Here We Come!!!

This is the time of year when life has quieted down a bit as we glide into New Year’s Eve. I used to take my mother and three daughters out of town during this time of year to experience New Year’s Eve in another city because our city of Sacramento always seemed so boring to me. The best New Year’s Eve was 2009. My eldest daughter didn’t want to go that year because we were headed for New York City! She does not like big cities. I arranged for us to have dinner at a restaurant in Times Square at 10:00 pm so that we would be right there to in Times Square to see the ball drop, sing, feel the confetti; experience the whole thing like we’d seen it on TV. It was difficult to get to our restaurant since they close off the streets with police and barricades. It took us an hour of running in our evening dresses, evening shoes, and fur coats from barricaded street to barricaded street until we were finally able to get through to where our restaurant was located. It was worth every moment because when it was time for the count down we ran out into Times Square and searched for “the ball”. Turns out we were to close to see it, ha! It didn’t matter because once it dropped the confetti flew and the crowd sang to a recording of John Lennon’s “Imagine”. People were crying, hugging and kissing. It was truly one of the most amazing things I ever had or ever have participated in. You could feel the eternal hope of the universe envelope the humanity in the streets of New York City.
This year I will be with my husband and our children in Sacramento. We will have a sedate New Year’s Eve. When I wake up on January 1st, I will once again feel the eternal hope and excitement for the coming year. I’ve included a list of ideas from which you can choose for your New Year’s Resolution, complete with link for more information.
Be safe on New Year’s Eve and begin to “imagine” all the possibilities for your 2012!

Here is the list of the 12 Most Popular New Year’s Resolutions: Click on the link to get information about each of the following resolutions.
• Drink Less Alcohol
• Get a Better Education
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Lose Weight
• Manage Debt
• Manage Stress
• Quit Smoking
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
• Save Money
• Take a Trip
• Volunteer to Help Others

What Is Your New Year’s Resolution? Goals for 2012?

Christmas, the holiday with inflexible deadlines has come and gone. Whew! I know a lot of you are thinking, “I made it.” However, now we look at the bringing in of 2012, a whole new year. This idea brings with it a lot of hope that aspirations unmet in the year just passed will somehow now be attained. How seriously each of us take this mark of time’s passage is individual. For me, as I close in on my 50th year on the planet, I take it seriously. I realize I have places to go, people to see, and social changes to help make happen. Therefore, I write down my goals with the understanding that they are dynamic in nature, meaning they will change as life affords me opportunities. Even if my goals are subject to change, they still need to be written down and shared with someone I respect. Unwritten and unshared, goals have no power, no substance.

For example, when I was first starting to walk again after my first really bad episode with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999 I told my entire family I was going to run again. At the time, I couldn’t really write so I verbally committed to my goal of running. It took me about 7 years to finally be able to run again. I had many set backs over those 7 years but I just kept trying. If something wasn’t working to help me get to my goal, I’d try something else. I sought out the help of professionals when I needed assistance. I read about nutrition and the brain. I read about physical training methods. I also recognized when I needed a break and took it until I felt strong enough to try again.
I look forward to making and reaching new goals every year. In my next newsletter on January 2, 2012 I talk more about goals, how to reach them and what mine are for 2012.

Health Tip: Enjoy Life More: Increase The Quality of Life

Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that “enjoying life more” has become a popular resolution in recent years. It’s an important step to a happier and healthier you! Consider establishing a daily nutritional supplement habit with a product with a money back guarantee so you can feel healthier and more energized everyday as a step toward a balanced life. The better you feel the easier it will be to make healthy choices when it comes to managing your time. The better you are able to manage your time and be involved in activities you enjoy the more fulfilled you feel. Here’s to enjoying life in 2012!

My Holiday Traditions – Only 3 Days Until Christmas & Quick Cookies!

I am looking forward to the annual holiday traditions my immediate family has created over the years. First, Christmas Eve is spent at the home of my sister’s family. She and her husband are amazing cooks. Every year they delight us with innovative appetizers, main courses, and sides. The last 2 years we have enjoyed a “Turducken”, which is shipped from the South to Northern California. I always make dessert. A plain cheesecake is my sister’s favorite. Since I worked as an assistant pastry chef in college, I can make this one in my sleep! This year we will enjoy Persimmon Pudding with Hard Sauce and Chantilly Cream as well. YUMMY! Christmas Day is spent at my house where my husband and children all enjoy a big breakfast together. This year my Uncle is coming along with his flaky, “old school”, mouth-watering biscuits, just like my great grandmother used to make. Best part of breakfast this year is my husband has organized the children to execute all parts so all I have to do is enjoy in the meal. Christmas Day is for playing games and watching movies. Christmas dinner is my favorite, prime rib. I make it every year. It makes the house smell wonderful all day. I love, love, love it!

WOW! Only 3 days until Christmas and the fun has to start now! But wait, I forgot to make cookies to take to my favorite vendors…the dry cleaners, the UPS Store, the trainers that teach exercise classes at my health club, my hairstylist….the list goes on. If I only had a quick recipe I could make and deliver cookies to all of these great people that have helped throughout the year. But wait, I remember a friend of mine told me you could make cookies from a cake mix. I looked it up on Google and what to my wondering eyes should appear but many recipes all made clear! Here is a website and a recipe to get a start on making cookies quickly from a cake mix:


Ingredients
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. Pour cake mix into a large bowl. Stir in the oil and eggs until well blended. Mix in chocolate chips. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from pan to cool on wire racks.
Nutritional Information Yields 2 dozen cookies
Cake Mix Cookies I
Servings Per Recipe: 12 (2 cookies per serving)
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 387
• Total Fat: 20.3g
• Cholesterol: 36mg
• Sodium: 297mg
• Total Carbs: 51.4g
• Dietary Fiber: 2.1g
• Protein: 4.1g

Health Tip: Eat, Drink, Be Merry!
Do not deprive yourself of deliciousness this season! However, be mindful of ingredients and serving sizes. I love the holidays and I always eat delicious morsels I would never eat unless it is the holiday season with the exception of caviar. I could eat caviar everyday but that is just me. It happens that caviar is one of the most nutritious foods for an adult and most importantly for children. It really packs a nutritional punch! I always couch my holiday dining exploits with my vitamins . No matter what I do or do not eat I know my vitamins will keep me healthy. Visit this website to learn how you can find out how easy it is to know how healthy you are and how well your vitamins are working for you to prevent disease and increase your energy. Contact me for a personal evaluation of how well your vitamins are working or for a Preferred Customer price , a 30% discount on retail, on your supplements.

