New location!

Hey everyone! I know it's been awhile before I posted on here...and that's because I have a NEW (well it's not THAT new, but a few months new) blog. From now on, come follow me over at:

Write Where You Are

Hope to see you there!
Love,
Katie

The Age of Adaline (And Hello Young Harrison Ford)

The Age of Adaline

(And has Harrison Ford Found the Fountain of Youth Too?)

Recently the trailer for the upcoming film “The Age of Adaline” premiered on the big screen.  The film follows the story of Adaline, a young woman (portrayed  Blake Lively) who becomes immortal through a mysterious accident in 1935 (from the trailer, this presumably involves cold water and lighting. Who knew?).  She is permanently stuck at age 29, and as a result she must constantly change identities throughout the years.

While jokes have been made about how the story’s premise- “Oh poor Blake Lively, to be cursed with eternal youth and beauty!”- I honestly think there is a lot in Age of Adaline to draw an audience.

Though we may scoff at it, immortality has always held appeal for us mere mortals who constantly battle the limitations of time.  Perhaps most of all, we fear the idea that we may not have time to find love or happiness, or that we may waste time by not fully enjoying those we love.  The Age of Adaline takes that concern and reflects it in an unusual light.  

Though the main character is immortal, the primary story seems to be concerned with her internal conflict: how to live forever without a love that can last? While immortality is not a unique topic of story-telling, it is one to which we are repeatedly drawn. In the past several years alone this theme has played a role in  (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Tuck Everlasting, and the character of "Wolverine" in the X-Men films). However, Age of Adaline seems unique in its focus on a female protagonist who is simply trying to find the things that many of us want in life, keeping the heart of the story closer to home. 

If that doesn’t spark your interest, this also looks like a beautiful film.  The many decades covered in Age of Adaline offers an exciting view into many different eras of the past century.  I’m also coveting Lively’s wardrobe and hairstyles from the modern scenes.  It looks like the wardrobe people sent her to an Anthrology and let her walk out with the whole store.

And speaking of beautiful, Blake Lively isn’t the only person looking eternally young in this film. Watch the trailer and you will doubtless notice the actor who plays a younger version of Harrison Ford’s character. This young man, Anthony Ingruber, will have you flashing back to visions of Hans Solo in A New Hope. Relatively unknown to film audiences, Ingruber has a greater following in the realms of voice acting and Youtube. His speciality? Impressions. This includes impressions of yes, Ford, but also Jack Nicholson, Michael Fassbender, and even Sean Connery.   So though we don't get to hear him speak in the trailer for Age of Adaline, it is safe to presume that Ingruber will convince and fascinate us as a young Ford in the film. Check out his Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/anthonyingruber

Whether it is because of the compelling theme of immortality, the love story, or the curiosity to see Harrison Ford’s dopppelganger, audiences have many reasons to go see The Age of Adaline  once the film hits theatres.  According to IMDb, it will be released on April 24, 2015.

Trailer:

A Review of Enfuselle Skincare & 10 Makeup-Free Selfies

I've met a lot of people who really care about what they put into their bodies, but I've met fewer who seem to really stop and consider the nutritional importance of what we put ON our bodies. Our skin is, after all, the largest organ, and we absorb all kinds of things-good and bad- through it!

Lately, there seems to be an increased awareness about healthy skin and hair products, hence the rise of DIY all-natural skin and hair products ala Pinterest. Believe me, I've tried many of them. There have been several moments in my life when I found myself coated from the shoulders up in various concoctions of olive oil, coconut oil, honey, and cocoa-powder. Man did I smell delicious.

It's fun to play with recipes on occasion, but if you all are like me, it's just not practical to smother yourself in oil for twenty minutes a day. Also, kind of greasy as a daily treatment. I've also tried other all-natural cleansers and products. I love Burt's Bees, for instance and I also like Simple. However, as a Shaklee girl, I really wanted to try what the company had to offer in terms of skincare, because with Shaklee the difference is not only the natural ingredients, it's also the scientific research behind the products.

So, I ordered some basics in Shaklee's skincare line (Enfuselle) and have been using them for about five weeks now. See below the  LOVELY pictures of my morning face-care ritual. I have on zero makeup in all the pictures.

