Best Life Possible

Happy Valentine's Day! What would you do for love?

2011-02-09T15:44:00.001-05:00

There are many stories about how and why Valentine's Day was created. Every holiday has its origin, and Valentine's Day is no exception. This one, however, is more interesting because it is about love and what people and even Greek gods and goddesses have done for love, from Greek and Christian tradition. The Christian tradition talks about a Saint Valentine, who wrote notes to his beloved in jail "from your valentine".

But I was a literature major in college, so Greek mythology always fascinated me. So we'll talk about Cupid and the Greek gods and goddesses and what they did for love.

Cupid is thought of as the jolly fat cherub flitting about zapping people with arrows, often making the most unlikely partners. It reminds me of "Midsummer Night's Dream", one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, where Titania falls in love with a donkey for a night because of Puck the fairy's hijinks - Shakespeare is skillful at giving us a hilarious look at the unsteady nature of love and jealousy, and it is quite a night before everything is restored in the morning. Is it all a dream, or is it the nature of love to be jealous and possessive? So many stories show us this side of love, and Cupid's story is no better in Greek mythology, but it does have redeeming qualities and a woman, Psyche, that overcomes impossible odds to be with her love eternally.

Cupid is the incarnation of Eros, the god of love and desire, and he was a beautiful god. His mother, Aphrodite, was jealous of Psyche, a beautiful mortal, so he was sent to destroy her. But one look at her and he was head over heels in love with her! He arranged to have her come live with him, but he did this in disguise so she never saw him. Her sisters got jealous and made her wonder what he looked like, and one night she did sneak a peek in the dark with a candle, and he was disappointed that she didn't trust him. He awoke and saw her standing there, and told her he must leave her, for "love cannot dwell where there is no trust." Realizing what a fool she was, Psyche went to Aphrodite for help, and she set about making Psyche perform a number of seemingly impossible tasks. In each case, Psyche was assisted by a god, and so she performed all the jobs assigned to her by Venus, even though the last one almost killed her! Eventually, Psyche and Cupid were reunited, and allowed to marry, with her becoming immortal and living with Cupid in their kingdom.

What will you do for love? What have you done? I am sure no impossible tasks like Psyche, but I am sure many of you have stories out there that show your love for your husband and wife that are unbelievable to others. Many times we are not really aware of how much we love someone until that person gets sick, or goes away, or rejects us (for good or bad reasons). I just recently saw "Love and Other Drugs" and I was reminded that love is really the most redeeming emotion - it makes us do things we would NEVER do otherwise - care for a sick loved one, go through trials, pain and redemption for those we love. I suppose the more we go through with someone, the more we love them. And no one that has been married for 10 years or more will tell you that marriage has been easy. But it is worth it - and so is love - true love.

So Valentine's Day is a day to show your beloved you love them - and it should be just one special day to show appreciation, along with the other 364 days in the year. Right? :)

What will you DO today?

2011-01-14T12:56:00.002-05:00

It's Friday, and many people take Friday and relax at work, or think about the weekend, or try to get out of doing a lot of work. :P

My tendency, since I don't usually tutor on Fridays, is to do the same. I do think it is important to have a time in your week for reflection and refocusing of priorities, and not to JUST do things to make yourself feel busy. I seem to have an ebb and flow in my week since I have my own business, and I like it that way. I try to stay balanced and spend time both working and projecting what I want my upcoming month to look like.

Now having your own business is like baking a cake - what ingredients do you want in it? :) But as important as gathering the ingredients is - what you want your life to look like - it will never pay off unless you find a way to monetize those activities. I have learned this over years of forming my own path to success. Organization is very important, especially for someone like me that has a lot of things going on, but when you are organized, then you must move to action. You must focus your energy what is called "IPA"s - Income Producing Activities. Busywork will never pay the bills. Action is like the baking of the cake - you can put all the ingredients in there, but you must - at some point - bake that cake to see any result.

I have read a couple of Andy Andrews' books and I really enjoy his way of looking at life, through him as well as his characters. Here is a video I got from Heather O (in my Inside 919 circle of friends - thanks Heather!) that show why "taking action" is so important to your life and your decisions really do have consequences. You will never be fully prepared, and you will never know the outcome until you do ONE thing - TAKE ACTION.

What ACTION are you going to take today that will bring a "Charge!" into your life? You can radically change your life and your outlook on your future through deciding TODAY that you will DO something - tell me what that is below - I really want to know! :)

New Year, New You?

2010-12-30T18:27:00.000-05:00

So...another year is just about over and you are thinking to yourself...What have I accomplished this year?

I know - I am in the same boat, and I feel like growth IS a process. You don't change your rudder 90 degrees all at once, you change it slowly, incrementally...especially if you are hoping to reach your destination and not take lots of side trips or go in circles.

An entrepreneur is an interesting creature - "creativity" over "herd mentality" (as my friend Christine Alexander would say :) ) is paramount to success in the life of a true entrepreneur. If you are doing what everyone else is doing - you are part of the "herd". But with focus and time away from distractions/naysayers/worry about paying the bills - that's the best way an entrepreneur can find that spark of creativity.

