Your Happily Ever After is waiting…

The quest for love and the quest for beauty can be very similar.  As a newly married 34 year old, I know a thing or two about kissing a few toads.  You want to believe, you try to see the good, and you do all you can to make it work, but the reality is, you can't force "the one" into existence.  And, thankfully, none of those relationships worked out.  You see, when you're single, people will try to tell you, "When you meet the right person, you'll just 'know.'" Well, obviously, by their tone, they were implying I wasn't with the right person, so obviously, I've never experienced this mind blowing knowledge you speak of.  I often say, it's like describing a unicorn to someone.  So annoying, but I digress.  

Well, turns out, those knowledgeable friends of mine were right.  After my first date with my, now, husband, I saw the unicorn.  THIS is what they were talking about!!  That indescribable connection you have, that feeling like your life just began the moment you opened your heart to them, that terrifying thought of one second of your life without them, that emotion that overwhelms you to tears at just the thought of how much you love them….THAT is what they were trying to explain to me.  And they were right - I didn't "know" anything about that before I met Johnatan (yes, I spelled his name right).  I am beyond grateful and thank God everyday that He withheld what I knew for what HE knew to be so wonderful.  Blessed beyond measure!   

(I imagine there is a similar feeling for when you have children.  But we aren't there yet.  That's another unicorn for another day.)  

I feel like the quest for beauty is so similar. We read the magazine articles, we see the commercials, we get pulled in by the "free gifts" at the mall, and we trustingly purchase whatever it is that they promise will make me look like the airbrushed supermodel in the photo.  We want to believe that what we have just purchased is the real thing…the BEST that is out there, and that it is going to transform our lives!!  What we forget to take into consideration is that there is a team of marketing geniuses behind those ads and a TON of money that goes into making the twilight wheel start spinning in your eyes.  All we innocently want is to look and feel better about our skin, and somehow we have ended up with a graveyard of half used products and a broken heart shattered by undelivered promises.  And back to the department store counter we go…..  

This is what sets Rodan + Fields apart!  Unlike a lot of media acclaimed products out there, our products were not created in a lab by some unknown scientists.  Our products were created by Stanford-trained Dermatologist that are still practicing today.  (In case you haven't caught on, that's Dr. Rodan and Dr. Fields.) Each regimen line has been clinically proven to do exactly what it says.  That means that the guess work has been taken out and that you can put your money on our products (literally - there is a 60 day money back guarantee!).  Not only that, but our Dermatologists have gone a step above and created an extremely helpful Solution Tool that was designed by them to guide you to the right products for your specific skin concerns.  Wouldn't you rather trust Stanford-trained Dermatologist with your skin than an employee at the mall or some editor of a magazine?  I mean, they both have extreme value in their designated roles, but not when it comes to selecting the best skincare for me.  

In addition, by 2012,  Rodan + Fields had over 138,000,000 (yes, that's million!) UNPAID media impressions!  When we say "our products sell themselves,"  we aren't kidding!  The results people (myself included) are experiencing are creating such a buzz that magazines, TV shows, and other media sources can't help but talk about it!  Which is great for us in so many ways:  not only does this give the consumer a real life testimony of the results promised by these products, but it also generates sales inquiries for the consultants and opens up the freedom for the company to not have to spend a dime on marketing and thus be able to be extremely generous in their compensation plan!  Genius!  (And thank you!) 

Until you try Rodan + Fields, you will likely still be searching for the unicorn of skincare.  Once I started using these products, I thought to myself, "Oh…this is what all those other products SAID they would do, but failed."  Just like when I found "the one" in my husband, Rodan + Fields has become "the one" skincare line for me.  

Want your happily ever after skincare story?  Comment below or shoot me an email with your skincare concerns!  I would be honored to help you find the best products for you, as recommended by our Dermatologists.  Allow me to be #yourRFexpert 

  

Oh the things we do for beauty….

So two weeks ago,  I was on the best honeymoon I have ever been on!  Ok, so it was the only honeymoon I have ever been on, but whatever - it was the best!!!  

We went to Cartagena, Colombia.  (Side note:  if you have never been there, you MUST add it to your bucket list!  And call me first - I will give you the skinny on where to go, what to do.  LOOOOOVED it!!!)  

Anywho, while there, my husband and I heard about this medicinal volcano where you can physically go down inside of it and waller around (high-five to all you Southerners out there who know what that means) for as long as your little heart desires.  

