Doing good things

Last week I had the pleasure of helping/coordinating a bracelet sale at one of the schools I work at.

In order to go to camp my little guy had to raise $20.00 to "pay it forward" as his teacher was granted money therefore able to pay for all trips in that class. So beginning of April I went to dollarama and bought a basic bead kit, some string, and we began making these little bracelets/key chains. After our first session C (my little guy) said to me "are we really going to do this?" And I said "are you kidding? Heck yes we are." 

That night I went home and really had to think about what we would had to do/organize. Slowly I began to realize that maybe his doubts were not so much in the project but both of our overall commitment. You see, this kid is one of a kind. The type of kid who would gladly do anything for anyone--but not until this year. 

Last year he was your classic trouble maker, cussing at his teacher, not getting all that good of grades, he disliked school very much. So whenever I came to visit initially I just let him play what he wanted which was sports such as basketball. I love basketball so we played a bunch! Guess who got all "wows" and overall A+ in basketball?! HE DID! And guess who sold bracelets? WE DID! 

I made sure I was there every week. No excuses not even my mental health as I did that enough in March. I had to be there this time! We started getting orders and our business blew up. We ended up collecting over $150, and his confidence, self esteem, entrepreneurial ship was absolutely priceless. 

Doing good things feels amazing. Seeing his face was priceless. 

Do good Dorothy 

Happy Mother's Day!

To all mothers, care givers, grand mothers, happy Mother's Day! The world would suck if you did not exist. There's just no other way to put it! 

Dear My Mummy, 

Thanks for being my best friend and loving mother. You are everything I aspire to be and more, and I wouldn't be nearly as tough if it wasn't for you, and regardless of any poor decisions you've made. Your love has always been considered unconditional and I cannot thank you enough for simply that amongst every other incredible thing you are and have done for me. I see kids every day who undoubtedly go without love from their parents, and I'm so blessed that I am-- unconditionally  You're not perfect, but neither am I and I have you to thank for teaching me that. 

Here's a photo of my mom gracefully in the background, and me pretending to be a mom to my #1 baby boy shoving my -1 thing in my face. But I can't help but SMILE! Love you both terribly! 

(Happy Mother's Day Kristin!)

Love. 

Dorothy 

 

Fitness and Lifestyle

This past month I have had the pleasure of seeing a lot of friends and family from where I used to grow up. Some I haven't seen in 5-10 years, and some just under or over a year. Regardless, I'm often told I seem happy and that things are going well, but that I have lost weight. 

I have always considered myself to be on the slimmer side, even when I've felt my "largest" (wow that's taken a long time to be able to admit), I just have extra brownie points if you will. I don't particularly like to diet, and that may be due to the fact that In attempting to stay slim throughout university, I literally ate chicken, salmon, and veggies.

Sometimes seasoned but often times not, hence why I believe I have a small aversion to it. Anyways, while I appreciate the compliments what many people tend to forget is that I'm not just on Meds that have the possible side effect of "weight loss" when I ate McDonald's 3 times last week. Desperate times, desperate measures, or an addiction but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. 

So I choose to eat what I want when I want, within in reason of course. I wish I could always stuff my face but even my body recognizes how icky I feel. It's like when you go away or are simply just eating out meal after meal, you crave something light and homemade. 

While I've always considered myself to be of the athletic type, going to the gym  became a huge part of my routine for 2 reasons #1. My doctor has told me since day 1 to be more active and I tried but now I'm always active. #2 I'm up early and I find there is no better way to start my day. And no this is not because I don't have a job, I very well do! I just have this new sense of perseverance and determination and keeping my mental health in check is the only way I can succeed, so I work out! I run, do intervals, use old training tricks. But in all honesty, kicking alcohol has been the biggest help. 

I don't even want to know how many calories in a night I was drinking, but now I have more energy throughout the day, I'm not overexhaustd, therefore I can't find any reasonable excuse not to go you know? It is also DIGHT down from where I live. 

Anyways, the magical secret to my "diet" or fitness is not because I'm not eating (to those who constantly ask "are you eating Colleen? Yes! Some days are much easier than others but boy I eat) 

The last comment probably put this whole post to question, but that's only because if you knew me I have these lanky arms that people call bean poles and they lose weight first, which is what I'm often judged off. Not my whole body, just the but they can see, but my butt and thighs will never go away. Go Oakville Soccer! 

Keep rocking it out there friends! 

Your gal, 

Dorothy 

Ps. Officially 10 months without alcohol, who am I?! Do you think you could do it? Knowing you aren't an alcoholic but have poor tendencies (my whole generation) that when mixed with alcohol, turns you into something or someone your not? I went from 0 to my own hero! It's hard but it's worth it. 

Take a step back and look at yourself. Is what you're doing right now what you want to be doing? Is there more you could be doing but find you don't have the energy? Do you have extra anxiety? Do you regret every time you go out? Or wake up saying "I'm never drinking again," but then do? How often are you blacking out, do you want to carry that on forever? If you think it's a phase, I've seen first hand how bad it can spiral out after the "fun" is over.  You're not stuck you have options but YOU have to be the one to make the choice.

