Give the Gift of Health with Shaklee

If you are like me, you love to give gifts that matter!  You like to give things that will add value to someone’s life. Possibly change it. I love giving gifts that mean something and will help someone feel better, get healthier, or make life easier. I love giving Shaklee products as gifts and my family loves and appreciated it so much! The gift of health!
Here’s our 2014 Christmas Gift Guide for giving health this year!
Great teacher gifts!
1. Herbal Blend Multi-Purpose Cream … $7.75
Cooling mentholated formula is enriched with natural extracts, including rosemary, chamomile, corn oil, and salvia to nourish stressed skin.  This non-greasy formula leaves skin soft and refreshed. Perfect for soothing dry, chapped and rough skin including callouses on knees, elbows and feet.
2. Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Wipes & Germ Off Wipes … $15.50
Basic H Wipes: Powerful, all-purpose cleaning wipes | Basic G: Leaves your bathroom and kitchen fresh and clean. The smart way to clean and disinfect.

Source: (Jennifer Zerilli)
3. Meadow Blend Cleansing Bar & Herbal Blend Multi-Purpose Cream … $14.65
Bar: Meadow Blend is a mild, soap-free, pH-balanced, biodegradable cleansing bar that thoroughly washes away impurities.  Enriched with soothing oatmeal, vitamin E, and wheat germ oil to leave skin clean, healthy and soft.  Ideal for those with sensitive skin.
4. Meadow Blend Cleansing Bar, Herbal Blend Multi-Purpose Cream & Lip Balm … $21.35
Lip Balm: This nourishing lip treatment provides protection against peeling and chapping while smoothing the appearance of fine vertical lines.  Softens and firms with Cocoa Seed and Shea Butter.  SPF 15 provides broad spectrum protection against UV-induced collagen breakdown.
The gift of a safe, non-toxic home

5. Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate & 3 Pack Spray Bottles … $17.25
Basic H: This little 16 oz bottle creates an unbelievable 48 gallons of super-safe, really powerful, all purpose cleaner, or 5,824 bottles of window cleaner.  We challenge you to use it up any time soon to clean everything from spilled milk, to bug guts on the window, to splattered spaghetti sauce. Now go, get cleaning.
6. Hand Wash Concentrate & Pump Dispenser … $20.00
This super mild, sudsy wash makes it so nice to do as you’ve always been told – go wash your hands.  It has wheat germ oil and algae extract to moisturize; soy protein to condition; aloe, marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), and linden flower (Tilia cordata) extracts to soothe; and rosemary and arnica extracts to energize. So now it’s more like, “Go take your hands to the spa.”
7. Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Wipes,  Germ Off Wipes & Scour Off … $22.75
Here’s an exclusive scouring cleanser that sets a new standard. It’s a paste, so it doesn’t form dust clouds, yet it gently removes stains other cleansers can’t and is great for cleaning tubs, ovens, sinks, and tiles and it will even remove rust, and is great for cleaning these surfaces: copper, grout, cement, ceramic, and imitation marble. See my cleaning before & after's here
8. Get Clean Water Starter Kit … $57.50
The green way to cleaner water.
9. Get Clean Starter Kit … $99.00

All you need to start cleaning your way to a healthier home.
The gift of a healthy, stress free holiday
10. B Complex & Vitamin D3 … $29.65
B-Complex: High potency B vitamins with patented folic acid delivery system. Vitamin D3: High potency vitamin D3
11. Sustained Release Vitamin C & Defend and Resist Complex …$39.00
Vitamin C: Your body is capable of many things, but it can’t make vitamin C. Available in Sustained Release and Chewable formulas, Vitamin C has been shown to supports immune health and help maintain natural antioxidant defenses and cell integrity. D&R: When you feel that first tickle
12. Stress Relief Complex & Shea Butter Cream … $57.50
Stress Relief: Natural stress relief you can safely take every day. Shea Butter Cream: Luxurious shea butter is extracted from the fruit of the shea tree, and has amazing moisturizing properties.
The gift of healthy children (great idea for grandparents to give too!)

