From Disaster to Sustainability - One Town's Success Story

I just read the article about the small town in Kansas that was decimated by an EF5 (very worst) tornado in 2007 - the documentary is amazing if you take the time to watch and absorb it...if you have ever been through a tornado or hurricane, you will understand! They say it is like the end of the world. No electricity, no lights, many houses gone...what would YOU do?

Here is the link if you want to see it for yourself and missed it in the Footprints - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08PM3YEqBcE

The results? 95% of the town was hit and destroyed, with over 1,000 homes gone, 250 businesses gone. They could have given up and all moved away. and that would have probably been easier. But this town decided to do something different. 500 residents met and the spirit of collaboration and hope, decided to refocus their energy on rebuilding their community - into a model of eco-friendly sustainability. Since they were starting with nothing, they were able to rebuild and revision their community in a completely new way, acknowledging the way their agrarian ancestors used to live. And more than that, now they had a mission.

One man, David Wallach, that lives in this community, calls himself a "social entrepreneur" and moved here with his wife to get away from the big city and live off the earth. He said, after the tornado hit, “Greensburg’s is a story of being stripped bare of everything you thought you knew and having to start over. Here was an opportunity to work with a community that was experiencing the kind of loss and suffering that my wife and I know firsthand — relatively few people really know that in the same way we do. And that is important; it is important that we have experienced loss, too. We thought we had something to give.”

To see photos of how they rebuilt and resurrected their town with a new purpose and model for sustainability, go here to Blue Planet Green Living to see the article - http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/2009/10/15/rebuilding-after-disaster-%E2%80%93-greensburg-becomes-a-green-town/

“Greensburg is like a living science museum,” explains Wallach, who serves as the executive director of Greensburg GreenTown. “It is a place where people come and immerse themselves and experience a sustainable community." After such destruction, it is good to see a town so anxious to rebuild and revisit their reason for being, and set an example for other towns. What an inspiration! :)

Singing about the Environment can be cool! :)

When you think of "saving the planet" or conservation, it may seem boring, irrelevant or even politically charged - who knows how to REALLY determine how much Global Warming is affecting us, and why did Al Gore "really" make that movie?

Well, all I know is that I want to help the planet in my own way, and do what I know will help - things like using my car less when I can (less toxic emissions in the air), drinking water out of a "good" plastic water bottle (saving money on bottled water and saving lots of landfill space), recycling aluminum cans, plastic and glass (even less to go to landfills), and....watching this video!! :)

www.acespace.org/crush

This was made by a 15-year-old that was inspired by Al Gore's movie, but it is done in a very creative and modern way, to get the younger generation interested in what is good for the planet (such as riding your bike) and to stop things that hurt it through carbon emissions of fossil fuels (gas guzzling Hummers). It is customizable for guys and girls, and it is fun to watch and send to friends, even if you are WAY older than 15. Go ahead - it's fun AND educational! :)

And then get inspired by going to the main site www.acespace.org and look at their blog, resources for teachers, and the videos there - here is one example of a high school presentation that kids really liked! - acetrailer.com (the you tube version). Learn more about this progressive, innovative program for today's teens to make a difference today that will help clean the planet up for our future tomorrows!

Help Save the Rainforest with One Click!

Have you heard of The Rainforest Site? It is connected to The Hunger Site, The Literacy Site and the other worthy causes that have sponsors that help with that cause when people like you and me click on the sites daily, and shop their eco-friendly and local-made products.

If you want a daily reminder to click, they can send you one, and if you sign up for the daily reminder or the newsletter, you will get two Free Treehugger Bracelets. Better still, they'll fund the preservation of an extra 91 square feet of land if you are a brand-new registrant!

So if you want ONE little thing you can do easily, online, every day if you like - go to TheRainforestSite.com - and click and shop to help save the rainforest!

Go Green with Global Force around the world!

How can we "go green" around the world?

I know that many people are interested in doing things for the environment outside of the U.S. - in fact I am a little jealous that I can't ride a bike safely in the street in most places because we have not built our streets to accommodate them like many European countries have. I also know that hybrid cars are gaining in popularity and eventually they will be affordable and efficient. I just found out about a 100% electric "powerbike" - see http://www.brammo.com/learn/ for details - that can and will revolutionize how we mobilize ourselves - no gas needed ~ I would love to get one someday!

I love seeing new technology when it really solves a problem that we have with an innovative solution. And I love it even more when the organization promoting the technology (product/service) has an entrepreneurial and charitable side to it as well - innovative companies will be the ones to survive today's financial landscape. People need to know, like and trust you - at least your brand or maybe a personal contact with you - before they are willing to do business with you these days. And social networks are definitely ONE way to get to know someone and see who they are in a non-sales environment. If a company can combine social networking/community with a "real" product or service that is optional but in line with what I believe in - I am much more likely to purchase it - aren't you?

Enter Global Force Network - they call themselves "The World's First Ever Revenue Sharing 'Green' Social Network" ~ and I love this part - "Making a Living while Making a Difference"! I know we all have different things we want to be a part of to make this world a better place - whether it is a better life for our kids, better health, a better financial future - you can find these here at Global Force, no matter where you live in the world. We have English and Spanish sites, and will soon have a French one, along with more languages in the future.

So if you are entrepreneurial and want to see the vision that they have here - go to www.globalforcenow.com and watch the 9 min video about the company and what you can be a part of. Join the community for FREE at http://www.globalforcenetwork.com/signup and introduce yourself and your dreams for "going green" on your bio page. Get to know some of us in the community and think about what you want Global Force to be for you.

