5 Tips to Stay Positive in A Negative World

Hey friends, just wanted to share a few tips to help you stay positive in a negative world! Day in & Day out our mind is constantly soaking up all the negative around us, whether it be a negative co-worker or boss, or the news on TV, the Internet, or in even in our Inbox!  We all have that "negative voice" in our heads that just loves to pop in to state all the reasons why we "can't"........

LET'S CALL HER "SUSAN"

 (seriously no offense to anyone named Susan.)

(Thank You Deanna Herrin for naming the negativity) 

Susan is constantly popping in all day long telling us we aren't pretty enough, we aren't smart enough or that we can't make good decisions. She even questions when we have the desire to take that new job offer & states every reason we should not! To keep a POSITIVE MINDSET we need to be aware of her ploys & politely KICK "SUSAN" OUT THE BACKDOOR!

Below are a few tips to help you stay Positive: 

1. SPEAK VISION over Your Life! Know your goals & where you are going.  Breath Life into those around you & Lift Others Up! BELIEVE You Can do anything!

2. BE YOURSELF! There's nothing more beautiful than for a woman to have confidence in "who" she is & transparent with others about her successes & failures. 

3. READ MOTIVATIONAL BOOKS!  To stay Positive we must constantly Pour In with Personal Growth! Some of my Favorite Reads are: The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson, Undaunted by Christine Caine, All In by Mark Batterson, The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews

4. PRAY & READ THE BIBLE! There's nothing any better than filling your cup with God's Word! I absolutely LOVE reading Psalms & can always find a verse to lift my Spirit! 

5. BE ON PURPOSE about what you allow to infiltrate your mind! Watching negative TV, movies, or music can make such an impact. Decide today to filter everything to have a lasting positive impact! 

Friends, you were MADE FOR MORE!!!! Live the Life that you Deserve & Walk In the Light of Who God designed you to be! There is so much MORE than Just living day to day......STAY FOCUSED on Your DREAMS & STAY POSITIVE!

I would LOVE for you to share Your Tips for staying Positive in the comments below! 

Revolutionize Your Skin

I am SO EXCITED about this New Product!!!!  Introducing The Genius Ultra!!!!  Using Ultrasound Technology, gentle waves help push the RE9 product onto the outer layers of the skin, getting into the ridges & ultimately maximizing your skincare products for faster results! Literally in minutes, fine lines & laugh lines disappear! While it may not be visible to the naked eye the surface of our skin is u even-with ridges that can only be seen u set a microscope. This high-tech tool helps your skincare products WORK SMARTER by helping to apply the product more evenly than with your fingertips. All in a Matter of Minutes!

CHECK OUT THIS BEFORE & AFTER!!!

The Genius Ultra is GREAT for: Forehead, Eyes, Lips, Cheeks, & Neck (just do not use directly on the eye or eyelid)! 

CHECK OUT THIS BEFORE & AFTER ON THE NECK AREA!

Better Yet The Genius Ultra Anti-Aging Set is cost effective & comes with th RE9 Intensive Renewal Serum & Lifting & Contouring Eye Cream. For use on Lips it is recommended that you apply the Intelligience Lip Treatment for the Best Results!  

This is a Before/After Lips Photo! 

So if you are like me & NEED this Product Now, you can Pre-Order yours today by visiting  

janereeves.arbonne.com.

All Pre-Orders will be shipped on June 1, 2016!  YAY!

Make sure to register as a Preferred Client to maximize your savings & receive your Genius Ultra Set for 40% off!!! 

Chicken Stir-Fry

Need a simple clean recipe for supper? This Chicken Stir-fry Dish is one of my Favorites & is even kid-approved! Not to mention it is easy & fast!  

Here's a list of the ingredients you will need: 

2 TBS Organic Coconut Oil

2 packages of Hormone Free/Steroid Free Chicken Tenders (I like Harvestland) 

Organic Grape Tomatoes

1 bundle of Fresh Asparagus

1-2 cups Brown Rice

Put Coconut Oil in a cast iron skillet or skillet of your choice & Heat. Cut Chicken Tenders into small chunks & cook thoroughly in skillet.  While chicken is cooking, cut the grape tomatoes into halves & also cut asparagus into small pieces. Once the chicken is done, add in the tomatoes & asparagus until both are tender. Serve over Brown Rice. 