Do you want to be "different"? Accomplish something in life that is meaningful? That is my driving force and I believe many of you out there have that dream as well. But dreams are only as good as the feet they stand on. So give yourself time to dream, to envision a better world for you and for others, then point your focus in that direction. YOUR direction. Give yourself "permission" to do things that others might not understand ("what? you don't work 9-5? how do you make money?"). Think about your future and what you want it to be like. If you WANT to be your own boss, find a way to do that - either by creating your own income through talents you possess (I started a tutoring company this year and I am finally finding some stability in ongoing client relationships - www.carytutor.com). Or you can decide to look into one of the many direct sales/network marketing companies out there, which have minimal startup costs but require you to really find out what you are "made" of - how can you translate your love of the product or service to others in a unique and different way?? By being YOU - there is only ONE you! :)

I am passionate about green products, so over the years I have joined a few different companies. Now I am with Arbonne International, and I LOVE the women (and men) that work with this wonderful company. I am so excited to be able to share quality, life-changing products with women (and men) that work, and the opportunity to make a great living is here too!

Can you see yourself doing this? Not 9-5, but on YOUR schedule. Around the kid's soccer practice, or husband's work hours, or getting together with girlfriends to have a fun spa party. I don't know about you, but I work harder when I am working for myself :)

So find a way that you can promote YOU to the community. Be the leader, not the follower. Find something you are passionate about and find a way to make money doing it! That way you will have an AMAZING 2011 and you will feel like your life is heading in the right direction - maybe not all easy waters, but certainly worth the ride! :)

Visit me at www.bestlifepossible.com for my new take on life and business - hope you enjoy it and thanks for reading my blog :)

10 Secrets of a Master Networker...

2010-10-07T14:25:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered why SOME people make it really big in network circles or become famous for speaking or connecting with people, like Tony Robbins or Mike Dillard? You may not know Keith Ferrazzi, but he knows everyone from Bill Clinton to the president of Walt Disney, and he is as down to earth and personable as they come...find out what his "biggest fear" was when he was written about in Inc Magazine. He is one of most powerful speakers and connectors because he is "real" and really cares about others....do you want to unleash the power within you and be able to turn something that seemed really bad and turned out to be really one of the best things that could have happened to you?

He speaks about it in his video here, and you can read more about that article here, and the 10 Secrets of a Master Networker...

http://bestlifepossible.com/what-is-networking-really/

I hope this impacts you as it did me, and gives you a clearer picture of what networking really is....reaching out to others, not for what they can give you, but in a larger scope, being part of a community of entrepreneurs all trying to make this world a better place to live and thrive.

Together We Can Change The World

2010-09-17T17:44:00.000-04:00

I have to share something I saw today that touched my heart - I really enjoy collaborative efforts like this, especially when it involves children and young adults, and a wonderful young singer who leads them all...you'll see what I mean here -

Go to the 2nd video here - http://harmonicutopia.ning.com/group/childrenofourworld - This is where I found this video - thanks Erica for sharing this with me - I am glad to share her Ning site with you, as children and their rights and optimistic view on life have always been near and dear to my heart.

This song is catchy and I love its optimistic view on life - the question isn't "what can this song accomplish" but "what can I DO to change the world today, in my own small way?" If this is your mindset, you can do anything you set your mind to!! What ARE you doing today to change the world? :)

How do I really make money online?

2010-08-16T11:50:00.002-04:00

Summer is just about over, and the kids are going back to school. Our summer vacations are fond memories and now we have to start thinking about how to make money this fall ~ online and offline. If you are a stay at home mom, or just got downsized, or just want some extra income to go along with a job that is not paying you quite enough ~ you may have seen companies advertising online asking you to join them, if you have looked around at all.

The first thing is to use your common sense - there are "many" ways people offer to help you make money online, but only a few that are legitimate - and all of them are going to take a little bit of work, just like a "real" job. No one, no matter what they claim, makes $1000's for typing in Google ads or some nonsense like that.

Find a legitimate company that offers an affiliate program (try Clickbank.com first) or something that you know about that you already believe in and see if you can become an affiliate. Then your job is to promote that product, and you will be paid commissions every time someone buys from your link.

Join a direct sales/network marketing company to make money promoting and selling information or wellness products, or many other kinds. Again, you must promote to others to have them look at what you offer, and if people know, like and trust you and you have a good product or service, then you will get some customers/business partners from that. You can also do this locally in your community - it doesn't have to be all online.

For example, I just joined a company that allows people to earn free groceries - something everyone needs and would love to have more money to pay for! It is actually a lot easier to do than a lot of the other companies I have been in, so I am very pleased to represent them and REALLY help people that need to earn money.

Go to www.bestlifepossible.com to see more at my "Feed Your Family" blog.

One other way is to do something that you have expertise or skill in. Are you good at writing articles? Proofreading? Making simple websites? You can do all of these things online and people could pay you to do these things for them - I have and it is rewarding to help others in this way. I also love the French language and tutoring, so I created my new website, www.carytutor.com to showcase what I can do online or locally.

