Living between Black and White

Yesterday, I commented on this post on Instagram:

My comment was about how BECAUSE of INTUITIVE EATING, I come back to Arbonne's protein, fizz, and detox tea, and the recipes I've learned through them after a few days of eating all the foods I wanted to eat. I was fully expecting the crowd to debate me a bit, but I actually had quite a few people like my comment and then reply in agreement.

Except then my comment and like 9 replies were deleted, so one other girls asked why. The owner of the account mentioned that there are people struggling with disordered thinking around food and that their account was a safe space free from people promoting their MLM products. I get that. Except we didn't promote them, instead, were just carrying on a debate about detox. Also want to point out that the owner of the account used #arbonne in her original post, so, that just felt a little confusing. I understand that she was definitely not promoting arbonne, but she obviously wanted us to see it, but why, if you're not going to hold a debate about it? Seemed unfair, but oh well.

One part of one of the comments I made was about black and white thinking - that we can believe in intuitive eating AND healthy habits that can be found elsewhere, even from a company that is MLM. Like everything else, there's a huge grey area!

One of my very good friends recently started following #intuitiveeating on Instagram. If I had to sum up what I have found this to mean is that food is not our enemy; we should follow our instincts with eating - like if we are hungry, or craving something specific we should just have it; and we should work to be body positive no matter where we are on our on our journey with our health. Intuitive eating also rallies against diet culture, detoxing, cleansing, and processes along those lines.

As many of you know, I am also a consultant with Arbonne, so I've been working on making all this fit together. I have been asking myself, "Is Arbonne intuitive eating? Do we promote diet culture?"  Our program, called 30 Days to Healthy Living (30DHL) is an elimination diet for 30 days... so maybe? I went on to ask myself, "Am I part of this problem?"

But the more I follow along, the more I am finding that Arbonne's goals are in line with #intuitiveeating. It just takes some work on the front end for each individual person to find the specific things that trigger their individual bodies.

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is highly addictive, acidic, allergenic, and inflammatory. Foods that contain gluten, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, dairy, and soy may not be in our best interest to be eating ALL THE TIME. With Arbonne, we omit those ingredients for 30 days, and then add them back one at a time afterwards to find out what ingredients are particularly triggering for each individual person who tries our program out. It's not that you can't have foods with those ingredients after your 30 days, just that you will be able to notice how different ingredients trigger you. Case in point for me: eating a TON of my dad's pizza (it's sooo good!) and then having to lay down for like 3 hours because I totally overdid it and my stomach was telling me so. Those moments of noticing is intuitive eating.

The goals of 30DHL are to promote health in many ways: better sleep, clearer skin, no head fog, more energy, less headaches and migraines, better digestion, and supporting organs of elimination just to name a few. Weight loss is also an effect for many who complete our program. 30DHL is built for individuals to find healthy habits that work for them. Our program is about being nourished, it's not a quick-fix weight loss strategy that makes crazy promises and ends after 30 days.

I've read countless books that echo the goals of our program: Body Love (Leveque), How to Make Disease Disappear (Chattergee), Medical Medium (William), and It starts with Food (Hartwig) to name a few. Furthermore, Dr. Tanda Cook, Naturopathic Doctor, also recommends the habits our program teaches.

And that's just it: we are habits-based and our goals are to help individuals find habits to last a lifetime. Learn about probiotics and then take them daily to aid digestive processes. Take a shot of Greens Balance in the morning because most people do not have the time to get all the servings of veggies our microbiomes truly need. Add a detox tea that will deliver nutrition to your liver so it can function AT IT'S BEST rather than being bogged down trying to process an excess of  inflammatory ingredients that don't  serve us. Turns out that Cheryl from the meme above is  right - that the functionality of our liver can be enhanced by nourishing it in the proper way. (See Medical Medium's book for more on that.)

It was intuitive eating that led me back to supplements that add health to my body after all that pizza. It's intuitive eating that has my body craving our vegan protein shakes. It's intuitive eating that says, "Go ahead, and have that ice cream, because you're fully aware that dairy is a trigger for you, and you are in fact choosing it's effects." 

I'm really curious to know your thoughts. How am I doing with this intuitive eating thing? Am I getting close to understanding it? Can I live in the grey area between that and 30DHL? I've never felt better about my appearance and how I feel on the inside, so something's working here!

Leave a note in the comments, let's keep this conversation going. And EB, I'm most interested in hearing your thoughts on this one, friend!

Be well everyone!

#Arbonne30 completed and sustainable!

A few years ago (2012, damn, that was a long time ago!) I competed a Whole 30. This is a program that is a jump start to the Paleo lifestyle. It's an elimination diet. With this program you eliminate dairy, alcohol, grains, legumes, added sugar, Carrageen, Sulfites, and MSG, and "junk" food. What you eat on a Whole30 is veggies, fruit, unprocessed meats, seafood, eggs, nuts & seeds, (some) oils & ghee, and coffee. (Reference)

When I completed that program all those years ago, I lost 6 pounds. You can read about my month-end reflection at this link.

