Essential Oils | You're Gonna Want This!

Good morning! How has your week been?
I'm sure you've heard of essential oils and some of the health benefits. We've been using them off and on for about a year and are happy with them. I've tried Young Living, doTERRA and Spark Naturals and like them all. I believe all three are super high quality oils. (I'm picky about purity of oils...some are not pure and can cause skin irritations, etc). We really like lavender, orange, peppermint, Thieves, and most especially...diffusing the oils! Oh my, having a NATURAL fragrance in our home is much better than fake fragrances (which have yucky stuff in them anyway).
Are you interested in trying essential oils? 
This leads me to the excitement I'm about to share with you! I wanted to let you in on this special offer from Young Living! Sign up for their Premium Kit and you receive ALL of these amazing essential oils and products!
10 .5ml essential oils from the Everyday Oils Collection ($150 when purchased alone) A  .5ml bottle of Stress Away ($29 when purchased alone) 2 Peace & Calming sample packets 2 Lavender sample packets 2 Peppermint sample packets 2 Thieves sample packets 2 NingXia Red samples 1 home diffuser ($98 when purchased alone) Plus, you will be signed up for a Young Living distributor, which is a $40 value! As a distributor of YL, you get wholesale pricing! Woot!
The ENTIRE cost of this Premium Kit is $150! So you get about $350 worth of product for just $150! Can anyone say, DEAL??

IMPORTANT NOTE: As a distributor, you are NOT obligated to build a Young Living business, unless you're interested in doing so. If you want to build a YL business, I can put you in touch with Jenny, who can help you out!
I highly suggest you take advantage of this offer...I'm super excited about the DIFFUSER! I've been wanting this diffuser for ages, but just didn't want to spend $98 on it. Now that it comes with the kit...sign me up!
Interested in this kit? Sign up here! Want to look around the YL site? View it here!
IMPORTANT NOTE: You MUST sign up as a Distributor in order to get this special kit!

Testimony Tuesday

Hi there! 
Today I wanted to quickly share some wonderful testimonies from Shaklee customers and business builders in regards to their health and experiences.  I'm so excited to share them with you!
From Ashley Nicole: I just shared my story and I'd love to have anyone/everyone share theirs as well! My miracle has inspired me to spread the word LOUD that Shaklee saves (and creates;) lives!!

"Last January after finding out I had cervical cancer and having more than 80% of my cervix removed, I was told having a baby would be VERY DIFFICULT. I hopefully continued my SHAKLEE products (vivix, protein, and vitamins daily) and was told at my 6 month check up that my cervix had also it completely rebuilt itself! The doctors were beside themselves. Less than nine months from my surgery and horrific prognosis and I am happily and healthily pregnant! I absolutely mean it when I say Shaklee changes lives. I'm just one of millions who've experienced the miracle of Shaklee. I'd say mine is the best though - I get my own lil pumpkin!!"


From Lesley H: Can you imagine being a parent and being told that your infant daughter would not survive if they did not move to another country?

Can you imagine suffering with the inability to breathe with Asthma for 52 years?

Can you imagine spending over $200.00 ever month for asthma medications?

Well that infant girl was me.

I was born in London England AT HOME but was quickly hospitalized with Pneumonia. I continued with respiratory problems and complications until the Dr. told my parents that if they did not move to either Australia or Arizona that I would probably not survive. We moved to Australia where I did improve but I was still plagued with allergies and asthma until I was 52. At that time ,out of desperation , I heard about Shaklee from Sloan Barnett on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and their 100% money back guarantee and I decided to give it a try. I then , shakleeized my home with the Get Clean line a concentrated, non-toxic, biodegradable, safe cleaning products and started on a nutrition program. Can you imagine being me and now being asthma and medication freeI I love it . Once I felt the difference that Shaklee made in my life I knew that I wanted to share this with others and that is why I started my Shaklee career.

I believe that if my health can change dramatically for the better with the use of Shaklee products then there is hope for all those who believe that they have control over THEIR health.