And take one small step towards making this world a better place for you and your family and the planet! :)

The Story of Stuff - and Our Planet

Whew - I have not written here since the summer celebration of our country's independence...I suppose I needed the break to decide what to write next - I have to be "inspired" and don't want to write JUST to write...but I am BACK and going back to what is important to me - helping people with small ways they can help themselves and the planet, whether it is through natural products, or actions we take on a regular basis to make life on this planet sustainable for our children.

I don't know about you, but growing up I never really thought about what it meant to be a "consumer". If you needed something, you would go to the local mall or grocery and buy it. You never thought about "global warming" or why it was important to recycle - I don't remember doing that as a kid...and now I know that is just the tip of the iceberg.

These days I think they are definitely doing more to teach kids how to recycle and what we are doing to the planet. And since so many more people are aware of what is happening, and how many of the world's resources we in the US are consuming in comparison to the rest of the world, you have to wonder why many of us don't "get it" and how we have been conditioned into believing we "need" all this "stuff". And its not just the US but globally - we need to see the big picture and why it is SO detrimental to our planet to keep going down this path of rampant consumerism.

This short fun film will show you the cycle of how goods are manufactured, sold and discarded, and how it was changed from the 1950's to what it is today - mass consumerism at an unhealthy level - AND what we can do about it. It's fun and interesting - and will really make you think - and act - to help us ALL have a better tomorrow.

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Let me know what you think - I'd love to hear your comments.

And one more idea -

I just joined GlobalForce, a new Green Social Network, which aims to preserve our planet. It's a safe online community where we can exchange ideas and together find solutions to escalating environmental issues. They give you simple tips and tools for your own green living that you can share with everyone you know and actually BE a part of the solution.

First watch this 9 min video to see what we are all about - www.globalforcenow.com .

Then go to http://www.global4orce.com to see how we can network together and really make a difference!
Go to this link to join our community for FREE - http://www.globalforcenetwork.com/signup .

You'll enjoy meeting others and you will be making a difference - isn't that inspiring? And for those who want to make a Living while making a Difference - email me or check out the site for more info on that! :)

How was your Independence Day?

How was your 4th of July?
Did you feel a sense of independence from the past achievements of all who have gone before to make this great country what it is today? Or do you feel that we still have a long way to go to be independent from all that worries us in this modern life...?

I had a great time as I have for the 4th year in a row going to see my sister in small town Kansas, where the worries are less and the family atmosphere is evident everywhere. I think it would serve a lot of people well to return to a simpler time, where the biggest news in town was the crops that season, or how the copy cat in the newspaper room made his pawprint on the news (seriously)...but here we are in the "big" city happy with our fast internet service and our fast paced way of life.

We tend to take for granted all of the advances that we enjoy now due to the sacrifices and achievements of those who made this country great...and we stand to give up some of those freedoms if we don't value what we now have.

What will you do to keep your freedoms? What do you value? For some, it is "security" in a 9-5 job and the freedom to have your family in a nice house and live a comfortable life. For others, they value the freedom of calling the shots in their life and having a vision of their future, even if that means years of uncertain finances until they attain their goal. For others, they just want their children to grow up in a safe environment or want to be free from their own addictions or their past...what will you fight for? How much do you want it?

Freedom isn't free - it is earned and it is kept only through vigilance to your ideals - so keep your vision for your future close to your heart and don't let anyone take it away...and celebrate independence in YOUR life.

We are now famous!

Thanks to connections from Misty and the Convey Ink/Media team, our Fun in the Sun Summer Camp News Release was blasted out to 150 media outlets last Monday. As a result of that - and my efforts online here with DurhamMyNC.com - Josh Green from NC17 TV station came out and took some footage of our camp and our first week in progress. He spent over an hour with us and was genuinely interested, spending time talking with the children, the staff and everyone on how they like camp so far and what our mission is here.

It is a great snapshot of what we do on a daily basis, so far...as we grow bigger we will have more structured classes and not as much free time to talk to someone like him...but we really enjoyed it and are proud to be featured on DurhamMyNC.com now after being on the news last Thursday night.

Here is our Media page on Star-Foundation.org - this will show you our News Release, the NC17 link, and other media we have so far for Star Foundation and the Summer Camp.

http://star-foundation.org/media.aspx

We are glad our message is getting out there, and I am meeting people everyday that want to help us with the camp...so I am feeling tired but very blessed. We need to find those who want to help us with funding, and we are getting closer every day. This last week was free for the kids to come and try out the camp, and now starting Monday, it is only $100 a week including breakfast, lunch and a snack daily, M-F 8-5 pm, for the next 9 weeks.

We also will have monthly fundraisers for the community to come and participate in and benefit from - our next one is next weekend, June 27th 1-5 pm, and I think it will be a great event, with vendors, food, live music and 103.9 FM also coming out to broadcast for a couple of hours. We will have athletes from Duke and Shaw signing autographs and a demo from a state trooper. Come out and see what we are all about next Saturday if you are in the Raleigh/Durham area - we would love to have you bring your family and friends and help support us in our efforts.

What is your dream?

Are you a realist or a dreamer?

The realist will tell you that accomplishing anything in life feels like such an uphill battle, with no end in sight, and no way to win. Those people around you are often not willing or able to see the big picture, and they are not self-starters, but want to see the payout before they start "really" working.

Then there are the dreamers with vision. The ones who have a determination to succeed, and won't give up or give in, and work with all their heart for something they believe in, regardless of the outcome...and this is the amazing thing - they actually accomplish their dreams!

Which one are you?

What do YOU want to accomplish in life? You have to DREAM it first! Nobody dreams of living 9-5, paycheck to paycheck. But many of us do because we are not willing to step out of our comfort zone and take a leap of faith. If you want something to happen, often YOU are the one who has to take the steps to make it happen!