Since then I've tried many things, and most recently it was Arbonne's 30 Days to Healthy Living and Beyond. Our program is also an elimination diet for 30 days but our philosophy is a bit different. We eliminate all things that are acidic, allergenic, or addictive. These foods cause inflammation in our bodies, and lead to poor health and eventually disease. Arbonne's mission is to add health to our lives, and we do that by eating clean, whole foods, and supplementing them with products that support our bodies. More on that in a bit.

Before I dive in a bit more about Arbonne's philosophy and why I have such belief in it, I have to tell you that with Arbonne30, I lost 13.1 lbs in four weeks! That is double what I did in four weeks of the Whole30. DOUBLE. And that's just the scale victory. I had a lot of other non-scale victories, too, like:

• No more cravings
• Eating WAAAAYYY less, but never really feeling hungry
• No head fog after too many carbs
• No headaches from caffeine
• Way more energy
• Clear and glowing skin!
• Clothes fit better (actually pulled out some old pants that hadn't fit in a while)
• Happier - you guys, generally speaking, I'm a happy person, but the past few weeks I've been extra happy. It's kinda crazy!

So, what sets Arbonne apart? This image is a nice summary:

Arbonne is focused on a few things:

1. Whole Foods Eating - we shop whole foods (think: 1 ingredient)  that are organic, cage-free, or grass fed
2. Avoiding inflammatory, addictive, and triggering foods, specifically gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, caffeine, and alcohol, which trigger the immune system and cause inflammation
3. Focus on the importance of absorbing our foods - Our supplements are nutrient dense and not depleting. They are meant to help your organs absorb all the nutrients you take in with each meal

Our philosophy is to guide people into a whole foods way of eating. We give people the tools to put down the inflammatory foods, and also create a lifestyle which is totally sustainable.

Another HUGE difference with Arbonne is that we created supplements to add helath to our bodies and support our organs of elimination - our liver, GI track, skin, and lungs. These organs help our bodies expel what it doesn't need, so, being the smarties they are in our Research and Development department, Arbonne developed products to optimize the work of our elimination organs:

• Detox Tea - replaces coffee and helps our liver work it's best. For example, milk thistle supports detox pathways in the liver. Peppermint (tastes great!) and has an affinity for the GI Tract. (And there's like 5 more - watch the linked video, our Dr. Tanda Cook, Naturopathic Physician and Arbonne Independent Consultant.)
• Digestion Plus - We need beneficial bacteria in our diets because they help us break down and absorb our food. You guys, I've learned: we are not what we eat but WHAT WE ABSORB. Let that sink in. We are what we absorb. So, if you do not have enough bacteria to break down and absorb the nutrition you're eating, you're not getting the benefits of all that kale and raw nut butter and free range chicken! Additionally, serotonin, the feel-good hormone, is produced in our GI tract, and needs these enzymes to produce at good levels. Perhaps this is the reaosn for my excessive happiness? :-) :-)
• Fizz Sticks - These replace pop and coffee (which are acidic, and sugared) but have so many benefits. They are a clean energy source and way more ALKALINE-forming. They taste awesome and have B Vitamins which help us out with stress. They contain chromium, which helps balance our blood sugar. WINNING!

And there are more, including Fiber Boost, Vegan Protein, and a 7 day cleanse.

But wait, there's more still. Our program offers a 30 day private facebook group that delivers education around everything we do, topics including: 

• Gluten
• Gut Health
• Elimination Organs
• Soluble and insoluble fiber
• Balancing Blood Sugar & pH
• Truth about Olive Oils - which are good quality and those that aren't
• Meal planning, including 4 weeks of compliant recipes (that are delicious!)

The list goes ON and ON and ON.

That Facebook group is important for the education, but also the community. It's great to see people's results, have them cheer you on from the sidelines, and have a group to be there together when you are struggling, too!

At the end of the day, I'm not settling. I'm not settling for feeling or looking poorly, not settling for anything less than health and wellness, and from a business standpoint, I'm not settling on a teacher's salary that cannot deliver the things in my life that I want and need.

I share Arbonne because I BELIEVE in their philosophy and what they do, and I get that this company is a vehicle to financial and time freedom. 

So what did I learn in 30 days with Arbonne?

1. You can restrict the American Diet and not feel bad. You can go to a baby shower and have the veggies, salad, fruit salad, and meat minus bread, and still be happy. It's just food, not love. (Friends reference, anyone?) It's okay to let it go.

2. When the scale won't move and you've only "cheated" with a Lara Bar and some fruit, you better start counting your calories and make sure you've gotten enough so your body does not think it's going into starvation mode and store fats, rather than releasing them. My week four my scale was exactly the same as week three until the last day when I added more nutrition. The last day of the week? Down another 1.2 lbs!

3. When you do this kind of program, do so with a friend! There are currently three of us that work together, and we each make different recipes and swap them around for variety. We work together, cheer one another on, and are there to support one another. 

4. Yes you can! Yes you can complete this challenge and actually continue going. I'm planning on continuing for another four weeks, with one cheat meal around Fat Tuesday. With the education and recipes, this program is meant to take you beyond the 30 days, and you most certainly can.

5. It's affordable. Many people skoff at eating organic and grass fed, but if you spend your money there, prepare food at home, and use the supplements as they are meant to be (and in a pinch), it all comes out in the wash. You can afford this. (For perspective, I'm a single teacher living alone on the north side of chicago and I can afford it. You can too.)

