***It's the Holiday Season...***

Wow is it or what?!
Everyone always talks about how busy they get at this time of year. I totally agree and we don't even have kids yet. I have been packing our house for the last week to get it all done by Christmas eve, so we can go have a relaxing 1 1/2 days at my inlaws house with all the family. Then we will be taking off on the 26th to move to vegas! Ya I never thought I would move back, but it just makes sense for our long term goals and mission of our Family. Don't you fret! We won't be there forever.

Anyway, besides packing I have been planning dinner for 20 on Christmas Eve. Planning the menu, writing the grocery list, and trying to take everyone's special dietary needs into consideration. It is seriously hilarious how many people have things they either can't or won't eat. I can't really complain though, cuz I am pretty particular when it come to what I will put into my body too!

Those two time consuming activities have been squeezed between building our business that is growing like a wildfire. Speaking of that... We just got back from a full expenses paid trip to the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas for 5 days. All paid for by AMWAY GLOBAL!!! It was so much fun! We went and saw Phantom of the Opera (which I loved. Isn't this such an amazing pic of the chandelier. I wasn't supposed to take any pics), the Wayne Brady Show, and the boys went 180 miles per hour in Indy Cars at the Las Vegas Raceway. On top of that we got to spend time with some amazing leaders and learn about new advancements in products, more money for business owners, and all the new sponsorships that Amway Global is taking on.

One in particular that I am pumped about, Artistry Skin Care is having a modeling search teamed up with NEXT modeling agency to find the next FACE OF ARTISTRY! They will be awarded a $100,000 contract. Crazy huh?!

Anyway, gotta get back to packing!!! Have a Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

OMG we are so blessed here in America. For us, we feel even more blessed cuz we have such amazing family and friends, plus we have an incredible business that is exploding right now in a time when most businesses are falling apart.

I just wanted to tell everyone that is in our life how Grateful we are to know you. Thank you for everything you do and are!

My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the reason I do all that I do. To bring Him glory and honor because only through Him all things are possible. Because of His unfailing love, we have Faith the He will always be there for us thru good times and bad. It is so amazing!!!

Now...
We are getting ready to eat this crazy amount of food in a few minutes and I am pumped cuz I ran 13 miles this morning. Which means that I don't have to worry about all the extra calories that I am sure that I will consume. My mom is such an amazing cook and I can only hope to be as great as her in all areas someday!!!

Well, gotta go eat some famous Linda Torgerson, my grandma, rolls!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The Things that I have learned lately...

Yes, I realize that it has been forever since my last post, but lots has gone on since July. I will get into those events another time. That would be the longest blog ever!

But I will talk about one thing...

I have been training for a half marathon, which is in like a week, ahhhh! But that is not the good stuff... I have really been focusing on eating healthy. Ya I know everyone says that, but seriously.

1. I cleaned out my fridge of all the CRAP
2. I decided to limit my sugar intake to 1 time a week (I love my cookies!)
3. I started Juicing, fruits and veggies that is! Trevor even choked down some yesterday, Now that was hilarious. LOL!
4. Starting to stream line all areas of my life, not just health. Cleaned out the closet. So if anyone wants some clothes, I got bags of them to give away!
5. Lastly,(at least at this moment) I am focusing on eating things with the most nutritional value, really, not just cuz the advertising says so.

On that advertising subject, there has been so much hype on tv, magazines and at the health food store about some apparent SUPER FOODS. I started to look into it, but there is always such different info from so many sources. But I did come across an article in December 2008 Men's Journal, ya I am surprised they would even care about this stuff.

***Super Fruits: all kinds of companies tout that their Juice has the most Antioxidants in their product. This was a revealing article for me. It reminded me not to listen to all the hype without first really checking all the facts!***

Check this out:
***ATTENTION***
BEFORE YOU DECIDE WHICH JUICE TO RELY ON, BE SURE TO KNOW THE ONES TO AVOID!!!

Great advice from a SuperMom and SuperWoman!

