Healthy Homes e-News from January 2006

Happy 2006! It's hard to believe yet another year has passed. We had a busy and happy holiday season – celebrating Anna's 6^th birthday and Christmas three time each (both sides of the family, then our own personal celebration). None of us want the season to end… the Christmas decorations are still up, and the children still want to eat by candlelight every night (which we do during the month of December).

Personally, all the holiday goodies (sugar) and excitement (read "lack of sleep") has put my body under stress. When my body is under stress, I become vulnerable to sinus infections – which I'm fighting right now. I'm ever more thankful for the company I represent right now! Garlic, extra multivitamin, B complex, sustained-release vitamin-C and echinacea have given me the ability to press on this week instead of collapsing. Are you vulnerable to attack right now? Make sure your cupboard is stocked with good ammunition!

In this issue:

1. Fight Colds and Flu Naturally

2. A New Year… A New You!

3. Selenium and Osteoarthritis

4. Supplements Could Save Billions in Health Care Costs

5. 10% off on the 10^th

1. Fight Colds and Flu Naturally

I've been striving to do this for me and my family, so I was encouraged to find an article with this title in USA Weekend (Dec 9-11). The author, Jean Carper, recommends several different supplements:

Vitamin C: Scientists say regularly taking 1,000mg each day can cut colds short by a day… and new research shows that taking 500mg daily cut the odds of getting three or more colds in a five-year period by 66%. Try this brand - the sustained-release vitamin C has a natural sustained release system that is like eating 1½ oranges every hour for five hours.

Vitamin E: Naturally boosts your immunity - a recent study with older people shows taking 200 IU daily had 20% fewer colds than those taking a placebo. Try this brand - it's vitamin E provides 400 IU of naturally sourced vitamin E, plus 65 mcg of selenium, which boosts the effectiveness of vitamin E.

Zinc: Taking zinc within 24 hours of a cold's onset appears to cut its length and severity. Try this brand - it contains 15mg of zinc gluconate, which is easy for your body to use and absorb. This company's echinacea product also includes 15 mg of zinc.

Elderberry: In an Israeli study, taking about a tablespoon of black elderberry syrup reduced flu symptoms by three to four days. In test tubes, it fights 10 different strains of flu virus. Pretty potent! Try this brand of echinacea contains 480mg of elderberry extract & juice concentrate – plus a healthy dose of Echinacea (see below).

Echinacea: Canadian research shows Echinacea boosted immune response and ended colds sooner. This brand's echinacea product not only includes Echinacea, but also elderberry and larch tree extracts and zinc. The emergency ammunition your immune system needs in just one product. This is definitely one of my favorites.

2. A New Year, A New You!

The new year is a time for making new resolutions… if losing weight or taking better care of your skin is on your list, this company has solutions for you.

Weight Management: The starter kit has everything you need to start slimming down –

shakes - a delicious meal replacement shake which has been clinically proven to help avoid wide swings of blood sugar that can lead to food cravings;

multi-vitamin, plus more – to make sure you're getting the nutrients you need, even when slimming down, plus metabolic boosters to help burn those extra calories and glucose regulators to prevent blood sugar declines that lead to food cravings;

energy bars – with extra Leucine to help you drop the weight, yet keep up your energy level.

energy tea – a delightful mixture of green, white and other teas, plus taurine to help keep your energy level high and rev up your metabolism

skin care: $1 million in research and clinical trials went into developing this brand's natural skin care system. Scientists focused on what causes aging and developed a nutritional therapy system to repair and defend your skin against damage that causes aging.

naturally-based cosmetics is the next step in caring for your skin. The makeup also includes the nutritional therapy system, and allows your skin to breath -– in fact it's better for your skin than wearing no makeup at all. I had a hard time believing it myself until I tried it. I love wearing this brand! My face feels so natural – from the time I put it on to the time I take it off. I don't have that "cakey" feeling at the end of the day.