Below read about the pictured cleansing process, including a description of each item I use and the review for each product (in the order in which they are pictured-from top to bottom, left to right)

Step 1: Coconut oil

Not Shaklee, but this stuff is amazing. I use it for all kind of things. In this case, as a dirt and oil remover.       

The process: Take just about a dime size amount and rub it all over your face (upward motions only!) Then remove with some warm-water soaked cotton balls. 

Results: This not only gets the makeup off, it also adds a little extra moisture. 

Step 2: Enfuselle Hydrating Cleansing Lotion

 Description from Shaklee.com:

   " The creamy emulsion of this rich cleanser lays the foundation for your beauty regimen, dissolving     dirt, pollutants, and makeup without disturbing your skin's natural oils. Its hypoallergenic, soap-free, pH-balanced formula contains extra skin-softening vitamin E and other rich emollients. And triple-patented Vital Repair® Complex to neutralize free radicals and protect against prematurely older-looking skin. The result is smooth, balanced, glowing skin with a brighter tone. (Paraban free & Hypoallergenic)"

The process: Take about a nickel-sized amount and add a tiny bit off warm water. This cleanser gets very nice and lathery.  Rub in (again, upward) circles on your face. It's very creamy and soft.  It's not scented but it does have a soothing, cool aroma. Rinse off with water or a warm washcloth.

Results:  My skin feels soft and refreshed after (not "glowing"yet, but good). 

Cost:$20.10 retail price, $17.10 for members.

Step 3: Enfuselle Hydrating Toner

Description from Shaklee.com:

Our Hydrating Toner's alcohol-free formula evaporates quickly without drying skin. Witch hazel and chamomile extracts protect natural oils, clarify, and leave skin soft and smooth.

The process: soak a cotton ball in this stuff and smooth all over your face, concentrating in areas you feel need particular attention. I love to focus on my under-eye area. 

Results: Instantly less puffy under eyes and a pleasant (and definite) tingle! I love this one; it's totally different than any other toner I've tried. It's not a make-up remover toner...it's a skin rejuvenation toner. Love it.

Cost: $15.70 retail, $13.35 member price. 

Step 4: Enfuselle C &E Repair PM

Description from Shaklee.com

This patented skin-activated formula contains high levels of bio-pure vitamins C (10%) and E (5%) to instantly soften the skin and reverse the visible signs of aging while you sleep. With continued use, skin appears transformed as it recaptures youthful firmness and luminosity. Exclusive non-irritating formula and paraben free.

Clinically proven: 223% decrease in appearance of skin wrinkles in two weeks. 120% increase in skin resilience and firmness in two weeks. 209% decrease in skin's visible fine lines in eight weeks. 32% increase in retained skin moisture in eight weeks. A definitive evening of skin tone in 12 weeks.

The process: Take a TINY dot (as pictured), and smooth over your skin. It's very spreadable. I focus on any problem areas- anywhere I struggle with acne or foresee lines occurring. A little goes a LONG way. They recommend applying this before bed so it has time to absorb on your bare skin.

Results: At first I was hesitant to order this because it is expensive (but definitely better with a member discount). I'm so glad I DID order it though, because this stuff lasts forever and is by far my favorite skincare product, and I have heard others say so as well. It's like MAGIC. It creates the glow. 

Cost: $56.05 retail, $47.65 member price. 

The final picture in the series was taken in full-on light immediately after Step 4 with no makeup or filters.  I'm really grateful for these skincare products and excited about the results I am seeing!

If you are interested in learning more about Enfuselle, Shaklee, or member discounts, please let me know and I would be happy to talk to you!

*PLEASE NOTE* I'm not using all of the Enfuselle Skincare items; there are many more not featured in this post. I'm only reviewing the items that I personally use. I'm planning to try others in the future.

Why I'm a Shaklee Girl

Many of you may have heard me mention using Shaklee supplements over the past few months, and I wanted to offer some information about this company and explain why I support it. Since there are many trends today in home-marketing products, it might be easy to assume this is a "trend" I recently got into. However, that is so far from the truth!  I am not "into" Shaklee right now; I have actually been using the products since I was about five years old.  I've seen the efficacy of these natural products for years, and as an adult I am also beginning to appreciate more about the company: what it stands for, the research behind the products, and the goals it has for its members. The reason you may have heard me talk about Shaklee more frequently over the last few months is that I have decided to invest more in this company as a business. I was promoted to the rank of director about a month and a half ago, which gives me the opportunity to grow financially through sharing the products.