Holiday Tradition - The Dice Game

Guest Posting – Julie’s Assistant Joy

For most Christmas’ while I was growing up, my family would get bundled up and drive from Southern Minnesota to Fargo, North Dakota for Christmas. The Holiday was filled with both sides of my entire family, amazing food, a children’s Christmas program (when we were really little), and lots of laughs and memories. During this event, about 5 years ago we began a tradition that I’d like to share with you for this Holiday season. Traditions are what we all look forward to at the holidays so I hope you enjoy reading about my favorite one.

To me, the holiday is not about the gifts and this is a great alternative to the gift exchange within families and creates a perfect holiday tradition you will remember long past any gift you receive.

The Dice Game – Joy’s Family Tradition
You can buy, or find in your home, interesting and cheap/free things to wrap up that are suitable for the various ages of who will be participating. This year I went to a few retailers and got things like cute recipe cards, magnets, and my husband ordered a few “guy” toys online. Each family brings about 10 items (in my case that is 50 gifts for about 15 people playing) wrapped and placed under a separate tree from the rest of the presents.  Start the Christmas music, grab a drink (hot cocoa is always fun) and  2 dice. Each person shakes the dice and when you get doubles you pick out a gift from the pile and open it.  When all the gifts have been opened, then doubles mean you get to steal a gift from someone else’s pile! This is where is gets interesting….you never know what will be the gift that EVERYONE seems to want. Then about every few minutes (someone keeps track) you stop the game and get to keep one of the gifts in the pile in front of you by placing the gift behind you. Once time is up – everyone has received a few cute small gifts and had many laughs while playing.

(Hint for an extra surprise: My mom once rolled a $5 bill into a toilet paper roll. No one knew it was there and didn’t want toilet paper! Now we check everywhere within the gift for surprises!)

My husband and I are flying to Fargo for Christmas this year and I have been looking for “Dice Game” gifts for months! Let us know if you tried out this game this Holiday and tell me what you think!
Merry Christmas Everyone!

Health Tip:  Dicey Health –Dicey Life (by Julie)
This is the time of year when we all begin to make resolutions for the impending year to come.  Think carefully about how you have felt, health wise, all year and right now.  Do you have as much energy as you like?  Do you like the way you look?  Write down all the things you eat and drink in an average week each year.  Write down how often and for how long you exercise in an average week over the past year. I believe we all have a pretty good idea of what we should be doing for our health. Write down one change you can make on a daily basis in your diet, substituting one unhealthy food/beverage for a healthier food/beverage.  Write down one change for the better you can make in your weekly exercise regime.   Next, you have to tell someone your plan.  You need to have accountability for success – we all do!  For example, I know a woman that gave up dessert after dinner for 1 year and lost 10 pounds by the end of the year!  One simple change made her feel better and her clothes fit better.  Don’t make dramatic resolutions because those are hard, if not impossible to keep.  Start with baby steps.  You will feel better about yourself and feel like you are taking control of your health and consequently, your life.  If you need support, seek out the help of a professional to get started.  Don’t leave your wellness to fate like a roll of the dice.  Resolve to take charge one tiny step at a time.

10 Days Until Christmas –Really

Here we are 10 days until Christmas!  Should be super exciting, right?  Well, I am a little freaked out because I haven’t finished my shopping and I am thinking about all the wrapping I will need to do once the shopping is complete!  On top of that in the back of my mind, I have all these cookies and sweet treats I’d like to make.  Oh, and lets not forget about the holiday cards yet to be sent and the customer appreciation gifts I need to mail once I receive what I have ordered to give my customers.  Maybe everyone would rather have New Year’s cards and gifts?  Here is my answer to that:

If you think you can’t then you will be like all the ordinary reindeer and you won’t be able to fly! Believe in the impossible.
~Unknown
Ok, after reading that quote I just took a long, deep breath.  Did you?  Sometimes I make big lists of things for myself to do because I think it will make the holidays SO special for my children, their significant others, my spouse, family members, friends that stop by…pretty much the entire county I live in…just in case.  Every year I hope for world peace.  This year I will hope for inner “holiday” peace for myself.  I think this is a great idea because my inner peace will pass through me to everyone I come in contact with during the holidays.

Health Tip:  Gift Yourself!

Give yourself a gift this year by reminding yourself that all the holiday magic is in your heart.  If you are too busy with details you cannot hear your heart.  Take some time to evaluate what is really important on your holiday list of things to do.  Scratch out the ones that would be nice but not necessary.  By simplifying your list you leave room in your brain to hear your heart.  You and your loved ones will enjoy a more meaningful and enjoyable holiday.  Peace be with you!

This Year Give the Gift of a Personalized Beauty Basket…12 Days Until Christmas!

If you are like me you probably have a small collection of baskets, boxes and tins stored in a cabinet or on a shelf in your garage. Here’s an easy way to use that basket for a fun and different themed holiday gift. How fun is this?

