Even JESUS uses Rodan + Fields!!

You think Rodan + Fields is just for women??  Think again!  Women, men, children, and yes...even Jesus uses Rodan + Fields.  Well, maybe Jesus doesn't use the products on His face...after all, He is without flaws.  But He does USE the products and business to expand His Kingdom! Can I get an AMEN?!?  

As you may know, I have committed a portion of all of my sales to give back to Justice Ministries, a non-profit, Christian organization created to combat sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of women in Charlotte, NC with a focus on rescue and housing.  After learning that human trafficking is not just a problem in other countries, but rather in our own backyard (and all over the US), I knew I couldn't just sit back and continue to watch the headlines roll in.  Contributing financially to this organization is just a small example of how Rodan + Fields is impacting the Kingdom of God for His glory!  

Check out all of these other Consultants and how THEY are also using their financial blessings from their Rodan + Fields business to pour out onto others in the name of Jesus!  

Sarah Robbins - Gives to children in need through organizations like Angel House, World Vision, Compassion, and to individual causes that align with her mission of providing children with love and loving homes.
Mallory Hope - Funds and participates in Dental mission trips. 
Laura Bangar - Started a local ministry in Mississippi, and now has the recourses and time to take full mission trips.  
Kristin Tracey - Started a camp that hosts abused or neglected foster children. 
Uilani Cordeiro - Gives to the ministries of her husband's church plant. 
Letisha Pittman - Developing an activity center for underprivileged youth in their community.  

My husband and I fully believe in being a river with our resources and not a reservoir.  Maybe you feel like your financial situation is great, and that you do not need any more money.  But what if working this business wasn't about you...but rather you being an open river of resources to flow out onto others?  What if God wants to use you as that river for His Kingdom?  

This is my daily prayer over my business - that God humbles me and uses me as an instrument to do His work.  Helping people love their skin is just the beginning; watching God work through this business is the true blessing in it all.   I would be honored to talk to you about this business and how it has impacted our lives and the lives of others.  

*WARNING! This post might make you sick!*

This weekend my amazing husband presented me with the best Mother's Day present! No...we don't have children. No...I'm not pregnant. And no...it wasn't for how I'm a "mother" to my cat. 

The gift was for what I am doing NOW to prepare myself and our house for the hopeful role of becoming a mother down the road. The sacrifice we both made to leave my corporate job and embrace my Rodan + Fields business full time was something we fervently prayed through before taking action. The commitment I have made to this decision is my driving force every day, knowing that one day when we are blessed with a child, I won't have to worry about maternity leave, or the pressure of finding a day care within those time constraints, or the pinch that having children puts on household finances. 

Being a Mother is something I deeply desire. And being a wife to someone that appreciates everything I am presently doing to fulfill that future role and contribute to our family is truly a blessing from God! 

Single ladies...(meaning not married. If you haven't married him, you are still single) find a Godly man who celebrates you, not only for who you ARE, but also for who you will become! Having someone who sees the great work still to be done in you and celebrates that before it is brought to light is a gift from God. 

So thankful for my gift - both the present and my amazing husband!

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses....

People say to me: I don't have the time.
I hear: Carla, I don't want an opportunity that gives me more flexibility with my time. 

People say to me: I don't have the money. 
I hear: Carla, I don't want the chance to make more money. 

People say to me: I don't know anything about skincare. 
I hear: Carla, I am un-coachable, and I don't want to learn about something that has the power to change my life. 

People say to me: I don't know anyone who would buy this. 
I hear: Carla, I don't know anyone with skin. All of my friends are fish. 

People say to me: I don't need to make anymore money. My (or my husband's) income is enough. 
I hear: Carla, I only live in my world, and I am not aware of other needs outside of my own to which extra income could support. (Ouch...)

People say to me: I don't want to quit my job. I like what I do. 
I hear: Carla, I didn't listen to a word you just said, b/c if I did I would know that I can keep my job that I truly love and also do this in just 10-15 minute pockets throughout my day all from the convenience of my cellphone. 

People say to me: I don't want to sign up for a pyramid scheme.
I hear: Carla, I haven't done my research to really understand exactly what Direct Sales is and the legitimate business model that is being presented to me. 