As a Zumba instructor, it makes me happy to earn a little extra income through getting to make people feel happier and healthier.  However, as much as I love Zumba, the potential to impact people's health and wellness positively is much greater through Shaklee and its products. This is because it's about more than weight-loss or heart health (while those are both great things). It's also about all-natural, clinically-proven mental-health, bone & joint health, skin health, allergy relief, beauty, weight management, immune-system boosting and so much more.  It's about a holistic, preventative approach to health. I want to be in the business of helping people improve their quality of life, and considering my history with Shaklee, it just made sense to finally partner with the business side of this company! Here is an overview of what makes this company unique.

What is Shaklee?
Shaklee was developed as a company by Dr. Forrest Shaklee in 1956  It is known as the "Number 1 Natural Nutrition Company in the US."  They are committed to products that are effective and natural, with no negative side effects. These products are based on the holistic approach of promoting wellness. Traditional medicine treats the symptoms of illness, but the intent behind the Shaklee approach is to promote wellness and prevent the symptom-causing issues from occurring in the first place.

What makes it different?
Ingredients: Shaklee uses natural, safe, and sometimes rare ingredients in all of their products. To me, this is particularly unique in the company's cleaning products (Basic H is an incredibly effect stain-remover, yet safe enough that a baby could accidentally drink it and be just fine).  I also really appreciate this in Shaklee's beauty products, Enfuselle (paraban/SLS free/allergen free/alcohol free/infused with vitamins). You won't find anything else as good for your skin, especially not within Shaklee's skincare price range. In fact, the formula and content of many of these products are patented, so you won't find it anywhere else.

Research: Shaklee's laboratories have spent 100s of millions of dollars (The Shak. Diff.) in research and development of these products. Additional money is spent on the numerous clinical trials that go into research the products' efficacy. Shaklee also sends out products to be tested by other companies in blind trials. Futhermore, these studies are made available for YOU to read in the catalog and on the Shaklee Web site, so you can check them out before your order any products.

Longevity: This company is not a trend. It has been around since the 1950s, effectively making it the hipster of natural nutrition (did it WAY before it was cool). Furthermore, there are families of Shaklee enthusiasts who have been supporting and loving Shaklee and it's products for generations. This company is thriving, it is huge, and it is not going anywhere.

Earth Love:  Shaklee is the first company in the word to obtain climate neutral status certification. It offsets its own co2 emissions and thus has zero carbon footprint. The company also part of the "Million Trees movement" and has partnered with numerous other healthy earth projects such as: solar powered lighting, resource conservation,wind energy and fuel conversion.

What can it be to you? Shaklee has the potential to offer a wide array of benefits to you and your family. Maybe there is one product that will help make your life easier. Maybe you are looking for a safe, natural alternative to prescription drugs for anxiety or focus. Maybe you are looking for cleaning products that are safe for your children to be around, or a simple weight loss system that will also provide you with the nutrition you need. I'd be happy to talk to you about any needs you have, and help guide you in the right direction.  On the other hand, maybe you are looking to overhaul your whole approach to health in general. Maybe you want to get started with the all the basics.  If you try it out and love the products as much as I do, maybe the business side of this company has appeal to you. I know that the thought of working from home, earning an income from helping people live healthier lives has a great appeal to me.  I'm new to this whole aspect of Shaklee, but if you are interested in partnering with me in this business, please let me know and I will give you all the help I can!

The final thing I want to share with you is a list of my favorite products, which I will be posting about individually in the future. If you would like to read about them now, just follow the below link to my personal Shaklee Web site and find them there. You can also become a member and/or order products directly from this site (you do not have to be a member to order, but membership gives you a slight discount).