Instead of a pre-made gift basket, dress up your own container, add items selected just for your recipient then wrap in clear cellophane. Pick out their favorite beauty magazine, throw in any of these delightful items: NS’s Herbal Mineral Bath for hydration while soaking in the tub, Exfoliant Scrub to remove rough, dry skin to smooth the face, Lip Gloss that plumps lips or Lip Balm (with sunscreen), and a cute headband – wrap in cellophane (found in any gift supply store) and tie together with a pretty ribbon tied in a bow with an ornament or jingle bell and you have a personalized gift. Add a handmade card if you are really crafty and want to make it really special. Please contact me very soon for your gift basket/stocking stuffer needs to get a 30% discount.

Health Tip: Winter Sun Protection
Enhance your sun protection with the right foods. “In general, fruits and vegetables are foods high in antioxidants and help us fight free radicals and sun damage, while foods such as meat, dairy products, simple carbohydrates, sugar and processed foods cause inflammation and can contribute to making sun damage worse,” according to leading dermatologists.
Foods like leafy greens, peppers, squash, watermelon, blueberries and tomatoes that are rich in vitamin C and the antioxidants, carotenoids and lycopenes can help prevent sun damage.
Don’t forget to apply a sunscreen even in the winter. NS’s tinted moisturizers with sunscreen provide light coverage and protection from the sun. NS’s Body Block with SPF 30 are good for both face and body with the added benefit of being water resistant, a very important detail in sun protection.

Winter Skin and Stiffness!

Ho ho ho, Happy Holidays! I don’t know about you but I have received multiple invitations for the same date and the same time. I always hate to miss a party. However, worse than missing a party is feeling tired and not looking my very best for the party I am attending! Winter wind and cold are wrecking havoc on my skin and my body. I want to feel the flexibility of warmth in my body and the glow of a fire on my face. With these thoughts I realized I am probably dehydrated! I love a cup of hot coffee or black tea but they can be dehydrating. Put those two together with the icy winds whipping every molecule of moisture out of our atmosphere and “ta-da” you have dehydration! I haven’t even mentioned all the cocktails and glasses of wine that contribute to dehydration. Quickly, I responded by drinking hot GREEN tea and taking an extra step in my beauty regime to add a layer of hydrating moisturizer to my skin. Wow, what a difference those 2 things have made for how I feel and how I look. When you are properly hydrated you are able to maintain your energy level all day. Green tea has the added bonus of delivering critical antioxidants that protect you from colds and flus as well. Not only should you take your multivitamins (learn more about my favorite vitamins) now but add nutrient rich vegetables or cups of green tea to your daily intake.

Please do not drink the energy drinks to boost your holiday spirits. Energy drinks contain ingredients that have had many published health warnings. If you are interested in receiving those warnings, I would be happy to send you some information, just shoot me an email, julie@anuyoubyjulie.net. Think about energy at a cellular level. Really it all starts in our cells and what we give them…like our cars and the fuel we put in them to run efficiently. Without my daily Vitality, I’d be sound asleep and stiff as an old horse at my desk by 3:00pm!

Health Tip…Winter Skin Nourishment:
Start your day with a banana then have an apple as a snack. If you can have a vegetable based soup at lunch you are a super star! I don’t care if you pair it with French fries, probably not the best choice but, hey, it is the holiday season. Be sure to drink lots of water or green – black – tea because it will warm your insides and keep you well and hydrated. After all these good things you have put in your body will make you feel righteous at the holiday cocktail party as you enjoy your wine, cocktails and appetizers. To finish off your righteousness, after cleansing and toning, be sure to apply an anti-aging serum followed by a night cream. You will find these steps to be time and money well spent! (Remember, I can get you a 30% discount on all the products I mention on my blog)

Give the Gifts that Give Back This Year

During the Season of Giving, I like gifts that give back to our environment. By taking care of our environment we are taking care of our loved ones and ourselves too! I am proud to be part of an organization that strongly believes in giving back to the villages that helped them create their products. The Epoch line from NS uses traditional remedies from indigenous cultures with botanical ingredients to create helpful treatments for us.
For example, in the Epoch line, $0.25 from the sale of every Epoch Baobab Body Butter is donated to the NS Force For Good Malawi Seeds of Hope project. These funds will be used to purchase and plant a variety of important and useful trees for the people of Malawi, including baobab trees and fruit trees. Malawi –one of the poorest countries – has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world and there is an urgent need to restore and protect this precious natural resource. Read the scope of work provided by the Seeds of Hope project, which just makes me so proud. The Epoch Baobab Body Butter is made from the baobab tree which is one of the types of trees to be planted and drenches your skin with the much needed moisture during the winter months. For a full listing of the Epoch products and the communities served visit here.

Running out of time to shop? Receive a 30% discount on your products when you let me help you with your order.

This Holiday Season, help make our world a little better with every gift this year.

Health Tip: Winter Is Not Just Magical Snow Falls And Twinkling Lights…Its Dry, Chapped Skin, UGH!
Winter is the worst season for people who have dry skin – flaking, itchiness and tautness is usual and neglect of daily care can easily lead to habitual dehydration, with sensitive skins and red patches. During winter, the outer layer of skin becomes very dry therefore it is important to keep the skin moisturized. Even those who have oily skin must use light moisturizing lotions after cleansing to keep the skin soft. Therefore, going that extra step to pamper the skin with moisturizers and emollients is imperative.
To avoid “crocodile skin” on legs: Use a body was without soap such as NS’s Liquid Body Bar After bathing, apply a body lotion , while the skin is still damp. It helps to seal in the moisture.
For additional help with dry, red skin on your face email Julie@anuyoubyjulie.net

Only 24 Days Left Until Christmas… Give Yourself Permission!