From Cathy: It has helped me in so many ways from using the Get Clean cleaners, making me 80% healthier from all those upper respiratory infections and bronchitis to losing healthy weight and keeping it off now for 2 years and leveling out my blood sugar so I don't become a Type 2 Diabetes or to Type 1. I was close when having my children. I look healthier and feel healthier too! 

From Megan: Shaklee has changed my health for the better in so many ways including healing my cervix. I had my first daughter(before Shaklee) via c-section after 3.5hrs of pushing and her just not wanting to come out. During the operations the doctor observed that the back of my cervix was paper line and made the comment about any future children having to be c-sections. When I became pregnant with our 2nd child(Shaklee baby) I was told there was a 50/50 chance I would be able to do a vbac and be successful add on top of that the observence of the paper thin cervic and they gave me a 25% success rate with the posibility of a window opening in my cervix during laboring that could result in complications for myself or my baby(in our minds we heard resulting in death). After a lot of soul searching and my husbands pleading for the csection as I really!! wanted to have a natural birth I opted for the c-section even though my gut was telling me to go for it.  A Shaklee friend even said to me as I was debating back and forth Shaklee nutrition can do amazing things and heal our bodies when doctors think there is no hope.  After delivering a beautiful healthy as could be little girl as the doctor was closing me up I asked her how my cervic looked. She stopped what she was doing looked around inside and said "It looks perfect I don't see any issues" Me "So is my cervix still paper thin?" Doc: "No I'm not sure what the other doctor saw I don't see any issues with your cervix." This was a little deflating as I wished I had tried a natural birth but I knew the worry that would have put on my husband and this was just proof to me that Shaklee really does heal. We have decided to have no additional children so I'll never be able to have that natural birth but that's okay as I have two beautiful healthy girls that Shaklee is keeping healthy.

Fall Fabric Pumpkins | Make Your Own

Today at my MOPS meeting we made these adorable fall pumpkins and I wanted to share them with you. By the way, if you're a mom of preschoolers, I highly encourage you to find a MOPS group in your area. This is my fourth year with MOPS and I love it!

I don't know where this original idea came from, so I'm sorry I can't give proper credit for this project. It's so easy that I just let our 4.5 year old loose with the supplies and he made five of them all by himself! This is a great activity for kids! Plus, you can keep them up all during the autumn season!

Anyway, so all you need for these cute pumpkins are: A roll of toilet paper (yes, toilet paper!) 6 plastic grocery sacks A fat quarter piece of fabric Torn brown kraft paper, or brown paper sacks
Put one sack inside another, just shove it in there. Next, you basically want to loop the handles through the toilet paper tube and then make a 'side' of the pumpkin with the sack. Do that with the remaining sacks. Just kind of roll, fluff, shape the 'sides' the way you want. Does that make a lick of sense? Next, put your pumpkin in the middle of your fabric, then begin to shape your pumpkin by pushing the corners of the fabric into the toilet paper tube. You'll need to work the fabric to make the shape that you want. I found that making little pleats as we stuff helps it take shape. Once you get your pumpkin to your desired shape, take some brown kraft paper and make a little stem.  Easy peasy! Don't over think it or try to make them perfect...I think they look cute when they're not perfect circular pumpkins!
Below are photos, which may well be more clear than my written directions! 

Mission: Healthy, Happy Life | Join Us!

A healthier life for everyone and a better life for anyone

Welcome to Mission: Healthy, Happy Life!

Who are we?
We are a group of motivated families on a mission to create healthier, happier lives by sharing what we love and supporting those around us. 

We have a great group of moms on our team and are looking for other likeminded individuals who want to change their families lives by becoming Marketing Business Partners with us and our brand partner, Shaklee. 

Why Shaklee?

Find out here: Why Shaklee

How does it work?

It's simple. Read on...

You are rewarded for sharing the gift of health and wealth with others.

You are rewarded even more by helping others do the same.