I hope this helps you - visit me at my other links for more info about me and what I do - follow me to get notification each time I post a blog. Thanks!

Can you imagine?

2010-06-23T22:42:00.000-04:00

What a summer it is turning out to be! :) I don't know about you, but I am busy with wonderful things and relationship building and just ... life! :)

I just returned from a missions trip with my church group from Ambassador Presbyterian, in Apex, NC. It was a wonderful opportunity to see another corner of the world, that doesn't have all the modern conveniences we have in the U.S. We used cut bamboo stalks for the sign and painted them - talk about rustic! :) I appreciate running, drinkable water a lot more now after spending a week brushing my teeth with bottled water, and I appreciate concrete floors over mud floors any day! I KNOW that most Mexicans would love to have anything we would normally throw in a landfill because most of what they have looks like it has been used for decades and is long overdue for replacement - yet they are happy to have it. They make due with whatever they have, and their emphasis is not on STUFF but on RELATIONSHIPS. What a breath of fresh air! They appreciated every little thing we did for them, and we were happy to contribute to the kid's campground we were working at, and going to the 2 Mexican churches that were full of truly thankful people that we met there in Rio Verde.

Is that our attitude? Are you happy with stuff that you got 5-10 years ago? Or are you craving the latest greatest gadget? The landfills are full of tons of 'stuff' that we throw away without a second thought, and yet people all over the world, and in poorer areas in America, would love to use whatever you have deemed to be 'ready for the trash heap'. I try to keep, reuse, repurpose anything I can, and appreciate what I have, over getting new stuff, partly out of necessity, and partly from a sense of responsibility to do my part in this consumeristic economy. I secretly enjoy going on Craigslist, or to Listia.com, or to Goodwill, just to see if I can use something that someone else has decided they no longer need - I love bargains! And I love saving money, and knowing I can help give something a "second life" by using it again.

What do you value? Things or relationships? Think about it and decide to do an inventory - a spring cleaning - of your house. And then give some others an opportunity to use your 'old' stuff and know you are helping them in ways you don't even realize :)

How Big are your Feet?

2010-05-20T16:25:00.009-04:00

Do you know how big your feet are? Here's a better question - do you know what your "carbon footprint" is? Even if you don't, let me give you an easy way to figure it out - if you drive everywhere, fly everywhere, or travel a lot, then you are contributing more than your share of CO2 to the air and could probably stand to look at alternative ways of transportation, when possible.

Most of us simply are not aware of what we are doing that could easily be rerouted to a "greener" alternative. The first step is to calculate your "carbon footprint".

Online tools such as GlobalForce's various carbon calculators will help you determine these, and give you ways to "offset" your necessary carbon emissions through other actions, like riding a bike if the errand is 2-3 miles instead of using a car, walking to a friend's house in your neighborhood, buying eco-friendly products that don't hurt your family or the environment, or planting a garden or a tree.

http://globalforcenetwork.com/neutral

I have found some cool things out about trees recently. I always knew they were great to have around - that is why I love living in NC with its beautiful trees and rolling hills - I love walking in my neighborhood and looking at the variety of trees we have here.

But did you know that a little change in our daily habits could make a big difference to these trees? Deforestation is happening at an alarming rate, driven by our consumerism and ignorance of the cost of virgin tree fiber vs. recycled products (paper towels, toilet paper, etc).

In my newsletter this week, I give these mind-boggling statistics, found by Seventh Generation -

if every household in the U.S. replaced just ONE 4 pack of 400-sheet virgin fiber toilet paper with a 100% recycled package - we could save:

--1,450,000 trees

--3.7 million cubic feet of landfill space

--5.23 million gallons of water (a year's supply for 4,100 families of 4!)

--and avoid 89,000 lbs of pollution!

So that's your tip for the week! Buy some recycled paper products today and do your part for the planet! :)

Make sure you check out our green community at www.facebook.com/globalforce and get some more green tips from our members throughout the week - have a great green week!

Kids Can Save the Earth!

2010-05-13T17:55:00.000-04:00

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I love kids and working with kids. I worked at a kid's summer camp last summer, and if you go to my blog posts here from last summer, you'll see how cool that was. Now I tutor young kids and some older kids, and here online, I educate people how to involve their kids in "going green".

Often, though, I see kids as being the catalyst for parents "doing their part", as kids learn in school - through programs like Kids For Saving Earth (http://www.ksegreenshop.org/) - see here how they are helping school curriculums, church youth groups and kids clubs to go green in unique and fun ways - and Journeys to the Past (http://journeystothepast.com) - by Jacque Nunez and her husband, American Indians living in CA who help school age children connect to the earth and its history, preserving her heritage through storytelling and interactive programs that are interesting and informative for kids.

My radio show today will highlight both of these websites and the part kids can play in helping preserve the earth for their generation and beyond. I hope if you don't listen live, you will listen to the archived version here - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/queen-of-wellness/2010/05/13/kids-can-save-the-earth and then you are welcome to post comments or question on my green facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/globalforce - I'd love to see you there!

