Brand Loyalty

Brand loyalty...

What makes you loyal to the brands you use in your house?  

Is it that it's what your mama and grandma used?  Is it what your hubby has been used to all his life, so you don't want to rock the boat?  Is it just because it's what you're used to buying?

Or do you buy what's on sale or what you have coupons for? 

Does packaging or display have anything to do with it?

Have you ever stopped to really take a look at what you're buying?  Read the labels, do your own research, check out the manufacturers? (I mean really check them out- not just trust what they advertise on TV)

OR you might be scared that if you stop to take a look at these things- you might see something you don't want to see or know!  Sometimes we would rather be ignorant so we don't have to think.

Take a few minutes to really look at your buggy the next time you're out shopping.  Pay attention to what you're exposing yourself and your family to- whether it's food or household products.  Yes- cheaper products help out the pocketbook now- but really how cheap are you getting off?  For example, cheaper body wash means you have to use more lotion, which means you'll run out of both a lot quicker, so you'll be back buying the same product within a couple weeks.  And so many detergents and cleaners are filled with toxic chemicals and water- how clean are countertops really?

You may say "Well I'm not brand loyal- I've become awfully budget-savvy and have learned the ropes on making my own supplies!"  While there are lots of GREAT home recipes and natural products to use, I have a team member who has done extensive research on homemade products such as laundry detergent- check out all she has to say about them:


www.stayhomeforkids.wordpress.com

What about you?  Do you consider yourself brand loyal or would you be willing to even just HEAR about another way to shop?!  It's a lot easier and can be budget friendly as well!  I'm telling ya- anything that keeps me from going to one more store without my 3 kids in tow has got my ear turned!  I can't even fit three kids in the big ole shopping cart, much less what I'm shopping for!  I love having the UPS guy deliver my Melaleuca box each month!

Email me, leave a comment, or visit my team page- that will get you in touch with me, too!!

Hernando Farmer's Market

How many of you LOVE Farmer's Markets???  

This is the first year that we have really been all about them and made our grocery list based off of what we can get there versus what we get at the store.  Hubs has really started changing his diet to consist of more organic and fresh foods, which is what we all really need to be eating anyway--- right?!  (Check out this website for more info on what Hubs is shooting for!)  And with our boys- I want them to grow up being healthy eaters!  My oldest could eat chocolate, cookies, and ice cream all day long if I let him!  The youngest will eat whatever you put in front of him- so I need to be so purposeful in what they eat!

I had the opportunity to take my Melaleuca business down to the first annual Earth Day Celebration in Hernando a couple weekends ago!  They were celebrating green living, of course, so I thought what better way to get my business out there!  If you were there and have visited my blog- I sincerely apologize for not having it better updated!  Feel free to email me for more information on becoming a preferred customer!  {lgd625(at)hotmail}

I'm hoping to set up a booth a few times this summer down there, so come check out what I have to offer in the line of safe eco-friendly products for your home!!  But of course, we plan on visiting weekly!  If you're in the DeSoto County area, check out Hernando's Farmer's Market and Cedar Hill Farms.

Take Good Care of Yourself

Your physical health is the most important thing you possess.

Think about these gifts:

You have a heart that beats over 100,000 times a day without you having to think about it.

You have eyes that instantly make over 10 million different color distinctions.

You have muscles that if they were to work together and pull in one direction, would equal tons of pulling power.

And this entire process is operated by a body that’s made up of about 98% water and a three-pound lump of matter we call our brain.

Ultimately, the factors that influence your health and vitality most are your choices.

Current research shows that many of today’s major health concerns are directly related to lifestyle choices which are preventable or minimized by developing good health habits.

When you consider some of the biggest health concerns we all face today, what are some that come to mind?

Weight Issues, Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Heart Disease, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Stroke, Depression

Asthma, Allergies, Osteoporosis

The statistics on the increasing incidence of these health concerns – and their causes – are troubling.