I just love the winter holidays! The excitement starts for me in late August, right after my birthday. That’s when everything I do has the future goal of the holidays. I start purchasing marked down holiday décor as it inspires my vision for my decoration theme for the year. My daughter pointed out that we don’t do “Spring Cleaning” but “Fall Cleaning”. She’s right! We are getting ready for the holidays in August. This year I didn’t begin holiday preparations in August. It was then that my grandmother’s health was declining and so I spent that time with my grandmother; visiting making food to deliver to she and my Uncle, and styling her hair. So, I started in late October. By Thanksgiving, my house was not perfectly clean and decorated, with “zillions” of cute cookies made and appetizers frozen awaiting room temperature as in years before but I realized I was the only person that knew. My house looked tidy and festive. I was actually very proud of my holiday décor. Perhaps it is OK to give ourselves permission to not be “perfect”. The definition of “holiday perfect” I have created and no one else has a clue about it. I am glad I spent the time with my grandmother and not creating “holiday perfect” because I will forever remember time spent with my grandmother and “holiday perfect” is fleeting. So in the last 24 days before Christmas, give yourself a gift, the permission not to have “holiday perfect”. Gifts start in our hearts. When we are more relaxed then the gifts we give others are better with so much more meaning.

Health Tip: Holiday Party Ready, Get Your ZZ’s On – Make Time For Beauty Rest
People, there is some real science behind those “eight hours” of suggested sleep time. Maybe when you were 16, you could party all night and cover up those dark circles the next morning with a dab of tinted moisturizer, but if you’re like me and you’ve just realized you aren’t 20 anymore but almost 50, living on 6 hours of sleep just doesn’t to cut it when it comes to the skin on your face! Get some sleep and your skin will thank you. Not only does your skin require downtime to repair itself, but sagging skin and puffiness around the eyes make wrinkles look much worse. I haven’t found a dermatologist that disagrees. You want to be holiday party “beautiful”, right?

Occupy…America

Will the Occupy movement really bring the revolution necessary to America? I am beginning to wonder if this movement will make Congress more efficient, create more jobs, reduce greed, incite citizens to be responsible and accountable for their lives and cause some sort of significant change in the structure of America. Being angry at the state of the economy is to be expected, but that only means we should help to create a better future for our country through hard work. I recently attended a meeting with Congresswoman Matsui. Congresswoman Matsui pointed out that America’s future lies in the prosperity of its small business. It is truly unfortunate to witness “Occupy” movements hurt the small businesses where the protestors are camping out as in “Occupy Oakland”. How did the protestors in Oakland miss the fact that they were hurting business owners and therefore hurting their cause?

Without knowing I participated in the “Occupy Xmas”, “24 hour Moratorium on Consumer Spending” both the North America date of November 25th and the International date of November 26th. I thought it was a good idea to have the “Buy Nothing Day” just to give people a moment to think about their spending. Consumer spending should be reduced as it is creating a lot of unnecessary credit card debt which will not be fully paid as some people will default on the repayment of their credit cards and result in higher credit card rates for the rest of us that don’t default.

Not only does the greed in America need to end but also the sense of entitlement to a certain way of life filled with materials goods beyond a person’s means. “Keeping Up With The Joneses” has gotten all of us into this trouble. Hopefully, America will get back on its feet in time. I am part of the 99% and I choose to work toward a better tomorrow by supporting my local businesses and raising my children to continuously educate themselves, work hard and hold themselves accountable for their lives.

Had to show off the turkey from Thanksgiving, hope you all had a nice holiday.

Health Tip… One of the Worst Make-Up Related Habits
Clean your face carefully at the end of the day. Always make sure you wash your face before you go to bed to remove makeup, dirt and other environmental debris. Why? (1) Your pores are filled with all the outside elements from the day like dirt, dust, smoke, smog, etc. Can you imagine how your skin suffocates under this “coat”? (2) Leaving your makeup on too long can lead to large pores, acne, rashes, and irritated skin. Your skin repairs itself at night and clean skin can absorb skincare products better.

Be Thankful for Your Big Meal: Feed A Child

The shopping list for Thanksgiving and of course, our pre-Thanksgiving Wednesday night dinner seems never ending. It usually requires several trips by several family members, to local grocery stores and grocery outlets in order to “hunt and gather” all the necessary ingredients to deliver and delicious and ample Thanksgiving meal we serve our friends and family. Collaboratively several of us feed our extended family and assorted friends.

While “hunting and gathering” I often purchase bags of groceries for donation to the local food closet so others may have food for their families, especially the children. Despite government programs like WIC, for example, in the United States 13 million children are living in families threatened with hunger with 3 million of these children live in homes that experience hunger. This is a devastating fact but I believe as we holiday grocery shoppers purchase food for donation we are helping and may even continue throughout the year. What about all the children in other countries that have no “WIC” or holiday grocery store shoppers to lend a hand in curbing their hunger? And, it is my opinion that children all over the world need proper nourishment so when they can grow to be productive adults involved in our global economy and not a burden. To Learn more about US hunger please visit http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/fanrr42/

Hostess/Host Gift Tip: Give the gift of Nourishing the Children
Every year we go to various holiday parties and bring the host/hostess a gift of wine or other trinkets. Why not this year, nourish a child in someone’s honor. Malnourished children are missing key nutrients in their diets which can hinder proper development. NS developed VitaMeal, specifically formulated for malnourished children ensuring that every child who receives the pack will have one nutrient filled meal that day. Please learn more about this incredible program by visiting: http://www.nuskin.com/content/nuskin/en_US/culture/nourish_the_children.html

Thanksgiving & Relief of Family Stress

Happy Thanksgiving Week and I know all I can think about is food, wine, friends and family. My children are excited to see relatives as they arrive at our home to share in the traditional meal my sister and I prepare according to the traditions created by our great grandparents and grandparents. We all are thankful we have each other and our health. Who better than siblings, parents, and other close relatives can reminisce with us about our childhoods, or remember pieces of ourselves we’ve forgotten?