(Source: Amanda Donohoe myothershoe.net)
13. ShakleeBaby Massage Oil & ShakleeBaby Soothing Lotion …$36.15
14.Incredivites MultiVitamin & Mighty Smarts DHA Chews … $56.70

Great for athletes!
15. Performance & Physique … $45.70

All prices are based on member Price and do not include tax or shipping. Not a member? Learn more about a membership here!

 

***More Gift Ideas***

Teacher Appreciation Gift

 

Healthy Valentine Treats (Source: BeautyBlondie.com !)

 

Healthy Mother’s Day “Rejuvenation Pack” Gift

B-Complex, Shea Butter, Protein Shakes & Bars, Performance, & Energy Chews!! EVERY MOM WILL LOVE THIS!!!


Tea, Shea Butter, etc. (Source: ringaroundtherosies.net)

Healthy Wedding Shower Gift
Get Clean Products and a Towel Cake (Source- BeautyBlondie.com)

Healthy Baby Shower Gift
Baby products and a diaper cake. (source: BeautyBlondie.com)

Healthy Energy
(Source: pampereddaughterthriftywife.blogspot.com)

More Christmas Gifts (Source: Amanda Donohoe myothershoe.net)

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Apply to work with me here.

How to Be a Good Holiday Houseguest

I grew up the daughter of two international flight attendants. It was pretty cool. My parents traveled all over, brought me goodies from different countries and cultures, and I even got to travel to some cool places as well. Through the years, there were times that their schedules would over lap and they would both be gone at the same time. My brother and I were so lucky to have lots of great family friends we got to stay with and it really helped me to be a good houseguest, at least I like to think so. I feel it helped me to be open minded to the way other people live and run their house and to be flexible in these situations.

 One family we stayed with was very health conscience and if I remember correctly, vegetarian. We drank rice milk and ate very healthy. As a young kid, I could have been a pain and refused to eat, thrown a fit, or made my mom bring over my food, but I didn’t. I learned to adapt and appreciate their generosity and try new things. Everyone is different, but you can’t bring your expectations and your way of doing things into their home when you are the guest.


So here are my suggestions of how you can be a good houseguest, which you may be soon with the holidays coming up…
Be Observant – You are entering someone else’s home, not a hotel, so be observant and respectful of how they act in their own home. Do they take their shoes off? Then take yours off. Do they eat at the table or on the couch? Follow their lead, it’s always a good idea to try the table first instead of making a mess on their couch. Do they have separate towels for drying their hands and bath towels? Use bath towels for your body and hand towels for your hands. This last one is especially important if you are using a hallway bathroom or any bathroom that might be used by others at any point. No one wants to go to dry their hands to find a wet towel you’ve used to dry your body. Gross.

At any time you are in doubt, ask. It’s better to ask how the host would like something done than to make a mess or be insensitive to their property. The host will appreciate your respect and will not feel you are invading their space or trashing their home.


Clean up after yourself – You are after all a guest, don’t be a sloppy one. Pick up your clothes/jackets, hang up your wet towels in an appropriate place, wash your own dishes or at least put them in the dishwasher a majority of the time, and when you leave do a once over of all the places you’ve stayed and used. Perhaps remove the bed sheets for your host, wipe down the bathroom counter, and don’t leave stray hair in the sink. Yuck. After all your host is opening their house to you, the least you can do is to do like the boy scouts ‘leave no trace and take only memories.’ ok, so that’s a little modified, but you get it.

The host likely spent a while cleaning before your arrival and will likely clean some more after you leave. Do what you can to help and lighten that load for them.

Treat their house better than your own- Do you normally crash on the couch after a late night on the computer or watching movies? Then sleep in until noon? Do you frequently talk during movies or tv shows? Is it your habit to take 20+ minute showers? Don’t do any of these at your host’s house. Sleep where the host has prepared a spot for you, be respectful when watching something together, and don’t be wasteful of the host’s utilities. In general, treat their home better than your own.