Medicinal volcano?  With skin healing and beautifying powers??  Um, yes, please!  Sign me up!  

Once you arrive at said volcano, you have to go up just a few poorly constructed stairs to enjoy the benefits.

Right before you surrender your life to the bottomless volcano (Yes, bottomless.  As in, there is no end to the depths of this volcano.  Just like my love for my husband.  :), your personal guide snaps a quick photo.  Say "Cheeeeese - Lord, let me live!"  

My husband was/is a little more adventurous than me, as you can see in his excitement here. 

I, however, had to be gingerly coerced into the mouth of this volcano.  Hence my backwards approach to the stairs. 

Once in the mud, it wasn't that bad.  Actually, it was quite amazing!  The mud is so dense, yet simultaneously very watery, that you just somehow magically float in it.  (I'm sure there's some scientific explanation about this, but I wasn't there for a science lesson - I was there for beauty - so I didn't ask.)  While floating, these angels, if you will, come over and, uninvitedly, just start massaging you.  No complaints here! Rub away! 

After our massages, we just relaxed in the mud and gave each other facials.  

After about 20 minutes in the volcano (well, there's a sentence I never thought I would say), we decided that was enough time to absorb the benefits without testing nature.  As you exit the volcano, a kind volunteer gives you a quick wipe down as you head down to the river to rinse off.  

Aren't we sexy???

I felt like we looked like Avatar here! ("Romes calls me skxawng. It means 'moron.'" Lol!)

Once down at the river, these women come and rinse you off.  They even, again, uninvitedly, remove your ENTIRE swimsuit and rinse that off for you as well.  How…sweet…of…them.  Luckily, the water was pretty murky so no one saw our "hidden treasures."  Ha!  

All clean and all smiles!  

A quick dry off and then off to enjoy some local brew!  

You can see the volcano behind us in this pic.  

Now, while all of this was really cool and a TON of fun, there are far easier ways to get softer, younger, smoother, and more radiant skin without having to fly to Colombia and waller around in a volcano.  Thankfully, Rodan and Fields has created four amazing skincare lines that address all of the major concerns.  I would be HONORED to chat with you about YOUR skin and help you find the best products out there for you!  

Shoot me and email, and let's get started today!!  You are just a click away from having your own glowing skin.  Plus, for the remainder of this month, I am reimbursing the enrollment fee to become a Preferred Customer!  This will get you 10% off your products and FREE shipping!  What a perk! 

Allow me to be #yourRFexpert

yourRFepert@gmail.com

Help me in the fight for justice

Tonight's before and after is a little different….

Last week, I had the privilege of sitting down with Mark Blackwell, founder of Justice Ministries, an organization that committed to combating sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of women, with a focus on rescue & housing.   My conversation with him was very candid and compassionate as he shared with me his ministry in helping young women out of their tortured lives.  Many people do not realize the magnitude of this industry right here in the United States.  It is not just a foreign country problem, but rather a multibillion dollar industry right here on our soil, with Charlotte, NC consistently ranking in the top 10. 

What I love about Justice Ministries is their dedication to an end result.  Awareness is great, but boots on the ground is where the change is going to happen.  Justice Ministries is committed, 24/7, to helping victims of this heinous crime not only break free from their environment, but to also teach them how to restore their confidence and their identity in Christ.  They provide them with safe housing during their rehabilitation, food, clothing, career counseling, and just basic friendship that is purely tied to the well-being of that individual and not the selfish intent of another.   

I am honored to partner with them in this fight as I have dedicated to contribute a portion of my Rodan + Fields proceeds to support Justice Ministries.  Every purchase makes a difference.  

The video below was taken one night in Charlotte.  In just a quick drive around the city, they were able to spot a young lady who appeared to be in danger.  The fear and pain in her voice is gripping.   And the disillusionment of her connection to her pimp is heartbreaking.  Notice - this was not in a raid of some hidden, obscure location (while that does happen to).  This was out in the open for anyone to see.  Please be aware!  Stay alert!  And call the hotline if you see anything suspicious! 1-888-373-7888.   

Let's iron out the wrinkles!