This year will be bittersweet. My brother, sister, her family and my family celebrate being together in good health we will be sad at celebrating without our grandmother, our family anchor. Sadness will hang over our table since many other family members will not be in attendance for the first time in years due to post mortem drama.

My great grandparents and grandparents always created magical holidays with music, decorations, games, movies, food and love for us kids despite what was happening in their lives and despite any disagreements any family members might be having, which was usually the case.
Emotional stress can be as harmful as poor eating habits. Below are some tips to help reduce the stress of family during your holiday season. After all, this is a time to rejoice not stress!

Health Tip: Effective Communication: Reduce Stress at The Holidays
1. Listen Carefully –While it might be difficult, try really listening to what is being said without interruption, without being defensive, and without thinking about what you are going to say next. Just hear them and reflect back what they are saying so they know you’ve heard. Then you’ll understand them better and they’ll be more willing to listen to you.
2. Respond to Criticism with Empathy – Its important to listen for the other’s pain and respond with empathy for their feelings. Also, look for what’s true in what they’re saying: that can be valuable information for you.
3. Own What’s Yours – Realize that personal responsibility is a strength, not a weakness. Effective communication involves admitting when you are wrong. If you both share some responsibility in a conflict, look for and admit to what’s yours. It diffuses the situation, sets a good example, and shows maturity. It often inspires the other person to respond in kind, leading you both closer to mutual understanding and a solution
For more on improving relationships using effective communications skills to reduce holiday family stress visit: here.

The “Apple” of the Anti-Aging Companies

This summer, people other than those interested in anti-aging and nutritional products, began to notice how well NS has been doing financially. The Motley Fool (www.fool.com) is a multimedia financial-services company that provides financial solutions for investors through various stock, investing, and personal finance products. From my first tour of the NS laboratories, I thought the scientists who work there were visionaries, but this fantastic comment really validates their success.

“Look at the products, the number of baby boomers, the emphasis on looking young while enjoying great health, and the amount of money spent to appear and feel our youthful best. This company has found a successful niche and is coming out with new products each year. This is the “Apple” of the anti-aging companies.”

Just like how Steve Jobs changed the way to think of technology and how to use it in our lives, I truly believe Joe Chang, Ph. D., author of “The Aging Myth” and Chief Scientific Officer of Nu Skin Enterprises who discovered in collaboration with LifeGen Technologies, it was a cluster of genes NOT a single gene responsible for aging has and will continue to change the way we as a population will think of aging.

Another quote from the article “More importantly, I like the company’s three straight years of record-breaking revenue in the anti-aging industry, which NS believes will hit $1 Trillion as a huge percentage of the global population ages. I’m definitely adding Nu Skin to My Watch list” – Cool huh? I guess they noticed their stock on the New York Stock Exchange went from $7 per share in 2010 to the $47 per share of today. How many other companies are doing that well in this economy?

Health Tip: Keep it Real
A simple way to improve your health is to pass on the prepackaged food goods. I understand that time is short for most of us in our day but meals made from unprocessed ingredients really can be simple to prepare. Our grocery stores even offer pre-cut vegetables and pre-made salads; just watch the pre-made dressing intake…a little can go a long way. Grill lean meat or fish, add some rice or pasta and there you go, a “real meal”! You will feel lighter in mind and body as well as increase your energy levels when you omit the preservatives from your diet. Snacks are simple too with a handful of toasted nuts, which you can now find in handy 200-calorie packs so you don’t even have to get out the snack baggies. Keep it real; your body will love you for it!

"Why Now Is Prime Time for Direct Selling" - WSJ

This blog is in honor of my grandmother, Lucile Louise Hanna’s life.  After 90 years and 8 months she has left behind a legacy.  Her legacy includes how to live life with respect for yourself and others.  She respected herself by taking good care of her health.  Back in the days when TV was in “black and white” when I was a toddler, we would exercise to the Jack La Lanne show.  It was a half hour show of a variety of calisthenics to include jumping jacks, leg raises and lots of “old school” stretches.  Back in the 1960’s my grandmother challenged herself to reach her goal of a healthy life.  Not much has changed, philosophically in our society.  We just now have fancier exercise machines, programs and diets yet our society suffers from more obesity and related diseases than ever before. 

Now to the article:
If you didnt already know, NS and A Nu You By Julie is a Direct Selling company. There are no store fronts, the only way to get NS (Mary-Kay, Avon, Pampered Chef, among others) is through direct sellers like myself. This summer, the Wall Street Journal recognized the fast growing and expanding power of the direct selling industry. This 40 page spread covers the overall industry and their top 100 companies.


Here is a Clip to watch to get a great summary of the article as well.

Here are just some highlights, quotes, from the highly fascinating and eye-opening article.

•NS is one of the “The Big 7”, public companies which accounted for $23.9 Billion in revenue in 2010
•Direct Selling works now more than ever because direct selling is a global business which now is smaller based on social networks and technology.
•From March 2009 to May 2011, the top seven publicly traded direct selling companies averaged a 268% INCREASE in stock price
•Direct Selling offers a solution to a shrinking job market with an easy, low-risk way to be in business which capitalizes on that consumers prefer to buy products from people they know and like
•“After years of skepticism, the investment community is finally waking up to the viability of direct selling as a good investment opportunity.” – Doug Lane
•[speaking of apps] “These tools enable this mass of communicators to tell our story more effectively.” - NS



Health Tip:  Back to the Basics

The recommended amount of exercise is 30 minutes per day, at least 6 days a week.  This means getting your heart rate up to a recommended amount over your resting heart rate.  You may need to seek the advise of an exercise professional to find out your exercise heart rate as we are all different.  The bottom line is:  Exercising while reading a magazine, newspaper, or watching a program on TV is not working hard enough to raise your heart rate so that you improve your health.  Cardio workouts alone are not either…you need to lift some weights.  I really recommend asking the advice of a “Certified” exercise professional for a program to begin because if you do not have the correct form while lifting even light weights you can seriously injure yourself and that is not the idea at all.  As a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association I ask you to visit www.nsca-lift.org to find a professional near you.