The more successful those others become, the more you benefit. Sure, we all benefit.

Sharing what you love makes everyone's share more valuable.

There's more to it than the financial reward!

We are helping others get healthy and adopt a new way of life that truly make people and the planet healthier!

For over 50 years, generations of families have counted on us to do what no other company like Shaklee can do - make products that are naturally SAFE and proven EFFECTIVE. Every product that Shaklee offers is designed to improve health, work without compromise, and be gentle on the planet. 

Build Your Dream Career with a Purpose

When you partner with Mission: Healthy, Happy Life, you partner with a community and a company that has remained true to its values for over 50 years. You represent a company and team that is committed to product quality, living in harmony with nature, and always doing what's right, no matter the cost. 

With this foundation, and your best efforts, your can build a meaningful career!

Are you ready to get started? If so, send me an email directly here, join our private Facebook group, or comment below! Also, visit our Mission: Healthy, Happy Life page for great information. That's where we will be posting most of our info.  Looking forward to getting a jump start on a healthier 2014!

A Special for YOU! Today and Tomorrow Only!

I'm so excited about this!!
I don't do this very often, but I've had a lot of interest lately...so for TODAY and TOMORROW ONLY take advantage of FREE SHIPPING on Shaklee orders! 
If you've been wanting to replace your cleaners with non-toxic ones, lose weight, or just take control of your health, now is the time!

Questions about what would be the best products for you? Email me at jallen44@gmail.com and I'll help you out!
This offer is for new and existing members! Not a member yet? Join here and take advantage of this offer plus other goodies!!

Easy Fall Porch Decor

Here's how we decorated our front porch this year for the fall! I love using pumpkins, hay, and leaf garland...it's so fall-ish and we can leave it up until Thanksgiving!

Homemade Pumpkin Creamer | Recipe

Fall is finally here to stay here in north Texas! We have the windows open letting the cool air in, the leaves are falling off the trees, it's such a wonderful time of year!
This time of year brings out the pumpkin in me. I love pumpkin...adore it. We made some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins yesterday (recipe coming soon!) and I had
just a few tablespoons of pumpkin left over. Not one to waste food, I decided to make some pumpkin creamer for my coffee.
I love pumpkin latte's, but I only buy maybe one per year. Why? They're expensive...I have a problem paying $5+ on a small cup of coffee! And they're not all that good for me...I don't really know what they're putting in it to make that pumpkin flavor.
This was my first time trying the creamer, and I have to say I did a good job! This recipe is really to taste...I kept adding until I got the flavor I wanted, so don't hold me to these exact measurements! Let me know if you try it too!
Homemade Pumpkin Creamer 1 c half and half 3 heaping tablespoons of pumpkin puree 1/4 - 1/2 teas of cinnamon 1 teas vanilla
Optional: 1/4 - 1/2 teas nutmeg 1/4 - 1/2 teas cloves
On medium heat, combine ingredients and bring to a low simmer- don't let it boil! Once it starts to steam, go ahead and remove it from the heat and let it cool down some. Add to your coffee and store the rest in the fridge for about 5 days.
Note: some people like to strain the creamer through a sieve in order to get rid of the pumpkin pieces. I like the puree in my coffee, so I didn't strain it. 
Have you joined my Facebook group yet? I'd love to connect with you!