6. It's not all just easy and rainbows and puppies. Anything worth doing takes discipline. You will need discipline, especially getting through the first week or two while you are detoxing yourself. The supports are put in place for your success with this program, and yes you can accomplish it. (Nod to my brother-in-law for reminding me of this and inspiring my One Word for 2018: Steadfast.)

7. Working out: In January I did eleven sessions of yoga. That's it. This challenge takes place in the kitchen and is focused the way we are nourishing our bodies, but the yoga? That's helpful too, for physical and emotional well being.

8. From a business standpoint: Lead by example. ALWAYS lead by example. People are talking to me about what I'm doing because they look at me and I look better and I'm happier. If you want your business to flourish, you have to get disciplined about your work.

Want to know more, including taking a look at my before and after photos? Head over to my Private Facebook Group (click Join Group) to check those out. You'll also get a feel for what Arbonne is all about. In this group I share about health and wellness, well being and happiness, and keep my shoppers up-to-date with the new promotions and incentives that Arbonne offers. I'd love to see you over there learning along with us!

Wishing you health and wellness this month and beyond!

Live Free

As you all know, I'm a teacher, and I love what I do.
I love teaching kids.
I love creating readers and writers out of them.
I love being around people all the time, especially middle school teachers, who, like the kids we teach, are a unique tribe of people themselves.

But I'm also passionate about so many other things.

Mindfulness.
Health and wellness.
Open lines of communication.
Taking time to take care of yourself.
Seeing the world.
Experiencing new cultures.
New outfits, with the perfect accessories.
Puppies.

The list could really go on and on.

Except I'm kinda stuck, because my teaching career can only afford me so much in the way of financing the life I dream about.

I don't want to be two days out from payday asking a friend if we can grab a coffee instead of lunch because my checking account has taken a hit. Or saying no to another friend's trip to Europe because I'm buried in some credit card debt.

I'd love financial freedom.

I don't want to be so exhausted from teaching that I do not do what I need to do for myself, which is work out after work. And I really hate that alarm going off at 5:30am every morning calling me from my peaceful slumber into a cold (litearlly - it's like 10 below in Chicago the past few days) world.

I'd love time freedom.

I certainly do not want toxins in my daily care products. If I am going to get myself toxic, I'd rather do that with a bottle of wine and a friend than with my shampoo and mascara.

I'd love freedom from toxic chemicals that infiltrate the products we use on a daily basis.

As much as I love teaching, it just won't give me certain freedoms I desire. That's why I said yes to Arbonne about a year and a half ago.

Now, in my free time, I get to teach others about health and wellness, how it means more than just what we're eating and how often we exercise.

I get to share the joy of our culture and community with anyone who is interested, and introduce them to a whole bunch of women who are all my new friends now!

Let's get a coffee and talk more about it! I'd love to show you how you can create a willable asset for your family and loved ones by simply changing where you shop... and get a whole crew of new friends as a result! Just drop me a message and I'll reach out!

And until then, be well, friends!

fighting overcarbsumption

I'm five days into my second Whole 30 and it's been a combination of emotions.

I gave up coffee. Whole 30 doesn't require this, but Arbonne's 30 days to healthy living does, and so I haven't had coffee since Monday. I've had a pretty persistent headache all week. A few of the days I took Aleve, including today, and it's still here. So that's definitely not my favorite part of this.

Someone this week asked me, "Why coffee?" It's acidic. What I've learned about food in the past year since I began consulting with Arbonne is that ideally, our body should be alkaline rather than acidic. In an alkaline state, your body can relax, it doesn't have to work to "fight off" chemicals or rescue itself from ingredients in our foods that are not in our best interest. Check out this link for a cool graphic and see where your favorite foods lie on the pH scale! I also found this article (not sure of the source, but seems legit). In addition to the acidity, I always flavor my coffee with a sugary, flavored creamer, and if I can't have creamer, then may as well just forget it.

On day two I had zero energy. Like I couldn't even return a text in the evening, I just wanted to lay there with my eyes closed. My energy ebbs and flows, hasn't leveled out yet, but I did go for a run/walk last night after school so that was good!

The biggest thing has just been the ongoing narrative in my head, about the cookies, carbs, and wine in my vicinity. I haven't cheated once, but I have to seriously talk myself out of it each time. As I'm rereading It Starts With Food, I'm reminded that this isn't my fault - we are living in a world of FrankenFood - it's all manufactured to get at our senses of pleasure, but it's not nutritionally sound. To compound this problem, because of the overcarbsumption, the signals in our body do not function properly. We're eating superficially flavored and chemical-laden foods, but because they have zero nutritional value, the hormones in our body don't tell our brain we are full. So we keep eating and the pattern continues.

Why is this happening? Money. Nabisco wants to sell you massive amounts of Oreos, so they process the cookies with the best chemicals so you can sit and eat the whole pack in one sitting, getting not one ounce of nutrition, and since your hormones probably aren't working right, you never become full.

There's so much more behind the science of this, I am not even fully grasping it yet, but I highly recommend the book.

I tell myself this is hard, but then I read this:

So, I will persist, and hope for a dream of wine or Oreos.

