What are you doing this summer?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Earth Day 2009!!

Have a happy Earth Day 2009!

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

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

Calling all moms.....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Want to see the powers ShakleeKids have?

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

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

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

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

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

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I am so excited! :)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spring is in the air.....

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

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

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

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

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

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