children who doctors said would never be able to communicate are now thriving because they were willing to try again- quite possibly a completely different approach. Then we have others who don't "need" anything. They are completely financially stable, but are bedridden or suffer daily from their condition. These people want nothing but their health back so they can enjoy their families.

The truth is, a certain level of resistance had been badgering me, attempting to make me give up on the idea of helping anyone.  I can only imagine it was so i would take on a bitter approach. So that I might respond to rejection in defeat, instead of my natural inclination of love and compassion for people in need. Anyway-  it didn't work. I love people too much to stop telling the truth or giving them the aid that the lack. In reality, we live in a broken world. If its my role to play the band-aid, then so be it. My prayer is that I be a great help to those that need and desire change. I'm reminded of Jesus, who came not for the well, but the sick. That's good enough for me <3

God Bless.

The Happy Winner!

FINALLY-I know this is a bit delayed. After all it is March and the giveaway was in January :) But I haven't had computer access to make this happen until now. Thanks again to all who made my giveaway possible, participants and sponsors! Special thanks to Jody from Ruby Blaise Essentials and Dustin over at Amazing Green Planet! Congrats again, Adrianne!!!

Adrianne is enjoying all these wonderfully green goodies! Doesn't she look happy? :)

::dreaming up giveaway #2::

Time to Breakaway, Time to Push My Pace

 Now I played a handful of different sports through out my life, and one thing they all have in common (except  Vball) is running. Whether on the court, field or track. Whether during training season or in the heat of the action. Can you tell I love sports??  Well, I ought to. My parents both were on scholarship for track- and they were both one of a kind, record setting, athletes. Competitive, quick and steady. Even today I run into people that knew them or watched them compete as far back as highschool, they can never say enough about those glorious days. That never gets old to me, ya know? I am proud. They would have made excellent coaches. Watching the races alongside them today, makes me wish I would have followed close in their footsteps. My dad says I would have been great! My brother, I think, even better than me. It's kindof bitter sweet to watch the races and know we have the build and the bloodlines ;) If the state track and field board would not have moved Maxine Graham from AA to A, my mother would still hold the single A high school long jump record today!

I remember my dad setting up those old wire hangers, and bending them in such a way that they resembled extra-mini hurdles (his forte in his prime) for me to leap over as I ran down the hall. In a big announcer voice he'd say, "Runners take your mark, get set, GO!" My parents taught me techniques that helped them hang with the best like breathing correctly, and how "use my arms". These helped me in anything I played.  Another thing they taught me was about pacing myself. Now, my parents were sprinters. I think the reason I wasn't much a fan of racing, is because it's so "individualistic." It's all about your game, your training, your individual effort. I like actual "team" sports, where players play their own game, but are fueled by the synergy of the team. LOVE THIS. The fact that I even think that way, probably says a lot about my personality, huh ;)

More on Pacing Myself- this concept of pacing myself has to do with leveling out my energies, so they are consistent throughout. You do this, I believe, to conserve your energy. This way you can accelerate and really push yourself in the last leg of the race. This is speaking more from a "distance runner" standpoint. I used this during conditioning/training seasons to practice the discipline of endurance. It's actually how endurance is built. You have to steadily push yourself, all the while saving the best (of yourself) for last! This is what wins games and all sorts of events! It's how underdogs come back out of the locker room with their game face on and  CLEAN UP in the last quarter! WOOO! They are tired and drenched in their own sweat. They may be down several points with  nothing left to give. But after the coach's pep talk, there is a tingle of new energy you can taste in the air! They come away with the victory because they dug deep and turned their BEST on! Ah, it's beautiful! But for real, this stuff is training that is relevant for every area of life. I even used them while in labor. It helped my confidence and focus, especially when it was time to transition from pacing myself (laboring), to pushing (delivering).

In my life, now more than ever, I feel an urgency to pickup my pace a bit. Push myself. Get ahead and steadily PULL (BrEaK) AWAY!  I can still hear the words of Kelly Clarkson's (actually Avril wrote it) ringing in my heart as my friend <3 and I sang our farwell to the senior class of 2005. In what ways do you feel it's time to break away from the pack? In your health, education, relationships, business, personal goals and dreams?

::Breakaway- you can't be the best hangin with the "ok's"::

Live Well, Be Well 30-Day Challenge!!

Happy March Everybody!!
Around this time of year, I can only think of two things on peoples mind: St. Patty's Day and MAARRRRCH MADDNESSS ((Just as a sidenote....I LOVE BASKETBALL- played in HS...ahhh-LOVE!)) So yes, I agree that the MaDnEsS can get pretty exciting. Good, clean competitivness is always fun!

Well, I have something else fun I'd like to throw out there this month. Now it's not a competition per say, however we shall call it a challenge or "dare" if you will. Much in the same way I encouraged you to make healthier decisions this year, with my Greenest of Green Mama Giveaway. For this event, I am looking for at least 5 new success stories! Individuals who are tired of (literally) being sick and tired all the time. People ready to begin making a change this year and take a step in the investment towards their health.

This is what you get in one daily vita-strip!!

Of this 30-Day Challenge, there will be one of two participants. Those that will take part in the "Dare" or the "Double Dare". Both dares include using and reviewing Shaklee's amazing product, Vitalizer.

Dare 'ya-  Accept the challenge. Choose the Vitalizer that's right for you (Women, Men or Gold/50+). Take one vita strip everyday for 30-days and report back to me with your results and overall experience...how you feel on day 30. take a gander click here for more on Vitalizer!
Double Dog Dare 'ya- Accept the challenge. Choose the Vitalizer Wellness Pack or the RX for a Healthier Life (which includes Vitalizer and some of Shaklee's best products) Select the line-up that best meets your personal needs. Consume for 30-days and report back with how you feel and any noticible changes! Take a peak at what the Vitalizer Wellness Pack has to offer!