So today I was just messing around on the computer and decided to go to yahoo.com for any new health info out there. I was pleasantly surprised to find a article written by the awesome Gabrielle Reece. Gabby, formerly a pro beach volleyball player, her face also can be seen on the cover of magazines such as Sports Illustrated for Women, Travel & Leisure Golf, Women's Sports & Fitness, Outside, Elle, Shape, Self, Harpers' Bazaar, Volleyball, Fitness, and in Life, Vogue, People and other magazines. Gabby is one of three athletes named in Women's Sport & Fitness' 20 Most Influential Women in Sports list (Aug/1997).

The best part of all of this is that she is now a spokeswoman for NUTRILITE!!! It is so great to have such clout in the health world that someone as well respected as Gabby would come on board with the Brand!

Anyway, now to what I was really excited about... Check out her article: "The Olympics: 7 Fitness Lessons We Can Learn" Everything that she says is so true! It of course would be great to apply these things in our fitness but also in other areas of our life!
What do you think?

Green is IN!

So i used to think that only the crazy left wing people were into going Green, but it seems as though everyone including myself is getting concerned with how our daily activities affect the world. It is no longer a political thing, but just a smart person thing.

Even the Energy Drink companies are making moves to make our world better:
Check this out!

Goals, weightloss, success...

So I know it has been a while since my last blog. Been a little busy... Cali, vegas, Oregon, Arizona- just a few of the places we have been lately. It is a blast but I'm pumped to get my workouts back on track. Also while in Oregon we set new goals for our business, got focused and have set out on a plan to accomplish them by the deadline date.
I work much better with goals that are attached to a specific date. When I know what I am shooting for, as long as the desire to accomplish is HUGE then I will go about the daily activities and discipline it takes. Besides setting the goal, i have to confess it to others. Maybe I'm the only one with this issue, but in the past it has been too easy to just give up when no one else is keeping me accountable. How bout you?

Do u have any fitness or weightloss goals that you really want to reach but are having a hard time getting motivated to do what it takes?!
That was me till I realized what keeps me going... Just like confessing to others with all other goals in life, with fitness I will run if I know I have to be in shape. That's why I just registered for the Las Vegas half marathon on December 7. I'm excited and if I have to run 13.1 miles that morning, I have to start preparing daily. That is what has seemed to keep me on track in the past too, registering for sport events. What works for you?
So... Today is the first day of my training and of course using Nutrilite suplements to keep me going. I'll let ya know soon what I use for my marathon training supplement regiment!

Who are the world's 10 best athletes???

I saw this article from the wallstreet journal being feature on yahoo.com.
This is so exciting for Team Nutrilite Athletes... I just shows that Amway Global/Quixtar is willing to spend the big bucks for us and endorse a few of the most world renowned athletes today!

Check this out: World's 10 Greatest Athletes!!!

#7 Liu Xiang of China, 110 meter hurdler and #9 Ronaldinho of Brazil, Soccer player, will both be strong contenders in the upcoming Summer Olympics starting 8.8.08. Be sure to watch for our Team NUTRILITE athletes!!!

What do you think?! Exciting huh?!

What Product would you want???

So let's help a girl out... If you have not been on OpportunityZone.com before start going on there and participating in the discussions. But before you do that, Comment on my page about the article below...

"Hello? Anybody out there? It's time to innovate!
Monday, June 16, 2008 by Susan Julien-Willson
Category: sales, retailing, customers, business, products

I just read some of my fellow bloggers' recent posts -- about Amway Global online advertising, Team Nutrilite, U.S. Dream Academy, being a mom, and more. No comments from our IBOs and customers. Hello? Anybody out there? We miss you!

It's time to innovate!

Imagine this:

You're working for the corporation in the "Product Innovation Dept." The Managing Director asks you to propose a new, never-before-offered-by-Amway product that complements all or one of our main product portfolios: Health, Beauty, Home Care, or Ribbon.

What do you suggest?"

What PRODUCT do you want???!!!

Weight Loss Myth: Running VS Walking

This is myth that has some basis in fact.

Walking burns more fat than running.