 I was a huge party girl, and you can ask anyone I know, heck my family makes wine. Yet I still know I'm better off.. 

Unstoppable

In September of 2014, when I first started volunteering at one of the two school's I work at, I was asked by an amazing woman if I would be willing to go out for coffee with her one time, and this was after the very first time we met. At first I thought "wow I must have really charmed the pants off her,"as she kept repeating how "vibrant, positive, and awesome" I seemed (Not to toot my own horn). Of course I agreed, and Nicole (my sponsor) began to further explain her recent business venture/opportunity, and wanted to share some ideas with me and gather feedback.

For any one who is reading this who recently graduated from college/university/post grad or any type of education, this seemed like a gift from heaven. I genuinely thought I was going to be her wing woman fighting off the bad guys in the mental health systems, while simultaneously practicing my  entrepreneurship. I guess it is fair to say all I heard after the coffee comment was "possible job opportunity, do NOT miss out," so I didn't. 

I went home that night and opened up an email wherein a link was attached and long story short one of my mentors (now anyways) , Tabatha DeBruyn, was speaking about her title as an Executive National Vice President, and Independent consultant of Arbonne International.  To be honest, I felt a little disappointed because I thought this was just another gig like my brother had once done for Cutco Knives; hosting parties, sponsoring team members, investing too much many, more skin care and products that aren't going to work and blah blah blah...and it is all of those things, with the exception of "not going to work", I LOVE IT! The first day of using just the FC5 line for my face/body throughout the course of a week I was amazed at how soft my skin felt, and heck it was fun pampering myself! Especially considering a great deal of the products "forced" me to relax. For example, I used the Purifying Sea Soak, and Nicole had mentioned that her friends used this after a weekend of heavy drinking because it literally "washes away your worries." In their case, hangovers, but in mine, just general stress. I kid you not I sat in this bath around 4pm and within a minute or two I thought "sh!t. I have no idea how I am going to make dinner or do anything else for the rest of the evening," I just sank in happiness.

Safe to say, I extremely value and believe in this company. Not only are the products result driven, but the self growth, and all that the company stands for I am all in. Pure. Safe. Beneficial.

While in Vegas I attended a conference where there was a number of amazing, inspirational speakers, and this was the first time I had ever attended a conference/event for a company I worked for that was A) in another country B) that MASSIVE! Everyone that just watched the big fight last weekened at MGM Grand for thousands of thousands of dollars, I was there the week prior given tools on how to expand my business, listening to peoples starting out stories, and why they made the switch to this company. A great deal were women who took this on as a side gig for a little extra cash for their families to simply be able to do extra activities, sports, vacation,  medical conditions, or simply they were not happy with where they were in life, they felt "unfulfilled" despite how hard they had worked to get to where they are now. Eventually many of these women began to recognize they were making the same, if not more than their annual salary.

Contrary to these women, I had no job, little money, and no desire to work in the business world if that meant I was in some stuffy office, looking at boring computers and numbers. I could not FIND a job in the mental health world because I have yet to earn all the certification I need, so I said lets give it a go! I have sales in my background, and certainly in my blood so how bad could it be? Well, the first two months were the preliminary stage where I thought "what the hell did I just do? I cannot do this! I don't know anyone, I cant speak at these things, I can't! But I gave it a go, got a couple clients and I felt good. Slowly but surely it brought me more and more pleasure, as I would do little tasks each day to learn about the industry itself, as well as the product knowledge, and ever since I have never looked back.

What I began to realize is that I damn well can do this. I have sold bundles and bundles of wine, I had to give tours to groups of 30+ for years and that was simply a script about the winery, process, and fine wines wherein the tourists would buy plenty of after. So when I began thinking of it like that, it became an absolute no brainer. I also began to realize, who else can honestly say their product is as good as what I am selling? Call it difference of opinion, but Arbonne is the bees knees.

My favourite part has to be the Arbonne Charitable Foundation, which was established very recently and has already raised 2.5 Million towards today's youth and their self-esteem (mental health?!) WHAT! First I'm selling product, now were saving lives WHAT!?! (internship reference)
40, 000 teens across the world have beneffitted from this program already. And it sparked a light in my head, I want to be in the mental health world, but I don't want to be the same old same old. It needs a change, a voice of reason for those kids and I know I am that girl. Arbonne has provided me with the financial opportunity to save x amount so that while I am at school learning how to save the world, I can make $ (on my own hours, in my own bedroom if I want).

Eventually I would like to create/establish an education centre unlike anything that exists today, give me some serious time though. The schools in Kitchener that I work at currently are what drive that passion and fire in me everyday, you wouldn't believe how bad it can be these days, and it's everywhere to be honest! But one step at a time.

To the future of today's youth! I am unstoppable folks!

Colleen