As you know, there is nothing more powerful than our body’s own inherent ability to heal itself…as long as we provide it with what it needs to maintain optimum health:

Air, Water, Proper Nutrition, Sunshine, Exercise,Love, Laughter

Internet Ceo Moms can show you how to take a more pro-active role in your physical vitality – simple lifestyle choices that don’t interrupt your life, only enhance it. Through scientifically developed, patented products, and education about wellness at the cellular level, you’ll find it easier than ever to be Preventive – vs. Reactive – in the area of health and wellness for you and your family.

Internet Ceo Moms is really about two things - Your Health and Financial Wellness. Which could you live without? Which could you use some help with? What about everyone else out there? The market potential is endless, as EVERYBODY wants Health and Financial Wellness, not to mention the time freedom to enjoy both!

**by Donna Stewart- founder of Internet CEO Moms!  

7 Days In

We're seven days in to 2011!  Can you believe it?!  I know I sure can't!

So...how is your year going so far?  Mine so far has been a good reflection time.  Goals I have (and I'm not really a goal-oriented person), strides I want to make, things I want to accomplish.

Thankfully- I have already started living out two of my goals!

1.) Create a healthy lifestyle for my family.
The first way I am doing this through using safer products.  I know that by using products that are green I am not exposing my kiddos to all the harsh chemicals and dangerous substances that other brands offer.  And this isn't just through my cleaners!  I'm using safer laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, bath products, and even vitamins that are specially formulated to break down to be used more efficiently in the body!
Now--- I am working on being a better PLANNER for meals.  There are some weeks that I do GREAT!  Then there are some weeks (like this week-- that I don't do so great!)  {{real life moment...we were driving around last night desperately searching for a DECENT place to eat.  I hadn't planned a meal because I had friend's jewelry party to attend- and Thursdays are my "end of the week" day where I'm just worn out!  Luckily we found a meat and 3 place open and ate some yummy food!  Much better than fast food!}}  But my hubby and I have both agreed that despite how hectic our schedules can get- the better planned out we are- the healthier we eat (and the more money we save!)

2.)  Find a business that I can work from home with and truly succeed. 
Yay!  I'm so glad that I have found Internet CEO Moms.  Not only do we represent a great company whose products are necessities, but they have the greatest business plan out there for ANYONE who would like to have a home-based business!  This plan doesn't require any home parties, deliveries, or taking orders.  It does require working HARD to make it work for you!  Because let's face it- most "get rich quick" plans are schemes and you end up out less than you made.  And I personally don't have free weeknights to go into people's homes to do parties (although I do love 31 gifts and Premiere Jewelry and Pampered Chef--- it's just not practical for me).  Now I will tell you that while home parties are not required- it can all be done online- I love opening my home up and presenting these products and letting potential customers see first-hand how well these products work!!  In fact- feel free to email me to find out when I will be doing this, if you're interested!
And this doesn't have to be just for moms!  Say you AND your hubby want to get involved, or you know of someone who is at a dead end at their current job.  Send them my way and I'll be glad to share our business plan with them and how they can have their business up and going by month's end!  Remember- it isn't easy street- it's working hard, being disciplined, and setting goals (which is what I'm working on- right?!).

So make this YOUR year!!  

Start living your life---  don't let it live you!  

How Do You Do It?!

EXERCISE!

How do you do it??  I can't ever seem to find the time or energy or "get up and go" to get out and get going!  I have tried to convince my dear hubby that we need an elliptical or treadmill, but he has repeatedly told me it would be a waste of space and eventually turn into another place to hang clothes! I mean, he could be right- but seriously- I can't leave the house during naptime, by night time when hubby is home I am just plain pooped, and I would have to get up before the rooster crows to do it in the mornings!  I guess I like my sleep too much??  (Of course if I were more disciplined, I'd be in bed before 10 and might could handle it.) 