Dr. Scholl's® For Her Active Series® | Product Review

Note: I was given the Dr. Scholl's insoles via Influenster in exchange for a review of the product. All opinions are my own. Hi there! Last week, Influenster sent me some Dr. Scholl's insoles to review. I am very happy to review this product...well because I'm LOVING these insoles! I try to workout several times per week and really need good cross trainers to support my feet, ankles, and especially knees. I have tendonitis in my knees and if I don't have a good pair of shoes on, I can't go all out during my cardio classes.
Well, I've had my Asics for about a year and they've been great, but the insoles aren't the best. I'd been noticing that my knees were starting to hurt during classes, which is usually a sign that I need new shoes or new insoles. I'm not in a position to drop $$ on new cross trainers right now, so I'd been planning to get some insoles. And guess what arrived in the mail right before my trip to the store? These babies! Woot!  I put them in my shoes so I could immediately test them out. It's a very different feeling to have supportive insoles in your shoes! I could feel my arch lifted and much more cushion in the heels, which felt great! A few days later, I put these insoles to the test during my Zumba class. I am HAPPY to announce that I didn't have any knee pain during the class! Double woot! I'm so glad I was able to try these because they're helping a lot and I don't need to get new shoes yet! Here are the benefits of these great insoles: - Reduces shock by 40% - Designed with Triple Zone Protection for your ball of foot, arch, and heel - Helps relieve and prevent pain from shin splints, runner's knee and plantar fasciitis - Helps reduce foot odor with SweatMax technology Thanks, Influenster and Dr. Scholl's for letting me give these insoles a test run!

31 Days of Healthy Living | Day 8

Hello! 
Today, I'm going to let you in on my secret to getting our sinks, tubs, and floors super clean. It's safe, natural, nontoxic, has no fumes or odors. It's Shaklee's Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste. Once you try this amazing scouring product, you will never go back to Comet, Ajax, Soft Scrub, or any other toxic and dangerous cleanser! This stuff WORKS!
We use Scour Off to get the grime out of our sinks, get ring around the tub out of the boys tub, get crayon off ceramic tile, easily clean pots and pans...really the uses of Scour Off are endless! 
Scour Off is a paste, so there are no dust clouds, no gross fumes, you don't have to clear out the house to use it. It's made from cherry pits (abrasive), and other natural mineral and biodegradable cleaning agents. No chlorine, no bleach, no dyes!
Check out some of the ways we use it in our home!

Homemade Apple & Pear Sauce | Healthy Recipe

Woo-hoo, it's Friday! Do you have any big plans for the weekend? We will be watching the annual OU/TX football game and doing some projects around the house. (In case you're wondering, I'm a Sooner fan and hubs is a Texas fan!)

31 Days of Healthy Living | Day 7

Hi there! Today is Day 7 of my series, but I'm definitely a few days behind. It's been harder than I thought it would be to blog every day!
To catch up on the other days, you can go here! Today I'm going to talk about my favorite fabric softener. You guessed it, it's Shaklee's Get Clean Soft Fabric Concentrate.  Last year, I wrote a post titled, What is in My Fabric Softener?, that discusses all the harmful chemicals that may be in your fabric softener. You might be surprised! Yuck. And I don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of being able to smell people when they walk into a room...the overpowering fragrance of some fabric softeners really makes my head start to ache. 

Well, we've been using the Get Clean Concentrate for just over a year and I love it. LOVE IT, and here's why:

• It's super concentrated. This 32 oz bottle will soften 64 loads of laundry, saving lots of money!
• It's nontoxic, biodegradable, natural, and does not contain any phosphates!
• It's compatible for both HE and standard washers!
• Shaklee's Get Clean Concentrate rivals Melaleuca's fabric softener for softening your clothes!
• It controls static and makes ironing easier!
• The Get Clean Concentrate also has a super light, lavender scent...it's not overpowering at all. In fact, some of my clients (even me) who are super sensitive to scented cleaners have raved at how much they like the light fragrance of this fabric softener!

I always recommend using this great fabric softener with our Nature Bright Laundry Booster and Fresh Laundry Concentrate! For the best deal, the Get Clean Starter Kit is the way to go....not only do you get all the laundry products, but you get all of Shaklee's other Get Clean products so you can clean your entire home naturally AND save a ton of money doing it! Check it out here! I've had such a great response so far to this 31 Days series...thank you for all your Shaklee orders and for helping support my small business...I so appreciate YOU!