Here are some legitimate excuses I will entertain:  
- Carla, I recently moved to a cave where I will live off the land around me and remove myself from cellular or internet connections. (However, if you are reading this, then, well...there goes that excuse.)
- Carla, I hate all people. Including you. Leave me alone to live in solitude. (Again, you are on Facebook, a social media website...soooo.......
- Carla, I was recently enrolled in the witness protection program and will be living under an alias for an indefinite amount of time. (And now you just told me this secret, soooooooo.....)

People say to me:  I wish I would have joined you sooner.  

I hear:  Carla, I'm READY!  Let's DO THIS!!  

Stop with the excuses! Just call the number (live on Sundays, or the replay anytime during the week) and MESSAGE ME! I'm on a rocket ship to the moon, and I'm ready to take you with me!

I'm PREGNANT!!

CRAZY!!  Totally did not expect this so SOON, but it's happening!  Seems like just yesterday that my husband and I would just joke about the idea.   Are we ready for this kind of responsibility??  Such a change in our lives?!  Am I equipped to take on this role?  I mean…to hold someone's future in my hands!!  That's insane!  I have heard how challenging it can be at first, but that the reward is simply worth every bit!  And now, here I am...4 months in and I am watching my little baby grow!  

So there it is folks…I'm pregnant!!  Pregnant with excitement, that is, that my little Rodan + Fields family is growing!  (Ohh…ohhh….you thought I meant like reeeeeally pregnant!!  Like with a human and stuff… Heck no!  I JUST got married, people!  Calm down.)  

Anyway…back to my baby.  

I jumped in head first to my Rodan + Fields business - immediately posting away on Facebook every single day!  I saw a great opportunity with this company, and I did not want to waste one single second in building my own business!  My first goal was to get these amazing products into as many hands as possible!  In my first month, I had 10 customers, in my second month, another 12.  I now have over 50 customers!!!  FIFTY+ people that I have the true honor of serving and helping them find the best skincare available to them!  And as of today, just 4 months in,  I have FIVE business partners that are ready to run with me in this exciting opportunity!  I cannot begin to explain how exciting this is!  

I recently used the analogy of Motherhood to describe my experience with Rodan + Fields.  (Bear with me here…HA!).  I am not a Mom (we have established this), but I have been told by my friends that are Mothers that it is an indescribable feeling/connection that you have with your child.  Try as I might to wrap my head around that kind of love, I just can't.  All I'm hearing is "sleepless nights, dirty diapers,  and baby food in my hair."  And they are all like "OMG - do it!  Have a baby!  It's the best thing ever!"  Ugh - get your positive energy away from my uterus!   One day, Lord willing, I will have children of my own and hopefully then I will understand this sacrificial, unbelievable love.  

But…this is kind of how I feel about direct sales.  When other people use to describe it to me, I just couldn't wrap my head around it.  It didn't sound appealing to me at all.  But once I took the leap to the other side, I NOW get it.  And just like my Mother friends, I want to tell everyone, "OMG - do it!  It's the best thing EVER!"  

You may not know this about me, but I actually have a Master's in Education.  While my career as a school teacher did not last very long (one year, to be exact), I find it a blessing that I am now able to use my background to educate and lead my team of Consultants.  (See, Mom and Dad…I told you that degree wasn't a waste!)   It's been an exciting 4 months…and I have loved every single minute of it!  Having the freedom to brand myself along side of the already established and well respected brand of Rodan + Fields has been  beyond fun!  I get to be creative again…I get to have FUN while working…I get to play on Facebook for a living!  Dreams really do come true!  Ha!  

Are you ready to jump in like I did!?  Just like having a baby…I can't promise you that it will be easy, but I can tell you that it will be sooooooooooo worth it!  

My incredible weight gain story...

When I got married, I gained about 150 pounds!  At first, the weight was an adjustment.  It completely changed my lifestyle as I once knew it.  Now, I have learned to embrace it, cherish it, and find irreplaceable value in it.  

I'm talking about my husband.  Gotcha!  :)  The addition of his presence to my life has brought about undeniable change in every facet.  Having him as a partner in my life is truly a gift!  His faith in God is so admirable, and he is constantly leading me in my own journey by pointing everything back to the cross.  I am so blessed that God would place such a man in my care, and I am constantly giving thanks for His provisions over my life.  