Live Free

If you picture your life five years from now, how does it look? Do you have financial freedom? Time freedom? Are you able to spend your time doing the things that you love or are you spending most of your time building someone else's business?

About a year ago, I asked myself that same question and realized if I didn't change something or add something, in five years I would be in the same place I am now - living paycheck to paycheck, wondering how I would ever pay off my student loans and only dreaming of my next vacation. And so when Mary shared Arbonne with me and asked me if I was interested in changing my life, I said yes.

Yes to super-premium, botanically based skin care.

Yes to personal care products free of parabens and other nasty ingredients that are, unfortunately, business as usual here in the States.

Yes to a nutrition line that is Vegan, non-gmo, Kosher, free of chemicals, formaldehydes, and dyes.

Yes to better gut health and sleep, and more energy.

Yes to continuous education in health and wellness.

And in that moment, that was all I thought I was saying yes to, but since then I've realized there's a few more things coming my way...

Yes to a tribe of women who are amazing and positive and some of my best friends.

Yes to financial freedom and time freedom. As much as I love my career in education, as much as I love to teach middle school kids, as much as I love my colleagues, teaching is never going to afford me the lifestyle I desire, a lifestyle that includes financial freedom and the ability to leverage my precious time.

And today, I ask you... where will you be in five years? Arbonne isn't the only opportunity for creating passive income and the opportunity for legacy money. Perhaps you've got a plan. But if you don't, maybe Arbonne could be for you.

Let's grab a coffee or a have a Skype date. I'd love to share with you what I've been blessed to learn in the past year!

Be well,

One Year Forward

2016.
Over in a flash.
Anita tells me all the time that time goes by too fast, I can see why.

I stopped setting resolutions last year. Instead, I picked a word, a One Little Word, to guide me through the year.

So in what ways did I move forward?

Career
2016 took me back to my middle school roots, and I love being with the older kids. However, it didn't unfold exactly as I had thought it may have. There were some distractions and anxiety there, too, but I have to remember I'm on year one again as a coach in a building that is new to coaching, and that in my first year as a coach at Emerson things weren't roses and butterflies, either. I've pretty much spent the last five months stressing my own self out, and I need to be done with that. It's just that I don't like to be mediocre at things, and that is how I've felt in a lot of ways this school year. So, granting myself a little grace in the coming months to close out this 14th year of teaching.

On the flip side of that was that I was nominated for a Golden Apple Award. I have no idea who nominated me - all the people I have asked have said no, so not really sure what started all that. It's kind of lengthy process, but I did all the application essays and got the letters I needed, so we'll see at the end of February if I advance to the next round. Wouldn't it be strange if the year I find I'm doubting myself the most was the year I actually moved closer to such prestigious honor? The world works in mysterious ways.

Professional Development
Finally finished my ESL Endorsement - I had done 5/6 of it in Undergrad - can you believe it? In 2003! But here in Illinois, I needed one more class, so I got that done with this semester.

I was also fortunate enough to attend the Illinois Reading Council Conference again. This year I met Ralph Fletcher and Kelly Gallagher. I know you may be thinking I"m such a nerd, but I don't even care. The two of them have shaped my teaching career in ways I can't even describe, so it was so nice to get to meet them and share that with each of them.

Dating Life
Moved forward a bit here. Met a few different guys, including a few guys I liked. Bad timing on some, Douchbaggery on other accounts, not wanting to settle on another front. But, I could have done better, too. You know, it's hard to move forward when you're looking back all the time. So, need to cut that out. I'm hopeful for a beautiful 2017 in this department, especially with my new One Little Word to guide me... more to come on that :-)

Friendships and Relationships with Family
I made so much progress moving forward with many of them. I attribute this to a lot of things, but a catalyst for it was most certainly Landmark. I am so thankful that I finally said yes to Landmark because it has made a profound difference in my relationships, most notably with my sister who I love so much.

Spirituality
Moved forward in a big way this year. Found Old St. Patrick's and was confirmed Catholic. I can't even tell you how many Sundays I found myself stressed out but sitting in the pews for the 5pm mass. Each time it's like a wave of peace washes over me. And the choir is amazing, like, I could listen to them all day. I'm so thankful to have found this community!

Finances
In some ways, this is not an area of strength for me. Definitely some setbacks, but also some progress. The setbacks have helped me to see where I need to put forth some effort. And, in the spirit of that was Arbonne. I got my first promotion in December, which should help me see a slightly larger income in the coming months. Initially I started Arbonne because I'm seeking financial freedom, but I can't wait until I have the funds I need to take care of all the people who have helped me out this year, namely, my parents. I'm so thankful for them, for their support not only financially when I needed it, but also for my emotional well being as we all know it's so easy to spin stories and make things "mean" something they really don't. (Another lesson I attribute to Landmark.) Anyways, ended the year sitting down with a financial planner and have a plan for 2017. Action - that's what makes things happen! Looking forward to more financial independence, because what I really want is to do things for the people I love most!

2017
Stay tuned for my new word, I'm so excited for it. Working on updating my vision board and doing a decluttering to start out the new year with lots of space to reach for new milestones. Amazing to think of the possibilities we can create in the short amount of time that is one year!