31 Days of Healthy Living | Day 6

Today is Day 6 in my month long series about healthier living. I'm a few days behind, though! If you've missed my previous posts in this series, you can check them out here! Today I want to talk about my favorite way to help with the stress in my life. I know I write in a pretty upbeat tone most of the time here on the blog, but let's get real for a moment: I'm human...I'm a wife, a mom, own two small businesses, and keep our home running...all on a daily basis. Like most of you, I'm on the clock 24/7! And I get stressed...a lot. Probably more than I should, but I try to pray about it and give those stressors up to God and let him help me through it! On that note, I've started taking Shaklee's B Complex supplements everyday to help with my stress levels. Now you may be wondering...wait didn't Jessica talk about taking Vitalizer everyday as a way of taking care of herself? And doesn't that have B Complex in it? Indeed I did and indeed it does (you can read about it here!). But I usually take an extra two B Complex supplements everyday...yes, I can be that stressed out! :)  I can tell a difference in my stress and anxiety levels if I've missed my B Complex...I'm a little too amped up without them. What's so great about Shaklee's B Complex is that I can tell it starts to work in about 30 minutes!
What is B Complex? Basically, there are 8 essential B vitamins that work best when they work together. Unfortunately, our typical Western diets don't provide enough whole grains, leafy green veggies, and fish needed to get the 100% of the Daily Value.  B vitamins are critical nutrients for all things mind-related like mood and memory. The B's can help with anxiety, stress, lift depression, boost your energy, and help with PMS. Win!! It's no wonder B Complex is also known as the Happy Pill, right?? Do you suffer from anxiety or stress? Have you tried taking B Complex yet?

31 Days of Healthy Living | Day 5

Welcome to Day 5 of my series!
Today I'm going to chat with you about a natural way to freshen the air in your home.  Before we found a healthier, more natural way of living, we were really big in to Febreze and other artificial air fresheners. Ugh, what were we thinking?
The Natural Resources Defense Council tested 14 air fresheners and found that all but two contained harmful phthalates. Phthalates are chemicals that can cause hormonal imbalances, birth defects, and reproductive problems. Also, air fresheners may contain allergens and volatile organic compounds, as well as carcinogenic chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde. (from 360YourLife.com)
YUCK!
I don't know about you, but I just do not want my family breathing in that junk!
Our home is almost 30 years old and sometimes gets a musty smell to it. So on days we can, we open the windows to let the fresh air circulate through the house. On other days, we use essential oils and a diffuser to make our home smell great! Essential oils are a safe, natural way to freshen the home without all those gross toxic chemicals!
I just love using essential oils! Most of them smell amazing and have wonderful health benefits! I like to diffuse lavender and peppermint together for a great air freshener. Also, I like to diffuse Thieves to help get rid of any airborne bacteria that may be lingering. We do have two kids in preschool and they bring home lots of germs! :) 
I don't really have a preference on essential oil brands, but if you use them, make sure the oils are pure, food and therapeutic grade. There are a lot you can buy at the local store, which may be fine, but do your research first! I know that Young Living, doTERRA and Spark Naturals are great oils to try. 
Pay attention to this!! One of my great friends who LOVES her essential oils is offering a special just for my readers! Purchase any Spark Natural essential oils and receive 10% off your order!! Simply enter crunchyurbanmom in the coupon box when checking out!! 

Now that you know about essential oils as an air freshener, how do you do it? You'll need a diffuser. There are so many diffusers on the market and many of them are super EXPENSIVE! 
However, I bought this a few weeks ago and so far I really like it. It's the Greenair Spa Vapor. It's quiet, and really works well to diffuse the air, plus it was only about $33! Bonus! It has these color changing LED lights, which I'm not too sure about...they're a little too 'far out' for me, but some people might like them! :) 
I hope you found this interesting and informative! What do you use to naturally freshen the air in your home?
Have we connected in my Facebook group yet? See you there!!