Would you like to “Super Size” those Antioxidants?

I’m certain I last left you wondering about antioxidants. Antioxidants come from fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytochemicals that protect the cells in your body from “free radical” damage that can occur from exposure to certain chemicals, smoking, pollution, radiation and as a byproduct of normal metabolism.

Let’s break it down:
• Our bodies are exposed to environmental toxins in addition to the normal breaking down of cells due to cellular metabolism (provide energy to new cells)
• Free Radicals = an electron looking to pair with a proton which destroys a healthy cell to get that proton

Antioxidants step in with the needed proton to neutralize the electron before it can damage a single cell. This translates into healthier organs. The largest organ in our bodies is our skin. We look and feel better if we are nutritionally sound which means lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains in our diets and not a lot of processed foods. Processed foods come packed with lots of preservatives and additives that are chock full of those free radicals. Sorry!

If you are a person that has suffered from the ravages of the free radicals you most likely have cellulite. Cellulite and crepe-like skin is not reserved for the over 30 crowd. For females, it can happen in the teens. Or, maybe you have recently lost a lot of weight and you have loose skin in areas on your body. At the International Convention 2011, NS released the Galvanic Body Spa to be used in conjunction with anti-aging technology infused Body Gel and Dermatics Effects Body Cream to combat loose skin and cellulite at a fraction of the cost in money and time of spas and plastic surgery. Another advantage of home use with professional results is you can do it at your own convenience. Within a month of 5 minute treatments, 3 times a week, you can regain the youth of the skin of your body without invasive, expensive, lengthy treatments. Say goodbye to cellulite and loose, crepe-like skin in the privacy of your own home. However, be sure to add lots of antioxidants to your diet to prevent a re-occurrence of that “icky” skin on your body. Remember, 80% of how we look and feel comes from the fuel we put in our bodies.

Americans have “supersized” their diets to the point that we have “supersized” our bodies which has led to a “supersized” list of diseases at alarmingly younger and younger ages and a “supersized” desire to reverse the damage to our physical image.

Health Tip: Eat 5 times a Day, at the Minimum
Studies have shown time and time again that if we eat smaller meals more frequently during the day we never get the “HUGE HUNGER” and are therefore less likely to overeat when we do arrive to a meal. For example, my daily intake starts with a banana, then a bowl of hot oatmeal or quinoa flakes with a teaspoon of brown sugar and some milk, at lunchtime a large green salad, not iceburg lettuce, with tomatoes, green peppers, nuts, onions, mushrooms, carrots, beets (vegetables you like) and grilled chicken breast or grilled salmon NO DRESSING , if dressing is a must just lemon juice or vinegar and olive oil (Salad dressings harbor tons of useless calories & nasty preservatives which are free radicals) then in the afternoon either an apple/orange, or few stalks of celery, at cocktail time no more than a hand full of nuts then a dinner with vegetables, soup with lots of vegetables or salad and a grilled meat no larger than your fist. Pastas and breads are fine when consumed in moderation. For more information visit: http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=3813.

The Fitness of Our Bodies is more than Skin Deep

I recently heard an advertisement on the radio for a trade school offering programs to earn certifications in personal training and nutrition. According to the advertisement, the need for personal trainers is supposed to raise dramatically over the next 5 years. As a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, I happen to know it is illegal for personal trainers to counsel their clients on nutrition, unless of course they are also a qualified dietician or nutritionist. I checked out the offerings of this “college” to find out that they simply offer certification as a “Health and Wellness Coach”. That is quite different from a registered dietician or nutritionist. The “Health and Wellness Coach” courses do not include comprehensive physiology or chemistry. Really, it what we put inside our bodies that counts more than training the few muscles that we see. About 80% of our true health is influenced by what we put in our bodies. I have a scanner that can tell you the number of antioxidants in your entire body according to what you have put in your body for the last two months. It seems to me that it is nice to have sculpted biceps and “six pack” abs but I’d rather have healthy internal organs since they dictate how much energy I have, how good my skin, hair and nails look . If I’m healthy on the inside I will rarely get a cold or the flu. An added bonus will be I won’t have to fight the “battle of the bulge”. Also, if the internal organs are working then it will be easier to build those beautiful muscles for all to see. I am quite perplexed that people think they can exercise their way to good health without considering the type of fuel used to fill the machine they call their body. Don’t we think about the fuel for our cars?

Health Tip: Build Up Your Antioxidants
By eating 8 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables each day you can raise your antioxidants and have more energy. I know that sounds like a lot and really you should eat more vegetables than fruits because fruits contain a lot of sugar, which is no good. This is easier than it seems. The United States Department of Agriculture sets a serving size for fruit or vegetables to be equal to about one-half cup. Greens like spinach and lettuce have a serving size equal to one full cup. One serving of sliced fruit is equal to one-half cup; however, a single piece of fruit, such as an apple or an orange counts as one serving. Now, maybe a giant Fuji apple is a serving and a half. Perhaps you have to use your best judgment even though in our world of “super size” or really increase your antioxidants.

NS International convention – How many of us have….Friends?

Friends…How many of us have…Friends?