Vitalizer Wellness Pack

And that's all folks! This is gonna be a blast!!  So all you have to do is post " I accept the Live Well, Be Well 30-Day Challenge" here or on my wall, and let me know which way you'd like to participate,  and I will show you how to get started. For all those who accept my challenge, their name will be submitted in a drawing to win a FREE Shaklee product! So far only a few are interested. But I'm sure there will be more. Feel free to tweet and share on FB!

*Don't be surprised if certain health conditions lessen or completely disappear. It happens all the time. Shaklee has offered the purest, most potent products for over 55 years :) So ready yourself for SUPER results! and no worries- if you try Vitalizer and are dissatisfied with your results, Shaklee will return your money! WIN WIN!

All the best!!!!!

::Who's GAME?::

Pretty Much Dream-like!

Do you all remember Dreamcicles aka Orange Creamcicles?  Now I don't know about your mom, but mine  would have never let me have dessert before a meal. Well here's a way to make a healthy shake- yummy for breakfast or as snack that kids (and the child-at-heart) will keep asking for!

What You'll Need:

• Meal Shakes (French Vanilla), or Cinch
• Shaklee Performance - Orange
• Milk (preferably cold organic whole, almond  or rice milk)
• A blender (or shaker cup)
• Truvia or Stevia
• Ice (optional)
• Chewable Vita-C 

Blend 1 serving of the Meal Shake and 1 serving of Performance with your milk and ice*. For one glass, use 1-2 packets of Truvia to sweeten (Stevia is stronger so you may want to use less than the suggested amount- I do not recommend the use of sugar in this drink). For immune boosting properties and added citrus flavor, crush 2-3 Shaklee Chewable Vita-C and add it to the mixture. Enjoy!


It really is tasty. Just had one myself! Great for finicky eaters! If you're interested in any of the products I mentioned check them out here: www.adscott.myshaklee.com or just leave your questions in the comments below ;)

::dream dream dreeeam::

Women's Health: Infertility <\3

Morning! Let's try this again. Wrote this yesterday and it got erased :( But this time I'll get straight to the point. I am expecting some GLA (omega6) from Shaklee any day in the mail. It regulates, balances hormones and helps with pesky bloating and headaches...which I experience around the time Aunt Flow pays me a visit. So I got to thinking about it and wondered what else this supplement can do for your body. I knew if I searched a while I could find something and I came upon a few amazing testimonies. Two of which mentioned how it was used to overcome infertility. There are so many questions about why certain women have problems with this and why others do not. Doctors can't even explain this. Even this to me, seems so unfair. There a lot of contributing factors in the equation. The good news is, hope lies in the ability to identify and address those factors that are most prominent. Here, just read the Leschke Family's story. Be encouraged.

Six months after our wedding Scott and I decided to start our family. What was expected to be a simple goal became our most difficult life challenge. The next seven years were filled with tests, procedures, surgeries and disappointment. Finally we were blessed with a pregnancy with in vitro fertilization. Miranda, our million dollar baby changed our lives dramatically. A few weeks after her birth, I was inspired to remove all the toxic cleaners from my home. That's how I became interested in Shaklee. What a change it made in our lives. We listened to a tape on infertility and Shaklee products and decided to explore this route for our second child. We BOTH began supplementing with Shaklee's Vita-Lea, B-Complex, Vita-C, Vita-E, Zinc and Energizing Protein. 

We also made a few dietary changes: no dairy, organic when possible and hormone-free meat. When Miranda was 21 months old I learned I was pregnant again. Oh Happy Day! This pregnancy only required feeding our bodies the necessary nutrition to do what bodies are intended to do--conceive and grow a healthy baby. I had a terrific pregnancy, no nausea or complications. Kellen, now 3 1/2 is the healthiest, happiest boy I know. Both children use Shaklee nutrition and have never needed medication or antibiotics. The average child goes to the doctor 15 times a year! Shaklee keeps my children healthy and "drug free".I suggest you clean up your home by removing all toxic products and use the best nutritional supplements you can buy, SHAKLEE! I believe the years of heartache and medical procedures could have been avoided with the simple, easy addition of Shaklee to our diets and our lives. –B. Leschke

According to Dr.Shaklee, if you give the body what it needs "...it will heal itself." Perhaps Shaklee had nothing to do with this miracle. Maybe throwing away your toxic cleaners and changing certain lifestyle habits don't matter. I however believe, that by offering the purest, most potent supply of nutrients, Shaklee had everything to do with naturally preparing Mrs. Leschke's womb, and others to conceive and carry a child full term. The debate on whether healthy eaters need to supplement their diet or not, will always be up in the air. But it's quite apparent to me that some women have tried everything and only ended up with heartache. I'm not a doctor, but time and time again I've listened and read about changed lives, and that says it all. If you or someone you know has experienced the pain of infertility or the devastation of miscarriage, and aren't ready to give-in, its time to take a closer look at what's really happening in your body. For some it will be as easy as adding or subtracting something in your diet. For others with more serious female conditions, this may be a call for a total lifestyle makeover, but it will be worth it in the end. I may not know your pain, but I do know there is help for you. Don't lose hope. Please leave your thoughts and concerns below <3

:Here's to double for your trouble::

RESULTS ARE IN! DRuMrOLL...

And now for the moment you've all been waiting for! Adrianne Marcum is the winner of The Greenest of Green Mama Goodie Basket!! Thank you! Thank you, to every mama that entered to win and extra special thanks to every one of my sponsors! Let's do this again sometime!!

::Here's to a BIG GREEN START this year::