The basis for this myth is the estimate of what kind of fuel a person uses while exercising. The muscles prefer glucose (sugar) as a fuel because it can burn it more efficiently than other fuels. The harder you exercise, the more your body relies on sugar.

If you exercise slowly or less strenuously, the body shifts to burning more fat as a fuel. That’s the basis for fat-burning exercise: exercise slower and your body uses fat as a fuel.

While absolutely correct, it’s meaningless in the real world. You’d have to invest much more time in exercising slowly than if you go fast. It doesn’t mean that walking isn’t efficient--it is, but you’ll have to spend more time doing it than you will running or taking a spinning class.

Here’s the thing: it doesn’t really matter what type of fuel you use when you exercise because as long as you don’t overeat, you’ll burn up body fat when you run out of glucose. It may be hours later, but you will burn up the fat and that’s a fact.

The most important part to weight loss is not just exercise but also healthy eating habits... Check out this info on some things that I totally love!!!

Driving to Vegas

in our new Toyota Prius. I never thought that I would be excited about a Toyota, but getting 50 mpg is pretty awesome. Not only will it save us tons of money in gas, but it also means we are making an effort to be green! I don't know about you, but lately I have been doing what I can to make less of a negative impact on the environment. Little things like changing light bulbs and unplugging things that are not in use.
More and more people are becoming aware of how much better being organic and green can be for our God created earth and for our health.

What are you doing to move to organic/ green living?

Well, i have changed all my products in my home to those made by Amway Global. They were the first "green" company in the country. Starting back in 1959, L.O.C. was the first cleaning product to be marketing that is good for the environment. Amway has made such a world wide impact that united nations awarded them with 1 of 2 environmental awards ever given to companies. So I have switched all my household products to the Amway stuff. I can trust that they are safe and that all the products work Great. You can get them at my fav place link on the right.

Cleaning products can only be so interesting, but I am totally passionate about Nutrilite !
Have you seen the commercials for Amway or Nutrilite?!

What Motivates You to Loose Weight?

So I have been trying to get myself motivated to really stay focused on getting back into shape. It has been a thought bouncing around in my mind now for a few months, but today I received two pairs of pants that I bought online. The size that I thought I was and what I actually fit into are two different things apparently. At the moment, they have gone into the pile of my skinny clothes.

Now I know that I am not the only woman that has this. You have you skinny clothes and your a little bigger clothes, and then a few that fit you when you wont let yourself get any more womanly! Haha LOL, that is the nice way to say it. Anyway, these jeans are so adorable and I spent good money on them. This is the last thing that has really pushed me to the decision making point. I will change a few small things everyday so that I will have amazing results overtime.

I learned this last week in a book that I am reading that amazing things dont just all the sudden happen. For example, no one gets rich overnight! Its a progressive thing brought on by daily habits that over time compound into great results. Just like how a penny doubled everyday for 31 day ends up being 10 million dollars! At the first 10-15 days it seems like hardly anything is happening but suddenly exponential growth starts to take place!

So I have decided that on Wednesday, June 4th I will start consistently working out and eating healthier. I am actually so excited to do it because I will be following a "new lifestyle" Trim Body System! I have heard so many stories of people that have had fantastic results with this. So now it is my turn to put it to the test! Does anyone else want to go on this journey with me???
Check it out: Trim Body System

Have you seen all the commercials talking about Probiotics?

It seems like anytime that I watch TV or look through a magazine tons of ads catch my eye talking about eating yogurt or taking supplements that promote good digestive health. How funny is it that if you were one who believed in the benefits of vitamins and "weird" things like probiotics just a few years ago, you were looked at as a health NUT. Now being health conscious is totally mainstream.

"Good" bacteria is not just a fad. According to the the Mayo Clinic:

"There is a growing public and scientific interest in probiotics. Researchers are studying whether probiotics taken as foods or supplements can help treat or prevent illness. There is encouraging evidence that probiotics may help:

* Treat diarrhea, especially following treatment with certain antibiotics
* Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections
* Treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
* Reduce bladder cancer recurrence
* Shorten the duration of intestinal infections
* Prevent and treat inflammation following colon surgery (pouchitis)
* Prevent eczema in children
Some researchers believe probiotics may improve general health."