I would like to convince myself that my everyday activities are enough- carrying a hefty 8+ month old around (which is really just making my hips out of whack), running up and down the stairs, and just the everyday hustle and bustle.  But I know that if I were to go outside right now and run to the end of the street and back- I.might.just.die.  I mean let's face it- none of us are as young as we were ten years ago!  I mean, for Pete's sake- I'm finding gray hairs in my always-turning-darker-no-longer-blonde hair!! 

So my question is this- how do you do it?  When do you find the time?  Are you consistent with it?  Please tell me I'm not the only one!!!!

Don't read this.......

unless you want to be convicted on yours and your children's eating habits!!  Wow!  Some pretty heavy stuff- but SUCH a good read!  {borrowed from fellow internet ceo mom}  Feel free to leave your comments and let me know what you think!  What are your family's healthy eating habits??

9 Foods Not to Give Your Kids

By Joe Wilkes

If you've followed the news on childhood obesity lately, you know the state of affairs is pretty grim. Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past two decades, and most signs point to the next generation being the first whose life expectancy will be shorter than their parents'. Much of the blame for this trend has deservedly been laid at the feet of the producers and marketers of unhealthy food aimed at our youngest consumers, whose parents face an uphill battle: trying to pit fresh, healthy foods devoid of mascots or sidekicks against superheroes and cartoon animals in a struggle to tempt their children's palates and stomachs.

Since most kids have hummingbird metabolisms that adults can only envy, it's often easy to give them a free pass and let them eat whatever they want. But eventually those metabolisms slow down and the pounds settle in. Also, as physical activity decreases and processed food intake increases annually, kids aren't burning calories the way their parents might have when they were their age. And even if the kids aren't getting fat, they are establishing eating habits they'll take into adulthood. As parents, you can help foster a love for healthy eating and exercise that will last your kids a lifetime—hopefully a long one!
Eating can so often be a classic power struggle where kids try to finally locate their mom and dad's last nerve. (I can remember family dinners with my brother and parents that could teach Hezbollah a thing or two about standoffs.) There are a number of strategies you can use to mitigate this type of deadlock. One is to let your kids help with the selection and preparation of the food. If they picked out the veggies at the farmers' market and helped cook them, they might be less inclined to feed them to the family pet. Another is to frame eating vegetables and healthy food as being its own reward. Otherwise, by offering dessert as a reward for finishing vegetables, you create a system where unhealthy food is a treat and healthy food sucks. With these thoughts in mind, let's take a look at some of the most unhealthy foods being marketed to your kids today, and some healthier alternatives you can offer to replace each of them.
Note: The following recommendations are for school-aged children. Infants and toddlers have different specific nutritional needs, not addressed in this article.

1. Chicken nuggets/tenders. These popular kids' menu items are little nuggets of compressed fat, sodium, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and in some form chicken. Depending on the restaurant, chicken might not even be the first ingredient. Oftentimes, the nuggets or tenders are made of ground pieces of chicken meat and skin, pressed into a shape, flavored with HFCS and salt, and batter-fried in hydrogenated oil (the bad, trans-fatty stuff). Then, as if that weren't unhealthy enough, you dunk it in a HFCS- or mayonnaise-based sauce. With all the fat, salt, and sugar, it's easy to understand why they're tasty, but the nutritive value weighed against the huge amount of calories and fat consumed is incredibly lacking. Even healthier-sounding menu items can be deceiving, like McDonald's^® Premium Breast Strips (5 pieces), which pack 665 calories and 40 grams of fat—and that's before you factor in the dipping sauce. (By comparison, a Big Mac^® with sauce has 540 calories and 29 grams of fat.) Instead: If you're cooking at home, grill a chicken breast and cut it into dipping-size pieces either with a knife or, for extra fun, cookie cutters. Make a healthy dipping sauce from HFCS-free ketchup, marinara sauce, mustard, or yogurt. Let your kids help make the shapes or mix up the sauce. Try and go without breading, but if you must, try dipping the chicken breast in a beaten egg, and then rolling it in cornflake crumbs before you bake it. It'll be crunchy and delicious, but not as fatty.
   