Considering the busy lives we all lead and all the roles we play in one day…mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, neighbor, aunt, uncle, cousin, neighbor, employee, employer, volunteer. The bottom line is we all have full schedules. Who are the real friends that support us as we motor through our busy days with their generosity of heart and their positive energy? I am lucky. My best friend is my sister. She supports me through and through. I meet a lot of people during my work week but not all of them become “friends”. To me a friend is a special person that touches my heart because they share a common belief that is dear to me and are not overly, uselessly dramatic. Through them I gain energy, wisdom and inspiration.

Recently, I was fortunate to meet new friends at the NS International Convention in Salt Lake City from South Africa and Japan. I have lived in the Middle East and traveled extensively but these people touched my heart because they were so sincere about themselves and about their life goals. How many people do you meet that you would consider authentic? Once again I was impressed by the caliber of people drawn to the NS business. Anyway, they were all lovely to chat with and I truly hope to see them again. The three I met from Johanessburg, South Africa were beyond delightful in their honesty and amount of heart. I gave them my goal of coming to visit them in October 2012. Elenia told me it is a good time for game! Well, I’m in for a trip to South Africa!

Health Tip: Overcome Daily Stress
Dissolve 2 cups of Epsom Salt into a tub of water as hot as you can tolerate and soak your body for 20 minutes. This will soak away tiredness and soreness, help soothe away stress and help to detoxify your body. The magnesium sulfate of Epsom Salt draws out the cellular toxins generated with exercise as well as the normal cellular waste created as our bodies do their daily work metabolizing food, combating environmental toxins, handling emotional stress and just simply creating new cells.

NS International Convention - Are Americans jaded?

I have just returned from the NS International Convention 2011 in Salt Lake City where 13,000(!)  distributors from all over the world attended.  It was quite overwhelming to be sitting in the Utah Jazz Stadium surrounded by all these people.  To find a seat I had to climb up to the top of the “nose bleed” seats.  The program was mostly in English all 3 days with huge screens displaying translated sign in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.  Most attendees wore translator headsets because out of the 13,000 there were only 3,000 distributors from the Americas.  The Americas is a region from the top of Canada to the tip of South America.  It was so stunning to be so out numbered by foreigners in Salt Lake City. 

Japan historically has been the number one market for NS products, with Korea and Europe falling right behind them.  Since Greater China opened in 2010, it has taken the lead in sales and number of distributors.  I find that so amazing.  With all the fitness hype, image awareness, dollars spent on plastic surgery, and fashion in the United States you would think we would be interested in products using natural ingredients to wage the war against aging for healthy, youthful living.  I am perplexed because even though NS guarantees that their anti-aging products will help people look younger and feel younger, Americans don’t believe it.  Are we too jaded a society?  Have we been bombarded with too many anti aging products that don’t work?  I don’t know the answer to these questions.  All I know is that after my demonstration I was sold because with all the money I had spent over the years on skin care alone, I had never had instant results that remained for days.  That isn’t even talking about the renewed vitality and energy I have every day from the internal reverse aging supplements.


Maybe we have to start with something simple we can do everyday to help detoxify our bodies to feel and look better.  Hopefully this won’t be disregarded due to its simplicity:

Health Tip:  Lemon Juice in Water with Honey

Take a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice (not store bought juice) and a teaspoon of high quality honey and mix those with a cup of warm water.  Drink every morning, on an empty stomach and you will feel great all day long.  Among other health benefits, this mixture is one of the most effective natural remedies that assists in weight loss and detoxification.

What Are Youth Gene Clusters?

“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” ARISTOTLE

Given the opportunity, our bodies are remarkably intuitive and therefore capable, at a cellular level, of repairing themselves. Thanks to Craig Venter, a leading scientist noted for his contributions in the field of genomic science, and Francis Collins, director of the U. S. Public Genome Project, announced the full human genome had been mapped. The genome, or genetic code, is comprised of 20,000 to 25,000 individual genes. This genome is a “blueprint” for building and running the cells of our bodies.

In an exclusive partnership, LifeGen Technologies and NuSkin Research and Development, researched and found that the way our genes are expressed or “communicate” changes with age. Together they also discovered there is no one single gene responsible for aging. They work in groups or clusters. Therefore, the way groups of age related genes, called Youth Gene Clusters, express themselves is the ultimate source of aging.

How can I get my “Youth Gene Clusters” express themselves so I look and feel younger?
The patented technology of LifeGen Technologies makes use of gene chips, a revolutionary technology that allows for the simultaneous analysis of gene activity of thousands of genes, helps to identify compounds that impact aging by retarding its progression or even reversing it in some cases! In other words, sun exposure, environmental pollution, exposure to chemicals, alcohol, poor diet, lack of sleep, lack of exercise and smoking effect the expression of youth by our “Youth Gene Clusters”. Each gene functions at a certain level when we are young and as we age, gene functionality may slow or speed up, leading to a different gene profile than when we were younger. The proprietary ingredients in their anti-aging  products have been designed to reset the “Youth Gene Clusters” by restoring their proper balance by delivering specific nutrients to promote youthful gene expression inside and outside.
I had you learn about Youth Gene Clusters, because I will be mentioning them a lot on this blog in the future. Please let me know if you have additional questions on this topic.

Health Tip: Sleep!
Many Americans treat their cars better than they do their bodies. Take a moment to note how long your car was parked (rest) and then how much sleep (rest) did you get last night. Studies have shown Americans do not get enough sleep. When we sleep our bodies repair and re-energize. You cannot “bank” sleep. If you missed some ZZZZ’s you just shorted yourself! Without the necessary time to repair, you are aging your body. You would be upset if your car wore out to soon. Think about that in terms of your body.
Sources: (Some awesome people I learn from)
Venter, Craig. A Life Decoded: My Genome: My Life New York: Penguin, 2007.
www.ornlgov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome
Weinruch R, Kayo T, Lee CK, ProllaTA. “Gene Expression profiling of aging using DNA microarrays.” Mech Ageing Dev, 2008
Here are some additional articles you might enjoy reading:
Austad, Steven N. Why We Age: What Science Is Discovering about the Body’s Journey through Life. New Jersey: Wiley, 1999.
Kirkwood, Tom. Time of Our Lives: The Science of Human Aging. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.