Did you have a OLW last year? How did it go?

Cheers and sparking wine to you on this New Year's Eve day,

Tree Thoughts

I don't know why I am so drawn to trees, but I am.

One summer day I sat on my couch and could hear the leaves rustling behind me and I loved it so much I took an Instagram video of it.

When I wake up in the morning (when I don't have to leave early for work) the light that is cast through my kitchen and living room windows is so pretty - the light comes through the leaves outside my windows and dances around my apartment.

I love fall. (I know, so basic.) But seriously, look:

This book, of course.

And is it a coincidence that Arbonne, a product line and health and wellness philosophy I have come to love so much, means beautiful tree?

I'm drawn to art that includes trees, too. About 5 years ago at the Frankfort Fall Fest, there was this artisan who created these beautiful mosaics, and my favorite one was a tree. If only I had $300 at the time, that piece would be here on my wall at home.

And then just this week, on Twitter, I saw a tree that was part of a writing workshop, and etched into the trunk was "Writers grow together," and I am in love:

Speaking of etchings, I've always wanted to etch initials into a tree trunk with some special someone, you know, like this:

The past few days I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what it is about trees that draws me so much to them...?

Is it because living without trees in Arizona all those years has me really appreciating them?

Or maybe it's because of their roots that has them grounded firmly. The best people I know know who they are - when you go out into this crazy world, if you don't at least know yourself, you can be easily manipulated...

Which brings up another quality of trees, flexibility and bendiness. While you do have to stand for something, it's also important to be flexible enough to compromise.

Is it because the leaves change colors and fall away? Last time I had a breakup, this quote spoke to me pretty profoundly:

Or is it because the courageous few, who sometimes, step out onto that limb? Like having that hard conversation with friend or family member. Or walking up to someone you'd like to know to say hello. Or sharing Arbonne, even when people are so judgy. Putting yourself out there isn't easy, but it can definitely yield some pretty amazing results.

So this fall, as you go about your busy days, slow down to notice the trees around you. And, in a few weeks, stop by my classroom to see my Writer's Workshop Tree. It's going to be a daily reminder of all that trees bring into our lives!

Am I missing any other awesome tree references?

Leave me a comment to share them!

F*%@ Yes

Pardon my French. I mean, to lead with that is bold, right? I’m not the kind of person to throw around a sentence enhancer like that in this kind of forum, you know, public… perhaps on a somewhat professional platform. But today, I say F-Yes. Let me explain.

Have you read that article called F--- Yes or No? It’s written about relationships, like, you better be saying F--- yes to the person you’re in a relationship with or you might as well just end it. Totally makes sense to me. Like, why would you date someone who you’re just moderately excited about? For some, this is easy. For my ex-boyfriend, he didn’t get it. He dated me for over three years but I was never an F-Yes to him. Took me awhile to figure that out and move on, but now I know. And to be on that side of the equation sucks, royally. But I digress.

I think this F-Yes mentality can be applied to anything in life we spend our time on. Our time is precious! Once it's gone, we can never get it back! One of my best friends, Anita, tells me all the time, “Michelle, can you believe it’s already September?” Like seriously, she tells me this, like her mind is blown each time. And then she smiles, because I smile and kinda laugh at her, because she always says it. Because it's true, time is just slipping away.

So I ask you, what are you spending your time on? Are they things you're super excited about or just a little bit excited about... or, not excited about at all? I’m sure all of us have things in our days that we don’t feel that strongly about, but it’s my mission make the most of my time with the things I choose to spend it on.

Friends and family. I love them, so if I'm with them, know it's an F-Yes for me.

Teaching. I love kids. Seriously love, even on days like last Thursday when I'm sure the kids could see the metaphorical smoke coming from my ears.

Social events. If I'm there, it's an F-Yes for me, because I'm always at an F-Yes for quiet time home by myself, reading or writing.

Which brings me to Arbonne. Most certainly, today it's an F-Yes.

I had no idea what I was signing up for when I said yes to Mary and Arbonne. I had no idea I'd make this many new friends:

I had no idea they'd refer me to books that make me better, like You are a Badass, The Slight Edge, and two I'm really excited to read next, On Fire and Dare to Dream and Work to Win.

I had no idea that they would invite me to their homes and tell me that I'm amazing and that they are lucky to have me around. And that they'd brag about my blog. (!!)

I had no idea they would teach me a way to do a bunch of work now to create a future of possibilities, one where I can show up to weddings across the country or be at a family members side if (heaven forbid) they became sick and needed me, without having to worry about being away from a job and a paycheck because of time missed.

I had no idea the training I would receive from Arbonne would leave me with things like this swimming in my head:

• Mind your mind.
• What we focus on grows.
• We live the life we're willing to tolerate.
• See what can be, not what is.
• We attract what we put forward.
• Live in gratitude.

All of this - I had no idea I'd have all of this in my life. It's so much more than I thought. I thought I was saying yes to personal care products that are safer and cleaner than those on the shelves in Target and Nordstrom. I thought I was just switching my breakfast to a vegan protein shake. I thought I was just saying yes to a new skin care routine.

But I was really saying yes to so much more.

And today? Today it's a F*%@ yes.

What are you saying F-Yes to?