3. Selenium and Osteoarthritis

According to the November 28^th issue of US News & World Report, scientists suspected that osteoarthritis occurs more often in people who don't get all the nutrients they need. Researchers at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill found that each increase of 0.1 parts per million of selenium in the toenail clippings of people studied correlated with a 15 to 20% lower risk of knee osteoarthritis. Their theory is that the nutrient aids in the formation of proteins that keep cartilage healthy.

This vitamin E product contains 65mcg of selenium -– 93% of the recommended daily allowance. If you or a loved one suffers from osteoarthritis, please also consider this brand's glucosamine to help build cartilage.

4. Supplements Could Save Billions in Health Care Costs

I found this article very interesting!

DSEA study finds health care savings

By Vicky Uhland 12/01/2005

A study finding that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and lutein with zeaxanthin could save American senior citizens $5.6 billion in health care costs during the next five years has resulted in the formation of a bipartisan Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus.

The study, commissioned by the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance and released 11/2/05, was conducted by The Lewin Group, a Falls Church, Va.-based health care consulting firm. A similar study, which found that regular intake of calcium and folic acid could save more than $15 billion in health care costs over five years, was released in 2004.

The Lewin Group analyzed hundreds of studies conducted over the last 30 years on omega-3s and lutein with zeaxanthin. The group concluded that an 1,800 milligram daily dose of omega-3s could reduce coronary heart disease in people over age 65, resulting in 384,303 fewer hospitalizations over the next five years and a consequent $3.1 billion savings in health care expenditures.

Seniors who take 6 milligrams to 10 milligrams a day of lutein with zeaxanthin could reduce their susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration, The Lewin Group found. During the next five years, that would result in 98,219 fewer people losing their independence because of advanced AMD, saving $2.5 billion in caregiving costs.

Although this year's Lewin Group study wasn't as widely reported as last year's, . . . the findings resulted in the creation of the Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus.

"This is the first-ever assembly of congressional representatives that will collectively be supporting our interests," he said. "It puts their views in a public forum and sends a message to their colleagues that there is bipartisan support for continued availability and access to these vital products."

The caucus, headed by Reps. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Dan Burton, R-Ind., is still in the formation stage, said Cannon's spokesman, Charles Isom. "We have three co-chairs, and we're looking for a fourth to make it bipartisan."

Isom said the caucus' goal is to "educate members of Congress—in a bipartisan manner—regarding dietary supplement use, and to promote health and well-being."

Balbert said DSEA plans to commission further studies on supplements' role in reducing health care costs. "The industry lobbyists used [the 2004 study] extensively in all lobbying efforts," and reports had been highly favorable, he said.

SOURCE: Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXVI/number 12/p. 7

November 2005 e-News from Healthy Homes

I apologize for the lateness of my newsletter this month. A stomach bug ran through our house this week, wreaking havoc on my schedule. Amazingly enough, I was the first one to get it (aren’t moms usually the last to fall?) – but thankfully, it spent itself pretty quickly. My husband was the next to fall, followed by only two of our four children. The experience made me more thankful than ever for the company I represent. While we did get sick, we weren’t sick very long (only a couple of hours) and we recovered pretty quickly (usually 24 hours). Also, I’m in awe that two of the children never got it! I can attribute that to these products and much prayer.

Due to the circumstances, I’m going to keep this newsletter quite short. I’m planning to send a longer one via “snail mail,” so watch your mailboxes!

In this month’s newsletter:

1. Product Spotlight: Vibrant at Any Age

2. How Meadow Blend saved my hands

3. 10% off on the 10^th

1. Product Spotlight: Vibrant at Any Age

The weather is changing and so is our skin. Check out my website for information on Shaklee’s skin care products, makeup line, and supplement suggestions to help you look your best this winter. (Hint: these products are not just for women. Many men have seen great results too!)

Honestly, when I first saw that this company carried skin care products, my first thought was, “Must we compete on those products as well?” It seemed a little ridiculous to me. Then I tried the products – and I’m telling you they’re like nothing I’ve ever used before. I absolutely LOVE the makeup… and I’m counting down the days until my current bottle of face wash is used up so I can switch to the skin care products.