Happy Mother's Day to the Earth

2010-05-06T14:15:00.003-04:00

What is the best thing about spring/summer? Enjoying the sunny weather after the cold winter, through walking or biking or hiking...whatever you want to do outside, just enjoy it! Nature was created for us to enjoy, and I love living in NC because the weather is so beautiful this time of year... and as I take my daily walk in my hilly neighborhood (no gym membership for me) and smell the honeysuckle and look at the beautiful flowers and trees everywhere, I am reminded of why I love "green" since I am surrounded by it! :)

If you are interested in eco-friendly products and green living, most likely, it is because you care about Mother Earth, the planet God created for us to live on, and we need to value what has been given to us. You understand that we have finite resources to enjoy and we need to make the most of them. It is in our best interests to use less fossil fuels, to conserve where we can, to recycle and use less resources where possible...all these things contribute to making everything we have last longer and be more useful to us. Most of us can't live "off the grid" but we can admire those who do, and make steps in that direction.

So what are you doing to educate yourself about green living topics? First of all, you are reading this, so kudos to you! If you are a member at www.facebook.com/globalforce, then you are aware of various online sites that alert you to problems that exist and various ways to help. I am always fascinated by the creativity to tackle some of our biggest problems head-on and I am pleased to see those that get actively involved.

Secondly, you can get a newsletter from me (Go Green, Live Rich - green tips every week) and get more aware of what the simple things are that you can do to conserve and use more natural resources and products. You CAN save money and save the earth at the same time!

Go to www.laurelsgreenplanet.info to sign up and learn more about me and why I am passionate about green living. I want to GIVE rather than TAKE and so I invite you to join us!

Join the Global Force call on Tues or Thurs evenings (notify me on the Facebook group site if you can attend and I'll reserve a spot for you!) and learn more about what Global Force is doing to contribute to the global mission, with education and eco-friendly solutions to products we use every day!

Here is a poem that one of my local green friends has shared with me - please enjoy!

Mother Sun, Mother Moon
by Diana Henderson

On a sunny summer morning, the breeze whispers, "Mother,"
And I perceive her face among the pure white clouds,
Touch her essence in the softness of rose petals,
Feel her warmth in the rays of the sun.
Memories of silken hands upon childhood's blooming cheeks,
Embraces soft to soothe wounded pride or scraped knees,

Smiles from eyes and heart to dry the fiercest tears

Encouraging voice and tender words to quell the deepest fears.

On a quiet summer evening, the moon whispers, "Mother,"
And I see her spirit in the pure white moonlight,
Sense her sweetness in the fragrance of honeysuckle,
Glimpse her brilliance amid gleaming stars in a velvet sky.
Yet none of these, while glorious and bright,
Captures her spirit or compares to her loving nature.
Her light sings strength and effuses truth.
Hers are gifts enough to induce blossoms in the desert,
To sow seeds of life in the wilderness,
To bring beauty to a dying world.
To all of us, she offers her most prized treasures--
Charity, kindness, understanding, patience, wisdom, beauty
And, most of all,
Love.

What's the big deal about green products?

2010-04-29T22:06:00.016-04:00

You may have heard of them over the years, and maybe even seen them popping up in retail stores, online stores, and direct sales companies. I am fascinated by the fact that skin care and household products are finally going GREEN!!

Some have been there for a while, and some are just coming to the forefront, but the best thing about these days is that people are recognizing the fact that parabens and other toxic ingredients in makeup, skin care and household products are not only bad for you and your health, but there are many alternatives that may cost less and work better for you! From direct sales to store-based companies, here are just a few of the ones YOU should know about that have a commitment to using completely natural ingredients and helping the planet and the local communities -

Retail - Burt's Bee's (http://www.burtsbees.com/c/committment) and Lush (http://www.lushusa.com/shop/about-us/) are my two favorite retail skin care/body care companies...did you know that Burt's Bee's headquarters is right here in Durham, NC? They also do a lot of humanitarian work, including Habitat for Humanity and the Planet Earth Celebration every year, which just happened here last month. Lush is now all over the country, but only one retail store in NC - in Raleigh at the Crabtree Valley Mall. I just visited there this week, and it is a bit overwhelming - the smells hit you from all sides, and I have never seen so much raw product in my life! Very creative, and very "natural" - they can tell you each ingredient, and how they complement each other.

Direct/Affiliate Sales - Shaklee is the granddaddy of all natural product companies, and I still use many of their products. Arbonne has just recently reformulated everything - esp their FC5 line to be all natural and plant based - with all those delicious sounding ingredients, you may be tempted to eat them instead of using them on your body! :) Their new catalog looks amazing and I am happy the company is really solidifying its place in the natural market.

And of course, Global Force has their own Ecomart, with specific green products in each of 4 categories - many of which I hadn't considered using before - 100% fully degradable trash bags, waterless car wash and tire shine, a DIY home beer machine (how's that for eco-friendly!) and even actual "soap nuts" from the Indian ritha tree that create "saponin" to wash your clothes with!

Learn more about these and other innovative products at http://www.ecomart.ws/home.php and learn more about Global Force at www.ecomart.com/bestlifepossible!