My Interview with the Company I LOVE

I was honored with being asked to be interviewed about my business through Nu Skin a couple of weeks ago. Here is the link for the 30 minute interview, however if you don’t have time to listen to all of that I have listed below some bullet points from my interview.

• I was top earner for North and South America for the first week of October. “We are fortunate to have people like Julie who are setting their goals high, taking action, and repeating that process.” – Thanks Nick!
•As I listed in my last blog, my health scare led me to read about nutrition, and eventually try and have results with Anti-Aging/Nutrition products (I used/currently use these products) I feel like I am in my 30s again!
•Maintain your drive and tenacity, never, ever give up on your goals
•My advice is to “Become famous in your own backyard” -know as many people as you can. Have the mentality of “Here I am”
•You can learn about my childhood and my former life on the farm
•This is a business you can run from anywhere and a company to be proud of their integrity
•It is all about the follow-up, making sure your clients and team members are happy and have what they need to reach their goals
•Keep a positive outlook and attitude, it creates momentum as a positive force and people want to work and talk with you
I just want to thank all of those who helped me win this distinction as top earner, and I look forward to continue helping you in any way I can.

Today’s Health Tip:
The Bittersweet Truth about Artificial Sweeteners…the 15 Calories of Sugar is Worth It!
Artificial sweeteners can lead to weight gain and obesity. In 2008, a study published in “Behavioral Neuroscience” linked consumption of no-calorie sweeteners with increasing difficulty controlling calorie intake and maintaining a healthy weight. The hypothesis is this; eating artificial sugar has this effect because the sweetness, sweeter than regular sugar, tells the brain that it is about to take in a large quantity of calories. This prompts the digestive and ingestive reflexes to prepare for that large intake, but the system becomes confused when the calories don’t arrive. This confusion can lead the body to use less energy and crave more calories than normal. There is increased evidence that people who consume more artificially sweetened drinks are more likely to be obese and have metabolic syndrome. www.livestrong.com What’s the best choice for sweetening? Replace your refined white sugar with “Coconut Sugar Crystals”. Each is 15 calories a teaspoon but coconut sugar crystals are a Low Glycemic Index” food. A low “Glycemic Index” food will cause a small rise in blood glucose level, while a high “Glycemic Index” food will trigger a dramatic spike. What goes up must come down! So that explains the “crash” experienced after a super sugary treat. www.natureblessings.com

Why I Am Blogging...for a "Nu" You

Hi, I am Julie Al-Huneidi and I started A Nu You By Julie to offer people choices in their skin care and nutritional supplements.  There is so much disinformation around skin care, anti-aging, nutritional supplements, and wellness, I felt compelled to help educate people with products I believe in. My mission statement is to provide an individualized and comprehensive program of science based products and services as well as business opportunities to improve people's lives.

Here is my story. I have Multiple Sclerosis which over 10 years I successfully, through diet and exercise, regained the use of my right leg, right hand, vision in my right eye, and speech. However, my face still showed the signs of aging and after my hard work I was not happy with that or with all the unsuccessful products I tried from spas, salons, dermatologists, and specialty beauty stores. I had to find something that would work!

It was my good fortune to meet two ladies, Cheri and Peggy, who introduced me to the Galvanic Spa  and the Anti-Aging products (more information to come later). Using the products for only 2 months, I had reversed the signs of aging on my face and everyone was wondering how I had done it. I had to know more about the company that discovered, patented, manufactured, and distributed the products that had helped me. I went to Provo, Utah where I met the scientists, saw the lab, toured the headquarters and distribution center, and met the company leaders. Try finding your average company that lets anyone do that!  I also discovered this company had a social conscience with their program to feed children in Malawi, Africa by not just providing meals to the children that attend school, but by also teaching the community how to grow the staples specific to their dietary needs of everyone living in the community.   Quality products, transparency and sustainability!  Needless to say, I was impressed and wanted to be part of this great company and share the products to help others. Click here to check out their website.

At first I had difficulty with the idea of direct sales but as the economy has changed, I realized this is the vehicle for financial freedom because of the awards the company has earned through innovation and best business practices.  In Forbes “Best Companies”   ranked number 5 in the top 100 mid-sized companies! Their stock is currently besting Apple. Think about that. 

Through my continuous research of credible sources, I come across information to help us all live our lives feeling and looking well and youthful; our best at any age.  I will share these tips here.  I would like to hear from each of you if these tips help you or if you have any tips yourself, please share!

My first Health tip:  Eat your tomatoes with olive oil!
By pouring a little organic olive oil on your tomatoes (cooked in sauces or raw in salads and sandwiches) prior to eating you allow your body to absorb all the lycopene in the tomatoes.  Lycopene is an antioxidant compound that gives tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables their color.  People who have diets rich in tomatoes appear to have a lower risk of certain types of cancer, especially cancers of the prostate, lung, and stomach (American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org).  An increase in antioxidants from all sources improves your complexion so “pass the olive oil please”.  Don’t cook with the olive oil because doing so changes it from healthy to unhealthy.  Olive oil is a long chain fat and under heat the long chain breaks causing it to become a free radical, which is what we are trying to disarm with our healthy eating.   For more information on organic olive oils and their antioxidant properties visit the FAQ’S page at www.apollooliveoil.com.  Feel good – look good