Make 2014 Your Year!

Happy New Year to you and your family!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. Ours was nice, it just goes by so quickly, though!
Do you make New Year's Resolutions? I don't. I can barely remember to eat some days, so making year long goals is just not for me. :)
However, I do try to write down a set of daily goals and stick to them. They're pretty much the same everyday, but sometimes I let life get in the way and my goals slip on by.
As a family, our goal is to always make healthy choices that will make a difference in our lives!

So, today I want to share with you the daily goals my husband and I came up with for 2014. Guess what? All these goals are can be used for everyone in the family...even the kiddos!

Also, at the bottom of this post is a special invitation for you! I highly encourage you to check it out and join us!!

Sleep Go to bed earlier to get at least 7 hours of sleep. (This is easy for me. Once the clock hits 10pm, my body says it's time for bed. I'm definitely not a night owl!)

Daily Detox Drink our Detox Lemonade before coffee every morning and take our gentle detoxing supplements before bed. (See photo for Detox Lemonade and supplement information)

Eat Small but Often Eat at least every 3 hours; don't let ourselves get overly hungry (this is a big one for me. I get so caught up with the boys, that I frequently forget to eat lunch!)

Meals and Snacks Eat 3 meals with at least 20g protein AND 6g fiber in EACH meal Eat 2 snacks with at least 5g protein AND 3g fiber PER snack

Water Drink at least half our weight in ounces of water (this is actually easier than it sounds!)

Exercise At least 20 minutes minimum EVERY DAY of either cardio, resistance, or yoga (our local gym has great classes and great childcare so I try to go twice a week to hour long classes. other than that, I do at home workouts while the boys have quiet time using YouTube and FitnessBlender...free!!)
I hope this list helps you think about what YOU want to do to make your 2014 healthier!

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I want to personally invite you to our latest Flat Belly and Detox Challenge! We have almost 200 people in our challenge group!

Here is our awesome daily meal plan! 

What is it?

Committing to replace any 30 meals with Shaklee 180 Smoothees during these 15 days, checking in daily with our challenge group on Facebook, keeping a food journal, and doing 5 minutes of resistance exercises every day.

What do you need?

You need 2 Shaklee 180 Smoothee mix canisters (minimum).

However, I highly encourage you to purchase our Flat Belly Detox package, which includes:

• One Shaklee 180 Kit: Either the Lean & Healthy or the Energizing Smoothees
• One box of Shaklee 180 Energizing Tea (I LOVE the green matcha!)
• One canister of Shaklee Performance Hydration Drink 
• One bottle of Herb-Lax

If you're a new member and purchase the above items, you also receive:

• Free Shaklee membership ($19.95 value)
• Up to $100 in Shaklee credit when you keep your kit on autoship for 3 consecutive months
• Healthy, easy meal plans with recipes
• Guidance from your 180 Specialist (me!)
• Access to our private Facebook group

I can't wait to see you there! 

~Jessica 

Understanding the Latest Media Attention on Multivitamins

Hello everyone!

You may have heard the latest news stories about how supposedly taking multivitamins is a waste of money, cannot cure ailments, and they do nothing beneficial for your health. The story goes on to say that in order to be healthy, we all just need to eat the right foods.

While I agree that vitamins and supplements are not going to cure cancer and that we all need to eat a healthy variety of foods, I don't agree that supplements are a waste.

I don't think it's fair to generalize like this from just a handful of targeted studies that are very narrow in the health conditions being studied and the types of supplements being used. I agree that most popular brands are harmful and even toxic, but that hasn't been my experience for the past few years with Shaklee products. I continue to trust in Shaklee and invest in my family's health with solutions in harmony with nature. 

With that, I want to share with you a letter from Dr. Jamie McManus, who is the Chair of Medical Affairs, Health Sciences and Education for Shaklee Corporation. 