Make it YOUR mission to learn more about natural products and find ones that are right for you, cost less and help the environment!

Water Water Everywhere - but do you wanna drink THAT?

2010-04-14T23:22:00.000-04:00

My Blog Talk Radio show this week (Thursday 4 pm est on www.blogtalkradio.com/queenofwellness) is on Water - see the video below to get an idea of what the developing world goes through JUST to have access to dirty water -

Did you know that less than 1% of the world’s fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use? So we are surrounded by water - 70% of the earth's surface - but people can't drink in it or bathe in it without getting sick.

So how can we help? I am only ONE person and I can only do so much, right? But if you use the power of social media, you can effect change far beyond what you think is possible.

Global Force's recent newsletter highlights the issues of water - check out these articles for ways you can educate and help those around you - Global Force newsletter.

Here are two examples of ongoing projects that were effective largely through social media -

--one person who wanted to make a difference and brought a community together thru a partnership with Save the Children USA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJubQzKYMGg

--charity:water - here is the video that shows how they got started and how they have affected over a million lives with clean drinking water - http://www.charitywater.org/september/trailer.html

and 2 more resources from 2 of our Global Force Community readers - thanks Rachel and Lori!

http://www.abundantwater.org/ - great video and such a simple idea! I am now a fan of yours on Facebook!

http://www.onewaterthemovie.org/ - started by the University of Miami and final screening for Earth Day on Apr 24th.

Thanks for watching these clips and thinking about what YOU can do to help globally and locally. Donate abroad, and drink and use clean water sparingly at home. The world will be a better place because YOU cared! :)

BLP has a new green newsletter!

2010-04-08T16:30:00.000-04:00

Since this has been my healthy green blog for a couple of years now, I figure the best place to invite new subscribers to my newsletter is here! So if you have just subscribed, and it is taking you to this page, that's awesome! I would love for you to look around at some of my posts, see what is meaningful to me, and see if you agree with anything I say! :) You are welcome to subscribe to my blog too if you like - just click that button over there to join the small but growing group of blog fans I have...I also have readers from my RSS feed on various Ning sites and my Facebook fan page - www.facebook.com/globalforce.

If you haven't signed up for my new "Go Green, Live Rich" green tips newsletter yet, what are you waiting for? :) Check it out at www.laurelsgreenplanet.info and see more of my green world and what I have to say every week. I got the idea from financial planner David Bach's recent book on how it "makes sense" to "go green" and how you can save - and make - money in the process! It will be a weekly newsletter, so look for it every Thursday in your inbox - and thank you! :)

Where was YOUR food grown?

2010-04-01T15:58:00.000-04:00

Maybe some of you are aware out there what is happening to our food industry...the almighty dollar seems to dictate everything in the economy and if it sells, then people will make it...from fast food to supermarkets.

Some of you might have seen my green McDonald's post - and I got a lot of feedback that talked about the fact that McDonalds might have built a "green" building....and there was debate about that as well, but I think the fact that they recycled a lot of the old building materials has merit, and they are a HUGE corporation trying to do ONE thing right. Does that make their food any healthier? No, of course not. But it shows that the green movement is even reaching giant corporations and hopefully that transcends into the kind of food they will provide for us. They will never stop giving us fast food until we stop demanding it, though. We vote with our WALLETS - whether it is a fast food joint or a grocery store - whatever we ask for through buying it will be what they supply to us because that is how they make their money.

As a society, we can choose to listen to whatever makes us happy - is it convenience or is it health? There is a movie coming out in June called "Food, Inc" and it will turn the lights on to all that the food industry has been doing for the past 50 years. Do we really need 47,000 products? Faster, bigger, cheaper? At what cost to our health?See the trailer here - if you dare - http://www.foodincmovie.com/

So are we at their mercy? NO. We can choose NOT to eat at KFC if we know their chickens are in inhumane conditions or we can choose NOT to eat tomatoes at the supermarket that are pumped full of fertilizers, picked before they are ripe, and shipped 1500 miles to us in the middle of winter so we can have a tomato.

Buy local - go to Farmer's Markets and local farm stores.. Even chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joes are becoming more prevalent because the public is voting for them through their wallets. We can choose to buy and eat nutritional food and products because we care about our health. What about you?

I'm just one person, what can I do? Earth Hour 2010

2010-03-27T11:22:00.001-04:00

The Biggest Environmental Movement in History - Earth Hour! Started in Sydney, Australia in 2007, it grew into 4000 cities in 88 countries in 2009 and 2100 corporations took action. That ONE hour showed a 10.2% energy reduction (the goal was 5%) = 48,000 cars off the road!

This movement is just a starting point to show millions of people what their actions can do - don't worry about the politics or what effect your actions will have, just do what YOU can to make the planet a better place. Small actions every day will make a BIG difference!

Other great videos to watch -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-egKvUP_Rw - Earth Hour 2009 Video - "I'm just one person - what can I do?"

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_c5K7Jdw9E - Earh Hour Movie with Jeremy Piven

It is TONIGHT, March 27 at 8:30 pm. Thanks for participating!