The thing I appreciate about these skincare products is that they’re scientifically researched – not just by the company's scientists but also by independent laboratories. Also, I know that they are not harmful to my skin or to my body. (Think about it – everything on your skin is easily absorbed into your body – that’s why those patches work so well.) Plus, they work – they make my skin feel so good and I hardly notice that I have make up on.

Online you’ll find information on the clinical trials, what makes these products different, hints & tips on using the products, and answers to frequently asked questions. I’ve found it quite insightful, and I’m sure you will too.

2. How this company's hand wash saved my hands

As you can imagine, we’ve been washing our hands a lot around here. At one point in time I decided I was going to count how many times I washed my hands in a day – between diapering, helping with sick children, helping with potty training, and being sick myself. I gave up after about six times in a half-hour (a particularly bad stretch). Last winter, my hands were so chapped and dry they were actually cracking and bleeding at the knuckles.

This winter, not only am I washing my hands a lot, but I’m also washing a lot of dishes since I don’t have a dishwasher. I decided I needed to switch products and tried this handwash to put into my soap dispensers.

It is a soap-free cleanser with juniper, arnica and wheat germ. It has saved my hands! Despite all the washing, my hands are not cracking and bleeding. I still need to use moisturizer, but I’m no longer digging out the Band-Aids for my knuckles. I love it.

I also switched to this dishwash for my dishes. It’s very gentle on hands, cleans dishes like you wouldn’t believe and is safe for the environment.

Hint: You can also use our general cleaner for handwashing and dishwashing. It won’t have many suds, but it will still clean those dishes. For hands, put a small squirt bottle next to the sink and use a tiny bit (full-strength).

October 2005 e-News from Healthy Homes

The children and I are enjoying a little school holiday this week. We took a short trip to Indiana to visit Glen’s parents, and close friends of ours from Florida. They’re up in Indiana this month because the husband, John, is helping my friend’s parents harvest their crops this month. As we were driving back to Grandpa & Grandma’s after meeting with them, we noticed many other farmers out harvesting their corn and soybeans. My kids love watching the process of harvest – the combines chopping down the plants, the grain streaming into the trucks, the contrast of cleared fields already harvested and tall corn stalks waiting their turn.

We’re also enjoying the harvest from Grandpa and Grandma’s garden – especially the green beans and sweet corn! But we need more than just green beans and sweet corn to be healthy, which is why we choose to supplement with these products.

In this month’s newsletter…

1. A Healthy Harvest

2. Breast Cancer Awareness

3. Mainstream media recognizes the need for nutrition

4. 10% on the 10^th

1. A Healthy Harvest

Ideally, we would eat the best produce from the richest soils in the world. But not many of us have the budget to travel the world to do that! Fortunately, this company does the traveling for you – gathering the most potent sources of flavonoids and arotonoids, like:

*Wild blueberries from Nova Scotia (which produce anthocyanidins)

*Oil of palm from Malaysia (for alpha and beta carotene)

*Marigolds from Thailand (which produce lutein)

*Green tea from China (which yields flavan-3-ols)

*Fava d’anta from Brazil (which produces quercetin

And don’t worry about possible contamination – this company extensively tests all the raw ingredients AND final products to ensure quality and consistency.

One serving of this company’s cartenoid and flavonoid products provide more antioxidant potency than consuming hundreds of fruits and vegetables. You could travel the world for the best nutrients in the world – or you could order these cartenoid and flavonoid products. Now that’s a healthy harvest that will lead to a healthy you!

2. Breast Cancer Awareness

More and more people are investigating natural ways to combat cancer, looking for ways to protect themselves from getting cancer, or for ways to strengthen their bodies during radiation or chemotherapy. One way to do that is with antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect cells from free radical damage.

These two products are chock-full of phytonutrients that provide a broad spectrum of high-power antioxidants.

Plus, when you buy these products this month, Shaklee will donate $1 to breast health research done by Dr. Rache Simmons at one of the top-ranked clinical and medical research centers in the United States.