Understanding the Latest Media Attention on Multivitamins

Dear Shaklee Family,

Many of you have probably seen the headlines regarding multivitamins and their inability to prevent chronic disease in the past few days - the result of three studies published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Starting from a 30,000-foot view, the premise of these studies is the first problem: looking at the use of a multivitamin alone as a way to prevent disease. The purpose of a multivitamin is to fill in nutritional gaps and provide optimum levels of vitamins and minerals. It is well established that the vast majority of Americans fail to obtain even adequate levels of these nutrients.

Prevention of any disease is a multi-factorial process that has to include diet, weight management, and lifestyle. To expect to see disease prevention accomplished by virtue of taking a daily multivitamin is a flawed premise. So, why are these large-scale (and very expensive) studies undertaken? It is simply the model of research that scientists and physicians understand - studying a single drug to determine what effect it may have on a single disease. Studying nutrition is far more complex.

While a drug has a primary effect (usually something positive), they also have a myriad of side effects (which are usually negative and even life threatening). Every year pharmaceuticals are removed from the market because of these serious side effects. A study published in JAMA in 1998 showed that as many as 125,000 Americans die each year of properly prescribed pharmaceuticals - wow! When was the last time a vitamin was removed from the market?

Vitamins and minerals all have multiple positive functional roles to play in our bodies - which is why so many Americans pop a multi each day. People simply feel better when they take a multi because they are filling in those all too common nutrition gaps.

All three of these studies showed that multivitamins have an excellent safety profile. Well, of course they do - they are essential for life! The only “potential harm” that continues to be mentioned every time we have a study such as this published is the slight increased risk of lung cancer in smokers who took beta carotene . My response to that is - smokers: stop smoking!

Let me quickly summarize these studies. The largest one is another report from the Physician Health Study - previous publications of data from this large government funded study did show an association of reduced cancer associated with multivitamin usage.

The next study looked at cognitive decline in physicians - who are at the upper end of the intelligence scale and pretty well nourished. Showing a significant change in cognitive decline in this population is going to take some intervention beyond a multi - as this population is most likely doing lots of the right things to protect their brain function.

The third study tried to show that higher doses of specific vitamins decrease the likelihood of a second heart attack in folks who have already had a heart attack. Hmmm. Maybe we should look at weight reduction, cholesterol, blood pressure lowering, and blood sugar management as opposed to putting the burden of prevention of a second heart attack in someone with heart disease on vitamins!

I have been recommending a multivitamin (and beyond) to my patients, and consumers in general, for my entire 30 years as a physician - and nothing in these studies changes my mind. The statistics on inadequacies in our American diet are clear - most everyone is deficient in multiple nutrients. Here at Shaklee, we have the Landmark Study, published in the journal Nutrition in 2007 that showed a nice correlation of better health with multiple supplement usage, starting with a multivitamin. We have over 100 published studies that validate the connection of nutrition and health. I urge you to continue taking your Shaklee supplements - but also, to remember the importance of eating healthfully, avoiding fast foods, and getting to a healthy weight on your journey to better health.

Be well! 

Dr. Jamie McManus, MD, FAAFP 

Chair of Medical Affairs, Health Sciences and Education for Shaklee Corporation

I hope you found this information helpful! Please contact me if you have any questions about Shaklee's vitamins and supplements! All of our products are SAFE, NATURAL, and EFFECTIVE!

How to Build Natural Herbal Medicine Cabinet

Helping other families get their lives healthy is my passion so today I wanted to share with you a way you can build a natural herbal medicine cabinet. You don't have to rely on OTC meds to get the relief you need! In fact, I believe using the best natural supplements you can find is an excellent preventative to sickness!

Why Shaklee? Tons of reasons, one being that Shaklee supplements are not only pure and from the earth, but they also have proven results! See the Landmark Study for vital information on why millions trust Shaklee for vitamins and supplements!  

If you want to help your family get over their sicknesses naturally and avoid those pesky antibiotics and doctor co-pays, then read on!  Join our family in being prescription free!  Yes, you can do it!!

Here are some of our tried and true tips to keeping the germs away, fighting off colds, coughs, upset tummies, and more!

Swap out your OTC products for the highlighted Shaklee alternatives!