My site: katiegustafson.myshaklee.com

My favorite Shaklee supplies: 

Mindworks
Basic H
Enfuselle Skin Care
180 Weight Loss: Energizing Smoothies and Meal/Snack Bars
Meal Shakes
B-Complex
Stress Relief
Alfalfa & Herb Lax
Defend and Resist Complex & Immunity Fizz

Resources: 

"The Shaklee Difference." Youtube. Web. Accessed 15 Nov. 2014

"About Us." Shaklee.com. The Shaklee Cooperation (2000-2014). Web. Accessed 15 Nov. 2014.

M-I-SS-I-SS-I-PP-I: An Evocation

“M-I-Crooked Letter-Crooked Letter-I- Crooked Letter-Crooked Letter I- Humpback-Humpback-I”

I remember the magic of learning that little expression, of being able to spell such a long word at the tender age of six.  I remember crying because it was supposed to be on the first grade spelling test that week, and I remember sitting on Anne Hammer’s couch while she taught me the trick the all kids must learn. I’m thinking about that now because I’ve just misspelled it. At the ripe old age of twenty-five, I have just written “Missippi” in my journal.

 There are a couple of excuses I could use for that, I guess.
The first would be that article some paper my dad just showed me, the headline reading “Missippi’s Literacy Program Shows Improvement.”  The headline could be a joke of itself, in keeping with the dry humor of this humid place, however it could have been an honest mistake. Neither would really surprise me, and I guess there’s really no way to know.
 The other reason I could have misspelled it would have to be the heat.

Something I’ve noticed is that the heat plays the scapegoat of many happenings around here.  The hot, wet air, with no relief of immediately nearby beaches, acts like a wet blanket which covers the whole state of Mississippi. I suppose this same heat cultivated the whole culture of the South, to some extent, at the point of its origin.  Plantations. White ladies in tight dresses, fanning their faces. Black slaves made to do hot work in the cotton fields and kitchens.  The culture which peaked to a head of division between cultures, with anger and resentment on both sides. Some justified. Some ignorant. There’s still a lot of rage in Mississippi between races, not everywhere, but definitely in certain places. It's a rage that undulates constantly beneath changes in fashion and politics. In those lines of fury where no reason can be found, it’s hard to see how such things can ever be solved.

But we were talking about heat, and I guess in the end, a lot of that rage goes back to heat, too. Injustice growing in a rich, fertile land, both nurtured by a hot sun. So plentiful and full of life, life must be poured out of Adam’s brow to earn the full reapings. Too much work for most.

So things grow here, but profit only grows by incredible amounts of sweat. Nature threatens to reclaim constantly, and you see many people outdoors making sure it doesn't do just that. At the same time, many folks are alright with just letting it. Houses and roads lost to the over and undergrowth. Old tractors and trailers and automobiles make offerings to the vines which then consume them. Things are not thrown away-NOTHING is thrown away- it is destroyed slowly by nature until it is almost nothing. But still there is enough hint for memory to see. Meanwhile, porch culture and Lipton are generational traditions.

The sun bleaches everything, too, until nothing but the blue sky and green grass looks new. Buildings, roads and parking lots are all that pale, grey color, like the life has been sucked out of them.  Cars look older. Anything exposed to the elements becomes quickly aged. In the greyness of the outside, the home becomes a destination to create your own society. To find life, you have to look there…there, and also to the sun, the animals, the trees, the ponds, the people.

The people are affected too. Less clothes are worn in general, and lots of folks are larger (the heat has made physical exertion more difficult despite the presence of fried…everything). Things are not done, they are “gotten around to”.  It takes longer to say things here, so extra syllables must be added to give the speaker  adequate time.  Everything takes great effort, you don’t just say you gave someone a ride to the grocery store, you “carried them” over to that grocery store.

The heat makes everything slower, older.  Time itself is slowed down to the point of going backwards, to a place that modernity has forgotten, for better or worse. When I rumble down the country road which stretches between the house and the small, country town a few miles away, I have to marvel in the serenity of a pace which, for all its faults, exists nowhere else I’ve ever been.

Zumba Instructor Training: 10 Things to Know

I've been a lover of the Zumba for years now, and I wondered a lot before I went about what all the training involved to become an instructor. There's not a ton out there in terms of  what to expect. Therefore, if you are a Zumba fanatic and decide to get started on your path of becoming a Zumba instructor, here are some things you can anticipate for your training. I wanted to get this down while it's still fresh.