I started working with Star Foundation in April. I was told by Joyce Waller and Ron Williams that it was a youth mentoring program in Durham, NC, and I could help with the Summer Camp. I would be able to use all my years of teaching to mentor and teach these at-risk kids what it was like to DREAM about what they wanted to accomplish in their future...and actually have a chance at succeeding at it! If they want to be a fireman, or an astronaut, or a famous football player, we will help them take steps that help them realize their future.

Now it is June, and I am still working hard to accomplish the foundation of the camp this year, working with the Star Foundation team to create "our" future, and we are MAKING it happen! :)

Have there been bumps along the road these past two months? Of course there have been. LIFE is a learning experience, and no one can tell you it will be easy. But my commitment to the kids and to this team has not wavered, and I know I will see it come to fruition very soon. And my favorite thing in life is to accomplish something that will benefit someone else, not just me. So no matter what happens along the way, if I believe in myself, and use my gifts and talents for a higher purpose, then I will see great things happening that I could have never imagined.

For instance, I am in charge of finding community partners and I have been talking to some really cool people. I am now in a position where I can talk to other people who also want to give and make a difference, for us and other non-profits in the Raleigh/Durham area. It is rewarding for me to make these connections and develop these relationships. And as I meet more people and develop my understanding more and more of what Star Foundation needs, then the connections I have developed will continue to benefit the kids and the team.

We had our first Community Event last month on May 23, and the above picture and video here on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exas1vyVz2Q are of that event. Our next event is June 27th, two weeks after camp starts on June 15. We are calling this one a "Fun-Raiser" because we are focusing on fundraising for the camp, now that people know we are "here" and doing a lot of good for Durham and surrounding areas.

If you want to see our "dream" in action, come visit us on June 27th for our Fun in the Sun Fun-Raiser at the Zafa Temple in Durham, and enjoy the live music, the food, and the community partners and vendors that are coming out to support us - you will be able to dream a little more and then see what you can do to put YOUR dreams in action. See you there! :)

It WAS Fun in the Sun!

So...it finally happened...after all that planning and promotion...radio shows and advertisement online and in nearby neighborhoods, and that famous video...the day came, some people showed up, and a good time was had by all :)

We had a great time with the DJ singing and dancing up a storm on the porch/stage, and the firemen gave us a lesson in fire safety...Misty took a video of us...and I even took some pics which you see here. Many children got their faces painted and got wonderful balloon animals for their very own, and we even had delicious food from Chloes, vendors got to show off their wares (including me with my jewelry and Shaklee - which will both be used in the camp this summer!), and participate in the raffle, and we all went home tired and happy...

Now onto the next community event! We are planning our next one for June 13...stay tuned! :)

Fun In The Sun Community Festival

I am glad to have finally found a place where my love for kids and my love for "going green" can meet - we will be teaching the kids to value the earth, recycle, use natural products, do a little organic farming...but FIRST we will have a little fun at the Fun in the Sun Festival on May 23rd!

This is our first community event - I am sure there will be more. I am helping get the vendors lined up and other community partners and sponsors now, but will be more involved with the education/teacher side of things when camp starts on June 15, as well as still be a community liaison.

If you or anyone you know has an interest in contributing something (a skill or service) of value to a great non-profit located in Durham, NC - let me know by commenting here or emailing me at laurel@star-foundation.org. Thanks and God Bless! :)

What made your Mother's Day special?

Hi Moms! And people that have moms or know a mom...oh I guess I am talking to everyone :)

Did you have a great Mother's Day? I hope so. I know I talked to my mom-in-law and my sister (that is her with 3 of her 4 kids above) today and wished them a Happy Mother's Day...those are the special "moms" in my life now that my mom has passed away.

What did you do for the moms in your life today? Maybe you cooked her dinner or gave her roses...maybe a massage or cleaned the house for her. Or maybe you told her you loved her and appreciated all the times she has done these things for you...taken care of you and bandaged your booboos and made you eat healthy and made the house a nice place to live.

And maybe, just maybe, we can do this for our moms on a more regular basis than just once a year! My mom-in-law was always there for me when we lived near by and we are close (no horror stories here :) She has always given me advice and has listened to my advice too when it comes to matters of health and healthy products. She even started using Shaklee a couple of months ago, and is very picky about what she uses. But the amazing thing is - she reordered the laundry soap and soft fabric concentrate when she ran out, because her clothes were not feeling itchy on her skin anymore and she liked the way they felt after she washed them with Shaklee.

So many people have the same reaction...I value my relationships and would never sell a product just to make a buck. I honestly sell from my heart and experience, and everyone I recommend product to sees that I am giving them solutions to their problems, whether it is cleaning your house so your kids can play in a safe environment or getting healthier so you will be around longer for your children.

So Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there that make our lives better - we appreciate all you do for us and value all your "healthy" advice - especially now that we are old enough to appreciate it :)

What are you doing this summer?

I don't know about you - but summer for me is all about getting out in nature and enjoying the cool breezes and the sunshine. I enjoy being outside, although I have never been the rugged mountain climbing type, at least I have spent days at the pool as a kid or even better, at the beach.

My best memories as a kid were at summer camp. That is where I found some new friends, had some new experiences and learned to ride a horse. I loved arts & crafts and singing camp songs, especially with marshmallows at a campfire.

Now as a teacher, and as an adult who enjoys hanging around kids of all ages - I have helped in various Vacation Bible Schools during the summer, summer school programs for private and Christian schools...and every year, enjoy visiting my nieces and sister in small town Kansas during their 4th of July festivities. We get to go to the carnival and the turtle races, and on the night of the 4th, their "Idol" competition, followed by the fireworks over the lake.