2. Sugary cereal. I can remember as a child, after going to friends' houses for overnights and being treated to breakfast cereals with marshmallows that turned the milk fluorescent pink or blue, feeling horribly deprived when faced with the less colorful and sugary options served up in my home kitchen. But now I can appreciate my mom and her unpopular brans and granolas. True, they didn't have any cartoon characters on the box or any toy surprises, but they also didn't have the cups of sugar, grams of fat, and hundreds of empty calories that these Saturday-morning staples are loaded with. Instead: Read the labels and try to find cereal that's low in sugar and high in fiber and whole grains. Remember, "wheat" is not the same as "whole wheat." Also, avoid cereals (including some granolas) that have hydrogenated oils, artificial colors, or chemical preservatives. Add raisins, sliced bananas, berries, or other seasonal fruit to the cereal for extra flavor and nutrition. Again, letting your child help design a healthy bowl of cereal from choices you provide will get you a little more buy-in at the breakfast table.
   
3. Lunch meat and hot dogs. Kids love hot dogs, bologna, and other processed meats, but these are all full of potentially carcinogenic nitrates and nitrites, sodium, saturated fat, and artificial colors and fillers. A study in Los Angeles found that kids who ate 12 hot dogs a month had nine times the risk of developing leukemia.¹ And more health risks are being discovered all the time. Leaf through any research about kids' nutrition, and you're bound to read about the bane of the cafeteria—Oscar Mayer's Lunchables^®. These and similar prepackaged lunches are loaded with processed meats and crackers made with hydrogenated oils. These innocent-looking meals can boast fat counts of up to 38 grams. That's as much fat as a Burger King^® Whopper^® and more than half the recommended daily allowance of fat for an adult. Instead: Get unprocessed meats, like lean turkey breast, chicken, tuna, or roast beef. Use whole wheat bread for sandwiches; or if your kid's dying for Lunchables, fill a small plastic container with whole-grain, low-fat crackers, lean, unprocessed meat, and low-fat cheese. This can be another great time to get out the cookie cutters to make healthy sandwiches more fun. For hot dogs, read labels carefully. Turkey dogs are usually a good bet, but some are pumped up with a fair amount of chemicals and extra fat to disguise their fowl origins. Look for low levels of fat, low sodium, and a list of ingredients you recognize. There are some tasty veggie dogs on the market, although a good deal of trial and error may be involved for the choosy child.
   
4. Juice and juice-flavored drinks. Juice—what could be wrong with juice? While 100 percent juice is a good source of vitamin C, it doesn't have the fiber of whole fruit, and provides calories mostly from sugar and carbohydrates. Too much juice can lead to obesity and tooth decay, among other problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests 4 to 6 ounces of juice per day for kids under six, and 8 to 12 ounces for older kids. Juice drinks that aren't 100 percent juice are usually laced with artificial colors and that old standby, high fructose corn syrup, and should be avoided. Your best bet is to make your own juice from fresh, seasonal fruit. You won't have to worry about all the additives, and it's another way you can involve your kids in the cooking process. Let them design their own juice "cocktail." (And if you were even considering soda, see "Top 10 Reasons to Give Up Soda" in the Related Articles section below.) Instead: Water is still the best thirst quencher. Explain the importance of good hydration to your kids, and try to set a good example yourself by carrying around a healthy reusable hard plastic or stainless steel water bottle. Get your kids used to carrying a small bottle of water in their backpack or attached to their bike. If they're very water averse, try water with a splash of fruit juice in it. But just a splash. The idea is to get your kids used to not having things be overly sweet, overly salty, or overly fatty. Another great beverage is milk. Growing kids need plenty of milk (or fortified nondairy milks, like soy or almond)—which is filled with nutrients, calcium, and (in the case of dairy and soy) protein—but they don't need too much fat, so choosing low-fat or nonfat options will help ensure that they get their milk without actually beginning to resemble a cow.
   
