Express yourself!

Bahahahah!  If you didn't at least giggle a little bit on that one, I mean…I just don't know if we can be friends. C'mon now…who hasn't tried to hit that note while driving along the highway, seemingly alone in your car-turned-imaginary-stage for your American Idol audition, only to notice a car full of teenagers rolling along beside you laughing hysterically at your shinning star moment??  No…?  No one…?  Just me…?  Anywhooo…..

But, as funny as that video is, that laugh…that little giggle...that squint in your eye as you silently nose-laugh…CONGRATULATIONS!  You just advanced that wrinkle on your face!  You're welcome.  :)

So what are we suppose to do?  Stop laughing?  How miserable!  No way.  Having great skincare gives you the freedom to express yourself knowing that your products are doing what they should to prevent those expressions from forming deep lines.  And guess who can help you find those products?  ME!

ALL of our clinically proven regimens are designed to fight and prevent the signs of aging.  Our multi-med therapy is designed to deliver the right ingredients, in the right formulations, in the right order to transform your skin's appearance. It's important that you address your greatest skin concern first, then progress your way up to Redefine.  Do you have sensitive skin?  Our Soothe line is phenomenal at helping you overcome that sensitivity, which will allow you to progress to our Redefine line after just a few months of treatment.  Battling blemishes?  Our sulfur based Unblemish regimen is designed to help go deep under the skin and pull out everything below to clean the slate for more even skin!  Sun damage or dark spots?  Reverse can help you reveal the brighter, more radiant skin that you KNOW is still underneath!  And lastly, Redefine - the best age fighting regimen line I have ever used!  With consistent use of all of our products, your skin will turn back the hands of time.  Combined with our unique tools (AMP MD Roller and Macro-Exfoliator), your expression lines won't stand a chance!  

So go on….laugh...EXPRESS YOURSELF!!  And call me for the expression lines.  :)  

Role Models: then and now

When I was in high-school, all I wanted to be was Jenny McCarthy (we're talking circa 1996, Singled Out days).  I just knew that if I looked like her, dressed like her, and acted like her then my life would be perfect.  Well, since I couldn't control the fact that I didn't look like her, I did my best to dress and act the part:  patent leather everything, stuffed bra, a larger than life/inappropriate personality.  My parents must have been so proud.  

Luckily, that was just a phase (expect for the personality part…that one kinda stuck.  Sorry.)  Since then my girl-crushes have transferred more to the skin/beauty world.  I'll stay up late at night watching Chloe Morello's YouTube makeup tutorials, almost wreck my car while reading Pixiwoo's beauty blog, and will do anything Jennifer Aniston says in regards to her beauty regimen.  Anything.  These women are my Rock Stars.  However, when it comes to real life, I have a short list of real women that I trust for my beauty advice - women that I admire in terms of the condition of their skin and the products they use.  Cheryl Little, Laura Clark, Jennifer Tolbert, and Lindsey Regan Thorne…just to name a few.  These women are  flawless and ageless!  I have been secretly convinced that they are in fact angels and not even human beings.  Seriously…look them up, zoom in on their faces…not a flaw to be found.  

But, aside from being my skin-idols, do you know what else these ageless faces have in common?  They are all Customers or Consultants of Rodan + Fields!  But it doesn't end with just them!!  I have been reaching out to countless beautiful women from various walks of my life letting them know that I am a Consultant with Rodan + Fields, and to see if they are interested in the products.  More often than not, I am getting responses from these women saying they ALREADY use the products!  How encouraging!  One might see this as a roadblock, but I see it as affirmation!  After all, I'm not reaching out to women who I think need to improve their skin.   I'm reaching out to women who I know take care of themselves and want the best products available to them.  And what have they all chosen?  Rodan + Fields.  