One of my husband's many gifts is the gift of business acumen.  He is so wise in his investments and in how he conducts his business.  It's no wonder that he is in the top 1% of ALL mortgage originators in the country!  So when I came to him with this idea of going into direct sales with Rodan + Fields, I knew that he would give me an honest, wise opinion of what would be best for our future.  (After all, my interest was in getting great skincare at an amazing discount as a Consultant. Ha!  But I knew THAT approach would not fly with my husband, so I had to come at it from a different angle of the "business opportunity."  Which, btw, I didn't really understand at that time.)  So I approached him with the general facts:

• Dr. Rodan & Dr. Fields are the 2 doctors that created ProActiv and are now expanding their brand with anti-age regimens.  
• The brand started in high-end retail stores, where it was the #1 selling anti-age line, when the Doctors decided to pull out of retail and go into direct sales.
• There are less than 100,000 consultants right now, and the business has been around for about 7 years.  
• Everything is virtual (no parties/no inventory).

That's about all that I knew…well, that and the fact that I had to have ALL of this stuff!!  My husband took a few days of looking into the company and the business model, presenting many questions for me to ask my friend as well as scenarios for me to ponder.  After just a few days of research, he came back to me with a resounding "We HAVE to do this!"  

I pretty much already had my finger on the "submit" button, just waiting on the hubby's support - and just like that…BAM - my world flipped upside-down!  Within hours of me announcing my partnership with Rodan + Fields, messages starting flowing in!  I wasn't even 100% sure what I was doing yet - shoot, I wasn't even 10% sure what I was doing!!  But, thankfully, I joined the BEST team in the company who was ready to support me and provide me with everything I needed to know right away.  "Learn as you earn!!..." is what we say!  And that's exactly what I did!  I quickly grew my understanding of the products and the business, and now just a few months into it and 50 customers later, my business is ON FIRE!  I absolutely LOVE what I do!  And I think my customers will vouch for that.  It's my honor to serve them and to help them find the best skincare products out there for them.  In addition, they are all playing a part in my efforts to combat human trafficking in Charlotte, as I donate a portion of all of my sales to Justice Ministries, a non-profit organization committed to fighting human trafficking with an emphasis on rescue and housing.  

Now, did I need my husband's support before doing this?  Technically, no.  He's not my master.  Ha!   But fully respecting his business mind, it gave me the confidence to move boldly into this new adventure!  And now, that 150 pounds is actually the weight that motivates and inspires me daily!  

So blessed to have him!  So blessed to be a part of this company!  I would be honored to partner with YOU in this business!  Message me below, and let's get started!  

Me, Miley, Michael Jordan, and Maine...

Question: What do me, Miley Cyrus, Michael Jordan, and the state of Maine have in common…???

Answer: Keep reading….

To say that I am a Space Cadet is putting it mildly.  At least twice a week I forget to put on deodorant (actually forgot last night for a friend's birthday dinner. Sorry, Haley.).  Several times a month, I will actually get out of my car and shut the door, only to realize I left my keys in the ignition with the car STILL RUNNING.  It's not uncommon for me to find my cellphone in my sock drawer.  And I have been known to completely forget what I am saying…mid-sentence.  So yeah…I think it's safe to say that I am….wait?…what was I talking about? 

Anyway - when talking to people about the amazing opportunity of the Rodan + Fields business, I often get the response that "it just seems too complicated." And "I don't know anything about skincare."  I mean, really?  Seriously…if I can do this, ANYONE can do this.  Just like with any new adventure, there is a learning curve.  Riding a bike is fun and easy, but it wasn't when you were little, trying to figure out how to balance yourself.   You can't just go skydiving for your first time without some training from an experienced diver (or you could go tandem.)  Think about when you got your smart phone - all of the apps seemed so overwhelming, yet exciting to explore!  Now you can navigate around your phone without even looking at it!!  

Y'all, this business is the same way!  Sure…there will be things you need to learn to do, but it's not difficult at all.  And here's a little fun fact for you:  I have a Masters in Education, and I (along with my parents), would be HONORED to actually use my degree in teaching you everything you need to be successful in this business.   And just like riding that bike…the SECOND you find your balance and stride - you will TAKE OFF FLYING - having the time of your life! 