MLM Misconceptions

I've been consulting with Arbonne for four months now and it's going so well and amazing and way more than I could have ever imagined. What I've realized now that I'm in an Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) company is that people who are not in it have a lot of misconceptions about what it actually is all about. As someone who spent the majority of her life outside of MLM, I get why people have these misunderstandings, and today, I'd like to dispel some of those.

Here are some common comments I've heard from friends and family. Following each comment, you have a response from someone who is in the arena and doing this kind of work on a consistent basis.

Concern #1: How come you want to do all this work for other people who will then profit from your efforts?

I hear what you're saying, well, I used to get it. But now that I'm in, frankly, this comment is insulting. Why do I want to work with my upline? Well, they are coaching and mentoring me to create a future of financial and time freedom. I get texts, messages, and calls on a daily basis that are positive, uplifting, that help me set goals and make them a reality. My Upline says things to me like, "Michelle, there's room for all of us up here at the top, we are standing at your side, locked arm and arm, creating a future that prior to Arbonne, you could hardly imagine."

And now that I've been in 4 months, I can see this future they are talking about. Our leader is Lisa, and you know what? I want her to hit her next promotion and make it to Nation because she is amazing. She's got the biggest heart and is the most down to Earth and authentic person you'll ever meet. She inspires us all with each message and text and quote she shares.

Bobbi is at Area Manager, and I so want for her to get in her Mercedes by the end of the year. So while she coaches me to hit my next goal of District Manager, I'm wanting to bust my @$$ to get her in that Mercedes, because you know what? That then reinforces to me that I, too, can reach that milestone. Bobbi is always there for me, answering every question, showing up to all my events, listening to my stories and being a great friend at my side. She wants me at the top with her!

Dana is almost to Area Manager, and she just hosted the most beautiful champagne brunch for our team last weekend. We were able to meet a few new team members and share this passion together with some new people who we want on our team. Dana made it so special, and shared about all the beautiful things she loves about each person in that room - these are the people I want in my life, women that lift me higher.

Mary introduced me to Arbonne and she's the District Manager direct to me. She gets that if you want something done, you ask a busy person - she's a middle school teacher just like me, and she has a passion for health and wellness just like I do. I'm lucky to have Mary at my side, and so thankful that I had an open mind and open heart when she invited to to learn what she knew about health and wellness and Arbonne. If it wasn't for Mary and a Valentine's Day lipstick, I would not be composing this blog right now, today. Mary, you have changed my life.

And Jess - Jess came on with me, and together we continue to learn this business we know that will offer opportunities to us in 4-5 years that others could only dream about. The initiative Jess takes on and the excitement for what we get to do is palpable. I'm so thankful that she said yes and is taking Arbonne along with her life, and with me.

So do I think I'm only working at Arbonne for others? Nope. I'm creating a future of financial and time freedom, and I'm helping the amazing women in my life who I care about reach their dreams in the process.

Concern #2: Do you only want me on your team to help you make money?

No. I actually want you on our team because I have an amazing opportunity to offer you - one that you probably can't see just yet. I have this opportunity that will free up your time and your finances so you can spend it on what's most important to you - whatever that might be. Want to stay home with your kids? Arbonne. Want to travel the world? Arbonne. Want more friends? Arbonne. Want to create a healthier lifestyle? Arbonne. Want to pay off all your student loans? Arbonne. Want to *not live paycheck to paycheck? Arbonne. Want to plan your dream wedding? Arbonne. Want to give back to your parents? Arbonne. Want to invest money into southside Chicago and help end violence? Arbonne. 

Also, I want you on our team because I see something in you. You are probably happy and upbeat and fun and a people person and engaging and bring joy to my life. I want those kinds of people in my life. All around me. Increasing the positivity exponentially. So if I'm asking, don't be mistaken. I want to spend time with you, I want to coach and mentor you, I want you to reach every dream you've ever had.

Concern #3: MLM consultants use their friends and family for financial gain.

Well, if you're my friend, I love you, and I'm guessing we talk on a pretty regular basis, and I probably hear things from you about a desire to become more fit or healthy, the fact that you got a terrible sunburn, that you have super bad acid reflux, that you're drinking more pop than you'd like to, that your eating habits are crappy because you're short on time, that you're not sleeping well and wish you could, that you have lines on your face you wish weren't there, or acne, or you kids have sensitive skin... and on, and on, and on.

I'm totally not complaining about these conversations, you're my friend or family member and I'm here to listen and I care about you. We're all impacted by things like I listed above. But Arbonne has solutions each. And it's all made with the best possible ingredients to be pure, safe, and beneficial. We're living in a time when everyone is being super conscious about what we're eating - trying to be Gluten and toxin free, but many people aren't paying attention to the other personal care products we absorb into our blood stream every day. If you're using Suave or Pond's or Biolage - how do you know what chemicals are in them and what they are doing to your health?

The reason I want to share about Arbonne is because it's another option. It's healthier. It's clean (we follow the European Union's standards for health, eliminating 1,400 chemicals. US eliminates 10-14.) It's also effective.

All that being said, I totally respect you wishes. If you are straight with me and tell me that you're not interested, I will drop it. But know that I have options for you that you're missing out on, that could potentially make your quality of life better.