As I was getting ready this morning, I envisioned my outfit as I was applying my makeup.  (That's my order of operations:  shower, skincare, makeup, hair, teeth, get dressed.)  Anywho… I had this one shirt in mind that I knew would look cute with the pants I had in mind.  I went to my closet, slipped on the pants, then went to grab the shirt and, ugh!!!  It was all wrinkly!  Y'all I hate ironing! With a passion!   Like it's so annoying.  I usually buy clothes that don't have to be ironed for this very reason, but, alas, here I was with a First World conundrum:  Do I look for another shirt that would pale in comparison to my cute shirt?  Or, do I pull out the freggin' ironing board and iron and revert back to the 1600s and press this shirt?  (Ok, ok, let's get real here - I actually would just toss that baby in the dryer with a damp cloth and hope for a miracle to happen in there. At BEST, I might iron on my bed.)  The outfit in mind was just too cute to sacrifice for another top, so I did what any fashionista would do, and I ironed.  It wasn't fun.  I didn't enjoy it.  It actually annoyed me quite profusely.  But the reality is, I couldn't walk out of my house into the wide open world with a wrinkly top!  I mean, how embarrassing?  To voluntarily look disheveled?  Why would anyone do that?  I'm not saying you need to be in designer clothes…as a matter of fact, this beloved top is from Forever 21 (or XXI for all you cool people).  But you can keep a fresh look by simply putting yourself together a little bit.

See where I am going with this?  Your face carries WAY more value than your outfit.  We wouldn't settle for wrinkles in our clothes, so why would you settle for wrinkles on your face?!  And just like ironing (or the dryer *guilty*) offers a solution to this problem for our clothes, Rodan + Fields offers the same solution for our skin! (Please do not iron your face like the crazy old lady in my picture below.) And truthfully, the BEST accessory for any cute outfit is great skin!

Ready to iron out your wrinkles today?  Check out our Redefine line.  
Want to even out your skin tone for a brighter more radiant glow?  The Reverse line is for you!
Breakouts got you bummed?  Our Unblemish line is perfect for you!
Sensitive skin keeping you from feeling your best?  Our Soothe line has got you covered!

I would love to chat with you about your skincare concerns!  Shoot me an email today and let's get you glowing!  yourRFexpert@gmail.com

It's All About RESULTS!

Nowadays, with fast food, 8 minute abs, instant grits (GASP!!), text messaging, ect. - everything moves at lightening speed…or it's expected to.  Ever waited for "that guy" to text you back??  Those 30 seconds felt like decades!!!  The excuses that go through our minds in those 30 seconds - "he's probably with another girl!!"  "he thinks I'm a loser."  "ya know…whatever, I don't even like him that much anyway!"  Then he replies, "hey, beautiful!  been thinking about you all day!"  Annnnnnd suddenly you are back to drafting your tattoo of his name on your body.  Typical. 

We live in such a culture of instant results, that when things take time (even 30 seconds!!), we feel that it's not worth OUR time and we move on.  But I am here to tell you - to PREACH to you - that the BEST things…they are worth the wait.  (Shout out to my awesome husband here! :)

Let's…get... physical, physical…for a minute and talk about working out.  I admit - I was always the girl that looked for the instant results when it came to fitness.  I bought every tape/DVD/gadget out there - Cindy Crawford's workout, Tony Little, Tae-Bo, The Firm, Thigh-Master, Brazilian Butt-Lift, and even some crazy thing that promised to shock my abs into shape.  I would give each of them a SOLID, committed, beyond dedicated 3 to 4 days…and then toss it in the graveyard of fitness fails.  What I needed was a personal trainer, but I knew I couldn't afford it.  So on I would go to the next quick-fix, until…..  

Three years ago this month, I stumbled upon a gym that is truly unlike anything I have ever tried (and clearly, I have tried it all.)  They market themselves as a 30-minute, total body workout, that's fun and addictive.  Curious…I thought, why not?  And would you believe, I have actually been going consistently for now THREE YEARS!!  Me!!  The girl who wouldn't give anything else more than a week before rejecting it!  What is this amazing gym, you ask?  It's 9Round -  30 minutes, kickboxing inspired workout where you get a total body workout and muscle confusion every single day.  BEST!! My husband is also addicted!  It's too fun to be called "working out,"  and it's too cool to be called a "gym."  This place is all about a fitness lifestyle and making it attainable.  But the results speak for themselves…

After consistently going to 9Round 4-5x a week, my clothes definitely felt a little different.  But overall, I just felt healthy, not so much "buff."  Then after 5 months of consistency, I was in Mexico for a dear friend's wedding.  A few people made comments about my figure, but I just thought they were being nice.  And then I saw this picture of myself:  

Are those abs?!?!  On me??  What tha...?  When did…?  I was shocked!!  I did not expect that.  31 years old in that picture, and I looked better than I did in my 20s!  Talk about motivation to keep going!!!  Now, I'm not some Victoria's Secret model or anything, but this was truly the best ME I have ever been!!  After the wedding, I started right back at 9Round (and they actually got a few new members off of that trip!  ha!), and I have been going ever since.  This was me this past August for another friend's wedding in Maui (yes…my friends have super cool weddings.  Don't hate.)  