Herbal Blend Multi-Purpose Cream 

Dr. Shaklee originally called this product “Foot Cream”, but it became known as Basic ‘F’ (face, feet and fanny!) due to its many uses! It's one product to replace 13!

• Rashes (diaper, poison ivy and oak)
• Detergent burns
• Chapped skin
• Athletes foot
• Aching muscles
• Insect bites
• Hemorrhoids
• Chafing

Instead of Banana Boat, choose Enfuselle SPF 30 for the Body

• Patented Vital-Repair contains antioxidant vitamins and botanicals to keep skin from aging
• UVA and UVB protection adds extra defense against cancer-causing sun rays
• Paraben free

Instead of store bought aloe vera, which has dyes and other junk, choose Calming Complex

• Paraben free
• Hypoallergenic
• The perfect 'after' product: after skiing, after running, after sunburn

Instead of arthritis creams, choose Joint & Muscle Cream

• Great for minor aches and pain from sports or overexertion
• Paraben free

Instead of aspirin or prescription pain medicines, which can have bad side effects, choose Pain Relief Complex

• Muscle and joint pain relief
• Helps prevent the breakdown of connective tissue
• Easy on the stomach

Instead of Airborne or ColdEeze, choose Defend & Resist

• Active Ingredients:  Echinacea to take care of bacteria and Larch tree extract to attack viruses
• Use as a preventative when flying or in large gatherings of people during cold and flu season or anytime you come in contact with allergy activators 
• We keep this on hand year round, especially with little ones in school!

Instead of Sudafed or Claritin, choose Immunity Formula 

• Can reduce allergy symptoms, and relieves lingering symptoms such as cough 
• Contains Shaklee Guard, a natural antioxidant 
• Especially good for those with sinus problems 
• Contains a synergistic blend of Vitamins 
• Speeds wound healing 

Instead of Gas-X, choose EZ-Gest

• Offers relief from incomplete digestion of food 
• Supports complete digestion of: carbohydrates, fats , protein, diary products , gas producing vegetables such as beans and broccoli

Instead of Lactaid, Dramamine, or Zantac, choose Stomach Soothing Complex 

• Relief for upset stomach 
• Acid Reflux (GERD) 
• IBS Colitis 
• Motion sickness 
• Morning sickness 

Instead of Tums or Rolaids, which have artificial flavors and food colors, choose Chewable Cal-Mag Plus

• Acts as an antiacid from natural sources
• Helps build healthy bones
• Is excellent for restless legs
• We use it in the evenings to help our son calm down and begin to relax before bedtime

Instead of Metamucil, choose Fiber Plan Tablets

• Promotes regularity, aids in digestion and supports colon health! 
• Especially good for those who are dieting 
• Insoluble fiber promotes regularity sometimes called “the broom” which helps detoxify the body 

Instead of Ex-Lax or harmful detoxes, choose Herb Lax

• Natural detox
• Cleanses tissue cells, blood, and kidneys
• Gentle laxative

Alfalfa

• Helps decrease allergy symptoms (Our oldest decreased his allergy problems by at least 50%)
• Provides 300mg of calcium
• Helps to fight disease causing fungi

Instead of Pedialyte or Gatorade, which contain tons of sugars and artificial dyes, choose Performance

• An electrolyte drink that helps naturally rehydrate
• Super helpful during bouts of diahrea and vomitting

Instead of Rockstar, Red Bull, or Monster, choose 180 Energizing Tea

• Boosts energy 
• Contains taurine which acts as a calming agent 

I hope you found all of this helpful! Feel free to comment or email me directly (jallen44@gmail.com) with any questions! I'd love to work with you to create a healthier family!

I am not a doctor, I do not prescribe anything, nor do I give medical advice. I just have a passion for sharing what I love and what works for our family! As always, consult your doctor first when someone is very sick!!

Simple & Lovely Christmas Decorating

The spirit of Christmas is in full swing at our home! We got down some of our decorations this weekend and I wanted to share some pictures with you!
I don't really have a style or theme when it comes to holiday decorating...I just buy or make whatever strikes my fancy and go with it! Being that we have two very active young boys and only stained concrete or ceramic tile in our home, we don't put out breakable decorations that are in their reach! Shattered glass = no bueno! :)
Anyway, here's a quick tour of what I've put up so far!