True story, we had a ton of family coming to stay with us once so there were multiple rooms and beds made up, my kids were shuffled around to accommodate the guests, and lots of cleaning and work went into it. One of the guests decided they didn’t want to sleep in the bed prepared for them (actually they just weren’t taught to be courteous) so they slept in another bed one night (before other guests arrived) and on the couch another night – greasy face all over my decorative pillows too! This one guest also used at least 3 different bath towels for the couple night stay and left them on the floor in two different bathrooms! They alone contributed immensely to my stress of trying to fit everyone in and the work of cleaning up after them. I am not very apt to have them back…they were not respectful or courteous!

Offer help – Offer your help cooking, washing dishes, cleaning up, or whatever you can. Your host may not always accept your help, but still continue to offer, every time and every visit. Just the gesture of offering shows that you care and appreciate your host. Depending on the length of your stay, you may also consider offering to buy some groceries or reimburse for gas if you are driven around town. Or depending on your relationship with your host, you may consider just doing either of these without offering.


Ask for odd requests – Do you need to wash a load of laundry? Want to see a friend and invite them over to your host’s house? Want to turn the AC/heat on? Ask first, you are in someone else’s home and they may have a certain way they like things done. Be respectful of that and ask before just doing it. Also be aware of the food you eat. If you are helping yourself to something in the fridge or cupboard, it would be polite to ask the cook if that is ok. It would be very rude to eat something that was meant for a meal or recipe and leave the cook out on a limb.


Communicate- This one is two fold. Communicate with your host about when you will be arriving and leaving and any plans you may have. If you are leaving the house and not returning for a meal, let them know so they are not waiting on you. Also, communicate if you’re running a little later than you expected. Again, leaving someone waiting and wondering isn’t polite. Communicate any specific activities you would like to do during your stay and ask what their plans are so you aren’t trumping theirs or taking off with the car when they need it to pick up kids or whatever.

The second part is to communicate, make conversation. Say ‘Good Morning!’ and ‘good night’ and always say ‘thank you’. Thank you never gets old! When you make conversation don’t make it all about you, brag, vent or pass judgment on other people. I’ve had guests come and talk about nothing but how friends and family fall short (according to their judgment). It honestly makes me very self conscious thinking ‘What they’re going to go home and tell others about me?’ There are many extended family members that I don’t know anything good about because all I’ve heard is the negative. There are also some guests who’ve come and gone without asking me a single question about me and my life, what’s going on, what my interests are, etc.
Bring Your Host A Gift – This may be an old tradition, but it still very thoughtful and considerate to bring your host a small gift. Whether it’s a small bouquet of flowers, something for your host’s home, a nice box of chocolates, or some nice fresh fruit, a gift expresses your appreciation for your host. It tells them you acknowledge their sacrifice of time, energy, and resources and are grateful for them.

So the last bit I’ll add is if you’re going to stay with family, for example, if I’m going to stay with my brother and his family, I’m going to direct most of my questions at my sister-in-law. They have traditional family roles and she runs the house and kids. So if I have a question about what towels to use or how to wash which dishes or anything else pertaining to the house and kids, I’m going to ask her and not my brother. Love ya bro, but sometimes husbands, even though they live in the same house, don’t know how their wives like to have things done.

Being a good house guest not only reflects well on you, but it eases the ‘burden’ placed on the host. Now I say burden because no matter how happy the host is to receive you, they’ve had to clean, change their schedule, maybe take off work, buy more food, or something extra to accommodate your stay. A hotel charges you no matter how good of a guest you are, so if you’re staying with friends or family for free, the least you can do to ‘pay’ for your stay is be a good house guest!!

What other suggestions would you add to be a good house guest?

10 Awesome Fitness Gift Ideas

Disclosure:This post contains affiliate links, all opinions are 100% my own. I only recommend products I love!

I don't know about you, but Christmas shopping can be very hard for me. As much as I want to get it done as soon as possible, I rarely do.  This is the extent to which I have thought about it Christmas shopping so far this year. lol My husband has been doing great at training for and reaching some physical fitness goals he has. He has also been really good about watching what he eats (as long as no one brings treats home, haha). So I put together this list of 10 awesome fitness gifts for that active person in your life to help them stick with their goals or make new goals for 2015!