5. French fries. High in calories, high in fat, and high in sodium—and unsurprisingly the most popular "vegetable" among kids. Fries offer virtually none of the nutrients found in broccoli, carrots, spinach, or other veggies not cooked up in a deep fryer, and the fat they're fried in is often trans fat, the unhealthiest kind for the heart. To top it all off, studies are beginning to show cancer-causing properties from acrylamide, a toxic substance that is created when starchy foods like potatoes are heated to extreme temperatures. In some tests, the amount of acrylamide in French fries was 300 to 600 times higher than the amount the EPA allows in a glass of water.² Instead: Vegetables like baby carrots, celery sticks, and other crudités are great options, but if potatoes must be had, there are some options that don't involve melting a brick of fat. A scooped-out potato skin with low-fat chili and a little cheese can provide lots of fiber and vitamins, with even higher amounts if the chili has beans. You can also try making baked fries, using slices of potato with a light brushing of olive oil. Or the classic baked potato could be a hit, with plain yogurt or cottage cheese instead of sour cream and butter.
   
6. Potato chips, Cheetos^®, Doritos^®, etc. These are full of fat, oftentimes saturated, and way more sodium than any child or adult should eat. Some chips also have the acrylamide problem discussed in #5, French fries, above. Also, watch out for innocent-seeming baked and low-fat chips that contain olestra or other fake fats and chemicals that could present health issues for kids. Instead: Kids gotta snack, and in fact, since their stomachs are smaller, they aren't usually able to go as long between meals as adults. Cut-up vegetables are the best thing if your kids want to get their crunch on, but air-popped popcorn and some baked chips are okay, too. You can control how much salt goes on the popcorn, or involve your child in experimenting with other toppings like red pepper, Parmesan cheese, or dried herbs. Try making your own trail mix with your kids. They might be more excited to eat their own personal blend, and that way you can avoid certain store-bought trail mixes, which sometimes contain ingredients like chocolate chips and marshmallows that aren't exactly on the healthy snack trail.
   
7. Fruit leather. Many of these gelatinous snacks like roll-ups or fruit bites contain just a trace amount of fruit, but lots of sugar or HFCS and bright artificial colors. Don't be misled by all the products that include the word "fruit" on their box. Real fruit is in the produce section, not the candy aisle. Instead: If your child doesn't show interest in fruit in its natural state, there are some ways you can make it more interesting without losing its nutritional value. For a healthy frozen treat, try filling ice-cube or frozen-pop trays with fruit juice or freezing grapes. Or buy unflavored gelatin and mix it with fruit juice and/or pieces of fruit to make gelatin treats without the added sugar and color (let it solidify in big flat casserole dishes or roasting pans—another good time for the cookie cutters!) Try serving some raisins, dried apricots, apples, peaches, or other dried fruits that might give you that chewy, leathery texture without the sugar.
   
8. Doughnuts. These little deep-fried gobs of joy are favorites for kids and adults alike, but they are full of fat and trans-fatty acids, and of course, sugar. Toaster pastries, muffins, and cinnamon buns aren't much better. The worst thing about doughnuts and these other pastries, aside from their nutritional content, is that they're often presented to children as acceptable breakfast choices. These delicious deadlies need to be categorized properly—as desserts, to be eaten very sparingly. And you can't have dessert for breakfast. Instead: Honestly, a slice of whole wheat toast spread with sugar-free fruit spread or peanut butter isn't going to get as many fans as a chocolate-filled Krispy Kreme^® doughnut, but at some point, you have to stand firm. Be the cop who doesn't like doughnuts. Doughnuts—not for breakfast. Period.
   
9. Pizza. In moderation, pizza can be a fairly decent choice. If you order the right toppings, you can get in most of your food groups. The problem comes with processed meats like pepperoni and sausage, which add fat and nitrates/nitrites (see #3, Lunch meat and hot dogs, above); and the overabundance of cheese, which will also provide more calories and fat than a child needs. Instead: Try making your own pizza with your kids. Use premade whole wheat crusts, or whole wheat tortillas, English muffins, or bread as a base. Then brush on HFCS-free sauce, and set up a workstation with healthy ingredients like diced chicken breast, sliced turkey dogs, and vegetables that each child can use to build his or her own pizza. Then sprinkle on a little cheese, bake, and serve. If your child gets used to eating pizza like this, delivery pizzas may seem unbearably greasy after awhile.
   