So where do you start? With so many options and ads bombarding you will choices, what product and company can you trust?

I have been using Nutrilite Intestiflora 7 for over 2 years now. Along with my other Nutrilite supplements like Double X, Omega 3, Concentrated Fruits and Veggies, Primrose, Calcium and a few others(Ya I know, its seems like alot), I take the Intestiflora once a day for a few months at a time. I take a week or so off and then start over again.

Will all the supplements that I take some of my friends think that I am one of those "Health Nuts" but I have not been sick for over 2 years. Now this is not a claim that any of the products make but that is my experience. I am totally stoked about this!!!

Check out more detailed info Nutrilite Intestiflora!

Have you tried any probiotics???!

Best Athletes in the World at Reebok Grand Prix, New York

Are you going to be supporting our Team Nutrilite athletes at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York City on May 31? Watch as they defend their titles and prove to the world that with Nutrilite supplements, they perform at their best. Nutrilite® is the exclusive vitamin, mineral, and nutritional supplement brand of the 2008 Reebok Grand Prix.

Plan your party around the two times the event will air:

• ESPN from 8 to 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 31, 2008.
• CBS from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2008.

With so many amazing changes and great support from Amway Global, it is so easy to be proud of being an Quixtar/Amway Global IBO. Now it is time to get out there and spread the word!!!

Some of the greatest new products have just launched by Quixtar/Amway Global... ROC2O Antioxidant Enhanced Drink Mix, Nutrilite Sport Cookie for recovery after exercise, and of course the extremely popular PERFECT WATER!!! The sales on these new products has totally surpassed the expectations and projections of the company. Check out: IBOAI

These new products and continued support of Team Nutrilite's world class athletes is totally what has propelled us again to #1 online in Health and Beauty sales by Internet Retailer. Don't believe me... Investigate for yourself, CLICK HERE!!!

Living for so much more

... than just to wake up, get ready for work, go to work, come home, eat dinner, go to gym, maybe hang out with friends, stress about gas prices and the mortgage payment, clean the house, and go to bed. Then do it all over again...looking forward to the weekend. 2 DAYS of doing whatever you want. But then it just starts all over again. Everyday, every week, every month for 40+ years. Ahhhh!!!!! That is so scary!!!
Unfortunately, that is the life of 98% of the people of there. I feel so blessed to have to chance to live the life of a 2%er! :)
Not only do I know that my life has a purpose thru Christ, but also I get to go out each night and give people hope. Hope that they can escape the life of quiet desperation that so many live. We show people a way to get rid of the stresses of money so they can focus on the things that really matter. Who can even focus on improving their marriage if they don't know where the $ for the power bill or food will come from?! I think money is like air...when u don't have enough of it, it is the only thing that consumes your thoughts. But when u have plenty of it you can actually think and accomplish more important things.
Have u ever thought, "there has to be more to life than this? How do some people get to live so wonderful but I'm stuck here?!" Well lets Change that!!
Let me know what you think!!!!

New Commitments

So I was talking with a friend today about different personalities. You know how some people are particular about the way the toilet paper is ripped or having their dishes cleaned a certain way. Now for me that seems so silly. To even take the mental energy to be sure that things are color coordinated or labeled, well, it is just not me.

Then I got to thinking about it... if I were to spend a few more moments each day paying attention to small details, what a difference it would make. No I am not going to start folding the toilet paper into the little point like you find at hotels, but concentrating on performing whatever task fully. I have a tendency to just want to get the job done!!! As of today, I am committing to be sure things are done well not just half heartedly. So I will keep you up to date on how that is going.

1) staying in shape
2) taking more pictures of our life (hello thats why i wanted an iphone)
3) keeping my room and car organized (at least until I can hire someone else to do it!)
4) well let me think a little more about it... I am sure I will come up with more!!!

-- what commitments have you made this year? How are they going?