Bottleband
This would make a great stocking stuffer for your favorite active person (or yourself!) The bottle band is a silicone band that fits around almost any water bottle to give you an instant handle. Even if you aren’t a runner, it still comes in handy to make sure you’re staying hydrated. Check out my Bottleband Review post to see how we used it for a trip to the park!

Shaklee Protein
This is my all time favorite protein. It is all natural, non GMO, and comes in several amazing flavors. It is the only protein that I’m ok sharing with my kids because I know it is that safe! Everyone needs protein, especially if you’re active and exercising regularly. The Shaklee 180 protein also has added leucine which helps your body retain muscle while burning fat. This is important so you don’t go through the dreaded yo-yo dieting cycle and gain the weight back. Your muscle = your metabolism so if you lose muscle your metabolism slows down and it becomes harder to lose weight. This would be perfect for the super busy person-on-the-go who needs to have a good breakfast in the morning, the athlete, or for anyone trying to lose weight and jumpstart a healthier lifestyle.

Running Tights/Compression Pants
With colder weather, don’t make excuses to not exercise. Ask for some running tights. I recently got a pair and love how they feel and how they fit. Baggy exercise pants just weigh you down and hinder your movement. But pants like these allow you to move freely and the compression helps your muscles during and after exercise. Plus there are so many cute patterns and colors, you will just look cool running!

Ello PURE Glass Water Bottle in Silicone Sleeve
Stay hydrated and be kind to the environment by using a reusable water bottle like this Ello PURE glass water bottle. You don’t have to worry about chemicals in plastic leaching into your water and you can reuse this again and again. The silicone sleeve protects the glass and let’s face it, makes it super cute!

Nathan Trail Mix Bottle Belt
This bottle belt would be great for the long distance runner in your life. My husband has one and used it all the time when he was training for a marathon. It is also great for hiking and camping to make sure you’ve got water on hand at all times!
 
Energy Chews
Shaklee Energy Chews provide a clean burst of healthy energy and help you stay alert and sharpens focus.

Each Energy Chew delivers a scientific blend of caffeine from natural green tea extract, plus L-tyrosine, L-theanine, B vitamins, and vitamin D. And there are no artificial flavors, sweeteners or added preservatives you'll find in other energy products. These are great to take right before a work out, to help you make it through a long day at work, or right after lunch to help you avoid that mid afternoon slump. There are no jitters, shaking, or crashing afterwards like other products can do to you.
 
Zepp Gold 3D Swing Analyzer
I’m not a golf player, but maybe you or your spouse is…This thing looks awesome! The Zepp Golf Swing Analyzer…

• Reviews and replays your swing in 360 degrees
• Tracks club head speed, tempo, club plane, hand path, backswing position and more
• Compares and shares your swings with others
• Gives you personalized tips, drills and coaching
• Sets goals and track your improvement

Athletic Socks

Make sure you or your athlete are properly geared with some comfy athletic socks. There are so many different kinds, but it’s important that they are light and absorbent to wick moisture away quickly. My husband goes through them quickly when he’s exercising 3-4 days a week so he’s got a bunch of pairs so he always has some that are clean (even if I’m slacking on the laundry lol).

Yoga Gifts Under $25
I love doing yoga! I need to get back into it! There are tons of awesome yoga gifts on Amazon under $25, everything from mats to socks and so much more! Yoga is a great place to start to help tone up, become more flexible, and it is a great way to get exercise for those who need a low/no impact for of exercise! My mom has arthritis in her knees and hands but still does yoga/Pilates every morning to help her range of motion and keep her joints flexible!

Performance – hydration drink
The graphic kinda says it all but this is my favorite hydration drink. It’s so much better for you than the other leading electrolyte drinks that contain tons of sugar and weird chemical ingredients (like flame retardant!) I love this for my kids in the summer heat and tons of moms give this to their kids during soccer/baseball games! Performance is perfect for anyone that is active, whether they are a seasoned athlete or just beginning. Everyone needs to stay hydrated to perform at their best!

There you go 10 gift ideas for the active person in your life. Most of us, myself included, have goals of living healthier and maybe losing a little weight. Help your loved ones reach those goals with a fitness gift instead of candies or sweets!

What are some other ideas you have for the active person?