Just 30 minutes a day, 4-5 times a week!  Almost everyone can make time for that.  And the best part is that 9Round is completely affordable!!  Waaaaay cheaper than a personal trainer (although you actually get one with them!) and even cheaper than most gyms!  If you have one in your area, you MUST go and check it out.  Your first work out is FREE!  If you are close the Uptown/South End area of Charlotte, you can find me at John's location.  If you are south of the city, you'll want to hit up Mark and Suzi's location.  Not in Charlotte??  No worries!  9Round is one of the FASTEST growing franchises, so you can be sure there is one near you or will be soon!  Check out all locations here!  

But what does this have to do with skincare??? Glad you asked.  :) Answer: everything.  This is why we ask all of our customers to take pictures of their skin before they start our regimens.  Just like with our bodies, we are our toughest critics.  So relying on the reflection in the mirror to talk back to you and motivate you will keep you feeling like you are not making any progress.  But pictures do not lie.  They capture the reality of what is actually there.  You WILL see results!  Not overnight, probably not even in a week, but over time, and definitely after 60 days, you will see your progress, and you will love it!  But, you have to be consistent in your morning and nightly routines!  

And just like the gym, when you start something new, it can be painful!  (I couldn't walk for a solid 3 days after my first visit to 9Round!)   Our bodies (and our skin) react to change!  But isn't that what we are going for here??  Change??  Don't think "why bother?" or "a few days of not using it won't really make a difference."  or "it's not working."  It is working…it DOES work, but you must be present to win.  Stay in the game…keep washing your face…be consistent! I can't WAIT to see all of my customers' results!!  

Don't Waste the "Good Stuff"

If you are anything like me, there are many times when you need to wash your face an extra time during the day, more than the standard morning and night.  Maybe you are heading out for the night and want to do a quick re-do of your makeup from the day's wear.  (Or if you have oily hair like me, you want to just do a complete shower and redo everything!).  Or maybe you hit the gym in the morning, or simply need to run a few quick errands, and need to quickly wash your face before heading out the door, but plan to return home afterward to do your official "get-ready" routine. In those instances, you will obviously be removing your makeup and/or washing your face more than the standard 2x a day.  However, as you know, our Rodan + Fields products are designed to last you a minimum of 60 days with a 2x a day usage.  Adding this extra wash will put you up to 3x and cause you to burn through your products (and money) very quickly!

Rather than using your beloved Rodan +Fields products, I recommend having a gentle cleanser and moisturizer on hand for these one-off instances.  My current favorites for this are from the CeraVe line (available at Target, Walgreens, etc).  If you have oily skin, I recommend the Foaming Facial Cleanser.  For drier skin, Hydrating Cleanser.  They also have a wonderful non-comedogenic moisturizer that delivers optimal moisture without adding anything too heavy to your skin.  :)

Think of it this way - you want your most effective products to be on your skin for the majority of the day.  Typically, our morning regimen (cleanser, toner, creams) will be on our skin for about 8 hours.  Likewise, we assume your nightly regimen will be on your skin as you get your recommended 8 hours of beauty rest.  :)  Therefore, to use these cherished products again for a situation that will only be taking up a small window of your time, you really aren't doing your skin (or your pocketbook) any favors.