I truly believe that if you do your own survey of beautiful women, the majority of them will say they use Rodan + Fields.  Clinically proven products created by the most highly respected Dermatologist in the world???  Yeah, I think it's a safe bet.  :) 

Our skin today does not have to be our skin tomorrow.  We are all aging, and we don't need to take drastic measures to do that gracefully.  Our products were created to address your specific skin concerns, while improving your skin's overall health and glow.  I would be honored to help you find the best products out there as recommended by our award winning Dermatologists.  

Or better yet…if you want to get in on this amazing opportunity, I would be equally honored to tell you about my story and how you, too, can be apart of this incredible business!  We just launched in Canada, and are positioned to go Global in a short amount of time.  Ground floor opportunities like this only come around about once every 10 years.  If you've ever been curious about this business, now is the time.  

Allow me to be #yourRFexpert

Going the extra mile...

No matter what your goals are, going the extra mile is what separates the men from the boys.

As you know, I have a slight obsession with my gym. But by the way I talk about it, you might think I'm in there 50x a week. Wrong. I'm good to go 3-4x a week. Now...when I'm in there, I give it my all - I go hard on the bags, deep into my squats, and challenge myself with added weights. But the reality is, 3-4x a week is just going to help me maintain. If I want to really amp up my results, I'll need to go the extra mile.  Going 5-6x a week would be one solution to this, or doing what they call a "bonus round" would also help. 

The bonus round is a series of exercises that you perform at your own pace, and the challenge is to do it as many times as possible within the month.  In honor of Valentine's Day, this month's bonus round is appropriately called "Feelin' The Love-Handles," and here is what it looks like:

There are a couple of people that I see at my gym that are insanely ripped!  I'm moderately jealous of them, especially considering we go to the same gym and do the same workouts, yet I do not look anything like them.  (Insert pouty face here.)  One day, while finishing up my workout, I looked up at the bonus board.  Can you guess the names of the people whom I envy?  Y'all, I took this pic YESTERDAY…the 5th of the month…and look how many times some of those people have done this bonus round!  I'm convinced they are bionic creatures.  So, begrudgingly (I admit), I committed to doing the bonus round that day…squeezing my name up on that board for some accountability.  I mean…I can't just leave that sad little "1" up there.  Must. Do. More.  

Our skincare is the same way.  Many people see these amazing results others are having with our Rodan and Fields products, and they want to have the same results.  But then they only buy an eye cream or just one of the moisturizers and expect to see the same results.  Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.  The results you are seeing are from people who have committed to the regimen and are using it as suggested by the Doctors.  Period.  And for those that really want to maximize their results, they incorporate our tools (Amp MD Roller and the Macro-Exfoliator).  Our tools are like the bonus round at 9Round.  Doing just the full 9 rounds every day is more than enough to kick your booty in shape.  But doing the bonus round will accelerate your progress and get you bikini ready in no-time flat!!  

So what's your skincare concern?  Wrinkles, dark spots, blemishes, sensitivity?  Start by taking our Solutions Tool to see what the Doctors recommend for you!  Input your email at the end of the Solutions Tool, and I will reply back to you right away with how we can get started on your skincare success story! 

And on that note…I am off to the gym….  :) 

Allow me to be #yourRFexpert

9Round Kick-A-Thon!

As many of you know, there are several things that get me fired up:  Rodan + Fields, 9Round, and the fight against human trafficking, to name a few.  Coming up, I will be combining ALL THREE (mind…blown!!!) as I co-host a Kick-A-Thon at 9Round in Dilworth.  Every kick will help raise a penny to help support the Justice Ministries in their dedicated fight against sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of women right here in Charlotte, NC.  In addition, everyone who shows up will be entered into a drawing where 5 lucky winners will receive an at-home mini-facial from Rodan + Fields! 

If you have never been to 9Round, this your time to check it out!!  Your first time is FREE!  It's only 30 minutes long, although it feels like 5 minutes because you are having so much fun!  In my video below, I show you a quick preview of what you can expect.  *Disclaimer* I am not a professional boxer, nor would I consider myself a fitness expert.  I do, however, give it my all every time!  So no judgment here, please.  :)  Hope to see you all there!!  

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.