This summer I am looking forward to a new adventure - I am working with the non-profit Star Foundation in Durham, NC, and as Education Coordinator, I am helping to provide a great camp experience for a lot of inner city kids that would otherwise never get to do these things that I did as a kid. I love working with the others on our staff that really have a heart for these kids, and am looking forward to giving these kids an experience that they will never forget.

We will be providing a full day camp for 10 weeks from June 15 - August 21 - we hope to serve 100 kids from 4-14 in the Raleigh/Durham area, and even provide mentoring opportunities for older kids as well, so they can get an idea of what is out there for them as they turn into young adults. We have, in the past, had therapeutic horseriding activities, lots of outdoor experiences and local field trips, as well as "go green" activities, to help them value our planet and conserve, use a refillable water bottle instead of plastic, plant a garden and maybe even some vegetables, and watch them grow. Kids LOVE nature and science, learning how things work and love to have pets to take care of and nurture.

We are looking for volunteers and donors for the summer camp, and doing a Fun in the Sun Community Festival on May 23 from 1-7 pm at Zafa Temple in Durham, to raise awareness in the community about what we do, to give kids a day of fun with a bounce house, clown and face painting, games and other fun activities.

We are also giving vendors a chance to come out and promote their businesses to raise funds for the summer camp, so if you want to spend the afternoon with us - just contact Ms Joyce at http://star-foundation.org and tell her you want to help a kid go to summer camp!

Happy Earth Day 2009!!

Have a happy Earth Day 2009!

Use filtered water today in a water jug instead of one of the 70 million water bottles used in the US today
Use less water for your shower today
Do a bigger load of laundry
Recycle today
Buy some organic fruits and vegetables to help those farmers
Buy some natural organic products instead of commercial ones
Smell the roses today
Take a walk and enjoy this beautiful day!! :)

And watch Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger plant Shaklee's millionth tree in their A Million Trees A Million Dreams campaign!!! http://gov.ca.gov/ What a great testimony to helping the earth :)

Calling all moms.....

I am so pleased that Shaklee is coming out with a line specifically for babies and kids -

If you are a mom of either babies or young kids (up to preteen) - you know how important it is to put good products on their tender skin or to give them the nutrients they need on a daily basis to make them healthy and strong! So many kids these days have learning difficulties, ADHD, or even respiratory problems such as asthma because of the products in our homes and the poor nutrition they sometimes receive because of our busy lifestyles or the sake of convenience.

If you are a new mom and want to treat your precious little baby with a little tender loving care -

Specifically made for baby's tender skin and little bodies, their brand new line (available May 1) includes Gentle Wash, Massage Oil, Soothing Lotion, Diaper Cream, and Multivitamin Powder - one of the most comprehensive infant-toddler supplements available, it contains prebiotics to help promote a healthy immune system and bundles of vitamin D to support strong bones and teeth.

Babies are the most precious gifts in the world. Keep yours happy and healthy with Shakleebaby. Safe, pure, and natural, our pediatrician tested baby care products are formulated to keep your little one's bottoms soft, itty-bitty toes clean, and growing body healthy.

See video here - http://content.shaklee.com/shaklee/flash/show.php?video=Baby

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Or maybe you are a mom of some great kids that you want to give only the best to -

Well - have no fear - ShakleeKids is here!! :)

Also available May 1, Incredivites is the first kids chewable multivitamin in the U.S. with lactoferrin, a protein that helps busy bodies' immune systems stay supercharged. Packed with 23 essential nutrients, it's one of the most comprehensive supplements available.

And their Mighty Smart is scientifically formulated with a power-packed blast of ultra-pure DHA. Essential for early brain development, this omega-3 fatty acid has been shown to support mighty memory, mad concentration, and fierce mind skills.

Want to see the powers ShakleeKids have?

http://content.shaklee.com/shaklee/flash/show.php?video=Kids

For more info, comment here or email me at laurelea2006@yahoo.com and I will tell you more as May 1st approaches - and give you more details on the products at your request.

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To see a slideshow on both product lines and see the specials this month -

http://www.slideshare.net/laurelea/shaklee-kids-baby-launch-may-1

And as always, thanks for reading my blog! :)

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I am so excited! :)

Well, I went on my second radio show today with Ladee16 - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Ladee16/2009/04/11/Its-Easier-Than-You-Think-To-Go-Green - and I think it was a big success! :)

I invited everyone to come and listen...and if anything it was some good publicity. We had some listeners and participants...my upline leader Ronnie came on and helped me by adding to the conversation...and the hour didn't seem long at all. In fact I could have talked more! :)

So I figure that it is not how many people hear you during the show, but how many people can hear it afterwards on the BTR player....how cool is that? Great publicity, and better than a website. People can hear my voice and listen to how passionate I am about helping people get the best products available to the public today.

And the best part is? Ladee16 (Diana) joined Shaklee afterwards as a member - because as she said - "I know a good thing when I see it!" So as I learn to spread the word more and more and build up my reputation online...I continue to get more exposure and interest...get invited to be a guest on a radio program...and get the host to join with me in my mission to get everyone healthy!!

So if you didn't have the opportunity to hear the program yet - go listen and tell me what your thoughts are on it. And respond here - I'd love to hear it.

Have a great day - and remember - if people see you are passionate about something, they will want to follow you as a leader, and that is what you will be developing yourself into, day by day.

And the ride is even more exciting than the destination! Keep climbing! :)

Spring is in the air.....