The products I mentioned above are about $8-12 each.  And considering how infrequently you will be using them, they will truly last you forever, while saving you a TON of money on eliminating the excessive (and unnecessary) use of your good stuff!  :)

My "Why"

My resume reads more like a House of Pain top hit from the 90s than a list of jobs.  (Jump around, jump around…).  Try as I might, I have not found an industry or a company that will allow me to grow and develop at my desired pace (aka…lightning speed!) while simultaneously delivering financial reward.  Just like with finding Mr. Wonderful, I thought that in finding Mr. Wonderful Job, I had to kiss a lot of toads.  So I worked, quit, transferred, quit, started something new, quit, and on and on it goes.  Just as in many first dates, jobs would promise me things, romance me with benefits, comp plans, and PTO and then change the script and under-deliver.  I’ve never been afraid to try something new or to leave the job when it was no longer a “match.”  But, truthfully, I was looking for that long-term commitment, and I was disappointed every time it didn’t work out.  In my heart, I knew that there just had to be a company/industry out there that would see value in me and have the means to support my desired growth and development while delivering great financial reward.

Enter Rodan + Fields.  I had actually heard of the company a few years back (insert: kicking myself now), but was too afraid to jump into a Multi-Level-Marketing program.  So many of those have such a negative stigma around them with words like “pyramid” and “scam” attached.  And, seeing as how I was in a financial place in my life where putting groceries on my credit card was not uncommon, I juuuust didn’t think that it would be wise of me to go out and spend money on skin care.  I mean, I’m pretty vain, but I’m not stupid.  Or was I?  After seeing some of my close friends establish themselves with very little effort as Independent Consultants with R+F, my ears started to perk up.  I liked that word “independent.”  Sing it, Beyonce!!  So I started digging around, reading up online and asking a few people about the business side.  I talked to my husband about the idea, and he also did his research.  My husband is a very smart businessman. So having his support means so much to me!  Not only from an emotional standpoint, but he is able to help me wrap my head around the business jargon that can send my head spinning.  (Actually, it’s not that confusing at all.  I’m just slow. Which goes to show – anyone can do this!)

Being able to control my destiny is the most exciting part for me.  In other jobs, the intensity of which you worked did not always correlate to success, both financially or in recognition by the company.  But now it does!!  I came out of the gate ready to rock, and in my first month, I doubled my goals that I set for myself and earned myself a promotion and a pay raise!  In my first month!!!  How many jobs out there can you say would provide that!?!?  I’ve had ROCKSTAR months in other sales jobs, and the most I got would maybe be lunch from the boss.  Now, I’m not knocking my other jobs…please understand that.  The corporate world just isn’t set up to provide stellar employees with incentives the way that MLM jobs can.  (That’s right. I called myself stellar.)  And the best part?? I’m just getting started!

In addition to my own initiative and gumption that accelerates me in my business, Rodan + Fields has just launched a revolutionary product called Acute Care that is sending Botox doctors shaking in their boots.  And, might I say, good!  Legally being able to stick needles in people’s faces that contain toxins that freeze your expressions should be a crime.  Honestly.  But I digress.  Acute Care is a clinically proven, non-invasive way to fill a wrinkle over night!  Say what?  These little stickers, if you will, are loaded with peptides and hyaluronic acid that produce visible results for fighting wrinkles. This is like the Viagra of skin care!  Remember what happened to all those Pharma Reps that had that little gem in their portfolio!?  Oh yeah….look out world – here we come!  But unlike being a Pharma Rep, you don’t have to wait for a company to hire you to push their products.  You can sign up TODAY to be a Rodan + Fields Consultant and start owning your business right away!  You can have a piece of the pie right NOW!!

As if all of this wasn’t enough, my story isn’t over yet.  When I moved to Charlotte, NC in 2010, I started hearing stories about human trafficking.  I imagined this to be a crime that was prevalent in third world countries, but I had no idea that it was such a problem right here in the United States and, even more specifically, in Charlotte. Ignorance is truly bliss.  But once you take the blinders off, it’s hard to look away.  My heart has been gripped by this crime for some time, but I felt like my abilities and means were limited in how I could help.  Seeing how R+F has the ability to bless me financially in ways that I never dreamed, I want to start at the very beginning by giving back to an organization that is dedicated to fighting this inhumane crime.  I have partnered with Justice Ministries in Charlotte, NC as my platform for giving back a portion of my proceeds from each and every sale. We all have a responsibility to be socially aware of what is going on in our world, our state, our neighborhoods.  Impacting lives is a mission of Rodan + Fields, and it is also a mission of mine.  I am overjoyed to have this opportunity to feel like I can give freely and serve fully!

Combining this amazing business opportunity with my passion for great skin care is like a dream come true.  I’m excited to see where this journey takes me, and I’m ready to make my mark! Rodan + Fields…here we GROW!