Someday your children will come to realize that caped men in tights and sponges who live under the sea might not have their best interests at heart when it comes to food. Until then, however, why not involve them in the process of selecting and preparing healthier alternatives? Some of these cleverly disguised wholesome foods might become their favorites. Who knows, they may even tempt some of the overgrown children among us!

• ¹Peters J, et al. "Processed meats and risk of childhood leukemia (California, USA)" Cancer Causes & Control 5: 195-202, 1994
• ²Tareke E, Rydberg P, Karlsson P, et al. "Analysis of acrylamide, a carcinogen formed in heated foodstuffs" J. of Agri and Food Chem. 2002;50:4988-5006

**After posting this article to my page, I received an email from a lady who works on the Lunchables team.  She provided me with the following information regarding the Lunchables line:

My name is Tiasha Stevenson and I work for the Lunchables team. I read your blog post about the 9 Foods Not To Give Your Kids. We appreciate the intent of your story and wanted to let you know that as a brand, we are always looking for ways to make our products better. As a result, we are constantly evaluating the nutritional profile of our food.

 

The piece mentions that Lunchables could have fat counts up to 38g per serving and that is not true. In fact, the new line of Lunchables offers more wholesome options like lean meats, spring water and even whole-piece fruit. 

 

Other enhancements of the line include:

• Turkey made with 100% turkey breast (a good source of protein)
• Bread made with whole grain
• Kraft 2% milk cheese (an excellent source of calcium)
• Unsweetened apple sauce
• DOLE Mandarin Oranges in 100% fruit juices
• Spring water

We are also working to include positive nutrients such as whole grains and fruit in our products. We now have 32 items that are made with at least 5g of whole grain including products with crackers, pizza crusts, and subs. Four of our offerings contain either unsweetened applesauce or mandarin oranges in 100% fruit juice. 

 

Are your "green" products really green?

There is such a movement nowadays for green and organic products.  And while it's a great start to living healthier lives- is it really green?  Companies aren't required to put all ingredients on their labels- chemicals that are less than 1% usually aren't on there.  And those are the harmful ones.  Now- most of them aren't that bad in such small doses- but think about how often you use those products.  If it's one of your "staples" you might want to be more selective!  If you want to learn more about products made of formulas powered by natural and naturally derived solvents instead of caustic chemicals, and trigger sprayers (instead of aerosols) designed to reduce the chances of inhalation, contact me and I'll be more than happy to share how you can get these fantastic products in your home!  I don't sell them or deliver- I just set up customer memberships so you can have the same access to them as I do- plus all the great benefits of membership! 

And what better time than now?!  You can join for just $1, order your products, and see for yourself!

$1 Can Change Your Life!

I know it did for us!  I joined up with Internet Ceo Moms and our partner company last April during a $1 enrollment promotion.  Now that I have been a member for 6 months, I KNOW that I would have joined for the regular membership fee of $29!  It has been one of the best investments I could have made for our family!  Not only am I able to shop for safer products for my family, I am able to bring home some extra income for us as well!  So where's the risk in spending $1 to join a GREAT company and earn some extra income, too?!  They have a fantastic customer referral compensation plan- so you don't even have to make it a business if you're not up for that!  But I know I have, and these days, every little bit helps!  This promotion lasts until October 20, so contact me TODAY to learn how to get started and shopping!!

We have just started Miles on the kid's vitamin supplements.  I have been reading up on the science behind our vitamin line and am learning all sorts of interesting things!  I am definitely not a chemistry person, but learning about how our bodies absorb vitamins and how much they help supplement our health has been so neat!  Email me if you'd like some more information on this!  I would love to share a video with you on the science behind our vitamins!