At least where I am sitting here looking out of my window in Raleigh, NC - the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and life is good :)

I am happy that it is not raining, that is it warming up, and that I am able to write my thoughts here to anyone reading - there is a rainbow after the rain!! So why don't we always have sunshine...why do we have to go through tough times to get to the good times? Well there are a few ways I could answer that question, but one thing I firmly believe is so that we appreciate the good times - when we have them.

So is it just random that we'll have good and bad times in our lives? I believe some of it is just "life" and things we can't control...but the bigger part of it - the part we MUST focus on - is the part we CAN control, the part that we engineer day by day. The WAY we live our lives.

Are you in business for yourself? Are you trying to live beyond the daily 9-5 grind? Then treat it as a business, and not as a hobby, for it to pay you dividends into the future. I am always actively pursuing my business, saying to myself - what can I do today to promote my business? What can I do to learn more about it, about promoting, about connecting with other people so they have the information they need...what can I accomplish today that will make my TOMORROW better?

I don't think of myself as a "salesperson". In fact, I don't "sell" anything. All I do is show people how THEY can have a better life through options that are available to them, that they didn't know about, or think about, before. And in that way, if I help someone, they benefit, and in the long run, so do I. I am building a foundation for my future - so that the "sun can come out" in my financial life, and I can have the greatest reason for it - I helped others to get where they are, so I can get where I want to be - isn't that the best feeling of all?

Come join us at http://bestlifepossible.ning.com if you feel the same way! I would love to welcome you to the community :)

Who's the Expert?

I wonder these days...how people become "experts" at something.

It used to be if you had a degree in that subject, you spent your life researching or examining it, writing clinical papers on it, going on newscasts as the authority on the subject, etc.

These days, the internet has made it so easy for "anyone" to become an "expert" that it is a double-edged sword. Anyone can go online and pose as an expert because they are now "published".

Well, I believe that it goes way beyond a web page online, but still goes back to the core values of what that person has done in the past and their reputation - offline and online.

Roger Barnett (who I am standing with in the above picture :) is an expert at making "good" companies "great" - here is what he said about Shaklee and why he bought the company-

My family acquired this company because we feel that Shaklee represents the single greatest business investment opportunity that we have seen in the last 5 years. We’ve been in business for over 75 years and have created 4 companies from scratch that today are each worth over 1 billion dollars, and we’re determined to make Shaklee both the best investment that we have ever made and the Number One company in our industry. We took 5 years and spend over $20 million dollars deciding which industry and which company we wanted to invest both our time and our reputation in building.

Why did he buy Shaklee over all other businesses he could have invested his time and energy into?

Because he saw that Dr. Shaklee and the time and energy HE had invested had make HIM the expert on natural organic products, well before anyone knew what "biodegradable" and "non-toxic" were! He pioneered this industry as well as network marketing as a "new" business method back in 1956 -

Half a century ago, Dr. Shaklee pioneered two industries, the nutritional supplement industry and the network marketing industry. Since that time, for 50 years, Shaklee has maintained the reputation for producing only the highest quality products with over $250 million dollars spent on product research and development, and over 100 published peer reviewed clinical trials. Shaklee’s reputation for integrity in both our product quality and in our business practices has never ever been compromised.

You can read his whole 3 min speech here -

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=293487731&blogId=466427463

THAT is the kind of "expertise" I like to see. A person or a company that stands behind its products and services and withstands the test of time. And continues to serve into the next generation of those who realize that we have one planet, one family to take care of, and life and resources are precious.

Let's be the "expert" in what is best for our families. Don't be swayed by the newest greatest health fad - go to the time tested, mother-approved, back to nature products that Dr. Shaklee spent his life creating - see them here at www.shaklee.net/bestlifepossible.

And learn more about Dr. Shaklee and the company today.

One Simple Change....

We can change the world in many ways, one action at a time.

The biggest one is through changing our awareness, our attitude towards learning about a better way to do things...many times we sail through life blissfully unaware that our actions are causing something detrimental in our lives.

Or we wonder why something bad or harmful is happening but don't bother to do enough research to change it.

That is why I am focusing my healthy awareness campaign not only to individuals and their homes, but to business professionals that want to make a small change in their business - in the products they use or give as gifts - these can be "green" focused and better for the environment and the clients they come in contact with. It shows that they are aware of the world around them and want to build a lasting relationship with the earth and the people in it...

If you want to look more into "green" products, this is a good place to start - watch my new "professionally done" video, ask for a free 15-min consultation by phone and we can help your world to be a greener place to live.

Thank you! :)

Moms at Home Making a Difference

Are you a mother who is craving for something to do outside of the house? Interested in adult companionship and a purpose of your own, and even makes a little money on the side?

Well, hold on to your apron, rescue is on its way! :)

I just found this website recently, and it is connected to the natural products company I work with, formed by a few moms that realized it was a great way to get OTHER moms involved and active outside the home, without giving up the freedom that they had to take care of their children and be a mommy.

http://www.projectmahma.com/bestlifepossible

And if you are concerned about your child's health and wellbeing, and agree that non-toxic natural products are the ONLY thing you really want your children finding under YOUR sink...then you have found a company that is aligned with your values and makes it easy for you to tell your other mommy friends what you use that is so much better than what they could find at your local grocery store.

Take a look - and see if you like this vision of your future :)

What can kids do to save the world?