“At 36 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After two lumpectomies and a mastectomy, my body was exhausted. I was physically and emotionally drained. My neice… started me on a vitamin program that included [this company's multivitamin, vitamin C, vitamin E, immune building product, cartenoid product and B complex. My incision started healing much quicker. I was able to begin chemotherapy, which had been delayed due to infection concerns. I received one of the strongest treatments possible. I had trouble with nausea and exhaustion and stopped taking the vitamins. After my blood work showed my white blood cell counts were dangerously low, I started taking them again. My oncologist was shocked at how quickly I recovered. After each treatment when my white blood cell count dipped, it returned to normal within 10 days. She asked what I was doing and told me to continue to take this company's vitamins since they were working great for me. I think this company is incredible.” –Regina Coates in Healthy Women booklet

3. Mainstream Media recognizes the need for nutrition.

A couple of short articles in the Sunday paper caught my eye.

Zinc helps kids think

More zinc may help your child learn faster, says James G. Penland, a researcher at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center.

In a new study, he gave 209 seventh-graders a morning glass of fruit juice – either plain or fortified with 10 or 20 milligrams of zinc. Kids who drank the 20mg-zinc juice daily for three months did best on a battery of computer tests of mental and motor skills. Compared with students who had plain juice, the 20mg-zinc drinkers improved twice as much on a visual memory test and three times as much on word recognition.

The bottom line: The optimal learning dose in this study was 20mg, more than previously thought needed. (USA Weekend, Sept. 9-11, 2005)

This company's zinc contains 15mg and easily dissolves in juice. Combine with this company's children chewable multivitamin (which contains 10mg) to help your child think more clearly. Do be careful, because zinc can be toxic at high levels (100mg).

B saves aging brains

Taking 800 micrograms of folic acid (a B vitamin) every day might help keep your brain from going into cognitive decline as you get older. That’s the landmark finding of a Dutch study.

More than 800 people ages 50 to 70 who took an 800mcg foic acid pill daily for three years scored better on cognitive tests than those on a placebo. In fact, the folic acid users scored as well on memory tests as people five years younger. And they processed info as fast as people two years younger.

One explanation: In the study, folic acid lowered blood levels of homocysteine by 25%. High homocysteine is tied to increased risk of heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s. (USA Weekend, Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2005)

Folic acid is difficult for your body to absorb, which is why this company's B complex has a patented folic acid coating, making it easier for your body to absorb the folic acid you need. Plus, this company’s B Complex contains 100% of ALL the B vitamins – even the expensive ones that other brands skimp on.

September 2005 Healthy Homes e-newsletter

School is back in session and our fall routine is kicking into gear this week. I have lots of projects to finish on my house. But, whenever I feel overwhelmed, I am reminded to be thankful. Thankful for simple things like running water, a roof over my head, beds for my children to sleep in, food to eat. My heart goes out to those in New Orleans, southern Mississippi and southern Alabama whose lives are still in chaos because of Hurricane Katrina.

1) Words from Nobel Peace Prize Winner Wangari Maathai

2) Strategies for staying well this winter

1) Words from Nobel Peace Prize Winner Wangari Maathai

One woman who has dedicated her life to a better environment for her fellow countrywomen is Wangari Maathai, the first environmentalist and African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

I was privileged to hear Wangari speak at the recent company convention in Chicago. I wanted to share a few words of her speech.

“It is humbling to know that Dr. Shaklee was preaching the philosophy of preventive medicine in harmony with nature long before environmentalism became fashionable. As members of the extended family of Shaklee you have inherited a great legacy and I am very impressed by your way of sustaining it and allowing it to grow to greater heights.

“Great ideas do not die with their sources, but it takes great people to keep them alive, visible and successful. You are such a people and I honor you and your chairman for your commitment. …

“Watch out for me and do not leave me behind: I will be the one in green planting trees along the way!

“Since I joined you at this convention, I have felt a deep connection with you and the company you have created. I feel that w are walking a similar path and toward the same goal of improving the quality of life of other people even as we improve our own. I salute you for your determination to do the right thing for yourselves, the earth and humanity. Wise men and women everywhere teach that going beyond self, reaching out to others and attending to their needs bring the greatest satisfaction for a life well lived. Indeed the idea that eventually developed into the Green Belt Movement was started in an effort to serve others.”