Piano in our living room

These tree cones were a breeze to make! I'll tell you how below!

Just some simple natural decor

I think this Santa is so cute!

These are a few ornaments with the boys hand and feet prints on them!

Our front door

Our fireplace

I love this live wreath...it smells amazing!

Tree cones information: I made those adorable tree cones just the other day, which is one of the reasons I need to clean out our laundry room sink! All you do is get some green floral cones from Michaels or Hobby Lobby, over them in ModPodge, then cover them in glitter of your choice. Once it's dry, simply spray some adhesive glue on them to keep the glitter from flaking off!
What are some of your favorite Christmas decorations for your home? 

How to Clean Your Cast Iron Sink in 2 Minutes, 35 Seconds!

We have this great cast iron sink in our laundry room. It's huge and we use it a lot for...well, for just about anything!
Lately, I've gotten the craft bug so I've been doing a lot of creating around the house. If you know me, when the creativity strikes, I just do it. I usually don't have a plan or a space...I just start working. 
Which leads to frequent messes. Well, my latest creative project made a huge mess in our sink. I'm talking glitter, spray adhesive, and black acrylic paint. Yikes!

I tried just rinsing the sink out with hot water, but that didn't help. At all. So I called in the big guns. Yep, you guessed it! My absolute favorite scrubbing paste: Scour Off!

I knew it was going to work in a super short period of time and I wanted to show you how quickly I got all the grime out of this sink...without having to scrub until my arm fell off and without having to use harsh chemicals! I was able to get that sink clean and sparkly in 2 minutes, 35 Seconds! Woo-hoo!

I just LOVE this stuff! Just like the entire Get Clean product line, Scour Off is safe, nontoxic, and it works! Plus, it's a HUGE money saver!
Order here and let me know how you like it! PS: Sign up for a LIFETIME membership and get 15% off retail, plus loads of other goodies!

Easy, Healthy 10 Bean Soup

The other day I found some 10 bean soup in the bulk section of Sprouts. For some reason, it sounded SO GOOD so I scooped some up.
Of course, when I got home I had no idea what to do with it...I've never made a soup from dry beans before. 
Luckily, there are lot of recipes out there and I used this one with a few modifications.
Let me know if you try it and how you like it!

10 Bean Soup

(modified from Bev's Kitchen)

• 1 lb (2 cups) of your favorite bean soup mix (soaked overnight and rinsed off)
• 2 T extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 large yellow or white onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• To taste: dried basil, dried oregano, a dash of dried fennel, fresh or dried thyme, or use 2-3 T of Herbs de Provence
• 4 cups broth
• 1 can of diced tomatoes in juice
• Grey salt
• Fresh ground pepper
• Cubed ham pieces (optional, but adds a ton of flavor!)

Toss the soaked soup mix into a large pot with the broth and bring to a boil.

While that's getting started saute the veggies, and add the seasonings. Saute for about 5 minutes or until they start to soften.

Add the veggies to the soup pot, and toss in the canned tomatoes and the cubed ham.

Partially cover and simmer for about an hour. If the soup starts to get thick, add more water. 

Taste and season accordingly!

This soup was a hit in our home! Matt kept telling me how delicious it was...WIN! 

Have we connected on Facebook yet? I love meeting new people!

15 Things I Want Our Family to Remember at Christmas

Christmas 2012

Christmas is just a few very short weeks away! We are in full Christmas swing around here. Our oldest (5) is really loving it and is so excited to help decorate our house.
Being that we have young kids, my husband and I really want to keep the true meaning of Christmas at the forefront of our minds. It can be hard though.
It's easy to get caught up in the beautiful, color coordinating, simply perfect Christmas trees. It's easy to get caught up in buying loads and loads of toys and other 'things' for the kids. It's easy to get caught up in the "I wants."
So, I came up with a list of the things I hope we can instill in our kids during the holidays. (And some reminders for myself!) Actually, it's something we want our kids to know year round!