I went on a conference call today about Social Traffic and how to affect people and the next generation - our children :)

The woman that was featured was Judith Gorgone and her site is www.planetpals.com

She is an amazing artist and very interested in helping kids to "save the world" by helping the planet through eating right, recycling, and learning about Earth Day! If you didn't know it, it is April 22. Here is a link to the activities that you and your children can do leading up to Earth Day to prepare for it -

http://www.planetpals.com/earthdayideas.html

And that got me to thinking...when someone is concerned about the planet, and recycling, and helping the earth, whether they are young or old, they will also start thinking of ways to "save" their little part of the planet. Things like "ecology" and "global warming" don't hit us until they hit home - until they affect us PERSONALLY. If you can see how the smog from millions of cars is ruining your breathing (and your view), then you might want to ride your bike to work. If you don't like the taste or quality of your tap water on your tongue, then you can drink bottled water...or even BETTER - filtered water in a plastic jug that you reuse daily and doesn't fill the landfills these days (at the rate of 70 million bottles a day! :>).

What are some other things you can think of? Recycling? Using less resources? Less plastic? Those are good. What about using less chemicals in your house? You may not think of your household cleaners as chemicals, but they are. Look up the video "Toxic Brew" online and you might find resources like this - http://www.rmbarry.com. /audio_video/toxic_brew.html

Do you want your babies crawling around on a floor that has just been sprayed with chemicals? Or your family eating on a counter or table that has just been wiped down with chemical-based cleaners...I have worked in day cares for years, and many use Lysol and other such products, not realizing that kids get sick and so do workers just by being contaminated with these irritants. Asthma and respiratory illnesses bring kids into the hospital every day.

Have your kids help you clean your house - you can do that IF you use all natural organic cleaners - I know a few that fit the bill - go to http://www.shaklee.net/bestlifepossible/prodHou to see what I recommend and why I am so passionate about helping the environment and involving our kids in "saving the world" with us - because THEY are the ones who will have to live it in long after we are gone.

Shaklee goes to the White House!

Here is something that I am so impressed with Shaklee for doing - showing the government how to HELP people...any age...make their own destiny!

But especially as we grow older, and have less "working" options - home businesses that WORK are the best ways to GUARANTEE our OWN security!!

Here is an excerpt of the article -

"In unscripted comments, Mr. Barnett emphasized the need to develop business models and health opportunities for the 78 million aging baby boomers, some of whom will begin turning 60 in January 2006. "The public and private sectors need to work together to develop policies that will help the aging baby boomers remain a productive and engaged part of society," said Barnett. "They need to be offered opportunities that will not discriminate based on age, sex, race, education, or economic background. The Shaklee business model is one such example, and there are many others...but there needs to be more."

Underscoring his statement that success is not limited by age, Mr. Barnett showed some photos of Shaklee Distributors from ages 64 to 100 who continue to be active in their businesses. He then pointed out that Shaklee's founder, Dr. Shaklee, started the company at age 61 and lived to see it transform into a Fortune 500 company during his 80s."

So YOUR life is determined by YOU - how productive do you want to be as you get older? How secure do you want to be financially? Make choices now that will ensure your future.

Read the rest of the article here -

http://www.openpr.com/news/2134/SHAKLEE-CEO-ADDRESSES-WHITE-HOUSE-CONFERENCE-ON-AGING

For more information on how Shaklee does this - and helps other causes - go to http://www.shaklee.com/causes_home.shtml

Laurel Nicolosi
www.shaklee.net/bestlifepossible

A Million Trees A Million Dreams

Dear Parent,

Have you ever thought about how the earth is going to look in your childrens' generation? If you think about it, we are using the earth's natural resources at a much faster rate than they can handle, and it is only getting worse - here is an excerpt of what is happening according to the film The Eleventh Hour.

The film posits that in many ways, humanity has detached itself from nature, and grown accustomed to using without thinking to manage the earth's resources.

"The big rupture came in the 1800s, with the steam engine, the fossil fuel age, the industrial revolution," says Nathan Gardels, author, editor and Media Fellow of the World Economic Forum. "This was a great rupture from earlier forms and rhythms of life, which were generally regenerative. What happened after the industrial revolution was that nature was converted to a resource and that resource was seen as, essentially, eternally abundant. This led to the idea, and the conception behind progress which is: limitless growth, limitless expansion."

"Finding coal here, and little bit of oil there, and between that and the agricultural revolution, slowly our population crept up until we hit our fist one billion people," says Thom Hartmann, a best-selling author and progressive radio talk show host. "It didn't take us a hundred thousand years to go from one billion to two billion. Our second billion only took us a hundred and thirty years. We hit two billion people in 1930. Our third billion took only 30 years, 1960. It's amazing when you think about it. When John Kennedy was inaugurated, there were half as many people on the planet as there are today."

http://wip.warnerbros.com/11thhour/

Watch this and then Enter Site - it is fascinating and telling. There is a LOT of information on what is happening to the planet on a daily basis due to our overconsumption and disregard for the earth and its natural resources....but there is also great HOPE that we can turn this around and give back our time and resources to make the earth a better, cleaner, greener place to live.

How do I do this in my own little world? By sharing awareness with everyone I can, and by using natural, organic, biodegradable products in my home, through Shaklee, founded in 1956.

Shaklee is the first company in the world to obtain Climate Neutral certification and totally offset its C02 emissions, resulting in a net zero impact on the environment.

Look at their environmental milestones here -
http://www.shaklee.com/causes_achievements.shtml

and our connection with Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2004.
http://www.shaklee.com/causes_miltrees.shtml

Dr. Wangari Maathai is one of the speakers in this film and she is an advocate for a greener earth. As it says on that site, "Inspired by the visionary works of 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai and her Green Belt Movement, Shaklee began a tree-planting campaign across the United States and Canada in April 2006, encouraging the company's 750,000 Members and Distributors to organize tree-planting events at the grass roots level in their respective communities."