In closing, I leave you with one of my favorite authors, Brené Brown. I choose courage - courage to do the thing that others make fun of and talk down on, courage to keep sharing it with people who I love, courage to show up to networking events and meet new people, because I have a lot to offer them.

I choose courage because I don't accept the fact that my life has to be a certain way because of the financial restraints I took on when I said yes to teaching.

I choose courage because I will create a future exactly how I want it. (It includes a Mercedes and a lot of travel, and a house in Chicago proper.)

Courage or comfort, what's your choice?

We only have one life, gotta make it count!

Fave Summer Products

Hey everyone! Happy Summer! Are you enjoying the long days relaxing on your porch with a cold beverage? I am (minus the porch I so desperately wish I had...future goals!)

My last post about my favorite Arbonne products was so well received, I wanted to do another one with my favorite products for summer! Check out a few of these that I've been using religiously and a few others I still haven't tried yet, but that are on my wish list!

Before we begin, you might be new here, so just want to share that with Arbonne, everything is pure, safe, and beneficial. Each product contains carefully selected, botanically based ingredients. Our products are rigorously tested. We're vigilant about the latest research regarding chemicals to ensure we're being mindful and cautious. Our products deliver results. As trailblazers, we must educate, empower, and inspire people to make better choices for the beauty, health, and wellness of their family and friends.

With that, let's go!

Awaken Rejuvenating Body Mist

from our Aromassentials line 

Not only is this a lovely lemony scent to wake you up in the morning, but it also serves as an awesome bug spray! I've been using it instead of Off and it's working like a charm. A friend took it to the woods in Wisconsin with great results, too!

Key ingredients: Awaken Essential Oil Blend which is a balance of lemon and coriander, clover extract, and ginseng extract.

Energy Fizz Sticks

from our nutrition line

I love, LOVE the fizz sticks. They are meant to break the coffee & pop addictions, but as someone who has been working out in the mornings now that it's warm, I usually find myself coming home and not wanting coffee. So, I make one of these and it's cold and refreshing and lightly caffeinated too. They come in pomegranate and citrus.

Some other cool things to do with them: Fizztini, add some Malibu, mix them with our Herbal Detox Tea, or add them to the 7 day cleanse for a little more flavor.

Key ingredients: antioxidants and a botanical blend of green tea, ginseng, guarana, combined with B vitamins and  chromium which helps boost energy

Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Body

from our Liquid Sunshine Line

Water-resistant mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide that creates a barrier between your skin and the sun. Protects from UVA/UVB rays. Super lightweight and non-greasy. 

Tried this out the other day for the first time at Lake Michigan and worked like a charm. Laid out for about an hour and a half before finally going into the lake, and I could tell it was still good to go even after splashing a little water on myself.

I also have the sunscreen for face and the chapstick, which tastes like coconuts. I'm nuts about it :-)

I haven't tried the Sunless Tanner yet, but I heard that mixed with the body firming cream, it's amazing, too! I will definitely be getting that out when I get the winter blues next February!

Renewing Body Gelée

from our SeaSource Detox Spa

This is one that I have tried a few times, but it's still on my to-buy list. It's a cool, refreshing gel that hydrates for soft, smooth-feeling skin. 

When I tried it, I had three bug bites. I put it on one but not the others just for comparisons sake. Here are the results after 36 hours:

Ridiculous, right? I can't even with this one, not sure why I haven't purchased it yet! So, this is just one use of this product. Here are some others that I'm going to try out after I get this for myself:

Sun burns

Bee stings, any bug bites

Headaches

Carpal tunnel

Fever reducer

Arthritis

Hot flashes

Let me know if you're interested - I'm not sure where you'd put it for hot flashes, but like for headaches, on your temples and back of your neck. I know some of you are already believers of this "magic blue jelly." What else are you doing with it?

Key Ingredients: sea kelp extract, ivy leaf extract, Japanese green tea extract

PhytoSport

from our Sports Nutrition Line

So this is one I *haven't tried yet, but was just talking about it last night with some friends. I'm running my first half marathon in September with my sister and so the other girls who are also runners were telling me how if you're going to be out running for an hour or more, this is a great product to use.

Three steps, and lots of carbs, key amino acids, electrolytes and more help support your workouts. After I get a hold of this and try it out, I'll be back with more details!

So what are you already using? Are you using any of these products any differently? Do you have questions? You can keep the conversation going in the comments section below!

And, if you're in Chicago and would like to join me, send me an email and I can let you know about a few events (one I'm hosting later this week!) that you could attend to learn more. You can reach me at hellogoodgoodlife@gmail.com :-)

Thanks for reading, and be well, friends!

Xx,

Arbonne: My Why & First Fave Products

As many of you know, I have launched a business with Arbonne, and I'm loving it! I wanted to share about my favorite products so far and also a little about why I decided to link arms with amazing women in this company.

Why Arbonne?
As many of you know, I have a career I love, in education as a literacy coach. I serioulsy never dreamed of having such a rewarding gig, and I'm so thankful for the work I get to do every day!

But, teaching is never going to afford me the kind of life I envision for myself. For instance, I have three months off in the summer, but I'm usually too broke to go anywhere... especially not the places I want to see, like Napa, Cabo, and Tuscany.