Yum! So Good! 

Please Share some of your Favorite Clean Recipes Below! 

THE GRAND CANYONS OF LIFE

LIFE. Just the mere word speaks volumes. It is defined by every breath we take and the moments we share with those we love.

God first breathed Life from dust when He formed Adam in the garden making him in His own image. He breathes Life into us every day.

From birth to The Grand Canyon speaks of this LIFE, from the high mountain tops to the vast

low-lying valleys.

The terrain is sometimes rough, but unusually smooth in others. It has been said that a hike from the top of The Grand Canyon to the bottom can take up to several days. However, once you are below there is nothing but beauty which is not visible from the top.

There are mighty, flowing rivers, beautiful plants and flowers, of which grow under the toughest of conditions. There are many living creatures that have been totally designed to flourish in “desert-like” conditions.

In LIFE today, many of us go through the “Up Times”. Times when all seem to go our way and nothing can take us down. There are times when everything we do is successful and things seem to come easy.

Then there come the “low times”, when the Valley is so dark it is hard to see or even breath. Times when the Valley is so unbearable that it makes it hard to get out of bed every morning, much less to see the Light at the end of the tunnel.

It is in the Valley when God reveals Himself to us if we are open to Him.

His Light, the Eternal Light, can shine through our darkest hour. And He promises Beauty from The Ashes. (Isaiah 61: 3)

It is in the Valley that our true dependence on Him and character are formed,  where He molds us and shapes us into “whom” He created us to be all along. This Valley process, is just that,  a “process” in which, I believe, is always molding us into the Creation He intended us to be. One He reveals the Purpose to which we were called.

I guess the real question is, “Do you choose to look at your current circumstances through the lens of the world or through the filter of Christ?”

For me, I will take the Valleys as well as the Mountains.

Without the Valleys, I would not be who I am in Him today. The Valleys are where I have learned to be thankful and grateful for allI have in this LIFE, to be ever mindful of a God who is in full control, to stand in awe of all He can accomplish in my heart and to willingly surrender my life to HIM. By standing on “Higher Ground” we can live Victorious in Him.

5 WAYS TO LIVE DEBT-FREE WITHOUT GIVING UP EVERYTHING YOU LOVE

I know I know…….the words Debt-Free are kinda scary & may even be words that you don’t even dare to voice.  I seriously, was so nervous to even think about being debt-free 5 years ago!  However, I knew that in order to fully alleviate my own personal stress & to maximize my earnings I needed to be able to pay my bills & still have money left at the end of the month.  In our fast-paced, instant world most of us just live paycheck to paycheck & only dream of the day when all our debts are paid & we can splurge on that so needed Vacation, or purchase our Dream Car, or even just send our kids to college.  Well, I am Happy to report that after 5 years, my Family is Debt-Free!  Friends, I promise the journey is so worth it & we have found peace like we’ve never known before!  

Here are 5 ways that helped us in our Journey to Debt-Free Living:

1.  Budget

  Track your expenses & make a list of where every penny goes.  You will be surprised at what you discover & will see areas where your spending can be cut!

2.  Dine At HOME: 

This can be a hard one, but with just a little preparation, dining at home can be so much cheaper & also start a tradition of catching up with family members over a delicious meal.

3.  Movie Night

Instead of going out to the Movie Theater choose to Rent At Home or from Red Box.  Lots of memories can be made with Family Movie Night, a shared bowl of popcorn, & bathroom breaks are made so much easier!

4.  Take Your Lunch To Work

It is estimated that people spend an average of $10 on lunch, 5 days a week.  Add that up for a month & you’ve spent $250 per month & $3,000 over the year!  Decide today to take your lunch & save that $3,000 for that much needed Vacation or better yet apply that amount to a credit card or house payment!

Some ideas for Yummy Lunch-Time Meals include:  leftovers from supper the night before, fresh fruit & veggies, a healthy protein shake (takes seconds to make but feels you up!  My Favorite is Arbonne’s Vanilla & Chocolate Protein Powder Check it out at: janereeves.arbonne.com

5.  Paying Off Debt

List your debts from the smallest balance to the highest balance.  With every dollar saved above apply to the debt with the lowest balance in addition to the monthly payment.  Keep doing that until that debt is paid, the take that amount & apply to the next on the list.  Just repeating this simple system over & over again will add up to paying off a lot of debt over a period of time.