Everyone is going green today! :)

2010-03-18T00:04:00.000-04:00

Today as St. Patty's Day, everyone is thinking "green"! Whether it is green beer, clovers, leprachauns or healthy food, it's all green right? :)

Good Guide played on this with their email today - Are you “going green” in honor of St. Patty’s Day? Why not take it to the next level?... If you are looking for ways to keep a green theme today, GoodGuide can give you some green ideas.

Go to top-rated green goodies on GoodGuide.com

or go to Care2.com's Green Living section for organic green beer!

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/green-beers-for-st-patricks-day.html

Or even better - like the article suggests - make your own organic beer at home! Not only is it convenient, easy and much less expensive, it will help the planet by saving you from throwing away all those beer cans and shipping them from around the world to your house. And - I have heard from other beer connoisseurs - it tastes better than the best micro-brewery - yum!

Here is my favorite beer machine - if you like beer and want it to be the best possible beer you can drink -

http://ecomart.ws/home.php - click on the beer and the beer machine - and you will see a description of the "World's First Reishi Herbal Beer" and the eco-friendly 10 day process to make your own (green) beer at home! :)

Go to https://www.globalforcenetwork.com/living.php for some more reasons why you should buy your beer machine from Global Force, or our other unique eco-friendly products, like our Ultima Verde all-natural anti-oxidant greens! And join our community for FREE! :)

Happy St. Patty's Day - and be GREEN all year round! :)

What kind of legacy do you want to leave?

2010-03-04T22:03:00.006-05:00

Hi loyal readers...I just wanted to give an inspirational talk here today. I know that we have many things vying for our attention these days, and just wanted to say if you are reading this blog, I appreciate it! :)

So here is the question for today. What kind of legacy do you want to leave for your children and future generations? Every action we take, every decision we make today, affects tomorrow.

I mentioned in the last blog that I have been reading bestselling author David Bach's book "Go Green and Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying)" and it is true - out of those 50 ways, there are some you can implement today. Check out a mini-review here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylp6ftdM68I.

He has some GREAT examples of what you can do today to help your health and the health of the planet. He moved into a building that is good for the environment, and he ended up getting rid of his asthma and feeling much healthier! He started making more incremental changes, and realized, not only is this good for me, it is good for the economy! And since he is a financial expert, he is showing everyone that "green" makes good business sense as well!

YOU are the one who has to decide what they are, and if you decide to pick one or two today, great! Then after you decide that you like these actions - try some more!

Some suggestions - recycle (some towns like mine require that now), eat organic food, ride a bike or walk instead of taking the car a mile or two, wash your car with a waterless car wash, drink organic beer you make in your own house, or change your lightbulbs to CFLs (compact flourescent bulbs)! You will improve your health, save some money, and help the economy!

Here's what one big business did that helped the growing green economy - when Walmart decided to "green" its business in 2007, and started by promoting CFLs, it set a target of selling 100 million before the end of the year. And guess what? It reached its goal THREE months early, and as a result, the bulbs Walmart customers bought will collectively save them $3 billion on energy costs and keep more than 22 million tons of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere! That to me, is a prime example of ONE small change that on a large scale can affect us in a very positive way!

Another example is the bottled water industry - $11 BILLION industry - and only 10% of those bottles get recycled! The "great pacific garbage patch" is an example of where some of that plastic ends up and really affects the fish and other sea animals in that area! See more about this here - http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/08/28/great-pacific-garbage-patch-is-worse-than-we-thought/

Politicians, big business, celebrities, and others are jumping into the "green" way of living in a big way! How about you? Do you really want to make some small changes in your life? Or find out what "going green" is all about?

Join us at Global Force Network - a free green social community that is filled with people from all over the world that are passionate about going green in small ways...or big ways. Why not you? See this video at www.bestgreenlife.info and see what our mission is - our company is not even officially launched yet, but are launching on Earth Day, April 22. And let me know when you join - I would love to say hello and guide you through it! :)

I want to leave a good legacy on the earth - will you join me?

Republicans ready to sue the gov't for the environment!

2010-02-22T22:03:00.001-05:00

Will wonders never cease? I am so happy to see some leading Republicans take up the cause of environmental protection, and this was a very impressive and passionate interview that had some memorable statements in it. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA) and Gov. Charlie Crist (FL) are coming on record saying that the gov't (including the Bush administration and the EPA) has been dragging their feet in giving stronger guidelines for greenhouse gas emission and they are not going to wait any longer....if the gov't will not be partners with them, they will SUE because they want their states, not the government (one state of Washington, DC) to be able to set stronger guidelines to protect the people of their state...and that will give the precedence to other states to do the same.