You can read the rest of Wangari’s speech here. She explains how she got started planting trees and how that led to a change in the government in her country of Kenya.

I wrote down several quotes from her speech I enjoyed. One of my favorites is this: “Dealing with only symptoms is not enough. We must deal with both causes and symptoms.” This is true in every aspect of life – from parenting to preventing illness.

3) Strategies for staying well this winter.

I’ve had a couple of people call me this month, asking how I keep my family well. I thought it might be a good topic for a newsletter, then my husband got strep throat (for the third time in eight months!). While at the doctor’s office getting him antibiotics, the doctor decided he wanted to test the rest of us to see if any of us were carrying the strep bacteria and reinfecting Glen.

Imagine our surprise when the tests came back positive for ALL of us! NONE of the rest of us have been sick with strep, but we had been reinfecting Glen over the course of these months.

After we all got in the van, Glen said, “It goes to show how eating right and taking your vitamins really helps.” It’s so true! Glen had been stressed out in July, with our new house and work issues – he had quit eating breakfast and stopped taking his vitamins that month. Lo and behold, he got sick again.

Meanwhile, the rest of us have had the strep bacteria in our system for who knows how long. But, we were eating right and taking our vitamins, and none of us got sick. In fact, we all felt worse once we got on antibiotics.

As a mom, I don’t have the luxury of being sick, or even FEELING sick. So what’s my strategy for staying well?

1) Air purifier: kills viruses and bacteria in the air. Plus, it destroys the gases, and drops all the “floaties” out of the air. You can read more at www.thebestairpurifierinfo.com

2) "box and a can": Includes a multi-vitamin, B complex, sustained release vitamin-C, vitamin-E complex and Soy Protein. These nutrients work to bring your body back in balance. Plus, a protein “shake” (as my kids call them) in the morning keeps me going all morning, with no mid-morning crash.

3) a patented immune builder: this product is astounding. It naturally increases the interferon response in your body – your immune system’s first line of defense. I tried to stop taking it this summer, but within days my allergy symptoms started up again. I started right back up on it. To learn more about interferon, check out www.naturalinterferon.com. The video is especially informative.

4) Extra multi-vitamin, B complex, echinacea, garlic & alfalfa: yes this is a long list, but when I start to feel run down, or a bit of a sore throat coming on, I want to hit it with all I’ve got. These extra nutrients, plus the echinacea (to jump start the immune system), Garlic (natural antiviral, antibacterial) and Alfalfa (natural anti-inflammatory, plus other benefits), give my body the extra ammunition it needs to fight off the “bad guys.”

My strategy for the children is slightly different… more about that next month

August 2005 Healthy Homes e-newsletter

I don’t know about you, but this has been one crazy summer for me! We’ve bought a house, worked on the house for a month, then just moved in at the end of July. Needless to say, this house has pretty much consumed our lives this summer. Now, we have lots of boxes to unpack, including many that have been in storage for a year and a half. On one hand, it’ll be like Christmas. On the other hand, I’ve lived without it for over a year, do I really need to unpack it? We’ll be slowly unpacking for several months yet, I’m sure.

Needless to say, I’ve not had much time to gather information for this month’s newsletter. Here’s an abbreviated one, and I’ll send out a “supplemental” newsletter after the annual convention next week. I’m sure I’ll have lots of exciting information to share!

In this month’s e-News:

1. Companies Rely on Doctors to Increase Sales

2. Time to Prepare for Fall Allergy Season

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1. Companies Rely on Doctors to Increase Sales.

This article from the Wall Street Journal came across my e-mail recently, and I found it interesting. I don’t necessarily think the practice is wrong, but it does help to be informed of what’s happening in the medical world. Information is power.

NEW YORK (July 15) - On a recent Wednesday evening, neurologist Lawrence Newman spoke to a dozen doctors in a private alcove off the soaring dining room of Guastavino's and made the case that migraine headaches are seriously underdiagnosed.

Migraine treatment "should be bread and butter for primary-care doctors," he told attendees at the midtown Manhattan restaurant. While patients might say they're having a sinus headache, there's a good chance it's actually a migraine and can be treated with a migraine drug, Dr. Newman said.