1. It's expensive to sign up, and I recommend doing it early and intentionally. I registered in April for the June training, which lowered the price somewhat. However, it was still $$$.  That being said, you CANNOT teach "Zumba" as "Zumba" without this training. If you are wanting to do it, make sure you are serious about it and budget for it as an investment/ plan ahead.

2.   You need to bring a lot of stuff that day.  I brought: an overnight bag  stuffed with three giant water bottles, three changes of exercise clothes, deodorant and bodyspray, my paperwork, a journal, a pen, my wallet,an extra pair of athletic shoes (in case the arches in my dance shoes weren't up to it) and a box of protein bars.
 Some others brought less, and many others brought all that PLUS coolers with their lunches, chairs and/or yoga mats for the lectures and cutely coordinated Zumba accessories. I can see the benefit of a yoga mat and a towel. Overall, I think that the things I brought worked for me-I didn't really need anything special to sit on, and the protein bars were fine for me throughout the day. I also feel more comfortable the less things I have to keep up with.  However, if you go, keep this list in mind as  reference. I think I was the only I saw who had body spray. I was proud of myself on that call. It was a good call.

3. Did I say three changes of clothes??? YES I did. They tell you beforehand to bring three. Why? LOTS OF SWEAT. SO MUCH SWEAT. I honestly did not expect to sweat so much, but several hours of Zumba throughout the day combined with the fact that there were about 60 other people dancing in the same medium-sized room resulted in a great deal of perspiration. It's not like you dance ALL day. There are several breaks and a couple of lectures. However, I would not reccomend going if you don't feel like you are at least in pretty good shape. I'd been working out a lot for several weeks before I went-lots of jogging and Zumba at home and in class. I had a blast dancing all day. Even though I was tired/sore at the end of it, I never felt like "OH MY GOSH I AM GOING TO HAVE TO STOP FOR A SEC" during the day. I could tell there were a few people who were not anticipating the physical aspect as much and they looked pretty miserable at the end. However, most of the people in my particular training seemed to be fit and pumped for the exercise. So if you go, I would recommend conditioning for it for awhile beforehand. For me, this made the day so much more fun than if I hadn't done so.

4. Be prepared to learn things about teaching Zumba that you didn't know! I learned a whole lot of new things about the formula used to choreograph the dances,  the fitness aspect of the program, and the importance of Latin rhythms to Zumba. Just the basic steps for the basic rhythms are a lot to rememberI had no idea it was as complex as it is!

5. Be prepared to get called up in front of EVERYBODY.  My trainer did this several times, putting individuals and groups on the spot to lead the entire group and MAKE IT UP AS YOU GO.  We'd all be doing a group routine and then he would just point to somebody and they'd have to run up there and lead.  I had a turn up on the stage and that was probably the scariest part, but it was also really cool.

6. Be prepared to sign up for ZIN (The Zumba Instructors Network), and bring your credit card. While you are at the training, you will learn that you can't do a whole lot as a Zumba instructor without signing up for ZIN. It helps you find jobs, gives you a Web site, allows you to attend future trainings, recieve monthly CDS and DVDS with new music and routines from the home office and gives you huge discounts on everything from insurance to Zumbawear. You have to have a credit card to sign up, and it is about $30 a month. From someone who is pretty poor, I'm just going to tell you that it's already been worth $30.


7. Here is a run-down of what your day will look like. Since you may have to travel a few hours to get to your location, you may opt to spend the night at a hotel near the location. Many folks did that.That wasn't really in our budget, so we left around 5:30 a.m. I have the best husband in world who drove me 2 hours both ways through the crazy Atlanta traffic. I love that guy. :-)

Schedule-ish

Registration
*Master class (1 hour to 1 1/2)- Intense and fun, great workout and start to the day
(Change clothes to set 2 because SWEAT)

Lecture about class layout/importance of warm up

*Practice choreographing a warm up (pulled people up on stage here)

*Learn the basic steps for the Merengue and practice to music. We were divided up into "dance groups" for each Latin rhythm we learned for the day.