Since both California and Florida are coastal states, and Florida is a peninsula, it is very important that they are able to shore up and protect their coastlines and do anything necessary to help the environment in general. Gov. Schwarzenegger talked about the prevalence of more forest fires and less water available now, and that the "Industrial Revolution" is over and the "Clean Green Revolution" is beginning! And Gov. Crist said that now there is "gold in 'green' opportunities" right now and that anyone who develops green technologies will be amply rewarded.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdjw-B_q_A4

They are the most recent in proclaiming how urgent it is that we understand, beyond the hype that surrounds some of the talk of "global warming" (i.e. Al Gore and others that want to use this cause to their own ends), that there is a real opportunity that we have, as individuals, to make a difference now that will benefit future generations. It could be as simple as some of the tips that David Bach talks about in his newest book, "Go Green, Live Rich - 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying)" - here is a short video that he has on You Tube now - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylp6ftdM68I

Please join us now to save the earth in your small way - and thanks for reading my blog! Please subscribe if you would like - I love to know who is out there and has joined our cause :)

McDonald's is going green! :)

2010-02-07T14:54:00.001-05:00

I think it is fascinating to see what big companies are making eco-friendly changes - from Levi's "organic cotton" jeans...to Sprint promoting eco-consciousness with their Reclaim "green" phone...to the USPS "green" practices (which were started a few years back) which include electric & hydrogen vehicles, a LOT of recycling, and other sustainable practices. Their most visible claim to fame is their NY facility that has a huge 2.5 acre "green" roof that acts as a refuge for native plants and ground cover, and features 14 benches and an art wall, and saves the Post Office about $30,000 a year on heating and cooling costs. See my link at www.facebook.com/globalforce for more on their progressive green innovations.

I heard recently that McDonald's is starting to build "green" LEED registered facilities as well, and that their was one that was recently built in my area, in Cary, NC. It also is the first "all green retail building" in NC!

Well, today I got to visit it firsthand, and was very impressed!! :) It is very modern inside, with textured walls, and neon lamps which change colors every few seconds, and mod green seating and bamboo looking tables. And everywhere that there are innovations, there are signs posted as to what they are - recycled materials, efficient low flush toilets, amazing 10-second hand dryers...even their ordering counter is made from mostly recycled glass and other materials. And to top all of that, they have the first EV (electric vehicle) charging station for individuals who join the ChargePoint network.

http://www.carycitizen.com/2009/09/06/mcdonalds-goes-green-in-cary/

So even McDonald's is trying their best to make a dent in the otherwise questionable motives of going to eat "fast food". It is a nice environment, with 100.0 rating, and they still offer their delicious salads in lieu of a Big Mac. It's always about choices and making the best of the options, isn't it?

No more Google! Use an eco-friendly search engine! :)

2010-01-26T20:15:00.000-05:00

If you are like most people, it is not easy to understand how Google or any other search engine can operate and make millions of dollars giving away a service for free. They have their ways, however, and it is easy to see how just a couple of clicks by millions of people would give them revenue from "sponsored links". Now every business needs to make money, but many businesses these days can do so much more than just take in profits. When natural disasters happen like the earthquake in Haiti, and seeing how much support was raised by millions of people texting donations on their phones, and stars contributing through their pockets and their talents on fundraising shows, it made me think. What is more important - helping emergency situations one-time, or helping a cause a little bit each day long-term?

I will not deny that I am glad to see Haiti get as much help as they can (through people not government - much quicker isn't it?). But I want to highlight ways for us to help the green cause daily, through clicking daily on www.therainforestsite.com (or any of its worthy partner sites), or this new green search engine I just found - Ecosia.com .

Ecosia not only donates a good portion of its profits to saving the rainforest, and show you how much YOU are saving every time you make a search for anything, but it also runs on green servers so that there is no carbon emissions to make up for! Did you realize that we are using up a lot of energy and carbon every minute we are online? THIS makes me feel better and I encourage you to use it too. It's easy, free, and it will help save the rainforest, a few meters at a time.

Watch their video here - and get your new green search engine! :)

What can The Book of Eli teach us about the future?

2010-01-12T16:02:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but sometimes post-apocalyptic movies scare me. I know that we will probably never end up like Sarah Connor in Terminator or Robert Neville in I am Legend...but they are always cautionary tales about what "could" happen if the world continues to tilt in the direction of a certain course we are erroneously taking. What is the worst that could happen? What will the last war be fought over - water and resources, or religion? These movies give creative license to one director's vision of the future, and The Book of Eli is no exception.

Since I believe that the world (and I admit, the US in particular) is all too consumptive and dismissive of the treasures we have from the earth - coal, water, minerals, even our air quality - we are headed down the path of no-return. Here is a clip where Denzel talks about us throwing away precious resources that people in this world would kill for. He attracts one follower in Mila Kunis (she has grown into a fine actress from the previews here) and when she sees he knows what happened in the past, and how it can change her future, she simply says, "Teach me". See the clip here -

http://blogs.usaweekend.com/whos_news/2010/01/denzel-washington

I haven't seen the movie yet, but like many others out there, I can't wait to see WHY this book is so important, and how it can save what is left of humanity. Denzel plays an unflinchingly strong purveyor of the truth and will not give it away to any hustler or kingpin, and will fight to the death to protect it. And he often does, over and over again.