Christmas 2012 - Memories!

1. Christmas is about Jesus. Period.
2. We are blessed beyond measure and it's our job to help those in need.
3. Give, give, give. Do this year round not just in December!
4. Having a perfectly decorated beautiful Christmas tree is not a priority.
5. In fact, if it's decorated on one side and only at the bottom because of your 'helpers', it's even more beautiful. 
6. Find joy in what you do have. 
7. See Christmas through the eyes of kids...remember how excited we were at 5am on Christmas morning!
8. Handwritten thank you notes are worth it.
9. Baking is a must. Baking and making messes makes it even better.
10. Always have change ready to give the Salvation Army bell ringers.
11. Crank that Christmas music up!
12. Leave cookies for Santa and sprinkle reindeer food on Christmas Eve, even if it's going to be 75 on Christmas Day. 
13. Traditions are important. But adding in new traditions are important as well.
14. How many presents you get doesn't matter.
15. Being with family and celebrating the birth of our Savior does matter.

What's important to your family during the Christmas season?

Cyber Monday Special!

Hello and happy Cyber Monday to you! Today I'm offering a special deal to all of my super special readers as a way of saying "Thank you!" for being great friends and customers! You've helped make my 2013 so wonderful!

Just for you, I'm offering you a FREE lifetime Shaklee membership when you purchase one of my customized Shaklee packages! These packages are some of my very favorite products and are my most popular customer selections!

Here's how it works:

• Add one of the below packages to your shopping cart, when checking out select Join as a Member and proceed with the checkout process.
• Once your order has been placed and shipped to you, I will send you a rebate check for $19.95! Easy as that!
• Already a member? No problem! Enjoy up to $10 in shipping cost rebates on all orders over $100 (before tax)

I'm offering you this free membership because I think you're really going to love it! 

• get discounts on all Shaklee products (save 15% on everything and even up to 25% on some!)
• receive shipping specials
• get your own secure ordering website with LOADS of health information
• receive 100% money back guarantee on all products - no questions asked!

Now, here are some answers to questions you may be asking yourself:

• There is no yearly renewal fee. Joining as a Member is lifetime!
• There are no minimum orders EVER! You can order once a month, or once a year...it's up to you!
• You are not obligated to sell Shaklee, nor are you automatically a Distributor. 

Healthy Kids Package 
(What my fellow mommy friends are ordering to keep their kiddos immune systems up and running!)

• Shaklee Incredivites OR Shaklee Ocean Wonders (multivitamins)
• Optiflora Pre and Probiotic System (this helps maintain a healthy gut and keep those viruses and other yucky germs away)
• Chewable Vitamin C (immune support)

Healthy Home Package

• Get Clean Starter Kit (save hundreds of dollars every year on this safe, natural, effective cleaning kit! You get everything from laundry detergent to dish soap! This is my most popular cleaning kit to date...everyone raves about it!)

Mom's Stress Relief Package

We can't keep everyone else healthy if we're not healthy, right??

• B Complex (natural stress reliever with no yucky side effects, also called The Happy Pill)
• VitaLea Multivitamin
• Optiflora Pre and Probiotic System

Detox Your Body Package

Get back on track after Thanksgiving and be prepared for Christmas with our awesome Shaklee 180 program! If you go ahead and order one of the kits, your membership is already included and you get loads of other goodies for FREE!! Woot!
Also, we are starting a 5 day mini detox program on December 9th! Get these products, join our group, and we'll detox together!

• Shaklee 180 Smoothee (easy, yummy meal replacement smoothies)
• Shaklee 180 Snack Bars (I keep them in my purse for a quick snack while running errands)
• Shaklee 180 Energizing Tea 

Get Beautiful Package

• Enfuselle Gentle Cleansing Bar
• Time Repair plus SPF 15 (keep your face moisturized and protected during the day)
• Herbal Blend Cream (one little lotion, so many uses!)

Which package are you going to choose? Feel free to contact me with any questions...I love helping others get healthy!
Also, be sure to check out my awesome holiday gift guide for more healthy living ideas!
Jessica :)