Try out the Carbon Calculator on the site to calculate your impact on the planet, and then check out her site - http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/a.php?id=148

One example of what Shaklee does is that every time someone buys a Global Ambassador pak from Shaklee, the company will plant 5 trees in that person's name, just to offset the carbon emissions of shipping your pak!

If you are interested in learning more, comment here or email me at laurelea2006@yahoo.com.

Thanks for caring! :)

Get clean presentation

Check out this SlideShare Presentation on Natural Cleaners and how they are better and more effective for you and your family. And save over $3200 a year in cleaning supplies! :)

Get clean presentation

View more presentations from Laurel Nicolosi. (tags: nature science)

Turn back the hands of time?

I see that it is all the rage today to "stay young" - so many anti-aging creams out there and so many miracle drinks that promise to stop the hands of time. With so many baby boomers increasingly getting older and wanting to find ways to stay young and vibrant, one company has delivered on that promise with a new liquid supplement called Vivix that has enough resverotrol in a 30 day supply to replace 3,000 glasses of red wine!! :) Through years of clinical research and testing, they have finally given us what is needed and guarantee the supply through cooperation with the growers of the vineyards this natural supplement comes from.

See what the excitement is about and if you want more information, you are welcome to see more at www.shaklee.net/bestlifepossible.

It won't turn back the hands of time, but it will make time a little kinder and your body a lot healthier!

http://content.shaklee.com/shaklee/flash/vivix.html

Why do I do it?

Why do I do it? The things I don't like doing...the things that are unpleasant. The things that HAVE to be done. Whatever it is....dishes, laundry, cleaning, paying bills, making a budget. Calling that person I have to resolve that conflict with. Calling my bank to dispute a charge. Oh and here's a good one - making a plan of action to REALLY get my business in motion.

What??

Yea, it might be a little unpleasant to think about what NEEDS to be done in order to insure success in your business, but it is necessary. Why do we do these things? Because if we don't, not only do WE suffer, but our family suffers. Our relationships suffer. Our finances suffer. If things don't get done, then we have gone backwards instead of forwards. Laziness becomes more and more the "norm" and we don't even realize it at first. We think, well, it's ok to sleep in. It's ok to take a day off.....and if we have been working hard, it is. BUT if we haven't, then there is no reason to reward ourselves for work that has not been accomplished yet!

Why did you mother tell you to do your homework before you went out to play? Because she knew that if you played until dark, you would be too tired to come in and do your homework, and it wouldn't get done. Or there would be a fight to get it done.

Why do I do the dishes after dinner? Because if I don't, they will be sitting there until I do them. I won't be able to use the sink or the dishes until they are clean, and everyone in the house has to work around those dirty dishes. Or dirty clothes in the closet. Or that dirty bathroom. Or whatever it is in your life that needs to be cleaned out, refreshed, brushed off...maybe it is your self esteem. Maybe you've been battered and bruised. Maybe you've had people made promises to you that didn't turn out to be true. Maybe someone has promised you the world but gave you a lot less in return...

So pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and say OK. This is the day I will do it for myself. This is the day that I will do the things I don't want to do, but NEED to do to move myself, my business, my life forward. I will clean the attic and find that old stuff I've been collecting that I can use for my business...I will find those contacts that I have been putting off getting in touch with. I will start writing that blog I promised myself I would for months now :)

So what is it for you?

Find out what it is that you do for your family that they appreciate. That if you DIDN'T do, they would suffer from it. And if they don't tell you, then list the things you do that go unnoticed but you do because you love them.

And if you do have some "unfinished" business....things that are dormant but can come to life again as soon as you breathe into them, find them and bring them to life.

You'll be living better than you thought possible....this is what dreams are made of :)

What do we need to teach the children of today?

Today I was motivated by my own teaching experience and love of nature to write this as if I was talking to a child - but it applies to all of us no matter how young or old we are!

---------------

What do we need to teach the children of today?

We need to teach them about how to prepare for their future, as citizens, as consumers, as residents of this planet. Don't throw litter or waste resources - we only have one earth to live on and we need to treat it with respect and care. Use natural and organic products over any other type of product - science and nature come together in perfect ways to take care of our homes, our bodies, and our environment. If we take care of the environment, it will take care of us - give us good air to breathe, good water to drink, good food to eat and a long healthy life.

We need to teach them to value people and relationships - do unto others as you would have them do unto you - if you want a friend, be a friend - and all these valuable lessons they learn early in life. Be sure to remember these lessons as you head off into the business world and you will be more profitable than if you try to push people out of your way in your attempt to get ahead of others.

Respect your elders and learn from their wisdom - they have been in your shoes and now they can teach you what they have learned. If you make a mistake, fix it...if you hurt someone's feelings, apologize and make amends. We cannot live without each other and we need to build bridges wherever we can, not tear them down and run away, and hope our mistakes don't catch up with us someday....you might not see if now, but whatever you sow, you will reap, and you want to reap a beautiful harvest of love and good deeds for the next generation.

So go out and plant a seed of love in someone else's heart today, and day by day, you will have more friends than you can measure.

Best Life Possible: Making it easy to "go green"!

http://hubpages.com/hub/Making-Going-Green-a-Lot-Easier

Making it easy to "go green"!

"Going Green" - what is it? And how do we do it? Why does it make a difference?

These days "going green" is like a Hollywood craze. Seeing celebrities cruising around in a Prius or saving the rainforest...some people care more about the habitats in Antartica or in the jungle. Some people love to be in nature and live on roots and berries. Others of us just want to do small things to help our little part of the planet be less toxic.