How far would you go to defend your beliefs? I am grateful that in the US, unlike some other countries, particularly in the Middle East, I am free to believe what I believe, and my faith is not forced upon me, nor taken away from me at gunpoint. I know that Denzel is determined to protect his faith, and fulfill his destiny of being the one shining light on the hill that will not sway to any evil power that wants to take it over.

I also believe that some will misuse "religion" to their own ends or will not portray it in its best light, and wars are fought in the name of religion, as probably here in this movie. It seems the anti-hero has some baggage of his own because of his "religious" yet unloving parents.

So what can we learn from this movie? I have to reserve my final judgment until I see the film on Jan 15, but I think it is safe to say that it will be a fascinating look into the minds of some very creative geniuses, and will give us time to pause and reflect on how we want our future to look. Avatar was fascinating because it gave you both sides of the war, and showed the motivation to attack for gain on one side, and to defend what was sacred to them on the other side. Will we sit back, do nothing and let the world crumble, or will we take an active role in protecting the planet for the sake of our children and future generations?

From Disaster to Sustainability - One Town's Success Story

2009-12-13T00:26:00.000-05:00

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! :)

2009-12-01T21:20:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-11-04T11:44:00.000-05:00

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!

2009-10-12T20:54:00.000-04:00

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

2009-09-10T23:09:00.012-04:00

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?

2009-07-07T22:47:00.009-04:00

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!

2009-06-20T15:56:00.007-04:00

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?

2009-06-09T16:59:00.005-04:00

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!

2009-05-24T15:23:00.005-04:00

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

2009-05-15T16:23:00.006-04:00

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?

2009-05-10T20:20:00.003-04:00

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?

2009-05-06T13:11:00.000-04:00

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!!

2009-04-22T21:03:00.003-04:00

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.....

2009-04-18T12:09:00.006-04:00

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! :)

2009-04-11T19:31:00.002-04:00

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.....

2009-04-04T14:34:00.005-04:00

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?

2009-03-28T16:39:00.010-04:00

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....

2009-03-24T14:27:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-21T14:54:00.005-04:00

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?

2009-03-14T16:32:00.005-04:00

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!

2009-03-07T16:05:00.005-05:00

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

2009-02-27T11:33:00.005-05:00

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

2009-02-21T22:55:00.001-05:00

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?

2009-02-21T18:01:00.002-05:00

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?

2009-02-19T21:50:00.002-05:00

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?

2009-02-18T14:26:00.000-05:00

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!

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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"!

2009-02-16T09:45:00.000-05:00

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

Making it easy to "go green"!

2009-02-15T21:48:00.002-05:00

"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!

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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

Y'all ready for this?

2008-07-22T17:31:00.000-04:00

--- Ok, let's do this! ---

I don't know about you guys, but I am a procrastinator sometimes. I also like to have 10 things going at once, so if I don't get anything done, I can say, well, it was because I was multi-tasking (yes, it's a girl thing :) and didn't get everything done...

So SOMETIMES you just gotta say, whoa...let's slow down this train, take a breather and then FOCUS on the task at hand. Concentrate on one thing at a time and we can do it much better than if we are trying to do 10 things at once.

Ok, it is time to introduce myself - I am Laurel Nicolosi, of bestlifepossible.com, and I am confident that I am on my way to living "my" best life possible :) What about you? Not thinking about tomorrow and woulda coulda shoulda's from the past...but RIGHT NOW. Are you living YOUR Best Life Possible? Are you enjoying the moment, before it passes and it is gone forever?

Yes, I know ... it is hard to do that. I am prone to missing out on the joys of everyday life if I don't stop every so often to count my blessings. I believe that no matter WHAT situation you find yourself in, if you don't find the good things in your life to thank Someone for, then you have lost the ONE thing that is essential to everyone - Hope. Hope for the future, an optimism that no one can take away from you, and a plan of action (yes, that's where I come in) to help you make it happen! :)

Do you BELIEVE in your heart that you were put on this earth to work for someone else?? Or do you have the sheer audacity to believe that you can actually make money online...first a little, then more, then maybe, someday, enough to live on? Well, I know there are many statistics out there of people losing their shirts and their dreams of "making it" online. I believe that there are ways to make money online that don't cost an arm and a leg to get started with, and if you find that YOU are ready to go after this dream, and follow mentors and others that have gone before you, then you have a chance of doing it too.

Have I "made" it yet? Not to the extent I would like...but do I "give up and give in"? Not on your life...this dream is so firmly planted within me, that I will never give it up. I will weather the growing pains and educate myself - I will continue to grow in confidence and find others that feel the same - until I get where I want to be. And I hope you feel the same way, and that is why you are here. Looking for answers and ideas you can use to jumpstart your journey to success....well, welcome friend!

Every week or maybe more often, I will update this blog and talk about a method or idea that is working for me in my online marketing.

Since this is a blog, I would like to keep this conversational and talk about what I am learning that week and how I can use that knowledge (and you can too) - moving forward. It will show what I am thinking and feeling and I hope you can identify with me, and we can share some understanding.

Please give me any feedback and let me know if there is something you would like me to discuss. I am open to suggestions and would love to help my readers out personally if possible.

So hope this was a good starting place, and we can connect again real soon! :)