What's on your bucket list...?

I'm not one for cliches, getting caught up in the latest thing, or generally going with societal crazes. I still proudly haven't seen the movie, "Titanic" and sorrow the day I let my husband get me to watch, "Forrest Gump." I don't own an Apple anything (except for a click-wheel iPod that was a gift). I'm a little bit bohemian-hippie and a whole lot conventional wisdom rebel/skeptic.

Having said that, I love the concept of "bucket lists" (even though I haven't seen the movie, yet...). :)  As soon as someone comes up with better terminology, I'll use it. But this is the one that is probably going to stick.

Bucket lists are good for your mental health. Just making them can give you a fresh perspective on living life to the fullest. They can give you a renewed hope in the joy of pursuing everything that mortality can offer a human being. Recently, a dear friend's dear mother passed away from battling cancer and every ailment that goes along with that battle. However, her super-good attitude and her determination to NOT stop living life to the fullest undoubtedly eased her final mortal journey. That wonderful attitude allowed her just one more trip with her kids to visit places overseas. While we don't want to go around burdened with the sorrow of feeling today was your countdown to the "end," hopefully  knowing that it is inevitable inspires you to truly LIVE and not just get through the day. Make your list!

Accomplishing your bucket list is good for your general well-being. I have yet to meet someone whose bucket list includes "play more video games," or "spend less time with my kids." When the end is near, will you wish that you'd spent more time in the office, making more money? Or will it be memory and experience that will guide your regrets? It might be akin to my skeptical nature, but I just despise regrets and when I live my life by design rather than by default, I free myself from those deathbed disappointments. Start doing your list!


What's on my bucket list? Glad you asked. I was re-inspired on this particular topic because of my stack of Dr. Oz DVR's. Penn and Teller made an appearance to help debunk medical myths. They addressed the myth that losing your memory was inevitable as you age (one of my fears, actually). One of the single-best ways to improve your brain capacity was to learn to juggle. Hello bucket list! I have ALWAYS wanted to learn to juggle. In 30 seconds Penn had me juggling two objects (I only had a bottle of Rx meds and my SD card holder on hand). I'm ecstatic and can't wait to improve my skills this summer.

So - go make your bucket list and live life by design...not by default!

Start Spreading The NEWS!...

Last weekend was GTC - the annual meeting for Arbonne in Las Vegas, NV. I wasn't able to go this year and felt it keenly. And what a year to miss! As always, they used the meeting as a platform to launch new products, but these were the two biggies in my oh-so-humble opinion:


1. NEW SKIN CARE LINE:
You already know that Arbonne has an amazing skin care line. If you didn't, let me fill you in. They have  GREAT skin care lines. We demo the RE9 line (anti-aging). But they also have great lines for those riddled with acne, younger skin, and now... Sensitive skin! To me, and people like me, this is HUGE.

Calm Skin Care Set - Click here for more info

I always new that I had sensitive skin. Why not? I have the perfect genetics for it. A nice northern-Euro + Ashkenazic blend. I freckle like crazy when out in the sun, never tan - only burn, and my hair will turn coppery with consistent sun exposure. When I developed asthma after a nasty bout of pneumonia, I got tested for allergies. I'm literally allergic to everything on the allergy test except horse dander. That really doesn't give me a lot of options when it comes to skin care.

I tried EVERYTHING. In my poor college years, I used the apricot scrubs from the local discount store. Sure, in the shower I had baby-smooth skin, but by the time I was out the door I looked like a swarthy sailor with a beet-red face from the resulting inflammation. Eventually I sucked it up and decided that I couldn't go cheap if I wanted to go "pretty." But even department store lines and other network-marketed lines ended up filling up my bathroom cabinet without offering me any relief.

That's when a friend (and future sponsor) introduced me to RE9 - and for the first time the redness almost completely disappeared. My skin felt healthy and no longer riddled with itchy, icky flakiness. Over time my pores were noticeably reduced and even my husband commented that it was "really working" because HE noticed fewer blackheads.

I still have rosy cheeks, but no longer look like a cherry tomato. And I kick myself because another "hat" I wear is professional photographer - and I didn't chronicle this journey. I won't be making this same mistake with this line. I'm excited to see if the new CALM line will take my skin to the next level of well-being. It's even really nicely priced for the budget conscious - of course I would love to talk to you about getting it at a 35% discount like I do! ;)




2. GROUNDBREAKING VITAMIN SPRAY:
Check this out. An easy way of getting your vitamins. Hopefully by now you know that Vitamin D deficiency is epidemic in a society that spends most of its time indoors. Doctor Oz is always talking about it. It is leading to younger and younger cases of osteoporosis (just ask my 34-year-old friend who broke her hip and found out she had it). But Vitamin D deficiency isn't only about brittle bones. It affects your hormones, depression, and many other systems in your body.

This unique spray delivers efficacious levels of essential vitamins B12 and D to support energy, immunity, calcium absorption and more with a tasty Tropical Splash flavor. Formulated to help counter vitamin D deficiencies that may come from simple actions such as an inadequate diet, wearing sunscreen regularly or not getting enough sunlight, and vitamin B12 deficiencies that may come from maintaining a vegetarian diet.

The problem is, to supplement (if we're not going to increase our sun exposure), is that stomach acid can render our supplements less-effective. Believe me, I take them anyway. I will get some benefit, even if it means consuming higher levels to start with. However, this spray will change not only how we administer our vitamins, but also its effectiveness in getting directly into our blood stream.

Arbonne owns the patent on this technology, and this is only the beginning. There is discussion on what will be offered next. Magnesium? (Also epidemically deficient in our society). A complete multi? I don't know - but I'm super excited about what they've got so far!