I started my Rodan + Fields business mid-December 2014.  I didn't know what I was doing either, but I knew these products were too amazing to not share with everyone I knew!  So that's literally all I did - shared my thoughts, my results, and my passion for this brand all over social media.  When the inquiries rolled in, I was ready to chat!  My numbers started growing, and so did my checks!   This business IS for EVERYONE - on our team, we have accountants, lawyers, real estate agents, wedding planners, teachers, nurses, pharmaceutical reps, preachers' wives, hair dressers, leasing agents, waitresses, loan officers, full-time parents - you name it!!  We have it all!  There is no "one-type" of person best suited for this business.  It can be whatever you want it to be….you just have to WANT it.   From making a few extra bucks to fund your shoe addiction, to setting a goal to fund your EARLY retirement - I can help you get there.  

So back to the original question: What do me, Miley Cyrus, Michael Jordan, and the state of Maine have in common?

Answer:  The number 23.  

A stunning freeze frame from her video "23" with Mike WiLL Made-It

Jordan's famed jersey with Chicago

Main was the 23rd state admitted to the Union in 1820

Less than 100 days in, and I am #23 on my team of 446 Consultants…and growing!!!  Y'all - that's crazy! Just by sharing what I already love with people I already know, and my business is growing!  And I am looking for strong partners to run with me!  Are you ready?!?!

Every day that you delay is a day you are further away from the blessings of this company.  Being surrounded by this group of men and women (yes…MEN, too!) has been nothing short of inspiring!  I would be so honored to talk to you more about this amazing opportunity.  As I always say, it is WAY more than just skincare!  

Comment below, call me, email me, Facebook me, whatever - but whatever you do, don't wait!  The time to jump is now!  

Would you do this for softer skin????

I would say I'm pretty "bull-headed" when it comes to being set in my ways.  I do not succumb to peer-pressure easily and will not waiver on my limits.  For example, if it's past my bedtime, there's little you can do to convince me to stay out.  Also, I hate being in the water, and I will claw your eyes out if you try and throw me into a pool/lake/puddle in the road/etc. 

However, there is one thing that will cause me to fold on nearly all of my rules…beauty.  If you told me that staying out past my bedtime would make me look younger…I would probably do it.  Or if a certain type of pool would gift me with more supple skin…again, dunk me repeatedly!  So naturally, when the opportunity to stick my feet into a little pool of fish where they would gently nibble on my flesh with promises to make my otherwise rough feet feel softer and prettier…well, of course!!!  Sign me up!!  I had seen this once before on the Kardashians (guilty pleasure, I admit), but never once thought that I would do it myself.  But, alas, here I am in Mexico…and, well, why not??  Since the volcano mud bath in Cartagena was so much fun, I had try something different here, too!  

It started with a simple question of curiosity…"Hola, Señor.  Come se dice 'What the heck are those fish doing!?!!?' en Espanol?"  Next thing I know, I have my shoes off and this poor soul is cleaning them in preparation for the fish to feast on my tootsies.  

Now that my, apparently dirty, feet were prepped and ready for the fish-feast, it was time to submerge.  Ready, set…GROSS….

I can't say that it was pleasant,  but I can't say that it was all that bad either.  I am extremely ticklish on my feet, so having little tiny fish poking around on my tender feet is not something I would say I particularly enjoyed, but I was doing it for the experience.  It only lasted about 15 minutes, but when you're ticklish like I am, that 15 minus feels like 15 hours!  

I even convinced my hubby to do it.  (Side note: my husband is truly the greatest!  He not allows me to be my crazy self, but he supports it, too.  Actually, I think he rather enjoys my crazy.  Ha!  Gosh, I love him.)

So here we are…just a typical Tuesday, chilling in Mexico with our feet in a bowl of fish.  Nothing unusual about that...

I gotta say…my feet DID feel smoother!  Like I said, I have pretty rough feet (so sexy, right?), but these little fish did quite the number on that roughness!  High five…err…fin, tiny fish!  Now, would I do this again…?  Yeah, probably, I would!  Wonder if Polished in Charlotte will add this to their menu of options??  

Wanna see the experience in action?  Check out my video on it below.  Excuse my squeamish squealing.  And, yes, I do tend to break out into a Disney character singing voice when I get excited…just ignore that, too.  

If the video doesn't show below, here is the link:  https://youtu.be/Lvg2JVArk4A  

Mexico, in all it's greatness, has YouTube blocked in some weird way that I don't have the time or energy to figure out.