Yes, paying off debt does take time, but it is so worth it in the end!  

I would love to read some of your suggestions of how you stay debt-free in the comments below!  

CINNA-BUN PROTEIN SHAKE RECIPE

As you know I value staying healthy & feeling MY BEST!  Whether you want to start Your Day Quick & Easy or End on an Up-Note, this shake will leave you feeling your best & energized for what's next on your schedule!  Each shake provides you with 20 grams of Protein, which is essential to overall health!  

So, today I'm sharing my current FAVORITE shake recipe-- CinnaBun!

Happy Shaking!!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Scoops Vanilla Protein Powder
• 8oz Unsweetened Almond Milk
• 1 scoop of GF oats (use protein scooper)
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 4-5oz water
• Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS

Throw all the above in a blender up for a few seconds & head out the door! My favorite blender cup is Hamilton Beach and can be found on Amazon.com or any of your local stores.  It comes with 2 shaker cups & 2 lids & usually runs around $15.99.  So no need in purchasing a bigger, fancier blender up, unless you already have one!

Want more yummy shake recipes?

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My Playlist for Inspiration

Music is a part of my soul.  There is just nothing any better than getting lost in a good lyric or in a moving rhythm.  God can speak so loudly to me through Contemporary Christian Music.  I just absolutely LOVE driving down the road or going about my day with a Good Playlist blaring! Here's some of my faves to help you get Your Worship On!

Have a few Tunes that INSPIRE YOU? Please share in the comments below! 

She Is A Butterfly

She is a Butterfly – learning to fly exactly as she is, comfortable with who she is, learning to accept herself “as is”, with all her strengths and limitations.

She emerged from several cocoons of life: the cocoon of insecurity, the unconfident, shy girl that did not feel valued, the cocoon of doing and being what others expected her to do or be, the cocoon of people pleasing and trying to measure up to impossible expectations, “robotic living”, the mentality of “Is this all there is in life?”, settling for less than what she was created.

As a Caterpillar she spins her cocoon, knowing the tough outer shell must be strong enough to weather the storm and thick enough to safely house the changes that must take place within.

The Transformation will not be easy. A great deal of re­shaping and growing must take place.

With courage and bravery, she steps into what must be.

Scared, but willing because she knows the struggle is worth it in the end.

The Transformation seemed to take an eternity, but at last she emerges from the

cocoon a beautiful butterfly.

As she lifts her colorful wings for the first time, she knows.

To her, this means flying into her Greatness, soaring to heights meant for her all along.

She felt freedom. She was BORN AGAIN.

“Whoever is in Christ, is a New Creation. The old things have passed away.

Behold, new things are to come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

MY 5 MUST-HAVE MAKEUP ITEMS

I just had to share my Top 5 Makeup Products that I absolutely LOVE! 

As long as I have these beauties I am good to go!

    Makeup Primer:  LOVE this!  Primes my face for my Foundation & leaves it soft & silky!

 Perfecting Liquid Foundation/Gotcha Covered Mineral Powder: Gives a Photo-Finish, Flawless look!

    It’s A Long Story Mascara:  Conditions & Lengthens creating gorgeous long eyelashes!

    Dusty Rose Blush:  Goes on smooth & a neutral color that goes with every “look”!

    Smoothed Over Lipstick in Terra:  can I say HYDRATING?  This lipstick is the most hydrating lipstick on the planet plus the color is gorgeous!

What are some of your makeup must-haves? Share them with me in the comments!

Not A Plain Jane -- The Girl Behind The Blog

Coming from a small town, I always knew I was meant for more – my calling was for a Higher Purpose. However, growing up I always struggled with not knowing what I was called to do. My life was full of Jesus, laughter, love, perfectionism, performing and striving to always be my best. I was taught to always do my best, regardless of the circumstances so I guess that is when I started living a life of what I call “resilience”.

No matter what, I could shake off all the negative junk around me and persevere. I created a “tough” outer shell that truthfully aided in my being where I am today. However, one person can only run so long from their true calling.