It was a message friendly to migraine-drug makers, and no wonder: The sponsor of the talk was GlaxoSmithKline PLC, maker of the \ best-selling migraine pill Imitrex. Glaxo picked up the tab for dinner, paid Dr. Newman a fee, supplied some of his slides, and scattered Imitrex notepads on the table.

Across the U.S., thousands of doctors such as Dr. Newman, an associate professor of clinical neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, have signed up as part-time lecturers for drug companies. At small meetings, often over lunch or dinner, these physician-pitchmen tell their peers about diseases and the drugs to treat them, often pocketing $750 or more from the sponsor. Dr. Newman declined to discuss his fee.

Read the rest of the article here.

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2. Start now preparing for fall allergies!

It’s hard to think about the fall with summer still upon us, however a little work now could save you hours of agony later, especially if you or your loved one suffers from fall allergies like I do.

What’s my strategy?

First, an awesome and effective air purifier. It’s the best in the bunch – and one will do your whole house (up to 3,000 square feet). It doesn’t have a filter to clean, just a photoionization light that needs replacing once a year. Instead, this unit sends out electrons (remember your science class?) to bond with particles floating in your air. Once they bind, they become heavy, and drop to the floor, where you can vacuum or sweep them up. For the first several weeks, you’ll find you’ll have to dust and vacuum frequently, but then it will subside.

Second, build up my immune system. My favorite supplements to do that are:

"a box and a can" – everything you need to get your body in balance.

this immune builder - start taking about six weeks before allergy season to get your immune system in top condition.

alfalfa – for those days when I’m just miserable, I take 10 with breakfast. Depending on the day, if I need it, I’ll take another 10 at lunch, and another 10 at dinner. Believe it or not, it works. I’ll admit, it is a lot to take, but I’d rather take a food (alfalfa) than a drug with it’s possible side effects.

betacarotne and flavanoids are also helpful for building your immune system, as they are powerful antioxidants.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me.

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Thanks for reading. As always, please call me or e-mail me if you have any questions or concerns.

Healthy Homes Newsletter July 2005

I trust you all had an enjoyable Fourth of July. My family and I closed on our new house on Thursday, then left immediately to travel to Indiana and Ohio to enjoy some time with family. It was a quick trip, but very enjoyable. Now, we’re in the middle of ripping out carpeting and wallpaper in the new house. We hope to move at the end of this month. We are all very excited.

This month:

1. Aging Gracefully

2. Getting a Good Start

3. It’s a Mom’s World

4. Healthy Homes Promotion

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Aging Gracefully

An article in the June 13^th issue of US News & World Report discussed how to add years to your life. Their recommendations? Things we all know, or should know, but bears repeating.

The Right Foods: eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains (no Wonder Bread!), lean meats, fish, low-fat or no-fat dairy. note: if you’re like me, this doesn’t reflect your daily diet. My solution? Small steps. Buy whole grain bread first. Then, make the effort to add something raw to each meal you eat. The point is that taking one step at a time will get you there!

Moderate Exercise: get moving! Do something for at least 30 minutes on most days. Also, add strength and flexibility exercises.

Response to Stress: manage your stress with exercise, stretching, breathing or other stress-control techniques.

Visit the Doctor: regular check-ups and testing can catch life-threatening illnesses while they’re still treatable.

Smoking: Don’t do it! If you do, quit.

Friendship: Make an effort to maintain a network of friends.

And, “Don’t rely on unproven supplements to improve your health, … There’s a lot of hype and not a lot of science behind them.” Quite true, which is why I’m thankful for the company I represent. Scientists (both hired by the company and independent labs) test their products to make sure they produce the desired result.