I am one of those "other" people. I like the products I use to be free of things I can't pronounce, and warning labels, and smells I don't recognize. I don't want to worry that my vitamins are doing nothing for me except going right thru me, a waste of my time and energy.

I needed to find out more for myself on what "going green" meant to other people. I ask here in what I think is a "common sense" approach to why people pick "natural" vs. "storebrand" - is it time, convenience, not enough knowledge? I hope I am able to shed some light on the subject here on this video - thanks for watching :)

So - if we believe it IS important, how do we do it? I decided to look online...

I found out there is a lot out there these days to look at. I found one former investigative reporter with a common sense approach -she and her husband appeared on Oprah not too long ago talking about their favorite natural cleaners - I think she does a great job describing how we can help the planet and our own home by using natural organic cleaners and other products as well as organic food without pesticides -

To see her talking about her philosophy on video, and why she wrote this book - go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eFu_ShwOfM&eurl=http://www.myspace.com/laurelsenergy&feature=player_embedded

You'll see it on my site - then come back if you'd like to read an excerpt from it here.

Thanks for watching!

---------------

Here is an excerpt from her new book - "Green Goes With Everything" --

By Sloan Barnett
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416578451

INTRODUCTION

Let's begin by agreeing that we are all creatures of habit. We do what we do every day because that's the way we've always done it. It takes a big reason for us to make big changes in our lives. And the reason is usually very personal.

Much to my surprise, I've become a green activist. I wasn't always. Oh sure, I cared a lot about our planet and the changes we've made to it. But it wasn't clear to me what I could do to make a difference. Then something very big and very personal happened and I saw the light, and the light was green.

Here's my story.

My son Spencer had just turned three when, one day, I noticed he was coughing a lot. At first, I didn't think anything of it. Kids get sick. I told him to lie down, thinking he'd be fine -- it was just a cough. A short time later I realized that his heart was pounding, as if it were trying to beat right out of his chest. Terrified, my husband Roger and I rushed him to the hospital. The emergency room doctors placed our son on oxygen and gave him strong steroids to help clear his airways. We spent the next two nights in the intensive care unit. The doctors told us he had something called reactive airways dysfunction syndrome -- a form of asthma.

Asthma? How did our little boy develop asthma? We'd never heard of asthma coming on so suddenly. We were confused and sick with worry.

We talked to our son's doctor. We talked to other doctors. We asked questions but never got satisfactory answers. Ultimately, we knew our son's condition had to be either genetic or environmental. Neither my husband nor I had any family history of asthma, going back for four generations. So we concluded the cause was environmental.

I've spent most of my career working as a consumer reporter, so I knew how to dive right in and begin researching. It didn't take long to discover that the United States is in the midst of an asthma epidemic. One of every thirteen school-age children in the United States has asthma. Asthma in children younger than five has increased 160 percent since 1980. Nine million U.S. children under the age of eighteen have been diagnosed with asthma. Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States, and it's the third leading cause of hospitalization among children younger than fifteen. The suspected cause of these stunning changes? At least six well-designed epidemiological studies have found one answer: a strong link between the use of certain cleaning products and asthma.1 That stopped me cold. The cause of my son's asthma may have been me. I may have been poisoning my own son.

At the time, Roger had just become chairman of Shaklee Corporation, the leading natural nutrition company in the United States. Shaklee also produces a line of natural, nontoxic cleaning products, and has since the 1960s. Shaklee was green when green was just a color and "biodegradable" was a word only scientists used. We started using Shaklee products exclusively, and Spencer has never again visited the emergency room. Coincidence? I don't think so, and once you've read this book, I don't think you will either.

After that scare, I went to work learning about living clean and green. Much of the information you need to get clean and green is out there, but we're all so busy we don't have time to weed through all that material on the Internet and in books. Plus, it's all so scientific, it's easy to lose your way.

Since my husband and I began our crusade to help others get clean, my family and friends have bombarded me with questions about everything from cleaning products to baby clothes. I found myself becoming the go-to person for all sorts of well-educated but woefully misinformed people. And the more questions they asked, the more I realized the depth of the need out there for information in plain English. The media assault us daily with scary statistics and dire warnings about harmful products. Sometimes the information is reliable, sometimes it's not. Who can hope to separate what's important and relevant from what's just sensational and frightening? I thought that if I could compile the most crucial information, make it accessible and user friendly, and maybe even a little entertaining, people would be able to absorb the message.

Writing the book you have in your hands became my mission.

......

When it comes to the environment -- and many other things, for that matter -- I think most people make choices based on three criteria: health, convenience, budget. Then, if their choice happens to be good for the planet too -- great. Bonus. Hard to think about melting glaciers when you're tired, hungry, and operating on a tight budget.

That's where this book comes in. It helps you make greener choices without sacrificing convenience and budget. More important, they'll be choices that will also be improving your family's health. And be warned: Once you get started, you won't be able to stop. There's a natural momentum that comes with doing the right thing for yourself and your family and your planet. You buy one nontoxic cleaning product, you start using one baby bottle made from materials that are safe for your infant, and the next thing you know you're recycling and riding a bike to work and buying organic cotton towels. I think helping the environment is a lot like working out. I always say that just putting on the workout clothes is something to be proud of. It's a step forward. That's the thing that matters: starting.

When I first thought of calling this book Get Clean, my mother told me she thought it sounded too much like a rehab book. I laughed. But now I realize she was on to something. This is a rehab book. It's life rehab. And though I can't help you kick all your bad habits, I hope to help you kick some of them.

So let's get started.

Copyright © 2008 by Sloan Barnett


Laurel - www.bestlifepossible.com