*Learn basic steps for Salsa (same format)

Lunch break
 (Change clothes again)
Lecture/Explanation of ZIN

*Dancing with practice using verbal vs. visual cues

*Learn basic steps for the Cumbia

Explanation of choreography/putting it together

Practice

Break

*Basic Cumbia steps and putting it together

*Basic Reggaeton steps  and putting it together

(Change clothes AGAIN)

Lecture

Review

DONE!

*Note, wherever there is a *, it means that this part involved actually doing quite a bit of Zumba, so you can see there is a lot of movement throughout the day, though it is nicely spread out.

8. During all this, be sure and take the opportunity to learn from watching other people and ask questions! Almost everyone is coming from a different class, so you see lots of great movement and a variety of styles.

9. Since I went to the training Saturday, I really feel like I have so much MORE to learn. They give you DVDs to review the basics that you learned, and I have been working on that. You also have to develop your first class, get to work on marketing, ect.  Your work really starts once you've done the training. However, it's FUN. I'm not complaining! I really felt the training gives you all the tools you need to get started, what you do from there is at your own pace and level of interest!

10. HAVE FUN!  If you love Zumba and have seriously thought about instructing, I think you would have a blast and learn so much through doing this training!

Secrets EXPOSED

Readers and social media friends, I have been keeping things from you. Big things. Here they are:

1. In about one month, Dane and I will be moving to a small town in Mississippi.

 It is a VERY small town: old-school, countryside, abundant in rich-characters and hilarious anecdotes, lots of quiet out in the country tempered by the fact that most of my extended family will be nearby (and believe me, it's an entertaining bunch). I'm thinking that writing ideas will abound.

2. We will be moving into my great-grandparents farm home

Which is full of good memories and in need of a little TCL. The plan is that we are going to live there for awhile, sprucing the place up a little and having some of our space.  Dane and I are not planning to settle in Mississippi forever at the moment, just spending some time there while we are...

3. Going back to school

I was accepted into a Masters program through SNHU awhile back. I am really excited about the program, which places an emphasis on both English Literature AND Creative Writing. I am hoping it will help me in my own writing, open up more secondary teaching opportunities, and provide a stepping stone to my ultimate goal of getting a PhD and being able to teach at a college level. Financial Aid is worked out, and I am excited! The program is long-distance/online.

Dane has an Associates Degree and wants to complete his bachelors degree. He loves technology and has also enjoyed working in a laboratory.  He is also interested in some of the Web/Graphic Design programs at SNHU, Liberty online, and a couple of other places. There is also a possibility that if he gets a job at one of the companies he has applied to, he could have certain certification programs paid for by the company. He's really excited about that possibility. Speaking of work...

4. New Jobs...a leap of faith

We have things in the works, though not yet solid.  It's a little bit of a leap of faith. We have some savings, but not a lot. We will have less expenses, but obviously will need to make a living.

 Dane is really hoping to get a job at one of two big companies which recently opened up in the area, and I think he really has a chance at one. One of the companies is kind of a techy corporation, and the other one is in airplane manufactoring. Both of these areas are extremely interesting to him, he qualifies for several job listings, and the jobs all have great benefits.  He has recently sent in several applicatons, and we are hopeful. It's amazing that there are just now opportunities to work at these big companies in this small of a town.  He's planning to work fulltime and go to school part-time or fulltime, depending on what happens.
 I am planning to work part-time and go to school fulltime. I recently was certified in Wilson Reading System (after spending two years on my practicum). This is a system which teaches children or adults how to read from the beginning, and it is especially effective for those with learning disabilities. I am hoping to offer this, along with my ability to tutor in other areas (SAT, various academic courses) around the area. I am also becoming licensed to be a Zumba instructor next weekend. I'm so excited! I love Zumba-it has helped me feel so much better this year, both physically and emotionally. I have been working really hard to get in good shape, and I am excited to bring dance fitness to a town which does not have it locally (Yes, you heard me, there is NO Zumba in Ellisville). I also have a small Shaklee business which I might try to build alongside the Zumba fitness. Project Healthify Mississippi!  I am a little scared, but mostly excited!

5. Who knows what next?

So as you can see, lots of changes in the works for us. We realize that these changes probably seem extreme and sudden to you, but we've been working on them for awhile. We've thought and prayed over them and have a peace about it all.  We are excited!