31 Days of Healthy Living | Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 of my 31 Days of Healthy Living Series! 
I hope you're enjoying it so far! Today, I want to share with you my all time favorite bleach alternative. What? There's another way to disinfect without that nasty bleach smell?? You betcha! And it's SAFE, NATURAL, BIODEGRADABLE, and NONTOXIC! It's actually the safest on the market!!  I'm talking about Basic G, Shaklee's Natural Germicide! Basic G is a safe alternative to bleach, Lysol, 409, Clorox Cleanup...any of those hardcore disinfectants that you may use around your home.

And it's so easy to use, too. Mix 3/4 teaspoon to 16 oz water and you've got a full bottle of disinfecting power! Because it's so concentrated, a little goes a long way and saves money! Basic G has a three year shelf life. Its residual effectiveness lasts up to THREE DAYS after application. Chlorine bleach used as a disinfectant is only effective for about an hour. Basic G is perfect wherever disinfectants are needed and kills up to 99% of bacteria! Basic G also kills 38 pathogens, while Lysol only kills 8 pathogens! So here's a quick run down on Basic G and why I think you'd love it as much as we do! Cleans Deodorizes Free of bleach and alcohol Gets rid of fungi (mold) and viruses Kills 99.9% of E. coli and salmonella bacteria EPA registered Super concentrated - 1 quart makes up to 64 gallons = CHEAP!!

Here are the many places you can use Basic G! Bathroom

• Toilets (this and Nature Bright are my only toilet bowl cleaners..safe and effective!)
• Garbage pails
• Sinks and faucets
• Showers

Kitchen (note: not to be used around food)

• Countertops
• Sinks
• Refrigerator handles
• Kill salmonella after preparing meats
• Trash can
• Use as a mopping solution (just mix 1 tablespoon to one gallon of water)

Other uses

• I use it to get my husband's stinky soccer clothes extra clean! Just add 1 teaspoon per laundry load. 
• Use it to clean your reusable grocery bags. Read about how I do it here. 
• Great weed killer!
• Safe for all surfaces: stainless steel, aluminum, hard and non-porous surfaces
• Can even be used as a weed killer! Use 1 gallon of water, 1 tablespoon of Basic G and 1/2 cup of white vinegar.

I love knowing that I can kill germs and not use all the harsh chemicals to do so. Basic G is a safe alternative to any disinfectant out there and works even better! To read more about Basic G and order your own bottle, please shop here! If you have questions, let me know!

31 Days of Healthy Living | Day 3

Hello, hello! Welcome to Day 3 of my Healthy Living series!

Today I'm going to chat with you about exercise. We all need to exercise, preferably everyday. I want to workout everyday (I LOVE to exercise!!), but I don't always get to because of...well, life!  Exercise is so very beneficial to us. Neurotransmitters that promote feelings of well-being, comfort and relaxation are released during exercise! Even just 10 minutes of activity can relax your mind and body, as well as burn off those calories and fat! It really is a win-win! Feeling that 'ugh' when you think about exercise? The thing that's worked for me is to find a workout that I truly enjoy! Need some ideas? My favorite workouts are:

• Yoga for relaxation, flexibility, core work
• Insanity for a high intense, sweaty, hard core, body weight resistance, gasping for air workout
• Zumba for serious cardio along with fun dance
• Power walking for cardio and leg muscle building
• Bike riding with the family for cardio and leg muscles

Real Life Note! I try to do one of these workouts every day. I don't always get in a full workout every day, but I try to at least do 20 minutes of SOMETHING. If I go more than two days without getting my heart rate up and getting sweaty, I start to feel antsy. So I try to keep up with a consistent routine!

I'm with my kids pretty much all day everyday. I don't get to the gym as much as I want to because sometimes the classes just don't work for me. So I like to do a modified Insanity routine at home and try to get my boys involved! My oldest runs the stopwatch and writes down my 'scores' on a piece of paper (it's a great way for him to practice numbers!!) and my youngest either turns the music on and off or tries to exercise with me. Sometimes it's a little stressful and I don't get my full workout in, but something is better than nothing, right?  What are your favorite workouts? How often do you exercise?