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Getting a Good Start

Part of aging gracefully is getting a good start. This month, my website has a focus on children’s health. You’ll find testimonials and other features online. So, what do our children need for good health? Here’s what I give my children:

children’s chewable multi-vitamin (or powder for infants): The chewable vitamin provides 23 essential nutrients, including 100% of the B vitamins, trace minerals and much more. No artificial flavors or preservatives. Also, sugar-free – sweetened with xylitol and mannitol, which are actually good for teeth and help prevent tooth decay.

chewable calcium: Drinking milk isn’t enough! Prevent growing pains by giving your children calcium their bodies can absorb.

beneficial bacteria: An unbalanced diet or unfamiliar foods can upset the balance of beneficial bacteria in your child’s intestine. our product guarantees delivery of at least a half-billion live beneficial bacteria directly to the intestines.

meal shakes: Always on the go? These great-tasting shakes are “fast food without the guilt.” In fact, my husband loves them too.

I grew up on this chewable multi-vitamin and I loved it! My mom also found them valuable.

“When Michelle, Troy & Carrie were little, we ended up with two house payments for about nine months. In an effort to cut expenses, I stopped giving the children [this company's] vitamins. After a few months, I realized I had spent more time and money at the doctor’s office than I had spent on vitamins! I quickly ordered more, and our visits to the doctor’s office became much less frequent.”

My children love their vitamins. Even 23-month-old Isaac begs for his vitamins every morning.

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It’s a Mom’s World

A recent article at entrepreneur.com focused on moms who are starting their own businesses. Read the full article here. Some points I found interesting:

*While it’s difficult to balance building a business with raising children, there are strategies to make it happen.

*When considering what kind of business to start, consider your passion and interests. Good businesses for moms generally involve the Internet in some way.

*The moms interviewed involved their children in their businesses.

If you think you’d be interested in starting your own business, consider joining the Healthy Homes team with Project MAHMA.

Click here to find out more about Project MAHMA.

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Healthy Homes Promotion – 10% off on the 10^th

Don’t forget! We at Healthy Homes offer a great discount if you order your Shaklee products on the 10^th of the month. This month, the 10^th is on Sunday. You can order via Internet, by calling Shaklee direct, or by calling Michelle at 847-212-8824. We’ll mail you a check at the end of the month once your rebate reaches $10 or more.

building a business

Building a business is your best bet to get rich. One big advantage is that those who build businesses are able to pay their expenses before they pay their taxes, instead of after. To learn more, I strongly urge you to read Robert Kioysaki's books - particularly the Cashflow Quadrant and Rich Dad Poor Dad. Find more resources for building a business here.

home based business

I'm writing this as my small children play around me. Sometimes my 1 year old grabs at the laptop, but mostly he's interested in stickers and the Little People. My 3 year old is playing with the Little People on the floor by me. My 5 year old and my 7 year old are playing with friends at a water park this afternoon - a very special treat for them.

My 1 year old is now pulling a little people in a tractor wagon. He's so proud of himself, he wanted to tell me what he was doing.

I love working from home. I couldn't stand the thought of missing all this.

Do you want to work from home? If I can do it, so can you. Send a resume to healthyhomes@shaklee.net, and we'll see if you'd be a good fit for the Healthy Homes team. It's worth investigating.

Wanted: entrepreneur sales leader for commercial accounts

Wanted: entrepreneur who has a passion for creating healthy environments - especially in businesses.

We're looking to add members to our team who want to create Healthy Businesses - by switching them to economical non-toxic cleaners and introducing them to air purification.

Here's what you need to know:
Commission-based - earn up to 33% commission, plus bonuses.
Work full-time or part-time, around your schedule.
Initial investment of about $500.

Passionate about our environment? About the health of our nation? You can improve our world and the health of its people.

E-mail resume to healthyhomes@shaklee.net.

Wanted: homeschool moms who want to earn extra money

If you're a homeschool mom looking for a way to supplement your income, but aren't willing to sacrifice your children's education, please check us out!

I'm a homeschooling mom, looking to build a team of other moms, including homeschoolers. My goal is to help you create a healthy environment for your family and help you earn extra money too. You can work as little or as much as you want, and earn as little or as much as you want.

Find out more here. Please understand, this website is still under construction, so all the links are not fully functional. However, you'll find information here about Project MAHMA, a great way to earn money while working at home and homeshooling your children.

I hope you'll consider joining our team!