But then I found Arbonne, which is a Mulit-Level Marketing (MLM) company. I always thought these kinds of companies were kinda a scam, I mean, what, you work your bum off and then the people above you collect all the money? But, since beginning with Arbonne, and reading lots about MLM, I have figured out a lot of misconceptions, and I now believe that people who get into this kind of work are pretty smart, working on something (else) they are passionate about in order to build a future full of opportunities.

Since beginning, I've not only collected a little bit in the way of a 'Thank You' check, but I've begun to switch over all my self-care products to Arbonne at a great discount. Also, and even better, I've been able to spend time with people who are so positive and uplifting, making new friendships and learning a whole new set of skills (which I also see transferring to my work as a coach). So why would I say no?

Aside from the business opportunity, I also love the products that Arbonne offers because of thieir ingredient policy. They formulate products on many lines: baby care, skin care (both men and women), nutrition, hair, makeup, and sun. All of their products are formulated to be pure, safe, and beneficial, which means they are formulated without:

• Animal products or by-products, including collagen, elastin, hydrolyzed animal protein, keratin, lanolin
• Benzene
• Diethanolomine (DEA)
• Hydroquinone
• Petroleum-based ingredients, such as mineral oil
• PABA
• Parabens
• Phthalates
• Propylene Glycol
• Sodium Laurel/Laureth Sulfate
• Triclosan
• Toluene

Anyways, I love that I can feel safe knowing that any product from Arbonne will be healthy for me. That is why I want to share with my friends and family!

That being said, here are a few of my favorite items from the various Arbonne lines!

Protein Powder - Chocolate and Vanilla

Stats: 20 grams of vegan protein, gluten free, fructose free, dairy free, low glycemic index (Diabetic-friendly) so it does not cause a spike in blood sugar, 20 vitamins and minerals, no saturated fats, trans fats, or cholesterol, and no artificial sweeteners, flavors and colors

Both options are delicious. I use the vanilla mix usually with berries, kale and/or spinach, fresh OJ, and ice. The chocolate I like just straight with water or almond milk, but have also added berries, cherries, and/or a banana. Oh, and I just realized I could freeze coffee into cubes and mix that with the chocolate for a mocha-flavored shake!

I began drinking these shakes for breakfast around April and haven't quit. They will keep you full for hours!

Herbal Detox Tea

I got this as part of the 30 Days to Healthy Living Plan (which is an awesome program to detox and clean up your eating for 30 days, including online support with holistic health coaches!)

Anyways, here are the stats on the tea:

• Helps support liver and kidney health
• Hydration supports toxin elimination
• These processes help support optimal health

Extra perk for me was it has been helping me sleep better. Usually I wake up a few times in the night, but not since starting this tea. I would also eat stuff (granola bars) and maybe OJ in the middle of the night, and that has also subsided! (Such bad habits I have had!)

I guess what I'm learning from Arbonne, is they want to drive beauty from the inside out, so their nutrition products all support that. I could go on and on about the nutrition products because I love them all, and they are my new daily essentials.

Arbonne Intelligence Genius

Moving on to skin care, I have to lead with the resurfacing pads. The Arbonne girls call this product 'botox in a bottle' and even though it's botanically based, it sure feels strong!

These are used at night after you wash you face. You swipe your skin (especially where there are wrinkles and color spots) upward to resurface skin.

I have those lines by my eyebrows from giving students 'the look' and I can see a change in them in just the last month that I have been using them. Of all the skin care, this is my favorite so far!

RE9 Intensive Renewal Serum

I also have begun using the RE9 line which is their anti-aging skin-care line. I have super dry skin which is the first reason I love the serum: Stabilized Vitamin C boosts and maintains moisture by supporting collagen, resulting in improvement in the appearance of fine lines as well as proving moisture barrier protection to restore a natural, youthful glow. And of course, it's formulated without synthetic fragrance, parabens, or dyes. Win!

CC Cream

I am not someone who used to wear foundation, or even knew what a CC Cream or a BB Cream was. I did use a product from Benefit though called Erase Paste to cover up the bags under my eyes and the zits I would get. I have now switched that to the CC Cream and I'm loving it!

A CC Cream is a 10-in-one product: 1. Primer; 2. Protector; 3. Concealer; 4. Hydrator; 5. Mattifier; 6. Brightener; 7. Blemish Cover; 8. Pore Refiner; 9. Comforter; 10. Complexion Controller.

So my Benefit product I used to cover zits and bags under my eyes has been replaced with this all-over product. I was never one for lots of makeup, but this is a great base for the little extras I do put on after, like eye makeup and blush. The CC Cream feels like a light version of concealer and definitely feels hydrating. Color wise, I'm medium (third one down).

That's just a taste of the products so far. I love so many others, too - Digestion Plus, the Fizz Sticks, mascara, eye primer, Tea-Tree Oil Shampoo, and the Shea Butter lotion. Pretty soon there will be nothing left of the products I used to purchase at Target. Why not shop with a company that can give back to your family?

To see these products and others, check out my website. Do you shop with Arbonne? What are your favorites? Keep the conversation going in the comments section below! :-)

Be well,