In 2012, my family was hit with what I have named “Our Family Health Crisis”. My 21-year-old step-daughter was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer and then 5 months later, my Dad was diagnosed with Stage 5 Lymphoma. So you can see we were in true crisis-mode. My husband was taking his daughter to MD Anderson for her treatments while I was driving my Dad to Little Rock AR every single day for his treatments.

It was a crazy time of merely “surviving”, however it was during these 10 months that I noticed just how many people all around us were sick, were struck down with disease, who were merely just “existing” from treatment to treatment, strung out on every medicine known to man. Each with their own set of health issues, with their own diagnosis, with their own link to cancer.

Of course, we were in “survival” mode so the impact of what I saw was not realized until months later.

In the process to taking care of our precious family and sitting in the hospitals, my husband and I did what almost everyone does: We ate. We ate out of stress, out of boredom, because cookies, pizza and Starbucks seemed to numb the pain of watching those you love go through so much. And I gained 25 pounds!

Now being 5‛3” you can imagine how noticeable that was for this short, petite girl! And this girl did not like all the “extra”, nor did I feel good about myself or what I looked like.

It was in this moment I began to process what the doctors had told us about what they know about cancer – cancer feeds on sugar, so many of the foods we call “normal” are laced with additives, preservatives, & artificial sugars. Our children are all well-fed and growing, but starving nutritionally on the inside.

The more I learned, the more I wanted a plan that could teach me how to eat to live instead of living to eat, a plan that would walk hand in hand with changing my lifestyle, as well as the lifestyle of my entire family, bringing about total health and Wellness. That is exactly when I discovered Arbonne's 30 Days and Beyond to Healthy Living.

To say that Arbonne has changed my life is an understatement, but from the start of my Get Healthy Journey I was amazed at the overall changes in my appearance in relatively a short amount of time. To know me, is to know that as “not a plain jane” I don't do anything halfway. Hahahaha! I either don't do anything at all or I run full out! (can you relate?)

So I decided to put this plan to the test and jump on right away during Thanksgiving! To my surprise, I was so pleased to realize this plan was just like pushing the “easy” button for my busy, crazy life.

The protein shakes were amazingly good and perfect for on-the-go. And learning how to cook “clean” wasn't as hard as I thought it would be! There was also a fun, supportive Facebook group that provided daily interaction and suggestions, as well as grocery lists and recipes! I was surprised to find that cooking and eating clean for Thanksgiving was received well by all my family, and by the end of November I had lost 8 pounds!

Of course I wanted to go for round 2 in December so I signed up for the consultant discount to help maximize my back pocket. It was toward the end of December when I began to feel God nudging me to share Arbonne with everyone I knew, to love and serve those closest to me by teaching them how to eat clean and supplement for overall health.

My first response was “God seriously, do you know what I do all day? (as if He doesn‛t right?) Do you know how busy I am being a Mom and office manager of our family business? Do you know that I have absolutely no time for another business?”

Of course, God just kept whispering in my ear “share Arbonne with everyone” .

Then the text came from my friend and sister in Christ, ERVP Gena Fryar. Very sweetly she simply said “Hey, I know you said you weren't interested in working your Arbonne business, but I just want you to know that you have qualified to promote to District manager this month. I would love to help you and work with you if you are interested in promoting”.

Talk about confirmation! I hear you Lord! So my Arbonne business journey began. With a shout out from my Loving God & through the confirmation of one text message.

To say God has blessed this business and my family through this business is an understatement. In just 8 short months, I was able to retire from my 9 to 5 of 18 years and come home to my family, my kiddos and My Life. I stepped into time freedom like I‛ve never known and into the purpose for which He has called me to fulfill. 

Arbonne is the vehicle that helped me earn an amazing income and realize my passion for loving and serving others as well as helping so many step into their greatness. It has shown me my “Why” in this life, which is to love, serve, and build up my family and everyone around me.

Arbonne is the link guiding me to who I truly am in Christ and for that I am eternally grateful. Not to mention the amazing, inspiring friends and culture surrounding this business.

I don't know where you are in Life or what you were created for, but I do know that Arbonne can be the vehicle to empower you to step into your greatness and into what God called you to do.

Will you Dare to Dream with me?